.; Dungeon of Dread (TSR Hobbies)
....>..|.......|.......|.......|.......|.......|.......|.......|......|...<
:^*** Dungeon of Dread ***^
7Copyright 1982, TSR Hobbies, Inc.

'Welcome to a journey into the world of fantasy.  This adventure into
$the Dungeon of Dread is a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS adventure.  You will find
$a complete adventure here, with many possible courses of action.  Some
$choices are simple, some are sensible, some are foolhardy, and some
$are dangerous!  You must make all the decisions.  Remember, your choice
$determines the outcome of the adventure.

'In this adventure, you play the part of a human fighter.  As an
$adult, you stand 5'9" tall and weigh about 150 pounds.  You are smart
$and have survived many adventures using little more than your wits. 
$You are well schooled in the use of weapons and are a powerful
$opponent.

'You carry a sword and a dagger, and wear a long-sleeved, green tunic
$over leather breeches.  Fine leather boots guard your feet.   A long
$green hunter's cloak protects you from the cold.  You carry flasks of
$oil, a tinder box, a length of rope, and other gear in a leather pouch
$tied to your belt, and food and water in a sack slung over your
$shoulder.
7Good luck, and good adventuring!
\
'You have stopped for the night in a strange forest, tired after a
$long day's walk.  The area seems eerie and strange.  There is no
$moonlight, so the shadows are very black.  the air is still and heavy. 
$Even the usual night noises of small birds and animals are missing. 
$Ordinarily, you would have pressed on through the dark woods to the
$nearest town, but this night you are too tired to take another step.

'Wrapping your cloak firmly around yourself, you lie down upon a soft
$bed of moss with your sword close at hand.  You are soon fast asleep.

'You dream that summer breezes ruffle your clothes.  A strong breeze
$tugs at your cloak.  You slowly awaken.  Breeze?  there is no breeze,
$the night is calm!

'Your reflexes scream an alarm and you awaken!  Eyes snapping open,
$you see a three foot tall halfling - probably a thief - quietly
$searching your clothes.

'In one smooth, swift movement, you jump to your feet and grab the
$unlucky halfling by the scruff of his neck.

'The halfling's eyes shine in the moonlight and his fear is easy to
$see.

'"Well, halfling, can you give me one reason why I shouldn't feed you
$to the crows?"

'"Oh, please don't do that." whines the halfling, "I'm just a poor
$hungry halfling named Laurus.  I'm no danger to anyone.  Why, I just
$now escaped a terrible fate.  If you spare me and feed me, I'll tell
$you where to find all the treasure in the world."

'You hesitate, then lower him to the ground, saying, "I have no need
$for all the world's riches, but what you say sparks my interest.  I
$will spare your life and feed you if your story interests me enough to
$pay for my lost sleep.  But I warn you, if the tale does not, I will
$feed you to the crows!"

'Carefully watching the halfling, you gather dry wood from beneath
$the trees to start a fire.  Soon, you and the halfling share its
$welcome warmth.  Its bright light holds back the shadows of the night. 
$You brew mugs of strong tea as the halfling falls ravenously on a
$mutton leg and round of cheese.  He eats as though it has been years
$since he last saw food.

'"Halfling, you spoke of treasure and adventure", you urge, trying
$not to show your curiosity.

'Laurus wipes his mug with a grimy finger, searching for any sugar
$his tongue might have missed.  All the while his large brown eyes
$flicker about, calculating his chances for escape.  He studies the
$strong grace of your movements, your mirror-bright shield glinting in
$the firelight, and your sword hanging within easy reach, its hilt
$polished with use.  wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, the
$halfling sighs, and stares into the flickering fire.

'"Aye, 'tis true. 'Tis a marvelous tale, and truthful too, but there
$are hardly any who will believe it when I get back to my home."

'"Well, try me; I'm always ready for a good tale, and you still owe
$me for dinner and your life."

'"I'll tell you," says the halfling, fixing you with a shrewd look,
$"But you may wish you had never asked."

'Settling back against a tree stump, a faraway look comes into his
$eyes and the halfling begins his tale:  "I've lived around these parts
$all my life, and a right pleasant place it was until the magic-user
$showed up.  Kalman, he calls himself. No one knows who he is or where
$he came from.  One day, he wasn't here, the next he was.  things soon
$began to change for the worse.  People grew poor and sickly, crops
$withered and died ... and throughout our troubles, the magic-user grew
$rich and powerful.

'"At last, people had their fill.  Gathering their courage, they came
$upon Kalman in the middle of the night, burned his house down and drove
$him from the town.  He fled to these woods and claimed them as his own.

'"We towns folk stay far from the woods, but travelers who choose not
$to listen to our warnings enter the woods and are never seen again.

'"I was always too smart for my own good," sighs the halfling.  "One
$day I decided I would learn the secret of the woods, the missing
$travelers, and perhaps figure out how to kill the wizard!  If I could
$do that, I could return to the village as a rich hero.

'"So one morning, without even a goodbye to me missus, I slipped into
$the woods.

'"I explored every inch of the evil woods and found nothing. 
$Finally, I came to a mountain just outside the forest.  I was cold and
$tired, so I crawled up on a ledge of rock to rest.  I was going to sit
$for a moment before I went home.  I must have fallen asleep, for the
$next thing I knew I woke up to find Kalman standing over me.

'"`So you wanted to find me, halfling,' he said. `Well, now you
$have, and I wager you'll get more than you bargained for.'  With a wave
$of his hand, he put a spell on me so I couldn't move, and slung me over
$his shoulder like a trussed-up rabbit.  Then we slipped through an
$opening in the side of the mountain.

'"I cannot and will not tell you of all the frightening things I saw. 
$I don't even want to think of them," shudders the halfling.  "He
$carried me to the very center of the mountain, maybe the center of the
$world, for all I know, and there I saw all the treasure in the world.

'"`You wanted to rob me,' said Kalman, `So look upon my treasure. 
$You will always know just how much you have lost.  Those who seek
$danger foolishly always find it.

'"`Those who know how to handle both danger and wealth are few and
$far between.  You are lucky; I feel generous.  I shall let you go and
$not even change you into a newt, as you deserve.  When you return to
$your home, none will believe you.  Your friends will think you have
$been drinking fermented corn juice in the woods, and have made this
$story up to cover your absence.  they will laugh at you.  Only you will
$know what you have beheld and lost.  Now, begone!'  Black smoke came
$out of his fingertips.  When it cleared, I found myself in these dark
$woods, alone and hungry."

'Laurus stares into the fire for a long time without speaking.

'Finally, he rouses himself and says, with a shaky laugh, "You can
$see now, I am just a poor halfling, of no harm or help to anyone."

'You feel sorry for the forlorn little fellow, and are curious about
$both the evil wizard and his fabulous treasure.  Strangely enough,
$you do believe the tale.

'Even though the little man is clad in a grimy, patched cloak, and
$has one toe peeking through his tattered leather boots, his eyes hold a
$stubborn look that says "I'm not a quitter."  Life has used the
$halfling hard, yet he has courage.  If given a fair chance, he might
$prove a worthy companion.

'"Laurus" you say gently, "could you find that opening in the
$mountain again?"

'The halfling stares at you for a moment before he answers, "Surely,
$I could, but it would mean your death.  Kalman would not allow you to
$survive as he did me.  I as a moment's amusement, but you would be a
$serious threat.  Anyway, the monsters would get you first.  they're
$scary!  I don't remember them clearly, but I remember enough to give me
$nightmares for the rest of my life.  You're crazy to even think about
$going in there.  You couldn't get me to go back in there for a million,
$zillion gold pieces!"

'You fold your arms and stare at the halfling, tapping your fingers
$against your shoulder.

'Laurus shakes his head and says, "I see nothing I say will persuade
$you.  As the wizard said, `Those who search for danger will find it.' 
$Who can tell?  You might even succeed where I failed.  I will take you
$to the rock.  At least it will prove I spoke the truth."

'Gathering your few posessions, you quickly break camp and follow the
$halfling into the dark woods.

'The night is dark.  Without the halfling's knowledge of the way, you
$would be hopelessly lost.  Trees loom out of the darkness, brambles
$clutch at your legs, and sharp stones cut into the soles of your boots.

'At last the mountain rises before you, silhouetted against the
$night.  The halfling searches about for a while, then cries "Aha! Here
$it is!"  A large dark crack looms in the mountain before you.

'You turn to the halfling, almost expecting him to have disappeared. 
$But he has remained faithfully by your side, instead of scurrying off
$into the night as soon as you found the opening.

'"Halfling, what will happen to you if you return to your village?"
$you ask.

'Laurus laughs a bitter laugh.  "If I tell the truth, me missus will
$scold me.  She's a hard woman.  If I don't tell the truth, she'll still
$yell at me for disappearing, and not talk to me, although that might be
$a blessing.  I will just go back to being Little Laurus, the baker's
$helper."

'"Laurus," you say, "It took great heart and courage to try such a
$dangerous task.  Would you consider joining me on a second adventure? 
$Kalman will never expect you to return, and with your assidtance we may
$defeat this evil wizard.  If we succeed, you will return home a hero. 
$Thereafeter, you would be known as Laurus the Brave!"

'The halfling looks down at the ground, his shoulders sagging.  "I
$couldn't do it" he wispers.  "I'm not a fighter. Pick somebody who
$won't let you down."

'"I don't want someone else.  I need you and I want you!  You can do
$it if you believe in yourself."

'After a long pause, the halfling looks up into your eyes and pulls
$at his beard.  "Do you really need my help?  Do you really think I
$could do it?  I'll be honest, I'm scared.  Much of what I saw seems
$like a nightmare to me;  all scary and creepy and blurry.  But I would
$like to be laurus the Brave.

'"A real adventure," he muses.  "One that might actually succeed! 
$You're strong and handy with your weapons.  I bet you're tricky, too. 
$More of a challenge for that wizard than I was.

'"But I've been there.  Maybe I could help.  Maybe I could do it. 
$What do I have to loose?  Me missus scolds me and others laugh at my
$size.  there is not much to loose and lots to gain."

'His voice fades out as he thinks to himself.  Finally, he shouts
$"Yes, I'll do it! I'm your man if you want me!"

'"Can you handle a weapon?" you ask.

'"I've had a little call to use one as a baker's helper, but I know
$the basics every child learns," replys the halfling.  "I'm loyal and
$very strong."

'"Well spoken, Laurus.  I have met giants who bore the hearts of
$mice.  People should never judge a man by his size.  the things that
$matter: truth, loyalty, courage, and honor, will never be found on a
$yard stick."

'The halfling smiles up at you, his round eyes rimmed with bright
$tears.

'"Come, come, no time for tears!  Now then, I am called Caric.  Clasp
$my hand and let us swear our loyalty to each other and to our mission!"

'The halfling slides his small, leathery hand into yours and you soon
$swear the oath.

'"Well," you say, "There's no reason to stay.  Let the adventure
$begin!"

'You look at the stars, and breathe deeply of the clean, crisp air. 
$then, with your hand wrapped firmly around the hilt of your sword, you
$step in to the opening.  Inside all is quiet.  It appears a simple
$cave.  Even though the halfling's tale sounded true, you question it
$for a moment.

'As your eyes grow accustomed to the darkness, you see a skeleton
$leaning against the wall in one corner, staring at the opposite wall. 
$A small shield lies at its side.  With a little polishing, it might
$shine as brightly as your own.  You pick the shield up and give it to
$Laurus, also handing him your dagger.  The halfling takes the weapon
$and shield holding the dagger gingerly with his fingertips.

'"It's not going to bite you," you say.  "Hold it firmly.  Be ready. 
$Don't strike until you're certain of your target, and once you begin,
$do not falter."

'"I'll try to do my best," Laurus says, putting the dagger in his
$belt.  "I'm scared, but I won't let you down."  He begins polishing the
$sheld.  Your eyes follow the skeleton's gaze and see a message scrawled
$in red on the wall of the cave.

'^"WATCH THE WATER THAT IS NOT WATER, AND BEWARE THE BASILISK!"^

'The rest of the cave is empty, except for a pile of leaves and twigs
$in the west corner, and a hole in the wall under the message.

'"Well, Laurus, where do we go from here?"

'"I do not know," the halfling replies, "I do not remember any
$trails; just some of the things I saw."


+1. If you wish to investigate the hole in the wall
+2. If you wish to check the pile of leaves in the corner
.ask 2
.file 1,13
.file 2,15
.chain