PFS 20 Demon Haunts the Devil's Hall


Society Scenario Submissions

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The Exchange

Part of the reason I entered this is because I am an improviser to.

But I want to get better at the hooks, storylines and variety of encounters so that my players will benefit from it. Otherwise I am staying in my comfort zone, which could lead to stagnancy.

Cheers

P.S. I will be putting my attempt for Call 19 in a few hours time, please feel free to tell me what you think.

Scarab Sages RPG Superstar 2013

Here's the one someof you asked for. After getting ffedback for #19, it's clear to me this might fall under the same criticism. I definitely spent more time fleshing out the backstory and less time ramping the adventure. It was a conscious decision, shifting words away from the encounters and towards the background, but I guess some of you feel like it was too biug a swing.

I am bothered by my conclusion. I dig the 'semiheroic' nature of the PFS, but it is true that the PCs will have saved hundreds of lives - hope I didn't get demerits for mentioning that. Hmmm.

Pathfinder Society Scenario #20 –Demon Haunts the Devil’s Hall

Introduction: Even among the devil-worshipping families of House Thrune, family comes first. When the progenitors of the modern ruling class of Cheliax began to consort with fiends as a means to gain political power, the Thrune family was careful to secure their wealth and prestige first and stabilize their nation second.
Not every family began by negotiating with devils for their increased power. Constructs, undead and outsiders were considered potential resources, and several vassal families of House Thrune consorted with multiple alliances before the worship of Asmodeus became the law of the land.
Zoros Kapcio was not surprised, then, when one of his daughters was born with a beautiful but fiendish countenance. The investiture of fiendish blood into the vassal family’s line was a point of pride until Andra Kapcio’s behavior became increasingly rebellious. Tracing back through the family journals, it became clear that demonic, blood ran through her veins. Generations after the Kapcios had forsaken all other fiends, the evidence of their previous activities was unmistakable.
Unwilling to expose her to the rest of the nation, Andra was sent to the family’s summer home on Cape Erebus. Zoros arranged for a loyal staff to provide for her monstrous appetites – namely for magical experimentation and pleasures of the flesh - until a dashing rake from nearby Ostenso caught her attention. When the youngest Kapcio daughter became pregnant, no one knew what to expect. Neither the staff nor the family, however, was prepared for Andra to give birth to twin nabasu – fully vested demons with no hint of humanity.
The beasts grew beyond the stature of men in just a few months, and demanded meat. As they matured, they requested the flesh of larger animals, and even some of the soldiers who guarded the grounds. Andra sacrificed a few, using the parts rejected by the ‘children’ to build a guardian who could protect the survivors until help came. She then mailed a letter to her father, explaining just enough of the situation so he might send help. Andra’s expectation was that her father would arrange for sufficiently skilled aid to satiate her children, thereby allowing them to safely move on to the Abyss.

Encounter 1: The party attempts to enter and secure the manor, but are refused at the front door by Pemick, the butler. It’s a simple matter to discern the butler is hiding something, and when the party insists on having a look around, he sets the family guard dogs against them. EL 7/9 mapped combat with two advanced hell hounds.

Encounter 2: Circling the grounds, the PCs find drag marks indicating someone has been moved either to or from the house. The remaining house guard catches up with the PCs and threatens to remove them. EL 8/10 unmapped fight with human guards.

Encounter 3: At last inside the house, the party is confronted again by the remorseful butler. He provides some clues to the family in brief discussion, but cannot be dissuaded from unleashing the family killing machine (and Andra Kapcio’s pet project), a flesh golem comprised of the parts of missing house staff. EL 8/10 mapped combat with advanced flesh golem.

Encounter 4: The rest of the mystery comes together when the PCs discover Kapcio’s daughter and her lover. Resigned to his fate, he implores the party to abandon this business, and threatens to kill them if they won’t leave Andra alone. EL 9/12 mapped combat on grand staircase with human duelist and Andra, a sorceress with a demonic bloodline.

Encounter 5: The climax of the adventure occurs in the make-shift nursery – the converted top floor of the mansion. Here, the nabasu have been kept prisoner just as Andra was in her youth. EL 10/13 mapped combat, with two or more advanced nabasu, in an expansive attic or other large room, featuring their darkness flight and sneak-attack abilities.

Conclusion: By destroying the creatures before they can escape the manse, the PCs have saved perhaps hundreds of lives. The Kapcio patron is saddened by the loss of his daughter, but relieved to be free of the embarrassment of her progeny.

The Factions:
Qadira: any amount of currency dating from before the rise of the Thrune family.
Andoran: Information that could persuade a noble in Ostenso to pass information about the state of the Chelaxian navy
Cheliax: information relating to violent crimes near Cape Erebus.
Osirion: a rare magical tome (Andra’s golem research)
Taldan: an authentic Chelaxian rapier

RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16

Steven T. Helt wrote:


Pathfinder Society Scenario #20 –Demon Haunts the Devil’s Hall

I do kind of like it, but how is the society involved?

You don't cover that angle (explicitely) and that is a weakness.

Scarab Sages RPG Superstar 2013

Ha! What an idiot! In an earlier version, I described Kapcio as a sinister Pathfinder with a very specific reputation. He is this great example of a devil-worshipper from a culture that worships devils. He doesn't see anything wrong with what he does or where he's from. He's not even evil!
By editing out that dynamic, I left out how the pathfinders get involved. soy un idiota!

RPG Superstar 2008 Top 16

Upon review, I can see some flaws with this, but I would appreciate feedback. I should have made it clear that Raudreth isn't a child: He's a treacherous young adult.

Background
Raudreth d’Senara never fit in beneath Sir Torrage ne Thrune’s roof. A sorcerous prodigy, Raudreth's erratic behavior repeatedly embarrassed his sire; as he matured, the youth grew even more rebellious. Reluctant to kill the young troublemaker, Sir Torrage instead banished him to an isolated estate on Cairworm Island, south of Cheliax.

Infuriated by his family’s rejection, the young sorcerer planned vengeance. To confuse magical observers, Raudreth first crafted a simulacrum, a decoy to lull his family’s suspicions while he plotted. Charming the estate’s servants to his will, he prepared elaborate torments for his kindred: Summoned demons would drag them before him, there to suffer and die. Raudreth dared not employ devils, as his family’s dark pacts protected them from such schemes. Unfortunately, Raudreth made a fatal error when planning his vengeance: The familiar diagrams for binding devils must be modified to ensure their potency against demonkind.

The Nabasu Gharcrawl noticed Raudreth’s mistake; it devoured his soul.

Summary
Unaware of Raudreth’s latest schemes, Sir Torrage plans to donate his son’s library to the Pathfinder Society: The PCs draw the unenviable task of fetching the precious texts. While they prepare to leave, Raudreth’s friends in Cheliax try to distract them from their journey.

Upon the party’s arrival at Cairworm Island, the party has an opportunity to gather information, but the suspicious locals aren’t very cooperative.

At the estate, the PCs discover things have gone horribly wrong. Demons prowl the grounds while surviving servants cower in a fortified bolthole. Slavishly obedient to its unfortunate master, a simulacrum of Raudreth leads rescuers into a demonic ambush.

The Pathfinders’ exploration doesn’t last long before Gharcrawl appears, eager to claim their lives.

Opening
In the Chelaxian city of Egorian, the Pathfinders meet with Sir Torrage ne Thrune. The nobleman explains that he has a substantial library that he wishes to donate to the Society, stored at his summer estate on Cairworm Island. He gives them documentation describing the exchange, but doesn’t explain why he’s donating the texts unless pressed.

Act One: It’s Good to Have Friends
Suspecting Sir Torrage means their friend Raudreth no good, a group of noble rakes lets their hell hound pets loose on the player characters. The well-trained hounds menace the characters, but do no harm (unless attacked). Those attacking the hell-spawned beasts find themselves arrested for their trouble. (APL 7/8 face ten hellhounds; APL 10/11 add two Nessian warhounds)

Act Two: Those Summer Folk
The villagers of Cairworm Island fear and hate their devil-worshipping rulers, so those player characters who befriend the locals may learn a great deal: Demonic figures have been spotted in the forests near Sir Torrage’s estate; no one from the estate has been seen in days.

Act Three: Into the Manse
The outer grounds of the manse show signs of slaughter, with bones and offal littering the ground. Ordered to drive off intruders, a flesh golem attacks; then, a demonling nabasu joins the fight while the party is occupied. (APL 7/8: one golem and a demonling nabasu; APL 10/11: Two golems and two demonlings)

Act Four: A Loyal Twin
Within the manse, the party encounters a “safe room”, a dimensionally-locked chamber. A pair of servants hides within, accompanied by “Raudreth”, a simulacrum of the original sorcerer. Repeatedly charmed, the servants are overjoyed at rescue, but follow their “master’s” lead: He has been ordered to trap and kill any allies of his family that come to rescue its members. He tries to lure the party into an Acid Fog trap occupied by a vrock demon. (APL 7/8: the simulacrum, an acid cloud trap, and a vrock; at APL 10/11 add another vrock)

Act Five: Gharcrawl’s Touch
The Nabasu Gharcrawl made a cozy lair within the master suite of the manse. It seeks to destroy anyone who interferes with its new hunting grounds. (APL 7/8: Gharcrawl; at APL 10/11, an additional nabasu aids it)

Conclusion
Once they free the manse, the PCs are welcome to empty its library and return to Absalom. They may cynically wonder what prompted Sir Torrage to offer the texts to the Pathfinders: House Thrune is not known for its generosity. What deal was struck behind closed doors?

Faction Goals
The Andoran faction seeks contacts among the thralls of Cheliax, while the Chelaxians hope to identify those who actively oppose them. Taldor seeks stolen lore, Osirion desires to find an Osirioni traitor on the island, and Qadira hopes to open channels for illicit trade.

RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16

Steven T. Helt wrote:

Ha! What an idiot! In an earlier version, I described Kapcio as a sinister Pathfinder with a very specific reputation. He is this great example of a devil-worshipper from a culture that worships devils. He doesn't see anything wrong with what he does or where he's from. He's not even evil!

By editing out that dynamic, I left out how the pathfinders get involved. soy un idiota!

Steven,

If you've have any tips concerning my #19 submission please let me know.

Scarab Sages

Darkjoy wrote:
Steven T. Helt wrote:

Ha! What an idiot! In an earlier version, I described Kapcio as a sinister Pathfinder with a very specific reputation. He is this great example of a devil-worshipper from a culture that worships devils. He doesn't see anything wrong with what he does or where he's from. He's not even evil!

By editing out that dynamic, I left out how the pathfinders get involved. soy un idiota!

Steven,

If you've have any tips concerning my #19 submission please let me know.

May I jump on the band-wagon and ask about my #20? :P

In other news, I'm enjoying reading #10! ;)

Cheers! :D

The Exchange

Steven T. Helt wrote:
Here's the one some......namely for magical experimentation and pleasures of the flesh - until a dashing rake from nearby Ostenso caught her...

The trouble is that the Title means there has to a decent explanation. Far more then Skeleton Moon for instance. Yours is a great backstory but Darkjoy has probably hit the nail on the head. Why is it a PF adventure? That may be the hardest question to answer in any scenario.

For what it is worth, I liked the settings for each encounter and the explanation of what the Pathfinders would face.

Good luck with your next submission.

Cheers

Scarab Sages

@ Steven. I concur with what others have said, very nicely written overall, but why are the Pathfinders there? Also, is the first paragraph really necessary? Doesn't Josh know about the history of Thrune already?

@ Sir Wulf. I'm not very good at this stuff, so take this how you will. Generally, your submission is rather well written, though the opening sentence of Act One, confused me (I'm tired now, so maybe that's why?). I like the idea of the simulacrum and the encounters. However, it might be a problem and take up a lot of precious time in a convention game if the PCs are arrested in Act One. Overall, I really like it. The plot is fairly simple, but that's not your fault - as we all know the guidelines were too restrictive. ;)

Cheers! :D

Scarab Sages RPG Superstar 2013

I'll take a look at the other Skeleton Moons tonight if I can and offer my thoughts. I think I'm almost done with PFS 21 and 22, the Kobold Love Project, and my six finalists for Superstar items.

For now, I'll leave you with a silly little goody:

Z o r o s K a p c i o

z k o a r p o c s o

p a i z o r o c k s

RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

Intro
The Duke of Taresis, a wizard of no small skill, sought to increase his standing with the House of Thrune (and it’s diabolical associates) by improving the methods by which fiends can be summoned to the mortal word. Unfortunately, his plan was not fully thought through. The Duke’s familiarity with devils did not extend to demons. Nabasu naturally gravitate toward the material plane. As a result, the summoning anchor he designed to bring summoned devils instead acted as a magnet for nabasu coming to the material plane of their own volition. Now his laboratory and summer home are overrun with the demons.

The Duke briefly attempted to tackle the problem himself, but found himself outmatched. Horribly embarrassed, the Duke has quietly contacted the Pathfinder Society as a potential source of troubleshooters, before taking the dangerous option of bringing in the church of Asmodeus. The Duke is willing to tell the PCs about his summoning experiments, but he does not know exactly what went wrong. Worse, his notes and spellbook are stranded on the wrong side of a mob of demons. First, he needs these recovered so that he might determine what happened.

Encounter #1
Immediately after entering the estate, the PCs encounter a nabasu. After all, the place is infested with them.

Encounter #2
Inside the Duke’s wrecked study, some Chelish Flesh Golems (LB1) have been driven berserk by the demons. They are currently smashing the furnishings into ever smaller pieces, but will attack the PCs on sight.

Encounter #3
While the PCs examine the Duke’s spellbook and notes (with the Duke’s assistance) a nabasu or two (depending on tier) suddenly appears. The Duke realizes what is happening and sends the PCs to destroy the summoning anchor.

Encounter #4
As their proximity to the summoning anchor increases, the PCs encounter a handful of other creatures whose summoning had been misdirected: A collection of Earth, Water, and Fire Elementals.

Encounter #5
The PCs face a greater nabasu over the Duke’s summoning circle.

Conclusion
With the destruction of the summoning anchor, the nabasu invasion is halted. Even if the anchor is not destroyed, the number of nabasu coming to the material plane is not increased, merely localized, so there is very little long-term impact on the world. Even so, if the nabasu are not banished, the Infernal Majestrix’s troops will likely arrive and burn the estate to the ground.

Faction Missions
Andoran
The presence of demons in the home of a member of the House of Thrune suggests that the Chelaxian crown is losing control over its own people. It is also likely that the Duke will face retribution from the infernal hierarchy, even if he is still a loyal subject. Deliver to him this letter offering him sanctuary within Andoran, as he may be a useful ally against Chelish tyranny.

Cheliax
This incident has called the Duke’s loyalties into question. Recover some sort of evidence as to where his allegiances truly lie.

Taldor
It is one thing to sic the wolf on the tiger. In this case, we have an opportunity to sic the wolf on itself. An abyssal influence within Cheliax could tear the nation apart. If you can find any demon worshippers within the Duke’s estate, ensure that they survive to sow discord later. If there are none, take note of any staff who seem less disturbed by the demons so that we can contact them later.

Osirion
Regardless of intent, strong planar magics are necessary to bring that many fiends to the material plane. Unless there is some sort of a natural planar rift like the Worldwound, find a sketch or a diagram of the summoning seals needed.

Qadira
It is not often our agents are given access to the inner sanctums of Chelish nobility. Bring us any financial records you can find, particularly relating to taxes.

What I think went wrong: Pathfinders are not simply hired, and the encounters are, well, kinda boring. Sure, the place is supposedly infested with Nabasu, but three-of-five encounters is a bit much.

Dark Archive

Guy,

I agree with a lot of what Lilith and Vic said, but I know that in your shoes I most likely would have made the very same "errors". :)

However, I liked the basic premise behind your adventure and most of the encounters, and since this is also very similar to what I was planning to run (Orcus-worshipping nobles who've locked up in an old keep now owned by the family), I think I'm going to "steal" those encounters for my campaign! :)

Anyway, don't give up -- pay heed to the feedback, and keep submitting!

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