Emotion Ensider

EN World EN5IDER| The Business of Emotion

A FiFth Edition-CompAtiblE AdvEnturE For 3-5 pCs oF 2nd-3rd lEvEl

BusinessThe

of

Emotion

PAUL OKLESH

EN World EN5IDER | The Business of Emotion

GM Introduction ThequietvillageofLanidorissufferingfroma case of the lovie-dovies. Merchants and those with other traveling professions have returned hometofindeveryoneintown,includingtheirownspouses,enjoyingasummeroflove.With-indays,thetravelersrageinexplicablypassed,and they too threw caution to the wind andpickedupnewlovers.Thisdebaucheryhassig-naledamarkedreductioninproductivityforthecity,whichhasfailedtofulfillallofitstradecon-tracts. Upon investigation, the party will discov-er the sourceof this loveplague is agnomeflowerfarmer.Upontheadviceofalocalwitch,apotentlovepotionwasbrewedtodrummoreemotion to spark his otherwise lacklustersales. ThepairbegandrippingthepotionintoLanidorswatersupplyafewmonthsago. Meanwhile,thewitchhassecretlybeenusingthemagiconthelocalwildlifetobreedcross-spe-ciesmonstrosities.Whethermoremonstrositiesnowroamthecountrysideisuptoyou. Howthepartydealswiththethreatcancre-atemanyfurtherplothooksforanongoingcampaignorservetoshownewplayershowtheiractionshaveconsequences on the world. One such plot hook couldbethecorpseofHermiasowlbearitself.Find-ingabuyercouldbeaquestofitsown.Asportsmanmaywantitspeltforhislodge,oritsorgansmightbesought-aftermagicalreagents.

Background ThevillageofLanidorsitsinafertilevalleyattheconfluenceoftworivers,andisthebreadbasketoftheregion. Lanidor is a peaceful place full of even-keeled andconservativepeople.Thetwinrivers,(TromandPolyne),uponwhichthevillagewasbuilt,convergesouthoftownintothegreatPolyne-Tromriverandprovidepassageway to sea to theSouth facilitatingtradewithcitiesnearandfar. TheTromisthepri-marywatersourceforthevillage,sincethePolyneswatercarriesundrinkablesiltandsedimentfromthenortheasternbadlands.

Plain in style and proud of theirdependability, the people of Lanidormaintain trade contracts with manylarger cities within the region, ex-changing their abundant agriculturalproductionformilitaryprotection. A few years ago, a gnome namedTwo-lips Thistlestrip and a smallgroup of his kin arrived in Lanidor. Theyestablishedafarmnorthoftown,along the River Trom, and began togrowexoticflowers. Atfirst, thepeo-ple of Lanidor were intrigued by thenewcrop,buttheyquicklylostinterest;their plain tastes valued function over form. Two-lips became increasingly des-perateashissalesplunged.Barelyabletokeephisbusinessafloat,hewasap-proachedinthefieldonedaybyHer-mia,awitchwhopromisedtohelphimsavehisfounderingfarm.Sheofferedto brew an extremely potent love po-tion, suggesting that Two-lips might-


see an increase in sales if he could in-fluencetheemotionsofthevillage.TogethertheydevisedaplantoslowlydripthepotionintotheRiverTrom,atits source in a cave far to the north. Forher part, Hermia requested nocompensationfromTwo-lips.Sheusedthepotionspowerfulmagictocorruptthe local beasts of the forest, creatingcross-species monstrosities like theowlbearthatguardsherlairattheriv-erssource. Theirplanworked.Lovefilled theair in Lanidor and flowers sold likenever before. Weeks later, though,the village devolved into debauch-ery. Realizing hismistake, Two-lipssearchedfarandwideforHermia,butto no avail. He ventured towards the mouthoftheRiverTrom,butHermiasintoxicatingmagichadcausedtheani-malsnearLanidortogrowsavageandrestless.Unabletodoanythingonhisown,Two-lipsdecidedtoridethewaveofprofitsandhopethatnoonecaughton.

Adventure StartAsyoucrestasmallhill,theplainsbeforeyoudipintoalong,shallowvalley.Tworiversslipdownintothisvalleyandconvergeontheirwaytothesea.NestledbetweentheriverssitsthesleepyvillageofLanidor.

Greenandambersquarescheckerthevalley,signal-ingthepresenceofthemanyfarmsteadsthatsupplytheregionsagriculturaltrade.Oneinparticular,fartothenorthandblurredbythehazeofdistance,shinesinstripsofvibrantcolor.Asyoudescendintothevalley,youfindmanyofthefarmsin ill-repair,withrottingcropsandwanderinglive-stock.

The Road into Town

The Heartbroken

Youwalkalongawagon-rutteddirtpathdownthegentleslopeintothevalley.Betweenthepathandthenearestfieldofgrainrestsawagonandahand-fulofraggedtents.Frombehindthetents,youhearafrenziedshouting.

Theencampmentbelongstoasmallbandoftravelingmerchantswhorecentlyreturnedhometofindtheirspousesinthearmsofnewlovers.EnragedbytheturnofeventsandscaredbytheLanidorscurrentstate,theyhavesetupoutsideoftownastheyplantheirnextmove. Themenhaverecentlybutcheredasheepandthebleatingoftheanimalandsmellofbloodhasattractedfourwolves.Followingcloselybehindthewolves are two swarms of ravenswhoexpectaneasymealofwhateverleftoversthewolvesleave.The ravens will arrive in the second full round of combat. Asthepartyapproaches,thewolvesareslowlycirclingthemerchants.

Agroupoffivemenshoutandwavetheirarmsabout,tryingtoscareoffapackoffoursnarlingwolves.Themenstandaroundtherecentlybutch-eredremainsofasheepasthewolvescirclethemmenacingly.Asifoncue,thewolvesbegintotight-entheirorbits,approachingtheterrifiedmen.

Afterthebattle,thethankfulmerchantswillinvitethepartytojointhem.Theywillopenlydiscussmostthingsaboutthevillagebutgetdismis-sivewhendiscussingcurrentstateofLanidor,onlywarningthepartytostayaway.AsuccessfulDC12Charisma(Persuasion)checkpromptsthemerchanttorevealoneoftherumorsfromtheRumorstable.

The Business of Emotion is designed to introducenewplayerstobasicrole-playingconcepts,andfeaturesop-portunitiesforbothstorytellingandcombat.Lanidorhasnotbeendeliv-eringtradegoodswheat,oats,wool,lumbertomarket.ThisadventurecouldbeginifthepartyissentonaquesttoinvestigateLanidorbyalocalgovernor,withalettertosubstantiatetheirmission,butitcouldalsobeusedtofillinthenextvillagedowntheroadinasandboxsetting.


Francine Dunwit

Race:Human Profession:Barmaid

Description:Adenselybuiltwoman,shelookslikeshecouldhefttwobalesofhayinherbroadarmsjustaseasilyasshecouldahalfdozentankardsofale.

Notable facts:AssumesthatanypresentPCsarepairedandtreatsthemassuch.Ifthereareanyspare(unevenlymatched)PCs,treatsthemwithconfusionstating,It aint nothin personal, Im sure sweetie. Whether youre looking for a soul mate or a bed mate, youre sure to find them in Lanidor, just like the rest of us did!

Sounds Like:Justaplain-talkincountrywoman,dontchaknow.

Markus DunwitRace: Human Profession:Carpenter

Description:Aremarkablywideman,hisshoulderslookassolidasthewoodenbaruponwhichhesleaning.

Notable facts:Currentlysmittenwithhisnewlove,EmiliaFulton,despitethefactthathiswifestandsacrossthebar.WillbeginafightwiththePCs,involvingfourothermennearbyifacharacterreturnsEmiliasadvances.

Sounds Like:Abooming,strongvoice.

Emilia FultonRace:Human Profession: Housewife(estranged)

Description:Apetiteandveryattractiveyoungwoman.AsdaintyasitcomesinanagriculturaltownlikeLanidor,althoughshecouldstillprobablycrackwalnutswithherbarehands.

Notable facts:WillbeginflirtingwitharandomPCpresentatthebar,or whoever speaks to her first.

Sounds Like:Atawdry,smallvoice.Youcanalmosthearhereyelashesfluttering.

Graben Turnbull

Race:Dwarf Profession:Innkeeper

Description:Grabenisanolddwarf,hunchedandnotmuchforadventuring.Arthriticandpudgyaroundthemiddle,fastisntawordmanywouldusetodescribehim.

Grabenwasonceanotableminer,buthewasbanishedfromhisclanwhen,tohiseternalshame,aminehedugcavedinpartofanancientdwarvenburialground.HehassincesettledinLanidorandestablishedtheinn,TheGlossyBedpost.

Notable facts:Opportunisticprofiteer,unaffectedbythepotiontohisdwarvenresilience,veryprivate.

Sounds Like:Agravellyoldwesternprospector.Hisspeechismarkedwithmanyumsorerslikealumberingstutter.

There is a 50% chance one of the menin thegroupwill fallmadly inlove with the character with thehighestCharismascore,muchtohisfellowsdismay. You can either play this for humour or more seriously, depending on the style and mood of your players.

1Thereareflowerseverywhereintown,andthatdamnedgnomesface is plastered all over the place. (True)

2Therehavebeenstrangecirclescarved into the wheat the last few weeks.Weusuallyjustchalkedituptodamnedyouths,butmaybetheresmoretoitthanthat.(False)

3

Asyoucansee,noneoftheworkisbeingdone.Harvesttimeisonus,thereshouldbedozensofpeo-pleouthereinthefields.Instead,theyreallshackedupintownliketheworldsending.(True)

4IdontknowifIdtrustthevir-ginoraclesvisionsanymoreafterwhatIsawherdoingwithOlTurnstallandhisson(True)

5Isecretlystartedharvestingandstockpiling the grain at night whentherestaresleepingWithnoworkbeingdone,itllbeworthafortunesoon!(True)

6Ialwaysknewthatmywifehadsomethingforthatbastarddownthestreet.Ifyouseethem,givethemmyregards!(True)

7

Wedontgetmanyfeyaroundhere,butIvealwaysjustsortaknownwhentheywerearound.ItslikeIcansmellemorsome-thingTheyrearoundheresomewhere,Ijusthaventfoundemyet(False,notcountingHermia)

8

Wevespentalotoftimethinkingofwhatcouldbecausingthis...Itreallyseemslikesomemessthatwitchwouldbeinvolvedin,butImnotabouttogoknockingonherdoortofindout(True)

Rumors (roll a d8)

Npc List?

Lanidor NPCs


The Square

Youtravelpasttherun-downfarm-housestotheLanidorsrustictownsquare.Theotherwisedrabvillageisdottedwithbrightspotsofcolor,whichoncloserinspection,arehugebouquetsofvibrantlycoloredflowerspackedalongeverywindowsill.Fliersarepostedeveryfewfeetbearingawinkinggnomishfaceandthemes-sage,Two-Lips Flowers, The Perfect Gift for Your Sweetheart!

TotheEast,abuildingmarkedasthePolishedPlateisadinofactivityandsound.AbuildingacrossthesquareislabeledtheGlossyBedpostbyalargecarvedsignthatalsoadver-tisesnightlyrates.Hastilyscrawledbesidethenightlyrates,inafreshcoatofpaint,isanaddedmessagethatstates,Hourly2cp..

The Polished Plate

Youopenthedoorandfindasimple,rustictavernthatisfilledalmosttoca-pacity.Alonebarmaidhustlesaroundservingdrinksandfoodtohermanypatrons.

The people inside snuggle each other closely,litbylow-burningcandlesasabardinthecornercroonsoutballadsaboutmythicromances.Astandbythebarisfilledwithfresh-cutflowersandafriendly,winkinggnome.Thebarmaidnoticesnewcustomersandushersyouinsidetowardsthebar.

Read or paraphrase the following if anyofthePCshaveattractedMarkusire (see Lanidor NPCs).

MarkusDunwitstandsabruptly,hisbarstoolscrapingnoisilyacrossthefloorbeforefallingtotheground.Withthetavernbroughttoimmediatesilenceandwitheveryeyerestingon

him,Markusraisesacalltothelocals,Men!Thesestrangersthinktheycancomeinhereandstealour womenwiththeircharms?Letsteachthemales-son!Markuspullsaheavymasonshammerfromhisbeltandchargesattheparty.Fourtownsmenjumptotheirfeettojoinhim.

Markus Dunwit is a thug and his four friends are guards whoabandonedtheirpostsoncethepo-tion took hold. Noone in thebar seemsupset thattheirsignificantothersare totallyenamoredofoth-er people unless their current loverisdisturbed. Ifconfrontedaboutthisfact,aNPCwillnonchalantlydismissitwithastatementakinto,The heart wants what the heart wants,or,Im just glad that everyone has been able to find true love. Through conversation it can be discovered thatthenewromancesallbeganafewmonthsago.Hostility,eitherovertorthroughIntimidation,ismetpoorly.Whoa there, thats not a very loving attitude, is it? Were all here to have a good time Can I buy you a flower? If asked about Two-lips, Francine will openlyprovide:

Two-lips is just a simple farmer like everyoneelse.

He lives up north along the River Tromits acolorful place, cant miss it!

He brought his whole family to grow flowerswith him, bless his soul. And aint it lucky? Peoplestarted buying his flowers left and right after heshowed up!

Because the brewery in town draws from theTrom, consuming a drink from the Polished PlateshouldcountasaminorexposureasdescribedintheOdds and Ends section.

The Glossy Bedpost

Aheavyoakdoorswingsopen,revealinganinte-riorasplainlydecoratedastheexterior.Asimpledesksitsacrossfromthedoor,mannedbyanold,gloomy-lookingdwarf.

Notlookingupfromshufflingastackofreceiptsaround,hegreetsyouemotionlessly,WelcometotheGlossyBedpost,finestinninLanidor.Howmanyhoursdoyouneed?


Ifthepartyrequestsrooms:

Ah well you see, most rooms are, er, occupied at the moment But 7 and 9 should be, um, opening up he pausestoconsultastackofpapers,within the, er, hour. Shouldnt be takin more than a few minutes to get the rooms tidied up and with fresh linens

Grabenisaprivateandtight-lippedsortofdwarfandisnotquicktoprovidethePCswithinformation.Businesshasbeenverygoodrecently,soheonlyre-lents under pressure. IfaskedaboutTwo-lipsspecifically,Grabencom-plainsaboutthefactthat,his face is all over the dernd place!HealsofiguresthatTwo-lipscouldbemak-ingaprettycoinortwooffoftheamorousattitudeintown. GrabenisreluctanttogivemoreinformationonTwo-lips,butwillguidethepartytohimifforcedbyasuccessfulDC18Charisma(Intimidation)check. Iftheintimidationfails,orthepartyattemptstopersuadehim,he requests adeedbedone tohelp me out some, ya see? Toprovidemoreinformation,herequeststhatthepartyclearoutroomnumber3,whichshouldhavebeenemptied23minutesago.

Room #3

Youwalkashortdistancedowntheplainhallwayandfindastandardwoodendoorwithabrass3nailedonitsface.Frominsideyouheartwovoicesmakingverycontentnoises.

Uponknocking,amuffledruckusoccurs insideandavoicemeeklycallsout,Uh what is it? Who-ever is inside refuses to open the door and insists that theypaid for 2 hours and they still have timeleft.Thisisalie;Grabenprovidesareceiptconfirm-ingthattheyonlypaidforanhour.TheplayerscanforcethetenantsoutthroughroleplayingoraDC16Charisma (Intimidation or Persuasion) check.On afailure,theoccupantsignorethePCsunlessforceisused. Should they fail,Grabenwillauthorize forceful-lyevictingthem.BrandishingweaponsorknockingdownthedoorgrantsadvantageontheirnextCha-rismacheckagainsttheoccupants. The door is sturdy and locked tight. ADC 15Strengthcheckisrequiredtoknockitdown,oraDC

15Dexteritychecktopickthelock.Gra-benwillrequestthatthePCspay10gptoreplacethedoor,shouldtheyknockit down. Insidetheroomaretwoclerics,oneof a lawful good god and one of a cha-oticevilgod,whoavoidthecharactersgazeandquicklyvacate the inn, theirforbidden romance revealed. If thePCs evict the clerics, Graben revealseverythingheknowsaboutTwo-lips,ifhehasnotdonesoalready,andofferstoguidethepartytothegnomesfarm.

Two-lips farm

ThesunburnsbrightlyaboveasyoutraveluptheRiverTrom,trudgingup an uneven trail northwards out of town.Asyouroundabendintheriver,youaremomentarilydazzledbydozensofrainbowcoloredblocksofland,andalmostchokeonasick-ly-sweetsmellintheair.

Awidefieldofflowerssurroundsaquaintfarmsteadinthedistance.Out-side,acrewofsmallfiguresloadsacartwithcolorfulbundlesofflowers.

Inside the farmhouse,Two-lipsdi-rectsacrewofgnomeworkersaroundthefarm. Heblanchesatthesightoftheparty,stammering,You you, you? What are you doing here? Who are you?Two-lipsdoeshisbesttohidethefactthathesbehindtherecentoutbreakoflovestruck villagers (shooing the par-ty, trying to slip away to oversee thefarm,insistingthathestoobusy),buthisdefensesareprettythin.Afterabitofpressing(aDC12Charisma[Intimi-dationorPersuasion]check,oranyex-plicit threatofviolence),hecavesandbeginstoconfess. WhileTwo-lipsissuperficiallyapol-ogeticabouttheincidentandexplainshowhesattemptingtoplay it straight or make an honest living for once, he


alsoseemstodelightinhowsuccessfultheplanhasbeeninsavinghisfarm. Ifpressed,hewillinsistthattheplanwith the lovepotionwasallHermiasidea,andthatallhedidwaspurchasethe ingredients she requested. He will alsodirect theparty towards thecavewhereheandHermiasetupthepotiontodripintotheTrom,butwillnotac-companythem. Two-lips,anexperiencedmerchantinhisown right,will reactnegativelytoanyattemptsofextortionbythepar-ty,butisalways willing to make a deal, andwillpayhandsomelytoavoidpun-ishment: 75 gp and a years supply of white roses. WildcreaturesnowprowlthelandsbetweenLanidorandthecave;includ-ingapackoffivedire wolves.Shouldthepartyencounterthesewolves,theyare attacked along the riverbank, andthewolvesattempttoknockthemintotheriver,exposingthemtothelovepo-tion(Odds and Ends).

The Tunnel of Love

Area 1 The Mouth of the Cave

Aftertravelingforseveralhours,youfindadenseforestontheedgeofthesmallmountainrange,markingthe

endofthevalley.Thecanopyoftheforestbeforeyouisominouslythick,allowinglittlelightthrough.

Thelazy,meanderingrivergainspaceasyouexitthevalleyandfollowittoanearbymountain.Atthebaseofthemountainyoufindthemouthofalargecavern,andtheroarofwaterechoesfromwithin.

Intelligence(Investigation)checksoutsidethecavefindthefollowing;

DC10 Large,bear-shapedfootprintsinthemudalongtheriverbank.

DC15

Tracks showing that whatever left the footprints draggedalargeanimal.

Thesetrackscanbefollowedtothecorpseofahorseinthebushes.

Thehorsewasattacked,dragged,andpartiallyeatenbyalargebeast.FurtherIntelligence(Investi-gationorNature)checksreveal:

DC10 Deep,parallelclawmarksalongthehorsesflank.

DC18 Asingleowlfeather,caughtinanearbybush.

Area 2 The Throat of the Cave

As the players enter the cave, they soon findthemselvesstandingabovetheriverasithascutitswaythroughthestone. The ground along the rivers edge (marked onthemap)hasbeenpartiallyerodedbytheriversrap-idwaters. ThefirstMediumorlargercreaturethatsteps in this area causes a five-foot patch to crum-ble.TheplayermustmakeaDC12Dexteritysavetoavoid falling into theriverbelow, taking1d6blud-geoningdamagefromthefall,sufferingasevereex-posure to the love potion (Odds and Ends)andbeingcarrieddownriver1d6*5feet.

Area 3 The Cauldron Chamber

Youroundthebendandenteralargecham-ber.Alongthefarwall,aroaringwaterfallpoursfromthedepthsofthemountain.Neartheedge

Two -lips Thistlestrip

Race:Gnome Profession:Flowerfarmer

Description:Aportly,grayinggnomewithshiftyeyesandafurrowedbrow.Theoccasionalglintofgreed still flickers across his face with a crooked smile.

Two-lipswouldsellhisownmotherifthepricewasright,andwaskeptatarmslengthbymostoftheothergnomesinhishomevillage.Hisonetrueskill(asidefromfattinghisownpockets)washisgreenthumb.Whenitcametimetoleavethegnomevillage(afterallbutrobbingitblind)hedecidedtotryhishandatanhonestlivingandstartedafarmontheoutskirts of Lanidor.

Notable facts:Greedy,butnotcallous.Confidentevenindefeat,butextremelyparanoid.Gesticulateswildlywithhishandsashespeaks.

Sounds Like:Afasttalkingaggressivesalesman.


oftheplatform,acastironcauldronrestsuponawoodenscaffoldoverhangingtheriver.Apinkishlightglowsfromtheopentopofthecauldron,andoccasionally,asinglefuchsiadropleapsintothechurningsourceoftheRiverTrom.

Directlyinfrontofyou,lyinguponanestoftram-pledgrassandbonesisalarge,featheredmasswhoseglowingyelloweyesstarefromthedarkness.Itremainsstill,watchingandbreathingloudly.

The owlbearsmelledthePCswhentheyentered the cave,butobeysHer-miasorders,anddutifullyguardsthecauldronchamber.ItwatchesthePCs,butattacksiftheygetwithin10feetofthe cauldron. On the second round of combat,Hermiaarrivesonthescene,havingin-visiblywatchedtheparty frombesideher owlbear. She remains under hermagicaldisguiseassheapproaches.


Hermiawillnot attack immediate-ly,andmomentarilycallsoffherowl-beartoparleywiththePCs.However,she instantly retaliates if attacked, iftheplayersattackherowlbearaftershearrives, or if she overhears the partydiscussingplanstodestroyherpotionsetup.

IfHermiaattacksorisattacked:

Thebeautifulfemaleformbeforeyoudissolves,leavingathinwispofmagicalessencehangingintheair.Ahideous,green-skinnedmonsternowstandsinherplace.Hermouthopenswideasshecackleswickedly,revealingthesharppointsofmanyshatteredteeth.Herlongarmsandsharpclawsdragbehindherassheapproaches.Youdaretodisruptmyexperiments?shecriesout.Thiscavewillbeyourgrave!

Hermia

Race:Fey Profession:Witch

Description:Whiledisguised,sheappearstobeawildbutphysicallyattractivehermit.Inhertrueformshehasdarkgreen,wartyskinandstandshunchbacked,herarmsstretchingto unnatural length and ending in clawed fingers.

Thoughsheisahermitthatlivesfaroutsideoftown,Hermiawillinglyassiststhosefoolishenoughtoseekheraid,butinvariablytwiststheirgreedtofurtherhermagicalexperiments.

Notable facts:Yearsagoshebetrayedhercoven,leadingtoherexileandthelossofmostofherpower.Ashadowofherformerglory,shewillplayherselfoffasatragicfiguretoappearsympathetic.

Sounds Like:Underdisguise,asultrynaturespirit.Inhertrueform,agravel-throated,bitteroldlady.

Hermia the WitchXP450(CR2)NeutralEvilMediumfeyInitiative+1

DEFENSEAC:14(naturalarmor)hp:38(5d8+15)

OFFENSESpeed:30ft.Melee attackClaws:+6tohit(reach5ft.;onecreature).Hit:2d6+4slashingdamage.

STATISTICSStr18(+4),Dex13(+1),Con17(+3),Int13(+1),Wis14(+2),Cha15(+2)Languages:Common

TRAITS

Unseen Watcher:Hermiamaychoosetobecomeinvisibleasabonusactionas long as she takes no other actions anddoesnotmoveontheturnshebecomesinvisible.Movingortakinganyactionsendstheinvisibilityeffect.

Magical Disguise:Asanaction,Hermiamaycastdisguise self atwill.Thiseffectispermanent,unlessshechoosestoenditasabonusaction.

Spellcasting:Hermiamaycastthefollowing spells at will. Cantripsacid splash, shocking grasp 1st-levelray of sickness, witch bolt


Thescaffoldingsupporting thecauldronhas15hitpointsandAC10.Itisresistanttopiercingdam-age. It automatically fails saving throws againstspellswithanareaofeffect,likefireball.Itswoodisdampfromtheriverwater,anditignoresthefirst5pointsoffiredamageittakeseachday. Ifinspected,thescaffoldinguponwhichthecaul-dronoflovepotionrestsisobviouslyrickety.ADC11Investigationcheckrevealsthestructureisslightlyofflevel,likelyleadingtotheoverdosing. Ifthescaffoldingisdestroyed,thecauldrondropsverticallytowardstheriverbank,pausingmomentar-ilyasitspinsonitsedgeabovetheledge.AttemptstostopitfromfallinginwillrequireaPCsreactionand should be judged based on aDC 16Dexteritycheck(tocatchit)andDC13Strengthcheck(toholdontoit).Otherwise,itslowlyrotates(formaximumdrama) before topplingover the ledge, spilling theentire contents of the cauldron into the riversee the Spillage section of Resolving the Adventure.

Resolving the AdventureSpillage

Shouldthepartyacttoremovethecauldronfromthescaffolding,itmustbebothliftedandbalanced.LiftingthecauldronrequiresaDC13Strengthcheck,andbalancingitrequiresaDC16Dexterity(SlightofHand)check. Ona failureoneithercheck, rollad%todeter-mine the amount spilled. For each 10% (roundeddown) spilledup to 50%, add1month to a base 6monthtimeperiodfortheeffecttodissipate.Achar-acter who fails one of the two checks can still hold ontothecauldron,butfailingbothcausesthecharac-ter to drop it. If50%ormoreofthecauldronisspilled(includ-ingifthecauldronfallsintotheriver),theTromwillforeverbearaminorloveeffectandbecomealocallegend.Intime,itmaygrowtoattractlove-seekersandpotionmakersfromnearandfar.Thisdoeslittletoresolvethesupplyshortages,whichmaycausearegionalfamineunlessLanidorisbroughttoitssens-es.

Hermia is Spared

Hermiacanbe forced tocreateanantidote if she is left alive. The original potion was based on the essence of voles, because they find true love and mate for life. The opposite of the vole is the pray-ing mantis, they only mate once and theres no romance at all there, she ex-plains.Thispotionwillcuretheeffectofthelovepotion,butanaddedbitofmagic interjected (DC 15 Intelligence[Arcana]tonotice)willactuallycreateuncontrollable mutations, turning thetownsfolkintohideousaberrationsthatproceedtoplaguethecountrysideandwillrequireextermination.

Hermia is Killed

Without Hermias knowledge ofthepotionscontents,creatingananti-dotewillbequiteanundertakingandrequiremanyfar-offcomponentsandagreatdealofarcaneknowledge.ADC10 Intelligence (Arcana) check revealsthatthefirstcomponentisalivepray-ing mantis and can be found in anytradecity.

Dealing with Two-lips

Whether the party punishes Two-lipsforthetroublehescaused,orhowthey exact retribution, should be leftforthemtodecide.Wasitanhonest(ifpoorlyconceived,researched,plannedandexecuted)mistake,orwasitsome-thing more nefarious? GMs shouldreward creativity when dealing withTwo-lips.

Odds and EndsDetect Magic:

Shouldthepartiescastdetect magic whenneartheRiverTrom,theyfindithasastrongauraofEnchantmentmag-


ic. The closer to the source of the river thePC iswhen they castdetect magic,the stronger the aura.

PC interaction with the water:

At several points throughout theadventure, whether through drinkingbeer in the village or falling into theriverwhilefightinginthecave,thePCsmay come into contact with the en-chantedwaterfromtheTrom. Theeffectsofthepotionbuildwithexposure and should be tracked foreachPC.Aminorexposure(drinking,washing,etc.)addsonepoint,whileasevereexposure(fallingintotheriver,etc.) adds three points. PCswith thefey ancestryordwarven resilience ra-cial traits have a 50% chance to resist gainingalevelofexposure.Thiseffectwears off after 1d6 days of not beingexposedtothewater.

Exposure Effect

1(Slight)AwaveofpeacefulnessandconfidencewashesoverthePC.TheyhaveadvantageonCharismachecks.

2-3(Low)ThePCimmediatelyfavorsthefirstpersonofanygendertheyseeafterreachingthislevelofexposure.Theydominorthingstotrytogainthispersonsfavor.

4-5(Medium)GainingthefavorofyournewloveisnowthePCsprimaryconcern.Theyfindthem-selvesbehavingasthoughaffectedbycharm person andwillactirrationallytojustifytheir actions.

6+(High)

ThePCisspellbound.Iftheirlovesaysjump,theysayhowhigh,mylove?Iftheirbeauprovidessimpledirection(attackthatcreature,runoverthere),theymustmakeaDC13Wisdomsave.IfthePCfailsthissave,theymustactasinstructed,asthesuggestion spell.Iftheysucceedonthesave,theymayactfreely,butremaincharmed.

Player Character Exposure level Player Character Exposure level1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Author - Paul OkleshEditor - James HaeckCartographer - Michael TumeyLayout - Justin BuellArtists - Jen Tracy, Ellis Goodson,

David Revoy

PCs exposed to the water in this manner should be informed of their condition by the GM. However, the GM should take care not to tell the players how to play their PCs. This is an opportunity for roleplaying and - maybe - a little humor. If you're feeling particularly mischevious, and only one or two PCs have succumbed, some fun can be had by secretly informing a player of his or her condition without letting the other players know. At any time, an exposed character radiates mild Enchantment magic under the scrutiny of detect magic. A DC 15 Wisdom (Insight or Medicine) check can also determine what's amiss.

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Emotion Ensider