TSR 9291 - DLC1 - Dr.. - Free

Characters cannot see farther than
ten feet, regardless of the light
source. lnfravision cannot be used.
For every five feet characters travel
in the steam, there is a 1 in 3 chance
(1 or 2 on 1d6) that their path is
blocked by either a steam vent or a
stalagmite.
Lurking in the cavern are ten
ogres, a vanguard of Verminaard’s
army that is searching for the refugees.
They wandered into this cavern
through the south entrance and, liking
the warmth, have decided to stay
for a while. They attack the heroes,
trying for surprise, and fight until
killed.
Constitution penalties (as in area
179) also apply here.
181. The Steam City
Although this city once held over
1,000 dwarves, now only 200 Aghar
dwarves live here. The Steam City is
a fine example of dwarven architecture,
consisting of traditional map
blocks grouped together to build a
community. Now, most of the city
has fallen in one encounter section.
The players should not try to explore
the entire city. If the players stray off
course, improvise encounters with
the Aghar society, such as it is.
182. East Gate
This corridor leads into a wide
courtyard. Before you is a wide
gate, obviously the work of master
builders. In front of the gate is a
strange sight: a single Aghar
dwarf standing guard in the middle
of the gate. His helmet is falling
over his eyes and he is having
considerable difficulty keeping
his oversized halberd from falling
to the ground.
This dwarf is supposed to guard
against intruders, but he has a poor
idea of how this is to be accomplished.
As the characters approach,
he calls out in his most challenging
squeaky voice, “Halt! Answer me before
I let you pass! Are you supposed
to come into this kingdom?” If the
answer is “Yes,” he lets the party pass
without question.
Once the guard has decided that
the party can pass, he asks, “Are you
here to see the great secret treasure
of the Aghar?” If the answer is “Yes,”
he offers to lead the heroes to the
Aghar Highphulph, Lord of Phulph
Clan Aghar. If the heroes ask what
the “great secret treasure” is, the
Aghar won’t tell them, since it’s a secret.
This map block consists of the
Great Gate and various shops and
storehouses, mostly empty. All stairs
lead nowhere. The Aghar leads the
heroes directly to encounter area
183.
183. Court of the Thanes
You walk down a wide corridor
with large columns on either side.
The guard opens double doors
that lead into a huge court. At the
far end, a semicircle of thrones
sits on a raised dais. On one of the
thrones sits another Aghar
dwarf—this one wearing a crown
three sizes too big and ill-fitting
robes. The guard whispers, “Don’t
be afraid. It’s just His Magnificence,
the Highphulph!”
The Highphulph welcomes the heroes
in his squeaky voice. He asks
them if they have come to see the
great secret treasure. If the heroes
answer “yes,” he leads them to a
small temple room (labeled “A’ on
the map). In the center of the room is
a great slab of black stone. Before
the stone is a circular dais of white
stone. Gold letters are carved around
the edge. Unfortunately, the Aghar
cannot read (the Highphulph admits
this with some embarrassment), and
thus they have no idea what to do
next.
The inscription is written in an old
dialect of dwarven, readable by anyone
who knows that language. It
says, “Stand and ask, if you would receive
knowledge.” If any person
stands on the dais and asks a question
in dwarven, fiery letters appear
in answer on the slab.
All questions must be about
dwarvish matters, or else the answer
will always be, “What has this to do
with the Dwarves of Thorbardin?” If
asked about Skullcap, the Dwarfgate,
or Fistandantilus, the device
tells the story of Fistandantilus.
(Read the introductory material at
the start of chapter 13.)
The device answers only three
questions per day.
The Highphulph is ecstatic that he
has finally found out how to use the
great secret treasure. He asks the heroes
what boon he can offer them,
and provides anything within reason.
(The Aghar are poor and stupid.
They cannot provide very much.) He
offers to allow the heroes and all the
refugees to come live in his kingdom
forever. (If the PCs propose this to the
Council of Freedom, the leaders of
the Woodfolk and the Plainsmen bitterly
oppose living underground with
Aghar.) He can provide up to 400 foot
units, all unpleasant-tasting.
The rest of encounter area 183
consists of royal chambers (squalid),
temples (mostly useless), and storerooms
(filled with garbage).
184 & 185. Walls of the City
The great wall forms a defensive perimeter
about the ancient city. Storerooms
and barracks, both empty, can
be found here. There are stairs that
once went somewhere, but no longer.
Pits lead deep into the earth. Any
dwarf with the party recognizes them
as the Pits of Reorx (god of the
dwarves), a religious feature common
to dwarven settlements.
There is nothing here of value or
particular interest.
186 & 187. Residences
These blocks formed the residential
area of the dwarven community.
Now, most of the houses are empty.
The ones inhabited by Aghar are easily
found by their smell. Stairs lead
nowhere.
188 & 189. Passages
These passages are identical to those
in areas 177-179, except that area
188 runs between 180 and 181, and
area 189 leads outside, through area
152.
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