Beaming Up
In this zero-level adventure, the PCs have become apprentices to Tharkun, a bright young wizard who is eager to subject them to the ordeals he suffered as a novice. Their first test involves a wooden beam, weighing 100 pounds. The students must find a way to suspend this shaft above the ground, using only their own powers and their wits, but not using their hands. Ifthey need material spell components, they must get them at the city marketplace, without taking money.
To prepare them for their trial, Tharkun agrees to teach the PCs any spells or cantrips from the following list: Tenser’s floating disc, message, detect magic, sleep, change, color, palm, and distract.
It would be easy to raise the beam on a Tenser’s Floating disc. However, the PCs will need mercury to cast this spell, and they will have to steal or earn it. Especially smart PCs may think of other ways to lift the beam. Tharkun accepts such solutions, although they elicit groans of surprise.
Tharkun is a cruel master, but strongly believes in paying for a good days work If the PCs raise the beam on their first try, they don’t have to pay Tharkun back for the learning of the spells. If they fail then they have to work double the time to earn their instruction points. Just to convince the characters that they shouldn’t try to cheat the mage, Tharkun uses a lightning bolt to blast down a large tree, telling them that the last person to cross him was turned into a tree like the one he just fried.
The Market
The PCs may find themselves here if they need supplies or spell components. The market is where people of all sorts buy and sell goods-peasants with pigs and chickens under their arms stand side by side with merchants hawking racks of pottery. PCs would immediately notice a sign that reads in pictographs “Linneus-Barber, Apothecary and Doctor of Physic.” The other tables in the area are occupied by ten peasants who are selling animal furs. Each of these merchants has a purse of 50 sp. Two other pottery merchants have locked coinboxes each holding 100 g.p.
If the PCs rob anyone, subtract two points from the thieves’ law/chaos and good/evil scores. Should a PC be detected trying to steal something, a hubub erupts and 1d8 passersby pursue the thief. They hold him until the Town Constable arrives. Captured thieves are imprisoned for 1d4 days.
People at the Market: AC 10; MV 12; HD 1/2; hp 2; #AT 1; Dmg unarmed combat rules; THACO 20; AL N.
Town Constable: Str 16; Int 14; Wis 11; Dex 15; Con 12; Cha 14; AC 4; MV 9; HD 5F; hp 38; #AT 1; Dmg 1d8 + 1; THACO 16; AL LG Longsword and chainmail.
The PCs should realize that of all the people at the market, only the barber would have quicksilver. Linneus specializes in surgery, but he has an assortment of chemicals and will sell mercury for 25 s.p. per ounce. He is fat and serious, and balances his knowlege of medicine with sage advice and a little sorcery. If the PCs simply ask him for mercury, free, he refuses, saying that his business is fixing bodies, he isn’t a charity. A magic mouth shouts, “Stop Thief!” if anyone but Linneus takes something from his shelf. This shouting always attracts a crowd.
If the players try to trick Linneus into giving them mercury, subtract two points from their law/chaos and good/evil scores. If PCs offer services in return for the mercury, Linneus accepts gladly and has lots of jobs for them.
If the PCs use magic while at the market, there is a 35% chance that Ghen the barbarian fighter notices them. (Ghen will also show up as part of any crowd the PCs attract.)
Ghen has traveled from the lands of the Tiger Nomads and is trading furs for iron weapons. Throughout his trip he has become progressively more shocked at how sorcery, which his tribe hates, prevades the whole civilized world. If Ghen notices the PCs using spells, he will decide to act. Ghen confronts the PCs, “No, no you fools. Sorcery is evil! You do not know the danger of your actions!”
The fighter is 7 feet tall, muscular, and fierce looking. The only way to avoid a fight is for all of the PCs to agree with everything Ghen says and then move away. The other people in the marketplace will move away from Ghen, not wanting anything to do with so fierce a warrior. If the PCs don’t wish to play along with the ravings of Ghen he will wade into battle, fists swinging. When the constable comes to stop the fight he is knocked unconscious by one blow of Ghen’s powerful fist. If the PCs run, Ghen won’t follow; otherwise, there is a fight until Ghen or the PCs are out cold.
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