Page 175 - Serpent Kingdoms
P. 175

ADVENTURES


                         HENDAR “SWORDSHATTER” LHORGHIN                                   1A. SHOP
                     Hendar is a member of the Lord’s Men, a small group of   This section of Adderposts was once the main room of the
                     men-at-arms based in Essembra and led by War Chancellor   old temple.
                     Ilmeth (LN male Chondathan human fi ghter 11). Hendar
                     has  long  been  friends  with  Duskar  Flamehaern  and  was   The shop portion of Adderposts consists of a large main
                     the  fi rst convert to  the  Cult of  Sss’thasine’ss outside the   room heaped with assorted merchandise, including a fas-
                       Flamehaern family.                                cinating jumble of old masks and some pieces of armor
                       Hendar ensures that the Lord’s Men turn a blind eye to the   heaped up in huge pails. Four sets of rickety stairs ascend
                     ongoing illegal activities at Adderposts. In exchange, Duskar en-  to overhead chambers. Lamps dangle in profusion from
                     riches his friend with a steady stream of coin, which he promptly   bars that can be lowered by means of pulleys, and clothes
                     loses gambling and wenching.                        hang on shoulder racks from every tread of the various
                       Adventurers investigating Adderposts are unlikely to encoun-  ascending stairs.
                     ter Hendar unless they interrupt an actual worship ceremony.
                       Hendar  “Swordshatter”  Lhorghin: Male  Vaasan human   Adderposts is the place to come if you need something in a
                     fi ghter 5; CR 5; Medium humanoid; HD 5d10+10; hp 37; Init   hurry—particularly a disguise that involves a certain type of
                     +1; Spd 20 ft.; AC 19, touch 11, fl at-footed 18; Base Atk +5;   armor or uniform. Duskar stocks specimens of every sort of
                     Grp +8; Atk +9 melee (2d6+4/19–20, masterwork greatsword)   military garb from the Moonsea and Dragon Reach lands.
                     or +7 ranged (1d6+3/×3, masterwork composite shortbow [+3     Only Duskar can quickly fi nd anything in the chaos of his
                     Str  bonus]); Full  Atk  +9 melee (2d6+4/19–20, masterwork   shop, but he knows where everything is. Browsers who pick up
                     greatsword) or +7 ranged (1d6+3/ ×3,  masterwork  composite   merchandise, carry it around for a while, and then set it down
                     shortbow); AL CN; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +2; Str 17, Dex   elsewhere absolutely enrage him.
                     13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.                  Duskar has a unique system for foiling thieves, at least as far
                       Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Intimidate +7, Ride +9; Cleave,   as cash is concerned. He pours the coins that he takes in payment
                     Great Cleave, Improved Sunder, Power Attack.      into one of a dozen or so speaking tubes standing against pillars
                       Possessions: Full plate armor, heavy steel shield, masterwork   here and there around the shop, and these in turn funnel their
                     greatsword, masterwork composite shortbow (+3 Str bonus), 20   contents down to unknown regions below. Change is brought to
                     arrows, quiver, 2,150 gp.                         customers by one of Duskar’s daughters. Thus, any coinage in
                                                                       the shop proper is in the possession of customers.
                                  DHESSA O’ THE FISH
                     Dhessa is an aging tavern wench at the Four Flying Fish and, of   1B. DUSKAR’S BEDROOM
                     late, the sometimes lover of Duskar Flamehaern. Dhessa was the   Accessible only via a rickety stair leading up the west end of the
                     second convert to the Cult of Sss’thasine’ss outside of Duskar’s   north wall, Duskar’s bedroom contains a large bed and chest,
                     family. Although she was initially reluctant, she has enthusi-  as well as many items that once belonged to his late wife. The
                     astically embraced the cult’s teachings in recent weeks. Dhessa   secretive proprietor is careful to store nothing incriminating
                     keeps an ear to the ground in the Four Flying Fish, listening for  here. This chamber connects with his daughter’s rooms via the
                     information of interest to the cult.              topside of the shop’s uneven plank ceiling.
                       Adventurers investigating Adderposts are unlikely to encoun-
                     ter Dhessa unless they interrupt an actual worship service.   1C. ESVELE’S BEDROOM
                       Dhessa o’ the Fish: Female Chondathan human commoner   A rickety stair leads up the east end of the north wall to this
                     3; CR 2; Medium humanoid; HD 3d4; hp 7; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.;   chamber. Esvele’s bedroom contains a narrow bed and a chest
                     AC 11, touch 11, fl at-footed 10; Base Atk +1; Grp +0; Atk +2   with a false bottom (Search DC 20).
                     melee (1d4–1/19–20, dagger); Full Atk +2 melee (1d4–1/19–20,     Treasure: The niche thus concealed hides a small collection
                     dagger); AL CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +2; Str 8, Dex 13,   of jewelry (worth a total of 69 gp) that Esvele has stolen from
                     Con 11, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.                   travelers passing through town.
                       Skills and Feats: Craft (cooking) +6, Listen +4, Profession
                     (innkeeper)  +7,  Spot  +4;  Dodge,  Improved  Initiative,  Simple   1D. LHAREENE’S BEDROOM
                     Weapon Profi ciency (dagger), Weapon Finesse.      Lhareene’s bedroom is furnished in a fashion similar to those of
                       Possessions: Dagger.                            her sisters. It is accessible by the same sort of rickety stairway,
                                                                       which leads up the west end of the south wall.
                     1. Adderposts                                       Hidden behind the headboard of the bed is a small, leather-
                                                                       bound tome that serves as Lhareene’s diary. In it, she records the
                     This rectangular building is constructed of mortared stone and   name of every man she seduces, including those that she later
                     has a sloping slate roof. A trio of steps leads up to stout double   dispatches through the portal to Oeble. PCs who are searching
                     doors, fl anked by the serpentine-carved, spiraling door pillars for   for  someone  abducted  into  slavery  by  the  cult  may  fi nd  the
                     which the shop is named.                          name herein.

                                                                    174








             620_96566_SerpentKi168-192.indd   174                                                              5/13/04, 8:13:10 AM
   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180