arcanaman
First Post
II would like people to please tell me what they think read and enjoy please do not be afraid to critique
· Working for the Duke
· Missing wife of hall defender
· Hall defender’s Wife is pregnant and insane
· Tie in with next adventure
Scion out of the Womb
At eight bells in the morning you’re in the common room of the Taby house Tavern outside its cloudy and quiet, the city hasn’t risen yet and inside the common room hardly anyone is awake, several circular tables surrounded by cushioned chairs are scattered throughout the room. You can hear the soft voice’s of the kitchen employee’s and the smell of cinnamon and baked apple’s waft from the kitchen.
No shops are open this early and the tavern doesn’t serve alcohol at this hour, to supplement this tavern has an array of coffee’s and tea’s to keep its patron happy. As employees of the duke of Balladeon you’ve steady job that does involve the unorthodox talents of adventurer’s. As you sit around the table you receive a letter from a young messenger boy. The letter is stamped with the royal stag of Balladeon. Do you open it; the letter is a job from the duke penned by his personal scribe and stamped with his personal symbol, he says that he will explain the job in detail and gives you till noon to except the job pays a lump sum of 2,400 gp what do you do know.
Balladeon Hall
Balladeon hall is large an open like all of the buildings in Balladeon it’s made out of wood and wood pillars are on the far sides of the hall the courtiers whisper to themselves hiding in the shadows of the pillars, torches light the interior outside of the pillars at the end of the hall are four chairs the two in the middle are larger than the two exterior chairs all made of polished obsidian an old man in plain white robe is conversing with an elven woman dressed much more elegantly her dark purple dress complementing her raven hair and emerald eyes when they you see you coming the elf woman goes to stand by the exterior chair to the right of the old man sitting in the larger chair to her left.
"Did you get the letter I sent you it concerns a matter of my demesne and I fear to talk or send anything about it outside of my hall. One of the defenders veteran generals who are charged with guarding this very hall defender Garuis, his wife and her unborn child went missing this morning I want you to investigate this matter to many of my eyes are invested in searching for cults of demonic worshippers to tend to this matter properly and that is why I ask you, there are rumors concerning Garuis I myself don’t listen to it but I’ve been told of most garish events within in his house and you are the only ones free to investigate so I ask you will you investigate this matter? I will pay you handsomely of course ."
Yes good speak to Drusilla my court mage regarding executive actions you can take, details and if you find anything worth reporting, the elven woman to his right bows. What do you do know?
Drusilla
You can investigate the lord’s tall house although he spend most of his time here and has his own room, his wife several years younger then him choose to stay in the tall house and regarding the rumors I believe that was best decision to keep her child alive you can question the courtiers to get more background information on the both of them and finally you question Garuis himself with complete tenure for the duration of this investigation I believe he is on his normal rounds patrolling the palace, sucking up to courtiers, and making plans all of which don’t lead back to him of course. Know regarding both of them his wife Aryin I believe her name is she in her twenties, and became pregnant about six months ago before many of the rumors had wormed their way into court she was at one time studying to be a wizard but she had trouble deciding her specialization at one time she was interested in conjuration and transmutation but after failing the test for both of those and marrying her husband she dropped out apparently he didn’t want her to be practicing magic. She was also a scion of the noble house Rosen thorn. Lord Garuis has served in the armed forces for years almost at middle age for a human, unlike his wife he was born of common stock but the power and prestige of the position of defender out ways that to most of the courtiers and nobles who visit here, other than they seemed to have had the perfect marriage, I’ve barely listened to the rumors like my lord I don’t listen to rumors regarding other’s in his employment but I’ve heard a little here and there but not enough to piece together anything conclusive if you need anything more come find me if I’m not here I am advancing my studies and the local Arcane association guild hall or lecturing at the university. Also if you find anything don’t hesitate to report to me.
Courtiers Whispers
The fourteenth bell of the day rings and the courtiers gather with their lord in an opulent dining room covering three or four rooms in size for afternoon tea they all stand waiting for their lord to enter and sit down first, the server set down a picturesque pies and cake cut into many pieces and a marble pitcher with a stag engraved in gold at each place, the scent of many types of tea and desserts once again waft through the room, as usual while waiting for their lord they gossip and speak of things which transpired today
What do you do?
· Gather information: dc(10) Aryin had a break down in the courtyard two weeks ago a minor servant girl went to console her apparently she told “this servant girl” she was beaten by her husband of and on since they got married and had stopped for while since she was pregnant but it had started up again
· Gather information: dc(15) after seeing several wicked scars in various places on Aryin’s body she ran to get the priestess of the palace chapel who healed Aryin not wanting to make a empty accusations against the hall’s defender she kept her mouth shut she was purported to have been very upset when she saw the scars on Aryin’s back
· Gather information: dc(20) after the priestess also known as the old matron left Garuis came to the courtyard and pushed the servant girl aside taking his wife hand violently it’s said you could hear her sob all the way back to their town house.
What do you do?
Questioning the Priestess
The chapel is small and clean pew’s part for small hallway, at the adjacent side there are twelve gold statues of the vassals the small hallway’s leads to the altar flooded with light both from the small hole in the ceiling and the three stain glass windows behind the altar an old woman dressed in typical white robe with the hood down tends the pew’s diligently.
Hello my name is Melliena and I am the chief priestess here in the chapel can I help you with anything?
Diplomacy (5)
Oh I don’t know what you mean sure I’ve heard the rumor’s but that’s what they’re nothing but rumor’s I‘ve seen Aryin around but not lately
Diplomacy (15)
By god I ‘don’t know what’s happening
Yes the serving girl Jenny was her name, brought me to Aryin that day I almost hesitated to heal her why? The scars on her back some of them looked to make words in abyssal I don’t whether the wounds were inflicted by someone else or herself, the phrase it made we’re cleansed in something I can’t remember the last word I purified myself and atoned not wanting to be corrupted by demonic power afterwards just in case I saw what I saw.
Questions for the Defender
You find Garuis patrolling the hall’s in ceremonial mithrial chain a ceremonial rapier on his belt his black hair graying his black bearded cut neatly followed behind him by two young recruits’ of the duke’s personal guard
What do you do?
To get information from Garuis they must make a successful diplomacy and intimidation check if they try to ask him anything he get’s flustered and give’s violent outbursts at the party denying everything the two guards are quiet and unassuming and don’t say anything during this affair
If the check is successful yes I beat her sometimes but only when she deserved it but look she has my child please find her and bring her back to me
Aryin’s Room
The room is completely disarrayed books that once line the bookshelves the floor some of them open the sheets on a bed completely shredded the feathers from the pillow lining the corners of the room a window completely broken adjacent from the bed the glass broken into pieces and covered with blood ,strangely the throw rug in front of it which had an eye which seems to be made from purple ink and a golden sun burst on a green rug the symbol of the arcane association.
If they investigate the rug they’ll find a secret stairway leading down to Aryin’s secret lab and study the room contains some a pearl choker worth 500gp and a small chest with 400sp nothing else is in the room
Questions better left unanswered
As you reach the last step the several book shelves line the wall a small dark table in the center of the room an open book lies on the table a bare wall behind the table written on the wall in red is the words his seed is corrupted
On the table is book describing a demonic binding ritual and above that is the words through sin we’re cleansed, there are several book’s describing joining demon cults, demon mysticism and summoning on the table there is also schematics of the sewers and a picture of a mausoleum as you finish a skull with black fire begins to fly in a circle around the chamber
What do you do?
Everything you do phases through it through sin it can be saved, through sin it can be cleansed then skull spits gout of black fire in your face, roll for half damage.
The Sewer Map
The sewer map is written in abyssal with translations underneath it seem it leads to a cult of the horned one but Aryin has marked with a diamond behind the cell location seemingly interested in something that lies beyond the map also show’s several places in the sewer which serve as outpost, supply stations and dormitories, the entrance is in Shadean’s Copse a group of trees where criminals were once hung now used as a park it’s located in middle of town.
Into the Sewer
You enter a copse of dark pine trees, the nesses long since taken down but as you walk to the ancient stone manhole cover in the center you can’t help but feel a menacing presence in the air watered down by daylight. As you begin to enter the man whole cover a skull begins to fly in a circle black fire trailing behind it.
The skull seems to be pleading this time through sin it can, be saved, through sin it can be cleansed, please let it be done it can be the only way to save it! The skull then spit’s gout of dark flame at the same person as last time
What do you do know?
In the Sewer’s
You descend the stairs into the dark passage way of the sewer unlike the city above which is made of wood the sewers are made from granite torches line the passage although they have long since faded, soon all other sounds are blocked by the sound of roaring water. You see above you several niche’s and people in leather wearing horned, smiling demon mask they’re looking in a different direction.
· Sol diers of the horned one : human fighter4/ rogue2 Str: 16, Dex:14,Con:14,Int: 12, wis:12, cha:10 Ac:15,Ba:+8,Range:+2 ref:+6, Fort:+8, Will:+2
Feats
expertise
Combat reflexes
Power attack
Rapid shot
Cleave
Equipment
Studded leather
Dagger1d4
Great sword 2d4
Cross bow heavy 1d10
20 sp each
Three demon masks
· Yeluthra priestess of the horned one : human female cleric 6/ fighter 2 Str:14, Dex:12, Con:12, Int:14, Wis:16, Cha:16 Ac: 12, Ba:+8, Range+1 ref:+3,fort:+10,will: +8
Feats
Profane life leech
Power attack
Combat reflexes
Cleave
Combat casting
Equipment:
Sword of the horned one (great sword, flaming, wounding) 1d10
Short bow 1d6
Demon mask
)
Horned one’s temple
An opening in the shape of a Minotaur skull and open mouth lie before you beyond the door crude rose quartz pillar take the shape of frolicking demons a make shift altar stand in front of a granite statue of a minotaur holding a great sword in one hand and a great axe in the other a blonde hair woman in a silk white robe, wearing a bronze mask of a horned grinning demon .
She appears to be cleaning up the altar she pulls a lever dumping a body into the sewer.
The she turn around to face you.
· Jezebel High horned one of Balladeon: female cleric 3/sorcerer5 Str:14,dex:12, Con :12 ,Int:10, Wis:14, Cha:16 Ac:11 Ba+2 Range:+1 Ref:+1 Fort:+2 Will+2
Feats
Profane life leech
Combat casting
Weapon proficiency (great sword)
Silent spell
Equipment
Sword of the horned one ( great sword, flaming ,wounding )1d10
Sling of the maimed prince (+1, keen sight)
Bullets of shade (darkness 40ft)
The horned one’s spittle (bullet’s, fire 1d6 extra)
The horned one’s spittle (bullet’s, fire 1d6 extra)
Demon mask
Temple journal
Ring of the horned one’s spittle (fire ray 1d6)
Ah I see new convert’s from where were you first told of the horned Marmia’s sick house or Daylin’s emporium of forbidden lore both outside the plague wall, I see getting the sacrificial knife altar you must first spill your own blood then swear the oath of submission before the horned one , she begins to chant in draconic
After your battle with Jezebel you discover an old stone door with a hand holding rose and one fingers bleeding because it has been pricked by a thorn
Rosen thorn crypt
The old door leads into a mausoleum, the gold fading from the marble interior coffins shaped liked the people who are buried there again a skull trailed by black fire appears this time the skull is furious
You are trying to stop me from cleansing him the skull speaks in a more femine voice his seed is corrupted! The skull then screams loudly
A sound like a large object made from stone and bone moving comes towards you
Summoning Chamber
A woman wearing traveling robes, her black hair unkempt and disheveled her hands moving in arcane gestures a circle of fire surrounds her a baby lies on the top of a granite coffin within the circle of fire a bone devil is trapped within a circle of salt the demon seem to be struggling with arcane gesture of transport
What do you do?
Sorry for the font being so small don't know how to fix it
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