0308 The Face of the Drune

Granite cliffs in eroding hillsides topped with leaning, blue-leafed pines.

• Terrain: Hilly forest (3), High Wold / Dwelmfurgh
• Lost/encounters: 2-in-6
• Ley Line Chell (p18): Arcane spell-casters perceive the curious dual sensation of balmy heat and biting cold.
• Within the Ring of Chell (p20): True fairies are afflicted with a spiritual malaise; teleportation and summoning are ineffectual; magic of illusion or charm

has a 2-in-6 chance of failure.

Foraging: Successful foraging yields 1d2 portions of Rindlewort (p430), in addition to the normal results.

The Great Stone Face

Overlooking a shady dale is a great stone face, 15′ high, carved into a sheer, granite cliff, 10′ from the ground. The crude relief depicts the scowling visage of a stern-eyed man with a great, wizardly beard. Below the beard, a green copper door is set into the rock-face.

Inspecting the face: Reveals that the pupils of its eyes are holes, 1′ in diameter, opening onto utter darkness (see Inside the Cave).

The door: Bears the Drunic inscription, “Render Magus.” It is sealed with a Glyph of Locking (Level 7 caster). Beyond the door is a large cave (see Inside the Cave).

History: Render Magus was a Drune of some power, now dead for many centuries, who made his home here.

Inside the Cave

The cave is a dry, musty chamber, about 40′ wide and deep and 20′ high. It is dominated by the carving on its front wall—aligned with the great stone face on its other side, it depicts the interior anatomy of the front of a skull, including teeth, sinuses, and some portions of the brain, all labelled with obscure Drunic anatomical terms.

Furnishings: At the very back lies a forlorn, unmade bed, its wooden frame engraved with clustered brambles, and a matching chest. Beneath the bed’s verminous mattress is a forgotten Arcane Dagger (p412), engraved with “THORN” in Drunic. The chest contains three tattered black robes.

Inhabitant: A spirit of green fire, created by Magus and named Tinekin, guards the meagre remains of its master’s lair. It hides beneath the bed, observing intruders.

Disturbing the cave: Should PCs attempt to remove any items, look under the bed, or study the cave’s hidden spell (see At night), Tinekin darts out and confronts them, madly uttering threats as it capers about the chamber. If the adventurers persist, Tinekin attacks.

At night: When moonlight shines through the eyes of the stone face, a glowing, ghostly script is projected onto the cave floor. Casting Decipher on the script reveals the text of the spell Dimension Door. An arcane spell-caster who studies the script (4 hours) may copy this spell into a spell book.

Tinekin

A diminutive humanoid (3′ high) composed entirely of the green fire over which the Drune have mastery. Its flames do no damage unless it wills them to.

Demeanour (Neutral): Belligerent and paranoid, with an undercurrent of loneliness.

Speech: Staccato rambling in a rapid, high-pitched hiss. Woldish, Old Woldish, Drunic.

Desires: To ensure the safety of Magus’s decayed, useless possessions. Craves a new master and companion (a human arcane spell-caster of at least Level 7).

Binding: An enchantment set by a Level 7 caster binds Tinekin to the cave, breakable by Dispel Magic.

Small Construct—Sentient—Neutral

Level 2 AC 17 HP 11 Saves D12 R13 H14 B15 S16 Att 2 touches (+1, 1d4 + burning) Speed 30 Morale 8 XP 50

Immunities: Only harmed by magic or magic weapons.

Burning: Anyone damaged by the unearthly green fire of Tinekin’s hands suffers a painful burn: –2 penalty to Attack Rolls for 1 Turn.

Return from death: If slain while within the cave, Tinekin reforms in 1 hour.