Ingredients:
Devilish Smile- Orion’s smile; indicator of silent spell casting and his devilish nature.
Illuminated History- the tiles each illuminate history of the fall of Elsinor; the PC interactions with each of these pieces are critical.
Misplaced Vendetta- The Elf/Orc vendetta; caused by misplaced anger and racial tensions due to the devil’s manipulation.
Elven Champion- Savarash; Champion of the ideals of Elsinor.
Grave Robber- Orion, who the PCs must stop from robbing Savarash’s grave.
Paving Stones of Good Intentions- “Fixing” each of the “history tiles” pave the way to restoring the good intentions behind Elsinor/ rescuing Alandra.
Incredibly Sharp Axe- Given to the Party; used to behead Asuron.
Burial Shroud- Used to make Savarash appear dead.
Poetic Wax- The Poem, used to heal the past wounds and to bind Asuron.
A Song of Love & Loss
10-12th level Pathfinder Adventure
In days before, when Gods were men,
Behold the beauty that was Elsinor;
Favored by all; a place of peace,
Where orcs and elves, walked hand in hand
Behold the tragedy that was Elsinor,
On the Long Day, of wedded bliss,
When the Noble Savarash did choose a kiss,
Over the fate of Elsinor
For a love more than love did I posessess,
My beautiful Alandra, my heart’s caress.
In a moment of weakness did I betray,
The honor of the dream of Elsinor.
As Orion sang the words of love,
Did the angered axe cast its redded mist.
Shattered, then oh, Elsinor,
Betrayed, hope forever dashed.
Witness the fall of Elsinor,
The streets running red, with the blood of all,
For all lay dead in Elsinor,
As the long day fell into night’s dark shadow.
I witnessed the Devil’s Smile beguiling men,
Taunting and teasing me, betrayal’s fool.
Helpless, it buried my heart’s caress.
Alive, her laments echoing forevermore.
Array the tiles of hope so lost,
One on one, built to last.
To affix the betrayer, with Poetic Wax,
To redo good intentions of the forgotten past.
Synopsis:
The PCs come upon a a pictorial history of the fall of Elsinor, where elves and orcs, once friends are now caught up in a blood feud. By interacting with the book, the PCs might be able to prevent the blood feud from happening all together, and save the lives of thousands.
Hook:
The PCs come of the Illuminated Histories, a long sought after work on the fabled city of Elsinor. The “book” is a set of images, that appear to float and move with a will of their own. The first “page” contains the poem above.
Knowledge/Bardic Lore checks:
Elsinor [DC 25]: was a city founded on the noble ideal of peace between elves and orcs. A few decades into it’s existence, the city fell into blood feud between the races that echo to this day. It was oft referred to as the City of Song. Song/dirgecraft was perfected by the citizenry, with a champion each from the elves and the orcs, embodying the ideals of the city; nobility, friendship, kindness. The city also had the ritual of marrying the champion to a member of the opposite race.
Savarash [DC 35]: The last elven champion , and reknowned for his nobility, he was one of the last known songsmiths able to craft powerful effects through music.
Alandra [DC 40]- Renowned for her beauty, she was to be married to Garrak, the last orcish champion. There is nothing on any of them after the fall of Elsinor.
Orion [DC30]- Also known as Orion the Seer, he is a legendary mystic of great ability- currently a key advisor to the PCs Kingdom.
Act 1- In days before, when Gods were men…
This encounter happens whenever the PCs open the Illuminated histories. The first tile is the view from a gleaming tower, overlooking a sprawling metropolis of white, with many gardens dotted throughout. As they watch, the image seems to float up from the tile, surrounding them. The first stanza of the poem echoes throughout, amplifying in volume…
The PCs find themselves in the gleaming tower, overlooking the sprawling metropolis; the whole place now in ruins. Strapped and manacled to a chair in the center of the room are husked remnants of a still-breathing elf, eyes toward a narrow bridge. There are no exits from the tower other than the bridge, the paving stones missing; on the far end of the bridge is an mausoleum with a vertical open grave- a beautiful elven woman chained within, worms eating away at her flesh; her screams of agony echoing throughout, her flesh seems to be healing itself as well.
Development
PCs attempting to teleport/fly etc. find themselves back in the tower, the same goes for trying to jump across. A spellcraft check, DC 35, reveals that they are in a temporary demi-plane crafted of words and song. An examination of the elf reveals that he is alive, though catatonic. The chains that bind him appear normal, but upon closer examination seem to be made of force. As the group examines the elf, a glowing paving stone appear where the first paving stone is missing. The image appears to be celebratory, and looks to be that of a wedding. Any PC stepping on the stone is transported into…
Act 2- the Long Day, of wedded bliss,
The party is in a large hall, beautifully constructed. There are hundreds of people here, all dressed up for the wedding gala. Music, wine, and mead flow freely; this is the Long Day- when the Orc Dirgesmith weds the noblest elf; in this case, Alandra. The party is also clad in fineries and a quick examination in a mirror or reflection reveals that they appear to be elves.
Development
The orcs and elves here interact with the PCs freely. The PCs can learn the following facts:
• The Long Day is famous for the performance contest, judged by the crowd, where the winner can ask of and is granted any boon.
•Garrak looks at Alandra longingly; sense motive checks reveal that he is deeply in love with her, to the point of obsession. Gather information about Garrak reveals that though a good orc, he is prone to act rashly and has a bad temper, and is insecure about his looks.
•Savarash is beloved of all; he has an ease about him. The crowd has nothing but good opinions. Preception checks reveal that Savarash is purposefully avoiding looking at Alandra. He is light hearted and jovial, but a sense motive check reveals that he is troubled.
•Orion the Seer- Interacts freely with everyone, and is quite charming and jovial. If he interacts with the PCs he suddenly becomes a bit apprehensive. He also gives considerable time and attention to Garrak. He occasionally flashes a smile at Garrak; sense motive check DC 35 reveals that Garrak seems to get a bit agitated whenever this happens.[he is casting silent spell- suggestion]
•Alandra- friendly, though occasionally staring at Savarash.
The singing/poetry contest starts a bit after the PCs arrive. Intuitive players might realize what happened in the past- Savarash won the contest, and as his boon, asked for a kiss from Alandra, inflaming their unrequited love. Unknown to any, other than Savarash later, they were both influenced by Orion into committing the treacherous act. Any of the Party can enter the contest; the competition is difficult, with the final round against Savarash. If the PC wins the contest, then the kiss does not happen publicly, though Orion still cajoles Savarash to betray- the resultant vendetta is not as severe and improves current race relations. The GM can allow the PCs to attempt other means of intervention if plausible.
Act 3- Did the angered Axe cast it’s redded mist..
A new paving stone appears as the party rematerializes on tile 1; the image varies depending on their success in Act 2. If successful, the image is that of a great hall, with elves and orcs angrily arguing, if they failed, the image is that of a great hall, where elves and orcs are slaughtering each other, when stepping on the tile, the PCs find themselves in the middle of either scene, their appearance same as before.
Debate: The PCs can attempt to persuade both the Orcs and elves to stand down through reason and logic, especially the winner of the contest in Act 2. The GM should use multiple diplomacy checks with generous bonuses for good role playing. Orion, Savarash, Garrak and Alandra are present with Garrak frothing with anger. Orion agrees with the party but suggest that both Alandra and Savarash be executed for their treachery. Spellcraft check DC 40 reveals that whenever he smiles, Orion appears to be casting a spell. Calling Orion out is not the best course of action since he has built up his reputation over years. The PCs can try to subtly counter his influence however they choose. If successful, the PCs prevent the elf/orc vendetta from happening all together; though the fate of both Alandra and Savarash are still up in the air.
Slaughter: The PCs are in the wedding hall with a beserk Garrak and his ilk killing, with elves responding in kind. The PCs have to fight to survive,;. Orion can be seen “rescuing” Alandra and Savarash; both devastated and numb at the sudden turn of events.
Act 4- I witnessed the Devil’s Smile beguiling men …
The Party appears back on the 2nd tile, with a new tile in front of them; the images vary only slightly, in one case it’s a large mausoleum, in another it’s a graveyard. When the party steps on the tile, they find themselves within the mausoleum.
Development An examination of the gravestone/casket reveals that it is that of Savarash. If opened, Savarsh’s shrouded body appears to be in pristine shape. If the shroud is removed, Svarash starts breathing. The shroud is magical and makes a living person appear dead. As the PCs examine the body Orion appears (diviner-14), along with a spine covered monstrosity (barbed devil). If killed, Orion’s body slumps to the ground and a slug like monstrosity named Asuron with three human heads on one end and a sluglike mouth on the other [Devil-Belier] appear. The creature, if wounded, quickly teleports out.
Once rescued, Savarash comes to and thanks the party. He explains the details of the events, though now altered of how Orion was not who he appeared and had spent years in court building up good will. Such Devils take great pleasure in subverting events in the material plane through their patient, calculating plots. The devil, after destroying Elsinor by rekindling the Elf/Orc Vendetta, had made it appear as if Savarash was dead, and then robbed his body from the grave, shackling him in the tower, across from Alandra’s grave, where he could watch her suffer for eternity (alive and sustained through rings of regeneration and sustenance).
Savarash explains that he used the power of song to illuminate the past history through which he created doorways so that the good intentions behind Elsinor could be restored, along with the rescue of his love. The power of his magic has also forced the Devil back to the gleaming tower, where he can be slain; he asks the PCs to save Alandra, and sings the poem, the words coalescing into a Sharp Bladed Axe- [vorpal blade].
Final Act- To affix the betrayer with Poetic Wax
The Party now find themselves in Alandra’s mosoleum. Confronting them is Asuron. Each hit with the axe echo the words from the poem dripping of the blade binding the creature and constraining it’s movement and magical abilities, after the 7th hit (one for each stanza) the creature is encased in poetic wax, and the axe can now be used to lop off its heads.
Development
The party's actions have far reaching consequences, including restoring Elsinor, the rescue of Alandra, and the restoration of the Orc/Elf relationship.
