PC14 - Bandits!

By Merric Blackman
An AD&D adventure set in the World of Greyhawk for 1st level characters
Bandits! The soldiers of the See of Medegia have long kept such rabble away from the
towns and villages of the provinces, but chaos is rising everywhere. His equitable nemesis,
Spidasa, the Holy Censor of Medegia, has issued a proclamation of bounty on those
poor fools who dare hinder the wayfarers on his roads!

Contents

Overland Map The Adventure

Introduction Conclusion
Notes For The DM Map: Lair Of The Bandits

Credits

Adventure Concept, Design and Original Map: Merric Blackman

http://www.3rdedition.org/merricb/dnd.htm
Formatting and Updated Maps: Brian Dougherty
Updated Map Programs: Core Rules 2 + Expansion (Overland) and Dungeonforge (Lair)
http://www.dungeonmapping.com/df/public_html/

Special thanks to: Merric, for permission to post his excellent first edition Greyhawk
adventure!
INTRODUCTION
Bandits - the soldiers of the See of
Medegia have long kept such rabble
away from the towns and villages of the
provinces, but chaos is rising
everywhere. His equitable nemesis,
Spidasa, the Holy Censor of Medegia,
has issued a proclamation of bounty on
those poor fools who dare hinder the
wayfarers on his roads!
The latest attack has occurred near
the town of Cofston, and Lady
Cassandra d'Felis, Lady Mayor and
Mage, has rounded up a group of
adventurers to prosecute the
chastisement of the bandits – to follow
them to their lair and relieve them of
their spoils.
All treasures taken from them will be
the adventurers to keep (for the
merchants whose property they were
proved themselves weak and unworthy
when they failed to protect their
belongings), and an extra prize of 100
g.p. each will also be awarded.
The word of a village boy has led the
brave adventurers to a cave in which
the rabble have sheltered.
Onwards for the glory of Hextor and
Medegia!
NOTES FOR THE DUNGEON MASTER
Unknown to the authorities and the
players, the bandits have been sent by
the dread necromancer Daglan to
locate an artifact of the old Suloise
Empire – the Rainbow Portal.
The mercenaries were tasked to only
find the portal, but they became
distracted by the prospects of easy
plunder from a lightly guarded
merchant caravan, thus provoking the
response of the authorities. They are of a
vain bent, and believe (foolishly) that no
one in this realm could follow them or
pose a threat if such were to occur.
The Rainbow Portal is an artifact
allowing travel between places on the
Oerth – portals have been discovered in
the Sea of Dust, Crystalmist Mountains
and even below Castle Greyhawk – and
indeed into certain planes where the
Suel had allies of fiendish nature.
The activation of the portal requires
the use of seven gems (each worth at
least 5,000 g.p.) of the seven rainbow
colors. The order in which they are
placed into the portal determines the
destination. The gems belonging to this
portal are now dust, and the activation
codes are beyond the scope of this
product.
You are encouraged to invent your
own codes and destinations if you feel
that this element should be expanded
upon.
THE ADVENTURE
The PCs are presumed to have
tracked the brigands to their lair; you
may, of course, run a preparatory
adventure beforehand dealing with
such matters. The PCs will have been
given their mission by a servant of Lady
Cassandra, for that one is too busy for
such minor matters at present.
A stream flows out of the cave, and
the sound of a waterfall can be heard
from within the cave. Adventure awaits!
1. WATERFALL CAVE: The air in this
chamber is moist from the waterfall that
flows from high on the rock wall to the
east. Six brigands are on guard here;
they are meant to be more alert than
they are, and so the party has a chance
of surprising them.
Brigands (6): (AC 7, MV 12”, HD 1d6, HP
6, 1, 3, 5, 1, 2, #AT 1, D 1-6, AL CE, SZ M);
leather + shield and short swords; each
has 2d4 gold.
It is a surprisingly tall chamber, some
twenty-five feet to the height. The
waterfall comes from an underground
stream that is not accessible from here,
and is slightly warm, besides. The tunnels
out are of no more than 10 feet in
height.
The brigands have a campfire and
various roasting meats and vegetables.
All in all, they are quite comfortably set
up – if foolish in their arrogance that no
one can hurt them.
Investigation will discover a concealed
passage behind the waterfall (treat as a
standard concealed door for chances
of elves noticing it just by passing).
2. CAVE OF LIGHTS: This chamber has
many beautiful crystals that reflect
strangely in the light created by a lone
fire beetle (hp 6) that is grazing on the
moss that grows on the walls. It does not
react well to being disturbed!
Fire Beetle: (AC 4, MV 12”, HD 1+2, HP 6,
#ATT 1, D 2-8, AL N, SZ M)
3. CAVE OF HORSES: The brigands have
chosen this cave to stable their horses.
More moss and fungi cling to the walls,
and there are piles of straw and oats in
the center of the cavern. Eight horses
are here in all, tethered by rope to
stakes pounded into the floor.
4. HIDDEN CAVE: Behind the waterfall is
where the brigands have stored their
loot: various crates and barrels
containing foodstuffs and cloths. The
real prizes is a large chest containing
valuables, however this chest is both
locked and trapped with a poison
needle (save vs. poison at +2 on the die
or be slain!). Also problematic are the six
skeletons that the bandit leader has
tasked to guard the chest – they move
from hidden positions around the room
to engage the party if the chest is
approached or one or more of them are
spotted.
Skeletons (6): (AC 7, MV 12”, HD 1, HP
5,3,4,5,3,3, #ATT 1, D 1-6, AL N, SZ M)
The chest can be broken open with no
ill effects, although such noise will draw
the attention of the brigands in area 5,
as will any combat that lasts more than 2
rounds with the skeletons. Within the
chest is stored 2,000 gold pieces, 5 gems
(100 gp base) and a collar made of
gold and studded with gems worth 5,000
gp!
Once matters have been resolved, the
secret door to the south may be
discovered and the further investigation
of the complex begun. In the case that
the PCs do not discover the door, then
have the brigand of area 5 enter from
there, assuming that they have not
already done so due to the PCs being
noisy!
5. ANTECHAMBER: The corridor that leads
to this chamber is natural rock, but the
door is made of copper-sheathed iron,
and inscribed with runes of safety and
magic. (Historians and Bards may note
that the runes are of ancient form, and
were used in the Suel Empire at its
height). At this point, it has been
battered down and broken by the
intruding mercenaries.
The chamber beyond is beautiful: a
lush blue carpet, white marble walls and
ceiling, and beautiful paintings on the
walls. All are protected magically, and
none may be removed without access
to spells such as limited wish or wish.
Six brigands have been set to watch
any intrusion to this chamber. Four will
investigate noise in area 4., the other
two will wait for their reports.
Brigands (6): (AC 7, MV 12”, HD 1d6, HP
2, 5, 6, 2, 6, 3, #AT 1, D 1-6, AL CE, SZ M);
leather + shield and short swords; each
has 2d4 gold.
All further interior doors in the complex
are of wood; the walls are marble (black
for the corridors, white for the
chambers), and the impression of great
luxuriousness pervades throughout.
6. RING CORRIDOR: Soft glow-globes set
in the walls illuminate the corridor, which
as noted above is of black marble. The
carpet here is red and soft, and
magically repairs and cleans itself,
causing all tracks to disappear within
minutes.
7. PANTRY: Spells of create food and
water were laid on this pantry in
antiquity, and continue to function,
replacing supplies as they are removed.
The ten giant rats that now lair here
have become quite fat on the bounty,
and viciously protect their lair.
Giant Rats (10): (AC 7, MV 12” //6”, HD
1-4 hp, HP 4(x2), 3(x4), 2(x2), 1(x2), #AT 1,
D 1-3, AL N(E), SZ S)
A gnawed upon skeleton lies in one
corner, clutching a rotted leather sack
which holds 2,000 copper pieces and a
gem worth 50 gp. A hammer +1 lies
under a pile of rat-droppings.
8. KITCHEN: This room is quite clean
compared to the pantry. Cupboards
containing pots, plates, cups, cutlery
and other kitchen implements line the
walls, and chopping boards, benches
and a sink complete the picture of a
well-stocked kitchen. In fact, unseen
servants are still active in the kitchen,
cleaning and replacing items. (A PC
who puts a knife in their pack may be
bemused to see it floating back towards
its proper place).
9. DINING ROOM: A long table set with
plates, glasses and cutlery is the most
noticeable feature of this room,
although the fully stocked (and
restocking) wine and liquor cupboard
on the west wall may interest the PCs
more than this!
Six brigands are currently eating a
repast at the table, having discovered
that the
magic of this place is still active. Most
common meals will be prepared and
served by the unseen servants if
someone speaks their desire while
seated at the table. Due to their
distracted state, the brigands will be
surprised 4 in 6.
Brigands (6): (AC 7, MV 12”, HD 1d6, HP
6, 4, 5, 4, 1, 4, #AT 1, D 1-6, AL CE, SZ M);
leather + shield and short swords; each
has 2d4 gold.
You may find it amusing to serve a PC
with a roasted rat instead of some other
meal, that animal being unfortunate
enough to be in the wrong place when
the PC ordered roast beef!
10. RUINED LIBRARY: The door to this
room is locked, but the wood of the
door is failing and it may be opened as
a normal stuck door. Within is a sea of
moldy paper and collapsed shelves, the
magic on this area having failed long
ago.
If the PCs enter, they will discover that
the ceiling is unsafe - the first characters
into the room provoke some falling rocks
from the ceiling, indicated by the “T” on
the map (save vs. paralyzation or take
2d6 damage). Further investigation will
cause rocks to fall 2 in 6 for each turn
characters remain in the room .
Persistence will discover a pair of silver
candlesticks, tarnished but still valuable,
worth a total of 50 g.p.
11. MASTER'S CHAMBERS: The door to this
place has been smashed by the leader
of the brigands, Uldo, and his two
henchmen (regular brigands). The trio is
currently looting the room, although
they are not finding much of value.
Uldo is cruel and vain. He is utterly loyal
to the necromancer Daglan due to
magical compulsions on that one's part.
He prefers to taunt his opponents and to
make them suffer in preference to a
clean kill.
Uldo: (F3, AC 2 (plate mail + shield), MV
6”, hp 18, #AT 1, D 1-8 (long sword), AL
CE)
Brigands (2): (AC 7, MV 12”, HD 1d6, HP
6, 4, #AT 1, D 1-6, AL CE, SZ M); leather +
shield and short swords; each has 2d4
gold.
The chamber was once a bedroom,
and the PCs can observe unseen
servants putting things back to rights
following any battle – the bed will be
made, various clothes replaced in their
wardrobes and so forth.
12. MASTER'S FATE: Once the secret
chambers of the master of these place,
he and his servant were “saved” by their
patron, Wee Jas, when the Suel Empire
fell. Now they are both ghouls and
ferociously attack once the chamber is
opened.
This room once had many things of
magical value in it, but now most are
smashed. Glass and multicolored
fragments of gemstones litter the floor. A
concealed cache in the wall holds 1,400
copper pieces and 400 gold pieces,
and a military pick +1 is hidden beneath
some toppled shelves.
Ghouls (2): (AC 6, MV 9”, HD 2, HP 12, 17,
#ATT 3 D 1-3/1-3/1-6, SA Paralyzation, AL
CE, SZ M)
13. CHAPEL OF WEE JAS: The left-hand
wall of this chamber is covered with
pictures glorifying the use of magic in
the Suel Empire: Wizards creating
magical staves, armies being destroyed
by fireballs, and the like. The right-hand
wall contains scenes of the Suloise
underworld, with a beautiful woman
(Wee Jas) greeting the dead, exalting
the wizards and casting the warrior
down low.
The far wall is dominated by a statue
of Wee Jas and an altar to her and the
chapel is full of pews and other religious
ornaments.
The entire place is guarded by four
zombies (hp 13, 14, 13, 13), who drive
out any that do not speak words of
devotion to Wee Jas. (“I am a servant of
Wee Jas; let me pass!” would suffice).
Zombies (4): (AC 8, MV 6”, HD 2, HP 13,
14, 13, 13, #ATT 1, D 1-8, AL N, SZ M)
14. THE RAINBOW PORTAL: Locked
behind an iron door that has been
wizard locked is the true prize of this
complex: the Rainbow Portal. As noted
in the DM's notes, this device allowed
the Suloise Empire quick travel to other
places. A great platinum column rises in
the middle of the chamber, and an altar
emblazoned with a rainbow-motif and
seven holes that will admit the seven
gems that activate the portal.
This entire place is by a skeletal
equiceph, a strange humanoid-equine
creature that once served Wee Jas on
another plane. It attacks all who enter
with its great halberd.

Skeletal Equiceph: (AC 6, MV 12”, HD 4,
hp 18, #AT 1, D 1-10, SD as skeleton, AL
N, SZ L, XP 157)
If the seven gems are placed in the altar
in the proper order, the platinum column
will be transformed into a pillar of light
that transports those who enter it to an
equivalent complex somewhere else.
CONCLUSION
Lady Cassandra d'Felis will be most
pleased if the PCs return with news of
the successful chase of the bandits, and
even more pleased if the PCs give her
information about the Suel complex.
A prize of 100 gp each is awarded to
the PCs who killed the bandits, this prize
is doubled if news of the complex is
brought to the authorities.
From here, the PCs will be spoken of
favorably amongst those loyal to the
Holy Censor and Lady d'Felis, and further
contracts may be given to them if they
remain in the area.
Map of the Bandit Lair