Quests

## Chapter One: The Cult of Gaelonus (Main Line)

Expected Levels: 1-10

NPCs Involved:

* Hans Holbek
* Rickard Stollen
* Lord Foxgrove
* Headmaster
* Daithiaur
* Goldmask
* Gaelonus
* King Priamus

### The Expedition

Your party travels with (if there is a spellcaster from Bruxaria) / is employed by Hans Holbek, some sort of researcher. He wants to find a legendary source of power within the Therian Caves.

#### Requirements

* Level: 1
* Outcome:
	+ Holbek discovers the power source. He turns on the party.
	+ The party kills off the Cultists and recovers Cultist's Letter (Cave). May skip to *Out of the Frying Pan... .*

#### Rewards

* XP from Cultists
* Items from Cultists
* 10 XP
* Random armor and weapons

Required For

* Reporting Back

### Reporting Back

You have escaped the Therian Caves and must report the cultists. Holbek gives you the choice to travel four days to Urbs Magus, or allow him to teleport you to Bruxaria (if he survives). Otherwise, the party goes to Urbs Magus. Either begins a *quest branch*.

#### Reporting Back- U. Magus

The party reports to the captain of the guard, Rickard Stollen. They give the letter or information, and he points them to the library to research the symbol, if Holbek doesn't survive. Otherwise, Holbek reveals that it is a cult of magic users, which shocks and angers the captain. He rewards the party for their information, and gives them Captain Stollen's Missive, telling them to give it to the castle steward, Norris Ashby, Lord Foxgrove. Once they give the letter to him, Foxgrove sends them to the August Priory, the premiere cathedral of the Church of Alysia for a copy of a book called the *Lives of Sorcerers* from Father Coulson. Once they have retrieved it, Foxgrove sends them on a quest from the Crown to find the Cultist's hideout at Bleakrock, either directly from the information in the letter or from Stollen's speculations. Holbek returns to Bruxaria

The party has the choice of ratting out Holbek to the guard as a magic user, which will cause Holbek's arrest and eventual death, as well as greater reward from Stolben and Foxgrove (double coins)

##### Rewards

* 10 XP each
* 1d12 CP each from Stollen
* 3d10 GP in all from Foxgrove
* Access to Castle Sovenia
* Map of Sovenia

##### Required For

* Out of the Frying Pan...
* Purge the August Priory
* Sovenian Sidequests

#### Reporting Back- Bruxaria

*Requires Holbek to survive to teleport the party, or to mention the location of the Priory.* The Party travels to Bruxaria. Holbek or another mage gives a tour of the grounds and explains a little bit of the history. After this, he directs the party to the Headmaster, who gives them a book called the Lives of Sorcerers. The Headmaster tells the group of disturbances near Bleakrock and asks them to investigate. Hans leaves the party, and Daithiaur, the Headmaster's Deputy, joins.

##### Rewards

* 10 XP each
* 2d20 GP from Headmaster
* Spellbooks (for spellcasters)
* Iron Armor (for combatants)
* Access to Bruxaria
* Lives of Sorcerers
* Map of Sovenia

##### Required For

* Out of the Frying Pan...
* Joining the Priory
* Artifact Sidequests

### Out of the Frying Pan...

Either Foxgrove or the Headmaster has sent you to uncover the Cultist's treachery at Bleakrock. However, the party witnesses the summoning of some sort of black shadow officiated by Goldmask. The party may intervene, and they may succeed. The party flees to either Urbs Magus or Bruxaria and report to Foxgrove or the Headmaster.

### ...Into the Fire

*Requires party to travel to Bleakrock.* The players return to either Urbs Magus or Bruxaria. Foxgrove summons the Privy Council or the Headmaster the Circle of Eight, and asks you to report the resurgence of the Cult of Gaelonus, Goldmask, as well as the black shadow as you choose. Several officials (professors or generals) advocate for caution, but either Stollen or Daithiaur object strongly. Moving to table the discussion for another time, the council adjorns, but not before giving you an appropriate reward. Stollen or Daithiaur tell you to research Goldmask, but warns against returning to Bleakrock.

*If Holbek was turned in, he is executed the next morning.*

#### Rewards

* 5 XP each
* A chest containing 109 gp, 1 Deep Blue Spinel (300 gp), Deep Green Spinel (110 gp), Rhodochrosite (11 gp), and appropriate weapons [Sovenian]
* A chest containing 122 gp, Alchemist's Fire (3 flasks, 20 gp each), 1 mithril mail shirt, Thunderstones (3 stones, 30 gp each), and appropriate weapons [Bruxarian]
* Holbek's inventory (if killed)

#### Required For

* Hitting the Books
* A Small Favor (Sovenian)

### Hitting the Books

Requires the completion of two Sovenian or Bruxarian quests. Going to either the August Priory or to the Bruxarian Library, the party researches Goldmask.

At the August Priory, the party fails and must go to Bleakrock. Skip to *Don't Drink It.*

At Bruxaria, the party may succeed [DC 20 Investigation], and they find out that the gold mask is a relic of Gaelonus, meant to enhance the interdimensional powers of the wielder. On a successful DC 15 Analysis check, the Party pieces together that the cult of Gaelonus is summoning some sort of interdimensional being, but it requires access to something that the Party doesn't have access to. They may choose to go to Bleakrock, otherwise, the librarian suggests talking to Holbek once more. *If Holbek was turned in or dead, then Daithiaur will be willing to let you into the Restricted Archive.*

On a successful DC 15 Charisma save, the party convinces Holbek to let them into the Restricted Archive. On a DC 10 Investigation check, the party finds the Black Book of Jardoon, which details the activities and goals of the Cult of Gaelonus, including the resurrection of their leader. On a DC 10 Religion check, one may realize of a dark ritual that might have turned Gaelonus into a lich. On a DC 15 Insight check, one may notice a fleeting smirk across Holbek's face. The next day, the party is summoned back to the Circle of Eight, where they are charged by the Headmaster with the recovery of the Chains of the Staffbreaker and which causes an uproar in the council.

### Dungeon Delving

*Requires Holbek or Daithiaur to let you into the Restricted Archive.* The party travels to the shore of Lake Wrencliff, where they encounter Staffbreaker's Tomb. Delving into the Tomb and evading the traps and all, the party discovers the Chains of the Staffbreaker. Holbek turns on the party if he's still alive, otherwise there is a secret boss.

#### Rewards

* The Gold Mask
* Holbek's Spellbook
* Chains of the Staffbreaker
* 100 XP

### Don't Drink It

**Sovenian**: The Party goes to Bleakrock once more, where they encounter the reincarnation of Gaelonus. They intervene, and a boss battle ensues. If the party sided with the Sovenians, there is an overwhelming amount of Cultists in addition to the shade. On a DC 20 Analysis check, the party may realize the presence of the glowing necklace around the shade's neck, which they can destroy. The amulet has 15 AC and 20 HP.

Goldmask reveals himself as Holbek (If he's still alive). Otherwise, Gaelonus is in full Lich mode.

After defeating Gaelonus or Holbek, the party has a choice of either handing over Holbek's body and the artefacts to Bruxaria (which gives access to the Bruxarian quests but bars from further advancement in the Sovenia branch), or to bring them to Sovenia, which begins *Hysteria*.

**Bruxarian**: The Party, armed with knowledge of the lich's phylactery and with the Chains of the Staffbreaker, engage the Cultists and Gaelonus at Bleakrock. Activating the Chains, the phylactery breaks open, dealing the lich 10d10 + 40 Force damage.

#### Rewards

* The Gold Mask (if not already gained from *Dungeon Delving*)
* Holbek's Spellbook (if not already gained from *Dungeon Delving* or *...Into the Fire*)
* Phylactery of Gaelonus

#### Required For

* Hysteria (Sovenia)
* Betrayal (Bruxaria)

### Hysteria (Sovenia)

The Party reports back to Urbs Magus at all haste after Gaelonus is defeated. Lord Foxgrove rewards the party handsomely, but the King intercedes. He orders a cull of any and all magic users and learned men in the castle. Graveyards are turned over and witches burned. Father Coulson is horrified.

### Rewards

* +100 XP
* Random amount of treasure for CR 4.
* Magical weapons as appropriate
* Deed for house in Urbs Magus.

### Aftermath (Bruxaria)

The Party reports back to Bruxaria after Gaelonus is defeated. Somehow, Holbek's treachery is revealed, either through found letters, a mark on his corpse (if Lord Foxglove returned it), etc. The Headmaster rewards the party for their efforts. After 1d4 days, a messenger arrives detailing the terms of surrender of Bruxaria to the Crown of Sovenia. If the party had gone to Bruxaria after having started the Sovenia questline, there is also an arrest warrant for each party member.

#### Rewards

* +100 XP
* Random amount of gold for CR 4 hoard
* Magical items as appropriate
* Key to Madman's Wing