THE PRISTINE CITY A delve into mysterious dwarven ruins, suitable for the Forgotten Realms™ setting or a world of your own design by DASTOW Games www.dastowgames.com Concept: Stacey Janssen Design and Editing: Stacey Janssen, David Noonan Map Design: Stacey Janssen, David Noonan Cartography: David Noonan InteriorSample Art: Liz file Green Layout: David Noonan Cover Design: David Noonan DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast. ©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK. The Pristine City — 2 Introduction the foul scum and vermin found their way inside. Now the graves have been destroyed, the bodies When an influential and infamous dwarven clan desecrated, and the entire place turned upside went missing, ancient dwarven culture saw it as a down. But the tombs have plenty to teach—both of sign to get their act together. Over time, the clan’s Thunderaxe past and future. home city fell to ruin, and the dwarves decided The Clan Elderhame neighborhood has many to tear down the old and build up something interesting spots designed to please and entertain new—something more befitting of the prestigious the elders of the Thunderaxe clan. Among these - Thunderaxe clan. A beautiful place made of crystal include the home of the clan leader as well as the and alabaster, the city was made complete with - clan meeting area. Players can also visit the com the addition of an artificial sun in an artificial sky. munity center. Despite the hopes of many, however, it didn’t magi Paragon Plaza is a special place—or, it was cally bring the Thunderaxes back. Disappointment melodymeant to crystals be. Designed with six statues that grant and resentment eventually led to the city being blessings with the recitation of a password and - closed off—it, and the clan meant to live there, fell that play lovely sounds, this was into memory and legend. one of the first sections of the city to see comple - Recently, tunnelers found the city by accident, tion—they needed those investing in the project to and exploring it is all anyone talks about. Once see progress and get an idea of what the end-prod inside, though, they find quite a surprise—the city uct city would be. Once the contractor was able is falling down around them! They’ll have to meet to show off the plaza and get the appropriate their objectives and get back out before the city “ooo”s and “ah”s from the appropriate people, she- collapses, or they may not see a real sky again. promptly forgot about it. This adventure is designed for characters levels In the Hall of Shieldmaidens, the dwarves pre 5–7. pared a feast for the Thunderaxe clan upon their - Adventure Synopsis return. The building is equal parts banquet hall and museum, with chambers dedicated to the Thunder - axes’ greatest victories—and even a chamber that- Players enter the scene as debate over what to do holds their old enemies in suspended animation. about the Pristine City comes to a close. The chief If, during the course of the adventure, the play tain of Dun Lodar hires the players to explore the ers end up raising the collapse score to 100, the city, but from their first step on this fabled ground, Demon Dispossession Event immediately triggers. their hopes of a simple dungeon run are dashed—SampleA series of filedemon attacks come toward the PCs— the ground literally cracks beneath their feet. they start underpowered, but quickly escalate until It shouldn’t take the players long to realize that they completely overwhelm the PCs. Once thismust everything they do contributes to the destruction event triggers, the city is lost. The last encounter of the city (see City Collapse for specifics). They’ll for this event cannot be defeated—the PCs need to explore the city thoroughly and achieve any objectives before the city collapses on them. Table of Contents This is not a linear adventure—players can explore the neighborhoods in the city organically, Introduction p. 3 in any order. Each encounter location is marked on Initial Explorations p. 5 the map. Collapse Effects p. 10 Once inside the city, players start exploring the Thunderaxe Tombs p. 17 buildings by the entrance, including the library, Paragon Plaza p. 22 which they’ll quickly realize houses almost nothing Clan Elderhame p. 29 but blank volumes. Those books that aren’t blank Temple District p. 34 aren’t exactly filled with knowledge. Residential Areas p. 38 The Temple District presents many interesting obstacles, including the temple itself and the tall Hall of the Shieldmaidens p. 39 clock tower, which speeds up as the city crumbles Demon Dispossession p. 46 down. Conclusion p. 49 Beneath the temple, players find the tombs of Appendix A: New Magic Items p. 50 the Thunderaxe clan. These tombs predate the Appendix B: New Monsters p. 51 Pristine City, and hold the remains of generations of Thunderaxes past—or they certainly did before The Pristine City — 3 - flee back to the comfort of Dun Lodar, where they’ll It wasn’t until tunnelers broke though, find face an unhappy community—but talking to the ing the city by sheer accident, that most modern mayor will eventually mitigate some of that. folk even thought of it. Then, naturally, came the Adventure Background debates about what to do with it. This is where the PCs come in. NPCs Interested The Thunderaxe clan went missing centuries ago. A clan of prestige and power, they shook the world in the Pristine City when they disappeared, leaving not so much as a clue behind. Some took this disappearance as a sign—strife and argument plagued the dwarven clans in this We’ve provided “adventure hook” backgrounds for - part of the world, and the Thunderaxes often the following NPCs beyond Dun Lodar. Use them to seemed to be the only thing holding them together. get the PCs to Dun Lodar in the first place, or other This noble clan, in all their wisdom, had left them Sibdawise adapt the them Mighty—Dwarf for your ongoing campaign. Queen so they might learn to solve their own problems. The Thunderaxe city eventually fell into disrepair. With no one to watch over and care for it, time did Sibda is nothing if not practical, and she realizes as time does. Those eager to see the clan return— that while the Pristine City is a great prize, it’s not now the children of children to those who actually one the dwarves can successfully preserve. While knew them—decided to tear down the old city and the city is doomed, Sibda is keen to get key relics build up something new. Something better. out of the city before it collapses. A dozen key relics Something perfect. are listed in various encounters; the more the PCs Unfortunately, not everyone involved in the can take with them when they flee the city, the project held the same ideals. The architect, Whurya better. Granitehewer, thought the idea was silly, but she Rilug the Fearless still gave the project her all. The same could not - be said of the contractor, Rerna Foespike. Cutting corners in every possible place, she was more con The imminent destruction of a dwarven city is just cerned with lining her own pockets than seeing the Gravenhelm,what Rilug the Fearless wants to hear. Specifically, Thunderaxes with a well-constructed home upon the well-known orc commander wants to recover their return. Eventually, this city was walled off and a helmet worn by an orc championGravenhelm, forgotten about, soon to be nothingSample more than the fileof centuries past and taken by the dwarves (along- stuff of legends. with the champion’s head) as a trophy. The Pristine City and the Forgotten Realms located in area H7, is a treasure of deep signifi First, real talk: We designed “The Pristine City” to be easy to add cance—one that Rilug desperately wants a new orc to any campaign world, and we did so before we had the opportu- champion to wear. nity to set it in the Forgotten Realms. The Realms is a big place, so Annabella—Demigoddess it’s easy to find a home for the events of this adventure—but this of Light and Healing isn’t an adventure deeply rooted in Realms lore, nor does it feature prominent Realms personalities and factions. If you’re playing in the Forgotten Realms, place Dun Lodar in the Underdark beneath the Ruatrym Mountains in the Silver Marches. Annabella’s light is said to illuminate the dark It’s several days’ travel northwest of Citadel Adbar. Merchant cara- corners of the world—and mile-deep caverns vans connect Dun Lodar to the citadel, but Dun Lodar is otherwise of certainly qualify as “dark.” One tangible thing minor importance, rarely given a second thought by shield dwarves Annabella wishes to extract from the Pristine City unless they have relatives there.