B3: Palace of the Silver Princess (Revised)

The revised version of module B3 "Palace of the Silver Princess" by Tom Moldvay and Jean Wells receives less attention than Wells' original, although for almost two decades, it was the only version that most of us knew existed.

Cover to the revised, green-cover version of module B3 "Palace of the Silver Princess" (1981) by Tom Moldvay and Jean Wells.  Illustration of the monstrous "Decapus" by Erol Otus.

Moldvay introduces a plot in which the player characters are inhabitants of the Valley of Haven and must discover the cause behind the sudden disaster, which has only just occurred.

The Eye of Arik

The ruby discovered by the dwarves and presented to Princess Argenta is actually a magical gem, known as "The Eye of Arik".*

*the Eye of Arik is given an xp value of 7,500 and gp value of 37,500 in the Encyclopedia Magica, volume II (1995)

The Eye of Arik, from the Encyclopedia Magica, vol. II (1995). Illustration by Arnie Swekel.

Arik (also known as "Arik of the Hundred Eyes") is an ancient, evil being of great power, who was banished to a prison dimension centuries ago for his crimes.

Once the ruby was brought into the palace, Arik was able to imprison the princess within the gem, also transforming most of the palace inhabitants to stone.  Others were driven insane, with disasterous consequences.

Arik then teleported Catharandamus, one of his clerics, into the palace in order to prepare the ceremony to permit him to cross the dimensional barriers and enter Haven.

He created a red, glowing force field around the palace in order to prevent help from arriving and interrupting the ceremony.  The power of the ruby also drew hordes of orcs and goblinoids into the valley to fight for its master.

Ellis the Strong and Ariksbane

Wells' knight in silver and blue armor is changed to a knight in black armor, named Ellis the Strong, a Knight of the White Drakes.  The original knight's red dragon steed is changed to a white dragon, named "Ariksbane".

The Knights of the White Drakes* are described as a special band of fighters who ride white dragons and are dedicated to defeating evil wherever it exists.  Ellis and Ariksbane came to Haven because they heard about the discovery of the ruby, and suspected its true nature.

*the Knights of the White Drake are mentioned in the History of Thyatis in "Dawn of the Emperors" (1989) by Aaron Allston, where it's stated that "All known knights of the Order of the White Drake are captured and executed" in AC 960

Destroying the Ruby

Moldvay describes three ways by which the ruby can be destroyed, thereby preventing Arik from entering the valley.*  It's up to the player characters to figure out at least one of these three ways, which makes for a nice, non-linear approach to the adventure.

*Arik is described as a "Celestial, Sphere of Entropy; AL C" in "Wrath of the Immortals" (1992) by Aaron Allston

The Eye of Arik, from the Codex of Immortals (1992) by Aaron Allston.  Illustration by Terry Dykstra.

Credits

The credits for the revised version of the module are notable for the inclusion of Allen Hammack and Harold Johnson in addition to Moldvay for development, and the replacement of Edward G. Sollers and Stephen D. Sullivan with Allen Hammack, Harold Johnson, Jon Pickens and Deborah Ritchie for editing (Johnson was also singled out for inspiration, in both versions).

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I ran "Palace of the Silver Princess" for my friends, and again for my brother and his friends, back in 1983.  I drew a detailed, full-page map of the Valley of Haven (now lost, although I keep hoping it will turn up), with settlements for elves, dwarves, halflings, and humans.

Moldvay's version of the module really fired my imagination.  I wrote short stories set in Haven, and even composed some Tolkienesque poetry.  (I still remember the first two verses, modeled after "Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold"):

The dwarves of Haven, they did find, / Deep in the heart of the mountainside,
a wondrous ruby that dazzled the mind, / And back to the Palace, they did ride.

The gem was given as a gift, / To the princess, kind and dear.
Unknown to all, 'twas but a rift, / For the wicked Prince of Fear.

from "The Lay of the Silver Princess"

I designed some further adventures "The Cave Bear of Sparn", "The Tower of Shadows", and "The Book of Arik", and later prepared "The Cave Bear of Sparn" for submission to Dungeon magazine, but never sent it in (I still have the typewritten manuscript).

In his review of the module for White Dwarf #35 (November, 1982), Jim Bambra states that "Palace of the Silver Princess" should replace "The Keep on the Borderlands" in the D&D Basic Set, and as much as I love module B2, I think he was right.