The adventure begins with our heroes relaxing together at a small riverside trading post. They arrived here yesterday to await the post coach which will take them to the market town of ut-Frienne inland north of here. The region between the river and the town is deserty wilderness and travel with other people by coach is much safer and faster than going it alone on foot. A major combined festival and market day is starting at ut-Frienne tomorrow and the party member plan to attend. It's a great place to have fun, buy items outside of the usual, meet interesting people, join in religious parades, and make lucrative arrangements. [The players can decide whether they all came here together or arrived from separate places and got acquainted while waiting here. They also can decide on what their individual reasons are for traveling to ut-Frienne.]
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While they relax on the veranda overlooking the river a river barge arrives, apparently one of the regular packet boats which travel up and down making deliveries and carrying passengers. A few scruffy sailors are on deck and the old man who runs the trading post, Postmaster Battu, sends his young son Yanny down to help with the ropes. However, one of the sailors leaps onto the small dock and holds a knife to Yanny's throat. More pirates swarm up from the hold where they were hiding. The leader of the river pirates, for that is what they really are, demands that the postmaster bring out his strongbox or the boy dies. The fat old postmaster begs the heroes to rescue the young fellow.
River Pirates
Captain Sa-granet: AC 10, HP 3, 2d10 attack/sword, dagger, small shield, leather armor; treasure: 2d10 gp
Pirates (minions, two for each party member): AC 8, HP 1, 1d10 attack/sword, dagger, small shield; treasure: 3d6 gp
The post coach arrives from ut-Frienne just before noon. Tierre the driver and Marchamp the guard, outlanders both, bring in a large wooden box with packages and scrolls mailed from the market town. Two remarkably similar merchants in purple turbans alight and get their luggage and baskets of something from the back of the coach. [The two merchants, Ju-thoth and Chu-thoth, are wizards as well as merchants. If the party asks, they have a spare scroll with the spell Darkvision which they will sell for 300 gp.] The driver and guard each grab a quick mug of ale and it's back on the coach to return towards ut-Frienne; the players must pay 1 gp for the two-day ride. [If asked, the two (human) coachmen are quite ready to regale the party with tales of the dangers ahead, most of which are greatly exaggerated but none totally fictitious.]
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The countryside is desert, but varying from sandy flats, to dunes, to scrub land, to cactus forest. About two hours after leaving the post a band of masked marauders on camels gallops out of a cactus grove and heads for the coach, clearly intent on robbery or worse.
Camel Marauders
Chieftain: AC 12, HP 5, 2d10 attack/sword and 2 javelins; mail shirt and small shield; treasure: 6d6 gp
Marauders (two, plus one per party member): AC 12, HP 2, 2d10 attack/sword and 2 javelins; mail shirt and small shield; treasure: 3d6 gp
[The marauders ride up alongside the coach and throw all their javelins at the coachmen and passengers. If no one is killed or badly wounded by the time they are out of javelins they break off the attack and retreat back into the cactus grove--they enjoy a good fight, but not if it's a fair one. The marauders have a camp of tents deep in the grove. Along with ordinary camping supplies they have a chest with 150 gp in coins, a bit of amber with an irridescent green beetle in it (120 gp), and a Heal potion (heals 1 HP).]
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Late in the afternoon, some hours after the contretemps with the marauders, a short but intense thundershower sweeps through the area. As it passes they spot their destination for the first evening of the trip: an old abandoned caravanserai. However there is a flock of huge vile vultures swarming around several carcasses near the gate-less entrance. The vultures are hungry and flocks of the vile variety are extremely aggressive towards interlopers.
Vile Vultures
(one per party member) 1 HP, AC 10, 2d10 attack/beak; treasure: none
The "meals" which the vultures were swarming are the body of a male civilized humanoid, probably half-elf, and his pack mule (Shairat Ulumu and Stinky). The body has a shortbow, a quiver with arrows, an elven shortsword, 32 sp and 4 cp on it, an old glazed tile with an ochre-on-white design of a stylized demon face, and a map. The mule has sacks and pouches with two dozen hardtack biscuits, three full water skins, a small tent, lantern, two blankets, 50 feet of rope, an old sledge hammer, a frying pan, and a map. [Hand players the no-labels dungeon map. Pro tip: use of a real dead mule as a fun prop for this encounter is not advised.] Despite the rain shower it is easy to see tracks indicating that the dead guy came from the northwest, where there is a mile of open scrub land leading to a large cactus forest.
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Night begins to fall and the coachmen bring the coach into the courtyard of the caravanserai. The walls of the old place delineate a square about 100 feet on a side, lined on the north and south sides with the remains of several roofless buildings. Although abandoned long ago [when the well ran dry] it still makes for a useful overnight stopping place. The coachmen cut fronds of deaththorn from nearby and arrange them in a barricade at the gate.
In the night a gaunte creeps up outside the gate, attracted by the smell of tasty horses. It sniffs around the site of the dead guy and mule then sits motionless and observes for a while. If only one person is awake in the camp it will attempt to sneak in, subdue them (reduce to 0 HP), then carry them off to eat later. It has no interest in battle and will flee if confronted by two or more opponents (unless one or both is very badly injured).
Gaunte
AC 14, HP 6, two 2d10 attacks/claws; treasure: may be skinned for a lovely pelt worth 100gp
Shadowblend (constant): the rich black velvety fur of the gaunte allows it to blend into darkness almost anywhere in uncanny fashion, allowing it to reroll any failed rolls against anyone trying to spot it in the dark.
- The gaunte is a solitary nocturnal creature. Its appearance is rather like a tall (8 foot) humanoid black panther, with long arms and deep yellow eyes. Gauntes are almost as intelligent as people, making them exceptionally cunning predators.
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[If the party decides to follow the tracks to explore the dungeon on the map (which they should if they want to have any fun at all) the coachmen explain that they have to stay on schedule, but they will be back in four days. Their route takes one more day to ut-Frienne, two days to go out and back to yt-Marbala, then one day returning from ut-Frienne en route to the trading post.]
The dead guy's trail leads northwest across the mile of scrubland to a cactus forest. However, once in the forest the trail grows faint and peters out in a clearing. There appear to be three possible traces continuing on from the clearing: one going northwest (with the craggy top of large jebel visible a couple miles beyond), one to the north, and one southwest (with the flat top of large jebel visible a couple miles beyond).
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Northwest trail: two miles of cactus forest and come to deep, narrow cleft in jebel which leads about 100 yards in to a small cave screened by dry brush. A mother giant scarab is sleeping in the cave with her newly hatched swarm of hungry scarablings.
Giant Scarab
AC-14, 4 HP, two 2d10 attacks/claws; treasure: none
Scarab Beetle Swarm
AC-8, 4 HP, 3d10 attack,biting swarm
- Swarm/constant: it takes a lot of work to kill off a swarm of small critters; -2 to hit with non-magical ranged and melee weapons.
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South west trail: three miles of cactus forest, ambush by guardian cactus sprites (small humanoid intelligent cactus people) on the way, then up a winding path to a Painted Stones Shrine atop the jebel to an elemental dust devil.
Cactus Sprites
AC 10, HP 2, 2d10 attack/spears; treasure: necklace of shiny rocks (1d10 gp)
Ouch, Spikey (constant): cactus sprites are covered in inch-long cactus spines which cause 1 wound to anyone grappling with them.
- there will be one sprite per player character
Elemental Dust Devil
AC-12, HP 8; treasure: 2 matching yellow gems (5d10 gp)
Gravel Storm/constant: the dust devil is a constantly whirling cloud of dust and gravel; anything in a 10 foot radius must make a Daring save or take a wound and be blinded for one round.
Rock Toss/focus: the devil forms a heavy rock and tosses it up to 50 feet; does 2 wounds
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North trail: one mile of cactus, then a very ancient tomb with the stone door recently smashed open by an old sledgehammer (by the dead guy); see the Forgotten Tomb below.
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The Forgotten Tomb of Ra-Nefesh IV
[Doors: all the doors in the tomb are large, heavy, and made of bronze with a fairly clever lock. Each door is AC 14 with 3 HP, but light weapons and pokey/stabbing or slicing weapons cannot do significant damage.]
Portico: Two life-sized stone statues of lions on platforms flank an open doorway on a now roofless portico. A pair of stone doors lie in ruins, smashed open quite recently.
Shersher (animated stone lions)
AC 14, HP 3, two 2d10 attacks/claws; treasure: none
- Shersher are magical statues place to protect places; the two here will activate only if someone tries to leave with the royal signet amulet from the Royal Crypt of Ra-Nefesh IV .
Antechamber: This room is dominated by a large statue (10' tall) of Ra-Nefesh IV. The faded wall frescoes show Ra-Nefesh IV living in power and luxury as a lord over servants, soldiers, slaves, and captives.
West Hall: this wide, dusty hallway has frescoes on both walls, showing a funeral procession of mourners, headed away from the antechamber. There are a few scattered human bones on the floor. [Trap: a floor tile halfway down the corridor has a lever under it which triggers dart tubes in the ceiling when stepped on. An Awareness check can spot the trap. If triggered, all creatures in a 10' x 10' area must make a Daring save to avoid being hit (for 1 wound).]
East Hall: this wide, dusty hallway has frescoes on both walls, showing a soldiers marching in formation, headed away from the antechamber. There are a few scattered human bones on the floor. [Trap: a 20' section of the floor halfway down the corridor has poison dust instead of normal dust, which is stirred up as creatures walk over it. An Awareness check can spot the trap. If triggered, everyone in the section must make a Brawn save or take one wound that round and another the next round.]
West Ossuary: this large hall has a high arched ceiling and six stone pillars, flooded to a depth of 3 feet, probably by seeping groundwater. The walls have multiple rows of large slots with bones piled in them. There are also bones on the floor to a depth of 2~3 feet. These are probably the bones of the mourners at Ra-Nefesh IV's funeral who were depicted in the frescoes in the hallway. The water and piled bones restrict movement to half normal walking pace. [Two rounds after a living humanoid enters the room, skeletons will arise from the bone piles and attack. Initially two will arise for every living creature in the room, plus one more each round that they remain in the room. The skeletons will not leave the room and collapse back into bones once an hour has passed with no living creatures in the room.]
Skeleton Mourners (minion)
- Creepy Undead/encounter: On first meeting, Commitment check or freeze for a turn
AC 10, HP 1, 1d10 attack/clawed bony fingers; treasure: small gold trinket (1d6 gp)
East Ossuary: this large hall has a high arched ceiling and six stone pillars. The walls have multiple rows of large slots with bones piled in them. There are also bones on the floor to a depth of 2~3 feet. Scattered in amongst the bones are helmets, spears, and shields. These are probably the bones of the soldiers at Ra-Nefesh IV's funeral who were depicted in the frescoes in the hallway. [Two rounds after a living humanoid enters the room, skeletons will arise from the bone piles and attack. Initially two will arise for every living creature in the room, plus one more each round that they remain in the room. The skeletons will not leave the room and collapse back into bones once an hour has passed with no living creatures in the room.]
Skeleton Soldiers
- Creepy Undead/encounter: On first meeting, Commitment check or freeze for a turn
AC 10, HP 1, 2d10 attack/spear, shield; treasure: small gold helmet badge (1d8 gp)
Hall of Noble Pillars: This room is a massive ceremonial funeral hall. At the south end is a large (20') richly painted and gilded statue of royal pharaoh Ra-Nefesh IV. It faces down between two rows of thick pillars carved to look like noble lords and ladies, males on the east and females on the west. [Trap: nobles were strictly segregated by gender at court functions. If a male humanoid enters the west half of the hall or a female one the east half of the hall then they must pass a Commitment save or be teleported back to the Portico. Also, four mummified priests wander here still fulfilling their sacred oath to protect the tomb from defilers and the unrighteous. They will attack anyone carrying a gold trinket or badge from either ossuary and anyone not of LN alignment. There are 50% more priests than party members.]
Mummified Priests
AC 12, HP 3, 2d10 attack/mace; treasure: a polished silver skullcap (100 gp) and matching bracelets (25 gp each)
- Creepy Undead/encounter: On first meeting, Commitment check or freeze for a turn
- Bonecurse (focus, encounter): casts a curse on one victim (30' range); if victim does not pass a Commitment save their bones warp for one day (24 hours), causing a -2 to all rolls for physical activity during that period.
Tranquil Grotto: This round, domed room has a deep pool of beautifully clear water in the center. Lovely frescoes on the ceiling depicting the smiling goddess Hathor surrounded by rosy clouds. [Trick: a drink of water from the sacred pool bestows +1 Commitment; a person may receive this benefit only once per day.]
Chamber of the Ancestors: this rectangular room is entirely lined with slabs of blue-and-white marble, giving the impression that it is floating amongst the clouds. Halfway down the room a statue stands in an alcove on either side. The statues are of fierce armored sebeki (crocodile people) warriors with spears and shields. The rest of the room is blocked off by a hanging tapestry showing condemned souls burning in lakes of hell fire. [Trap: the tapestry is a warning to those who would continue on and desecrate the final resting place of Ra-Nefesh IV. The statues will blast anyone getting between them with magical frost (Commitment save or take 1 wound from each statue). The magicked marble statues are AC 16 with 3 HP. Their magic cold attack can be neutralized by casting any fire-based spell on them or casting any water-based spell on them in reverse. The tapestry is also deadly: anyone touching it (even if wearing gloves, etc.) must make a Brawn save or be paralyzed for one week by the poison dust on it.]
Royal Crypt of Ra-Nefesh IV: This room contains a large stone sarcophagus of dark gray granite containing the mummy of the pharaoh. The walls and ceilings are completely covered in frescoes of the finest quality showing the pharaoh enjoying the afterlife in grand style. In each corner is a tall bronze urn. If anyone disturbs the sarcophagus or the urns the mummy of the pharaoh will push off the massive stone lid and attack any living creatures. He will pursue throughout the tomb, but not leave it.
Royal Pharaoh Ra-Nefesh IV
AC 12, HP 10, 2d10 attacks/heavy mace (2 wounds); treasure: magic +1 heavy mace, 4 bronze urns with 250gp each, royal signet amulet (gold and carnelian, 500gp), 1d6 ancient historical scrolls (50gp each)
- Creepy Undead/encounter: On first meeting, Commitment check or freeze for a turn
- Mummy's Curse/encounter: all opponents nearby must make Commitment save or -2 to all rolls until the mummy is destroyed
- Touch of Death/constant: the mummy may attack with an open hand (in addition to a normal attack with mace); if successful, victim must pass a Commitment save or the mummy drains 2 HP from the victim and adds them to its own HP
- Bonecurse/focus, encounter: casts a curse on one victim (30' range); if victim does not pass a Commitment save their bones warp for one day (24 hours), causing a -2 to all rolls for physical activity during that period.
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