Cliffhangers Adventures Kingdom of the Blind By Jeff Quick

Episode Two: Stairdown

Kingdom of the Blind is a short adventure for four 8th-level characters. The adventure is set in a minor duchy that is fairly removed from the ruler of the land. As a result, trouble can brew in the land and the king would not know immediately.

Adventure Background

The PCs had just entered the citadel in the last episode. Are they now dealing with hauling statues or fighting angry staircases in their efforts to get to the second floor?

Encounter 2 (EL 7)

If the PCs tried to use the western staircases, they have just set off the staircase by walking on it. The stone spiral staircase pulls away from the wall, thrashing all the while, and it coils like a snake to strike. The staircase tries to throw off anyone standing on it. Player characters who want to remain on the stairs must oppose the staircase's Strength check with their own Strength check, or make a Balance check (DC 15).

Note that both western staircases react this way, though only when walked upon. Getting up to the second floor requires magic or ingenuity on the PCs' part. After defeating a staircase, the simplest way is to climb the stone walls to reach the second floor. Climbing the walls requires a Climb check (DC 15). Other ways to reach the second floor include prying up the statues on the eastern staircases, or flying or climbing up to the gallery on the second floor and lowering a rope down for the others to ascend.

The second floor of the citadel contains several stone sculptures in varying conditions. Tall candelabras covered in wax with little stubs of candles stand near one sculpture. The statues are not medusa victims; they are artist's sculptures in progress, and all stand in poses of fear or look as if they are attempting to escape. The ones with faces look terrified.

Encounter 3 (EL 1)

The circular room to the north is dark. It contains half a dozen potted fungi, and purple fungus coats all the walls. In contrast, a thick, multi-hued fungus swathes the stairs in this room. The potted fungi are shriekers. This room contains no real threat, though a trap door at the top of the stairs is closed and locked (Open Lock check DC 25) from the other side. Bashing through requires a Strength check (DC 25). Unless a PC is flying or has ensured solid footing (at DM's discretion), each attempt to bash open the trap door also forces every character involved to make a Balance check (DC 20) or slip and fall down the fungus-covered stairs.

To the south of the circular room with the stairs is a semicircular room. From outside it, the PCs can see a desk, two chairs, and a bookcase filled with books. Two statues of orc barbarians flank the doorway of the room.

Encounter 4 (EL 4)

The area between the orc statues contains a glyph of warding trap. It triggers when anyone not of lawful evil alignment passes through the area.

Cliffhanger

Once inside the office, the PCs discover that not everything they learned from Duke Fedorel is as it seems. On the desk, anyone who looks can find a letter (download 54k .jpg) dated with yesterday's date. It says the following: