This scenario for Dragon Warriors adapts The Fortress of Assassins (Knightmare book 3) into a quest to
discover the fate of King Rigar Quor-de-Flamme’s lost heir. The adventure
combines investigation, travel, infiltration, and a tragic twist that may
reshape everything the player-characters thought they knew about their mission.
Spoilers from here on, so if you want to read
the book do it now.
Central mystery: Where is King Rigar’s lost heir, and are the characters out to slay
the heir or bring the heir back to restore strong rule to Albion?
Key revelation: The heir they seek is actually the deadly ‘Queen Hel’, whom they may
end up fighting before learning her true identity.
Recommended character rank: This scenario is designed for experienced adventurers of 4th-6th rank,
capable of handling both physical and magical threats.
Episode 1:
The knight's tale
The remote monastery of St Séverin lies deep
in the forest of Freneville in central Chaubrette, built around a miraculous
healing spring discovered centuries ago by a mute peasant who regained his
speech after drinking from its waters. The abbey's high stone walls protect a
complex of buildings including the magnificent chapel with blazing stained
glass windows, comfortable guest quarters for pilgrims, a well-stocked
refectory, and the simple infirmary where the dying Knight Protector awaits.
Abbot Gregory (52 years old) is a large, florid man who clearly enjoys both the
spiritual and material benefits of his position. Despite his appetite for good
food and wine, he's no fool—his jovial manner conceals a sharp political mind
and deep knowledge of recent Crusade history.
Brother Francis (early 30s), the ginger-haired guest-master, greets all visitors with
genuine warmth and knows every pilgrim route and forest danger for miles
around.
Brother Claude (27) is the angular, sharp-faced infirmarian. He has a knowledge of
healing herbs, which he grows in the abbey garden, and knows the location of
sacred springs throughout the forest.
Arrival at
the abbey
As evening mist creeps between the forest
trees, the PCs arrive at the abbey gates seeking shelter. Brother Francis
welcomes them enthusiastically. Visitors are rare at this time of year, and
pious knights are doubly welcome.
Over dinner in the refectory, Abbot Gregory seems
distracted and is frequently brought messages by junior brothers that leave him
fretful. The characters might ask what’s bothering him, and the Abbot has no
reason to keep it secret: ‘A few days ago, an elderly member of the Order of Knights of the Sanctuary came here
seeking succour from the healing waters of the spring. He is Sir Hubert of
Lindfield. He was badly wounded in battle against the Ta’ashim twenty years
ago and has lived as a hermit in the desert of Outremer ever since, but he
chose to come home to die. The waters of the holy spring help to ease his suffering,
but he’ll be in heaven before the winter is on us.’
The characters could just ask to see Sir
Hubert. The abbot has no good reason to refuse, but he should put up some
resistance. Make the characters persuade him. He has heard Sir Hubert’s claims
that a vision told him that at the abbey he would meet people who would take up
his quest, but the abbot is sceptic enough not to believe every so-called holy
vision. He has given the dying knight water from the spring, shriven his sins,
and made him comfortable. The characters need to give him good reason to
disturb Sir Hubert in his last hours.
Alternatively the characters might use
subterfuge to get to Sir Hubert’s bedside, or they might question Brother
Claude. As they can only be crowbarred into the adventure (for which,
apologies, and see the closing notes) if they get given the quest, you’ll need
to ensure they hear Sir Hubert’s story somehow, even if only at second hand.
The dying knight's
revelation
The infirmary stands in a small courtyard at
the back of the abbey grounds, with the cemetery and outer wall just beyond.
Sir Hubert’s cell is stark white, lit only by a single candle that casts harsh
shadows on his gaunt face. Twenty years in the desert have reduced him to skin
and bone, but his eyes burn with fierce intelligence.
When the characters enter, Sir Hubert (early
60s) raises himself painfully from the pillow. ‘I know why you have come,’ he
says in a weak voice. ‘The same vision that brought me from my hermitage has
drawn you here. The Flameheart came to me in a dream.’
The revelation unfolds slowly as Sir Hubert
unburdens himself of his long-held secret. You can refer to the sequence from the novella for
details, but the key points are:
- King Rigar of Albion had a son with Princess Ilse of Algandy during
a crusade twenty years ago.
- The child was red-haired and fine of feature, clearly Rigar’s heir.
- When Ilse died of plague and Rigar faced threats from rival kings
in Chaubrette and Kurland, he gave the child into the safekeeping of
Sultan Saleh al-Dau (‘Salador’) of Opalar, his erstwhile enemy but one whom he
knew to be a man of honour.
- King Rigar died soon after that during a siege. In Albion, he was
briefly succeeded by his brother Pall and later by his nephew Hadric.
- Sir Hubert believed the child dead for twenty years until his
prophetic dream.
- The heir lives, somewhere in the lands once controlled by Salador.
With those final words, Sir Hubert falls back
onto his bolster and passes into whatever reward awaits faithful servants. The
abbot administers the last rites.
This is not intended as an investigative
scenario, but players being what they are you may have to let them spend some
time noodling about. They could find a crude map in Sir Hubert’s backpack that
shows Alaflak marked to the east of the Isis river in Opalar. Travel times
scrawled along each leg of the journey from Amsa’im make this more useful than
most maps, but it’s not a given that the infirmarian will hand over Sir
Hubert’s belongings to them and, even if so, any items like the map should
really be returned to his family.
The abbot is knowledgeable about the history
and politics of Outremer, Opalar and Albion, so can fill in some background
details if he has been favourably impressed with the characters – or he may jut
direct them to the abbey library, in which case they may need to make
Intelligence rolls to find what they want.
Episode 2:
Crossing the Iuga Mountains
To reach the Coradian coast the characters’
most direct route is through the Pass of Ashes, which is not yet clogged by
deep snow-drifts as it will be in a few weeks’ time. The crossing of the Iuga
Mountains in winter represents one of the most treacherous journeys in the
known world. The narrow mountain paths wind between peaks shrouded in
snow-laden clouds, past precipices that drop into misty chasms. Ancient markers
tell of the passage of Annibas the Swift, the general who in ancient times
brought his army from Karkedon (modern Kiri Umoor) through Algandy and across
the Iugas to challenge the western borders of the Selentine Republic. Even in
autumn, the air off the peaks is icy cold.
There could be survival challenges – exposure
to the elements, the difficult terrain, the need to scout ahead and find the
correct path – but that’s not really the point of this sequence. In the novella, the scene is partly to show the curdling of
pious ideals which begin with the aim of imposing beliefs on others and
inevitably turn that violence cynically back upon the would-be crusaders.
Additionally it was there to add Elshander the dwarf as a party member; you may
not feel your game needs that degree of Bombadilisation.
The
Children's Crusade
Scattered along the mountain approaches are
the stragglers of the thousands-strong bands of children who answered the call
to retake the Holy Lands through faith alone. They were led in the spring by
two charismatic charlatans who picked up children from the towns of Chaubrette
and Kurland, brought them like the Pied Piper to the Coradian coast, and there
sold them to slavers. The fortunate ones turned back when hunger and hardship got
too much. Latecomers to the crusade found themselves still high in the
mountains as the autumn brought cold. Driven out by villagers to south and
north, these wandering survivors haunt the high passes and must resort of
begging, thievery or violence to survive. The characters encounter them in
various states of desperation. First, gaunt figures in rags who come from the
side of the road with hands held out for any scraps the characters can offer.
Then a boy of twelve or so who approaches reciting beatitudes in a voice
cracked by thirst. Then dead bodies, frozen where they lay huddled under
shelves of rock. And finally desperate gangs hurling rocks.
The ambush
As the PCs struggle through the worst of the
mountain weather, rocks begin raining down from the slopes above. The attackers
are clearly children—survivors of the crusade driven beyond reason by
starvation and cold.
Starving children (8-12 children)
- Attack: 8, Defence: 4, Magical
Defence: 2
- Health Points: 6
each
- Evasion: 6, Stealth: 15, Perception:
8
- Weapons: Stones (d3,2) and makeshift clubs (d3,
3)
- Armor Factor: 0
(ragged clothing)
- Morale: Fight desperately until reduced to 2
HP, then flee
Their leader is a girl of perhaps fourteen who
shouts prayers and curses: ‘The Lord will provide! He has promised to feed His faithful
servants. Give us your bread, or He will strike you down.’
Clearly they aren’t much of a threat to the
characters. The question is what the characters do about these innocents
corrupted by circumstance. Sharing food with them may resolve the encounter
peacefully – but the children can’t afford to be content with scraps; if the
characters have pack animals they’ll try to break its legs, forcing the
characters either to abandon the supplies and gear on it or stop and fight.
The combat triggers an avalanche. Initially
almost glacially slow, the avalanche picks up speed as it goes and is an
awesome sight as an entire mountainside seems to give way in a cascade of
millions of tons of ice, snow and rock. If the characters back away they will
need to leave their pack animals behind, and will then find the pass blocked.
But an Intelligence roll spots the narrow cave opening in the rock face nearby,
and those who notice it can lead their companions to safety.
Dwarven
halls
The cave proves to be more than simple
shelter. On the walls are crudely executed pictures of soldiers in exotic
battle-harness, some mounted on monstrous animals with threatening fangs and
long, hooked noses. Well-travelled characters may recognize these as olyphaunts
(elephants) and those with education will surely connect the daubed images with
the army of Annibas the Swift.
The route back is now blocked by the
avalanche. The route ahead looks more promising but there is a thick stalactite
of grey ice that must be melted or chipped away before they can proceed. Inside
the ice (not visible at first) is Elshander (5001 years old).
“A squat
figure stood by the fire. He was not even four feet tall, but there was the
impression of great strength in his small frame — particularly in his upper
body, which might have been moulded out of rock. His appearance was gnarled and
gnome-like, with a fierce leonine face and large pointed ears that wagged as he
muttered to himself.”
Elshander – whether dwarf, goblin, or some
other creature of the elder world – drew Annibas’s ire when he stole and ate
one of his olyphaunts. Annibas froze him inside a block of ice (because of course a mythically famous general of a millennium and a half ago was able to
command supernatural agencies) and thus he has slept through the rise and fall
of empires until the player-characters thawed him out.
Elshander the Dwarf
·
Rank:
Ancient creature (6th rank equivalent)
·
Attack:
19, Defence: 13, Magical Defence:
12
·
Weapons:
Ancient dwarven battleaxe (d8+1, 7)
·
Health Points:
18
·
Armour Factor:
3
·
Evasion:
6, Stealth: 20 (with cloak), Perception:
12
·
Special Abilities:
o Cloak
of Invisibility: As described in the Dragon Warriors rulebook
o Underground
Navigation: Never lost in caves/tunnels
o Ancient
Knowledge: Knows forgotten lore and secret ways
o Consume
Lava: Immune to heat/fire damage, can drink molten rock
o Insatiable
Appetite: Obsessed with finding exotic foods; especially
partial to olyphaunt meat which, having tasted it once, he longs to savour
again.
·
Treasures:
o Cloak
of Invisibility: As described in the Dragon Warriors rulebook
o Book
of Secrets: For any subject researched this book will provide two
remarkable facts – one true, the other false, and with no simple way to tell
which is which.
If encountered, Elshander is initially hostile
(possibly attempting to cook the characters or their animals), but can be
negotiated with. His knowledge of underground passages proves invaluable,
though his morality is decidedly not that of a mortal and he remains
obstreperous.
The underground
journey
Following Elshander through the mountain's
heart, the characters traverse passages carved by nonhuman skill. The route passes
through a cavern lit by lava where the heat is so intense that armour becomes
burning hot and must be removed. Characters must roll Strength or less
on d20 every minute or temporarily lose 1 Strength to heat exhaustion; a
character at 0 Strength is too weak to go on and must be carried. Elshander's
casual consumption of lava streams could provide both aid and comic relief.
The journey culminates in the party emerging
onto an hillside where olive groves bask in Coradian sunshine, providing stark
contrast to the frozen mountain peaks above.
Episode 3: Sauvesse
The maritime port city of Sauvesse sprawls
along the coast, its narrow streets climbing steeply from the bustling harbour.
The contrast between wealth and poverty is stark. Magnificent churches stand
within sight of squalid tenements where the poor struggle to survive.
Finding passage
The characters’ first challenge lies in
securing passage to the south. The great merchant houses demand payment in
advance and substantial guarantees, but an even greater impediment is that they
have no space aboard ships for the next month or more. After several
rejections, they're directed to Tindaro Juré (mid-30s) in the Via
Lachrymosae.
Tindaro receives the characters with courtesy
despite his reduced circumstances. His threadbare robes and sparse furnishings
tell the story of a man whose creditors are pressing for payment he cannot
make. When they explain their need, he apologizes: ‘In better times it would
have been my pleasure to arrange such a journey. My ships once carried goods
from beyond the Deeps of Rasakna. But I have fallen on hard times.’
The madman's
tale
Their conversation is interrupted by Giacommo
of Vigliosa (40s), whose white hair hangs in limp strands over a face
marked by madness and terror. ‘He is my guest,’ says Tindaro under his breath. ‘The
poor man – his mind was shattered by a terrible experience in the desert. The
local authorities suspect the involvement of the Marijah assassins but poor
Giacommo claims it was just one lone attacker, and a woman at that. She must’ve
been a veritable Amazon, because their guards were veteran Crusaders and she
slew half a dozen of them, and apparently decapitated his brother right in
front of Giacommo’s eyes. Giacommo managed to escape by the skin of his teeth,
although sometimes I think it might have been kinder if he’d died there also.
For what kind of a life is this living hell of madness that grips him now?’
Giacommo's ravings initially seem incoherent, but
if the characters are patient they will be able to piece together his story. He
speaks of a ‘blue-eyed demon’ who appeared from a sandstorm and slaughtered his
brother's guards with inhuman skill. This warrior wielded a sword of
extraordinary beauty, a blade with a flame-decorated pommel.
- The sword matches descriptions of King Rigar’s personal weapon, ‘the
sword of Malek Ric,’ as their attacker called it; inlaid golden flame on
the pommel surrounded by rubies and yellow diamonds.
- The attack occurred near a specific oasis that Tindaro recognizes
- The mysterious warrior is called Queen Hel, or so Giacommo claims
- She was seeking to reclaim the sword, which Giacommo’s brother had
bought from someone who told him it came from the fortress of Alaflak.
The mob
Armed with this information, the characters
can work out an arrangement with Tindaro. His knowledge and contacts make him
invaluable, while their quest offers him the chance to restore his fortunes. Theodore
of Ainoua, a ship’s captain known to Tindaro, agrees to transport them to Ibrahim
in Outremer.
The arrangement is disrupted when Giacommo's
public ravings about ‘demons and devils’ attract unwelcome attention. Religious
hysteria combines with economic resentment against Tindaro’s and Giacommo's
foreign origins. The crowd's mood turns ugly when they begin demanding to see
the ‘demons’ supposedly hiding in Tindaro’s house.
An angry mob soon grows to around fifty
people, shouting and throwing stones at first but rapidly becoming more
deranged as religious fervour and xenophobia combine in their traditional
potent mix. Soon they will be setting fires and bringing rope to lynch anyone
they see as an outsider. The characters could perhaps defuse the situation if
they have an ordained priest among them. Fighting back is more or less as
useful as throwing gasoline on a bonfire, but they might temporarily drive the
mob back with spectacular sorcery or daunting violence.
Tindaro had the foresight to prepare escape
route from his cellar through the old Selentine sewers. This allows the party
to reach Theodore's ship while the mob burns his house. The fire spreads
rapidly, creating chaos that covers their departure but destroying the last
remnants of Tindaro’s former life.
If Elshander is present, his invisible antics
during the mob scene provide both light relief and additional chaos, eg wet
footprints appearing on the gangplank as something unseen boards the ship.
Episode 4:
The false priest
“The port
of Ibrahim lay ahead, its whitewashed houses and swaying palm trees bathed in
the heat of the fierce sun. Dhows thronged the harbour quayside, off-loading
sacks of colourful fruit and bales of silk. The offshore breeze brought with it
the dry dusty smell of the desert which stretched away inland from the town.”
After crossing the Deorsk Ocean and the Sea of
Lament, the party disembark at Ibrahim and the trade route winding through
increasingly desolate country toward the Crusader fortress of Karak du Saintuaire
on the border with Zhenir. Ochre hills roll away toward distant mountains, the
landscape dotted with abandoned farms and burned villages that speak of recent
raids.
The preacher
The characters spot a lone figure by the
roadside—a man in brown robes apparently resting in whatever shade can be
found. Philip the Presbyter wears his hood deep despite the sweltering
heat, concealing his face as he greets the approaching travellers.
"Philip the Presbyter"
(actually Rashid al-Athir)
·
Rank:
7th rank Assassin
·
Attack:
22, Defence: 14, Magical Defence:
11
·
Health Points:
21
·
Evasion:
7, Stealth: 17, Perception:
9
·
Special Abilities:
o Disguise:
Masterful acting and disguise skills
o Combat
techniques: Shock Attack, throwing spikes, and other Marijah
abilities
o Infiltration
expert: Extensive knowledge of Coradian customs and True Faith theology
for cover
o Languages:
Fluent in Ta’ashim, Bacchile, and local dialects
o Superb
horsemanship
·
Equipment:
Hidden curved dagger (d4+2, 4), throwing spikes, priest's robes (disguise)
·
True Mission:
Spy for the Old Man of the Mountain
‘Philip’ claims to be a leper who ministers to
heathen communities, explaining his hooded appearance as desire to spare others
the sight of his scarred features. His story emerges gradually as they travel
together. He speaks of dangerous work preaching to remote Ta’ashim communities
and offers to bless the characters’ weapons. His purpose in doing so is to
apply a corrosive unguent that makes sword blades more brittle, breaking on an
attack roll of 20. But he will not press that if the characters seem at all
suspicious, preferring to approach individual characters who seem especially
devout, as his primary goal is to accompany them into the Karak du Saintuaire
and find out whatever he can.
Observant PCs might notice inconsistencies in his
story:
- His movements lack the stiffness expected from someone ravaged by
disease (though he does claim to have been purged of the disease through
his faith).
- An ordained priest who engages him in lengthy debate may be able to
catch him out (Intelligence check after at least an hour’s discussion).
- His pronunciation of Ta’ashim terms such as place names is
remarkably good (Intelligence check by any character who speaks Nascerine
or who has been on crusade and who says they are suspicious).
But note that Rashid has not invented this
persona. There is – or was – a real Philip the Presbyter, known in the region
and who does indeed go veiled because of his scarred face. The real Philip died
a few days ago some distance from here, so word has not yet circulated of his
death. If the characters fail to see through ‘Philip’s’ story, he will
accompany them into the fortress and then abscond in the night, carrying news
of their mission to his master.
Episode 5: Karak du Saintuaire
“The
fortress headquarters of the Knights Protector stood before them half a mile
away, its mighty reddish-white walls glowing in the crimson sunset. It was
larger than any castle that they had seen in the northern lands, with a mighty
curtain wall and a massive inner bailey. The castle was said to be home to five
thousand knights and twice that many mounts. An aqueduct, carried on a series
of graceful arches, disappeared into the side of the curtain wall and supplied
the castle with water in times of siege.”
The legendary
fortress dominates the landscape like a stone mountain thrust up from the
earth itself. Massive walls rise in concentric rings, each higher than the
last, culminating in the great keep. The contrast with northern castles is
immediately apparent—this fortress was built to withstand the full might of Ta’ashim
armies.
The reception
The characters’ welcome depends on their
credentials and reputation. The Protectors maintain traditions of hospitality,
but they are also politically astute. Grand Master Reginald of Carillon (early
50s) proves to be a formidable figure combining deep religious conviction with
shrewd intelligence and extensive military experience.
If properly introduced, the characters dine in
the great hall among senior knights. The conversation provides valuable
insights into the current political situation in Outremer (fraught, tensions
rising), recent Marijah activities (several suspected assassinations of leading
community figures who have been urging peace), and information about the lay of
the land east of here.
Gathering intelligence
The fortress archives contain extensive
documentation of decades of conflict. Brother Thomas (35), the librarian,
maintains detailed records of enemy capabilities and intelligence. In
particular he can tell the characters about the fortress of Alaflak:
- Nearly impregnable position atop a peak in the Harogarn Mountains
- Single approach via stone steps leaving attackers treacherously exposed
- Previous assaults have failed catastrophically
- Marijah warriors feel no pain and fight with preternatural
coordination
- Mysterious garden where warriors receive visions of Paradise
- Protected by fiendish traps
- Recent reports of a female assassin with unprecedented skill: ‘Queen
Hel’.
Negotiating aid from the Knights Protector
requires careful diplomacy. The Order officially maintains neutrality in dynastic
disputes, so will not openly give support to an unknown heir brought up among
heathens against the legitimate king of Albion, but Reginald personally
respects Rigar’s memory and is well aware that Hadric’s weakness means
gathering risk of civil war in Albion. There is an array of potential
complications. Most knights view attempts to overthrow anointed monarchs as
heretical, never mind the political ramifications if word were to reach King
Hadric. There’s also the risk of Chaubrettian lords exploiting the information
to foment trouble in Albion, where they might attempt to claim land. And more
locally there is a very delicate balance of alliances, truces and
accommodations that if disrupted could lead to war.
After careful deliberation, Reginald might be
convinced to give the characters limited support, possibly one or more of the
following:
- Horses bred for desert travel
- Supplies of food, water, tents, and other specialized desert
equipment
- Detailed geographical knowledge including water sources and hostile
territories
- A briefing on what little is known of Alaflak’s defences
- If sufficiently impressed, Reginald may lend them a guide who knows
the terrain
However, for any aid he will impose
conditions. If the heir exists they must be brought to the Karak, and the
characters must swear oaths not to compromise Protector neutrality.
Episode 6: The
desert
The desert stretches endlessly eastward—a
landscape of rolling sand dunes, rocky outcroppings, and scattered oases that
has swallowed countless armies. Navigation requires both skill and luck, while
the extreme conditions test even experienced travellers. The heat requires
characters to make daily Strength checks or lose 1 Health Point to dehydration.
If they lack a guide they will need Intelligence checks to avoid detours that
lengthen the journey. And there is hostile wildlife in the form of scorpions
and snakes which naturally lurk in places where water might be found.
This section assumes the characters are striking
out around the northern fringes of the Kaikuhuran Desert, a journey that will
take them a month. There are other ways to get where they’re going, Sailing
around the coast to Amsa’im might be quicker, though potentially even more
dangerous as they’d be in Ta’ashim controlled waters and would need a cover
story. Merchants are tolerated; armed adventurers are not.
The chase
If Rashid got safely away from the Karak, the
PCs discover his tracks heading eastward. Catching up to him is their last
chance to prevent Alaflak from being warned of their coming, but it will not be
easy. The trail shows signs of uncanny speed, covering distances all but
impossible for natural mounts. (Rashid has doped his horse to get this extra
burst of speed, at the eventual cost of the animal’s life.)
Knights, barbarians and assassins can attempt
Tracking rolls to keep to Rashid’s route, in which case there’s no need for
Intelligence checks to stay on course as he’s heading straight for Alaflak.
The oasis
One of the most dangerous encounters involves
a seemingly perfect oasis whose crystal-clear pools conceal deadly secrets. The
surrounding vegetation shows subtle signs of sickness requiring Perception
checks to notice. The water is contaminated with a weak but potentially deadly
poison: Strength or less on 2d6 to resist, 1d3 damage regardless, failure to
resist with debilitating tremors (like a Weaken spell) for the next 1-3 months.
Tindaro's travel experience proves
invaluable, assuming he is here, as he recognizes signs of poisoned water.
Local Badawin nomads are aware the oasis is poisoned but do not know why. If
the characters can find out the cause (a monstrous serpent having made the
place its lair, perhaps; or a water leaper or mere-gaunt) and remove it, they could earn the gratitude of the
Badawin.
Badawin encounters
The desert's human inhabitants could prove just
as dangerous as its natural hazards. Nomadic tribes control access to reliable
water sources and view armed strangers with suspicion. One such encounter is
with Sheik Khalil, who is escorting a band of merchants from Opalar:
Sheikh Khalil
·
Rank:
4th rank Barbarian
·
Attack:
18, Defence: 10, Magical Defence:
6
·
Health Points:
16
·
Equipment:
Scimitar (d8, 4), desert robes (AF 1)
6 Guards
·
Rank:
2nd rank Barbarians
·
Attack:
16, Defence: 8, Magical Defence:
4
·
Health Points:
12 each
·
Equipment:
Scimitars (d8, 4), javelins (d6, 3), desert robes (AF 1)
12 Merchants
·
Rank:
Unranked
·
Attack:
10, Defence: 5, Magical Defence:
3
·
Health Points:
11 each
·
Equipment:
Daggers (d4, 3), trade goods, superior water containers
Negotiation with the Badawin is possible but requires
cultural sensitivity and careful diplomacy. Tindaro’s language skills and
trading experience could provide crucial advantages (+3 to negotiation rolls)
if he is with the party. Success can yield:
- Detailed knowledge of local conditions
- Information about the attack on Giacommo’s party
- Safe passage through tribal territories
- Assistance in catching Rashid
Failure could trigger combat that the PCs
might win but would certainly regret, given their need for local allies and
information.
Signs of Alaflak’s
influence
As the party crosses the Harogarn mountains
into Marijah territory, evidence of the Old Man of the Mountain's power
increases. Merchant caravans travel only in large, well-armed groups and local
tribes speak fearfully of the ‘Eagle's Nest’. The characters may catch sight of
Marijah scouts watching from the hills. Even if they don’t, the landscape
itself seems to observe their approach.
Episode 7:
The Fortress of Death
The legendary fortress finally comes into view
as the PCs crest a ridge. Alaflak appears to grow from the living rock of the mountain,
its walls so perfectly integrated with natural stone that distinguishing
between natural and artificial construction is all but impossible.
The single approach involves a stone stairway
carved directly into the cliff face, rising three hundred feet in switchbacks
that leave climbers completely exposed. At the base lies the rotting carcass of
a horse – Rashid's.
Reconnaissance
and planning
From their concealed position, the characters
can observe Alaflak for hours without detecting signs of normal activity. No
sentries walk the walls, no smoke rises from cooking fires, and no movement is
visible. The silence suggests watchful patience rather than abandonment.
If Elshander or another creature with
underground experience accompanies the party, they might detect air movement
suggesting hidden openings in the mountain's base.
The cave
Investigation of the mountain's base reveals a
narrow fissure barely wide enough for a man to squeeze through. Perception
checks detect air movement suggesting connection to larger chambers within the
mountain.
Side passages branch in all directions, so
that Track rolls may be needed. In places the roof of the cave is unstable and
the footing is uneven and treacherous. The tunnels contain their own denizens, strange
echoes and occasional glimpses of eyes reflecting torchlight hint at creatures
adapted to perpetual darkness.
The Garden
of Paradise
The cave route eventually emerges into Alaflak’s
underground chamber where Marijah warriors spend their time in drug-induced
visions. This represents the Old Man of the Mountains’ most effective tool for
creating fanatically loyal soldiers; served delicacies by compliant girls, they
have their notion of an eternal reward reinforced to the point that death holds
no terrors.
Above is a golden dome decorated with
intricate celestial mosaics. Hanging gardens and daylight filtered by mirrors create
an impression of natural beauty despite the subterranean location. At night, hundreds
of coloured glass lanterns provide soft, dreamlike illumination to which musical
fountains add an hypnotic quality.
There are dozens of assassins reclining on
divans and thick rugs. Beside each is a scimitar. Serving girls pass among them
with bubble pipes that leave a sweet aroma in the air. One of the girls plays a
lyre, the notes rippling like a breeze through the garden.
The characters’ presence remains undetected
only while they avoid disturbing the carefully maintained atmosphere. A single
misplaced step, clatter of metal against stone, or wrong word can trigger the
alarm. If that happens, every warrior rises as one, moving with perfect
coordination despite having been insensible moments before.
Drugged Assassin Warriors (50+ individuals)
· Rank: 3rd rank Assassins
· Attack: 15, Defence: 7, Magical
Defence: 6
· Health Points: 11
· Evasion: 5, Stealth: 19, Perception:
9
· Weapons: Scimitar (d8, 4)
· Armor Factor: 2 (black robes with
hidden reinforcement)
· Combat Techniques: Likely Armour
Piercing and Shock Attack
These warriors represent the ultimate
expression of fanatical dedication. They fight with no regard for personal
safety. Weight of numbers alone would make this a deadly encounter, so the
characters should hope to avoid alerting them. If there is a battle, the
characters will need to use the tunnel entrance to keep themselves from getting
surrounded and overwhelmed.
If they get away from the garden, Alaflak’s
interior proves as challenging as its exterior defences. Passages follow no
logical pattern, with corridors that seem to lead toward important areas
suddenly ending in blank walls or opening onto chambers serving no obvious
purpose. The maze-like layout calls for Intelligence checks to avoid getting
hopelessly turned around.
There could also be hidden traps: pressure
plates and crushing mechanisms designed by master craftsmen. For example:
- Crusher: Perception check to detect, Evasion against Speed 9 to
avoid 2d6 damage
- False floor: Combined weight of three characters (or two in heavy
armour) triggers collapse into spike-filled pit (3d6 damage)
The architectural confusion serves multiple
purposes beyond defence—important areas are deliberately difficult to locate,
requiring knowledge of secret passages and hidden routes that only trusted
inhabitants possess.
The party's flight from the Garden of Paradise
leads deeper into the fortress, eventually reaching a vast hall.
Episode 8:
Queen Hel's Challenge
The Chamber
of Judgment
The deepest hall of Alaflak serves as both
throne room and trial ground, where the Old Man of the Mountain renders final
judgment on matters of supreme importance. High vaulted ceilings supported by
marble pillars create an impression of grandeur, while polished stone floors
reflect the flickering light of hundreds of torches.
When the PCs enter, they find Queen Hel
waiting for them, her imposing figure outlined against the torch-lit pillars.
She holds King Rigar’s sword with casual expertise, its flame-headed pommel
gleaming in the flickering light. Tall and imposing with flame-gold hair and
piercing blue eyes that give her an almost daunting beauty. Her distinctive
appearance makes her deadly reputation seem impossible until she moves with the
fluid grace of a master warrior.
At the chamber's centre lies a concealed trap:
a cage that falls to surround 2-6 members of the party, who must Evade against
a Speed of 13 or be trapped. Breaking free requires a roll of 3 on 3d6; each
trapped character can roll each round.
Queen Hel (Princess Rosamund)
·
Rank:
12th rank Knight/Assassin
·
Attack:
25, Defence: 19, Magical Defence:
14
·
Health Points:
22
·
Evasion:
8, Stealth: 18, Perception:
12
·
Weapons:
o Sword
(d8+3, 7)
o Spiked
Shield (d4+1, 4) when used offensively
·
Armor Factor:
4 (black mail beneath robes)
·
Special Abilities:
o Master
Combatant: Can attack with both sword and shield simultaneously
o Assassin
Training: All stealth and combat techniques up to 12th rank
o Royal
Heritage: Natural leadership and tactical brilliance
o Tragic
Conditioning: Believes those of the True Faith are murderous
invaders
Queen Hel's true identity as Rigar’s lost
daughter may be discovered through several means:
- Same imposing height as historical descriptions of King Rigar
- Distinctive red-gold hair colour
- Commanding presence that distinguishes her as of royal blood
- Fighting style displays recognizably Elleslandic techniques despite
Marijah training
- Occasional lapses into Elleslandic oaths while fighting
Whether Queen Hel falls in combat or the truth
emerges through other means, the revelation of her identity creates one of the
adventure's most powerful emotional moments.
Hasan ibn Sabbah, the Old Man of the Mountain
- Rank: 15th rank Mystic
- Attack: 20, Defence: 14, Magical
Defence: 20
- Health Points: 18
- Evasion: 8, Stealth: 22, Perception:
19
- Special Abilities:
- Ancient Wisdom:
Vast knowledge of history, philosophy, and human nature
- Master Manipulator: Can
read people's motivations and desires
- Mystic Powers: All
Mystic abilities at maximum effectiveness
From his position in the gallery, Hasan
provides the complete explanation with the detached tone of a philosopher
examining an interesting problem. After assassins slew Salador, Princess
Rosamund was brought to Alaflak as a frightened five-year-old who spoke broken Nascerine
and cried for her father every night. The assassins gradually convinced her
that Rigar had abandoned her, that Coradian knights were murderous invaders who
deserved only death. Eventually she remembered nothing of her early life – not consciously,
at any rate – and thought of herself as a Marijah.
‘She became my finest student,’ Hasan explains
with genuine pride. ‘Fourteen different fighting styles mastered, warriors from
seven nations defeated in personal combat. She could have ruled your lands
better even than her father, but she would never have wanted such a burden.’
The characters have no real chance of
defeating the entire force of assassins, but Hasan has no incentive to waste
his men on a battle with nothing to gain. If Rosamund is slain, he will let the
characters go, only pursuing them if they try to get her away – though she would
not in any case go voluntarily, and will not believe any story they try to tell
her about her origins.
The aftermath
Surviving characters must confront the full
implications of their discovery. Rigar’s sword remains as evidence to back up
what they've learned, but do they want to reveal it? They made oaths to Grand
Master Reginald and they may not want to draw the attention of mighty earls and
princes with their tale.
Queen Hel's story becomes a meditation on
identity, loyalty, and righteous cause. Raised among enemies of her birthright,
she became everything her father would have wanted in an heir – brave, skilled,
dedicated to protecting the innocent – while simultaneously becoming everything
he would have opposed. The irony serves as a reminder that good intentions and
noble goals can lead to tragic outcomes when they collide with the complexities
of human nature and historical circumstance.
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POSTSCRIPT: Whenever I write a scenario for publication, I feel compelled to say
again that following a script is not the way to roleplay. A planned set of story events is
necessary for novels, gamebooks, movies, and so on, but roleplaying is a unique
medium. It can do so much more than traditional narrative forms. The player-characters should have their own reason for arriving at the
abbey. They may or may not take an interest in Sir Hubert’s story. In the novella the protagonists have a pressing motive; they desperately want to replace King John, and they think his spies may be onto them so they have a reason to hurry. Even if the PCs hear
what Sir Hubert has to say, they might ignore it or chase it up in any one of a dozen
ways – they wouldn’t necessary choose to go scooting off to the Holy Land. But
needs must, and I know you’ll just take all the above as bunch of suggestions
to be used, modified or abandoned as the individual needs of your player group
dictate.
If you're looking for more inspiration for Dragon Warriors adventures, Red Ruin Publishing has a marvellous range of solo adventure gamebooks, scenarios, fiction, and of course the Casket of Fays fanzine, all designed to let you enjoy the game's 40th anniversary to the full.
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