Embedded Files
Companionway,
Companionway, the lower decks, inside the stern segment, moments later...
Companionway, the lower decks, inside the stern segment, moments later...
The silvery light of the aether struggles to illuminate these lower decks. The far end of the hallway is where the ship's wreckage is lodged into the rock of Havock. Halfway down is an ornate door labeled "Stateroom."
Eric leads the three heroes through the narrow passage, carrying a bowl of anglerfish curry. Before Eric can reach the door, however--
ERIC
ERIC
OOF!!!
Eric is stopped by an unseen force, smacking the bowl of curry into his chest. SPLOOSH!
PRESTO
(accusingly)
PRESTO
(accusingly)
Eric!
ERIC
ERIC
What the--? It's not me! There's some kind of force field or something.
DIANA
DIANA
Eric's right!
Using her Staff, Diana reaches through to tap the wall, but when she moves her hands closer, she is prevented from moving past the invisible barrier. Presto taps at it with his finger, adjusting his glasses.
GM says:
GM says:
Make an ELEMENTALISM roll.
ELEMENTALISM (14), rolls a ⬙(7) = Success!
PRESTO
PRESTO
Hmmm. A Cube of Force, most likely.
VOICE BEHIND THE DOOR
VOICE BEHIND THE DOOR
Who's there! Go away! I don't want to see anyone!
DIANA
DIANA
Mr. Figaro? My name is Diana, and I'm here with my friends. Kycera sent us to check on you. Is everything okay? Do you want some--
(despite Eric silently motioning to her "No! No!")
--fish curry??
FIGARO'S VOICE
FIGARO'S VOICE
I *told them* I'm fine! No curry! No *strangers*!
DIANA
DIANA
Are you sure? We're Champions of the Dungeonmaster. We just want to help.
GM says:
GM says:
Make a PERSUASION roll, with a bane.
PERSUASION (6), with a bane, rolls a ⬙(15, 6) = Fail!
GM says:
GM says:
You can PUSH, or use your PRIDE, which seems to apply here.
Diana wants to use her Pride "I can make friends with anyone":
Diana wants to use her Pride "I can make friends with anyone":
Rerolls the 15 ⬙(3) = Success!
FIGARO'S VOICE
(after opening the door a crack)
FIGARO'S VOICE
(after opening the door a crack)
Really? Champions? Of Dungeonmaster?
DIANA
DIANA
Yes! We were hoping to get your help on a very important mission! But it looks like we might be able to help each other!
Figaro opens the door a bit wider, revealing himself to be a rust-colored tiefling, nervously looking about and keeping his coat pulled tight. He looks the three heroes up and down, noticing the Staff of Acrobats and Cavalier's Shield. Nodding erratically, he waves away the wall of force and leaves the door barely open enough for the young champions to squeeze through.
FIGARO
(casting his eyes about, paranoid)
FIGARO
(casting his eyes about, paranoid)
Yes, yes, good, good. Come! Come! Quickly!
The Stateroom, the lower decks, continuous...
The Stateroom, the lower decks, continuous...
The three heroes shuffle into the Stateroom, and Figaro takes once more furtive glance before closing the door, locking it, and moving a heavy chest to block it. Inside, the room reflects Figaro's chaotic mind-- everything is overturned, rifled through, or generally disarranged.
DIANA
DIANA
What is it, Mr. Figaro? What seems to be the problem?
FIGARO
FIGARO
I. Don't. Know!
(to Eric)
So there isn't... any curry?
Eric throws up his hands in exasperation.
PRESTO
PRESTO
What do you mean you don't know? Something's clearly the matter.
FIGARO
FIGARO
I can't-- I don't-- Ugh. I can't remember!
PRESTO
PRESTO
Can't remember what?
FIGARO
FIGARO
Well, that's the **problem**, isn't it!
ERIC
ERIC
Kycera said that you might lead everyone to go find the rest of the Zenith. We thought you might be sick or something.
PRESTO
PRESTO
Can I try something?
(Taking his hat, Presto reaches deep down inside it. It flashes with a rumbling sound, and he pulls out a hand-held machine, a mix of Geiger counter, studfinder, and stethoscope, with which he begins walking about, scanning)
I think we might be dealing with some kind of magical malady around here.
GM says:
GM says:
Make an ELEMENTALISM roll, using your magic trick for Sense Magic.
ELEMENTALISM (14), rolls a ⬙(19) = Fail!
Presto pushes the roll
ELEMENTALISM (14), rolls a ⬙(8) = Success! with a condition... Dazed
PRESTO
PRESTO
Ohh! Ahh!
(he fliches as if trying to glimpse something in the glare of the sun)
This whole *place* is magic! It's-- overwhelming! I don't know if I--
PING! The device grows so warm and begins pinging so loudly that Presto drops it, himself collapsing to the floor.
PRESTO
PRESTO
That was... a lot! But there *is* something on you!
(indicating Figaro, while Eric and Diana help him to his feet)
A "Modify Memory" spell! A whole bunch of them!
FIGARO
FIGARO
That's it! Yes! My memories! Something's wrong.
ERIC
ERIC
But you can fix it, right, Presto? Give a little...
(prestidigitating with his fingers)
PRESTO
PRESTO
Gosh, I don't know. I could *try* to set something up, but it would take a while, and it's a little out of my wheelhouse.
DIANA
DIANA
Something's fishy, and it's more than Eric's curry.
(to Figaro)
What can you tell us about Iren? Sure seems like he went from visitor to leader in a heckova short time.
FIGARO
(simmering in anger)
FIGARO
(simmering in anger)
Of cours! Iren, that blowhard. This all started right after he came aboard! Yes. That's it! He must be behind this!
(Grabbing a nearby scimitar, Figaro strides towards the door.)
He must be behind this, and he must be stopped!
ERIC
ERIC
Oh, uhm, that's--
(the door slams)
And, he's gone.
Mess Hall, inside the stern segment, continuous...
Mess Hall, inside the stern segment, continuous...
Figaro bursts the door open to the mess hall, surprising Iren and Kycera and a few other Zenith crew members. The three heroes follow quickly behind.
Ilren was halfway-through draining a bowl of fish curry. Indeed, the long table in the middle of the room has been laid out with sundry nibbles for a pleasant snack, yet most of them have been polished off.
FIGARO
(jumping atop the table, training his scimitar on Ilren)
FIGARO
(jumping atop the table, training his scimitar on Ilren)
Iren! You blasphemous, ill-shaped villain! What have you done to me!
ILREN
ILREN
What? WHAT? I beg your PARDON?!
FIGARO
(striding forward, atop the table)
FIGARO
(striding forward, atop the table)
Restore what you have taken! I demand my memories! Then, you must pay the price.
ILREN
(rising from his seat, meeting Figaro's gaze with almost a playful stare)
ILREN
(rising from his seat, meeting Figaro's gaze with almost a playful stare)
MAY I remind you... I AM leader of this ship in this interim!
FIGARO
FIGARO
Oh,
(staring past his blade and smiling a toothy grin)
(staring past his blade and smiling a toothy grin)
Your "interim." Is over.
continued in 5.9 Mess Hall . . .
GM FOOTNOTES:
HOUSERULE: Pride
Taking a cue from Forbidden Lands, each character has a statement that describes their Pride. Once per game session, you can activate your Pride, after you fail a roll in a situation where your Pride is relevant. When activating your Pride, you can roll an extra D20 as if you had a boon and take the better result. If your already had a boon or a bane, you can re-roll the highest number showing and take the best result. You cannot push a roll after activating your Pride, but you can activate your Pride after a failed pushed roll.
If you fail the roll despite activating your Pride, you take the Disheartened condition if you don't have it already, and you must remove your Pride. You then need to play one entire session without a Pride, before you get to choose a new Pride for your character.
Adventure critique--
A fun setting, but the player characters do seem to take a back seat a bit. I'm just playing what I think is most logical for them. But reading the adventure, I can't help but second-guess what the authors must think players are most likely going to do.
Like, was it supposed to be impossible to see Figaro at all, let alone persuade him, before doing some mini-fetch quests? Why would it be assumed that characters would try to sneak into the stateroom as the first impulse? Does the cube of force keep them at bay of the door, or is only once they open or try to open the door? Don't get me started on sneaking rules in DnD....
And, would heroes be expected to restore Figaro when they meet him? There is literally no other option presented in the book, so it reads like it's assumed that they do, without question.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse