d20 Expeditious Retreat Press 1 on 1 Adventures 02 - The Star of Olindor.pdf - Expeditious Retreat Press - R5700

1 on 1 Adventures #2

The Star of Olindor

By Matthew J. Hanson

1 on 1 Adventures #1: Gambler’s Quest

A terrible plague has swept through the city of Cairdus, and despite the local clergy’s best

efforts, they have been unable to control the spread of the disease. Even those who seem

cured often contract the disease again. The only thing that is making any headway are the

special blessings given by the powerful Baron Velstaf, but he only grants these blessings

for a price that few can afford.

An adventure designed for 1 GM and

1 player (Level 6-8 Rogue)

It all relies upon the mysterious Star of Olindor!

Requires the use of Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition Core Books, published by

Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

This module includes 20 adventure-packed pages, complete with detailed maps and descriptions,

forming a ready-made adventure. It has been crafted for one player and one GM so even the

smallest gaming group has adventures suitable to their needs with minimal preparation time. With

some minor scaling, The Star of Olindor is suitable for use with a traditional four-player party.

WWW.XRPSHOP.CITYMAX.COM

If you enjoy this module, look for future releases in the One on One Adventures line from

Expeditious Retreat Press.

Expeditious Retreat Press

One on one Adventures #2

the Star of Olindor

by Matthew J. HansoN

An adventure for one rogue levels 6-8

A terrible plague has swept through the city of Cairdus, and despite the local clergy’s best efforts, they have been unable to control the

spread of the disease. Even those who seem cured often contract the disease again. The only thing that is making any headway are the special

blessings given by the powerful Baron Velstaf, but he only grants these blessings for a price that few can afford.

The Star of Olindor is an adventure designed for 7th-level rogue, or other character of similar abilities. The obstacles in the adventure are

set up to encourage the use of stealth and trickery, and many rely on classic rogue skills. The adventure takes place in the city of Cairdus, the

details of which have been intentionally left imprecise, so that it can be easily slipped into an existing campaign, or better yet the adventure

can be altered to take place in any existing city.

Credits

Table of Contents

Author: Matthew J. Hanson (www.mathewjhanson.com)

Cover Artist: Joan Guardiet (front), David Esbri (back)

Artists: David Esbri and Joan Guardiet

Editors: Joseph Browning and Suzi Yee

Layout: Joseph Browning and Suzi Yee

Adventure Background:....................................................page 2

Adventure Synopsis...........................................................page 2

Beginning the Adventure..................................................page 2

The Church of Nelleska.....................................................page 2

Madle Relling.......................................................................page 3

Whitehall Manor:.................................................................page 4

Concluding the Adventure................................................page 17

Scaling the Adventure........................................................page 19

Pre-Generated Character....................................................page20

One on One Adventures are for one player and one GM.

However, they are easily modiied for a traditional party of

four players and one GM.

ADVENTURE BACKGROUND

Baron Velstaf is a wealthy merchant, who has made a signiicant

fortune, mostly by supplying weapons and armor in times of battle.

Like many who hunger for gold, Baron Velstaf is never satisied,

always wanting more.

When Velstaf acquired the Star of Olindor , a powerful magic

charm capable of warding off disease, he knew he had been granted

another means of acquiring wealth. Just as a war resulted in proits

for arms dealers, a plague would be a boon for those who could cure

it. All he needed was a plague.

Baron Velstaf was not content for just any plague. He set his

personal hired wizard Elskar to the task of inding the perfect disease.

She found hell’s lung . The problem was that the disease was not easy

to reproduce on the prime material plane. To reach its full potential it

needed the protective slime secreted by a demonic babau.

This is why Baron Velstaf has a babau trapped in his dungeon, a

babau, which like any trapped demon, curses his jailor and yearns to

be free and seek its revenge.

About a week ago, after infecting the babau’s protective slime

with a sample of the disease, the potent plague was harvested and

spread throughout the city by hired criminal thugs. In order to ensure

the disease continues to spread, new cultures of the plague are

introduced into the population every couple of days.

Disease Gather Information

DC 0: There is an unusually powerful plague sweeping the city.

DC 10: Local clerics and wizards are doing everything they can

think of to ight the plague, but have had very little success.

DC 15: The only thing that seems to be successful in dealing

with the spell are the blessings given out by the wealthy

and powerful Baron Velstaf, but he only grants these

blessings to those who can afford to pay a sum of 4,000 gp.

DC 20: Baron Velstaf’s success is caused by a magic item

he recently acquired called the Star of Olindor . The magic

protections have nothing to do with Velstaf himself, and anybody

who possessed the Star could similarly ward off the disease.

DC 25: The disease being spread is known as hell’s lung ,

and it is typically only found on evil-aligned outer planes.

DC 30: Shortly before the outbreak of the disease, dark igures

were seen about town pouring something into the local water

supply and brushing a clear substance on the door handles of

popular business.

The PC may also try to investigate other speciics. See the

descriptions of Azalor (pg. 8), Elskar (pg. 12), hell’s lung (pg. 3), the

Star of Olindor , and Whitehall Manor (pg. 4) for further Knowledge

and Gather Information checks.

In the course of her investigation, it is quite likely the PC may

be exposed to the plague. Unless she takes special precautions, she

should be required to save as normal (Fortitude DC 12) or become

infected. See the hell’s lung description for more details.

ADVENTURE SYNOPSIS

In The Star of Olindor the player character, whether of her

own initiative or at the behest of a religious order, is on a mission

to retrieve the Star of Olindor from the estate of Baron Velstaf. In so

doing, she may uncover the secrets of plagues origin.

The Church of Nelleska

If the character has not decided to take action on her own, or

if she is looking for assistance in obtaining the Star of Olindor , she

may be contacted by the Church of Nelleska.

The Church of Nelleska is a chaotic good church dedicated to

freedom, happiness, and safety for all living creatures. If you have a

similar deity already in place in your campaign feel free to use that

power instead.

The church will probably send a messenger to ind the PC

irst and ask that she come to the local temple of Nelleska alone at

moonrise. If the PC is searching for aid, she might ind herself at

BEGINNING THE ADVENTURE

The player character has found her way to the city of Cairdus,

(or another city that the adventure takes place in). Perhaps she chose

to come when she heard about the plague, hoping she could do

something to stop it. Perhaps she was simply passing through and

got trapped in the city when it was quarantined. If the character has a

base of operations or a home town already established, you may wish

to move the adventure’s setting to that locale, to ensure that she has

a personal stake in the matter.

Setting the Stage

Baron Velstaf Information

DC 10: Baron Velstaf is a wealthy and powerful noble living in the

outskirts of the city, who has earned most of his wealth through

selling weapons and armor. He comes from a respected family.

DC 15: Those who know him think Velstaf is a friendly

but ruthless man. He is willing to go to extreme lengths to

maintain his proit margins. Many think he is somewhat cruel.

DC 20: Velstaf has been implicated in illegal activities before,

such as the mysterious disappearance of one of his competitors,

and he has been accused of treason for supplying weapons to orcs

and other enemies of humanity. He was never arrested or tried.

DC 25: Velstaf is said to have his own personal dungeon where

he jails trespassers, and occasionally others who incur his wrath.

DC 30: Rumors exist that Velstaf has occasionally dealt with

devils or demons in order to gain special advantages.

There is something wrong in the city. Many shops have closed

their doors, and dead bodies are a common occurrence along

the streets. The few people who remain outdoors look scared, as

though the world is coming to an end.

If the PC investigates on her own, she can discover some facts

about the mysterious disease. A Gather Information check will reveal

the information found in the text box. A character gains knowledge

of all the DCs she beats, not just the highest.

If the PC chooses to investigate the Baron Velstaf, they can learn

more details, or they may already know something about him. The

character can learn any of the box text details on a successful Gather

Information, Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility), or Bardic

Knowledge check.

the temple already and be pulled aside. Whatever the method, the

PC will end up speaking to the highest-ranking priest in the temple,

Father Arden.

After the character accepts the mission and terms are agreed

upon. Father Arden will add:

father arden’s Addition

Meeting father arden

Just one more thing. We are a peaceful order and are trying to

obtain the Star to save lives. Please remember that most of the

guards and other personnel are innocents just trying to feed their

families and try to minimize harm. If any innocents die through

your direct action, the deal is off.

A middle-aged man with thinning brown hair introduces

himself as Father Arden. He is dressed in a simple brown robe

with the symbol of his order embroidered in green on the chest.

He smiles at you and say, “I’ve heard you are person of action,

so I will be brief. You are no doubt aware of the plague sweeping

the city, and you may also be aware that the only cure seems to

be a magic item in the possession of Baron Velstaf, and he uses

it only for a price. Now, I don’t want to pass any judgments, but

I’ve heard that you have certain... talents for procuring items. If

the Star of Olindor were to come into our possession, we would

be greatly appreciative.”

The church has a number of non-magical saps that they would

be happy to provide the PC for free, as well as a +1 merciful sap ,

which they are willing to sell the PC for a discounted price of 6,300

gp. If Father Arden’s attitude can be shifted to helpful he will offer to

sell the magical sap at cost (4301) or lend it to the PC for the duration

of the mission at no cost.

Father Arden will also offer free a potion of cure moderate

wounds if his attitude has been shifted to friendly by the end of the

meeting.

If the character does not immediately volunteer, Father Arden

will sweeten the deal and offer to pay up to two thousand gold pieces.

A character that tries to haggle the price can get it up to twenty ive

hundred on a successful Charisma check (DC 15).

Father Arden’s initial attitude is friendly and can be shifted to

helpful with a successful Diplomacy check (DC 20). If the character

is of the same faith as Father Arden (or makes him believe she is), she

automatically receives a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks.

If she agrees to help without a reward she gains a further +5 bonus. If

she haggles for more money, or is ever caught lying to Father Arden,

she suffers a –2 penalty to Diplomacy (-4 if she has done both).

Father Arden is a level 13 cleric, with Wisdom of 18 (+4), and

thus receives a +17 to oppose intimidation checks. He has a +14 to

Sense Motive.

If asked why the character is being asked to do this job, Father

Arden explains that none of their order is trained in the type of skills

that would be necessary to obtain the Star .

Father Arden can provide the location and name of Baron

Velstaf’s estate, White Hall Manor, but knows little about what

dangers await inside. He knows that the house is guarded but knows

nothing of its strength. Father Arden, can refer the PC to one of his

parishioners, Madle Relling, who works in White Hall Manor as part

of the kitchen staff.

Nelleska

Nelleska, goddess of freedom is chaotic good. Her titles include

the Liberator and the Free Spirit. Nelleska teaches that all people

have a right to be happy, safe, and free from outside oppression.

She encourages close ties to nature, because it is in the wild that

things are at their most liberated. Her typical followers include

bards, rangers and rogues. The domains Nelleska is associated

with are Chaos, Good, Travel, and Plant. Her symbol is a

sprouting plant, and her favorite weapon is the longbow.

Madle Relling

Madle Relling is a member of the kitchen staff at Whitehall

Manor and a devout follower of the church of Nelleska. The PC

might talk to her after being referred by Father Arden, or as part of

the character’s own investigations.

Madle Relling’s initial attitude is indifferent. She is a irst

level commoner, with a Wisdom score of 11 (+0) and a no ranks

in Sense Motive. If she believes that the PC shares her faith, the

PC gains a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy Checks. If she is

told that providing information could end the plague the PC gains

+2 circumstance bonus. Offering her a bribe will grant a further +2

circumstance bonus.

If she remains indifferent, Madle will give only terse but polite

responses. She will reveal mundane details about her job, but will

not offer anything that could potentially get her in trouble with her

employers.

If her attitude is shifted to friendly, Madle will reveal what

details she knows about the Manor and its operations. Her knowledge

is limited to kitchen activities, but she has a fairly accurate idea the

way the guards operate at the gate, and on the irst loor, and of the

guard dogs outside (page 5, area 3).

If her attitude is shifted to helpful, Madle will offer to aid the

character in entering the house. If the character does not come up with

her own plan, Madle will suggest sneaking the PC in as part of a food

shipment hidden in a lour sack. She will go along with any ideas the

character has as long as they do not involve hurting people. She kept a

letter of summons that she received when she was irst offered the job,

but it does not occur to her to show it to the PC unless prompted.

Hell’s Lung

Hell’s lung is a magical disease. As the name suggest it attacks

the victim’s lungs, causing them to slowly disintegrate. Symptoms

include coughing up blood and extreme fatigue. It is transmitted

through inhalation, has an incubation period of 1 day, requires

a Fortitude save of 12, and deals 1d2 Constitution damage on

a failed save. Unlike normal disease, hell’s lung require three

successive saving throws to recover from.

A character that succeeds a Heal or a Knowledge (nature)

check (DC 20) will know the description of hell’s lung above. A

successful Heal, Knowledge (nature), or Knowledge (the planes)

check will reveal further information, depending on the result. A

total of 25 or greater allows the character to know that the disease

is native to evil-aligned outer planes and is rarely found on the

prime material plane, while a total of 30 or greater allows the

character to know that hell’s lung depends on the slime secreted

by a babau demon in order to complete its life cycle.

Whitehall Manor

1. The Outer Wall

The grounds of the Whitehall estate are surround by 10-foot tall

stonewall.

Whitehall Manor is a large manor house surrounded by a

stone wall. The style of architecture is elegant and not overly

complicated. The gently sloping roof is broken by the two small

tower-like rooms at opposite corners of the house. A plume of

smoke drifts from the chimney.

Outer Wall : 2 ft. thick; Hardness 8; hp 180 (per 10-foot-by-ten-foot

section; Break DC 45; Climb DC 20.

2. The Main Gate

The only entrance through the wall is a set of well-guarded

double doors. The doors remain open most of the day, but are closed

at ten o’clock each night and not opened until eight the following

morning. The doors will also be closed if an alarm has sounded.

Anytime the doors are closed, they will also be barred and locked.

Baron Velstaf, Elskar, Azalor, and the each of the Lieutenants has a

key to the main door. Regular guards do not have keys.

Common Features

Most of the rooms in Whitehall Manor rely on natural lighting

and are dark during the night, unless a guard is present, in which case

the guard will be carrying an everburning torch .

Remember that in areas of darkness, creatures without darkvision

are effectively blinded. In addition to the obvious effects, a blinded

creature has a 50% miss chance in combat (all opponents have total

concealment), loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, takes a -2 penalty

to AC, moves at half speed, and takes a -4 penalty on Search checks

and most Strength and Dexterity-based skill checks (including Open

Lock and Escape Artist checks).

Unless otherwise noted, all doors in the manor are the standard

doors, and all windows are standard windows, described below.

Unless otherwise stated Baron Velstaf, Azalor, Elskar, the lieutenants,

and all of the guards have keys to the doors.

Main Doors: 2 in. thick; Hardness 5; hp 20; Break DC 30 (25 if iron

bar is removed); Open Lock DC 30.

Creatures: There are two guards at the front gate who will check the

identity of anybody entering the premises. To enter the compound a

person must be either a regular employee of the household, be on a

list of names given to the guards at the start of their shifts, or have a

letter of summons penned by Baron Velstaf’s own hand.

These letters are usually person speciic and include the date

they were written, but they are not meant to summon somebody on a

speciic date, thus the bearer of such a letter might not be on the list.

Because the type of document is well known and the handwriting is

well known, the guard gains a total +6 bonus to the Forgery checks

made in opposition to spotting forged letters.

If anything seems suspicious to the guards, one of them will

summon whichever lieutenant is on duty (from area 20), who will

investigate. If the lieutenant is suspicious, he may try bringing the

PC to Azalor.

There are two shifts for the front gate, one from eight in the

morning until three in the afternoon, and one from three until ten at

night. There are no guards at the gate while the gates are locked.

All guards, including the guards at the gate, have an initial

attitude of indifferent and will only exchange trivial information,

such as telling the PC whether or not she may enter a speciied area.

If a guard’s attitude can be shifted to friendly (DC 15), he can

provide additional information. Most guards know the layout of

the house (minus the secret areas), the regular guard patterns, the

fact that there are two prisoners in the dungeon, thought they know

almost nothing about the prisoners. They do not know where the Star

of Olindor is kept (or even what the Star is), but they know that the

Baron always enters directly from his study and is never seen with

any of his blessing materials outside the parlor.

If a guard’s attitude can be shifted to helpful, they might be

convinced to look the other way for minor infractions, such as letting

the character through the main gate or allowing her to talk to the

prisoners, but they will never allow the character to steal anything or

for anybody to become endangered.

Standard Door : 1-1/2 in thick; Hardness 5, hp 15; Break DC 18;

Open Lock DC 25.

Standard Window : 1 in thick; hardness 1, hp 1; Break DC 5;

Open Lock DC 30 (to open from outside, opens automatically from

inside).

Creatures: Except for the main gate, all guard posts change in three

shifts, one from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, one

from four in the afternoon until midnight, and one from midnight until

eight. Guards do not leave until their replacement has shown up and

will likely grow suspicious if their replacement is signiicantly late.

Development: If the alarm is sounded, either magically by Baron

Velstaf or by a guard blowing a signal whistle, extra troops will

be called from the servant’s quarters. This effectively doubles the

number of guards in any area that normally has guards within two

minutes. Also the lieutenants will each take a dog from outside to

search the main parts of the house, while Azalor searchers the secret

areas. Somebody will check each room every ive minutes.

Whitehall Manor Information

A character who makes a Knowledge (architecture and

engineering) check may learn the following information about

Whitehall manor.

DC 10: Based on the style of the house and exterior

ornament, it was probably built 100 to 150 years ago.

DC 15: The strong outer wall is a much more recent addition,

probably built sometime within the last twenty years.

DC 20: The servant’s entrances from houses of this period

were typically easier to enter than the front entrance.

DC 25: Houses of this style and time period often had secret

passage either leading directly outside, or connecting the main

house to the servant’s quarters.

Guards (2), Human Warrior 3 : CR 2; Medium humanoid; HD

3d8+3; hp 16; Init -1; Spd 30 ft; AC 15, touch 9, lat-footed 15;

Base Atk +3; Grp +4; Atk or Full Atk +6 melee (1d8+1/19-20,

longsword) or +2 ranged (1d8/19-20, crossbow); AL LN; SV Fort

+4, Ref +0, Will +1; Str 11, Dex 9, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.

Skills : Forgery +0 (+2 to spot forgeries) Listen +6,

d20 Expeditious Retreat Press 1 on 1 Adventures 02 - The Star of Olindor.pdf

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