9568 Moonlight Madness.pdf - Free

”Of course, if I were a werebeast looking for the
Hermitage, I’d stroll off to the woods and look for
Muldoon the druid. Muldoon knows the area better
than anyone else and might be able to direct pilgrims
to the fabled Hermitage on the Lake. But know this-
I’ve got my eye on you. Any problems with werebeasts
while you’re within a week‘s ride of this village and 1’11
have Vandric, bless his thick little head, down on you
like a ton of silver-plated bricks.”
If the players start discussing the possibility of attack-
ing Stewart, read the following:
y man gives you a c
sword. ”I know what you‘re thinking,” he says in a
harsh whisper. ”Is it enchanted, or isn’t it?” He slowly
rises to his feet. ”Well, you’ve got to ask yourselves
one question-Do I feel lucky?” He pauses for effect.
”Well, do you, were-punks?”
If attacked, Stewart defends himself to the best of his
considerable abilities, seeking to subdue rather than slay
his opponents. He will not be disturbed by their change
to wereform if such occurs. If Stewart successfully sub-
dues the entire party, he binds their wounds and takes
them to a grove outside of town where he stacks them like
cordwood, women on top. If not attacked, Stewart will
depart quickly when he has said his piece. Note that
Stewart volunteers less information if he’s the one who
takes the initiative than the characters can gain if they
seek him out and question him on their own.
Sir Lance currently has about 150 troops in Cold
Springs, and two flunkies (the rest are out beating the
bushes for werebeasts; see pages 39-40).
Sir Lance Vandric, 7th-level Paladin: AC -2 (full plate
armor +1 & shield +l); MV 12; 74 hp; THACO 14 (12 or 10
with Strength bonus and long sword +1, +3 vs. lycanthropes
and shapechangers); #AT 3/2; Dmg ld8+4 or +7
(long sword +1, +3 vs. lycanthropes and shapechangers, plus
Strength bonus); SD paladin abilities (see below); SW
overly trusting; SZ M; AL LG; XI’ 1,400. Str 18/21, Dex
14, Con 17, Int 9, Wis 10, Chr 17. Special Abilities: detect
evil intent within 60 feet, +2 bonus to saving throws,
immune to normal diseases, 10-foot radius aura of protection
from evil, lay on hands (14 hp, once per day),
cure normal diseases (twice per week), turn undead as
5th-level cleric. Special Equipment: potion of vitality.
Vanessa, 5th-level Mage (Flunky #l): AC 8 (ring of protec-
tion +2); MV 12; 14 hp; THACO 19; #AT 1; Dmg ld6
(staff); SA spells; SD spells; SW Vandric; SZ M; AL NG;
XI’ 650. Str 12, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 17, Wis 10, Chr 18.
Spells: charm person, magic missiles, shield, sleep; Tasha’s
16
Theodora, 6th-level Cleric (Flunky #2): AC 1 (bracers of
defense AC 4, cloak of protection +3); MV 12; 26 hp;
THACO 18 (17 withflail +l); #AT 1; Dmg ld6+2 wail
+l); SA spells; SD spells; SW Sir Vandric; SZ M; AL LG;
XP 975. Str 15, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 16, Chr 17.
Spells: bless, cure light wounds x3, sanctuary; aid x2, hold
person, know alignment, silence 15’ radius; dispel magic,
prayer.
Soldier, 3rd-level Fighters (150): AC 3 (banded mail &
shield); MV 12; 18 hp each; THACO 18; #AT 1 (long
sword, spear, dagger) or 2 (short bow); Dmg ld8 (long
sword) or ld6 (spear, arrow) or ld4 (dagger); SZ M; AL
LG; XP 65 each.
Stewart (“Ol’ Mudface”), 12th-level Ranger: AC -6 (brac-
ers of defense AC 2, cloak of protection +2, ring of protection
+4, boots of speed); MV 24 (boots of speed); 94 hp; THACO
9 (8 with long bow +1 or mace +1, 4 with long sword +3
frost brand and Strength bonus); #AT 5/2 (two-weapon
attack with long sword and mace) or 2 (long bow); Dmg
ld8+7 (long sword +3 ,frost brand and Strength bonus),
ld8+4 (sheaf arrow and Strength bonus), or ld6+6 (mace
+1 and Strength bonus); SA two-weapon attack without
penalty; SD move silently in woodlands 9470, hide in
woodland shadows 77%; SZ M; AL NG; XI’ none. Str
18/90, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 18, Chr 7. Special
Abilities: rarely surprised (1-in-6 chance), Tracking (21),
Animal Lore. Spells (as 5th-level priest): animal friend-
ship, pass without trace; messenger, speak with animals; tree.
Special Equipment: ring of spell storing (heal spell), ioun
stone (lavender and green ellipsoid, absorbs 63 spell-lev-
els of up to 8th level), periapt of health.
fun in tlje forest
After leaving Cold Springs, the PCs travel through the
forest for several days without incident. Ask them for a
marching order each day and a watch schedule each night
anyway, just to keep them on their toes. If at any point the
characters try to retrace their steps by going back to Cold
Springs or even Thornburg, they encounter Stewart, who
is scouting for Vandric; the ranger warns them that the
paladin is headed this way with his entire entourage.
Several roving bands of gypsies travel through this terri-
tory regularly. There are about fifty gypsies altogether in the
clan, but they are only loosely organized and often split into
smaller family units to work cons or thievery in the small
towns and outlying farms of the area. At any point between
Cold Springs and the mountains the characters have a