d20 Legion Publishing Critical Hits 21 - Death at Spaporte.pdf - Legion Publishing - R5700

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LEG1021

L E G 1 0 2 1

INTRODUCTION

Greetings traveler and welcome to Critical Hits - a

series of electronic publications from Legion Publishing.

Each Critical Hit is a complete encounter that can be

dropped into any fantasy campaign with a little prepa-

ration by the DM and can be used to provide a distrac-

tion from the main storyline of the campaign. The

encounters are little gems of ideas built around a single

situation, person, location, creature or object that the

players come across in their travels. Whether used as a

disposable diversion or the springboard for adventure,

Critical Hits give the overworked DM a break and the

players some memorable encounters that encourage cre-

ative role-playing.

V o l u m e 6 N o 1 - E n c o u n t e r L e v e l 3

D E A T H I N S P A P O R T E

Published by

In Death in Spaporte, the heroes are recuperating in a

spa town when they are caught up in a murder mystery.

The encounter can be set in any area of your campaign

world; all that is required is a small town. This Critical Hit

is best played out following a recent triumph for the PCs

when, as part of their reward the party is directed to the

small spa town by a grateful NPC who wishes them to

enjoy a little relaxation for their efforts. If they rescued

or helped a person of wealth she may even pay for their

stay at the Spa! Other plot hooks could include the PCs

acquaintance with a wealthy or famous person who fre-

quents the place and has invited them to join her at the

splendid bathhouse. As with the other Critical Hits, text

inside a border should be read aloud to the players (unless

you have modified the setting, in which case you're on

your own!).

www.legionpublishing.co.uk

First Published 2003

C R E D I T S &

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S

Written by

Rob Clayton Jones

Editing

Simon Lucas & Robin Elliott

Illustrations & Maps

Robin Elliott

Typesetting

Kirsty Crabb

Typesetting and graphic design by Wildstar Digital Arts

Contact - info@wildstardigitalarts.co.uk

Author courtesy of Snake Eyes Studio

Contact - info@snakeeyesstudio.co.uk

THE STORY SO FAR

Legion Publishing, Critical Hits, the Legion Publishing logo, Legionnaire,

and all related characters and elements are trademarks of Legion

Publishing.

Wildstar Digital Arts and its logo are trademarks of Wildstar Digital Arts.

Snake Eyes Studio and its logo are trademarks of Snake Eyes Studio.

The most significant thing about the little town of

Spaporte is a natural hot spring which bubbles up from

the ground and around which the town is built. On top of

the spring, a large bathhouse has been constructed where

people of means can take the waters. The expensive spa is

used only by the elite and most wealthy of townsfolk, and

by well-off visitors from all across the realms. A place for

the rich and famous to relax, the Spa offers the weary

traveler a myriad of services such as a cold pool, hot

slipper baths, a steam bath, and guest quarters. At 100

gold pieces per day, it allows only the most well-heeled to

take advantage of Mother Nature's wonder.

'd20 System' and the 'd20 System' logo are trademarks of Wizards of

the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used according to

the terms of the d20 System License version 4.0. A copy of this License

can be found at www.wizards.com/d20.

Designation of Product Identity

All material, other than material already considered Open Gaming

Content is considered Product Identity as described in Section 1(e) of

the Open Gaming License v1.0a. This includes but is not limited to

Critical Hits and all significant characters, names, creatures, spells,

events, plots, logos, trade dress, product names, product lines, places,

Reserved, except where otherwise noted. The use of another company's

trademark should not be construed as a challenge to that trademark.

Reproduction of non-Open Game Content from this work by any means

without the express written consent of Legion Publishing is prohibited.

Legion Publishing - Critical Hits

Volume 6 No 1 - EL 3

A ll is not as it seems when the unsuspecting PCs arrive

at the Spa. The story begins with the king of a small city-

state of Terrinos, Titus Marius Augustus. King Titus has a

daughter named Antonia who wished to marry a famous

ageing warrior named Publius Larcius Magnus, popularly

known as "The Great Slayer". The warrior had been greatly

in favor with King Titus after single-handedly laying waste

to the huge lycanthrope population that surrounded

Terrinos.

(area 1) for an energetic workout before bathing. This

large room is surrounded with statues of well-muscled

naked men and women engaged in various physical exer-

cises. Various sports and activities are available here and

a PC may regain 1d4 hit points for every 6 hours spent

here. Exercises include weight lifting, running, and ball

games. Heavily muscled instructors can train visitors in

discus and javelin techniques.

Swimming Pools

These two rooms are fed by the natural hot spring

that has made Spaporte famous. The bubbling water that

fills this deep swimming pool is rumored to have many

healing properties. Indeed, any characters with any tem-

porary damage (lost hit points, subdual damage, or

attribute points, but not actual damage) recover 1d4 for

each full two hours spent in the pool. Around the edge of

the women's pool (area 2) several burly, well-oiled male

slaves attend to the every whim of the spa's female

patrons. In the men's pool (area 8) the slaves are female,

but no less willing to serve.

However much Titus admired Publius as a warrior, he

did not want him as a son - after all, the man was old

enough to be his brother! So, when Publius took the hand

of Titus's beloved daughter Antonia, the pair was forced to

flee to the southern lands. The fuming Titus sent many

spies to track the couple down but, as yet, they have not

found the elopers. Titus' sister, Horaea Augusta was a wise

priestess in whom Antonia confided her plan to elope to

the town of Spaporte. Pretending to the King that she was

undertaking a pilgrimage she set off to find the young

Antonia and persuade her to return to the kingdom.

Guest Rooms

The men's and women's quarters are a series of well-

appointed bedrooms for visitors to the spa. Each room can

be locked and has three plush beds, a large wardrobe and

a dresser with oils and perfumes. Light comes from a small

square window in the center of the roof. The men's quar-

ters (areas 3a-3h) and women's quarters (areas 4a-4d)

are linked by a servant's passage with concealed doors at

either end.

However, Horea and the King's spies are not the only

people pursuing the couple. A were-tiger named Lixus has

been on Publius' trail for weeks, desperately seeking

vengeance for the killing of his family by the 'great hero'.

On his journey, Lixus has himself found love in the shift-

ing form of another shape-changer; a Doppelganger

named Frea. Intrigued by her new companion's abilities

(so similar to her own), Frea has sworn to help her new-

found love complete his bloody quest.

Elaeothesium (Oil Room)

These rooms are the first stop in the elaborate

bathing rituals. The bather is massaged with fragrant oils

by trained slaves. Two rows of marble pallets stand

around the edge of this beautiful marble room on which

the visitors lie while being down. Men and women can be

tended to by gender in the women’s oil room (area 5), the

men’s oil room (area 15), or in the unisex oil room or

Unctuarium (area 10).

Unaware of their imminent peril, the elopers have

reached Spaporte where Publius has many friends and

where his two sons live. The happy couple had decided to

rest for three days at the Spa and recuperate with

Publius' family at their side. However, Antonia was tragi-

cally ensnared and killed by Frea while alone in her quar-

ters. Now taking the place of the tragic Antonia, Frea

waits for Lixus to complete his vendetta.

THE SPA

Frigidarium (Cold Pool Room)

The penultimate stage of the bathing ritual is a

bracing plunge into the Frigidarium (cold room), where

there is a freezing swimming pool. Lumps of ice float in

both the men's (area 11) and the women's (area 6) pools

and wisps of chill mist drift over the top of the pool.

Compared to the luxurious opulence of most other rooms

in the spa, the Frigidarium is plain and bare as few

choose to linger long in this room. The bathing process is

completed by leaving the Frigidarium and, returning

again to the oil room (areas 5, 10 and 15), the body is

again anointed with oil.

The party has arrived at the spa for a hard-earned

rest and the PCs have been given a private room with a

key (each room can hold up to three occupants). The fol-

lowing are the most important locations in the spa that

the PCs may visit. In this part of the world, bathing is for-

malized and each area of the spa has its own name and

function.

Palaestra (Activity Room)

Bathers taking the baths as part of a medical treat-

ment are usually sent to the spa to visit the Palaestra

Legion Publishing - Critical Hits

Volume 6 No 1 - EL 3

Legion Publishing - Critical Hits

Volume 6 No 1 - EL 3

Tepidarium (Warm Room)

Open only to male patrons, the luxurious warm room

(area 7) is beautifully decorated with green-veined

marble walls hung with exquisite artwork. Coming from

the oppressive sweatiness of the steam room, the tepidar-

ium offers a place for a bather to relax before returning

to the pressure cooker or heading on to the Palaestra.

inside the walls. Hot air from a furnace circulates

through these open areas warming the rooms above. The

furnace lies directly beneath the calidarium, but can only

be accessed from the outside of the spa. It is tended by

slaves at all times, to keep the hot air circulating.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Laconicum (Steam Room)

In the corner of each steam room (area 13 for men

and 18 for women) stand huge braziers of red-hot coals. A

bucket of water is kept next to the coals for bathers to

pour small amounts of water onto the coals to create huge

quantities of steam. Slaves tend to bathers, who have

their bodies scraped of the accumulation of oil and per-

spiration with a curved metal implement called a strigil.

Each Laconicum is a plain unadorned room as it is con-

stantly filled with steam. Tiers of wooden benches line

the walls and there is usually a handful of patrons sweat-

ing it out in this room. The thick clouds of steam in the

Laconicum provide three quarters concealment (30% miss

chance) for everyone in the room.

The heroes are relaxing in an oiling room (areas 5, 10,

or 15), enjoying the experience of being pampered as the

knots in their muscles from their recent exploits are

worked out of them by experienced fingers.

You are approaching a state of bliss as a slender

maiden who smells of strawberries gently massages

your toes. You turn your aching neck to see your

friends lying upon marble pallets beside you; each one

being pampered like a royal. You all nod and smile

knowingly: coming to Spaporte was indeed a good idea!

Turning to stare up at the ceiling, you can see the

beautiful green marble swirls that surround the gigan-

tic golden chandeliers. Your mind wanders momentar-

ily as to their worth…

Your daydream is interrupted by the voice of an olive

skinned man lying upon a marble palette beside yours.

'So you are the outsiders hmm, I must say you do look

a little worse for wear. Perhaps after your oils you

would like to join me in the exercise yard for a stroll.

I have a business proposal you might be interested in.'

Without giving his name, the robed man then leaves.

Calidarium (Hot Room)

Male bathers have an additional room (area 14) where

they can sit and relax after their massage instead of the

steam room, the well-oiled bather goes into the hot room,

which is most heated by the hypocaust beneath the spa

(see below) as the furnace lies directly below this room.

Lounge

Two lounges with covered colonnades for relaxation

and socializing are also provided. Writers frequently

comment on the beauty and luxury of these rooms (areas

12, and 16), with their rich furnishings, high vaulted ceil-

ings, brightly colored mosaics, paintings, marble panels,

and silver fittings.

The man is Publius Antonius Nicia, a freed slave of the

princess Antonia. Nicia, although free, remains a loyal

servant of Antonia and he is growing increasingly con-

cerned about her safety. Nicia refuses to not talk in front

of any slaves (there are around thirty slave girls and boys

working throughout the complex both night and day).

Apodyterium

Patrons wishing to bathe must first enter these rooms

to change from their outdoor clothes. Men and women are

separated while bathing, though the other activities

available at the spa can be enjoyed communally. (Dressing

room area 9 is for women and area 17 for men.)

An olive skinned man of deceptively high intelligence

and wisdom, Nicia was freed by Antonia and is devoted.

He is logical and yet confused by recent events. His dis-

covery of a tiger's claw and several letters from Horea to

King Titus stating her progress on a supposed pilgrimage,

are locked in a chest in 4a also containing 700gp (open

locks DC17).

Exercise Yard

After changing (but before bathing) it is usual to have

a strenuous workout in this large courtyard (area 19). A

successful spot check here (DC15) reveals a grotesque gar-

goyle perched upon the courtyard roof, sat in a rigid,

menacing pose.

If the PCs decide to follow Nicia, he strolls around the

yard appraising the other guests. Currently there are

four other guests taking in the rays of the noon sun. Nicia

introduces himself and explain to the PCs that he is an

employee of Antonia Augusta, a wealthy princess from

Terrinos. PCs succeeding a Knowledge (History) check

(DC15) identify the city as a place of vast riches and ruled

by a wealthy monarch.

Hypocaust

An ingenious system of heating the spa buildings in

which the floor is raised on pillars with spaces are left

d20 Legion Publishing Critical Hits 21 - Death at Spaporte.pdf

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