Pillaging of Plunder Pyramid
Adventure Overview
Ghost Boy gathers a group of strangers to release spirits trapped in Chadimus Plunder's card collection. When they arrive at his pyramid-shaped home they find a Golden Gala underway!
The party must infiltrate Plunder's Pyramid by any means possible and retrieve the cards that contain the lost souls.
Ghost Boy Asks For Help
Greetings my friends! You don't know each other, but you all know me, Ghost Boy! I can hear the crying of souls trapped in the collection of that bad man Chad!
Would you be able to help me get them free? I can offer you my gratitude, favors from my friends, and a life-changing experience for each of you!
Glitterati at the Golden Gala
As you approach Plunder's Pyramid, you see a line of carriages and skyskiffs full of partygoers dressed in gilded gowns and bespoke evening wear. They have jumped at the chance to view the infamous curio collection of Prof. Dr. Sir Chadimus Plunder IV, Esq..
Four guards stand at the entrance checking invitations. Just as you get there, you see a smartly dressed goblin couple get escorted out by Sir Chad himself.
"I don't understand what the issue is Sir Chad, I have an invitation!"
"My apologies good goblin, could I see your invitation?
The well-dressed goblin hands over the invitation and the sneering Chad tears it up.
"I don't know how you got this, but your invitation is no good here. Gold cannot change what you are. You and your little trollop need to leave. Guards!"
The guests waiting to enter gossip and giggle amongst themselves as the dejected goblins leave.
"My gentle guests! I can assure you that only those with the best breeding will be in attendance tonight! Welcome to my humble abode, Plunder's Pyramid!
If the party asks about the guests in line, tell them that they appear to be exclusively humans, elves, and dwarves. It seems that no members of the other diverse people inhabiting the Zone have been invited as guests.
The staff seems to be made up entirely of halflings and gnomes. The party can see them in matching livery making their way to the back entrance.
The Guests
These are some of the guests present at the party. They can be encountered in the receiving line or inside the Pyramid.
Glory and Reign
I am "Of the North the Glory" and this is my wife "Of the Honor the Reign." But you can call us Glory and Reign. We knew it was a longshot, but old Chad has the Ancestral Goblin Cradle. We were hoping to see it and maybe buy it back for goblins everywhere!
This ancestral relic protected goblin babies for mellenia until it was stolen by humans. They will pay 2,000 bilog for it.
Glory and Reign know that the servants hate their masters and about the other exhibits that Plunder has on display.
Sir Odert & Lady Evelina
Sir Odert (human noble) and his mistress, Lady Evelina (yuan-ti pureblood), have recently returned from a traumatic trip to the Shattered Moon. He brought back undershard snails that are being served at the party. Anyone who eats them must make a DC 11 Con saving throw or be infected with sewer plague.
Urim Goldmaster
The maharlitech merchant Urim Goldmaster (dwarf noble) has come to see Sir Chad's collection of magitech devices. He's especially interested in the Tablet of Talking that he believes will unlock a dimensional vault that he acquired years ago.
He offers 250 bilog to acquire it by any means necessay. He will pay up to 1,000. He'd rather steal it and pay nothing.
Lady Miri
The elven researcher Lady Miri (elven bard) dislikes Sir Chad immensely, but has come to see if the purported Sky-crown Starfruit that he claims to have is genuine.
If the party makes a good impression on her, she's willing to help with a musical distraction or by sharing her knowledge.
The Main Foyer
The guests enter the Pyramid through the ostentatious "La Grande Entrée" at the southern tip. Invitations are checked by Monsieur Bianco, the maitre d' and right-hand man of Sir Chad. An invitation in their name gets them in automatically.
The party can make a DC 16 Persuasion or Deception check to gain entry. Feel free to modify the roll based on the parties roleplaying. Suggestions for modifying the roll include:
- Elves +3, humans +2, dwarves +0.
- Bribing M. Bianco: +1 for every 50 gp.
- Not dressing for the occasion: -5
- Not being an elf, human, or dwarf: -5
- Carrying weapons and wearing armor: -10
On an unsuccessful attempt to enter, M. Bianco summons up to 6 guards to eject the guests. He can also summon the Troika (the Sword, the Axe and the Bow) if necessary, but saves that for real emergencies. The maitre d' definitely reports unwanted visitors to the Troika.
In that case the Troika begins to hunt the party.
The Servants Entrance
The servants come and go from the servants entrance on the eastern tip of the pyramid. The waitstaff is composed exclusively of halflings and gnomes. Characters of the same ancestry can convince the staff to allow them to join with a DC 12 Persuasion or Deception check.
The staff intensely dislikes their bosses and are "short-staffed" for this important occasion.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is full of busy waiters and servers rushing in and out of the door to the west with drinks and food. Odiola, the head cook challenges anyone trying to just walk through. "If you're here to work, throw on a uniform!"
The group can masquerade as waitstaff but cannot wear any obvious weapons.
The Pantry
Odiola allows the party to leave any equipment they wish in the Pantry through the north door. The waitstaff will not interfere with any heist attempt and will actively cover for the group.
The Grand Hall
A massive 60 ft. square ballroom sits at the center of the Grand Hall beneath the point of Plunder's Pyramid. Balconies look over the dance floor with tables around the edges of the room.
The room is full of dozens of low-level nobles and newly rich merchants. Sir Chad himself walks through the room trying to recruit his guests to join Plunder's Pyramid of Prosperity. When he meets the group, he solicits them as well.
Greeting my new friends, I'm so glad you could make it! Please have a look at my collection, I'm particularly proud of the so-called "Goblin's Cradle" in the corner over there!
The superstitious gobbos think that it keeps the souls of their children safe, but I think it makes an excellent place to hold my collection of Psychic Beer!
Please take a pamphlet! You can get in on the ground floor of my Pyramid of Prosperity! I only require a small investment of 300gp per person to join! If you all sign up tonight, I'll give you the discount price of 250gp each!
If the characters join and this is part of an ongoing campaign, feel free to take away all their money at any point you wish in the future!
Sir Chad has brought out some of the best pieces of his collection and placed them around the room for his guests to enjoy. They include:
- Ancestral Goblin Cradle
- Undershard Snail Shells
- Tablet of Talking
- Sky-crown Starfruit Seed
The Collection
Chad keeps the most precious pieces in his collection hidden away from view in his office on the Western End of the Pyramid. These include items that he shouldn't have or relics that will increase his personal power. The most prized of these are the Cards of Lost Souls that he uses to extend his life.
Turning Over the Cards
The Sword, the Axe, and the Bow
This one-shot adventure was designed to be played with the 5E ruleset. It's meant for a group of 4-6 3rd level characters, but can be easily adapted for higher or lower level characters or other RPG systems.
It takes place in the outskirts of Aurumopolis and moves to a hunting lodge in the Anomalous Forest. It's an introduction to the rapacious Golden Slice of the Kirinal Concordance Zone.
Pregen Characters
Players may use their own character or pick a pregenerated character. Their character sheets are at the bottom of their articles.
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