23. Nova’s Retreat

This area is interesting to say the least. A short corridor leads into a small room that contains a small straw-mat covered with clean blankets and even a few comfortable cushions. Placed against the wall, a small desk and chair indicate that this area is also some kind of study. On the desktop, books, parchments, and papers are meticulously piled. Next to the desk, a large wooden bookshelf is filled with all sorts or odd objects; small receptacles, vials, and bottles. There are also two skulls, one human-sized and another of much smaller proportions. Looking in the corner of the room, you also notice a fairly large cage that lies empty. This is where Nova, the Black Paws shaman, has her private quarters. It is forbidden for any barkling to come in here, even the Duke himself (see room 22). If visited during the day, a bit of daylight will come in from a small opening on the south western corner of the room. This opening is approximately 2 feet wide and opens on the outside, on area 1, about 20 feet above the ground. The door to the north is kept locked at all times, even when Nova is in here. If Nova is still inside the room when the PCs first walk inside, read the text below. Standing in the middle of the room, a barkling looks at you, visibly furious. It wears a long dark robe and a bizarre hat covered with feathers, beads, and other primitive ornaments. Holding a dagger menacingly, it shouts at you in a feminine voice, "Who are you? What do you want?" There is a curtain over the secret door. If moved to the side, the curtain will reveal a small wooden door. It is not locked, but Nova barred it on this side with a small wooden beam. Removing the beam and opening the door takes a full round. If the PCs bang on the doors, or otherwise make a cacophonous entry to Nova’s Retreat, she will be aware of their presence and will attempt to flee by whatever door is free, and will immediately go to room 22 to warn Rosk. If she finds Rosk defeated, she will hide and attempt to trap the PCs using her web spell. If she ever feels trapped and cornered, she will make use of her invisibility spell to flee unnoticed when either door opens. Nova, Female Barkling Magic-User Level 4: AC 11, HD 1*, #At 1 bite or 1 dagger, Dam 1d4 bite, 1d4 dagger, Mv 40’, Sv MU 3, ML 7 (9), XP 145 Spells: sleep, magic mouth, web, invisibility HP The shaman also carries a key set with four keys; one that opens the chest located in the book shelf, another that unlocks the door to the north, another that unlocks the cage, and one that opens the door to area 19. On top of Nova’s desk, the PCs can find the following items: a scroll of protection from lycanthropes, a map of the region (where the Black Paw’s Lair, Péripont, Badgerwood, and the Northern Road are clearly identified), a compass, and a small spell-book. The spell- book contains the following spells: sleep, read languages, magic missile, magic mouth, web, invisibility, mind reading. Finally, the PCs will find a crude drawing of the gnome’s statue found in area 12. Next to the drawing, a page coming from another book (not Nova’s writing) will have the following words circled in red ink. Once the statue is activated, speak the following words: "Death, I fear not. Serious, I remain. Joy, it liberates me." The shelves next to Nova’s desk are filled with rubbish, but if looking attentively, the PCs will be able to find a few interesting things: a potion of diminution, a potion of plant control, and two black vials containing poison. There is also a small chest, kept locked, that contains 124 gp, a gold comb shaped as a horse (400 gp), a semi-precious emerald (50 gp), a semi-precious opal (50 gp), and a precious malachite (100 gp). Although the cage in the corner appears to be empty, a pixie is held captive inside of it by Nova. The fey will only appear to the PCs if they manage to defeat Nova or at least lead her out of the room. Neily was captured when the Black Paws first moved in and she has been repeatedly questioned by Nova to discover the secrets of this place. The shaman has not hurt her though she has been starving the fey since she refused to answer her questions about the statue of gnomes (see area 12). The pixie has so far refused to share any information which has further angered Nova, though she thinks she will eventually get information from her. Neily is quite stubborn and at first will try to trick the PCs into freeing her, telling the PCs she knows where a great treasure hides in this cave, referring to the Sprinkler of Saint Bebrah. She will go as far as describing to them "the pretty bucket" as she calls it. The pixie will however not tell them where the item is until she is freed and fed. Once the PCs have done so, she will tell them she overheard Nova tell Rosk that the item is kept "where their great ancestors are," referring to room 10, which the pixie has never visited. If freed, the pixie will attempt to leave by the northern door, reuniting with her fellow pixies (see area 24). If the door is locked and there is no other exit, she will fly out of the small opening in the south-western corner of the room. Neily: AC 17, HD 1*, #At 1 small weapon, Dam 1d4, Mv 30' Fly 60', Sv F1 (with Elf bonuses), ML 7, XP 37 HP GM Note: Neily will be unarmed and will not be willing to fight unless forced to.