This post covers part four of Basking in the Light, the second installment in our Land of Vampires series. In part four of this level 4 adventure, the party returns to the Ring of Light and meets the elusive and renowned Blessed Father. They also come face-to-face with darker elements of the Ring’s fervor.
We’ll be releasing this campaign in serial this summer and fall in part thanks to the incredible support of our patrons—thank you all! If you’re enjoying this campaign and would like to support us, we’d love for you to join us on Patreon!
You can find part one of this adventure here, and, if you’re new to the Land of Vampires series, start with “Out of the Witchwood,” our first adventure in the series!
Part Four: The Return
As the party departs St. Sebastian and passes through the gatehouse, they quickly find themselves alone as the people living in the Ring of Light whisper and disappear indoors. A successful DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check cues the party in to the fact that they are being watched intently from behind locked doors and windows. Succeeding by 2 or more allows them to detect flashes of movement and muffled voices in front and behind.
The party is ambushed in the narrow streets of the Ring of Light. 4x bandits slide out behind the party as a large berserker (wielding a club instead of a greataxe) challenges the party for breaking the Blessed Father’s rules before attacking.
This group is not the officially sanctioned Brotherhood, but instead some overzealous members of the Ring of Light taking matters into their own hands. This no-win scenario has the party losing, or likely getting in trouble for harming members of the Ring of Light (even in self-defense). Once either two of the bandits or the berserker fall, the others attempt to flee. As they run, they howl about how they’ve been wronged.
A Familiar Face
However the combat resolves, Brother Lafayette appears shortly thereafter calling for an end to the violence. He attempts to smooth things over while pointing out that the party is now especially in his debt for protection, as without it, the whole of the Ring would align against them.
Brother Lafayette plays down the severity of the vigilante attack while casting blame on the party for bringing it on themselves. He also shrugs off any accusations or warnings reported from those in St. Sebastian as religious prejudice and misunderstanding.
If the party recovered the items he asked them to procure, he thanks them for their work and mentions that the items are for the Blessed Father, who has found them worthy of his interest.
Brother Lafayette’s Proposal
If the party wishes to remain in the Ring of Light’s good graces, and since they have proven so capable of moving about and making friends, the Blessed Father wants them to bring him the elixir that Sebastian uses to keep him young—not to destroy it—but to learn what it is so that he can use it to help people. A PC succeeding on a Wisdom (Insight) check contested by Brother Lafayette’s Charisma (Deception) learns that he does not in fact have noble intentions.
If Brother Lafayette had a chance to tell the Blessed Father that the party is from outside of Steymhorod, the Blessed Father makes this request in person after summoning them to The Candle. Part Five details the Blessed Father’s motivations and flaws.
The Candle
All of the buildings in the Ring of Light are made of logs harvested from the Witchwood. Most of these structures are humble, if not outright ramshackle. The exception to this rule is The Candle.
It is a tower standing five stories tall, constructed of smooth hardwood, and painted white. At the top, an ever-burning flame lights the way to the Ring of Light. This is the residence and office of the Blessed Father. He typically accepts guests on the second floor after they have been “prepared” with one of his draughts. His closest lieutenants may visit the second or third floor. But the upper levels are veiled in secrecy.
Land of Vampires is a serial adventure created under the OGL with 5e SRD resources. The support of our patrons makes this campaign possible. If you’d like to receive a new adventure PDF each month and support our creation of a full duet campaign, join us on Patreon! Alternatively, you can now purchase the first five adventures in this campaign in the DnD Duet shop! (Patrons receive the compiled adventures as part of their patron rewards.)
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