The Wolfing Hour

315WeTWoHo

The party was confused. The prisoner’s from Wolf Ridge weren’t fighting against the guards. They weren’t pleading for mercy or threatening violence to their captors. In fact they were sitting near-motionless and were in different stances of prayer and worship.

“something’s not right,” one or the other mercenaries hired to assist the town and party began. “It’s like Luke said. It’s a sacred week and they won’t do nothin’ to us. But like, it’s not natural. What’s special about this week anyway?” He asked as he bit into a hunk of bread and cheese.

“Well whatever it is the Captains got a plan for them. He wants the lot of them hauled outside, unshackled and put on display in a wooden cage. ‘Barbaric treatment for a barbaric tribe’ he had said.” A nearby guard said. “It doesn’t sit well with me.” He added looking at the peaceful tribes people in front of them. “They seem content to sit here, chained up in the cells. These don’t look like the people that would attack our farms and steal our animals.”

The request

It wasn’t long until the party had another group come and relieve them from watching the peaceful prisoners. But when they left the guards barracks they were greeted by Casey, the Governor. “Hello, might I trouble you for a drink and an extension of the job? That is unless you’re content to stand around bored and guard those that don’t need to be guarded.” he said with a smile.

After following the Governor to his office he uncorked a small bottle of spirits and offered a drink to the party. After those who wanted some had a glass of the strong alcohol he looked out his window and towards the barracks. “Despite me trusting Luke in his judgement and ability to cast judgement, something doesn’t feel right.” he began, swirling his glass around. “These aren’t the people that we have had trouble with. Sure I recognise a few and they are the same people but, their fight and viciousness has gone. I have heard that they spend their time in prayer to their deities. They even thanked one of the guards for locking them up and asked for their chains to be tightened.” he sighed, placing the glass on the windowsill as he rubbed his temples.

Change of heart

“I need you to go back to the village, just you. A small group to understand what this sacred week is about, work out why they are like this. Luke told me they were vicious savages with no culture who would raid our farms monthly and slaughter our animals for the fun of it. But those aren’t the people I see in front of me. Luke has a plan to prove to the people that the capture of these tribesmen is the right thing. He wants to put them on display and let the people see them enraged.” Casey looked back at the party, wiping a tear away.

“I can’t let him do that to these people. They appear to be innocent, peaceful men and women. Will you please consider a quick journey to the village and to speak with their elders, or find out what’s going on some other way. Please?”

As the party left Berkshire they noticed the guards dragging the tribespeople to large cages in the centre of the town. Luke was standing there watching. “No please, take us back inside. Bind us. Don’t put us in the cages!” an older man cried out, visibly distressed. “You can’t do this. Please think of your people. They don’t deserve this.” Luke just frowned.

“I knew you were bad news. This religious, calm act was just that was it? An Act? Luke practically spat at them. “A day in the cages will teach you humility.”

Sacred Day

The party neared the village, less than a day’s travel away, they noticed a plume of smoke from the central pyre. Approaching the village they found all the tribespeople sitting down, chanting and bound to large logs around the column of smoke. As the Party approached the older halfling appeared from a tent with lengths of metal chains as she approached a large log at the centre of the gathering. As if by magic she turned and stared directly into the eyes of the party. “You shouldn’t have come. It’s not safe. Not today, our most sacred of days.” she said. “In fact, this week isn’t great with the full moon approaching. What brings you here? Has the people of Berkshire seen sense and reason and released the tribespeople?” she asked as she started to mark the remaining tribespeople with symbols of the moon on their face.

When she noticed the party looking at the chains and ropes she sighed. “We don’t know when our sacred day may come. Some of us can feel it, the elders of the tribe. We are cursed people who live and die by the moon cycle. Our strength wanes as the moon grows in its own strength and its power controls us. But, there is another time where the strength of our deities is too much. That’s today. If you want to save the people of Berkshire, you must leave now. Leave before the wolf comes and claims his people.”

Thoughts

So the concept is simple. Self imposed exiles, a recluse tribe of lycanthropes. Yup, werewolves. However, they are not the murderous kind and wish to live in harmony with nature and try and control their disease. However the young or new joiners of the tribe can not control their urges during a full moon… Or a Luna eclipse…

A business proposal

314WeABuPr

Why the party sat down in the Risky Mare again was a strange mystery. It was a familiar tavern with a different feel to the others of the same namesake. The looked at the man opposite them who smiled and stood to shake their hands. “Thanks for responding to my request, unfortunately this city doesn’t have many people of your calibre. Now I wont take up much of your time. Time is money and the longer we wait the further the thief may get away.” The man opposite them rubbed his hands and looked around as if checking for spies.

“About a week ago I was robbed at this very table. A coin purse of some meagre coinage, maybe fifty gold pieces in total was taken. However the thief also made off with a precious trinket of mine.” he paused as a tankard of ale was placed in front of him. “Now the thief must have been using a disguise. They appeared like a boy, not much older than ten winters. However they most certainly were not as they appeared.” he began, pausing to drink the thick ale.

The ploy

“When some of my men approached him the boy used some strange magic and slew one of my men. The body disappearing under a bolt of lightning. Now the guards won’t get involved. They laughed at me when I reported to murder and theft. What will I tell Will’s wife if I don’t find his murderer and work out some way to make amends for this situation.”

The party looked at the large dragonborn who was standing near by. An imposing figure by any meaning of the word. “I see you have noticed Gyx. Gyx is the one who was with Will when the thief murdered him using a cursed artefact. This artefact is the precious trinket of mine. You see I was on the way to deliver it to the harpers, they have a presence in this city, to ensure it was taken care of. But it like my gold was taken.” He continued with the supportive nod from Gyx.

“Are you able to assist me before the thief murders again? He does not know the power of what he wields. I need to get it to the Harpers so they can take care of it.” The man said with a convincing smile of concern. “I should introduce myself proper, I am Raff, Raff Tamale.” Raff said as he waited for their response.

Thoughts

Now we know what’s going on here as the spinners of this story. But I don’t believe that the parties will suspect something outright. However if they do then it will make for a very quick adventure but of a different kind. If the party follow up on a few leads they may unravel some of the story. The presence of the harpers is almost always secret or prone to being rumours. However the guards never being informed by Raff would give the deception away quickly. I hope that with a few key, pivotal moments I will see the party lead in the right direction.

Allies and Opponents of the Gibbering Woods

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Complications, Twists and Opportunities

The complications that can go wrong in a heist are long and varied. Betrayal, competing parties or the heist object itself can all pose a threat or risk. Things happening on the fly which make the carefully laid out plan need a rapid twist or shift to something new.

1. It’s just business. One of the supporters and business partners of Sasha is the one who hired the poachers. The party identify him at the camp when they go to investigate and he makes the poachers aware that she was organising the eggs to be liberated.
2. There are more than just eggs in that tent. Poachers poach things and it goes without saying that they may have either hunting companions or have captured dangerous creatures. If they were to get out inside the poachers compound it would spell disaster for everyone.
3. Denizens of the woods. The woods are home to a variety of creatures. Basilisks, owlbears, dire wolves, giant snakes and other creatures call its dank undergrowth home. The egg could be from any one of these creatures (maybe not wolves cause.. you know.. biology) and these creatures may also be near the poachers compound. It’s risky business.
4. The Woods fight back. The trees themselves are what give the gibbering woods its name. These trees house plants that are extremely fast growing and predatory. Many skeletons have been found tangled up in vines with the remnants of clothes, items and pox-marked weapons laying near by. The woods themselves are dangerous.
5. It’s hatching season… enough should be said on this twist…

Thoughts

Now, some of these may just be something random that happen, others may be definite. But the idea behind heists is to plan for as many different things and to have something for any scenario so that when the party improvise, you can too. You want the party to have a mixture of social and skill checks, roleplay and combat in order to get the full value from a heist. The above is a good sprinkling of a few items that will flesh out the adventure. In fact I believe it will grant us the opportunity to do something more with our adventure this week.

Captain Parks Request

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Park looked the adventurers in front of him and nodded. They will do nicely. “Thank you for agreeing to meet me. I was not sure if adventurers of your stature would be willing to help without any forewarning. I hope that the guards approaching you did not alarm you but we are in need of a group of your capabilities.” Park said as he purposefully took off his gauntlet and ran his hand through his hair. “The King, my friend, is mad. Ever since he was attacked by a magic user years ago his mind has been addled. I believe that he is either hiding something or something has cursed him and keeps his mind prisoner.” he paused as he wiped his eyes.

“What my request is is twofold. I need you to fulfil the kings request and act as a hidden guard and look for a killer. But I also need you to sneak into his chambers and search for evidence of witch craft or sorcery. The room will be unguarded but the guard, my men, will be busy guarding the party.” Park said, a twinge of guilt at the betrayal of his friend panged his heart. But this was for him and for the kingdom. He had justice in his heart and believed that this was necessary.

“You will be rewarded, once by the king and once by me once you have searched his room. What say you?”

Thoughts

Now… Park isn’t a pad person, but what he is doing is close to treason. He knows this so he needs to have some scapegoats. Enter the party. Employed by the king and employed by him to investigate the kings madness, or so it seems.

Informant with a forked tongue

311WeInWiAFoTo

As the party sat down and tried to make sense of the city that had places to worship gods and deities as well as preaching that they didn’t need them. It was a confusing place indeed and the day’s events and what happened upon Lathander’s temples’ steps. An abrasive squeal heralded a chair being dragged over to their table as a confident looking woman sat down next to them.

“You don’t know how hard it was to find you. But I could tell when I saw you in the crowd around the temple that you were them. We have a problem in Shirkwall. It’s going to go down tonight or tomorrow, I don’t know for sure,” she continued without looking at the party’s faces – almost to the point of ignoring them. “Now I have a contact who will meet you at the greasy hog, I know not a great name but apparently it’s a family, name, thing.” She looked up at the party after she seemed satisfied with looking out the door.

“Now they will be behind the counter, ask for directions to the Red Tulip and they will know you’re working with me. I wish I could be there myself…” she stopped as she looked at the faces of the party.. “You are the people that Hunter sent aren’t you? The famed adventurers who rid the cathedral of Elris of its heretics and slew the demon that was controlling them…” She sighed and held her head in her hands. “I am mistaken. But if you are not them then we are doomed. No one can help me to stop the rising of the Behemoth…”

Thoughts

Now ideally the party will help the lady in front of them, the identity will be revealed in the final writeup. You know for thematics and such. I am enjoying what we are doing this week so far. Now having a few NPCs playing against each other is exhausting for the DM. Both to keep track and keep it believable. However, it can enrich the play experience for the players which is why I am employing it in this weeks adventure.

Tomorrow we will have a look at a map. Now It may not make much sense immediately but that’s ok. I also hope to have the second part of the twist tomorrow as well which will sell it.

The Giant King

307WeTGiKi

As the Aarakocra prince brought back the heroes that had agreed to come help his people another power as rising. In the rocky hills below Taloncrest there was a tribe of bugbears and goblins. Not unusual for them to flock to suck remote areas but at the base of Taloncrest it was a dangerous place for any who were sensible. The Aarakocra were fierce warriors and magicians and to confront them or invade their lands meant death.

However, there was one amongst their horde, an outcast who feared nothing or no one. This being called himself the King under the crest and with his direction this giant had rallied the bugbears to raid the hatcheries of the Aarakocra. With their young being captured the Aarakocra were powerless to stop the giant and his followers as they ravaged the land, spreading chaos and destruction. Prince Sashik had flown out to remedy this.

The Giant and his followers hadn’t constructed a mighty fort. With the threat of the Aarakocra kept in check none dare to go against the will of the king. Instead they had several large tents, a pit for fighting and cages for prisoners lined with humans and the hatched chicks of the Aarakocra.

Foresight

When we said the King feared nothing we omitted a single detail. The King however did fear the wrath of his own people. Scorned as a young warrior and humiliated in a trial by combat he had been exiled. Alone in the world he had vowed for revenge. Upon uttering his quest for revenge a hag appeared and showed him a glimmer of a vision, his future.
The vision showed the hatching season for Aarakocra, their defences and a way in for the cunning to snatch a crown. All the King needed to do to cement his crown is wait for a golden moon and the hag would reappear, claim her price and he would rule.

The golden moon was close, approaching too fast for the wannabe King. He needed to retrieve the eggs now but the Aarakocra were on high alert now. A final push while their people lay trapped in cages would see the eggs, and his crown become his.

Thoughts

A rescue mission or frontal assault. A variation of the “fetch” quest this adventure will see our party pushed to make the tough decisions of all out combat or cunning to retrieve victory. The Giant King will bellow out demands at points where the party can determine whether the king is bluffing or not. Then using information gathered or gained they can make a plan.

The White Prince

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As the last of the kobolds moved through the cave he looked across his minions with satisfaction. However he knew that it was a matter of time before a larger male moved into this spot. Well that was his fear. He knew that unless he instilled fear into his pathetic minions that they would default to the next big boss that arrives here. As one of the kobolds was carrying what appeared to be a large polished dish of steel he lashed out with a claw and with a sickening thud separated its head from shoulders. The large dish rolled to the ground

The other Kobolds in the cave stared at him opened mouth and wide eyed, the musk of fear was palpable. With a cold, high-yet rumbling voice he spoke to the humanoids. ‘Let that be a reminder to you. This vermin was coveting the riches that are mine. All riches in, above and around these mountains are mine.'”‘ he spoke as he crawled forward to grab the polished dish and jammed it between roof and floor, creating a distorted mirror.

Some of the remaining kobolds skittered forwards and grabbed the twitching body and head, dragging it out whilst they moved around the lair with renewed vigour. Smiling the prince admired himself in the custom mirror and the food and growing treasure from the area near his den. But the pile was small, growing still, and he wanted more. Looking towards the larger, stronger Kobold nearby the Prince barked at him.

Greed

‘Kizzet, where are the other treasures? I thought you said that we had more!’ a mote of white smoke-like drifted from its nostrils ‘Are you keeping some from me?’ he snarled.

The Kobold turned around and dropped to a knee, this one did not smell of fear at all. ‘My Lord. We ran into a issue. a warrior from the village ambushed us and slew a few of our people. As we rallied the female retreated with some of your treasure. We gave chase but she escaped.’ the kobold reported.

‘You will find this warrior and teach this female a lesson. No one steals from me!’ the prince roared as he threw himself onto his treasure and killed animals and started to take his frustration out on the meat.

‘You heard the white prince!’ barked Kizzet, ‘Rally the warriors. We move at dusk!’