The Penitent’s Bargain

Description

Adventure Summary

A 3rd- to 5th-level adventure for 3–5 characters. The Monastery of the Weeping Stone clings to a cliff in the Spine Mountains. Monks are vanishing, and the abbot, Brother Malek, hires the party to investigate. In truth, the monastery imprisons a ravenous earth elemental bound by a pact that demands a willing sacrifice every century — and Malek intends for the party to fill that role.

Background

Eight centuries ago, a circle of druids imprisoned a hungry earth elemental in a fissure beneath the mountain. The binding requires a willing mortal sacrifice once every hundred years to renew the wards. The Anchorite Order was appointed to guard the secret — until the truth was buried by centuries of piety. Abbot Malek discovered the monastery’s founding charter three months ago and learned the centennial renewal is three days away. With no willing sacrifice prepared, he has begun drugging monks and feeding them to the fissure. It is not enough. He needs fresh blood.