The Assassin's Run Sample file Advanced Official Game Adventure The Bloodstone Wars by Michael Dobson and Douglas Niles Table of Contents Introduction 2 Maps The Assassin's Run: Overhead View Inside Front Cover Prologue 5 The Assassin's Run: Cutaway View Inside Back Cover Bloodstone Pass Outer Gatefold Chapter 1: The Baron's Treasure 6 The Town of Bloodstone Inner Gatefold Chapter 2: Return of the Assassins 10 The Kingdoms of Damara and Vails Fold-Out Map Chapter 3: Battles of Bloodstone 17 The Mines of Bloodstone 7 Chapter 4: The Assassin's Run 22 Battle Flowchart 15 BATTLESYSTEM™ Scenario 1 17 Epilogue 28 BATTLESYSTEM™ Scenario 2 18 BATTLESYSTEM™ Scenario 3 19 Appendix: Dramatis Personae 28 BATTLESYSTEM™ Scenario 4 20 Appendix: Pregenerated Player Characters 30 BATTLESYSTEM™ Scenario 5 21 CREDITS Distributed to the book trade in the United States by Random House, Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby Editing: Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson trade by regional distributors. Distributed in the United Kingdom by TSR UK Cover Art: Larry Elmore Ltd. ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, BATTLESYSTEM, Cartography: David C. Sutherland III FORGOTTEN REALMS, DRAGONLANCE, PRODUCTS OF YOUR Typography: Betty Elmore IMAGINATION, and the TSR logo are trademarks of TSR Inc. Keyline: Stephanie Tabat This adventure is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of Amer- ica. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork con- tained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of TSR Inc. e1987 TSR Inc. All Rights Reserved. TSR Inc. TSR UK Ltd POB 756 The Mill, Rathmore Road Lake Geneva, Cambridge SB1 4AD WI 53147 United Kingdom TSR, Inc. PRODUCTS OF YOUH IMAGINATION " Printed in U.S.A. 0-88038-398-4 9200 Sample file INTRODUCTION involving Orcus, Prince of the Undead. ference. Wherever possible, we have pro- Notes for the In the process, they have managed to reo- vided options that use the newer rules Dungeon Master pen the bloodstone mines, from which and systems in the ever-expanding the Pass took its name, thus providing the AD&D® game system, but those of you The four-module BLOODSTONE PASS Barony of Bloodstone with a continuing who use exclusively "core" rules or home- campaign series (of which this is part three) stream of revenue that will lift its people made variants should have little difficul- explores what is, for the authors, one of the out of the mire of poverty. The characters ty. The authors will be pleased to answer most interesting aspects of the AD&D® now have the opportunity to build questions when accompanied by a self- game: becoming a ruler. defenses, develop economic infrastruc- addressed, stamped envelope, mailed to Although the Dungeon Masters Guide ture, and build an army to withstand the us using the address on the back cover. (DMG) provides that a character of suffic- threats that are building elsewhere in the The primary authors would like to give ient level can build a castle, hire an army, realms of Damara and Vaasa. special thanks to Ed "Elminster" Green- and set himself (or herself) up as a proper In H3, The Bloodstone Wars, the wood, sage of the Forgotten Realms, for medieval ruler, the rules given therein are player characters must face a new chal- allowing us to adapt his adventure setting, not sufficient to allow ruling and role- lenge of rulership—military leadership The Assassin's Run, from DRAGON® playing to go together. Instead, high- in the face of superior enemy forces. A Magazine #64, as part of the lair of the level characters who become rulers are combination of role-playing challenges Grandfather of Assassins. He reminds us normally considered to be "retired" from and BATTLESYSTEM™ game miniatures that the primary Assassin's Run is located in adventuring. Perhaps from time to time scenarios (with optional resolution for the great city of Waterdeep, many hun- these old warhorses in your campaign get those who aren't into miniatures war- dreds of leagues to the west of Vaasa and trotted out for a particularly tough chal- gaming) deals with the storm clouds of Damara. Of course, more than one Assas- lenge, leaving their seneschals behind to war that even now are forming over the sin's Guild exists in the various countries of administer their dominions for a while. baronies and dukedoms of southern the Forgotten Realms, and a good set of But mostly the campaign moves on to Damara. These conflicts inevitably lead architectural blueprints, we felt, was likely younger, newer characters. to war with the mysterious Witch-King of to have made the rounds. More often, players avoid the burdens of Vaasa, and his chief ally, the Grandfather We should also point out that the rulership, preferring to maintain their of Assassins, in his mountain fortress BLOODSTONE PASS saga takes place in high-level characters as free-lance adventur- deep in the Galena Mountains. the FORGOTTEN REALMS'" Fantasy ers, ready to move on to the next dungeon, Pregenerated characters from HI and Game Setting, new from TSR, Inc. A cer- carrying their treasure in their backpacks, or H2 are provided for your use (increased in tain amount of retrofitting was needed to in the saddlebags of their mount, or in a level, of course) if the players do not have integrate this series into our new official convenient magical chest that avoids the characters of sufficient level to handle the game world, and our thanks go to Jeff issue of encumbrance altogether. challenges provided here. Although Grubb, chief translator and scribe, and to It's been our feeling that there is a these characters were used by us to bal- the aforementioned Mr. Greenwood, whole lot more that can be done with ance the adventure, an experienced whose many years of research, develop- characters who become rulers. The Dungeon Master should have no problem ment, and late-night sessions with BLOODSTONE PASS saga is our attempt in making any characters of appropriate Elminster led to the creation of this won- to show that high-level AD&D® game level work in this adventure. All the char- derfully complex and detailed world. play can be qualitatively, as well as quan- acters have been designed with appropri- High-level modules are inherently open- titatively, different from low- and ate proficiencies, using the latest rules ended, because of the vast range of options medium-level play—and just as exciting. from Unearthed Arcana (UA), Dun- available to powerful characters. It takes In the first two parts of the series, Hi, geoneer's Survival Guide (DSG), and skill and a firm hand to run such adventures Bloodstone Pass, and H2, The Mines of Wilderness Survival Guide (WSG). If successfully, and to handle the unforseen in Bloodstone, the PCs have defeated a ban- you are not using these newer rules, the context of the evolving campaign. dit army and learned of a secret plot ignoring them will not make a major dif- Good luck, and good adventuring! Sample file The Witch-King and his secret ally, the Poverty settled in the valley, and Blood- What Has Gone Grandfather of Assassins (whose mysteri- stone ceased to communicate with the Before... ous mountain citadel is reputed to be outside world. somewhere in the Galena Mountains), Within months of the death of King Players whose characters adventured in moved quickly to consolidate his victory. Virdin at the Ford of Goliad, the Grand- Hi and H2 should be familiar with the In a single night, the most loyal and pow- father of Assassins reached out to orga- background information that is summa- erful nobles of Damara were slain by nize the bandits and creatures of the rized here. Players who are new to the sword and by poison, leaving only the Galenas into an army in league with BLOODSTONE PASS campaign need to craven, the incompetent, and the disloyal Vaasa. They demanded tribute from be given the general background; it may to sue for peace. Bloodstone in the form of gold, food, not hurt to refresh the memory of the The Witch-King took the rich north- and finally slaves. other playersertai. nC "deep back- ern provinces for his own, then granted a Baron Tranth, fifth Baron of Blood- ground" information (about the plot of thin independence to the southern lords stone, realized he needed powerful help. Orcus, in particular) is given for the use of ...as long as they paid tribute and But where to turn? There was no treasure the Dungeon Master only; the players acknowledged the Witch- King's power. with which to buy a mercenary army. He will find out the truth soon enough... This was a shrewd political move, for each could only beg. So he sent two young vil- petty noble conspired against the others lagers, Garlen and Garvin, to seek the aid For generations, the cold northern for scraps of power and wealth, throwing of powerful adventurers. wastes of Vaasa supported a scant popula- the entire south into chaos. A steady In Hi, Bloodstone Pass, Garlen and tion of hunters, trappers, and poor stream of refugees moved into the south, Garvin approached a party of brave and farmers. These hardy souls scrabbled a searching for an ever-elusive safety and powerful adventurers. Although they meagre living from the stony soil, and peace. could offer a fee of only five silver pieces barely endured the long, dark winters. per day, the adventurers agreed to help. But that was before the coming of the Hardship and poverty were no stran- Operating under a cloak of secrecy and Witch-King, Zhengyi, who formed the gers to the Barony of Bloodstone, situ- aided by powerful magic, the village pre- Kingdom of Vaasa and built an evil castle ated in a narrow pass that was once the pared for battle.