Heroes of Pelendor

Adventure for 4-6 Characters Level 4

Chalice of Pericles
By Jason Metcalfe

Your quest for the Chalice of Pericles has led to

a storm battered cottage in the shadows of a
mountain crested by an ancient temple’s ruins.
But your journey has been in vain. The old
scholar, Isaac, whose guidance you seek, is not
to be found. A half eaten meal suggests a
hasty departure, upturned furniture hints at
foul play. Cold, wet and exhausted, you settle
into restless sleep...

...She comes to you in a dream, a

vision of beauty and nobility from a bygone
era. Her lips are still but her desperate plea is
clear “Seek the Chalice of Pericles. It must not
fall into the hands of Darkan Hess”.

Background entombed with him alive. A high cleric, Keyed Areas

A band of brave adventurers are sent
on a quest to seek the Chalice of
Pericles, a legendary artifact said to
have resurrected a fallen army when
filled with the blood of the ancient hero
Pericles.
Guided by their mysterious patron, the
adventurers have been directed to the
cottage of Isaac, a scholar believed to
know the location of the chalice, but on
their arrival Isaac is not to be found.
The evil necromancer Darkan Hess also
pursues the Chalice of Pericles, and has
bullied Isaac into revealing its location,
and is already within the catacomb
seeking the tomb of Pericles, and the
chalice that lies within.
Pericles & Portia
When Pericles fell in battle millennia
ago, his consort Portia was willingly
she continues to watch over Pericles,
and has animated the catacomb’s dead
to beguile and impede Darkan. In a
desperate plea for help, Portia sends a
vision to the adventurers, for without
their assistance it is only a matter of
time before Darkan controls the
catacombs and the Chalice of Pericles.
Rumours and Research
A search of Isaac’s cottage may reveal
(1) the heroic history of Pericles, (2) the
rumoured properties of the Chalice of
Pericles, (3) the location of the Chalice
of Pericles within his tomb beneath the
temple ruins at the mountain’s peak,
and (4) a diary entry by Isaac in which
he alludes to being tricked into sharing
his research with someone named
Darkan Hess. But, adventurers find no
catacomb map or warning about the
awaiting Guardian Golem [5].
[1] Catacomb Entrance. Within the
temple ruins, beneath the mutilated
corpse of Isaac, lie the catacomb’s
great bronze doors. His throat has been
ripped out; footprints smear his blood,
and a snapped chain hangs about his
neck (Temple Key). The doors are
unlocked, but not unguarded;
murderous bugbears (4) watch from
the shadows.
Bugbear AC 5, HD 3+1, hp 16, MV 30’,
AT battle axe, DG 1d8+1, SV F3, ML 9,
AL C, XP 100. Possessions: Battle axe,
scale mail, shield, general provisions,
2d8 x 10 gp.
[2] Stone Guardians. Immense statues
stand watch; ghouls (5) hide behind
them. If the statues are searched, four
ghouls feign attack to lead adventurers
into the Temple of Internment [3],
while the remaining ghoul stays hidden,

to later lock the temple doors behind
the adventurers (Temple Key) and warn
Hagmor, via the secret passage, of the
adventurers’ arrival.
Ghoul AC 6, HD 2, hp 9, MV 30’, AT
claw/claw/bite, DG 1d3/1d3/1d3 +
special, SV F2, ML 9, AL C, XP 47.
Special: Ghouls turn as 3 HD. Successful
attacks require save versus paralyze
(2d4 turns). Humans slain by ghouls rise
again in 1 day as ghouls unless the spell
bless is cast upon their bodies.
[3] Temple of Interment. Ghouls (8)
await the adventurers. Hagmor will join
the fray in 1d6 rounds from the
adjoining Embalming Rooms [4]. A slick
of water coats the temple floor. DEX
checks are required by adventurers
before movement; failure will leave an
adventurer prone; neither the ghouls
nor Hagmor need make this check. The
catacomb doors are locked (Temple
Key) and held by magic (hold portal
spell). One of these defences must be
breached before brute force can be
effectively used.
Ogre (Hagmor) AC 1, HD 4+1, hp 30,
MV 30’, AT greatsword (+4), DG
1d10+4, SV F4, ML 10, AL C, XP 290.
Possessions: Greatsword, scale mail,
ring of protection +1.
[4] Embalming Rooms. The outer room
holds a preparatory stone table. The
inner room is crowded by embalming
urns and expedition provisions,
including Hagmor’s treasure (potion of
healing, 4 x 150 gp gems, 610 gp). A
hidden narrow hole drilled by an auger
connects to Darkan’s Lair *8+. To avoid
the Guardian Golem [5], Darkan
entered the catacomb using Gaseous
Form.
If he has not been warned, or combat
with the ghouls in the Temple of
Internment [3] has not occurred,
Hagmor will be found within this room
guarding Darkan’s path of escape.
[5] Guardian Golem declares his
challenge to all who enter “None shall
pass, save those who bare the
honoured of Pericles to their final place
of rest”. Carrying Isaac, or a slain
adventurer, and being of Lawful
alignment will grant passage past this
massive guardian. Otherwise, walls of
ice (AC 5, hp 60, x2 DG from fire) will
seal both entrances, and the guardian
golem will attack. The ward controlling
the golem and ice walls will reactivate
Chalice of Pericles
during later attempts to cross the
chamber from the Hall of Internment
[3]. The golem will not pursue
adversaries beyond the confines of the
chamber; he simply cannot stoop
beneath the chamber’s doorways.
Guardian Golem AC 0, HD 8, hp 55, MV
40’, AT giant maul, DG 2d6+4, SV F8,
ML 12, AL N, XP 2060. Special:
Unaffected by +1 or lesser weapons,
immune to hold, charm or sleep spells.
Does not require sight, sound or
vibration to locate enemy. If reduced to
0 hp, resumes statue state and
regenerates 5 hp per round.
[6] Catacomb Corridors. The armed
and armored skeletons of fallen
warriors line the walls, the
reanimations of Darkan and Portia
leaving many gaps within their ranks.
The noise of construction from the
Masonry Barricades [10] reverberates
throughout the damp catacomb.
Wandering Monsters
Wandering Monsters are only
encountered in the catacomb’s
corridors. Check 1d8 every turn, or 2
rounds during combat, until the Brazier
of Wake Dead [8] is extinguished, and
Darkan is removed from the
catacombs.
1 1d4+1 evil skeletons approach
2 1d4+1 evil skeletons animate in 15’
3 1d3 good skeletons approach
5 1d3 good skeletons animate in 15’
5-8 No wandering monsters
Armored Skeletons AC 4, HD 1, hp 5,
MV 20’, AT weapon, DG 1d6, SV F1, ML
12, AL N, XP 13. Special: Unaffected by
charm or sleep spells.
Good and Evil Skeletons. Small flames
flicker within the eyeless sockets of the
skeletons. Red flames for those serving
Darkan; pale blue for those serving
Portia. Darkan’s evil skeletons’
priorities are (1) protect Darkan, (2)
clear the Masonry Barricades [10] until
approached within 15’, (3) attack
enemies. Portia’s good skeletons’
priorities are (1) attack Darkan, (2)
attack any who attack them, (3)
reinforce the Masonry Barricades [10].
[7] Pit Trap. “An apparition of blue
silently dances and bobs, one moment
an orb of light, the next a beautiful
smiling sprite who beacons you to
2
follow.” Clever and manipulative, the
will-o-wisp seeks to lure adventurers to
their death in the pit trap.
On two great pins of bronze, this
section of floor flips under weight
(+180lb, 50%) above a 30’ deep pit,
filled with 10’ of stagnant water (+2
shortsword, 260 gp, 730 sp, 390 cp).
Purchase on its sheer slime coated
walls is impossible without assistance.
Will-O-Wisp AC -5, HD 7, hp 35, MV
60’, AT shock, DG 2d6, SV F7, ML 7, AL
N, XP 790. Special: Regenerates to full
hp when a victim dies in the trap.
[7a] Catacomb Drain. A narrow duct
(2’) connects the pit trap [7], the Tomb
of Pericles [13], and the Flooded
Corridor [9]. Rusted metal bars cover
each submerged entrance, requiring
considerable force to break. With luck,
1 man can breach the pit trap bars, 2
men the flooded corridor bars, and 3
men the bars to the tomb.
[8] Darkan’s Lair. Skeletons (6) guard
the entrance of this torch lit tomb.
From within, Darkan animates the dead
with the Brazier of Wake Dead,
directing them with the Map of the
Dead. But his map is incomplete
beyond the Masonry Barricades [9]
where he believes the Chalice of
Pericles lies. The desperate
construction efforts of Portia’s good
skeletons have convinced Darkan they
shield the resting place of Pericles.
Cleric (Darkan) AC 2, HD 6d6, hp 35,
MV 40’, AT mace or spell, DG 1d6+2 or
spell, SV C6, ML 10, AL C, XP 1320.
Spells: 1st- Cause fear (x2), cure light
wounds, darkness; 2nd- hold person
(x2), silence 15’, resist fire; 3rd-
animate dead (x3); 4th - bones to
snakes (x2, necromantic sticks to
snakes spell), cure serious wounds.
Possessions: Plate mail +1, brooch of
shielding (65 hp magic missile damage),
morningstar +2, Brazier of Awake
Dead, Map of the Dead, potion of
gaseous form, jeweled holy symbol
(2500 gp), 12 x 250 gp gems, 80 gp.
New Magic Items
Brazier of Wake Dead releases pungent
rusty smoke that can animate the dead
it settles upon. A single charge of char
and bone may be burned per day. The
charge burns for 1 turn, releasing
enough smoke to animate 1 HD of dead
per round. While the smoke may
 Chalice of Pericles
accumulate to animate more than 1 HD

 [1] Temple of Pelan of dead in a round; it can never

animate a skeleton of greater than 4
N HD.
Map of the Dead. A sheet of vellum, a
vial of colourless ink, and a quill
[2] fashioned from the finger of a lich.

(S)
When used to draw an accurate map,
the cartographer can observe the
movement of all undead of 3 HD or
less, and direct undead if under the
Barricade cartographer’s control. Ink for 2d4
maps.
Coffin [9] Flooded Corridor. Beneath the
waterline, near the Catacomb Drain
Doors [7a], a loose brick conceals a chain that
raises the secret door. Finding the
[3] Flooded chain is difficult, but finding the secret
Tunnel door is impossible. Two men (STR 26)
Iron Grill are needed to raise the door; a ratchet
(S)
holding it in place when raised.
Pillar [10] Masonry Barricade. Evil skeletons
[4]
Secret (S) (7) work unceasingly to dismantle the
Door barricade, while good skeletons (3), on
Stairs the opposite side, work desperately to
[5] reinforce it with masonry pulled from
the catacomb walls. Without
Statue intervention, the good skeletons will be
ultimately overwhelmed.
[8]
Trap T [11] The Kin of Pericles. The catacombs
are the final resting place for many of
[6]
Pericles’ family and faithful. While the
magic of the Brazier of Wake Dead
[7] Pit Trap lacks the strength to control the
T [11]
remains of Pericles’ most beloved, it is
enough to stir and torment their souls.
[7a]
There is a 50% chance a tomb will
(S)

[13a] contain a wraith.

[13] Wraith AC 3, HD 4, hp 20, MV 40’ / fly
[7a] [10] 80’, AT touch, DG 1d6 + 1HD level
drain, SV F4, ML 12, AL C, XP 300
[12] Special: Unharmed by non-magical
[7a] weapons, half damage with silver
[9] [10] weapons. Characters reduced to 0 level
die, becoming wraiths in 24 hours
Each of these tombs contains precious
[11] [11] [11] burial artifacts (1d6 x 100 gp).
[12] Tomb of Portia. Torches burn
without heat within this elaborate
tomb. Upon a slab of white marble lies
Doors: Bronze double doors, Temple of Internment [3]. Secret doors of stone, Portia, as young and beautiful as she
hinged by bronze pins, except door entering Tomb of Pericles [13] - appeared in her vision. Portia balances
vertical rise. Other doors free standing stone slabs. between life and death, controlling the
Lighting: Statues bear torches that burn with magical light, illuminating areas catacomb’s dead. If approached her
[1], [2], [3], [4] and [12]. Standard torches light area Darkan’s Lair [9]. eyes open, and she speaks sparingly
Structure: The temple and catacomb, has been cut from the mountain’s rock, with adventurers. She gives them her
skillfully inlayed with finished interlocking stone slabs that extend from thanks, the location of the chain to gain
floor to ceiling, and wall to wall, throughout the complex. entry to Pericles’ tomb, and permission

3

to take his gold, but asks that his
chalice be destroyed, his body not be
disturbed, and that she be laid beside
him. Portia then falls silent forever,
failing to mention that she will turn to
ash if removed from her tomb!
[13] Tomb of Pericles. Surrounded by
bronze statues (4) bearing ancient arms
and armor lies a stone coffin, its cover
only inches above the flooding waters.
This coffin is false, for Pericles lies in a
true coffin in the adjacent secret tomb.
If the false coffin is disturbed the
bronze statues will animate to repel
intruders.
Animate Bronze Statue AC 4, HD 4, hp
26, MV 20’, AT sword, DG 1d8, SV F4,
ML 12, AL N, XP 190. Special: When
non-magical metal weapons strike an
animate bronze statue, the attacker
must succeed in a saving throw versus
spells or their weapon becomes lodged
in the statue, and can only be retrieved
by destroying the statue.
[13a] Pericles’ true coffin is trapped
beyond the adventurers’ detection;
reduction in its contents’ weight
(Chalice of Pericles) releases the chain
from the tomb’s outer door. A gold
statue of Portia, with eyes of sapphire,
stands at the head of the true coffin
surrounded by Pericles’ treasure (4500
gp, excluding the statue of Portia). It
weighs the same as the chalice, and if
placed in the tomb before its removal
the trap will not be triggered.
Conclusion
Darkan Hess is a tenacious adversary.
He will go to great lengths to secure the
Chalice of Pericles, but never willingly
fight to the death.
If Darkan succeeds in taking the chalice,
he plans to raise an ancient black
dragon. Who will stop the dragon’s
ensuing rampage?
If Darkan fails to secure the chalice, but
escapes alive, he will harbour a burning
desire for revenge against those who
thwarted his plans. Will the
adventurers defeat Darkan before he
can destroy the adventurers?
If Darkan is killed and the Chalice of
Pericles is destroyed, the adventurers
may receive one last vision from Portia.
Her chance to thank the adventurers,
and deliver a second quest; to foil the
return of the ancient evil that slew her
lover millennia ago.
Chalice of Pericles
Chalice of Pericles is copyright 2010,
Jason Metcalfe.
TM
Labyrinth Lord is copyright 2007-
TM
2009, Daniel Proctor. Labyrinth Lord
TM
and Advanced Labyrinth Lord are
trademarks of Daniel Proctor. These
trademarks are used under the
Labyrinth Lord™ Trademark License
1.0, September 2009 available at
www. goblinoidgames.com.
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Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document Copyright 2000-
2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors
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