d20 Black Death Publishing Hanan Pacha Spire of the Raven God.pdf

A d20 adventure module by Rex Baker & Joe Calkins

Cover art by Joe Calkins, Interior art by Joe Calkins and Butch Mapa

Hanan Pacha at a glance

page 2

Chapter 1: Adventure Overview

page 3

Chapter 2: On the Path to the Sanctuary

page 6

Chapter 3: The Druidic Council

page 9

Chapter 4: Into the Demons’ Realm

page 14

The Doors of Perception

page 16

Chapter 5: Sprint for the Spire

page 18

Nightmares from the Night Hag

page 22

Chapter 6: Assault on the Spire

page 25

The Succubus and Her Stone

page 27

Capter 7: The Spire Level Two

page 29

Conclusion: The Battle with Varnaku

page 31

Appendix

page 33

New Monsters

page 39

Spire Of The Raven God is recommended for four to six characters of 8th - 12th level. They

should be a variety of character classes, have magic and magical weapons. As designed, the module

will fit in any medieval campaign. If you desire to use this module for lower level characters, you

will need to reduce the monster’s hit dice and abilities. The scenario is set in a temperate forest

wilderness area that features one village, hills and a rocky spire. The action takes place in the forest,

onto the planes where demons reside and inside the spire. The spire was in part magically constructed

ages ago and is now called The Stairway of the Gods.

As always, feel free to adapt the material presented here as you see fit to make it work with your

campaign. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or

events is purely coincidental. This adventure is compatible with and conforms to the D20/O.G.L. To get

started, print out the adventure, including the maps and the handouts. Read through the scenario at least

once to familiarize yourself with the situation, threats, and major NPCs used in the module (particularly

their motivations).Text in italics is player information that you can read aloud or paraphrase for the

players at the proper times.

Hanan Pacha is flat on top, conical on the bottom,

hovering above an open sea, like a massive, levitating

island. It is ringed and divided by mountain ranges

and volcanic peaks. Rumor has it that nothing can fly,

dig or walk past the mountains that ring the top of the

world. The air up there is very thin and the atmosphere

is very cold.

Evil runs amok in the catacombs of the lower half

of the conical base. All manner of flying fiends fly in

and out of the caverns. They are mingling and conniving

with pirates that inhabit a large flotilla of vessels that

gather in the sea below. They are docked with massive

barges, latched together to create a floating city of

debauchery. Ruled by the Pirate Lords, this community's

sole purpose is to overthrow those that hold the lush,

coveted lands above. Numerous magical gates have also

been established within the floating black city and in the

lower levels of the cone-base above.

Little is known about the world of the open sea. The

whole area is ringed by mysterious fog that is reached

within a week’s sailing. No one can remember anyone

who has ever entered this fog and returned with

evidence that they had reached landfall. Many have

returned and others have not, most eventually emerge

from the fog, back into this area of the sea! Sometimes

newcomers arrive in port but they know very little, they

seem to forget what they know about the world outside!

The ancient order of dragon and roc riding knights

(known as the Pearl Lance Order), protects this world.

Their resources are stretched to the limit defying the

evil that seeks to invade and overthrow them from

below. They have only the power to maintain balance

for now. A larger force of griffon riders provides close

support for them and other types of military.

One important factor here is that none of the fiends

are able to teleport into or out of the world above. Within

the last century, the high elves have expended so much

power in defense of this world that they are exhausted.

The dragons that they ride are aged and not reproducing

enough to keep up with deaths. While the last remaining

elders still live for millennia, their offspring are living

only to double the age of men and dwarves. Humans,

gray elves and half-elves are already being trained to

ride the few dragons, rocs and griffons. So now there

are would be conquerors coming from below and above.

The human population is multiplying at a faster rate than

any race, even out pacing the orcs and half-orcs.

Dwarves are not gaining population and are starting to

lessen in number, as are halflings and gnomes.

Adventure Overview:

In Spire of the Raven God , the adventurers will aid a female gold dragon in ridding the land

of a black vrock demon lord and its minions from a rocky spire in the area. The spire, called the

Stairway of the Gods, was once a place for many races of the land to worship various deities in peace.

Gaaellon, (juvenile, female gold dragon) had been the steward of the sacred spire ever since her mother

died. The harmonious land of Elleron was disrupted when Varnaku (the demon lord), and its minions

seized the spire to use it as a base of nefarious operations and a den of evil practices. From their newly

acquired stronghold, the cult and their vrock lord have launched a reign of terror on the settlements of

the surrounding countryside. Varnaku had been summoned by the wizard known as Zarin, who lived in

the town of Buckshire. Zarin was using an ancient gate chamber that is located in a forgotten corridor

of the spire. Foolishly, the mage wanted to test a new banishment spell on a real, live subject. Instead of

a common vrock, he accidentally gated in a demon lord!

Varnaku was much more powerful than any demon that

Zarin expected. The demon lord broke control from the wizard

before he had a chance to banish the fiend. A Stunning Screech

from Varnaku immobilized the mighty wizard and he was quickly

disabled and captured by the fiend! (All creatures except for

demons within a 30-foot radius must succeed on a DC 22 Fortitude

save or be stunned for 1 round.). Varnaku emerged from an opening

(with the tied and gagged wizard in tow) near the base of the rocky

spire. The demon lord was not a complete stranger to the forest of

Elleron and knew what to do. A night hag named Skella, had once

brought Varnaku here through a gate that she guards. Skella lives in

a swampy area in the lowlands of the forest. The demon lord went

to call on Skella and she was overjoyed to assist Varnaku. Varnaku

used the gate to quietly bring in several loyal subjects (The Cult of

Varnaku). The minions (led by Skella), then took the wizard through

her nearby gate, into the realm ruled by the Varnaku.

Varnaku spent several weeks developing a cult following among the orcs, ogres and gargoyles

who live in the moors. When the time was right, the force attacked the spire. The Cult of Varnaku

attacked Gaaellon without warning. The battle raged in the skies above the spire, with several demons

and many gargoyles being killed. The demon lord was able to seriously wound the dragon and

overcome by sheer numbers, the mighty dragon was thrown to the earth. Gaaellon was near death but

managed to shape-change and slip away into the forest. She found sanctuary with old friends, the druids

of Elleron Forest. The druids are still tending to her wounds. She had been infected with an unknown

poison and may still die! The inhabitants of Elleron Forest are looking for help in retaking the Stairway

of the Gods. The party's arrival is very convenient for the cause. The adventurers must travel to the

sanctuary in the forest of Elleron to meet with Gaaellon and the druid’s council.

Beginning The Adventure:

Arriving at Buckshire, the adventurers will find it in a smoking ruin. The bodies of men, orcs and

unrecognizable creatures are among the carnage littering the village. The living wander the streets seeking

missing kin-folk and mourning the dead.

The adventurers will be approached by Taluri Rana, one of the few surviving members of the village

garrison. In blood-soaked chain mail, Taluri will introduce himself, motion to the party to follow and

stagger, wounded and battle-weary to one of the few unscathed structures in town. Taluri can only think

of warning the druids and their allies.

The mayor of Buckshire has already left with several of the surviving militia. Taluri Rana will provide

the adventurers with directions to the druid’s sanctuary in Elleron Forest, while expressing regret that he has

no supplies to offer, save what might be foraged from the ruin of the village.

The party will then proceed to the sanctuary to meet with the colorful council led by the druids of

Elleron. Wood elves, dryads, centaurs and satyrs and the fey, among others are present at the council.

They will find out that the protector of the Stairway of the Gods, a gold dragon named Gaaellon, is

critically wounded. They will also learn that the spire is now being used as a base by the Cult of

Varnaku. With plans and preparations in place, the heroes will be escorted into the deepest part of

Elleron forest by one of the druids. They will then be given directions through the dense forest, to the

rocky spire.

The mission is two-fold: Rescue the wizard, Zarin, and retrieve his new banishment spell. Secondly,

slip past the camps of the Cult of Varnaku that encircle the spire, infiltrate the caverns that run throughout

it and defeat the demon lord and its minions. Doing so will bring the black vrock's reign of terror to an end.

Surely with the destruction of their false god, the Cult of Varnaku will disperse.

After meeting the druids in the sanctuary, vrocks who are under the command of the night hag,

Skella, will confront the PCs. The vrocks are guarding Skella’s gate to the demon realms. Having taken

Zarin to Varnaku’s realm, she wants to sidetrack them (for good if possible),. She wants them to try to

rescue the wizard, fully expecting them to be subdued by the vrocks or

permanently disappear in Varnaku’s realm. Preparing for the

possibility that they might actually succeed in rescuing the

wizard, she will not make her plans known to Varnaku.

At the right time she will make Varnaku aware of the

threat to his stronghold, hoping to gain the demon lord’s

favor over all other minions. The party will have to fight

or sneak their way past the orc encampments to gain

access to the lair. Once inside, they will wind their

way through the caverns of the Spire. They will meet

many challenges along the way and with a little luck

and a lot of heart; they will reach the peak and defeat

Varnaku - The Raven God.

If Gaaellon lives, she will join the battle once they

have reached Varnaku's lair, which is at the peak of the spire.

With Gaaellon's and the party's success, the spire will once again

be a place of peace, tolerance and communion.

The basic monster stats are listed in their encounter sections. Additional detailed information

on each type is in the appendix. Italicized text is to be read aloud.

Plot Hook: The party stumbles upon the devastation and suffering of a village recently besieged.

They will be offered a chance to rescue a powerful wizard, gain treasure and heroically serve those

who make this region their home!

Your latest endeavors have led you far from familiar lands. According to maps purchased

from a gnome cartographer, you are nearing a small village marked as Buckshire. You have been

traveling all day and it will be good to find an inn for your night’s rest. It will soon be nightfall.

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: