Part I: Sember
Sember is a small tome that is built on the edge of the River Sember in the
Green Goblin forest. The town has around 1,500 residents, mostly human and gnome.
The two peoples are able to coexist rather well. There are very few disagreements.
About a year ago, a cleric of The Binder, who lost his powers in The Time of
Troubles, came to Sember and began a church. With the help of a handful of
magical items he was able to convince the populous and his followers that he
still had powers. A short time back, he learned that the charges on his magical
toys were near to being used up. He panicked. With the church at his back he
started to rule the town with an iron hand. Because of the reputation he had
built up, the people of Sember bowed to his commands. They stopped being men
and became sheep.
Meanwhile, the lord of the peaceful hamlet, Lord Bern, was out riding in the
forest when he was set upon by a band of hobgoblins and killed. The creatures
took the lord's body to their leader, Rac a Narra. Rac had a ring of change
self that he had scrounged from the body of an adventuring magi. With the
help of the ring Rac changed himself into an exact replica of Lord Bern and road
into town. He took over the lord's keep and looted the town treasury. Of course
this was what Perro, the cleric, wanted to do. As a result a power struggle
insued bettween the two monsters. Enter the PCs at this point.
Priestly Accusations
The PCs arrive in Sember around midmorning. When they start down the street
a band of five (5) people stop them. These folks are dressed in black robes and
come rushing out of a low roofed church heading the PCs off. Their leader is
a short man with beady black eyes and small feet. He shuffles up (he has a bad
back) to the Pcs and asks them in a voice like gravel if they accept the word of
Binder. He is dressed in black robes like the others but his are of a much
higher quality. He is also adorned with a bright red sash. This, of course,
is Perro.
Perro(Forgotten Cleric): AC 6; MV 12; HD 4; hp 25; THAc0 18; #AT 1; Dmg
1d4; SA magical items; SZ M; MR 15(12 if alone); Int 12; AL LE; XP 2,000.
Equ: Clothes (5 gp), warhammer, cloak of pro +1, ring of blinking 1/hour,
five cards from a deck of illusions: harts: 2 & 9 (goblin & ettin), clubs: 2
(kobold), spades: 6 (hobgoblin) & diamonds: Jack (harpy), purse with 20 gp.
Clerics, 0 level humans: AC 10; MV 12; HD 1; hp 4; THAc0 20; #AT 1; Dmg
1d4; SZ M; MR 13; AL LE; XP 50each.
Equ: cloths (2gp), warhammer or club, purse with 20 sp.
Perro will demand the the PCs make a donation to the "town's church and will
curse any PC clerics. Make the point of him being quite rude and pompous.
At the first sign of aggression from the PCs the clerics wil curse them and
then withdraw to their church to plot. The PCs are free to wander the town for
the rest of the day.
Through out the rest of the day impress upon the PCs the poverty and depression
the towns folk live in. They are taxed by their hobgoblin lord and prosecuted by
the damn church. They are all glum and downtrodden.
Some of the more notable places in town are listed below:
Baron's all-goods: This is the general store and sells all the junk
listed in the PHB under 20gp in value. The shopkeeper is called Bud by everybody,
and is sympathetic to the plight of the people but is too much of a coward to do
anything about it.
First Church of the Binder: here is the church that Perro built. It
is a low roofed structure (because Perro has a bad back) made of wood. The
clerics are always here, conducting rituals for the few people who bother coming.
Green Goblin Inn: This is the only inn in town. The other one, Rock's
Hearth Rug, mysteriously burned to the ground shortly after it opened for
business. Interesting no? Rooms can be had for 3 gp a night and meals are
around 5cp.
Burn Keep: This is the only castle near the town. It is falling into
disrepair and none of the towns folk give a shaved copper. This is where the
lords make their home. By most standards it is a small place and rather
unimpressive.
At any time the PCs make trouble 1d4+2 of the town guards will come up and ask
them to state their business. The guards are rude and try to intimidate the PCs.
The guards tell the PCs that they have to get their papers at the castle.
They then try to confiscate the PCs weapons and other equipment.
If the PCs go to the castle they are escorted by ten guards to the basement.
Here they are thrust into a small room with only one rickety wooden chair. Here
again the guards try to relive the PCs of their weapons and other items of value.
The PCs are then asked to wait in the stuffy room for over two hours. After the
two hours they are told that the lord cannot see them today, and they will have
to be held over night. (These guys like living on the dangerous side don't they?)
If the PCs stay in the castle they are brought before the lord two days later.
The guards try to tie the PCs up before they get to the lord. The lord promptly
sends the PCs off to work in the mines.
Thieves
The thieves guild of Sember is the one place that the commoners dared to turn
for salvation from their two oppressors. Once the guild was a handful of petty
pickpockets and other less respected people, but with the coming of the cleric
and Burn it has turned into a helpful group that assists the townsfolk in
smuggling loved ones out and smuggling needed tax money in.
The thieves guild is currently occupying an old barn on the end of town.
There the people meet in the loft to discuss their predicament.
If the PCs confront the cleric or the Guards and live to tell about it the
guild will try to contact them and smuggle them to the barn for safety. There
the PCs should learn all about Burn and the clerics. If they inquire they will
be able to learn about the Manor. No one knows anything much about the church.
Also, the thieves know all about the witch in the forest and have heard rumors of
the bottle. They know that Burn has summoned a vile monster, they have not seen
it.
The guild will gratefully except any and all help that the PCs offer, be it in
coin or strength. They plan to evacuate the town when they have saved enough
gold to buy ten large wagons. They need 500gp more.
The Castle
The castle of Sember is actually an old manor house built in the times when
orcs were still a threat and defense was needed. The ruling family of Sember has
had control of it since.
There are always about 30 guards stationed at the castle. 20 usually patrol
during the day, and half that at night. If the PCs are sneaking around, there is
a 1 in 6 chance(1 on a d6) that they will run into a patrol of 1-2 guards. If
the PCs openly attack, 1d4+5 guards will appear every round until they are all
dead or defeated.
Hall: This is main entrance to the castle. The door here may be bolted
and locked, requiring a Pick Locks attempt at -20% to open them. Otherwise they
must take 50 points of damage before breaking. There are two sentries posted here
at all times. There is a door to the left and the right, And a grand pair of
double doors on the far wall.
Lounge: Through the door to the right, is the room where guests wait to
be admitted. It has fallen into disrepair since Burn was usurped. Its tattered
finery speaks of better days in the past. The only thing of value here is a
silver vase on the mantle. (valued at 20gp) This room is not opened any more,
and no one visits it.
Servants Quarters: Across the hall from the lounge is the servant's
sleeping quarters. It contains several straw pallets and a few of the servant's
possessions. Six servants sleep here, who would be very surprised and frightened
if the PCs barge in. There is no one here in daytime.
Grand Room: The grand doors lead into the long dining hall. This is
where the meals are served. A large oaken table dominates the room, spanned on
either side by a low bench. There is nothing of value here. In daytime, there
might be up to five guards here. It is empty during the night. To the right
there is an archway to the kitchens, and to the left, a doorway to leading to the
staircase.
Kitchen: There are two to three cooks here during most of the day.
They call for the guards if the PCs come tramping in. A haunch of meat is
sizzling merrily at the fire, and various other cooking projects are in the
making. There are knives, pots, beakers, platters, and other dishes here, and
a keg of cider. Nothing of real value. On the right-hand wall, an open door
way leads to the pantry.
Pantry: This is a dusty, dark, and stuffy room. The shelves are
stacked with kegs, tins and crocks, and sacks and crates line the walls.
There is nothing of value here, unless the PCs want to haul off 500 pounds
of food staples.(gluttons) In the far left-hand corner is a set of stairs
going down to the cellars.
Stairwell: These stairs go up to the second story. There are no
windows, so a couple of torches are always kept burning on the walls.
Second Story: The stairs lead to long hall with doors lining both
sides. The first two on the left lead to the guestrooms. The last on the
left leads to Burn's study. To the right, the first three are guard's billet
rooms, and the last is Burn's bedroom.
Guestrooms: These were for the rest of the family, when there was more,
and now they are not in much use. They each contain A wooden bedstead, a chest
of drawers, a wardrobe, and a lot of dust. The shutters are always closed, and
very little light is to be had.
Burn's Study: Here is where burn keeps his records and other important
papers. There is a large desk here, along with several bookshelves. Old family
shields decorate the walls. 2-3 guards are stationed at the door. This is where
Burn is most of the time.
Guard's Barracks: There are three smaller rooms at one end of the
castle, where the guards sleep. They house about twelve cots in each room,
and little in the way of valuable possessions. If the PCs loot the rooms,
they can scrounge up about 20sp worth.
Burn's Bedroom: This is a large, very fine room compared to the rest
of the decaying castle. An enormous ornate bed is at the far wall, next to a
marble fireplace. There is a finely carved wardrobe, a large iron cast chest,
and a round wooden table with a chair. The windows are hung with thick draperies,
and the deep windowsills are strewn with cushions.
Cellars: The small staircase in the pantry goes down to the cellars.
The first room is disused and dusty. The second room has been cleared out and
is used as a prison cell and interrogation room.
Storage Room: Old crates, empty barrels, rotting burlap sacks, and
rats are the only things to be found here. This is the old cellar, and not in
much use. On the far wall is an oak door, firmly latched and bolted. The key
is hanging on a peg next to the door, so picking the lock will not be necessary.
This is the door to the back room. There are no windows here.
Back Room: This is where Burn keeps his prisoners until he is finished
with them. There are no windows, and no ready means of creating light. There is
rickety wooden table and chair, and some old rushes on the floor. The door will
be locked from the outside, requiring a Pick Locks or 20 points of damage.
Guards, 1st level human fighters(30): AC 5; MV 12; HD 1;hp 8; THAC0 19; #AT
1; DMG 1d6+1; SZ M; MR 10; Int 8; AL LE; XP 50
Equ: Chainmail, shortsword, spear, purse w/ 20cp
Rac a Narra, polymorphed hobgoblin: AC 4; MV 12; HD 4; hp 40; THAC0 18; #AT
3/2; DMG 1d8; SZ M; MR 14; Int 13; AL NE; XP 2,000
Equ: Chainmail, bastardsword; ring of Change self (10 charges),
Amulet of Summoning, purse w/10gp
The Forest
The forest is a fresh, cheery relief after Sember. A faint path leads from
the outskirts of town, winding through and around the trees. The path leads
to the witch Fay's house. She lives about a mile or so from Sember in a sunny
meadow. Her house is a neat stone cottage with a thatched roof and a bright
green door. Smoke curls from the chimney, and sweet smelling herbs grown in the
window boxes. Fay is very pleased to have visitors. She sits them down at her
kitchen table and feeds gingerbread and cider. If the PCs question her, she
tell them that the bottle was last in the possession of Lupin the Druid.
Lupin is dead now, and the bottle rests with him in his tomb.
"You must remember, though, the Druid rests in his old home. The Sacred
Tree, they call it now. I can show you how to get there, but it won't be
easy to get inside. First of all, the tree is supposedly guarded by a fearsome
dragon. Second, if you do get in the tree, there is a magical curtain barring
the way."
She offers to give them aid in passing the barrier, but says they are on their
own with the dragon. In return for her aid, she asks that they bring her a
wooden tablet that also lies with the Druid. If the PCs agree, she will give
them a smooth white pebble. This will allow them to pass through the ward cast
upon the Druid's tree. She sees them out the door with a warning to take only
the bottle and the tablet from the tree, for they would be turned into stone.
If the PCs return with the tablet, she thanks them and tell them what a good
job they did. If they do not give her the tablet, she will cast curse and doom
blade on them the first chance she gets. If the PCs attack her, she disappears,
and casts the spell at a later time.
The Horrible Beast
An adult Fairy Dragon lives in the forest near the Druid's tree.. The dragon's
name is Puk. He takes delight in pestering travelers, and plays tricks on them
when ever he can. The PCs are a wonderful distraction from boredom.
First Trick: When the PCs are well on their way to the Tree, Puk casts
suggestion on them. He makes them want to wander off to smell the flowers and
take a nap, maybe. Once they have left the trail, he will cast forget on them,
causing them to forget the last two rounds. The PCs must make a hearing check
to hear the others if they shout for each other. Otherwise, they are lost. The
PCs can save vs. spell for both spells, suggestion at -2.
Second Trick: When the PCs near the Tree, Puk casts unseen servant and
coats it with mud and leaves. He casts ventriloquism on it and sends to meet the
PCs, hovering nearby. Once the PCs are close enough, he uses the ventriloquism to
say in his high, squeaky voice," I am the guardian of the Tree! None can stand
against me! Trespassers! Leave your weapons and gold and go! Or my wrath will
be visited upon your heads!"
He commands his servant to spin and jump around wildly. If the PCs drop even
one item and leave, Puk is pleased. If they try to fight the servant, Puk
dismisses it and blasts the PCs with a color spray and flutters off in a huff.
Puk will try similar tricks when the PCs leave the wood, or if they come again.
Puk, adult yellow-green fairy dragon: AC 1; MV 6; HD 4; hp 12; THAC0 12;
#AT 1; DMG 1d2; SA breath weapon: 2' cloud of euphoria gas, save vs. breath or
wander around blissfully for 3d4 rounds; SD invisibility at will, spells:
(6th level) unseen servant, color spray, ventriloquism, forget, suggestion,
dancing lights, clairvoyance, and claryaudince; Mag 48%; SZ T(1 ½' long);
MR 11; Int 17; AL CG; XP 0
The Sacred Tree
The Tree is an enormous oak roughly 100' high. The limbs spiral upwards
around the trunk, forming unusual steps. The Tree is inhabited by squirrels
and a flock of ravens. If the PCs climb the Tree, the ravens will attack them
about halfway up. The ravens try to peck at eyes and claw faces. Any PC
successfully blinded by the birds must make Dex/Bal check or fall from the
Tree, suffering 5d6 points of falling damage. If half or more of the
ravens are killed, they retreat to the higher branches, squawking and
chattering at the PCs.
Ravens(10): AC 8; MV 24(D); HD 1; hp 3; THAC0 20; #AT 1; DMG 1d2; SA a
16-20 on an attack roll blinds target's eye; SZ S; MR 5; Int 1; AL N; XP 15
At the top of the Tree, a wooden door rests in the trunk. It is stuck with
age, requiring a BB/OD role. This is the Druid's front door. The interior has
no natural light source, and it is very dark.
First Room: This room is bare of furnishings. Across the room is a
doorway. It is barred by a curtain of faintly glowing green light. This is
the magical barrier Fay spoke of. The only way to pass through is a dispell
magic cast at 10th level or by tossing the charm that Fay gave the PCs at it.
There are three ghouls living in this room, and they will try to ambush the PCs
from the shadows.
Ghouls(3): AC 6; MV 9; HD 2; hp 15; THAC0 9; #AT 2; DMG 1d6; SA
paralyzation(1d6+2 rounds); MR 11; Int 6; AL CE; XP 175
Treasure: 37gp, 5sp, 5cp, 2 fire opals(700gp each), scroll of eight
priest spells(remove curse, heal x2, raise dead x2,cure blindness, true
seeing x2), 9 sling bullets +2, elven chainmail +2
Second Room: Past the magical curtain is the Druid's tomb. His
remains lie upon a wooden platform in the center of the room. They are
enshrouded in dark grey strips of bark that have hardened into a rocklike
shell. A doorway on the far wall leads into darkness.
Third Room: Here is where the Druid kept his treasure. Three
large urns painted a vivid red and encircled illegible symbols. If the
PCs search the urns, they will be able to find the wooden tablet and the
bottle. There are also jewels, antique gold coins, gold and silver medallions,
jewel encrusted daggers, and other riches. If the PCs attempt to take anything
but the bottle or tablet out of the room, they must save vs. petrify at -10 or
immediately become stone. This will happen each time a PC tries to leave the
room with forbidden items. The bottle is a bottle of containment, trapping any
extraplainier creatures within 10' of it when it is uncorked. If uncorked again,
the creature is released, and the bottle becomes an ordinary bottle.
The Mine
The Mine was once rich in copper deposit, but dried up about 50 years ago,
and was abandoned. Now, half the tunnel shafts are filled with seep water, and
the other is filled with hobgoblins. Rac a Narra and his tribe found the mine
and settled in it. After Rac a Narra took Burn's shape, Rac a Narra keeps his
tribe living in the mine until he can eliminate the town of its current
occupants. It is unlikely that the PCs will come here, but if they do, they
find a sprawling complex of mine shafts that eventually lead to water. About
sixty hobgoblins live here, but only thirty are fighters. Any prisoners that
are sent here are used as slaves.
Hobgoblins(30): AC 5; MV 9; HD 1+1; hp 10; THAC0 19; #AT 1; DMG 1d6; SZ M;
MR 12; Int 8; AL LE; XP 35
Equ: Random armor(equivalent to chainmail), club, spear, or shortsword,
20cp
The Little Imp
Rac a Narra managed to summon an extraplainier imp. When ever he is in
danger,(when his guards are gone) He will summon the imp to his side with his
Amulet of Summoning.
Imp(extraplainier creature): AC 2; MV 6; FI 18(A); HD 2+2; hp 30; THAC0 19;
#AT 1; DMG 1d4; SA poison tail, save vs. poison or die, suggestion 1/day; SD
detect good, detect magic, polymorph(only animal forms), become invisible
at will, hit only by magical of silver weapons, immune to cold, fire and
lightning attacks, regenerate 1 hp per round; Mag 25%; SZ T(2' tall); MR 10;
Int 8; AL CE; XP 1,500
Conclusion
When the PCs return to town, all is still and quiet. The townsfolk are
hiding in their homes, fearful of crossing the street. Burn has established
a set of "Rules", and nailed copies of them all about the town. They are
strict dictations of the townsfolk's lives.(what they may eat, wear, do, when
they may leave their homes, etc) Any who break the rules are arrested and
imprisoned. Burn uses the castle guard to enforce his rules.
The adventure should play out as you wish, but try to get the PCs to act the
heroic saviors.
Experience
All PCs are given 3,000xp for saving Sember. Further experience can be
awarded for the creatures they defeated. If the PCs did not kill Fay or Puk,
they receive a further 300xp each. If a PC was heroic and brace,(meaning non
selfish) then award that PC 200xp If the PCs role-played well, then award them
100xp.
