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Time For Another Round Of Iron Dm!!!
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<blockquote data-quote="ninjajester" data-source="post: 211387" data-attributes="member: 1387"><p><strong>The Mirror of Being</strong></p><p></p><p>The Mirror of Being (suitable for parties level 8-10, I think...)</p><p></p><p> 150 years ago the drow archmage Thraxis D’Gall created the Mirror of Being. It consisted of three large mirrors set in a triptych frame, with three magical gems set in the centerpiece of each frame. It was used to transform anyone in the reflections into any living creature the user desires. Unlike polymorph spells, someone transformed by the mirror into another creature becomes that creature in every respect permanently. If their new form is intelligent they will retain memory of their previous form. The mirror also has the effect of forcing the creature who has been transformed to obey the person controlling the mirror. Finally, if the controller’s willpower is strong enough, they can trap a creature within the mirror, rather than transforming them.</p><p> Thraxis used the mirror to create a small army of driders, using the people of the nearby town of Windfield as unwilling guinea pigs. Thraxis began a campaign of conquest and destruction. He was finally stopped by the Company of the Silver Sundial. Cat’s Eye, half elven bard and leader of the company, engaged Thraxis in a mental battle for control of the mirror while the rest of the party fought off his minions. Cat’s Eye was able to seize control of the mirror, but was unable to trap Thraxis in the mirror or transform him into a harmless form. He was, however, able to transform Thraxis into a drider (effectively lowering his maximum and current wizard level to 6-see monster manual entry on driders). The transformation broke Thraxis’ control over the driders. Horrified at what had been done to them, they turned on him. Together the company and the driders managed to defeat Thraxis, scarring his face horribly in the process. Being unfamiliar with the mirror’s powers, Cat’s Eye was unable to force Thraxis to obey him, and Thraxis escaped via teleport. Cat’s Eye used the mirror to return the villagers to normal. The company did not possess the means to destroy the mirror, so they removed the gems that focused the power of the mirror and magically hid them in the large sundial the town erected in their honor in the square. Cat’s Eye wrote a short riddle explaining how to retrieve the gems and recorded it in his journal. Mirisal Argent, a paladin in the service of Pelor and member of the company, swore that his family would forevermore guard the mirror and keep it safe.</p><p> Present day: The current guardian of the mirror is Simiran Argent. Unlike his heroic ancestor, he is a fop with a drinking problem. His butler, Jared, is actually Cat’s Eye. He has served the Argent family in the capacity of butler all this time in order to help protect the mirror. Only Mirisal was aware of the deception. Argent Mansion, an estate a few miles outside of Windfield, is where the mirror is kept. Simiran is unaware of the mirror’s powers; he simply thinks of it as another family heirloom. Thraxis has finally located the mirror. He wants it back so he can attempt to return himself to his original form. He has created a lair in some nearby underground caverns and recruited a quartet of driders for bodyguards. There is no surface entrance to the caverns; all entrances and exits come through the underdark. He has acquired a ring of elemental command (earth) to allow minions and underlings access to the caverns via the passwall and stone shape abilities of the ring. Having learned his lesson the last time, he stays in the shadows this time and hires the local thieves’ guild to get the mirror back. They send Darion, a werebear enforcer, and Whisper, a gnome rogue, to get the mirror back. Darion is needed to carry the mirror as each frame of the mirror is 8 feet high and four feet wide; the entire thing weighs over 800 lbs. Whisper handles the breaking and entering. They encounter Simiran and Cat’s Eye and beat them soundly. They steal the mirror and return it to Thraxis using the ring. Upon noticing the missing gems, Thraxis flies into a rage and orders them to recover the gems.</p><p> The party is approached by a battered Cat’s Eye (Simiran is comatose). He invites them back to the mansion, where he requests their help in recovering the mirror. Use whatever will motivate the party; Cat’s Eye is wealthy and has acquired a lot of unique or magical items. He reveals the mirror’s history and powers, as well as the fact that it is useless without the gems. He also reveals that the gems can be used as lodestones to locate the mirror. He tells the party where the gems are, but realizes he can no longer remember how to get them out, due to age and being knocked around by a werebear. He advises them that the riddle with the key is in his journal.</p><p> Meanwhile, Darion and Whisper have returned and have been eavesdropping. Once Cat’s Eye reveals where the riddle is, Darion bursts into the mansion to attack/distract the party while Whisper tries to sneak into Cat’s Eye’s room to retrieve the journal.</p><p></p><p>The riddle (written in elven)</p><p></p><p>The gems of being are locked in time-</p><p>Sapphire at dusk,</p><p>Ruby at dawn,</p><p>And Opal at noon.</p><p>Name the gems</p><p>at the proper time</p><p>to set them free.</p><p></p><p> In order to release the gems from the sundial, one need only speak the elven words for dusk, dawn, and noon at each specific time of day. They must be spoken in order, and they must be spoken in elven. If asked, Cat’s Eye will remember that the words must be spoken in elven, but that is all. </p><p> Whisper will try to avoid the fight and flee with the journal. Darion will fight until he is taken out or Whisper has escaped. If the party defeats Darion and Whisper, they are free to take the journal to the sundial and attempt to solve the riddle. If the party defeats Darion and Whisper escapes, the party will probably race to the sundial in an attempt to stop Whisper before he can get the gems. Due to the fact that it will take almost a full 24 hours before all three gems can be removed, Whisper will seek the guild’s help. Depending on the party’s actions, the guild may stake out the sundial, send assassins after the party, hide Whisper in a safe house while he figures out the riddle, or even try to steal any gems they retrieve. Whisper will try to retrieve at least one gem if possible and take it to Thraxis. Darion had the ring, so if the party beat Darion, he will have to get Thraxis to let him in.</p><p> Once the party has any or all of the gems they can be used to track the mirror. The gems vibrate as they get closer to the mirror. The gems will lead the party directly to a dead end tunnel. This is where Darion and Whisper gained access to the caverns using the ring. If the party doesn’t think to use the ring (which Cat’s Eye can identify), they can break through the wall using mining tools in approximately 15-30 minutes. Of course, this will alert Thraxis and his drider bodyguards, who will be prepared for a fight..</p><p> If Thraxis gets the mirror and all 3 gems, he will use the mirror to return to his original form, with all knowledge, levels, and spells. Fortunately, the mirror takes complete concentration to use, and transformation takes 1 minute (10 rounds). During this time the party can still stop him by either removing Thraxus from in front of the mirror or removing the gems. His drider guard will try to prevent this. Removing the gems will create a magic backlash that will trap Thraxis in the mirrors and shatter them, trapping him forever.</p><p></p><p>Darion-8th level human/werebear barbarian.</p><p>Whisper-10th level gnome rogue.</p><p>Cat’s Eye-12th level half elf bard.</p><p>Thraxis-6th level wizard/drider</p><p>Drider Bodyguards (4)-standard driders</p><p>Thieves Guild-use standard rogue and fighter templates from the dmg, levels 2-10.</p><p></p><p>(this was a lot harder than i thought it would be...)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ninjajester, post: 211387, member: 1387"] [b]The Mirror of Being[/b] The Mirror of Being (suitable for parties level 8-10, I think...) 150 years ago the drow archmage Thraxis D’Gall created the Mirror of Being. It consisted of three large mirrors set in a triptych frame, with three magical gems set in the centerpiece of each frame. It was used to transform anyone in the reflections into any living creature the user desires. Unlike polymorph spells, someone transformed by the mirror into another creature becomes that creature in every respect permanently. If their new form is intelligent they will retain memory of their previous form. The mirror also has the effect of forcing the creature who has been transformed to obey the person controlling the mirror. Finally, if the controller’s willpower is strong enough, they can trap a creature within the mirror, rather than transforming them. Thraxis used the mirror to create a small army of driders, using the people of the nearby town of Windfield as unwilling guinea pigs. Thraxis began a campaign of conquest and destruction. He was finally stopped by the Company of the Silver Sundial. Cat’s Eye, half elven bard and leader of the company, engaged Thraxis in a mental battle for control of the mirror while the rest of the party fought off his minions. Cat’s Eye was able to seize control of the mirror, but was unable to trap Thraxis in the mirror or transform him into a harmless form. He was, however, able to transform Thraxis into a drider (effectively lowering his maximum and current wizard level to 6-see monster manual entry on driders). The transformation broke Thraxis’ control over the driders. Horrified at what had been done to them, they turned on him. Together the company and the driders managed to defeat Thraxis, scarring his face horribly in the process. Being unfamiliar with the mirror’s powers, Cat’s Eye was unable to force Thraxis to obey him, and Thraxis escaped via teleport. Cat’s Eye used the mirror to return the villagers to normal. The company did not possess the means to destroy the mirror, so they removed the gems that focused the power of the mirror and magically hid them in the large sundial the town erected in their honor in the square. Cat’s Eye wrote a short riddle explaining how to retrieve the gems and recorded it in his journal. Mirisal Argent, a paladin in the service of Pelor and member of the company, swore that his family would forevermore guard the mirror and keep it safe. Present day: The current guardian of the mirror is Simiran Argent. Unlike his heroic ancestor, he is a fop with a drinking problem. His butler, Jared, is actually Cat’s Eye. He has served the Argent family in the capacity of butler all this time in order to help protect the mirror. Only Mirisal was aware of the deception. Argent Mansion, an estate a few miles outside of Windfield, is where the mirror is kept. Simiran is unaware of the mirror’s powers; he simply thinks of it as another family heirloom. Thraxis has finally located the mirror. He wants it back so he can attempt to return himself to his original form. He has created a lair in some nearby underground caverns and recruited a quartet of driders for bodyguards. There is no surface entrance to the caverns; all entrances and exits come through the underdark. He has acquired a ring of elemental command (earth) to allow minions and underlings access to the caverns via the passwall and stone shape abilities of the ring. Having learned his lesson the last time, he stays in the shadows this time and hires the local thieves’ guild to get the mirror back. They send Darion, a werebear enforcer, and Whisper, a gnome rogue, to get the mirror back. Darion is needed to carry the mirror as each frame of the mirror is 8 feet high and four feet wide; the entire thing weighs over 800 lbs. Whisper handles the breaking and entering. They encounter Simiran and Cat’s Eye and beat them soundly. They steal the mirror and return it to Thraxis using the ring. Upon noticing the missing gems, Thraxis flies into a rage and orders them to recover the gems. The party is approached by a battered Cat’s Eye (Simiran is comatose). He invites them back to the mansion, where he requests their help in recovering the mirror. Use whatever will motivate the party; Cat’s Eye is wealthy and has acquired a lot of unique or magical items. He reveals the mirror’s history and powers, as well as the fact that it is useless without the gems. He also reveals that the gems can be used as lodestones to locate the mirror. He tells the party where the gems are, but realizes he can no longer remember how to get them out, due to age and being knocked around by a werebear. He advises them that the riddle with the key is in his journal. Meanwhile, Darion and Whisper have returned and have been eavesdropping. Once Cat’s Eye reveals where the riddle is, Darion bursts into the mansion to attack/distract the party while Whisper tries to sneak into Cat’s Eye’s room to retrieve the journal. The riddle (written in elven) The gems of being are locked in time- Sapphire at dusk, Ruby at dawn, And Opal at noon. Name the gems at the proper time to set them free. In order to release the gems from the sundial, one need only speak the elven words for dusk, dawn, and noon at each specific time of day. They must be spoken in order, and they must be spoken in elven. If asked, Cat’s Eye will remember that the words must be spoken in elven, but that is all. Whisper will try to avoid the fight and flee with the journal. Darion will fight until he is taken out or Whisper has escaped. If the party defeats Darion and Whisper, they are free to take the journal to the sundial and attempt to solve the riddle. If the party defeats Darion and Whisper escapes, the party will probably race to the sundial in an attempt to stop Whisper before he can get the gems. Due to the fact that it will take almost a full 24 hours before all three gems can be removed, Whisper will seek the guild’s help. Depending on the party’s actions, the guild may stake out the sundial, send assassins after the party, hide Whisper in a safe house while he figures out the riddle, or even try to steal any gems they retrieve. Whisper will try to retrieve at least one gem if possible and take it to Thraxis. Darion had the ring, so if the party beat Darion, he will have to get Thraxis to let him in. Once the party has any or all of the gems they can be used to track the mirror. The gems vibrate as they get closer to the mirror. The gems will lead the party directly to a dead end tunnel. This is where Darion and Whisper gained access to the caverns using the ring. If the party doesn’t think to use the ring (which Cat’s Eye can identify), they can break through the wall using mining tools in approximately 15-30 minutes. Of course, this will alert Thraxis and his drider bodyguards, who will be prepared for a fight.. If Thraxis gets the mirror and all 3 gems, he will use the mirror to return to his original form, with all knowledge, levels, and spells. Fortunately, the mirror takes complete concentration to use, and transformation takes 1 minute (10 rounds). During this time the party can still stop him by either removing Thraxus from in front of the mirror or removing the gems. His drider guard will try to prevent this. Removing the gems will create a magic backlash that will trap Thraxis in the mirrors and shatter them, trapping him forever. Darion-8th level human/werebear barbarian. Whisper-10th level gnome rogue. Cat’s Eye-12th level half elf bard. Thraxis-6th level wizard/drider Drider Bodyguards (4)-standard driders Thieves Guild-use standard rogue and fighter templates from the dmg, levels 2-10. (this was a lot harder than i thought it would be...) [/QUOTE]
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