A Grueling Ordeal
Brief
A grief-stricken mother approaches the party to beg their aid in finding her son. The boy climbed a treacherous path up Mt. Ordeal to prove his faith, and never returned. The monks decree that he failed the test, and that should be the end of it, but she is willing to cast aside precepts of honor to know what became of her son. Climbing the mountain is the ultimate test of will for the faithful; to pursue the boy will not only be a challenge...it will be A Grueling Ordeal. Dun-dun-dun!
Prerequisites
This adventure is intended for 4-6 characters of level 1. It can be used as a campaign opener, or modified for use at slightly higher levels. It is not recommended for characters who possess the ability to fly, teleport, or otherwise trivialize the ascent of the mountain.
Location
Mt. Ordeal is a peak among the hills and valleys of Zahar. In its shadow is a village, centered around a monastery. The Zaharans live a peaceful, agrarian existence, in the manner of their ancestors. The land is plentiful, and the countryside devoid of monstrous threats. The people are guided by monks, who meditate on the lessons of the ancestors, and counsel those who are not so familiar with their ancient wisdom.
Mt. Ordeal is not tremendous; if not for the monsters and traps along the way, it might be considered an easy climb. The peak isn't more than a thousand feet above the valley, so the mountain and the town could occur in almost any reasonably hilly area. The people could be of any race; their defining characteristic is their pacifism (toward each other, not the monsters of the mountain) and their faith.