PREV-GENCONOZ 2007

A Graveyard Shift
A Short Dungeons & Dragons 4th
Edition Adventure

By Bruce Paris

A D&D 4E preview adventure for Level 3 characters.

This adventure is designed to take 2 hours to play.
 Delgar has some good information that the
murderers are hold up near an old graveyard. He
Adventure Background suggests that you go north into the woods
The town of Marsten has been thriving of late. One (about 7 kilometers along a disused trail). There
hundred years ago, village elder, Boranis Tiomkin you will find the remnants of the old village of
persuaded the folk of the village to move south to Marsten – along with an old graveyard.
the riverbank – some 5 miles from the original site of
their village. Here, he set up the town of Marsten When/if the PCs agree, continue.
and, because of the river trade; the village flourished
and became a town.
The move, however, caused the villagers to
leave behind an old graveyard – which had housed
the village dead for over 1000 years. Up until they
moved to the riverbank, the graveyard was well kept
and held a place of reverence in the hearts of the
simple village-folk.
But since the move, the graveyard has fallen
into disrepair and been forgotten. This angered the
spirits of the graveyard. At first they were just angry
– but as the years turned into decades, they became
wrathful and vengeful. Led by an intelligent spirit
(Corruption Corpse) called Vangrine, the evil dead
have been visiting townsfolk in the night and slaying
them in their beds.
At first, nobody knew what was going on, but
now Delgar Tiomkin (grandson of Boranis) has
evidence that the murderers might be hold up in the
… old graveyard …

Player’s Introduction
Read or paraphrase the following to the players:

The town of Marsten has been thriving of late.

One hundred years ago, village elder, Boranis
Tiomkin persuaded the folk of the village to
move south to the riverbank – some 5 miles from
the original site of their village. Here, he set up
the town of Marsten and, because of the river
trade; the village flourished and became a town.
Recently, however, there has been a spate of
grisly murders. Mostly, the dead are folk from
outlying farmhouses – though the last few
murders are closer into town. Some of the dead
have had their limbs ripped off (including their
heads). Some of the dead have been clawed to
death. Other dead have been bitten, then chewed
upon by something much bigger than a rat.
There appears to be no motive, or pattern.
Everybody is very scared.
As you sit in the local tavern, you are visited
by Delgar Tiomkin (grandson of the founding
father). He introduces himself as the local
mayor, and he wants you to help him find the
murderers and, when you do, put a stop to their
evil once and for all. Delgar tells you that the
townsfolk are good people who are pious and
lawful. He does not know why such evil has
come to his town.

Undead Extravaganza
Encounter Level 5
Setup
This encounter uses the graveyard map from KotS
and includes the following creatures.
2 Skeletons (Bottom Right Graveyard)
2 Zombie Brutes (Top Left Graveyard)
3 Grave-hounds (Bottom Left Graveyard)
As the adventurers reach the gates of the
graveyard, get them to place their figures on the
map and, read:
After about an hour’s trek along an overgrown
trail, you reach the outskirts of the long deserted
village of Marsten. This was where the townsfolk
used to live (before they moved to nicer pastures
along the riverfront).
Just off to your left is the old graveyard. You
see a set of rusty iron gates in front of you.
There is also a rusty fence around the perimeter
of the graveyard.
Describe what they can see from behind the gate.
The gate is not locked, but it squeaks as it opens
(unless the opener makes a DC 20 Stealth check).
This sound alerts the undead and allows them to get
some surprise on the PCs later on.
Features of the Area
This area has a few important features.
Illumination: There are numerous strange
shadows hanging over the graveyard. This makes
the graveyard appear to be draped in perpetual
twilight (even at the height of the noonday sun).
Undead skeletons alerted to the arrival of the PCs
get +5 to their Stealth checks to hide whilst trying to
surprise PCs.
Gravestones: Provide +2 cover.
Crypts: Provide +5 cover. They are sealed and
cannot be entered. Except for the END crypt. That
belongs to Vangrine.
Circle of Undead Power: The blue circle
radiates necrotic energy. Any bloodied undead
ending their turn in this circle can spend a Healing
Surge.
Tactics
If the PCs alert the skeletons, they wait until the
party are along the path, then attack from behind as
a surprise attack. The gravehounds then attack, and
try to draw the PCs back down the path towards the
magic circle. At this point, the zombies rise up and
attack. Both the gravehounds and zombies will try to
end their turns in the magic circle to spend a healing
surge if they can.
Scaling the Encounter
Make the following adjustments to the combat based
on the number of PCs present.
Three PCs: Remove 1 x grave-hound and 1 x
zombie brute.
Four PCs: Remove one of the grave-hounds.
Six PCs: Add another skeleton.
Ending the Encounter
Once the PCs defeat the undead, Vangrine appears
in the doorway of his crypt and beckons the PCs
forward.
Vangrine speaks to the PCs. He is surprised that
the cowardly and immoral townsfolk decided to
make a stand against him and his minions.
“And tell me why I should NOT destroy you ALL
right now? If you can persuade me, I MIGHT let
you go … you might even be able to persuade
me NOT to continue murdering townsfolk. But
why should I … stop … when I enjoy hearing
them scream so much?”
Skill Challenge
Level 3
Successes: 6 needed before 3 failures.
The PCs need to use the full range of their skills to
try and persuade Vangrine NOT to kill them and/or
to stop haunting the townsfolk.
Conclusion A: Vangrine Persuaded
Read:
Vangrine smiles – almost pleased that you were
able to persuade him to be at peace … at last. He
turns, faces his tomb, and disappears. The crypt
door seal shut. Forever. Now you can return to
Marsten town and inform the mayor that all is,
once again, right with the world. For the time
being, that is …
Conclusion B: Vangrine Not
Persuaded
Read:
Vangrine snarls. “Words! Words! Words! You
have failed to persuade me! For that, you will
die!”
Vangrine (Corruption Corpse) attacks.
Treasure
Vangrine either gives the PCs a treasure chest (or
they find it when they loot his tomb). Inside the chest
is:
• 1000 gold pieces
• A +4 weapon of the party’s choice from the
PHB.

Experience Points
Everybody gets 750 experience points.