June 1981 Dragon

by Mollie Plants

35
Dragon Vol. V, No. 12

To the Dungeon Master The true gods of the chapel, devoted to the cause of good,
This is an adventure for a balanced party of six second- and have contrived to keep the upper portion of the chapel relatively
third-level characters; if desired, the number may be increased free from sacrilege — but only relatively free, since the Dark God
by including three first-level characters. The party is assumed to continually attempts to wrest more space and power from the
be armored with chainmail and shields or the rough equivalent, good gods, while at the same time the forces of good keep trying
with the exception of any magic-users. to cleanse their chapel. Thus, few areas of the chapel can be said
Since the episode begins with the characters in the midst of a to be wholly good or wholly evil since each force infiltrates the
journey, magic-users may be assumed to have their spell books other’s territory. The spirits of Andrea and Owen look on in
with them. The books are packed in strong waterproof and restless misery, desiring only the comfort of oblivion. Andrea
airtight cases which are difficult to open and close. Cases can be begs travelers for her rescue, but Owen does not wish additional
opened only at times when the magic-user has absolute security deaths to be suffered on his behalf.
for a period of several hours and in locations where the books
are absolutely safe from dampness. Background for players
In order to succeed, the party must have at least one magic Your party is on a journey through a mountainous region
sword by the time they reach the evil temple. Similarly, one distinguished by sheer cliffs and dangerous precipices. Thus
good, all-purpose piece of magic seems to be necessary if the everyone is quite grateful when, just at nightfall, they find a
party is to maintain adequate strength to succeed in the final small abandoned chapel. It provides a dry shelter from the wind
battle. Consequently, the scenario provides for a magic sword and radiates such an aura of good that there is no hesitation
and a Ring of Three Wishes to be found on the second level. about sheltering within it.
The party should be essentially good in alignment, since oth- It is a relatively small room, hexagonal in shape with a central
erwise the motivations for finishing the adventure do not make altar. It is impossible to determine the deity who was served
sense. In addition, cooperation among members of the party is here, since the chapel has been vandalized. Visible among the
not merely a virtue: It is a necessity for survival. wreckage are the remains of a few benches and two stone
A party of this size and capability should be able to “clean out” tombs. Even the tombs have been desecrated, so that the sleep-
the Chapel if the members perform well and take advantage of ing statues of an ancient lord and his fair lady preside over
their opportunities to recuperate. The wish ring will revive dead obviously empty sepulchers.
adventurers, and this is a good strategic use for it — perhaps an During the night each member of the party has a dream.
essential one.
The chapel is built near the edge of a cliff. The underground Note to the DM: Following is an accurate description of the
areas below it were hollowed out from the stone of the cliff. In important facts of the dream which is designed to help inspire
some areas the remaining stone wall is so thin that it has broken, the party members to succeed in their quest. It is possible that
or has been broken, through to the outside. not every adventurer will have exactly the same dream, and
some of the party members may not have such a dream at all.
Background (for the DM only) The DM is encouraged to use judgement in moderating the
The Chapel of Silence was built several centuries ago by dream and its after-effects to best suit the abilities and charac-
Baron Owen the Even-Handed to celebrate his marriage to the teristics of the players and their characters.
lovely Lady Andrea. This noble pair ruled long and well over
their little barony. Their reign was, in fact, so benign and pros- The dream:
perous that both were revered as saints during their lives. Dur- The chapel seems filled with light and a happy throng of
ing that era the Chapel was furnished with beauty and elegance. people, and it is apparent that a wedding is in progress. Just as
Burial in its crypts was considered the ultimate honor and was the priest pronounces his final blessing upon the betrothed pair,
thought to insure an afterlife of eternal bliss. the scene fades. A new scene follows it — a scene as sorrowful
In due course Owen died of old age, and the grieving Andrea as its predecessor was joyful. Again the chapel is full of people,
outlived him by only two days. They were entombed in the but this time all are weeping. A funeral procession escorts two
chapel which Owen raised in gratitude for and tribute to his shrouded bodies to their tombs and tearfully places them within.
lovely bride. After their deaths, Owen and Andrea were remem- Once again the priest pronounces a final blessing and the scene
bered and worshiped along with the benign gods to whom the fades.
chapel was originally dedicated. Eventually, the cult which wor- A third scene follows; again the chapel is full of light. The
shiped the baron and his lady diminished in power but remained adventurers themselves are the only ones in attendance, but
a pleasant memory among the people of the barony. suddenly they are struck dumb with surprise as the figure of a
In recent years the cult of Owen and Andrea has been revived lovely woman appears at the altar. Silently she beckons to the
in a sinister guise. Following an earthquake which breached the party, and each member senses her promise that person (the
cliff on which the chapel stands, a vampire priest of he Dark God one who is having the particular dream) boundless reward if he
moved into the lower reaches of the tower, taking over the crypts will but follow her. Just as that character steps forward, there is a
where the good were buried and converting the burial vaults to blinding flash and a stalwart man suddenly stands beside the
his own evil purpose. lady with a sword in his hand. While the lady begins to weep
The vampire has gained the acceptance of the people by entreatingly, the man steps to prevent anyone from approach-
pretending to worship Owen and Andrea. To this end he has ing her. He sadly shakes his head in refusal of the lady’s pleas.
transported their miraculously preserved bodies from their The scene then gradually fades, and each character awakens.
tombs and enthroned them in the lowest level of their chapel, In the gray light of dawn, the party rises somberly and breaks
there to “rule” over the skeletal bodies of his victims. its fast upon rations from the packs. Finally, one member breaks
The priest has gradually stripped the chapel of its beauty and the silence and speaks of his strange dream. A discussion fol-
hidden the lovely and valuable treasures that used to be part of lows during which everyone relates his or her dream and the
the worship services. members decide to further investigate the chapel.

36
June 1981 Dragon
11,14,15,16,17,11 HP: 8,8,6,6,5,4
HD: 1.
5. A landscape showing local
mountains.
6. A minotaur: AC: 6 Move: 120’
Att: 3 Dam: 1-6 per attack Dex: 8
HP: 31 HD: 6.
As the party exits the bottom of the
stairs, they will be facing the wall con-
taining Picture 1.
The armored man in Picture 3 is Law-
ful Good and if not attacked by the party
will join it after the goblins are defeated.
He will, fight very bravely, actively seek-
ing the forefront of the battle. When he
has lost half his hit points he will disap-
pear and reappear in his picture, whence
he can be reactivated by a clever charac-
ter. He cannot speak and is illiterate but
is quite good at communicating by signs.
A careful examination of the area will
reveal the following words engraved in
ancient common around the perimeter
of the floor at the entrances to the
chambers. Numbers correspond to the
location of the floor section bearing
those words.

1: CLEAN AGAlN WHEN THE LlGHT OF

2: LIFE COMES TO LIFELESS EYES
3: AND MORTAL SWORD SLAYS
FLESH
4: IMMORTAL THEN WILL THE DUMB
SPEAK
LEVEL 1 5: THE DEAD DIE THE DARK GOD TOPPLE
A careful search of the chapel will reveal that the altar slides 6: AND THE CHAPEL OF SILENCE BE
easily to one side, revealing a spiral staircase curving down into
the dark. The stairs wind around a central column and eventual- Commas help prophecies immensely. Properly punctuated
ly emerge in the center of a large shadowy room. and ordered, this one reads, “When the light of life comes to
This room, like all other rooms below the level of the chapel lifeless eyes, and mortal sword slays flesh immortal; then will the
itself, has been carved out of the cliff rock. The floor is smooth dumb speak, the dead die, the dark god topple, and the Chapel
stone. On this level the ceiling is very high, impossible to see of Silence be clean again.”
from the floor by lantern or torchlight. If a character looks for another prophecy on the ceiling, he
The room is roughly hexagonal with six large open chambers will only succeed in reanimating one or more pictures.
around the perimeter. The stone walls have been dressed very A thorough search of the entire floor will eventually reveal a
smooth and covered with plaster. Along the back wall of each trap door directly at the bottom of the stairs where the party
niche is a large picture painted on the wall itself. The pictures entered. Another circular stair leads further down.
are positioned rather high on the walls, so that they cannot be
closely inspected without raising a torch or lantern high over- LEVEL 2
head and approaching to within about 15 feet of the wall. The second flight of stairs is much shorter than the first,
When the light strikes the eyes of one or more beings depicted indicating a much lower ceiling (about 10’ in height). On this
in a certain painting, all beings in the picture will be animated level the stone walls are smoothly dressed but not plastered.
and will come out fighting. They will all attack the party (except Partition walls are stone masonry. Doors are wooden, very
in the case of Picture 3), doing and taking normal damage. When heavy, and open inward. They are metal-bound and have metal
a painted creature loses half its hit points it will vanish from the hardware. All floors are smooth stone except for that of the
battle and reappear as part of the picture again. If the picture is center room.
darkened and lighted again, the creature(s) will emerge once
more with hit points restored to maximum (except for Picture 3). ROOM 2-0: The flight of stairs exits from the inside of a
The subjects of the pictures are: hexagonal column in the center of a hexagonal room. The room
1. The tower as it was first built, revealing to the charac- is 20’ on a side with a door in the center of each of the six walls.
ters that it stands at the top of a tall, sheer cliff. The floor here is dark and glass-like with no visible seams,
2. An ogre: Armor Class: 6 Move per turn: 90’ Attacks The party emerges from the stairway facing the door to Room
per round: 1 Damage per attack: 1-10 Dexterity: 8 Hit 2-1. At their feet are several inanimate human skeletons.
Points: 21 Hit Dice: 4 + 1 point. Examination of the skeletons will show that there were at least
3. An armored man fighting three goblins. nine bodies, since parts of nine different skulls can be identified.
Man: AC: 4 Move: 60’ Att: 1 Dam: 3-8 Dex: 14 HP: 24 There is no treasure, and what remains of the arms and armor of
HD: 3. the skeletons has deteriorated beyond use.
Goblins: AC: 6 Move: 60’ Att: 1 Dam: 1-6 Dex: 10,12,8 The floor is so slippery that each character has one chance in
HP: 7,7,6 HD: 1. six of falling the first time he attempts to walk across it, and one
4. Six orcs: AC: 6 Move: 90’ Att: 1 Dam: 1-6 Dex: chance in four if he tries to run.
37
 Dragon Vol. V, No. 12

PERIMETER ROOMS: All perimeter rooms are basically the

same. Each contains an altar and three kneeling benches uphol-
stered in velvet. The three walls of each room furthest from the
door are draped with velvet. Before each drape stands a skelet-
on with its hands in an attitude of prayer. (The skeletons do not
animate if handled gently and respectfully.) Behind the center
drape is a smooth wall with no visible masonry joints. It seems to
be plastered and is painted a dull white. It is actually a sliding
panel and will move (when proper pressure is applied) 5’ to the
right, revealing a triangular secret room.
The details of the perimeter rooms and the secret rooms are as
follows:

ROOM 2-1: The velvet is deep red. The altar is engraved with
scenes of battle and the skeletons are wearing armor.

ROOM 2-11: As soon as the door is fully open, a bolt is

released from a crossbow in the apex of the triangle. If it hits it
will do 1-6 points of damage.
A thick layer of dust covers the floor and the articles thereon.
The room contains several pieces of armor which look more
ceremonial than useful. Two items of evident value are a je-
welled helmet and a sword with a golden hilt. (Estimated value:
20gp each) The rest is obviously of little value and less useful-
ness. At the very back of the room there is a long bundle
wrapped in a soldier’s cloak. It contains a very plain, simply Scale: 1 inch = 40 feet
crafted sword of excellently forged metal in mint condition.

ROOM 2-2: The draperies and upholstery are dull gold. The
altar engraving shows scenes of commerce. The skeletons wear Levels
three-piece garments of conservative cut.

ROOM 2-21: When the secret door is opened, a pit taking up 1, 4, and 6
the entire floor area of the room is revealed. The sides are
smooth and sheer. A character who falls into the pit will be lost
without a trace. ROOM 2-5: Drapes and upholstery are deep blue. The altar
has scenes of the sea; the skeletons are dressed as mariners.
ROOM 2-3: Hangings and upholstery are rich green. The altar
has hunting scenes; the skeletons are attired as hunters. ROOM 2-51: As the secret door slides open, a large swatch of
dusty silk cascades into the room. A full-size silk sail has been
ROOM 2-31: The secret room contains ancient, moth-eaten stuffed loosely and carelessly into the room. The sail shows its
hunting trophies. The dust in the room bears evidence of recent age but is still reasonably strong. If it is all pulled out, the party
traffic. There is a small ivory hunting horn hanging high over the will find a quantity of gilded rope in the northern corner. If that is
door in semi-darkness. The party will notice it on a roll of 1 or 2 moved off or across the floor, they will find a small but very
on d6, or if anyone specifically states that he is looking at the elegant ship model. It is of ivory with silken sails and fine gold
wall over the door. rigging. The robbers apparently overlooked it while wrestling
with the sail and rope. Its value is hard to assess because of its
ROOM 2-4: In this room are two grave robbers armed with obviously great artistic merit.
swords. They will be hiding behind the door when it is opened
and will then attempt to strike from behind. ROOM 2-6: All the cloth in this room is of a delicate rose-
Primo: AC 5 Move: 60’ Att: 1 Dam: 1-6 Dex: 14 colored hue. The skeletons are clothed in women’s robes and
HP: 12 HD:2. the altar is carved with scenes of the home.
Gundo: AC 5 Move: 60’ Att: 1 Dam: 1-6 Dex: 11
HP: 15 HD: 3. ROOM 2-61: The room has evidently been looted. There is a
Both bags together also contain four combs, three necklaces, broken clay pot within, and a churn lying on it side. In the churn
and a ruby bracelet. Gundo’s bag contains a gold ring set with is a dirty scrap of paper which is actually a Scroll of Healing.
three large pearls. The total value of this haul is about 500gp, Deep in the dust in the corner is a small golden thimble.
excluding the ring. It is a Ring of Three Wishes. There is a trap door in the floor which opens to reveal a flight
The room is decorated in rich brown. The altar shows scenes of stairs going down.
of planting and reaping, and the skeletons wear the attire of rich When the party attempts to leave this level, the skeletons from
peasants. the perimeter rooms will attack, either one after the other or
simultaneously, with each skeleton’s first attack always sur-
ROOM 2-41: A large bear trap (1-4) awaits the first unwary prising.
foot across the entrance. The trap may be sprung with a pole or If the party is leaving by the trap door in Room 2-6, the
similar implement. skeletons in that room will attack first with the others arriving as
The dust in this room is deep and undisturbed. In the center of reinforcements at the rate of three per round. They will not
the room is a small table bearing a golden bowl heaped full of follow the party down the stairs, and no other skeletons will
grain. To the right of the table is a small golden scythe. To the enter and fight if all skeletons present are killed at the end of any
left is a miniature iron plow. The bowl and scythe are worth round; however, those which don’t enter will instantly attack (no
about 100gp each. automatic surprise) when someone re-enters the center room.

38
June 1981 Dragon
Levels clerical robes sits with his back to the party looking out through
the area where Room 3-11 should be.
The man is Shar, the hermit. He subsists on the kindness of

2, 3, and 5 the local people, lowering his basket on a long cord to receive
their donations. He cannot speak.
If the party offers gold or other valuables to Shar he will
smilingly refuse, but if any member shares his food with him,
Shar will silently bless that adventurer. The blessing of Shar is a
great gift, since it will heal each recipient to within two hit points
of original strength and give that character a +2 bonus on all
saving throws for the duration of the adventure.
If a character holding or carrying the steel sword (from Level
2) receives the blessing, the sword will be felt to leap in its
wrappings. Upon examination, it will be seen to display a soft,
magical glow. From this moment on it may be used as a +2 magic
sword.
If the party attacks Shar, the hermit will simply vanish to the
protection of the good gods until the threat is past, at which time
he will reappear in his chamber.
Shar’s cave is safe from all evil and can provide the party a
place to rest and recover. A magic-user can study his spell book
while sequestered here if he so desires.
Although Shar cannot speak, he can communicate effectively
by gestures, pictures, end written words, though his version of
the common tongue is archaic by the party members’ standards.
He will help the party in any way he can (once he is befriended)
but will refuse to go anywhere else in the complex with them.
Shar was the chief priest of the chapel in the days of Owen’s
life. He and Bran, Owen’s chief captain, have been called upon
Scale: 1 inch = by the gods to be the guards of the chapel. Shar came originally
from the foreground of the chapel picture on Level 1, where he
40 feet was “implanted” just like other images were in the other pic-
tures. However, Shar was able to remain out of the picture after
being released by light at a much earlier time, and thinks he can
better serve as a chapel guard by keeping watch over the breach
If the party is leaving the way they came, so that the battle caused by the earthquake.
develops in the central hall, all skeletons will attack at once. All Bran is, of course, the armed man from another of the Level 1
members of the party will strike at a -1 here because of the very pictures. Their attributes are as follows:
slick floor, but the skeletons are unaffected. Shar: Cleric Lawful Good HP: 15 HD: 3 Str: 16
Skeletons: AC: 8 Move: 60’ Att: 1 Dam: 1-6 Dex: 9 Int: 14 Wis: 18 Con: 13 Dex: 12 Cha: 15.
HP: Each has 3 HP HD: ½ Bran: Fighter Lawful Good HP: 24 HD: 3 Str: 18
If the party attempts to retreat up the stairs back to the chapel, Int: 12 Wis: 12 Con: 18 Dex: 14 Cha: 15.
they will find the altar has been moved back over the trap door,
and it is impossible to remove from below. ROOM 3-11: The ruins of this room form the “porch” of Shar’s
When all party members are on the descending stairs (which cave. The steepness and smoothness of the cliff sides will not
appear very smooth and solid, the staircase will suddenly turn permit descent by this route. Shar will not cooperate in any plan
into a slide and the party will arrive at the floor of the next level by the party to use this as an exit.
tumbled into a heap. The character in the lead on the stairs will
take 1-3 points of damage from the slide and the collisions with ROOM 3-2: This chamber is dimly lit in the daytime by light
his followers. which seeps in through several cracks in the exterior walls. It
contains a nest of four stirges. They will attack any character or
LEVEL 3 creature who enters, but will not pursue any intruder outside the
The walls are rough-hewn stone and exhibit a large number of room. The door to this room is slightly out of kilter because of
cracks as a result of the earthquake some years ago. There are the earthquake and does not close tightly.
heaps of stone and rubbish everywhere. Stirges: AC: 7 Move: 180’ Att: 1 (Attacks at +2)
The rooms are hexagonal, following the same general pattern Dam: 1-3 HP plus 1-4 blood drain per melee round
as on Level 2. Most of the doors hang a bit crazily on their thereafter Dex: 6 HP: 8,8, 3, 3 HD: 1.
hinges, although two are still wholly functional. The large rooms
on this level seem to have been intended as crypts, but no ROOM 3-21: Filled with rubble.
corpses remain in sight.
The party lands at the bottom of the slide in Room 3-6. ROOM 3-3: The room is pitch dark, and the territory is jealous-
ly guarded by a wight. The wight can be hit only by magic
ROOM 3-0: There is nothing here but dust and rubble. The weapons. Its touch does no damage in hit points but drains away
outside of the central column is still intact but the stairway life energy. When the wight scores a hit, its opponent will drop
inside has collapsed, filling the lower part of the column. one experience level, losing the appropriate number of hit
points. A character who loses all of his/her levels (down to zero)
ROOM 3-1: The door to this room is intact and closed. When it becomes a wight under the control of the original wight.
is opened, the party will see a clean, airy room with an opening Wight: AC: 5 Move: 90’ Dex: 15 HP: 16 HD: 3
to the outside. There is a bed of sorts at one side, a catchbasin If the battle begins to go too badly for the party, the spirit of
for water, and a cooking area near the opening. A man in ragged Owen will intervene. He will appear in a blaze of light, defeat the

39
Dragon Vol. V, No. 12

wight, and toss his +2 magic sword to the party. Owen will also supply of blood is used up in about five minutes, the priest will
reveal the secret door at the back of the room. utter a strange cry. Suddenly, the party member with the lowest
Charisma rating will begin to walk in a trancelike state toward
ROOM 3-31: Stairs going down. the altar.
Other party members will see this and possibly be shocked to
ROOM 3-4: Rubble. their senses by the prospect of danger to their comrade. They
will now be allowed a saving throw against the Charm spell (with
ROOM 3-41: Entirely filled with rubble. the +2 blessing from Shar, if it applies). If some or all of them
break the charm, there will be time to try to combat the vampire
ROOM 3-5: A mated pair of trolls have their honeymoon cot- priest before the entranced adventurer reaches the altar and the
tage in this room. They come and go through a narrow crack in evil priest’s grasp. If no party member makes a saving throw vs.
the roof. They will continue their amorous pursuits unless inter- the charming, they will be compelled to watch unresistingly as
rupted, will not attack unless attacked or interrupted first, and their comrade meets the same fate as the acolyte. Then the
will not pursue characters who flee back out the door. “selection process” will repeat, and the party member with the
Trolls: AC: 6 Move: 120’ Att: 2 claws and 1 bite next lowest Charisma will be sacrificed unless rescued.
Dam: 1-6 each Dex: 15 HP: 30,24 HD: 6 + 3 The priest’s congregation is composed of dazed, unarmed
peasants. There are 30 present, but half of them will instantly
ROOM 3-51: A pile of rubble which currently serves as the flee once they see an attack being mounted against them or the
trolls’ love-nest. priest. The remainder will attack, or at least will serve to obstruct
the party if its intention is to get to the priest. They are level 0
ROOM 3-6: This is the room that party members slide into characters, armor class 10, and will take only 1 hit point of
when they enter this level of the chapel. In so doing they alarm damage before becoming demoralized and rushing for the stairs
the resident, a cockatrice. The creature is understandably pan- which descend to Level 5. If they attack and succeed, each blow
icked and takes wing, flying wildly about the room and bumping struck by one of them does 1 point of damage.
into walls. The priest is a true vampire. He can be conquered by magical
Cockatrice: AC: 6 Move: 180’ (flying) Att: 1 means, and an appropriately worded wish (using the ring found
Dam: 1 plus petrification Dex: 16 HP: 20 HD: 5 on Level 2) can eliminate this threat to the party’s success. The
The cockatrice will attack only if it is attacked, and even then priest will not be on his guard against the party members until an
at a -2 to hit. However, even if it does not consciously attack, the attack is actually begun, since he believes them to all be under
monster can still cause petrification if it accidentally bumps into the influence of the charm spell.
a party member. There is a 1 in 20 chance that the monster will Those who are charmed will simply stand awaiting their mas-
hit a character in a certain melee round (roll separately for each ter’s order. If the vampire is destroyed, the charm is broken.
character once per round) in the course of its thrashing about. Vampire: AC: 2 Move: 120’ Att: 1 Dam: 1-10
Cracks in the walls and ceiling of the room admit enough light to Dex: 17 HP: 35 HD: 7
enable party members to see the cockatrice and attempt to When the party searches the room, they will find nothing of
avoid it. value until they draw back the black curtain. They will then be
confronted by a representation of the Dark God which is so
ROOM 3-61: Rubbish. lifelike and so horrible that they will be struck dumb by terror.
No character will be able to speak or communicate by vocal
LEVEL 4 sound in any way whatsoever for the rest of the adventure.
The stairs (leading down from Room 3-31) are dark, but as the Just as the characters are struck dumb, so should the players
party approaches the bottom of the incline, characters become be. For the rest of the adventure, the Dungeon Master should
aware of a ruddy glow emanating from floor level below. After allow no vocal communication between players. In many in-
descending several feet further, they will exit into a large room stances, this will make it necessary for the DM to give descrip-
similar in size and shape to the chamber on Level 1. The entry- tions or instructions to players in secret. At other times, a caller
way they come through is along the back wall of area 3. for the group may be asked to give information vocally to the
As each character enters, he or she quickly becomes aware DM, out of earshot of other players, so the DM will know precise-
that a temple service of some sort is in progress and feels ly what the players are intending to do — or, at least, what-the
compelled to quietly join those standing at the back of the caller interprets as the plan. No characters or players should be
congregation. (This compulsion is the result of a low-strength allowed to communicate with each other by any means besides
Charm spell of short duration and allowing no saving throw gestures or pictures — except for those characters who are
upon initial contact.) magic-users or clerics, or any other characters with Intelligence
The congregation fills the areas marked 2, 3, and 4 on the map. of 15 or higher. These characters may give information by
Wide staircases going down are seen in the recessed areas means of written messages, but may not receive such messages
numbered 1 and 5, while the recess which forms area 6 is cur- from a character who does not have those qualities. Players
tained off from the main chamber with black velvet. should be given plenty of time to work things out at pivotal
In front of the curtain stand a black-robed priest and his points in the adventure from this point on, but they should not be
scarlet-clad acolyte. Before them in the center of the room is an allowed to talk!
elaborately carved hexagonal altar of obsidian, in the place
where the center column appears in each of the above levels. LEVEL 5
As members of the party watch in fascination, the priest in- This level contains the household of the vampire priest. It is
tones a long passage in an unknown tongue while the acolyte designed primarily to give the players and characters a chance
chants occasional replies or affirmations. Suddenly the priest to use silent communication.
seizes the acolyte by hip and shoulder and raises his body high It is possible for the party to simply proceed through the
overhead. In another instant, he brings the body down on the vestibule in Room 5-5 or Room 5-1 and keep descending into
altar and buries his fangs in the acolyte’s neck. After taking a Level 6, or to leave the complex altogether by way of Room 5-61
long, ceremonial draught for himself, the priest catches the rest or Room 5-11. In any of those cases, however, party members
of the acolyte’s life blood in a black basin. He then proceeds on a will remain speechless forever — or until they re-enter the chap-
meandering path throughout the congregation, splashing blood el complex and are successful in completing the entire prophecy.
on their faces and dipping their hands into the basin. When the Level 5 is built of roughly hewn stone. Rooms are constructed

40
June 1981 Dragon
as on Levels 2 and 3, except that there is no column in the middle combat, all four ghouls will issue forth from the two rooms and
of Room 5-0. Illumination is provided by small torches in wall engage the adventurers in Room 5-0.
sconces, Ceilings are 10 feet high.
ROOM 5-41: The contents of this room are identical to those
ROOM 5-0: This is a hexagonal room used as a hall or com- of Room 5-31, except that there is no chance of finding jewelry.
mon room. There is a door in each of the six walls and a trestle Instead, a bag containing 60gp will be discovered by the first
table with benches in the center of the room. character who searches for longer than 3 turns.

ROOM 5-1: A vestibule and landing. A wide staircase comes ROOM 5-5: A wide staircase comes down from the temple
down from the temple above and continues to the level below, above and ends in this room, which serves as the vestry where
This room is a landing between the two flights of stairs. There is the vampire priest robes himself and prepares for services. The
an ordinary door in the eastern wall and a more ornate door in walls are adorned with heavily embroidered vestments. While
the western walI. rich-looking, they emanate an aura of evil which may noticeably
repulse certain party members. Any good character who tries on
ROOM 5-11: An exit into the outdoors. Double doors set into a garment or vestment or attempts to carry an article of this sort
the face of the cliff swing open easily, opening onto a narrow will receive a “shock” from contact with such concentrated
road which leads away to the north. wickedness, losing 2 hit points and being forced to drop the evil
item.
ROOM 5-2: This is the kitchen. It has a fireplace on the outside Leaning against the wall in one corner of the room is a Wand
wall, a work table and 8 rough chair. Three iron pots filled with of Fear with six charges remaining.
some sort of stew sit bubbling on the hearth.
There is a young woman sitting in the chair, She was once ROOM 5-51: This is a closet which contains vessels, basins,
pretty, but is now so dirty and frightened-looking that it is hard and other equipment for the services. Each of the receptacles or
to perceive her beauty. other decoratives pieces appears to be worth about 300gp and
This is Elna, the vampire priest’s cook, maid, and probable may be obtained by non-evil characters, but those who carry
future victim once she outlives her usefulness as a servant. She them will lose 1 hit point per day from contact with the evil
is not a vampire and will not be hostile. She will not attack or object. There is also a Potion of Healing (1-6 points) and a
defend herself and will provide no information. She will merely Potion of Delusion, both in stoppered crystal flasks, and a
stare silently at the party unless someone gives her an order or cursed (-2) dagger.
makes a request, in which case she will calmly obey if it is in her
power to do so. She will follow the party when they leave this ROOM 5-6: The priest’s living chambers — surprisingly neat
room unless she is actively prevented from doing so. and spartan. It holds a bed, two chairs and a chest, which
contains nothing but black clothing made of a rich-looking
ROOM 5-21: This is the pantry and contains cooking equip- fabric. Like the vestments in Room 5-5, these items may not be
ment and various unwholesome foodstuffs, none of which is of tried on or carried by a good character without causing harm.
any use to characters.
ROOM 5-61: The priest’s closet. Several black cloaks are hung
ROOM 5-3: This room is part of the living quarters for the four on pegs on the wall. They, like the other cloths and garments of
ghoulish warriors of the temple. They traverse the countryside evil origin in this area, may not be carried or worn. Among them
looking for “converts,” and make sure that services are properly and partially hidden are a brown cloak (non-magical) and a
attended. (However, they themselves don’t go to church,) green cloak (which is an Elven Cloak).
The room has doors on opposite sides and rough beds along There is a trap door in the floor, giving access to stairs which
two of the other walls. Rags and rubbish litter the floor, and the lead down to a secret exit from the chapel at the base of the cliff.
smell is oppressive. DM: Nothing should prevent the party from leaving the chapel
When the party enters the room, two ghouls will be positioned to rest and recuperate and then re-entering the complex to take
in the center of the room, they will not be surprised, and they will up the quest anew. However, if Bran is with the party, he will try
immediately move to attack. If a battle is joined, the two other to persuade the adventurers to stay inside the chapel. If the
ghouls (from Room 5-4) will move in to assist their fellow party exits the chapeI, Bran will remain close to the base of the
warriors. cliff and will not follow the party if it ventures out of his sight.
Ghouls: AC: 6 Move: 90’ Att: 3 Dam: 1-3 plus Since neither Bran nor any of the others is capable of speech at
paralysis for 1-4 turns Dex: 15 HP: 14, 12 8, 6 HD: 3 this point, it is unlikely that the adventurers would simply depart.
Some party members will remember the part of the prophecy
ROOM 5-31: This is a storeroom filled with personal effects Which said the dumb will speak, and this will serve as an inspira-
and possessions stripped from the ghouls’ and the vampire’s tion for them to continue the quest. If (when) party members
victims. A careful search taking at least 1 turn will yield 3-12gp, return to the chapel, everything inside will be as it was the
4-24sp and 1-100cp. There is a 25% chance of finding a piece of moment they left.
jewelry worth 50gp if party members search for 3 turns or Also note that clerics in the party will still be able to turn
longer. undead and to heal despite being unable to speak.
ROOM 5-4: The contents and occupants of this room are LEVEL 6
originally the same as those of Room 5-3 — two ghouls and This is a large, roughly hexagonal chamber with well-finished
some rough furniture. However, ghouls will never be encoun- walls, similar in shape and size to Levels 1 and 4, but with no
tered in both rooms in the same fashion. central column. The room is entered by one of the two stair-
If the party enters Room 5-4 before it enters Room 5-3, the cases, either from Room 5-5 into area 6-5 (party emerges facing
events described above will take place in Room 5-4 instead, with area 2) or from Room 5-1 into area 6-1 (party emerges facing
the ghouls from Room 5-3 coming to the aid of the others. In area 4 — but see description of skeletons, below). The entire
either case, the two ghouls with the highest number of hit points Ievel is dark and must be illuminated by the adventurers.
will originate from whichever of the two rooms the party enters The central area of the level is filled with the figures of 20
first. kneeling skeletons. Each has his bony hands clamped around
If the party retreats from either room in an attempt to avoid the hilt of a sword. Ten of them form an aisle leading from the

41
Dragon Vol. V, No. 12

bottom of the stairs in area 6-5 and pointing in the direction of third-level fighter in melee, armor class 2, move 90’. Each does
area 6-2 — where the bodies of Owen and Andrea sit enthroned 1-6 points of damage with a successful hit. The woman does not
in a regal setting. A similar, gauntlet-style configuration is, fight, but her touch (as if rolling to hit) will heal 1-6 points of
formed by the other 10, pointing from the bottom of the staircase damage.
in area 6-1 to the adjacent area where Owen and Andrea are. When any of these figures takes 10 hit points of damage, it will
Party members will immediately recognize Owen and Andrea as return to its place in the painting on the wall. The paintings can
the couple depicted in the dream they had earlier. be reanimated. The figures may be employed to aid the party in
The party will not be endangered until at least one member the fight against the skeletons, which will attack mindlessly until
walks all the way down one of the aisles after descending the destroyed. The talismans from Level 2 can be of help here; if a
stairs. When the member(s) leading the way are past the end of character kept the ivory horn (hunter), iron plow (farmer), mod-
the aisle and presumed (by the skeletons) to be approaching the el ship (seaman) or gold thimble (woman), that character will be
throne area, and all 20 skeletons will come alive and begin to able to control the actions of that particular figure. Otherwise,
attack. Stepping through the boundary of an aisle or attacking a the DM will moderate the actions of all the god-figures who
skeleton while it is inanimate will also cause all the skeletons to come into play.
begin fighting. If the party and its helpers succeed in beating the skeletons,
Skeletons: AC: 8 Move: 60’ Att: 1 Dam: 1-6 Dex: 9 the adventurers will find themselves still without speech, since
HP: All 20 have 3 HP each HD:½ they have not yet fulfilled the entire prophecy.
When the last skeleton falls, the bodies of Owen and Andrea
On the wall at the back of area 6 is a painting of a warrior, a will rise from their thrones and make imploring gestures toward
merchant and a seaman. On the wall at the back of area 3 is a the party members. Both of the bodies must be stabbed with a
painting of a farmer, a hunter and a beautiful woman. If a light magic sword, once and for all putting their owners to rest.
strikes the eyes of the figures in the paintings, they will become When this is done, the bodies will sink to the floor in a relaxed
animate. The paintings are placed high enough on the wall so posture—and the characters will discover that they (but not the
that a figure’s eyes cannot be illuminated by accident. Charac- painted figures) can speak again! The walls and floor of the
ters should be able to tell that there is some sort of painting on chamber will quiver and shake momentarily as the dark god’s
the wall, but not to tell what the subject is, without directly influence is expelled. In another moment, Shar joins the group.
illuminating the picture. He will provide the prompting, if necessary, to cause the charac-
ters to look under the thrones, where a pair of compartments
These figures represent the good gods of Owen and Andrea, hold the wondrous royal treasures — theirs for the taking.
who placed images of themselves in these “living paintings” to All of the painted figures and party members will form a
aid and guard the couple. These figures, like the party members funeral procession and bear the bodies of Owen and Andrea
and the bodies of Owen and Andrea, cannot speak. outside, up the cliff, and in the front door to their proper tombs
The warrior fights with a sword, the seaman with a trident, the on the ground level of the chapel. The lids of the sarcophagi will
farmer with a pitchfork, and the hunter with a spear. The mer- be lifted back into position and closed, whereupon all of the
chant has a leather bag of coins which he uses as a blackjack. painted figures will vanish and reappear in their places on the
None of these weapons can be held or employed by other walls — although they may stay around long enough to clear up
members of the party. Each of these figures is treated as a any mysteries that remain.

42