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Manor Uvior: Difference between revisions
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If the heroes unveil the ornaments, they witness a horrible sight: dozens of realistic humanoid statues with expressions of [[terror]]. An [[urkou]] [[warrior]], halfling mage, and human cleric are among them. | If the heroes unveil the ornaments, they witness a horrible sight: dozens of realistic humanoid statues with expressions of [[terror]]. An [[urkou]] [[warrior]], halfling mage, and human cleric are among them. | ||
If the heroes open the various crates and boxes, they may each find one magic item. Each magic item has an Essence Cost of 15 or fewer, and the MC may decide ahead of time which items the heroes find or allow the players to pick. | If the heroes open the various crates and boxes, they may each find one magic item. Each [[Magic Items|magic item]] has an Essence Cost of 15 or fewer, and the MC may decide ahead of time which items the heroes find or allow the players to pick. | ||
With a DC 14 AWR/Investigating check, the heroes also find a broken ball of crystal. If one of them touches this crystal, they briefly see a vision: | With a DC 14 AWR/Investigating check, the heroes also find a broken ball of crystal. If one of them touches this crystal, they briefly see a vision: | ||
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''Uvior and his many guests fill the banquet hall, and a grand feast will soon begin. First, Uvior unveils the artifact that he has found: a strange metal object that looks like a flower but is as large as a human’s torso. He proudly declares that he will become immortal - and all of his friends can, too - but when he touches the object, blue-black energy explodes outward.'' | ''Uvior and his many guests fill the banquet hall, and a grand feast will soon begin. First, Uvior unveils the artifact that he has found: a strange metal object that looks like a flower but is as large as a human’s torso. He proudly declares that he will become immortal - and all of his friends can, too - but when he touches the object, blue-black energy explodes outward.'' | ||
When a hero sees this vision, they take 1d8 psychic | When a hero sees this vision, they take 1d8 psychic damage. | ||
damage. | |||
If the heroes use magic to determine the properties of this item, such as the Sense Magic spell, they can learn that it is from the Arcane Source and has the Summoning function. An ability that discerns the exact spell will reveal that this is an [[Unerring Sphere]] that was broken by the power unleashed by the strange artifact. | If the heroes use magic to determine the properties of this item, such as the Sense Magic spell, they can learn that it is from the Arcane Source and has the Summoning function. An ability that discerns the exact spell will reveal that this is an [[Unerring Sphere]] that was broken by the power unleashed by the strange artifact. | ||
If the heroes have the ability to use Greater Restoration, they can restore one statue to life. Upon being revived, a creature is too weary to physically help the heroes with anything, but will tell them Uvior’s story if they do not already know it. If they [[revive]] Humphrey the cleric, then he regains the ability to cast Greater Restoration 1 week after being revived and can subsequently revive the other petrified adventurers. | If the heroes have the ability to use Greater Restoration, they can restore one statue to life. Upon being revived, a creature is too weary to physically help the heroes with anything, but will tell them Uvior’s story if they do not already know it. If they [[revive]] Humphrey the cleric, then he regains the ability to cast Greater Restoration 1 week after being revived and can subsequently revive the other petrified adventurers. | ||
==== 4. Undercroft ==== | |||
''The undercroft is dark and musty, the ground being packed earth rather than wood or stone. Wooden coffins have been slotted into the walls like books on a shelf, and a handful more stone coffins are pressed into the ground.'' | |||
There is nothing of note in the undercroft, but there are two hidden doorways in this room. | |||
One leads to the scriptorium and can be found with a DC 12 AWR/Investigating check (it is easier to spot the false wall on this side of the doorway than it is from the scriptorium). | |||
The other hidden doorway requires heroes to open one of the coffins pressed into the ground. If they open the coffin in the southwest corner of the room, they will find a stone stairway descending about 10 ft deeper underground. This stairway leads to a tunnel that connects to the storage basement. | |||
==== 5. Scriptorium ==== | |||
''The scriptorium has several writing desks and stark, empty shelves. The desks are alight with cheerful candelabras. It smells of an odd mix of incense and faintly acidic slime. Many gretchlings idle in the room, playing cards or dice with one another, napping, or chatting. A gretchling with speckled skin wears a large, pointy wizard hat that falls over his froglike eyes, and he chats amicably with some of the others nearby.'' | |||
The scriptorium is Mogg’s headquarters. It has magical wards that deter undead from entering the room. Any undead in the scriptorium are Sickened until they leave. | |||
If the party has not yet met Mogg, they meet him now, as in the Mog Appears! encounter. At any given time, there are 3d6+3 gretchlings in the scriptorium. | |||
If the heroes are allied with the gretchlings, they can Recoup or Take a Rest in the scriptorium without threat of danger. | |||
The scriptorium is brightly lit and safe. There is nothing otherwise noteworthy about the room, but a DC 17 AWR/ Investigating check will reveal a hidden door that opens into the undercroft. | |||
== The Showdown: Mogg vs Uvior == | |||
Once the heroes have explored much of the manor, tensions between Uvior and Mogg will eventually force some form of showdown. This might be a battle between the heroes and Uvior or the heroes and Mogg, or it might be a tense negotiation brokered by the heroes. | |||
=== Negotiation === | |||
If the heroes attempt to negotiate a peace between Mogg and Uvior, they must first understand what both parties want. | |||
Mogg’s desires are more transparent: he wants free rein over the manor so that he and the other gretchlings may feast on the various [[Magic Items|magic items]] therein. | |||
Uvior keeps his desires closer to his chest, but the heroes might have discerned what he wants by exploring the manor. Uvior wants to undo the curse that he accidentally unleashed when he tried to activate the ancient artifact: he wants to be restored to his corporeal body. The Greater Restoration divine ritual can achieve this. | |||
If the party has access to the Greater Restoration ritual, they can use it as leverage to get Uvior to negotiate. Mogg suggests that Uvior can keep his manor and be restored, but leaves all magic in the manor to be consumed by the gretchlings, whereupon they will leave him alone. Uvior does not like these terms, but is keen on being restored, so is willing to consider it. | |||
Each hero must make CHA/Persuading checks; if the sum total of all heroes’ rolls is less than the number of heroes x12, then Uvior agrees to the deal, but does not plan to uphold it. He intends to betray the gretchlings after he is restored to his corporeal body. A hero that succeeds on a DC 14 AWR/Intuiting check can see Uvior’s plans. If they do not call him out, then they can leave the manor unharmed but with the knowledge that Uvior will retaliate against the gretchlings. If they do call him out, then Uvior becomes hostile and combat begins. | |||
However, if the sum total of the heroes’ CHA/Persuading checks is equal to or greater than the number of heroes x12, then Uvior reluctantly agrees to the deal and will uphold his end of the bargain. The heroes are granted treasure as though they had made an alliance with both Uvior and Mogg, and all parties get more or less what they want. | |||
=== Battle === | |||
If the showdown is a battle, use the stat blocks and tactics below. | |||
'''Fighting Uvior''' | |||
Uvior fights with great tact, snuffing out light sources to keep the upper hand and summoning skeletons to overwhelm the heroes. He tries not to engage in melee, using his abilities to keep the heroes at bay. He tries to continuously maintain a tether so that he can pass damage off to other creatures whenever he is harmed. | |||