The Stones of Deepgrove

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Despite their best efforts the last few adventures of the party were for naught. They had failed or had met a disappointing reward on the last few jobs. Their end goals were seeming to be drifting onwards to the realm of impossible as the means to attain their goals drifted further away. 

However, that is before they heard of the Guildmaster of Varendeep. The rumours around the taverns and mercenary groups is that he had a near impossible task. One that many had attempted and failed over the years. However the prize was a ring of wishing. With such an artefact anyone’s dreams or goals were attainable.

The City of Varendeep

The Break Spot

The low waterfall created a rich, aerated water that was refreshing and pure. As the party filled their canteens and quenched their thirst they noticed the currents in this part of the river must be flowing from the waterfall stronger.

A few large swaths of lakeweed and debris were floating across the lake and some were even heading towards them.

However after a moment the party noticed the ones moving towards them were moving faster and more direct. As they stumbled back from the riverbank, scaled humanoid shapes rushed forward from the lake, spears, crude clubs and shields fashioned from animal parts. 
The Lizardfolk were a vicious and ferocious people and the party appeared to be on their menu.

PDF adventure – The Stones of Deepgrove

Putting the Con in Contest

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The games available at the Finchford Festival were varied and all were done in a spectacular way. A test for athletics and acrobatics in which local thieves guild members paid close attention to potential future members. An archery contest for those swift with a bow or crossbow. A jousting and horsemanship competition for those trained with beast and weapon and several others. 

However everyone knew that the real draw card was the Contest of Martial Champions. One where the prize was double of the others combined with the potential for long lasting contracts with mercenary guilds or even personal bodyguard positions being offered to participants who can demonstrate their skill.

The Contest of Martial Champions

The party watched the duel occurring on the main field at the moment. Sue Shawkaft was currently fighting a hulking goliath known only only as Butcher. of the white sands. The Goliath was strong but Sue was fast and managed to deflect the mighty blows at any moment. The result of this bout would determine who the member of the party would be against in the next round.

Being late to the arena they managed to get seats close to the gates to where the other entrants would wait and then be called forward to the field. It was at this moment that a familiar voice of Felicia Strongarm, the current crowd favourite to win, came through thick with anger.

“You tell those worms that Feli Strongarm has honour. Their offer to bow out of this tournament is a disgrace and dishonour to my name and to them. I can only hope that they placed their money on me and not Tyson to win this bout or they will be sorely disappointed.” her voice ranges with anger and forceful direction. A few muffled words were had before a hasty retreat of feet could be heard in the opposite direction.

“These fools. Threatening me? I am the strongest competitor in this competition. Pah! Their attempt to rattle me has just hardened my resolve.” A small pause. “Screw this waiting. I’ll get an ale…” and a second set of footprints head off with the jangling of mail.

The final moments of the bout

Sue had landed a few solid hits during this discussion. The Butcher was reeling from the blows and despite the blessings that kept everyone alive it did nothing for their fatigue. As the blows came in hard and heavy, so did the strain on the goliath’s muscles and stamina. Soon the announcer was calling an end to the bout with Sue being the winner.

Twenty minutes is how long it took to repair the arena, clean up some blood and prepare it for the next bout. Felicia and Tysons’. The air was thick with tension as money was exchanging hands, bets were being made and a clear divide in spectators was being made. Within a few minutes Tyson was striding onto the field, stretching and pacing like a wolf in a cage. “…Felicia Strongarm!!” the announcer called as the crowd cheered, as they did for Tyson. But minutes passed by and the announcer called officials to go search for Felicia…

A few minutes later they came back with no word, sightings or anything of the tournament favourite. The whole time Tyson stared at the party – his eyes spoke of malice and wanted bloodshed. “It’s unfortunately my duty to announce that Felicia has by lack of presence forfeited her match. The winner by default is Tyson! Officials please get the next contestant ready.” The party watched as the officials walked directly towards them. “Are you ready to enter the ring?” he asked.

PDF adventure – Putting the Con in Contest

Enthralled by the Past

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The City of Finchford was a midway point to just about nowhere, and everywhere. Settled on the beginning of a large plain the flat land surrounding the city’s immediate location provided ample room for farming and expansion. However the true wealth of this city lay in the hills beyond the farms, fences and walls.

Gold, silver and even a rich platinum deposit had enticed dwarves to move here years ago. Those dwarves then sold their ore and weapons to the people of the village of Finchford. Soon  a city was born from the prosperity between the two races and there was a time of development and peace. However, it was short lived.

Soon the need arose for a standing guard, an army, to be near Finchford. The local nobility had the grandiose idea to create a kingdom here and so the land became engulfed in war. This war gave birth to an order of knights the land had not seen. The Parn Dragoons were born from this conflict and for many years their power was undisputed.

Finchford

The party gaze at the city of Finchford as they continue their ride towards its large gates. Farmland stretches for miles around the city and the sheer size of it dwarfs many that the party have seen in the past. As they descend the last of the hills and head towards Finchford’s heart the land evens out. However, to the east of the city a few mountains rise and at this distance a large ruin can be seen looking over the surrounding land. 

This towering ruin sits like an ancient guardian looking down upon the folk of Finchford, silent and still except for birds flying near the peak of a tower.

PDF adventure – Enthralled by the Past

The Bloodhunt

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“The first gift is hunger.
It is His blessing.
It is our call to bring death.
The second gift is death.
Death proves our strength.
Death purges our fear.
The third gift is fear.
We fear that we will fail him.
We fear the onset of hunger.”

The creatures that serve the dark lords of this existence are foul and atrocious creatures. Giving up their souls for the sake of power, passion or belief. But those creatures created by such beings – oh they are far worse.

Farlock

As the party pass through the large walls that indicate the start of Farlock they gaze around the small walled village. The people here go about their lives seemingly content to live in the sun and amongst the pails suited to livestock and crop growth. The village had a bit of everything that people could expect a village of its size could. A small Inn, a few stores selling general supplies, a blacksmith that primarily deals with equipment and materials for the farmers and a houses.

However what they didn’t expect was a large gathering in the middle of the village as serval coffins were being wheeled out of town. Approaching the gathering the party could hear that they deceased, all young men of the village, were brutally slaughtered just outside the gate only the night before. Apparently the bodies were soo mangled and torn up that they had sealed the coffins to not upset the relatives or the villagers.

When the party asked what happened here everyone shrugged and claimed a wild animal attack, but those who spoke were hastily shushed by another in the crowd.

“They won’t speak about it to outsiders,” a voice said from behind, quietly as the party stood perplexed about the encounter. “They either don’t know or don’t believe what happened. But I can help. If you can help my brother he can tell you exactly what happened to those boys. He knows, he was there. The only survivor of the beast. My name is Salis, my family is village nobility, well we are nobles living in this village. We can pay for your time if you can help?”

PDF adventure – The Bloodhunt

The Dreamless

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Hildebek

The town of Hildebek is a quaint and small town, built upon ancient ruins with the only stone buildings being remade from the remnants of the ancient battlements. The people are peaceful folk who look to make a living from the land as farmers and carers of animals. Despite the town’s current peaceful settlement the previous buildings that resided within this walled land were not so. Lore speaks of a time where the fort that used to reside in Hildebek fell to corruption as the lord was driven mad.

Some say that his madness attracted a fiend, some say that he summoned it himself, both could be true, or untrue. However, whatever the rumours of what summoned the creature from the hells to this fort, its rage and the battle to contain it destroyed the fort. Only a single tower and the walls remained amongst the once imposing compound, the rest was levelled.

Centuries later the town of Hildebek was built upon its ruins. The chunks of stone are the only indicator that there was something more once here. In an effort to protect themselves and maintain history they repaired the walls and tower and the rest was cleared. However, evil never truly sleeps when it is born from such darkness.

Entering Hildebek

As the party enters the city they are greeted by nearly clear streets. The vast quietness and lack of people made it appear like something was wrong – and the moment they approached someone it was evident that something was. 

The residents of this town were a bunch of half asleep, exhausted people. Several people dozed off mid sentence only to wake up looking terrified. Finally one of the guards, an elf, pointed them towards the Lonely Buck Inn if they wanted to stay the night and noted a few key places in the town if they needed something. The elven man appeared to be fine, although his face was lined with worry instead of exhaustion.

PDF adventure – The Dreamless

The City of Temptation

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Brightkeep was once the toast of cities for its order, the way its nobility acted in a chivalrous manner as well as its knights. Over the years the knights, the Helms Watchers of Brightkeep have been instrumental in resolving all major conflicts in the region and even, with the aid of their secret order of warrior-spies the Shadows, some conflicts in more distant lands. However there has been a growing rot in the city that once was known for its pious and pristine reputation. Gone are the knights of shining order and justice and the nobles have fallen into a sickening depravity. In fact the city is known now to be a place where people can go to get whatever their dark desires are. 

The days in Brightkeep aren’t bright anymore, and the nights are even darker.

Brightkeep

PDF adventure – The City of Temptation

Wolf Moon Rising

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The halfling woman crossed the tent to retrieve a cup of stewed herbs. Inhaling the smells from the potent mixture she breathed out a sigh of contentment, kneeling by the fire to look what the omens had in store for her. As the fire danced across the coals in front of her the herbal tea and smell of the smoke. 

Slowly images appeared in the fire in front of her. As normal, for her tribe, a large wolf appeared amongst the fire and images swirled around. The passing of days, three in total, The sun being devoured by the great wolf and the moon replacing it. A burning village, animals running as packs of wolves ran with her tribe as they hunted anything that moved within the land. The halfling dropped the empty cup as the images slowly resided. 

The day of the great hunt was approaching and she had much to do in order to protect the tribe.

Berkshire

The trek into Berkshire was a relatively uneventful one. The animals that had stalked them for days had given up their pursuit but they had been acting more aggressive, more bold than normal wolves, bears and boars. 

The town of Berkshire is where the party had been summoned, the promise of wealth and adventure had sounded nearly too good to be true but the governor of this town had apparently built the town up from just a few houses to what it is today. 

Houses and farmsteads lay on the outskirts of the town with farmers working the fields. The lack of animals was soon explained by a large pyre of burning livestock carcases that sent a plume of dirty smoke into the air. 

It didn’t take them long to find the governor’s building, his office, and after a few moments they were shuffled through the doors and ushered to meet Casey Dae.

PDF adventure – Wolf Moon Rising

The Eggs of the Gibbering Woods

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The Gibbering Woods lies at the edge of the city of Palis. For years the creatures and people of these lands have been at war for the forest and its bounty. However a recent movement has seen that the people want to see this endless hunt cease. 

The movement for peace and a recognition of the creatures who live in the Gibbering woods being part of what makes the woods what they are. However, this does not sit well for many people who used to profit from the endless cycle of death and conflict.

PDF adventure – The Eggs of the Gibbering Woods

The Golden hourglass Heist

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The Golden Hourglass

The party have found themselves in need of information, or an item that will help their ultimate quest. However, where to find such things are normally the hardest questions to answer. Luckily there is an answer in the city known as Emago. 

Within Emago lies a shady part of town that even the Emerald Watch turns a blind eye to. A place where even the shadows owe a single man money or a favour. Westley Parn is known by some as the keeper and others as the taker. He provides any service, any piece of information and can source nearly any artefact for someone who needs his services. However there is a price for such things and with Westley they are not cheap.

Westley Parn has requested that the bring him the Golden Hourglass. IT is a work of art from a dwarven glass blower, an elven carpenter and a gnome enchanter of some renown. Its the size of a tankard and its true purpose is unknown, but it’s said that who ever owns the hourglass fall to madness and paranoia before, eventual and preventable death. As such the hourglass is locked in a padded chest, guarded by several guards and never stays in the same place more than one night if they can help it.

A meeting – Westley Parn

The Heists competitors and Patrons

PDF adventure – The Golden hourglass Heist