H4 The Throne of Bloodstone.pdf - Free

Wisdom Checks occasionally—those
who succeed will have the feeling that
they saw something moving out of
the corners of their eyes. Perhaps it
was a shadowy figure ducking around
a building, or a dark silhouette flashing
across a window. If a Wisdom
Check succeeds with a roll of 20, that
character might actually perceive a
smiling face—perhaps a beautiful
young woman, or handsome man,
with hands outstretched in welcome.
And in fact, the PCs are very welcome
here. They have arrived just in
time for dinner!
The PCs will not be attacked—
physically, at least—as long as they
care to poke around in the city. They
will get these occasional impressions
of spectral creatures, lurking just out
of sight, but no harm will be offered
them, at least, overtly.
However, the characters’ very presence
in the city is a danger to them,
and sustenance to the minions of the
city. For this city drains life levels from
living creatures, just as assuredly as
does the touch of a wraith or a wight.
The length of time it takes a character
to lose a life level of energy (and
the corresponding level-related
attributes such as hit points, spells,
and success rates for thieves) is determined
by the might of the character
himself. More powerful characters
inspire the spectral city to more frenzied
feeding, as follows. Figure this
loss per individual character, not for
the average level of the party.
Characters of
these levels:
1-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71 or more
Lose levels at
the rate of:
1 per 6 hours
1 per 4 hours
1 per 2 hours
1 per hour
1 per 3 turns
1 per 2 turns
1 per turn
If a character loses enough levels to
put him into a lower category on the
table, he loses additional levels at the
rate established by his current (not
original) level.
While it would be too blunt to simply
announce to the characters: “OK,
everybody loses 1 level now!” you can
provide them with some subtle clues.
Beginning just before they lose their
first level, the characters will start to
feel very listless, and tired—but not
sleepy. They will want to sit down and
rest.
If any spellcasters think of using a
spell after they have lost some of their
capacities, they will realize this. (But
not until they are about to cast a
spell!) You can tell them something
like “By the way, you realize that you
can’t quite remember the words to
that wish spell.”
If you allow the characters to keep
track of their own hit points in combat,
then tell them at the start of a
battle what their current totals are.
The Buildings
The characters are free to enter any
of the buildings they want. The doors
are all unlocked, and the edifices are
empty of inhabitants. There is a 25%
chance per building that a diligent
search will reveal some minor treasure
(100 gp value or less) concealed in a
closet, beneath a loose floorboard, or
in a small chest.
The buildings all seem to be residences,
with crude chairs, tables,
beds, and other furnishings. They are
dusty inside, and there are none of
the accoutrements of human
habitation—no food, clothing, or
decorations.
The one exception is the palace of
Glyphimhor, in the center of the city.
This imposing edifice sits upon a low
hill, with a view of the entire city and
the fortress of Orcus as well.
If the characters observe the palace,
74
they will see occasional signs of movement
along the outer walls. These are
the demons that the lord-mayor
keeps constantly on guard duty. The
characters will have no real story motivation
to enter this palace. If they
decide to do so for reasons of their
own, you will have to wing it. Suffice
to say that it is a tremendous collection
of buildings, decorated in cheap
replication of true finery. They will
find Glyphimhor and dozens of lesser
demons here. If the lord-mayor is
given the opportunity to cry for help,
there is a 50% chance that he will be
able to summon Orcus to his defense.
Although the PCs might find a lot
of treasure here, it will generally be of
low quality and high bulk—not the
kind of stuff they can afford to bog
themselves down with.
If the PCs Try to Leave Orcusgate
This is the one thing that the
inhabitants of Orcusgate do not want
the characters to do. They will take
steps—serious steps—to prevent
them getting out.
If the characters come within sight
of one of the gates of the city, they
will see demon guards standing alertly
in the portal. These will be Types I,
II, and III—about 1d6 of each. However,
if the PCs advance to within 100
feet of the gate, Glyphimhor himself
will arrive to lead the defenders.
The lord-mayor shows up in a blazing
column of fire, as he teleports to
the street just inside of the gate. He
will gather his demon guards around
him, but will not attack the PCs
unless they try to leave the city.
The three far gates to the city lead
to the plains around the fortress and
link up to some of the more distant
cities (described briefly in the next
paragraph). The fourth gate leads to
the back entrance to Orcus’s fortress.
This is where his food and drink are
brought into the fortress, as well as