Red Or White

[Messageboard Golem]

What do you serve with trouble?

The wine country of Thentis produces some of the greatest wines in all of Althios. However, the small town may hold an even greater treasure. The adventurers are hired to locate a previously unknown cure for lycanthropy rumored to exist in the surrounding mountains. A simple cure to this scourge is a prize scholars will pay handsomely for.

Thentis is a quiet little town that holds more than its share of secrets. Nestled high in the mountains of what was once the legendary kingdom of Yendis, the small town grows wealthy with the prosperous wine industry. However, the trade routes are perpetually threatened by the dangers of the surrounding mountains, and new trouble is on the horizon.

The army of General Targati is on the march and has annexed the city of Thentis. The General looks for the profits of the winery to feed his war chests as he attempts to reforge the empire. Between the General's ambition and the curse of lycanthropy can the adventurers emerge triumphant.

Red or White, an adventure for the d20 system, invites characters to discover the glory of wine and pursue mysteries within the quaint little town of Thentis. Recommended for characters level 5-7.

 

[ASEO]

Red or White: 4 Good

Cost $4.99

32 Pages

6 1/2 X 10 1/4 layout

I believe that this company's products are sadly overlooked because of their comic book looking format. This is to bad because these are wonderful modules.

Levels 5-7

Spoilers





Red or White revolves around the party's quest to investigate a town in search of a cure for lycanthropy. Unknown to the players, a large portion of the town's population are were-creatures who have come to the town to live in peace. They are able to do this by drinking a special wine made exclusively in the town that allows the drinker to suppress their lycanthropic urges. Unknown to the PCs or the town folk, the Barron of the town is a vampire who is able to control his killing/evil urges by drinking the blood of lycanthropes who is under the influence of the wine. (evidently he doesn't kill the were creatures, just dominates them and drinks their blood, erases their memory and sends them on their way)

The party encounters bandits on the road to the town, does some exploring in and around the town and then witnesses the annexation of the town by a local Warlord. The Baron enlists the party to rescue some of his towns people who have been detained by the warlord's army. (These towns people may be were-creatures which would explain why the barron wants them back before anybody learns their true nature and deprives him of his blood supply. Though the module doesn't say this).

The party is then in town when the Warlord's second, a centuar, comes into town to discuss the terms of the town's surrender. This poses a problem for the Baron since he can't afford any variation in the way his town runs (for his and the lycanthropes' comfort). He thus requests the party search out the Warlord so that "He" can meet with the Baron (to be dominated by the vampire so as to leave the town alone).

The party sets out and rescues the Warlord and his escort from Harpies and an attacking Bullette. The Warlord agrees to return to the town and speak with the Barron (who dominates him) and agrees to leave the town alone.

The party on the way out of town encounters the towns people engaged in their monthly wine festival and learn the secret of the town's lycanthropy population. They are ushered to see the Baron who asks the party to keep the town's secret to themselves as the lycanthrope population is peaceful and just seeking solace from a world that sees them as vile creatures. The party may then leave and report that they found no cure, but the agent they are working for will be glad to hear of the Warlord's army.

I liked the concept that the party fails to accomplish the "find a cure" mission, but is able to satisfy their client and keep the valuable knowledge of the town's secret. This has great hook possibilities if a PC should contract lycanthropy. Additionally it could create a dilemma for a character with a desire, for any number of reasons, to rid the world of were-creatures.

There is also an aspect of the water in the town that not only is responsible for the properties of the wine, but also makes drinkers unable to attack any of the local population. I personally didn't like that concept and would change it to a Fort save to take any hostile action for a period of time depending on the quantity of the water consumed.

the items above which are in "( )" are implied in the text, but not necessarily stated.

This adventure is easily placed in any campaign world. In my world I'll most likely make the town a monastery where the "monks" are the were-creatures and their abbot the vampire. This easy adaptability is one of the great tings about this product.

- Another superior effort by Guildhouse Games

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