Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jrgumby Apr 12, 2009 22:26:11	My players are 1-2 sessions away from finishing the adventure they're on, and so I want to give them something with a bit more RP to get them involved and let their characters evolve. Setting: The PCs arrive in Riverhaven, a slowly growing urban center along a river. Similar to London it's grown from a central point and engulfed smaller cities, turning them into minor districts. Riverhaven has become a highly successful trade center, and despite its relative wealth there is a great deal of contention among the houses that control it. House Spencer is seated in the Old District, the city of Riverhaven actual. As such they are the predominate power. Unfortunately, a series of unfortunate events in recent wars have dwindled their numbers and loosened their hold on the city. They have delegated the running of several influential areas to the Manners and Danwicks, and as long as their disagreements do not escelate into bloodshed. The Manners feel they have been cheated, but their selfishness and greed has caused most legitimate merchants to abandon their quarter of Riverhaven, Raven's Court. As the money has left and splendid buildings slowly turn into bordellos and seedy gambling houses it's been rumored that the Manners have allowed several theives' guilds and worse to opperate unmolested in order to bolster their failing coffers. House Danwick is shrewd, proud, and resourceful. Their ability to govern cleverly has allowed them to greatly enrich their holdings, and the majority of bulk trade and some very lucrative merchants can be found within their quarter. Recently they have begun to gain real headway over the Manners, and are attempting to solidify their position through the marriage of one of their daughters to a powerful young mage. This mage is Trenton Gale, a powerful individual from a family of minor nobility in Riverhaven. He was able to afford entry into an Academy, and subsequently made a fortune and great reputation adventuring. A wizard of no small ability, he decided to return home before his luck ran south in order to settle down and study. The Plot: Shortly before arriving in Riverhaven Trenton has been engaged to Shana Danwick, a beautiful young woman he is very taken with. Both families had attempted to convince him to marry in, but his heart was won almost instantly by Shana. He refused all offered dowry in order to demonstrate his pure intentions, and even insisted on financing a portion of the festivities. Shana has heard stories about Trenton intermitenly for years, and is rumoured to be as enamored of him and he is her. Step 1: The Wedding The PCs arrive on the eve of their wedding, with all of Glenford in the swing of festivities. While they are caught up in the party, a large group of ruffians get rather out of control and the PCs are forced to deal with them. Trenton assists them in finishing them off. The gang is strangely proficient and well armed for simple thugs, and it soon becomes apparent why: they were a diversion to allow the assassination of Shana Danwick. -Outcomes: if the PCs manage to subdue any of the thugs, they will talk as to who hired them. In addition, the majority of the gold they carry is minted with the Manners' crest. Step 2: The Dead Bride While initially enraged, Trenton is a practical man and knows that death is not always an ending. He begins a Raise Dead ritual while the PCs are rewarded and thanked by the Danwick family. The next morning the PCs are raised from their sleep by a loud commotion: the ritual has failed for unclear reasons and Trenton is distraught and inconsolable. He is certain the ritual should have worked, and that something else is responsible for preventing it. In point of fact, a fairly elaborate ritual was used on the murder weapon to prevent simple magical resurrection. Trenton still has some hope, and retires to his library in his tower some ways outside town. Step 3: False Hope Trenton leaves word with Danwick, and the PCs are asked to retrieve an artifact from the catacombs of a fallen Church of Pelor, where it was rumored the priests could raise those wrongfully slain with but a word. 100 years ago the spellplague claimed the inhabitants, and the church was sealed and abandoned. The catacombs are sprawling and tainted, with undead and worse. In the end PCs manage to recover a powerful divine item: Pelor's Light, a shimmering symbol carried by dozens of champions of the light. Step 4: Despair After a brief rejoicing Trenton prepares to attempt to the ritual again. It fails, though the power of the artifact does prevent her body from decomposing. Compared his previous state, he seems oddly quiet and resigned. He mentions a contengency plan, thanks the PCs, and almost stumbles away. Within hours an incredable commotion begins. The entire quarter of Raven's Court has come under siege, and the PCs are begged by retainers of the Manner to aid them. The PCs find all kinds of constructs, bound beings, and primarily undead things shambling the streets in a strangely coordinated assault on the Manners' estate. After fighting through the monsters, they find Trenton delirious, tear-stained, and enraged leading the assault. He will not surrender and will readily lash out at innocents or combatants if given the chance. If he is killed the story continues, if he is not he flees to is tower. This is meant to be a 'mini-boss fight', and he will be challenging. Step 5: Aftermath Due to the nature and savagery of the assault, the PCs feel compelled to visit the mages' tower in an effort to prevent further undead outings (or to chase down Trenton if he has survived). The mage's tower is a strange place, with twisting passages and inexplicable creatures. Within the final chamber many mystical marvels await... but there is nothing else but mysteries. In particular, this chamber is the primary laboratory. It is filled with tables, all of which have signs of recent work. A great many things seem to be recently removed, and the only clues are notes on the creation of a sentient undead (blaspheme), a tale of Thunderstones (stones within the skulls of thunderbirds) that can allow true love to raise the dead, and scribbled notes about libraries and thunderbird rookeries Step 6A: Sinister Intermission Upon returning the Riverhaven, the 'great news' of their success pales as they discover Shana's body has been stolen, and Trenton's body desecrated. Moreover, there are rumors of a cowled man unearthing young men (primarily relatives of the Manners killed in Trenton'sattack) and stripping the flesh from their corpses. The only witness swears it was Trenton Gale himself, returned to reap vengeance on the Manner house. -If the PCs attempt to find and capture the creature it proves to be powerful, fast, and concerned more with escape than anything. He will speak and plead with them, but he will not stop. Review of the corpses shows that it has been systematically collecting an entire body. As soon as entire body has been collected the attacks stop. DM Explanation: In case it hasn't begun to become apparent, one of Trenton's last creations was a blaspheme. Using a sliver of his own heart to give it life and sentience, when the blaspheme awoke it was bound with the memories, ability, and drives of Trenton Gale. Initially he was obsessed as Trenton was with reviving Shana, but eventually realized what he was. Horrified, he began trying to find a way not only to return her to life, but to remake himself in such a way that she would accept him. This incarnation is far more formidable than Trenton Gale; he is stronger, faster, has more endurance, and far more resilience than the wizard. 6b: The library While not necessary, the PCs may attempt to intercept the creature at the Academy of Higher Magiks and Research's primary library. Trent has been sneaking in at night, and uses his arcane skills to cloak his intrusions. If the PCs enter after hours, traps and riddles predominate. Again, Trent will do everything in his power to escape. -It is also possible the PCs will research the thunderbirds themselves if they divine the creature's purpose. If so, they must obtain entry (a difficult diplomatic event), and discover that there is a small enclave of Thunderbirds in the mountains not too far away. 6c: The Spire of the Thunderbirds The climb to the peaks the thunderbirds live on is difficult. The PCs encounter a tribe of orcs, who may be dealt with a number of ways. If diplomatic, the PCs will discover a very ugly man recently came through and hired several strong hunters. The orcs consider the birds sacred, and are willing to give the PCs a guide if they describe what Trenton is likely to do. The way up the mountain is treacherous and long. It is a difficult climb, and there are wild animals and small enclave of ogres that must be dealt with. All along the climb there is evidence of the wizard's passing. At the peak, they come upon a shattered nest, a thunderbird's corpse, and an irrate mate assaulting 2 living orcs which attacks them. Immediately after the PCs have dealt with the animal Trentor de-shrouds, and ambushes them. They may be shocked to discover that the creature wears Trenton Gale's face, and fine stitches and thin scars are prominent. He will speak, trying to persuade them that he is an innocent victim trapped within a monster. If this fails he will try his best to disable them, outmanuever them, and flee. (The Roc is the true boss fight, they should be exhausted and weakened). Step 7: The refuge of the dead The PCs are now charged with finding the hideout of the now undead Gale. -If they survive and beat Gale at the spire, they may be able to chase him all the way to his sanctuary without great difficulty. A simple skill challenge allows them to locate it. -If they failed, then some hardship is involved. They may purchase a scrying spell from the Academy, but recompense is expected. Alternatively, skill checks in town will allow them to determine that Gale had 2 additional locations, one of which was not completed. These are to be speed bumps, minor things that make them displeased that they did not win earlier fights. The second sanctuary of Gale is actually a dungeon he cleared some years ago. Reactivating traps, reconstructing guardians, and rebinding servants left him with something highly effective and well defended. One thing the players may notice is the absolute lack of undead despite the current state of Trenton Gale. Step 8: The Reunion When the PCs break through to the inner sanctum, Trenton has readied the simple ritual. He kisses his wife, and between their clasped hands he shatters the delicate Eaglestone. Both are returned to true life (through Trenton will bear the scars of his reconstitution), and are estatic to be reunited. At this point the PCs must do one of three things 1st-if they assault Trenton with little to no discussion, both will fight. Shana's time among the dead and the stone have changed her somewhat, but she is not a great threat. If she falls again then Trenton will become enraged. 2nd-They speak to them, and convince Shana that Trenton is a monster. This will be somewhat difficult, but depending on how it is done Trent will either attack the PCs or simply beg them to end his existance. 3rd-They may wish to leave the couple be. In review, Trenton will beg the that nothing he has done has really been evil: he has killed no man since he himself envied them so. If this is the case, he will thank them, ask them to allow them to remain secret, and helps outfit them. Step 9: Justice There is one loose end the PCs may wish to tie up: the Manners' instigated all of this. They may gather evidence and present it to the Court of Riverhaven. As this proceeds, an attempt is made on their lives by mercenaries carrying Manners' stamped gold. Successfully implicating the Manners' leaves the house in shame, with their head fleeing in disgrace the Darwick are able to take the majority of available territory. They give each of the PCs small but pleasant homes within Gatwick, sizeable sums, as well as the responsibilities and titles of minor gentry. This greatly adds to the fame of the PCs.
#2 jrgumby Apr 12, 2009 22:27:09	The one thing I'm worried about in particular: does it seem like I'm teasing the PCs too much with "And then he's there and then he gets away! Haha you'll have to get him later"
#3 angelofthenight Apr 12, 2009 23:57:02	I wouldn't worry about it, this looks like a fantastic adventure!
#4 space_dragon Apr 18, 2009 0:48:26	Too much hinges on Trent being able to escape multiple times. Also, what if the PC's talk to Trent instead of attacking him, and are willing to let him continue his work? Unless the PC's always shoot first and ask questions later, this adventure may end far earlier than you would wish. Also, why did the Manners have Shana assassinated? Their motives seem unclear.