• 1a: There are two binders in the party—one of Tenebrous (#6) and one of another vestige (#10).
• 1b: Y’Golonac is “imprisoned” in a cavern complex beneath the ruined lab of Jason Sa-Raine, in the Blackfall sewers.
• 2a: Dorian is currently being held by the Blackfall City Watch under constant surveillance for illegally applying elemental grafts. Girard MonDialus accepted two opposing grafts—one air, one earth—and went insane. He was last seen on MoonRaker Spire.
• 2b: Izorek currently wields the Blackrazor and is disguised as Bertrand, the High Acolyte of Pelor.
• 3a: Jason Sa-Raine’s laboratory is within the Blackfall sewers, under the MoonRaked River.
• 3b: The Infernal Device is located in Sa-Raine’s lab, though the instructions to use it were destroyed. The mage, Dorian, has knowledge enough to use it.
• 4a: The person with Background 1 is allied with the Seropaenes.
• 4b: Izorek currently wields Blackrazor and is disguised as Bertrand, the High Acolyte of Pelor.
• 5a: Yvain, the Court Librarian, and Mordecai, a Cancer Mage from the First Ward, both have access to a GolemBane Scarab.
• 5b: The cache of saffron in Gobbynock’s barge is of the highest quality. Only someone with illicit connections in the Inner Ward can afford it—Lady Aribeth deWinter is one such woman, but is also a cultist of Y’Golonac.
• 6a: Tenebrous’s seal lies within the Temple of Heironeous, guarded by Bohemond, a Paladin/Dwarven Defender/Topaz Guardian.
• 6b: There are numerous ways to destroy Blackfall, not the least of which is the Staff of Winter, held by the character with Background 9.
• 7: Well…you know just about everything. The illithid are in an Underdark complex called Shee-Naleth-Corian, which lies under the foot of MoonRaker Spire. The best known entrance is within Jason Sa-Raine’s laboratory, in the Blackfall sewers.
• 8a: Bertrand was enthralled, then killed by the illithid several weeks prior to his ascension to the High Acolyte position. The only witness was a Devotee of Orcus, who followed Izorek. Izorek took advantage of the situation and used a Hat of Disguise to impersonate the priest and take control of his congregation.
• 8b: See above.
• 9a: The Court Librarian, Yvain, can research a way to destroy the Staff of Winter—casting a Heightened “Heat Metal” on it, then casting it into the caldera of MoonRaker Spire. The artificer Gobbynock actually can re-tool the Staff of Winter to make it usable, but this requires the trapped souls of 40 innocents—the only item that has this available is the Blackrazor. The Cancer Mage, Mordecai, claims to be able to restore the Staff of Winter, but he lies.
• 9b: Yvain’s research takes at least 2 days, but he does not need the Staff of Winter with him. Gobbynock’s re-tooling takes 2 days, but requires the Staff of Winter both days to do so. Mordecai claims to be able to restore the Staff in half a day.
• 10a: “The King in Yellow” is set to have its full-stage debut in the Second Ward, at the Dancing Dryad playhouse (curtain at 8pm on the third day that the heroes are in Blackfall). There are numerous ways to foil this performance.
• 10b: One of the other party members (Background 1) is a Seropaenes-affiliated hunter.

Adventure 1: The End of Days

As the PCs enter Blackfall, one of the first things that they should notice is the amount of sickness and disease abounding throughout the First Ward. Hope seems to be slim, as many of the patrons of the First Ward lie writhing in the streets, delirious from the effects of disease.

After receiving their summons from King Maelbrek IV, the PCs are greeted by a heavily armed Royal Escort and taken to the Palace of Blackfall. There, Chancellor Corith Pyrd greets them and brings the PCs into a meeting room. He announces to the PCs that Maelbrek has fallen ill with the plague that has swept the city, and that the various guilds of the city have shut the gates separating the First and Second Wards—no one from the First Ward can enter the inner portions of the city.

Pyrd has reason to believe that Jason Sa-Raine, a necromancer slain by the Acolytes of Pelor several months ago, is behind the plague, Sa-Raine’s laboratory was sealed by orders of the King. With the king ill and the chancellor in charge, Pyrd wants answers. He commissions the group for two tasks: finding some way to stave off the plague from within the city itself, and infiltrating Sa-Raine’s lab to see if his notes could provide an answer.

Section 1a: Ravings and Delusions

Possible solutions:
• Black Market—The leader of the Assassin’s guild, Sergei Stantinov, can potentially steal Wands of Cure Disease from the Temple of Boccob. The temple is located in the Second Ward, so they are sealed off from the masses. Sergei does not work without payment, though—he has been making quite a killing off of the plague and wants the PCs to make it worth his while. He wants the heads of both Bohemond, the High Templar of Heironeous, and Garrick Nordheimer, the Head City Watchman.
• Cure the plague singlehandedly—A properly equipped cleric/druid could, potentially, cure the plague in two days. However, Mordecai does not let up, and must be found.
• Fire and brimstone—the plague is worst in the slums, where abandoned buildings are home to many homeless persons. Simply wiping them out could slow the plague’s spread enough to find a cure.
• Look to the plainsmen—The medicine men of the herders outside of Blackfall often have medicinal therapies that can work wonders during plagues. However, they often require tasks or supplies from those who would come seeking their aid.

Complications:
• The PCs are being stalked by Mordecai, the Cancer Mage. Eventually, he will have them ambushed by thugs. Mordecai is a devotee of Orcus and follows Izorek. If the PCs find Mordecai’s hideout, they will also find notes on how he created the plague. The healers at either the Temple of Heironeous or the Temple of Boccob can help to stem the tide. The Temple of Pelor, with Izorek in charge, will hinder the PCs in their attempts.
• The Temple of Pelor, under Bertrand/Izorek, has been preaching that the plague is a sign of the End Times. They claim that the gods’ wrath is great upon this city, and that cleansing fire is needed to appease them. Naturally, this is Izorek’s doing, as he attempts to sway the populace towards the worship of Orcus.
• The PCs begin hearing of a new play that has been showing up randomly in the First Ward. The play, called “The King in Yellow,” is set to debut in the Second Ward within a few days. Graffiti across the First Ward often depicts a strange yellow marking on walls, and delirious plague-victims often ask “Have you seen the Yellow Sign?”

Section 1b: Into the Abyss

Complications:
• Encounters with aberrations in the city sewers. Behir fight?
• Encounters with undead in Sa-Raine’s lab. Still programmed to defend against interlopers.
• Ernst Zolar, a half-elf lich, still resides in one of the living quarters of Sa-Raine’s laboratory. While a lich, he has no designs on Blackfall whatsoever—he truly wants to take his research and continue work outside of the city. The PCs may aid or destroy him as they see fit. If the PCs parlay, he explains that Sa-Raine had nothing to do with the plague—rather, another mage in the city named Mordecai is behind it. If they aid Ernst, he can show them the more hidden portions of Sa-Raine’s lab and give them access to the legions of undead that Sa-Raine had created, in an attempt to take over Blackfall.
• At the edge of a warded secret tunnel leading from Sa-Raine’s lab to the illithid lair, Bohemond has placed a message. As a member of the group that infiltrated Sa- Raine’s lab, he saw exactly what was going on—Sa-Raine was still trying to take over Blackfall, while simultaneously being engaged by the illithid right on his doorstep. This, essentially, put him into a two-front war which he ultimately lost. Bohemond’s message tells the PCs vaguely of the dangers beyond the tunnel and asks that they come to meet him in the Temple of Heironeous.
• As the PCs go to leave, they are ambushed by an illithid scouting party. Among the illithid’s thralls are a Swashbuckler and a Warlock. If the illithid are freed before the pair die, they can become useful allies against the illithid in the future.

Adventure 2: The King in Yellow

The PCs, having averted the plague that has swept Blackfall, now have several leads to go on. The message left by Templar Bohemond should remain deep in their minds. A meeting with him should take place shortly after their return to Blackfall proper.

Bohemond will meet with the PCs in a secret vault beneath the Temple of Heironeous. He asks them many questions about their business in Blackfall and what they have discovered so far. Bohemond becomes increasingly distressed and begins filling the PCs in on what he knows from the past. He also glances occasionally at an empty, still- locked display case that once held a weapon of some sort. Bohemond is loathe to explain it, but eventually succumbs, telling of a daring raid by the Orcus-devotee Izorek to retrieve the sword known as Afterlife. Izorek since vanished, after Bohemond pursued him up the side of MoonRaker Spire. Many bizarre creatures have been seen there, so Bohemond believes that the illithid now hold one of the most potent weapons in the world—Afterlife. However, this is not the only difficulty. On a late night walk, Bohemond spotted a powerful noblewoman, Lady Aribeth deWinter, meeting in a dark First Ward alley with a creature that could only be an illithid! Needless to say, the PCs must tread carefully in finding out what connection might be had there…

Section 2a: Needle and Spire

Complications:
• Climbing up the side of MoonRaker Spire is difficult. While the mines criss-crossing the lower foothills are numerous, as the adventurers near the caldera, it becomes more and more difficult to climb. Aerial encounters, particularly of the pseudonatural variety, should do well here.
• Illithid occasionally run scouting raids inside the caldera and through the lower mines, hoping to find some cast-off technology that they may have lost in another time-stream, or simply to pick off some miners for dinner. These scouting parties often include umber hulks, which use their burrow and tremorsense abilities flawlessly.
• Fiery encounters should take place more often as the heroes enter the caldera. While not active, the volcano is not extinct, as many would believe. Rather, a properly discharged series of spells could, indeed, cause the volcano to become active and flood the city with lava.
• If the PCs defeat the major encounter within the caldera (TBD), they will find the remnants of Bertrand, the priest of Pelor. Needless to say, this will raise questions in their mind of how to proceed, as the person impersonating Bertrand must be quite powerful…

Section 2b: The Curtain Falls

Complications:
• Since this portion of the adventure is primarily character-based, many different events can occur here. Depending on how stealthy the PCs are, they may or may not be detected. If they are, Lady deWinter does not hesitate to call the City Watch on the PCs for harassment and trespassing, if applicable.
• Lady deWinter is extremely hard to defame, though the PCs may try their best. Her brother sits on the Council of Eleven, who practically run Blackfall, and her husband was knighted by King Maelbrek himself. However, before the showing of “The King in Yellow,” there is a “nobles only” premiere party, which she and her husband will be attending. If the PCs can attend, they can more accurately track her movements and motives.
• The play itself is a series of subtly implanted psionic suggestions, each with a Will DC of 16. The longer the PCs stay within the play itself, the more likely they are to be enthralled by its sanity-shattering hidden messages.
• The backstage area holds several important clues that point to the connection between Lady deWinter (and several other nobles) and the illithid beneath Blackfall. For the most part, the nobles are not enthralled—rather, they see Y’Golonac as a new trend and a possible savior for this ‘wretched city’. Most of these nobles live, simply for the joy of the illithid’s forced orgies and the drug-induced stupor of the mind flayers’ opiates.
• Expect a chase scene with Lady deWinter when the PCs find the illithid notes in the backstage area. While the PCs should probably already know of the entrance to the illithid lair through Sa-Raine’s lab, they may not know about the entrance in the MoonRaker Spire caldera unless they’ve rendezvoused with the prior group. Regardless, it should be clear that there are two specific entrances within Blackfall.

Adventure 3: The Black Fall

Complications:
• While, truly, the entire party has the same overall goal here, they will again be split into two separate groups to achieve the same end. If no one suggests it, Bohemond will recommend splitting into two groups—one to enter through the caldera, one to enter through Sa-Raine’s lab.
• Depending on the choices that the PCs make throughout the adventure, the players may have allies in their quest. These allies may include: Bohemond (Templar Magnum of Heironeous); Garrick Nordheimer (Head Watchman); Ernst Zolar and his undead (Half-Elf lich); Yvain (Half-Celestial guardian); Reynaldo (Swashbuckler) and Drax (Warlock). Note that some of these NPCs will not work together, such as Yvain and Ernst. Negotiating a ‘truce’ and splitting up these groups may be their best option.
• In each case, a simply populated dungeon should fit the bill. Start, particularly, with the maps in the Cartography Folio and work from there. Any major aberration should fit, within reason. In the caldera, fire-tainted creatures should fit, as well.
• At some point, Izorek (if he still lives) may join one of the groups of PCs. He has probably been exposed at this point, so has no compunctions about exposing his secret to them. He feels that this juncture could place him firmly on the throne of Blackfall—destroy the illithid who are in his way, along with some of the most powerful forces for good in Blackfall. If he survives till the summoning chamber, he turns on the PCs partway through the battle.

The Final Encounters:

When the PCs reach the illithid lair, they should begin to feel worn down. Their allies may be running out of spells or even dead. Regardless, they must press on, lest the illithid “succeed” in their attempt to raise Y’Golonac. Use the map of the illithid outpost for the final encounters, with the summoning chamber replacing the elder brain’s lair.

The final battle should include:
• At least 2 Ulitharid
• 2 Brain Golems
• 4 illithid, including Xiltictn (Psion) and Lincorlq (Body Tamer)
• 4-6 Umber Hulks or other suitable meat-shield
• Any remaining actors from “The King in Yellow”
• Lady deWinter (Fleshwarper/Adept)

If the PCs Succeed:

The illithid threat is forever vanquished and Izorek’s claim to rule is at an end. King Maelbrek dies peaceably in his sleep and Chancellor Corith Pyrd executes a lawful transfer of power over to an elected oligarchy. Bohemond and Garrick (if they still live) are both elected to the Council of Nine. Some of the PCs may also be elected, if they so choose to retire.

If the Illithid Succeed:

The PCs, their allies and Izorek are dead. The ritual to raise Y’Golonac takes place, but something goes amiss. The entirety of Blackfall is surrounded by thick, gray mist and is transplanted to a rocky, barren world known as Bluetspur. There, Y’Golonac’s madness reigns and the illithid quickly lay siege to the city. The citizens who are not immediately devoured or enthralled go utterly mad. The illithid rejoice in their newfound power, until they realize that they are trapped in this land, unable to expand or conquer any longer.

If Izorek Succeeds:

The illithid plot has ended, but the noble PCs have fallen. Izorek uses his influence as Bertrand to infiltrate the Council of Nine. Three years later, in a war with a neighboring country, Izorek takes command of the army and makes his claim to the empty throne of Blackfall. By this point, he has so warped the clergy of Pelor that they now openly worship Orcus. Fear reigns, and Izorek rules with a brutal sword in each hand: Afterlife and Blackrazor.