crystal of light adventure no 1 part 5

Dungeon & Dragons Crystal of Light Cithianus’ Murder Rev. 0.6 31-Dec-14

340

Crystal of light Episode 1

Cithianus Murder

Part 5

By

Paul Ellsworth

This document is copyright by Paul Ellsworth © 2014. All rights reserved. The contents of this

document may be used by individuals and small groups for gaming purposes.


341

Appendix C: How to Make Dwarven Steel Notes and Procedure

by Cithianus

There has been a great deal of difficulty in duplicating the weapons made by the dwarven weapon smiths. Two

assumptions were always made; the first is that they were using the purest raw iron, and the second is that the

weapons were infused with magic. Which are the major reasons why dwarven steel weapons have not been duplicated

by other weapon smiths. Dwarves rarely use magic and that their weapon smith would do so seemed to me to be an

unreasonable assumption. The source of iron that the dwarven weapon smiths are using contains very small traces of

other metals. The closest raw iron in this area that is similar to the dwarven iron comes from the mountain mines near

the city of Portus. Many other samples were tested from most of the mines around Centuria and the majority does not

contain the required trace impurities. The many sample acquired from other regions, which includes mines from Dacia,

Dumnonia, Kellikantzaron, Mysia, Parthia, and Urartu. It was not possible to test samples from all the possible sources

from these regions due to time and difficulty of acquiring the many sample and a great many remain to be tested. A

promising example is iron from one of the Bactria mines near the Dumnonia-Bactria border that looks like it may have

the required trace impurities as well; however, the acquired sample was too small for a full analysis. I have requested

additional ore from this mine.

To create dwarven steel it is required to first assemble the ingredients to load into the crucible. High-purity iron

(50%), sorel iron from Portus (45%), charcoal (4%), glass chips and green leaves (1%). Heat the crucible. During this

process the glass melts forming a slag that protects the ingot from oxidizing. The green leaves increase the carbon

content. The goal is 1.5% for forming hard iron carbide particles. The temperature has to be to a point where the iron

melts to a liquid but no hotter. Too much heat ruins the process at any stage.

After cooling remove the wootz cakes from the crucible. The ingot needs to be heated until red hot but not to

the point where the metal is molten. Forge the ingot with hammer blows while it is still hot. When the ingot gets too cold

to deform without cracking, heat it up and forge again. Repeat this process until the sword is formed. It will require fifty

or more cycles of heating and forging. Next cut the sword to its final shape and then hand forge to add the fine details.

Remove the excess steel and decarburize the metal surface by grinding.

At this point a pattern can be added to the sword by cutting groves or drilling holes into the surface of the blade.

Forge the blade flat again and polish the surface to give the blade its near final form. Etch the swords surface with acid

to bring out the pattern; the softer steel on the surface of the sword will darkens and the harder steel appears as

brighter lines.


342

In testing these swords are far superior to the swords currently in use by the legions. Test has shown that these

swords are able to cut through the legions existing swords within ten strikes. Although difficult and time consuming to

make, the quality of these weapons is so high as to make it a priority that mass production be started as soon as

possible. The current staff and facilities can make approximately 100 swords per month. The present shortage of iron

from the Portus region precludes any large production of these weapons. Experiments with hardened shields and armor

are proceeding satisfactory.

(Note – this was the last report from Cithianus that was sent to the Senate two days before his murder).


343

Appendix D – Dark Lords

1 Lucifer – Known as the shining one. He is the leader of the Dark Lords and creates the war plan for

conquering the known world. He has the special power of blinding light. He rides an ancient black dragon.

2 Dracos – Lucifer’s second in command. He has charm power over the dragons. He rides an ancient

white dragon.

3 Sytri – The charmer. He rules over 60 legions of lesser demons.

4 Haagenti – Can summon any number of snakes. He rules 33 legions of demons.

5 Forneus – Can transform into a sea monster at will. He rules 29 legions of lesser demons. He rides a

blue dragon.

6 Chemosh – The destroyer. He can call down a shower of meteoroids at will. He rides an ancient red

dragon.

7 Anzu – The fire breather. He has a breath weapon of green fire. He rides an ancient green dragon.

8 Yeqon – The watcher. He is able to see all things in the present and the near future. He can slow time

in a small area. He rides an ancient black dragon.

9 Armaros – The accursed one. He has to power to cast a curse. He rides an ancient green dragon.

10 Mastema – The father of all evil. He can cause an earthquake or summon a tornado. He rides an

ancient brown dragon.

11 Suanggi – The evil one who brings pestilence, disease and illness. He rides an ancient purple dragon.

12 Belial – Summoner of chaos. Causes strife and attracts a legion of lawless men at will. He rides an

ancient red dragon.

13 Rusalka – Controls water spirits. He can summon water elementals at will. He rides an ancient blue

dragon.


344

Aire World Map


345

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

1

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 1

row

1


346

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

2

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 1

row

2


347

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

3

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 1

row

3


348

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

4

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 1

row

4


349

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

5

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 2

row

1


350

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

6

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 2

row

2


351

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

7

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 2

row

3


352

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

8

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 2

row

4


353

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

9

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 3

row

1


354

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

10

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 3

row

2


355

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

11

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 3

row

3


356

Air

e W

orl

d M

ap P

art

12

Ali

gnm

ent

colu

mn 3

row

4


357

Empire of Akkad


358

Akkad

ian E

mpir

e


359

ALFHEIM

The land of the Elves


360

Alf

hei

m –

Lan

d o

f th

e E

lves


361

DUMNONIA


362

Kin

gdom

of

Dum

nonia


363

URUK

Land of the Orcs

There are seven major orc clans located in Uruk plus the city of Hoowah, which has a mix of all the

clans and the tala nob, . Each clan has one major city plus any number of smaller satellite villages. The seven

clans are Buorka Srinkh, Ghaash Clog, Goth Burzum, Kihagh Trughu, Magru Prath, Ogba Rukh and Throku

Uuk. Each orc clan has one warrior band that is available to the Dark Lords. The believe Lucifer is the Trugulu

or War God and they obey his commands unquestionably.

In order for an orc to become a gruntee (young warrior) he has to be able to count to three; ash, dub,

gakh. Three is an important number for the orcs. Each grunt (warrior) has two gruntee which forms a triad. The

leader is known as the nob.

Takruka is the tala nob of the orcs and is nominal ruler of all the orc clans and lives in Hoowah.

Jughragh is the bubhosh namakh or great shaman. He is one of the very few shamans in Uruk.

Tasia a young half-elvain female orc hunter was known to the orcs as Burguul Trughu, the shadow

warrior. She would often come into an orc camp and take a warrior and leave with his head with none the wiser.

There was bounty paid by the King’s agents for each orc killed.


364

Uru

k –

The

land o

f th

e O

rcs


365

Orc Warrior12


366

OLC TALAMH

The Land of the Dark Lords


367

Olc

Tal

amh –

The

lands

of

the

Dar

k L

ord

s


368

Svartalfheim


369

Kin

gdom

of

Svar

talf

hei

m

The

Dar

k E

lves


370

URARTU


371

Kin

gdom

of

Ura

rtu


372

Glossary

The following will provide some of the back story of the major characters. Some of the characters listed

here may not show up in this scenario but will be used in future scenarios. These scenarios are based on a series

of unpublished novels that I have been working on for quite a number of years.

Agippina is dwarven warehouse owner. Her warehouse was partially burned down one week before

Cithianus’ Murder.

Ashmadia is high level necromancer in the Mortuus Conlegium He is nominally obeying the Dark

Lords but is secretly planning to open a gate to the neither world and bring a Xapham demon to this world to

destroy the dark lords and to take over.

Calvus, Licnius is the current Imperio Consul and head of the Centurian government.

Cithianus was a skilled blacksmith and researcher working for the Centurian military in creating better

weapons and armor. His research leads him to develop a steel making technique similar to the dwarven steel.

Most presume his murder was because of his developing dwarven steel; however, he was targeted because of his

other improvements to the Centurian military equipment prior to the development of dwarven steel.

Cohortes Gilda Latro or Thieve’s Guild. A well-organized thieving operation they spread their thefts

around the city so that no one area was hit to hard or too often. Bribes paid to government officials kept the

Vigilis interest to a minimum.

Cohortes Vigilis (The Night Watch) is the constabulary organization that patrols Centuria City.

Originally found to fight fires there activates were expanded to include investigating crimes and arresting

criminals. There is one cohort (approximately 100 men) for each ward of the city or a nominal strength of 1400.

In an emergency they can call upon the ready legion outside the city for assistance. Fifty three men died in battle

trying to protect the public during the Night of the Zombies. Members of the Vigillis will provide all the help

they can to the player characters as they want revenge on the perpetrators.

Cult of the Dark Moon is a front for one of the branches of the Mortuus Conlegium They are

currently attempting to take over Centuria. They have a large temple in the under-city.

Cursor is the Director of the Centurian Intelligence Agency. A retired senator and close friend of

Licinius Calvus he was asked to take command of the IA.

Dark Lords are ancient demi-god like beings of great magical power. They were the master of Aire for

thousands of years until they were driven out by a young shepherd named Lucern, fourteen hundred years ago.

So long ago the stories are considered a myth in the present age. The Mortuus Conlegium managed to open a

gate to neither-world and thirteen dark lords were able to returned to Aire before the gate closed. The Mortuus

Conlegium foolishly thought they could control these ancient beings but in turn were taken over by the Dark


373

Lords. The dark lords led by Lucifer intend to take control of Aire and rule as they once did in the past. The

dark lords often ride ancient dragons. Lucifer rides a black dragon, Dracos rides a white dragon, Sytri rides a

purple dragon, Haagenti rides a black dragon, Forneus rides a blue dragon, Chemosh rides red dragon, Anzu

rides a green dragon, Yeqon is a black dragon, Armaros rides a green dragon, Mastema rides a brown dragon,

Suanggi rides a purple dragon, Belial rides a red dragon and Rusalka rides a blue dragon.

Derro are a race of half-human and half-dwarve, possibly the mix of evil humans and duergar but no

one knows for certain. They have been known to live and work with the dark elves. A group of twenty derro

have been hired by the Mortuus Conlegium to assassinate certain high government officials. Cithianus was their

first target. Other personnel targeted for assignation include Director Tylden, Director Cursor, Chairman Pera

and Imperio Consul Licinius Calvus.

Garth a high level necromancer working to cause chaos in Centuria City. He is a member of the

Mortuus Conlegium

Gratius is a young decanus (leader of a patrol) who tells of the death of Rubellius another constable that

was killed in a manner similar to Cithianus.

Gordian is a young fighter / thief. He was an apprentice of Nonus but got caught trying to steal from

the IA. He was given the choice of working for the IA or imprisonment and he choose to work for the IA.

Originally just a rogue he been training as a fighter. He is a member of ST9. He has also fallen in love with

Rowena.

Katrina is a bard and member of ST9. She was responsible for training IA recruits in using the

crossbow. She is the first woman to be assigned to a Shadow Team. She is fairly wealthy as her grandfather left

her a small estate within the city of Centuria.

Krone is an ancient seer who knows the location of the Crystal of Light. She appears to be middle aged

however she is Lucern’s granddaughter and is nearly fourteen hundred years old. She appears to Shandra and

tries to persuade her to give up the hunt for the Crystal of Light although she tell her where it is hidden.

Leopold is a prince of the Kingdom of Dumnonia and acting ambassador. He has become quite

attached to Katrina.

Mortuus Conlegium is an organization of necromancers formed in ancient times and continuing onto

the present. They are wizards who have perfected the art of raising the dead. The organization exist in most

countries and is not affiliated with any specific country although many Dark Elves from Svartalfhiem have

become necromancers. In most civilized countries the practice is considered evil and is banned and

necromancers have to remain hidden. In Centuria the practice of necromancy is punishable by death. Currently

the Mortuus Conlegium has allied itself with (or taken over by) the Dark Lords.


374

Nakula is a 8th level rogue working for Nonus.

Nicephorus is a necromancer who converted from being a warlock and became a member of the

Mortuus Conlegium and is a 3rd level necromancer. He is the Cult of the Dark Moon’s representative to deal

with the derro, which he hired to assassinate members of the public. He has alternated between important

members of the Centurian government and the public at large. The method they are using is to take a citizen

late at night to the under-city where they are killed and robbed. So far no one has connected the disappearance

of random citizens with the guild. Only the assassination of public figures like Cithianus has generated an

investigation.

Nezidera is a dark elf wizard specializing in necromancy. As a member of the Mortuus Conlegium she

has been assigned to the group of necromancers working to over throw the government of Centuria. She is also

half-sister to Onyx. Being the same age and being raised together she loves her brother and she is both fighting

against him and in her own way trying to save him by bringing him back into the fold. She is unable to

understand why he has turned against his family and the dark elves. In the end her deep love for Onyx will

cause her to betray everything she values.

Nonus is leader of the Cohortes Gilda Latro (Thieve’s Guild). A powerful individual he is nominally an

ally in that he will provide whatever intelligence he has gather on the Mortuus Conlegium He lost some of his

guild members in the Night of the Zombies. His guild has also been blamed for some of the robberies and acts

of sabotage against the Centurian military, which he knows his people did not do. He has an extensive under-

city headquarters.

Onyx is a half-human and half-dark elf. Ostracizes by the society of the dark elves and disgusted with

their evil practices and rituals he left their society and made his way to the east working in various jobs. Skilled

as a hunter he easily became a ranger. Because of his skills he came to the attention of the IA and was recruited.

A superior operative he quickly rose in rank and became leader of ST3. His team was assigned to protect a

visiting king’s daughter. They were attacked. Most of his team was killed in battle and he was badly wounded.

Surviving his wounds he was blamed he was blamed by some senators for the death of the consul’s daughter.

He was to be fired but instead was sent to a training unit. He stayed there for a few years until he was brought in

to lead a new team, ST9.

Pera is chairman of the Executive Council which advises Imperio Consul Licinius Calvus.

Rowena is a beautiful young woman who is primarily a healer. She is a cleric of Deus Unus. She is

daughter of the powerful senator Rufius. She choose to become a member of the IA and Rufius was able to

secure a place for her. Initially she acted as assistant to Director Tylden but was assigned to ST9 when that unit


375

was formed. Rowena is a bubbly happy person that sometimes makes mistakes but doesn’t let that get her

down. She also likes to show up late to work.

Rubellius is a constable murdered two weeks before Cithianus in a way that was similar to his murder.

It is obvious that the two murders were perpetrated by the same assailant.

Rufius is a well-respected senator of the republic. He has an estate about ½ days ride outside of

Centuria city.

Sarakana is a beautiful elf and Nonus assistant. She carries a jagged dagger and is an 8th level rouge and

a 3rd level fighter.

Seth a high level necromancer working to cause chaos in Centuria City. He is a member of the Mortuus

Conlegium

Shadow Teams are groups of specialist working for the IA as a team to perform undercover missions

in other countries. There were eight shadow teams until recently. Onyx was brought in as leader of the new

team ST9. Director Tylden has been authorized to create up to twenty teams after the Night of the Zombies.

Shandra is a young and beautiful wizard with huge potential. She is brought in as a member of Shadow

Team 9 to search for the Crystal of Light. She was selected because of her pure heart and dedication to Deus

Unus. She is the only person in the IA who can safely (relatively) touch the Crystal of Light. She immediately

falls in love with Onyx the leader of ST9, which leads to a great many complications. She also has a tendency to

disobey orders, which cause Onyx a great deal of trouble.

Sordello is a former knight and champion swordsman. He was Centuria’s undefeated champion

swordsman for ten years straight until he retired from the competition when he started working for the IA. He

was a member of ST7 but is recuperating from a battle injury. Nearly healed he has been reassigned to assist

Onyx in running ST9.

Tylden or Decius Tylden is Director of Special Operations for the Centurian Intelligence Agency. He

manages all of the Shadow Teams. Formally he was assistant director and prior to that leader of ST5 for many

years.

Xiltyn is the centurian in charge of the inner city ward of Cohortes Vigilis.


376

References & Comments

The following are borrowed images found on the internet. I am temporarily borrowing these images to help me create the characters and to create the story line. By the time I have a final release version of this document these pictures will be replaced by pictures that I will have commissioned by my students to draw for me like the one of Shandra created by David Luna. I trade David two anime expo tickets for a set of sailor moon drawings. Images used in this document are copyrighted by their respective owners.

1 Image retrieved from www.hangingoffthewire.com on 12/26/14. This image is just perfect for how I envision

Rowena. 2 Image retrieved from www.newdota-art.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archieve.html

On 09/25/14. This is just an amazing picture. Nezidera is a high level necromancer in the Mortuus Conlegium I found this picture on multiple web-sites. This picture is so amazing it actually caused me to change the role of this character in the story.

3 Image retrieved from www.warriorcatsrpg.com/index.php?topic=1066907.0 on 09/26/14. An image of Gordian a

rogue working for the IA.

4 Image retrieved from www.eclipseorigins.com/community/filehost/ a8fed6f2edc5e31c09399ee60a902b0e.jpg on 06/23/14. An image of a Night Watch patrol.

5 Image retrieved from http://archive.4plebs.org/tg/thread/25876708 on 09/29/14. An image of a wealthy merchant and business man. Most any picture but I like this as reminds me of Sir Walter

Drake. 6 Image retrieved from http://nord-sol.deviantart.com/art/Dwarf-female-200205563 on 06/23/14. An image of a

dwarf shop keeper. 7 Image of Lady Shandra drawn for me by David Luna in February 2013. 8 Image retrieved from http://www.allgamesbeta.com/2013/11/thief-stories-from-city-part-1-bassos.html on

06/23/14. This is how I image Nonus would look. 9 Image retrieved from http://www.dailyinspiration.nl/jason-chan-art/ on 09/30/14, artwork by Jason Chan. I

original found the image from another web-site but searching the image lead back to this site. This is an amazing drawing of an elf and is a perfect image of Sarakana.

10 Image retrieved from www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?281472-Wererats on 06/23/14. 11 Image retrieved from http://creativefan.com/grim-reaper-pictures/ on 10/09/14. 12 Image retrieved from http://www.3dartgallery.org/art/0907/Orc-Samurai/ on 12/02/14.

http://www.hangingoffthewire.com/

http://www.newdota-art.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archieve.html

http://www.warriorcatsrpg.com/index.php?topic=1066907.0

http://www.eclipseorigins.com/community/filehost/%20a8fed6f2edc5e31c09399ee60a902b0e.jpg

http://archive.4plebs.org/tg/thread/25876708

http://nord-sol.deviantart.com/art/Dwarf-female-200205563

http://www.allgamesbeta.com/2013/11/thief-stories-from-city-part-1-bassos.html

http://www.dailyinspiration.nl/jason-chan-art/

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?281472-Wererats

http://creativefan.com/grim-reaper-pictures/