TEXT: The Glory Road 
  Issue 11 
  Mini-Adventure; Monster 
  I wanted the feeling of romance and the sense of wonder I had known as a kid. I wanted the world to be what they had promised 
  me it was going to be--instead of the tawdry, lousy, fouled-up mess it is. — Robert A Heinlein, The Glory Road 
  Adventure: A Simple Party 
  Julia Martus is a well-known middle-aged Aquilan 
  noblewoman who holds monthly dinner parties with Aquilan 
  nobles and “interesting” rabble. The parties are meant to 
  entertain jaded nobles with the presence of ordinary 
  plebeians. 
  The characters get some time to interact with guests 
  (including the soon to be victim),  maybe having some 
  interesting things brew, before a shriek interrupts the 
  proceedings and a maid runs into the room in a panic, 
  looking for Lacy Julia. 
   
  The Crime(s) 
  Nevius Albanus, Imperial Master of Keys, is found in the 
  Library, strangled. The murderer is Brassica Oleracea, who 
  strangled him with the sash around her dress. Brassica is 
  actually dead, but an Intellect Devourer (MM, p. 191) 
  controls her body. 
  Nevius’  body will be found by one of the maids, Fanan 
  Mahmoud, who saw the door of the library ajar. She 
  immediately notified Lady Julia. Nevius seemed to be looking 
  through books when he was surprised. He was looking for a 
  copy of the late Lord Martus’ books, a book he could never 
  translate which is actually a necromantic grimoire. He did not 
  find it before he was killed. The PCs might be able to find it. 
  Once an investigation begins, Brassica will find a time to 
  be alone with a dangerous host, such as Connor. After that, 
  Brassica will be found dead, but with no signs of specific 
  trauma. The skull will seem hollow. The creature’s goal will 
  be escape or  arrest so that it can find a new host. 
  Nevius Albanus was a secret agent of the cult of Orcus. 
  He is a highly-placed official to help the small demonic cell 
  focused on gaining power for their members. The cult is 
  small, but building a place to influence the Imperial Governor 
  and guide its members to political prominence. The Rat Cult is 
  opposed the Orcus cult, and hopes to rupt the Orcus cult, 
  and possibly force them into the open. The Intellect Devourer 
  maintains a false identity as an assassin and master of 
  disguise. It wa was hired as a freelancer, and is not part of 
  the cult of Rat Cult. 
   
  Characters 
  • Lady Julia Martus: Lady Julia is in her early 40s. 
  Headstrong, well-raised, and possessed of a sly sense of 
  humor, she is known for being an unusual and independent 
  spirit. She enjoys her parties and her independence. She 
  was widowed shortly after the birth of her daughters, and 
  never remarried. 
  • Selena Martus, Julia’s daughter: Hot-tempered, flirtatious 
  and 20, she uses parties to try to identify potential 
  playthings for her amusement. Her real goal is ending her 
  own boredom, and she discards her toys frequently. 
  • Lucinda Martus, Julia’s daughter: Eighteen years old, and 
  seemingly innocent, Lady Lucinda is a student in the Scola 
  Magica. She is fond of mysteries and impressed by 
  intelligence. 
  • Servants 
  o Salima Shahir, Cook 
  o Laila Shahir, Cook’s Assistant 
  o Afifa Adishah, Maid 
  o Fanan Mahmoud, Maid 
  o Kahil Nasr, Footman 
  o Muti Fadl, Footman 
  • Gallus Nestor, merchant, party guest: Effete, snotty, 
  sarcastic and drunk, Gallus Nestor is funny, charming, 
  useless, and an asshole. He is a noble (MM, p. 348, but 
  AC 12 -- unarmored) 
  • Nevius Albanus, Imperial Master of Keys: Nevius Albanus 
  is deeply impressed with himself. He is boring and banal, 
  and deeply cocky. A cultist of Orcus, but he lacks any real 
  power—he is just a pawn. He is a noble (MM, p. 348, but 
  AC 12 -- unarmored) 
  • Priscilla Atullus, priestess of Hera, party guest: A scholar 
  and a priestess, but not a cleric. She is severe, critical, and 
  largely humorless. She came here out of curiosity, and is 
  severely disappointed. She is a commoner (MM 345), but 
  with INT 13 (+1) and WIS 12 (+1), and Skills: Religion +3, 
  History +3. 
  • Maliyah Anab, houri, party guest: Enigmatic, charming 
  and sexy, she is working to get a sense of important and 
  interesting people. She is a commoner (MM 345), but with 
  INT 12 (+1), CHA 16 (+3), and Skills: Deception +5, 
  Insight +2, Persuasion +5. 
  • Drusa Stormdaughter, Dwarven sculptress, party guest: 
  Serene, with a sharp and dry wit, Drusa is interested in 
  getting free food and drink and hoping not to be too 
  bored. She is a commoner (MM 345), but with Dwarf 
  racial traits. 
  • Brassica Oleracea, merchant from a family with large farm 
  holdings, party guest: In her early 20s, she has inherited a 
  large chunk of orchards outside Selindra. She is 
  conservative and likes convention and authority. She is a 
  spy (MM, p. 349), who is controlled by an Intellect 
  Devourer (MM, p. 191) 
  • Connor MacGuigan, Western barbarian, mercenary, party 
  guest: A  big, loud party animal. He distrusts the law and 
  the Imperials and loves drink and food. He is a berserker 
  (MM, p. 344.) 
  • Xiao Lin Mai, Cathayan scholar, party guest: Affable and 
  outgoing, she wants to learn about everyone. She is 
  interested in culture and asks a lot of questions. She is a 
  
   
  2 
  commoner (MM 345), but with INT 15 (+2) and Skills: 
  History +4, Nature +4, and Religion +4. 
   
  Clues, Events, and Red Herrings 
  • Nevius Albanus shows signs of being strangled by a cord, 
  sash, or cloth. One of the curtains is missing a sash, which 
  is tossed under the desk. He seems to have been surprised 
  at the very least, since there are minimal signs of a 
  struggle. Whoever killed him was able to get close and 
  strike by surprised. 
  • A note in Nevius’ pocket is a note saying “Meet in The 
  Chapel, midnight, two nights time. We must discuss our 
  enemies. M.N.” 
  • Nevius’ body is found with a parchment with a drawing of 
  him discarded on his body. It seems to be a targeted killing 
  by a hitter, with the drawing left more as a calling card 
  that it was a hit than an accidental clue. 
  • Albanus was talking with all of the female guests: Lin Mai, 
  Brassica, Maliyah, Priscilla, and even any female Player 
  Characters. He was an oily letch. 
  • There are no unaccounted for guests at the party. 
  • This is a potential scandal, so Lady Julia does not want to 
  call in the city guard to investigate without having a sense 
  of what is going on. 
  • Connor is quick to want to lock down the place and seek 
  out a killer, which may make him seem over-eager. He just 
  has a simplistic sense of justice. 
  • Lin Mai acts like a woman with a lot of secrets. She does, 
  but murdering Albanus is not one of them. She is just a run 
  of the mill spy. 
  • Priscilla is very attentive to the fact that Albanus was killed, 
  and very interested in who could have had a motive. She 
  seems overly interested, but she suspects Albanus of being 
  connected to something sinister, but fears sharing her 
  theory because of her fear of a great conspiracy. 
  • Lady Julia’s party is intended to be a light amusement. She 
  is a wreck. Her daughters are a wreck, her employees are 
  a wreck. But her motivation will be called into question, 
  most likely. 
  • After the murder, Brassica wants to call in the guard. But if 
  the Player Characters begin pushing to investigate, she 
  cooperates. She also tends to reinforce the Player 
  Characters’ suspicions of anyone other than her as much as 
  she can, trying to get an opening to escape. If she risks 
  discovery, she will try to jump into another body. 
  • The maid, Afifa, is very nervous of any investigation. 
  Searching her room finds she has been stealing silver 
  trinkets and hiding them. She has a brother addicted to 
  lotus root and is trying to cover his debts. 
   
  Monster: Coffer Corpse 
  An adventurer fells the last zombie guarding a long-lost 
  treasure. As she begins to pick the lock on the ancient 
  treasure, the creature stands yet again. The adventurer is 
  caught in the monster’s grasp, gasping for breath as the 
  creature is unaffected by the blows of her dagger. 
  Funerary Guardians: Coffer corpses are typically found in 
  tombs and catacombs, fiercely devoted to their task, and do 
  not become servants to necromancers or death priests 
  beyond this function. 
  Undead Nature: A coffer corpse doesn’t require air, food, 
  drink or sleep. 
   
  Coffer Corpse 
  Medium undead, neutral evil 
  Armor Class: 
   8 
  Hit Points: 
  45 (6d8 +18) 
  Speed: 
  30ft 
   
  STR 18 (+4); DEX 6 (-2); CON 16 (+3); INT 6 (-1); WIS  6 (-
  2); CHA 6 (-2) 
   
  Saving Throws:  Wisdom +0 
  Damage Resistances: Necrotic 
  Damage Immunities: Poison; Bludgeoning, Piercing, or 
  Slashing from non-magical weapons 
  Condition Immunities: Exhaustion, poisoned 
  Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Passive Perception 8 
  Languages: Understands the languages it knew in life but 
  does not speak 
  Challenge:     2 ( 450 xp) 
   
  Feign Death:  Coffer corpses appear to take damage from 
  normal weapons, but do not. The first time the Coffer 
  Corpse is struck at least 6 points of damage in a single 
  round (before damage resistance or damage 
  immunities) , it falls over as if killed. They rise and 
  attack the next round. 
  Terrify: When a Coffer Corpse rises from its Feign Death 
  ability, all creatures who can see the Coffer Corpse 
  must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 11) or become 
  frightened until the end of the Coffer Corpse’s next turn. 
   
  ACTIONS 
   
  Slam: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft, one 
  target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) bludgeoning. If the target is a 
  creature, it is grappled (escape DC 14). While 
  grappled, the victim cannot speak. 
  Choke: As an action, a Coffer Corpse may automatically do 
  11 (2d6+4) bludgeoning damage to a creature it has 
  grappled. 
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Swords & Wizardry/SW Adventures & Settings/Savage Swords of Athanor (SW)/Glory Road (Savage Swords of Athanor Periodical)/Glory Road 11.pdf