Difference between revisions of "The Curse of the Four Wizards, Part 1"

Revision as of 19:45, 23 August 2008

About the Saga

In CY 577 the Four Wizards of the Blackrazor Guild were putting the finishing touches on the basement to the guild's planned manor house. At the same time, guild-founder Brant Bladescream was leading an expedition against the black dragon Woryx on The Wild Coast.

The expedition was a disaster and when Brant returned after having lost 30 men, the wizards flew into a fury. They cursed the basement, and told Bladescream he would never enter it

Ten years later, with Bladescream long dead at the hands of Lewandrew, the Blackrazors prepare to enter their cursed basement .

Timeframe

• Greyhawk Date: Wealsun 3, CY 587
• Real World Date: 06/22/1998
• Read other Blackrazor Guild Sagas

Cast of Characters

• Ragnar Blackmane, Suel barbarian
• Sven Kildare, terramancer
• Greggor, bladedancer
• Falgar, battlemage
• Aaron Windstalker, arcane rogue
• Calvin Cloudmore, billet of St. Cuthbert
• Tanevir, elven ranger spellsword

What Has Come Before

Nearly 10 years ago, the Blackrazor Guild of Obsidian Bay was founded by the warrior Brant Bladescream and a handful of adventurers. They arrived in the frontier city wielding the legendary – and infamous – Blackrazor and soon established a reputation as a reckless but successful guild. Bladescream led his followers, including four mages, on greater and riskier adventurers. Finally, he lost. While leading an attack against the lair of the black dragon Woryx in The Wild Coast, the Blackrazors under his command fought and were defeated by the wyrm. Bladescream barely escaped with his life, losing everything: his men, his armor and even the famed soul-stealing sword.

When he finally arrived back in Obsidian Bay, the mages were infuriated. The wizards had been building the sub-levels of a manor house, and when they realized what Bladescream had done, they flew into a fury. They activated all of their myriad defenses in the sub-levels, sealed the foundation and cursed Bladescream. The lead mage, Graylen, told Bladescream he would never live enter the foundation, declaring only those of a truly heroic nature would be able to enter and conquer their defenses. Then they left.

Bladescream initially doubted them, but over the next decade he found that all of his attempts to gain entry to the sub-levels failed, often disastrously. At least three teams of adventurers hired by Bladescream to investigate the sub-levels never returned from the depths.

• Read the previous saga

The Saga

3rd of Wealson of CY 587

History of the Curse

On the 3rd of Wealson of CY 587 -- after more than a year of procrastination, deliberation and frankly, exhaustion -- the latest generation of Blackrazors has finally found enough time to mount an expedition into the sealed foundation of what would one day become their manor house.

Before leaving, the Blackrazor’s scribe, George Fillerman, was able to pin down the legend of the Curse, and briefed the adventurers on it. He also found the names of specialties of the four wizards:

• Graylen, human generalist mage and leader of the four
• Bolaris, human invoker
• Gnar Tumblefoot, gnome illusionist
• Kanthis, half-elven air elementalist

Greggor, the party’s blade specialist, did a little research of his own and found a second, darker legend. This myth implied that the first story was merely a cover for what had actually happen. According to the second story, the four mages had been constructing teleportation gateways to other places and planes. One of these doors opened on the Abyss, and before the mages could close it a swarm of demons had erupted through the doorway. The mages had been able to beat back the demons and imprison them in the dungeon, but soon realized that the Blackrazors could not use the basement until the demons had been neutralized. They established a series of magical defenses, put a very public curse upon the place, and left to find a way to close the door.

With this knowledge in hand, the Blackrazors met with the guildmaster, Damaculas, who laid down the terms for their expedition – they could keep any magical items they found, but any gold found would be split according to the normal guild percentages. In addition, the basement would, of course, belong to the guild. Exactly who would use what would be determined if the adventurers managed to best its defenses.

Thus prepared, the Blackrazors left on the expedition to their backyard.

The First Level

Ragnar, Sven, Greggor, Falgar, Aaron and Calvin – with help from Tenaver – managed to find and open the doorway to the foundation. As Tenaver watched, the six chosen adventurers dropped through the hole in the foundation and into the black depths below. The hole immediately sealed, trapping the party below ground until they could defeat the complex’s defenses … or die trying.

Once inside the first level, a booming voice spoke:

"Hail and well met adventurers … or fools … we’ll soon determine which category you fall into. Those who would free this place from our curse need to be quick of steel and quick of magic, but most importantly quick of wits. A riddle will be your introduction … "

"I have no substance, yet send a man trembling"

"I keep you safe, keep you warm, and keep you dull"

"Townfolk die because of me, heroes thrive in spite of me"

"What am I?"

The adventurers quickly rambled through possible answers to the riddle, as they glanced around the room. They saw four stone statues – possibly golems – standing at attention near the room’s four walls.

It was Greggor who finally answered it correctly: "fear". The voice congratulated them, and then told them about the pit traps in the room, one beneath the west and east golems … which were in fact illusions. The north and south ones however, were quite real.

The First Level

The Blackrazors quickly began exploring the first level, finding that it was actually pretty mundane. There were two "sitting" rooms centered around large reflecting pools, a large kitchen and servants quarters. They also found:

• Narrow, symmetrical corridors that were about 7 feet tall but only five feet wide.
• A crystal ooze lurking beneath the surface of a reflecting pool. Swimming just above the ooze were illusionary goldfish; just beneath it was a small pile of 100 platinum pieces. The ooze attacked them as they explored the room.
• Strange creatures – apparently from the elemental plane of air – that attacked them in the kitchen and main dining room by throwing dozens upon dozens of pots, pans and eating utensils at them. Sven was nearly killed in the dining room onslaught.
• Wrought-iron devices with strange circles carved into the top of them in the kitchen area, as well as a cold room that was kept that way by a brown mold.
• A "sun room" with a reflecting pool that was filled with bizarre and aggressive forms of plant life. The Blackrazors wisely retreated while Falgar fireballed the room repeatedly.
• An armory with a starving rust monster as an inhabitant.
• Store rooms protected by two very hungry mimics.
• Upon closer examination, they found a secret area dedicated to the worship of Boccob the Uncaring, greater god of magic and arcane knowledge.

They then discovered several booby traps, including one that led to a spiral staircase to the second floor. After resting for several hours – the equivalent of days thanks to Calvin’s nap spells – they prepared to assault the second level.

Experience & Loot

• No experience and/or loot is avalable for this saga.