The Idol of Eren-Uki

A mini module for a smallish party of first (-to second) level adventurers, party size should not exceed 6 even for weakish characters.

Introduction

The adventure begins with the party entering a small, nameless desert hamlet set in the foothills of the mighty Atlas* mountains. Before the party can even set foot in the villages dusty streets, ragged urchins will pour from the shabby mud brick dwellings and gather in an excited crowd around the party, plucking at the parties clothing and equipment as they babble excitedly. Moments later, they will be joined by the adult population of the village, who will be no less excited.

* The Atlas Mountains can be replaced with a suitable mountain range in your campaign.

A bearded man will eventually communicate to the characters in broken common, he will inform them that the village’s deity – an entity by the name of Eren-Uki (a little known deity of the sky, worshipped only by certain primitive tribes who inhabit these inhospitable wastelands) has taken up residence in the villages temple. He (and the other adults) will insist on leading the party to the temple to see this “notable miracle”.

If the party accompanies him to the temple, they will find a blockish mud brick building, whitewashed, but little different to the surrounding homes. A small lobby opens into the main room through a beaded arch. Inside squats the bloated, obscene idol of Eren-Uki, the characters will gain an expression of stupidity from its crudely formed frog-like features (once their eyes have adjusted to the buildings cool gloom after the bright, harsh sunlight outside). Around all the walls are brightly coloured silken pillows – apparently one for each male adult villager.

Almost immediately after the party has entered (and before the parties eyes have adapted), the idol will begin to speak. The idol will greet the characters, welcoming them to the village of Zagora, it will then request an offering, stating that otherwise it will place a curse upon them. The rambling monologue will be delivered in a slightly bizarre fashion, the intonation ranging from a bass profunda to an almost feminine tenor.

If the party complies then there will be much rejoicing amongst the villagers and the party will be led of to a feast of roasted goat.

However, perceptive players may notice that the statues crude clay lips never move. Should the party move to touch the statue, “Eren-Uki” will call out to them threateningly, the mood of the villagers will quickly become volatile, and within moments the previously excited and friendly villagers will be angrily shouting out death threats.

Villagers approx 40-50 0 level males AC 10 Hp 1-6 each, Att by weapon (typically dagger, spear, short bow, sling, javelin, hand axe, club, staff). Most will be unarmed to begin with (and if armed, will most likely to have just a dagger).

They will be led by the village priest; 2^nd Level Cleric AC 10 Hp 5 Att Staff, spells: cure light wounds, light

The villagers will flee should they start sustaining heavy loses (say about 10% or more of their total number) or should the village headman (Hp 6, armed with a dagger) and the priest be killed. A mighty feat of magic (such as a sleep spell) will also demoralise them (providing it drops sufficient numbers of the attackers).

If the party makes the mistake of surrendering they will be disarmed, led off and ritually sacrificed.

If the party succeeds in driving off or calming the crowd, they can search the room. Should they search behind the altar, their questing hands will encounter a warm and feminine form, clad in rustling silks. A surprise roll should be applied and then a normal roll for initiative.

Should the party lose either of these rolls badly, there will be an explosion of movement from behind the idol, and someone will slip between them, and a moment later one of the silken cushions by the wall will be thrown aside, followed a moment later by a piece of timber, exposing a narrow earthen tunnel beneath the wall. There will then be a shuffling of disturbed dirt, as if someone was wriggling through the tunnel.

Should the party act promptly at this stage (or if they aren’t initially surprised) they can seize Dark Odo (3^rd level Magic user Stren 8 Dex 15 Int 15 Con 10 Char 15 Wis 9 AC 9 Hp 7, Spells Charm person, ventriloquism, invisibility). She carries a poisoned dagger, a +1 ring of protection and little else.

If the party does not move smartly to apprehend her, she will escape into the village (efforts to locate her in the village should prove largely futile – there might be a 1/1000 chance that the characters might literally bump into her). The tunnel exits outside in a hogs pen, a ranger may succeed in tracking her muddy footprints from the pen to a cave in a nearby mountain (about 2-3 miles distant). Here wait her confederates.

2^nd level fighter AC 6 Hp 10 armed with broad sword, dagger. Scale mail, & shield

1^st level fighter AC 10 Hp 5 armed with short bow, short & dagger