A Curse at the Old Inn

AHeroicEncounterforCharactersLevels13

MichaelEvans

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

A Curse at the Old Inn

WRITTEN&DESIGNEDBY
MichaelEvans

COVER&INTERIORART
RobertKusiak

PLAYTESTING
RobertTizzbinKusiak,MeghannCoraLocker,JakobKavLocker, PeteTheWolfmasterLocker,AlexFalliSpittle,RyanFithasDutko, BrettRisaPainter,PamNeylliaPainter,ChrisMarlettGale, andPaulGimakMansfield
Allcharacters,characternames,andthedistinctivelikenessesthereofaretrademarksownedbyNeuroglyphGames. ThismaterialisprotectedunderthecopyrightlawsoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Anyreproduction orunauthorizeduseofthematerialorartworkcontainedhereinisprohibitedwithoutthe expresswrittenpermissionofNeuroglyphGames. 2009NeuroglyphGames.AllRightsReserved.MadeintheU.S.A.
Thisproductisaworkoffiction,andanysimilaritytoactualpeople,organizations,places,oreventsispurelycoincidental. Pleasecheckoutourwebsiteat:www.neuroglyphgames.comforfeedbackandadditionalmaterials.
Warning:Theunauthorizedreproductionordistributionofthiscopyrightedworkisillegal.Criminalcopyrightinfringement, includinginfringementwithoutmonetarygain,isinvestigatedbytheFBIandispunishableby upto5yearsinfederalprisonandafineof$250,000.

NeuroglyphGamesgrantspermissiontoprintforpersonaluse.

DUNGEONS&DRAGONS,theDUNGEONS&DRAGONSCompatibilityLogo,D&D,PLAYERSHANDBOOK, PLAYERSHANDBOOK2,DUNGEONMASTERSGUIDE,MONSTERMANUAL,MONSTERMANUAL2,andAD VENTURERSVAULTaretrademarksofWizardsoftheCoastintheUSAandothercountriesandareusedwith permission.Certainmaterials,including4EReferencesinthispublication,D&Dcorerulesmechanics,andall D&Dcharactersandtheirdistinctivelikenesses,arepropertyofWizardsoftheCoast,andareusedwithpermis sionundertheDungeons&Dragons4thEditionGameSystemLicense.All4EReferencesarelistedinthe4ESys temReferenceDocument,availableatwww.wizards.com/d20. DUNGEONS&DRAGONS4thEditionPLAYERSHANDBOOK,writtenbyRobHeinsoo,AndyCollins,andJames Wyatt;DUNGEONMASTERSGUIDE,writtenbyJamesWyatt;andMONSTERMANUAL,writtenbyMikeMearls, StephenSchubertandJamesWyatt;PLAYERSHANDBOOK2,writtenbyJeremyCrawford,MikeMearls,and JamesWyatt;MONSTERMANUAL2,writtenbyRobHeinsoo,andChrisSims;AdventurersVault,D&D4EGame SystemLicense2008,2009WizardsoftheCoastpage3of7writtenbyLoganBonner,EytanBernstein,andChris Sims.2008,2009WizardsoftheCoast.Allrightsreserved.

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

Introduction Forsevengenerations,the
GreybearFamilyhasownedandoperated TheBear&Alearoundtheseparts.As oneoftheoldestinnsinthearea,ithas knowngoodtimesandbadones,buthas alwaysopeneditsdoorstowelcome wearytravelers. Butsomethinghashappenedto theGreybearFamilyandtheinnhaslost somecheer.Theonceboisterousowner, theburlyJarwaldGreybear,nowbroods behindthebarwithjustahintoffearin hiseyes.

tellthemapart.Asyouths,theygrewup alwaysincompetition,andovertime theyturnedintobitterrivals. Whenatlasttheirfatherhaddied, andtheirmothermovedawaytolive withhersister,theboyswereleftwith thefamilyestablishment,TheBear&Ale Inn.Bothassumedthattheywerethe rightfulinheritoroftheinn,butnoneof thelocalsknewwhichofthetwoboys wasthefirstbornandheir. ItisnotknownwhereJarwald foundtheoldmidwifewhoclaimedto havedeliveredthetwins,orifshehad beenbribedtolie,asKurgenmaintains. Butintheend,Jarwaldwasgrantedthe innbythelocalmagistrates,andKurgen leftwithasmallshareofthefamilys gold.Buthevowedhewouldhave revengeonhisbrotherbeforetheir40th winter.

EncounterSynopsis
ACurseattheOldInnisaDungeons& Dragons4eEncounterfor1stto3rdLevel Characters.Toplaythisencounter,you mayneedthePlayersHandbookand DungeonMastersGuidetoassistyou.

ThetimehascomeforKurgens

revenge,andhediditbyhiringawarlock tocraftaterriblecurse.Atthecostofall hisgoldandhisverysoul,thevengeful brotherofJarwaldmadeablasphemous pactthatwoulddoomeveryoneinThe Bear&Ale. Ascrollwillbedeliveredbythe stableboytoJarwald,andthemoment thesealisbroken,thecursewilltake hold.Allaroundtheroom,13Curse Shardsfromthesealwillpowerportalsto theFarRealm,releasinghorrorsintothe world.Trappedinsidetheinnwith Jarwaldandhisguests,theheroesmust

DMsBackground Longago,JarwaldGreybearhada
twinbrothernamedKurgen.Theywere soalike,eventheirmothercouldscarcely

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

battlethehorribleaberrations,which havecometofeastuponanylivingthing theycanfind. Onlybydestroyingthe13Curse Shardsthroughouttheinncanthe adventurersbreakthecurseandclosethe portalstotheFarRealms.Canthey succeedbeforeeveryoneinTheBear& AleInnmeetsahorrificend?

FarRealmsisonethatcanhardlybe ignored.Bringingthecrazedwarlockto justiceisaveryjustcauseindeed,and couldbeworkedintoaplotinvolvinga largercovenorcult. Jarwaldmightfeelremorse assuminghesurvivestolearnofhis brothersdemisetobringaboutthe Curse,andmaywishtomakesureheisat rest.Findingoutwhathappenedto Kurgen,andputtingbothhisbodyand soulatpeacecouldbeamajorquestfor theadventurers.

EncounterHooks ACurseattheOldInncanbe
playedinanyworldsettingandatany innoftheDMschoosing. TheBear&Alecouldbeanold familiarhauntwheretheadventurers spendtimebetweenquests,andhappen tobethereonthefatefulnightthatall hell,literally,breaksloose! Ortheadventurerscouldbethe hiredbytheevilwarlock,andareasked todeliverthecursedscrolltoTheBear& Ale,unawareofitsterriblepurpose. Finally,theBear&Alecouldsimply beaplacetheadventurersstoptoreston theirwaytoanewquestorreturning triumphantfromtheirlastmission andtheyhappentojustbeinthewrong placeatthewrongtime.

Descriptionof TheBear&AleInn ThetavernroomattheBear&Ale

bustleswithactivity,andadozenguests arefeastinganddrinkingatvarious tablesaroundtheroom.Acouple servingladsandaplumpbarmaidseeto theircustomersneedswithcheerful smiles. Theplaceislitwithyellowlight fromnumeroushangingoillampsand twogreatfireplacesblazewithwarmth, eachflankedbystagsskullshanging fromthegraywoodenwalls. Asullen,redhaired,andburly humantendsthebar,andordersthe maidandladsaboutwithanodhere,a gesturethere.Despitethecheeriness aroundthetavern,theownerlooks gloomy,andperhapsabitworried.He watchestheroomlikeamanexpecting badnews.

StoryExpansion Thereareanumberofwaysthat
thisstorycanbeexpandedupontoadd adventuretoacampaign. Thethreatposedbyaninsane warlockcapableopeningportalstothe

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

Setup Theelevenguests,twoservinglads,and
themaidcanbeplacedaroundtheroom, asshownonthemap,andJarwald behindthebar. Theadventurersshouldbe informedthattheymustsurrenderall handheldweaponsandshieldstoalad inacagedstorageareainthevestibuleof theinn.Theywerehandedaleatherchit stampedwithanumberthattheycanuse toretrievetheiritemsastheyleave.They maytakewiththemintothecommon areaadagger,iftheydesire,butnolarger weapons. Theadventurerscanbeplacedin oneareaorcouldbeminglingaroundthe roomastheydesire.

Purplestreamersofstrangesmoke pourupwardsfromtheseal. Allthedoorsandwindowshutters closeandlock. Aboomingvoiceisheardtosay:

Youstolemyinn,brother!Fatherleftit tome,andyoustoleitaway,andnowyou willpay! Myshareoftheinheritancehasgoneto placethiscurse,andthoughitcostsme mylifeitwillcostyouyoursaswell! Thesealontheparchmentbreaks apart,andtheglowingshardsflyabout tovariouspartsoftheroom,formingevil marksshiningwithabalefulgreen radiance.Thestrangepurplesmoke cloudfliestofiveplacesaroundtheinn, andformintomisty,shadowyriftsin reality(atthedesignatedlocationssee DMsmap).Horribleandindescribable thingscanbeseencomingtowardthe riftsfromtheotherside. HorrorsfromtheFarRealmswill begintoclamorthroughtheportals, enteringthetaproom,andarevery,very hungry...

PerceptionDC15:Theinnkeeper appearsworried,andisverysullen. InsightDC15:Theinnkeeperactually looksalittlefrightened.

IfJarwaldisapproachedbyanyof theadventurers,oriftheservingcreware asked,thequestionerwillbetoldthat theinnkeeperjustturned40winters, andhasbeenabitsadlately.

RulesofEngagement

Thecharactersmaytrytofighttheir
waytothevestibuletogettheir weapons,ormayuseimprovised weaponsintheroom.Thedoortothe vestibulehasthefollowingstatistics: AC/Reflex5;Fort10;HP25.

Beginningofthescenario: CharacterObservation:

DC15Perception:Oneoftheserving ladsbringsJarwaldascrollwitha largegreenseal.

AssoonastheInnkeepercracks thescrollseal,terriblethingsstart happening:

Shouldcharacterstrytobatterthe outerdoorsorwindows,theyfindthat alldamageisinstantlyrepaired.They cannotleavetheinn.

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

ImprovisedWeaponscanbegrabbed withaMinoractionandused immediatelythatRound. Thecommonersandinnstaffare consideredHumanRabble(seethe MonsterManualforstatistics). CommonerswillactonInitiative10 andwillperformMoveActionsgetto anareafarthestfromthemonsters.If theirwayisblocked,thecommoners willmovetoacornerandcower. Charactersmayordercommonersto certainactionsusingaDC15 DiplomacyorIntimidatecheckasa standardaction.Requestsforactions thatinvolveattackingthehorrorswill beignoredbythecommoners. Movingthroughacommoner occupiedsquareisconsidereddifficult terrain.Fightinginasquareadjacent toanycommoneroccupiedsquare causesa1attackpenaltydueto distractions. Monstersentertheroominan unoccupiedspaceadjacenttoaportal, atthebeginningoftheround.Roll forthecreaturesinitiativeatthat time,anditcanactthesameroundit appears. Monstersenteringtheinnwillmove tothenearestcommonerwithin1 roundifnotengaged.

Charactersmustendthescenario beforeallthecommonersareslain. Forevery3CurseSealfragmentsthat aredestroyed,oneoftheriftportals fadesaway.(inreverseorder5,4,3, etc).CurseSealfragmentshaveAC/ Reflex10;Fort5;HP6.

Ontheroundfollowingarift portalfading,nonewcreaturewillenter theinn.However,onthesubsequent round,acreaturewillenterusinganother functioningportal,regardlessofwhether oneisdestroyedthatroundornot. Important:Neverlettworoundspass withoutanewcreatureenteringthe melee,oritwillnotbeachallengeforthe heroes.

Experience:AwardXPforallmonsters
slain.Ifmorethanhalfthecommoners survive,awardaMajorQuestbonus. AwardaMinorQuestbonusiflessthan halfsurvive,andnonifallbuttheheroes areslain.

CombatBegins! DuringtheFirstRound,theinitialsetup
ofcreaturesthatenterstheinnisbased upontheleveloftheparty,usingthe chartbelow:

Level1PartyBrute,Minion Level2PartyBrute,Minion,Minion Level3PartyBrute,Skirmisher, Minion

VictoryConditions Charactersmustdestroythe13Seal
Fragmentstocloseallportalsandend theencounter.

Onsubsequentrounds,anewcreature enterstheinnatthenextportalinthe sequence(inorder1,2,3,4,5,repeat).

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

Round2Skirmisher Round3Minion Round4Skirmisher Round5Minion Round6Minion Round7Skirmisher Round8Minion Round9Minion Round10Brute

Lashing Beast
Medium aberrant beast

Level 3 Brute
XP 150

Initiative +3 Senses Perception +6; darkvision HP 57; Bloodied 28 AC 15; Fortitude 16; Reflex 15; Will 14 Resist 5 acid, 5 psychic; Vulnerable 5 fire Speed 6 , Climb 4 m Bite (standard; at-will) +6 vs AC; 1d10 + 3 damage C Tentacle Lash (standard; recharge 5 6) Blast 2; +3 vs Reflex; 1d10 + 3 damage; ongoing 3hp acid damage (save ends) Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Primordial Skills Endurance +9 Str 17 (+4) Con 17 (+4) Dex 14 (+3) Int 8 (+0) Wis 11 (+1) Cha 8 (+0)

PertherulesunderVictory Conditions,destroyingthreeCurse Shardsclosesaportalanddelaysthe entryofanewcreaturebyoneRound. Ifthecombatlastslongerthanten rounds,startthesequenceagainatthe Round2Skirmisherandrunthroughthe listagain,repeatinguntilalltheriftsare closed.

TentacledCreeper(Skirmisher)A bloatedgraysackpropelsitselfatyou, supportedbymyriadtentacles.Severalof theseendinablackclawdrippinga purplishichor.Vilesiphonlikemouths makewetsicklysoundsastheysuckthe floorboards.

Tentacled Creeper
Small aberrant beast

Level 2 Skirmisher
XP 125

Initiative +6 Senses Perception +1; darkvision HP 38; Bloodied 19 AC 16; Fortitude 13; Reflex 15; Will 12 Resist 5 psychic Speed 6 m Barbed Tentacle (standard; at-will) +7 vs AC; 1d6 + 1 damage M Stinging Barb (standard; recharge 5 6) Poison +5 vs Fortitude; 1d6 + 1 damage plus ongoing 4 poison damage

MonsterDescriptions
LashingBeast(Brute)Ahoppingsquat toadlikethingwithnoheadlungesatyou. Fourtentaclesarearrayedarounda funnelshapedmouthfilledwithrazor sharpteeth.Betweeneachtentacleisan elongatedeye,glaringmalevolently.

Aberrant Shift (minor; at-will) the tentacled creepr shifts 1 square as a minor action. Combat Advantage The aberration deals an extra 1d6 damage on melee attacks against any target it has combat advantage against. Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Primordial Skills Stealth +9 Str 12 (+2) Con 14 (+3) Dex 16 (+4) Int 12 (+2) Wis 10 (+1) Cha 9 (+0)

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

SpittingScuttler(Minion)Apulsating redbrainthingfloatsinsideacrystalline shellofadarkobsidianlikematerial, prancingoncrablikelegs.Aslenderdark tubehangsunderthebody,swiveling aboutlikeaturret.

Spitting Scuttler
Small aberrant beast

Havethecharacterrollaquickd6 toseeifabottleortankardisfullodd= empty,even=full. Therearemorethanenough improvisedweapons,ifthebenchesand chairsareincluded,tohavearealistic chanceofkillingtheHorrorsfromthe FarRealms.

Level 2 Minion Artillery

XP 31

Initiative +4 Senses Perception +6; darkvision HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. AC 14; Fortitude 12; Reflex 14; Will 11 Resist 5 poison Speed 6 , Climb 6 r Vile Spit (standard; at-will) Ranged 5/10; +9 vs AC; 3 damage m Crystalline Spines (standard; at-will) +7 vs AC; 2 damage Crystalline Resonance (standard; encounter) A spitting scuttler gains +2 power bonus to all defenses while at least two other scuttlers are within 3 squares of it. Alignment Chaotic Evil Languages Primordial Str 14 (+3) Con 12 (+2) Dex 16 (+4) Int 10 (+1) Wis 10 (+1) Cha 10 (+1)

AdditionalNotes ImprovisedWeapons
TablesCanbeoverturnedtoprovide Coverinonesquare.Movingthrougha squarecontaininganytablecountsas DifficultTerrain. Chairs&WoodenTraysCanbeusedas ashieldintheoffhand,itprovides protectionasaLightShield. AleorWineCaskOnaMinoraction, thecaskcanbebroachedbeforeitisused asaweapontoensurethebeveragewill burstforth.TheCaskcausesaBurst2 puddleofbeverageifthecaskbreaks, whichcanputoutfires.

ImprovisedWeapons ImprovisedWeaponsareallaroundthe
room,ifCharacterstakeamomentand lookforthem.Theycanbeusedwith AttackpowersthatrequireaWeapon, butlackproficiencymodifiers.(see PlayersHandbookfordetails). Tomakesetupeasy,assumethateach tablehasaminimumof:

FireHazards Itispossibletosettheinnonfireusing
areaspellsthatmaybreakanoilfilled lamp,orbyusingtheoilfilledlampsas weapons.Areaspellsthateffectasquare containingalampcancauseittobreak andexplode(OilfilledLampstats:AC/ Reflex6;Fort8;HP5). TheoillampsexplodeinaBurst1 andcreatea3x3zone.Attheendofeach roundthatafirezoneexists,rollasaving throwforthatzone.Ifthezonesaves,it

2Platters(PlatterDiscus) 2Tankards(TankardToss) 2Bottles(BoozeMissileorBottle Knife) 1WoodenTray

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

diesoutwithoutspreading.Ifthezone fails,itincreasesinsizetoa4x4area.At theendofthenextturn,ifthesavefails again,itbecomesa5x5zone.After3 failedsaves,thefireisoutofcontrol,and willspreadeachrounduntiltheentire innisengulfedinflames. Casksofwineandale,whichare mostlywater,canbeusedtodousethe flames.AfullcaskhasaBurst2areafor purposesoffirecontrolonly.

Thefollowingbasicattackcardscanbe
printedforusebyPlayersasreference duringthecombat.DMsareinvitedto usetheminotherbarfightsoftheirown devising.

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

PlaytestNotes

DontletthePCsbringinanythingbig
gerthanadaggerintotheinnandifat allpossible,trytoexcludethatfromthe fightaswell.Thefightisalotmorefun withCharacterssmashingtankardsand benchesintotheTentacledThingsfrom Beyond,insteadofusingtheirusual weapons.

DontletthePCsbossthecommoners
intodoinganythingmorecomplicated thanfleeingtoasafearea,suchasthe kitchenorbehindthebar.Commoners shouldnotbeallowedtograntcombat advantageregardlessofplacementthey arenoncombatants!

Havefunroleplayingthecommoners
andinnstaff.Makethemanuisanceand ahindrancebygettinginthewayofhe roesplacement,orstandingbehinda heroandscreamingtobesaved.Feel freetodescribeacommonerslastlookat aPlayerCharacter,filledwithpainand

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

10

recrimination,beforesomehorrormauls themtodeath.Maketheheroesfeelre morseforlosingevenasingleone!(Its probablygoingtohappenthough).

Ifyouhavequestionsaboutthisproduct
andhowtouseit,pleasecheckoutour websiteatwww.neuroglyphgames.com/ orsendanemailto support@neuroglyphgames.com. Wecheckouremaildailyandwillbe happytorespondwithadvicetoyour problem.

Motivatetheheroes!Remindthemthat
ifallthecommonersdie,theymightbe blamedfortheCurse.Theymayneed livingwitnessestoprovetheirinnocence!

Resources Pleasevisitourwebsiteat
www.NeuroglyphGames.comforaccess ourblogsandlinkstootherRPGre sourcesonthenet.Youcanalsosub scribetoourweeklynewslettertoreceive articlesregardingProductReviews,Dun geonMasteringTips,RulesDiscussions, HouseRuleVariations,NewFeats,New Powers,NewMonsters,andMuchMore! GrungyPaperfreebackgroundtexture courtesyofNaldzGraphics.

Acknowledgements
WehopethatYou,theDungeonMaster, aswellasyourPlayers,haveenjoyedA CurseattheOldInnandifyouvaluethis product,wehopethatyouwilllookfor otherAdventuresandSourcebooksfrom NeuroglyphGamesforyourfuture gamingsessions.

Feedback Ifyouhaveanyfeedbackregardingthis
product,wehopethatyouwilltakethe timetoshareitwithuspleaseemailus atfeedback@neuroglyphgames.com.

Support

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

11

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

12

Graeme Frear Parker (order #5119121)

13