Introduction Editorial Credits Art and Cartography Credits Other Sources

Introduction Art and Cartography Credits Sometimes the idea for an adventure can start with a Cover: Minotaur outline, “Mythological Creature Graphics,” picture. by freevector.com. In this case, it’s an illustraton by Eva Widermann that she Green hand-painted background Designed by Layerace - did for the January 2006 issue of Dungeon magazine to Freepik.com accompany the Age of Worms adventure, The Spire of Long The base map of Smugglers’ Grotto is the Patreon- Shadows. suppored, commercially available map “Carmine Archives of the I wish I could reproduce it for you. The best I can do is Granite Marsh” available from the library of Dyson Logos, describe it and provide you with this link: https://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/maps/commercial- http://paizo.com/dungeonissues/130/ maps/ DA130_Supplement_L.pdf The map of Baldur’s Gate was a hand-drawn facsimile by Like many of the illustrations Widermann did for Age of the author based on cartography found in various products by Worms, it was evocative of the style and storytelling Paizo TSR and Wizards of the Coast. Publishing was doing at that time. Not to be missed is the pencil NPC illustrations from Elmore Character Clip Art and Color rough of the same picture, which appears with the issue’s table Customizing Studio, c. 2002 Elmore Productions, Inc. The of contents on Page 7. Credit must go to art director Sean Elmore signature is a trademark of Elmore Productions, Inc., Glenn, managing editor James Jacob and editor in chief Erik Leitchfeild, Ky., all rights reserved. Art and text from the Mona. And Widermann, of course. material was designated as Open Gaming Content. The illustration was a full body length depiction of the Mace of Kyuss hand drawn by the author, inspired by an mortal Kyuss. He is in profle, holding a wriggling green worm in illustration of Kyuss by Eva Widermann, Dungeon magazine, his left hand. He is darkly armored, a skull motif prominent. Issue 130, January 2006 The thing that has stayed with me this past decade was the Navigational map illustraton with cherubs using wicked-looking mace that Kyuss is holding. Even in an era when navigational instruments by Johannes Hevelius, Selenographie, the representation of oversized weapons was commonplace, this Gedani, Autoris sumtibus, typis Hunefeldianis, circa 1647, mace was massive. The great bashing spiked head was Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, accompanied by a guard blade attached to the haft. Oh, and Washington, D.C. there was a spike on the other side of the guard blade; should bludgeoning and slashing your enemy be insufcient. Kyuss could come back with a piercing wound, too. Other Sources Someone needed to tell a story about that mace, I thought, Information about Baldur’s Gate and the Forgotten Realms then. for this adventure comes primarily from these Dungeons and We are ten years and a couple of editions of Dungeons and Dragons products: Dragons later. Now I’m creating a series of adventures with the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, by Ed Greenwood, worm god as a central theme for the DM’s Guild. I’m reviewing Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams and Rob Heinsoo, c. 2001 everything I can on Kyuss, including the issue already Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed mentioned. As I turned to page 68, there was the picture. The Greenwood and Chris Sims, c. 2008 moment I saw that illustration, all the memories came fooding Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster’s Forgotten Realms by Ed back. And I remembered my original thought. Greenwood, c. 2012 I guess, seeing that no one has done so in the interim. that Murder in Baldur’s Gate, by Ed Greenwood and Matt someone should be me. Sernett and others, c. 2013 So I decided I was going to tell a story about the mace. Hoard of the Dragon Queen, by Wolfgang Baur and Steve Maybe it’s not THE story about the mace. But, it’s a story, and Winter, c. 2014 for a roleplaying scenario, I think it’s a pretty good one. It’s a Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, by Steve Kenson and mystery set in the river town of Baldur’s Gate. The cult is others, c. 2015 stirring up trouble, and those player characters are the only Volo’s Guide to Monsters, by Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford ones who seem capable of doing anything about it. and others, c. 2016 I hope you enjoy running Well Dressed Minotaur. Table of Contents Editorial Credits Structure of the Adventure ...... 4 Adventure Design Meeting with Miristum ...... 5 Troy E. Taylor How to Conduct the Investigation ...... 6 Editing Picking the Crucial NPCs ...... 7 Carolyn P. Taylor Getting to know “The Nine” ...... 8 Options for Mature Gamers ...... 13 Smugglers’ Grotto ...... 14 SampleMap of Smugglers’ Grotto ...... file 15 Handout: Krawlity’s Associates ...... 22 Investigation Scorecard ...... 23

WELL DRESSED MINOTAUR PAGE 3 Well Dressed Minotaur

ady’s Hall, the temple of Tymora in Baldur’s Gate, has obtained a list of known associates of occultist Ransom Krawlity, who L disappeared about ten years earlier. The group disbanded, in part, because of Krawlity’s immersion into the cult of Kyuss and an obsession for collecting relics related to The Worm That Walks. In particular, Krawlity was near to obtaining what Kyuss’ followers called the Bannishen Mortalite. Commonly known as the Mace of Kyuss, it was reputed to be a weapon that Kyuss possessed before his apotheosis into godhood. Having gained the cooperation of the player characters in the previous adventure, “Krawlity House,” the priestess Miristum Holdsfast again enlists their aid. Would they investigate the names on the list and see if any are still in contact with or in league with Krawlity? The temple of Tymora hopes to learn Krawlity’s whereabouts, and if so, take action against a burgeoning cult of Kyuss. Structure of the adventure This adventure is in two parts. The frst part is the investigation into the names on the list. In a process that will be explained, the DM will randomly determine which persons are still involved in the cult and which are trying to build new lives. One NPC is still much Other factions involved with the cult but will deny being so, and in in Baldur’s Gate fact, will ofer a Red Herring to derail the investigation. In the second part, the PCs should, in the course of Dungeon Masters: Using a their investigation, be directed to explore either a trap patron other than the Temple of door that is in the back room of a dress shop or a Tymora works, too. shoreline entrance to a smugglers’ hideaway. Both Another faction — such as the passages lead to an underground grotto in the Harpers, Emerald Enclave, Order of Brampton district of the city. While exploring this grotto, once used by smugglers the Gauntlet, Lord’s Alliance, devoted to Umberlee, the PCs will encounter a group of Zhentarim, the Watch, Flaming Fist Kyuss worshippers. One cultist from the list of or the Guild — could gain a copy of Krawlity’s associates will be among them as one of their that list. leading fgures. Leading the worship is an enigmatic Similarly concerned, they fgure known as the Mistress of Despair. would initiate a quiet investigation, Krawlity will not be among them. However, there relying on the player characters to should be clues within the chambers that can point the PCs towardSample the next part of the adventure. do the footwork.file The PCs will be rewarded for breaking up this cell of Kyuss worshippers.

WELL DRESSED MINOTAUR PAGE 4 PART ONE THE INVESTIGATION

Meeting With Miristum In the previous adventure, the PCs were given the option of occupying the top two foors of the tower of the Krawlity House while the Temple of Tymora continued renovations of the place. However, it is also possible the PCs would return to a favorite haunt: the rowdy home of adventurers and seafarers in the Heapside district, the Blushing Mermaid tavern. Regardless of location, Miristum Holdsfast tracks down the characters with the intent of asking them to undertake another mission. The fortunate (priestess) of Tymora appears as she did previously. She is a dark- haired Tethyrian of median age with bright eyes and is often seen sporting a wide smile. She is wearing a belted tunic, breeches, a pair of throwing stars tucked into her belt and a small cloak clasped by an ornament fashioned from a large gold piece stamped with a women’s profle within a circlet of shamrocks. She says: “The discoveries in Krawlity House of so many things associated with the worm god Kyuss was very disturbing. miristum holdsfast The statue of Kyuss holding that wicked-looking mace was alarming on its own, but the other documents indicating that Ransom Krawlity was introducing Kyuss worship to his circle of acquaintances could prove more other names on the list? Do they know if the cult of problematic. Kyuss is active in Baldur’s Gate? If so, what are the “My superiors at Lady’s Hall would like you to make cult’s ambitions?” additional inquiries. Based on some initial research, As always, Miristum pledges Lady Hall’s support, we’ve put together this list of people we believed were such as providing healing services and a monetary associates of Krawlity’s at about the time the statue was reward after the investigation has concluded. Before commissioned. picking up their bar tab, she produces a handwritten list “We know these people shared his interest in the of names. (This is a handout in the appendix, but it is occult, whether they were enticed into Kyuss worship, is also reproduced here.) another matter. Ask around. “Do any of them know of Ransom Krawlity’s “Krawlity’s associates” whereabouts? Do they know anything about any of the Hamad “the Inscrutable” Isri Jasper Kippennipper Eldeth Lodestone Healing at lady’s hall Ludo Dungeon Masters: Player characters who Filangus Mariposa present themselves at Lady’s Hall as Duranto Redlocks Karyn Sparrow employees of Miristum’s are entitled to the SampleGosillian Teapot file following spells: cure wounds, lesser restoration, prayer of healing, remove curse.

WELL DRESSED MINOTAUR PAGE 5 that period, but so far as everyone knows, they always How To Conduct reconciled. Each NPC leads “somewhere”; there are no dead This Investigation ends. Each NPC under investigation can “give up” the Dungeon Masters should be aware that there are name of one other person to investigate (which also is steps to take in preparing to run this investigation determined randomly with a d8 roll). Keeping track of scenario. this is important in that the PCs will try to draw Establish the crucial subjects of the conclusions from this web of contacts. “If so and so investigation. Using a d8 and the list of Krawlity’s knows X, why don’t they also know Y?” Maybe they do; associates, the DM randomly determines which of the perhaps there is a reason they withheld that knowledge NPCs are a cultist, the Red Herring, the one who reveals from the investigation. Consider the implication of this the location of the dress shop entrance, the secret and be prepared to have the NPCs provide answers if keeper, and the caretaker of the Mace of Kyuss. That called out on it. (“I was afraid”, “I thought you already information can be kept on the scorecard printout, which knew, it was common knowledge”, “I keep that appears in the Appendix. The goal is to establish NPCs relationship secret for our protection/because we love and a framework of clues that are discoverable by the each other/because I don’t want to hurt so and so”, “I player characters so they can bring their investigation didn’t think it was any of your business”). into a narrow focus. These clues lead them to the grotto Misdirection from the NPC Cultist. The NPC Cultist where they can stop the NPC Cultist from using the Mace who provides the Red Herring will actually be revealing of Kyuss in a mad summoning ritual. the first “big lie” of the investigation. Once the player DM should review all the NPC descriptions. In the characters realize this and make a second attempt to find next section of this chapter there are details on each NPC the NPC Cultist, that NPC should disappear and not re- and the city district where they can be found. A DM appear until the scene in the grotto. While the NPC Cultist should pay attention to roleplaying cues, relationships, is in hiding, other mischief can occur — such as and especially, the secrets each NPC knows and, in intimidating or killing other acquaintances, in particular, particular, how this information will be relayed to the the NPC designated as the Caretaker — but it must be “off player characters. camera” to be discovered later by the PC investigators. Be resolved to “go of script.” The NPC Course of the investigation. It is a fallacy on the descriptions serve as the foundation of the mystery. The DM’s part to think the PCs can “fgure out” the mystery fun is in creating memorable NPCs, but also, in how they too early in the investigation. However, remind the reveal and share information. Not everything need be players that if they act precipitously — such as making learned through questioning or interrogation. Consider accusations without proof — they could be, at the least, that neighbors, co-workers or spiritual advisors of the discredited, and at the most, will be arrested and NPC in question might provide information from their detained by either the Flaming Fist or the Watch. To the own observations. Maybe there is a diary, scrapbook, or authorities, it won’t matter that the PCs are correct in batch of letters in that NPC’s possession that can reveal their assumptions if they can’t produce evidence. By the same secret (always helpful when a key NPC is killed design, the PCs should have to question a minimum of or fees in the course of an investigation that bogs down). three people on the list and make the correct Even ofcial records might be used to piece together a suppositions to act with certainty. In all likelihood, more mystery. NPCs than that will need to be contacted and some Contrast Duranto with Krawlity. A common theme followups might be needed, too. the investigation should reveal is the nature of the Everything leads to the grotto. When the principal members of the circle of occultists from ten investigation plays out as designed, the PCs will years earlier. Duranto was the “rich uncle,” a cheerful determine at some point to go to the grotto by either the fellow who dabbled in the occult as a hobby and for the dress shop trap door or the shoreline entrance. Once in social benefts. He was there to make friends. Krawlity the lair of the cult of Kyuss — a classic dungeon — they had a darker nature, and his obsession with Kyuss only can act more freely as adventurers would. That emphasized that to the others. Regardless of who is exploration is covered in Part Two of this adventure. being interviewed, the NPC should recollect that Duranto Have fun. Portraying the NPCs on the list of was generous and that Krawlity was given to darker Krawlity’s acquaintences can be challenging. But it also motivations, such as ambition, greed, and devotion to can be fun. Each NPC has a diferent personality and Kyuss asSample an evil power. The pair had many disputes in motivation. Look for ways to difileferentiate them from one another.

WELL DRESSED MINOTAUR PAGE 6 them time to settle afairs and seek refuge in the Picking the Crucial NPCs Smugglers’ Grotto. Establish the crucial subjects of the investigation from the list of Krawlity’s associates. They are: The Red Herring 1. The Cultist The Red Herring is the NPC that The Cultist tries to 2. The Red Herring shift suspicion onto. 3. Teller of Secrets The Cultist uses all of the available information on 4. Knows Secret Grotto Entrance the Red Herring, including their secrets, embellishing 5. Caretaker of the Mace of Kyuss the information as necessary, to make them the top Each of these is determined by rolling a d8 against suspect into the cult’s activities. If The Cultist believes the list of NPCs below. Reroll if a result is repeated. An that the subject of Duranto’s murder is part of the NPC an only occupy a single category for the inquiry, then The Cultist concocts a reason to accuse the investigation to work properly. Red Herring of that, too. (A DM, after reading the NPC descriptions, might prefer to select an NPC for each category. That works too.) Teller of Secrets Record these entries on the Investigation Scorecard This former associate keep tabs on the others and in the Appendix for later reference. can make additional inquiries, too. Each time they are d8 NPC questioned as part of the investigation, this NPC can 1 Eldeth Firegem divulge one “secret” about any of them EXCEPT the one 2 Filangus Mariposa who is The Cultist. This “secret” is revealed without 3 Gosillian Teapot embellishment. The NPC being snitched on can be 4 Hamad “The Inscrutable” determined randomly or be the person the PCs inquire 5 Isri specifcally about. 6 Karyn Sparrow 7 Jasper Kippennipper Knows Secret Grotto Entrance 8 Ludo This former associate elected to leave the movement, but before they did, was told by Krawlity and Duranto The Cultist that they intended to use the Mace of Kyuss as a rallying This character might be the best link to fnding point to advance the cult. This person can direct them to Ransom Krawlity, as he is the only member of “The Nine” the entrance to the grotto through a trapdoor in the to maintain his involvement with the cult of Kyuss after dress shop The Well Dressed Minotaur. (If this person is the original group of occultists disbanded upon determined to be Ludo, then he can direct them to the Duranto's death. the shop or to the shoreline entrance, which is his This NPC knows that Krawlity is still alive, even secret). though he or she hasn’t seen or received correspondance from him for nearly four years. Although the Cultist wasn’t involved in the murder of Caretaker of the Mace of Kyuss Duranto Redlocks, he came to learn later that a Kyuss This NPC knows that Krawlity did discover the Mace believer named Jareto Thetch was responsible. of Kyuss, because it was entrusted to him or her in the The Cultist also knows that Krawlity stole the box that Jasper Kippennipper created. However, shortly remainder of Duranto’s fortune and has been using it to after Krawlity disappeared, the mace and the box were fnance various schemes by the cult of Kyuss since then. stolen. This character rightly suspects it is one of their The Cultist takes his or her orders from an enigmatic former occult associates, but isn’t sure of which one. fgure known only as the Mistress of Despair, a powerful However, the caretaker will name the three most likely female goliath cult priest. It is her plan to use the Mace suspects, a) The Cultist, b) the Teller of Secrets and c) of Kyuss in an elaborate ritual to summon creatures the one who Knows the Secret Grotto Entrance, but will not have credible evidence to back up the claim, just loyal to Kyuss to advance their cause. vague suspicions and an imagined conspiracy. The Cultist, if questioned by investigators, uses the Red HerringSample to shift suspicion onto another NPC, giving file

WELL DRESSED MINOTAUR PAGE 7 Secret: In truth, Duranto was murdered by another Getting To Know ‘The Nine’ Kyuss cultist not within the circle of occultists. This was Ransom Krawlity had nine associates from his days Jareto Thetch. Duranto and Krawlity had a falling out as an occult leader that met every tendays to discuss all in a dispute over ownership of the Bannishen sorts of esoteric and eldrich matters. Initially, each Mortalite. In the aftermath, Krawlity scooped up shared his interest in researching lore and Duranto’s wealth to fnance his ten-year practices of the Kyuss cult. When his interest sojourn. The shoreline grotto that serves as turned from academic curiosity into worship of the encounter area for the second part of the Worm That Walks, most shunned him. the adventure is owned by the Redlocks and However, one did not. This person was was used as a smuggling conduit until the deeply infuenced by Krawlity’s devotion, and city grew outside its walls and it became thus, became fully engaged in Kyuss increasingly too dangerous to make illicit worship in their own right. exchanges within the city itself. Krawlity The goal of the investigation is to and Duranto both planned to use it as a determine who that is. Kyuss headquarters before the falling out Asking around. Each of the over Duranto’s fnancing of the cult. persons on the list of Krawlity’s Visiting the Redlocks estate in the associates are known in the district Manorborn District. It is possible the in which they reside or operate a PCs will want to question Duranto’s business. A simple DC 10 surviving relatives. This can be Intelligence Investigation check arranged at the Redlocks mansion in within that district can gain the PCs the Manorborn District. This will directions to that person. require the PCs to go through proper Once the investigation is channels to arrange an underway, each of “The Nine” will appointment. They will have to likely be able to reveal the Duranto redlocks present letters of introduction location of at least one other that can be provided by their person on the list, which can be faction or by Lady’s Hall, not to determined randomly (d8) or by mention go through the layers of private DM’s choice. security that protects the homes of Balduran nobility. Name on the list District Once an audience has been arranged, a Duranto (Redlocks manor) Manorborn representative of the family, Tyrus Redlocks, a haughty Eldeth Lodestone Twin Songs man in middle age, will say that Duranto brought Filangus Mariposa The Wide “unwanted attention” to the afairs of the family through Gosillian Teapot Stoneyeyes his association with Krawlity. Tyrus makes no mention Hamad the Inscrutable Little Calimshan of the smuggling grotto and will feign ignorance of its Isri Temples District existence if it is mentioned. He knows nothing of the Jasper Kippennipper Temples District Mace of Kyuss. He believes that Krawlity stole Duranto’s Karyn Sparrow The Steeps fortune, but the family thinks the occultist was an Ludo Eastway opportunist, not a murderer, as he had been a guest at the home many times. They thought he was odd, but The map on the Investigation Scoresheet in the also being a noble (of the Dlusker family), they did not Appendix can be useful for tracking the PCs’ progress as think him capable of murder. The family did not seek they navigate the city. retribution against the Dlusker family. This was a practical solution; foremost they wanted the matter to go “The Nine” as they are known, are: away; and secondly, the Dluskers had hit hard times and no longer had a fortune worth trifing over in any respect Duranto Redlocks Tyrus claims to have no knowledge of the location of any male human noble of the people on the list. This is not an outright lie. If prompted, he would admit that he did not at frst A scion of the Redlocks Patriar family, Duranto was recognize that Filangus Mariposa is an art dealer that sort of the “rich uncle” of the group. He died, according many of the nobles patronize. to Krawlity,Sample falling down the tower stairs at Krawlity’s file manor.

WELL DRESSED MINOTAUR PAGE 8 Eldeth Firegem modest fshing and boating operation. Lodestone’s smithy is a few blocks east of the trade road that bisects female dwarf Twin Songs. After leaving the Nine, Eldeth met Grint Lodestone, a nailsmith. She married him, took his name, and settled down and now has a family of fve children, two boys and Filangus Mariposa three girls. male elf Eldeth agrees to be interviewed, but only in private He operates the Butterfy away from her husband and the children. They don’t Art Gallery a block from the know about her occult past, and she would prefer to Wide. The gallery exhibits spare them that. She has a matter-of-fact paintings of a dreamlike delivery. Despite living in Twin quality, the more hauntingly Songs, it’s necessary to visit beautiful, grotesque, and The Wide and the Lower otherworldly, the better. City every tenday to make Filangus has a few deliveries of nails to works of his own merchants who sell on on display, but their behalf. It’s on these are clearly these trips to the city not as that she’s seen the compelling as member of their the others. old circle she can He is recommend to the famboyant in his investigators. manner, and fawning if Secret: Krawlity he believes you are used to pick her willing to make brain about the a purchase. filangus mariposa subject of Asking around, underground however, you Eldeth firegem construction learn that in private he has a sharp techniques and temper; he has been heard being quite curt and harsh with his longtime girlfriend, a half-elf, about her supposed spending habits, though he himself is never dungeoncrafting, should they ever need an lacking in the latest fashion. He makes no apologies for underground lair. She taught him about the past associations with Krawlity; he learned a lot about need to build pit traps and murder holes and about art during that period and made contacts in the social circular stairs that are aligned clockwise or circles of nobility that few elves in Baldur’s Gate are counterclockwise, as needed, to favor the defender. priviledged to make. Visiting the Lodestone home in Twin Songs. This Secret: He acquires paintings on the black market community on Chionthar’s northern bank is flled with for a “personal collection” that he doesn’t exhibit. He has simple, low-slung houses that cling to the lowlands at made his longtime love Karyn complicit in these the base of Wyrm’s Crossing. The people think of themselves as residents of the town of Twin Songs, dealings, despite her position as a member of the rather than as citizens of Baldur’s Gate or even the Flaming Fist. He has money problems. “Outer City.” The most notable feature to the Visiting Mariposa’s gallery near the Wide. A few neighborhood are the shrines to all the dieties, including hundreds steps away from the bustle and jostling of the the modest chapel, the Church of Last Hope, all of which Wide is the gallery, which beyond its thick doors, is cater to travelers. The residents, though, go about their blissfully quiet and removed from the clamor outside. work and try to ignore the stream of people passing Mariposa exhibits the latest work of artists, who contend through. The neighborhood is relatively poor. The with one another for wall space within Filangus’ high- residents make a living providing goods and services to end business. Simply to enter and view the gallery, one folk in the city. One such person is Lodestone’s husband, must purchase a 1 sp ticket (which is refunded should Sampleanyone purchase any of the paintingsfile on his wall). The who is a smith. Most of the folk stay because they can’t stand the bustle (and disease) of the city. There is a walls are painted white and kept well lit.

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