d20 Legion Publishing Critical Hits 29 - The Haunting.pdf - Legion Publishing - R5700

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Legion Publishing - Critical Hits

Volume 8 No 1- EL 5

L E G 1 0 2 9

I N T R O D U C T I O N

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 very little

preparation needed by the DM. The encounters are little

gems of ideas built around a single situation, person,

location, creature or object that the players stumble

across in their travels. Each Critical Hit provides all the

DM needs to use the encounter. Whether used as a dispos-

able diversion or the springboard for adventure, Critical

Hits give the overworked DM a break and the players

some memorable encounters that encourage creative role-

playing.

V o l u m e 8 N o 1 - E n c o u n t e r L e v e l 5

THE HAUNTING

Published by

In The Haunting the heroes’ tedious journey is

brought to an abrupt halt as a sudden dense and eerie

mist descends upon the dangerous mountain road they

follow. To press on further would be to invite disaster, but

to camp in the open with such poor visibility is equally

unappealing. As they pause to debate the way forward

they see, looming in the mist, an impressive half-tim-

bered coach house. Taking refuge in the gloomy building

gets the PCs out of the inclement weather but into a

world of mysteries and danger. The setting for the

encounter is a large hostelry high in a mountain pass, but

the coach inn could easily be moved to any location in

your heroes’ path. As with 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 December 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

Simon Lucas

Editor

Kirsty Crabb

Illustrations & Maps

Robin Elliott

Typesetting

Kirsty Crabb

Graphic design by Wildstar Digital Arts

Contact - info@wildstardigitalarts.co.uk

Author courtesy of Snake Eyes Studio

Contact - info@snakeeyesstudio.co.uk

SPIRIT PASS

High in the Brinspine Mountains is the narrow Spirit Pass,

a dangerous file and the only safe passage between the ter-

rifyingly sheer cliffs and razor-sharp peaks. The heroes are

traveling through this high pass on their latest quest.

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.

'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.

As you journey through the mountains, you are forced

to travel single-file by the narrowness of the way and

the sheer drop on either side of the path. The temper-

ature is dropping too, and you wrap your furs close

around you as protection from the suddenly inclement

weather. This pass has a reputation for sudden fogs

that shroud the path and lead unwary travelers off

the precipices that surround you. Your pace slows to a

virtual crawl as you try to remain on the narrow path.

Legion Publishing - Critical Hits

Volume 8 No 1- EL 5

As the characters pick their precarious path through

the fog, they are not alon. Using the gloomy mist as cover,

a pair of Shadows moves in for the kill. Draw out the

narrow path and the rocky outcroppings which prevent

the characters from fighting in a formation. Make good

use of line of sight and area effect rules as the players

must work together carefully to defeat a foe that does

not have to worry about floating off the edge of the

cliffs!

A light breeze picks up sending the mists swirling and

through the parting you briefly glimpse the high

pitched roof of a tall structure, before the image is

again obscured by another tendril of mist. Soon after

a ghostly image of the building can be seen again

THE EAGLE’S NEST

Shadow (2): CR 3;Medium Undead (Incorporeal); HD 3d12

(Undead); hp 19; Init +2; Spd 30, Fly, Good 40; AC 13;

Atk +3 base melee, +3 base ranged; +3 (+3,

Incorporeal touch, 1d6 Str); SA: Strength damage (Su),

Create spawn (Su); SQ: Undead, Incorporeal, Turn resist-

ance (Ex); AL CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4; STR

—, DEX 14, CON —, INT 6, WIS 12, CHA 13.

This large inn is perched on the sheer cliffs built atop

a column of rock to one side of the main path. The inn is

so large, however, that part of the half-timbered struc-

ture looming out of the fog projects out, off the edge of

the narrow column, supported by thick wooden beams.

Many of the windows, particularly those along the north

side, open out over the chasm, a long drop to certain

death in the inky blackness below. Built on three stories,

the inn can cater to all purses and makes much of its

money from the dwarven miners that work the countless

mines sunk into the tall peaks in this part of the range.

The shadows come out as the fog starts to settle and

are difficult to see in this dark and gloomy area. They

stand 5 to 6 feet tall and are weightless and, although

they cannot speak intelligibly, they hiss menacingly as

they approach the characters. The shadows lurk in dark

places, waiting for living prey to happen by.

Strength Damage (Su): The touch of a shadow deals

1d6 points of Strength damage to a living foe. A creature

reduced to Strength 0 by a shadow dies. This is a negative

energy effect.

Create Spawn (Su): Any humanoid reduced to Strength

0 by a shadow becomes a shadow under the control of its

killer within 1d4 rounds.

Skills: Shadows have a +2 racial bonus on Listen and

Spot checks and a +4 racial bonus on Search checks. A

shadow gains a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas

of shadowy illumination. In brightly lit areas, it takes a

–4 penalty on Hide checks.

Throughout the building, thick wooden doors separate

most of the inn’s many rooms (hardness 5, HP20, break DC

23) and heavy wooden shutters protect the delicate

leaded glass windows from the creatures that lurk high in

the mountains. Two huge stone chimneys project from the

steeply pitched roof and wisps of smoke curl endlessly

from the clay pots. The fires in the building are always

kept burning, fed by two young albino dwarfs, the sons of

the proprietor, Fiigan.

The only way to reach the Eagle’s Nest is across a

narrow stone bridge, which links the main path of Spirit

Pass to the rocky column on which the building stands.

This thin, precarious span is barely five feet wide and

leads to a flattened courtyard in front of the inn.

Opposite the main building stands a long, low stable for

any mounts or pack animal accompanying visitors. A mute

dwarf stable hand comes to usher patrons forward and

stable their horses, indicating the front door and grunt-

ing as he gesticulates. For 1sp per day, he takes excellent

care of any animals entrusted to him.

If the players decide to press on through the gather-

ing fog, indicate to them trouble they may be in. Have

pairs of shadows attack from time to time as a hint they

are in great danger and force them to make periodic

Balance checks (DC20) as the fog closes in. Failure indi-

cates that the character has lost his or her footing and

stumbled. A successful Reflex saving throw (DC20) pre-

vents falling 3d10 feet to a ledge and suffering the

appropriate damage.

1st Floor

1 - Vestibule

The large draughty entrance hall has a dark slate floor

and the stuffed heads of many mountain beasts on it s

dark, wood-paneled walls. The only light comes from a

huge candelabra built from a wagon wheel and suspended

from the heavy beams overhead. The only furniture in the

vestibule is the sturdy table containing the visitors’ book.

If the party is traveling with pack animals, have one

of the beasts stumble and fall, screaming piteously to its

death (be sure to make the party lose any goods the

unfortunate beast was carrying). Once the characters opt

to take respite from the elements or seek refuge from the

creatures of the fog, they find a haven in which to wait

out the night.

Legion Publishing - Critical Hits

Volume 8 No 1- EL 5

2 - Kitchens

The tavern’s kitchens are a hive of dwarven activity.

Fine roasted meats are prepared daily and rich, heady

aromas fill the room, along with smoke and steam. Food is

cooked and kept hot over the huge roaring fire in the

northeast corner and a series of steel plates swing into

the other rooms served by the vast fireplace to deliver

the cooked food direct to the patrons. Most of these

serving plates swing into the dining room (area 7),

though smaller ones also serve the bar and lounge.

6 - Main Bar

This part of the Brinspine mountain range is dotted

with dwarven mines and for the hundreds of dwarven

miners, the Eagle’s Nest is the nearest drinking establish-

ment. As the various mining shifts and guard duties end,

dwarven miners flock to the main bar of the ’Nest by the

score. The result is one of the rowdiest bars that the

adventurers are likely to come across.

The life of a working mining dwarf is hot, dark and

dirty. They are a hard-drinking, hard-swearing, dirty,

smelly lot and a bar full of them can be a distinctly

unpleasant place for any character with any rarer sensi-

bilities. When drunk, the 40 to 50 dwarves that pack this

bar at almost all times can be voluble and violent. There

is a high probability of a brawl if the characters do not

have thick skins or cannot turn a blind eye to the fre-

quent insults bandied back and forth. For this reason,

most of those rooming at the inn tend to remain in the

lounge during the very busiest times.

3 - Main Lounge

In the southeast corner of the room a huge stone fire-

place is built into the wall, in which a fire rages. Through

the dancing flames can be seen the three other rooms

into which the fires open. Hot snacks are provided direct-

ly from the kitchen and several steaming pots of baked,

boiled and roasted meat and vegetable pieces and a selec-

tion of tempting hot sauces and dips are available at any

hour (though after midnight, the food is not replaced and

the choices become progressively more limited until the

kitchen opens again at first light. Deep high-backed

chairs and reclining couches are dotted around the

lounge; all covered with thick rugs and stuffed hair cush-

ions. At almost any hour there is selection of patrons

drinking and talking quietly in this large room. Often

those staying at the Eagle’s Nest find the lounge, with its

subtle candlelight on each of the tables and the absence

of the rowdier element found in the bar, conducive to

conversation and undisturbed planning.

7 - Main Dining Room

Long benches and tables are the predominant feature

of this room. There is almost always someone in the

dining room eating – usually dwarves at strange hours of

the day, who hurry to the ’Nest as soon as their shifts end

for a hot meal and some respite from the deep mines

where they work. The other patrons tend to keep more

regular hours, eating a hearty breakfast after day break

(hot oats and plenty of meat) and a huge dinner, shortly

after sundown. At other times, a ready supply of cold

meats and occasional cooked dishes are pushed through

from the kitchens to stand warming on the fire.

4 - Fiigan’s Office

During daylight hours, Fiigan, the proprietor can

often be found in his office, behind a plain carved desk

poring over his figures, planning every detail of his busi-

ness. A canny trader, he watches his costs like a hawk

watches field mice, and any expense is haggled over and

bartered down. Any patron can go over the finer points of

his or her bill with Fiigan in detail in the office and

records of the individual’s expense are well-maintained,

exhaustive and accurate. When not in the office, Fiigan is

careful to ensure that both the doors leaving the room

are locked. The roaring log fire, which is kept perpetual-

ly burning in the fireplace, precludes taking advantage of

the open design, though anyone looking into the fire can

see into the adjoining locations (areas 5, 8 and 9)

8 - Fiigan’s Dining Room

In his private dining room, Fiigan displays some of his

riches, with fine silverware and priceless crystal goblets

adorning the finely carved table. Occasionally he invites

his patrons into the dining room to share his dinner. This

only happens if the individual intrigues him in some way

or if he feels threatened by them, in which case, the meal

may be the person’s last as Fiigan is a master of poison

9 - Fiigan’s Library

Fiigan’s well-stocked library contains a collection of

books that give an interesting insight into his personali-

ty. There are many tomes regarding the banishment of

ghosts and the exorcism of demons, spirits and shades. An

exhaustive section on poisons seems well-thumbed and

may give the players a hint that they had best be on

their guard around this ruthless dwarf. Another section of

the library is given over to cures for terrible diseases,

birth defects among remote dwarven colonies and the

brewing of curatives for uncontrollable rages.

5 - Main Hall

The broad stair sweeps up and parts at the top

leading to the main landing on the second floor both to

the left and the right at its head. Battered shields and

suits of armor from Fiigan’s military campaigning days

adorn the walls of the hallway. Another huge wagon

wheel hangs overhead, covered with candles.

Legion Publishing - Critical Hits

Volume 8 No 1- EL 5

d20 Legion Publishing Critical Hits 29 - The Haunting.pdf

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