Quest 11: The Shadow Vault (Portal Defense)
Quest 11: The Shadow Vault (Portal Defense)
Encounter 1
Introduction
"Thanks to your efforts, we have slowed this foul Overlord's attack," says Baron Greigory. "And," puts in Baron Zachareth, "we have determined what it is he seeks: the Shadow Rune. I have pooled my own resources with Baron Greigory, and together we determined the location of the Shadow Vault, where the Rune is hidden. My soldiers will move to secure this location. I charge you, Greigory, with identifying and destroying the Overlord."
As Baron Zachareth leaves, Greigory turns to you. "Zachareth speaks wisdom and I never would have located the Shadow Vault without him, or the Shadow Binders. Still, I would be more comfortable if you would travel to the Vault and assist Zachareth's soldiers in protecting it from the Overlord. I will call for you when I have located this vile monster, and we can take the fight to him."
Greigory's concerns were well-founded—when you arrive, you find none of Zachareth's troops: only the minions of the Overlord! Cutting through the first wave, you find yourself in the antechamber to the Shadow Vault. If you can re-seal the three portals to the vault, you should be able to hold off the monsters until Zachareth or Greigory arrive to relieve you.
Monsters
- Baron Zachareth
- 3 open groups
Setup
Place 1 open group on each of the Dragon's Lair, the Sewer, and the Lava Cave. Place the appropriate monster card near the portal closest to that tile; that monster group is now associated with that portal. Baron Zachareth is not placed during setup.
Heroes place their figures on the Cave in the spaces marked with an "X."
Place search tokens based on the number of heroes.
Place the white objective token faceup as indicated on the map. This is the Shadow Key.
Take 1 red, 1 blue, and 1 green objective token. Turn them facedown, shuffle them, and place them randomly on the spaces of the map marked with the objective token symbols. These tokens are the Runelock of Strength, the Runelock of Cunning, and the Runelock of Power, as indicated on the map. No players should know which objective token is blue, which is red, and which is green.
The locked doors may only be opened by a figure carrying the Shadow Key. Once opened, remove them from the map; they may never be closed again.
Special Rules
The Shadow Key
As an action, a master monster or Baron Zachareth may pick up the Shadow Key while adjacent to it. A figure may place the Shadow Key in an adjacent empty space by spending an action.
Portals & Runelocks
There are 3 portals: the Red Portal, the Blue Portal, and the Green Portal. The Overlord brings reinforcements through these portals and the heroes must attempt to close them. Each portal consists of the 4 spaces closest to the edge of the map (the entrance for the Blue Portal; the 4 outdoor spaces for the other two portals).
The portals are closed by sealing the Runelocks. However, players do not know which Runelock closes which portal until the Runelocks are sealed.
To close a portal, a hero must perform an action while adjacent to a Runelock. He tests:
- [Strength] (for the Runelock of Strength)
- [Willpower] (for the Runelock of Power)
- His choice of [Strength] or [Agility] (for the Runelock of Cunning)
If he passes, flip the Runelock faceup and place it on the portal of the matching color (place it on the middle of the 4 spaces of the portal). That portal is now closed and all 4 spaces of the portal are no longer in the game—move any figures or tokens currently there to the closest available empty spaces.
If the hero fails, there is no effect.
When the Heroes Close Their First Portal
When the heroes close their first portal, read the following aloud:
As you struggle to close the portal, you hear a clarion call of trumpets—Zachareth's soldiers arriving at last? Baron Zachareth himself approaches, his cloak billowing as he enters... but then he raises his hand and it crackles with dark magic. "Curse Greigory's meddling," Zachareth growls. "No matter; it is time I revealed myself! I will have the Shadow Rune, heroes, and you will not stop me!"
Place Baron Zachareth on the map as close as possible to the closed portal. The Overlord may immediately activate him, then the hero turn resumes.
If Zachareth is defeated, read the following aloud:
"Only a minor setback!" the dark baron howls, his body dissolving into a burst of dark fire. "I'll be back!"
Reinforcements
Monsters may be reinforced from the associated portal. At the start of each Overlord turn, he may place 1 monster from each of the corresponding groups on each portal, respecting group limits. When the portal associated with a given monster group is closed, that group may no longer be reinforced.
Zachareth may be reinforced from any portal if he has been defeated. This is in addition to the other monsters.
Victory
Hero Victory
If the heroes close all 3 portals, read the following aloud:
With their reinforcements cut off, Zachareth's minions quickly fall to your combined might. Zachareth himself vanishes in a puff of smoke. "Fools! I don't need the Shadow Rune to destroy you! I will be crowned king! You will bow before me!"
The heroes win!
Overlord Victory
If any master monster or Baron Zachareth moves off the map through the Exit while carrying the Shadow Key, read the following aloud:
"Hahahaha you fools, now my power is doubled! I will return my master to this world and the Baronies of Dagan will BURN!"
The Overlord wins!
Rewards
Win or lose, each player receives 1 XP.
If the heroes win, they receive the "Shadow Rune" relic.
If the Overlord wins, he receives the "Shadow Rune" relic.
Map Tiles
- Dragon's Lair
- Sewer
- Lava Cave
- Cave
- Entrance
- Exit