Secrets of Enzada: Theft of the Sacred Soul

In looking through interesting material for the blog I happened upon my original adventure in Enzada, using Pathfinder rules. If I revisited it I would rework for D&D 5E, but the original stands well on its own, complete with stat blocks for relevant NPCs....

The Theft of the Sacred Soul

An Adventure Outline in Enzada

Plot: Lord Kharvanos has become obsessed with the mystical soul essence of the goddess Elinzada. He has decided that he desperately wants this soul essence for himself, and has conspired to steal it. For his first effort, he sought out a warlock named Makhek, a Waladari sorcerer of no small repute to aid him in the theft of the sacred soul by way of stealing its carrier, the sacred priest and bearer of the soul named Teritis .

First Effort: Makhek summons a number of demon spirits (undine shadows) to steal the holy one Teritis away, but his efforts are thwarted, when Teritis, a supreme pacifist, ensconces the soul in an NPC to preserve it based on a vision he had. His vision proves true, and so the soul is safe.

Mission: The PCs will be approached by a group of dedicated aristocrats who worship Elinzada, and ask that the possessed PC (who will be “outed” in an unusual healing incident after an accident) be taken to the sacred shrine of Syrhaba, where the displaced soul of the goddess can be conveyed to the intended successor, the holy one’s apprentice, a boy named Sinmir. They offer all the wealth they can muster for this task, which is 1,500 gold pieces, a masterwork long sword, a necklace of pure ivory worth 200 gold pieces, and a small stone idol of Elinzada that is imbued with the power to cast cure light wounds once per day.

   Whether PCs take the mission or not, Kharvanos and his crew are still keen on acquiring the soul, and will plot to kidnap the PC next.

Traveling to Syrhaba

   If the PCs prepare to embark on a journey to Syrhaba, they can find a swift schooner that will carry them across the channel over a two day trip to the port city of the Sunken Islands. Along the way, they will have two encounters:

1. Sahuaghin Attack

   Kharvanos becomes aware through his informants that the PCs are on board a vessel. He hires sahuagin to attack, to secure the ship and the possessed PC until he can catch up to the vessel. One night, several sahuaghin will steal aboard the ship to murder the crew! There will be 4 that the PCs must face, though more in the raid fight the sailors.

2. Lacedon Stalker

   A ghoul-Lacedon, a drowned pirate of Vanzarik descent named Shimadar and his two allies become aware of the holy spirit of Elinzada passing overhead. They will stalk the PCs and demand that the possessed one try to heal them; they think the spirit can cleanse them of the undeath that plagues their bodies, when they were taken for their poor choice in worshipping the Grasping Hand. They will fight to try and force the issue, if necessary.

   In fact, the lacedons can be healed, after a manner of speaking; the first to be “cured”  will disintegrate, leaving a spectral soul-self who quickly slips “sideways” in to the Spaces Between….the others will panic and try escape then! The unbearable radiance of the transformation pains them, even though their converted brethren seems happy at last to pass on to a new life.

At Syrhaba

   On Syrhaba, the PCs must pass through the rough port town carefully, for there are many rogues who aspire to steal the fortune of the priesthood of Elinzada, especially a magical healing spirit. They must then trek in to the mountain where they must find the ancient monastery of the goddess and present the spirit to her intended vessel. This will allow for its release. They will arrive, but only to find that Kharanos and his warlock, guards, and the warlock’s pet gorilla have followed them! Worse yet, they discover that the child has been stolen away by a huecuva named Xondar, a blasphemer priest of old who once betrayed the order. He dragged the child in to the old tombs of the monastery once he sensed that the high priest had been spirited away. He expects the PCs to pursue, and will then take the spirit for his own, or so his plan goes…

Encounters in Syrhaba and the Sunken Isles:

Roll once per hour; 1 or 12 on 1D12 indicates an encounter

D20                     Result

1-3                      1D4 axe beaks in a hunting group (hostile)

4-7                      1D8 savages in a hunting party (neutral); called the H’m’mak clansmen

8-11                    The PCs spy Kharanos’ party behind them, only 1D4 miles back

12-13                  1 tiger (neutral to hostile) surprises the party

14-15                  2D6 savage goblins appear (hostile)

16-17                  2D4 orc savages (hostile)

18-19                  a trader with 1D8 guards and servants offering wares from village to village (friendly)

20                        an alchemist/herbalist and 1D4 guards (friendly) offering potions

Encounters in the Tombs of the Temple of Elinzada:

Xondar, Huecuva priest (max HP, a wand of charm person w/13 charges and Bracers +1)

1 shadow servant

12 skeleton warriors

3 zombies (of priests who entered to recover the boy and were slain)

Traps in the Tomb:

Entrance: poison dart trap (page 420)

Camouflaged Pit Trap (420)

Kharanos Nicharidas

Selindari human male, age 42, Lawful Evil, Adept Level 3, Aristocrat level 2

   Kharvanos is a Selindari noble who has fallen to the lure of the worship of Sai’raddaros

STR 12, DEX 14, CON 10, INT 15, WIS 14, CHA 16               Concentration: +5

Hit Points: 24    AC: 15 (-2ACP, 10% spell fail)      BAB: +2  FORT: +1              REF: +3               WILL: +8            

Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) +9, Knowledge (Local) +9, Knowledge (Nobility) +9, Profession (Merchant) +9, Spellcraft +9, Appraise +7, Bluff +8, Diplomacy +7, Intimidate +7, Ride +6, Sense Motive +6

Feats: summon familiar, arcane strike (*+1 damage w/weapon one round), arcane armor training, power attack (-1 to hit, +2 dmg), quick draw

Attacks: Scimitar +1 of wounding (+3 to hit; 1D6+3* dmg; crit: 18-20/X2; 1 point bleed damage per hit)

Items: Ring of Evasion, potion of cure serious wounds, chain shirt

Coin: 182 gold pieces, 44 platinum pieces, 75 silver pieces, 3 rubies worth 100 gp each

Orison Points: 3, Spell Points: 3               Level 0 DC: 12, Level 1 DC: 13

Spell List:

0 Level: create water, detect magic, ghost sound, guidance, light, mending, purify food and drink, read magic, stabilize, touch of fatigue.

1st Level: bless, burning hands, cause fear, command, comprehend languages, cure light wounds, detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law, endure elements, obscuring mist,

protection from chaos, protection from evil, protection from good, protection from law, sleep.

Familiar: viper (+3 bluff bonus)(12 hit points, bonuses: alertness, improved evasion, share spells, empathic link, deliver touch spells)

Bodyguards (5)

Selindari males, Warriors level 1, Neutral Evil

STR 15, DEX 11, CON 12, INT 10, WIS 9, CHA 8    Armor: chain shirt+shield

Hit Points: 7, 10, 7, 8, 6 AC: 15 (-2 ACP)                BAB: +1  FORT: +3              REF: +0               WILL: -1

Skills: Climb +5, Swim +5, Intimidate +3, Handle Animal +3, Ride +4

Feats:  power attack (+1 th, -2 dmg), Focus: scimitar (+1 to hit)

Attacks:              Scimitar (+4 to hit; 1D6+2 dmg; 18-20/X2 crit)

                            Heavy crossbow (+1 to hit; 1D10 dmg; 19-20/X2 crit)

Items: chain shirt, scimitar, shield, heavy crossbow, 20 bolts

Coin: 12 gold pieces, 20 silver pieces each

Makhek

Waladari human male, age 50, Neutral Evil, Sorcerer level 4

   Makhek is a warlock for hire who is also a worshipper of Sai’raddaros, the Hundred Headed Demon

STR 10, DEX 10, CON 8, INT 15, WIS 13, CHA 17               

Concentration: +11        CMB +2, CMD 12

Hit Points: 14    AC: 11 (Ring of Protection+1)     BAB: +2  

FORT: +1              REF: +1               WILL: +7            

Skills: Knowledge (Arcana)+9 , Knowledge (Planes) +9, Intimidate +10, Spellcraft +9, Bluff +10

Abilities: Bloodline: Aberrant (bloodline arcane, acidic ray, long limbs+5 feet reach), cantrips, eschew materials

Feats: arcane strike (*+1 damage w/weapon one round), combat casting, iron will

Attacks:              Acidic Spray 6/day (+2 ranged touch; 1D6+2 acid dmg; 20/X2 crit; range 30 feet)

                            Spear (+2 to hit; 1D8+1* damage; X3 crit)(*w/arcane strike)

Items: Ring of Protection, Potion of Invisibility (3 uses), wand of shadow summoning (4 charges)

Coin: 25 pieces of Jade (worth 10 gp each), 32 gold pieces, and 127 electrum pieces

Spell Points: 15 Level 0 DC: 13, Level 1 DC: 14, Level 2 DC: 15

Spell List:

0 Level: prestidigitation, bleed, touch of fatigue, mage hand, daze, message

1st Level: enlarge person, jump, mage armor, chill touch 

2^nd Level: summon monster II

Fiendish Hyena (summoning, for 4 rounds) (135 XP)

HP 13, Init +2, Spd 50 feet; AC 14 (FF/tch 12), Bite +3 melee (1D6+3), Special: Trip attack, darkvision 60’, scent, alertness; Saves: Ft +5, Ref +5, Will +1; Hide+3, Listen +6, Spot +4. CMB +3 (+5 trip); CMD:  15; resist cold and fire 5; Spell Resistance 5; smite good 1/day (+2 damage against good foe for combat).

The Guard Narzik

This young but industrious man is a hired guard for the holy one, and will aid the PCs as best he can to find him and bring him to safety.

Syrhaban Human male Fighter Level 1, Lawful Good  

ST  18 (+4)        DX     10    CN  12 (+1)       INT 10        WS 8 (-1)       CH  10       

HP 15        AC 14             

Fort +3      Ref  0      Will -1      BAB/Melee +5Ranged: +1

Racial Traits: medium size, bonus skill rank, bonus feat, Proficiency (bastard sword)

Languages: Selindari; Favored Class: fighter

Feats: Athletic, Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Toughness

Skills: Climb +10; Intimidate +4; Ride +4, Swim +6

Weapons:  Bastard Sword (2H 1D10+6 dmg; +6 attack; 19-20/X2 crit)

Armor: Chain Shirt (+4 AB)