Planescape Introductory Adventure: DESIRE AND THE DEAD

Hrabanus - hi and of course another playtester is always welcome! If your PCs do all turn out evil, that might make for an interesting journey through. Just keep us all updated (especially with their inevitable obsession with rings... )

Great news to hear you're underway too, Arytiss. Sounds like a nice alternate intro there too. I'll have to check out the Portal Jammer myself.

I suppose you would guess that if you didn’t know the truth… seems I have inadvertently created a nice red-herring (and motivation, since many plyers will be already wanting to get their hands on these “magic rings”)

It seems like the scenario is still basically on track... as it happens I was updating Gnarlybone's info with the fact that since he knows where the Joculators live, he might suggest an expedition to loot the place if they've been dealt with. And since the Jocs are now a bonafide gang in the Hive, they might send reinforcements to check on their missing comrades if you think a rematch is in order?

The Joc difficulty still seems about right... 1st encounter get taken down/embarrassed, 2nd they might get a couple but are thwarted by Grimjaw, and (maybe) a third in Blighthouse.

Think I'm going to include a handout in Joc lair as well, hinting that the whole thing with them was planned out (just in case the PCs kill em all!)

PS: Has Ambergris got them looking into the Thurible by the way? in the new version he might even actually ask them to do it!

in other news...

The Artwork has Arrived!

Big big thanks to John "Doc" White for these pieces, which time constrains me to post without the minor cleanup and re-sizing to do them full justice (thought you playtesters would want them ASAP, so I'll edit this post as and when I do the pics).

His talent continues to make my heart swell with abject jealousy!

Bad Grum

Silent Brom

Mother Xero

Factotum Ambergris

A couple of Joculators...

And the Lady herself - Eyes Desire

Hello again all, it’s that time of the week when I prove that I’m still doing some work.

I’ve been reviewing the various posts from you playtest DMs recently, specifically the constructive criticisms on the pacing of Desire and the Dead, most prominently the fact that a - the PCs are denied a standard climax and b - will likely finish the scenario pretty torqued off and unfulfilled.

What follows is a technically optional encounter designed to give the PCs a more satisfying end to their adventure. Desire might have escaped them (at least as far as the adventure is concerned) but now they can enjoy a more traditional climactic fight, some good old-fashioned fiend-bashing, and feel like proper heroes (it also gives them an end to the plot if they completely miss/ignore what’s going on!)

Things are still a little rough around the edges, but I’d rather post it now before the playtests reach the end of the scenario. This Act requires a little more skill to run by DMs, so I’m particularly interested in your thoughts on how that’s presented and what other assistance we can give to the guy or gal behind the screen.

There are a few minor points in here that might be new to you – the names of the local gangs, the fact that the barmen of the Scolds Bridle are now full Norse ogres not half-ogres, etc… but there have been no major changes to the adventure. Stats from Féregnyúlván and the hordlings are from Planewalker articles (something I particularly wanted to include).

ACT SIX:
ONE LAST JOB

Once the PCs know the truth (or have got as far as they can), the party will likely be more than a little torqued off. Give them a few days to calm down and sweep up any loose threads they want to, perhaps with some minor incidents from the Random Encounter Table to occupy them if necessary.

If they’ve been largely successful, then the DM can also point out that things seems to be getting back to normal (normal for the Grey District anyway), and there’s talk of a collection is going round the district to reward the PCs for their efforts. Make the party feel good about themselves again - they’ve saved the Grey District from chaos.

And once they’ve suitably relaxed, the DM can spring one last surprise on them:

This time the fiend gang really is coming to sort the PC’s out. With Old Toadface gone or in the Dead Book and his greenjackets weakened by internal strife and clashes with other gangs, Rash has decided that the time is right to strike.

Once the urchin’s calmed down a little and caught her breath, she can fill the party in on what’s occurring: The Proud Pariahs are marching up Shuffle Street like a parade, killing everyone who won’t bow down and call them master. They’ve got the leaders of the Bloodmouths and Greenjackets with them, trussed up on poles like living banners. They’re telling everyone they pass that the Pariahs are taking over the Grey District, and plan to celebrate by painting the town red… using the adventurers’ blood.

Grum’s first question is simple: “Are you staying or going? We’ve got no right to hold you to this kind of trouble.”

The PCs have a little over an hour to decide.

DRAWING THE BATTLE LINES

A flood of people will soon start coming up Shuffle Street looking for the party, confirming the grim news. PCs can go and scout the gang themselves, send one of the local shifty types to look for them, or can use Gather Information (DC 15) to learn what’s coming: It’s Rash himself, something approaching a dozen chaotic fiends and monsters, and about twice that number of barmy tiefling beggars from the pyres. They have Dru (leader of the Bloodmouths) and Sharky (boss of the local Greenjackets) with them and there’s no sign that either of those gangs or anyone else is going to stop them.

At first glance, the situation looks utterly hopeless – the fiends are far too numerous and powerful to even consider fighting. Before PCs can panic and run however, they’ll discover that they don’t have to fight alone.

If the party has been honourable mercenaries, done their jobs, and made friends in the district, then more than a few residents are prepared to stand in the street with them. If they haven’t been up to scratch however, the situation may well look bleak – but hey, that’s their own fault.

Silent Brom will certainly fight alongside the PCs, regardless of what he personally thinks of them. This is his district, and he’ll die before seeing it ravaged by fiends.

Sven-Ole, Stunt-Bosi, and Ygg will be the first to line up after Brom. The ogre barmen of the Scold’s Bridle have never paid protection money or backed out of a fight, and have no plans to start now. Any current feud with the PCs will be forgiven in the face of the greater threat.

Jaime Foultongue will volunteer to fight as soon as word gets out. His zombie workers might also be put to good use by canny PCs.

2d6 locals will stand with the PCs - a mix of immigrants, guildsmen, and a few warriors from the local gangs (treat half as Average Berks, half as Violent Berks). They’re outclassed and will be slaughtered if pitted against any fiends, but are prepared to make a stand against their minions. PCs can add to their numbers with a CHS check (+1 local per full 5pts of result by each recruiter). Silent Brom will volunteer to lead these men and women into battle, unless a PC warrior would prefer to.

These people at least will stand with the party against the Proud Pariahs unless the PCs have somehow got them killed, but things will still look bleak against a dozen fiends and an army of cannibal tieflings. The PCs might well seek further reinforcements. Jink, impassioned speeches, and the calling in of debts might enlist the following support for their cause, at the DM’s option. The chief factor here is how well they have done in their job of protecting the district (which is different to how successful they were against Eyes Desire), and how many friends they’ve made.

Remember that the party only has about an hour until the Pariahs arrive. No other significant events will have drained their resources today however, so at least they should be at full strength.

The Funerary Guild is sympathetic, but more concerned with locking up its property and hiding its goods than fighting. The few guildsmen available and willing to fight are included in the numbers above.

The Dustmen will not provide any help to the defenders, saying that the affairs of the living are not their concern; who rules in the alleys is nothing to them. This message will be delivered by Factotum Ambergris however, and the PCs have one chance to convince him otherwise. Only a Diplomacy check of 30+ will convince the halforc to assist them - the difficulty is so high because of Ambergris’ emotionless conviction and the fact that passionate speeches mean nothing to him. Other PCs can assist the main speaker by making assist rolls, and the PC gets a +10 bonus if they can spell out how his help will benefit his Faction. If successful, Ambergris stays.

Narma the Loud could be persuaded to lend a hand (Diplomacy DC 20) but only with healing and bardic abilities, not outright fighting. He’ll retreat if directly attacked in the battle.

If they were kind to him, Fingers the Ghast will join the battle on their side (regardless of what the Dustmen say).

Lanis the Deathmonger will fight if he thinks the PC’s have a plan and a force that has a fighting chance. He has no desire to be under the thumb of fiends, but isn’t interesting joining a heroic last stand.

Even the Joculators might make an appearance if they’re still loose (or in captivity). They’re dedicated to the beautiful and benevolent aspects of chaos, and fiends are certainly no friends of theirs; of course they’ll bring Grimjaw with them too if possible.

Other NPC allies might also be available, depending on how the adventure has progressed. Bald Grum, Mother Xero, and Gnarlybone will volunteer, but won’t take a direct role in the fighting. These three will coordinate the forces defending the Whispered Word, which is soon filled with frightened refugees. A few of the citizens (including Gnarlybone) hiding in there do have bows however, and are prepared to shoot from the upper storey windows if the PCs set up anywhere nearby.

Unfortunately Deadwick will not involve himself in this barkle, regardless of what the players say or offer to pay. It suits his humour to watch them struggle and die, but might offer to animate their corpses afterwards. Although he’ll emerge onto his balcony to observe the fight, he won’t intervene unless the PCs somehow trick the Pariahs into attacking his tower, but even the Fiend Gang will give him a wide berth, however.

THE BATTLE OF SHUFFLE STREET

Shutters slam, doors are barred, and scared berks cower behind makeshift barricades. The Whispered Word is hastily transformed into a last redoubt, and Bald Grum passes out what weapons he has to the refugees and staff: sickles and scythe-blades, confiscated knives, even broken bottles and clubs made from chair legs. Children and the infirm are sent upstairs (along with the handful of bowmen), and the rest guard every door and window.

The PCs may set up their defences however they wish. Cautious (or just paranoid) adventurers may already have made plans for just such an invasion, or they may be improvising with little time to spare. The major NPCs will council the party if required, but the final plan is ultimately up to them. Gnarlybone or other canny locals will at least lann the PCs to the gang’s probable tactics:

The Pariahs are having a good time on their way up, so our heroes will have a short wait before the big event. Just before the fiends arrive a fine drizzle starts to fall on the Grey District, accompanied by a chill fresh breeze that seemingly blows out of nowhere. About them the normally pervasive haze recedes a little, and the characters can take a few breaths of good clean air.

Shortly after this, the PCs get their first look at the gang:

The PCs can open fire as soon as they see the fiends, or can lure them in closer with talk. Rash will happily rattle his bonebox with them, as it gives him a chance to talk big. Any attempt at negotiations will be utterly fruitless however, as Rash’s conditions include robbing everyone, humiliating the locals, and the dead bodies of the player characters. Sooner or later, blood will be spilled!

THE PROUD PARIAHS

A sample roster for the Pariahs is given below, but not all of them will be directly involved in attacking the PCs – their allies will also get their share. The quasits for example, are not really under Rash’ control and do little more than cackle and catcall at everyone. Many of the gang also have their own agendas, such as finding a victim to torture or just looting the dead. There are also many tiefling beggars in the attack, but the majority only rant, cower, play their bloody instruments, or run around like barmies during the fight.

The DM should tailor the exact difficulty of this final battle to their group, based on the PCs’ combat ability and available magic. Use reinforcements from the Quasits, a new wave of local volunteers (or even the return of Sougad Sodkiller) to help balance out any fights which are turn out to be too hard or too easy.

The fight should be hard but not impossible, unless the PCs are alone for some reason – but remember that this encounter should be easier if the PCs have behaved in a friendly and honourable way – heroic groups will really gain the benefit of their higher example here, whereas known thugs and knights of the post will only get what they deserve.

DMs should consult page 49 of the DMG and the lists below for a rough guide to the battle’s difficulty, but remember that this should be a battle the PCs are proud of for good long time. The district certainly won’t forget them in a hurry, win or lose.

No Allies
If the PCs are stood alone in the street then they’re going to have to fight the whole gang at once and are almost certainly doomed…

• Wave of twelve beggars
• Retch & Puke
• Féregnyúlván
• Snatch & Voop
• Gerr
• Tar Mouth
• Rash

PCs have only minimal reinforcements
Although they have some help, the party are missing a major portion of their forces for some reason (such as the ogre brothers, all the major NPCs, or the local levy).

• Wave of ten beggars
• Retch & Puke
• Féregnyúlván
• Gerr
• Rash

PCs have support from a force of local NPCs
This is the basic level of defence that gives them a fighting chance. Their allies consist of Jaime Foultongue, Silent Brom, the ogre brothers, plus a levy of minor NPCs.

• Wave of eight beggars
• Retch & Puke
• Rash

PCs have extensive reinforcements
All the above NPCs plus additional major allies such as Factotum Ambergris, Deadwick, Grimjaw and the Joculators, or significant allies from outside the adventure.

• Wave of eight tiefling beggars
• Rash

The DM should notethat many of the party’s opponents will not fight to the death. Rash will teleport away if badly injured, Tar Mouth and the hordlings will look to flee if seriously injured, and the beggars will break if two-thirds of them are killed. It’s unlikely that the PCs will wipe out the Proud Pariahs completely in this battle, but the gang will be forced to retreat and lick its wounds – and perhaps be made victim of other even worse gangs.

How exactly the battle goes and who survives is ultimately up to the DM and any preparations the player characters make.

Rash, Tar Mouth, and Féregnyúlván are deserters from the Blood War who abandoned their post in some forgotten trench of the Stinging Sands of Minethys – a Blood War battlefield notorious even among the fiends. They hooked up with Gerr and the hordlings shortly after arriving in the Hive, and both the tieflings and quasits are occasional minions when the need arises. Each of their listed opponents has their tactics detailed below, but they are also summarised here:

• Quasits fly around above the battle, laughing and taunting and only occasionally getting involved

• The Tiefling Beggars are sent in first, as an expendable test of the defenders (but only half fight effectively)

• Gerr just roars and charges the nearest enemy

• Retch & Puke lumber forward to attack, wielding their banners

• Rash makes for the PC’s – specifically for their visible leader

• Tar Mouth looks for cover and then uses his crossbow

• Voop & Snatch pick a rich victim to assault and rob

• Féregnyúlván looks for a suitable victim to torture

Rash Redwelt

Rash leads the Proud Pariahs with a mix of brutal intimidation, bold speeches, and clever planning. He’s inventing and cunning rather than being a skilled tactician, and is rather theatrical; Rash enjoys putting on a show for his victims.

Tactics: Rash initially sends in a wave of expendable attackers to occupy his enemies, then heads straight for the PCs. He attacks the most powerful PC he perceives, moving to flank opponents using his Greater Teleport ability. Rash fights until reduced around 10hps or until the battle is obviously lost, then retreats via Teleport.

If forced to flee, Rash swears undying vengeance upon the PCs but will have pressing concerns of his own for a while - the Hive isn’t easy to survive when you’ve taken a battering, even if you’re a fiend. Being AWOL from his post in the Blood War, Rash will not use his Summon Demon ability during the battle.

TREASURE: Rash wears a sporran in which he keeps a few treasures: mementoes from victims, a crude map of some trenches marked with helpful scrawls like ‘PIT FIEND’ and ‘REALLY SODDING AWFUL’ and two vials of silversheen. The bone he was waving like a conductor’s baton is actually a Wand of Summon Monster I, carved with various animalistic hieroglyphics along its length. It has 30 charges remaining but can only summon creatures of animal intelligence (not that Rash can’t use it – he doesn’t even know what it does).

Tar Mouth

Tar Mouth is a highly unusual dretch, the match of Rash is cunning if not intelligence. Its lower jaw is bruise-coloured, loose, and distended, and constantly foams with thick black drool, giving it a slurping lisp. Survival is Tar Mouth’s primary aim but his real skill is in appearing too useful to be expendable. He serves as Rash’ second in command, messenger, and torturer.

Tactics: Tar Mouth prefers to hang back, firing his heavy crossbow (once he finds some cover). He’ll happily brawl with anyone who attacks him but looks to retreat if he takes more than 10pts of damage. Once the battle looks lost, his first priority is escape.

TREASURE: Tar Mouth’s heavy crossbow is an evil-looking thing, whose arms are carved to resemble a bat-like wings spread out from a leering Balor’s face (2,050gp). Sewn into the base of his cheap-looking leather quiver (Spot DC 25, Search DC 20) are three gemstones: A dunite (light green with white speckles, 20gp), a mottled jasper (black, brown, and green, 85gp), and a tiger’s eye chrysoberyl (light brown, 200gp).

Féregnyúlván

Féregnyúlván is a Karaycai or ‘spellslinger demon’, a grey worm-like Tanar’ri who served as torturer for Rash’ unit before it absconded. It communicates via telepathy but cannot control it: everyone within ten feet of the creature hears what it"says" –a constant mantra of the hideous tortures it plans to perform. See Planewalker.com’s Creature Codex for more information.

Tactics: Féregnyúlván attacks the weakest and most terrifying victim he sees. Once an opponent is weakened it strikes to subdue; torturing the victim and virtually ignoring the battle around it. It flees if reduced to less than 20 hit points.

TREASURE: None

Gerr the Troll

Gerr is a typical gangly troll; more scarred by fire and acid than his primer kin (planars being a canny lot) but otherwise much the same as trolls everywhere: He’s reckless, violent, and has little sense of his own mortality. He has armour spikes pushed through his face and scalp, creating a fearsome appearance (and giving him a headbutt attack against any Pariahs who torque him off).

Tactics: Gerr charges the nearest enemy and fights to the death.

TREASURE: If removed from his flesh after the fight, the Cold Iron spikes could be added to armour by a craftsman, or simply sold for 100gp.

Retch & Puke

Retch and Puke are particularly strong but mindless dretches, baring a superficial resemblance to the bloated corpses of beardless dwarfs. “Want kill…” is about as sophisticated as they get. They only take orders from Rash or Tar Mouth – Retch and Puke feel a strange mix of jealousy and reverence for Tar Mouth because he can speak.

Tactics: Retch and Puke initially attack with their banner poles (treat as long spears), but will drop them and change to natural weapons if commanded to. They both fight to the death as long as Rash or Tar Mouth are alive and fighting.

TREASURE: None

Snatch & Voop

These hordlings are the last remaining of a pack that once haunted to Pyre District. Their fellows were massacred by the Pariahs, but these two were spared because Rash saw the usefulness of a pair of skilled thieves – skilled but small and weak enough to push around. The pair steal effectively but almost instinctively, like jackdaws. Their statistics are drawn from Planewalker.com’s Creature Codex.

Tactics: Snatch and Voop stick together and prefer to work as a team (including use of the Aid Another manoeuvre). Snatch normally attacks first to Trip an opponent, supported by Voop with his spittle. If they bring down an opponent with no other threats nearby, they’ll spend 1d3 rounds tearing any treasure off the corpse. Both hordlings have absolutely no loyalty to the gang, and will flee if reduced to 20hp or less – award 30% less experience for this encounter.

TREASURE: A veritable horde of various bright shiny objects are concealed about the persons of these two, worth a total of 300gp.

Mad Tiefling Beggars

These cannibalistic barmies certainly aren’t effective combatants, but attack en masse in a frenzied wave of sharpened teeth and rusty knives. They wear only threadbare rags and are smeared in ashes. Most of them are disfigured one way or another. The beggars are pressed into service by the Pariahs and serve only out of fear.

Tactics: The beggars attack in a single mass, but it’s a scrum of competing blows, not a coordinated assault. At any given time only about half the beggars are acting competently; the rest howl and caper, steal what they can, and drag off anyone incapacitated to feed. Although individual beggars fight to the death, as a group they break if more than two-thirds of them are slain. They each save their Darkness ability to aid their escape.

Award PCs 20% less XP for this encounter, due to the limited resources of their foes (no armour and only a weak weapon)

TREASURE: None

The Quasits

These Quasits are part of a nest that lairs in the Pyres. They’re greedy and playful creatures, filled with spiteful cruelty. The pack is an anarchic mass without any organisation or plan. Their nominal leader is a Quasit called Black Eye, who has one shrunken and squinting orb and one swollen and bulbous like a toad’s. They hide their treasure in nooks and crannies, not carrying any with them for fear it would be stolen by the Pariahs. If Lord Winsome is still with the party for some reason, he immediately seeks out Black Eye and attacks him – the pair are old enemies and the grudge goes deep.

Tactics: Much as Rash would like to think otherwise, the quasits aren’t under his control. They don’t really answer to anyone, although Black Eye is their usual spokesman with the gang. Mostly the quasits flap around above the battle, throwing rocks and faeces at the defenders, picking of stragglers and the wounded and trying to steal any treasure they can find.

TREASURE: None

EPILOGUE:
ENDING THE ADVENTURE

If the Pariahs are defeated then the party will be hailed as heroes and saviours of the district. They can enjoy free ale and hospitality for many days, and receive a friendly welcome for the rest of their lives. A party atmosphere – almost – grips the Grey District in the wake of the fiendish retreat. The tale of their battle grows with the telling, and local graffiti artists soon begin to daub the walls with their image in celebration. Whenever they go out in the Grey District now, they’re always accompanied by friendly greetings or a nod of respect, even from the gangs.

Once the Thurible is removed from circulation, the incense’s effects will wear off and things will return to a semblance of normality (ignore any random encounter that involve the Thurible’s effects). Although much quieter now, they’ll still be plenty to occupy PCs who want to continue working in the district - this is still the Hive, after all.

Ultimately, the party’s contract with the Voices of Wailer’s Square can last as long as the DM wants, or until the PCs get bored or rich enough to move elsewhere. Even the Grey District of the Hive is not a particularly nice place to live once a berk gets some decent jink in his pouch.

On the other hand, the party might feel rather attached and protective of the people of the District, and want to stay. Once the chaos has died down, Bald Grum and the others will be happy with the PCs taking more of a backseat role in keeping the area quiet, with plenty of time off for adventures unless emergency threatens again. Of course, they’ll have to pay for their rooms and board now, but the district will keep rewarding them in small ways: occasional free food and drink, scarves and sweaters knitted by friendly old ladies, and of course should the worst happen they’ll always be entitled to a free funeral attended by the entire Wailers Guild.

Once the PCs embark on a proper career as adventurers, the monetary value of these rewards will swiftly become negligible, but it’s the friends that count.

OTHER REWARDS

The PCs may have had several patrons during the adventure, each of whom has a different criteria for success:

• If news of the plot leaks out, Dustmen in general will also be a friendlier with the PCs, in their usual dry way. Regular workers of the Guild will also be rather well disposed to the PCs – and of course all the locals are happy to have seen the fiends defeated.

• The Voices will be happy if the PCs stayed and fought the Pariahs, and if chaos subsides caused by the Thurible is removed without blood washing through the streets. They’re especially impressed if the PCs can explain why it all happened, but they’re not concerned with revenge.

• Ambergris will be satisfied once he knows who is responsible, especially if the PCs can give him Eyes’ name. He’ll be content with the words “Sensate plot” however, and begin working on vengeance of his own. He’s prepared to use the PCs as agents of this vengeance if they’re amenable, but they’ll have to be patient while he schemes up some appropriate retribution.

• Eyes Desire will be satisfied if the PCs give her the Thurible, make sensorium recordings of their adventure, and show some level of discretion regarding her name afterwards. She’ll only consider vengeance against them if they aggravate her or launch a physical attack.

A week or so after ‘the Battle of Shuffle Street’ - just as the parties are dying down - the voices will reward the PCs with a small selection of minor magical items, donated by locals or bought by their hard-earned jink. The DM should award each character a minor item (preferably a permanent one) of whatever type the locals think is appropriate, up to a value of 1,000gp each. This treasure represents every last green the district could scrape together as a reward... but it’s willingly given.

DISPOSING OF THE THURIBLE

Assuming they actually managed to finish the adventure with the Thurible of Desire, the PCs will have obtained a valuable magical item and quite a bit of interest in it.

The Dustmen and Eyes Desire will both want the item (to destroy it and to use it again respectively) and will send agents to purchase it, intimidate the PCs into handing it over, or simply steal it. If the PCs are strong enough to hold out and force a good price off the people involved, they can get 14,000gp for their troubles. If the PCs go for a quick sale or one to someone who thinks the item is stolen (and Eyes will see that this information gets out if she can – it is her legal property, after all), then the sale will net the PCs far less (around a quarter to half the price above).

If the PCs think to approach the Gatehouse however, about using the Thurible for its original purpose (healing those who have lost their emotions), the staff will happily take the item off their hands, giving the PCs a good price and a good feeling as well.

Your completely right about the forshadowing and about the Summoning ability of Tanar'ri (I'll add it into their descriptions)

As to Teleport however, they can - but only between places in Sigil

PSCS download says:

Good points though - I had to check myself, to be sure.

Have your players finished the scenario then? What did they think?

Thanks for all the great input by the way

Mmm, a nice try for Kharmic justice - that would be rather poetic. That had not occured to me either - I suppose that if they somehow used it on her and then got her passionate enough about things she'd proudly confess her plot (like Jack Nicholson at the end of A Few Good Men)

Excellent news from you both! Having had lots of helpful DM feedback so far, I'm really enjoying actually seeing the scenario unfold 'round by round' on a forum.

I look forward to what's to come. Hopefully my own playtest will be up and running in a couple of weeks too.