Accessory - Dragon Magazine #111.pdf - Index of

(Continued from page 48)
The other two doors in the magical area
(leading to the magical laboratory and the
alchemical laboratory) are not locked and
will open freely. But if either one is opened
before the corridor is cleared of smoke, the
smoke will rush into the room in question
and render the air inside unbreathable for
at least five minutes.
Magical library: If the library is still on
fire when the characters arrive, they will
have to use whatever means are at their
disposal to put out the blaze. Spells such as
create water, precipitation, cloudburst, ice
storm, or combinations of these are likely to
be at least partially effective. A decanter of
endless water (from the water circulation
system) will also be helpful, as will the fire
extinguisher in the alchemical laboratory (if
it is discovered in time).
Regardless of how, or how soon, the
blaze is extinguished, all of the texts in the
magical library will have been reduced to
ashes, as will the bookshelves, table, and
chairs. Two objects will survive the fire. The
first is the mirror on the east wall, just to
the north of the section of wall composed of
glassteel. This mirror is the other half of the
teleportation device that allows travel back
and forth from the magical library to the
master bedroom; it is identical, and operated
in identical fashion, to the mirror in
the bedroom. (See the description of that
room for details.) The second item will be
discovered if the ashes in the vicinity of
(what once was) the table are searched. It is
a small iron chest, unlocked, containing
more than fifty precious gems with a total
value of more than 100,000 gold pieces.
Magical laboratory: This room has not
been affected by the fire. There are counters
on all the walls, on which are placed various
books and experiments. There is also a
large cylindrical device in the center of the
room.
All of the experiments are in the preparatory
stages; none of them have actually been
begun. The four separate endeavors seem to
involve, respectively, some kind of necklace;
a heavy crossbow (which is present); something
having to do with the elemental plane
of fire; and a large, blue icosahedron. No
other information is discernible, even with
careful examination or the use of read
magic.
The cylindrical device in the center of the
room is 10’ in diameter and three feet high,
and is giving off a low, humming sound. It
has a lid, upon which is inscribed the word
“Whirligig.” The lid can be easily removed,
but if someone takes it off without first
speaking the word, the contents of the cylinder
will fly out in all directions, covering the
room and all its occupants with a green,
sticky substance. This substance has no ill
effect, and can be washed off with water.
Alchemical laboratory: This area is free
of fire damage. Counters cover all the walls;
books, beakers, and liquids abound.
A more than cursory look will reveal that
this room has been slightly disturbed. Two
potion bottles have been broken on the
floor; one contained a white liquid and the
other a yellow liquid. Where the two substances
have flowed together on the floor,
the resulting liquid is a dull crimson color.
There is also a large spill of sparkling water
on one of the south counters. One of the
books has been opened and turned upside
down, several of its pages being bent in the
process. A small bottle of white pills is
broken on the floor in the southeast corner.
All of the alchemical products mentioned
above will have no ill effects if they are
ingested; however, the dull crimson mixture
will cause severe hiccups for 1 - 10 rounds to
anyone who tastes it. The small white pills
can be used to treat a slight case of smoke
inhalation or other respiratory damage.
(One pill will not help Raleigh, and if more
than one is put in his mouth, he will choke
and spit the pills out. His condition will not
improve.)
The experiments here are all in preparatory
stages. Most of them are undecipherable,
but read magic will reveal that four of
the experiments are concerned with the
following subjects: color; strength; green
slime (not present); and the eyes of umber
hulks (not present).
Also in the laboratory is a 1’ tall, spongy
cylinder labeled “Fire.” If this cylinder is
brought into an area with a temperature of
120 degrees F. or higher (such as the magical
library, if it is on fire) and then dropped
or struck with a sharp blow, it will explode,
spraying an area of up to 10,000 sq. ft. with
a white foam that will smother any blaze.
The foam will gradually evaporate over one
turn after the object explodes.
Conjuration and summoning chamber:
If this area is somehow reached, is will be
found to be bereft of furniture, having only
various signs and sigils on the floor. The
edges of the walls are curved, so that there
are no sharp-angled corners in the entire
room.
Outside the mansion
The area around the main entrance is
well-traveled. At the start of the adventure,
only one carriage will be outside the mansion
(the vehicle the characters arrived in).
This carriage is 20 feet from the main entrance,
with the horses loosely tethered to a
tree.
The trail from Andre LeMeurtrier’s
window leads to the edge of the roof, then
resumes on the ground immediately below
the roof. It leads around the west side of the
mansion and then around the north side to
the servants’ entrance. At the entrance, the
trail is obscured by other footprints. In the
dirt just outside the conventional library
there are six blue fletchings, probably from
arrows or crossbow bolts.
On the roof of the mansion, one can see
into the astrological observatory through the
dome. During the day, the observatory is
always illuminated from above.
THE SUSPECTS
Sandar Fleatis
11th-level magic-user: STR 14, INT 17,
WIS 16, DEX 13, CON 12, CHA 11,
COM 11. Hit points 29, armor class 7,
alignment neutral, age 30, height 5’ 11”)
weight 165.
Spells: magic missile, spider climb, detect
magic, read magic, invisibility, detect invisibility,
knock, levitate, dispel magic, fireball,
clairvoyance, suggestion, wall of ice, dimension
door, minor globe of invulnerability,
passwall, extension II, wall of force.
Possessions worn: brown cloak of protection
+ 3, brooch of shielding (40 charges)
on gold chain, ring of free action, gray robe
with gold embellishment, two gold rings,
coral bracelet, belt pouch, high soft boots.
Possessions carried: potion of polymorph,
wand of negation (38 charges), spell components,
25 pp.
Reactions to interrogation: Fleatis will be
impatient with questions, and will answer
curtly if at all. If the PCs detain him for too
long, he will become disturbed and demand
to know why the investigators don’t get on
with the case at hand.
Personal history: Sandar Fleatis runs the
magic-users’ guild in Kelburn, and is outspoken
against the policies of Orian Flaloch.
He used to be Alexonus Romdril’s apprentice;
he lived in the mansion and had access
to all of its rooms and conveniences, until
he and Romdril decided it would be better
if Sandar left. Since his departure last April,
Fleatis had not spoken at any length to
Romdril until the previous night. Fleatis
claims he has no political aspirations, but
would like nothing better than to see his
former tutor back in office. He says that he
intended to use this invitation to the mansion
as an occasion to persuade Romdril to
re-enter the political arena, as well as to
petition him for a geas spell.
Answers to key questions:
Did you kill Romdril? “Of course not.”
Who killed Romdril? “I’m not yet certain,
but I intend to find out.”
What do you have against Orian Flaloch?
“He is destroying everything Alex worked
for.”
What do you think of Alambar? “He’s
gone senile. What a shame.”
What do you know about LeMeurtrier?
“I’ve got nothing on that cutthroat.”
Did you kill LeMeurtrier? “He’s dead?
It’s about time. Someone should have taken
care of him long ago.”
Why did you and Romdril part company?
“He no longer wanted to remain in
Kelburn. I did.”
How did Liana die? “I don’t yet know.”
Where have you been since 8:00? “In the
library, reading about poisons.”
Did you come back to your room from
the library? “Straight from the library, yes.”
Alkus Alambar
18th-level magic user: STR 4, INT 18,
WIS 12, DEX 6, CON 7, CHA 7, COM 7.
Hit points 20, armor class 4 (with bracers),
D RAGON 57