```metadata title: 'ADVENTURE: A Touch of Black P8: Along Came The Spider' description: '' tags: [] systems: [] renderer: V3 theme: 5ePHB ``` ![Map](https://i.imgur.com/SuqOnd3.jpg){position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;width:816px;height:1057px} \page {{wide # Along Came the Spider ### A Touch of Black: Chapter 8 When the favors are done and prices paid there is an awkward span of time where one waits to see the horror filled manner in which a Hag fulfills her promises. That is the position our players find themselves in. They’ve completed the tasks and fulfilled the debts, and now put their own plans into motion in a desperate attempt to turn the tables. }} {{toc, - ## TABLE OF CONTENTS - #### [{{ SETUP INFORMATION}}{{ 2}}](#p3) - #### [{{ ACT 1: Preparation}}{{ 3}}](#p4) - #### [{{ ACT 2: Covenants}}{{ 6}}](#p7) - #### [{{ ACT 3: Entanglements}}{{ 7}}](#p8) - #### [{{ ACT 4: Reunions}}{{ 9}}](#p10) - #### [{{ CLOSING}}{{ 10}}](#p11) - #### [{{ OTHER CHAPTER LINKS}}{{ 11}}](#p12) - #### [{{ LORE AND MORE}}{{ 12}}](#p13) - #### [{{ MAPS}}{{ 20}}](#p21) }} : ### ADVENTURE MECHANICS - This Adventure is Part 8 of Many - Target Party: 4 Level 4 Adventures - Expected Playtime: 3+ Hours - Tone: Wedding Gone Wrong : ### STYLE "SHORT SHOT" A Short Shot is designed to give the GM a solid concept of what is going on inside of the adventure not just ideas. The Story will be well flushed out, including both Area and NPC descriptions, but will be more conceptual regarding things like encounters, rewards, and hazards. The Short Shot gives everything most GMs requires to lead a fantastic game. : ### PLAYING A.O.G. ADVENTURES AOG adventures are written and designed to be system neutral to avoid Copyright and IP conflicts or issues. They will lean toward a d20 system, particularly 5e D&D, but language referencing specific creature types, treasures, and environments may be more generic or cast in my Homebrew World. All of which should be easily imported into any system of your choosing. I also write and do a lot of things in my own style. This link leads to an [Appendices](https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/mycj8rDJGKXG) of notes and my thoughts on mechanics to help GMs and Players understand what I may mean by certain phrases and ideas, as well as helpful links to our own source materials. :::: ### ABOUT HORROR GAMES An effective Horror game can be a trick to run and takes different skills than the average DM employs from game to game. It is my favorite style of game to run, and has been for forty years, so I have some suggestions for you, which you can find in the [Appendices](https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/mycj8rDJGKXG) . ## What is The AOG? It started 40ish years ago. I still remember the day my cousin brought out this thin blue book with a white sketched dragon on its cover and a pile of strange dice. He told eight year old me that we were going to play a game where I could be anything I wanted (as long as it was an elf, dwarf, human, or halfling). I immediately developed that love of bringing people along on journey after journey, and through all the moments and four decades of playing, the trip has never lost its wonder. : Now, I think we are best described as a network of Table Top Role Playing Gamers (Mostly D&D). I had been sharing my work online for some time but decided in April 2021 to open a Patreon and Discord. Honestly, I knew I was behind the Patreon Train, but it made sense as a platform. I’m not interested in money, but I am interested in sharing with and helping others in the hobby. So I run the site 100% free of any paywalls. More like a Digital Magazine than a Patreon. : Over a year in and we’ve grown quite a bit. We host One Shots through the Discord. I do a lot of requests for our supporters and some commission work. I coach many of our subscribers regularly on DMing and fantasy cartography. My son helps write our “Year One” series which are adventures designed for entry level DMs and players, and we use our content to run an after school Jr High Group. We even support a podcast my youngest son and I lend our voices to. It has been a busy year. : ### Contact us : [PATREON](https://www.patreon.com/amplusordogames) Amplus Ordo Games

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[FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/Amplusordogames) Yeah we know... Facebook... {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page ## SETUP INFORMATION

### Town of Tragedies Guidebook This adventure is part 8 of 12, and will put your players on a collision course with a Elder Being and designed to be used with the Town of Tragedies Guide, which isn’t necessary, but referenced often.

[A TOWN OF TRAGEDIES GUIDE](https://www.patreon.com/posts/62746174)

### Trigger Warning Horror Games often deal with Triggering topics. This episode deals with a wedding happening under less than ideal circumstances and likely with family not 100% on board. Having officiated nearly 100 Weddings myself, that beautiful day is often very stressful. Not to mention spider people... vampiric spider people. ### Story Flow Persephone has been physically restored, thanks to the deal with Cynthia, but she doesn’t believe herself free of the Hag’s machinations. Still there is little else she can do but move forward with her plan. She intends to put herself in the open as bait. She understands the danger, but is relying on the players to take care of anything that goes wrong. When is a better word. When something goes wrong… Her plans are so bold in fact, that she plans on holding a public wedding next week as bait.

In the meantime she has the players tasked with preparation work. They’ll be doing everything from running mundane errands to making sure that important security measures are in place. The wedding will be held at her fiance’s country estate just outside of town to the West. The area is fairly exposed and will need some work to be defended well. Furthermore, the guest list is extensive and likely to expand. Cynthia is not going to take that particular bait, although she and her sisters will be in attendance, but in alternate forms. She is there to close a deal with another individual. Marsilia. Who should be acting strange for the past week. It will be easy to pass this off as her “reacting” to Persephone gaining back her health, which leaves Marsilia in a strange place. But the truth is the Hand Maid made a deal of her own before Persephone was even aware of Cynthia the Hag.

She is about to bear the full weight of that agreement. Marsilia wants her family back, and made an earlier deal with Cynthia to resurrect them. They died in the same pox that took Persephone’s eyes and left her crippled. She has done her best to keep Cynthia from hurting Persephone in the deal, and Cynthia has played into that game. However, Marsilla’s house of cards is about to come tumbling down. The real problems will begin before the ceremony and culminate after the Reception, once guests have settled in for the night. The adventure will close with a showdown between Marsilla, her undead family, and the party. ### Game Opening and Hooks - **Campaign:** Things are coming to a head for the adventurers. Cynthia is about to make her play by forcing Marsillia to fulfill her end of their agreement. - **One Shot:** The Group is hired as protection for a Nobel’s wedding. There is likely to be trouble and they are to prevent any problems. - **One Shot Alternative:** The Group plans to infiltrate a Noble's wedding to engage in a heist at the estate where it is being held. ### Mood Things hidden away. Moments covered in darkness. The unknowable. Secrets. Mysteries. Echoes of the past long thought forgotten. These are the bedrock of Deleran’s Crossing. Beyond every door. Behind the curtains. Under every stone. Locked in the backroom. Chained in the cellar. Politely veiled evils covered by swollen sad eyes and wryly smiling lips. There are few, if any, places in the city that have corners empty of shadow or closets sans skeletons. Now in most cases these private wickednesses remain buried but not forgotten. In most cases… Those that live here, know there are those rare and wretched moments where what was thought long lost has gently come rapping, so faintly it comes tapping, tapping at the chamber door. It shall be hidden nevermore.

### Madness, Sanity. and Trauma Madness, Sanity. and Trauma These adventures often deal with Madness and Insanity in the NPCs. For the PCs I have introduced Madness issues and a Sanity Mechanic to the campaign in this episode. Coming face to face with inexplicable horror does things to the mind, and that should not be lost on your players. It is 100% optional, and if it in any way makes you or your players uncomfortable you should not use it. You can check out the mechanic I use in the [Appendices](https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/mycj8rDJGKXG) .

## LORE AND MORE I try to include all relveant information in brief upfront and more thought out at the end of the Module. This section will usually include deeper info on NPCs, Locations, Maps. ### Important Locations

#### Balinovia and the City of Beurnoli The Stolregard Barony carved out of the heart of an dark old growth forest known as the Graywood. Deleran’s Crossing is the ruling seat of the Barony. It is a poverty stricken, dying city, rotting from the inside out. #### The Barony and Deleran’s Crossing This is Persephone’s home, and worth mentioning as a backdrop to her life. Balinovia has an Italian feel to it, particularly when it comes to social and familial culture. {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page ### NPCs

#### Lady Persephone Trellu The player’s Adventuring Patron. She is a noblewoman new to town looking to extend her family’s power. #### Marsilia Baralini Persephone’s Handmaiden and personal bodyguard. #### Oma Sindy Spinsister (Cynthia)

#### Hag of the Night Circle Oma and her sisters are ancient and powerful hags who settled into the Stolegard forest around Deleran’s Crossing and have staked a major claim on the land. Sindy moves about the city in the form of Cynthia Duprang, a kindly middle aged woman. #### Vaemond Maleris, Second Son of the Maleris Family of Coldrock Vaemond is a pleasant young man with dashing features, deep brown eyes, a finely trimmed black mustache, and dark swept back hair. He is a dutiful son to both family and business, and has been courting Persephone for some time now and will have proposed marriage the night before the adventure begins. #### Don Galvini Trellu Persephone's father has come to town. He is a thicker human man in his mid fifties. And while not physically intimidating he casts a long shadow and has an imposing presence. Back in Balinovia he is infamous a Maffioso ad force to be rekoned with. Here in Deleran's Crossing is is simply a wealthy father who does not care much for his future son in law.

## PRE-GAME

### Story Arcs This arc leads us to the tragic end of Marsilia and sets the stage for Persephone’s. A few other Arcs could come into play here if you’ve built them up. But that’s entirely up to you. They’ve met a lot of people by now and likely made some enemies. These NPCs could be at the wedding. The final encounter is designed to be extremely taxing, and if you think it will be too much you could have someone come to the rescue, as it is likely that the Gray Griffons, The Guivere Family, will be in attendance.

Persephone should trust the players by now, unless they've been extremely difficult. Either way, Pre-Game she will explain to the deal for her to be healed was to offer up her first born child. So that leaves them nine months, if she gets pregnant right away, but she hopes to stop the Hag at her wedding. Cynthia arranged the marriage afterall, so Persephone doesn't believe for a moment that she will be far away. I will leave Aberant Black out of this episode, but will be very present for Persephone tragic conclusion in the next chapters.

**Retcons:** A couple of things I’ve noticed in hindsight. As of writing this chapter I really feel like I didn’t encourage you enough to hint at Marsilia’s unraveling. It’s a hard thing though, too much and there is no surprise. Not enough, and it will feel forced. I’m also changing the connections back with Aberrant Black and the child as well as Cynthia’s motivations for rescuing the infant. They will be much more entangled moving forward. A quick rewrite of parts of the last episode will flesh some of that out. If you missed out on that then you may have to do some creative reworking in that regard. Or just drop the hammer and blame me. ### Tier of Play The players should be Level 5 (Tier Two or “Skilled Adventurers”), They will need that power bump before starting this adventure if they didn't get it last time. The Vamp-Spiders at the end of this adventure are serious Business. Also, make sure they are properly geared at this point. If they're lacking in equipemtn have Don Galvini reward them for protecting Persephone thus far.

*These adventures are designed using Milestone Experience. So if you are counting numbers then they may or may not be there yet. If you are unfamiliar with that concept, it is basically rewarding them equally for achieving certain goals in the main avenues adventures take - Exploration, Social Interaction, and Combat. I find it gives the GM a lot more wiggle room when it comes to Adventure Design and encounter planing. Buy you play how you want!*

: ### OPENING CUT-SCENE

{{monster,frame ### The Whisperer ##### The large hairy spider scurries across the cavern ceiling. It pauses and attaches a web to the ceiling before spinning a line and descending toward a hooded figure working over a table strewn with several macabre looking arcane ingredients. In the center of those ingredients is a Baby’s Rattle. The wholesome looking toy feels woefully out of place surrounded by skulls, bat wings, and bowls of vile liquids. The figure is uncomfortably shaped with odd protrusions in wrong places. Humanoid by the look but there is an unusual bulk to their figure and an oddness to their movements. The spider, with the grace of a skilled ballerina crawls onto the figure’s shoulder, who seems not to notice. It creeps toward the cowl of the cloak and slips inside. }} {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page ## ACT 1: Preparation It’s wedding week! Persephone and crew will be traveling to Vaemond's family home west of town. Once there the players will engage in whatever mundane tasks you see fit. This is a great opportunity to weave a little fun into the story, which is always a welcome reprieve, and since this is about to get real dark real fast, they’re going to need it. I recommend them having to secure drinks and food from weird local vendors, as well as forcing them to help decorate the area. Afterward they will need to make certain that the area is secure. Once the preparations are made the guest will begin to arrive. Persephone’s mobster family will certainly be here, and hopefully the players will have some personal backstory connections to NPCs that would be invited. Particularly if those connections are dysfunctional and messy. After any uncomfortable interactions have played out, the chapter ends with guests being seated. {{monster,frame ### The Grounds ##### You arrive at the Maloris Estate early in the morning. The sun has only crested the Stolregards by a half hour. As the carriages clamber up the cobbled driveway you take note of the grounds. A large manor house some three stories with gargoyle guarded high peaked rooflines. There numerous trees some likely centuries old planted around the yard in a cultivated pattern. The grounds are well kept and the Manor House is in fair condition. A Carriage House sits off in the Southwest corner and a tall stone wall topped with iron spikes encircles the grounds giving a sense of security. Several wagons laden with goods and outdoor furnishings sit under the trees along the Western wall. You’re going to have a lot to do over the next few days. }} ##### SKILL CHALLENGE: Unpack And Set Up

This challenge is designed to last the next few days. In many ways it only exists to make the area look really special and get the players to relax their guard a little. ##### EVENT: Security Protocols

The players will be able to set up any security they see fit. To some degree this is a moot issue as there won’t be any real dangers till later in the adventure. However, you never know what they’re going to do, so if you can find a way to make their security measures useful, that’ll be rewarding for them. Being that their efforts are likely to not be real fruitful I wouldn’t spend a lot of time here. \column ##### SKILL CHALLENGE: Deal With Guests

Relatable Sidebar… I’ve conducted almost 100 weddings at this point in my life. Guests are the worst, and sadly often have minimal consideration for the couple or the other guests. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had to remove drunk people from the reserved seating sections. So we’re going to lean into some of that behavior for this skill challenge. There will be several rude and entitled people causing whatever problems you can create. The players will have to succeed in dealing with them before they cause a scene. ## ACT 2: Covenants Weddings are funny things. They never ever go perfectly. What makes them perfect is the couple getting married. Not any bells or whistles and definitely not the guests. Almost no one other than the Bride and Groom ever notice anything amiss about the day. This wedding ceremony will be no different, and will go off without any easily noticeable hitches. But there are absolutely minor hitches. Several things will happen throughout the event that the players might pick up on. Overall though, it will be a lovely ceremony and the bride will refuse to let anything ruin her day. ##### EVENT: The Imperfect Ceremony

The event will play out in a typical wedding format, with a few tweaks just to add some flair to make the Ceremony part feel more unique. During the ceremony the players may notice odd things. I have listed these below. In my imagination the wedding will begin with a typical processional and bride give away. There will be a small fire burning at the altar around which the couple and priest will gather. The Priest will do a blessing and the couple will make vows and exchange rings. They will then be given a lantern and some lighting sticks by Marsilia (Maid of Honor Role) the couple will then light the lantern which will be held aloft by the priest during the final blessings. Once that blessing has been completed the crowd will sing a hymn. At the conclusion of the song the couple will hold hands and circle the fire ten times. They are then considered married, and the recessional will begin. Everyone will clap. Feel free to add minor hitces here. Best man can't find the ring because a player has it. Candles blow out. Someone chokes on a candy... cell phones... pctures... oh wait this is fantasy not my reality. : #### Things they may notice.

- Before the ceremony, while the Guests are being Seated a Hard DC Perception Check can spot Marsilia and another woman far off to the side, Very Hard Insight Check to see that she looks upset. - They may notice, with a Medium Perception Check, that three women do not rise when the Bride comes down the isle. If they noticed Marslia interacting with the woman above they will recognize one of the three as that woman. {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page - During the Bride Giveaway a Hard Religion Check can be made to notice that Don Giovani says “Her mother and I do. as Agreed” in response to “Who gives these young people to be married to one another?” The Fiance's Parents simply say “His Mother and I” as is tradition. - During the exchange of Rings, a Very Hard Insight Check will catch a sad glance between the Groom and another man in the crowd. - As the Priest holds up the Lantern the white candle will slowly turn black and smoke more than expected. A Hard Perception Check will reveal this during the ceremony, afterward no check is necessary if they mention they want to look at the lantern for some reason. - They may notice with another Medium Perception Check, that those three women three women, again do not rise when the couple walks down from the altar area. If they noticed Marsilia interacting with the woman above they will recognize one of the three as that woman. - They may also notice, with a Hard Insight Check, Don Galvini casting a look of disdain toward the father of the Groom after the ceremony. - As the reception begins they may notice with an easy Perception Check that Marisila is not around. - If they go looking for the woman Marsilia was talking to earlier, she too will be nowhere to be found. ##### EVENT: Rowdy Guests

There is always some sort of “disruption” at a wedding. Most are mild. A cousin calls the Bride by the Groom’s old girlfriend’s name. A family member has way to much to drink and needs to be encouraged to call it a night. A fight breaks out. Some morons get engaged at someone else’s wedding. (Super rude Faux Pas, don’t do it. If you did it and didn’t know… now you do, so go apologize) So go ahead and pick a few episodes that they need to help resolve. ## ACT 3: Entanglements Eventually the party will die down, and guests will either begin to leave and head home or they will retire to the interior of the estate. Weddings here are daytime affairs, as most people do not like being outside once the sun sets. The Bride and Groom will head off to the interior with their immediate families for the evening meal and then to their room to do wedding night things! The Party will be able to post up outside the dining room of the estate and will be served there. This will happen very calmly and should all be played out without danger in order to remove tensions from earlier. They may be very concerned with Marsilia’s absence. If they question Persephone about it, she will share their concern, but also tell them that Marsilia struggles with weddings due to her own personal losses. She may simply be alone somewhere working through her feelings. But she is not…

Marsilia has gone to the attic to receive her “reward” from Cynthia. Her son and husband have been returned to her, unfortunately they’ve been restored as Spidery Vampire-like undead and not as the people they once were. Marsilia went to meet with them and was attacked and turned. To put them closer to this trail, some passing servants will be talking about how someone has lit a candle in the attic window. Or if they’re out and about they can spot it themselves.

{{monster,frame ### The Steadiness of Time ##### The hour has grown quite late. You’ve settled into the nightly rhythm of watches and patrols. The other house guards make the job easier in some ways, but more complicated in others. They’re another set of eyes and ears, but they’re obviously not up to the dangers you know are lurking out there. Creaking floors and the scurrying of small rodents behind walls form the core words of a language spoken by older homes that seem to come alive in the late hours. Everything here feels antique, even the obviously newer furnishings, walking the halls is like a stroll through the past. It lulls you into a sense of longevity. A feeling that things never really end. It is peaceful despite the struggles around you. }} - It is late at night, most are sleeping. They will begin to hear screaming from the attic - They will find Marsilia's body entangled in Webs and drained of blood. There will also be two corpses wrapped up in webs. A Man and a Child. - She will be covered in Spiders and there will be a Black Candle being held by Marsilia’s ghost, which will be floating off in the back. {{monster,frame ### Screams in the Night ##### That peace is short lived, and shattered during the second watch of the evening, just past midnight. The candle in the window. Cynthia. You race upstairs. A scream pierces the air. It comes from somewhere above you. You meet Persephone and Veamond in the Hall peeking from their chambers. You wave her back in as another scream this one far more guttural pierces the air. Two household guards race toward you down the hallway asking for direction. There is a heavy thud on the floor above you. }} {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page {{monster,frame ### Marsilia ##### Before you is a blizzard of webwork. The entire area of the attic is choked with the spinnings of spiders. Hanging half cocooned in webbing just beyond the doorway is the body of Marisilia. Her mouth hands open in a vissage of terror as dozens of spiders crawl about her emaciated looking corpse. Hundreds more skitter about the attic thickening the area with more webbing. Just beyond Marsilia are two more humanoid shaped cocoons, one adult sized and the other half that. Just beyond them, through a small tunnel in the webs, almost as if it were designed to create a window to it, is a black candle being held aloft by a twisted apparition of Marisilia. }} ## ACT 4: Reunions They've spotted the ghost of Marsilia standing with the candle screaming. It will be much louder than it should be. She will then fade and the candle will float to a window sill. Looking at Marsilia, she is webbed up and covered in thousands of spiders which have all been feeding on her. She is very much dead. They will also spot two web-like cocoons, the hiding places of the other Vamp-Spiders. The scream will have attracted Persephone to the attic and who will arrive once the players begin to examine Marsilia. When Persephone arrives Marsilia’s eyes, as well as a dozen spider-like ones that form in this moment, will pop open. She will leap to attack Persephone. The Candle will flair brightly and an old woman’s raspy voice will be heard laughing from somewhere. When the combat resolves itself the attackers will turn into webs and thousands of little spiders and scurry away. As the fighting ends the candle will go out. ##### ENCOUNTER: Vamp-Spiders Using the stat block of a Lesser Vampire or Vampire Spawn as a base we’re going to add some spider powers to these creatures and swap their damage type to poison. They can spray a 15’ line of web as a bonus action which recharges on a 5-6 on a d6. There webs restrain those who are in the stream. A Medium Difficulty Strength Save to avoid being restrained. When dropped to 0hp these creatures explode into webs in a 10’ radius and thousands of miniature spiders. The area will become difficult terrain as the spiders scurry away back to their new lair… Cynthia’s lair. Tactically, these creatures will be driven to attack/capture Persephone. Marsila in particular will be screaming things like “Betrayer”, “Murderer”, and “This is your doing!” type stuff. If they cannot reach her, they will attack anything in their way. ## CLOSING There will obviously be a great amount of uneasiness. Persephone will have recognized Marsilia’s husband and son and so the party may strongly press her for answers. She will tell them all she knows except that it was her first deal with Cynthia that got Aunt Zatanna killed. They may also want to track down Cynthia and end her, but that is going to have to wait… there are other matters to attend to. Persephone is going to fall ill almost immediately afterward. They may attribute it to the stress of the situation and of the ordeal with Marsilia, but there is more to it, much more. They won't know it until next episode but she is supernaturally pregnant and the baby is coming… soon. ### REWARDS This chapter ends very abruptly and will immediately flow into the next one. They will hardly have a moment for a Short Rest let alone to worry about rewards. Still, They will deserve something. Don Galvini could arrive shortly after the battle while Persephone is being taken to somewhere more "private" as the baby in her is growing rapidly. He could give the players some boons to aid them in what ever is coming next. The rebirth of the avatar prepared for Aberrant Black.

: ## The End #### The Story Will Continue in #### "Aberrant Born”

{{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page {{wide

# THANKS FOR PLAYING : **I do want to take one last moment to sincerely thank you for playing an AOG Adventure. It means a lot to me as a creator. If you enjoyed it please leave me some comments on wherever you found this adventure. You can support more content like this by subscribing to our Patreon. [AMPLUS ORDO GAMES](https://www.patreon.com/amplusordogames)** ::::: ### DELERAN'S CROSSING CAMPAIGN GUIDE : #### [A Town of Tragedy Campaign Guide](https://www.patreon.com/posts/supplement-town-62746174) ::: ### A TOUCH OF BLACK ADVENTURE CAMPAIGM : #### [Warehouse of Woe](https://www.patreon.com/posts/63188187) : #### [Condemned](https://www.patreon.com/posts/64929203) : #### [The Haunting of House Trellu](https://www.patreon.com/posts/adventure-of-of-65802400) : #### [Black Taxes](https://www.patreon.com/posts/adventure-black-68566623) : #### [A Candle In The Window](https://www.patreon.com/posts/adventure-candle-69463504) : #### [The Shadows of Song Dell](https://www.patreon.com/posts/adventure-of-71110441) : #### [Pitiful Little Things](https://www.patreon.com/posts/adventure-little-78222065) : #### Along Came The Spider : #### JUNE 2023: Aberrant Born ::::::::::::::::::::::: ### ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To the Long History of Open Gaming that allows our adventures to be written system neutral.

Original story written by Amplus Ordo Games

All Maps and Handouts were done by Designers at AOG using Inkarnate

PDF Formatting done using The Homebrewery

}} {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page {{wide

: # LORE AND MORE ## Notes, Lore, Stories, Handouts, Maps, & Statblocks : D&D is a complicated dance of information and imagination. I've often found a lot of trouble seeing someone else's vision in what they have written. Having put out dozens of adventures now, we at the AOG have figured out that what we see isn't always what you see. And while that is absolutely wonderful when it spawns creativity... it is absolutely tragic when it breeds confusion. You probably won't find sections like these in our "Year One" or "Quick Shot" Adventures, as those are designed to flow without a lot of extra information. But when it comes to our Bigger Releases we'll typically include quite a bit of extra information to bring some clarity to our thinking, to further expand on our vision, and hopefully add fuel to your own. Some of the things below probably won't change from module to module. Things like the House Rules and How I structure the AOG's Adventures. Other parts like Maps and Statblocks will change every Adventure. I think that's about all you need to know about this section. And as always Thank You for playing with us! }}

![Background Map](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/826264445461856256/934115071037177866/Background_Map.jpg) {position:absolute;top:-200px;right:-603px;width:2350px;height:1800px} {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page # NPCs

### Lady Persephone of House Trellu of Balinovia House Trellu is a powerful Noble family in the nation of Balinovia, the city of Beurnoli specifically. They, like most nobles, maintain their wealth by owning land and collecting rent. The recent passing of a cousin who held both land and title in Deleran’s Crossing has opened some interesting doors for them. Balinovia is at war with the Blood Axe Orcs to the North and their chances of keeping the Orcs at bay are not good. Barnabus Trellu, the current head of House Trellu has sent his eldest daughter Persephone to manage the properties and put them in an order worthy of House Trellu. Persephone is a remarkable woman in many ways. As an infant she contracted the Pox, a disease that ravaged her body leaving her blind, and confined to a wheelchair. She has never let her disabilities define her. Now in her mid twenties, she has a sharp mind and a remarkable insight. She has proven herself time and again in both social situations and business. She has a no nonsense personality, that some consider cold and calculating. She is a fine looking woman of natural beauty, but does not allow Marsilia, her handmaid, to apply makeup or do anything more than a simple braid with her hair. She wears a simple scarlet blindfold to cover her eyes, as their empty pale milky color often puts people off, and not in a way that benefits negotiations.

**Potential Dark Secret:** Persephone does not have many desires. She accepted her life as a child and does not often live with wishes or regrets. She does, however, have one. She wants children herself, but her physicians have informed her that such a thing is impossible. The Pox took that from her as well. Still, the heart wants what the heart wants. Shortly, before her Aunt’s death she received a letter from her. That letter hinted that someone in Deleran’s Crossing had the power to help her conceive a child, maybe even recover fully. Shortly afterward, another letter appeared. This one from an unknown sender. It claimed that they could indeed help Persephone, but blood would have to be spilled, beginning with her Aunt. If she was willing to earn her cure then she should put a black candle in the window and burn the letter at midnight. : She hasn’t fooled herself into thinking this arrangement isn’t without danger. She knows the force behind it is likely a Fiend or a Hag. No matter, one week later a candle had been purchased, a letter burned, and Auntie Zanetta passed away unexpectedly. Persephone has come to do family business, and with any luck start one of her own.

**DM Notes:** Persephone is a main protagonist for the early adventures in A Town of Tragedy. There should be a certain amount of mystery surrounding her, enough to create suspicion but not so much that the players turn on her. I will be using her Dark Secret as the story builds, but intend for her to be more of a tragic figure as things develop. ### Marsilia Baralini When one uses the word Handmaiden it conjures pictures of young maidens in plain dresses attending much older women. In this case the picture is turned about. Marsilia has been many things to Persephone Trellu. Nursemaid, Nanny, Governess, and Handmaiden. She is a middle aged woman of proper bearing. She holds herself as a lady of class, although she has no claim to any titles herself. She has been a loyal servant to the Trellu family since she was a scullery maid in their kitchens as a child. She was married a long time ago, but the same Pox that took Persephone’s eyes and legs stole her husband and two children. She has always looked after Persephone as her own, and has never let that attachment show in an inappropriate way. She is also the young woman’s personal bodyguard, Handmaidens in Balinovia are not simply responsible for dresses and makeup. They are trained combatants responsible for protecting their charges with their very lives. : **Potential Dark Secret:** Marsilia was contacted by the Hag before Aunt Zanetta’s letter arrived. Zanetta had no intention of luring Persephone into a contract with a Hag, but the vile creature was made aware of the situation and decided to take advantage. Afterall, broken hearts are the most fertile grounds for empty promises. Marsilia was promised a second chance with her family. She has made that arrangement. Though the price for her family is steep and may be more than she can bear. Marsilia is to help the Hag lure Persephone into a soul forfeiting deal. Once done, Marsilia and her family will be restored and allowed to carry on with their lives in a demi-plane recreation of Beurnoli before the Pox came. : **DM Notes:** Marsilia is in way over her head, but so far is holding the course. There should be minimal hinting at her Dark Secret until the actual reveal. She is truly torn by this decision, and will still fight desperately to keep Persephone safe. She still thinks of her as a daughter, but she still wants her family back. So the loyalty is one part needing Persephone alive and one part actually caring. Either way Marsilia is not slotted for a happy ending. {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page ### Old Oma Sindy Spinsister, Hag of The Night Circle Oma and her sisters are ancient and powerful hags who settled into the Stolegard forest around Deleran’s Crossing after the Pentad War. When the Weave Drought took magic from the hands of mortals their coven infiltrated the City and began doing what Hags do best, broker deals with beings whose wants outgrow their sensibilities. The hags have divided up the aspects of the city amongst themselves. Oma, is the Hag of the Downtrodden. She loves to dwell in the ruins of the city and walk through the sewers below. Oma usually takes the form of Cynthia Duprang, a middle aged woman from the lower aristocracy. Cynthia is an average looking human woman with dishwater blond hair with small streaks of gray forming. She has dull green eyes, a welcoming smile, and the healthy, yet attractive, figure of a woman who has led a full life. Cynthia is extremely disarming and pleasant to be around. : **Potential Dark Secret:** Not as much a dark secret as a terrifying reality. Oma’s true form is the stuff of nightmares. She, like most hags, has many features of the stereotypical folklore witch. A bent posture, wrinkly warted skin, long scraggly gray hair. But that is where the similarities end. She has four arms and four legs. Her hands and feet each have eight digits. Four fingers where you would expect them and four more opposite her palm where a normal beings wrist would connect to the hand. Her wrists instead join at the back of her palm and can unnaturally rotate. She wears a filthy black silken gown that does not cover her sagging granny bits, and a ratty belt from which numerous pouches hang. Beneath he scant wardrobe one can clearly see a spider like spinneret in her lower abdomen. She has twelve eyes scattered across forehead and arachnid mandibles in place of a mouth. She typically crawls about on all eight limbs, but is just as quick when she rears up on her legs in order to cast spells. Her skin is a dark decomposing gray color and covered in countless pussing wounds where multiple spider colonies nest inside of her. She can naturally climb walls as the spell *spider climb* and can attack anyone within 5' of her with the spiders living in her as a free action in a similar fashion to the *infestation* spell. ### Vaemond Maleris, 2nd Son of the Maleris Family of Coldrock Vaemond is a pleasant young man with dashing features, deep brown eyes, a finely trimmed black mustache, and dark swept back hair. He is a dutiful son to both family and business, and has been courting Persephone for some time now and will have proposed marriage the night before the adventure begins. \column ### Don Galvini Trellu Persephone’s father has come to town. He is a thicker human man in his mid fifties. And while not physically intimidating he casts a long shadow and has an imposing presence. Back in Balinovia he is infamous a Maffioso ad force to be rekoned with. Here in Deleran’s Crossing is is simply a wealthy father who does not care much for his future son in law. ## NPC Group

### THE NIGHT CIRCLE There are few things more unsettling or more dangerous in the world than a coven of powerful Hags. There is no doubt that there is such a coven lurking in and pulling the strings on the town of Deleran’s Crossing. They have divided the area amongst themselves and each controls a different aspect of the city. One manages the forests around Deleran’s Crossing, her reach extending far beyond the immediate woodlands, from there she twists the natural into the unnatural. Another has embedded herself into the upper class, aristocracy, and leadership of the town, loving the backstabbing and treachery people in power engage in. The last has happily chosen the downtrodden souls whose misery she revels in, and takes great pleasure in compounding. Together they form the coven the locals whisper about as the Night Circle. The people are terrified of the coven, though no real proof of its existence has ever been presented. They simply know and understand that such things lurk in their shadows. Children are warned against making wishes, and adults dare not speak dark desires out loud. Those who commit dark deeds often watch over their shoulders. But the truth is, although the coven loves to take advantage of such situations, and will happily bargain with those who desire their help, they are often far more subtle than the citizens would imagine. They play long games of influence and debt and have their claws deep into the hearts of the people, who are oftentimes completely unaware. {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page # LOCATIONS

### The Stolregard Barony and Deleran’s Crossing Let us begin with the Nation itself. Once a thriving part of Cetnovia, The Barony was founded long ago after land and title for the Eastern forests of Cetnovia were granted to Deleran Callington as reward for stopping the Kren Empire from using the Throne of Bones to dominate Cetnovia. It was later split off from Cetnovia after some near cataclysmic disasters. Nestled in the rocky foothills and valleys of the Stolregard mountains, the barony is a land with deep old growth forests. It was once a shining jewel in the world but centuries of struggle have dimed its light. The Gray Wood is now filled with dark creatures and foreboding mystery.

The Capital City of Stolregard, Deleran’s Crossing is nestled deep in the foothills of the Stolregard Mountains and surrounded by dark and foreboding Gray Wood forest. Even in these late years and dark times it is still a sight to behold. The city is built upon a cliffed island surrounded by a series of ridges and dells cut out of the land by the Cold Rock River. The ruling seat, Castle Skystone, sits just above the higher points of the city on a plateau along the town’s northern edge. At first glance Deleran’s Crossing appears to be something out of a storybook, upon closer inspection it more closely resembles a Shakespearean tragedy. Being a resident here is difficult, and life is pretty dismal. Despair and hopelessness are as common in town as rats and roaches. Low level violence and petty crime are a daily occurrence. The people do what they have to do to survive both physically and emotionally. \column : ### The Nation of Balinovia And The City of Beurnoli This is Persephone’s home, and worth mentioning as a backdrop to her life. Balinovia has an Italian feel to it, particularly when it comes to social and familial culture. Sadly, it is a land of extreme selfishness, most everyone there is looking out for themselves first and themselves second. And who could blame them? The nation is run by a former Pirate who wrangled the nobility under his thumb with the promises of riches or blood. They chose riches. It likely won’t last though. There are tens of thousands of Orcs from the Blood Axe Dominion building up on their northern borders. Balinovia has managed to keep them at bay thus far, but sooner or later the Orcs will break the lines and sweep through the land.

Buernoli is a good sized city of tens of thousands nestled on the north side of the Thundering River, and is a valuable industrial center, and produces much of the nations arms and armor. The surrounding area is hilly and rich with minerals, though most of the major mining operations are across the river in the mountains. It is covered with small farms producing grain and livestock. There are also a fair amount of vineyards here, though the land isn’t as well suited to growing grapes as the towns to the southwest are. It would be extremely picturesque if it weren’t for the pollution. Buernoli itself is filthy, the streets are filled with trash from large amount of industry that dominates the town. The waste has tainted the river and forges have filled the sky with smoke. The wealthy live well outside the city in hillside villas where they can ignore the decay happening in town. {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ![Map](https://i.imgur.com/ZyddBlN.jpg) {position:absolute;top:20px;right:30px;width:750px} {{wide # The Stolregard Barony

### ##### NOTES

Once a thriving part of Cetnovia, The Barony was founded long ago after land and title for the Eastern forests of Cetnovia were granted to Deleran Callington as reward for stopping the Kren Empire from using the Throne of Bones to dominate Cetnovia. It was later split off from Cetnovia after some near cataclysmic disasters. Nestled in the rocky foothills and valleys of the Stolregard mountains, the barony is a land with deep old growth forests. It was once a shining jewel in the world but centuries of struggle have dimed its light. The Gray Wood is now filled with dark creatures and foreboding mystery.

### }} ### INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS

1) CASTLE SKYSTONE (HR) 2) THE CHAMBER OF VOICES (HR) 3) THE CITY WATCHTOWER (HS) 4) FORT CALLINGTON (HR) 5) THE LABOR HOUSE (HS) 6) CROSSING’S SCHOOLHOUSE (HS) 7) THE SWORDS OF STOLREGARD (HR) 8) DELERAN’S CROSSING UNIVERSITY (HR) 9) WELLSTONE SANITARIUM (HR) 10) ST MARTIN’S CATHEDRAL (HR) 11) ST REMIGIUS’ (HS) 12) THE GRAVEYARD (HS) 13) ESMAY CALLINGTON ORPHANAGE (HS) 14) THE COLD ROCK PORT (HS) 15) THE TENACIOUS STUDIO (HS) ### NEIGHBORHOODS & AREAS

16) THE BRONZE HALL (HS) 17) CROWN MEADOWS (OT) 18) DURRAND WINERY AND VINEYARDS (OT) 19) THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT (HS) 20) MARKET SQUARE (HS) 21) THE BARREN ORCHARD (HS) 22) BEGGAR’S HIGHWAY (HS) 23) THE DOWNS (HS) 24) THE SEWERS (OT) 25) ROADSIDE (OT) 26) SWIFT MARSH (OT) 27) GALVIN’S POND (OT) ### TAVERNS & ENTERTAINMENT

28) THE COPPER CROSSING (HR) 29) DURRAND’S TAPROOM (HR) 30) FERUCHI’S GALLERY (HR) 31) HILLSIDE INN AND TAVERN (HS) 32) THE CRIMSON CURTAIN (HS) 33) THE TRAVELER’S TALE (HS) ### OTHER LOCATIONS

34) CALLINGTON PARK (HR) 35) ALGREN’S TOWER (HR) 36) THE CROWN THEATER (HR) 37) ABANDONED DOCKS (OT) 38) ABRITROM QUARRY (OT) 39) STANDING STONES (OT) 40) TOWER RUINS (OT) 41) HILLSIDE GATEHOUSES (HS) 42) THE DURRAND ESTATE (HS) 43) CALLINGTON CHATEAU (HS) 44) THE GUIVERE MANSION (HS) 45) MORELY HOUSE (HS) 46) MELANIS HALL (HS) ### HILLSIDE BUSINESSES

47) STONE-SIGHT EXPEDITIONS (HS) 48) BERNARD'S ODDS AND ENDS (HS) 49) THE CAREFUL CLEAVER (HS) 50) KARGAMON’S MAPS (HS) 51) THE BREAD BASKET (HS) 52) STICKS AND WICKS (HS) 53) THEODORE'S TEXTILES (HS) 54) LESAGE'S EMPORIUM (HS) 55) HILLSIDE GENERAL STORE (HS) 56) BOUVIER'S APOTHECARY (HS) 57) CRYSTAL CLEAR (HS) 58) BLAST-HAMMER’S (HS) 59) WINCHESTER’S WAGONS (HS) 60) PELETIER'S PELTS (HS) 61) MUMBLE’S CURIOS AND SECRETS (HS) 62) ZIPPER’S (HS) 63) A CUT ABOVE (HS) ### HIGH ROAD MERCHANTS

64) GRAY OAK WONDERS (HR) 65) SOIREE (HR) 66) SHELF INDULGENCE (HR) 67) HOMESTEAD DECOR (HR) 68) CLICKS AND GIGGLES (HR) 69) HIGH ROAD ARMS AND ARMOR (HR) 70) SIMPLY ENCHANTING (HR) 71) OPULENT ACCESSORIES (HR) 72) TOUCH OF CLASS (HR) 73) THE SEWING SISTERS (HR) ### TOUCH OF BLACK LOCATIONS A) House Trellu (HS)

B) Warehouse 13 (HS)

C) The Shadow Wreck (OT)

D) Galvini Imports (HR)

#### Notations - *HR - High Road* - *HS - Hillside* - *OT - Out of Town* {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ![Map](https://i.imgur.com/gmkTFA0.jpg) {position:absolute;top:20px;right:30px;width:750px} {{wide # The Estate

### ##### NOTES

- The carriage house in the the South West corner - The Guest House in the South East corner - The Back Lawn is set up for the wedding. The large tents are for dining after the ceremony while the small tent in the back under the tree is the Bridal Tent. Persephone will be in here prior to the ceremony with her attendants. - The House itself is a Three Story Mansion with an attic and cellar.It is old but not in disrepair. - The surrounding wall is 10' in height and topped with Iron spikes. }} {{pageNumber,auto}} {{footnote Along Came the Spider, May 2023}} \page :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ![Map](https://i.imgur.com/k98pMwM.jpg) {position:absolute;top:20px;right:30px;width:750px} {{wide # The Attic

### ##### NOTES

- Starting in the North East we have the House Major Domo'd Quarters - The Servant's Common Room is below that, and their sleeping quarters in the South East - In the central area you have the stairs to the house below. On the West of the stairs are cabinets for linens and other cloth necessities. On the East side we have storage for small valuables like the household silver and other valuables, like fine china, not in daily use. - On The North West and South West are both storage for larger furniture and packed goods. There is a table full of rugs here as well as some crates containing children's toys which are no longer needed ut have sentimental value. - In the Center West we find numerous paintings and some statues. There are some crates here packed with smaller knick knacks and objects not currently displayed. - There are also the bodies suspended in webs... that is a problem for the players, but you already knew that. }}