Faded Dreams is a direct continuation from the previous module, but can be modified to be run as a stand alone module. The characters must travel to Breylak, and find that Bret is long gone. But his trail leads the characters further into the arms smugglers domain, and eventually the characters will suffer the same fate as Bret . . .
The characters will have to travel south until they come to the port city of Breylak, as once they arrive, they can investigate further. At this point it would be prudent to outline the general pathway that was taken by the previous three modules, and the direction this module will take:
Dark Echoes: The trip form Alua to Illian took approximately six days on foot, or three days on horseback.
Silent Winds: The journey from Illian to Tarabon took approximately eight days on foot, or four days on horseback.
Sad Melodies: The trek from Tarabon to Muggleby took approximately three days on foot, or a single day on horseback.
This means that the total journeying time so far has totalled 17 days travel on foot or 8 days travel on horseback (or something in between). The final leg of the journey from Muggleby to Breylak (the characters final destination for this adventure) will take approximately thirteen days on foot, or six days on horseback. The characters will have to cross the river on their final day's journey.
Breylak is a common seaside town, ruled by a lord who lives in a manor house situated on a hill, the highest point of the town. The whole of the city is walled and fortified, as it is often the focus point of raids by nearby baronies, as well as pirates. The bulk of the city is made up of retail shops, the residences of the locals and the harbour. The characters will be most interested in the harbour, as this is where Agosta's note suggests that Bret went. The town is made up of three 'circles'. The harbour is a semi-spherical shape, with the retail area surrounding it, and the residences lying on the outside of all of this (the lord's manor house is situated somewhere in the middle).
Most of Breylak is made up of winding, cobble-stoned paths, which are very dirty. All the buildings are made out of stone, and seem to 'lean' over the winding roads. There are many dark alley ways for characters to beware of . . .
Once the characters arrive, they should start asking around the harbour about Bret. After a while they should work out, or be told would be even better, that Bret used to run the Harbourside Eye inn, and this should be where the characters investigate first.
Once the characters find this out, they should find the inn fairly easily. The inn is now run by a man called Seoman. He will tell the characters that Bret sold the inn after three years (he arrived fifteen years ago). He had done fairly well for himself, and decided settle down and start a merchant business. Seoman will give the characters the address of the manor house, but doesn't know the address of the warehouse.
When the characters go to the manor house, they will find it is now run by a merchant called Morganes. He will tell the characters that he bought the house from Bret ten years ago. Bret had only be living in the house for two years before he sold up, as his business collapsed, and he could no longer afford the house. He will not tell the characters where he went, even though he knows.
Morganes and Seoman are both part of the arm smugglers. They use the cover of Bret's business to ship arms from foreign countries in, then disperse them using the contacts they have (some of which the characters have put out of commission). The characters won't find this out unless they go to the warehouse, and check out the contents of what is stored there, which is a cache of weapons. The weapons dealers kidnapped Bret first, only to use his business as a cover to start off with, but once they found out who he was, they made a deal with the next heir of Illian (the cousin) that if they help him get to the throne, he will allow the smugglers free access through Illian (and this is the reason the first Baron was killed in Dark Echoes).
If the characters confront Seoman and Morganes, they will get the thugs to attack the characters (see Confrontation). Once the characters have defeated the thugs, they will find out about Bret's ship, called the Encarta, which was used by arms smugglers to ship cargo. If they go to the ship they will be kidnapped, and taken to Algandy (see Kidnapped!).
The Harbourside Inn is a medium-sized inn, which was run by Bret for five years before he was kidnapped. He used his warehouse (see below) to store his merchandise (he also dabbled in a few things) and lived in a manor house (see below). Seoman took over the inn, and now runs it as a safe house for arms smugglers if necessary (but they are all at the warehouse at this time).
There are a number of tables scattered throughout the common room, surrounded by chairs. There is a set of stairs leading up to the next level.
These rooms are where Seoman (3) and Morganes (4), when he stays in the inn, sleep. They are well furnished, and contain a few valuables.
The room is lower than the rest of the inn and slightly cooler. There are a number of caskets containing food and alcohol.
All the rooms are moderately furnished, and other than rooms 5, 6 and 8, they are all empty. They have the following number of beds:
1. One
2. One
3. Three
4. Two
5 & 6. The two rooms only contain one bed each, but are joined to make it a double room.
7. One
8. One
This a large corridor, with stairs leading down to the ground floor.
Morganes is a small time merchant, until he joined the arms smugglers, where he finally gained the wealth and power he finally deserved (or so he thought). Morganes is the brains behind the group in Breylak, controlling activities to and from Breylak, while Seoman looks after internal affairs, such as guarding the smugglers, feeding and sheltering them. He can be found mostly in his house, organising affairs, or in the warehouse making sure everything is going to plan.
The room is tastefully decorated with a plethora of paintings and tapestries. All the doors in the house are ornately carved in oak. This is the crux of the whole level, and leads to other places in the house. except for the guest lounge. The room is dominated by a marble staircase leading up.
This is Morgane's dining hall, and is where all his meals are taken. The room is tastefully decorated with banners and shields, and also has a long oaken table and a couple of chandeliers.
The kitchen is where the food is prepared. There are normally six servants in the house, either cleaning, cooking or serving Morganes: Greg (21), Jem (21) Lys (18), Jex (23), Fren (35), Brene(34). They will not attack anyone, but will politely ask uninvited guest to leave.
As the name suggests, this is where all the stores are kept, mainly food.
This is where Morganes will accept all his guests and business contacts. This room is decorated in a similar fashion to all the others, with its main distinguishing feature being an array of sofas, lounges and seats, with a fire place built into the eastern wall.
The library was the property of Bret, and is now used as a planning room. There is a large desk situated in the centre of the room, the walls are lined with shelves (containing non-magical books).
The landing is decorated in a similar fashion to all the rest, and is the central point to this level.
These are richly furnished, but have little in the way of personal items. Each of these rooms are kept very clean.
This room is more lavishly furnished than all the rest, though everything in this room is two big to move. One of the cabinets doubles as a safe, which is firmly locked. This is where Morganes sleeps.
This room is furnished in a similar fashion to "4. Master Bedroom", and is Seoman sleeps when he says in the Manor House.
As "2 - 3. Guest Rooms"
This is where the weapons, and any other merchandise, the arms smugglers are transporting will be kept. The characters should eventually decide to come here to check to see what is going on, and if they aren't suspicious enough, have the characters attacked by a couple of thugs, or have them hear rumours of arms smugglers, of which the characters are sure to investigate.
The locked door leaks to the main corridor, which was used as a demonstration room, but is now empty.
This is Morgane's office and the door will also be locked. The only furniture here is a desk and a few shelves. The shelves contain all the information about the arms deals, and should be given to the authorities once Morganes has been captured.
This is where all the weapons are stored. Once the characters arrive here, proceed to Confrontation.
Once the characters discover the weapons, Morganes and Seoman will walk in on them. They will then order the twelve thugs will them to attack the characters. Both the men will not take part, but watch to make sure the job is done correctly.
Once the thugs are defeated, the two men are easily captured, and will admit to everything in exchange for their lives (though they know relatively little).
The thugs will try to rush the characters and overwhelm them by shear numbers.
Once the characters find out the arms smugglers, they will tell them that they used Bret's ship to transport cargo. It is called the Encarta and is currently in dock.
Once the characters go to the ship, they are set upon by an overwhelming force of men, and knocked unconscious . . .
Faded Dreams should end with the characters untangling the conspiracy, and being kidnapped. This module, as mentioned earlier, can be modified to run as a stand alone adventure, or be interconnected with the other three adventures.
The quest to find Bret doesn't end here, nor is what happens to the characters. This will not be looked at until Dragon Warriors Adventures - Volume 3, which is a direct continuation from this module, and continues the "arms smugglers" undercurrent.
