PCPP Game Guide 2

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═══ Champions of Krynn ═══ INTRODUCTION Champions of Krynn begins after the War of the Lance. The evil armies have been shattered and most of the forces of good have returned to their homelands, leaving only outposts to safeguard the recovered lands. Your goal is to assemble a party of adventurers to serve in these border outposts. The newly created party appears at an outpost south of the former hobgoblin capital of Throtl with orders to scour the area for any sign of lingering evil. After outfitting your characters with weapons and armor, the party is ready to begin adventuring. To the Circle of Knights: I, your humble servant, send you greetings. This missive is sent without the knowledge of my commandant and in violation of his orders. I take this action in full knowledge of the consequences it may bring upon me and through the conviction that in doing so, I fulfill my oath. The commandant has been acting strange of late as if afflicted by some dark spell. I know that information of evil portends has not been forwarded to your august body as required by our charter. Many of our most faithful followers have died suddenly and mysteriously within this last fortnight. The commandant has been too ready with replacements for them, replacements which have an unclear feel. I ask that you send a knight of pure character and high stature to investigate my conduct and this report. As further evidence, I provide, in its entirety, a letter found on the body of one Hal Horbin, a ranger of the highest character. "Dear Istan: Far from annoying me, I find the greatest pleasure in responding to your inquiry, dear brother. It has been some time since I have turned my mind to the scholarly histories in which I formerly delighted. Your questions regarding the relationship between the War of the Lance and these outposts provides a welcome diversion from my normal duties. But first, a bit of background... Ansalon is a small continent stretching from the arctic to the equatorial climates in the southern hemisphere of the World of Krynn. It was across the face of this troubled land that the War of the Lance raged in years past and brought our company to its present unhappy fate. In the 348th year after the Cataclysm, the evil forces of Takhisis, the Queen of Darkness, launched the treacherous war she had long prepared in secret. Striking first north, east, and then south, the armies of evil dragons, fell draconians, and all manner of other evil beings quickly overran the unprepared and the unsuspecting. The good dragons, historical enemies of the evil dragons, could not ally themselves with the forces of good. As part of the Dark Queen's plan, their eggs were taken as hostage while the great beasts slept. The good dragons' "neutrality" was the price they paid to keep their eggs from harm. While the good forces' attempts to ally against the common threat were hampered by treachery and old feuds, the evil armies made good use of their time. Quickly consolidating their hold on the newly conquered lands, they struck west and even further south in the winter of 351 A.C. It was in this year that a group of companions met at the Inn of the Last Home is Solace. The exploits of the companions are now well known--How they gained the disks of Mishakal and returned them with the first true cleric to walk the lands since the Cataclysm. How their discovery that the draconians were the result of the corruption of the good dragon eggs freed the dragons from their pledge and brought them into the war on the side of good. How they helped Berem to return to the temple outside of Neraka and with his death to close the portal that gave Takhisis an entry into Krynn. It was at this time that many counted the War over. With their queen locked out of this world, the DragonArmies lost their sense of direction. Many urged the good armies to return home and disband, some were foolish enough to do so. But evil retained a strong grip on much of the land. The corruption process was stopped, but good eggs were not returned and the exploits of the companions had given evil yet a new form. Raistlin Majere, a companion with his brother Caramon, was caught up in the web of power that blazed through the land. While working against the Dark Queen's plans, his own grew ever more ambitious. By the time She was driven out of the land, his own robes, once a neutral red, became as black as his heart. Through long and macabre studies, he became convinced that he himself could become a god. Not just a god, the most powerful of all gods. Through his plots and machinations, another foul time swept over Ansalon, this one threatening even more defilement than that caused by the DragonArmies. It was only when Raistlin realized that, if he persisted, he would be left to rule a dead world, that he relented. Caught up in this power struggle, evil forces struck again. Kitiara, half-sister to Raistlin and the hero Caramon, organized an attack. Dragons, draconians, men, and other evil creatures bypassed the High Clerist's Tower and fell on Palanthas. The city would have stood against even these forces had it not been for the aid given by Lord Soth and his Death Knights. None could stand before them as they swept through the city streets. In the very tower where Raistlin did battle with the Dark Queen, Kitiara fell. It is said that Lord Soth took her unwilling and undead body off to a fate far worse than a clean death. Whatever the reason, the Death Knights withdrew and good overthrew the invaders. With this clear lesson before them, all realized the evil treat could return at any time. With new resolve, the alliance stood to arms again. Led by the Solamnic Knights, the good forces smashed through the remain DragonArmies. In a long and bitter campaign, the eastern lands were freed. The City of Sanction fell to a bloody siege. Evil was routed and its followers driven deep into hiding. So as not to be caught unprepared again, the knights established outposts, like this one, throughout the Eastern Lands. With that, the armies withdrew and, save for the knights, were largely disbanded. All depend on our outposts. We are to be vigilant, to stamp out evil where we find it and, if dark plots threaten, to give advance warning to good folk everywhere. For all of the confidence many felt when Sanction fell, things are not as they could be. Many of the good dragon eggs remain lost. Lord Soth stays secure and apparently untouchable in his fortress (although he provided no aid to the DragonArmies in this last conflict). The knights, on whom so much depends, are stretched too thin. Indeed, it is all the knights can do to provide the outposts with leadership. The work of patrolling, and the like, falls almost entirely on ordinary folk, such as ourselves. And if the other outposts are like this one, things may be much worse than they appear. Strange events have occurred. We hear rumors. Rumors of settler caravans killed or enslaved. Of a strange force that opens graves and robs the dead. Of evil dragons seen flying to the east. Of entire cities captured and secretly enslaved. Our commandant sends out patrols and they report nothing. At least those who return have nothing to report. But of late, not all sent out have been coming back. I know the commandant has been urged to report all this, but he has refused to do so. The fact is that our commandant has not been himself lately. He looks the same and talks the same, but his actions--his feel--are quite different. I fear some dreadful fate awaits us all. A fate we should be able to see but which a dark veil is hiding. Ah, I babble. We are in the western-most outpost below the deserted City of Throtl. Of all the outposts, we have the least to fear. My regards to our mother. Tell her I am safe and likely to remain that way. Your brother, Hal" Respectfully submitted for your consideration: MOTHUS STRONGSWORD Knight of Tears ** JOURNAL ENTRIES ** The following entries can not be read in order. During the game, you will be instructed to read a Journal Entry by it's number. Don't read all the entries, since many may be false and misleading. Read only the ones you are instructed to. JOURNAL ENTRY 1 --------------- "Sir Era! Sir Era! We are ultimately responsible for these people! I don't think that we have the space to accommodate all of these refugees, considering that Vertrothe will soon be back from his quest. May I suggest that we send them on their way? The simplest solution would be to shut the castle against them and just pretend they don't exist..." The odious minister to the Knight continues to fawn in the most obsequious manner. His charm and personality have convinced you that ridding the world of this...`person'...would be beneficial to Krynn. Fortunately, cooler heads prevail and the minister is quickly taken from the room. JOURNAL ENTRY 2 --------------- "Listen, I know that you think that Sir Karl is a most honorable Knight; however, I have found out that he is under the influence of an evil Dragon named Maya. Maya is able to transform herself into the shape of a beautiful woman. We must forget about finding Caramon at this time. If we can get to the outpost in time we may be able to save it." JOURNAL ENTRY 3 --------------- "We were captured by draconians disguised as the merchant band that comes through here every month. When we were sleeping, they killed the guards at the gate and captured us before we had a chance to even fight. "The took our leaders into the barracks and interrogated them. They've all got to be dead now. "Be careful! I saw one of the draconians kill the Commandant. As the Commandant died the draconian's shape changed and then he looked and sounded exactly like the Commandant. The 'Commandant' and the other leaders spend a lot of time in the Commandant's Office." JOURNAL ENTRY 4 --------------- The townspeople come out and thank you after the last of the DragonArmies are driven from the outpost. They have a large celebration with you as the guests of honor. The new Commandant speaks: "Thank you for saving us. Your heroic actions will live forever." THe people cheer you as you accept the key to the outpost. JOURNAL ENTRY 5 --------------- The gully dwarves scatter at your approach. Disgusting traces of their recent meal permeate everything in sight. Your camp equipment has been opened and all foodstuffs eaten. You quickly look to the place where you had left the piece of the dragon orb. It is gone! JOURNAL ENTRY 6 --------------- As you walk up to the dying body of the Commandant, Grilliard says, "Why did you do this to us? We are now too weak to hold the outpost against Takhisis' forces." You see a flight of Red Dragons closing in on the town... JOURNAL ENTRY 7 --------------- "Listen, Sir Karl is the most honorable of men. I would follow him anywhere. But there is something very dark and strange going on around him. He seems obsessed with a young girl named Maya. The fact that he's about 40 years older than she is isn't really the problem; if they'd just settle down and declare themselves! All that would happen is that a few gossips will snicker and that'll be the end of it. But they won't do that. Maya is extremely valuable to us. She has sources of information that are astounding, especially for one so young. But whenever the two of them are in the same room the tension is so obvious that... "Ah, never mind. You say that he seems to be all right. I will go on that hope, and let troubles find me in their own good time. Let's go." JOURNAL ENTRY 8 --------------- As you work to free the slaves, their shackles seem to come off too easily. Before you can react, they whip out weapons and prepare to attack. One laughs, "The one you saw die before you was not Sir Karl, it was a Sivak. There are no slaves here, it was only a story to lure you to your doom." They begin to close in. JOURNAL ENTRY 9 --------------- She explains to Caramon, "I've been sent by Sir Karl to get you back to the Outpost. There are rumors that large forces of draconians, hobgoblins, minotaurs and others are gathering. We need you to direct scouting and raiding operations. I see now that things are worse than we though. Throtl was supposed to have been abandoned." Caramon says, "It's even worse than that. I have seen Brass Dragon Eggs!" She gasps, "No! They must not do this again!" Then she pauses, "Wait, how can they do it? I though the process was lost during the War of the Lance. Did you see any evidence that they were successful?" "No," says Caramon, "I was knocked unconscious before I had a chance to look further." He turns to you. "I need you to investigate this matter. Find the key, and go to the old temple in the Northeast part of the city. Find out what you can." JOURNAL ENTRY 10 ---------------- "...attempt a conversation without the intervention of Tak... ...book of spells that contains the necessary incantations and rituals for the conversion. It is said that this book will allow even relatively weak ma... ...nze, silver and gold were considered the most difficult trans..." JOURNAL ENTRY 11 ---------------- You follow Angar into one of the buildings. He yells, "I have a gift for you!" and you are greeted by a Dragon Highlord and a group of his minions. As you start to draw your weapons, you realize that you have lost a great deal of strength. He must have drugged the food as well. You never should have trusted him... JOURNAL ENTRY 12 ---------------- "Welcome to the Southern Outpost. I am Grilliard, the Commandant here. I hear you have important news for me." You tell him about all of the adventures that you have been on and all of the information that you have gathered. After you finish you ask him about the missing messenger. He looks a little nervous for a moment, and then says, "He has been ill. I'm afraid no one can see him right now. Thank you for delivering the information and good luck on your journey back. I'm afraid I have to get back to work." With that, he waves you out of his office. JOURNAL ENTRY 13 ---------------- ┌────┬─────────────────────────────┬────┐ Key │ ║ = ┌────┬────┬────┬────┐ = ║ │<-Tower ----- ├─┴──┘ │ Houses │ │ │ └──┴─┤ = door │ └───=┴───=┴───=┴───=┘ │ ║ stairs │ ┌──┬──┐ ┌────┐ │ @ secret door │ ┌────────┐ ├──┼=─┤ │Tav-│ ┌────┤Guard │ │Barracks│ ├──Inn│ │ern │ = │House │ ├───┬=───┤ └──┴─=┘ └───=┘ └────┤ │Armory= <--Commandant's office / Front │ ├───┴=───┤ \ Gate │ @─=┬=┬=┬=┤ ┌Gen.=┐ ┌────=┐ ┌────┤ │ └─Prison─┘ │Store│ │Armor│ = │ │ └─────┘ └─────┘ └────┤ │ ┌───=───┐ ┌─────────┐ │ ├─┬──┐ │Storage│ │ Stables = ┌──┬─┤ │ ║ = └───────┘ └─────────┘ = ║ │ └────┴─────────────────────────────┴────┘ JOURNAL ENTRY 14 ---------------- "Okey, dokey. Listen up people. Here's how you play. Now I've got three cards here. Two of them are Gargoyles and the third is the Princess. I'm gonna place the cards face down on the table, with the Princess in the middle. Now, all you have to do is guess where the Princess is after I move the cards around. Easiest thing in the world, right? It's only three cards and I'm sure you won't have any problem keeping track of the Princess. Simplest thing in the world. Now, who'll place a small wager of, say...3 steel pieces?" JOURNAL ENTRY 15 ---------------- "Listen," the woman says, "we...that is, Sir Karl and I...have determined that it is imperative that the entire area be evacuated. The number of undead sightings has increased to and alarming degree. We want you to head into Gargath and force the population to evacuate immediately. Thank goodness there are no more Draconians. I don't know how we would be able to get out of we had them to contend with as well." JOURNAL ENTRY 16 ---------------- The plan has to be carried out in stages. Stage One, which is already complete, was to threaten various small areas to the north and get the good armies to begin a consolidation of their forces. We were fortunate to find a rather hapless party that we were able to use to pass the false information to their leaders. It was pure chance that they were sent after Caramon when he was captured in Throtl. We couldn't have planned better for our purposes. We left clues behind to lead the group to Gargath, Jelek and Neraka. This gave us time to complete our plans for the ambush at Sanction. JOURNAL ENTRY 17 ---------------- ...the book of conversion that I found is useless. It doesn't give us the actual ceremony to perform. It is merely and description of the ceremony. I will have to come... JOURNAL ENTRY 18 ---------------- Tale of Sir Dargaard: In the past, a faithful Knight of the Rose named Sir Dargaard gained an item which gave him great fighting prowess. He was a scourge of the evil armies until his entire company was poisoned at a feast. The company was buried along with Sir Dargaard's great device in lands later overrun by evil. The evil ones sought to wrest the artifact from the tomb, but were slain by the spirits of Sir Dargaard and his company. Our scouts now say that draconians have attempted to penetrate the tomb again, perhaps with sufficient strength to succeed. It is time for a truly noble knight to go and ask that the artifact be passed on to guard the forces of good today. On a side note, you will be happy to know that Caramon has contacted our elite units in Solamnia. The Council of Knights themselves will lead them into the coming battles. I will be certain to mention your impressive record to them when they arrive. ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ ▀ Gargath │ │ │ │ x Tomb │ │ │ │ ▀ Outpost │ │ │ │ │ │ ▀ Jelek │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────┘ JOURNAL ENTRY 19 ---------------- The Dragonlance was a stroke of genius. With one small theft we distracted them from the main threat and forced their attention on the recovery of the weapon. This became Stage Two, since it fit so neatly with our plans. It allowed us to delay the original kidnapping of Sir Karl just long enough to gather many more bodies for Sir Lebaum to work with. JOURNAL ENTRY 20 ---------------- The 'Plan' is to be carried out in three stages. Stage one is nearly done. We have managed to kill Caramon and Tanis and have captured or put to flight most of the other 'Heroes' from the Dragonlance Wars. The good armies are reduced to sending out hapless adventurers who have little or no experience. We have managed to feed information to one of those bands with notable success. The information is true, but it always comes too late to be of any interest. JOURNAL ENTRY 21 ---------------- "Hey, come here. Look at this. This is a piece of the dragon orb that Tasselhoff broke! Just this little piece of the orb will allow you to control the largest dragon! I'll sell it to you for only 2,000 steel pieces...and it's a bargain at twice the price! NO, don't touch it with your bare fingers. The last person who did that woke up with a withered hand! Gruesome. So, what offer have I?" JOURNAL ENTRY 22 ---------------- "Welcome, I am Jadefang. I have been asssigned to capture thisss hole and convinssse you 'Humansss' that you ssstill own it. We did thisss ssso we could gather information and keep the ssssouthern road open. Ssssince you have given ussss a lot of ussseful information, I thank you." He bows gracefully and continues to speak. "However, you also have dissscovered our sssecret and therefore you mussst die." You now notice that he is not alone in the barracks. He rises into the air... JOURNAL ENTRY 23 ---------------- To Keep ┌──┬─────┬─===─┬────────┬─────┬────────┬─────┬──┐ Key │ ├─────┴──┬──┴─────┐ x │ ├─────┤ │ ----- │ │ = ├──┴──┬─x┴─────┬──=────=┤ │ = door │ │ ├────────= │ = │ │ x secret │ │ = = ├──────=─┤ │ │ door │ └────────┤ ├─────┤ │ │ │ │ │ = x ├────────┘ │ │ └────────┤ ├────────┘ │ │ └─x──x┘ │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ JOURNAL ENTRY 24 ---------------- Old ogre's story: "I was once the councillor to the ogre princess, but I have become too weak and crippled to keep my place. Now I hear of plots against our lord Gravnak, by one of his lieutenants. Draconians have slipped into the manor house and will strike when the current meeting ends. I watched them enter and saw the secret sign they gave the guards. I have no love of these assassins or their traitorous ally. Use the sign to enter the manor, seek out the assassins and find evidence implicating Morog. He is the traitor. His rooms lie in the southeast of the manor." JOURNAL ENTRY 25 ---------------- "When you get to Gargath, beware of anyone who appears to be bending over backward to help you. Be especially aware of anyone who mentions Sir Karl. We don't think that they know that we are now aware of their deception. "Be especially careful about any clothing they may want you to wear. There is an evil mage in the town who delights in putting curses on harmless-looking objects. Good luck." JOURNAL ENTRY 26 ---------------- "Gargath was overrun about a week ago. There were only a few of us here at that time trying to rebuild after the War of the Lance. Draconians and evil forces snuck in at night and captured the Keep. Since then they have been bringing in prisoners and putting them to work. They make us wear these hoods to keep track of us." JOURNAL ENTRY 27 ---------------- "We have had to exhume all of the bodies in the graveyard and burn them. We found out that someone was entering the burial glen, digging up the bodies, and then re-animating them into zombies and ghouls. It's been hard, especially for those that recently buried their loved ones, but it was necessary." JOURNAL ENTRY 28 ---------------- "I've been kept out of the burial grounds now for a week, I can't even get in there to get my tools. There are strange things going on in there..open graves, broken tombstones, strange noises...even the animals are gone! That Sir Lebaum is ruining the town. He even made his office in the burial glen! It's in the building just to the south and west of here but the door is through the graveyard. "That's another strange thing...nobody's ever seen our new leader, at least, nobody that I know of. He gives his orders and the 'guards' carry them out. "Things just ain't right." JOURNAL ENTRY 29 ---------------- Stage Four runs almost in step with Stage Three. As soon as Sir Lebaum has launched his attack, the mass conversion of dragon eggs into draconians will be performed. The good armies will be caught in our mailed fist! They have no idea that they are about to be attacked by two huge armies! The first of the good armies will be filled with their leaders and the elite of those accursed Knights. When our armies rise so quickly, we shall cut the very heart of the ability to resist us. With the leaders dead the rest of the rabble will wander like sheep. JOURNAL ENTRY 30 ---------------- Stage two is currently coming to fruition. Sir Lebaum, our Sivak who has taken over the leadership of the Knights of the Rose, has sown enough discord in the ranks of the Knights to render them ineffective against us. In a few days he will issue the order that will send most of the Knights over the mountains and out of this area altogether. JOURNAL ENTRY 31 ---------------- "Watch out for the minister. They say that he has taken over the castle of Sir Era and now runs the old knight, as well as the kingdom. The people are being...hush! He's here!" JOURNAL ENTRY 32 ---------------- Gravnak's alliance plans: "We are both hunting for Myrtani while he seeks our deaths. I have no love for sanctimonious knights and their ilk, but I do love my life. To keep that, I would suggest a temporary alliance. Myrtani has a base in Kernen which he visits quite often. If you can slip into town, I have allies who will help you penetrate the base and kill Myrtani." He then shows you the secret sign to give his allies. JOURNAL ENTRY 33 ---------------- "The Dragonlance has been moved to Jelek. After the Keep was overrun I managed to smuggle it out of town and hide it in the burial glen. It is hidden in an unused tomb in the north- west corner of the graveyard. You will recognize the entrance because there is a silver rose bush growing just before it." JOURNAL ENTRY 34 ---------------- Gravnak and the draconians turn on you. "Fools!" he hisses, "Did you really think a member of my proud race would ever ally with the likes of you?" You are attacked from all sides. JOURNAL ENTRY 35 ---------------- "I was with a party of knights and others under Caramon that came in here to explore. We haven't really found anything. Caramon's already left to report. I guess you must have missed him. "Oh, one thing we did find out was that there is a treasure left over from the previous occupants of Throtl. We got word of it from a hobgoblin who was sneaking in to claim it. Before he died, he told us that it was located in the south-central area of the city. Tell you what, if you help me find this treasure, I'll split it with you. All right?" JOURNAL ENTRY 36 ---------------- "Thank Paladine, you're here. They've taken everything! My poor family, my friends and retainers. Gone." He breaks down. After a while he looks up in anguish and says, "There's an Aurak who seems to be in charge. He's had his minions scouring the Keep. He's looking for my dragonlance! He'll never find it. It's hidden. Hidden very well. Nobody can find it. But I'll tell you. Yes. Yes, I'll tell you. You're from Caramon? Of course, of course. Look on the sixth story. As you come up the stairs you will see a door directly ahead of you. The wall to the left of that door has a secret door in it. The Dragonlance is in there." He look around in fear. "Where are they? Where? They were here. I saw them. My little ones. Where are they? I must go, I must. I will slip out down the stairs. Goodbye, goodbye. Get the lance!" JOURNAL ENTRY 37 ---------------- Stage Three is about to begin. The good armies are marching on Sanction, and our friendly 'adventurers' are still trying to figure out how to get the Dragonlance. sir Lebaum has been working in the arena of Duerghast. He will begin to raise his army of undead as soon as the good armies are in position. We anticipate that this will take another day or two. I have Blue Dragons stationed at Duerghast to guard the eggs and Red Dragons are waiting to give me word when he has finished his preparations. When I hear from him the final stage will begin. JOURNAL ENTRY 38 ---------------- "They're back...back there...who, look out! No, no, no. I stabbed one but it took my sword. I couldn't get it out of it's body! Caramon!" His eyes clear for a moment and he becomes more lucid. "Listen to me," he says, "they've captured Caramon. Most of our party has been wiped out." He suddenly jerks about. "What's that! Get them! They've got Caramon. Find him! I'll find him. North, north and west and south. Traps! Back up...go back now. Quiet, quiet, quiet... look out! above you! oh no, oh no, oh no..." He gets a sly, slightly mad conspiratorial look on his face. "I saw a money chest in a room to the east. I'm gonna get it and I'm set." He looks around and leans toward you, "You wanna help? Huh, what d'ya say?" The terrorized look comes back. He screams and gasps in terror. JOURNAL ENTRY 39 ---------------- The great ship lists to port and seems to pause in silent anticipation. The sailors jump off like rats. In the distance, and hump of moving water marks the place where the gigantic whale swims away. Your boat starts rocking as the waves from his blow to the ship finally reach you. The ship finally slips quietly under the waves. The orb fragment--and the Vampire--slide down to their final resting place. JOURNAL ENTRY 40 ---------------- The road back to Solace is filled with the refugees of Krynn. Wretched individuals and families carry what possessions they can on their backs or on small pushcarts and wheelbarrows. They all scan the sky with fear; waiting for the horrific sight of dragons flying out of the sun to breath death onto the miserable line of humanity. The Second Flight of the Dragons has devastated Krynn. Sanction is a smoldering lake of lava. Garath a pile of melted stone, and Neraka has been blasted into oblivion. Only Jelek and Kernan survive in this part of the continent; and they have become enclaves of evil. Jelek has become Sir Lebaum's base of operations, where he continues his experiments with the undead. Kernan has been taken over by Myrtani and his horde of newly created draconians. JOURNAL ENTRY 41 ---------------- The prisoner looks at you with agony as another shudder wracks his body. Suddenly, his flesh seems to split and a foul odor permeates the room! You start to gag and cough in the middle of the stinking cloud. The door behind you closes and you hear the bolt being driven home. You are trapped! JOURNAL ENTRY 42 ---------------- The prisoner is extremely weak. He barely croaks out some broken phrases: "...the Castellan is alive. He's being held here on this floor..." "...an Aurak...silver eggs...black dragons...book..." He grabs your arms and dies. JOURNAL ENTRY 43 ---------------- "They have built up a large, wooden structure in front of the main gates of the Keep. I don't know what it looks like inside. I can tell you that the main gates are in the upper- northwest corner of the city. In the middle of the city you will find a secret door into the wooden structure. It is currently being guarded by draconians because it's location has been discovered recently." He licks his lips in consternation and suddenly speaks in hushed intensity. "Listen, there's a dragonlance in the Keep. I know, all of them were supposed to be sent South but the Castellan was injured during the War and his lance was brought with him when he returned. You must find it!" JOURNAL ENTRY 44 ---------------- "Ah, come on Grag! You know that we're supposed to guard the grave of this guy. The captain's gonna be mad if he sees us in here. Uh, but the way, can you buy me a drink? I'm a bit short this week." JOURNAL ENTRY 45 ---------------- ┌─────────────────────────────────────┬──┐ │ │ │ Key │ │ │ ----- │ │ │ = door │ Burial Glen │ │ x (dunno) │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ┌────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ ├──┬──┬─────┬─────┬──┘ ┌─────┐ │ │ │ │Tav- │Magic│ │ │ │ │ │ │ ern │Shop │ │ │ ┌────────┤ │ │ └=────┴───=─┘ └──┬──┤ │ │ │ = │ │x│ │ │ │ ┌=────┬─────┐ ┌──┐ │ ├=┘ │ │ │ │Weapon │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Shop │ └──┘ │ └──┴──────────┤ └──┴──┴─────┴───────────┴────────────────┘ JOURNAL ENTRY 46 ---------------- The tree suddenly explodes! The locket is thrown away from the enchanted circle. From the swirling ashes of the explosion an ominous shape slowly rises. Vaguely manlike, it's features are indistinguishable in the thick smoke. Giant Rats and Mobats charge out of the impenetrable dust! JOURNAL ENTRY 47 ---------------- "We've had a lot of unsavory characters passing through town lately. The good armies have left us in the lurch and we are forced to take the law into our own hands in order to protect the citizens of this town. Here's the official proclamation." 'All persons entering Jelek that are unknown to the guards shall be assigned an escort for the duration of their stay in the city. They will be restricted to the public parts of the town. The burial grounds are strictly forbidden to all strangers.' "It's signed by our leader, Sir Lebaum. "So, here's a nice young man who'll show you around town. "Skyla! Come over here!" He introduces you to a man who looks you over and breaks into a goofy grin. His entire aspect seems dignified enough, until he smiles or begins to talk, then his ancestry is extremely questionable and you wonder if maybe he hadn't suffered a fall on his head as a child. JOURNAL ENTRY 48 ---------------- "Finally, you're here. I got word that Sir Karl was going to send someone to check this place out. I've been waiting for you for days. Come with me." JOURNAL ENTRY 49 ---------------- Sir Karl's dying monologue: "They tortured me to get information, but I gave them nothing. Killed my guards when they came for me again. Afraid I didn't quite make it all the way out. Things getting dark...Hard to concentrate. There are slaves down there. They must be freed from this evil place...Remember me to Maya..." His breathing stops. JOURNAL ENTRY 50 ---------------- Draconians! I have good news. I have managed to attain the volume that we have been searching for all of these years. The power to create more of our kind is now in my hands. Send me all your eggs along with any mages and clerics that you may have with you. I'll be at the Citadel of Gargath very soon. Have the eggs packed and taken to me within the week. By order of Myrtani. JOURNAL ENTRY 51 ---------------- "The worst monsters our scouts have reported anywhere in the area are hobgoblins. Draconians and evil dragons have long since abandoned this area to our forces. Still, but a little wary on your way to Throtl. "Also, be sure to report back here immediately, if anything unusual or dangerous occurs. This outpost depends on information brought back by patrols such as yours. Good luck and may Paladine watch over you." JOURNAL ENTRY 52 ---------------- The weapons and armor of Solamnic Knights and their allies is strewn about the corridor. All of them are bent or broken and quite useless. There is a hole in the ceiling above. It is evident that the party was ambushed. There are no bodies. JOURNAL ENTRY 53 ---------------- Men discussing a rebellion: "I can't believe that we are letting an Aurak dictate what we have to do. It's not right. We created them to serve us, not the other way around. At the meeting I'm going to speak in favor of restructuring this alliance. Only their slimy blood will flow." JOURNAL ENTRY 54 ---------------- A large number of human warriors are gathered here. One leaps upon a table and calls out, "Who among you wishes to overthrow Myrtani?" As hands raise throughout the room, arches slip out from behind curtains and fire. The man on the table laughs, "Myrtani will be grateful for your identifying yourselves." JOURNAL ENTRY 55 ---------------- "They say that there is a Vampire that has been enchanted in that old tree. A very powerful mage trapped him in there before the world was changed. The only thing that will release him is a piece of the soul of the mage who trapped him. The mage is long dead, however. The only known artifact that had any relationship with him is the Locket of Light. But that disappeared into the west long ago." JOURNAL ENTRY 56 ---------------- Sir Karl's last message to Maya: "I realize now that I shouldn't allow our differences to interfere with our feelings. I suppose at my age it takes a while to adjust to new things. Remembering you beauty and bravery has helped me withstand the tortures they have subjected me to. I know go out to gain my freedom. If I fail, then know I held you in my thoughts to the end." JOURNAL ENTRY 57 ---------------- Red Dragon's story: "Once when I was young and my scales were sleek and smooth, I was appointed protector of the Crown Jewels. Beautiful they were, glistening in the torchlight. Many a tasty thief came by to admire them, but I always kept them safe. Then the city fell and the jewels were lost. Since then I have south them everywhere. I am sure they will turn up, so that I can watch their glittering beauty again. The crown was the prettiest piece, golden and encrusted with gems. Ah, such a wondrous time." JOURNAL ENTRY 58 ---------------- "Hello, and welcome to Jelek! We have recovered so well from the recent war that we are able to provide you with a guide that will bow to your every need. He will direct you to our Inn, where you can rest in luxurious peace, and point out the exciting new businesses that have helped to make Jelek the most dynamic town in all of Krynn." He waves of a tall, handsome young man. "This is Skyla," he says. "He will be your escort for the duration of your stay in Jelek." JOURNAL ENTRY 59 ---------------- "Listen, I've been following you for some time now. That Skyla character is the leader of a faction of guards that has taken over the city. He looks stupid, but don't let that fool you. He knows exactly what he looks like, and he knows how to use it to his advantage. "He takes orders from Sir Lebaum. Lebaum took over about a week ago. It was slow and insidious how he did it. No word got out at all and, initially, there was lots of business for our shops. Everyone was happy. Except that now he's cut off all contact with the outside. Anyone that comes in here either joins the guards or is killed, as you almost were. "There's another disturbing thing. I've done some digging around and nobody has even seen this Sir Lebaum character. Most people have never even heard of him. There was a Knight of Solamnia of that name that was corrupted by Takhisis many, many years ago but the legend has it that he died--horribly, they say. "I'd like to get into the graveyard and examine his office. Are you willing to go with me?" JOURNAL ENTRY 60 ---------------- Message on body of Prison Lord: It has come to my attention that the bodies we receive her in Sanction from your prisons are in a highly deteriorated condition. We realize that information must be gained by torture and that it is a useful way to relax, but I would prefer it if a majority of the bones remained uncrushed. I will not repeat this request. Sir Lebaum JOURNAL ENTRY 61 ---------------- I want you to find the adventurers and put them out of our misery. They have served their purpose, now I'm afraid they may find some way to get word to the good armies. Eliminate that threat. JOURNAL ENTRY 62 ---------------- Message from assassins. The paper reads: We have contacted a traitor at the renegade ogre's base. We can slip in unobserved and slay the renegade leaders. If we are not successful, beware. Our spy tells us that the renegades might try to ally with the forces of good. Their knowledge of Kernen makes them dangerous. A rough map is drawn on the back: ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Gargath ▀ Ogre │ │ Base │ │ x │ │ ▀ Outpost │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ▀ Jelek │ │ │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────┘ Sir Karl then speaks, "The Solamnic Cavalry is already on the march. It will not be too long until these first units have arrived in the area. We must have information on the enemy strengths and weaknesses soon. The Solamnic force will be small and an ambush could cause them problems." JOURNAL ENTRY 63 ---------------- ┌──┬──┬────┬────────┐ ┤ ├ = │ = ┤ ├──┤ │ │ ┤ ├ │ └──────=─┤ ┤ ├ └─────────────┘ ┼┼┼┼ ┤ ├ ┌──┴==┤ │ = │ ┌──┘ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Key │ │ ------- │ = = door ┌───┬───┬───┼──┴────┐ ┼ jail door │ = │ = = * Dragonlance │ ├─=─┤ │ │ │ │ * │ ├─=──=──┘ │ ├───┘ │ │ = │ └───┴───────┘ JOURNAL ENTRY 64 ---------------- WANTED: Soldiers to wage the battle against the Solamnic usurpers of KRYNN. 5 steel pieces when you sign up and a guaranteed 2 steel pieces a week until the end of the engagement. See the recruiting officer at the Southern Sanction Inn for details. JOURNAL ENTRY 65 ---------------- Draconians! I'm afraid that the book that we spent so much effort in obtaining has turned out to be more important than we thought! Not only are we going to be able to create more Draconians without using eggs, but it has taught us how to use the dragon orb to make our existing Draconians even more powerful! The Plan proceeds! Death to Solamnia! JOURNAL ENTRY 66 ---------------- The ogres lead you along a twisting corridor. They assure you that the passage is completely unknown. Gravnak whispers for you to be ready. He pulls a lever, but instead of the walls opening, the floor drops out from beneath you. Myrtani appears next to Gravnak and both begin to laugh. JOURNAL ENTRY 67 ---------------- "I was with the patrol that followed Caramon here. We ran into trouble almost immediately. We were not really expecting much opposition but...We were ambushed by a large force of hobgoblins and draconians. I was knocked out by a blow to the head early in the battle. I awake in a dark corner, alone. It took me a while to get my bearing but I finally went out in search of my companions. I overheard form passing patrols that everybody except Caramon was killed. "You must help me find Caramon. He must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the leaders of this band." JOURNAL ENTRY 68 ---------------- As the Vampire grasps the piece of orb a deep trembling shakes his being! Blood begins to run from his eyes and ears as a high keening sound forces your party to hold their heads in anguish. The Vampire is desperately trying to rid himself of the glass object. It will not leave his hand! Old Rimshanks' spell of permanent binding is working! JOURNAL ENTRY 69 ---------------- WEARY TRAVELERS! Come to the best accommodations on KRYNN! The SOUTHERN SANCTION INN is open for your business. We are located in the southeast corner of the city. THE DRAGON'S CURSE is open for business in the middle of Sanction. We have the best selection of drinks since Istar sank beneath the sea. Non-humans welcome! IF YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY, WE'VE GOT WHAT YOU WANT! While our inventory had been decimated by the recent war, we are once again open and offering the finest in magical items available. As always, if we don't have it, we will find it or make it. All we need is time and money. GUSMARKEN'S MAGIC SHOP. Located in the eastern-central area of the city. We are the first door to the right, heading north from the inn. THE SHARPEST, MOST DURABLE WEAPONS MONEY CAN BUY! Come to our smithy, located just north of the Southern Sanction Inn, and peruse our fine selection of blades, armor, arrows, darts and anything else you could possibly need to equip your party. REASONABLE RATES! SO, YOU THINK YOU'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL? Horgathindorn's Training Hall has worked with the best! Come see us in the Northeast Corner and see if you've got what it takes! JOURNAL ENTRY 70 ---------------- "Listen, I've been following you for some time. You need to get to Jelek as quickly as possible. There are rumors that Sir Karl is about to attack the town in order to get at the last Dragonlance that remains in our hands. Once you arrive, a resistance worker will join your group as an escort. Jelek has become prosperous lately and they are requiring all visitors to be escorted through the town. The stated reason is to show new visitors around the town, the real reason is to keep an eye on all new-comers and prevent anyone from getting in the graveyard. Our man's name is Skyla. As soon as you arrive he will be able to join your group and help you find the Dragonlance that the Castellan hid." JOURNAL ENTRY 71 ---------------- Myrtani is gathering his forces in secret areas around Sanction. We won't be ready for a few weeks yet. My minions have started gathering materials for my use. Several graveyards have been looted already. Many of them have left the open graves sites unfilled. I suppose it can't be helped. Stupidity has always been our most dangerous enemy. Myrtani has found a Dragonlance! I urged him to give it to his strongest warrior but I'm afraid that the draconian doesn't trust anyone who could hold that much power. Foolish. He's going to hide it away somewhere in Sanction. JOURNAL ENTRY 72 ---------------- 1ST FLOOR 2ND FLOOR 3RD FLOOR ┌─────┬───┬─┬───┐ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───┬───┬───┐ │ │ = ├───┤ │ ┌─┬─┬─┬─┬─┬─┐ │ │ = = │ S │ ├=──┤ │ │ │ ├─┴─┴─┴─┴─┴─┤ │ │ │ ┌=┴─┬─┤ T _├────=┤ │=└──=┤ │ └───┐JAIL │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ A ├───┐ │ │ ┌───┤_├───= =───────┘ │ │ │ ├───┤ │ I │ = └───┘ = │ ├───┘ ┌───┬=──┐ │ │ = = = │ R ├───┴─┬===┬─┴───┤ │ ┌───┤ │ │ │ └───┴─┴───┴─┘ S │ = │ │ │ └X──┴───┴───┘ │ | └─────┴───┴─────┘ └───────────────┘ STAIRS 4TH FLOOR 5TH FLOOR 6TH FLOOR 7TH FLOOR ┌───┬───┬─┬─┐ ┌─┬─┬─┬─┐ ┌─┬─────┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ├=──= ├─┘ │ │ └x┴=┘ │ │X│ │ └─┼───┬───┬───┼─┘ │ │ ├─┐ │ ├─┐ ┌─┤ ├─┴=┐@ │ │ @ │ @ │ @ │ ├──=┤ ├x┘ │ │ = = │ │ └───┤ └───┴───┴───┘ │ │ ├───┤ └─┴───┴─┘ └───────┘ │X │ │ │ |STAIRS └───┴───┴───┘ 8TH 9TH 1OTH 11TH ┌───┐ ┌───┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ KEY │ @ │ │ @ │ └─┘ └─┘ --------- └───┘ └───┘ @ spiral stairs x object = door (The x's that appear to be in the wall are really in the room above. Such is the limitation of ASCII art.) JOURNAL ENTRY 73 ---------------- "After the battle I was taken to see a powerful cleric. He laughed at my defeat. They led me to some doors that glowed in the darkness, opened them with a key that he pulled from his robes, and took me to a dark temple. I saw a bronze dragon egg on the altar! He told me that they were going to start the corruptions again! Then he had his minions beat me. "I woke up here. If it hadn't of been for the treachery of a dark elf, and a sneak attack from behind, they never would have captured me." He pauses. "I'm sorry for my men," he says. "They had no idea what we were getting into. Krynn's blood, I didn't know either. We were unprepared for the extent of the evil forces. "The ambush was a complete surprise." JOURNAL ENTRY 74 ---------------- Tanis's tale: "I had heard of slaves being taken in the area, so I disguised myself and arranged to be captured. I have just managed to free the slaves here, but more are held to the south. I will organize the slaves here while you free the others. Then we will arrange a diversion to allow the slaves a chance to escape." JOURNAL ENTRY 75 ---------------- "I am the only one left from the ambush. I was knocked out early in the combat. By the time I came to, the enemy was gone. Caramon is dead. I figure that they must have ganged up on him first. His was the only body left behind. You don't want to know what condition they left him in. Evidently they wanted to leave a warning to anyone who comes after him. It was awful. I laid him out as best I could and have been working my way out of Throtl. We must get back and warn the Outpost! "I don't understand how they could have known that we were coming. The ambush was obviously well planned. They knew exactly who was with us and exactly how to counter any attack we could must." JOURNAL ENTRY 76 ---------------- ...friend has many objects of value for sale... ...great frog collection!!!... ...sword that seems to be magical, at least undead creatures are afraid of it... ...many potions for sale... ...information about the incidents of undead and draconian incursions in the area... ...a beautiful daughter... JOURNAL ENTRY 77 ---------------- Base Commander's papers. You find: A list of orders authorizing an attack on the knight's outpost. A supply list, consisting mostly of implements of torture signed by someone known as the Prison Lord. The final page is an order to turn all slain prisoners over to a Sir Lebaum. JOURNAL ENTRY 78 ---------------- "Now, what do you know about that? They say that a real dragonlance has been found in the hills to the east. It also carries an enchantment that will force any dragon to your will if you but wound the best." JOURNAL ENTRY 79 ---------------- Gravnak's story about the Guardian: "The oldest rulers of Kernen ordered the city's mages to create a deadly guardian for their castle. How they did it no one knows, but the magicians gave this thing to the king. Over the years it became unruly and was locked in the vaults where it was kept. All we know is that an ancient tome in the library contains a recipe for a salve that will protect the wearer from the guardian's deadly bolts. You must construct this salve in the alchemist's study before you can succeed in passing the guardian." JOURNAL ENTRY 80 ---------------- A few days after then, Stage Three will begin. We have taken the pieces of the dragon orb that the kender shattered and have placed them in strategic spots all around Sanction. Raistlin's research has determined that, under the right conditions, even a piece of the dragon orb can act as a powerful lure for dragons. Furthermore, each piece can be tuned to a particular type of dragon. He has been lost to us since the War, but his dark elf assistant has managed to create the spell out of Raistlin's notes. With our captured Dragonlances, we will destroy all the good dragons that remain in Krynn, and our final victory will the be all but assured. JOURNAL ENTRY 81 ---------------- ┌───────┬───┬───┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ = M │ KEY │ │ └───┤ ----- │ │ ┌───┤ = door │ │ = │ M Meeting place │ │ │ │ │ │ = │ ├───────┘ └───┤ │ ┌───┤ │ = │ ├─=───=─┐ │ │ │ │ └───┤ ├───────┘ ┌───┤ ├───=─┐ ┌──== │ │ │ │ │ └─────┴─┴───────┘ JOURNAL ENTRY 82 ---------------- "So! At last, you've come to rescue me. You know these things are quite clever. Not clever enough for me of course. I've just been improving them somewhat. Oh dear. I do hope you didn't come through from the north...oh, sorry. "I suppose you'll be wanting to get me out of here how. Oh, there are more people back there. Strangbourn is around here somewhere. He's looking for Caramon. "Oh, you want to find him, well that's an interesting story, you see when we first go together about two weeks ago... "Uh, I can help, you know. Caramon was taken somewhere south of here. I've been trying to reset traps in case more draconians and hobgoblins get here. "Why don't we team up, ok?" JOURNAL ENTRY 83 ---------------- "...the minotaurs have refused to come to our aid. They are touchy beasts and I'm afraid that our emissary was less than diplomatic. We will try to contact them again but don't count on having their..." The fragment ends. JOURNAL ENTRY 84 ---------------- "...we have contacted the minotaurs. They will help us. I must go to Gargath. It is rumored that there is a dragonlance stored there. We must secure the keep and find the treasure room that is hidden there. The map of the keep shows those places where we believe the secret door may be located. Give this map to your officers and..." The fragment ends. JOURNAL ENTRY 85 ---------------- "The cavernous maw of the great beast is used as the entrance to the temple. The dragon's head is being artificially preserved through magic. We need the dragon's fangs in order to complete our spell. If they can be brought to us we can prevent draconians from ever...." JOURNAL ENTRY 86 ---------------- ┌───────────────────┐ │ │ │ ▀ Gargath │ │ │ │ ▀ Outpost 2 │ │ │ │ ▀ Jelek │ │ │ │ │ │ ▀ Neraka│ │ │ │ │ │ X Outpost 3│ │ │ │ ▀ Sanction │ └───────────────────┘ JOURNAL ENTRY 87 ---------------- "I am Angar, one of the real guards of the outpost. We were overrun about a week ago by a draconian army. I was coming in from a patrol when I saw them taking over. They were everywhere..." He slumps down on the bed. You notice that he desperately needs food and rest, but he waves off your help and continues his story. "I hid and they missed me, but they captured most of the other guards. They are being held in the outpost jail. Also, they're guarding the north side of town heavily. I think they might have hostages there too." JOURNAL ENTRY 88 ---------------- "Just before the Temple of Duerghast was closed, dead bodies were seen being carried into the arena in the Temple's northwest corner. There were hundreds of them. It has been discovered that the Death Knight, Sir Lebaum, has taken over the Temple and has gathered together the exhumed dead for miles around. "There is no way that you can get into the temple through the front gates. You must get the Shadowpeople's support. They have tunnels that cross from the Temple of Huerzyd to the Temple of Duerghast." She pulls out an amulet. "This amulet will let you through a secret door. The Shadowpeople will find you once you enter Huerzyd." *** end of Journal Entries *** The TAVERN TALES that you hear in the pubs throughout the game are relatively unimportant. A couple are noteworthy, and I've listed them here. Tavern Tale ----------- 6) "The Castellan of Gargath was rumored to be holding a dragonlance." A lot of Tavern Tales about opened graves and such. 55) "The draconian leader is Myrtani. He's an Aurak." Always remember, don't believe everything you hear. Even your own mother might deceive you in this game.