; Dungeon of Dread (TSR Hobbies)
....>..|.......|.......|.......|.......|.......|.......|.......|......|...<
:^*** Dungeon of Dread ***^
7Copyright 1982, TSR Hobbies, Inc.
'Welcome to a journey into the world of fantasy. This adventure into
$the Dungeon of Dread is a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS adventure. You will find
$a complete adventure here, with many possible courses of action. Some
$choices are simple, some are sensible, some are foolhardy, and some
$are dangerous! You must make all the decisions. Remember, your choice
$determines the outcome of the adventure.
'In this adventure, you play the part of a human fighter. As an
$adult, you stand 5'9" tall and weigh about 150 pounds. You are smart
$and have survived many adventures using little more than your wits.
$You are well schooled in the use of weapons and are a powerful
$opponent.
'You carry a sword and a dagger, and wear a long-sleeved, green tunic
$over leather breeches. Fine leather boots guard your feet. A long
$green hunter's cloak protects you from the cold. You carry flasks of
$oil, a tinder box, a length of rope, and other gear in a leather pouch
$tied to your belt, and food and water in a sack slung over your
$shoulder.
7Good luck, and good adventuring!
\
'You have stopped for the night in a strange forest, tired after a
$long day's walk. The area seems eerie and strange. There is no
$moonlight, so the shadows are very black. the air is still and heavy.
$Even the usual night noises of small birds and animals are missing.
$Ordinarily, you would have pressed on through the dark woods to the
$nearest town, but this night you are too tired to take another step.
'Wrapping your cloak firmly around yourself, you lie down upon a soft
$bed of moss with your sword close at hand. You are soon fast asleep.
'You dream that summer breezes ruffle your clothes. A strong breeze
$tugs at your cloak. You slowly awaken. Breeze? there is no breeze,
$the night is calm!
'Your reflexes scream an alarm and you awaken! Eyes snapping open,
$you see a three foot tall halfling - probably a thief - quietly
$searching your clothes.
'In one smooth, swift movement, you jump to your feet and grab the
$unlucky halfling by the scruff of his neck.
'The halfling's eyes shine in the moonlight and his fear is easy to
$see.
'"Well, halfling, can you give me one reason why I shouldn't feed you
$to the crows?"
'"Oh, please don't do that." whines the halfling, "I'm just a poor
$hungry halfling named Laurus. I'm no danger to anyone. Why, I just
$now escaped a terrible fate. If you spare me and feed me, I'll tell
$you where to find all the treasure in the world."
'You hesitate, then lower him to the ground, saying, "I have no need
$for all the world's riches, but what you say sparks my interest. I
$will spare your life and feed you if your story interests me enough to
$pay for my lost sleep. But I warn you, if the tale does not, I will
$feed you to the crows!"
'Carefully watching the halfling, you gather dry wood from beneath
$the trees to start a fire. Soon, you and the halfling share its
$welcome warmth. Its bright light holds back the shadows of the night.
$You brew mugs of strong tea as the halfling falls ravenously on a
$mutton leg and round of cheese. He eats as though it has been years
$since he last saw food.
'"Halfling, you spoke of treasure and adventure", you urge, trying
$not to show your curiosity.
'Laurus wipes his mug with a grimy finger, searching for any sugar
$his tongue might have missed. All the while his large brown eyes
$flicker about, calculating his chances for escape. He studies the
$strong grace of your movements, your mirror-bright shield glinting in
$the firelight, and your sword hanging within easy reach, its hilt
$polished with use. wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, the
$halfling sighs, and stares into the flickering fire.
'"Aye, 'tis true. 'Tis a marvelous tale, and truthful too, but there
$are hardly any who will believe it when I get back to my home."
'"Well, try me; I'm always ready for a good tale, and you still owe
$me for dinner and your life."
'"I'll tell you," says the halfling, fixing you with a shrewd look,
$"But you may wish you had never asked."
'Settling back against a tree stump, a faraway look comes into his
$eyes and the halfling begins his tale: "I've lived around these parts
$all my life, and a right pleasant place it was until the magic-user
$showed up. Kalman, he calls himself. No one knows who he is or where
$he came from. One day, he wasn't here, the next he was. things soon
$began to change for the worse. People grew poor and sickly, crops
$withered and died ... and throughout our troubles, the magic-user grew
$rich and powerful.
'"At last, people had their fill. Gathering their courage, they came
$upon Kalman in the middle of the night, burned his house down and drove
$him from the town. He fled to these woods and claimed them as his own.
'"We towns folk stay far from the woods, but travelers who choose not
$to listen to our warnings enter the woods and are never seen again.
'"I was always too smart for my own good," sighs the halfling. "One
$day I decided I would learn the secret of the woods, the missing
$travelers, and perhaps figure out how to kill the wizard! If I could
$do that, I could return to the village as a rich hero.
'"So one morning, without even a goodbye to me missus, I slipped into
$the woods.
'"I explored every inch of the evil woods and found nothing.
$Finally, I came to a mountain just outside the forest. I was cold and
$tired, so I crawled up on a ledge of rock to rest. I was going to sit
$for a moment before I went home. I must have fallen asleep, for the
$next thing I knew I woke up to find Kalman standing over me.
'"`So you wanted to find me, halfling,' he said. `Well, now you
$have, and I wager you'll get more than you bargained for.' With a wave
$of his hand, he put a spell on me so I couldn't move, and slung me over
$his shoulder like a trussed-up rabbit. Then we slipped through an
$opening in the side of the mountain.
'"I cannot and will not tell you of all the frightening things I saw.
$I don't even want to think of them," shudders the halfling. "He
$carried me to the very center of the mountain, maybe the center of the
$world, for all I know, and there I saw all the treasure in the world.
'"`You wanted to rob me,' said Kalman, `So look upon my treasure.
$You will always know just how much you have lost. Those who seek
$danger foolishly always find it.
'"`Those who know how to handle both danger and wealth are few and
$far between. You are lucky; I feel generous. I shall let you go and
$not even change you into a newt, as you deserve. When you return to
$your home, none will believe you. Your friends will think you have
$been drinking fermented corn juice in the woods, and have made this
$story up to cover your absence. they will laugh at you. Only you will
$know what you have beheld and lost. Now, begone!' Black smoke came
$out of his fingertips. When it cleared, I found myself in these dark
$woods, alone and hungry."
'Laurus stares into the fire for a long time without speaking.
'Finally, he rouses himself and says, with a shaky laugh, "You can
$see now, I am just a poor halfling, of no harm or help to anyone."
'You feel sorry for the forlorn little fellow, and are curious about
$both the evil wizard and his fabulous treasure. Strangely enough,
$you do believe the tale.
'Even though the little man is clad in a grimy, patched cloak, and
$has one toe peeking through his tattered leather boots, his eyes hold a
$stubborn look that says "I'm not a quitter." Life has used the
$halfling hard, yet he has courage. If given a fair chance, he might
$prove a worthy companion.
'"Laurus" you say gently, "could you find that opening in the
$mountain again?"
'The halfling stares at you for a moment before he answers, "Surely,
$I could, but it would mean your death. Kalman would not allow you to
$survive as he did me. I as a moment's amusement, but you would be a
$serious threat. Anyway, the monsters would get you first. they're
$scary! I don't remember them clearly, but I remember enough to give me
$nightmares for the rest of my life. You're crazy to even think about
$going in there. You couldn't get me to go back in there for a million,
$zillion gold pieces!"
'You fold your arms and stare at the halfling, tapping your fingers
$against your shoulder.
'Laurus shakes his head and says, "I see nothing I say will persuade
$you. As the wizard said, `Those who search for danger will find it.'
$Who can tell? You might even succeed where I failed. I will take you
$to the rock. At least it will prove I spoke the truth."
'Gathering your few posessions, you quickly break camp and follow the
$halfling into the dark woods.
'The night is dark. Without the halfling's knowledge of the way, you
$would be hopelessly lost. Trees loom out of the darkness, brambles
$clutch at your legs, and sharp stones cut into the soles of your boots.
'At last the mountain rises before you, silhouetted against the
$night. The halfling searches about for a while, then cries "Aha! Here
$it is!" A large dark crack looms in the mountain before you.
'You turn to the halfling, almost expecting him to have disappeared.
$But he has remained faithfully by your side, instead of scurrying off
$into the night as soon as you found the opening.
'"Halfling, what will happen to you if you return to your village?"
$you ask.
'Laurus laughs a bitter laugh. "If I tell the truth, me missus will
$scold me. She's a hard woman. If I don't tell the truth, she'll still
$yell at me for disappearing, and not talk to me, although that might be
$a blessing. I will just go back to being Little Laurus, the baker's
$helper."
'"Laurus," you say, "It took great heart and courage to try such a
$dangerous task. Would you consider joining me on a second adventure?
$Kalman will never expect you to return, and with your assidtance we may
$defeat this evil wizard. If we succeed, you will return home a hero.
$Thereafeter, you would be known as Laurus the Brave!"
'The halfling looks down at the ground, his shoulders sagging. "I
$couldn't do it" he wispers. "I'm not a fighter. Pick somebody who
$won't let you down."
'"I don't want someone else. I need you and I want you! You can do
$it if you believe in yourself."
'After a long pause, the halfling looks up into your eyes and pulls
$at his beard. "Do you really need my help? Do you really think I
$could do it? I'll be honest, I'm scared. Much of what I saw seems
$like a nightmare to me; all scary and creepy and blurry. But I would
$like to be laurus the Brave.
'"A real adventure," he muses. "One that might actually succeed!
$You're strong and handy with your weapons. I bet you're tricky, too.
$More of a challenge for that wizard than I was.
'"But I've been there. Maybe I could help. Maybe I could do it.
$What do I have to loose? Me missus scolds me and others laugh at my
$size. there is not much to loose and lots to gain."
'His voice fades out as he thinks to himself. Finally, he shouts
$"Yes, I'll do it! I'm your man if you want me!"
'"Can you handle a weapon?" you ask.
'"I've had a little call to use one as a baker's helper, but I know
$the basics every child learns," replys the halfling. "I'm loyal and
$very strong."
'"Well spoken, Laurus. I have met giants who bore the hearts of
$mice. People should never judge a man by his size. the things that
$matter: truth, loyalty, courage, and honor, will never be found on a
$yard stick."
'The halfling smiles up at you, his round eyes rimmed with bright
$tears.
'"Come, come, no time for tears! Now then, I am called Caric. Clasp
$my hand and let us swear our loyalty to each other and to our mission!"
'The halfling slides his small, leathery hand into yours and you soon
$swear the oath.
'"Well," you say, "There's no reason to stay. Let the adventure
$begin!"
'You look at the stars, and breathe deeply of the clean, crisp air.
$then, with your hand wrapped firmly around the hilt of your sword, you
$step in to the opening. Inside all is quiet. It appears a simple
$cave. Even though the halfling's tale sounded true, you question it
$for a moment.
'As your eyes grow accustomed to the darkness, you see a skeleton
$leaning against the wall in one corner, staring at the opposite wall.
$A small shield lies at its side. With a little polishing, it might
$shine as brightly as your own. You pick the shield up and give it to
$Laurus, also handing him your dagger. The halfling takes the weapon
$and shield holding the dagger gingerly with his fingertips.
'"It's not going to bite you," you say. "Hold it firmly. Be ready.
$Don't strike until you're certain of your target, and once you begin,
$do not falter."
'"I'll try to do my best," Laurus says, putting the dagger in his
$belt. "I'm scared, but I won't let you down." He begins polishing the
$sheld. Your eyes follow the skeleton's gaze and see a message scrawled
$in red on the wall of the cave.
'^"WATCH THE WATER THAT IS NOT WATER, AND BEWARE THE BASILISK!"^
'The rest of the cave is empty, except for a pile of leaves and twigs
$in the west corner, and a hole in the wall under the message.
'"Well, Laurus, where do we go from here?"
'"I do not know," the halfling replies, "I do not remember any
$trails; just some of the things I saw."
+1. If you wish to investigate the hole in the wall
+2. If you wish to check the pile of leaves in the corner
.ask 2
.file 1,13
.file 2,15
.chain
