Winter of the Witch.pdf - Property Is Theft!

Winter of the WitchPART FIVE:WINTER’S HEARTOnce the PCs use the blue ice menhirs to cross overto Feywild, they find a broad bitter expanse of eerilycold snow and ice. PCs with the aid of an Endure Elementsritual do not suffer any ill effects by the frozenclimate, but those without must make a successful DC26 Endurance check every 8 hours, or lose a healingsurge that does not come back with an extended rest,unless that rest is taken in a warm and comfortableplace.The landscape of this place is bitter and desolate.The only creatures the PCs can see are the fields offrozen bodies. These poor innocents were touchedby the Winter Witch, and they line the path to herpalace of Winter’s Heart.It takes the PCs two days of travel to reach Winter’sHeart. The path to the icy palace is a long icebridge over a turbulent sea of cold water and floatingice.Tactical Encounter: W1: Orchard of DeadlyChills (page 54).ENDINGTHE ADVENTUREThe adventure ends with the defeat of the WinterWitch. If the PCs used the Sun’s Sliver to destroy theWinter Witch, the artifact is destroyed with her, andthe world is free from her threat once and for all.If the PCs didn’t retrieve the Sun’s Sliver, or if theycould not destroy Koliada with it, the Winter Witchrises again to threaten the world, but maybe not in thePCs’ lifetime.Because of this the PCs might be interested inregaining the Sun’s Sliver from Orcus so that he cannotcorrupt the item. If the PCs still have the Sun’s Sliver,they might want to find a way to hide it and keep itsafe for the next generation to fight the Winter Witch.The people of Winterhaven and especially SirKeegan are greatly relieved by the PCs’ success,and they celebrate the PCs as the twice saviors ofWinterhaven.Defeating the Winter Witch does not go unnoticed.It might bring the ire of both the Prince of Frostand Orcus, but such are the things for further epicadventures.SC1: PIERCINGDZRAK’S RUSEEncounter Level 22 (4,150 XP)SetupWhile the PCs are conversing with the disguiseddeath knight, they are engaging in a secret skill challenge.Perceptive PCs have clues that they can piecetogether to help them realize that they are beingdeceived.If the PCs discover Dzrak’s ruse or attack thedeath knight, start the tactical encounter.Tactical Encounter: K1: Duplicitous DeathKnight (page 37).If they are deceived by Dzrak and decide to go onto Gloomwrought, go to “Sidetrek: Gloomwrought”(page 33).Piercing Drzak’s Ruse Level 22Skill Challenge XP 4,150By recalling your last meeting with Sir Keegan and noticingsome abnormalities around the meeting place, you learn thatthis undead knight is not who he claims to be.To learn more about what’s going on, the PCs must see pastDzrak’s deception.Complexity1 (requires 4 successes before 3 failures)Primary SkillsPerception, InsightOther SkillsReligionVictoryThe PCs are certain that this undead knight is not Sir Keegan.DefeatThe PCs are certain that they are speaking to Sir Keegan,though they may suspect he is hiding something.PerceptionDC 25 (1 success, maximum 3 successes). There are manyinconsistencies the PC can notice with a successfulPerception check. First, they can spot the remains stickingout from the snow here and there (Drzak’s Risenguardhiding among the drifts), second they can notice that Drzakis left handed, while Keegan was right handed, lastly theycan notice differences in the bone structure betweenKeegan and Drzak.InsightDC 25 (1or 2 success, no upper maximum successes). Whilea charismatic and skilled manipulator, Drzak is telling anumber of boldfaced lies, and each successful Insight checkpicks up on a lie. If the PCs remember that Sir Keegancannot leave his tomb, and question Drzak on that, thedeath knight makes some feeble excuse, but reward the PCwith 2 successes for making the connection.ReligionDC 29 (1 success, maximum 1 success). The PC notices thatthe undead knight seems to radiate an aura similar to thatof a death knight.January 2009 | DUNGEON 16236