[D20cember] D is for Doorways

Doorways: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! Labyrinth Lord adventure set in the Ashford Valley.

Get Ready:
A young and poor knight is in love with a young woman who's family is rich and influential. He doesn't have a chance!

Get Set:
The PCs find themselves in Ashford town and encounter a rude young knight, drunk and depressed. He lashes out at the PCs and in the process knocks himself out, right into one of the PCs arms. As he passes out, he blurts "her family will never accept me so I might as well die!"

Go!:
The PCs now have a drunk knight and a problem. What to do with this sop? The GM could spice the pot by making the knight's love's family a personal enemy of a PC (and getting his daughter married to someone "below his station" would be a perfect revenge, while at the same time gaining an ally in the knight and lady).

However it's done, the PCs learn all about the problem: the knight, Richard of the Lea, is unlanded and has few prospects. His lady love is Elenaor, daughter of the rich and powerful Lord Jonathan de Haan. Jonathan wants someone worthy of his daughter (and politically advantageous to him) but is currently unaware of Sir Richards affections (and his daughter Elenaor's return of said affections).

In order to impress the in-laws, Richard needs a retinue of warriors and advisors, some land to call his own and at least the appearance of wealth, if not a few coins to wave around.

As for the retinue, the PCs fit the bill. For a few silver, they can get a set of decent livery for each character. As for the land, a nearby abandoned manor is just open for the taking (provided the PCs can get in to see the Lord of the Ashford Valley, Sir Raphel, to get Richard to apply for it).

Then comes the clearing out of said abandoned manor (those pesky Morlocks have been living in the basement for a while now), peopling the land with some peasants and livestock and cleaning the place up.

Finally, there comes the impressing the folks. Inviting the Lord and Lady de Haan, as well as daughter Elenaor, and a select few nobles and notables to the manor for a nice dinner. Who'll do the cooking? And serving? Well, the PCs will figure it out.

While the GM can throw in a few small hitches here and there, the major one is that Lord de Haan is trying to get another knight, Sir Reno, to marry his daughter. That knight is going to be trouble as he's a cruel and brutish man and he also comes to dinner. If the PCs make trouble, then a fight is sure to ensue!

Or maybe some Morlocks have snuck back in during dinner and attack, giving Richard an opportunity to save Lord de Haan! And in the midst of the battle, perhaps Sir Reno will take the opportunity to steal Lady Elenaor away!

Notable NPCs:
Sir Richard of the Lea; Human, Fighter, Level 3; Alignment: Lawful; Abilities: Strength 16, Dexterity 14,Constitution 10, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 11, Charisma 14. Armor Class: 3 (chain and shield, -1 Dex); Hit Dice: 3d8, Hit Points: 20. Attacks: longsword (1d8+2), dagger (1d4+2).

Lady Elenaor de Haan; Human; Alignment: Lawful; Armor Class: 9; Hit Dice: 1d8, Hit Points: 3; Attacks: knife (1d3) or short bow (1d6); Save: NM; Morale: 8.

Lord Jonathan de Haan; Human, Fighter, Level 2; Alignment: Neutral; Abilities: Strength 13, Dexterity 13,Constitution 11, Intelligence 13, Wisdom 12, Charisma 16. Armor Class: 3 (chain and shield, -1 Dex); Hit Dice: 2d8, Hit Points: 12. Attacks: longsword (1d8+1), dagger (1d4+1).

Sir Reno the Brutal; Human, Fighter, Level 5; Alignment: Neutral (leaning towards Chaotic; Abilities: Strength 18, Dexterity 16,Constitution 14, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 9, Charisma 9. Armor Class: 2 (chain and shield, -2 Dex); Hit Dice: 5d8, Hit Points: 40. Attacks: longsword (1d8+3), dagger (1d4+3).

Morlocks; No. Encountered: 2d6+3; Alignment: Chaotic; Armor Class: 8; Hit Dice: 1d8, Hit Points: 8, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1; Attacks: short sword (1d6); Save: F1; morale: 9; Special abilities: 90' infravision.