This month’s adventure hook is The Legend of Ark’Kesha Zaheth

It is mid day and the desert sun is beating down upon you, causing you to perspire greatly. A beggar in tattered clothes grabs your arm as you pass him in the busy market street. You rip your soaked arm away from his grasp easily. You reach for your weapon and he recoils back with his hands up in a kind of surrender.

“Please my lord, I mean you no ill. “Hear me out and I promise, you will not be disappointed.” He says to you kneeling at your feet groveling

You stay your hand and decide to hear what the man has to say. The man’s expression and demeanor relaxes. He breathes a sigh of relief and then begins to rise.

“I could not help to overhear you in the curiosity shop earlier.” You asked for a rare item” he pauses briefly then continues, “did you not?”

You nod, remembering the hushed voices and snickers from the patrons in the small shop. The shopkeeper looked at you like you were completely mad. He calmed himself instantly realizing you are a newcomer, and politely told you that metal was very scarce in these desert lands. Weapons like those, even the metal ones, are hard to come by. You left the shop and headed back into hot streets.

“I heard you say you were looking for a metal weapon called a shuriken .

He paused to clear throat, and then continued. “I know where you can find one.” This one is all you need.” He says with a chuckle that turns into a raspy cough. “Have you ever heard of,” he says pausing dramatically, “Ark’ Kesha Zaheth?”

You have never heard of it before and are more curious as to what it is.

“It is an ancient weapon of immense power. It was forged by the Architects of Victory during the Green age. It was meant to kill an angelic being. It was forged to kill a Deva. One of the great and powerful wizards of her day.” I have spent over half my life searching for it. I have pieced together clues over that time that has led me here. I believe I now know where the final resting place is. I have a map here of the location deep beneath the hot desert sands.”

He pulls out a piece of parchment rolled up and tied in the middle. He moves it towards you like he is going to hand it to you. You reach for it, but he pulls it away from you and back to his chest

“This is my life’s work.” He says “I know that I am old and unable to continue into the desert to retrieve it.” He pauses again. “But YOU can.” I will sell you the map, my life’s work, for a mere thirty gold pieces. I would also like to be able to see it for myself when you get it.” Do you accept my offer?”

You hesitate for a moment. It is a small price to pay, if what he says is true about the weapon. “What’s the catch?” You ask him bluntly catching him off guard

He recoils back a little then responds. “There is no catch” He says. “Believe me this is real” he pleads. I can no longer do this on my own and if what I hear around town is true, you will be able to do it. You will be able to complete this man’s ,” He pauses and points a bony finger to his chest, “life quest. “Do you accept?”

You reach into your coin purse a count out the thirty pieces of gold in front of him. The man”s eyes grow wide as you do this. It looks as if he has never seen that much gold before. You take another bag from your pack and put the gold into it. You begin to hand it to him. He snatches it from you mid motion greedily. He hands you the rolled parchment. He then begins to quickly back peddle away.

“You have made a wise decision,” he says furthering his distance from you. “You won’t be disappointed.” He says more loudly. “Oh and good luck against the guardians” he somewhat yells with a cackle. “I’m sure you will do fine” And with that he disappears into the crowded desert marketplace

“Guardians, what guardians?” you yell starting to run and try to catch him still holding the parchment. You scan the crowd looking for him, but he is gone. You stare down at the still rolled parchment. Did I just make a mistake?” You ask yourself. “Did I?

POSSIBLE PLOT POINTS

The map that he sells the adventurers is a fake. The story he tells is a a complete myth or even a lie. The adventurers may decide to track him or search for his whereabouts in the hopes to find their swindled gold. This could lead to a bout with the local thieves guild called the Lost ones.

The map is real, the man was telling the truth, and this was the poor man’s life quest. The map leads to a barren spot in the desert. The adventures start to sink into the sand. If they continue forward they find themselves on a staircase leading them down through the magically suspended sand. The staircase winds down through ten feet of sand then another fifty feet down into an immense cavern with an underground temple in front of them.

Inside of the magically lit temple. There are torches that are lit with ever burning fire which are cool to the touch. A picture of a scorpion is etched into the stone floor. In the center of the scorpion is a pillar with a golden cauldron. There is a thick red liquid in the bowl. As the adventures enter the center of the scorpion, the etching glows and 4-6 medium sized scorpions appear, and the door to the temple slams shut. These are the Guardians the old man spoke of. When the guardians are dead, the door to the temple slides open. The adventures at any time may stick their hand into the thick red goo. If they do it is 2d6 point of damage save for half. They will then be able to pull out the magical shuriken. The adventurer who claims the weapon is then marked by the guardians and will be hunted by them. The guardians will do an extra d4 or d6 in damage to the marked adventurer.

THE SPOILS

The name “Ark’Kesha Zaheth” in common means Wrath of the Scorpion. It is a +1 returning shuriken. The adventurer must spend a move action to call it back to his or her hand. Once per day it’s damage can be considered poison damage. The victim also takes 5 ongoing damage save ends. When the shuriken is called back to the adventurer the blades retract and it becomes a ball or disk he or she can catch without harm.

The ever burning torches can be removed once the guardians are dead. The torches spread light in a 30 foot radius and provide no heat at all.

The cauldron itself is solid gold and is bolted or affixed magically to the alter or pillar.