XL-1 "Quest for the Heartstone" (1984) by Michael L. Gray is a D&D adventure for character levels 5-10. The module includes prerolled characters based on the AD&D action figures produced by LJN toys.
Module XL-1 "Quest for the Heartstone" (1984) by Michael L. Gray. Cover illustration by Jeff Easley.
About the Author:
Michael Gray worked at TSR from 1981-84. He designed the Fantasy Forest boardgame, and wrote two "Fantasy Forest" gamebooks, "Shadowcastle" (1983) and "The Lost Wizard" (1984).
In addition to module XL-1, Gray also contributed the adventure "Dargaard Keep" to DL 16 "World of Krynn" (1988) as a freelancer.
An interview with Gray about module XL-1 and the Kingdom of Ghyr was posted in Michael L. Gray's Kingdom of Ghyr on the Piazza, back in August, 2018.
Special Characters:
Many of the special characters previously described in AC1 "The Shady Dragon Inn" are included, with minor changes/errors:
Figgen - same stats; AC does not include Dex adjustment
Strongheart - Int and Dex increased from 9 to 12; sword +2 "Purlblade" becomes intelligent with special/extraordinary powers
Zarak - Str increased from 12 to 13, Con 7 to 16, (hp 15 to 27), although Cha decreased from 11 to 6; dagger +1 becomes throwing with magical returning (boomerang), gets potion of invisibility
Skylla - Wis increased from 8 to 15, Dex 9 to 11, Con 9 to 10
Kelek (different illustration) - same stats, although alignment changed from Neutral to Chaotic
Warduke - Con increased from 8 to 14, (same hp); properties of magical helmet described (infravision 60 feet, causes wearer's eyes to glow red)
*Fox Fingers the thief, and Raven the cleric from AC1 don't appear (Fox Fingers was exposed to the Heartstone, but Raven didn't participate in the quest)
New "good" characters include Molliver (lawful thief), Hawkler (good ranger), Deeth (good fighter), Bowmarc (good crusader), and Valkeer (good norseman).
New "evil" characters include Grimsword (evil knight), Zorgar (evil barbarian), and Drex (evil warrior).
The Heartstone:
The Heartstone. Illustration by Jeff Easley.
Character bios in AC1 describe the Heartstone as "a magical gem that brings out hidden things about a person":
The Heartstone brought out even more of Mercion's good, but uncovered the evil in the others.
(Peralay) and Zargash were friends, and found the Heartstone, which brought out Zargash's evil nature and Peralay's lawful nature.
Elkhorn joined in the search for the Heartstone, and seems unchanged by it, perhaps because of his dwarven abilities, or perhaps because dwarves are immune to the stone.
Long ago, Ringlerun and Kellek were adventuring and discovered the massive Heartstone that changed Kellek into an evil man, bringing out his hidden flaws, and purified Ringlerun, making him wise and more just.
Strongheart, aided by Peralay and Ringlerun, escaped unharmed, but Warduke and his friends became twisted and evil.
When exposed to the Heartstone, Fox Fingers began to hate everyone who knew he was a thief.
(Zargash) hates the Heartstone and Ringlerun for bringing out his dark nature.
Zarak now hates Peralay, though he was once Peralay's friend: when the two of them were exposed to the rays of the Heartstone, Zarak's cruel and evil nature was brought out while Peralay's good nature was brought out.
Once (Skylla) was a student of Ringlerun's, but when she was exposed to the Heartstone, she began to seek out the evil, harmful side of magic.
from AC1 "The Shady Dragon Inn" (1983)
The Kingdom of Ghyr:
Cover to the unofficial Ghyr fan gazetteer (2006). Illustration by Jeffrey Kosh.
For a comprehensive fan expansion of the Kingdom of Ghyr, see Gaz F4 "The Hidden Treasure of Ghyr" (2006)* by JTR.
*additional material on Ghyr can be found on the Vaults of Pandius, here.
See also Gaz F5 "The Western Alliance" (2006)** by JTR
**map and alternate cover by Jeffrey Kosh
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