The Pavis Shrine
This is the first scenario design for my Pavis campaign. The plot is simple, it's goals where to encourage the PCs to interact with the Pavis Temple and to set up some specific Lunars as the Bad Guys, and to introduce them to the dangers of the Rubble. I used the Lunar Survey Team from "A Secret Wish", published in White Dwarf and Shadows on the Borderlands as the Lunar antagonists for this scenario.
Introduction
The PCs are approached by their temple or employer to investigate the validity of a map (they could also have discovered the map themselves, or received it from another source, eg Treasure Trove Hurbi). The map is old and worn, and shows an area of the Rubble. The Pavis Royal Mint is indicated, along with other landmarks. Not far from the mint, there is a large cross (large enough to make the exact point vague) and the runes for Man, Earth, Stasis and Harmony.
The Site
The party go out into the Rubble to search for the spot marked on the map. After whatever encounters you want to throw in, they eventually find what they are looking for. In an area of ruins that are almost completely flattened (type C & D if you have the Rubble book) there is a wide area that may have been a square or a courtyard within a large house. On the ground can be faintly seen a large circular shape. If the debris & dirt is cleared (an hour or so to do) what can be seen is a large flat stone construction. It is a Flintnail Door, but let the party work that out.
Around the edge of the stone are these Runes (in order of appearance):Man Earth Stasis Harmony Man Earth Stasis Earth Man Earth Stasis Harmony Man Earth Stasis Earth Man Earth Stasis Harmony Man Earth Stasis Darkness. These are three sets of: the Runes of Pavis, followed by the Runes of Flintnail, followed by an elemental Rune. The Runes may give a clue as to the purpose of the construction.
In the centre of the construction is several circles, each circle has an inscription, written in Old Wyrmish, or some other language that none of the PCs can read, each line in a different circle. Because of the design, it is not clear where the inscription starts. (I will be adding an image of the door to make this decription clearer). The inscription reads:
Engineers of Flintnail built this shrine heroes of Pavis guard
it
When His holy city suffers no longer in Darkness
The hammers of the devoted will ring out his holy name
And the blessings of Arroin will be his again
If anyone tries a "Detect Magic" or "Soul Sight" the construction has an aura of magic all over, and three more powerful points at each of the three elemental Runes (Earth, Earth, and Darkness).
Lunar interest
Broosta Nemm, Daughter of Pavis and Lankhor Mhy Associate, uses the Lankhor Mhy Library to research information about Old Wyrmish. The she is careful to gather up all of her notes, she cannot conceal her use of the library. This is where the Lunar Survey Team gets wind of the interest in the shrine. The Lunars have searched the Rubble near the site, and have posted spies to watch the Pavis Temple and its activities related to the Rubble.
The Key
The key to opening the door is in the inscription and the Runes lying around it's circumference. The three Elemental Runes each have a small elemental of the appropriate type bound to them. The spell on the door is a special Warding focussed at the three blocks of Pavis Runes, with the precondition that only an initiate or higher of Pavis may touch them without disturbing the Ward. (The map had a similar spell on it that concealed it until Trolls no longer ruled Pavis.)
If the Ward is broken, it delivers 6D6 points of damage, and releases the elementals. The Gnomes will flow through the earth and attack anyone standing around the door. The Shade will form below the door and attack through the first opening, then anyone on the door.
Opening
As the Runes are carved into heavy stone blocks, the Pavisite must use a hammer to move them (roll under Masonry skill). When all three blocks have been hammered into the ground, a spiral staircase will drop down from the centre of the door. It is now that the Spirit Guardians of the Shrine will appear to discover who has opened the Shrine. If the door was broken open, the spirits will attack with spells first, then attempt dominant possession, killing all opponents then returning to the main Pavis Temple to enlist aid.
Inside the Shrine
Inside, the shrine is designed to honour Pavis simply. The stairwell opens into a square floored chamber (Earth Rune) with an arched ceiling (Stasis Rune). On the floor are three long slabs (Harmony Rune) and on the ceiling is inscribed a Man Rune. Around the walls are tapestries, and there are inscriptions on each of the slabs.
Each of the slabs covers the body of a hero of the Pavis cult, buried and hidden here during the Troll Occupation. Their spirits reside here, guarding the location of the Healer's Cup, a cult relic.
Tomb A
Inscription (in Old Pavic) reads: "Here lies Rondall Whitehair, Slayer of Trolls, Guardian of this Shrine". Inside is a skeleton clad in leather zebrahide armour. He has a silver necklace, with a giantstone amulet representing Pavis, worth 93L. At his belt is a warhammer, across his chest is a battleaxe. Both are severely corroded. Tucked into one vambrace is a scroll written in Old Pavic giving +10 in warhammer.
Tomb B
Inscription (in Old Pavic) reads: "Here lies Corin Longeye, Warrior of Pavis, Alchemist of Lanbril, Guardian of this Shrine" The body inside is dressed in perished zebraskin armour, at his side is a corroded shortsword. On his belt is a dagger and two pouches. The dagger holds amatrix for "Silence". One pouch holds two potions, one spoiled, and the other a potion of Fanatacism. The second pouch holds a gemstone worth 137L.
Tomb C
Inscription (in Old Pavic) reads: "Here lies Varad Quicktongue, Priest of Pavis, Guardian of this Shrine". In this tomb is a skeleton clad in the last scraps of a long robe. At his belt is a corroded warhammer and a pouch containing a large green gem worth 46L. Around his neck is a thonged pouch containing a 4 POW Storage Crystal.
Tapestries
There are eight tapestries (two on each wall) depicting scenes from Pavis' history:
Behind tapestry 8 is a small chamber containing a bench and three priests robes on pegs. At the side of the chamber is a secret compartment, which opens to reveal a small shrine dedicated to Pavis' healer "cousin", Arroin.
The centrepiece of the shrine is an intricately worked wooden cup. Below the cup is a loose stone, underneath which is part of a map and a scrap of parchment leading to the next adventure (IMG a quest for a holy item of the Arroin cult)
If the door was opened properly, the spirits will manifest and attempt communication with any Pavisites present, speaking Old Pavic. They will allow exploration of the Shrine but not the tombs, and will show the location of the robing room by pointing at tapestry 8.
The Guardians
Rondall
POW 16 INT 14
Spells: Glue, Befuddle, Disruption, Bludgeon, Protection,
Summon Small Gnome
Corin
POW 13 INT 13
Spells: Forget, Mobility, Summon Small Shade, Command Shade,
Heal II
Varad
POW 15 INT 18
Spells: Befuddle, Demoralise, Mindspeech, Summon Small Gnome,
Command Gnome, City Harmony
Arf
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