TSR 9360 - WGR2 - Free

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The Dagger
Among the Night Watchman’s belongings,
the PCs will find Bladestar, the haunted dagger.
The dagger is ornate, with several jewels
(rubies and sapphires) encrusted in its hilt.
The metal of the blade is black steel, inscribed
with various runes. None of the Night Watchman’s
friends or companions had ever seen
the dagger before, and have no idea as to how
he might have acquired it. If a detect magic
spell is cast on the dagger, it will reveal a powerful
dweomer. A detect evil will reveal strong
evil. For know alignment, see section on Research,
below. Any attempt to use an identify
spell on the dagger will fail due to the presence
of the haunt. At this time, the PCs should begin
to realize that the dagger is related in some
way to the killings.
If the PCs leave the dagger with the Night
Watch, it will be taken by a young guard who
will be found dead in the morning. Among the
guard’s belongings will be the dagger, and examination
of his body will reveal that he also
strangled himself. This pattern will continue
to repeat itself until the PCs take the dagger, or
stand guard and observe it during the night. If
they guard the dagger, they will see the haunt
take form above the dagger shortly after dark.
It will then attack and attempt to take over the
closest person within its range (60 yard
radius).
If a PC takes the dagger, then that night the
haunt will attack and attempt to take over the
PC who carries it. If the PCs engage the haunt
in combat and reduce it to 0 hit points, it will
dissipate, only to return in a week, at which
time it will continue the pattern of taking over
others until it finds one of compatible alignment
(any non-good alignment). See Aliar Daraan
below for game statistics and description
of the haunt.
If the PCs try to turn the dagger over to an
NPC cleric, they will be called back in to deal
with the problem, learning the information in
the Research section.
Research
By this time, the PCs should realize that in
order to stop the killings, they need to do some
research. If they seek out a sage or visit the
city’s library, after a day’s search, they can
learn that the dagger contains a creature
known as a haunt. They learn that this type of
creature can be truly laid to rest if it fulfills
some crucial task. The PCs also learn that only
hosts of similar alignment can be taken over
without the haunt inducing self-strangulation.
The PCs must now determine the haunt’s
alignment, and its task.
The haunt’s alignment can be determined
through use of a know alignment spell. If cast
successfully, the party learns not only the
alignment of the haunt, but also which alignments
can survive the haunt’s attentions. The
haunt is of chaotic evil alignment, thus its
host can be of any non-good alignment. Characters
with any good alignment who are taken
over by the haunt will attempt to strangle
themselves in the same manner as all the other
victims.
The haunt’s task can be determined by using
a speak with dead spell. This method will
only work if the PCs attempt it within three
days of the start of their investigation. The
spell needs to be cast at the haunt either just
after it takes form (after dark), or while it is in
the body of a suitable host. If the spell is successfully
cast, Aliar Daraan will reveal that he
was killed only two days before the dagger
arrived in the City of Greyhawk. His task is to
pass on information to a spy of the Cult of Iuz
within the Thieves’ Guild. The spy’s name is
Bey Wyvernthorn, and he can be found in a
secret cave located in the sewers near the
Thieves’ Quarter of the City. Under no circumstances
will the haunt reveal exactly what his
information is (the DM chooses whatever best
suits the campaign).
One way to lay the haunt to rest, is to find a
suitable volunteer, and allow the haunt to
complete its task (a volunteer might be found
among the party, or among the close friends of
any dead victim). Of course, by doing so, the
party will also have the opportunity to flush
out a spy of the Cult of Iuz who is currently
within the Thieves’ Guild of the City. If the PCs
attempt to go to the Thieves’ Guild with the
name of the spy, they will not be believed at
all. Even if they approach the City Guard or
Night Watch, they will not be believed. They
will be told that “all of Iuz’s followers was
flushed out of the city a few months ago.
There aren’t no more of them in this city at
all.”
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