Devils in Stilben

Devils In Stilben

Simple intrigue and mystery in Tal'dorei

Sample file

1 Devils in Stilben ithin the Muck Quarter grows a Warlock fueled With seemingly nobody to back him up and no way out of by anger and sadness who will do anything for the fine, Rurik decided to persist and fight the jewellers guild. revenge. Aiming to bring down the Jewellers The guild sent missives to tell Rurik to pay up or they will Guild of Stilben, Rurik Hammerstone has revoke his license and take his property up to the payment of begun summoning Devils and commanding the fines. Each time Rurik didn't pay in protest. The guild then them to bring death to his enemies. In this decided to follow through and revoke his license to trade in Wadventure players will investigate and bring gems in the Polished Plateu. This forces him to close shop down Rurik Hammerstone before he can enact his plan upon and give his jewellery as payment to the guild for his fines. those who have wronged him. This adventure is for 4-5 players of 1st level. Players will end up at 3rd level after this That fateful night - Unndilar 20th adventure Rurik was out making contact with his smuggler of Kraghammer gems. As he enters his home and calls after his The story so far... wife Helgret, he enters the backroom of his shop/home to find his wife and children slain in the middle of the floor. Escaping Stilben Gem Imports - Dualahei 16th through the window is a human male. “You should have paid The Jewellers Guild have instituted tariffs and bans on the fines” he says as he leaves into the alley. Rurik goes to the imports of gems from Kraghammer . This was due to mines in aid of his wife and children, but they die in his arms. Wildemount drying up in large diamonds and quartz (25gp and over). The Houses of Kraghammer knew their fiercest Red Gate - Unndilar 30th competition was out of the picture, the houses decided to After the burial of his family and closure of his store he goes gouge the price on larger diamonds and quartz they mine and to drink his sorrows in the Murky Tankard. He is approached export to the rest of Taldorei. The Jeweller's Guild in Stilben by a female tiefling, Rohala, while he is in his cups. Filled with have instituted a ban on all Kraghammer imported diamond rage and sadness Rurik is an easy target for her. She tells him and quartz above 25gp and high tariffs on all other gems. With to follow the teachings in this tome and he can get his the power of Artisan Guilds in Stilben, the Jewellers Guild is revenge. Rohala is actually part of the Red Gate. An able to enforce this policy on shopkeepers and traders that organization spreading the word and influence of The Lord of have a license from the Jewellers Guild to sell jewellery in the the Nine Hells in an attempt to gain power over Taldorei. With Polished Plateu of Stilben. this book Rurik leaves the Murky Tankard and makes a contract with the Lord of the Nine Hells for power. He leaves Rurik and his plight - Unndilar to the Muck Quarter and finds an abandoned chapel. He pays 18th off people in the Muck Quarter and hires thugs to keep a lookout. Rurik uses his new found magical powers to charm Rurik Hammerstone, a male dwarf artisan jeweller, owned a some people of the Muck Quarter into the chapel to use as jewellery store in the Central District, also known as the sacrifices for the ritual. After finally getting the ritual correct Polished Plateu. Rurik decided to circumvent the ban on he is able to summon spined devils. Kraghammer gems and paid off a merchant ship to smuggle them in, claiming them to be from a new supplier in the south when asked. When the Jewellers Guild decided to investigate the whereabouts of the gems they brought in a cleric of the Lawbearer to cast Zone of Truth on Rurik. Should he fail to submit he would immediately be closed down until the truth was extracted. He submitted and had to confess they were from Kraghammer. The Jewellers Guild fined Rurik 100gp per gem. This would easily be enough to put Rurik out of business. He then tried to bring together the jewellers of Stilben together and demand the Guild lift the ban. However not all jewellers were wanting the ban lifted, as the costs of the gems would still be far too hefty. And saw the ban as a way to force Kraghammers greedy elite to reduce their outrageous costs. They also saw Rurik as a dwarf of Kraghammer helping his greedy bretheren back in Kraghammer by getting the money flowinSampleg. file

Part 2 | Your Introduction 2 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Flow of the adventure his adventure starts on Brussendar 12th, just three days before the Artisan’s Faire. The You hear a patron near the door scream and yell players are in the Murky Tankard drinking after “What the hell is tha-” the tavern is silent in an a day of work. A spined devil rushes into the instant. As you all look on to see in the dim light at tavern, killing two patrons at the entrance. the entrance an elf drop to the ground blood Once inside it immediately finds and attacks spilling out of the wound in their chest, the tiefling TRimple, a middle-aged male gnome. After it has who yelled immediately is run through the neck by killed him it flies out the door and up into the night. The a spear. In the doorway is a grotesque sight. An players will not be able to chase the spined devil as they can’t entity with wings, a sharp face with beady yellow see it once it takes to the sky. A Sergeant of Waterwatch and eyes. Sharp spines protrude out of every inch of its some guards will come and ask the players to investigate what body. It’s open maw shows razor sharp teeth. Blood drips from its mouth. It cackles and rushes into the was behind the attack and kill it before the Artisan’s Faire in 3 tavern. days. If players don’t realize that the spined devil seemed to be pinpointing a specific target (Rimple) help them realize by reminding them through the sergeant thinking that the The Spined Devil rushes forward towards Rimple Oomtrowl halfling seemed to be a target when the players recant the and uses its action to kill him, making sure he is dead. After story. that it will try to escape using its Flyby feature through the After this they will need to find out who Rimple is and why open door or crashing through one of the windows. Once someone may have wanted him killed by going to his house, outside the building it flies into the night sky and is lost to the his favourite bookstore, and his place of work, the jewellers group. guild hall. Once they find that a dwarf named Rurik was The guard soon arrives with Seargant Nadarr kicked from the guild and that Rimple signed the papers, they Grrrmmballhyst [Silver Dragonborn Knight] who demands have a motive. They will need to go into Rurik’s life and figure answers as to what happened, who is dead, and what killed out where he may be. They can do this by going to his them. After which he asks the players to investigate what that store/house Jewellery by Rurik, the bookstore A Likely Story, was, where it is and kill it before it can strike again. He is and in the Muck Quarter. When they figure out where he is unable to allocate guards of the Waterwatch as he is stretched they can confront him. They can convince him the jewellers thin making sure the wards are as safe as can be for the Faire. guild wasn’t behind the attack and join forces to find out who He is able to give 10gp now and another 40 upon completion, did, or attack him, killing him or turning him into the the compensation is variable. After terms are agreed upon he Waterwatch. stations 3 guards at the tavern to keep it safe and to help clean Depending on how this ends they will find out that an up. unknown party is responsible, either by collecting the right If characters are unsure of how to proceed Nadarr can clues, reading Rurik’s diary, or the sergeant telling them after suggest that based on their retelling of what happened that it he reads the diary. But this is where the adventure ends, on seems that the halfling was targeted and they can follow that the cliffhanger that this unknown party is working to seduce lead. The party can then talk to the tavern keeper Halnin people with promises of revenge and bring devils into Stilben Govaril to learn about who Rimple Oomtrowl was and what through nefarious rituals for unknown reasons. he did for a living. More information on what Halnin knows is in the section on the Murky Tankard. That’s a Devil! At this point there is really no wrong place to start. Players can go anywhere to find out more information on Rimple and Set the scene why he was murdered.

The clanging of tankards and the cacophony of drunkards rings through the Murky Tankard late one evening in Brussendar. The city of Stilben has been preparing for the Artisan’s Faire in a couple of days. After a hard days labouring at the docks, markets, and crafting inside workshops all in preparation for the festival that brings travelers from the west coast of Wildemount and along the Lucidian coast of Tal’dorei, anyone and everyone find themselves relaxing with hearty crocodile stew and the finest mead imported from the Turst Fields You are just such people, joining in this early revelry of the Artisan’s Faire, an event that will leave Stilben buSamplezzing for the rest of Brussendar. file

Now is a good time to introduce the characters and have them describe themselves as they enjoy the revelry in the tavern.

3 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Places and People he city is split into two regions, the Muck "Rimple was a diligent worker for the Jewellers guild" Quarter and the Polished Plateu. The "He mentioned some months ago that he had to revoke a adventure begins on the Polished Plateu in the members license and he had heard the person was Murky Tankard. This is where players will find incredibly angry with him but I can't remember the name" most of the information on Rimple and Rurik "Rimple works as a bookkeeper at the jewellers guildhall" and should be enough to send them to the "Rimple spends his time working, reading new books, and TMuck Quarter. occasionally going to the tavern but he isn't the type to cause a fight" "Rimple bought all his books from A Likely Story on the Polished Plateu - Central northern side of the Central District" District Rimple's room is shared with the rest of his family. To find The Central District has recently been referred to as the anything of note in this room will require a DC 14 Perception Polished Plateu by the Artisan Guild’s of the city to rebrand check. If found it outlines many things of the past year of the trade within the city as clean and ‘high class’. This section Rimple. Making a DC 11 Investigation check reveals that of the city is physically higher than the Muck Quarter by about Rimple knows that the person he drafted up and signed the 20’ and is the region of the city where the middle class and license revocation is mad at him. It also tells you the name of above live and work. Most of the buildings and walkways have Rurik and where his jewellery store is. It is written that been built upon strong stilts especially nearing the ports. Rimple did respect Rurik's grit in facing the guilds ban and Upon the higher points of the small hill this region is built on dealings with trade with Kraghammer. has been laid with stone for walkways and has provided a stronger foundation for buildings. Rurik’s Shop - Jewellery by Rurik Rurik’s store is in the Market district Rimple Oowmtrowl's Home Rimple's home is located along the eastern side of the Polished Plateau. He lives in a small house of wooden This storefront has a sign hanging near the door, carved in it are mountains with a hammer and file construction with a thatched roof. The house is on stilts and criss-crossed and under it reads “Jewellery by like much the other buildings in this area. Rimple lives with Rurik.” The building itself is simple single level his family, both parents and 3 siblings. When the adventurers wood construction with a thatched roof. There are arrive at the house read the following. boards nailed across the door preventing entry through that doorway. Around the side you see a couple windows also boarded up as well. You approach the Rimple's house by the wooden walkway constructed to keep you from the sloshing through the muck in this side of the district. The At the rear of the shop there are boards are scattered on the house itself is a simple single level wooden house raised up by stilts. The flat roof holds what look to ground. boards have been pried off, the door is unlocked. be crops. You see as the rain pours that the rain water runs down the sides of the house and into the muck below. A small door, the size of a halfling, has As you enter you immediately notice the air in here been constructed along with a small window to its is stale and heavy and the furniture in the backroom left. has been removed except for a small table and 3 chairs.

As you knock on the door an elderly gnome answers the door, DC 13 Perception: You notice dried mud and muck near "Hello, can I help you?" This elderly woman is Rimple's stains of crimson on the floor near the table and chairs. mother and expects the party to be Rimple coming back from DC 14 Investigation: As you get closer to the stains of the his night out at the tavern. Upon hearing the news she begins floor you know it to be blood and the mud to be from the to cry and alerts the rest of the family. With the family Muck side. (This blood is from Rurik’s family and the muck understandably distraught they provide little information and stains are from Rurik mourning his family when he came are beginning to grieve. They will feel intimidated if a bunch of to pick up his secret stash of gems a month prior.) heavy armor clad and dangerous looking adventurers are in their home and will be shut off for this reason. However they The following can be read to players after succeeding the can reveal the information below if there is one calm presence investigation check to help nudge them forward. inside and the others waiting outside. They can be calmed for a few moments with a DC 16 Persuasion if the entire party is there tSampleo reveal the information below. The players may file attempt to distract the Oomtrowl's so someone can slip away and search the house. This can be done with a successful DC 12 Stealth check.

4 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Rurik got his illicit gems from a smuggler at Rotroot port (Because they get illegal books from there) The stains of mud and muck have an intense sort of Rurik worshipped the Changebringer rancid smell to them. Stilben has a reputation of not being the best smelling city in Tal'dorei and a lot of A DC 13 Insight check can tell she is lying about not citizens have tried to make the Polished Plateu as knowing anything. She then makes it clear she wants clean as you can be in a city built on a bog. But this compensation for the information. smell seems more indicative of the Muck Quarter, over the dividing bridges of Stilben. Jewellers Guild

When players enter the frontroom you can read: The Jewellers Guild Hall stands two stories tall in the north eastern end of the Polished Plateau. The doors of the hall are carved wood that show The front room was Rurik’s storefront and jewellers at work in their craft with metal frame with workshop. There is a broken glass display set into a elvish curves and and small gemstones decorating wooden cabinet. You see what appears to be a it. You see the jewellers depicted in the carvings workbench that has grooves and carves from all the hold actual gemstones set into the door. As you projects that were worked on at the desk. It also has open the doors you see before you the main atrium. a couple drawers. There are a couple people seated in what looks like a waiting area. Ahead you see double doors closed, with more carvings and depictions of jewellers. To When players inspect the cabinet a swarm of insects crawls the right you see another closed door. Off to the out and attacks. side of the double doors you see a desk with papers There is nothing for the players here except a quick fight and books stacked on top and on the floor with and finding a possible lead - being the muck and blood stains bookshelves behind with more books and papers all being a clue to the mystery. neat and orderly. Sitting at the desk is a halfling with curly red hair and with robes of red and gold colors. Rose Tenpenny puts the quill down, looks up and A Likely Story - Bookstore asks “How can I help you?” The bookstore next to Rurik’s shop and is a great place where players can get information on Rurik, his fight against Jewellers Guild, the death of his family, who his smuggler is, Rose knows a lot about the Jewellers guild and current affairs and that he predominantly worshipped the Changebringer. with Kraghammer. She doesn’t know too much about exactly what Rimple worked on in depth but knew he did bookkeeping and also wrote and signed licenses to trade in A Likely Story is a simple two story building made Stilben for jewellers. from Bogroot (A regional tree) wood and a thatched If asked if he had any enemies she doesn’t think he did, and roof. In the two windows on either side of the that he dealt with the books and licenses for the guild and in entrance there are books and trinkets on display. his personal life that she knows of, he liked to read books Inside the store you see the storefront floor is high about the flora and fauna in the Stilben area. This information stories high with bookshelves ascending the wall could lead to A Likely Story bookstore. full with books. Inside are a few customers looking through the shelves and the store owner greets you, If the players ask to see what he was working on she will “Come in friend(s), you let me know if you need ask her supervisor behind the closed double doors and upon help finding a book” returning she will lead them to Rimple's desk in the bookkeeping office space that has ledgers and papers detailing businesses in Stilben, tax information on each Kethufri, the owner, along with her wife Kosve are older merchant, cash flow in and out of the guild, etc. Players can human females. Kethufri has silver and white in her hair and make an Investigation DC 14 check every hour to try and find Kosve who is slightly taller still has light auburn hair with information relating to his work and Rurik. On a success they many grey streaks running through. They both wear simple find out: robes with a tunic and breeches. They are both Kraghammer gems were banned above 25gp knowledgeable in history of Taldorei. They will require a DC Rurik was fined for illegal gems. Refused to pay and had 14 Persuasion/Intimidation/Deception or a bribe of 2gp to his license revoked (This is the only license revoke Rimple learn the following information: has worked on) Rimple was a customer here and liked flora and fauna books Rimple also purchased scandalous novels like “The Lusty Lizardfolk maid” Rurik fought and was removed from the jewellers guild dueSample to importing and selling banned goods file Rurik’s home is next door. Rurik’s family was killed and that he came home to see his family dead and the assailant leaving through the window.

5 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. DC 16 - Players learn from an inebriated elf named Eluuin Murky Tankard that a dwarf came in five nights ago and once drunk started The Murky Tankard is a tavern frequented by workers whose mumbling about being kicked out of a guild and being held livelihood is centered around the dock. It is the fourth largest up in a chapel in the old square. tavern in the Dock Ward. It can serve around 30 patrons with DC 12 - A thug in tattered leather armor named Grodir the barkeep and 1 server. The barkeep, Halnin Govaril, a Dadz tells the party that the dwarf they are looking for is female half orc runs this tavern and hears rumors about held up in the square. But he tails them with (players events around the Dock ward. The things she knows that are minus 1) bandits and ambushes them in the streets as relevant to the mystery: these are the thugs Rurik hired to derail anyone looking for him Rimple is a bookkeeper at the Jewellers Guild. He DC 10 - Grodir tells the players he is held up in a frequents this tavern warehouse at the Rotwood Docks and ambushes them Rurik was at this tavern after he buried his family, drinking with (number of players) bandits as they progress through heavily. the Muck Quarter. But he will say things like “Rurik is held Rurik was approached by a tiefling woman and consoled up in a warehouse in the Rotwood Docks” Even if players Rurik and handed him a book She doesn’t know the don’t mention Rurik by name. They can make an Insight tieflings name but remembers she smelt strong of Bramble check DC 13 to tell that he is lying or hiding something. Rose (Native plant of Westruun)

Halnin wouldn’t know to bring up Rurik in relation to the Old Stilben Square Spined Devil attack, she will only bring up information about Rurik if the players ask her directly about him. The old town square embodies the Muck Quarter. Buildings are in ruins and detritus lays all over the once lively square. Wooden buildings are rotten and Muck Quarter brick buildings have collapsed from the foundation This is the region to the west of the Stilben Creek. The shifting underneath. Still mostly standing, maybe disenfranchised Muckdwellers live here. People who scavenge from luck or divine intervention, is the Chapel of food to eat and sell, work as wrights of various disciplines, and the Changebringer. Slanted from sunken foundation even smuggle and enforce for the Clasp and Myriad. The with a partially collapsed roof stands his once Waterwatch has a presence here but that is mostly to screen magnificent building. Windows have been smashed people as they attempt to enter the Polished Plateu. The but now have boards along them from the inside, Waterwatch do not allow people to cross the two working the carved wooden doors hang loosely in their bridges unless they are crossing for work or bribe them. This hinges. The walls have gone unwashed for many is all under the guise of keeping the criminals and murderers years and are caked and covered in the muck. from entering the Polished Plateu but in truth it’s to keep the poor from migrating to the Polished Plateu and ruining the image the Artisan’s Guild has tried to build of the city. At this point if it isn’t clear to the players the only building left This region will feature the portion of the adventure where hospitable is the chapel. And should be the only point of PC’s are on the hunt for Rurik, whether they know he is at the interest. chapel of the Changebringer in Old Stilben Square they will be able to gain enough information to figure out his location. Players can ask on the streets or at the busy K’tawl Thistle Tavern for information. In either case use the information and procedures in K’tawl Thistle Tavern to allow characters to gain information K’tawl Thistle Tavern This tavern is frequented by many folks of the Muck Quarter. Legitimate earners, wrights and dock workers, etc, are completely apathetic to The Clasps presence in the tavern. All the patrons care about is drinking and removing themselves from living of Stilben for as long as their wallets will hold. Should players need help in locating Rurik they can ask around for a dwarf that may have been acting shady or spoke about being a jeweller or of the death of his family. They can make a Charisma skill check to find this information at the tavernSample: file

6 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Changebringer Chapel Rurik Hammerstone As you peer in you see light coming in through the Medium, Choatic Neutral collapsed ceiling. You see broken pews scattered around the room and against the west wall a bedroll, and some provisions. Near the center of the room Armor Class 11 you see a space has been cleared out. In this space Hit Points 27 is a circle drawn with small objects in and around Speed 25 the circle. Farther to the back you what used to be the altar now rubble with the tattered cloth that STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA adorned the altar now rotting on top. You see a figure kneeling at the destroyed altar. Placed upright 13 (+1) 13 (+1) 17 (+3) 10 (0) 11 (0) 13 (+1) on the altar is a book which the figure appears to be reading from. Saving Throws Wis +2, Cha +3 Skills Athletics +3, Insight +2, Perception +2, Persuasion +3 Rurik Hammerstone is currently preparing a ritual to bring Damage Resistances Poison more fiendish servants to exact his revenge on the Jewellers Senses Devilsight Guild. If Rurik notices the PCs presence, either by entering Languages Common, Dwarvish, Infernal the chapel, calling out to him, or failing a stealth roll he calls Challenge 1 200xp out to them “Hello? Who is there?” Rurik is interested in getting them out of his hair without wasting his resources on Actions them but will attack with his Spined Devil minion that stays near the crumbling entrance in a vantage point waiting to Battleaxe Melee weapon attack: +3, 1d6+1 slashing spring at the order of Rurik. Spellcasting Rurik is a 3rd level spellcaster. Should the party learn of Rurik’s plight and convince him Spellcasting ability is Charisma (Save DC 11, +3 to that it wasn’t the Jewellers Guild responsible and most likely a hit). third party that was responsible for his family's death. He will Cantrips: Booming Blade, Poison Spray help find the person who gave him the tome. Should Rurik fall at the hands of the party he has a diary 1st Level: Armor of Agathys, Hellish Rebuke amongst his belongings near his bedroll that will describe the 2nd Level (2 slots): Darkness, Shatter events that transpired from his view. “30th of Unndilar: I’ve never done something so painful. Even now I see their eyes At Will: False life asking me “Where were you? Why didn’t you protect us?” I regret not saying I love you before I left. I’m sorry Rikkin, Dilura, and Dilgana. 1st of Brussendar: I closed the shop and went to drown my sorrows at the Murky Tankard, I saw that Special thanks bastard Rimple there, he’s part of it. I don’t remember too Thank you to GM Binder for their excellent service to help much after the 7th pint but I must have let it show my anger make DnD content look amazing. Thank you to Matt Mercer and desire for revenge because I woke up with this tome but I for creating the world for which this adventure takes place. can only read the first page. 3rd of Brussendar: I accepted. I And the beautiful Stilben artwork from Matt Davis. have the means to the end of the jewllers guild, and I will get revenge. 12th of Brussendar: I brought the devil to the Central District to kill Rimple. He’ll be just the beginning. After the devil killed him I went back to the house to get the jewel I forgot. It wasn’t there, it’s already been broken into, and infested with rats. Only 3 more days and I will kill Warros [Jewellery Guild Master] while he watches the Jewellers he has made slaves out of make him look like a genius.” When Rurik has been dealt with in any way grant each of the players 600 xp Epilogue With Rurik dealt with, the players can turn the mission in to Nadarr and get their reward. Should they turn in the tome and diary Nadarr may call upon the characters to investigate the party that gave him the tome. The players can also jump right in and investigate the tiefling that gave Rurik the tome to keep the adSampleventure going. In my campaign this is the starting piece file for the campaign and ropes them in to uncovering who this organization is and what they want.

This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.