BOARD 1 - BALTAR'S HOUSE


Wandering Monster: Skeleton


General Notes:

Stealing:  The first time a Hero picks anything up from Baltar's house, including treasure, weapons, artifacts, gold coins, or the Ruby Sphere, the Skeleton Guard activates.  If a Hero searches for treasure in any room, and finds some, this too activates the Guard.  The Skeleton Guard is Baltar's 'Burglar Alarm'.  It activates whether Baltar is alive or dead.  A skeleton materializes in the room with the player who stole the item and attacks only that player.  Every other turn another skeleton materializes until either 32 skeletons have been activated and defeated, the Hero is killed, or the Skeleton Guard is deactivated.  The only way to deactivate the skeleton guard is for the player to return the stolen item to its original location.  The skeletons will follow the Hero who stole the item wherever he goes.  If more than one Hero picks up an item, a skeleton still only materializes every other turn.  Choose which Hero the skeleton will go after.  Skeletons will not attack Heroes who have stolen nothing, unless the Hero first attacks a skeleton from the Guard - the Skeleton Guard will then consider this Hero an accomplice and attack him also.  If the Heroes split up, the skeletons will follow any Heroes who have stolen something and their accomplices.  If you run out of skeletons to place on the board wait until a skeleton is killed.  Remove this skeleton from the board and wait 1 turn, then place it back on the board.  Heroes may not leave the board if the Skeleton Guard is active; the door leaving Baltar's home is locked and cannot be opened.  Skeletons will continue attacking the players until one of the following happens: 32 skeletons are killed, all thieves plus accomplices are killed, or the Skeleton Guard is deactivated.   If the thief and any accomplices are killed or the Skeleton Guard is deactivated, all skeletons suddenly vanish and should be immediately removed from the board.  Next time a Hero steals something, the Skeleton Guard is reactivated with all 32 skeletons.  If all 32 skeletons are ever destroyed, the Heroes may steal from Baltar with impunity, excepting the Ruby Sphere (see room 'J' for a description of what happens here).  If the Skeleton Guard kills the thief, it takes the stolen item and returns it to its proper place.


Specific Notes:

A.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this: {Baltar's study is austere and like the rest of his home has few furnishings or decorations.  A light glows from the ceiling, but it seems to have no source.  Baltar is sitting here in a chair.}

Baltar:  Movement: 7, Attack: 2 dice, Defend: 6 dice, Body: 5 Pts, Mind: 7 Pts.  Spells:  Firestorm, Cloud of Chaos,  Ball of Flame, Sleep, Lightning Bolt, and Summon Undead.

If a Hero tries to talk to Baltar, he says {I have told you all you need to know.  Know please recover my Scepter.}  He says nothing else to the Heroes.  Baltar will ignore the Heroes, even if they steal something from his castle in his presence, unless one of the conditions below are met.

The following are actions that Baltar makes during the game:
  
1.  If a Hero or Heroes attack Baltar:
    a.  If the Heroes have accepted Welscar's offer and are now working for him instead of Baltar, Baltar will fight them.
    b.  If the Heroes are working for Baltar, not Welscar, and Baltar survives the attack, read the following to the Hero or Heroes who attacked Baltar: {Baltar looks at you for a moment after your attack.  "So, you dare to double cross me", he says.  A thin, cruel smile forms on his lips.  He moves his hands slightly.  Suddenly you can feel the spell that Baltar cast on you when you first met activating.   A constriction surrounds your throat.  You cannot breathe!  In a few moments you lie dead in front of Baltar".}    

2.  If the Heroes return to this room with the staff, it suddenly disappears from the Hero who is holding it.  It is now on the empty pedestal in room 'J'.  Tell the Heroes: {Baltar says, "Thank you my friends.  Here is the remainder of the gold I owe you."  He gives each Hero a chest with 125 gold coins.  He then says, "I will now remove the spell I cast over you."  He makes a few passes in the air with his hands.}
     a.  If the Heroes have not taken anything from Baltar, or have taken something and returned it, Baltar says, {"There, the spell is removed.  Please take these items as tokens of my appreciation.  I took them from thieves and have no need of them."}  The 4 artifacts from room 'J', the Sword of Caronn, Protector, Balor's Helm, and the Wand of Fire, appear before the Heroes.  Give them the cards for these artifacts and let the Heroes divide them up.  This is the end of the main quest.
     b.  If the Heroes have taken anything from Baltar, tell them: {The chests of gold suddenly disappear.  Baltar says, "Now you will receive what all thieves deserve."}  Baltar attacks.  Whether the Heroes kill Baltar or he kills them, this is the end of the main quest.


B.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this: {This is the pantry.  One shelf is stacked with foodstuffs, but the rest are dusty and bare.}


C.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this: {This appears to be an area for animal testing.  Cages line the walls, mostly empty.  Four cages in one corner have giant white rats in them, though.}  If a Hero opens a cage, the rat jumps out, surprising the Hero, and attacks once before scurrying into a hole in the wall.  The Hero gets no chance to counter attack, and defends himself with one fewer defend dice than normal since he was surprised.  Each rat rolls 2 attack dice.  If the same Hero opens a second cage, he is not surprised and rolls the normal defend dice.  The rat still attacks first, and scurries into the hole before the Hero can attack it back.  If another Hero opens a cage, he too is surprised.  Each Hero is surprised on his first cage.  The cages cannot be searched unless they are opened, and each one contains nothing but some rat food, soiled woodchips, a waterbottle, and a metal wheel.


D.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this:  {This is Baltar's Lab.  It appears that he is not currently running any experiments as all the equipment is put away.}


E.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this:  {The kitchen is clean, with a small unlit fireplace on one side.  The cooking utensils are all put away neatly.}  The first Hero to search here will find three kitchen knives that can be used as daggers.


F.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this: {This large room is Baltar's dining hall.  Strangely enough, even though there is a large table here that many guests could fit around, only one chair is to be found.}


G.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this: {Baltar's bedroom is so drab it is depressing.  The grey walls contain no decorations or hint of cheerfulness.  A bed is the only piece of furniture in the room.}   The chest contains 100 gold coins.


H.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this:  (This is a library.  Dusty books and scrolls line the walls.}  If the Heroes search, they find a scroll on the bookshelves: Heal Body.


I.  The first time a Hero enters each of these rooms read this:  {The spare bedroom is empty and dusty, and obviously has not held guests in a long time.}


J.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this:  {A sign on the wall reads 'Trophy Room'.  There are six pedestals here, with the same sort of strange light that was in Baltar's study shining down on each one.  The first pedestal has a sword, and a plaque on it reads 'Sword of Caronn - Forged From A Star Hurled From The Sky'.  The second pedestal has a shield, and the plaque reads 'The Silver Shield Protector'.  A shimmering helmet rests on the third pedestal, and the plaque reads 'Balor's Helm'.  The fourth pedestal has a wand on it, and the plaque reads 'Wand of Fire'.  The fifth pedestal is empty, and the plaque reads 'The Silver Staff'.  A simple red leather ball rests on the last pedestal.  The ball is old and worn, and appears to be one like a child would play with.  The plaque reads 'The Ruby Sphere'."}

If a Hero picks up any of the items, the Skeleton Guard is activated.  If a Hero picks up the Ruby Sphere and if Baltar still lives tell the players: {Baltar suddenly appears in the room and says "It is beautiful, is it not.  I must ask you to please return the Ruby Sphere to its proper place and admire it without touching."}  Move the Chaos Mage figure to this room. 

    1.  If the Hero returns the sphere, tell the players: { Baltar says, "Thank you." and disappears.}  Return his figure to room 'A'.  If no other item has been stolen, the Skeleton Guard is disarmed.  

    2.  If the Hero does not return the sphere on his next turn, or he or another Hero attacks Baltar, and the Heroes are working for Welscar, Baltar attacks.  See notes for room 'A' for Baltar's stats.

    3.  If the Hero does not return the sphere on his next turn, or he or another Hero attacks Baltar, and the Heroes are not working for Welscar, read this to any Hero who attacked Baltar and the one with the Sphere: {Baltar looks at you for a moment.  "So, you dare to double cross me", he says.  A thin, cruel smile forms on his lips.  He moves his hands slightly.  Suddenly you can feel the spell that Baltar cast on you when you first met activating.   A constriction surrounds your throat.  You cannot breathe!  In a few moments you lie dead in front of  Baltar.  Baltar picks up the Ruby Sphere, returns it to its proper place, then vanishes.}  If any Heroes still live return Baltar to room 'A'.


K.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this:  {This is a dungeon cell.  Rusty hinges will not allow the door to move and attest to the length of time since it was last used.}


L.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this:  {This dungeon cell is dusty from disuse.}


M.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this:  {This is the dungeon.  It has been allowed to fall into disarray, probably from lack of use.  The rack in the corner is rusty and covered with cobwebs.}


N.  The first time a Hero enters this room read this:  {This may be a guardroom, though you are not sure because it has been many years since the room has seen use.}  A weapons rack is against one wall, and contains a shield and a broadsword.


O.  This is the exit to the Town (board #2).   If the Heroes enter this spot from board #2, read to them: {Baltar's house is cold, dusty, and drab.  You see no sign of other people here.}
