Someone must be friends with Meril Alegar III. Without a long-term relationship with Meril (or Eldred) the adventure doesn’t work.
If there are any nobles in the group, they will certainly know of the Earl of Lisport and Lisport House. Any noble in Fork will prefer to stay in Lisport House if they can afford it.
Meril can offer payment to his friends, but he cannot offer a percentage of the treasure. First, that would be dishonorable, as the treasure is almost certainly myth. But second, if such a treasure exists it belongs to the family and not to any one member. There are other members of the House of Lisport well removed from him who will inherit from him if he dies childless. These are the descendants of Philip and Elena Agew in Newhorse. If they do find the treasure, however, he will give them a significant finder’s fee.
Adventurer Level
This adventure is designed for characters of fourth to sixth level. At least one sorceror or prophet is expected, and at least one warrior. While there are few creatures in this adventure, Erisu the Demon can call on some undead and has some demons in the vault. Some of the creatures can only be attacked with magic or magical weapons. Poison figures prominently in any fight with Erisu.
Character History
Those characters who know the Alegars will remember both Meril and Eldred, their mother Lady Miriam, and their crotchety old grandfather, Meril Alegar II.
Meril Alegar III was always fun, and always overshadowed by his more driven elder brother.
Characters from the river towns are likely to know the children’s poem about the murders, “Melly Lisport took an axe…”. If you have the time you might introduce the poem during an earlier game session.
Involving the Adventurers: Money
Coins in this adventure are given as coins in Highland. A shilling is one monetary unit, a penny is a twelfth monetary unit, a half-penny is half that, and a farthing is a forty-eighth monetary unit. If you use the generic system, just make a shilling one unit, a penny a tenth unit, and a farthing a fiftieth unit.
Most of the money here will be from the Black Stag mint, because of the Stag River agreement between Fork and Black Stag. Fork does not have its own mint. However, people in Fork will use whatever coinage they brought in with them or stole.
They’re not technically “mints”, but each casino strikes its own chips out of clay, wood, or stone. Casino chips may also be used as money in Fork.
After the Adventure
If they find the vault and allow Meril to keep the treasure, the House of Lisport will be restored to a semblance of its former glory. Meril will pay off his debts and Lisport House will be safe. He may even attempt to rebuild the Lisport docks and the town, perhaps making a safe place for carousers outside of Fork. The latter course will definitely bring him into conflict with the gambling guilds, resulting in further opportunities for urban adventure.
