High in a mountain valley, there is a lake, frozen over for most of the year. It is surrounded by steep slopes, and seems like an ideal place to rest during a mountain trek.
When someone approaches the lake, however, they can make out the skeletons at the bottom of the lake- hundreds of them. Their bones are picked clean, with some shreds of clothing, and lightly disturbed, but clearly human. If they search hard enough, there are also several small campsites with skeletons lying nearby, some newer in fashion than the ones in the lake. The skeletons belong to a prince and his nobles and retainers, as he foolishly trekked through the mountains hundreds of years ago, and was caught in poor weather. Every member of the party perished, and the noble’s quest was never fulfilled. In the night, the spirits rise up as Vanished (see yesterday’s post), bitter at their untimely death and hungering for the warmth of the living. They will besiege the campsite, and hundreds of them will attack the PCs, held back only by light and heat. Only by reaching the Prince’s body, and recovering the small brass music-box he clutches, can they free his spirit. He appears as a Ghost, clearly more in control than the Vanished that make up the attacking throng, and can command them to stay their attack. He begs humbly for the PCs to take his gift to the princess to whom he was to be engaged, unaware of her comfortable death centuries ago. If the PCs agree, the vanished slink away, and will not return unless the PCs are unfaithful to this oath. The Prince will appear occasionally, following the PCs in the night, until the music-box can be laid at the Princess’ tomb. If this is done, the valley grows quiet, and there are no more deaths. If the PCs refuse, the Prince grows angry, and attacks with the full might of his Vanished army. It is unlikely the PCs will live through the night. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 28 July 2018) Comments are closed.
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AuthorI'm Luke. He/him pronouns. Archives
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