[Adventure] [9247] Shadowdale.pdf

Shadowdale

Table of Contents

.............................................................. 2

Chapter 1: The Coming of the Gods ........................................ 4

Chapter 2: A Rescue Mission ............................................. 12

Chapter 3: The Castle of Darkness ........................................ 18

Chapter 4: Mystras Doom ...............................................

Chapter 5: The Quest for the Tablets ......................................

Chapter 6: Storm in Shadowdale ..........................................

Non-Player Characters .................................................. 39

Avatars of the Gods .....................................................

New Magical Items ......................................................

New Monsters ..........................................................

Magical Chaos Table ....................................... inside front cover

Physical Chaos Table ....................................... inside back cover

Monster Summary Table ...................................... inside gatefold

Credits

Design: Ed Greenwood

Editing: Chris Mortika, Scott Haring, Karen S. Boomgarden

Avatar Trilogy Coordinator: Jim Lowder

Cover Art: Jeff Easley

Interior Art: Ned Dameron

Typography: Betty Elmore

Keylining: Paul Hanchette

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9247

ISBN 0-88038-720-3

Prologue..

The One Who Is Hidden will in

anger cast the gods down into the

Realms. The gods will walk among

men, amid chaos of Art and nature,

and there will be strife in Faerun.

From the Prophecies

of Alaundo the Seer,

called the Wise.

response to PC actions.

The chapters describe the intended

flow of the story. PCs have plenty of

freedom as to what they actually do in

the chaos surrounding the Godswar.

Feel free to improvise to make the

adventure exciting and enjoyable. If

you read the entire module before play

to see what will occur, it will be easy to

see where there is ample room for your

own side-adventures, and where and

how the adventure herein can be tai-

lored into an existing campaign set in

the Forgotten Realms.

Each chapter also contains random

events and encounters. You should

adapt each entry used to best suit the

PCs current situations. Random

events can be deliberately introduced

into play to challenge cautious PCs, or

to warn or direct them. It is a time of

godly portents, confusion, and dire

omens; feel free to stretch coinci-

dence to answer PC doubts or queries.

Rumors and legends are also provid-

ed in this adventure. PCs can learn

these by eavesdropping, questioning

NPCs, or investigating written records.

You may wish to develop some of these

hints into further adventures for the

PCS.

A Note About 2nd

Edition AD&D® Rules

This module is written for the new

rules system. The most noticable

change is the reference to mages

instead of magic-users. The class is

basically the same, as are the classs

spells. When a characters statistics are

listed within the text, the letter M

denotes mage, as MU used to denote

magic-user.

The other noticable change is the pre-

sentation of the monster statistics. The

layout used here is that developed for

the new

Notes for the

Dungeon Masters

Shadowdale is the first of a trilogy of

modules that describe the strife called

by some the Godswar, in The Forgot-

ten Realms.

These modules loosely parallel the

action described in the Avatar Trilogy,

published by TSR, Inc. It is not neces-

sary that you or your players read the

novels before play, nor are the adven-

tures outlined in the modules identical

to action in the novels. Players should

use their own characters, though sev-

eral NPCs will prove to be quite valu-

able. (The NPC Midnight is an

exceptionshe

Monstrous Compendium

series. The information is organized a

bit differently, but nothing has been left

out. Everything DMs are used to seeing

is there.

Running This

Adventure

must accompany the

party in order for the adventure to be

completed.) If the PCs are weak, or run

into trouble early on, the DM could well

provide aid by using the other NPCs

described herein as reinforcements for

the party.

The adventures in Shadowdale are

perilous; a party of lesser power may

well not survive for long. Keep the par-

ty to a size that you are comfortable

with. If encounters are too dangerous,

allow the PCs to escape or avoid them;

PCs should be challenged, but not casu-

ally destroyed.

Shadowdale.

A lot is going on in the Realms during

this adventure. Reading the entire mod-

ule before play allows a DM to change

the order and nature of encounters in

response to PC actions.

This module has been designed not

only as the first part of a trilogy, but as

the foundation of a fledgling campaign.

Many of the NPCs introduced can be

used in all sorts of adventures, not

merely the action outlined in these pag-

es. The DM should be familiar with the

overall aims, general knowledge, and

juicy secrets (if any) of all NPCs intro-

duced in a chapter, before beginning

actual play. If keeping track of such

things becomes overwhelming, list key

NPC facts on a sheet of paper or series

of file cards for ongoing use. When one

knows what drives a particular NPC,

roleplaying that persons reactions to

PC queries and activities is relatively

easy.

Events: Note that Events occur in

the sequence given and at the times

noted no matter where the PCs are or

what they are doing. These Events

move the adventure onward and give

the PCs information, as well as making

the Realms come alive, rather than

merely serving as a static background

Ability Checks

From time to time in this adventure

an Ability Check is called for. The DM

should roll 1d20 and compare the result

with the appropriate ability score

(Strength, Dexterity, etc.) for the char-

acter in question. If the roll is equal to

or less than the characters ability

score, the action succeeds. If the roll is

greater than the ability score, the

action fails.

How the Module Is

Laid Out

The adventures in

Shadowdale are

outlined in chapters. Each chapter

begins with several Events that occur

regardless of what the PCs do. After the

Events come the Encounters, repre-

senting areas the PCs may visit or situa-

tions the PCs may come to be in.

For both Events and Encounters, the

boxed portions of text are intended to

be read aloud to the players. The

remaining information is for the DM,

and should only be revealed in

The Setting

This adventure is set in the continent

of Faerun in the Forgotten Realms, spe-

cifically in the Dragonreach lands: Cor-

myr, the Dalelands, and the cities and

wilderlands of the Moonsea. These

areas are described in the boxed

FORGOTTEN REALMS Campaign Set.

DMs who place this adventure in other

settings will have to modify the geogra-

phy, NPC power groups, and gods

used, but should still be able to use this

module.

This section explains the steps a DM

should follow to best run

for PC adventurers to strut around in.

A synopsis of the main events of Sha-

dowdale is given below.

Time: It is important that the DM

keep track of the passing days, and

when PC actions and encounters occur.

Unless the text gives a specific time of

day for an event, you may arrange the

time to best suit the needs of your

adventure. Alter the order of encoun-

ters if desired to best suit the pacing of

your adventure as play unfolds.

DM should introduce Caitlans appeal in

such a way that it is very hard for the

PCs to refuse it; perhaps a tutor of one

PC could demand it as a service in pay-

ment for training, or Caitlan could

approach the PCs in a taproom or other

public place while the PCs are trying to

impress an audience with their bravery

or skills. Midnight joins the party-not

only is she simply the only wizard left in

Arabel (or Cormyr, for that matter), her

presence is necessary for events to

unfold as they should. Caitlan falls ill

and cannot accompany the party.

3) The PCs journey to Castle Kilgrave,

perhaps encountering adventures

along the way, and battle its dangers to

rescue Mystra. If they fail, other (NPC)

adventurers will succeed, and the PCs

will witness the next step via Midnights

pendant.

4) Mystra asks for, and receives, the

pendant she gave Midnight. The pen-

dants power and value, if not its nature

or usefulness, will be readily apparent

to avatars and powerful wizards. Mys-

tra brings into being a gate to the Ethe-

real plane, where she confronts Helm.

Helm dispatches Mystra, revealing the

importance of the Tablets of Fate, and

challenging them to rise as heroes to

the quest. The DM should use whatever

priestly directives, inner voices, omens,

and NPC reactions seem necessary to

make reluctant PCs undertake the

quest for the Tablets. The idea of Elmin-

ster the Sage as a source of information

crucial to this quest should also be

introduced.

5) The PCs journey to Shadowdale,

either in search of Elminster or because

of rumors concerning the Tablets

whereabouts. Adventures occur along

the way, and PCs come to the attention

of the avatar of Bane, the Zhentarim,

and the Harpers (and any other avatars

and power groups the DM wishes to

use in future play).

6) The PCs encounter Elminster, and

learn much from him about Helm, what

has befallen the gods, and the impor-

tance of mortal conduct and the recov-

ery of the Tablets. The DM should give

hints of Elminsters own mysterious

power and importance in the plans of

The One Who Is Hidden. The PCs

explore the dale (its important NPCs

should be introduced to give later events

emotional impact), and Zhentarim-led

forces attack Shadowdale. The DM

should involve PCs in the battle.

7) The temple of Lathander in Sha-

dowdale is attacked by Bane, who is

resisted by Elminster, who inadvertent-

ly summons Mystra to aid him in fight-

ing Bane-and all three beings are

apparently destroyed in their struggle,

demolishing most of the temple.

All wizard player-characters should

be involved in this battle, along with

any other PCs who wish to fight.

8) The adventure comes to a tempo-

rary end with the capture of the PCs by

angry inhabitants of Shadowdale. The

DM must direct subsequent play

according to whether the events of Sha-

dowdale will stand alone, or the PCs

will go on to the adventures described

in the second module of this trilogy,

Tantras.

Synposis of the

Story

The key steps of the adventure are

given below. If the PCs stray too far

from the intended course of the adven-

ture, the DM should head the PCs in the

right direction by introducing forceful

events and by providing NPC hints and

warnings. Note that events may well

occur offstage, particularly if the PCs

are militarily weak. There is no need to

lead PCs by the nose to drag them

through all the encounters in this mod-

ule.

1) The adventure begins with the

Fall of the gods, and the physical and

Magical Chaos this brings to Faerun.

Hints and news of these unsettling

occurrences can be worked into other

adventures as the DM brings the PCs

together in the caravan-city of Arabel,

in northeastern Cormyr.

2) Caitlan Moonsong approaches the

PCs with a plea to undertake the rescue

of her mistress from an evil power

imprisoning her in Castle Kilgrave. The

ness. Folk in the open are crushed

against rocks or buildings; roofs fall

in or are whittled away. Horses are

tumbled helplessly along the

ground. Trees topple.

All day long the fury of the storm

rages unabated, until nightfall. Night

does fall, this daywith a great crash

that shakes the earth, throwing all

creatures helplessly to their knees.

There is a sudden silent calm thereaf-

ter as, overhead, the stars come out.

For if there is storm on high, there must

surely be chaos below.

current abilities, for example: provide

NPC aid, have some events occur off-

stage, and weaken PC opponents a tri-

fle. It is a dull adventure in which all the

heroes fall within the first half-hour of

play. The old saying of the halfling Bran-

dyjack Two-Cask, however, is particu-

larly apt when applied to the events

described in this adventure:

Goes the fray at all a wry?

Flee! Flee! Run away!

They grow no older who sudden die

And neer adventure another day.

If the PCs are in the midst of an

adventure when the great storm hits,

the DM may wish to apply damage rele-

vant to the natural hazards they

encounter. Lightning, hail, tornadoes;

all devastate cities and countryside

alike. Creatures of all sizes are slain or

badly hurt. Underground, cave-ins

occur; in the mountains, landslides are

common. At sea, ships founderand in

most cities with a major temple, a great

meteor or star, trailing fire as it falls

strikes the temple at nightfall, destroy-

ing it in an explosion that slays the

majority of the clergy within and ruins

the wealth of the temple. There are no

such preeminent temples in Arabel; PCs

already in the city may not learn of the

temple destruction for a while.

It is suggested that no PC be badly

hurt in the storm. Mounts and prop-

erty, or NPC tutors or allies upon which

PCs have become over-reliant, how-

ever, could well be destroyed. The sud-

den damage to vaults, city walls, and

many buildings will lead to lawlessness:

Looting, and bloody street-fights as folk

see a chance to settle old grudges (or,

having lost everything, are willing to

chance anything). This sudden violence

could well lead to other PC adventures.

During the storm, the NPC Midnight

will be compelled to go outside and find

a secluded garden or grove, where she

will meet an avatar of Mystra. Event 2A

below describes their meeting and its

results, which is crucial to the rest of

the adventure. Even though no PCs will

be there, it is included here as back-

ground for the DM. Also, there may be

a time when Midnight tells the adven-

turers of this meeting...

After reading Event 2A, go on to

Event 2B.

Saying of the

priests of Helm

The adventure can begin anywhere

in Cormyr or the areas west or south of

it (Westgate, for instance, or as far west

as Iriaebor); wherever it best fits an

ongoing campaign. The PCs should end

up in the caravan-city of Arabel in

northeastern Cormyr.

Arabel is detailed in The FORGOTTEN

REALMS Campaign Set. If the PCs are

already in Arabel, run Event 1 during the

course of other adventures. If the PCs are

elsewhere in the Realms, Event 1 can

occur before they reach Arabel. Several

mini-adventures set in Arabel are includ-

ed in this chapter as warm-up events

for fledgling parties.

Note that a royal charter is required

to bear weapons in Cormyr; PCs living

in Cormyr will know this. (The DM can

attach conditions of behavior to the

granting of such a charter; Cormyr is a

generally law-abiding kingdom.)

For details of police and soldiery in

Arabel, see Encounter 1 in this chapter.

Event 1: A

Storm to Shake

the Thrones of

the Gods

One morn, no sunrise comes. There

is only darkness, and an icy chill.

Dust blows on the wind, which

grows quickly to a gale. It is no nor-

mal storm, but a howling, lashing

battle of winds that come from every

quarter, and crash together, wres-

tling over the land. Branches, birds,

plants and all are whirled helplessly

through the air.

Rain begins, and hail, and snow, all

falling impossibly together as light-

ning crashes and tornadoes form

and tear over the land. The ground

shakes, and rocks are borne aloft to

fall as a killing rain out of the dark-

It is a time of great changes, a time of

portents, war, and high adventure. The

challenges in this adventure are intend-

ed to test a party of six to eight charac-

ters, including at least two spellcasters,

ranging in level from 1st to 3rd. If the

party is stronger, or becomes much

weaker, the DM should feel free to

match the adventure to the characters

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