Hello everyone,

I'm going to do something unprecendented. I'm going to post the Introduction to HP 11 (and later HP 12) here. I'm doing this because both Introductions, while important to the story arc are not crucial to the actual adventure, so there won't be any Spoilers. Additionally, these Intros (which are also available as Player Handouts) are a bit long and I don't want the GM to sit there and drone on while the players wait to do something.

When I first wrote them there were places for small player interaction, but these were inconsequential for the most part and I took them out in favor of just a narrative.

In any case, below is the text for HP 11. I hope you like it.

At the summons of the Tomal Khan, you arrive at the Golden Court and are escorted directly into the audience chamber. There you notice two small groups, one led by Suetonius Varro and the other by the Encali dwarf Tolaren, are speaking in hushed whispers on opposite ends of the room. As the Tomal Khan enters, he appears to be in a heated conversation with one of his closest advisors, Isul Khan Daxio.

“My Khan, I implore you. Something must be done about this viper that’s been brought into our home. “

“What would you have me do, Daxio? Banish him from the city?”

“At the very least, my Khan. His honeyed tongue coats the poison of his words. Words aimed not at your enemies, but into the ears of our women. They seem to find this repellent priest irresistible and are drawn to him and his bed chamber like bees to flowers.”

The Tomal Khan waves his hand dismissively. “You underestimate our women, Daxio. They merely see something new and foreign and are curious. His novelty will soon fade and they will return to…”

His frustration mounting, Daxio cuts him off. “Do you not find it odd that the only women he has turned his attention to are either betrothed or married to some of your most loyal supporters? Angry and jealous men are easily turned. They will look to you to eliminate this vile creature and you should act…”

“I should act? I should act!” Taking a moment to control his mounting anger, the Tomal Khan drops back into his chair and seems to age a decade. In a softer voice he says, “If I act and do as you suggest, my wife will die, Daxio. Again. I lost her once and it nearly broke me. I will not see the light in her eyes fade as her soul slowly slips away.”

Rising bodily, anger flashes once again in his eyes. “Only that Beltinian priest can keep her spirit anchored within her body. And if some of my people are tempted into infidelity, then it is a small price to pay to keep Mattias at Nasha’s side!”

Noticing that all eyes have fallen upon him, he nods curtly and asks in a steely voice, “Why have you requested this audience, Tolaren of Encali?”

I must say Henry (you sly dog ) that bit about the Beltinian priest definitely caught my attention! This bears investigation...plot hook now firmly inserted in mouth...

Ooh, I like it...it will be interesting to see how this leads into the BI.