[Contest Entry] Night of the Ape-God

[Vargr1105]

NIGHT OF THE APE-GOD
A Labyrinth Lord adventure for Characters of Levels 1-2

For many years the mercantile city of Valmas has celebrated a yearly festival in honor of a minor deity of tricks and pranks known as the Ape-God. Travelers always come from far and wide to revel in the week-long festivities, merchants sell their wares, city coffers take in wealth and everyone is happy...or so it would seem.

For not everything is allright. The Ape-God is an old divinity from an elder Era when men sacrificed screaming victims in dark altars, and there are those still who keep to the ancient rites in dark, hidden places, and people have always disappeared during the Festival of the Ape.

A strangled cry for help leads the adventurers to a passage descending into the old sewers. Dare they brave the perils and dangers of this Night of the Ape-God?

[Vargr1105]

The adventure is coming up quite nicely. I really hope people will enjoy it. Here's a small sampler (notice the name of the city has changed):


NIGHT OF THE APE-GOD
A Labyrinth Lord adventure for Characters of Levels 1-2
"Being a tale of Horror and Wonder taking place in the ancient city of Nessus, wherein sewers are delved, innocents saved and simians slain."


Background & Notes
"Wherein the scenenario and setting for the adventure are set."

This adventure takes place during a single night on the city of Nessus during the the Festival of the Ape, but it could be set in any mid or large-sized city of a pre-existing campaign setting which would not be adverse to holding an annual Mardi Gras-like festival yearly. The time of year can be anywhere from late Spring to Early summer. It is not required that the PCs all know each other before the adventure begins, in fact they may be total strangers and this adventure be the event that gets them acquainted and leads to forming an adventuring party.

The Festival of the Ape is an old tradition, a week-long carnival where partying and excess abound and the social mores are lessened to the point where gentry and commoners may celebratre together without any ill effects on status. The transient population of Nessus increases twofold during the festival thanks to outside travelers visiting the city seeking fun and amusement.

After the festival is over many travelers and wandering merchants remain for a few days more to conduct business and take care of affairs. Adventurers and mercenaries know the period after the festival is an excellent time to find employment. It is likely this (and partying during the festival) is the reason that brought the PCs to Nessus at this date.

Nessus is ruled by a mysterious figure that very rarely makes any public appearances called "The Autarch" togheter with a council of high gentry and rich Nessian traders. The leader of Nessus rules from a fortress-like palace called "the House Absolute". No outsider to the House Absolute (and most persons inside) knows the true identity of the Autarch, and the common inhabitants of Nessus are unsure even of Autarch's gender.


The Ape-God and His Worshipers in Nessus
"Wherein the secrets of the Cult of the Ape-God are revealed."


Rumors
"Wherein whispered gossip is gained and hints about the Cult of the Ape-God learnt"

During their stay in Nessus the player characters have each acquired one rumor, or two if they suceed in a CHA check. Roll for random rumors on the table below. Different PCs might have the same rumor. If one character rolls the same rumor twice he will know if it is True or False.

Rumor Table (1d8)
1 - Some beggars claim they have seen, on more than one occasion, an ape-like creature that walked erect like a man skulking around the darker alleys of Nessus. (T)
2 - Nessus is an old city but it was built on the ruins of a much more ancient one of mysterious origins. (T)
3 - The Ape-God is a real deity that was worshiped in Nessus in ancient times. Its church has faded into nothingness but the festival remains as means of avoiding incurring its wrath (T)
4- There is no Ape-God and there never was. The whole festival was devised by the merchant guild generations ago as an excuse to attract revelers, and their gold, into Nessus. (F)
5 - Commoners, in particular attractive young women, have been mysteriously vanishing for a fortnight. Some person or other has always disappeared during the Festival of the Ape, but this year the number of dissapearances has been uncommonly high. (T)
6 - The guild of easy flowings (sewer workers) recently found several half-eaten human bodies floating of the sewer canals. (T)
7 - The Autarch of Nessus and most of his court secretly worship the Ape-God and indulge in foul rites during the week of the festival. (F)
8 - The lawful churches have been trying to do away with the festival for many years without success and forbid their acolytes of taking part in it. Very few obey the proscription. (T)


Introduction to the Adventure
"Wherein the desperate cries of a halfling lady set in motion events that will make this a night to remember."


XX - THE UNLIT ALLEY
"Wherein the adventure trully begins."


XX - THE SEWER ENTRY
"Wherein the adventurers must face an ambush set by ignoble foes without honor."


XX - THE TORTURED HALFLING
"Wherein the adventures do battle with foul sadist torturers and rescue an unfortunate halfling."

Three cult warriors are amusing themselves by cutting portions from the flesh of their living prisoner and tossing them to sewer leeches swimming on the waters of the sewer canal. There are three of those slimy creatures in the filthy waters competing for the morsels of halfling flesh being thrown by the warriors. These creatures will not leave the canal but if someone falls or is thrown into the waters they will ravenously attack him. If they are hit with missiles from foes on the shore they must check Morale and will swim away on a failure.

The trio of warriors is in quite high spirits and having a lot of fun. This, together with the cries of their victim and the splashing noises of the feeding leeches grants any approaching party normal chances for surprise even if they walk at normal pace and carrying lit torches or lanterns.
A pair of lanterns stand on the ground near the warriors. Any approaching party without lit torches or lanterns of their own can discern the warriors' light sources from 60’ away and observe the details of the gruesome scene clearly from 30’.

Cult Warriors (3): AL C, MV 90’ (30’), AC 5 (scale armor + shield), HD 1d8, HP 7,7,4, #AT 1, Dmg 1d8 (sword), SV F1, ML 9, XP 10, TR: 31sp between them

Sewer Leaches: (3), AL N, MV 120’ (40’), AC 7, HD 4, HP 24,19,19, #AT 1 (drain blood), Dmg 1d4, SV F2, ML 8, XP 135, TR: none


Taking the Wrong Passage
"Wherein the party might choose the wrong path and the players led to believe they wasted precious time."


XX - THE CHAINED SON OF THE SIMIAN
"Wherein the adventurers battle a son of the Ape-God"


XX - THE CELLS
"Wherein the adventurers grant freedom to captured wretches and have a chance of gaining allies for their quest."


XX - THE SCRIPTORIUM OF FATHER IRINE
"Wherein the adventurers meet an addle-brained prisioner of the Cult of the Ape-God and have a chance to obtain new supplies."


XX - THE ANIMAL PENS
"Wherein the adventurers face the pets of the Cult of the Ape-God and their caretaker."


XX - THE QUARTERS OF THE CULTISTS
"Wherein the adventurers deal swift justice to the impious acolytes of the Ape-God."


XX - THE FANE OF THE APE-GOD
Wherein the final confrontation with the cult occurs and an avatar of the Ape-God himself might be met.



Emerging from the Sewers
"Wherein the adventurers return to clean air and and the light of dawn."


Rewards
"Wherein are tallied the compensations gained by adventurers due to their bravery and efforts."