Scales of War - [Lvl 4] - The Shadow Rift of Umbraforge.pdf - Scales of War - Kitraida

“We are mercenaries, all

of us, but only a precious

few have honesty enough

to admit it. Whether we

sell ourselves for coin,

for honor, or ideals, we

all have a price whose

continued payment

leads us inevitably to our

end. But when that end

comes, will you admit

to your balance sheet?

Or will you lie when you

claim that the blood on

your hands was spilled

for just cause, not simply

your hunger for glory?”

THE SHADOW RIFT

by Scott Fitzgerald Gray

OF U MBRAFORGE

illustrations by Dave Allsop,

Ryan Barger, Nicole Cardiff, Saejin Oh,

and Chris Stevens

cartography by Mike Schley

September 2008 | Dungeon 158

THE SHADOW RIFT OF UMBRAFORGE

WHAT’S AN

ADVENTURE PATH?

Scales of War is the fourth Adventure Path to appear

in the pages of Dungeon Magazine . But what, you ask,

is an Adventure Path? Quite simply, it is a series of

related adventures intended to form a complete D&D

campaign that takes your players from 1st level all the

way to, in the case of Scales of War, 30th level.

Previous Adventure Paths, presented with the

third edition D&D rules, took characters from 1st to

20th level. But with all three tiers in the new edition

ripe and ready to explore, we’re pushing the limit with

Scales of War. Each tier takes roughly six adventures

to traverse, which means we’ll finish off this Adven-

ture Path in about eighteen issues. Each adventure

advances characters from between one and a half

to two levels of experience. We recognize that not

everyone will meet every encounter or complete

every quest, however, so periodically, we’ll point you

DMs to a supplemental Side Trek or short adventure

to keep your PCs on pace. Plus, roughly every other

month, Dragon will feature new support content for

Scales of War.

Finally, this Adventure Path is intended to function

as a complete D&D campaign. That means we’ll be

making some assumptions about the history of the

world as we move along, just as you would in any

campaign you run. We’ll be borrowing heavily from

the D&D mythology of 4th Edition, as well as all the

great ideas that have cropped up in other products

over the years—including the pages of past issues of

Dungeon !

Enjoy your stay in Scales of War, and keep an eye

out for next month’s installment.

“The Shadow Rift of Umbraforge” is an adventure for

five 4th-level characters who are approximately half-

way to 5th level. Characters should be 6th level by the

adventure’s end. This adventure is a sequel to “Siege

of Bordrin’s Watch” and the third part of the Scales of

War Adventure Path. However, with a little modifica-

tion, it can be played as a standalone adventure or

integrated into an existing campaign.

civilized frontier and a stone’s throw from Sarshan’s

operations in the city of Overlook, was one of these.

When Sarshan rebuffed Myrissa’s request, Modra

approached the witch in secret. He struck a deal to

supply Tusk with weapons and intelligence, sending

in a group of his followers (the dark creepers in “Siege

of Bordrin’s Watch,” including Iranda) to do the job.

In going behind Sarshan’s back, Modra expected that

an overwhelming orc victory (won with the help of

dark one subterfuge) would win his master’s respect.

However, with Tusk’s forces routed and Modra’s ser-

vants scattered or killed, the dark creeper has had to

go to ground to escape Sarshan’s wrath. The brass key

that Iranda carried in “Siege of Bordrin’s Watch” sets

Modra on the PCs’ trail—and leads them into the next

stage of the adventure path.

BACKGROUND

In “Siege of Bordrin’s Watch,” the PCs discovered that

dark creepers had sold arms and tactical intelligence

to the orc war chief Tusk, aiding him in his attack

against the folk of the Stonehome Mountains. In

this adventure, the PCs investigate the link between

the orcs and the dark ones, stumbling into an arms-

running operation bridging two planes, and finally

confronting the charismatic figure behind it.

Sarshan is an opportunistic shadar-kai arms

dealer. For years, he has built an invisible mercantile

empire around the sale and brokering of weapons,

armor, mercenaries, and intelligence from his domain

in the Shadowfell. Though Sarshan plays a significant

part in this adventure, the PCs’ initial focus is on one

of his lieutenants—a dark creeper shadowborn stalker

named Modra.

Before the “Siege of Bordrin’s Watch,” Modra was

approached by Tusk’s advisor Myrissa, a shadar-kai

witch who knew of Sarshan’s operations. However,

the success of Sarshan’s arms running and mercenary

services turns on his ability to maintain a low profile

in his dealings with clients in the world. Sometimes

this means turning down jobs that run too much risk of

exposure. Tusk’s massive raid, aimed at the heart of the

ADVENTURE SYNOPSIS

Back in Overlook after the events of “Siege of Bor-

drin’s Watch,” the PCs find themselves targeted

by a group of street toughs seeking the mysterious

brass key they obtained at the end of that previous

adventure. Through their would-be assailants, the

PCs obtain the name of the one who ordered the

assault—”Modra.”

By way of a skill challenge that takes them into the

darkest corners of the city, the PCs learn that Modra

is a dark creeper with connections to an arms-run-

ning operation and a poorhouse known as the Happy

Beggar. In a network of secret caverns beneath the

Beggar, the PCs discover that the weapons-running

operation extends from the Shadowfell to Overlook by

way of a pair of ancient magic portals. When the dark

creeper f lees to the Shadowfell, the PCs give chase.

September 2008 | Dungeon 158

THE SHADOW RIFT OF UMBRAFORGE

Transported to the Shadowfell, the PCs find them-

selves in Umbraforge—an isolated military enclave

that grows ever larger in its preparations for war.

Foundries, forges, mercenary camps, and slave pens

stand between a dark tower and a volcanic rift vent-

ing a river of lava and shadow. As they infiltrate by

stealth and sword, the PCs discover that Modra is

an underling to the shadar-kai Sarshan, master of

Umbraforge. In addition to arms running, Sarshan

sells mercenaries and creatures bred for war—horrid

mutants created in an arcane foundry fueled by the

raw power of the magma shadow rift.

Within the foundry, the PCs eliminate Modra and

his followers, then use a secret tunnel to gain access

to the tower. As they infiltrate Sarshan’s inner sanc-

tum, they face off against his house guards and allies

before being brought before the shadar-kai and given

a chance to join him. Then a massive tremor gener-

ated by the magma shadow rift shakes the tower,

allowing the PCs to f lee back to the Shadowfell gate.

As Sarshan’s foundry is leveled by the destructive

forces of shadow and fire, the PCs escape back to the

world, followed by a trio of savage specters bent on

destruction.

When that battle is done, Sarshan’s Shadowfell

gate is destroyed and Overlook is safe. However, the

PCs have uncovered information indicating that the

apparently isolated conf licts that led them first to

Rivenroar, then to Bordrin’s Watch, touch on secret

plots that threaten the end the world.

KEY TO THE

SHADOWFELL GATE

In “Siege of Bordrin’s Watch,” the heroes fight

a dark one emissary in the boiler room in the

Vents. This emissary’s name was Iranda, and

he reported directly to Modra, the dark creeper

villain of this adventure, something the charac-

ters will learn over the course of this adventure.

Iranda kept a key to the Shadowfell gate below

Overlook. If you’ve already run “Siege of Bor-

drin’s Watch,” feel free to give the PCs the key

before this adventure begins. Alternatively, it’s

possible Iranda stashed it somewhere in Over-

look, and the PCs need to track it down at some

point during “The Shadow Rift of Umbraforge.”

This latter tactic is especially handy if the char-

acters are not quite halfway to 5th level when

this adventure begins. Finally, consider including

the key among the possessions of the shadar-kai

witch at the transfer portal (see page 19).

the bustle of its streets, the endless dance of commerce

in the Forge and Tradetown districts, and the steady

stream of wains and carts passing through its gates,

Overlook gives the shadar-kai an invisibility on which

he has built a prosperous career.

PREPARING FOR

ADVENTURE

“The Shadow Rift of Umbraforge” is divided into

three parts. The first part, consisting of five encoun-

THE QUESTS

As the PCs find themselves targeted by Modra,

they slowly uncover the identity and plans

of the dark creeper. However, as they pursue

him into the Shadowfell, they come to realize

that Modra’s plots are only portents of a much

greater danger.

Minor Quest—Modra’s Threat

In parts one and two of the adventure, the PCs

must determine Modra’s connection to the orc

raid and eliminate his continued threat. How-

ever, by the time they face off against the dark

creeper in the Shadowfell, they realize that he is

only a small part of a larger operation.

Reward: 200 XP.

Major Quest—The Opportunist

In parts two and three of the adventure, the

PCs discover that Modra’s threat is insignifi-

cant compared to that of his former master, the

shadar-kai arms dealer Sarshan. The PCs must

infiltrate Sarshan’s domain in the Shadowfell,

discover the extent of the shadar-kai’s weapons-

running operations, and learn that war is coming

to the world.

Reward: 250 XP per character.

However, though the adventure starts and finishes in

Overlook, the bulk of it takes place in the Shadowfell.

Since this is likely the PCs’ first excursion to this dark

plane, familiarize yourself with “The Planes,” page

160 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide .

The gateway to the Shadowfell that Sarshan uses

to smuggle his armaments into the world (and which

Modra co-opted for his own dealings with Tusk) lies

within Overlook—a series of ancient caverns hidden

beneath the cellars of an out-of-the-way poorhouse. The

city’s status as a major trading center provides Sarshan

with the perfect cover for his clandestine trafficking in

arms, armor, and mercenaries across the frontier. With

SETTING

The first part of this adventure makes use of the city

of Overlook section in “Siege of Bordrin’s Watch.”

September 2008 | Dungeon 158

THE SHADOW RIFT OF UMBRAFORGE

ters, details the PCs’ pursuit of Modra and their

discovery of Sarshan’s Shadowfell gate. This part

should bring the party to 5th level (assuming they

were about halfway through 4th level at the comple-

tion of “Siege of Bordrin’s Watch”). The remainder of

the adventure (featuring the party’s search for Modra

in the Shadowfell, the incursion into Sarshan’s tower,

and the climactic confrontation with the savage spec-

ters that pursue the PCs from the Shadowfell back to

the world) should bring them to 6th level.

Assuming you are already familiar with the layout

of Overlook from “Siege of Bordrin’s Watch,” you

need only to read this introductory material and The

Beggar’s Gate (including the Street Skirmish tactical

encounter and the “Modra’s Plots” skill challenge) to

get ready for your first game session.

Modra’s role in the attack on Bordrin’s Watch

should be enough to inspire a mostly good or lawful

good party to want to capture or kill him. However,

if the PCs are strongly unaligned, you might need to

make things personal. During the “Modra’s Plots”

skill challenge (page 11), have Modra continue his

vendetta against the PCs by attacking (or even killing)

one or more NPCs close to them. Any characters the

party became involved with during the “Siege of Bor-

drin’s Watch” can fit the bill.

USING TACTICAL ENCOUNTERS

Each encounter includes several common elements,

as described below.

and what your player characters do might require you

to alter the information in any number of ways.

MONSTER STATISTICS

Encounters include stat blocks for each monster type

present in the encounter. If more than one monster

of a particular kind is present, the stat block indicates

how many creatures can be found.

ENCOUNTER LEVEL

Each tactical encounter assumes a group of five player

characters. An encounter of average difficulty is one

where the encounter level is equal to the level of the

party. Encounters that are 1 or 2 levels lower than the

party are easy, while encounters that are 2 or more

levels higher than the party are difficult encounters.

For overcoming an encounter, a group earns the

XP value listed beside the encounter level. This

amount should be divided by the number of group

members, and an equal amount should be awarded to

each character.

TACTICS

This entry describes special actions the monsters take

to defeat the adventurers. Sometimes this means the

monsters take advantage of special features of the

area or make use of special powers or equipment.

MAP

Each encounter includes a map keyed with the initial

locations of each monster. The map also indicates the

location of any special features of the area.

SETUP

This section of a tactical encounter provides you

with the basic parameters of the encounter. First, it

provides context or background information for the

encounter. Next, it provides a key to the monsters in

the encounter so you can locate them on the tactical

map. The map of each encounter area indicates where

the monsters are located when the encounter begins.

The setup section also describes what monsters are

doing and how they react when the PCs arrive.

FEATURES OF THE AREA

This section describes special features noted on the

map. If the location has items or areas of interest with

which the characters can interact, those features are

described here. Look here to see if a door is out of the

ordinary, if an altar has a secret compartment, or if

the area includes treasure.

WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY

This adventure includes the encounters the PCs face

as they explore and adventure in the area. It also pro-

vides tactical maps and more for the adventure. Also

as mentioned above, read through at least the first

few encounters described in this adventure before

starting. This review enables you to become familiar

with the material and the style of presentation.

READ-ALOUD TEXT

Read aloud text provides information about what the

characters can see and are aware of. You do not have

to read it word for word; feel free to paraphrase and

use your own words when describing this informa-

tion. Use read aloud text wisely; they are written for

the most common approach to a particular situation

TREASURE

This adventure makes use of the parcel system of

treasure rewards described in Chapter 7 of the

Dungeon Master’s Guide. The characters should accu-

mulate fifteen parcels by the end of the adventure.

Use the players’ wish lists to determine which magic

items you place as treasure.

September 2008 | Dungeon 158

THE SHADOW RIFT OF UMBRAFORGE

These parcels can be given out at any point in the

adventure you decide is appropriate, or you might

reserve some treasure as a reward given to the PCs by

the people of Overlook when the adventure is done.

Whenever possible, tie treasure to the most climactic

points of the adventure (the battle in the secret cav-

erns, the foundry showdown with Modra, and so on).

Skirmish, on the following page) should take place

within a few days of the party’s return to Overlook.

On assignment from Modra, a squad of enforcers

from the Lost Ones have been quietly following the

PCs while they carry out their routine business in the

city. Their orders are to retrieve the key as quietly as

possible, then kill the PCs. The Lost Ones wait now

for the opportunity to strike.

“Siege of Bordrin’s Watch” is done. (This is most

likely to be the case if the party was in the middle

of unfinished business in Brindol before being sum-

moned to help defend against the orc raid.) If so, don’t

force the issue. Simply have the Lost Ones track the

PCs to their alternate location and move encounter

G1 accordingly. When the Lost Ones are searched

or questioned, the PCs find that they received their

orders from someone named Modra in Overlook. This

should inspire the party to return to the mountain

city.

PART 1: THE

BEGGAR’S GATE

OTHER LOCATIONS

The PCs might not automatically be inclined to

return to Overlook to rest and recuperate when the

In the aftermath of the sealing of the mountain tunnels

and the flooding of the Nexus in “Siege of Bordrin’s

Watch,” Modra learned of the PCs’ role in thwarting

Tusk’s plans. He has quietly kept tabs on them since

their return to Overlook. The key found at the end of

the previous adventure (see The Key to the Shadowfell

Gate sidebar on page 6) is a hollow brass tube 6 inches

long, set with a round ring at one end and four f langes of

differing lengths at the other. The PCs can find no infor-

mation in Overlook on the nature or origin of the key.

However, any inquiries along those lines come back to

Modra through his contacts in the thieves’ guild known

as the Lost Ones. (If the PCs are more circumspect,

assume that the key has a magical property that allows

Modra to eventually determine who carries it.) With the

last of his coin, the dark creeper hires a squad of guild

enforcers to dispense with the PCs and retrieve the

key—Modra’s only way to return to the Shadowfell and

attempt to turn the tables on the vindictive Sarshan.

Between the end of “Siege of Bordrin’s Watch” and

this adventure, the PCs have plenty of time to rest

up, replenish missing supplies, and take care of any

miscellaneous business. The first encounter (Street

TReasuRe PaRcels

Parcel A:

Parcel B:

Parcel C:

Parcel D:

Parcel E:

Parcel F:

Parcel G:

Parcel H:

Parcel I:

Parcel J:

Parcel K:

Parcel L:

Parcel M:

Parcel N:

Parcel O:

TReasuRe PaRcels (MOneTaRy TReasuRe 2,840 gP)

Parcel 1: Magic item, level 9

Parcel 2: Magic item, level 8

Parcel 3: Magic item, level 8

Parcel 4: Magic item, level 7

Parcel 5: Magic item, level 6

Parcel 6: Magic item, level 6

Parcel 7: 550 gp, or two 250-gp art objects + 50 gp, or one 500-gp gem + 50 gp

Parcel 8: 500 gp, or one 250-gp art object + 250 gp, or five 100-gp gems

Parcel 9: 340 gp, or three 100-gp gems + 40 gp, or one 250-gp art object + one potion of healing + 40 gp

Parcel 10: 340 gp, or one 250-gp art object + 90 gp, or 300 gp + 400 sp

Parcel 11: 300 gp, or three 100-gp gems, or one potion of healing + one 250-gp art object

Parcel 12: 280 gp, or two 100-gp gems + 80 gp, or one 100-gp gem + 2 potions of healing + 80 gp

Parcel 13: 260 gp, or one 250-gp art object + 10 gp, or two potions of healing + 100-gp gem + 60 gp

Parcel 14: 160 gp, or one 100-gp gem + 60 gp, or one potion of healing + 110 gp

Parcel 15: 110 gp, or one 100-gp gem + 10 gp, or one potion of healing + 60 gp

September 2008 | Dungeon 158

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