d20 Goodman Games Dark Tower.pdf

DARK TOWER

SILVER EDITION

Concept

Paul Jaquays and Kara Geilman

Contents

Introduction

History of The Dark Tower

Original Author & Design

Paul Jaquays

Adventure Summary

Judges Section

Developed by Eostros Games,

Published by Goodman Games.

Rumor Mill

Field Guide to Encounters

3.5 Authors and Design

Greg Geilman and Steve Stottrup

Area Map

Village of Mitra’s Fist

Level 1

Producer and Publisher

Joseph Goodman

Level 2

Level 3

Cover Design

Chris Solis

Level 4

White Tower of Mitra

Layout

Robert Conley

Dark Tower of Set

Appendix 1 - New Monsters

Managing Editor

Kara Geilman

Appendix 2 - New Magic

Appendix 3 - New Spells

Legend for all maps

Proofreading

Gabor Lux and Michael Reagin

Maps

Robert Conley

Art

William McAusland

Goodman Games

Playtest

Robert Dodge, Hugh Henry, Issac Green,

Arthur Dullinger, Ray Quinn

Vickie Simmons, Jason Perry,

Michael Reagin, Richard Joseph Henson,

Marty Watts, Greg Geilman, Kara Geilman

Judges Guild

Eostros Games

Dedicated to Mark Ruhe who got me started in

D&D.

Special Thanks: Thanks to Chris Solis of Solis

designs for all his work on the cover designs for all

3 of these books.

Email Contacts

Goodman Games: goodmangames@mindspring.com

Eostros Games: ggeilman@eostros.com

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Introduction

Dark Tower was originally written by Paul Jaquays and published by The Judges Guild in 1980. It quickly became

one of the most beloved adventures ever published for the classic game. It was intended for use for the new first

edition, and it continues to inspire writers and designers of fantasy role playing adventures to this day. As we are

also big fans of this classic adventure, we’ve attempted to make only the most minor updates and modifications to it

in this edition. Any such updates, modifications, or new material were done with great reverence for the original

work. Some of the key updates we’ve added were actually suggestions from Paul Jaquays from The Dungeoneer

issue #12, pp 22-23, and 57-58 in which Mr. Jaquays suggests the most appropriate location within the Judges Guild

Wilderlands world to set the adventure, corrects some printing mistakes, and proposes some rumors to help

adventurers get started with the adventure. Other changes and modifications (other than updating the stats) were

added to clear up inconsistencies from the original, or to enhance places or characters from the original. It is a very

difficult task to make any alterations to such a cherished work, but our modifications were done with great care and

respect, and we hope that those who loved the original will appreciate the minor changes we’ve made.

We expect that each referee will alter, expand and illuminate areas that they wish. The setting may be changed to

fit your individual campaign (Wilderlands-based or no). If the deities Set and Mitra are not part of your campaign

world, you may either consider adding them as isolated cults of strange deities, or you may substitute your own good

vs. evil rivalry in their place (but you will need to modify many of the characteristics of the followers detailed herein).

Inspiration may require deleting, shrinking and modifying areas of your choice and is desirable in personalizing this

area of your campaign. It is important for you to add and delete treasures that are appropriate to your campaign

flavor. Likewise, the mix of creatures might be modified to suit your world mythos. And, finally, consider replacing

some characters here with important characters (heroes or villains) from your own campaign to create an adventure

thread. Whether you change it extensively or use it as is, we hope you enjoy this updated version as much as we have

enjoyed the original for nearly 30 years.

Greg Geilman

Stephen Stottrup

This product requires the use of the Dungeons and Dragons™ Player's Handbook, Edition 3.5

published by Wizards of the Coast™

Guild or Goodman Games is expressly forbidden. Goodman Games and the Goodman Games logo are trademarks of

Goodman Games and Joseph Goodman. Judges Guild and the Judges Guild logo are trademarks of Judges Guild and Robert

Bledsaw. Dark Tower is a trademark of Judges Guild, Robert Bledsaw and its licensees and partners. Eostros Games and the

items, art and text herein are copyrighted by Goodman Games and Judges Guild. "D20 System" and the D20 System logo are

trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast and are used under the terms of the D20 Trademark License contained in the

Legal Appendix. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or

used in accordance with the Open Game and D20 Trademark Licenses contained in the Legal Appendix.

This book uses the supernatural for settings, characters and themes. All mystical and supernatural elements are fiction and

intended for entertainment purposes only. Reader discretion is advised.

Check out Goodman Games online at http://www.goodmangames.com

Visit Judges Guild online at http://www.judgesguild.net

For downloads and product support come see Eostros Games at http://www.eostros.com

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History of the Dark Tower

Something seemed odd about this town, Mitra’s Fist. And the tavern they were in, The Overlord’s Inn, was certainly

a bit strange as well. Everyone in the town seemed to stare at them as they walked through, and he had heard more

than one comment about how they didn’t get any visitors here anymore. He began to wonder if they had made a

mistake coming here, but what choice did they have after their guide had died from a scorpion’s bite and a sandstorm

had driven them into this mysterious mountain pass?

The Inn keep, Melkor, was a shady fellow to be sure, and the Sheriff had sent men over to watch them for no reason.

He began to feel like they were in some kind of trap. Just then a stranger from a nearby table approached them. He

was a smallish man, thin, balding, and ugly. He looked nervously over his shoulder at the Sheriff’s men as he sat

down. “Made a wrong turn in the pass, did ye?” he laughed as his hands twitched around his wooden cup, spilling ale

down the sides. “Nobody ever comes here anymore, as they doesn’t make no wrong turn neither. Maybe I can help ya

though: I got maps, & me name’s Rufo.” He leans in close, lowering his voice to a whisper, “Listen, you’re in danger.

These thugs here’ll kill you as soon as look at you. They’re protecting the treasure, they is. This town sits on top of a

treasure bigger than anything you’ve ever dreamed of! Ol’ Rufo knows how to get down there. If ya help me, I’ll show

you a map I’ve drawn. Be warned though: them’ snake worshippers are down there, and they don’t fool around

none…”

With the expansion of the Empire (City State of the World

Emperor, otherwise known as Viridistan) and the extension

of her protection to other, less ominous trade routes,

Redmoon Pass has become frequented only by ignorant,

wayward or weather driven travellers who fear the whim of

the elements more than they dread the terror of old legends.

Situated centrally in the pass, the tiny village of Mitra's Fist

appears to be a haven from the many storms that stalk

wayfarers in the high mountain reaches. Even so, the wise

and knowing do their best to avoid Mitra's Fist, better known

as "Mitra's Curse".

Legend and Church history relate that it is nigh unto fifteen

centuries since the patriarch of Law and Good, Mitra,

established a sanctuary in this mountain pass. Tales were

told of his holiness and many pilgrims sought the wise man

to be healed and blessed. He was indeed a living Saint.

Near the end of his mortal years, it became his task to

lead a holy crusade against worshippers of the snake demon,

Set, destroying the demon's mortal form and routing his

army of evil. However, as a result of the encounter, Mitra

also died.

It was not long before pilgrims once again came to the

sanctuary seeking healing and blessing. Mitra's former

assistants began to call on their mentor's name, finding

power in it. Soon, Mitra's hermitage became the first temple

of the god Mitra. As the centuries fled by and the religion

spread, the founding place was not forgotten. Devotees

erected a tall, ornate, White Tower over the place where the

crumbling first temple once stood. Temple rites were

conducted by a High Priest and his entourage of patriarchs.

Not only humans, but also good creatures could often be

found waiting faithfully on the now ascended god.

After the battle, a millennium passed before Set, no longer

a demon, but a god of evil, saw fit to attack the birthplace of

the religion that opposed his.

On an overcast lightless night, a mighty tower of black

stone from the abyss appeared mysteriously out of nowhere,

crushing fully half the village in its wake. That night, those

villagers who could not reach the comparative safety of the

White Tower of Mitra were destroyed in the carnage that

ravaged the surrounding land. Very few survived to tell the

tale of what would happen.

The battle that week was dear. Mitra’s high priest was

murdered as he prayed and all but a few of his attendants

slain. Only the creatures of law helped the living survive.

The final events came quickly as the surrounding mountains

reacted to the disturbing power of magic that roiled the

ground. Landslides that left the village strangely intact,

though buried came down around them. Soon the area in

the pass was covered to depths of hundreds of feet.

The mystery of the destruction of the shrine was never

truly solved by those who investigated. The church, though

dumbstruck, quietly moved the spiritual heart of the religion

to the site of the battle in which Mitra originally died, in

Modron, some hundreds of leagues away.

Within a decade, a village of treasure seekers grew atop

the debris piles, guided by tales and maps. The small hamlet

of tents and shacks became known as Mitra's Fist or as

"Mitra's Curse" to unbelievers. After several years, the church

of Mitra built a shrine and established a mission to keep an

eye on the fortune hunters, in case any of the lost artifacts of

their god should turn up.

It took a hundred years of digging before searchers found

the location of the original village. However, they

encountered the unexpected. Something was digging up to

meet them. Small amounts of treasure began to trickle out

the tunnels and Mitra's Fist became a popular stop for

trader’s enroute to the cities of the newly founded empire. It

was ten decades before news stopped coming from the village

and caravan leaders found excuses to brave the danger

fraught western passes rather than use Redmoon Pass.

Mitra's Fist had changed almost overnight. Some force had

possessed the village and its occupants, causing them to slay

children, non-humans and Mitraic priests in one night of

hell possessed fury. It is rumored that these are the very same

villagers who have inhabited the old decaying buildings of

Mitra's Fist for three hundred years since, never aging.

For three centuries the village of Mitra's Fist has existed,

unmolested by the outside world. Few have noticed that the

village has had the same occupants for over ten generations.

Only few have noticed because only those few telling the tale

have visited the village and have not fell prey to the sharp,

ceremonial dagger of Avvakris, High Priest of Set.

JUDGES NOTE: A sacrifice is an eating of the victim's soul by Set. This makes it impossible to resurrect or reincarnate the

victim. Divine intervention, miracle or wish would allow resurrection, reincarnation or true resurrection to work.

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Adventure Summary

Long has it been since anyone has heard from the village of Mitra’s Fist. Hundreds of years ago the village fell into

shadow beneath the shifting sands as the mighty gods Mitra and Set and their minions fought to destroy each other

through the annihilation of their sacred temples and artifacts. In the nearest towns and villages, tales can still be heard of

the folks who went to Mitra’s Fist in search of fortune among the buried ruins.

Among those tales there are no happy endings: the fortune seekers never returned, and the village of Mitra’s Fist has

grown quiet...too quiet. Rumors persist of sightings of villagers in Mitra’s Fist who should long ago have perished among

the sand, and of the horrors that haunt the night in Redmoon Pass. Occasionally, through error or bravado, caravans of

pilgrims or traders are known to have ventured into Redmoon Pass, but they are rarely, if ever heard from again.

Folks from the nearby towns and villages would have it known what has happened to their loved ones who have vanished

within Redmoon Pass. The priests of Mitra would have their shrine rebuilt upon its original site. The leaders from the

surrounding area would have the pass cleansed of the evil which has left Mitra’s Fist silent for 300 years. And the mighty

lords of Viridistan and the City State would pay handsomely to have the most direct trading route to the Holy Cities restored.

Yet the rumors are clear: none who go there have return to tell of it. Something unspeakably wrong lurks beneath the sands

of Mitra’s Fist…waiting…

Judges Section

Adventure overview

Dark Tower has been designed for use by players with experience in using fairly high power characters. It is suggested

that in order for a group of adventurers to survive, that the composition of the adventuring party be fairly diverse and

balanced between fighters or paladins and wizards with at least one rogue and one or more clerics.

A party of adventurers of 8th - 10th level should have little more than a difficult time in making it all the way to the top of

the Dark Tower itself. Even lower level characters (5th to 7th) might survive if they encounter the right artifacts or some

magical weapons. In addition, a Judge could run forays into the dungeon until the party reaches an area they are

uncomfortable with, they would then leave for another area and come back when they reach a higher level. The Judge

should adjust and add new creatures when they do return to add the dynamic of time to the adventure. Some parties have

been as high as 12th level before completing Dark Tower when using this method.

It should also be noted here that one or two well chosen magic items, especially weapons will be most useful for each

character to have. A paladin with a holy avenger would work well in this adventure.

The main source of conflict in this adventure is a centuries old rivalry between two gods: Mitra (good) and Set (evil).

While it is possible to modify these deities to reflect the mythos or politics of your individual world, it is also possible that

Set and Mitra can be imported into your world as isolated cults of ancient gods no longer ‘in vogue’.

Field Guide to Designers Notes

Pain among pains, it is strongly suggested that the Judge read through the entire booklet and become as familiar as

possible with this adventure prior to beginning play. Additionally, there are some items of design that we would like to

point out up front:

•

The numbering in the booklet is set up by levels, so that

room number 3 - 21 in the text would correspond with

the room marked 21 on the level 3 map. Buildings in the

village are designated with a "V" prefixed to the number.

Rooms in both of the towers have their numbers prefixed

by the letter designation of the level they are on, such as

C-8 or K-19.

•

With the existence of powerful personalities in the

dungeon, there are bound to be certain factions working

against each other on both sides of the good vs. evil

struggle that are keeping a final confrontation from

occurring between the forces of Mitra and the powers

that serve Set. This political battle between factions is

not played up in the text, but it can be intensified by the

individual Judge if so desired. It is, in fact, the existence

of these petty, mortal factors that have kept the battle

from coming to a conclusion long ago.

•

There are quite a number of NPC’s or "personalities" in

the dungeon. These non-player characters can

sometimes be powerful allies in the game or even more

powerful enemies. Each of these characters has been

detailed for you with armor, weapons and possessions

and many have their personalities described to some

extent. This is designed to make the creatures as

individual as possible and hopefully allow for more

interaction and roleplaying between dungeon residents

and adventurers (rather than just putting them at the

edge of a sword and roll playing). The Judge should

familiarize their self with as many of these personalities

as is possible.

•

Some rooms and encounters may have to be toned

down or beefed up to match the strength of a party of

adventurers. As with all Judges Guild adventures,

Judges should feel free to modify this adventure to suit

your own campaign.

•

There are several new creatures described in this

adventure. They are included because they are either

divine servants of an individual god or creatures who do

not fit the ordinary. If your campaign does not include

the worship of Set or Mitra, you may wish to replace

some of these creatures with ones from your own

campaign for this scenario.

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