Treasure Hunt

Module cover by Jeff Easley

Treasure Hunt (module code N4, TSR 9185) by Aaron Allston was the party's first adventure. Set in the Korinn Archipelago, it followed four enslaved captives from a shipwreck on a doomed island to a desperate escape aboard a prince's burial galley.

Adventure Overview

Setting	Korinn Archipelago — Doomed Island
Module	N4 Treasure Hunt (TSR 9185)
Author	Aaron Allston
Levels	0-1 (starting adventure)
Sessions	Session 1 (Episodes 1-4), Session 2 (Episodes 5-6)
Outcome	Completed — Party escaped the island

Synopsis

The party began as enslaved prisoners aboard the pirate galley The Dorak, which was wrecked in a violent storm upon the shores of a mysterious island. After defeating their half-orc jailer Hafkris on the beach, they set out to find a way off the island before it was destroyed.

Guided by the old man Keestake — who claimed to have survived alone on the island for sixty years — the party navigated orc and goblin war parties, discovered an ancient temple dedicated to a Goddess, and infiltrated the Manor of the Sea King.

In the catacombs beneath the manor, Keestake revealed his true nature: he had created the undead guardians haunting the crypts and betrayed the party by sealing them underground. After Brother Marcus killed the betrayer with a single devastating blow (natural 20, maximum damage), the party navigated traps, searched for a secret passage, and reached the Crypt Chamber.

There, two zombies — the former Sea King Viledel and Queen Liala — animated and attacked. In a catastrophic first round, Finn and Marcus were struck down. Zeale fought both zombies alone to buy time and was himself felled. Only Mira Ashwood remained standing.

Mira found a lever that collapsed the south wall to the ocean, lured Viledel off the cliff, killed Liala with a dagger, chiselled open a sealed tomb, discovered Prince Horedel's burial galley, dragged all three unconscious companions aboard, and escaped to sea moments ahead of an orc pursuit force. One mile offshore, the Goddess destroyed the entire island with tornadoes.

Key Locations

The Beach (Episode 1)

Where The Dorak ran aground. Site of the first combat against Hafkris. The party scavenged weapons and equipment from the wrecked galley.

The Ravine (Episode 2)

A natural ravine where 12 goblins battled 6 orcs. The party observed from a hilltop (position B), Finn rescued Keestake via stealth, and the party fought the five surviving goblins — Mira nearly died, dropping to -6 HP.

Temple of the Goddess (Episode 3)

A two-story white stone temple, mostly intact. The party found books on island history (30 gp), a single-use prayer book (Bless), and met the Goddess in the Meditation Chamber. She warned the island would be destroyed in three days and granted each party member a one-time divine boon (equivalent to a 1st-level spell).

Manor of the Sea King (Episode 4)

A large manor held by orcs, with goblins patrolling the perimeter. The party entered through the servants' wing (Room 18, loose window bars), fought a 3-goblin patrol in the corridors, and descended through a trapdoor in the storage room (Room 38) into the catacombs.

The Catacombs (Episodes 5-6)

Underground passages beneath the manor. Site of Keestake's betrayal, trap-filled corridors, giant rats, a secret door (miscoloured stone mechanism in Room 8), a 450-foot corridor (Room 14), and the Crypt Chamber (Room 16) — an enormous 90x80 foot cave where the final battle took place.

The Crypt Chamber (Episode 6)

The climactic location. Four crypts held the remains of the island's rulers: Room 17 (empty), Room 18 (Viledel's, vacant — he was walking), Room 19 (Liala's, vacant — she was walking), and Room 20 (Prince Horedel's, bricked up — containing the burial galley and treasure). A lever on the smooth south wall (Room 21) collapsed the wall outward to the ocean (Room 22).

Combat Encounters

Encounter	Episode	Location	Enemies	Key Moments	Outcome
Hafkris	1	Beach	Half-orc fighter (8 HP)	Finn's crossbow shot from cover; party melee in Round 2	Defeated in 2 rounds
Goblin Survivors	2	Ravine	5 goblins	Mira dropped to -1 HP; Finn's natural 20 crossbow	All 5 killed
Goblin Patrol	4	Manor corridor	3 goblins	Zeale reduced to 1 HP; Finn knocked unconscious; Mira's Magic Missile kill; Marcus heals Finn for max	All 3 killed
Keestake	5	Catacombs Room 1	Keestake (6 HP)	Marcus: natural 20, 8 damage (max), instant kill	Dead before acting
Zombie Viledel	6	Crypt Chamber	Zombie (scale mail, mace, 10 HP, AC 5)	Struck down Finn and Zeale; lured off cliff by Mira	Eliminated (items lost to ocean)
Zombie Queen Liala	6	Crypt Chamber	Zombie (6 HP, AC 8)	Struck down Marcus; killed by Mira's dagger (4 damage, DEX tiebreaker)	Destroyed

Treasure Recovered

Item	Value	Source
30-foot galley	10,000 gp	Prince Horedel's burial vessel (Room 20)
Gold/silver dinnerware	1,000 gp	Galley cargo (Room 20)
Coin chests	600 gp	Galley cargo (Room 20)
Chain mail	75 gp	Prince Horedel's tomb (Room 20)
Bastard sword	25 gp	Prince Horedel's tomb (Room 20)
Dagger	2 gp	Prince Horedel's tomb (Room 20)
Books on island history (x3)	30 gp	Temple library
Total	~11,732 gp

Treasure Lost

Item	Estimated Value	How Lost
Scale mail +1	Magical	Fell into ocean with Zombie Viledel
Mace +1	Magical	Fell into ocean with Zombie Viledel
Golden coronet	500 gp	Fell into ocean with Zombie Viledel

These items were on Zombie Viledel when Mira lured him off the cliff. The trade-off was necessary — the party had no other way to defeat the armoured zombie (AC 5, 10 HP) with their remaining strength.

Experience Points

Source	XP
Combat (all encounters)	221
Treasure (GP value)	11,860
Total	12,081
Per Character (divided by 4)	3,020

Party Progression

Character	Class	Starting Level	Ending Level	XP	Next Level At
Zeale	Fighter	1	2	3,020	4,000
Brother Marcus	Cleric	2	3	3,020	6,000
Mira Ashwood	Mage	1	2	3,020	5,000
Finnegan Cole	Thief	2	3	3,020	5,000

Divine Boons

The Goddess granted each party member a one-time divine boon (equivalent to a 1st-level spell). Melisana also received one.

Character	Boon	When Used	Result
Marcus	Cure Light Wounds	Episode 3 (on Mira)	Rolled 1 — healed 1 HP (Mira still unconscious)
Melisana	Cure Light Wounds	Episode 3 (on Mira)	Rolled 8 (maximum) — Mira restored to consciousness
Zeale	Cure Light Wounds	Episode 4 (on self)	Rolled 4 — healed to 5 HP during goblin fight
Finn	Cure Light Wounds	NOT USED	Still available — party's last magical resource