Web Enhancement: The Speaker in Dreams

Yes, I know...but it can't be helped; this was released on Jan 5, 2001, so what else am I supposed to do? This is the first Web Enhancement released by Wizards of the Coast for a 3rd edition product. There's one for Sword and Fist as well, but it's not released for another two weeks after this one.

The Speaker of Dreams is an adventure module that will be reviewed later this month; this Web Enhancement is a ten-page addition to the module that provides more details to the city of Brindinford, which is where the action of the module takes place, as well as some additional encounters that can supplement the action while not necessarily being part of the main plot; after all, not everything that happens is related to the greater adventure.

The first page just reviews the basics of city adventuring in the module: Events rather than encounter locations, tougher encounters since the players have much more access to rest and healing in a town as compared to a dungeon; peace-bonding their weapons, and dealing with the law when it comes to citizens who happen to be villains.

The next page describes the city's features: The walls are 25 feet high and 5 feet thick, there are ten watch towers, and we get stats on the doors and portcullises in case the party feel like doing property destruction to get inside for some strange reason. The city is well-lit at night, with lanterns every 60 feet on most streets. And there are six major neighborhoods in Brindinford, which are described on the next couple of pages.

The Keep and Silver Hill is a walled-off section built against the outer wall and overlooking the river. It's the rich part of the city; there are a few business such as a silversmith, a jeweler, a clothier, and a library. Of course, the library will be popular with the party wizard, and we get some notes on the staff.

Ford North is the 'holy quarters' of the city, with its primary landmark being a temple of Pelor as well as a shrine to Fharlanghn. Note that the gp limit for equipment and such in the city depends on what neighborhood you're in; Silver Hill is richer than Ford North, for example.

The Chatterstreet Market neighborhood is the city's equivalent of Wall Street; it's where the economic activity happens. Lots and lots of businesses can be found here, and there is one in particular that will draw attention from PCs: The Owlbear Arms, in which the owner has on display a very badass weapon that killed the stuffed owlbear out front. You can buy it, but it's expensive as heck.

Eastgate is where PCs will find their inns and taverns. They'll also find plenty of drunks, rowdies, and robbers here. The businesses here are more related to catering to the merchants and travelers, and it's the lower-middle class part of town.

West Hill is probably where the more intellectual members of the party will want to hang out. You've got booksellers, an alchemist, an astrologer, a healer, interpreters, a scribe, and plenty more. There's also a guard barracks where most of the city's guards are quartered when they aren't on duty. And West Hill has a special secret that is probably better described in the module (I don't see anything else about it in the Web Enhancement).

Southspur is the slums of Brindinford; this is the poor people's neighborhood. The city's patrols don't go off the main road much, and anarchy is more or less the rule here. It's not a place the party will want to hang out in much, although there is one interesting citizen here: A female half-orc 9th-level Adept named Foora, who sells spells and potions to the people of Southspur at costs they can more or less afford.

There are a few additional encounters listed here, starting with one that takes place before the PCs even reach the city gates. They encounter a beggar woman who, if they are nice to her, will give them a cryptic warning about those who hear whispers in their dreams. She's actually a slightly nutty young silver dragon who knows about the threat to the city and that the PCs are the best chance to stop them. She has a lair, but it's in the clouds above the city, so good luck to the PCs in getting her treasure hoard.

There's an encounter at the gates for when the PCs don't feel like peace-bonding their weapons; they get to watch the guards deal with a pissed-off barbarian who refuses to do it, too. Note that city guards do not generally do well against mid-level barbarians who are raging. If the PCs help subdue the nutball, they might get free lodging in town.

There's an encounter in the adventure with wererats; the Web Enhancement gives some more detail about the aftermath of that encounter, including a guard lieutenant who is a tough nut to crack, but might have some useful information for the party if they can convince her they aren't troublemakers.

If you just feel like throwing a curveball at the characters, there's an encounter with a pair of shadow mastiffs that has nothing to do with the main plot but can provide the PCs with additional XP.

The next additional encounter is with the local thieves' guild, who aren't happy about martial law being imposed on the city. They can provide some good info for the PCs, including scouting the Temple of Pelor. Apparently that's where bad things are happening, or at least the bad things are being directed from there. I'm looking forward to reading this adventure now.

There's a medusa moonlighting as a barmaid in a tavern called...The Stony Gaze. Subtle, isn't it? The tavern's staff are able to give some valuable information, but the medusa works for the bad guy, and will eavesdrop and try to stop them from interfering in the bad guy's plans. She's a cocky one, believing she can take on the whole party by herself. And maybe she can.

Finally, there's an idea for recurring villains, including a tielfling blackguard who is given stats to make him a challenge for characters when they reach a higher level. Yeah, an 8th-level cleric/3rd-level blackguard who has tiefling abilities isn't a pushover. From what I can see, he's not that powerful in the actual adventure; these stats are for when he gets away and returns later to plague the party that defeated his boss.

So, that's the first Web Enhancement. I think it is a great addition to the adventure (which I haven't read yet), with lots of little details and additional encounters that will make this a more complete experience for the PCs. Especially since it's a city adventure; cities have so much potential but they are really open-ended, and a 32-page adventure just isn't going to have the space to do one justice. If you are planning to play this adventure, the Web Enhancement will certainly be useful.

Alright, there are no WotC downloads for the next couple of days, so it's back to the Sword and Fist review tomorrow. See you then.