Meamnar:Lost Marbles

Lost Marbles is an adventure for five 3rd level player characters (PC's). The adventure is set in the city of Hylar, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Hylar in the campaign setting of Meamnar. The adventure was included in the tabletop campaign Stoned.

Adventure Background

Marbles is a retired adventurer, an old gnome trickster who lives comfortably in a small, unassuming residence in Hylar City. He's well-known throughout the city, and all who know him have an opinion of him. Some think he's a harmless, senile, old fool. Others are wary of him, concerned about his thieving past. Still others are simply annoyed at his incessant pranks and practical jokes. Many suspect that his senility is nothing more than an act, that underneath he is as cunning as ever.

Not surprisingly, all of it is true to some extent. For the most part, Marbles still has his wits about him. Unfortunately, though, whether by old age or the wear of an adventuring spellcaster's life, Marbles suffers from occasional bouts of dementia. He is aware of this, though, and is quite embarrassed by it.

Adventure Synopsis

Being so well-traveled, Marbles has a great deal of knowledge about Meamnar, and any group of adventurers exploring the darker places in Hylar are bound to seek him out sooner or later. Such is the case in this adventure, which begins with the party arriving in Hylar City to find that the old gnome they're seeking has been arrested.

It seems that dear old Marbles has been charged with the crime of murdering three Red Guards. He is expected to stand trial the day following the party's arrival. Barring any intervention, he will be found guilty, sentenced to death, and then beheaded the following day.

The party, of course, should feel compelled to intervene. Unknown to them, however, the Balance is aware of what really happened, and was also planning to rescue Marbles. Once they are aware of the party, though, they will step aside to see if the adventurers manage to save him. If they do, then the Balance will become much more interested in the party in the future. If they fail, though, the Balance is prepared to step in and rescue Marbles themselves.

So what really did happen? Three Red Guards are indeed dead, and Marbles is the one who killed them.

Beginning the Adventure

Bad News

When the party arrives in town, they should be oblivious to the fact that Marbles has been arrested. Their first clue should be the Arcane Lock on the door to his house, with a scroll tacked on it as well, reading "No Trespassing."

House of Marbles

Should the party gain entry into Marbles' house before investigators have been there, they will find it in its normally messy condition. Should they begin searching the two-room residence, they may find any of the following:

• A vial of sneezing powder (victim is Dazed for two rounds, then once every 1d6 rounds thereafter for ten minutes).
• A sleeping bat, hanging from one of the rafters.
• Buried under a mass of scrolls, an angry quasit in a cage that inhibits its Alternate Form ability. The magical cage, which is 1' wide, 1' long, and 1.5' tall, inhibits the supernatural shape-changing ability of any creature placed inside of it.

The search should inevitably be interrupted before they find anything of value, by an investigator escorted by two guards.

Investigator: CR 1/3; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 1d6 (Exp1); hp 3; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 12, touch 10, flat-footed 10; Base Atk dagger +0 melee (1d4); Full Atk dagger +0 melee (1d4); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; AL LG; SV Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +2; Str 10, Dex 10, Con 10, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 10

Skills and Feats: Appraise +2, Decipher Script +2, Disable Device +2, Gather Information +6, Listen +2, Open Lock +2, Search +6, Sense Motive +2, Spellcraft +2, Spot +2; Investigator

Equipment: Leather, dagger

Red Guardsmen (2): CR 1/3; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 1d8 (War1); hp 4; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 15, touch 10, flat-footed 10; Base Atk long sword +2 melee (1d8); Full Atk long sword +2 melee (1d8); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; AL LG; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0; Str 11, Dex 11, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10

Skills and Feats: Climb +2, Intimidate +2, Jump +2, Ride +2; Weapon Focus (long sword)

Equipment: Chainmail, long sword

The Bullseye Inn and Tavern

This is a frequent hang-out for Marbles, less than two blocks from his house. The proprietor is familiar with him, and is aware of the charges against him. If asked, he would relay the following information about the incident.

Aye, I know Marbles. Poor fella. From what I hear, he turned himself in yesterday, though I can't see why. If I were him, I'd be halfway to Lirath by now. You don't rip a bolt o' lightning through three guards and expect t' get a slap on the wrist, y'know?

Gallows

The following is tacked to the gallows the day after the party arrives in Hylar City. This is a standard method that the city uses to disseminate news and information about accused and convicted criminals.

Posted: Tomte Barbaerlun, aka Marbles Barbaloot, a gnomish adventurer and resident of Hylar City, has been convicted on three counts of the crime of murder with intent, and is sentenced to hanging here at noon tomorrow.

Note: Wife of one soldier and mother of another pitch rotten vegetables at Marbles, should he actually make it to the gallows.

Concluding the Adventure

TBD

Notes

Roles:

• Guard1: ringleader
• Guard2: lackey
• Guard3: lackey
• Marbles: handler
• Balance member: spy, double-agent

Locations:

• Balance Safehouse
• Marbles' Home
• Prison
• Balance 'Front'

balance member, elias (real name), is a ship's carpenter (chip) on a Valeran caravel, the Lazy Goose. above-board, the ship hauls leather and/or cheeses from Valeris to Hylar, returning with pork and spices from abroad. it also serves fences in Valeris, who sell the captain (Pawel Lutek) spoils that he then resells in Hylar City

Marbles is Elias' handler, and was meeting with him in the sewers. The guards, investigating fencing activity from the Lazy Goose, were suspicious of Elias, following him to his meeting. Marbles discovered them, and killed all three accidentally (casting Lightning Bolt instead of Sleep), and turned himself in to protect Elias' identity.

Lutek did his business, and set sail for Valeris the day before the party gets to HC, with Elias on board.

Elias was supposed to report back to Marbles about where Lutek got his last batch of stolen goods from, that it was from the tomb of X, somebody closely related to the Stone Tomb 4, and that the fence got it from BBEG's minion, the grey dwarf, who had looted the tomb looking for info about the ST4.

They need to get Marbles out of jail. He'll tell them how to find Elias, and then escape to another plane (to make another appearance later).