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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Enkhidu" data-source="post: 1376733" data-attributes="member: 351">Winter Iron DM 2004 TourneyRound Two – Second Match-Up:cstyle vs EnkhiduThe Ingredients: Demon OrgyReluctant SlaversBulette ShellFrost Brand, Battle AxeLock PicksSacred WellThe Adventure:All’s Well that Ends Well Adventure Notes: All’s Well that Ends Well is an short adventure meant for PCs of 11th to 12th level.BackgroundH’quru is a strong walled desert city, long ruled by the Caliphs of the Shom. It is a jewel of the desert known for valuable spices, mines full of pure veins of silver and gold, and the deep wells that are the lifeblood of the city. However, if the water wells are the life’s blood H’quru, then a different well is its heart: the Well of Holy Flame. Legends abound of the sacred well and its power, and when the Shom first laid stone in H’quru that power protected them from the fell beasts and otherworldly fiends that stalked the desert night. Yet as H’quru grew, so did the number of pilgrims seeking to gaze upon its wonder. The masses came, bringing with them little more than empty bellies, parched tongues, and diseased breath; and to fight this growing plague, the Well was sealed during the reign of the first Caliph. Since then, every third year the Well is unsealed at midnight to light up the starry sky and H’quru celebrates the Festival of the Flame in its glow. Come morning, however, the Caliph seals the Well once again, keeping it safe for another three years.NPCsCaliph Shoshua b’Shom: Aristocrat 8The Caliph’s line has ruled H’quru since its founding, playing one noble family off another in more troublesome times in order to maintain their grip on H’quru’s throne, and the current Caliph is no stranger to his family’s heritage: he is decadent, pampered, and utterly ruthless. He also happens to be well loved by the people, as his rule has been considered fair and his armies have been successful in battle. As such, many of his extravagances and vices have been overlooked by the masses, including his harem.The Caliph’s harem is the stuff of legend: encompassing women of all races and types and as large as a one of H’quru’s battalions. So much of his business is conducted among them that his scribes and viziers have set up offices right outside the harem chambers and some of the women have been pressed into service, running messages back and forth between the Caliph and his advisors and sometimes accompanying him on his more public appearances.For the past two weeks, the Caliph has been under the charming influence of B’rana and Kharmina – two succubi posing as members of his harem. He is at this point firmly under their control.Kharmina and B’rana: Succubi (each CR7)B’rana and Karmina are, using their significant polymorph capabilities, posing as two new members of Caliph Shoshua’s harem. They arrived in H’quru less than a month ago, and had almost completely dominated the Caliph two weeks later. Now, one of the two is always at the Caliph’s side, and together they control him utterly. The succubi are bent on the corruption of the Well of Holy Fire, and plan on doing just that when the Well’s seal is broken. Using unholy and carnal rites, they plan on using the Well as a permanent gateway into the Abyss.B’rana has in her possession an item of note in this adventure – a scroll inscribed with a symbol of lust. This effect is similar to that of a symbol of insanity or of persuasion, excpet that it instead causes an overwhelming feeling of lust in those that fail a Will save against it. Those affected by the symbol become rather “free” with their affections. Symbol of lust is a arcane spell of 7th level that last 10 minutes per caster level.Sack and Govan: Ranger 6/Rogue 5 and Sorcerer 10Sack and Govan are members of the Ring of Freemen, a shadowy cabal of morally ambiguous demon slayers. Their purpose is simple – to hunt down, root out, and kill demons – and they are not picky about their methods. Members wear Lock Picks as pendants and pins as a subtle symbol of their membership.Sack and Govan have been hunting B’rana and Kharmina since they first found evidence of their presence, and finally tracked them (through a number of methods) to the Caliph’s harem. Knowing that secret entrance into the palace – let alone the harem chambers – might be difficult at best, they decided to gain entrance another way – by posing as slavers specializing in “entertainment” with gifts for the Caliph. Their plan is to give the Caliph two girls for his harem, and then take their place with the use of Govan’s alter self. That should give them enough time to find and destroy the succubi.However, Sack and Govan are Reluctant Slavers at best, as they actually had to purchase slaves and play the role to the hilt. As a former slave himself, Sack has an especially difficult time playing the part correctly. Sack has one item of note in addition to his regular complement - the three Lock Picks he wears around his neck as a symbol of his Freemen status are magical in nature – one can act as a Chime of Opening, one can enact freedom of movement, and one can be used to break enchantment with a touch (spell effects at 15th level of ability). Each pick can be used only once, turning to dust afterward. The break enchantment pick will act as a failsafe, and automatically be used if the wearer is put under the effect of any type of enchantment for more than one round.The Well of Holy Flame and the Festival of FireH’quru’s Well lies in the center of a large square near the palace. It is a simple yet well made stone and mortar well, however when uncapped this well spurts a jet of flame equal in intensity to a wall of fire[/I[. Sitting atop the well is the heavily engraved and magicked exoskeleton of what the H’qurans term a “sand shark” (actually a Bullete Shell), and such a shell has served as the cap of the Well since the first Caliph.Every three years, in a ceremony full of pomp, the current Caliph presides over the release of the Holy Flame. This somber release culminates in the Cleaving of the Seal (done both physically and metaphorically by the Caliph using the a ceremonial axe said to have been used to quench the flame when it was first capped – the axe is a Frost Brand in Battle Axe form). When the seal is broken, the flame rushed upwards in a great pillar that lights up the streets of the city. It stays there until first light the next morning, when the revels cease, the ceremonial axe is used to quench the Holy Flame, and the well is recapped by a new Bullete Shell for another three years. This is the H’quran tradition, and anyone familiar with the city will know if it.The weeks leading up to the Festival of Fire involve a number of activites, including Olympic style games, contests of horsemanship, and the Hunt. The Hunt is a contest of prowess and skill that is meant to provide the Caliph with a new capseal for the Well. The winners of the Hunt (the first to return with the carcass and/or shell of a bulette) are rewarded richly and given a place of honor during the festivities.Adventure HooksIdeally, PCs will become involved with the happenings around H’quru’s Well of Holy Flame as guests of the Caliph. Some possible methods of making the PCs “official guests” follow:-If H’quru (or another large desert city) figures heavily in the campaign already, then it is possible that the PCs are already well-known heroes. If this is the case, the Caliph will invite them to his palace for the breaking of the Well’s seal – such an invitation is considered an honor in H’quru..-The PCs might join the Hunt, and if they are victorious will be guaranteed close contact with the Caliph. -The PCs might be diplomatic envoys, sent to inquire about trade agreements (new or old), military alliances, or the like. All other adventure hooks should at minimum put the PCs in close contact with the during the day of the Well is to be unsealed for revelry, feasting, etc in preparation for the night’s ceremony.EventsSome of the events covered below occur “offstage,” and events will follow this basic timeline unless the PCs intervene.-One Month BeforeThe succubi arrive in H’quru and begin work on the Caliph. Soon after, Sack and Govan begin tracking the demons. The Caliph calls for the beginning of the Hunt.-Two Weeks BeforeThe succubi complete their domination of the Caliph. Sack and Govan track the demons to H’quru and formulate their plan. Soon after they are posing as slavers and buying slaves.-One Week BeforeIf the PCs have not yet arrived in H’quru (for example, to participate in the Hunt), they do so now. The Hunt should now be over, and the Caliph’s wizards and viziers begin preparation of the bullete shell/capstone. Sack and Govan arrive in H’quru and begin working on seeing the Caliph. This week will be marked by Games, and the PCs should have plenty to do if they participate. -The Day Of…Feasting, carousing, and other revelry abound in the Caliph’s palace. At this point, the PCs (through appropriate hooks) should be guests of the Caliph, and are invited to attend the festivities.By the time the feasting begins, the Caliph will have two succubi shadows that follow him wherever he goes. He will seem at times befuddled, and there will be gossip about his new favorites among the revelers. Though he will perform his duties, it will become obvious that he is only interested in sating his appetites for wine, women, and food. Through inquiry, the PCs might discover that this is out of character for the Caliph.For their part, the two succubi will begin charming revelers wholesale, and beginning with the guards. They will steer clear of the PCs unless the PCs seek them out (at which point the PC in question becomes fair game). This charming will better allow them get cooperation during the night when they begin their unholy rites.During one of the feasts that the PCs attend, they may meet either Sack or Govan. Of the two, Govan is much more well at ease with the pairs plan, and it will show (in addition, Govan is a charismatic individual with no mean skill in Bluffing, Diplomacy, and other interpersonal skill). On the other hand, Sack is close mouthed and very obviously ill at ease. Observant PCs might notice the Lock Pick pendants both wear – curious PCs will get harshly rebuffed if they inquire about them, and Sack will take careful note of them. Both men are nervous about their cover, and are not very willing to trust the PCs. If, however, if during conversation the pair finds out that the PCs have ever come into conflict with fiends, they may cautiously decide to join with the PCs to kill the succubi.At some point in the afternoon, Gavon and Sack will present the Caliph with his new gift, and ask only ythat they be allowed to prepare them for the evening’s festivities before they give them entirely over to the Caliph’s care. The Caliph will accept the gift and the girls will be carted away.-Festival and CeremonyWhen the Caliph goes to prepare for the ceremony, the revelers will be escorted into the courtyard surrounding the Well. Sharp eyed PCs will notice that the girls presented to the Caliph by Sack and Govan are present but are wearing decorative daggers and a set of Lock Picks as pendants. These are in actuality the pair of demon hunters altered to look like their “gifts.” Before the PCs can investigate, the ceremony will begin and end quickly, with the breaking of the seal. When the seal breaks and the flames leap into the air, those too close to the flame will be burned (as a wall of fire), while the rest of the revelers go wild. This crowd should be the equivalent of a mosh pit, with all that entails.While the crowd goes wild, the succubi use their symbol of lust, and the mosh pit quickly becomes more friendly. The succibi take part in the friendliness. Within rounds, revelers will have shed clothing and gotten to “know” one another in a biblical sense. During the confusion, Sack and Govan will attempt to make their way over to the demons. At this point, just about everything should happen at once.The succubi, at the height of the frenetic orgy, will begin their unholy rite with the sacrifice of the Caliph, who will be hurled into the flame without his ceremonial axe. At that point a portal will open that allows demons to come into the Prime. This effect is equal to the Summon Demon ability of a vrock (35% chance to summon 2d10 dretch) each round. The dretch, if they come through will actually join in the festivities, coupling with just about anything that moves, though this Demon Orgy will also result in a bloodbath as revelers dies while in the throes of passion. When this happens the succubi revert to their true forms.If the succubi proceed uninterrupted, this Well will become corrupted and the portal will be permanent. If the PCs intervene (or if Sack and Govan interrupt the demons) the portal will be temporary, but will continue to spew out demons as long as the well is uncapped. Only by quenching the Flame with the ceremonial axe (which is lost in the crowd) and capping the Well with the shell (which was close at hand already for the actual closing ceremony) will the portal close. AftermathIf the PCs close the portal, they still have a number of problems – demons running amok, a new power vacuum in H’quru, and the political and religious fallout caused by the (possible) corruption of the Well. That should keep ‘em busy.********Quick Ingredient Recap: Demon Orgy: Part of the unholy rites that open a portal to the Abyss.Reluctant Slavers: Govan and SackBullete Shell: the Cap of the WellFrost Brand, Battle Axe: the ceremonial axe that quenches the Holy FlameLock Picks: Symbol of the Ring of Freemen, a clue to the identy of the altered demon hunters, and Sack’s safety netSacred Well: The Well of Holy Flame</blockquote>

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