Extracted information from The Vanishing City choose your own adventure book
by LoZompatoreI got a copy of Allan Varney's 1987 Super Endless Quest series "Choose your own Adventure" book "The Vanishing City".
The plot is a simplified and streamlined version of M4 module "Five Coins for a Kingdom".
This post of mine is not to review the adventure, but just to highlight the differences between the book and the module (several spoilers ahead, I guess) and extract some extra information which are provided in the book that are not present in M4 module. I guess that such extra info may be easily adapted to Mystara / Norwold.
Main characters of the Endless Quest book are just Sir Theobold Redbeard, ruler of Lighthall, and Theona of the Righteous Glory: all other pre-generated PCs are not included in the adventure. They both are not-so-young adventurers in their 40s (Theobold is explicitly 40 years old) and the book provides several nice portraits of them, here is an example:
(click on the image for a larger view)
There are no specific references to Norwold, Alphatia or Mystara: Theobold served for many years in the legions of "His Majesty" but no other information is provided. The Outer Plane of Eloysia is never mentioned by this name, and it is just called "Trann".
The description of the disappearance of Lighthall is mostly identical to M4 module, as it is the finding of the copper coin and the message of distress by the Ruling Wizards.
There are only four coins (copper, silver, gold, platinum) with respect to the five coins of M4 module (the electrum piece is missing), the copper one being in the hands of Theobold since the beginning of the adventure. The copper coin is used to locate the other coins as per M4 module.
The other three coins are in possession of Dominagon the Blue (silver), of the family of sphinxes (gold) and of the cult of devilfishes in the lake, which is led by a vampire devilfish (platinum). The M4 encounter with the ghost of the human diver in the lake is included in the Endless Quest book but it is mostly merged with the encounter with the devilfishes and the ghost does not possess his own magical coin.
Overall, the encounters are more or less the same as per M4 module, with much less emphasis on combat and relying on alternate solutions in order to get the coins. It is not necessary to collect all the coins to reach the Plane of Trann (a teleportation to Trann can be performed with just the initial copper coin) but as the coins provide extra magical powers (such as shapeshifting, etc.) they are useful to collect for the remaining part of the adventure.
The description of Eloysia is mostly identical to M4 module, with the difference that Trann apparently rules over all the three layers of floating islands. The kingdom of Volde (or any other kingdom) is never mentioned and its armies / people are not included in the book.
The mansions of the Ruling Wizards are mostly the same as per M4 module: the sphinx of Kendall has been removed as she is not included in the adventure, while the female "deity" revered by Dyan in her Temple has been given a name (Lady Serania). Encounters in the mansions are a streamlined version of what is written in M4 module.
Here is a picture of Trann and the floating islands as viewed from the mansions of the Ruling Wizards:
(click on the image for a larger view)
The auratus (a giant flying goldfish) as a way of transportation among the floating islands is present in the book, with more or less the same description as per M4 module.
Durhan the Conqueror is in possession of the Shadow Belt of Orcus and resides on a floating island surrounded by fierce thunderstorms. He has grown to gigantic size and his appearance has been distorted by this growth. All of these effects correspond to the handicaps of the Shadow Belt detailed in M4 module. Instead of being linked to a magical web connected to parasitized lower-level wizards (as per M4 description), in the book Durhan is simply surrounded by an aura of magical fire produced by the Shadow Belt.
The only picture of Durhan in the book is as follows:
(click on the image for a larger view)
Durhan has some human agents among the people of Trann (mentioned as background information but never met by the main characters) and commands some ogres, but no other minions or armies are mentioned. Durhan can be defeated in a few different ways all centered on removing the Shadow Belt from him, which causes the Belt to be recalled by Orcus to be assigned to more promising candidates and making Durhan vulnerable and without magical powers.
The M4 voyage to the sun of Mystara (to get an agreement with the local elemental ruler to save Lighthall from being engulfed in the sun) has been streamlined into a teleportation to the center of the (smaller) sun of Trann, where a fire elemental leader called the Flame King resides.
Once Lighthall is brought back to the Prime Plane through the intervention of the Flame King there is the possibility (not present in all the endings) that Sir Theobold asks Theona to become his queen and rule together the land.
Some extra information available in the book that can be easily adapted to M4 module (and Mystara in general) to add some flavor are detailed in the following.
1) Lighthall and coat of arms:
From the book cover. Lighthall appears to be a heavily fortified settlements on a cliff, with a mighty castle at the highest location (compare also with figure of the Flame King at the end of this post). From the colors on Theobold's horse reins and saddle flaps it can be inferred that the colors of the coat of arms of Lighthall are white and sky blue, possibly arranged in a lozenges pattern.
(click on the image for a larger view)
2) Locations of the three coins:
In the book they have names:
- Cliffslide Caves for the region where the family of sphinxes live. The Cliffside Caves are the lower slopes of the Dragon Hills (see below) and should extend quite a bit over the region.
- Dragon Hills for the region where Dominagon has his lair. Dominagon actually occupies just a small part of the Dragon Hills, as detailed below.
- Haunt Lake as an alternative name for the Ashtagon Lake
Overall, I have the impression that the Cliffside Caves and the Dragon Hills corresponds to an arid terrain, karstic and subject to landslides, not really suitable for agriculture and possibly crisscrossed by caves' systems and underground rivers.
Cliffside Caves:
Introduction:
Your search for the magical golden coin you so desperately need to complete your quest has led you to the area known as the Cliffside Caves, a series of forbidding caverns honeycombed into the rocky lower reaches of the Dragon Hills.
After a long walk toward the bleached cliffs near Lighthall... At last, you reach your destination, a low cliff with scrub trees at its base. Twenty feet up, you can see the mouth of a cave with a wide ledge in front of it. The carcass of a deer hangs over the lip of the ledge. Here and there are a few large brown feathers.
This is one of the Cliffside Caves, the location of the gold coin.
Dragon Hills:
Entry 179:
This section of the Dragon Hills is an eroded cliff side, littered with rubble and huge boulders... This part of the Dragon Hills is the location of the silver coin.
Haunt Lake:
Entry 85:
You look out at a large, stagnant lake. Here and there, a few reeds poke up through the mossy surface, but all the mosquitoes and pond life have vanished_ There was never much good to say about the creatures-that lurked here, hut their absence makes the lake seem more dismal than ever. This is Haunt Lake, location of the platinum coin.
3) A couple of (Immortals?) names:
At least one of them (Lady Serania) explicitly assigned to a "deity" (an Immortal) revered in Trann, but who cannot act on Mystara. The second name (Tanassalos) might be another "deity" or an exalted being revered by sphinxes.
Tanassalos:
Entry 140:
After a long silence, Demosthenes leaps to his feet. "By Tanassalos, I'm stumped! For the first time in ninety-three years, since that skullcracker about the elephant and the walnut butter, I'm stumped! Tell me your answer, human!"
Lady Serania:
Entry 125:
Actually, sir, it is said that supplies have been obtained through prayers to the Lady Serania, chosen deity of the Ruling Wizard Dyan. Dyan has erected a temple to her near here, and you may find that an offering and a prudent request for aid may bring you the vapors you seek.
4) Unplaced locations:
These are just mentioned once or twice in the book for the sake of flavor, but I guess they could find their own placement somewhere in Mystara.
Notice that the mention of a "Lower Delmanto" should imply the existence of an "Upper Delmanto" or a "Delmanto" region as well. Considering that in M4 module Sir Theobold served in the Alphatian armies for most of his adult life, it is possible that both Banagor Castle and Lower Delmanto are locations inside or close to the borders of the Alphatian Empire.
Ruins of Banagor Castle:
Entry 143:
You remember that time years ago, in the ruins of Banagor Castle, where you found a ring in a secret drawer, put it on, and began dancing furiously until a magic-user in your party could dispel the enchantment.
Lower Delmanto:
Entry 46:
"It will be a lovely ride. 'Trust me:' you reply.
"That's what you said in Lower Delmanto:'
"Yes, yes, but that was a flying carpet, and the pilot didn't know how to work the thing. This beast is completely in my power. Really. Now climb up:'
Entry 58:
Approaching the sleeping dragon quietly, you draw your sword. You remember the time back in Lower Delmanto when you sneaked up on that gargoyle with the treasure chest. It turned out he'd only been pretending to be asleep, and his surprise attack was nearly the end of you. Thus, you are quite tense as you near the dragon.
5) The Black Lotus:
A nice addition for an extremely poisonous plant in Mystara. The sole fumes of the Black Lotus can kill several ogres.
Black Lotus:
Entry 125:
...you may be advised to seek the vapors of the black lotus. Ew, the ogres are disastrously susceptible to that flower's vapors, sir!' "And where might we find a black lotus?" "Well, that is the sticky point, sir. They have not been found anywhere in the system of Trann for generations.
Entry 129:
From the globe rises a cloud of coiling black smoke. Even from here, even in the rain, you can detect its deadly odor. "Black lotus!" you gasp. The globe was filled with the vapors of that tropical meat-eating plant, the plant that kills animals and men alike.
The vapors curl around Durhan like something alive. He coughs in surprise, and for a moment, you dare to hope. By rights, he should be dead soon.
Entry 15:
"Yes, yes, this is Saybrook's study:' pipes Popiel, fluttering around among the bookshelves. "He was here when Durban's ogres broke in and kidnapped him along with the other Ruling Wizards. It was terrible!"
"How did they capture so powerful a wizard?"
"He was betrayed!" Popiel cries, sparks flying from her mouth. "Durhan got an apprentice to drug his wine with black lotus powder.
Entry 118:
"Black lotus!" she shouts, coughing. You can't reply, for the mist is choking your lungs and bringing tears to your eyes. The deadly black lotus, the flower whose vapors bring death to even the mightiest creatures, is well known across the dimensions.
You manage to avoid most of the vapors by retreating from the room. And now that you look back at them, you see that the clouds of black have focused their deadly vapors on the ogres... the smoke reaches down the monsters' throats like something alive, choking them to death in moments.
6) The Ruling Wizards:
With respect to M4 module Kendall is missing and her personality is somewhat merged with those of Saybrook.
Portraits of the Ruling Wizards are available on the backside of the four magical coins (same as M4 module), as shown below:
(click on the image for a larger view)
Entry 244:
Overhead, four robed figures appear in a flash of pure white light. You recognize Warrick, the elderly white-haired wizard in the coppercolored robes, from the vision that sent you on this adventure.
The copper coin told you of the other three, the other Ruling Wizards of this dimension. You recognize them as they float downward to the mountaintop.
...
Jacaine, the gloomy mage in golden robes, stout and talkative; Saybrook, dapper illusionist, dressed in silver and black, looking around him with the eyes of a brilliant teenager; and the one to whom all three defer, Dyan of the platinum robes.
Dyan, the mistress of controlling magic, is a stately woman with a high forehead and a placid expression.
7) The Flame King:
In one of the endings the Flame King itself shows up in the sky above Lighthall praising Sir Theobold and Theona for their deeds and encouraging the inhabitants to trust his noble leader. Here is the relevant description and an image from the Endless Quest book:
(click on the image for a larger view)
Entry 245:
There, standing on empty air, eighty feet tall and burning as brightly as a new torch, stands the Flame King, ruler of the fire elementals of Trann. Immediately people scream and horses rear back and topple merchants' carts.
It looks like panic in your city.
But the Flame King gestures, and tranquility rises in your mind as heat rises from pavement. He's cast a Mass Charm spell on everyone in the city. It allows the Flame King to speak to an attentive audience, and when he speaks, his booming voice is heard all over town.
"Humannns:' he thunders, "the storrry yooour rulerrr tellls yooou is truuuue. Heeed his worrrds, annnd yoou willll cherish his honorrr and braverrry as yooou prize the warrrm sunnn itselllf. May yooou alll folllowww his Hllustriouss exammmmple!"
;)