RIVERS OF BLOOD

24 novemht·r dt•r(!mher ~~~~~~

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 RJVERS OF BlOOD

Rivers of B1ood
Jreachery and Vengeance
by Paul leach
artwork by .Kennon James• cartography by Christopher West

"Rivers of 8/ood" is a OûtD adventure set in Oark Age Russia (circa 10th century), and it re volves
around the Scandinavian adventurers, Slavlc tribesmen and Eurasian nomads who warred and traded
with each other between Kiev and the Black Sea. This historical scenario is supported by the Red Sails:
Advenrures in the Oark Ages of Eastern Europe campaign articles in DRAGON Magazine #290, but they
are not required to successfully play ''Rivers of Blood." lt should also be noted thar the adventure does
not have to be lœpt in its historical context; ir can be played in any fantasy setting.

The adventure is designed for four 4th-leve/ characters, but can be adjusted to accommodate
characters of levels 1-7 using the "Scaling the Adventure" sidebar. The PCs should have sorne good
combat skills and feats at their disposa/. The PCs must make a dangerous river joumey, and they will
find skills such as Profession (sai/or) and Wilderness Lore useful. Oiplomacy and investigation will also
serve the characters weil in certain parts of the adventure.

1 Magic Items ~ Monsters 4' Non- Piayer Characters (NPCs) ~ Objects 'ilf Settlements <" Traps

HBtorl<ê.L Bê.cMrOYNb
You and your players should have a general knowledge of the
historical setting before playing this adventure. which can be
acquired with the setting support in DRAGON #2go. Russia in the
1oth century (although not called that at the time) was inhabited
by numerous Slavic tribes beginning to centralize into large
princedoms. These conglomerations were based on the grow-
ing trade settlements that dominated the country"s river sys-
tems connecting the Baltic Sea with the Black Sea and the
Orient. Slaves. furs. and honey wax went south in exchange for
silver. silk, and other luxury items. The dominant political force
came in the form of the Rus: Swedish merchant warriors who
settled among the local populations and assimilated with them.
The steppes of the south and east were controlled by tribal
confederations of Eurasian nomads who competed for control
of the Slavs at the edge of their terri tories with the Rus princes.
During the 10th century, the city of Kiev grew in prestige and
influence to exert hegemony over the other Rus and Slavs of
the north, eclipsing the longstanding dominance of the Khazar
Empire of the Caspian region. The times are marked by occa-
sional wars between competing powers of the largest scale, and
the more frequent conflicts of regional and locallevels.
This adventure is placed near the Dnieper River, just south
of Kiev, at the limits of the northem forests and close to the
open steppes. lt is su rn mer, the ti me when many Rus and Slavic
traders and mercenaries sailed in flotillas to the Black Sea,
seeking fortune in Constantinople.
Abv~Ntvn Bê.c~HOYNP
Two Rus chieftains. Igor and Viseslav, have been fighring skir-
mishes over the last few months in an attempt to decide who
has tribu te privileges over sorne villages thar lay between their
territorîes. Viseslav recently killed Igor and most of his war-
band in an ambush, and is now engaged in an aggressive cam-
paign to take ali of the land thar now belongs to lgor's widow,
Predeslava. Unknown to most, one of lgor's retainers. Boian.
set the deadly trap for his lord, and now serves his widow with
the same treacherous intent.
At the time of the PCs' arrivai, Predeslava is preparing ro
withstand her enemy's depredations long enough for her
brother Ottakar to bring his warband to her aid. Unfortunately,
most of his men are away trading in Constantinople and will
not retum until the fall. Meanwhile, fierce nomad bandits.
many of whom are now employed by Viseslav, roam freely

lhere is little sectAri~~ al'l1ons the.,.,, anJ l'l1CAch Jeceit, anJ even a t11ans brolher or
c.ott1raJe i.s not above killinS anJ rltAnJerin_g hi.,., if he c.an.

- Ihn RtA.st:ah, roth-.centw·~ fb.-ah h ïstorian, rerortins on the Rt.-\s

RIVERS Of BLOOD

through Predeslava's lands, looling and takrng slaves when river through the Haunted Wood, the party encounters Orimir,
they can. Many villages are now deserted. their inhabitants an ogre sorcerer devored ro the local nver goddess. A suc-
e~ther dead, enslaved, or ned into the wild foresrs. The oum- cessful parley (and an offer of treasure) will ger the PCs past
bers of nomad marauders rs such thar Predeslava's people anorher danger: a water elemental rhat attacks any boat nor
cannot even seek the security of Ottakar's borders withour the bearing Orimir's blessrng (an arcane mark). Sertha, a green
likelihood of being killed or captured. hag, causes problems for the PCs in rhe fens. The adventurers
V'Jseslav hopes ro capture lgor's widow before Ottakar gath- must choose to rescue a few kidnap victims (Sertha's dinner)
or press on ro Sarbas.
ers his forces. If he can make her one of his wives, he has a good
chance of preventing hostilitres with hrs new neighbor. Sarbas gives the PCs a chance to recover, alrhough it is nor
Viseslav's lieutenant, Helgi the White, will soon execute an over-
long before they are offered a chance ro exact revenge on
whelming attack agamst Predeslava's meager village and fort. Viseslav and save many of Ovotsk's unfortunates from slav-
ery. The climactic battle scene is set when they ieam that
A~v~Nt\ln ~VMM~rY Viseslav has arrived in rown to dispose of his captives.
The adventure begins when the characters arrive in Ovotsk, Although the PCs mighr engage in an outright brawl in the
the power center of Predeslava's besieged kingdom. Not long market square, the party might need to reach a solution
afrer the PCs are enlisted into service, the adventure truly beyond combat ro free the captive villagers from Viseslav, as
begîns wtth the characters defending the village from maraud- they have already been sold to one of Sarbas's families of
ing nomad horsemen. Despire the PCs' early success, Ovotsk warrior merchanrs.
is overwhelmed by a sneak artack and superior numbers. With Alrhough this advenrure is relatively low in monetary and
the village destroyed and most of its inhabiranrs caprured, the magic treasure, the advenrurers should flnd ample rewards for
PCs are forced to flee or face capture themselves. Not only defeating Viseslav and rescuing Predeslava's people from the
do they have the welfare of Predeslava to worry about now. power-hungry tyranr. An epie fight in Sarbas against such a
but they are also burdened with a dozen desperate and dangerous warlord as Viseslav will certatnly give them plenty
patheuc refugees. of fame. If thts advenrure 1s used tn a h1S1orical setring, the
The PCs embark on a river joumey through an allegedly characrers wrll also benefit from their encounters with Orimtr
haunted forest and swamp. Their desrinatlon rs Sarbas, a neu- and Sertha, elevatmg them to the ranks of legendary heroes
tra! (more or Jess) trading selllement. The PCs can seek other (only legendary heroes flght or converse with beings of the
escape routes, of course, but it should be clear thar their best Otherworld). With thelr lies cemented with Predeslava and her
chance of survival is to avoid the open grassland thar sepa- uncle, the PCs might choose to continue serving the family
rates Predeslava's fallen fort and her brother's srronghold. A afrer the adventure is over.
useful ally can also be found in Sarbas in the form of
Predeslava's uncle Khurttsa. a weallhy merchanr. Abv~Nt\/r~ Hoo~s
The river joumey confronts the PCs with natural hazards The PCs might be friends or kin of Igor, Predeslava, or one of
that damage rhe boat and could cosr hves. While traveling by rheir slain warriors. They might also serve in Ottakar's war-

26 novemher den~mher ~'"'1


band or the warband ofanother ally, and they could have been
ordered to assist Predeslava any way they can. The PCs might
only be well-intentioned opportunists wlth bad timing (Igor was
actively seeking mercenaries to help in the summer campalgn
season). These hooks rely on the PCs' sense of revenge. loy-
alty, fame, political connections, or greed. If none of these
work for your characters, a timely ambush by men in
Viseslav's army who mistake the PCs for followers of
Predeslava will probably be sufflcient to get the characters
involved in the contlict.
0voUJS
The first section of this adventure takes place in the environs
of the hill fort and village of Ovotsk. This part of the ad ven-
ture is defined by events, as the PCs are essentially playing a
defensive role. The PCs' decisions are still quite important,
and they can influence the turbulent crises in which they
become immersed. Even rhough the PCs will not be able to
prevent the sacking of Ovotsk, they can certainly make a dif-
ference to sorne of the helpless villagers and those who would
subjugate them.
'1lf Ovotsk (village): Conventional; ALLN; 200-gp limir. Assets
450 gp; Population 153 (450 normally).
Authority Figures: Predeslava (chieftain's widow), female
human Ari1.
Important Characters: Boian, male human Rog2/Ftn
(Predeslava's bodyguard); Kivna, Adp1 (Wise Woman).
Others: Fort garrison, Wan (X2o}. Exp1 (x6); Com1 (x124).
Notes: The bulk of Ovotsk's population lived on the eastern
side of the river. Once the nomad raids began, those familles
decided to take their chances foraging in the nearby woods
until the summer ends and the nomads seek winter quarters.
The village gold piece limit and total assets remain normal at
this time, as most of the craftsman and small merchants are
located near Predeslava's fort.
Event 1. lgor's Funeral Read or summarize the following once
the PCs arrive ln Ovotsk:
A quiet crowd gathers around the village's barrow mounds,
bidding farewell ro their lord and protector, Igor Jaroslavlch.
ln his smaU boat he is accompanied by ali the rhings he wil
need in the Otherworfd: food, furs. weapons, precious silver
armbands. and more. Predeslava. his strong widow, is easily
recognizable by her dark blond halr, .,. blue eyes. fair skln,
and square Jaw. She stands out among her people, as she ls
the only person holding a rorch. An old wise woman, playing
the part of the Death Crone, recites a few frightening
chants, her raspy voice rislng and falllng as sh8 cirdes lgor's
death barge. When she is silent, PredesJava cornes forward
to light the kindling upon which the ship rests. Suddenly, the
lazy flames burst n If in a frenzy. taklng Igor fO the heav-
ens in a billowlng cloud of smoke.
Once she becomes aware of their presence, Predeslava
invites the PCs to her stone hall. the only building not made of
timber or wattle-and-daub in Ovotsk. There she will discuss
terms of service and give them a full assessment of the con-
filet with Viseslav. Except for the details conceming Boian's
betrayal, the information presented in the "Adventure
RIVERS OF BLOOD
Background" cao be given to the players at this time. Although
she is confident Ovotsk itself will wearher the depredations of
the wild nomad marauders, the aid of the PCs is certainly wei-
come. lt is going to be a long summer, and Predeslava expects
horsemen to arrive soon. She is not sure if Viseslav has the
men or the courage to actually attack her hill forr; it is likely to
cost him most of his warband if he attempts a bloody assault.
If the PCs swear to protect her and follow her orders, she
will pay them handsomely for severa! months of service. Once
her brother arrives with his warband ln the fall, the PCs obli-
gation to her ends. She gives each character an amber bead
necklace (300 gp), a gold bracelet (400 gp), and a hack silver
bracelet (1oo gp). The hack silver bracelet can be broken up
and used as currency.
f" Predeslava, f emale Human Aril: CR -; Medium-slze
Humanoid (s ft. 6 in.); HD 1d8+3 (includes Toughness feat); hp
11: lnit +o; Spd 30ft.; AC 10; Atk +o melee (1d4/crit 19-20, dag-
ger) or +O ranged (1d4fcrit 19-20, dagger); AL LN; SV Fort +o,
Ref +O, Will +-4; Str 10. Dex 11, Con 11, lot 13, Wis 11, Cha 12.
Ski/ls: Appraise +2, Bluff +3, Oiplomacy +s, Handle Animal
+4, Knowledge (nobility ût royalty) +3, Knowledge (religion) +2,
Sense Motive +3. Feats: Iron Will, Toughness.
Possessions: Golden grivna (Eastern tore) (6oo gp), sllver-
hilted dagger with silvered runes etched in blade (300 gp), sil-
ver ring with amber (2oo gp).
Development: Predeslava is smart and determined, and she
sometimes seems quite headstrong. She is committed to both
her people and her desire for vengeance. She will be dismayed
when Ovotsk actually falls and filled with cold, murderous
intent when Boian is revealed as a traitor. She will not spend
a lot of rime regretting her decision to stand up to Viseslav,
committing herself to paying him back tenfold for the slaugh-
ter and misery he has intlicted on herself and her people.
Slmply giving herself up, even to stop the suffering of her
subjects, has never occurred to her.
Creature (El 3): Also integral to this adventure is the des-
picable Boian. He is a human of average height and build with
dark brown hair. a long mustache, gray eyes, and red cheeks.
Boian looks out for himself. lt was easy to present 1he
façade of being a worthy member of a chieftain's warband
because the right opportunities never came along before now.
He betrayed Igor and the warband for treasure, not our of any
persona! dislike. Bolan is an accomplished liar, and if he were
more intuitive. he would truly be a grand schemer. His role is
the saboteur, albeit one who does not know his limits.
4" Boian, Male Human Rogz/ Ftn: CR 3; Medium-size
Humanoid (s ft. 11 in.); HD 2d6+2 plus 1d10+1; hp 19; lnit +6 (-t4
lmproved Initiative, -t2 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 15 {+3 studded
leather, -t2 Dex); Atk +s melee (•d6/crit 19-20, short sword),
+2 melee (1d4/crit 19-20, dagger). or +4 ranged (•d4/crit 1g-2o,
dagger); SA sneak attack +1d6: SQ evasion: Al NE; SV Fort +3.
Ref +s. Will +o; Str 11, Dex 15, Con 12, lnt 13, Wis 10, Cha •3·
Skiffs: Appraise +6, Bluff +6, Climb +6, Diplomacy +6,
Gather Information -t6, Hide +7, Jump -t5, Move Silently q,
Open Lock +7, Sense Motive +s. Swim +3. Feats: Dodge,
lmproved Initiative, Weapon Finesse (short sword), Weapon
Focus (short sword).
Possessions: Studded leather armor, short sword, four
daggers (one hidden in sheath sewn into tuni~ behind the
neck), hack silver bracelet (2oo gp), and a pouch containing so
sp and three pieces of amber (300 gp each).
1
R1VERS OF BLOOD
Development: Boian takes sorne interest in the PCs. trying
ro learn as much about them as he can. He pretends ro be
shamed by outliving Igor (a good retainer dies with his lord}
and does not like to talk about the fareful battle. If pressed, he
says he took a blow ro the head and was apparently left for
dead. If PCs are suspicious of Boian, allow them to make Sense
Motive checks opposed by Boian's Bluff checks.
Waiting for the Storm
A week or so passes before the first sign of the enemy at
Ovotsk. ln thar time. the PCs can content themselves to feast-
ing and drinking in Predeslava's hall. If the PCs decide ro parrol
the surrounding area. they will encounter only local farmers
and hunters, as weil as an assortment of game. Predeslava dis-
courages the PCs from going on parrols, as she already has a
few scouts and she does nor want to Jose her new guards to
an ambush.
You should move through this section fairly quickly to keep
the pace of the game going. Ir is here mostly to serve as a
"stale of affalrs" before the action, and to provide you wlth a
way to provide action for PCs who cannor sir still.
Event 2. Enemy at the Gate. This event takes place one morn-
lng after the PCs have been in Ovorsk for a week or so.
28 november 1december 2001
- -- ----
A cloaked rider gallops into the village,
his horse frothing and beginning to
stagger. He tumbles off of his mount
into the waiting hands of sorne vll-
lagers. Atfirst, a few shouts echo bad~
and forth across Ovotsk's cluner of
hufs, then an alarm is raised.
"Pechenegst" The fear of the vil-
lage is almosr palpable at hearing the
name of the sreppes' most dreaded
nomads. As the village explodes info
panic, a sentry points to the rolling
ridge south of the settfement. Over a
dozen horsemen boit across its crest,
a jumbled mass of fury headed
straight for the village. Although sev-
era! villagers have made it to the
safety of Predeslava's stockade, many
more are struggling ro bring fheir
familles and animais up the hill to the
safety of lts walls.
Ir is too lare for them. it seems, as the
nomad warriors gallop through the vil-
lage, herdlng the frtghte.ned villagers
and animais away from the little fort.
Even though the village is under
attack by about twenty horsemen, this
encounter will be much easier to resolve
than the sheer numbers might indicate.
The nomads are broken up into smaller
groups. allowing for separate encoun-
ters between the three of them. An
aggressive defense by the PCs will likely
win the day for Ovotsk, as the nomads
are only looking to gather as much plun-
der and captives as they can without
having to fighr too much ror lt. Their lives are worth more to
them !han loot and glory m battle.
Boian stays within the stockade to protect Predeslava and
encourage the wall defenders.
Creatures (El s. El s. and EL 7): The three groups of
raiders each have six horsemen, although the EL 7 encounter
also includes their leader, Mundiak.
Pechenegs are distinguished from other nomads by their
black caps made of fur or feh, and they sometimes wear Arab-
style overcoats. The Pechenegs also wear loose tunics, baggy
pants. and rail boots.
Bands #1 and #2 (El s each)
4' Eurasian Light Horsemen, Male Human War1(6): CR 1/2.;
Medium-size Humanoid (5 fr. 8 in.); HD 1d8+t; hp 7 each; lnit
+1 (Dex); Spd 30 fr.: AC 12 (+1 padded, +1 Dex); Ark +1 melee
(1d6/crit 18-20, scimitar}, +1 melee (1d8/crit x3. shortspear}, or
+2 ranged (1d6/ crit x3, composite short bow}. AL N; SV fon
+3, Ref +t, Will +o; Str 11, Dex 12, Con 13, lnt 11, Wis 11, Cha 10.
SJCJ1/s: Handle Animal +4, lntimidate +4, Ride +5. Feats:
Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat.
Possessions: Thick fur corselet (acts as padded armor).
scimitar. rwo shorrspears, composite short bow with 20
arrows, pouch contalning 100 sp.
~ Light Warhorses (6}: hp 22 each: MonSTer Manua/197.

Band #3 (El 7)
f' Eurasian light Horsemen, Male Human Wan (6): see
"Bands 1f1 and # 2" for complete statistics.
f' Mundiak, Male Human ftr3: CR 3; Medium-size
Humanoid (s ft. 8 in. taU); HO 3d10+3: hp 26; lnit +4 (Oex); Spd
30 ft.; AC 19 (+4 chain shirt, +1 shield, +4 Oex); Atk +4 melee
(1d6+1/crit 18-20, scimitar), or +g ranged (1d6/crit x3, com-
posite shon bow); AL NE; SV fort +4, Ref +s. Will +2: Str 12,
Oex 18, Con 13, lnt 10, Wis 13, Cha 12.
Skiffs: Craft (bowmaking) +4, Handle Animal +s. Ride +IO.
Spot +J. Feats: Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat, Point
Blank Shot, Ride-By Attack, Weapon focus (composite shon
bow).
Possessions: Chain shirt, small wooden shield, scimitar,
masterwork composite short bow with 20 arrows, silver
cloakpin with amber C4oo gp). bronze chain belt (lOo gp), sil-
ver chain bell (300 gp), pouch containing 4 bloodstones (worth
50 gp each) and 200 sp.
-, lighr Warhorse (7): hp 30; Monster Manua/197·
Tactics (Bands # 1 tn #2): The Pechenegs do their best to
keep their distance from the PCs, attacking them with bow fire
from their horses. The raiders close for melee if the PCs seem
v1sibly weakened or if a character becomes separated from the
group. If the PCs do not allow rhe nomads ro leisurely fill them
with arrows, the Pechenegs hold rheir ground, always looking
for a chance to gang up on a weak PC. There is no real coop-
eration between the bands of horsemen, as each raider is more
concerned with riding away with a captive or sorne cattle than
wasting valuable time ln combat.
If a Pecheneg band !oses half its men, the survivors disen-
gage and attempt to caver their retreat with volleys of arrows.
A Pecheneg attempts to ride away if his mount is seriously
wounded (at so% hit points). A nomad thar is unhorsed
allempts to recapture his mount if possible. The PCs should
find spells and abilities that influence the behavior of animais
useful m their battle with rhe nomads. Refer to the Player's
Handboolc, page '39· for assistance in running encounters with
mounted combat.
Tactics (Band 3): Mundiak and his bodyguards are a little
more determined than the other bands. They still try to soften
the PCs with bow fire and will not hesitate to engage in melee
If necessary. Mundiak uses his Ride- By Attack feat as often as
he can. Mundiak's guards flee only if Mundiak is killed, but
Mundiak flees if his guards are ali eliminated. If the PCs decide
ro break off combat, Mundiak and his men pursue them until
they are within the walls of the stockade. lt can be assumed
sorne light missile volleys from the fort garrison keeps Mundiak
from actually coming within 30 feet of the fort's gares.
Event 3· The Storm. A week orso passes before the real bat -
tle for Ovotsk takes place. If the PCs were successful in driv-
ing away the Pecheneg raiders, thar time will be quite pleasant
for them as everyone treats them as if they were heroes of
epie legend. Boian congratulates the PCs, not bothered by
being overshadowed by the newcomers. ln fact, he tells them
he sincerely wishes they had been standing with Igor in his last
banle (very sincerely. as they would be dead and not pose a
problem for him now).
Predeslava is proud of the PCs as weil, but more reserved:
she knows Ovotsk has more struggles ahead. lt is not long
before she is proved right.
RIVERS Of BLOOD
Read or paraphrase the following teXl when Helgi the White
attacks the village one week after the first skirmish:
As the sun crests the eastern horizon, screams rise from the
vUiage below to dispel the peace of the moming. fil'~ ragè
across Ovorsk, stray sparb blrthing new tlames on the dry
thatch roofs.
lhree ominous boats walf on the river shore white their
crews proceed about rhe savage business of slaughter and
pillage. The first captives are shoved aboard rhe red-sailed
ships as rhe alarm is raised.
Methodlcally, almost casuafty. a mob of well-armed war-
riors emerges from the chaos and misery of the buming vil-
lage. stopping about 100 feet from the fort's gares. One of
rhe men purs a hom to hls hps and blows tong, announclng
their challenge. Anorher warrior plants a rail spear into the
earth, a raven banner wavlng under ifS metal point. Next to
hlm stands a man who seems as taU as a great tree, his hair
as wlld and white as ru$hing water. His goggle helm tums his
eyes into dark holes, complimenting his terrible countenance.
"lt ls over, my lady!" betlows Helgi rhe White.
h is clear that none of the villagers are able to make it to
the safety of the stockade walls. lt does not take urgmg from
Predeslava to spur the fon garrison to action, and they quickly
prepare to meet the enemy at the bottom of the hill. The PCs
do not have to participate in the battle, but the garrison is
going with or without them. Predeslava will have nothing to do
with the PCs if they do not prove themselves worthy and at
least attempt to stop the carnage below. Helgi defeats the gar-
rison if the PCs do not assist. Once this happens, Predeslava
retreats to her hall to join Igor in death; Helgi will find lgor's
old hall a funeral pyre.
h should be noted that Helgi is accompanied by the only
professional warriors in the raid. easily identified by their rich
assortment of arms. The raiders who are actually plundering
Ovotsk are relatively poorly armed, with most of those war-
riors only having spears and shields. Ir is the garrison's hope
thar if they can defeat Helgi and his host, the pillaging rabbie
will lose their courage and flee.
If the PCs join the attack. the place of honor for fighting
class PCs is in the center of the line, leading the lower class
warriors to glory. Boian takes his rîghtful place in the middle
of the gathering crowd of warriors outsîde the stockade gares.
Creatures (El 6): There are probably forty elite warriors at
Helgi's side at the hill's base. bur rh1s encounter only pits the
PCs againsr Helgi, his bodyguards. and Boian. To k.eep player
suspense alive, make sorne rolls for the peripheral conflicts.
You might want to use sorne form of opposed roUs that only
indicate how one side is doing, but not go into details like how
many hit points Warrior X lost, or how many hits he scored.
The PCs should feel concerned by the ourcome of the periph-
eral battles, but they should also feel like their part is pivotai,
deciding the contest for one and ail
f' Helgi the White, Male Human ftr4 : CR 4; Medium-size
Humanoid (6 ft. 3 in. tall); HO 4d1o+n (includes Toughness
fear); hp 40: lnit +o: Spd 30 ft.: AC 16 (+4 chain shirt, +2
shield); Atk +8 melee (1d8+4/ crir XJ. batt1eaxe), +6 melee
(1d8+2/ crit 19-20, longsword), or +4 ranged (td6+z. throwing
axe); AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +J: Str 15, Dex 10, Con 15,
lnt 12, Wis 11, Cha 11.
RIVERS Of BLOOD
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four. This tnt.ludp•, l~w ..,htpmasrer ami rhe navtg~tror (sec
belowl.
2. The shtpmaslcr must havt• l'rolt!'>'> ton tsatlorl sktll. If
none ot the PCs ha-; thts sl-.tll. JS'>ume .11 le:tsl one ol the
relu::ee commoncrs ha'> '' Tht• shtpmasrcr wtll be able ro
dtrect an unsktllcd u t~w.
3· The n.tvt~:aror keep'> wall.h .11 the lore. Hts 1ob ts ro
alerl rhe crew lo nver hJz.1rds such ,Js o;andbJrs and sub-
mereed ro~:b. Thts t rewmJn mu'>t mJio.e successful
Wtlderness Lore cherb lOC vJnes) 10 asstsl the crew m
sately JVotdm,!:! d.mt!erous obsradc'>. Ahhough the
Profcsston ls.Jtlor) sktll '~ nol requwed. rhe characrer gers a
+2 syncrgy bonus to hts Wtlderness Lore checl.s tf he has ar
leasl 5 ranl-.s til Protcss1on tsatlor 1.
4· Wtth ,1 crew rhts small. '' tS posstble lor one character
robe borh shtpma-;rer Jnd navt~aror. J<> lone as the charac-
rer has l'roi esston t s.ulorl
Skills: Climb +8, Craft (shipmaking) q. Ride +6. Swim -3~.
Fears: Cleave. Iron Wtll. Power Atrack, Toughness, Weapon
Focus (battleaxe), Weapon Specialization (battleaxe).
•lncludes the -1 penalty ro Swim checks per 5 pounds of
gear carried.
Possessions: Chain shi ri, large wooden shield, Viking goggle
helm decorated with a gilded boar crest (400 gpl. masrerwork
battleaxe. longsword. two rhrowlng axes, two gold rings (loo
gp each), gold decorated sword sheath (75 gp). pouch con-
taining 20 gp. 100 sp. and a garner (2oo gp).
f' Noble Warriors, Male Human Wan (.4): CR 1/z. Medium-
size Humanoid (6 fr.); HO 1d8+3 (includes Toughness feat): hp
n each: lnit +O: Spd 30 ft.; AC 16 (+4 chain shirr, +2 shield); Atk
...2 melee (td8/cril x3, banleaxe). +1 melee (ld8/ crit 19-20.
longswordl. or +1 ranged (rd6. javelln); AL N; SV Fort +2, Ref
+o, Wtll o~-o; Str 11, Con 11, Dex 10, lnt 10, Wis 10, Cha 11.
Ski/ls: lnrtmidate +4, Profession (satlor) +4, Swlm +-7....
Fears: Toughness, Weapon Focus (banleaxe).
•tncludes the -1 penalty ro Swim checks per 5 pounds of
gear carried.
Possessions: Chain shirt, large wooden shield, battleaxe,
longsword, three javellns, hack silver bracelet (loO gp), bronze
grivna (Easrem tore) <so gp), pouch with 10 gp and 6o sp.
Tactics: Helgi and his warband wa11 for the garrison to
attack them; Helgi is nor going ro waste his energy charging up
a hill, or worse. fnghtenrng his enemy back into the stockade.
A fight in the open, even if ir gives his weak enemies the
chance ro charge downhill at hlm, is preferable to having to
storm the fort walls.
Boian takes this opportunity to make a sneak attack against
one of the PC warrlors right before the two groups engage. He
has joined the battle because he knows ir would be too suspi-
cious If he stayed behind ro gua rd Predeslava. If he can disable
one of the PCs. he can prove ro Helgi thal he is not merely a
skulklng traitor who betrays wirh words and deceptions. Boian
knows his usefulness is over as soon as Predeslava is cap-
rured. He does not want 10 give the tempestuous Helgi a rea-
son 10 refuse paymen1 for his services or to pay him with a
sword thrust.
Helgi and his bodyguards fight to the dearh, although Boian
fights only as long as il looks like he has a chance of living (and
being on the winning side). If Helgl is killed or otherwise inca-
pacitated. the morale of the warband breaks and they retreat;
his bodyguards continue to flght to the end, attempting to
avenge rhelr leader. Bolan fiees as quickly as he can once the
banle is los1 for the lnvaders.
Once Helgi's warband loses its slomach for the fight, the
surviving members of the garrison are overtaken by bloodlust
and throw themselves into the alarmed pillagers, ignoring any
plans or orders glven by the PCs.
Encounter Level Note: If any of the PCs atrempt ro assist in
the peripheral combats berween the garr!son and Helgi's war-
band, consider adding +1 El to the overall encounrer. This
award is really aimed at those PCs who might be playing a sup-
porting role by using m1ssile weapons and spells, but it applies
to orner actions and circumstances. As far as the PCs are con-
cemed, rhe "s1aged combat" occurring ali around them 1s real
and might need rheir attention. If rhe PCs "waste" good spells
and powers on a combat thal they are noi really influencing in
a game sense. they should be rewarded for roleplaying.
Evenr 4- Panic in Ovotsk. Read or paraphrase the following if
Helgi is killed or incapacitated:
The bloody flght wlth Helgl ls over, and news of his defeat
quickly spreads among the enemi~ piHaglng the bu ming vil-
lage. Fear can be heard in the volces of those who had so
recenrly preyed on the weak and defenseless. Howling with
fury, Predeslava's warrlors set upon them, showlng no
mercy to any they catch. A desperate srruggle ensues on the
banks of the river as the raiders try to scramble aboard their
ships and escape.
The PCs have a chance to preveni one of the ships from
leaving with its captives if they join rhe vicious counterattack.
One ship is currently unhindered by Ovotsk's warriors. as the
raiders have pur up a successful rearguard action.
Creatures (EL 4): These warriors are tribal levies who
joined Helgi for the promise of plunder. L1ke Predeslava's gar-
rison, they can be relied upon when defending their homes. but
when campaigning, they need a srrong leader like Helgi to stay
in line. Helgi did not want them for the battle itself. but to force
Predeslava's warriors mto an anack to save the village. They
wanr only to survive long enough to sell their new captives.
f' Tribal Warriors, Male Human Wan (g): CR 1/2; Medium-
size Humanoid (6 ft.); HO 1d8+3 (includes Toughness feat); hp

g: lnll +o. Spd 30 fr ., AC 12 (_.2 large shield}. Atk +2 melee
(1d8 cm >o:J, shoriSpear), +1 melee hd4/ crit 19-20, dagger), or
+2 ranged Ctd8/cm x3. shonspear}. Al N; SV fort +2. Ref +o,
W1ll +o; Str 11, Oex 10, Con 11, lnr 10, Wis 11, Cha 10.
Slc1/ls. Handle Antmal +4, ln1tm1date +2. Profession (farmer,
fisher, or herdsman) +2, Sw1m -2·. Feats: Toughness, Weapon
Focus (shonspear).
•Jncludes rhe - 1 penalty ro Sw1m checks per 5 pounds of
gear camed.
Possess1ons: large steel sh1eld, three shortspears, dagger.
Taches: four of the wamors rry ro prevent to PCs from
reach1ng the shlp, wh1le rhe other five rry to push the ship far-
rher inro rhe warer. If rhe rearguard can hold off the PCs for
5 rounds. anyone wanrmg ro board rhe boat will need to make
a Swlm check (OC 10) to reach il. None of these warriors sur-
render; they either flghr ro the death or escape.
The boat has 1wenty captive villagers on board.
Aftermath and Exodus
Only a few warrlors from the gamson survive the battle, but
wuh rhe help of 1he PCs, they save almost one hundred vil-
lagers from enslavemenr As rhere is no real safety in Ovotsk,
most of the v1llagers w1ll rerrear to 1he nearby woods, hoping
10 avoid future raids. Predeslava tries ro convince her people
ro consider h1dmg m rhe Haunred Wood to the west, a place so
mhospirable even Viseslav's men wiU not venture there, no
matter whar pnce he has placed on Predeslava's head. Only a
dozen v1llage fo w1ll lom her, as most are more afraid of the
spinrs and savages thal hve there than they are of death or
capllvltY at 1he hands of V1seslav's ruthJess warriors.
The fastes! and best way to reach .le Haunted Wood is by
nver. If the PCs were able ro stop the fleemg raiders. they
have access ro a small cargo sh1p of rheir own; if they did not
succeed in rheir eftorrs. rhen one of rhe local merchants who
owns a boat w1ll gladly surrender 1t ro his lady's service, as he
cannor rake 11 wlrh h1m whtle fotaging 10 the nearby forest.
Predeslava secrerly plans ro joumey past the Haunted
Wood and reach the trading senlement of Sarbas, where she
has famlly (see Uncie Khurirsa ln rhe Sarbas section of the
adventure). She fully expects sorne of her people to be cap-
tured and then interrogated regarding her whereabouts, so
she would prefer Viseslav's men waste their rime waiting for
her ro come out of 1he Haunted Wood lnstead of drawing them
to Sarbas. She reveals th1s once the boat reaches the forest.
Refer to the "Shlps and Saihng" and "New Equipment" side-
bars for .nformauon about the small fiverboats commonly
used 10 Oark Age Russia and for details on properly navigat-
mg and crewmg the PCs' boat.
TH~ ( H"Mê-JS ~iv"
Th1s rnbutary of the On1eper ts relanvely slow (about 1 mph),
and vanes between 20+1d2o feet wide. lyp1cal depth is 6~2d4
feet. Rocks and sandbars present nu1sances to those sail'mg the
nver's course, but mosr of them are easily avoided. Once the
river enrers the Haunted Wood, 11 takes on a much wilder
characrer. Afrer f1ll10g the Jake at the edge of the forest, the
Chemak forces uself through the Witch Fens, splitting into
shallow channels and fet1d pools. The main anery of the
Chernak barely moves (speed of 5 feet) through the swamp,
and its width and deprh are reduced as weil (10+1d10 feet wide,
6+1d4 fee t deep).
RIVERS Of BLOOD
HAUMHD WOOD~ [M(OUMH ~~
A·. lon:•. ,,., 1tw I'C-. .11 ,. nf'.1r tlw ~horf' wtwn rhe• r monoxvl.l
,., !"'·" h•·d.
do nol <oll lor r.mdom encoumers Should rhc
I'C•, vr•nlun· h•·vond rfw livt•r tlora.o,m:: or hummg. perhJps).
r nil ~<ho .md 'on'>ulr llw l.tl>l•· lw-low.
Roll Resuh
1 ,,
No ln1 uunlr·r
i H1uwn B•·.n 1 LL ·1
/') Wolv•·'> •ll ·l'
1) Hunh~r., Ill ·1
Ill Sh;ulow ill l l
-, Brown Bcar: hp .'i': Mo/1\lt~r Manu.1!1g3. This creaJure
a11.11.b rhe I'C'> 11 -.urp11'> t·d or r~pproached.
-, Wolvcs (6): hp '.! '''" h: Momler Manua/204. These
creatures hunr liu~ I'C., unlll rlwy rc;~eh rhc safery of camp.
illhey can lum1: down OIH' chJracrcr. rhey willlt>..ave the orh··
ers alone.
f Huniers, Male Human Wan (g): CR 1/2: Medium-size
HumJnotd lti 11 1.1111. HD uiH· > lancludes Toughness fearl; hp
g: Spd 30 Il .. AC to: Ar~ "mclt~t: ltd4icnr rg-;w. daz.ger), or
+liJn.<:ed tujfi/1 r11 · .!· \horri.Jowl: AL N: SV Fort +2, Rel +o.
W1ll •o: Su 11. Df'x 10. Con 11. ln! 10. W1s 11. Cha 10.
SJ..t/1~ H.mdl•· An1m.1l • 4· lnltmtdare +2. Professson
thunr.. r, ·l. s ..,,m •-1 leJI\ Toughness. Weapon Focus
i'>horrt.ow•
PO.\\C'.\\101!\ Shorthow w11h 20 arrows. da&,<>er.
The hunr~r '> ,Jrr· loc. al HJunted Wood Slavs. They are
very ~uc;pouou\ ol lhr· re ... Jlrhoueh they attack only if the
charJc.ler'> thrt•Jr ..n rhem Reter ro the NPC Atîitudes rules
ln rhe Dwvr;/tW MA>t/1(\ Gutde. paee 149· for nandlmg this
encounll'r Trr•JI rtw hunt er~ as tn111allv Unfriendly.
-, Shadow: hp u1: Momlt~r M.mual 161. This monster
Jllemph to sl.1y J'> many ot rhe chJracrers as 11 can. hoping
10 1Jols11~r Il'> rank'> w11h mort' shadows.
Ir will probably take lhe characters about a day to reach the
Haunted Wood, and anolher Iwo to reach the Witch Fens. This
travel rime assumes there are no delays.
Hê-VNHb Woo6
The Haunted Wood ls actually lnhab1ted, albeit sparsely, by
fiercely independent Slavlc clans. No Rus or Scandinavian
warlord has met wlth any success at subjugaring the little
thorps rhat are spr10kled about this forbidding forest. lt is
beheved thal the Slavs who hve rhere are strongfy protected
by the sp.r1rs of 1he1r ancesrors as well as spirits of the forest.
When the PCs en rer the Haunted Wood, read or paraphrase
the text below
The river nlfTOWS as If passes from the open grassland into
the Haunred Wood. The shade of the graf trees surround-
~ you increases as the Chernlk quielty moves forward.
Long srretches of the river are endosed by a canopy of
grasp1ng limbs aboYe. turnlng the wortel as dark as a moon-
less nlght. Even when the W8ter widens and the sun's blessed
rays Sh'lke fhe blue body beneath the boat, the limbs above
beckon to one enother untll they embrace again, sheltering
ali below ln false nlght once more.

RIVERS OF BLOOD
Give the Haunted Wood a supernatural atmosphere. The
PCs should reel as if they are in a place where they are defi-
nllely oulstders, watched by the sptrlls that dwell in the forest
and nver. For effect, you m•ght tell a PC she sees something
dart behtnd a rree, but only out of the corner of her eye.
Another PC mtghr gltmpse the transparent face of an unearthly
woman 1n the swtrl of a nver eddy. These ideas are not to gen-
erale any real game encounters. but to pur the players in the
nght mood.
Il •s quite posstble the PCs wtll encounter the human Slavs
who dwell wtthm the proteclive Haunted Wood. A few thorps
are noted on the map (ahhough others undoubtedly exist).
'ii' Typical Thorp: Convenfional: AL LN; 40-gp li mit; Assets 20
gp • 0.1 Populatton; 2o-8o (humans only).
Authortty FtgUres: Zupan (a clan chieftam), typtcally a war-
rtor Oevel td6}. volkh (a shaman), an adept of level td4.
lmpommt Characrers· Crea re as needed. Most NPCs will be
tSt-level commoners. but a few key characters who are impor-
tant to your campaign can eas•ly find a home in one of these
small settlements.
32 novembcr december "'" 'l
èW't~
------
OtMrs: Please refer to Chapter 4:
Advenrures 1n the Dt.JNGEON MASTCR's
Gui<Je.
Nores. Most butldmgs are semi-sub-
terranean dwelhngs. wtth aboveground
walls conslructed of wattle-and-daub or
timber. The roofs are made of thatch.
Small farm plots and animal pens are
anached 10 most dwelhngs.
NPC Antrudes: Consider the Slavic
inhabttants as Unfnendly toward any-
one from outstde the Haunted Wood.
Well-armed strangers are unwelcome,
and lhose who are accompanied by
hungry refugees more so. Please refer
to the DuNGCON MASTER's Guide, page
'49· regarding the PCs' chances of
influencing the lnhospltable tribal Slavs
with Charisma or Diplomacy checks.
Rt. The Rapids. Read or paraphrase the
followmg rexr when the PCs reach rhe
Chemak's rough water:
~ roc:b poke aboYe the surface of
the nver frequenrty as the river
begins to wind and curve, and the boat
ls squeezed berween the high banks of
the wooded shores. The boat lurches
from side to side end plummers a few
feet when lt slips over small waterfalls.
The Chemak grows louder. and its hiss
fils the lir lib the blue and white
explosions thar burst againsf the hui.
There ts no place for the PCs ro
beach the craft due to the steep banks
and rushmg water. Should lt become an
issue, the banks are approximately 20
feet higher than the water level.
Trap (EL 4): This natural hazard can deal damage to the ship
and its navigaror. The navtgator must make a successful
Wtldemess Lore check (OC 15) ro dtrect the crew safely
rhrough the rocks: ali normal check modtfiers listed in the
"Shtp Rules" stdebar apply fa,lure indtcates minor damage to
the shlp. requtnng td4 days to repatr. A fatlure of 5 points or
more means the shtp sustains ma1or damage. requiring 2rl4
days to repatr The navigaror must make a successful Reflex
savtng rhrow (OC 15) if the Wilderness Lore check fails. Failure
means the PC is thrown overboard and subject ro battering
and drownmg. Unless the characrer 1S recovered from the
warer, he takes td6 points of damage each round from smash-
mg tnlo rocks and tumblmg down cascades. The battering
waters last for 8 rounds. ln addilton. each round the character
must make a Swtm check (OC 15); fa,Jure reqUtres the charac-
ter to make another check. Fa•ltng this second check means the
character 1s pulled underwater. Refer 10 Water Dangers in rhe
DUNGCON M.4STER's Guide (pages 8s-86) for details.
-(" Rtver Raptds: CR 4: td6 points of damage per round and
drownmg: Reflex save avotds (OC •s); Wtlderness Lore (OC •s>
acrs as Dtsable Deviee check.

PCs can attempt to re.scue a character who has gone over-
board Rescuers who make a successful Swim or Use Rope skill
check (OC 10) can add a +2 c1rcumstance bonus to a victim's
Sw1m checks Csee the Aïd Another rule 1n the Player's Handbook,
page 135). A character can eas1ly be ftShed out of the water once
past the rapids. as the nver becomes quue shaUow.
Rz. Servant of the Rtver Ooddess. Read or paraphrase the fol-
lowmg text when the PCs reach this sect1on of the river:
The r1ver passes by a pool fhat IS probably JO feet in diam-
eter. A laf:ge. monolithic stone marb rhe boundary between
the pool and river, juning out of the water some 10 feet.
Strange runes are etched across on ifS surface.
An ogre using a massive spear to bob a line and hook in
the water slts cross-legged by the pool.
A successful Knowledge (arcana) or Knowledge (religion)
check (OC 10l identifies the runes as symbols of the local river
goddess. as weil as others invokmg protection, healing, and
knowledge. A successful bardic knowledge check (OC 20)
reveals th1s. as weil as that the pool 1s supposedly magical (see
··oevelopment" below).
RIVERS OF Bluûû
If the PCs do not 1mmed1ately anack, the ogre addresses
them tn Slav1c (loudly but not fluently). Read or paraphrase the
text below·
"Pay hamage ro the River Goddess or sail no further upon
her waters!" commands the ogre. "The Pool awaits your
gtfts."
Creature (EL 6): Onm1r, an ogre sorcerer devoted to the
R1ver Goddess demands trtbute for the deity from the rare
boat trafflc that passes by The ogres of Russian and
Scandmavian legend were bel1eved to have magical powers,
ahhough some were fUSt brutes. If th1s adventure is berng
played in a h1storical settmg. the PCs mtght suspect thar Orim1r
has supernatural ablfit1es. His appearance 1s much the same as
the normal ogre, but his clothlng is much better. Orimir wears
a long tunlc, baggy trousers, and a wolf fur cloak.
~ Orlmlr, Male Ogre Sor4: CR 6; large Giant (g ft. 7 in.);
HO 4d8+8 plus 4d4+8: hp 50; lnlt ·t (Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 13
(-• slze. -1 Oex, +5 narural); Atk +IO melee (2d6q huge great-
club), or +3 ranged (2d6+5/crit XJ, Huge longspear}. Reach 10
ft. (15-20 fr. wtth longspear}. Al N: SV Fort +7, Ref +3, Will
+s; Str 21, Oex 8, Con 15. lnt 11, Wts 10, Cha 13.
Dun~n ,n
----
 RIVERS OF BLOOD
1

If the PCs answer Orimir's ultimatum

with a shore party attack, he fights to
the death.
Orimir directs PCs to the pool to
make their offerings if they choose to
parley with him. A Knowledge (religion)
check (DC 10) means characters know a
religious offering should be something
of real value. Jewelry or well-crafted
items are expected from the upper
classes (which the adventurers most
likely are). If the PC's toss 300-500 gp
worth of goods into the pool, Orimir is
satisfied. If the PCs offer more rhan soo
gp in jewelry, they have made a friend
(see the "Development" section). If the
PCs are short on goods thar would make
a suitable offering, Predeslava can offer
her silver ring set with amber (2oo gp
value) to help the cause. If the PCs do
opt to attack, none of the other passen-
gers help, as they're far too intimidated
by the fearsome ogre.
Once the PCs have made the proper
offering, Orimir places his arcane mark
on the keel of their boat. The mark rep-
resents his persona! name, but includes
symbols of the River Goddess. He states
the magic runes will identify them as
worthles ro the Child of the River
Sl<Nis: Climb +4, Concentration +4, Knowledge (arcana) +2, Goddess. Orimir performs a ritual blessing and lets the PCs go
Knowledge (religion) +2, Listen +2, Spelfcraft +2, Spot +3. their way.
Feats: Lightning Reflexes, Spell Focus (Enchantment), Weapon Treasure: A small collection of precious items has gathered
Focus (grearclub). at the bottom of the pool of the River Goddess, 20 feet below
Spel/s (6/713 per day: base DC = 11 + spelllevel): o-arcane the surface. The pool contains a gold bracelet (so gp). a silver
mark, dancing lighrs, detecr magic, disrupr undead, prestidigi- coffer (400 gp), and ni ne gems worth soo gp (X2), 100 gp (x3),
tation, read magic; ISt-charm person, mage armor, magic mis- and 50 gp (><.t). A successful Search check {DC 25) locates
sile; 2nd-mirror image. these items plus any the PCs might contribute. lt should go
Possessions: Two porions of cure lighr wounds, ring of without saying that Orimir does not tolerate the removal of
;umping. Huge longspear. Huge greatclub, silver bracelet (300 offerings to the River Goddess.
gp). pouch containing an amber {100 gp). a citrine (so gp), 20 Development: Generous PCs are we(come to stay for a
gp, and 100 sp. while with Orimir, but he does not have provisions to feed any
Tactics: Although he carnes a mighty club at his side, refugees that might be accompanying them. Orimir is mildly
Orimir sincerely wishes for a peaceful encounter. lgnoring or interested in the news of the world, but only as it might affect
attacking Orimir might cause the PC's grief later, if not sooner. life in the Haunred Wood. He knows a covey of hags dwell in
A good parley with this pious giant not only assists them in the fens past the Haunted Wood and bids the PCs to take
their river journey, but Jf things go really weil, they might earn every precaution. He also tells them a little of the mysreries of
a unique ally. the River Goddess and reveals sorne of the magical properties
If the PCs try to bypass Orimir without harming him in any of the sacred pool.
way, he will not attack them, but he declares they have cursed The water in the pool can increase the effectiveness of
themselves. "The Children of the River Goddess will feed upon potions related to healing. Any cure wounds potion created
your ungrateful hearts!" with the pool's water provides the maximum healing allowed,
If the PCs try to bypass Orimir but hurl missiles or spells at as if the brewer had used the Maximize Spell feat when mak-
him, he casts mirror image and mage armor on himself. Next ing the potion. To be effective, the water must be blessedupon
he casts charm person against an enemy to make the assailant taking it from the pool. Each amount taken from the pool (clay
leave him alone. If this faits, then he begins hurling magic mis- jug, waterskin, glass bottle, and so on) will make one potion.
siles, targeting enemy spellcasrers first. If the PCs manage to The bless spell preserves the water's special properties for one
deal a lot of damage to Orimir (reducing him to 6o% of hit week plus one day per level of the caster. After thar. the water
points) and he depletes his magic missiles, he uses his ring of becomes normal if it has not been made into a potion.
jumping to land in the PCs' boat, If possible. The enraged ogre Subsequent bless spells cannot prolong the duration of the
withdraws from combat if reduced to 20% of his hit points. water's properties past the original timeframe. A successful

34 novemher 1december 20 0 1

Spellcraft or bardic knowledge check (DC 20) enables a char-
acter to determine the pool's proper1ies.
The PC's should be awarded experience for Orimir only if
they sacrifice enough treasure to receive his arcane mark or
if they defeat him in combat. Since the ogre is not determined
to stop the faithless, bypassing the monster is no great task.
R3. Child of the River Goddess. If the PCs received Orimir's
arcane mark on their ship, read or paraphrase the following
texr:
The lake is calm and wide. and no breeze dlstutbs the blue
surface. Before long, the boat seems to propelltself toward
the river exit on the far side of the lake. The boat moves fast
enough that the sat1s blow bac:kward.
If the characters did not receive Orimir's arcane mark, read
or paraphrase the following rext:
The lake is calm and wide. with no breeze disturblng its blue
surface. Before long. though, the water seems to bol1 around
the boat. The timbers of the keel creak and bulge inward, and
suddenly rhe boat begins to lurch from side to side.
Creature: (El s): A water elemental resides in the lake.
Besides the elemental, there is nothing unusual about the
water. lt communicates with Orimir whenever the ogre makes
short pilgrimages to the lake on certain holy days. lt assists or
harasses mor1als based on the conditions lisred above.
~ large Water Elemental: hp 68; Monster Manua/84.
Tactics: The elemental merely speeds marked boats across
the water. If the PCs attack the elemental, il retaliates.
The elemenral tries to sink the boat after inirially threaren-
ing with its underwater buffets. To do this, ir needs ro deal 20
points of damage ro the vessel, which has a hardness of 5· This
amount of damage is enough to put a hale in the hull, causing
the boat to begin taking on water. If left unattended, it will sink
in rd6 rounds. ln addition. its speed is reduced by half.
Passengers can bail water ro prevent the boat from sinking.
For every rwo passengers who bail water, reduce the number
of rounds before the boat sinks by one. NPCs in the boat will
begin bailing only if directed by the PCs to do so, as they ali
respond to the attack with complete panic. Once there is a hale
in the vessel, the elemental attacks unril it has either killed one
of the PCs (thus appeasing the river goddess with a sacrifice
of sorne value) or it has lost so% of its hit points. The crea-
ture prefers to use siam attacks. but if a PC should go below
the surface, it uses its vortex ability.
A few things are in the PCs favor should the elemental
attack them. They are only 30 feet from shore when the attack
occurs, and the lake is only 40 feet deep at thar point. Should
combar ensue. other passengers pitch in to defeat rhe elemen-
tal, although only 1d4 of them can reach it in a given round.
Development: The elemental retums a year after it is
destroyed, should the PCs manage that feal. Orimir knows of
the conflict and treats the PCs as enemies should he encounter
them later.
TH ~ WitCH ftN~
Read or paraphrase the following text when the PCs reach the
Witch Fens:
-
RIVERS OF BLOOD
As chilllng as the Haunred Wood ls, this desolata rnarsh
makes your SfOm8Ch f-' small and sick. The Chemak tums
slu.ggish. as If lt does not wish to venture 1nto this tangled
miSS of unNfy weeds. Where the trees of the Haunted
Wood seemed llive and ready to striee, the trees that dot the
wet fields of 1he Wlfch Fens look dead, and they would not
look odd If hanged men swung from their blackened llmbs.
As noted in the Chemak River description, the main chan-
nel flowing through the Witch Fens is slow (speed of 5 feet).
The marsh is covered in thick vegetation, murky pools, and
deep mud. Clumps of rrees offer the only landmarks.
The Fens are dominated by a covey of hags: Ser1ha (green
hag), Abaava (green hag), and Volkul (annis). Ser1ha is the only
hag the PCs will encounter during this adventure, but the ath-
ers can be developed for later adventlfres.
The Witch Fens are also home to some isolated Slavic clans
thar fear the hags who prowl the marshes. They are much
more hostile than those of the Haunred Wood, and encounters
with them usually end violently. They are masters at ambush-
ing and evading the slaver expeditions from Sarbas, and the
raiders rarely find anything more than arrows in their backs
and deserted hamlets. There are no planned or random
encounters with these human inhabitants of the Witch Fens in
this adventure, but you might find their existence helpful in
designing future advenrures in the Sarbas region.
Event 5· Missing! This event occurs on the moming afrer the
PCs have spent their first nighr in the Witch Fens. Two of the
refugees, Dmitri and Vladimir, have disappeared after trying
their luck at fishing in a nearby pool in the early moming
hours. Read or paraphrase rhe fotlowing if the PCs investigate:
The footprints of the young men mark the muddy shore of
their chosen fiShing hole. The prlnts clrcle about the pool and
dlsappear into the brush on the other side. Their fishlng
potes and a small pile of flsh stiH walt for them.
As the ground is soft and muddy, a PC with the Track feat
can make a Wildemess Lore check (DC s) ro follow Dmitri and
Vladimir. A character without the Track feal will be able to use
the Search skill (DC 10) as weil. The two sets of prints soon join
a third set made by someone with small, bare feet, possibly a
woman. Their tracks march almost in a straight line, only devi-
ating to bypass quagmires and murky ponds, until they reach
a well-used animal trail. Ali three disappear at that point and
are replaced by another set of bare footprints: This set is
large, sinking deep into the earth between large strides. The
new prints follow the nature trail. roughly heading east.
Dmitri and Vladimir were foolish enough to follow dancmg
lights cast by Sertha, and then they pursued her shapely sil-
houette after she used her change self ability. Once they
reached the trail that leads to her lair, she used her weakness
ability to subdue them and carried them home with her (she did
not want to have to carry them ali the way from the flshing
hale). She did not use her pass without trace ability because
she does not care whether other mortal snacks Invite them-
selves to her hut for dinner.
If the PCs continue their hunt for Dmitri and Vladimir by
following the hag's tracks, you should begin using the "Isle of
the Witch" encounters.
RIVERS OF BLOOD
I~Lt or tHt Wit<H
The followtng encounters are keyed to the Isle of the Witch
map above.
Wt. The Pits. Read or paraphrase the followmg after the PCs
have followed the hag's tracks for a mele or so:
An open ptt straddles the trall at this potnt. A skeleton ~es at
the bonom. 20 feet below. impaled on wooden spikes_
There IS nothmg of value en the pli. and even the skeleton's
rags have long desappeared.
Traps (El 2 each): The real traps are on eether side of the
open pel, JUSt off of the trael. Unhke the pel on the trail, these
20-foot deep pets are concealed weth turf and brush stacked on
a covenng of stout. woven reed mats.
-1' Spiked Pet Trap: CR z; no anack roll necessary C2d6),
+to melee (td4 sptkes for •d4+2 pomts of damage per success-
ful hu); Reflex save (OC 20) avoeds; Search (OC 20); Disable
Devece (OC 20).
36 novembcr de< l'ffibi'J ''"Il
Wz. Bndge of Bones.
The path ends at a bridge made
entirely of bones thal spans 40 feet of
the rnurlty water, connecting the
soaY land 10 . . blind surrounded by
thick briar hedges. Muddy trads
cover the horrid bridge of gnawed
and yelowed bones. The old skuls thet
serve as post maners along the
bridge's length seem to chalenge any-
one who might consider leaving their
own tracks on the Foui structure.
Ahhough the creepy bridge groans
and creeks. and bits of bone might flake
off as characters walk across it, the
bridge is sturdy. Portions of the bridge
are composed of animated skeletons.
Creatures (El 4): A dozen partial
skeletons guard the bredge from intru-
seon by any humanotd not in the com-
pany of Sertha.
_, Skeletons (tz): hp 6 each; Monster
M:mual•6s.
Tactics: Six skeletons line each side
of the bndge servrng as posr maners.
They weil not anack untel an mtruder has
reached the mîdpoml of the bridge. At
thar lime, ali the skeletons anack anyone
they can reach weth thea- daws. The
skeletons have no way of leaving theer
positions. When a skeleton is destroyed.
the mtegnty of the bndge is jeopardized.
For each one destroyed. there is a 5°o
cumulateve chance the bridge will col-
lapse. Skeletons tumed and destroyed
by a cleric increase this cumulative
chance ro eo%. The falling bridge will
dump any characters lnto the moal below (where they will
likely be anacked by the Creatures there). Characters within 5
feet of either shore can 1ump to (relatlvely) dry land by mak-
eng a successful Jump check. If the bredge collapses. the skele-
tons are effechvely out of combat, even if ali of them were not
destroyed by the event thal destroyed the brtdge.
W3. The Moat. Sertha's esland es surrounded by a natural moat.
Ahhough the water es only 3 feet deep. the mud at the bonom
es excepllonally theck, halveng a character's speed. Creatures
also guard the moat.
Creatures (El 3): Zombies, buned en the mud under the
bndge. waet for any creature to come wethm 10 feet before
they anack. They can be descovered weth a detecf undeao'spell
or by acllvely makeng a Spot check (OC •sl. Characters need
10 specifically srare thar they are lookeng under the bridge ro
receeve th1s Spot check. They cannot reach characlers on the
bridge and weil not anack them.
_, Human Zombees (6): hp 16 each; Monsrer Manualtgt.
Tactics: The zombies rese to anack any creature passing
within 10 feel. As the zombies are slow, they do not have a
chance to surprise characters coming near rhem. Characters
 RJVERS OF BLOOD

who happen to laU or tump from the bridge onto the zombies encounrermg Ugdn1r, he Will be found watching the combat
are caught llatfooted unless they are already aware of them. between the two groups from behmd the inner yard's gate a
These undead creatures only auack characrers in the moa1. few rounds after the growhng and biting begins.
-, Ugdn1r, Ogre: hp JO! Monsrer Manua/'44·
W+ Outer Yard. Taches: Ugdn1r w1ll not venture mto the outer yard. but he
anacks the PCs 1f they enter the mner yard. If reduced to 5 hit
The endosed y.-d his • buren down path ~the perime- potnts or fewer, Ugdn1r parleys w1th the PCs. If ignored. he
rer ~ the hedges lnd rwo vistie exifS, one leadng to the assumes the PCs are go1ng fight ro the death and does the
bridge and another barred by a gate made of bones and same.
skuls. 1he yard's only landmA is a rangled mass of briars Should the PCs mterrogate Ugdnir, they discover thar he
near '"center. knows very httle about Senha. They do leam he fears the hag
and thar he 1s convmced she is often nearby, invisible and
Casual mvesuga11on of this area reveals rracks matching watchmg h1m, trymg to l1sten to his rebellious thoughts. He
the ones found on the brtdge. A Wildemess Lore check (DC 10) knows she brought two ragged humans to the island recently.
indicates thar wolves must either live in the area or at least Treasure: Under Ugdn1r's srraw bedding is a sack contain-
frequent 11 olten. Wolves have left tracks along the path and ing bone dice, a chunk of amber (250 gp),
piles of manure here and rhere, and none of these four moonstones (so gp each), and 100 sp.
signs are more rhan a few days old. A
Wilderness Lore check (OC 15) reveals
a slight parh roward the gare; 1ts traf-
fic consists mamly of humanolds and
herd an1mals.
Creatures (EL 4): Two worgs
wa11 under the brambles ln the
yard's cenrer. Due to th1ck con·
cealment of the br~ars, they
rece1ve a •4 c1rcumstance bonus
to the1r H1de checks.
-, Worgs (2): hp 35· 28; Monsrer
Manua/184
Taches: The worgs anempt to anad
unwary characters, preferrmg ro catch
them between the bnar patch and one
of the mtenor hedge walls and hoping
to cul off the characrers' escape roure.
They pursue neemg VICIImS If no com-
bative rargets remam. The pair dlsen-
gages from a pa11y thar reduces them
to 50% of thelr total hit points, but they
do not leave the yard unless the PCs
press an alluck agalnst them. If the PCs
derect the worgs before they spring
the~r ambush, the evil wolves artack
immed1ately
Treasure: lnves11ga11ng the worgs'
la1r rPveals scattered bones. one of
wh1ch has a plam gold bracelet (1oo gp)
attached.

Ws. lnner Yard. The mn~r yard serves

as a pen for the assoned anunals (2d4
ptgs, td6+~ cows, and 2d8 chidens)
Senha has srolen and ra1sed. Ugdmr, an
ogre shepherd. watches over them. The
bored ogre 1s amuous for a bttle
exc11ement
Creature (EL 2): Ugdmr IS nor-
mally found near his lean-ro,
rhmk1ng about how much he would
like to escape Sertha. Should the
PCs encounter the worgs before
RIVERS OF BLOOD
W6. Witch's latr Sertha ls normally encountered in her pri-
vate sectiOn of the tsland. If the PCs have encountered the
worgs prevtous ro thts encounter, please read or paraphrase
the followmg rext:
A modest puunt hut, ils enmnce dlrt lnd fortlidding. Wlils
ln lhe westem corner. A ~ elly oven. not f• from lhe
hut, - fO be lhe IOUI'œ cf deldous ~ bruel.
Baide me oven reliS a .... IOOty cUdron supported by
a thlck. wooden h'tpod. Wooden ban c:over a pit near the
ustem brtar wal.
If Sertha has no waming of the PCs intruston (thar ts, they
managed to avotd mak1ng a great deal of noise in areas W4 and
ws). modify the boxed text above by addtng this section:
A bent, old woman puHers about the yard. Her hair appears
to be a wild tangle of drled weeds, whlle her wrinkled skln
shows a putrid green tone under lts rhin, white palor. Her
flngers end ln claws thlr could strip bark from a rree or tear
flesh from a man.
If rhe PCs mvesttgate the area, they dtscover Serrha's foot-
pnnts wnh a successful Search check (OC to). The clay oven
conrams sorne tasty loaves of bread, but the old cauldron is
empry and cold.
The barred ptt contatns the mtssmg refugee villagers, Dmitri
and Vlademer. The pu es only 6 feet deep. and the prisoners can
escape once the ropes securmg the wooden griU to sunken
stakes are unlled or cut.
Dmnrt and Vladtmrr (male human Comt. Handle Animal +2)
have been fed weil by the hag, and even though rhey are
scared of her, they love her thick loaves of bread and roasred
pori.. The ogre shepherd rs the only other island inhabitant
they are aware of.
Creature (EL sl: Sertha is cooking when the characters
arrive. If she has had any ktnd of warnrng, she uses her invis-
lbility and pass without trace abilities to conceal her presence.
She walts by her hut for the PCs, looklng for a chance to
ambush them. She would like to trap them ln her hur if she can.
If she cannot allack from ambush, so be Il. Sertha does not
wail for the PCs to wear her down wirh mrssiles or spells.
'J Sertha, Green Hag: hp 45; Mons ter Manuaf 115.
Possess1ons: Pouch contamlng a potron of cure moderate
wounds.
Tactics: Sertha likes to use her weakness power on an
enemy firsr. but if the target succeeds ar makrng its Fortitude
save (OC tJ) the first nme, she goes straight to npping and
teanng wnh her claws. Should the vrcttm farltts first save. she
tnes another weakness touch anack, hoprng ro reduce her
opponent to o Srrength; helpless victrms are particularly
amusrng to Sertha
Oevelopment: Regardless of the PCs' actions, Serrha
attacks them before they leave her la•r If she is reduced to
30°o of her hir points. she attempts ro evade the characters
usrng her mvtsibillty power. Once she is cerram the party has
put sorne drstance berween themselves and her, she attempts
ro follow them back ro therr camp. She does her best to leam
as much about the heroes as she can, putring her Listen skill to
good use white avoidmg contact with the PCs or anyone else.
Soon afrerward, she begins schemlng her revenge ....
:~H nov~mbPt dt•t emlll'r '""l
W7. The Hut.
The lu's one room ls a smely mess. thici wilh lhe odor of
luves .... hiYe roned under lhe lfi8J'IN pools of the
swamp. A rhick bolrd supporftld by two barrels of uneven
hel&ht .......... tlble ln lhe center cf the ~
Aslorted crodwiry, Unpy ucb, lnd klncliW .-e pressed
. . . . the .... covered ln dust lnd ccrbwebs. The dirt floor
il lfChlly covered ln straw.
The crockery contarns assorted dried herbs and plants, and
the lumpy sacks contarn grarn. Spiders and assorted harmless
vermln make thetr homes tn every crevice and dark space
they can find.
Treasure: Hidden ln one of the table barrels is a golden
grivna (Eastern tore worth soo gp), an evory comb decorated
with sllver dragons (2oo gp), a silver bracelet (roo gp), ten
amber pleces (lOO gp each), a potion of charlsma, and a potion
of bu/l's strength.
~~,~~~
The tradrng senlement of Sarbas rs bnefly described below.
Vou wrll find enough detarl to run the fast chapter of rtus
adventure as weil as a good startrng pomt for developing
future rntngues in thts sordrd, v•olent town.
W Sarbas (small town): Nonstandard, AL N; 8oo-gp lrmit;
Assers 40.000 gp: Populatron t,ooo; humans only.
Authomy Figures: Spytrhnev, male human Ft17. Prince
(Khagan) of Sarbas: Blud, male human Ftr8. the Khagan's
Deputy (Beg).
Important Characters: Uncle Khur11sa. male human Exp3
(merchant}. Rogvolod, male human Ariz/ Wan (noble); Mojm1r,
male human War3 'Exp• (merchant ~ Edeco, male human
Exp4/ War2 (merchanr): Kaloyan, male human Ftr4/ An2
(noble~ Sigurd, male human Bbn4 (berserker duelist); Drozd.
male hu man Clr 4 khief shaman).
Others. Khagan's Guard. Ftrs, Ftr3. Ftr2 (J), Ftrt (6), Warr
(2o): Town Militia, War6, War3 (z), Wart (47); Bodyguards and
Mercenaries, Ftr4 (2), Ftrz (4), Ftrt (8), Bbn2 (z), Bbnr (4), War2
(4), Wan (sol; Brd4, Brd2 (z), Brdr (4); Cira (2), Clrr (4); Rgr2,
Rgr1 (2); Rog8, Rog6, Rog4 (2). Rog2 (4), Rog1 (8); Sorz; Expg,
Exps. Exp4 (z), Exp2 (4), Expt (z8); Arh (4); Adp4, Adp2 (2),
Adpt (4); Comz. Corn• (846).
Noies: The number of characters representing the fighting
classes rs a lrttle higher than normal 10 Sarbas. This is due ro
the historical soctetal condlltons of Dari. Age Russia; adven-
turers, warrior merchants, and ruffians flocked to the trading
settlements, seekrng nches
Town Mtlltta. Only a dozen warnors serve full-time; the rest
serve when needed. pulled from the rown's collection of
tradesmen and laborers. The mrltua ts controlled by the Beg
(who rs also the commander of the Khagan's bodyguard).
Bodyguards and Mercenanes.· These professionals com-
prrse the fightrng class NPCs employed and seeking employ-
ment tn Sarbas
Nonsrandard Govemmenr Khagan Spy11hnev rules a col-
lective of nobles and weahhy merchants. Hrs authorfty is by no
means absolute, but he is not simply a "first among equals." ft
must still be remembered thar the noble and the rrch are quire
independenr ln rheir pursuirs, and sorne of them control
Sarbas as much as the prince. Blud, the Khagan's deputy, is
 ~
~
RIVERS OF BLOOD

probably the mosr powerful man in

Sarbas. He d1recrly conrrols the largesr
number of armed men in rhe town and
w1ll not hesuare ro use them •f any of the
elire wamor merchant familles anempts
ro usurp the Khagan. SigUrd. the berserk
duelisr. ls a dangerous tool used by the
noble fam•hes of Sarbas. When a dispute
cannot be senled by rhe Khagan's
advrce. S•gurd IS h1red lo sertie maners
thar have been approved for legal rnals
by combat.
Law and Order: The laws 10 place are
only meant to curb violence, not punish
ir. This is mostly accomplished by pro-
viding fines for murders. although
vendenas are common even if the law-
fui fines are paid to a vlctim's famlly.
The deputy and town mililla do nor stop
small skinmshes, as thal is "famlfy busi-
ness." On the orher hand, lhieves are
often hanged.
PopulatiOn: The population temporar-
•ly swells rn the lare summer, as nomad
horse and canle traders fillrhe town For
a monrh or so, Sarbas has double ris
normal population.
History: The seulement began as an
outposr for the dimimshrng Khazar
Empire based in the Casp•an. Durmg rhe
lare gth and early •oth centuries.
Scand10av1an warlords ruled Sarbas on
behalf of the Khazars. garhenng tnbure
on rhe1r paymasrers' behalf As
Khazarran rnfluence dw1ndled •n the face
of the nse of the Pechenegs on the
sreppes, Sarbas became independenr. lt
rerains lts Khazarlan name rhough, and
serves as home for many Aslatic nobles.
mercenaries, and merchanrs.

Read or paraphrase the follow10g when the PC's arrive in
Sarbas:
~ ~ grees • who come to s.-bas. The bodies
of rhose who cOYefed the possessions of others in fife can
now be seen ct.ngling by their nec:b from trees neM" the
edge of town. Beyond the corpses' gently ~ feet, a
colection of huh. rimber ~ and smal fons lie
crowded between the Witch fens end the Onieper and
Chemak rivers. Numerous INps llne the shores of the town,
their owners uslng them fO transpor1 furs. honey wax. and
slaves from as far 8WWi as Novgorod. Chiner fllls the air
• the mud. runure. lnd people fil me streets. a the
voices of Sllvs mix With Swedes, Bulglrs. Greeks. Oermans.
and Anlbs.
At Predeslava's urgmg. the group should head ro her
uncle's property as soon as rhey arrive. Read or paraphrase
rhe following when rhe PC's arrive at rhe compound belonging
to Predeslava's uncle:
D•rectlons to Khurifsa's manor were easily gained, and the
walled compound ls easlly found. Ifs two-story hall sets it
apan from most of the nurby dwellings. even the nicer
ones made of wood. A palisade. not much taler than a man,
surrounds the manor, alow•ng pnvacy if nor a tremendous
amounr of profectïOn.
Creature (El - ): Once Predeslava announces her arrivai to
rhe bored senrry looking rhrough a crack 10 the gare. Unlce
Khuritsa and his household warmly welcomes the PCs and
refugees. Uncle Khuritsa rs a fabulous host. even purchasing
tents for rhe refugees who cannot fit under his roof ar nighr.
h rs qurre evrdent he IS one of Sarbas's elite. He loves to swap
stones of heroic explotrs. relhng the PCs of rhe good old days
when he used to make the tourney every year to
Consranrmople. "rhe grearesr c•ty in ali the world.''
4' Uncle Khuntsa. Male Human Exp3: CR -; Medtum-stze
Humanotd (6 ft): HO 3d6; hp 14; lnil •4 (lmproved Initiative);
Spd 30 fr.• AC 10; Atk +3 melee (td8/crit •g-2o,longsword), +2
melee (1d4/crrt 19-20. dagger), or +2 ranged (1d4fcrit 19-20,
 - --~--
RJVERS OF BLOOD
dagger); AL NG; SV Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +3; Str u, Oex 10, Con
11, lnt 13, Wis 14, Cha 13.
Skills: Appraise +7, Bluff +6, Oiplomacy +g, Gather
Information +7, Handle Animal +s. lntimidate +7. Knowledge
(Geography) +s. Profession (Merchant) +6, Profession (Sailor)
+6, Sense Motive +7. feats: lmproved Initiative, Martial
Weapon Proficiency Oongsword), Weapon Focus Oongsword).
Possessions: Longsword, dagger with silver hih and gamet
in pomme! (soo gp), golden grivna (8oo gp), two silver hack
bracelets (2oo gp each), and a pouch containing 100 sp.
Event 6. Vendetta. The party has reached a sanctuary where
they can rest, heal. and make plans. Predeslava plans to stay
in Sarbas with her uncle until her brother sends for her. The
peaceful stay will abruptly change in about two weeks with the
arrivai of Viseslav and the captives from Ovotsk. Read or par-
aphrase the following text at thar rime:
Olni, Khuritsa's young footman. rushes inro the manor, our
of breath, his eyes large and his face pale. He announces
rhat Viseslav and his retinue are in the marker square rlght
now. looking to sell several dozen slaves.
Predeslava turns to her smaU warband and asks. "WiHyou
honor Igor and fulflll the blood debt owed him? Will you take
pity on the people we failed ro protect?"
If the PCs do not seem eager to combat Viseslav,
Predeslava argues rhat it will be much easier to fight Viseslav
in the market than it would be on any battlefield, as most of his
men are probably scattered around the town and will nol be
able to help their chieftain until it is too lare.
Uncle Khuritsa has a small bodyguard, less than a dozen
men, but he is willing to have them back up the PCs if they
agree to fight Viseslav. His men could prevent any of
Viseslav's stray men from coming to their leader's assistance
once the fighting begins. Uncle Khuritsa also appeals to the
PCs sense of prlde and honor, reminding them that if they
defeated Helgl the White, they should not fear Viseslav.
If the PCs refuse to fight Viseslav, Predeslava releases
them from service and Uncle Khuritsa tells them ro never
show their cowardly faces in his hall agaln. The PCs' reputa-
tion for cowardice will spread within the day, and they will
suddenly find thar merchants no longer carry the goods they
require, and inns are suddenly filled ro capacity as the people
of Sarbas rally around one of their citizens.
If the PCs agree to battle Viseslav in the market square.
read or paraphrase the followmg text:
The market ls no1sy and çrowded, and the s~ll of dirty
humans and animais mingtes with the luxurious scents of
spices and perfumes. Great and small collections of cattte,
hones, and slaves are lnspected, haggled over, and sold.
Just llke the animais, the faces of the human captives show
little interest in their future owners.
Khuritsa's footman subtly nods his head toward a large
warrlor with dark red hair whose beard ls streaked with
gray. He is laughing and talking with a young nobleman.
judging from the silver grivna about the man's neck and the
gold cloak pin on his unblemished dark green cloak.
Bored guards mill about the pair, watching each other and
the surrounding trafflc with littte interest. Small chests and
40 november/december 2001
sads sit belween the men. Three dozen or more prisoners
waif nearby, wtth ropes binding their hands and tethered
rogether to form a long. sad chain.
The footman whispers, "The older red beard ls Viseslav.
The young man is Uut, Rogwlod's son. Be ctreful with the
boy. His father has much influence." l<huritsa's anned men
have already woven themselves lnfo the market's activlty,
making a Yflf'Yioose circle about Viseslav and Uut. The trap
ls set.
Viseslav and Liut have just concluded a lucrative deal and
are making small talk. As long as the PCs do not blatantly
approach with weapons drawn, they have a chance to surprise
those they wish to attack, subjecr to Sense Motive checks for
anyone but Lîut (he relies on his guards for thar). ft is a iso pos-
sible the PCs might just cali our a challenge, which Viseslav and
his men will readily accept. Keep in mind rhat murders and
vendettas are common, and although not every day at the
market ends with a bloody showdown, it is not unheard of (and
has a high entertainment value to anyone not directly involved
in the contlict).
Creatures (EL 7): Listed below are Viseslav, Llut. and thelr
guards. A successful resolution to this encounter does not
necessarily mean the PCs have to defeat Liut and his men in
combat, but the PCs will need to take the slaves from them to
satisfy Predeslava and her honor. lt does not matter whether
the captives are freed by diplomacy, purchase, threat, theft,
or violence.
f' Viseslav, Male Human Ftrs / Aril: CR s; Medium·size
Humanoid (6 ft. 4 in.); HO 5d10+15 (includes Toughness feat};
hp so; lnit +4 (lmproved Initiative): Spd 30 ft.; AC 17 (+s
chainmail, +2 shield): Atk +IO melee (1d8+6/crit 19-20, +1
fongswordJ, +8 melee (1d8+3/crit x3, battleaxe), or +5 ranged
(ld8+3/crit x3. shortspear); AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +3;
Str 17. Oex 10, Con 14, lnt 13, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills: Appraise +4, Bluff +6, Craft (armorer) +6, Oiplomacy
+6, Gather Information +6, Handle Animal +6, lntimidate +6.
Ride +6, Sense Motive +4, Swim ? •. feats: Blind-Flght,
lmproved Initiative. Mounted Combat, Power Attack,
Toughness, Weapon Focus (longsword), Weapon Specialization
(longsword}.
*lncludes the -1 penalty to Swim checks per 5 pounds of
gear carried.
Possessions: Chainmail, large wooden shield, +1 longsword
(Rotrs Bane. see below), banleaxe, two shortspears, amber
bead necklace (700 gp), gold cloakpin with gamet (2oo gp),
gold bracelet (100 gp), pouch containing 300 sp and 10 gp.
t Rolf's Bane: This weapon is a magic sword of minor fame.
ils name laken from a slain enemy of one of Viseslav's ances-
tors. The sword was allegedly forged and empowered with
magic by a dwarf named Svall (whose name is etched in silver
runes on the blade, near the hill). A bardic knowledge check
(OC 25) reveals this information, and possibly more, depend-
ing on what details you care to add to the sword's history for
the purposes of your own campaign.
f' Yiseslav's Guards, Male Human War1 (4): CR 1/2;
Medium-size Humanoid (6 ft.); HO 1d8+3 (includes Toughness
feat); hp u each: lnit +o; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16 (+4 chain shirt, +2
shield); Atk +2 melee (ld8/ crit XJ, battleaxe), or +1 ranged (1d6,
javelin); AL N; SV Fort +2, Ref +o, Will +O: Str 11, Con n, Oex
10, lnt 10, Wis 10. Cha 11.
 +2 melee (ld8/crn ><J. batrleaxe) or +1 ranged (ld6. javelin}, Al
[M(0UMUK UVtl (NAKT N; SV Fort +2, Ref +o. Will +o: Str "· Con "· Oex 10, lnt 10,
Summarized below are the Encounter levels (El) for ali the Wis 10, Cha 11.
encounters 10 "Rivers of Blood." Encounters are categorized Ski/ls: lntim1date +4. Profess1on Csa1lor) +4, Sw1m -6*. Fe;~ts:
by events and locallon. Toughness, Weapon Focus (baMieaxe).
•lncludes the -• penalty to Sw1m checks per 5 pounds of
Event Encounter Description El gear carried.
2 ~ Ughi Holaemeli. MMt Hüriilii w... 8) 5 Possessions: Cham sh1rt, large wooden sh1eld, battle;~xe,
2 , Ught Hol semen. .... Hulnln Win (8) 5 three javehns. hack silver bracelet (•dzox•o gp). pouch con-
2 , Munc1à. ~ Humln fh'3 1am1ng 100 sp.
with ~tb ....el\ Win (8) 8 Tactlcs: Viseslav and his guards make a stand against any
3 f" Helgi the Wh1te. Male Human Ftr4 anackers. HIS guards are supposed ro protee! rhe1r ch1eftain,
w1th f" Noble Warriors, Male but he is not afra1d of wading 10to combat Viseslav makes
f" Human Wan (4) and f" Bo1an, Male plenty of references 10 Rolfs Bane and h1s figh11ng prowess
Human Rogz/ Ftn 6+ during combat. The chieftain and his guards do not surrender
4 f" Tr1bal Warnors, Male Human Wan (g) 4 but do not pursue fleemg enemies to rhe edge of the market
6 'Vlseslav, Male Human Ftrs/Arh (Viseslav fears an ambush).
wlth ' Guards, Male Human Wan (4) If violence suddenly eruprs, liut's men join the fight against
and , Uut, Male Hum.. Ari2 the PCs. If the PCs can corwince liut and his guards that they
and ' Guards, Male Human Wan ~) are interested only in V1seslav. they will back away from the
fight A successful D1plomacy or ln11midare checlr. <OC 25) is
Haunted Wood Random Encounters sufflc1ent to accomphsh 1h1s, alrhough tf l1u1 or one of his
'J Brown Bear guards is artacked by a PC. ali bers are off. The PCs are
-~--..;
'J Wolves (6) awarded full exper1ence for overcom1ng l1ut and his guards if
f' Hunters. Mile Human Wan they defeat them m combat or if they ger them to agree to
• Shadow sorne kmd of truce.
L1u1 is lntenl on keepmg the newly bought slaves. If the PCs
Haunted Wood/ Chemak River demand the retum of the captives, l1ut explams thar he paid
Area Encounter Oescr1pt1on for them w1th goods totahng 1,ooo gp in value, and that he can
R1 ~ Trap (River Rap1dsl make 4.000 gp when he sells them 10 Constantinople. Liut will-
R2 ~ Orimir, Male Qgre Sor4 --~- mgly parts with the slaves •f offered J,ooo gp or if he loses
RJ 'J large Water Elememal 5 an opposed Oiplomacy check. If the PCs make a successful
ln11m1dare check (opposed by l1ut's Sense Mouve check). he
Witch Fens will accept 2,000 gp. liut and hts men o1herw1se anempt to
Aru Encounter Description El stop the PCs from freemg the capttves. The best solution is for
--~ w~ , -~ ~T ~ ~~~,~--~----~
np 2---
the PCs to defer lo Khuntsa, who can afford to bargain wilh
~ Trap (Splked Pit) 2 Uut. Olni quickly remmds the PCs of 1h1s opt1on should nego-
., Human Skelerons (lz) 4 tiallons occur after combat with Viseslav
., Human Zombies (6) 3 Treasure: The sacks and small chests ali belong ro Viseslav .
~ Worgs (2) 4 Somc of the items are payment he received for the slaves, but
~ Ugdnir, Male Ogre 2 most of the treasures are goods he has eilher bartered for or
Sertha. Green ~ 5 things he plans to sell or trade away. The PCs find the follow-
ing if they search the ptles and stacks: a silver chahce set with
SIHI!s: ln11m1date +4, Profession (sailor) +2, Sw1m +4. Feats: amethysts h.ooo gp), s11k cloak w1th gold thread 1r1m l7oo gp),
Toughness, Weapon Focus (banleaxe). s1lver cham and pendant w11h amber (6oo gp), small Byzantine
Possess1ons. Cham sh1rt, large wooden shteld, bartleaxe, tapestry of samts (JOO gp), ferrer of cred11 (zoo gp) payable
rwo 1avehns, hack s1lver bracelet (ld20XIO gp). bronze grivna by one Kelvar of Kiev, hack silver bracelet hso gp), 10 blue
(Eastern lore worth 50 gp), pouch contaming 10 gp and 6o sp. quartz ho gp each), and so glass beads (z gp each).
f" Liur, Human Male, Ar12: CR •: Med1um-s1ze Humanoid (6 Oevelopment: The PCs could eam a longstanding enemy
ft~ HO 2d8. hp 12: l011 +o; Spd 30 ft .. AC 10: Arlr. ...2 melee wuh the pompous Liut 1f they do not treal hlm wilh respect.
<•d8/cnt 19·20. longsword~ Al N. SV Fort +o. Ref •o. Will +2; They also eam his enmity 1f they artempt to take the prisoners
Str "· Dex 10, Con 11. lnt 11, W1s 8. Cha 11. and JUSt walk away wuhout even anempllng to negotiate for
SAII/s: Appra1se +s. Bluff •s. lnnuendo +4, ln11m1date +7, thetr release or sale If LIU! 1s mtured or k1lled by the PCs, they
R1de +s. Feats: Skill Focus Unt1midare), Weapon Focus can expect to be called m front of the khagan and a small
Clongsword). assembly of nobles to address the legal issues of the young
Possess1ons: longsword. s1lver grivna (Easrem tore worth man's dearh. A hearing w1ll mvolve arguments regardmg the
300 gp). gold cloakpm (zoo gp), pouch containing zoo sp and fault of the PCs and probably end 10 a fine of not less than
20 gp. 1,ooo gp or a rnal by combat berween one PC and S1gurd, the
f" uut's Ouards, Male Human Wan (.4): CR 1/ 2: Medium- berserk. duehst (see "Sarbas's Important Characters·· in the
size Humanoid (6 ft.>: HO td8+J (mcludes Toughness feat); hp cily star block above).
" each; Inti +o: Spd 30 ft.; AC 16 (+4 chain shirt, +2 shield); Atk

Once Vaseslav as removed as a rhreat to Predeslava (the PCs
need nor ~111 ham ro do th1s, but he would need to be somehow
caprured and conrrolled) and the capnves are freed, the
adventure as over. Everyone wtU ..now about the daring heroes
who faced down a powerful warlord an the martel. When
Ottakar amves an the fallto ta~e Predeslava home, he offers
them h1s heartleh rhanks and a sagned lerter of credit (soo gp)
thar w11l be honored m any ma1or Rus setrlemenr between the
Bah1c and the Black Sea
If the encounter w1th l1ut wenr badly, an ongoing conflict
arises between Khur1tsa and Rogvolod, even if a legal resolu-
tion 1s requtred for any unfortunare deaths (see the
"Developmenr" section above). This low intensity conflict could
serve as a backdrop to orher adventures in Sarbas or become
an impetus for an adventure ltself. ln addition. the PCs earn a
new enemy in Rogvolod. who has considerable resources at his
flngertips to makc lifc difficulr for upstart heroes who attack
his children.
The PCs should nnd Sarbas a good place for ali sorts of
future adventures. even tf they do not continue serving
Predeslava or her famtly d1recrly. Khuntsa 1s a good source of
informatiOn and sancruary for the PCs. Other than Khuritsa
and hts km. rhe PCs mtght be sought out by any number of
nobles and merchanrs needmg the1r services after their suc-
cess agatnsr V1seslav.
Speetftc advenrure hool.s mclude:
• The PCs m'Shi rake advanrage of the power vacuum cre-
ated by the nasty vendetta between Viseslav and Predeslava.
If they can repel the lawless Pecheneg bandits in the region,
they mtghr set up thetr own linle flefdom. lt remains to be seen
whether any of Vaseslav's men are srrong enough ro rake rheir
lord's place.
• Kin of Helgt the Whate or other warraors slain in the siege
on Ovotsk take umbrage aga1nst the PCs for siding with a
woman over thesr mighty kinsman. Blood oaths are swom to
clarm vengeance agamst the characrers. and the PCs must
constantly be on the lookout for would-be assassins.
• The rest of Senha's coven, the green hag Abaava and the
annts Volkul. decide 10 rake revenge upon the audacious
humans who dared take the hfe of thetr sister. They could
cause trouble by caprurmg ftshermen who work near the bor-
der of the fens or other rravelers on the road to Sardas, hav-
ing an impact on commerce in the community and its environs.
They might also develop an interest in the yearly livestock
drive into Sardos and use the opportunlty it affords to sup-
plement thelr own herds, maklng forays onto the road to town
to capture more of the tasty animais.
• If the PCs anacked or kllled Orimlr the ogre or the River
Goddess's water elemental minion, they might have incurred
the wrath of clergy of the goddess. If this is the case, they
mighr stan nndlng trouble of a deadly sort any lime they set
foot in a boat or a coastal town. n
Paul says. '"1 share my love of history and gaming 'With my
'Wife and fnends, and 1ded1cBte this ~venture to them and the
papt!r heroes and 1abletop W3rlords they bnng to fife. Special
th.mAs 10 Dave Gross who nudged me 10 write thiS adventure."

~n la created from uyatem thal Il dll 9

Choose from among OYer 150 aldlll tD crtlll your ctwlctlr.
Mlx and match skll1a tD crute acharlcter thal you want tD plly.
Charactar laval advancament la llml
Non-stop characler advancement llloWI )'OU to continUoully ldvlnct both your lldlla and )'011 goals.
Y011 can even pull a~ IMrlll on )111111' dlncter,clllnglnJYOIIf chlrlctlr
ma straight outf91tertDSOIMbactl•lllllldlllllllflllc;-P'lonic:s.
!~vile powen, potion tnwilg.IIIIMry,cr Il fi Ill IIIM.
The posslbllltJea are •'"n.ic:IÇ . ._
Choose "'Y race and select tn. -.y aldi.
As•Uflllltal~ -~~~~.::!!!::.!:~.!~

44 nov!'mbP.r d,., cmht>r .. "'"

 -k'l' S ettina
~W-%'\1(![ (1-5)
CVVifd'erness (cofcf desert) & ~j)unaeon (ra·wf
eT
he lande; to tht' north of
<:h ilization are cold inhoc;-
pirable. and 10 the ca:.c or
the Land of Black lee, o;upernaturally
dangerous. Thi:. massive ebon gia
Clt"T looms at the crown of the \\Orld.
~hielding w1told secrets from the hght
of the sun and scrving as the home of
countless unique and ofteo terrif} mg
~oreatures. Called frostft-11 by o;ome and
death by othcrs, il is a land of cruelt)'
and desolation mcarnate.
16 DU NCiEON OCTOBER 2004
• Ra1dcrs of ùtc Black lee· is desig~1ed
fM a party of four Jrd·levcl characters.
ldeally the group c;hould mclude a char-
acter thal ha:. the Track feat. This ad.,·en·
t'liTt' ft'arur('S many rules and creatures
dctailed in Frostbum · Masttnng tl~ Perilç
of /cc and Snow. published by Wizards
of theo Coa~t. A cop} of FroSlburn uùght
bi.· helpful to clear up situanons that may
anse during play wilh an inventive group
of player~. but ali the rules to pla) thi1>
ctd\·cutme as written are pro,ided here.

; \'f\'4'11IUY4' \ J3QC'K61'0 UI1d'
E\ery ~eir. villagcrs ou Lhc out)>kirls of
Bl.ackmoor tum û1e1r eyej; to th<' nnrth.
ftJnng tht" arrivai ofthe Black lee raider.;
Every )CaL, Û1c riüdc~ c.omc. plundcr a
fcw oud}1ng ettlements, and n•harn to
rht Rl:~ck let- v.ith their spoils.
This y~·ar. the raiders carne and
staycd. ln earl}' wanter. they look th~
coastal village ol Tonnsborg as their
o" n killing ali who opposcd them.
Slow!)'. thc-y ~ent ·mali groupe; of cap·
•urt'<! villallcrs inland onto the Bla~;k
kc. tu a hidJcn ~troughold. lhe num·
ber of nllagerc; rcm;nmng i,; now a
fraction of wh:u it was and lhose who
reru-.in arc ),ugcl) worncn, lhc clderly.
and c.h1ldrt>n. Ail are rerrori7ed by the
rrustt•atlons &y <.~mort sr~rh
cu•toet·apFty &y (~&czrt CJe,=:gat·etri
C])faytestine &y Crint .9· G ofdschmicft . tEric .A!uferson.
tDt•cmd'on <Ha1tH!!', Sean CDa~nc . and' é)ed .AI&cn (q).... \)
raiders. their 1.\0rgs. aucl thcir SriO\\ Ad" ctllut·e S~nopslo;
goblm lackeys. A dec:p«>rate cry for help alerts the PCs to
'liot e\·ervone stayed and sufiered One the Jact Ù1at banc6 uf riiidcr~ ha,.c o,cr·
\illaget escaped. takiug ski:. for th<: long \\hclmcd the remote ..1llageofTonm;borg.
tnp 10 seek help for hts enslwrd ff'llow l pon tr:IVeling to the,illage, theyfind d1e
vsll:'lg~"rc: But the winter is harsh . and place nead) dcpupulated. :;a\C for a fe.,.,
the' illager's body lies d~ad. fru.!cn :;olid. rcmammg V1llagen; and a band of ratde.rs
lese; than a dozen feet from hs~ de-sn- led by a frost folk, one of a race of mou
nation Only the writteo plea c.lenched strou:; huananoil.b with the abiüty to fuc
in his hat1ds cxplain:; his purpo:.c. His blasts of IC}' ll'IISI from theu eyes.
Lummous Preponderancy. Archbaron After rescuing the \•illagers and defeat-
Bestmo ofBiackmoor. seems not to eue. i.ug ÙlL'SC ratdcrs. ûac l'Cs track the mam
and ha:. outright rcl'uscd to :;end anr of bulk of thl" ra1der p:u"t} anoc:c: the infa-
hrs c:mall pri,·ate arrn)'to help tht \ill3ge mous Land ot Black lee encoWltering the
ofTonnsborg until spring pcrib of ll1e fr<w:n north m the form of
Truc hcrocs have an opportuns!) to deadJy cold and dangtrou~ creanm•c:. The
cha!'e the raidl'rs out of town-:md tht'n raiders' trail evcnrually leads the heroes to
pursue them to their icy lau. a citadcl the raiders have bmlt from the
OCTOBER 2004 DUNCiEON 17
p,· .i. RAIDERS .OF THE BLACiK' I_CE_
black !Ct" it.;~lf TI1~ PC:. must find a w.~y
into this cit<~dclaf thC'y wac;h to rt-<:cue the
:;urvl\'llll! VJlla~t"r" but m :.o duing th(!)
comto up against a dciidl) frost folk m) -;tic
lmO\\Jl a:. ûac Bl;~ck Sham:m
C ftaptcr Q ue:
êfro~cm (J~uaec
nüs adventurf' ~ins in the Art.hbarony
of nl:!ckmoor nc•u the end of :wtumn.
spcdfkall). an th<' r:tpital selllc:mcut
of Oantrl"dun, Ho" the PC!> t.ame to
bt' in Danttcduu as up to you . They
may have: l>c:c:u following a treasutc
map rcvcall'd to bi" a lake upou thcir
arnv:1l in tht village. Pcrhaps thPy'v~
traveled lo Dautrcdun :1t tht behest of
a powcrful m«-rc·hant or explorer from
a southern nation in ordc>r to try to
op~n up lrildc routf'~ or o::imply tnaj)
out and explorl' th~ remotc '"~aon. Th~
samplest appaoach, of c:oursl', 1s that
th~ PCs o~rc ClhZenc; of r>:mtr~dun, and
gre.:\\ up thf'rf'.
l)lnu·cdun
Although u·~ th~ capitol of 8141ckmoor,
Dantr~un ha-. rcl;~l!vcly httlf' to oUer.
18 DU NCEON OCTOBER :>004
The an.hbarons rule as harsb ami arbi·
trary. and his court has litùc contact WJth
other lands. The milmas of lhf' srn&ll
u.odcrbaronies are typicall) lc;~thcr·
armorf'd villagers. v.;elding hort<:(M":ns,
longbows. or slings. Thf' archbaron's pcr·
soual gu.ard indudf's perh;~ps thn.'\." t.Orf'
~krughts~ (hea\'}' cavall) one step rf'movf'd
from bandit:.), and bea\)' and m~ium
infantf) made up of severa! hundred
human and balf-orc :.olwcrs. Normally
so man~ troop:. would hf' ampo-.sabk
to support in such <~ small ficfùom, but
the archharon has funds for rccruatang
mf'rrenaries to defend his pf'OpiP :.gainst
raids fwm the sou them hostile ll.ltiou of
luz and the barbarie WolfNumaùs. Allihl'
archbaron's troops are quartert>d in the
town of Dantredun. Many mo1 c Jlouhu·
man soldiers can be callc.'Ù up from thf'
surrounding arca.
The a rchbarony once hcld tcn
underbaronies as fcuùal fit>fdoms ,
but four of thcse arf' no\\ ruined,
including the forme• capitol town
of Blackmoor itself. nu: nchb:uony
has few resources, main!) wahu:.
ivory. copper. gems. salt fish . 01nd
'tGG OF COOl
0
'l ... ~?'' '\
~.,
.-
p
fur-:. The ;uc.hbaaon has no mint and
sll ikcs 110 c.omacf'. and the realm i:.
loo margtnal to do more than rear-
rulatf' coins found m tts rums.
Do~nucdun •~ a wall~ \i.llage with rot·
bng woodt-n gates .1 .;at:.and open day
:md night Fe.'\\ invadcrs bavto f'ver botb·
ete\~ tu ûucaten thf' <:t'ttlement. lho~h
kobold" frnm the Burncal Forest are a
constant nubanc.c. and raidl'rs from luz
;111d Û1c Wolf Nomadt. frequomûy har.c;s
ou tl) mg f.mns Man~ :.mali villages and
forts dot Bl.tt.krnoor's lands, often buHt
ne;~r stable l<tva pools or hot springs. Tite
OlC<ISional sh:~rp lrPmor or cnùssion of
poiRon vnpnrs is au cvc:ryday hazard.
~ Ddulrcdun (villagP): Conveutional:
AL N 1.: ,llj() gp limit, Asscls (10,878
UP); Population 709; MixPd (hum:.n
•18~. Olt. 22~. haiAtng 14%, elven 9%
!(llome "t.)
Au th ority Figures: H1s luminous
Paepond~:r.uJC), Arrhbaron Bestmo of
Bbdmoor ('IF male hum;ua Ftrllf\\ xz4).
Important C ha racte r s: Angstet
'lo•dq\N rn~e lulf-orc FtrS (Captain of
the Gu3rd), M:art~sh of the Stoneclaw.;
m:.lf' human Bbn2 jtracker and hunter)
---

Tirgovoi, male ore Clr3 (pliest ofGruumsh).
and Black Soot Hilda, female gnome Exp4
(armorer and weaponsmith).
A mesperate )J?fea
However the PCs reach Dantredu.n, the
fust snowstorm ofthe season arrives early,
forcing Lhem and the rest of the town to
seek sbelter. When the snow finally relents
three days later. a man's body is found
fro,cn solid, ju1>t outside the village gates.
The corpse is huddled against th€:' wall,
knees drawn up to his dùn. His skis are
wom and ragged, and his body emaciated.
He clutches a note to his chest, written
on sealskin parchmenl and sealed wilh
a large, omate glob of red wax. The PCs
should he the ones to djscover the body,
or at least should be allowed to reacl the
message it grips. This corpse was once a
trader n:uned Hegobard from the distant
norù1ern village ofTonnsborg.
The wax seal bears a walrus icon-the
heraldic symbol of the village ofT01msborg,
as a successful Knowledge (nobility anù
royalty) or bardicknowledgecheck (DC 15)
reveals. If none of the PCs can detenuiue
this information, one of the locals makes
the cmmection sooner or later.
'.) -.,&~ .·
.... '-~ t'~~
Tonusborg is a small vi!Jage 011 pulled by eight riding dogs (for a total
Blackrnoor Bay. Any knight or captain cost of 1,220 gp, likely beyond the
in the archbaron's watch recognizes means of a 2nd-level party) and regtùres
the name and knows the town's loca- the Handle Animal skill to pilot, hut
tion, 300 miles northeast along the is perhaps the fastest method of travel
Old Blackmoor Road. A successful over ice and snow. One dogsled can
bardic knowledge, Knowledge (tl-obil- pull a single Medium creature or two
ity and royalty), or Knowledge (locaJ) SmaJJ creatures.
check (DC 15) allows a character to The PCs may stop at Dearthkettle
recognîze the names Haaro!J Ventas Kcep (whcre they will be treated weil
(headman of Tonnsborg) and Nixa and warmly), where they can learn addi-
Foxtail (wise-woman of Tonnsborg tional information about the troubles
and deric of St. Cuthbert). in Tonnsborg. With a successful Gather
The archbaron's interest in sending lnformaHon check (DC 15), they leam
aid to T01msborg is tempered by his that severa! hunters l1ave come south
own paranoïa aboutletting any of his recently, clairning that the village has
soldiers leave Dantredun. Likewise, been captured by "raiders."
none of the merceuaries or adventur- The party is unlikely to detour to
ers in town want to risk the perils of visit the village of Mosshold or the
travel now that winter has come. rf ruins ofBlackmoor unless they require
anyone is to come to Tonnsborg's aid. relief or new supplies. The ruins of
il must be the PCs. Blackmoor are too haunted and ill·
The journey to Tonnsborg shou ld omened to have permanent residents,
be uneventful. since the archbaron' s but the Mossholders are frîendly and
men patrol the road, even in winter. eager to offer a warm spot by the flre
Overland movement rates across the to any visitors bringing news from the
la.ndscape are slowed b y the snow on outside world.
the ground; consult the Appendix for
details. The adventure begins with 4 Arriva( \tt GQilnsUot·s (\E9j)
inches of snow on the ground; w1til
the PCs reach The village of Tonnsborg sprawls
Tonnsborg. no ice-locked on Blackmoor Bay. The
more snow village ltself might hold perhaps
falls. Skis and 150 people-there are only 20
snowshoes a re buildings. Most are very low, partly
available iu dug into the tundra with turf walls
town (both cost and steeply pitched slate or thatch
15 gp per per- roofs. Smoke rises from just a few
son), as are sleds, chimneys, one of them a longhouse
dogs, and hearty bigger than most in the village.
arctic horses and The doors of many of the smaller
po oies. houses have been barricaded with
Skis and snow- blocks of ice.
shoes allow ftùl Two hou ses stand out. At the rocky
rnovcrncnt across shore stands a carved and painted
icy or snowy sur- wood en boathouse, next to a wooden
fàces. Although skis statue. The other ls a large, low hou se
cannot be used at made entirely of stone. The stone
ail on other terrain , house has glass windows, shutters, a
downhill speed witll large stone chimney, and an attached
skis can be as a run dog run.
(x4) on slight gr.ades
or as a run (xS) on Tonnsborg is a Oyspeck of a village,
steep grades. and is one of the most northerly per-
A dogsled costs manent settlements in the world. The
20 gp, but must be villagers are Zeai barba rians: sea fish·
OCTOBER 2004 DUNGEON 19
rf, ~. RAIDERS _QF THE BLACiK·IC:E_
'/
· .1? ,.., -·
--:.
erfolk in the summc>r, ice fishers in
the winter, aud hunters }'ear round.
l11ey trade walru:> lusks, salted Ilsh.
and seal pelts to potnts south for food-
stuffs. iron . and cloth . Their head-
man, an eldt•r narncd Haarold. led
the village nntil ht' was captured in
the recent raid.
Most of the figures of auù1ority are
missing from thl' V1llage. laken by lhc
raider:.. Only thirty·eight villager<> now
remam. The terrificJ villa~tcrs consist
ot 1 older men , 12 adult women, and
20 youug childrel1. a11d have been b:tr·
ricaded in vanous S1 11allcr buildings
ùuoughom the villagP. Moving aside the
b!O<.ks of iœ and rubble t.hat barricadP
tht'~e buùdings takcs !>cn:ralmjnutes of
work: if the PCs set to th1s task, they' re
ambushcd by ù1e creatures that !urk in
the vtl!age.
~ Tonnsborg (ham let): Conventional;
AL N: lOO gp limit, Assets (1.329 gp)·
Populabon 132; lsolatcd (humau 91%.
dwarf6%. gnome 2%, t'lfl%).
Authority Figures: Haarold Ventas.
m:tlt> human Exp3 (headman, miss-
20 OUNGEON OCTOBER 2004
iug). Nixa Foxtail. iem:tleo human Clrl
(wise woman, head Jcric: of shrine of St.
Cuthbert), Ugo the Smllh, male humai~
Expl (blacksmiù1. missing), Vonda
Ahonnen. femalc huruan Ftrl (ard1bar·
ons bailiffi!nd sheriff, m1ssmg), Bjunhild
Eugmarsdottir, female human Exp2 (tan·
ner, missmg).
Lmpornnt Charnc:tcrs: Svein Norkvist.
huma11 male Conll (head fishe-rman ,
missmg). Estvan the BlaLk. o1ale human
Bbn2 (tracker and hunter), Inga Goldlock,
fcmalc human Exp2 (hsherwornan, wifP
of llc>gobard).
Others: Cuthbrrt inr acolytes and altar
boy!> (Clrl and two Corn 1), Olaf and Folke
Ogaard. human male fishcnnen (E.xpl) .
Sinya Silverle:~f, female- elf (Drdl).
Creatures: Severa! snow goblins
and a worg now b'Uard the vi!Jage
rrom inb·uders. UniPSS the PCs are
stcalthy in tbeir approach, the gob·
linc: and worgs notice them. The gob-
lil1S quickly climb onto the rooftops
and altcmpt to hide. using the roof as
cove-r while the worg starts barking
and howling.
CHAPE.LOF
ST.
/, C.:.UTIIBERT
If the worg J oc:s nol bark at the party's
:tppronch, tht> goblins may be c.aught by
:;uz pdse. They are loo la7y and ùl-dtsa-
plined to mount an effective watcb. and
prefer to spl'nd the1r tune cating, sleep-
ing. and wrestling.
., Blackfoot, Worg (1): hp 28; MMsltr
Mflru~t').L 256.
., Mag. Gossel, "Enek, Mag-sen ,
Snow Goblins Warl (4): CR 1/ 2, Small
h\lmanoid (goblinoid); HD ld8- l: bp
S. G. 5. 3; !nit ~ 1 ; Spd 30 fL climb 20
ft.: AC 15, touch 12, fiat-footed 14-; Base
Atk +1; Grap + 1: Atk/l·ull Atk +2 mdcc
(lc.l6+L club) or +2 ranged (l d6+1 jav-
E>hn); SA-; SQ boom in~ voice. darkvi-
sion 60ft.; Al NE; SV Fort ...3. Ref + 1.
\Vill-1: Str 13. Dex 13 Con 12. lnt 8,
W!!: 9. Cha 6.
Skills: Climb +8, l!idr +5, lntimidatt:
+2, Listcn t l, Move Silently +4. Spot +2.
Ftats: Alertness.
LflllgJ~ges: Common. Goblm.
Pomssiom: Club. 2 javelins. Jeathc>r
am,or. 20-gp amber ncddat:e. bags of
looted dotb, spoon<:, knivt>S, needles, and
fishhooks (ali worùtlcss).
. l ..t. RAIDERS .OF THE BLA'&K' IGE..
Booming Voic:e {Ex): Snow goblins can
be hcard over great distance, and rheir
powerli.ù voices can be qui tc intimtdating.
Snow goblins gain a +4 racial bonus on
ali lntimiùale checks.
Trrasure: 'lbe worg wea.rs a fine lcaùacr
collar set with silver spikes; tht> coll::tr is
worlh 20 gp.
Development: If combat breaks
out . the villagers ba.rricnded m th!'
butldtngs walch cxpectantly but are
too afratd to help (or even rnake any
s ound) . The lone inbabitant of th!'
headman's house watches the devel-
opmrnt!: as wrll, and if the Pt:s dcfcat
the goblins and the worg he reaC'ts a!;
dctailed in that section.
A captm<>d goblin happily spills the
bc::ans about Lhe Black Shaman's tinker·
mgs with undead and the rough luca·
lion of the rniders' stronghold tn the
und of Black lee. Theshaman daims to
have found a way to exlend the l.<lnc.l or
Black lee into the lat1ds to the !;Ou th, but
the goblins lhink he's fuiJ ol it. "He's :1
!\mali shaman, and the spirits do uol
love hitn.'' The goblins do not rxprc>S!;
this opinio11 wher1 within 20 miles of
thr- shaman.
If Jreed the villagt>rs quickl)• h<'ad
south lo safety near Danlredun. using
thref' overloaded sleds and pomcs. B~:forc
they fiee . they warn the PCs about tht>
inltat>itaul of the HcadruaJ{s House. and
beg them to rpscue their fe.llow villagcrs.
They don't know where the raidPrs took
them, oui y thal Ù1cy wcre led out towa1 d
th<' 111ack lee.
é]hc <Hcadman's 4louse (l'BU)
Tht> hf'adman's house is a large ma nor,
complete with great hall. kitchen. and
three sleeping chambers. The frunl
doorway shows evidence of the raid;
blooù has frozen on the front step nnd
therc arc ~igns of looting turoughoul.
Th<' hou~r has no Are in LhP. fi replace,
and lhe rooms are icy cold . Tbe attic
loft ts warmcr, but only a lilllc. as
lhe goblins and worg slc>ep here at
night on and under piles of blankets
A ladder connccts the main fioor to
the loft
Creature: The onl)' resident of the
buildmg now is Angmesh, a ftosl folk
raider. Together with his single' worg and
22 DUNCEON OCTOBER 2004
the four snow gobl.ins. he keeps ....ralch
over the village wh•le the other frost
folk lake slaves back to the Frost Citadel
Ltke most frost folk, Ang1 ncsh outwa rdly
looks qllite simil~r to a hu man, but with
bright blue eyes and pale snowy &kin. A
noticeable chill surrouncls him and the
entire house.
" Angmesb, Male Frost Folk (1):
CR 2; Medium monstrous humanoiù
(cold); HD 4<18+4; hp 22; lnu +1; Spd
30 rt .. AC L8. touch 11. Hat-footed 17:
nase Atk +4: Grap +6: Atk/ Full Atk +7
melee (ld8+2, battleax«') or +'i rangPd
(1d8+2/x3, 'omposite longbow); SAke
blast; SQ darkvision 60 ft., f rost fo lk
traits, immunity to cold, snow~ig h t,
vulnerabilily lo lire; AL NE; SV Fort14 .
Ref +5, Will +4: Str 15 , Dex l .l, Con 13,
lnt JO. Wis 11, Cha 8.
lee Blast (Su): Frost folk ca11 produce
a 2().foot con<> of tcy m tsl from U1eir !cft
cyes. This deals 2d6 poilus of cold dam·
age to ali creatures in the arca (Rcllc::>. save
OC 13 hal~. The save DC 1s Consutubon·
bascd. Once a fi·ost lolk uses iliis ability,
he must wait ld4 rounc.ls bcforc he can
ltSE' it again.
Snows ight {E:<): Frost lolk are ncver
aiTected by SllOW blind ne~. attù can ~ee
through falling snow with case, even in
whitcout conditions.
Ski/ls: Climb +1. Htde +1 (+9 in snow
or ice) , Listen +2. Mcwe Silrntly +1, Spot
+2. Survival +2.
foeats: Great fortitudc, Wcapon Foçu.s
(battleaxe).
f.cmgm~ge~: Common.
Posst!Ssions: Battle.axc. composite long·
bow (t 2 Str). shJdded leathl'r ;m'l'lor, heavy
wooden shicld. bcarskiu cloak worth 20
gp, arctic fox leggmgs worth lOO gp, stlver
necklace worth 5 gp.
Tactics: 1f Augnu.::;h sees lhe PCs
defea t the go blins and hts worg, he :;cts
the headman's house on lire :1 11d flpps
using a sel of !>kis. [f he has lime, he
llghts other buildings on fire loo, hop·
ing lo delay pursuit by forcing the PCs
to fight lires whlle he escapes.
Tre.asure: ThP back of th<' great hall
is stuffed with plunder stolen from
tbJs village and othcr travclcr~ over
the p:tst severa! weeks, and mdudes
a une suil of dlainmail. two wooden
shields, ten bear cloaks (cath worth 20
gp). ûfteen reindeer jackt>ts (functton
a.s a cold wcalhcr oulul). and a small
metal box Sh1fTed wtlh lOO ancient cop·
per coins. These ali belong to the vil-
lagers. butlhcy have no use for them
now and gladly let the PCs keep lhcrn
as a reward.
ln his haste lo fiee, Angmesb for·
gets to bring a large account book.
This book is spread on the table in
the great hall. Wnllen in Common ,
it lists the inhabitants of the village
(40 men, 47 women. 33 children .
plus 8 dwarvcs. 3 gnomes and an
elf) . goods pln ndered (mostly cook·
pots . kuivcs, [urs. and axes. bu t a iso
tht> items listed above), and losse!>
suffered (5 snow goblins and 1 frost
folk) t>y Lhc raiùets. IL notes thatmost
of the villagers haYe been relocatcù
b>• dogsled to a location referred to as
the •fro:.l CitadcL" lt doesn't mention
how manv more ratders dwcll lherc,
but does indicate that the r:.~idE>rs use
worgs lo pull thcir slcds.
(liapter 0fwo:
Cft•oE.en Sounw"i
Once thP PCs dnve off or defeat the
raiders. the villagers wanl little more
tha11 to flcc Lhcir villa~c to one of the
safer encbvco-; to lht" south. They're
t.omiuced thal until the raiders are ail
kille.d, they' li rust rctum to Tonnsborg
to finish tht> job in a few days. They
beg tllc PCs lo hack clown the ra id-
ers and rescuc Ùtcir kin. if JJOSsible.
White a11y of thP villagers can tell the
PCs aboulthe Initial attack (the raiderc:
cons1sted of a half-dozcn frost folk, a
lot of snow goblinr; and n«>arly a dozen
worg:.) , uouc ofù1em know where the
ra1ders camt' from. The last group of
raiders left with a Joad of prisoners
about 8 days o.~go.
lfthe l'Cs show Angmcsb':; ac1.ount
book to the- villagers. rhe mention of
the "Frost Ci laud" ja ts ÙJe memory
of ont> of the remammg elderly vil·
lagers. He recounts a story his fathrr
told him as a dlild. a stol) of a frozen
rortrec;s bmlt of ice by andent dcvîls.
Tbis frozeo lortress was, accordtng
to the legt•nù. localcd iu the Land of
Bl:1ck le!' roughly to the northwcst of
Tonnsborg the samc direction rhat
tht' nuders ha\'e :~h'a>· ~.:omc frum
a ml r~turm:d tu. nu~ 1111) duc ma\' b~
~nough to guidl' thC" PC~ in the right
direction. but fortunatcl). the) rna)
h:i\C an ClhlCJ mcthod of findmg the
Frn'' <:rudel.
The raiders a1e cuufid~nt thal nu
one m Tonn borg 1. braw: t-nough or
qrong «'nough rn fnllow. and h.lo;en't
been particularly ~o;m:ful about co,cr·
mg thctr tracb bt•tw(!en th~ \'lll:~g~' :md
thl" dt:ldt"l
11tepr~iou !11Ullpoft41idcr \\ctl•lcd
b) a frost folk namrd 1)'Ot.1r; hio: band
of .1 <ion~n goblins lrllll woq~ wa tsled~
(c:adl pulicù uy il JMÎ I uf W() rg!i), JllU
a do?etl prtl'Ont"rs lt•lt qultt" :1 c;w\lth
of footprints and uacks in the SilO\\,
On the da) thl PC. rt'ôH:h lonnsborç.
tht> mul '" air 1d\ Il <inyc:: old, but the
di.st11rbed SilO\\ (" hich Cl catl'l- a 't:n
:.oft :.urfacc) ii.IIÙ tlJc srzc of the hand
(t"fTt>Cll\'l'l)' 40 rrl".1tllf1'~) tnl'.:anc: it's o;till
relathely eas) to trnck.
Al thb tirnc. a succc"ful SuT\t~·al
check (OC: -1) rs ali th:~t 's required to
folio~ the trait. Eac.h da) lltat pa~:.c.,. ,
the OC mcre:c'e' b)' + 1. 1f th~ re~
arf' mo\'lng t:a<rl"r rh:m 1}Otar, the trail
gets fre,her a-. they )(V. rcùuting the
tar~cl OC b\ -J. per d:t}'. 1ht- lowrst
tht" targf': ne: can get je; 9. but at
this point. the PCs lruulcl h:o~'<c crthu
<.:<~U!Jht up to thf' ratdr.rs or rt":rc:hC"d
thf froq Cit:rdd.
Slnct:: :.orncouc "'illtun t
the !rack feal ran stiJ l fol·
low rr:~ckc: :t<: lnng "~ tlw
d%
OC is l~s than 10. il ~ruup
of PC, wlthout thr tr:u 01 - /0
ha , at the mo t 11 day:.
71-73
to track Ùll: raiùcr~ bdoa·
the :ra tl growc: ton old . 1r 74-oO
Angmf'c;h 11.-d tlw camp
when the PC:. llUI\Cd, lu:. 81-90
more recent trad: do tm le 91-99
To help; tr;ad:in hmt atone
100
ls a OC 5 Sun t\ al chrtk,
so ht, 1ra1l •~ 1ronu·:~lly
more dltfio:ltlt to lollow aJonc thau
the S·da) ·uld trall Il• ft U) the pre\'1·
ou:. band of ratder..; and rn<ontr<
~~ thic; point. there .ue still4 iudt~'
of:.no"' uu tltl' ~.trou nd. "hkh reduce<
the spted of ovl'rbnd tr.wf'l :t('lpropri·
:ttel~ . As this draptcr plil)'S oul. frc~lt
:.nowfall is a po,.~ibilit). whtch can k(!, the tl"m('l!'r:tturt ch:~nges to Cold
furthtor slow nverl:~nd mo,ement :md for that day.
obscure tracks. Cold snap: 1he day re: bmrrly cold. ln
Although lyotar·s group ha 't-~·er:tl nlackm o rh remper.anue changes to
\\Org.; l"d" ,_~egroupic:alsoo,erbur Se'\ere Cold. ln the Land of Blac..t. [cc. :he
dened wi.h loot aud pd,oucr ... A a r aturr. chanet, to E:\1T~mto Cold.
rc,uh. the) a.re mo\'tng at a •pPed c;no\\~ Falling SfiO\\ rtduces nsibility
of lO '• and CO\'I"r 15 miles a da}. ~~ b~ hiilf t<.:!>ultim.! in a -4 pen·
The) are currently 120 mile:. from alty on Spot and ~l'arch rh('('k;;;. lt hac: a
l'onn-.borg and about 100 mt li"~ from 'iO% chance to exttngui.;h exposed small
rhe frost Citadel: ar this rare. the>'ll n~mcs, •wu rcdu~.:c, ran!!cd weapon
1ead the. Fro:-t Citadd in b da)' • tack" b\ -4.
Keep track of their rrogr"~" .1 thl" Cino\\ ~torm. "" sno\\ , but 'isibilit~
d:~y~ pass so )'Ou can determine ''hèn •~ ub~~.un:d bcyond 5 fcct; creatures
(or in LlH: PC~ c.illth up. Rcrncmbcr lwyond ~ frrt aw:~y havi' ronct-almenr
thal wh !le trac:kt ng , t hl' r :trry mOVI"'i (.:ttt.lcks by or \l~a itlst them have a 20%
~~ half normal speec.l , unie:.:. the tni~s tltam:c). W111d spcccls are severe
tr;,tkcr opls lo takc a -) pcnaltr on ((<'l' l)pwr.H>N MHT'rlf'ç Gtudt, page
htc: ~~~~val rhf'rk ~urnv:tl cht'cks 10 95) and cause whitcuut 'onditions (:.cc
s tar on the path must be: made u1Kc Frostbum for detail~).
pcr rnilc. but ~ou should allow thl' Olin a rd: A hlinard is a snowstorm
l'Cc: 10 ·ake 10 on thl" rhf'ck to :J\oid accomp:mied b~ "iudstorrn-le\d ~o~.iud-..
•!\Cessive die 1 olls. ~ote that unies" the part} mdudt's
Thu:.- a.:;:.LIITllllg th cre' no fre~h "llO\\· a rhararter with the Tr:rck fea~. an~
fal .. d asc;uming the PCs use c;J.ds lO snO\\ fa li can qukkh make it impo~-
tra,-el and iake the -5 peualt\ uu Utcir tblc to follow the tr:;ul. If rht;: hap·
SuT\,,'3! checks to mo\e at normal j;pt'i'C!. pen , tht PCs mighr ne,·er find •heir
theo PC.- 5hould catch up 10 l}otar and \\3) to the Fro~t Citadcl. ln ÙlÏ:, cii:.C.
the où1er raid~:r:. aftcr 7 da)' of lrt~\CI . )OU can cllher fudge the dte roll and
:-;aturalh-. snow storm!> and alrtrn:nr in-:rt':td rre:~t it ;,s il you rolled up
mNhodc: or -ra"d can drJ~tlcall} alter a cold snap, or ~ou 1.an let the roll
thi. ~chèdule. ,t:.nd, 111 whrch case tht' tone of theo
Check the weatht"r t>ach dar rhr. pc, nd\'enture changes !rom one of rescue
rra,·el b~ rolling d% and consuhint-: the! IO Olli.'Uf ~UI\ iv:o~l. fil :.ud1 a C""d!>C. the
folio'' i.ng tdblc. Jd\t nture can ronunue, hm tht' PCc:
wi lllikPl) 1\eed ta retum ta
dvilizaliou lu rcscarch the
location oftht' 1 rost CitadPI
Weather Snow l evet Change Tracking OC adjustment
on old tn\lps or br gather
Cle:n NOÜidngc ·0 iuK iufurrnillton; thts may
lake s('\ r.ral dave: or ~\'1"11
H ea:w.a~e -1d6inches t2
wccks. The raiders aren't
Cold snap NochanJ!e ·0 (o(OÏnJ.I art\\\ hcrc. though.
and tf tht' PC.; don't reach
Snow -.ld6mdle$ •10 the Frost Citadeltor se\ etal
SnoW1tO~ -1c' fee: -20 montJr, the Il ,.till find the
ratdf'r<: thl" 5nMe (or ali)
Bla.z;ud -ld.! feet ·30
ot the pris<. s may ha'e
pcn ... hcd rn the meannme.
Ocar. Tue :.-lacs arc doudles" :md bluP; un forrun:trrl)··
no ~llO\\ Jp,·pJ chan~,. /\s the ch.uact~t::- track the raid·
Heat wave: The da) i:. un:.~c)ouabl) cr:., thq ' Il h<tH' 3 fe\\ set encoun·
y,;um In Blackmoor, the rcmperatur!' tl'r• . lfyou wtsh lo furthl'r challenge
'' warm enough rhat rh:.r:acr,.rs unpro· the PCs, }OU cao use the encountcr
tccted fTom tbe cold don'tnccd lu mal..\: tabkll 111 Fru~tbum to gcnerate addi·
Fortth1dc sa\'es. ln tht- Land of Ubrk llonal f'l1roun tt'r!ï.
OCTOSER 2004 DUNGEON 23
_ j ,.t_RAIDERS.OF THE BLACiK' lf:E..
1. Cfcy ~ver I<B-l'fl
Ahead is a narrow but swift river, the
water pale brown with silt and about
25 feet across. The banks on either
side are muddy and steep, but just to
the west the banks slope gently down
to the river's edge. The water itself is
wider at th at point, perhaps 40 feet or
more. Small standing waves indicate
the rocks of a ford .
The water is cloudy grayish-brown
glacial icemelt from the Land of Black
lee and lhe plains oearby. and runs 2 to
3 feet deep at the ford and up to 8 feet
deep elsewhere. The river is about 25
fccl wiùc normally, and 40 feet wide at
the ford. Though the ford is shallow, the
water is fàst-moving and extremely cold,
so the crossing can be very dangerous. No
24 DUNGEON OCTOBER 2004
trees or large stones are available nearby
for the party to build a dry crossing.
Il costs 3 squares of movement to wade
through the water at the ford. so a crea-
tme with a speed of 30 ft. can a·oss the
ford in two rounds. Each round a per-
san wades, he must make a successful
Strength check (DC 12) to avoid being
knocked prone by lhe current. A guide
rope across the river and affixed to solid
points on each bank grants a +5 bonus
on lhis check. Once somconc is liWepl olT
their feet, they must make a Swim check
(DC 15) to regain their footing. othetwise
they are swcpl 20 feet dowruivcr into Lhc
deep water.
A character who attempts to swim
across the river must make a success-
ful Swim check (OC 15) to make prog-
ress. Failure indicates they are swept
20 feet downriver.
Regardless of how the party gets
across, anyone who gets wet immedi-
ately suffers from the freezing water.
and takes ld6 points of nonlcthal
damage per minute of exposure. ln
addition. the characler must malœ a
successful Fortitude save (DC 15, +1
per previous check to avoid ta king
cold damage from the lemperanu:e) to
avoid mild hypothermla. Failure indi-
cates the character becomes fatigued
and suiTers a -10 penalty on furù1er
Fortitude saving tbrows to avoid suf-
feling from cold temperatures as long
as he re mains wet or continues to wear
wet clotbing. More detailed rules for
hypothennia appear in Frostbu.rn.
Creature: The freezing walcr is nol
the only danger present at the ford. At
the only river crossing within miles,
Maryoshka, an a quatic fey calicd a rusalka,
 ' ~•-~•!.. : ri<.f. . •

::~;Hl;

demands blood sacrifice from th ose who The begumng effect lasts as long as (+20 Strength modilier), excepl that lhere
wish to cross. As the fust PC s tarts to the rusalka sings. is no attack of opportunity. lfthe bull rush
cross, the clark waters swirl and rise up Water Breatlling (Sp): Four times a day fa ils, the victim remains in his current
into the shape of a young woman with a rusalka can cast water breathirlg at cas ter square and is not grappled. Tossed vic·
black hair and greenish scaJes. H er bands level l 2. tims take impa<.t damage on landing as
arc clawcd, and her cyes are clark and bot· Water Symbiosis (Su): Although aquatic, if they had fa lien a distance equal to the
tomless. She speaks in a bubbling voice a rusalka may move up to 300 yards away rus tan ce they were tossed.
to the PCs; "You are in my river. Pay me from her cho~en body of watcr; if she Development: Ifthe PCs drive off or help
with blood, or this one will never reach moves further away she must hold her kill the worgs but leave the mammoth and
the other s ide." breath or start to suffocate. ber calfunharmed, the mammoth regards
Maryoshka js a tough negoliator. She them caJrnly for a momen t before usher·
insists on a warm, living creature such 2. 9[e on the ~hern 9?fains t<ff(J5J ing her calf away from the raiders' trail. In
as a dog, hor~;e, or pt>rson before she As the PCs near this area, they hear a sud· this event, the spirit lolem fouad in the
goes away and leaves Lhe parly alone. den t:hundcrous trumpcting over the ncxt Great HaJl of the Frost Citadel becomes
Shc accepts creatures summoned with low hill, accompanied l)y deep snarls and more useful to the PCs.
a summon monsttr or summon nature's cries of pam. Over tl1e hill, a primeval
ally spell. bul does nol suggcst such sccne is in the process of playing out. <Enterina the <Je.n d of <J3Cack qce
an offering. She prefers a complete Creatures: A pack of five wild worgs Beyond the Burneal Forest the arctic takes
sacrifice, but if the PCs can ad just her have just attacked a wooly mammoth on strange colors. Inslead of the normal
attitude to indiflerent from hos tile with and her calf. Ute great elephantine beast stark white snow and translucent blue-
a successful Diplomacy or l ntimidate has managed to gore one of the worgs, white ice, the landscape consists of end·
check (DC 25) she accepts blood in the but it's quickly being surrounded. ln Jess fields of deep blue-black ice, Lopped
for rn of ld6 points of self-inflicted dam· her rage, the mammoth does not really only here and there by normaJ snowfall.
age. Ifher demands are not met, or the disc riminate between melee opponents. Strange arctic monsters prowl these fields,
PC in the river tries to leave the river, The best way to help her is to use ranged and the winds scream like the peaJs of
she attacks. spclls or missile weapons. Characters unseen ghosts.
., Ma ryos bk a, Rus alka (1): C R 1; wading into melee against the wolves As the PCs approach the boundary
Medium fey (aquatic); HD 2d6; hp 8; are targets. as the mothe r mammoth between the lands of Blackmoor and tl1e
lllit +4; Spd 30ft., swim 30 ft.; AC 16, chooscs ber targets randornly each land ofBiack lee, they fust become aware
touch 14, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +1; Grap round from among ail nearby. T he of a low band of black on the horizon. As
+1; AtkfFull Atk +1 melee (ld4, dagger); mammotl1 calf is only a few days old they draw nearer, the sLripe resolves into
SA beguillng song; SQ low-light vision, and docs not fight, dcpending whoUy on a sheer edge of blue-black ice. The slope
water breat/1ing, water symhiosis; AL CN; his mother for defense. is treacherous and pockmarked with cave
SV Fott +0, Ref +7, Will t S; Str 10, Dex ., Worgs (5): hp 33. 30 (cunently 7), o penings and seree .
18, Con 10, Int12, Wi:; 14, Cha 18. 29, 27, and 22; Monster Mcmua/257. If the characters are still tracking the
Skills: Diplomacy +6, E!scape Artist +9 ~ Wooly Mammoth: CR 12; Huge ani· raiders, the tracks lead to a section ofice
(+13 when in contact with the river). Hide maJ; H D 14d8-t 98; h p 161; lnit +O; Spd40 thal is relative!y genùy sloped. Climbing
+9 (+13 when in cootacl wilh Lhc river), ft.; AC 17. touch 7, fiat-footed 17; BaseAtk up onto the ice field elsewhere requires
Listen +7, Move SiJently +9, Perform +10; Grap +30; Atk +20 melee (2d l 0+18, a successful Climb check (DC 18).
(sing) +9. Spot +7, Swim +8. Use Rope gore}; Full Atk +20 melee (2d6+12, siam} The cave openings are the resull of
+4 (+6 witlt binding:;). and +18 melee (2d6+6, 2 stamps) or +20 summer melting, with black ice a bove
Feats: Combat Reflexes. melee (2d10 +18, gore); improved grab, and mud and regular ice below. None of
Languages: Common, Sylvan. toss, trample 2d8+18 (DC 29); SQ low- these caves penelrates far, and no crea-
Bcguiling Song (Su): Targets within light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort+l 6, Ref tures currently lurk inside them.
300 feet of the rusalka's chosen body +8, Will +10; Sh" 34, Dex 8, Con 25, !nt 2, The inhabitants of Blackmoor fear to
of water mtlst make a Will save (DC Wis 12, Cha 7. enter the Land of Black lee because of
17) Lo avoid Lhis :;onic mind-affccting Skills: Listen +10, Spot +11. the strange beasts that lurk in its ebony
effect. Success indicates the victim is Feats: AJertness, Endurance, Improved clefts and nighted crags. Some stories
immune to that rusalka's song for one Bull Rush, Multiattack, Power Allack. tell of a warmcr land bcyond the black
day. Failure indicates the victirn moves lmproved Grab (Ex}: To use this ability, ice where the sun never sets and jungles
toward the rusal ka; if the path br ings the wooly mammoth must hit a Large or abow1d, but the landscape here is bleak
him through a dangerous area he gains smaller foe with a gore attack. and depressing. Genlly rolling fields of
a second save. A bebruiled victim that Toss (Ex): A creature grabbed by a ebony ice stretcb to the horizon, sorne-
moves within 5 feet of the r usa ika must wooly mammoth's gore attack is shaken times capped by swaths of snowdrifts or
make a DC 18 Wil l save or be charmed vigorously and ù1en hurled in a random jagged escarpmenls ofice formations lhat
as per charm monster (caster leve) 8) . direction. Resolve the toss as a bull rush reach into the sky like rrozen claws.

OCTOBER 2004 DUNGEON 25

, · ..t:.RAIDERS _OF THE BLA«i.K' IfE_
A copse of stunted trees on a large
earthen outcropplng that protrudes
from the Black lee breaks the monot·
ony of the terrain ahead.
Creatures: This palÙI of woeful pine
trees is home to a colony of snow spi·
ders that feed on a nearby rookery. The
r.üdcrs' trail, if the res arc still following
it, goes around the lree.s, hut as the onJy
landmark in miles, U1e PCs may not be
a!Jle to resisl expJoring them.
ThP snow spidt>rs hve among the
trees and in the cracks of the outcJ·op·
ping. The srnall spider::~ allack anyone
who comP~ within 5() feet of the out·
croppù1g, leaping direclly into combat.
The Medium spider is more cautious,
and attacks only if iL'! lair (the large.~l
crevice of the outcroppiJlg, about 2 feet
high and 4 fcct widc) is lllrcatcncd. Il
uses Spring Attack to ke<'p thto l'Cs at
a distauce wben it can Snow spiders
are covcrcd with tufts of wiry white fur
and have eight cold blu<' r.>yc.s.
-, SmaJI Snow Spiders (4): CR l/2
each; Small vcrmin; H D 11.18; hp 4 each;
!nit +4; Spd 30ft., climb 30 fL; AC 15,
touch 15, Hat·tooted Il; Base Atk t 0; Grap
-6; AtkfFull Atk +5 melee (lù4-2 plus poi·
son, bite); Sp<K~fReach 5 ft./5 ft.; SA leap.
poison: SQ darkvision 60ft.. tremorsense
60ft., vcrmin traits; AL N; SV Fort +2, Ref
+4, Will +0; Str 7, Oex 18, Con 11, lnt - ,
Wis 10, Cha 2.
Skills: Climb +12, Hiclc + t2 (+20 in
snow or lee), )ump +24, Spot +ft
Feal.s: Spring Auack 6 , Weapon Finesse8 •
'J Medium Snow Spider (1): CR 1:
Medium vermin; 1ln 2d8+2; hp 11; lnit
+4; Spd 40ft., climb 40ft.; AC 15. touch
14, fia.t.footed 11; Base Atk +1; Grap +1;
AtkfFull Atk +5 mel~>e (ld6 plus poison,
bite); SpaccfReach S ft./5 fl., SA leap. poi·
son; SQ darkviston 60 ft., tremorsense 60
ft., vennin traits; AL N; SV Fon +4, Ref
+4. Will +0: Str ll. Dcx 18. Cou 13. lnl
-, Wis 10, Cha L
Skills:Cl.imb +12, Hide +8 (+16 insnow
or icc), Jump +28, Spot +8.
fi:ats: Spnng Attack1 , Weapon Finesse•.
Leap (Ex): Snow spiders are <1droit at
leapingontu prcya.nd ùtculca!Jl.ug backiu
sta.rtling speed. They gain Spring Attack as
26 DUNGEON OCTOBER 2004
a bonus feat ln addition, if a snow spider
can jump on its prey it can make a d1arge
atta.ck witha +4attack bou us instcad ofù1c
normal +2 bonus.
Poison (Ex): Smail snow spider poison
ha.s a save DC of 10, and dcals 1d3 Dcx/
paralysis. Medium snow sptder poiRon
has a save DC of 12 and deals ld4 Dex/
paralysis. ln each case, par.ilysis lasts for
2d4 minutes.
Treasure: The spider lair contains
hundreds of boues and a fair amou nt of
treasure from pastvictims. This c.omw;ts
of Lhree short sword.s. a suit orlealher
armor, two artic fox furs worth 5 gp cad1,
a copper hoJy symbol of St. CuthbPrt, on<>
set of snow shoes. one set of skis, one
silver dagger, a+ 1 short sword. and a pair
of boots ofelvenkit1d.
What at first appeared to be a number
of strange snowdrifts ahead looks to
be something more sinister. Perhaps
a half·dozen dead animals-ravens,
caribou, and wolves-lie frozen on
the ground.
Creatures: This area bas become
infested witb a patch of d;mgerous
a retie plants caUed snowOakc lichens.
These plan ts grow on rocky surfaces
or ice, and resemble strange pattems
of snow crysta ls sprcad o ut across
the s urface. Other plants and ani·
mals that come too close to a suow·
Oakc lichen quickly succumb Lo il~
fTeezi ng aura. This particular patch
is su.rrounded by ali sorts of frozen
ani mals: ravens, caribou, and wolvcs.
The bodies should aiPrt the party that
this area is dange.rous, but if not, the
ra.iders' trail (if they havent ovcrcomc
them yet) takes J wide swath a round
this area.
'J Snowfiake lichens (6): CR 1/6; Ttny
plant (cold); HD ld8-3; hp 1 each; ln il +0;
Spd 0 ft.: AC 6, loudt6, fiat-footed 6; Base
Atk +0; Grap -: AtkfFull Atk -; Space/
Reach 1 ft./0 ft; SA cold aura, numbing
touch; SQ damage reduction 5/piercing
or slashing, immumty to cold, low·light
vision, plant traits. vulnerabllity to fire;
AL N; SV Fort -1. Ref-4, Will +0; Ste - .
Dex -, Con 5, lnt - , Wis 10. Cha 1.
Cold Aura (Su): Any creature with.iJl
10 feet of the plant must make a DC 7
Fortitudc save at the beginning of its tum
each round or take ld6 points of cold
damage: if the save su1:ceed.s, no dam·
age is laken for tl! at round.! fa creature is
caught withinmulbple ovedapping arcas
of effect, the OC increases by +2 for every
ovcrlappiug ctrecl (to a maximum of DC
25 for Hl overlapping lichens). Multiple
overlapping effects do not !ffilck da mag!',
they merdy iouease the dillicuJty of the
save. Thf' save DC is Constitution·based.
Numblng Touch (Su): A creature that
walks ou ur touches a snowOake lichen
mltst make a Fortitude save (OC 11 +1 per
additional lichen touched iJ1 the t:lrget's
movcmcnt) or take J point of Dexterily
damagr.>, regardless of the number of
overlappi.ng effects. Creatures that touch
il with !Joot1.:d fect or gluvcd bands gain
:1 +7 bonus on tht> !':ave. The save DC is
Constitution based and includes a +4
racial bonus.
C"tcftlna 1~e C~ic:fet's (l~J
Chances are thal the PCs catdl up lo
Lyotar's band of slaves somewhere in the
Laud of Black ke. Il Angmesh escaped
on slos. he probably rcaches Lyotar a fcw
hours befort> thl:' PCs and wams him of
thcir approach.
Creatures: lflhe PCs overtakc Lyotar's
band of raiders. they fi nd him herding
a gruup of twclvt: villagers fmther into
the Land of Black lee, following them
with four worg sleds (ea,ch pullecl by a
pair of worgs and loaded wiÙJ plunder
and snow gobUns). If Angmesh has
reached him. Lyotar expects the PCs
and is aclivcly kccpiug an eye behind
him by taking 10 on Spot checks.
Otherwise. he is effectively utaking o~
ou Spot du~oo. lfh~: realizcs he's bcing
pursul'd, ht' tri<'s to outrun them but
the villagers are simply too exha.usted
lo kecp up.
1yotar is pu lied by on!' worg sied. and
èad1 of the 1emaining three sleds are
bcaped wt.Ûl supplies and foursnow gof>.
lins apiece.
Note Ulal ilie EL for this encounter is
lower than normal smce the worgs are
fotigttPd and l.yotar Sl:'nd.<; his forces out
in small groups rather U1an trying to
atlack the PCs ali at once.
 ., l~utar. ~tllc Fro t Fulk (1 ): hp l8; . ee
lh llr-admans lloust for othl"r stJts.
., SnO\\ Goblin!> (Jl). hp 5 eac.h: :.cc
"Ar 1\ ;l1111 Tcmn,!Jorg for othcr stat:;.
., f'atigurd Worgo; (R)· hp 78; lnit-1 :
AC l3 touch 11 li.H fuotc:d 12 Grp 't6:
Atk/ full -\ ~ •6 mdcc (ldCl+3, batr):
S\ RC"f +'1 Sh' 1S, Ot-x Il; Monstu
.\fan• n' 256
T~c.hc~: As 'oon as he reahzts ht' c.an't
IIITIII' pur,ull, 1yotar arr:tnges the \illa~·
ers into a wall of hum<tu ~hichb u~UI!(
ùu:rn a' c.u,cr to fire upon thl' Il( >: Wtth
h1~ crocc;bow o\ttl"mpts to rl'turn hre wuh
othca ranged w~:apous sl•oulù be trcatcd
as firing mto mclc>e, unlt>ss tlw PC!: don't
p.min•l:!rly care about shooting villagea:..
in.,..hic.h ca:.c il HU!>:. of4 or lc:;s mdtcatcs
a \1112ger ac; struclc If thl' PC's :1ppro.1rh
his impromptu fortification of exhaustcd
'ilbgers. l~ otar wtlcii:.lu.':) a p;m of \\Or~
and -end' them out to attack; ht's loath
ro n<k ail of hic; worgs in such an attac..k
beciluse lu: m:cd~ Ù1o:m aliH• and hcalth}
to pull the loot back to rhr rroc;t Cimdl"l.
Ht uc;es his ice bL1st on villagers and PCs
alikc Y.}tcn" mdlocopponcnt approlches
\\1thm :w feo~t. A., th~ banleo b4-gins, he
ord"rs eight of the ""0\' goblins to take
two uf ùtc ,wrl( :-led~ 01nd Occ to the host
Ct14dcl to warn them nf tht PC'o; l~.:wing
the remaining \\Org<; and SilO\\ goblim
behiud to fi~ht the PCs <~nd prcvcnt them
from puro;umg the othf'~
Tht worgs themselves ;ue fatigued
from pullin!( the slcdli, :md suffcr a -1.
penalty to tht>ir Strcngth :md nexterlty
Nf'vtrtheless the) .1ttack wlth eage1 ral(t.:.
If th~.· t\\O \\OC~~ arc . hun Lyotar t>ndo;
the other rwo wnrgo; and thl" four sno"
goblins up to md~ the PCs in a d1.-s·
pc:tau~ ilttcrnpllo flm,h them off. \\1 hile
th•~ battlf' progr<',.;r.,, ht c-ontinues using
hi~ bo''·eng.12in~ in meleé oui>· as a la:,l
r~ort. H~ rdu~~..~ to 01ba.ndon hts sl:lve
or ~urrendn, and light-. to rhe dt:tth
If Angmesh has caught up to ùsb band,
he fil.'(!:> \\ ÎÙI the •IX !>DOW gobhns lO hl'lp
alen tht' froo;t Cn:tdl'l
Oe,elopment: 1111.• \lllagcrs wnsist of
four men. ~lX womcn and twn )'Oung
g•rl", :ali Jo;;t·lt'\tl rnmmoners The} are
unarmed and "'e~r fur and c.uld-\\ciiÙII:r
~lill. Tlu~ leader~ S\em Nori..'Vlsl and
ll1unhtld r;ngm:tro;;dnmr tell reSC\Iers thal
they kaow on1) thal Lyutar rncntioucd he
wa, bnngmg them to ~mc- plar~ rallt'd
the "Frost Citadel • but they ha\e no
1Ùci1 whcre tlus loc<~ bon c.ould be. 1 ber
dn ob~f',...e that thf'r'vl' bc-f'n fnllo\\ing
:a tolial) str.ùght course to tht notlll\~t::.t
..tnc.c cnlering the land of Black lee.
Tht- nlbgers are fat•gut'd bordering
on exhaustion. and aU :.u!Ic1 from mild
fro:.tb1te. , everthelcss, with the food
:tnd ~upplies from c:~pn•red worg slcds,
the) fed c.onfident about ma.kinl( ù1dr
Wll)' back to Tonnsborg on thear own and
f'nrouragt' the PCs to contmuc on to the
Fro:.t Citadelto lini!>h o!I the raiders.
( f1apter é}n t•ee:
éfr01~cm ( itadef
lhts otadel can nevf'rthl"lf'<:S hf' ""Il from
mil~ away across the ice <~ gta>· island
in il ~ca of black. The ot;,dcl 1 cobbled
togtthf'r atopan upthntst mnund oficf', ~
anyone approaching it must c.Jimb a small
iq :.lope or climb the le.)' stms carvcd up
to the front door. Clamhf'nng up the slopt
r~uiresaOimbc.heck(DC 10). Tite sloW:.
ïuc ca:.1cr to climb, but an: still qwt.e sltp-
pt'l)'. Anyone malang mort th:m a single
action wbile dimbing the )!<lits mu:.l
mi!l..c 01 succcssful Balance check (DC 12)
to avnid c;lipping and falhng S feet back
do"'ll the stairs. This inflicls ld6 points of
uuukùw damage. A succc.-s. fui Reflex ~ve
(Dt: 10) allows tht- ch:trncter to arrest the
hU otherwise be continue:. slippm~ and
falling 5 feet per round untll he reache~;
thf' hottom of the let" mound.
A second approad1 lO Lhc dtadcl is
lot:J.tcd on the north face of the mound
1ha.: 1s a fairly gffitle -:lope Ùl:tt leads up
to the kennel area. Till tii.idcrs w.c lhi:.
rarnp for thrir worg led.o;.
Tn~ ocdeJ is normally fairl) reb.-.:ed:
the raiders are comfortable Ùlilt the ISo·
Iii bon kceps out mtrudf'rs. 1hf' hoonng
hollrnng. and booming voices ot the snO\~
goblins in area 8 rc.>:;onall.'s loudly out of
tl1c arrow slits, and although thl' gob-
lm( are periodically silenced by tlte frost
folk. Ù1e PCs shouJd be able to hcar tbe1r
aTb'llmg >olCes and d1sharhmg srreeches
throughom the dt:ldel
If the\·ve been warncd of the PC •
approach.tperhaps by 1>-ot:tr, Angm~h. or
r.\t-n a group ofsnow goblins that mana~~
to es~pe the PCs). huwcvcr, the s1luat1on
01l the atadelts a bll mnrr d:mgc>rous. ln
.,- ..: RAIDERS OF THE BLAtiK' I,GE_
this c:l""· thf' snow gobhns an: :.ilL'JlL The
frost folk in uea 7 and th~ gobhn< m an-a
8 watÙl the :.urruundin~ terrain from
the arrow <~hl". and 1f they notlct" an) one
approac:.hing. ùte frost folk attJck wnh tht1r
bows and the guuhns stlrl huilering ill.trms
with thm ~hockmgly loud vOICt"S.
l11e citadel is home to eight frost folk
in ali, two ofwhiù1 (An~nu.::.h and Lyotar)
m:ty hnvt" :.lrl':.dy ht"l'll d<'fl'atc>d by the l'Cs.
TI1cir lat ge group of servants indu de-s many
28 DUNClEON OCIOBrR )004
hunun slaves. ten worgs. se\'eraltomhîl"$,
and qwte a few snow goblins. none of them
ali tbat loyaL The PCs may ha\t" alrttady
~inmostofthewo~and 16oflhe now
goblins m prior encoumcrs,
The citadels leader is l.l'o;tvan thr Bl:lck
Shaman, a frost folk wizard who !..cep,; an
undead spirit wolfas a comparuon.111L-:.e
two live in the dtadel's towttr, and arP !lp<l·
ken of in fearful whispers by evcryon<.'
el~e in the Frost Citadcl.
l11c intetior of the dtadel is slightly
wannrr Ùlan the sw-row1ding terrain. but
still counts ac::~ rold rtogton (see Appendix),
Wiùa " ff.-w 1,;.\tcptions. the interior cham-
he!"" :arr unltl mœ bolh frost folk and
o:now goblins havf' d:uhi"Jon_ Doors are
1114ic.lc of wuud and reinforced Y.ith iron·
thty arr not lockcd. allhough the door
mto .u .1 5 •s b.1rr~ on tht mside..
~ Rciufun.cc.l Woodeu Doors: 2 in
th1r~; llardne~;s S; hp lO; Break DC 15.
1. ' W(dCs of(Bfad. <lee (\~1
Tht" st ronghold walls are ofblocks ofblack
lee. ll10il.ll'cd wlth blood and grou nd bone.
'l11c lee is lou ùark to see through. The
l'Xl l'l'lor :lri'OW :~lit,:; and windows seem lu
indkatc il RtOlmd fioor, fust floor, second
Aoor, a tower flour that cxlends above the
rec;t of th!' ntadC"I, and a pamally enclosed
lookout pl.ttlonn :atop the tower
lllt' outer wall~ iliC 35 feet tall. and
m;ldt of nil blod:s of black 1ce quarricd
from Ùlt: :.urrounding fields This has
ancre:as~'<i tl1c IZC of the iLe hill Ùle dtadel
$land~ on, whtrh 10: roughl)· 40 feet tall,
lhough 15 f~t of that is the quarried
dttch bet'Y.ccn the pl<iin and lht: citadel.
The toul htoight to tht" tower is 60 feet
IIUu\'C tJu~ sur rounding iœ.
~ Black lee Wills: 5 ft. th id; Hardness
10. hp IRO: Ortak OC 7S.
Crco~lurcs: To kcep the walls perfectly
cold :and to prevcntcrcature:> from climb·
lng them, the external walls have been
:~c~ ù cd with hundreds of snowflake
hr hrnR, making Lhc kc very dillicult lO
climb or chlp away. Assume that eacl1
livc·fuut S4UiiJC of an exterior wall's sur-
brr ron tams len snowfiake lichens. The
licl1en~ .ue kept away from the entrances
to thl· t.it..ùcl su il ueature approaching
Mt" of thrm h:a!; little to fear. A creature
th.ll .1pprooches the otadtl from another
tlm:e;.IJOII cutcr:. Ùle lichens· cold aura
1() ffft from the wall. :and must makc a
OC 25 Fortitude sa,·~ or take ld6 pomts
of t:olc.l d<tmagc. A ucature toucbing the
""0111 mmt aJ,o make a OC 21 Fortitudc
S.a\e 01 take 1 point of Dexterity damage-
from the hdtctts' numbing touch,
., SnowA:.ke Lichens (hundreds): hp
1 c;~e;.h, sec "A Snowflake Graveyard_"
Atl·HO<. Exvcriencc Award: If the PCs
man~gC" to Rr:tlt' thC" walL'!, break through
th~· W<llls, ot otherwise encounter and
overcome the snowflake lichens. award
them experience points as i[ Û1ey defea:ted
a CR 2 creature rather than individual
awaràs for each lirhen slain
The front door is one of the few parts
of the citadcl not made of tee The
blackened pine door's face ls full
of knots and looks very lough. The
door is strenglhened with greenish
bronze bands and studded with nails.
A stone carving of a spitting wyvem
leers down from above the door.
Creature: Tite gale 1tsclf is opened and
doscd by a ptur of 2ombie doonnen. who
ohey anyone who calls oul ù1c phrclse
"Hail the Blad. lee!" as they approach.
As long as one pf'rson il1 a group calls
out this pass phrase. the zombies don't
attack: othen\lsc. ther lungf' to artack
an}·one who approacbes within JO feet
or attacks them first.
., Hwnau Zombies (2): hp 16; Mcm;ter
Manual266.
De,·eJopment: If the fro::;l folk ha..-e
been v..wtcd of the party's arrivai the\
lta\'e prepared a c.auldron ofboiling walcr
m area 7, and Maartan wal<.. hcs through
an arrow :.lil a:> the PCs appi'O:tC'h. l f any·
one enters thf' square directly south of
the gate \1aartan upends Ùte cauldron
ofboilin~;r watcr mto a largt- funnel caus-
ing the watt'r 10 spew out of the stone
wyvem·s mou th. The boiling water deals
l d6 points of fire dama gr to nny crea·
ture lD tht~ square (Reflex OC 15 half).
.\ny creatures in adjoining squares take
1 point of lire damage from the water
(Reflex DC 10 negates). ln addiûon to
the damage of lhc hcal. the water qutckly
mclb the 1cc :.1a1rs and hJrns them into a
slipperv slnpt Creatures standing on this
square mustmakc a :;uccessful Balanno
dtcLk (DC 15) or Lhey slip 1111d begin fall-
tng dnwn the stairs, as detaileJ al the
stan of this dtapter.
., Snow Goblius (3): hp 5 c<~ch: see
':A-rrivai in Tonnsùurg" for other stat«.
This large room stands nearly twen· Tactics: The thrt>l' 7.ombies lunge to
ty feet high. the cavernous ceiling att:!C'k any non·goblins or frost folk who
supported by a network of wooden en tel Ùle COO!Jl. Jf combat bre_akc; OUt the
beams and ice pillars in the center slaves cower m th!' comers of the 1·oom.
of the room. The walls a re barren of
décor, and what little light is available
IS provided by thrce nlfully sputtering
torches that burn wtth pale blue radi
ance. Several untanned caribou hides
and carcass es lie heaped nearby. A
flight of stairs leads up to the west,
and a leather curtain hangs on Lhe
upper portion of Lhe western wall
The stairs in ù1e west wall lead upward
to arca 7. The leather curtain obscures
an observarion window that allow~ Ù1c
creatures in area 7 to observe thts room.
althougb they generali y keep the cu nain
dosed. Climbing up to the curtain is dir·
ficult as ù1e icy walls of the frost Cltadel
arc quite slick (Ciimh check DC 20)
Creatures: The raiders keep ùtc major·
ity of ùteü capturcd slaves in th1s large
room. guarded al. a11 times by three zom·
b•eo; The slaves are exhausted, bollt from
exposure and from abuse by the goblin<
and frost folk. yet do what the~ can wiù1
thP caribou carcasses. slrippiug meat,
Cl acking boncs for marrow, and <rea ting
Ica th er from the hid(>s. Most are lsl·levcl
commoners. but sevnal are village lead-
er~ anù où1cr important N PCs who were
capmred m Tonnsborg. Haarold Venta:..
LJgo the Smith, Vonda Ahonncn, Bjun.luld
Engmar:;dotlir, and Svein Norkvl.;t (iftllP
PC!> have not ~topped Lyorar's CéU3\'an)
are :~Il here aJthough ùtcy are ali uncon·
sdou:; (stable al negative hit points), and
tn no condition to help the PCs. tr the
PCc are having a clifficult time wtth the
advcnlurc. constder having one or two
of these NPCs conscious. ln lhi:. case.
you'll need to build Lhcir statlstlcs as
necdcd. Thcir class levels are det:liled
1n the Tonnsbol'g stal block earlicr in
this Jd,·enture.
The rafters aboVC" are home to three
~nO\\ goblins who" ere d1ased oul of the
tribe that lives m arca 8. 'nle goblms aren 1
espcd<~lly eager to Jight anyone, and lude
as hesr they can trom intruders.
., H uman Zombies (3): hp 16; Mom1a
\fnnucll 266.
--
. Î
.~
The sounds of combat in this room aleu
the nearby frost folk as weiL Vovia (arca
4) reacts h> waiting for the combat to die
clown bcfore sending a pair of zombie:.
into this room. The frost folk in area 7
react rnoœ quiLkly. parting the curtains
to look out and then using them as cou·
cealment (20% miss d1ance on attacks
againsl Ù1cm) while the)' u..<;e their long·
bows against any enemies in sight.
êfokcu of the ~'\cnnmoth
Wom about the ne<:l ~s a magk neck·
lace, or about the wrist ~.,a m.1gtc brace·
let, this lollcn functions n an pmu/er of
notvrol armor + 1. 1f the wearl!r has the
wild empathy class abiltly he may use
tht' tok<'n lo spwk wrth ommoJs twtce
per day, Anyone who helpe!! to S"a"""
tiTe mammoth cal( e:ultcr ln the adven·
U,tre t:· lille<! with • sense of welcome
when touchfng the roken, .u•d can u~e
the tol.;en to 5p80k wr&h flnomals at wi ',
even ,( they don't have wlfd empathy•
Allemately, characrers who au ..cked or
helped slaughter the mammoth or lu
œlf 1\nd that tl!e token ls nonmagocal in
thelr hal'!ds.
Fatnl abJnrabon: Ct 3rd· Cmt Won·
drou~ Item, barkskin, speolt wlrh animaiS;
Priee 6,000 gp.
Trea!lurc: The work done hy the pris-
oners 1s shoddy at best, but lhere is one
thing of value hiddeJI hcrc. A sucœss·
fui Seatt.h check (OC .l()) d1scovers a
small 1vory token hidden under a pilt.:
of raù1er moldy rur:;. Carvcd to deptct
a wooly mammoth, 1t's worth 10 gp lor
the ivory and orving aloue The tokcu
is in fact a fetish hiJ<.lctt hcre severa)
montils ago by a captured human drujd
who was .;oon thereafter killed b) the
rrost folk. He hid his feti:.h 111 this room.
hoping it would be found l:ttPr by othet
pn«oners and give them lhe prolecbon
needed to organizc a rcvolL. or at least
to escape. UnforbmatPly. he hid 1t ali
too wf'll, and unless the PC:. firtd il. il
remains hidden.
The three torches arl' each everburn-
ing torcht"!i.
Oevelopmeot: Tbe pnsoners havt>
scen only this cbamber. but they can
OCTOBER 2004 DUNGEON 29
 ·HVELONE
'LEVEl T H R EE
tell the PCs thal "lots" of snow gol.llins
and at least four frost tolk live els~>whrre
in the citade.J. The prisoncrs are in uo
condition to travel. ;md as long a~ the
PCs don't lea\'C ùu:m bebind in the nta-
del they should be safe; lht.: t•aiders are
more concerned abo111 the intrudcrs
than lheir prisoners.
Il the PCs !rave the citadcl before they
dcfcat the raiders. tbough, the prisoncrs
ar~> doomed. Tise frost folk executl' the> rn
ali rather than rssk au uprising ofslaves,
and ùtc Black Sham~n be gins lhe proccss
of animatiug them into zotnbie minions
to belp derend Lhe fortrcss against sulr
scqucut attacks by the PCs.
This spacious kitchen is furmshed
with large wood and metal tables.
Freestanding metal cabinets line
most of the walls. What looks like
a flre pit dominates the center of
the room, except this p1t is frozen
over with strange icy formations
30 DUNGEON OCTOBER 2004
'LEVEL TWO
T'If~ 'F'ROZ'EN C1TA'IYE1.
and mounds of snow. A low-slung When not peeling potatoes, dicing waJ.
hammock hangs from spikes driv- rus blubber, or <1'llcking and peeling snow
en into the walls to the south, and spiders. Vovia spends hrr lime rclaxing
to the north, an archway opens in hrr hammo1.k.
into a narrow flight of stairs lcad- -, Vovia, Ft>male Frost Folk (1): hp
ing downward. 26; sec "The Headman's llousc" fo1
othc>r !\Lats.
This is where the raidrrs prepare food. -, Hu man Zombies (3): hp 16: Monster
Bt>ing creatures of t:old, the)' abhor opt>n Mmwnl 266.
na mes a nd cC)oked meat. l11slcaù. ù1ey T:1rticl\: Unlikc Lhe other frost folk,
flash-fr~:.-eze Ùleir dint1rr<; with tbeir icc Vovia has no rt"al fear of the 'ombies
blast, gathering meat in the: pit ht.>rt> so and finds tht:i1 presence oddly comforl·
they can prep:m• rn tire mcals. The snow ing. Still, she can'l control Ùlem. soif a
goblius and prisoners, hnvmg little chokc figlll breaks our she lets them takc the
in 1he matter, ha\ c lcarned to stomach 1he lead and supports their tacrlrJ> as best shc
froze11 ~ood. C311 . 1r things tum grim, s he SlltrendE"rS
'11tc slairs to the north lrad down lo aIIÙ oJters the party a '' hÎÙUCTI tr<.:as Ure"
art'a 10. if the) sparc ber !ife. She r~>fPrs to lhe
Creatures: This room 1s guardcJ by a frozen construct m th(; l.las ... ment. which
pair of zornbi(;s. stationed hf'l'e mostly to ::;he is conviuccd is made ofsolid goltl. or
prev!'nt gohlins from sleallng tood. Th!' ccmrse, sbc adltally hopcs thal leadmg
kitchen also servrs as û1e persona! quar· the PCs downl\tau:s givcs her ally )oki 3
ters of a frost folk named Vovia. She has t:hauœ to finish them off.
elevat<>d Lhe proc:css offrec;œ-coolciug food Developmen t: ll' ù1e d ta de1 i!i on alert
to Jll art. and u<;es ali som offlavorcJ iccs st<ltus, Vovia statlons ûsc zombies near
and plant!> lo season the n1e:als. Ù1c door and W<~its patiPnUy for the PCl.
to rt>ach the kitchen. If she hears wrnbat upper room from the safety of the doOJ· Angmesh or Lyotar madt il back to the
break out in arca 3, she waüs until the way to area 3. Needless to :;ay. the Black Citadel, thl'y are encountered herc as wcll.
sounds rue down and theo qttietly opens Shaman has little mterest m lowering the One of U1e frost folk cncountered hf'rc,
thf' door to let hcr two zombies out to ladder for thP PCs. Sniset. has drearm; of becoming a deric
allack any sumvors. She rem am~; ln this The inner wall~ Q[ lhc Lower are for· but has ye-t to actually take any ùcric bels.
room, in any c:~sc. tu11atcly rather rough. 11vc>n accounting Maarlan is the loudcst and most prone to
for the fact that they' re made of black icc use violence to solvl' problems. and lsbaara
and are rallier slippcry, th<.')' can be scaled is the raiders' worg trainel.
with a successful dimb cht>ck (DC 20). ~ Snisct, Maartan, and Jsbaara, Frost
This long, narrow room reeks of lilth 111e trapdoor itself is fairly dose Lo the Folk (3): hp 22, 18, 15; see "The Headman's
and exc.remcn l. FiiLhy layers of straw wall. and dambcri 11g up and through tt il ouse" for other stals.
line the Aoor, and wooden beams rcquues a slightly morc> dlfficult Climb Skilh: Lsoaara's skills art' c;hghtly ditfer·
support the roof. Severa! large dog· rheck (DC 22}. Of course. unlcss the ent th an thl' st:mdard frost folk's; they rue
sleds made or hide and mammoth PC~ arc particularly stealthy. lhe Black Handte Animal t-l. Hidc+l (+9 in snow
bones sit near a pair of large double Shaman might have> :J surprise waiting or' kc). Li~lcn +2. Move Silently + 1, Spot
doors to the east. for them when they ncat the trap door +l.. Survival +2.
(Sel: U!Céi 9). Tactics: Only Maarlan. lhc warnor. Js
The double doors are batteù from Creahue: The le-ader of the raiders cagcr for a fight. The otht>r rwo try to
the inside aud um only be opf'ned frorn makt>S his home on the upper Ooor of this escap<> if Maartao is taken out, or if the
the outside wtth a c;uccessful Strengù1 towt.·t. His compamon, a partic:ularly dnn· fight seems lo be going against them.
rh<'ck (DC 25). gerous din• wolf n:~ med Ribdtaw, guards The)' Ace using the set of stnirs opposite
Creatures: This long room servrs thP this d1amber from intrudcrs md fellow the onP the PCs used to enter. The worg
fort not only as a sht>d but as a kennet; raidcts alikc. The Black Shaman Villues trainer. lsbaara. is particularly eager to
thP ten worgs the raiders use a:. guardian hls pnvaC). The bones arc ali thatremains gct to hcr an1mals, and rna)' make a stand
beasts and a:. pack animal<> are kept hf're. of those prisoners (and raiders) the Black downsrairs in the kennels ifshc fiuds her
l'he exact amount ofworgs encounte1ed Sharnan has c.hosen to fred his pet. worgs have l>cèn injurcd or k.illed.
he re depends on hov. many the PCs have If thP :-~ l arm h;~s11't been raised am!.
alrcady slain and how man)' havf' man· other sounds of com~at haven't alerted
aged to esrapf' h:~ck here. At !east oue hint yct, R1bc.haw's barkingand growling
worg remains heJe, si.ucc l11c ïJidcrs wh<'n hP hmges to attack Ute PCs cettaùùy This single large room rs completely
btoughl rrine of them on tJ1e1r last r:~id alerts him to tl1eü pn:scncc. filthy. Nasty, poorly cured leather cur-
(and left onf' in Tonnsborg). Theil bark· ., Ribchaw, Dire Wolf: hp 45; Momta t ains hang from hooks in the ceiling,
ing is a f.uniliat sound lo the rardcrs, as Manual6'l. scraps of food lie sc.attered in ali the
llte)' often fight over food or p:~rk rank; corners, and graffiti is etched into the
tl will not hf' tak<"n as au alarm unless il walls and darkened with blood.
continues for more tilan sev<:tl rounds.
_, Worgs (1 - 10): hp 2R; M(msttr This long room features a long leather Creatures: The fl·osL loll< didr{l want to
Mt111uaL 2'lG. curtain on the easl wall. A few tables dimb Ulc extra stairs. so they gave this
and chairs furnish the room. Severa! room over to tht>it snow goblin minions.
mounds of snow lie heaped near the Currt>ntly. U1ere are OI.Ù) S<.'VCII :.oow gob-
walls; indentions in the snow seem lins lurking hcrc; ifany more gohlins mad!'
This circular, high-roofed chamber is to indicate that they're used as beds. rt back to thE> Citadel, tl1ey'rc cncountered
empty, save for several mounds of well- To the south, a large cau ldron hangs here as well. ln theoty, U1c gol>lins are
gnawed bones. The ceiling rises nearly from a stand next to a stone block teady to rush downsta.irs at thf' first sign
forty feet, where a closed trapdoor is with a strange, funnel-shaped de- of troublP-hur :tctually, thl!ir own argu-
clearly visible. The means to ascend to pression ln it. Arrow-slits allow light mt>nts ru1d an tics prevcnl Lhem from hear·
this trap door are clearly not. from the world outside to seep lnto ing ali l>ut the loudesl of al:mns.
the murky chamber. If thf' nl:mn ls raised. thcir booming
The trap door in the ceiling provides volces are si!c.ut and t.l:n:) lur]( quictly in the
arcess to area 9 the Black Shama n's l31J". 1he lt>ather curtàin along the east wall room, wa1ting to defend 11 from invaders.
1\ rope laddcr norrnaJly leads to this upper obscure~ a wiodow tlntl ovcrlooks area 1l1e snow goblins have tecenUy re·
<.ham ber, but lht> lll:tck Sh:umm typically 3: U11.' ilthabitants of ll11s room usually organized theit numbcrs inlo lwo groups.
kr('ps this laclder plLiied up Lo prcvcnt keep it closed. Drosse!, Mat-mat. and Mag are the East
anyone from ùislurbing him. When the Creatures: These oarracks <:an house Goblins. and control the nuved wall. lrda.
raiders need to talk to hin1, they usually up lo a half.dozen frost folk. Righi now, Suee. Clumpi, and Osvcs t"UII themselves
lorce a sno\V goblin to bellow up w the onl> lhr<>c> are likely encoumered het'C. If the West Goblins, :md they control the

-. -~< .· OCTOBER 2004 OUNGEON 31

--- ~ {,
lrJ RAIDERS _OF THE BLA5K' I.(;Er
westl'm leather curtains. lf tl1e PCs attack
one group, the other group han~ back
and jecrs lheir goblin kin; th l'y don"t join
tbe fightuntil at leasl one goblin is kiiJed
and they realize the fight is for kccps.
~ Snow Coblins (7): hp 5 t>ach; see
"Arriv:·ll in lonnsborg" for ailier stats.
Treasure: The go blins have a SÎ11glc lin
eup they sharc {tlle East Goblins currently
have control of tt), four wooden goblets,
a düp of gamet set on a bronze necklace
(10 gp). a silver lore (SO gp). a whetstone,
far too many leather straps. and a rabbit
fur doak (30 gp).
This drarty room is strewn wlth dried
herbs, powders, and rune-marked
parchments. A large bed of snow lies
heaped lo the southeast, and a ca re·
lessly bundled rope ladder sits on the
noor to the north near a trap door in
the Aoor.
Creature: The coiled rope ladder is used
by 1estvar to descend to the lower levels
of the dtadel on the rare occasions he
necds to do so. Called the "Black Shaman"
by his fellow frost folk. Lestvar is in fart
a wizard who ha.c; menaced and bullied
the othcrs for many months now since
bis disrovery of a ~vcmd of animntt dead.
He has used the wand many lim<!S to
anima tc lbe bodies oi frost folk he's siam
to punish their clisobcdience. The other
frost folkgreatly fear him now, and dread
berng turned into zombies. Le.c;tvar h.ad
little trouble convincirJg them that if they
kept him well su pplied with resour<.cs to
continue his necromantic research, he
wouldn"t need to use othet frost folk in
such a way. He's nearly our of charges
with hts wand now. but the other frost
folk have no way of knowing this and
continue to servP him out of fear.
-, Lesh·ar, The Black Sb.aman, Male
Frost Folk Wizard 4: CR 4; Medium mon·
slrotiS humanoid; 1-m 4d8+4 plus 4d4+4:
hp 34; lnit +2: Spd 30ft.: AC 15, tou rh 12,
flat-fooll'd 13: Base Atk +6; Gtap +6. Atk +7
melee ( ld6. mastetwork quarterstaff); Full
Atk +7 /+2 mdcc {ld6. maste1w01'k quar-
terstaff); SA tee blast, spcll:;; SQ daü"Vision
..
60 ft .. frost folk h-aits, immunity to cold,
snowsight, vulncrability to fire: AL NE; SV
32 DUNCiEON OCTOBER 2004
Fort +3, Ref +8. Will +10; Str 11. Dex 14,
Con 12, lnt 14, Wis 8, Cha 12.
Ski!h: Climb +7. Knowledge {arcana)
+ 1(), Listen +6. Spcllcraft ~ 12., Spot +6,
Sunrival +6.
Feccts:CombatCasting.lron WiU, Scribe
Scroll, Spell Focus (necromancy).
Langr,utge.ç: Common, Goblin. Ciant.
\Vizard Spells (4/4/3; save DC 12 +spcll
levtl): 0-acid splush. }lare, ligl1t, ray of
frost.; lst-dtill touch*. ray ofenfc:cb!ement-tt.
shidd, sleep: 2nd- command Ltndcad, glit-
tudust, mirror imccge.
Spellbook: Contains ali prcpan.:d spells.
ali cantrips. plus cmttil~ualjlamt. At your
disrretion, be may also know sorne of the
new spells det3iltd in Froslburn.
*Nccromantic spell; savt> DC 13 +
spelllevel.
Poss~ssions: M.:~st<'rwork quartcrstafi.
bracc:rsofarmor +l. wandofanimatedead (5
charg('s. CL 7lb, cach d1arg~: can anima re
a single skeleton or zombie of up to 8 Hit
Dice), cl oak of protection + 1, spc>llbook.
Thctirs: If Lestvar hears trouble down-
st.airs. be cracks open the trap door ami wai~
for a PC to come wilhin 5 feet of it hefore
throwing the door open and usi.ng his ice
blast on the introders. lie follows this up
with raysofenfoeblementor slt~pon dimhing
charncters, usmg mirror imnge oc gliUerdust
uattacked with r:mged weapons.
Treasure: ln audition to his sp<'ll·
book. Les tvar has a collection of scrolls,
induding one la bled "1 hstory of the
Northern Tribcs," one called "Treatise
on Goblinoid Speech an cl Thought",
and a very strange. large, and untitlcd
volume writtcu cntirely in runes .. Th1s
book measures 3 feet taU by 2 reet wide,
ami the runes in il are th(' size of gold
coins. Writtcn in Giant. it contains invo-
cations to thl' gods of frost and win ter,
èspccially to Thrym. tlle chao tic evil god
of frost giants. ll's utllikely any of thf>
PCs can read it without a wmprehe.11d
lcmt,rtwges spell or special skills. but it
does s!'em to have been written by one
"White Jarl ofJutunheirn" ancl scvt.:ral of
its prayt.:rs are devoted to tht> <:pread of
Eternal lee. Th1s book can be used to
inlroduce divine spells from Froslbrmr
into your campaign; a divif11' spellcaster
who studies the tome (which takes ::t
week of 8-hour study periods) cau add
any of the spclls in Frostburn to bis
speil li.sl if he doestlt alrf'ady k.now
ù1e spells.
Developmen t: The Black Shaman's
death breaks Lhe resolve of the raiders.
If tl1ey s~ conclusive proof of his dea th,
they immediately flel' the c1tadel.
1O. O..tPl oJ tftc Aut omat on
1tEc::(_j ot· 7!
This room seems to have been carved
directly into the frozen foundation of
black ice bclow the citadel. (rates and
barrels of food and supplies fine the
walls, and a low mound of snow lies
heaped in the northeastern corner of the
roorn. A particularly fine-looking tapes-
lry is draped over something round that
protrudes rrom the eastern wall
A successfuJ Knowledgf' (architecture
and engineering) t.heck (DC 15) is enough
to note thal the construction of this room
prcdatt:s the rest of the dtadel by many
d~des; pcrhaps b) centuries. The rea son
for titis is simple: ages ago. liac frost !olk
notcd an unusual shape burit-d iri the fro-
7en iCI' here. Aftcr they dug down to tht>
shape. they found it to be a strange con
struct from an aucient rea lm that predateù
the Black lee. They [reed the creature's
head and wert> :rmazed to fi nd il stilllived.
'J'he creature .îs known as :r nirnblewright,
and il told tales of the wcalth of southern
l,mds. of magic31 construcL<;, and ofs<.'Ctets
of its anticut empire. rt wa~ intrigumg
enough that it drew ~1c frost folk back to
this site for rnany years ma row, Ùul tlley
feared \\hat il couJd be capable ofand nevcr
finished freemg 1t from ils frozen prison.
They built the citadel ahove as a pcrmanclll
settlemcnl. Eventually, the nimblewright
stopped answermg questions or telling
tales, perhaps bPcause tt grcw borcd. or
pethaps bccause il dled
Today, tht> room serves as a cellar for
L.he kitchen and is the sleepmg quartcrs
for the prirnaf") huntet. He finds tlH' nim·
blewright's protruding ltt.:ad distl.trbing.
and threw the tapestry over it to put il
out of s1ght.
Creaturc>s: 1he snow pile is used by
loki, a l"rost folk who sl'rves the raiders
as a hunter. He never takes part in the
raids, preferring tbe solitude of the hw1t.
He fcds little kinship with the other frost
folk. with th l· cxt<'ptiOn of,,., ri ose f ri end pwbably the best solunon This method ùy utorc than 'i points, the cntire cel-
Vovia. who hvc-~ upst:ths. he1 dedkatiou takes 1d4+2 hours of wo1 k (modific:d by Jar r ;tvto; ln. Cltlshing art ~om· "ithin.
ro tht raider~ is th~ onl) tlunv th;at s ktpt -1 hour for each addtltorutl workl'r' up Cl\e in:. ille dct;,tkd on pagt' 6(, of ùte
him arouud. loki d~,. not rto:pond to to l\\O addJtional worlctrc: can hdp .11 Dt.~ c. to,, M HTf 1t ' Guide
~unds ofblniP or :alanliS unk~~ Vo\Îa once). l·tn• can he used to mdl thL tCC ., Jolci, Male Fro:.t folk (3): hp 19;
retreatc; d0\\ 11 here. hut brings a chance of collapse If firl' Atk full Alk 6 melee ( 1dH+2, bat-
If the lapc:.try 1:. remo\rd, the PCs is u:.cd. the amount of nme requhed tlc-.xc) or +') r1n~td (ld8+2 'xl com-
lind the ntmhll'\\ right's head protrud- to frtf' the ni.mble\\ r igbt b~<.ornc" fl<l"'~ longbo") S\ Fort +2. Ref ...s.
Jng from a uncd·out ~c:c.:tton of thf' 3d6 minutes. A successfuJ Kno,,lt'dge Will +4: .,cc •The Jleadm:m'c; House·
wall. The uimblcwnght's long exposure (illchitcdure and rngineering) dtct.k for oth~r ~t:u~.
lo cold has ('3tt<:td it to ~ntcr a .,l.&tc (DC 20) allows the v.:orkcr~ to u~c firf' Sblh: Climb • l. Hcal "-2. Htdc ....1 (+9
of f'xceeding tor por. ha\ utg con uml'd to meh ùtc kc \\ithout any addtltonal in IICJ\\ or iu.:) Lrslcn +2. Movf' Silently
the last vc:.ltgcs of tts t'IH'rgy over the problc.:ms. If this cht>ek f:ails by Sor le:.~. + 1, Spot t-l, Sumval +7
past to convrrsc- with thl' ancicu t fros t the m('lting causes the icc around the /(lft{' S<'lf.Suihd<'llt. Skill Rx:us (Survwal).
folk who pnnially f&c.:cd 11. Unlil 11 1~ nimblewright to :suddcnJy cave in on '1 O:.k.tri Loclcstar, Nimblt>,vright: CR 7:
removcd rully from thl" 1('1" il remains ilsclf; ùtis deals 8d6 points ol damag~· Mcdtum ronstmct HO IOd i01lO, hp 75
rnot:Jonlt>ss. ChippinR away the.: LtL' ts lo the nimblewright. If tite t.hc.:t:k f:uls (currPntly J8). luit t7, Spù 40 ft.: AC 24,

OCTOBER 2004 DUNGEON 33

 touch 17. Hat-footed 17; Base Atk +7: Grp
+Il; Atk +11 melee (2d6+4/ LS-20, rapier-
hand): Full Atk +I l ml"k<' (Zd6+4Jl5-20.
2 rapicr-hands), SA speU-like abilitil"s,
tripping thrust: SQ augmcntccl critical.
construc1 traits. spell resistanœ 27, vulner-
abihbes: Al CG; SV Fort +3, Ref +10. Will
+6; Str 19, Dex 24, Con-. lnt 10, \Vis 17,
Cha 19: Monster Mamtal If 1(>2.
Spell·Like Abilitics: Al will- alter s~lf.
(at's grace, entropie sl~ield,Jcat11crjill/. ha)le.
Cal; ter leve] 10
Sk-ûls: Balance +9, Jurnp +19. Twnble +22
Ftats: Combat Expertise•, Combat
Rc0exes 8 • Dodge. hnproved Disarm,
Mobihty, Spring Allack.
Languages: Common (archêiic..).
Elven. Dwarven.
Treasure: The tapeslr) }oki used
to cover the nimblt-wright's head is
finely made. probably Erom tht> south·
ern nahon of Pcrrc111and. Il depicts
a sumroer c;cent:' m a forest with a
mounted humer. a boar. and a pack
of dogs. lt is large, roughly 8 feeL
tall and 15 feet wide. we1ghing 180
pounds and \~Orth 2,000 gp.
Develo pment: Oskari the nimble·
wright can becomt> :1 valued ally of the
party if treated weil. He's fairly power·
fui; the DM shouldn't lcl him do a1l the
work for the PCs, but if they free hlm
bcforc dcaling ow;th Ùle rest of the Frost
CJtadcl. the nimblcwright ccrtainly has
no probleros assi!:ting in killing or driv·
ing off raiders.
After centuries fro:tcn in the ice. his
memory is poor and hr remembers only
a f<:.'W details about his past In rhis capac-
ity, hf" can serve as a wcalû1 of ad, enture
hooks for the DM.
(ondud\na tFte A.,dventure
This adventure concludes as the PCs
ùcfcallhe Black Shaman and disrupt
the raiders. The surv1ving frost folk
flee into the Land of Black lee. fhe
surviving prisone1s cau either be
l"c;corted back home. or allowcd to
rest and recover ln thP Prost Citadel
(at which pointthey'll be able to Hnd
tht-1r own way home aftcr cquipping
themselves with gtar found in the
Frost Citadel).
Beyond the Frost Citadcl. ùte PCs cau
either seek out the northPrn wonders
34 DUHGEON OCTOBER ~
beyond the Black lee or retum to tell
their t:lles to Arrhbaron Bestmo and
hope for a reward. Il they succePd in
a Diplomacy check (DC 20) they cau
collect a 500 gp rcward, a knighthood
for the party leader. and the offer of
:tn officer's position Îll the army. rf
the check fails, thto arrhbaron banishes
them for failing lo prevent the raid in
the flrf>t place.
You can use tht' nimblewrighfs
memories to set books forfi.ttureadven·
toree; deeper mto the tcc. Altcrnalely,
he may accompany the party south. for
reasons of his own. 1n this case, he
discourages them from ever visiting
lh(: Land of Black lee again. tf your
players arc likc most c~dvenlurers. tell-
ing them not to go somewhcre i~ an
alwo~t irresistible lure. Whf'ther they
ft nd an army of snow goblins. packs
of Zeai barbarians, or a hot spring thal
pow~rs a self-stJStaiuing group of ]ost
mmblewngbts is up to you.
Apprnd\X: sUI~ÎVÏtlfJ ott tfle CJce
Part of what maJ..cs this advemure
d1allenging is the bitter cold ofwintcr.
The st1n shines for a mere 6 hours rach
day. The winds anJ snows make travel
difllcult, and the Jack of fircwoocl or
gr;uing on the Black lee itself presents
addJtional challenges. cspecially for a
3rd-level party with lim1ted resourccs.
Thcse nùes for surviving in cold are
more fully detailed in FrQstbt~m .
Cofd' ~t·orectlon
A creatu.re's protection from the effectS
of cold cau !>(' broken down mro levcls
of prolec:.tion. as foUows:
Lev el 0: Creature with no protedlon against
cold at ali
level l : Cceature witn Cold E11durance
'eat, creatu~ wrth fur, creature native to
C'Oid terrains.
leve! 2: Creature wltn fur and native tc
told terrarn, crea ture "alive to e)Cfremely
cold terrain.
leve! 3~ Cteawre wlth cnduœ e/tmmfS elfect.
creatur~with resrstance 10 cold 5 or more,
~- ...
.,.
·t·
'
A creature can increase its lcvd of cold
protection by using speoalized eqrupmenl
Cold Protection
Fqulpment
Modifier
Nospectal
clothing ~o
Armor lnsulation,
cold weather
+1
outfit. fur
dothrng
Cold weather
outfit +fur
clothing, armor +2
rnsul3tron + fur
dothlng
tmprovlsed
+3
shelter
tfxposure lo Cofd
Cold and exposure d~l nonlethal dam-
age. This nonlclhal c.lamage cann<>t be
recovered un hl the character escapes ù1c
c..old and wanns up again. Once a charac-
ter is rendercd unconsdous through the
accumulation of nonJetbal damage. the
c..old and exposme deals lethal damage
at the samc rate.
Cold (Bla ckmoor Region): An unpro-
tcc..ted dtaracter in cold Wt:'3ther (bclow
40 F) must makc a Fortitude save each
hour (DC 15, + 1 per previous dteck)
or lake ld6 points of non lethal damage.
Characters whosc protection agains1 cold
is at !east lt:'vell are sa fe at this tempera-
turc range.
Severe Cold (La ud of Black lee): ln
cond itions of severe cold (beJow o· F).
an unprotected character must make
a Fortitud c sêivc once every 10 mill-
utes (OC 15, +1 per previous check).
Laking ld6 poin1s of nonletbal dam·
age on each failcd save. A partially
protected character need on1r check
once per hour. Characters whose pro-
tection againsl cohl ls al !east leve!
2 are safe in this temperature range;
tJ1osc witb leve! 1 protection arP par-
tlally protected.
Ext re me Cold: 1n conditions of
cxlrcme cold (below -20° F), an
unprotec:ted cha racler takes ld6 points
 Recent Snowfall
WATCH THIS, 1"\\ISI-IR.OO.,_~ \ ~
None Up to 12" 13·24" 25-60" 61"+ FII~"T I 9RE~ 114tS RECEMTL"f
~EVEREO W.NO ONTO TH\S
On Foot, 20ft. 15 moles 7 miles 7 miles 3 miles Omiles FRI,NO\.'C A C.IO IC S LII'\E .

On Foot, 30ft. 20 moles 15 miles 10 miles 5 miles Omiles

Mounted, 60ft 25 mlles 25 miles 12 miles 12 miles 6miles

Skis Omoles 35 mlles 18 miles 9 miles 4 miles

Snowshoes Omiles 10 miles 10 miles 10 miles 10 miles

Dogsled Omiles 50 miles 50 mlles 25 moles 0 mlles

of cold damage pcr 10 rninulcs (no
save), and must make a f'ortitude save
(DC 15, +1 per previous check) each
10 mlnules or Lakt: ld4 poiuls of non·
lethal damage. 'lbose wearing metal
armor or coming into contact with
exposed mela! arc affcclcd as if by a
chili metal speU. A partially protected
character takes damage and makes sav-
ing throws once per hour. Characters
"Raiders of the Black lee" ·~ desogned for a
group offour Jrd-level characters, but with
a little work it can be adapted for use by 1st-
2nd-level characters or 4th Sth·lcvel chardC·
ters. Ali NPCs in the adventure snould nave
their class levels adjusted by an amount
equal to lhe oncoe~S<~ or dc.>crea~c on average
party leve! from 3rd. Note tnat lower-level
cnaracters will find tne perils of the freez-
ong temperature to be mucn more danger·
ous; you should conslder maklng potions of
endure elements avallable in Tonnsborg, or
perhaps you should sel the adventurc on the
summer when the cold is less extreme.
1st-2nd Level: Replace the worgs with
wolves, and the frost folk woth 2nd-level
snow goblin warriors. Remove the Medium
snowspider from encounter J. The dore wolf
Ribchaw should become a worg
4th-5th Level: Replace the worgs with
dire wolves. Ali frost folk should ga on 1-2
levels of rogue. Advancc Maryoshka the
rusalka by 4 H it Oice, or give her 2 levels of
sorcerer. Add 1-2 Medium snow spiders to
encounter 3. The dore wolf Robchaw should
become a wi nter wolf.
whose cold protection is at !east leve!
3 are safe in this temperature range:
those with leve! 2 protection are par·
tially protected, and those with !eveil
are unprotected.
Any character who takes nonle·
1
thal damage from cold or exposure
is beset by frostbite or hypothermia;
if you don't have Frostburn, treat the
character as fatigued. These pen:-~lties
end when the character recovers the
norùethal damage she took from the
cold and exposure.
tEJJects of qce and snow
Characters moving across ice or snow
must spend 2 squares of movement to
enter a square covercd by ice, and the
DC for Balance and 1\rmble checks
increases by +5.
Ovcrland rnovement over ice and snow
is summarized on the following t:-~ble. âl
Wolfgcmg Baur lives in Seattle and
dreams about monkeys. He is a former edi-
torofDuNGf.ON magazine. ''Raidersofthe
Black lee" marks his seventh adventure in
these pages.

'"'TONY MootttY

OCTOBER 2004 DUNCEON 35