Beasts in the dark
"Beasts in the dark" is set in a large city, with an
extensive sewer system. It is an adventure for 3-7 adventurers of
levels 6-10 (about 35 levels in total).
Basic plot
The main protagonists are three priests, one a member of a
splinter cult of Diiwica, one a worshipper of Calnon and the
other of the waning aspect of Selene. These priests have joined
their smaller forces together to create a more efficient thief /
assassin group (The priests of Calnon and Selene are childhood
friends, and the priest of Diiwica was a one time rival of the
priest of Selene that came to respect his adversary).
The Hunt
The priest of Diiwica and his under-priests have been abducting
citizens, and hunting them through sewers beneath the streets of
the dock ward. On the second night of the adventure one of the
party is abducted and hunted in this manner. Maybe he is accosted
by someone in the street who subdues him somehow. Maybe his drink
is drugged in a tavern. One of the priests might pretend to be
being attacked by the others, and then attack the character from
behind. Once the character is captured his equipment is taken
from him, then he is bound and gagged and taken towards the
sewers.
The rest of the party are alerted somehow, and must confront the
priests in order to save their companion. It is probably easiest
if this is done before the enter the sewers, but a chase through
the sewers can be exciting. The priest of Diiwica is killed but
some of his under-priests escape. The priest was carrying a
powerful magic item, the "Tooth of Diiwica" that the
party now take along with the rest of the treasure.
Ambush
The next night, while the party is moving around the city, the
remaining under-priests of Diiwica ambush the party in order to
reclaim the Tooth of Diiwica. They will fight to the death to do
so, as they consider it a holy duty to reclaim the tooth at all
costs.
The priests attack from ambush, using spells and ranged weapons
to weaken the party before closing in for melee combat. They have
been watching the party from afar for most of the day, and if a
party member is carrying the tooth they will know it. They target
this character especially, and half of the priests will try and
overpower or kill the character, so they can steal the tooth,
while the other half tie up the other characters.
The Hanged Man
A message is delivered to the party from the priest of Calnon,
requesting a meeting at The Hanged Man Tavern. The priest,
accompanied by four crossbow men, meet the party in a corner
booth in the tavern. The priest offers them a peaceful exchange;
the tooth for a pouch of gems (mostly rubies and diamonds if the
characters check). If the characters agree to the exchange, the
priest accepts the tooth, and leaves peacefully. Before he leaves
the priest suggests that the party leaves the city for as whether
or not the party accepts this deal the priest of Selene will
still seek revenge. The gems are magical forgeries.
If the party does not accept the deal the priest leaves
peacefully, and accepts the priest of Selene's plan.
The Hanged Man Tavern is a simple tavern, frequented mostly by
dockhands and fishermen. It is situated in the dock district, and
is a peaceful establishment. It's well armed and trained
bar-staff have led to it having a reputation as a safe place for
meetings, and a bad place for fighting.
There are 5 Bar-staff on at any one time, all of whom keep swords
handy. They are all 2nd level fighters, and will attack anyone
who makes trouble or starts a fight.
Ransom
The priest of Selene kidnaps a friend or family member of one of
the party members. She sends a ransom demand to the party
demanding either the tooth, or, if the party made the deal
earlier with the priest of Calnon, the pouch of gems. The party
is told to meet the priest in the sewers.
The priest has no intention of releasing the hostage, and has
organized an ambush in the sewers. She wishes to eliminate anyone
who knows about the societies' existence, and gain revenge for
the death of her friend, and the weakening of her organization
caused by the death of the Diiwica cultists.
Back to the sewers
The party is ambushed in the sewers. The priest of Selene and her
followers fight to the death, but the priest of Calnon makes an
early retreat. If the party defeats the priest of Selene they
have to try to gain entrance to the hideout of the Surviving
thieves before the thieves take everything and flee. The thieves
know shortcuts to the hideout, so the party will have to do well
to get there before them.
Different paths
It may be possible for the party to discover the hideout's
location before the final chapter. There are a number of magical
methods to do so, or the party might have contacts among the
local underground, or law-enforcement organizations. In this case
the party could either storm the hideout to release the hostage,
ambush the priests as they leave for, or return from the
exchange, or easily get to the hideout in time to confront the
remaining thieves.
The main opponents are
7th/7th Specialist Priest (Diiwica)/ Thief - CE; Human Male; HP
39; spells (3,3,2,1) - Light, Faerie Fire, Cure Light Wounds;
Beast Claw, Hold Person, Silence 15'R; Dispel Magic(x2); Animal
Sight. Magic items - Tooth of Diiwica, Dagger +2, Leather armor
+1, Ring of Spider Climbing.
6th Cleric (Calnon) - CN; hm; HP23; spells (3,3,2) - Detect
magic, Invisible to Undead, Sanctuary; Spiritual Hammer, Find
Traps, Hold Person; Shadow Cloak, Continual Dark. Magic items -
Cloak of Displacement, Ring of Invisibility, Hand crossbow +1,
Potion of Healing
8th Cleric (Selene) - NE; hf; hp26; spells (3,3,3,2) - Blight,
Command, Protection From Good; Hold Person, Spiritual Hammer,
Silence 15'R; Armor of Darkness, Curse (reverse of remove curse),
Continual Dark; Dark Bolt, Cure Serious Wounds. Magic items -
Mace of Scaring (+2 and Permanent -1 Charisma on natural 19 or
20), Chain Mail +2, Ring of Fire Resistance.
Apart from the three main opponents there are also -
6 Malarite Specialist Priests/Thieves (4x 2nd level, 2x 3rd
level)
8 thieves (worshipers of Calnon) (5x 2nd level, 2x 3rd level, 1x
6th level)
5 fighters (worshipers of Selene) (2x 2nd level, 2x 3rd level, 1x
5th level)
1 6th level magic user (worshipper of Selene).
The treasures to be gained apart from the personal magic items of
the main opponents are-- up to 10000 gp worth of treasure, and
some minor magic items in the hideout- the title deed to the
hideout-the bag of fake gems (apparent value 5000 gp)
The Tooth of Diiwica
The tooth of Diiwica is a bone dagger crafted from the tooth of
some massive creature. The hilt and blade is carved with twisting
magical runes, and gives of a soft glow in dark places. The tooth
gives the following powers - The ability to successfully track
one creature for up to 1 hour each day.
The ability to transform into any normal animal form twice per
day
The ability to heal any single wound inflicted during the course
of a single hunt (must be a ritual hunt).
These abilities are activated by speaking aloud the words of
power carved on the Tooth. These words are written in the secret
ritual language of the Diiwican priesthood.
Aftermath
The Tooth of Diiwica is a holy relic of that priesthood, and any
priest of temple of Diiwica would reward the party handsomely for
the tooth. The tooth is not necessarily evil, and the priesthood
has an important standing in many communities, so the party
should not necessarily feel bad about selling the tooth to
representatives of Diiwica.
If the party does not sell the tooth to the priesthood,
individual worshippers of Diiwica might do almost anything to
gain possession of the relic.
Relatives of the past victims of the priests might wish to reward
the party for their actions.
The party's actions might bring them to the attention of the
local authorities, or other possible patrons.
The use of the Dungeons and Dragons game engine is not intended
in any way to challenge the copyright of TSR.