Race Around the Rook

519SuRaArRo

The party stood at the docks, watching the ships prepare for the race, each with its own crew and eager spectators wagering on the favourites. Like other contenders, Gareth had hired adventurers—not just to aid his voyage, but to ensure its safety. Although attacking rivals was illegal, it remained common due to the immense stakes involved, prompting organizers to permit guards aboard vessels. Gareth’s crew had been recruited to protect the Surf Skimmer, a small but formidable craft, with the promise of solid payment and a generous bonus if they helped secure victory. With piracy and competition making the waters dangerous, strong defences were necessary.

Gareth kept a low profile, blending in among weaker contenders to avoid drawing attention. His true strength lay in his experience—he was a third-generation sailor who understood the sea like few others. As the race announcer spoke, Gareth reflected on his father’s past attempt, a promising endeavour that ended in disaster when pirates forced him onto the treacherous Rook. When the second crack of energy signalled the start, Gareth and his childhood friend Silvana acted swiftly, loosening the moorings and releasing the sails. The Surf Skimmer glided into the open waters with calculated precision.

Harnessing the wind with its unique sail design, the Surf Skimmer quickly gained ground, overtaking rival ships without the aid of magic. Gareth mused about the advantages of a wind charm—it could accelerate their speed, but controlling the craft would be impossible. He focused instead on the rhythm of the waves, knowing true victory would come from reading the ocean, rather than brute speed alone. Though they were not yet in first place, they had left most competitors behind, moving swiftly through the moonlit waters while enemy crews glared at their unexpected advance.

Their success did not go unnoticed. The second-place ship was visibly displeased to see them closing in, and dusk brought shifting winds that slowed the larger vessels while the Surf Skimmer pressed forward. A pirate ship had briefly attempted to intercept them, using ropes and nets to hinder their movement, but the party had quickly fought them off. Despite the setback, trained guards aboard the rival ship had been watching them closely, and their presence raised concerns about further conflict.

Trouble soon arrived when the Surf Skimmer jolted violently – spiked barrels had lodged into its hull, disrupting its movement. As the crew struggled to free the ship, a second barrel struck, further slowing its progress. Then the attack began. Flaming bolts rained down, embedding themselves in the deck, while arcane-infused arrows hissed through the air. Though the specially treated sails were resistant to fire, the ship itself was vulnerable. The first harpoon soon struck, pulling the Surf Skimmer closer to the massive form of the Sea Krait, followed by another as tension dragged them sideways. Gareth barked commands as mercenaries advanced, and the air crackled with magic—the fight for survival had begun

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PDF adventure – Race Around the Rook

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The Vipers Smile

518SuViSm

The party arrived in Imgard, weary from the road, lured by whispers of an opportunity suited to their talents. Whether slipping through merchant gates or braving the city’s seedy underbelly, they quickly grasped the harsh truth—coin dictated survival. Towering structures and golden-lit markets painted a scene of wealth and deception, where promises were as fleeting as the wind. Seeking discretion, they found themselves at the Wonky Mule, a tavern steeped in the scent of roasted meat and ale, where conversation swirled in a tangled mess of traders, mercenaries, and thieves.

Over two days, familiar faces emerged—an old storyteller spinning tales of lost glory, the battle-scarred bartender twins keeping order, and a finely dressed stranger sinking into a rigged card game among dubious company. Then, a cloaked figure stumbled near the party’s table, dropping a peculiar coin before vanishing upstairs. Recognizing the signal, the party followed into the shadows above, where secrecy reigned over promptness. Climbing the loudest stairs they had ever encountered, they soon found another of the strange coins beneath a door and knocked, stepping into a dimly lit room.

Within, the ragged figure before them shed his disguise, revealing himself as Lace, a Harper tracking the city’s disappearances. His grim tale unfolded: suspected abductors had been found dead, yet their likenesses continued appearing across Imgard and beyond. The Harpers, compromised by their notoriety, needed outsiders—neutral eyes that the infiltrators wouldn’t recognize. As the party left, a fleeting moment of unease gripped them when they locked eyes with a pale-faced figure descending the stairs, his passage eerily silent despite the groaning wood beneath their own steps.

Tracking the stranger through the dim-lit streets, the party watched as he slipped into a building. Listening in, they heard his hushed words—recruitment for fresh infiltrators, replacing those whose usefulness had expired. Yet, as his voice shifted, its masculine edge dissolving into something unnerving, the party peered through a window and barely contained their shock. His human face melted away, revealing the unmistakable serpentine features of a Yuan-ti. The realization struck hard—this infiltration ran deeper than they had feared. Before they could retreat, hulking figures stepped from the shadows, and the door creaked open. There would be no easy way out.

The Yuan-ti sought only blood, hoping to kill the party and assume their identities, but they had not accounted for their strength. The battle was swift, decisive, and left no witnesses. Within the room, a hidden compartment revealed parchment detailing infiltration efforts, key targets, and—most crucially—a scheduled gathering in the coming nights. With fresh intelligence and a semblance of a plan, the party disposed of the bodies and set their sights on Imgard Sanctum, where the city’s fallen heroes were honoured. But upon arrival, the guardians greeted them not in common tongue but with a hiss, allowing them entry. Beneath the glow of the fountain, they saw the unsettling reality—dozens of infiltrators moving with casual ease, their chatter masking coded exchanges. And when a group approached them, a wave of unease washed over the party, their instincts warning them that something was deeply wrong.

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PDF adventure – The Vipers Smile

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Cave Invasion

517SuCaIn

As the party moved through the outskirts of Wyrehaven, the distant sounds of battle filled the air—goblin war cries mixed with the terrified shouts of common folk. Rushing forward, they found a cart riddled with arrows, its horse lying dead with a spear jutting from its chest. A small group of humans struggled to defend themselves, their guard expertly using his shield to deflect goblin attacks while others jabbed spears at their attackers. Blinded by the harsh sunlight, the goblins could barely fight back as the party charged in. Within moments, the tide of battle had turned, and the goblins were either slain or scattered, leaving the humans safe but shaken.

The grateful travellers shared their story, explaining how they had been ambushed while passing near a tree-lined hill. Though they had expected the threat of bandits, goblins had caught them off guard. Their guard, Sven, admitted their luck in surviving the attack, particularly with the goblins’ poor ability to fight in bright light. As he hitched his own horse to the cart, the travellers urged the party to accompany them to Wyrehaven, where the local guard offered bounties on goblins and other troublesome creatures. They hinted that the party might find work in the city if they were looking for coin or reputation.

Arriving at Wyrehaven, the party followed Sven to the Iron Gauntlet’s barracks, the city’s guard and militia headquarters. While waiting for Sven to speak with the captain, they overheard rumours and speculation about recent events. When Sven returned, he was accompanied by a short woman with cropped hair and tired, calculating eyes—Captain Jin. She acknowledged the party’s report and expressed concern over the unusual behaviour of the goblins. Sven agreed, recalling previous efforts to contain them when their numbers grew too aggressive. Jin then offered the party a mission: investigate why the goblins had moved so far from their usual territory. She warned of the risks but promised good rewards and provisions should they accept.

Not long after leaving Wyrehaven, Sven rejoined the party, explaining that Jin had sent him to assist and report back any findings. Taking the rear guard, he helped keep watch as they travelled. The party rode on horses provided by the guards, not the best but reliable enough. Their pursuit of the goblins quickly revealed signs of their retreat, with the wounded and dying left behind. As the trail led them deeper into the wilds, they encountered surviving goblins, leading to a brief skirmish before an uneasy night’s rest. Come dawn, the party examined the fallen, discovering strange wounds—puncture marks like those from spiders or snakes, alongside old battle scars.

Pressing forward, they followed the goblins’ trail until they reached the foothills of the mountains. There, they found a small goblin camp abandoned only recently, as well as tracks belonging to various beasts—lizards, spiders, wolves, and others resembling goblin footprints yet oddly different. As they entered the deserted goblin village within a large cave, the destruction was evident. Huts had been burned and torn apart, bones scattered across the ground, gnawed clean and cracked open. A pungent stench of musk, metal, and sulphur filled the air, making them gag. Whatever had taken over this place had rooted itself deep within, and if it had driven a goblin clan to flee, it could pose a far greater threat to the nearby settlements

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PDF adventure – Cave Invasion

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Fowl Play

5-301SaFoPl

The town of Cherpa is on the brink of disaster. Every year, the grand Festival of the Iron-Shelled Hunt brings glory to the finest Cherpa hen handlers as they compete in retrieving the elusive shellfish from the depths of the great lake. But something is terribly wrong—the Cherpa hens have vanished. Their empty roosts leave the town eerily silent, save for the desperate calls of their handlers. A mystery shrouds the lake, and the festival stands on the edge of ruin. The town’s leaders have sent out a call for heroes to uncover the truth, recover the missing birds, and save Cherpa’s most treasured tradition before time runs out.

Cherpa is a peaceful village that thrives because of its great lake. The mighty Cherpa hen, a powerful bird that bonds with its handler, helps the villagers fish for the prized iron-shelled fish. Each year, the town holds a grand competition to showcase the skill and trust between handler and bird. But something has gone terribly wrong—every Cherpa hen has disappeared without a trace. The festival hangs in the balance, and whispers of dark figures lurking near the lake spread through the town. Desperate, the elders offer a reward to anyone brave enough to solve the mystery.

The party arrives in Cherpa, expecting to see the legendary birds. Instead, they find a town bursting with festival sounds but missing its main attraction. As they explore, they overhear an argument between merchants—one of them, frustrated, claims the birds are truly gone. Then, an elderly halfling woman pleads for help. The mayor, Gerald, went to search for the missing hens but has not returned. Her young grandchildren beg the party to find their grandfather and bring him home.

Near the lake, the party finds Gerald fighting for his life—two enormous frogs are trying to swallow him whole! After saving him and returning to town, the celebration resumes, but their relief is short-lived. A panicked child bursts through the door: “Help! Corey’s in trouble!” Chasing after Casey, the party arrives at an old windmill, its wooden beams broken and rotting. Inside, strange creatures prowl around a mass of frightened birds, shielding a crying child from the beasts’ attacks. The mystery deepens, and danger grows—what force threatens Cherpa’s beloved birds, and can the party save them before the festival is lost forever?

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PDF adventure – Fowl Play

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