The Pools of Aquala

The pools of Aquala is known only to the wisest of sages. The pools are a set of trials for a group of adventurers to undertake to learn to work together as a group and to make each of them stronger at the end if they succeed. The greatest of heroes in the history of the land have gone through the trials and succeeded, but in the last century there have been no heroes...perhaps it is time for a new group of heroes to walk across the lands?

The Temple of Aquala is set in the middle of a great ancient forest. Once someone enters they see that the temple is dedicated to all of the worlds gods, and protected by them all. The ‘Guardian’ is an ancient figure, he has been at the temple since the start of time and will be there till the end of time.

He appears as an old man with a long white beard. He wears a light blue robes with gold trim(Robe of the archmage) and carries a staff(Staff of the Magi). (AC: -10; hp’s: 200; THAC0: 1; Dam: 5d10+10; KO: d20; SA: Knows all spells both clerical and mage with a casting time of Very Fast and casts them as 30th level; SD: 100% magic resistance). Though he appears ancient, his eyes are very youthful. He will greet all visitors warmly, and know everyone by name and seem to know all about each and every party member. He will know that they are there to take the trials of the pools and invite the party to a great feast in there honor. The party will notice while they are eating their meal, that any wounds are healed, any curse is lifted, and illness cured, and the party will feel very well rested. If the party is not suffering from anything them they will just feel pretty good.

The ‘Guardian’ will lead the party down a long hall into a large room filled with 6 glowing doors and says “Let the Trials begin” The party must go through each of the doors to pass the trials. Each door will test each of the characters stats. Not everyone needs to pass the tests, as long as one member of the party passes the test and Helps the other party members the party will pass the test. Once the party completes one of the trials the door will no longer glow, and behind the door is a solid stone. Each test starts through the door the entered and will end with them going through the door they came through to enter the trial. When the party completes the last trial a magical pool will appear in the middle of the room with all the doors and the party must enter the pool to be cleansed. Once the party cleaned themselves the ‘Guardian’ will great the party and congratulate each of them. As the party bathes they are healed of all wounds and all fatigue is restored Also the characters class prime ability score(Only one) gains a +1. The ‘Guardian’ will give each party member a magical item(s) worth no more than 500xp as a small reward for completing the first step of the trials.

Door #1: Strength--Raw power Lift something heavy? Bend Bars?
Door #2: Dexterity--Cross the room on a rolling log without falling off?
Door #3: Constitution--Test of Endurance-- cross a room where the characters body feels like lead. Each step costs one fatigue point, need 30 fatigue points to cross all the way.
Door #4: Intelligence--Solve a riddle?
Door #5: Wisdom--Know when to run from a fight? (Super deadly monster with huge treasure horde?)
Door #6: Charisma--Leadership (Someone must distinguish themselves as party leader.?)

The other trials are in different temples scattered across the land. There are six other temples the party must go to:

Temple #1(Strength): Upon a snow covered mountain
Temple #2(Dexterity): In the middle of a Swamp
Temple #3(Constitution): Middle of a Jungle
Temple #4(Intelligence): Middle of a desert
Temple #5(Wisdom): Middle of an arctic region
Temple #6(Charisma): Under the ocean

Part of the trials is just getting to the temples. In each of the temples the ‘Guardian’ will be there and congratulate them for reaching the temples, and off each of them a magical feast like at the first temple. After the meal the ‘Guardian’ Will lead them to the pool. Each pool will grant anywhere from +4 to +1 on an ability score. +4 if your ability score is 6 or under; +3 if your ability score is 7-13; +2 if your ability score is 14-16, and +1 if your ability score is 17 or higher. The ‘Guardian’ will give each party member a magical item(s) worth no more than 500xp as a small reward for completing the trials.

Upon completing the final temple the party is teleported to a secret temple deep underground. This is the Temple of judgment. To each member of the party they are in a large room with three pools all by themselves. On the wall just behind the pools is a large engraved scale (like the scales of justice) one side of the scales is all of the evil gods, on the other are the good goods. In the middle supporting the scale are the neutral gods. The character must choose which pool is his and bathes in it. If the character bathes in the correct pool he gained a +2 to his prime ability score(only one), and +1 on all of his others. If the party member bathes in the wrong pool he looses one point in his prime ability score(all of them). If a party member decides to bathe in two pools he looses all of the ability bonuses he gained in the trials. If someone bathes in all three pools the also lose one point in all of there ability scores also. When a character enters his first pool 10min later a glowing archway will appear in the middle of the room. When the party enters the archway the are at the first main temple where the trials began. Anyone who succeeded in the trials is given 6500xp worth of magical treasure. The gift(s) are something that will fit the character in question(DM’s Choice).

Notes: Stats not to go over 18. If using Skills and Powers subabilites may exceed 18, but not the ability score itself. If a character has an 18 ability score the pool will bestow another gift: an increase in another ability score, gain a new racial ability, gain a new class ability etc... [DM’s Choice, but it must be something that fits the character]

By Andrew Levashoff