A LION IN THE ROPES

by
Stephen Chenault

Editor: Mac Golden

Assistant Editor: Nicole Chenault
Cover Art: Jason Walton
Interior Art: Matt Lemmons,
Chris Seaman, Derek T. Stevens
Cartography: Mac Golden
Art Direction/Cover Design: Mac Golden
Interior Design/Layout: Stephen Chenault

Special Thanks to Jason Walton. Combining a wild

imagination and amazing attention to detail with an
artist's eye and skill, Jason renders paintings both
fantastic and real. With an artist's tools Jason captures
a mood and creates a moment. Thanks for all the hard
work Jason.
-, _"t
In lasting memory and dedication to those gamers who came before the golden age, Steve
Sollohub, Dean Suzuki, and Charles Shipp. Also, to Jared "Oh my Spleen" Hale, and to Eric
Beasley without whom I would never have become enlightened to Blue Oyster Cult. (If any of
you are out there, drop me a line) TROLL LORD GAMES

P.O. Box 251171, Little Rock, AR 72225

email: troll@trollord.com
Web site: www.trolllord.com
First printing, November 2000.
Printed in Canada.
A Lion in the Ropes is Copyright 2000 Troll Lord Games. All Rights Reserved. Troll Lord Games, the Troll Lord Games logo, and
the After Winter Dark Fantasy Campaign Setting are trademarks owned by Troll Lord Games. The cover art is Copyright 2000
Jason Walton; artwork by Chris Seaman is Copyright 2000 Chris Seaman; all other artwork is Copyright 2000 Troll Lord Games.
Reference to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material.
Dungeons and Dragons8 and Wizards of the Coast are Registered Trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., and are used with -
permission.

A Lion in the Ropes is distributed pursuant to the current drafts of the Open Gaming License, version 1.0, and the D20 System
Trademark License. See Appendix.

This material is protected under international treaties and the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or
unauthorized use of the material contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Troll Lord Games, except for
purposes of review. This is a work of fiction; any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
 A Lion in the Ropes
A KNIGHT UPON THE GREEN USING THIS MODULE
"So this is Capendu? It is a beautiful village. It will make "A Lion in the Ropes" is a mystery. The module is de-
a wonderful home for this tired, old soldier. I shall display signed for 4-8 characters of levels 2-4. A cleric would be
my Lion banner proudly so that all may know me. You extremely helpful, as would a ranger or some character
have been too good to me, Luther." with rudimentary tracking skills.
"Tis not my land, noble Galveston, the mage lays some The adventure occurs in the lands of Lord Galveston,
claim to it, he suggested we give it to you. But I dare say, largely within the village of Capendu, and specifically in
he probably wants you on the border between the Twilight and around Four Saints Church. It requires some overland
Wood and his wondrous town of Freiburg." The paladin travel however, between the other villages and the tower of
laughed quietly. "So do not thank me until the land here the aged Lord Galveston. Because the adventure involves
serves you well." several discordant threads designed to challenge the players
and to mislead them, the Referee should thoroughly read
Galveston looked out over the rolling green hills of the module and familiarize him/herself with the mystery.
Capendu. He sat quietly for awhile, musing on the peace
which stood in marked contrast to the horror of the great
battles recently fought upon the Toten Fields, far to the
THE ADVENTURE
east. There, he stood as a peer of the wondrous Council of
Lord Galveston's lands are plagued by murders. For the
Light. He fought alongside St. Luther and Daladon. He
past several months, people have been disappearing. Some
slew a giant at the feet of the Arch-Magi Aristobolus, and
bodies have turned up, their half-mutilated corpses found
saw the horror of battle without mercy. It had, though he
along the banks of the river.
did not know it, ruined him for war forever more. "I'm
tired Luther, and look forward to days of peace."
Strange tracks of a cat-like creature have been found
around the villages, and rumors abound that a Charon
"And you will have it my friend, you will have it."
Fiend, a dreaded beast of chaos, has come from the Twi-
light Wood and settled in the area. The latest victim is the
So did Lord Galveston, Knight of Renown, friend of the
Deacon of the Four Saints Church in Capendu. His body,
Council, and soldier settle and make his home in Capendu.
found torn and mangled in the river, sent the alarmed
The villages of Capendu, Aries, Tres, Contru and Mortsa
villagers to the aged Lord Galveston for aid.
welcomed him for the protection he brought and swore
allegiance to him. He ordered a tower built upon the banks
Galveston is 101 years old and grown feeble. He can offer
of the river Rolth, between the villages of Aries and Tres.
little aid outside of hiring mercenaries. This he does, but in
He called to the Bishop in Freiburg to send clerics and
the meanwhile, he orders that no one may leave their
architects. From his own stores of money, he built a large
houses after dark and that all doors and shutters must be
cathedral in Capendu, "Four Saints," and installed the
locked.
acolytes of Demeter there. And the lands knew peace and
prosperity.
The source of the murders actually resides in Four Saints
Church. The engineers who built Four Saints placed her
At least for a time.
foundations on the already existing ruins of an older
building in Capendu, a prison from the days of the evil
A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS
Empire of Aufstrag. Many poor souls lost their lives in
suffering and pain in the pits of the prison's dungeon. So
Aye, stop with the prying! Stop the reading of this tomb
great the suffering in the pits that some stayed, even
forthwith! Stop, unless of course, you are crafty enough to
beyond death, in tortured agony, searching for peace.
spin the tale of this bold adventure, to mesmerize the
These Orinsu (an ancient word meaning "Lost Souls"),
players at your own council, and to carry its several threads
have recently manifested themselves, haunting the Church
to their proper conclusions.
and the surrounding villages. Every seven to ten days the
Orinsu rise from the crypts, animate the bodies of the
churches' gargoyles, or sometimes, even the saints ren-
dered in stain glass, and come forth into the darkness to
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 Background
kidnap and slay whomsoever they
find.

The cat-like beast stalking the

villages is actually a lion, recently
escaped from a traveling circus. He
still wears a large wooden collar,
dragging the twin ropes that bound
him. The tracks of the ropes led
the villagers to mistake it for the
dreaded Charon Fiend, an actual
creature with the body of a lion and
a mane of coiled serpents.

To complicate the situation a bandit

group has moved into the region.
Under the notorious half-ungern,
Garrick Orange-Hair, they seek
plunder and booty.
The Orinsu are men whose souls were never given proper
When the Players enter the picture, the villagers and/or release. The characters can end their terror by either
Galveston attempt to enlist them to fight what they believe destroying them or by giving them a proper burial (see In
is a Charon Fiend. The Players must first unravel the Dungeons, Dark Things Sleep, room 10 below). The
mystery of the lion in the ropes, find the bodies of the six second method will not be easy for the players to envision,
Orinsu in the dungeon underneath the Church, and then so help them out. Make certain the party is aware of the
destroy them. To do so, they must overcome Orange- importance of burying the dead. Mention the cemetery in
Hair's bandits and the animated gargoyles. the village and while the party is in room 9, The Cata-
combs, make reference to the importance of burying the
ADVICE FROM A TIRED REFEREE dead held by the worshipers of Demeter.

As its not much in my disposition to guide people (in the BACKGROUND

game or out of it), I'm reluctant to include this section.
But, I do think a few words might help you brother Refer- CASTLE KAPUND
ees out there. Read 'em if you want, ignore 'em where you
will. Many years ago, when fell Aufstrag dominated the sprawl-
ing snowy wastes of Erde, the village of Capendu served as
This mystery revolves around three separate actors. The a border post upon the East-West Imperial Road. The
Orinsu, the escaped lion, and the bandit, Orange-Hair. To legionnaires built a squat border keep along the road, not
track the movements of all three, the Referee should create far from the Twilight Wood, to serve as both garrison and
a time line and allow the characters to weave in and out of prison. They called it Castle Kapund, after its first com-
it in a chaotic, albeit, realistic manner. mander. Beneath its stone walls the legionnaires con-
structed a dungeon, wherein they kept all manner of
To maintain the mystery of the adventure, you should have "criminals," both innocent and guilty. Many goodly folk
the party spot the escaped lion in the shadows. By stress- found their last resting place in the dungeons of Castle
ing the tendril like ropes coiled around the beast's neck you Kapund.
could add more fuel to the fire of the mythical Charon
Fiend. Moreover, the lion's tracks, ropes/tendrils included, Eventually, merchants set up shop near Kapund to sell their
should be spotted occasionally so as to entice the characters wares to the legionnaires. Taverns, brothels and gambling
into thinking that the lion, and not the Orinsu, is in fact the houses sprang up as well, and eventually, skilled craftsmen,
source of the murders. armorers, weavers and others settled in the area. In time,
the small village of Kapund-Ua grew up around the castle.
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 A Lion in the Ropes
During the Winter Dark Wars, however, the legionnaires their bodies laid to rest in the cemetery of Four Saints, the
neglected the castle and abandoned it. They fled north and wealth of days gone by a distant memory. The smaller
eventually across the straights of Ursal to disappear forever villages of Contru and Morsa vanished almost without a
into the east. trace. The timber of their houses was pulled down and
used in the other villages, or fell into ruins and slowly
The villagers stayed. They tore down the castle, using its rotted away. Only the mound, upon which sat the Great
stone for houses and walls. Upon discovering the dungeon, Hall of Morsa, can now be found. Only the very old can
they filled the entrance with dirt and timber and promptly point out its location.
forgot about it. In doing so, they inadvertently created the
Orinsu which now haunt Capendu. Lord Galveston has reached the almost unheard of age of
101. He is old and tired. His back is so bent that he almost
Within the dungeon, buried in circular pits, were six men faces the ground. He cannot walk without the assistance of
condemned to die. Forgotten by the legionnaires and never his four men-at-arms, his only company. He lives in the
found by the villagers, the dead failed to find the peace that tower and rarely ventures forth. Occasionally, some of the
comes with burial or cremation. So their souls, racked with elder villagers, those who remember the days of prosperity,
the uncertainty of their own deaths, became lost, doomed to travel to Tower Galveston to sing to the elderly knight the
haunt the regions underneath the ground and above it. songs of his youth, or deliver him personal gifts. His once
great wealth has slowly withered away.
LORD GALVESTON AND CAPENDU
THE MYSTERY OF FOUR SAINTS CHURCH
Lord Galveston settled in Capendu in 1045md. His vast
stores of money, earned on campaign in the east during the When Galveston arrived in Capendu he ordered the Church
Winter Dark Wars, went far in building the local economy, built upon the mound of earth where the old castle sat.
improving the roads, fortifying his tower, and constructing Upon discovering the dungeon the architects walled off the
Four Saints. In the immediate aftermath of the Winter back rooms and added its foremost sections to the designs
Dark Wars, traffic followed the Freiburg road through of the Church, using the rooms for storage and other
Capendu and into the western Kingdoms. Galveston and mundane purposes.
the five villages managed quite nicely. The only ale house
in the area, Marlowe's Tavern, expanded from a dirt Eventually, however, an acolyte tore loose some of the
floored building into a respectable two-story establishment stones of the dungeon wall, discovering the forgotten
with rooms to let. The Church, Marlowe's and a few of the rooms. The Curate decided that the new rooms could serve
more respectable land-holders, managed to shingle their as a burial catacomb for fallen clergy. (In 1051md the
roofs in the famous green ceramic tiles manufactured in Conclave of Bishops in Avignon ruled that all clergy must
Freiburg. Galveston's land and people knew peace and be buried, not in the common cemetery, but rather within
prosperity, and his lion banner hung with pride over his the walls of the religious house wherein they served). This
tower. act of consecrating the burial chamber created the Orinsu.
Left to die in the deep cold pits, unburied and forgotten, the
This prosperity did not last. Avignon, eight days north by souls of the men hovered in a purgatory between life and
road, underwent its own renaissance. Within a few short death. The spells of the clergy laying their own to rest
decades of the Empire's fall, the commercial sea routes wrenched the souls back to the world of the living. Lost
expanded and the port of Avignon, centrally located and in the pain of terror, the unknowing Orinsu began to
between the lands of the east and west, became the natural haunt the church and villages, hunting for something,
conduit for traffic. As the great city benefitted, Lord though they knew not what.
Galveston's lands suffered. The east-west trade route
shifted north by a hundred miles, and the Freiburg road For awhile they haunted the dungeon and the Church, their
through the village of Capendu saw less and less traffic. poltergeists turning over chairs or snuffing out candles.
They soon learned, however, that they could posses things
Lacking their main source of income, the villages began to and make them move. The roof-top gargoyles and the
dwindle in size, and Lord Galveston grew in years. Young stain-glass castings proved the perfect hosts for the raving
sons and daughters left in search of work, south-east to mad Orinsu. Then began their silent reign of terror,
Freiburg or north-east to Avignon. The elders passed on, coming out about once every five days (or at the Referee's

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 Background
discretion) to fly or crawl through the villages, hunting the
living in order to visit out the horror of their suffering.

The murders began several months before the party arrives

in Capendu. Every five to seven days a person has been
killed. Fourteen people have died, and only seven bodies
have been found. Those corpses found have been horribly
mutilated and dumped into the river, so that presumably,
some of the missing drifted downstream with the current.
The villagers, simple farmers and craftsmen, are terrified
and unsure of what to do.

Obviously, Galveston's age hinders him from intervening

in the villager's affairs. He is aware of the murders, but
has little resources to aid his charges. His one effort
involved hiring several rangers to track the beast down.
Because this was before the lion entered the area, the
rangers found nothing. They refused the marks of gold and
left the region for adventure elsewhere.

A LION IN THE ROPES

Two weeks after the rangers left, a lion escaped from a

traveling circus which had passed through Capendu some
months previous and wandered into the region. Villagers
in Tres spotted the large beast moving along the banks of
the river. They fled when one of their number mistook the
remnants of the lion's rope leash for moving tendrils on the
creature's neck. Thus started the rumor of the dreaded
Charon Fiend.

The poor lion is a little tame and very hungry, and is

prowling about looking for stray dogs, chickens, or the
occasional goat. If the characters attack the lion it will
defend itself. Otherwise, it avoids human contact.

OF GHOSTS AND DEACONS

Adelton, the deacon of Four Saints, sent to his masters in

Freiburg for aid. None was forthcoming. Not believing
that a Charon Fiend was responsible, Adelton took it upon
himself to unravel the mysteries of the murders. The
gargoyle/Orinsu slew him, carried his body to the top of the
church, tore at it for several days, and at last deposited it on
the banks of the Rolth River. The unfortunate incident left
six young acolytes to deal with the terror of the monster
and the fear of the villagers.

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 A Lion in the Ropes

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 Cool Receptions

PRELUDE commandments of their Lord Galveston. Eventually,

enough banging on doors or windows will yield the follow-
Johannes Fever owns and manages a traveling circus. He ing response:
passes through almost all the villages south of Avignon and
around Freiburg. He's very famous as his traveling troop "Look milords, we don't want no troubles from yer!
of gypsies and troubadours entertain locals with their wild You can find safe lodging but a few miles down the
animals and outlandish freaks, including the famous road in Capendu. There be a Church there. Four
Bearded Elf, Gelion, Pugh the ore-skinned dwarf (he wears Saints, its called, and the acolytes will take you in and
ore skins for clothes), and Hawk the mad jailer, who talks give you a warm, safe place to stay. But hurry now,
for hours without stopping. Fever's Circus also peddles 'fore the evening grows too late and the road too dan-
milk tonics to cure any disease, magical disks that return to gerous."
the thrower, and other various items of mischance and
happenstance. No amount of cajoling will bring out the villagers. If need
be, they use the name of Lord Galveston in hope that it will
If the Referee needs to set the stage, then a week or so prior drive off the unwanted visitors.
to arriving in the village of Aries the party should be
entertained by the gypsies and Johannes Fever's traveling Reluctantly, you cease trying to convince someone to
Circus. Hawk the mad Jailer will regale them with the tale give you lodging and you start off north along the road.
of the dreaded Charon Fiend, the lion beast from the An eerie silence engulfs the village as you leave. In the
Twilight Wood which sports serpents for a mane! The distance, to your left, a mile or so off the road, a fire
Party will be given directions to the villages of Lord burns atop a tower, which looks to be on the far side of
Galveston, where they may find safe haven, warm food, the river. Rain begins to fall as you turn north-east
and a warm reception on the road to Freiburg. toward the village of Capendu. The fire's light is soon
lost in the dark as the rain picks up. Following the
road for several miles you spy the dark silhouettes of
ACT I: COOL RECEPTIONS scattered buildings surrounding what, even in the dark
and rain, you can tell is a large Church. No doubt you
THREE VILLAGES: TRES, ARLES AND CAPENDU have arrived in Capendu.
The party has been followed and harassed all day by a The party passed Tower Galveston, where the men-at-arms
group of bandits waiting for nightfall. To make matters were lighting watch-fires. In the dark, they also marched
worse, it has been raining for several days. The party past the village of Tres, which sits on the far side of a hill a
approaches Galveston's lands from the south-west along half-mile from the road. They have arrived at the outskirts
the heights of Flytrap Ridge. Spying a village in the of Capendu.
distance, they cross the small river at the ridge's foot and
head for the safety of stone walls. Just after evening fall CAPENDU AND THE CHURCH OF FOUR SAINTS
the party enters the tiny village of Aries.
Much like the previous village, Capendu lies dark and
Boots wet from crossing the small river, you tramp up quiet. Being later in the evening, no lights burn from
onto the remnants of an old road. A small village lies under doors or windows. Where Aries' cottages were
before you. Its mostly wooden cottages stand arrayed made of wood and arrayed one or two deep on either
in neat order along either side of the road. The dinner side of the road, Capendu's homes are mostly stone and
hour is only just passed and the town is muted and seem to tumble out and away from the road in a hap-
dark. Shutters and doors are tightly closed, and the hazard fashion. Some of these rather stout looking
gentle clanking of your armor and equipment echoes in houses have tile roofs, something unheard of in most
the still quiet. No dogs bark. There is no sound but the farming communities.
ragged breaths of your tired band.
Marlowe's Tavern, the Church of Four Saints, and the town
Attempts to rouse the villagers will yield no results. The fountain stand at the northern end of the town on the
murders, particularly that of the deacon, have terrified the square. Marlowe's is closed. No one answers if the party
people, and they have embraced wholeheartedly the knocks.

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 A Lion in the Ropes
The rain continues, pattering down on cloaks and
packs, soaking through to your clothes and down to
the skin. As you turn up the street and head for the
Church, you pass a fountain, the worn visage of a
lion stands in the pool of stone. The church looms
out of the darkness before you, dwarfing the build-
ings across the square. The decorative stone walls
stand as testament to both the skill and wealth of the
Church builders. The front facade consists of large
double doors set within a deep nave. The arched
doorway, shaped to represent two rearing horses, is
crowned by stone renditions of four knights wearing
the accouterments of war. They, in turn, look
heavenward towards a greater statue of Demeter,
who looks down with a benevolent smile. The
Church's bell tower reaches into the darkness, easily
140 feet high. Grim faced gargoyles perch upon the
roof, looking over the village of Capendu.

Refer to map 3 for details on Four Saints Church. Read

the following as the party approaches.

Here, at last, you see the warmth of a light. Hanging

on a small post, just outside the arched doorway, you
see a small lantern, its flickering flame casting
strange shadows upon the faces of the saints and the
god. The cold, pattering rain has long since soaked
through your cloaks, wetting your gear and clothes
underneath. Wet, sore, and generally miserable, you
climb the steps to the doorway where you are greeted
by a large iron knocker with a devilish face.

Knocking on the iron portal you hear a muffled

shout and something heavy striking the floor. A who devoted her life to rescuing the poor and downtrodden.
moment later a small panel slides back, exposing a wary Any humans in the party would be well aware of this
eye. "Who goes and what may we do for you?" custom and should be encouraged to use this knowledge
when dealing with the acolyte.
Benjamin, the acolyte, is on night watch. He bolted the
inner door for fear of what lies in the dark. Benjamin, like The cold wind and rain give way to the dry warmth of
his other five brethren, is young and inexperienced. He solid stone and vaulted ceilings. Within the outer
questions the travelers, but once he realizes that they mean vestibule, closed off from the main Church by a second
no ill will, he unbolts the inner door and lets the party enter set of doors, the acolyte has placed a chair, table and a
the church. candle. A red, leather-bound book lies open upon the
floor. Smiling and inviting all in, he explains that the
It is the custom of the Churches, monasteries and hospitals dormitory is closed.
of the followers of Demeter to welcome strangers (who are
not harmful), and travelers in particular, and give them "One of my brethren has fallen very ill and you will
refuge from the weather, bandits, or whatever ails them. have to make do in the central nave, where you can
Though they do not charge for the service, plates sit near sleep on the pews. I ask only that you take off your wet
the door to collect donations. Often, these plates are in the clothes before passing into the inner vestibule and the
hands of a statue of Saint Vivian, a Queen of Kayomar, nave beyond. I will fetch some dry blankets and bread
from the priory kitchen."
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 Cool Receptions
Bowing, he opens the doors to the main nave. He polite questions as to why you are journeying on the
crosses into the dark, pausing twice to light two lan- road at such a late hour, where you are headed, and the
terns which serve to break the wall of dark before you. like.
The vanishing acolyte draws your attention to the
central nave. Thick marble pillars stretch into the Should the characters respond to him with complaints
blackness above and unfold into carefully crafted about their treatment in the villages, he nods in agreement.
arches, all supporting the vaulted ceiling, barely visible He explains:
in the inky darkness above you. You catch a glimpse of
a huge altar-stone in the transept at the far end of the "Twas not always so here in my Lord Galveston's land.
nave. Not long ago people were friendly and welcomed
travelers into their homes for food and drink.
Passing through the doors and into the inner vestibule, Marlowe's tavern stayed open late into the evening, and
the beauty of the Church strikes you. Stone floors, the locals enjoyed good mead and quiet talk. But, my
marble pillars, and beautifully carved wooden pews worthies," Benjamin shakes his head in sadness, "that
reveal the piety of the villagers and the clergy. Many- was before the murders."
colored stained glass dominates the arched windows.
The glass figures seem to move, in the flickering torch He pauses, gazing at you, a hint of fear crosses his
light, twisting, turning in one direction, then another. youthful face. "They started several months ago.
Four wonderfully carved statues line the central aisle. 'Twas farmer Nessman first I think, he disappeared
while walking the road south to Aries, the village you
Any knowledgeable player will be able to identify the passed through earlier this evening. Vanished without
statues, as all are famous figures from the history of the a trace he did. A fine fellow, with a proud family, he
church of Demeter. Each statue is also adorned with a even owned his own allods, 3 hectares of land. So no
plaque. There is: Saint William, first King of one could believe that he'd run off, no one, no sir. But
Angouleme, who converted the whole of his realm to the he was gone nonetheless." The young acolyte makes the
worship of Demeter; Saint Albrecht the River King sign of Demeter and mutters a prayer. "They found
who founded the Knights of Haven and made war on him a week or so after, lying face down in the mud by
the Dark in the east; Saint Sixtus, the martyr and first the Rolth River. Torn and mangled, we barely had
Bishop of Avignon, who gave his life trying to convince anything to bury.
Kain the Warlord to spare his beloved city; and Saint
Diago, who lost his life to the north-men in Trondheim. "They couldn't find any sign of what had done that to
Each of the white marble statues cast noble postures with him. Nothing at all. So we buried him and made
stern gazes that seem to follow the viewer. Each overlooks prayers for him. Then a week later, another fellow,
the central aisle and holds a weapon of cold steel. young Giles, vanishes, never to be seen again. Folks
started to get nervous. Two of our own, gone and dead,
A closer examination of the statues will reveal that the and no one knew how or why."
weapons are separate from the stone and can be pulled out
of the statue's grip with relative ease. The blades are as Benjamin pauses for awhile, looking at you. "Then a
follows: Saint William's is a long sword (+1), Saint traveler, a soldier, who was encamped on the outside of
Albrecht's is a two-handed sword (+2), Saint Sixtus' is a town, was killed. More after him, 13 of our folk, good
claymore (+1) (bastard sword), and Saint Diago's is a honest people, one and all, are gone. Only 7 have been
mace (+1). The character's should be discouraged from found. Tracks were found too, those of a great cat.
taking the swords. Explain that the acolyte will throw them And only a few weeks ago a fellow from the village of
out, alert the village, or send for the Constable, Lord Tres saw a strange cat like beast, 15 hands at the
Galveston. Later, however, they may find the swords shoulder, with serpents coiled around its neck. They
useful in combating the Orinsu (see below). say it was a Charon Fiend, come from the Twilight
Wood."
Shortly, the acolyte returns. He brings fresh blankets,
a few flagons of warm ale, and three loaves of bread. If the players did not interact with the Circus above, allow
He bids you eat and make yourselves at home. He asks one of the players to know what the Charon Fiend is (See
sidebar, page 3).

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 A Lion in the Ropes
T
"His lordship, Galveston, issued an order to one and all necessary, tracking down the dreaded Charon Fiend. Any
that no one was to leave their homes after dark, and hint that they will do so brings promises of the Church's
that all are to bolt their doors and shutter their win- eternal blessings and benevolence for one and all. Tarlek
dows, and let no strangers in. You see, his lordship is will try to recruit the party to save the three villages from
old, just celebrated his 101st birthday, and he's too the terror without any reward other than that which comes
feeble to do much anymore. So we've been left alone, to from the strong helping the weak. He recommends that the
help ourselves. party meet with Galveston, and promises to take them as
soon as they are ready. If necessary, Tarlek assures the
"And that is when the unthinkable happened." His chin party that Lord Galveston will pay the party for their
visibly quivers and he turns away. "The Deacon, services; how much, he cannot say.
Master Adelton, he sends for aid to Freiburg. Nothing
comes of course; Capendu is far from the city and his
Imminence the Bishop. So, Master Adelton sets out
himself, from these very doors," he looks askance at the
large, doors leading to the outer vestibule. "I was up
with him that night. When he left. When we last saw
him. He passed through and into the streets, telling me
to close these doors and open only when he returns.

"He never did. Though I swear that I heard him shout

once in fear before he vanished." Tears well up in the
young boys eyes, his head slumps to his chest. "Twas a
goodly master, and kind man. You'd have liked him, Tarlek, is a strong willed young man with complete confi-
everyone did. We found him on the bank of the river. dence in the Church's ability to keep him and his from
That t'were only a week and a day gone. We buried harm. The party should not be allowed to push him around
him in the crypt below this very hall." and cajole him into risking himself or sacrificing any of the
Church's wealth for the party's own good (unless of course
The acolyte falls silent for awhile. He suddenly rises, it aids the villages as well).
brushing aside your questions with promises that
Brother Tarlek will see to your needs. He bids you If the party decides to present themselves to Galveston, go
good night and returns to his post in the outer vestibule. to Act II, Red Herrings and Tea. If they decide to pursue
A moment later, his muted sobs carry through the other leads, such as searching along the river bank, skip
hollow spaces of the Church, hanging ominously in the ahead to Act III, Visitations from Beyond.
surrounding dark like tangible things.
ACT II: RED HERRINGS AND TEA
The characters should be allowed to settle down and plot
what plan of action, if any, they are going to take. In any AGE BECOMES You
respect, their dreams are troubled with nightmares of dark
evenings, strange beasts and terrible shadows. Tarlek dons a light cloak, takes a pack from the wall,
and leads you through Capendu. The village is alive
BY THE LIGHT OF DAWN with activity. Small groups of locals head for the fields,
a burly fellow heaves a great axe, splitting logs of wood
The following morning, the party is rousted from their next to the tavern, and a group of young girls are
sleep by Brother Tarlek, another young acolyte, thickly gathered around the well, pulling water and gossiping
built with a large beard. Tarlek doesn't bother the travelers with giggles and titters. A thinly muscled woman in a
with questions, but rather invites them to break bread with chainmail shirt sitting with her back to the Inn wall,
him in the Church kitchen where the acolytes are preparing smoking a pipe, watches you pass. Tarlek leads you
the morning meal. down the road with an air of contented happiness. He
bows and nods to his fellow townsmen. "Good morn-
The party has several options. They should be encouraged ing, Andrew, my dear Innkeep," he remarks to the man
to take up the challenge of solving the murders, and if

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 Red Herrings and Tea
splitting logs, "I trust the day finds you well." To which melt away as you sink further and further into the
the Innkeep only nods, smiles a little, and goes back to glade's comfort. An hour or so passes before Tarlek
work. Others watch as you pass, some bow their heads, returns. You pick up the trek reluctantly, exchanging
not knowing whether you are simple travelers or lords the warm sun and soft grass for a hard tramp through
from Freiburg. A few moments of this and you pass the still damp woods and up the winding, snaky path to
from the village into the open country, journeying back the hill-top keep above.
down the road you tread the night before.
As mentioned previously, Lord Galveston is an extremely
The morning is warm and the sun burns off the fog within old man. He has four men-at-arms in his employ, all are
an hour. Tarlek sets a brisk pace, and after 30 minutes, he fiercely loyal, but all a little old for their job. If the party
turns onto a trail that leads to the tower on the river bank. made a favorable impression on Tarlek, Galveston will
This journey provides an ideal time for the party to find the greet the party on the small landing mentioned above.
tracks of the lion crossing the road. Allow them to follow Otherwise, Galveston, greets the party from the roof of the
it for a short while and then lose the trail in the grass. gate house.
Where the ground is soft, the ropes score marks that look
like tendrils. Lord Galveston greets you wearing a chain shirt and
leaning heavily on a great two-handed claymore, the
To your right sits another small village, nestled under unusually sharp blade glistening green in the morning
the eves of the forested river bank. You can see a few sun. He is very old and stoops over his own shadow like
farmers headed for the fields or working in and around a weathered tree. His head frequently bobs to the left
the small wooden cottages. But Tarlek guides you along and right as he looks you over. His face is a mass of
the track and up a gentle rise, where you behold, jutting wrinkles, and he peers through almost lifeless, pale blue
from the trees, a small hilltop tower and keep. eyes.

Tarlek bids the party wait while he calls on Lord Galveston Regardless of where he meets the party, Galveston treats
to announce their presence. He promises to return within with them in a forthright manner, being kind and respectful,
the hour. if a bit fatherly. He expects the same. If not shown due
respect, he becomes very short and offers little aid, and
Tower Galveston (refer to map 2) overlooks a bend in the even less reward. Assuming all goes well, he imparts
river between the villages of Tres and Aries (currently, the words of advice, and promises to reward the party with
center of Galveston's holdings). The keep consists of a gold and jewels.
fortified building with a tower built into it. To approach
Tower Galveston it is necessary to climb the steep, zig- "I too was young once, much like yourselves, just
zagging trail up the hill, in single file. beginning on my life's road. Those were good days, the
fire of youth burnt in my heart with an avenger's fury!
There, one must cross a natural causeway to a small I fought at the Great Tree, at the very side of St. Luther
landing jutting out over the cliff face and looking over the don't you know." He pauses, his head bobbing a little
river valley below. This landing is where Galveston meets on his thin neck. "Nay, you wouldn't want to hear tales
people he does not know, or trust. of those days. But hear this my youthful friends, often
things seem what they are not, and they are what you
Beyond that, the trail narrows and snakes underneath the don't think they could be. Our world was built upon
keep's walls until it ends at its base. The only entrance the ruins of another, and the stones of our halls cover a
(aside from the secret way, refer to map 2), are large, iron- deeper dark. The very houses of our gods rest upon the
bound double doors built into the rock of the hill and the broken tombs of this other world, and it is to these
mortar of the keep's walls. tombs that our paths lead. Track this beast, whatever it
is, but always look at the world around you for the
The morning wanes. You relax in the clearing at the truth."
base of the tower hill. The warmth dries the remaining
damp from your clothes. A gentle breeze picks up.
Yesterday's hard miles and the evening's grisly tale

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 A Lion in the Ropes
Galveston retires with promises of a reward, but refuses to ers surly and unfriendly and will eventually result in the
state any figures until the task is done. If the party balks, party being asked to leave the territory.
one of the men-at-arms repeats that their efforts will be
well worth their time. BAILEY QUARTERS

If the party needs an NPC to help track the monster, or to

Men-at-arms, male humans Warl (4): CR1; Med. buttress its strength, there is a ranger, Bailey Quarters,
Humanoid; HD 1d8; hp 5; Init +0; Spd 20; AC 16 staying in the Marlowe Tavern. She was the female
(chainmail & shield); Atks +1 melee (1d8, longsword), leaning against the tavern smoking as mentioned above.
+ 1 ranged (1d8, It. crossbow); AL NG; SV Fort +2, Ref Bailey is young, passing through Capendu on her way
+0, Will +0; Str 1 1 , Dex 10, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 10, north. She has recently left the city of Freiburg to adven-
Cha 10.
Skills: Climb +2, Intimidate +2, Ride +2, Swim +2;
ture on her own. She is stout and resolute and will take up
the quest and aid the party with little objection. She is a T
Feats: Alertness; Possessions: Chainmail, competent ranger and tracker.
helm, longsword, It. crossbow, 12 bolts, 5 gp.

A TALL DRINK AT MARLOWE'S

Tarlek takes the party back to Capendu, to Marlowe's

Tavern. Marlowe's is owned by Andrew Travis, it sports a
large front room, kitchen and an outbuilding where there
are five rooms to rent. All the rooms are small, and sup-
plied with a cot, side table and a metal wash bowl. Travis
is a young friendly man who welcomes the party and tries
to make them feel at home. His beer is good and the food
always fresh. His wife, Lysra, and daughter, Terry, help NOTE: If the party explores the church and discovers the
him run the place. dungeon, skip to In Dungeons Deep. The party should be
allowed to explore the dungeon but not to discover the
A small group of townsfolk have gathered at Marlowe's for secret door which leads to the pits and the final resting
lunch. Once settled, Tarlek offers the party sanctuary in place of the undead. This should occur after the section
the church, or they can stay at Marlowe's. He also offers marked Where the Innocent Lie.
them what little aid he and the other acolytes can give.
Although the apprentice clerics have no spells, the church A TIGER BY HIS TAIL, OR A LION BY HIS ROPE
has a library that the party may access. If the party desires
to research the region and the monster, they should be Back in Capendu, Tarlek informs the party that it is nigh
allowed to learn of the history of Lord Galveston, the time for the dreaded Charon Fiend to strike again. The
villages, tower, and the church; also, an exhaustive search village will be locked up tight, only the Church remains
of the church records reveals the history of Castle Kapund open. Its doors unlocked, but closed. The party should
(see above). Referee's should be careful to avoid mention- quickly realize that the only way they are going to catch the
ing the prisoners who were left behind as this knowledge beast is to stake out the village streets and keep watch,
would not have made it into the church records. waiting for the creature's arrival.

When the townsfolk learn that the party is going to hunt Promptly at dark, the villagers retire to their homes, and
and slay the beast, they offer the party what aid they can lock their doors and windows. Andrew Travis will be the
give. This should include: free room and board at last to close, locking up Marlowe's tavern an hour after
Marlowe's, maintenance on worn equipment and local dark. With a heartfelt wish of good luck, he bolts his
guides. The Referee should not allow the party to take windows and bars his doors, allowing no one entry after-
advantage of this good will, doing so will make the villag- wards. The party must fend for itself. The Referee should
make note of their positions.

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 Red Herrings and Tea
The Orinsu have indeed risen from the crypts. The presence If the party leaves the village to search for the creature,
of the party, however, confuses them and they have become they can find tracks along the riverbank leading toward
very wary. They manifest within the gargoyles on the roof Tres (DC 14). Otherwise, they find only tell-tale signs of
hovering in the shadows of the church spires. An elf or any the creature's tracks, crossing the road, or in freshly tilled
party member with unusually sharp hearing may hear them lands (DC 10). If they track the lion to its lair skip ahead to
moving about (Listen (DC 25)). Otherwise, the gargoyles the section marked, The Lion.
keep a safe distance, flying about just beyond eye sight. If,
by chance, one of the party members should be on the roof SECOND EVENING
they have a small chance of spotting an animated gargoyle.
(Spot (DC 18)). Upon your second evening's vigil, it is cool but without
rain. The mud of the street clings to your boots and
The lion is holed up in an embankment on the Rolth River. stains your cloaks. Hour after hour drifts by, until
It is hungry, tired, and unable to fend for itself. It is around midnight, a great commotion arises in the
settling in. If the party attempts to track the lion they will distance. A roaring and growling, the like's of which
find no leads, only a few tracks in Capendu itself, (DC 10). you have never heard, carries through the night. An
They will be forced to stake out the village and wait for the unearthly quiet settles around you. You count your
lion to come to them. heartbeats as the minutes
tick by. Then, a shadow,
FIRST EVENING moving upon the roof of
Marlowe's tavern. It moves
As the last lights go out through the dark with ease,
in the village, the dark slinking slowly along
grey evening descends without a sound. Shadows
upon you. After awhile, of tendrils move about its
it begins to rain. At neck. The dreaded Charon
first, the clouds spit and Fiend has found you.
sputter, but by mid-
night, the water de- The creature is obviously the
scends in a steady lion, the shadows of the night
drizzle, once more playing tricks on the
soaking through your character's minds. Upon the
cloaks, dampening slightest movement of anyone
armor, gear and clothes. in the party, the lion will leap
Little disturbs the quiet off the roof and vanish into
of the evening. An the dark, heading immedi-
occasional owl sounds in ately for its lair by the river
the dark, and some- (see map 1).
where to the south, a dog
bays and barks. Several more hours pass as you wait, Tracking the beast will be near impossible at night (DC
soaked and tired, seeing nothing but the faint light of 25). The party may be able to follow him out of town, but
dawn in the east. Slowly, the clouds turn from black to the dark should inhibit any further attempts to locate the
grey in the morning's light. The rain continues. The creature.
little light illuminates a dreary world of mud and grey
hopelessness. Your night's watch was fruitless. All the while, the Orinsu watch through gargoyle eyes and
wait, yet to overcome their fear of the strong and intent
The party is wet and tired from their night's vigil. Tarlek party. They creep around in the shadows (see gargoyle
and the other acolytes prepare warm soup and bread for animate below), trying to observe the party. In their grief
them and allow them to rest that day in the sanctuary of the torn madness and undeadly state, their minds are unable to
church. He promises that the creature, staying true to form, focus on the world around them. The characters bold
will strike again soon. stance has confused them.

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 A Lion in the Ropes
NOTE: The Referee can easily build suspense by using the THE LION
Orinsu. They can make noise or make the party feel as ;
though they are being watched, also, they can move At last you've tracked the creature to its lair. The den
through the shadows on the edge of a party member's lies beneath an embankment on the river. Tree roots,
vision. :,?. washed clear of dirt and mud shield the opening of the
relatively shallow, dark hole. Its entrance is half
With the arrival of dawn, the party will be able to track the submerged in the river. Peering within, you see mud
lion (DC 9). The creature's footprints are easily discerned and roots. The water trickling around your feet gurgles
by even the most inexperienced tracker. It is only a few in the quiet. A low ominous growl breaks the silence of
hours walk to the lair. A determined party could be there the scene.
by noon, where they will find the creature under a river
embankment. The lion is cornered. The Referee should attempt to maintain the secret of the
lion's identity as long as possible. Visibility is poor and
As word spreads that the beast is cornered, the villagers conditions wet and muddy. The ropes around the lion's
gather to watch the outcome of the fight. The mayor of neck can still be mistaken for tendrils, even in these close
Tres, Arthur Carls-son, a large man with balding pate, quarters. Regardless of the party's actions, they should at
offers the party any needed equipment, but shies away from some point discern that the creature they were tracking is
allowing those in his charge to fight the beast. If need be, the lion.
he and his sons take up clubs and enter the fray.
The lion defends itself if attacked. If enticed with food, it
emerges and eats from the party's hands. Any magical
communication with the beast will reveal its tame nature.

The astute player may remember the circus which passed

through the region some months previous or the Referee
may wish to remind them by allowing them to roll a
knowledge check (local) (DC 10). ,

Once the beast is subdued or slain, the villagers are over-

joyed. Whether the party believes the lion to be the source
of the murders or not, the villagers, particularly in Tres, are
NOTE: Arthur and his sons will not fight to the death. exceedingly grateful and offer the party food and drink. As
They will withdraw if the battle becomes too dangerous. word spreads through the valley, the party's reputation
They will, however, attempt to save any characters that grows and they are welcomed as the champions of the hour.
may be wounded. Travis offers free drink and food to the party. Old
Galveston sends his thanks and promises a reward to be
delivered upon the next day of worship (the Referee should
set this within the next few days).

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 Visitations from Beyond

ACT III Though two of his men are slain, he manages to get word to
VISITATIONS FROM BEYOND Galveston, who, mounted on a great war horse, leads a
sortie with his men-at-arms. One of Galveston's men is
ORANGE, THE COLOR OF FEAR horribly wounded and they fall back to the tower in defeat.
Orange-Hair pursues them and lays siege to the tower. He
Garrick Orange-Hair, the half-ungern bounty hunter turned manages to invest the forest where the trail is, but his attack
bandit, has a group of 15 ungern, 11 rogue goblins, and 12 on the tower is repulsed. He loses an ungern upon the
causeway.
wild dogs. While the party returns to Capendu, Garrick
descends Flytrap Ridge and crosses the Rolth River near
the village of Tres. He is set on destroying the village and By morning, word is brought to the party that an ungern
looting it in order to impress upon the other villages that he band has attacked Galveston. The villagers plead for their
should be paid "protection" money. lord's rescue. If the party takes up the challenge, they find
a worried Orange-Hair encamped in the trees around castle
Galveston.
His plan goes afoul from the beginning. The mayor of
Tres, Arthur Carls-son, still excited over the battle with the
lion, organizes a fierce defense along the river bank. Orange-Hair's determination to terrorize the valley has
been terribly shaken. He did not expect the villagers to
defend themselves, nor the tower guards to launch a sortie.

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 A Lion in the Ropes
If the party attacks, he becomes thoroughly confused. church's roof, treating it in an evil manner. All that
Unless the party is utterly inept, he immediately retreats remains by morning is a trail of blood that has trickled
across the river. Though a tough fighter, Orange-Hair has down the slanted roof, into the gutters, and fallen to the
no desire to die. At no time will he stand and fight at the ground below. The larger part of the body is dropped into
risk of his own life. If 1/4 of his band falls, he flees with the river early that morning, though some remains are left
the survivors, leaving the wounded behind. on the roof (see below).

The wild dogs serve as the bandit leader's eyes and ears When the party returns to the church, they find the doors
and will never attack. If shot at or harassed in any way, wide open, several of the lamps burned cold and Tarlek's
they flee and regroup later. flagon of wine untouched. The young acolyte is missing.
Rousing the acolytes yields nothing further.
WHERE THE INNOCENT LIE
A search of the grounds, however, reveals a small gold
The Orinsu have at last overcome their fears, deciding to taper in the grass at the bottom of the front steps (Tarlek
visit their rage upon the villages once more. Still wary of dropped it when the gargoyles swept down upon him), a
the party, they await an opportune moment to strike. When sandal to the church's left, and blood on the ground near
the party is away from the church, battling Orange-Hair, the rear of the building. Small stains can be found on the
celebrating their recent victory, or visiting Lord Galveston church walls, some older than the others. The casual
at his tower, they attack the apprentice cleric on duty, none observer will Spot (DC 18) any one or all of these signs,
other than young Tarlek. assuming that they look in the proper location. A detailed
Search of the grounds increases the likelihood (DC 10).
Much relieved by the party's apparent victory, Tarlek
opened the doors to the church to let in the cool spring air. Clues exist inside the church as well. Five of the malignant
He is last seen by his brother and sister acolytes lighting Orinsu chose to animate the gargoyles upon the rooftop,
the lantern outside the church. but the sixth chose to animate one of the stained glass
pictures. As mentioned, the glass depicts many scenes
The Orinsu rise from the deep, animate the gargoyles, and from the Winter Dark Wars, between the Council of Light
strike the hapless Tarlek. They carry his body to the and the dark lords of Aufstrag. The Orinsu chose one of

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 Visitations from Beyond
At first you are greeted by an odd smell, heavy with the
stench of blood. Climbing through the small portal
onto the roofs top you are greeted by a grisly scene. A
small landing has been constructed on the church's
roof. The two slanted sides of the roof rise to meet a
walkway which stretches the length of the building to
the front battlements, where one might easily hide from
view and watch the town below. But where the portal
opens, the walkway has been expanded into a small
landing, and it is upon this landing where the grisly
remains of Tarlek lie. The innocent monk's bloody
smock and habit lie amidst the ruins of blood and
splintered bone. Little is found of the his actual body.

An ill feeling creeps over you. A murder occurred upon

your watch, under your very noses. The sky, dark and
overcast, does little to assuage your growing fears. A
dreadful howling ascends from below, building in
intensity until at last it washes over you and vanishes
into angry clouds above.

The rooftop search summons the Orinsu of the dead men.

With howling curses they crawl up the walls and onto the
roof. They animate the gargoyles and attack the party.
Only 2-4 of the Orinsu join in the attack.

NOTE: There are eight gargoyle statues on the roof. The

animates can leave one host and move to another with
amazing speed. The Referee should take note of this.
When one gargoyle statue is shattered the animate can
move to another, until there are no more statues, (see
Orinsu below).

the devil shaped panes to animate This particular pane, at

the left rear of the church, has blood upon its claws. A
long line of blood has flowed across the bottom of the
window, onto the ledge, and down at last to the floor,
where it has congealed in a small pool, still sticky to the
touch. Casual search - Search (DC 18); detailed search -
Search (DC 12). If the party fails to find any signs, a monk
will discover the blood while cleaning the windows.

If the characters wish to search the church's roof, they can

access it through an old stairwell attached to the rear of the As the party drives the last of the creatures off, howling
building that rises on narrow steps to the roof 140 feet shouts of the damned erupt from below, taper off, and grow
above. As the party or party members clamber onto the quiet. The Orinsu have returned to their tombs and the
roof, a horrid sight greets them. The mystery of the party must follow them into the deeps of the dungeon.
missing monk is solved.

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 A Lion in the Ropes
IN DUNGEONS, DARK THINGS SLEEP ROOM 4. BARRED DOOR.
The hallway extends for 50 feet beyond the turn and
As the party prepares to descend into the dungeon the ends in a large iron-bound, brass door. The door is
Referee may wish to remind them of the swords placed in locked and shows no signs of recent tampering. It is
the hands of the four statues of the saints. doubtful whether any of the monks have been down
here in months, if not years.
An iron rail and locked gate block access to the steps
which lead into the dark below. Brother Orn opens the The door has been sealed shut and locked for over 5 years.
gate and offers a prayer for your safe return. "Below The monks, though they know that it leads to more rooms
are the bodies of our Brethern, but seems that some have been forbidden to go beyond it. The lock will have to
foul creature has taken up abode in our catacombs. be picked (DC 25). If this fails, the mortar around the
May Demeter guide you, keep you safe and bring you hinges is greatly weakened and a determined effort will
back to us in health." With that he walks quietly away batter down the door after an hour's work.
and leaves you to the task at hand.
ROOM 5. STORAGE.
The stone steps, relatively new in construction, give way The old wooden door gives way with a loud creak, and
to a hallway which bears the imprint of work done long small whirlwinds of dust spin around as the door opens.
ago. Old grey stones, long worn smooth by the passage Within is a room long disused. Old tools, their wooden
of time, beckon you into the dark beyond. hafts long since rotted away, are piled haphazardly
about.
ROOM 1. STORAGE ROOM.
The door is new and unlocked. Within are 10 large Lying amidst the debris is a trunk, tightly sealed. Within
barrels and 5 crates containing foodstuffs, wine and are a dozen bundles of yellowed paper. The top bundle
beer. There are also piles of cookware, dishes and consists of 6 warrant sheets. Each one has the heading
silverware, all unused. 50gp value. Wanted for Treason, a name following with a list of
charges. Many of the charges are vague, such as: Insulting
ROOM 2. STORAGE ROOM. Gestures, and Calling on the Council. After the charges are
The door is new and unlocked. Within are two barrels listed, there is a trial date, the seal of the Empire, and an
of torches, four small barrels of cooking and lamp oil, a execution date. Each one of the six reads: Consigned to the
shelf with several hundred small packages of candles of pits.
varying size, and six sturdy lamps. There are also 14
empty barrels which obviously contained oil at one These are the warrant sheets for the six doomed men, the
time. Orinsu, located in room 10. Their names are listed and still
readable. The names of the men can be used against their
ROOM 3. VESTMENT ROOM. restless Orinsu (see below, room 10).
The door is new and locked, a padlock has been added
for extra security. The room is used frequently, for it is There are two iron crowbars amongst the rubbish and a
clean and dust free. Within are clothing racks, shelves, pick axe blade.
a large armoire, and four trunks.
ROOM 6. ARMORY.
The racks hold four white habits with gold trim, each worth The thick, wooden, iron-bound door is unlocked, but
10 gp. The shelves have two miters, with gems mounted jammed. It opens slowly with great effort. Beyond you
upon them and ten white and silver hats with gold and see a tightly organized room with racks of armor.
silver trim. The miters are worth 25 gp apiece, the hats 5 Twelve suits of mail hang on the main rack. Twelve
gp. Within the armoire are a dozen finely tailored smocks, shields hang on the walls, six on the east wall and six on
each worth 2gp. In the trunks, wrapped in velvet, are west. Twelve high spiked helms rest upon a long shelf
religious staffs and wands (10 total, each worth 50 gp). It over the armor rack. The breast plates, with chain
should be obvious to the party that this is the vestment sleeves and skirts, are obviously of Imperial Aufstrag
room, used by the clerics of the church above. They should design, as are the spiked helms. The Crescent moon
be strongly discouraged from looting its contents. emblazons the shields. Clearly, an armory from the
days before the Winter Dark Wars, when fell Unklar's
folk reigned upon the world.
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 Visitations from Beyond

The equipment is in surprisingly good shape. The shields

need new straps, as do the helms, but are otherwise valu-
able. The armor has suffered a little more. The leather
straps for the breast plate, and the straps attaching the
leggings and sleeves are seriously degenerated and will
more than likely break if worn. The armor acts as Half-
plate (AC 17).

ROOM 7. RUINS.
This room served as some manner of storage room. It
is empty but for the metal remains of old casks and
barrels.

There is actually a small chest hidden beneath a flagstone

under the debris. It is metal, about 2' x 2' and 18" high.
Upon the top are magic runes which read: Initiate of the
Blood Runes. The box is locked and trapped. Triggering
the trap causes an Unklar's Breath to spill into the room
from the key hole and attack the party. Trap-lock (DC 20).
Within, the chest is lined in purple velvet cloth, still in
good shape. Lying on the cloth, neatly rolled and sealed
with the seal of the Wizard Guild, The Paths of Umbra, is a
scroll. Scroll, 1st level spell, Ordain.

NOTE: Because the spell was fashioned by the wizard

guild, The Paths of Umbra, as the first step of the very
powerful Blood Runes spell, the script is readable and
usable by wizards (see sidebar). The whole incantation
will appear in the upcoming module Blood Runes.

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 f

A Lion in the Ropes

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 Visitations from Beyond
ROOM 8. PREPARATION ROOM. powering. All four bodies have dirt sprinkled upon them
The door to this room has been torn away. Several from chin to toe. The two alcoves are empty, awaiting
counters line the walls, and shelves stand above each occupants.
counter. A long table dominates the center of the room.
The table is blood stained, though the stains are several The dirt is soil taken from Capendu's cemetery and is used
weeks old. Upon the shelves and counters are various to sprinkle the dead with consecrated ground. It may be
cutting instruments, fresh rolls of bandages, and jars of used in the final encounter with the Orinsu, see room 10.
a thick yellow fluid. Several new dark habits with
hoods hang upon the wall beside the open door. If the party conducts a detailed Search of the room, the
false wall will be revealed at DC 10. If only casual obser-
This is the preparation room for the monks. Their fallen vations are made, then DC is 16.
comrade's bodies are cleaned, bandaged and placed in a
fresh habit with shroud. The yellow fluid is embalming ROOM 10. THE CRYPT.
fluid. This process keeps the body from decaying for With only a little effort you pull down a large section of
awhile and reduces the smell over the long term. There is the false wall. A heavy musty odor engulfs you; the
little of value here. stench of old decay pervades the darkened room be-
yond. Your light flickers in the dust, causing shadows to
ROOM 9. THE CATACOMBS. twist and turn. Peering in, you see rack-lined walls,
This room greets you with a musty odor, a smell of and tables covered in long unused implements of
ancient decay. A large brass candelabra stands in the torture: pliers, spiked chains and cleaving blades. On
room's center, next to it is a large metal cask, filled with the far wall of the room, a pair of manacles hang from
fresh dirt. A finely carved podium sits in front of the the ceiling, the remnants of a skeletal arm dangling
candelabra. Upon the east wall are four small iron from one chain. Eight perfectly symmetrical pits
doors, fitted into the wall. They are latched, though dominate the center of the room, each about 3 feet in
unlocked. Upon each is a brass plaque bearing an diameter. Four ancient statues, each of huge gargoyles
inscription in the Vulgate tongue. Upon the west wall are in the room. The winged monsters, grafted into the
are two excavated alcoves. Small and square, they are room's corners, seem to stare at you, their dark stone
obviously burial tombs. eyes follow you as you cross the room.

A plaque, firmly attached to the podium reads: The room has not been used since the imperial forces left it
many years ago. Castle Kapund's last captain constructed
"A Prayer for the Dead. the false wall in order to hide the dungeon from enraged
In death know peace,
The quiet of earth's decay,
Rest now sorrowful ghost,
With holy word, entombed, stay.

That even the dead should rest we offer them their

names and sanctified dirt upon their chest and we cast
holy incantations upon them to give them peace. For
we know that the restless dead are damned and with us
they stay."

The inscriptions on the east wall read as follows: Top Left:

Our Beloved Deacon, Master Hugh Adelton, Too Soon
Lost, 1097. Top Right: Brother Detain, 1096. Bottom
Left: Sister Adelia, 1095. Brother Ulros, 1095.

Within the tombs are the bodies of the above mentioned

monks. Deacon Adelton's is relatively fresh, though it has
been covered in the embalming fluid and bandaged. The
smell of the tomb if opened is strong though not over-
21 www.trolllord.com
 A Lion in the Ropes
townsfolk or avenging lords of the Council of Light. The The jeweled eyes of the four gargoyles are each large
room has sat undisturbed for many years. opals, worth 100 gp (total 800 gp). There is a ring of
protection+2 on one of the zombies. >.
Here is where the six died. Their long decayed bodies each
lie in a separate pit. When observed, the bodies appear as CONCLUDING THE ADVENTURE
twisted zombies with rags on their bones. The pits are
narrow and about 12 feet deep. With the Orinsu destroyed, the party and villagers realize
that the true source of the murders has been overcome.
To combat and defeat the Orinsu, see below. Galveston acknowledges the party's efforts and success in
a public ceremony on the following god's day. He rewards
If any move is made to attack the zombies, the Orinsu them each 250 gp and a patent of land ownership within
invade and animate the giant gargoyle statues in the the valley. Each party member receives 10 acres of land to
corners. It takes three Orinsu to animate one of the stone be held as an allod (they owe no dues or service for the
monstrosities, once done they will fight ferociously to land). They are also granted, upon Galveston's death,
defend the zombies. . Tower Galveston and all the feudal holdings of the villages
of Capendu, Tres and Arlet. The villagers welcome their
As each of the Orinsu is turned or buried, the soul, freed new lords and ladies with shouts of appreciation and
from its undead state, flies from the room, up through the welcome! The Referee may wish to modify these treasures
church, and into the night sky, howling and moaning as it for his/her own adventure. If so, exchange the tower and
goes. The sound fades as the creature passes on to the halls land for equal money, 1000 gp per party member for a total
of the dead.
of 1250 gp.

as Host animate
as Hosl animate

Saves:
Abtlities:
atis:
ts: none
te/Terrain; . An

Description: Orinsu
j|ji|jl|the etherea!;j|
IMrteher hosts. '

www.trolilord.com 22
This printing of A Lion in the Ropes is published under Aristobolus the White Mage, The Council of Light,
the d20 SYSTEM LICENSE VERSION 1.0, and the OPEN Nuluk-Kiz-Din, The Paths of Umbra, Winter Dark, After
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