After the initial destiny introductions (as presented in Adventure Hooks on page 4)， and even more so after the Ebon Riders attack (see Encounter A1 on page 8)， the adventurers might want to engage in some research to find out more about what’s going on. This section reveals what they can learn through their efforts.
Investigating any of these topics openly might attract the attention of powerful beings who want to make sure that certain information remains secret. You can add encounters with such forces if you wish， or to build tension simply have world get back to the curious PC that he or she has aroused the suspicion or interest of someone with more than a modicum of influence and power.
The lore in this section offers clues to who might care about those investigate specific topics， as well as those that might seek to avenge the deaths of servants dispatched by the Eternal Seeker or the Deadly Trickster might be the cause of the Ebon Rider attack in the opening encounter of this adventure.
The lore addressed in this section crosses over in numerous ways， opening new avenues of investigation and search. For simplicity’s sake， the information is presented in alphabetical order.
If the adventurers’ skills fail them， there are powerful rituals that can help them uncover more information. Consult Mystic Sages provides a method for using Religion to determine what the adventurers couldn’t figure out using the History or Arcana skills. Consult Oracle allows the adventurers to learn any fact what they want， as long as they can formulate solid questions based on what they already know. In this adventure， information helps build tension， so reward wise and clever uses of rituals.
A character knows the following information about the Ashen Covenant with a successful Arcana or Religion check.
DC 22: Orcus， the Demon Prince of the Undead， has inspired numerous and varied cults. Rarely do any of these groups deal with the others， but recently a disturbing movement has arisen among Orcus’s most devoted followers. Several cult leaders have banded together with the express purpose of finding a way to replace the Raven Queen with their Blood Lord. This movement among the faithful is known as the Ashen Covenant.
DC 27: Elder Arantham leads the Ashen Covenant. Other cult leaders in accord with the covenant include Mauglurien of the Ebon Riders (a dwarf warlord)； Ghovran Akti the Planeweaver (an eladrin necromancer)； Sithas Tyrr the Blood Knight (a human paladin)； Kielno Varim the Mad (a tiefling warlock) and Shonvurru the Blood Serpent (a marilith rewarded with undeath through service to Orcus) . Each of these leaders advances his or her own scheme to elevate Orcus.
DC 29: The Ashen Covenant has found a cause the factions can unite behind. Elder Arantham has breached Death’s Reach and even now unearths terrible secrets from the time of the Dawn War when the gods battled the primordials. Elder Arantham has purposefully excluded some of the covenant’s members from this plot， so the entire movement won’t be wiped out if he fails.
DC 31: The ultimate hand behind this movement is Orcus himself， who has been working on a grand scheme of conquest and power since the events that happened at the Keep on the Shadowfell several months ago.
一個角色可以藉由通過一次成功的神秘或宗教知識檢定來取得以下關於灰色聯盟的傳聞。
DC 22: 奧喀斯，掌管不死生物的惡魔領主，已經召集了眾多各式各樣的崇拜者。雖然在這些團體當中的任何一人幾乎都將其他同伙視為對手，但最近在奧喀斯最狂熱的追隨者之間出現了一個造成許多騷亂的異常變動。各個崇拜者的領袖突然開始為了找出一個能夠讓牠們的鮮血領主取代鴉后的方法這項特別的目的而團結在一起，這次的行動在忠誠的追隨者當中被稱之為灰色聯盟。
DC 27: Elder Arantham領導著灰色聯盟，其他和這個聯盟保持立場一致的領導者們則包括了Ebon騎士團的Mauglurien；、”位面紡織者”Ghovran Akti (一名雅靈死靈法師)、Sithas Tyrr這位”鮮血騎士” (一位人類聖武士)、”狂人”Kielno Varim (一個提夫林術士)和”鮮血毒蛇”Shonvurru (一位透過服侍奧喀斯而獲得永恆不死作為犒賞的六臂蛇魔)。這些領導者當中的每一位都為提升奧喀斯的地位而獻出了自己的陰謀。
DC 29: 灰色聯盟終於找到了一個能夠讓這些派別在暗地裡合為一體的理由。Elder Arantha已經攻破了死亡岬，到目前為止甚至揭露出許多從黎明戰爭那個諸神向原初者們發動戰爭的時代即留存至今的可怕秘密。Elder Arantha刻意地在這次的計劃中將某些聯盟的成員排除在外，因此即使牠在這次的計劃中失敗了，整場行動也將不會被殲滅。
DC 31: 這場行動最終的幕後黑手即為奧喀斯本人，祂自從在數個月前在幽影荒野持續發生的某些事後，即開始著手投入於一個為謀取統治權和力量的宏偉計劃。
DEATH’S REACH LORE
死亡岬的傳聞
A character knows the following information about Death’s Reach with a successful Arcana check.
DC 24: Death’s Reach is a mythical place. It was once a doorway for the souls of the dead that led to an unknown final reward， but primordials corrupted it. They trapped souls there so they could consume them. The gods waged war against the primordials at Death’s Reach， but they could not undo what had been wrought. So the gods sealed the place forever， leaving the fallen and the machines of war behind. Some of the abandoned are primordials.
DC 29: Although sealed， Death’s Reach has access points. Although the gods， their exarchs， and beings of similar power can’t fully enter the place， mortals can. Furthermore， the gods use doorways into Death’s Reach to discard what cannot or should not be destroyed.
DC 31: Orcus’s followers breached Death’s Reach， where they now unearth unspeakable power . Their meddling has caused some souls to fall into Death’s Reach， where they are beyond the power and influence of the Raven Queen.
一個角色可以藉由通過一次成功的神秘知識檢定來取得以下關於死亡岬的傳聞。
DC 24: 死亡岬是一個傳說中的地點，它曾經一度是某條用於引導逝世的靈魂通往未知的最終報應之地的入口，但原初者們腐化了它。祂們在那裡設計引誘許多靈魂掉入陷阱，藉此來消耗它們所擁有的能量。後來諸神在死亡岬裡再次對那些原初者們發動了一場戰爭，然而祂們並不能夠使那些已經被造成影響的事物恢復原狀。所以這些神祇們永久封閉了這個地點，只餘下了陣亡者與戰後的機械裝置。而原初者們也是被遺棄者的其中一群。
DC 29: 儘管被封閉，死亡岬仍然保有著許多可供通行的地點。雖然神祇、祂們的使徒以及其他擁有相似力量的存在無法完全地進入這個地點，凡人卻可以辦到。除此之外，神祇們還會利用一些能夠進入死亡岬的入口來拋棄那些不能夠、或是不應該被毀滅的事物。
DC 31: 奧喀斯的追隨者們攻破了死亡岬，目前牠們在那裡試圖揭露那些難以形容的力量。
牠們的干涉行為已經成為了些許靈魂開始轉而墜入死亡岬的原因，在那裡牠們處於鴉后的力量和影響範圍之外。
EBON RIDERS LORE
EBON 騎士團的傳聞
A character knows the following information about Ebon Riders with a successful History and Streetwise check.
DC 14: A black dragon on a crimson field serves as the symbol of the Ebon Riders. This elite mercenary company consists mostly of heavy cavalry and shock troopers. A dwarf known as Mauglurien the Black Dragon leads the Riders.
DC 22: Combat magic specialists， such as Ghovran Akti and the cambion Tannerli， are important members of the Ebon Riders. Certain Riders have special mounts. Ebon Riders fight for the highest bidder， and they’ve been known to change sides in the middle of a battle if their price is met. They support no great cause， unless that cause is their own.
DC 27: Rumor suggests that the Ebon Riders are dedicated to evil gods. Numerous leaders among them are undead – possibly even Mauglurien – and the knights and mounts of the group are known to reanimate as undead after falling on the battlefield.
DC 29: The Ebon Riders forces include death knights， liches， wights， and vampires， many of whom maintain the appearance of living beings. The Riders ultimately serve the cause of Orcus， and they gladly rally to the call of the Ashen Covenant.
DC 31: The Ebon Riders plan to assault Zvomarana， the Raven Queen‘s holiest of temples and the gateway to Letherna， the Raven Queen ‘s dominion. Such an attack can only serve the foul purposefully of Orcus， and must be opposed at all costs.
一個角色可以藉由通過一次成功的歷史或逸聞知識檢定來取得以下關於Ebon騎士團的傳聞。
DC 14: 矗立在一大片深紅色廣闊荒野上的黑色巨龍是Ebon騎士的象徵標記，這支優秀的傭兵隊伍成員通常包括了配備重裝的騎兵與用於衝鋒的騎士，而目前領導著這支騎士團的則是一位以黑龍為名號著稱的矮人。
DC 22: 至於擅長戰鬥魔法的專家，像是Ghovran Akti和一位Tannerli魔裔，也都是Ebon騎士團裡的重要成員。而其中部份成員則是擁有著特殊的座騎。Ebon騎士團為出價最高的雇主而戰，然而他們同時也以會在酬勞已經如期支付的情況下，在戰鬥中途忽然改變陣營而聞名。他們沒有任何強烈的目標，除非是為了他們自身。
DC 27: 有傳聞暗示，Ebon騎士團其實是個獻身於邪惡神祇的團體。裡頭的許多領導者都是不死生物，甚至連Mauglurien本人可能也是其中的一員。而那些騎士和團體裡的座騎也以在戰場上倒下後、再次甦醒成為了不死生物而為人所知。
DC 29: Ebon騎士團的軍隊裡包括了死亡騎士、巫妖、屍妖和吸血鬼，它們大多仍保持著生前的面貌。它們最終仍服侍於奧喀斯的目標，而很樂意響應這次來自灰色聯盟的召集行動。
DC 31: Ebon騎士團計劃對Zvomarana、鴉后那眾多殿堂當中最為神聖的居所以及通往Lethema、鴉后的領域的通道發動一場襲擊。這場襲擊的意義僅僅只為了滿足奧喀斯祂那醜惡骯髒的目的，而無可避免地敵對於所有必須為此付出犧牲的生物。
ELDER ARANTHAM LORE
ELDER ARANTHAM的傳聞
A character knows the following information about Elder Arantham with a successful History or Religion check.
DC 24: Elder Arantham was once a high priest in Bahamut’s church， but after a mysterious crisis of fate， he turned to Orcus. He is a rate form of divinely empowered undead known as a huecuva， which he became to purposely shed his humanity.
DC 29: As an undead priest of Orcus， Elder Arantham is held in high esteem by worshipers throughout the demon lord’s cults. He claims to be an exarch of the Blood Lord， although this assertion might be little more than self-aggrandizement. He found the Ashen Covenant to organize the efforts of Orcus’s followers and to fulfill the mission he claims came to him in a divine vision.
DC 31: Elder Arantham has a lofty goal-to change the nature of death itself. According to Arantham， undeath should be the natural end to life. All creatures that die should rise again and endure in a world that the undead eventually come to dominate. The means to accomplish this goal rests in Orcus taking on the divine power of the god of dead-a goal that all of Orcus’s followers are dedicated to seeing come to fruition.
一個角色可以藉由通過一次成功的歷史或宗教知識檢定來取得以下關於Elder Arantham的傳聞。
DC 24: Elder Arantham曾經一度是個在巴哈姆特教會中服務的高階牧師，但在一次死亡的神秘轉變過後，他改而投向了奧喀斯的麾下。Elder Arantham是一種獲得授權而擁有牧師等級、被稱之為huecuva的不死生物，他刻意轉變成了捨去自身人性的形態。
DC 29: 如同對待一位服侍於奧喀斯的不死生物牧師，這位惡魔領主的信徒們透過敬仰Elder Arantham的方式對他投以了極高的尊敬。他宣稱要成為一名鮮血領主在凡間的代表，儘管這項主張可能只比自我誇耀好上一點。Elder Arantham創辦了灰色聯盟，用以組織起那些來自於奧喀斯追隨者們的努力嘗試，並去達成那個他宣稱的，自己將以奧喀斯使徒的形態降臨的使命。
DC 31: Elder Arantham有一個極高的目標，就是去改變死亡本身的自然現象。根據Arantham的看法，不死生物理應是生命的自然終點。所有逝去的生物都應該再度甦醒過來並持續存留在這個最終將由不死生物所支配的世界上。而這意謂著完成這個目標的剩餘部份，將落在奧喀斯擔負起掌管死亡神祇的神力上頭，而那些奧喀斯的追隨者們將致力獻身於看到這個目標的達成並分享其成果。
GHOVRAN AKTI LORE
GHOVRAN AKTI的傳聞
A character knows the following information about Ghovran Akti with a successful History or Arcana check.
DC 14: Ghovran Akti， a powerful eladrin mage and a member of the Ebon Riders， has always been focused on combat and the martial applications of magic. He has survived against impossible odds. Some say he has returned from the dead.
DC 22: Clearly dedicated to winter， Ghovran’s studies also extend into planar topics and death. He is a known necromancer， and his powers suggest he venerates or once venerated the Raven Queen.
DC 27: Ghovran Akti often rides a nightmare creature from Orcus’s Abyssal realm of Thanatos， suggesting that he has ties to the Demon Prince. Ghovran also has a cambion
disciple –a magus named Tannerli.
DC 29: Ghovran Akti is a lich dedicated to Orcus， although he maintains his living form so that he can pass for one of the living. He hopes to help Mauglurien slay the Raven Queen， to elevate Orcus， and thereby to become an exarch of bitterest winter.
一個角色可以藉由通過一次成功的歷史或神秘知識檢定來取得以下關於Ghovran Akti的傳聞。
DC 14: Ghovran Akti，強大的雅靈法師、同時也是一位Ebon騎士團的成員，總是熱衷於競技與魔法的戰鬥運用。在歷經許多不可思議的遭遇之後，他依然存活了下來。據說，其實他是個從死亡中再度甦醒過來的不死生物。
DC 22: 為了更純粹地奉獻於冬季，Ghovran的研究也隨之延伸至位面原理與死亡的領域。Ghovran Akti是一位知名的死靈法師， 而他的力量則暗示出自己尊崇著或曾經尊崇過鴉后。
DC 27: Ghovran Akti經常騎著一頭來自奧喀斯位於深淵的領域-死亡荒原的夢魘，間接暗示出他和這位惡魔王子之間可能有所連繫。Ghovran的身邊也有位魔裔學徒，一名被稱做Tannerli的追隨者。
DC 29:雖然保持著自己生前的外貌以至於他看起來會被誤認為是一個活物，但其實Ghovran Akti是一名獻身於奧喀斯的巫妖。他希望藉由協助Mauglurien前去殺害鴉后的行動，來提升奧喀斯的地位，以此讓自己成為一名代表最嚴寒冬季的使徒。
MAUGLURIEN LORE
MAUGLURIEN的傳聞
A character knows the following information about Mauglurien with a successful History or Streetwise check.
DC 14: Mauglurien the Black Dragon is a mighty dwarf warlord. He is a savage， bloodthirsty， and remorseless fighter who seeks glory in battle and wealth above all else. His battleaxe， “Boneshredder”， is as well known as he is.
DC 22: Mauglurie’s history is a dark one. It begins with his exile from his own clan long ago， but the crimes that occasioned that punishment are long forgotten. The dwarf is ancient now， attested by his wizened appearance， though his beard bears no hint of gray. Nonetheless， he continues to lead the Ebon Riders to victory upon victory on the broken bodies of innumerable fallen foes.
DC 27: It is said that Mauglurie once worshiped Kord. In his thirst for bloodshed， he turned to Gruumsh. It is unclear if he still reveres a wicked patron， but the warlord is clearly evil， insane， or both.
DC 29: Despite his appearance， Mauglurie is a death knight， and he has turned to the worship of the demon lord Orcus. Working in the Ashen Covenant， he plans to put Orcus on the Raven Queen‘s throne by slaying the god of death and winter.
一個角色可以藉由通過一次成功的歷史或逸聞知識檢定來取得以下關於Mauglurien的傳聞。
DC 14: “黑龍”Mauglurien，一位強大的戰爭領主。他是個野蠻、嗜血、而又冷酷無情的戰士，自豪地四處謀求著戰鬥和財富，視其重要性遠勝於其他事物。他的戰斧，”骨頭碎裂者”，也和Mauglurien本身同樣地為人所知。
DC 22: Mauglurien的生平是一段黑暗的歷程。它起始於Mauglurien自很久以前被自己的氏族所流放，但造成這項懲罰的罪行則早已因年代久遠而被人們所漸漸遺忘。雖然這名矮人的鬍子不帶有一丁點兒的灰色，但他那副早已枯萎的外貌證明了自己在現今的世界中算是一個相當古老的存在。儘管如此，他仍舊帶領著Ebon騎士團在難以計數倒下的敵人那殘破的身軀上建立起接二連三的勝利。
DC 27據說Mauglurien曾經一度崇拜著寇德。但出自對於鮮血的強烈渴望，於是他後來轉而信仰了格努須。雖然沒人知道他是否依然尊敬著這位邪惡的支持者，但可以確信的是，這位戰爭領主的性格是絕對的邪惡、瘋狂，或兩者皆是。
DC 29: 不管他的外貌如何，Mauglurien是一名死亡騎士，而他亦已經轉而投入了對於惡魔領主奧喀斯的崇拜。在為灰色聯盟效力的期間，他計劃藉由殺害這名掌管死亡和冬季領域的神祇讓奧喀斯順利坐上鴉后的寶座。
ZVOMARANA LORE
ZVOMARANA的傳聞
A character knows the following information about Zvomarana with a successful Religion check.
DC 22: Zvomarana is the Raven Queen’s holiest temple. Located in the Shadowfell on the edge of Letherna， the temple feature several monumental gates. Being who wish to petition Raven Queen must pass through Zvomarana‘s gates and perform the required rites. Only then can the high priest of Zvomarana open the final portal to the Raven Queen’s citadel.
DC 27: The gates of Zvomarana appear in more than one heroic legend. In most tales， the heros pass through the Seven Veiled Gates of Fate on a journey to their ultimate destiny. Zvomarana holds only five of the gates-the final two gates are always different and always located in different places. Every story describes Zvomarana as a high place on a mountain， its paths covered in cold mist.
一個角色可以藉由通過一次成功的宗教知識檢定來取得以下關於Zvomarana的傳聞。
DC 22: Zvomarana是鴉后最神聖的殿堂，座落在幽影荒野中Letherna的邊界，該處殿堂以擁有數道各具特色的雄偉大門為其著名特徵。所有想要請求鴉后提供協助的生物都得先穿越Zvoamrana的數道大門並執行完那些必要的儀式，而只有Zvomarana中最高階的牧師能夠打開通往鴉后堡壘的最後一道大門。
DC 27: Zvomarana的雄偉大門出現在不只一則的史詩傳說當中。在大部份的故事裡，英雄們穿越了代表命運的七道隱密大門、踏上通往他們最終命運的旅程。其中，只有五道位於Zvomarana，最後的兩道大門則每次都不盡相同、並且也都各自座落在不同的地方。每個故事都把Zvomarana敘述為一個位於山上的高海拔地點，通往它的路程上則覆蓋著寒冷的霧氣。
发表于 2010-9-12 03:46:18