Masks of the Shard (An Eberron Adventure) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Masks of the Shard (An Eberron Adventure) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tek
09-16-05, 05:20 PM I wrote Part I today, I'm most likely going to be running this as part of my game soon, so I'd thought I would share it with you guys. Share your thoughts, your likes, what you hated, and anything else you might want to say.

------------------------

Introduction

The Masks of the Shard Part I is an adventure suitable to a group of 4 level 5 characters. You may scale the adventure upwards by adding class levels to the enemies or equipping them with better weapons and armor.

Adventure Synopsis

A small human town called Fallenwing lies deep in the forests of the Eldeen Reaches. Until recently, it was generally left along by the other patrons of the Reaches. When the moon of Olarune became full last month, however, the town was beset by forces on all sides.

Full lycanthropes began to attack and slaughter the town’s people, stealing away the children and woman and leaving the men dead or dying. What was once a bustling community is now holding onto life like the thread of a needle.

The adventurers arrive in the town at the last moment, and with their help, the townsfolk try and survive the barbarian like wereanimals.

Adventure Hooks

The characters can become involved in this adventure through many different paths. Perhaps a cleric of the Silver Flame has been charged with seeing what this disturbance in the Reaches is, and hires the PC’s to find out for him. Perhaps one of their parents is from this small town, and recently sent letters crying for aid. Lastly, if the PC’s are traveling in the Eldeen, they could come upon this town in the deep forest and receive a request to help the doomed community.

Background

The Lycanthropes that have been attacking the town are not wereanimals in the traditional sense. Recently, a wandering band of shifters passed nearby Fallenwing during their travels, and a few miles away from the town, their scouts found a cave. The cave was large enough to accommodate the whole tribe, but the item that fascinated the shifters was the gigantic dragonshard in the center. The tribe’s shaman identified it as a Khyber shard, but one of strange origin and powers.

She ordered the shifters to go about and bring back the head of a wolf. Upon receiving it, she hollowed out everything apart from the skin and fur, and touched the mask to the shard. When she slipped it onto her head after also touching the dragonshard, she did something amazing. She took on the hybrid form of a werewolf.

The tribe quickly gathered enough heads so that every member of the shifter clan became the hybrid form of the animal they had chosen. The shard did more than that, however, as it corrupted the soul of the Shaman leader each time a new hybrid was created. Now, she has become tainted by evils and wishes to see everyone destroyed, apart from the tribe. She has ordered the attacks on Fallenwing as her first attack.

Adventure

You can read or paraphrase the following when the PC’s enter the town of Fallenwing.

As you enter the small town, you are overcome with sudden despair, as if a cloud of grief suddenly swept over you. The smell of burned bodies and wood lingers in the air, causing each of you to almost choke. The outlying houses have all been burned down. The only thing that remains is a set of buildings at the center of town, and a large community hall. The few villagers you see are depressed and lumber about, as if waiting for some certain death to take them.

When the PC’s enter the town hall, read or paraphrase the following.

The building is old and damaged, and you can see where spots of fire have broken out and were doused with water. The air smells of disease, although you see only one man. Situated at the head of a table, he is nearly as large as a bear – and the battleaxe he grips in his hand shows that he might be as strong as one. The skin of an animal lies draped over his back, and he laughs as you approach. “By the host! You’ve finally arrived!”

This man is Mullian (Warrior 4, Barbarian 2). At one time, he used to be Captain of the Guard of Fallenwing, but now he has taken a place of authority. The mayor abandoned the small town long ago, and with no one to lead them, Mullian took charge. He hasn’t been doing very well however, as nearly every night the lycanthropes burn down another building and slaughter more townsfolk. The man has lost hope. He stopped trying to set up defenses after a weak of siege against the creatures, and now simply waits for one of them to best him in battle.

He believes that the party is the reinforcements that the town Mayor, Celun set up to get. Celun seen to his own and left the town for good, heading out of the Eldeen Reaches and into Aundair. He refuses to acknowledge that the group is in fact not the reinforcements, and believes this is a sign that the turn of the tide is coming. He asks the group to help the town with defenses how they see fit. He has no ideas left, and only takes suggestions from the party.

At night, he offers the group a place to sleep in the community hall. They may stay in the main room together, but Mullian does not sleep with them. The Shaman has seen the coming of the PC’s, and ordered two of her warriors in an attempt to destroy them. They are attacked in the middle of the night by a werebear and a werewolf (standard MM 3.6) who fight to the death.

The shard has granted the lycanthropes one additional ability to the tribe as well. When they are killed, they teleport back to the cave after one turn of lying dead. The only way to stop this process is to behead the creature (a full round action). Doing so breaks the bond between animal and man, and the body teleports back to the cave while the head remains. In addition, the head returns to its natural form of being a shifters head inside the hollow animal head. Something the group wouldn’t notice in battle but quick to discover afterwards.

The next day, the group may make gather information check (DC 20) to learn that the last group that passed nearby Fallenwing was a tribe of shifters, and that was nearly two months ago. The attacks from the lycanthropes started roughly one month ago. Mullian gathers as many people as are able to help with the defenses.

They are attacked again at dusk, this time by a group of 3 werewolves. As well, a single wereboar launches flaming arrows at the buildings from the back of the attack. After the group returns to the community hall, they find a strange visitor.

You enter the building once again, expecting it to be empty. However, it is not. A small, elderly woman sits cross-legged on the floor. Her body is covered strangely by a tattered black cloak that flows unnaturally as if there was a wind. She smells of flowers and perfume, but does not look the part of a fair maiden, her face ugly and old.

The woman is a seer from the Eldeen, and she refuses to give any other name apart from “The Witch.” She does not answer any questions, and refuses to speak until the party wills themselves to simply listen. Her voice and words are cryptic, speaking in strange tongues and giving the party insight into the battle.

“Wereanimals are dead, apart from the Khyber.”
“To behead a beast is to know it.”
“Proceed north, find a battle, go south, and find survival.”

After speaking a few lines, she stands, declares that she must rest, and refuses to speak with the PC’s again.

Proceeding north with put the PC’s at the head of the tribe’s cave, and a strange surprise awaits them in Masks of the Shard Part II.
The Forgotten Traveler
09-16-05, 05:55 PM :OMG! So cool... The plot is really neat. I can't wait for part II!

Sincerely, The Forgotten Traveler

:mage: :dragon:
Tek
09-16-05, 06:21 PM The plot's pretty inspired by 13th Warrior, right now, but I plan to change it up a bit for Part II, which might be awhile, since UnCon is coming up.
Sir Elton
09-16-05, 06:52 PM Tek,

I have a suggestion.

How about preparing a query and you can send it in to Dungeon to see if they like it?
:)
MarkB
09-16-05, 07:12 PM Really pedantic grammar quibble: If you're using "Masks" in its plural form, you don't want the inverted comma there.

It's just a really minor thing, and I wouldn't mention it except that it's right in the first word of the title, and will grate on the nerves of obsessive grammar sticklers every time it's read.

Aside from that, it's great - an excellent concept with a unique monstrous menace. Very atmospheric. :cheer: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Tek
09-16-05, 07:39 PM Really pedantic grammar quibble: If you're using "Masks" in its plural form, you don't want the inverted comma there.

Ah, right. Thanks. I always mess that up.
The Forgotten Traveler
09-17-05, 07:12 AM Tek,

I have a suggestion.

How about preparing a query and you can send it in to Dungeon to see if they like it?
:)

Yes, please do. Spread the knowledge of the adventure beyond the boards.

Sincerely, The Forgotten Traveler
:mage: :dragon:
Orion Polaris
09-17-05, 01:01 PM Pretty cool adventure so far. Keep it up.
dracox
09-18-05, 12:05 PM Come on, man! Don't keep me waiting forever for Part II?!?!?!

I like the story and considering I have a player who is character is from the Eldeen Reaches I think that after the Shadows of the Last War mod is done the group is going to take a little trip back with him to visit family and along the way they find this village. Then all of a sudden.......... ;-)

Dracox
Tek
09-18-05, 06:02 PM Heh, glad to hear it. I probably won't get Part II up for a week or so, since it's UnCon week coming up, but after that I'll get it up right away.
Tek
09-25-05, 05:01 AM I just thought I'd bump this thread to say that I'll probably type up part 2 formally soon enough, but I'm also currently running the adventure with my own group. So, I'll post the log (since I run the game online), and you guys can take a look if you want.

All the characters work for House Deneith as Marshals, and are currently chasing a man named Ranild Leremach, a wanted multi-national murderer.

As you might notice, I strayed off the path of the adventure with the whole 'heavy rainfall' part, but I liked it.

Click Here (http://home.graffiti.net/lonefox:graffiti.net/sentinels/part1.html)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tek 09-16-05, 05:20 PM	I wrote Part I today, I'm most likely going to be running this as part of my game soon, so I'd thought I would share it with you guys. Share your thoughts, your likes, what you hated, and anything else you might want to say. ------------------------ Introduction The Masks of the Shard Part I is an adventure suitable to a group of 4 level 5 characters. You may scale the adventure upwards by adding class levels to the enemies or equipping them with better weapons and armor. Adventure Synopsis A small human town called Fallenwing lies deep in the forests of the Eldeen Reaches. Until recently, it was generally left along by the other patrons of the Reaches. When the moon of Olarune became full last month, however, the town was beset by forces on all sides. Full lycanthropes began to attack and slaughter the town’s people, stealing away the children and woman and leaving the men dead or dying. What was once a bustling community is now holding onto life like the thread of a needle. The adventurers arrive in the town at the last moment, and with their help, the townsfolk try and survive the barbarian like wereanimals. Adventure Hooks The characters can become involved in this adventure through many different paths. Perhaps a cleric of the Silver Flame has been charged with seeing what this disturbance in the Reaches is, and hires the PC’s to find out for him. Perhaps one of their parents is from this small town, and recently sent letters crying for aid. Lastly, if the PC’s are traveling in the Eldeen, they could come upon this town in the deep forest and receive a request to help the doomed community. Background The Lycanthropes that have been attacking the town are not wereanimals in the traditional sense. Recently, a wandering band of shifters passed nearby Fallenwing during their travels, and a few miles away from the town, their scouts found a cave. The cave was large enough to accommodate the whole tribe, but the item that fascinated the shifters was the gigantic dragonshard in the center. The tribe’s shaman identified it as a Khyber shard, but one of strange origin and powers. She ordered the shifters to go about and bring back the head of a wolf. Upon receiving it, she hollowed out everything apart from the skin and fur, and touched the mask to the shard. When she slipped it onto her head after also touching the dragonshard, she did something amazing. She took on the hybrid form of a werewolf. The tribe quickly gathered enough heads so that every member of the shifter clan became the hybrid form of the animal they had chosen. The shard did more than that, however, as it corrupted the soul of the Shaman leader each time a new hybrid was created. Now, she has become tainted by evils and wishes to see everyone destroyed, apart from the tribe. She has ordered the attacks on Fallenwing as her first attack. Adventure You can read or paraphrase the following when the PC’s enter the town of Fallenwing. As you enter the small town, you are overcome with sudden despair, as if a cloud of grief suddenly swept over you. The smell of burned bodies and wood lingers in the air, causing each of you to almost choke. The outlying houses have all been burned down. The only thing that remains is a set of buildings at the center of town, and a large community hall. The few villagers you see are depressed and lumber about, as if waiting for some certain death to take them. When the PC’s enter the town hall, read or paraphrase the following. The building is old and damaged, and you can see where spots of fire have broken out and were doused with water. The air smells of disease, although you see only one man. Situated at the head of a table, he is nearly as large as a bear – and the battleaxe he grips in his hand shows that he might be as strong as one. The skin of an animal lies draped over his back, and he laughs as you approach. “By the host! You’ve finally arrived!” This man is Mullian (Warrior 4, Barbarian 2). At one time, he used to be Captain of the Guard of Fallenwing, but now he has taken a place of authority. The mayor abandoned the small town long ago, and with no one to lead them, Mullian took charge. He hasn’t been doing very well however, as nearly every night the lycanthropes burn down another building and slaughter more townsfolk. The man has lost hope. He stopped trying to set up defenses after a weak of siege against the creatures, and now simply waits for one of them to best him in battle. He believes that the party is the reinforcements that the town Mayor, Celun set up to get. Celun seen to his own and left the town for good, heading out of the Eldeen Reaches and into Aundair. He refuses to acknowledge that the group is in fact not the reinforcements, and believes this is a sign that the turn of the tide is coming. He asks the group to help the town with defenses how they see fit. He has no ideas left, and only takes suggestions from the party. At night, he offers the group a place to sleep in the community hall. They may stay in the main room together, but Mullian does not sleep with them. The Shaman has seen the coming of the PC’s, and ordered two of her warriors in an attempt to destroy them. They are attacked in the middle of the night by a werebear and a werewolf (standard MM 3.6) who fight to the death. The shard has granted the lycanthropes one additional ability to the tribe as well. When they are killed, they teleport back to the cave after one turn of lying dead. The only way to stop this process is to behead the creature (a full round action). Doing so breaks the bond between animal and man, and the body teleports back to the cave while the head remains. In addition, the head returns to its natural form of being a shifters head inside the hollow animal head. Something the group wouldn’t notice in battle but quick to discover afterwards. The next day, the group may make gather information check (DC 20) to learn that the last group that passed nearby Fallenwing was a tribe of shifters, and that was nearly two months ago. The attacks from the lycanthropes started roughly one month ago. Mullian gathers as many people as are able to help with the defenses. They are attacked again at dusk, this time by a group of 3 werewolves. As well, a single wereboar launches flaming arrows at the buildings from the back of the attack. After the group returns to the community hall, they find a strange visitor. You enter the building once again, expecting it to be empty. However, it is not. A small, elderly woman sits cross-legged on the floor. Her body is covered strangely by a tattered black cloak that flows unnaturally as if there was a wind. She smells of flowers and perfume, but does not look the part of a fair maiden, her face ugly and old. The woman is a seer from the Eldeen, and she refuses to give any other name apart from “The Witch.” She does not answer any questions, and refuses to speak until the party wills themselves to simply listen. Her voice and words are cryptic, speaking in strange tongues and giving the party insight into the battle. “Wereanimals are dead, apart from the Khyber.” “To behead a beast is to know it.” “Proceed north, find a battle, go south, and find survival.” After speaking a few lines, she stands, declares that she must rest, and refuses to speak with the PC’s again. Proceeding north with put the PC’s at the head of the tribe’s cave, and a strange surprise awaits them in Masks of the Shard Part II.
The Forgotten Traveler 09-16-05, 05:55 PM	:OMG! So cool... The plot is really neat. I can't wait for part II! Sincerely, The Forgotten Traveler :mage: :dragon:
Tek 09-16-05, 06:21 PM	The plot's pretty inspired by 13th Warrior, right now, but I plan to change it up a bit for Part II, which might be awhile, since UnCon is coming up.
Sir Elton 09-16-05, 06:52 PM	Tek, I have a suggestion. How about preparing a query and you can send it in to Dungeon to see if they like it? :)
MarkB 09-16-05, 07:12 PM	Really pedantic grammar quibble: If you're using "Masks" in its plural form, you don't want the inverted comma there. It's just a really minor thing, and I wouldn't mention it except that it's right in the first word of the title, and will grate on the nerves of obsessive grammar sticklers every time it's read. Aside from that, it's great - an excellent concept with a unique monstrous menace. Very atmospheric. :cheer: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Tek 09-16-05, 07:39 PM	Really pedantic grammar quibble: If you're using "Masks" in its plural form, you don't want the inverted comma there. Ah, right. Thanks. I always mess that up.
The Forgotten Traveler 09-17-05, 07:12 AM	Tek, I have a suggestion. How about preparing a query and you can send it in to Dungeon to see if they like it? :) Yes, please do. Spread the knowledge of the adventure beyond the boards. Sincerely, The Forgotten Traveler :mage: :dragon:
Orion Polaris 09-17-05, 01:01 PM	Pretty cool adventure so far. Keep it up.
dracox 09-18-05, 12:05 PM	Come on, man! Don't keep me waiting forever for Part II?!?!?! I like the story and considering I have a player who is character is from the Eldeen Reaches I think that after the Shadows of the Last War mod is done the group is going to take a little trip back with him to visit family and along the way they find this village. Then all of a sudden.......... ;-) Dracox
Tek 09-18-05, 06:02 PM	Heh, glad to hear it. I probably won't get Part II up for a week or so, since it's UnCon week coming up, but after that I'll get it up right away.
Tek 09-25-05, 05:01 AM	I just thought I'd bump this thread to say that I'll probably type up part 2 formally soon enough, but I'm also currently running the adventure with my own group. So, I'll post the log (since I run the game online), and you guys can take a look if you want. All the characters work for House Deneith as Marshals, and are currently chasing a man named Ranild Leremach, a wanted multi-national murderer. As you might notice, I strayed off the path of the adventure with the whole 'heavy rainfall' part, but I liked it. Click Here (http://home.graffiti.net/lonefox:graffiti.net/sentinels/part1.html)