[Adventure] [9455] Marco Volo - Arrival.pdf - DnD Forgotten Realms - annet.farren

Marco VoLo: Arrival

by Anthony Pryor

Table O f Contents

Our Story So Far ...................................... 2

Cast of Characters .................................... 3

Chapter One ........................................... 12

Chapter Two........................................... 2 2

Chapter Three ........................................ 2 9

Epilogue ................................................. 31

Credits

Design: Anthony Pryor

Editing: Elizabeth T. Danforth

Cover Art: John and Laura Lakey

Interior Art: Elizabeth T. Danforth

Cartography: David Sutherland

Typesetting: Nancy J. Kerkstra

Production: Paul Hanchette

9455XXX1501

ISBN 1-56076-890-8

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OurStory SoFar

In which, for hopefully the last time, the author updates

the reader on a plot which has, by his own admission,

grown excessively complex.

south of Shadowdale, in the company of Marcus

Wands and Heinos Troupe.

Here, Marcus insists on diverting the group into

the Spiderhaunt Woods, where he has hidden the

Dragonkings Eye. The PCs accompany him, and the

party may include several NPCs from Heinos band.

The demented Sabbar has grown even more frus-

trated and mad than he was to begin with. The wizard

has also entered the Spiderhaunt Woods, hoping to

intercept Marcus. Others have taken an interest as

well: in particular, the roguish Volothamp Geddarm

himself. After surviving two assassination attempts,

he is quite interested in having a little chat with

Marcus.

Beyond all this, the Dragonkings Eye is an artifact

with a mind of its own, and it has plans for Faerûn. It

has created a crystalline fortress around itself, taken

control of several of the Spiderhaunts more promi-

nent creatures, and has gated in a few extra-planar

assistants. At this point, the adventure takes on a

more familiar dungeon-exploration style of play. How-

ever, the conclusion, which features the appearance

of several prominent gods and the revelation of Mar-

cuss ancestry and destiny, might come as a surprise to

jaded dungeon-crawlers.

Once the PCs enemies are disposed of, Marcus

realizes that he has to face the world more responsi-

bly. The party travels to Shadowdale for a command

performance by Heinos Troupe, and thus the adven-

ture ends.

Other products that can be useful running Marco

Volo: Arrival include the Dalelands accessory, the Book

of Artifacts and, of course, the FORGOTTEN

REALMS® Campaign Setting, especially the Shadowdale

booklet. The fiction previously recommended The

Three Musketeers, and the works of Karl Edward Wag-

ner and Stephen Brustare likewise appropriate to

this adventure. Finally, certain motion pictures, such

as Rob Reiners The Princess Bride and Terry Gilliams

Time Bandits, are ideal for atmosphere. This last would

be especially useful providing staging ideas for

encounter H in Chapter 1.

n Marco Volo: Departure, the PCs

became acquainted with an annoying

rogue calling himself Marco Volo.

Marco subsequently proved to be Marcus

Wands, the troublesome nephew of

Maskar Wands, patriarch of the powerful Wands family.

Concerned by his nephews troubles, Maskar persuaded

the adventurers to hire Marcus as their guide to

Shadowdale, to deliver a message to Lord Mourngrym.

Unbeknownst to his uncle or to the characters, Mar-

cus is on the run from the wizard Sabbar, from whom

he stole a rare artifact called the Dragonkings Eye. Mar-

cus framed the infamous Volothamp Geddarm for the

crime, but he is still in hot water, since the demented

Sabbar has decided that he (Marcus) really is

Volothamp. Sabbars hired killers are now in pursuit.

Chief among these pursuers was the wizard-assassin

Felibarr Blacklance, who attacked the party as it left

Waterdeep. Later, the PCs faced more of Sabbars

minions at the Way Inn, and then were almost

undone by the evil Black Monks in Berdusk. Saved by

Marcuss timely intervention, the PCs fled Berdusk

and fell in with Heino and his Woodland Troupe, a

traveling band of entertainers.

Heinos agent, Philip the Bard, uncovered the iden-

tity of Marcuss nemesis, prompting the band to flee

Cormyr. And finally, Marcus confessed his true identity.

Along the Stonebolt Trail, Felibarr and his band of

followers ambushed the group. In the ensuing fight,

Felibarr was slain and his minions driven off, opening

the route to Shadowdale.

The Course of This

Adventure

arco Volo: Arrival concludes the Marco Volo

trilogy. The story opens with the PCs just

Characters

In which the author introduces new players in our drama, and renews the readers

acquaintance with old ones.

he following characters are likely to be encountered in the

course of play. Recurring characters such as Heino and Mar-

cus are repeated here for convenience, but with limited

description, while new characters are described in more

detail.

MarcusWands

(aka Marco Volo)

CN (G) hm B6

Str 11; Dex 16; Con 15; Int 14; Wis 6; Cha 17

Armor Class: 7 (-2 due to Dexterity)

Move: 12

Hit Points: 24

Number of Attacks: 1

Damage: 1d6+2 (rapier +1)

THAC0: 18

Weapon Proficiencies: Rapier, dagger, crossbow

Nonweapon Proficiencies: Blind-fighting, dancing, gaming, musical

instrument, riding (horse), seamanship, singing

Languages: Common, elvish, dwarvish

Magical Items: Rapier +1, boots of elvenkind

Spells: First Level (3): alarm, magic missile, taunt; Second Level (2):

knock, stinking cloud

Thief Abilities: CW 75; DN 35; PP 30; RL 25

Marcus was fully described in Journey, and the reader is encouraged to exam-

ine that volume if greater detail is required. Here, it is sufficient to remind

DMs that Marcus thinks himself a dashing and handsome outlaw, beloved by

the ladies. In truth, he is a headstrong, somewhat annoying member of the

noble Wands family.

Marcuss life became much more complicated when an escapade took him

to the hidden residence of the mad wizard Sabbar. There, Marcus stole a

likely-looking artifact from Sabbars study and escaped. Unfortunately, Sabbar

is a vengeful wizard. While he is decidedly demented, Sabbar is equally per-

sistent, and determined to retrieve his treasure.

Cast of

Heino

CG gm I8

Str 10; Dex 17; Con 12; Int 18; Wis 10; Cha 17

Armor Class: 8

Move: 6

Hit Points: 20

Number of Attacks: 1

Damage: 1d6 (short sword)

THAC0: 18

Weapon Proficiencies: Dagger, short sword

Nonweapon Proficiencies: Animal handling,

artistic ability, brewing, cooking, riding (horse),

singing, ancient history, herbalism, reading/

writing, religion, spellcraft

Languages: Common, gnomish, elvish,

dwarvish, orcish

Magical Items: Wand of illusion, chime of opening

Spells: First Level (5): cantrip, change self, color

spray, Nystuls magic aura, phantasmal force; Sec-

ond Level (4): blur, fools gold, improved phantasmal

force, invisibility; Third Level (4): clairvoyance,

invisibility (10 radius), spectral force, wraithform;

Fourth Level (3): fear, illusory wall, rainbow pattern

useful items as potions of vitality, scrolls containing

neutralize poison or similar spells, or a periapt of proof

against poison to counteract toxic attacks. Unused

potions and permanent magical items should be

returned to Heino after the adventure if the PCs wish

to remain in his good graces.

Sabbar

CE hm W17

Str 9; Dex 13; Con 5; Int 19; Wis 12; Cha 3

Armor Class: 0 (Bracers of Defense)

Move: 12

Hit Points: 30

Number of Attacks: 1

Damage: 1d4 + poison (poisoned dagger)

THAC0: 15

Weapon Proficiencies: Dagger

Nonweapon Proficiencies: Artistic ability, eti-

quette, riding (horse), astrology, reading/ writ-

ing, religion, spellcraft

Languages: Common, elvish, orcish, tanarri,

yuggoloth

Magical Items: Bracers of AC 0, robe of stars,

staff of power, amulet of the planes

Spells: First Level (5): feather fall, magic missile

(x3), sleep; Second Level (5): darkness (15

radius), ESP, flaming sphere, fog cloud, ray of

enfeeblement; Third Level (5): dispel magic, fire-

ball (x2), haste, hold person; Fourth Level (5):

confusion, fear, ice storm, polymorph others, wall of

fire; Fifth Level (5): animate dead, cloudkill, cone

of cold, conjure fire elemental, feeblemind; Sixth

Level (3): anti-magic shell, death fog, stone to

flesh; Seventh Level (3): finger of death, power

word (stun), prismatic spray; Eighth Level (2):

clone, incendiary cloud

Heino is a friendly and, at times, excessively jolly

gnome. He considers himself a samaritan, helping

those in need and looking after the welfare of his

players like a doting father. He can be very serious if

need be, however, and will not hesitate to use what-

ever means necessary to assist his performers and

companions if they are in trouble.

Originally a traveling performer with his two

brothers, Heino struck out on his own five years ago,

leading a small group of gnomish tumblers and jug-

glers. His band has grown in size and influence since

then, and his reputation as a master showman has

spread. He was contacted by the Harpers two years

ago, and he has worked for them on occasion. How-

ever, he feels that joining the order would limit his

freedom, which he values highly.

The DM might allow Heino or a member of his

troupe to accompany the party into the Spiderhaunt

Woods. As the woods hide giant spiders, ettercaps,

and other poisonous creatures, Heino can delve into

his stock of potions and magical treasures for such

Sabbar is an infamous plane-traveler who vanished

some years ago. Long thought dead, he returned to

Faerûn after his extensive travels to alternate dimen-

sions had turned him chaotic evil and driven him

completely insane. In his travel, he obtained an

important iteman artifact from another plane

known as the Dragonkings Eye. After his return, he

settled in Sembia and prepared to use the Eye for his

[Adventure] [9455] Marco Volo - Arrival.pdf

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