Argyle is trying to call them on one of Takagi’s sending stones upstairs, but when the party get there, Argyle is singing to himself again and doesn’t pick up. Bruce (human veteran), a tough off-duty watchman annd Holly’s ex-husband.Īt some point, one of Takagi’s servants comes to find the adventurers.Takagi, a kind-hearted, well educated mage and the host for the evening.Ellis (dwarf noble) a stylish, successful, and rather sleazy merchant who can’t stop sniffing for some reason.Holly (half-elf noble) is a successful ex-adventurer and mother of two.Here’s an opportunity for the players to roleplay some social encounters: Through the crystal panes of the tower walls, the party can see the lamplit city far beneath them. Some of the guests throw streamers over the characters. A tall fir tree stands at the centre of the room, decorated with ribbons, silver tinsel, candy d20s, and magic lights. Waiters carry trays of wine and fruit punch from guest to guest. The celebrations are being held on the 30th floor. When the party is ready, the guard will lead them to a magical platform that acts as an extremely fast elevator. Armour (with the exception of padded armour) is also not allowed, and neither are shields. The DC for any other weapon is at least 30. Characters who wish to conceal a weapon with the ‘light’ property can attempt to do so with a DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check. (The bear is actually a gift for his girlfriend.) If asked about the teddy bear, he jokes that it didn’t have a guest ticket.
The guard checks the characters’ tickets and looks up their names in a guest list. A large teddy bear sits on the chair next to him. It is also deserted, except for a guard sitting behind a massive front desk. The entrance hall is beautiful yet sterile. ‘I’ll wait in the coach house till the end of the evening.’ He forgets, again, that he’s meant to open the door for them. Night has fallen by the time Argyle has drawn up the coach. The archwizard’s tower comes into view in the dying light: an impressive structure of salmon-pink stone and gleaming grey crystal, nearly 500 feet tall.
Encounter idea: seven gremlins (use goblin stats) and one king gremlin ( goblin boss) try to stop the coach. Beyond that, he wants the adventurers to sit back and relax. He knows lots of songs and poems for the midwinter festival, and he enjoys singing loudly while he’s driving the stagecoach. He is also chatty (bordering on nosey) and asks lots of questions about the adventurers and the party that they are going to. ’ He seems to have forgotten that he is meant to open the door for them.Īrgyle is a little nervous: it is indeed his first day driving a coach, not that he’s bad at it. A stout halfling with dark, curly hair is sitting in the driving box at the front. It is the night of the midwinter feast, and the party has been invited to the tower of archwizard Takagi for his annual celebrations.Īt dusk, a long, black stagecoach pulls up outside, drawn by four black horses. A setting-neutral holiday one-shot for four 4th-level characters.