This isn't to say that staff aren't doing a good job and that their areas aren't inspired (I think quite the opposite), but I believe there are more possibilities for areas - possibilities that aren't based around experience or loots.
That said, I hope you enjoy what little I have to offer.
Title: This adventure starts in Arilin, requires free roaming by players (more on this later), goes through the Royal Forest, to a clearing in the Royal Forest (to be constructed), then leads either back to Harabec or to Arilin and Blackthorn (more on this later).
Story: Malik Of-No-Name-Worth-Mentioning was nothing out of the ordinary to look at. He was covered in the standard commoner grime for an Arilinian. His nose was slightly crooked after being broken at a young age. His black hair was matted and his teeth were beginning to yellow. He was average and nothing a young noblewoman, such as Lady Catherine d'Thronwal, skin like alabaster and golden locks reaching to her bosum, should ever had laid eyes on.
But love is young and blind and often stupid. Malik knew his place yet persued his crazed fantasy. He left daisies and love letters nearly everyday on the front doorstep of the d'Thronwal house in Harabec, always making that painful tread through the Royal Forest. And when no word ever reached him back, he assumed it was those noble bastards who would kill a love so pure and magical because of social ranking - the fact that his letters were always blown away and his flowers trampled on by unsuspecting visitors never occured to him. No, the love was too pure.
So here a band of adventurers find themselves - before Malik Of-No-Name-Worth-Mentioning, hearing his pleas and ramblings of a pure, mutual love. Reluctantly, they listen to what he has to say.
"...But don't worry! I have a plan - a brilliant one. Dressed as a noble myself, I will be able to sneak to the woodland ball tonight and there, Lady Catherine and I shall express our loves, embrace and then run away together! Oh, think of the children we shall have... Nine? Ten? A thousand children - my love is so great!"
- Malik requires a set of three items. The sets are:
Knight SetChain Vest, Jewelled Sword, Alloy Studded Boots
Wizard SetOrnate Robes, Staff of Elements, Gold Ring
Cleric SetOrnate Robes, Staff of Serenity, Silver Amulet - Based on this, Malik will change into one of his alter egos. He is then to be escorted to the Woodland Ball. The PCs will have to kill all monsters on sight (since Malik won't move unless everything has been cleared). Malik will cross with at least one wolf in the Royal Forest. Malik will call for healings if he falls to moderately wounded. Malik can be killed by other players. PCs should watch out for that. ;D
- Once at the Woodland Ball (this is actually a teleportation - Malik will ask if everyone is there and if a PC responds "Yes, we are here." then Malik will transport them to the Woodland Ball. If Malik isn't there (ie. if a PC isn't on this quest), they'll walk into a clearing of no real interest), Malik will walk over to Lady Catherine who sits at the smaller table and try to woo her. This should be a treat, because he's only full of cheesey pick-up lines.
Things like, "Beautuous Lady Catherine, it seems there's a mighty wyrm in my pants and only you have the power to slay it."
"I've brought a sheath for my sword, if that's what you're worried about."
"You know, I bathed just last week so you know I'm free of mange."
"Lady Catherine, your hips are like a never ending keg of ale - I'd tap that all night long."
"Your bosum doesn't sag at all like my mother's."
"What say you to a delightful romp through my pants?"
"I never knew celestials flew so low to the Material Plane."
"I think they might ask you to leave soon; you're making the other woman look bad."
nb. This clearing for the Woodland Ball IS NOT the same clearing before the Royal Forest. - After a few of those, the conversation makes a turn for the worse. Malik starts making demands and then grabs her against her will and they have a struggle. Suddenly, Malik falls to the ground, holding his head with both hands and crying out with agony. Lady Catherine tries to flee, ripping her dress as Malik reaches out with a clawed hand to stay her. He stands again, his body begins to deform and steam and that's when Malik becomes The Beast of Malik.
- Guards will attack Malik and attack the PCs if the PCs decide to attack the guards. Here the PCs make a decision. They can subdue all the guards and then go after Malik or simply kill Malik. If Malik dies, the PCs get Claw of the Beast and they can hand that in to the King of Harabec for a Crest of Heroism. However, if (and only if) the PCs subdue the guards and then defeat Malik using only healing spells (beam will count because it is basically a pillar of light), they will save Malik who will ask you to take him to his shack where he gives the PCs Malik's Tainted Charm. This can be handed to the priest in Blackthorn to be turned into the Charm of Desire.
Restrictions: None. A level 30 could probably do this on his or her own. Normally, I could see a party of three or four level 20s do this with appropriate difficulty.
Contents: Malik Of-No-Name-Worth-Mentioning is a little on the scrawny side and not much to look at. His black hair is matted down and his skin is covered in a thin layer of grime. His clothes are nothing more than rags and his teeth are beginning to yellow. He is in healthy condition.
Malik d'Raunfor is very obviously Malik in a knight's attire - to you, at least. A jewelled sword sits on his belt and his chain vest and alloy-studded boots jingle and clatter as he (clumsily) walks about. Still, he cleans up quite nicely, if you do say so yourself. This might actually work. He is in healthy condition.
Malik d'Kinorin is very obviously Mailk in a wizard's attire - to you, at least. His ornate robes are clearly too large for him and he often trips and stumbles, relying on his staff of elements for support, often yelping as he touches a fire-attuned section. However, he does wear that gold ring in a rather dignified manner. This could actually work. He is in healthy condition.
Priest Malik of Lathandar is very obviously Mailk in a cleric's attire - to you, at least. His ornate robes drag on the floor as he tries to walk with a calm expression, carrying after tripping on his own feet as if he meant to do it. The silver amulet and staff of serenity he carries glint in the light and, you have to admit, he does seem rather regal. This might actually work. He is in healthy condition.
Lady Catherine d'Thronwal is almost a vision of beauty. He golden locks spill past her shoulders, tickling her bosum. Her blue eyes have a soft expression and her delicate lips smile almost invitingly. It is no wonder she is the pride of the Thronwal house. She is in healthy condition.
The Beast of Malik is a horrible mix of human and demon. Horns begin to sprout from the head, drawing thin streams of blood. Steam rises from his back as if the flesh itself were burning. The tips of several tattered and dripping wings begin to sprout of his arms, legs and back. Uneven and overly large fangs begin to sprout from his mouth and everytime he tries to speak, only a gurgle can be heard. His sword wounds leave puddles of red blood while all others leave trails of black ichor on the forest floor. He seems to be in relatively healthy condition.
The Beast of Malik lashes out in a crazed frenzy, hitting you for 53 damage.
The Beast of Mailk releases a noxious vapour, stinging your eyes and throat, and dealing 21 damage.
You are poisoned.
The Beast of Malik cries out in agony, coughing up a black ichor. "...H-Help... me...!" multiple voices seem to echo from the beast's maw.
The poison hurts you for 6 damage.
The Beast of Malik picks up a clawed handful of ichor and swallows it, recovering from minor wounds.
The Beast of Malik falls to the ground, its demonic parts beginning to fall off, leaving the corpse of Malik Of-No-Name-Worth-Mentioning lifeless and steaming.
The Beast of Mailk cries with incredibly agony as the demonic parts are exercised, leaving a frightened and weak Mailk Of-No-Name-Worth-Mentioning on the ground, sobbing and soaking wet.
[*I have no how much damage a party of 3 or 4 level 20s can dish out, but I'd like the fight with Malik to be fairly long. Maybe twice the HP of a Wolf?*]
Guard of the Woodland Ball wears plate armour and holds a pike in a skillful manner. However, there is a sure glint of fear in the eyes of the guard as it fights on. The guard is in healthy condition.
[*About as tough as a Gnoll Guard with 3/4 HPish*]
The Guard of the Woodland Ball attacks you with its pike for 18 damage.
The Guard of the Woodland Ball attacks The Beast of Mailk with its pike.
Items:
Claw of the Beast: The largest chunk of what remains of the Beast of Malik. Surely, the King of Harabec would reward anyone who bears this.
Crest of Heroism: A gift from the King of Herebec for saving the life of a noble. The amulet is gold with a picture of a lion engraved on it. Armor 3. Can be equipped by: Everyone
Malik's Tainted Charm: You keep this charm wrapped tightly in cloth, lest whatever curse on it befall you as it did to Malik. Malik joked that only a priest that could seal away a great lich could ever hope to banish the curse.
Charm of Desire: This charm fits nicely on your ring finger. When placed in the light, the engravings read, "The greatest and least of all men are driven by desire." Armor: 1. Stats: +1 Con, +1 Cha
Draw: Mostly a chance to do some old-school adventuring. It's a relatively easy challenge but with a lot of NPC interaction. The rewards for this adventure are pretty minimal and the experience is pretty average.
Writing Sample:Commoner's Home: There isn't much here at all. The floor is made of rickety wood and vermin scurry past your feet. You can exit...
Commoner's Home: The floor is covered in dirt and you can clearly see rat holes in the walls. In the corner of the room, you notice a rug oddly placed. It dips in the center as if nothing were underneath it.
[*Malik won't let the adventurers down unless they've defeated his beast or him.*]
Malik's Shrine: Illuminated only by candlelight, this cellar-type room is stuffy and dank. A crude alter is surrounded by strange markings. Atop, a piece of cloth is wrapped around as if to nest something - however, that something seems to be missing.
Malik's Shrine: On closer inspection, you relize the markings are crudely made runes. You're confident that they're dormant because of the lack of care taken to make them but still, you remain weary. On the alter, you recognize a black painted starburst.
/examine - Etched on the floor before the alter, you read: Any method or means is justified if it brings about the desired end.
Woodland Ball: This clearing the Royal Forest is free of all hostile animals. No brazier is ever more than three yards from another, making a circle of illumination and warding off any wolves. Log benches have been sanded down neatly and many nobles sit next to one another, enjoying the dancing and music and the overall mirth of such an occasion.
Woodland Ball: Though much of the area is open space for dancing, there is clearly a raised table towards the northern end of the clearing. There many nobles sit and talk of small things - a nice break from their usual political and economical arguments and squabbles. A smaller table is reserved off to the side for the daughters and sons of the nobles, allowing them to mingle and woo as they please.
I haven't proofread this and I think I've included some things that just aren't possible with the game engine (they will have to be revamped so they have the same basic effect).
Also, I forgot to mention that the Woodland Ball should be a clearing in the shape of a circle.
