Zombies Ate My Baby!

A 4E Adventure for Character Levels 2 - 4

Written By: David Wainio Editing: Jeff Walker

Map Sections: Steven Ong & Dave Wainio

Zombies Ate My Baby is Copyright 2010 by Three Sages Games. This material is protected under the copyright laws of
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 Table of Contents
Adventure Overview 4
Background Info & Story Hooks 5
Sulphur Springs Area Map Locations 7
Sulphur Springs Village Info 11
Sulphur Springs Notable Names 14
Side Plot 1 (Stonetiller’s Ghost) 15
Side Plot 2 (Beauty the Beast) 19
Side Plot 3 (Blackfeet Goblins) 21
Side Plot 4 (Rodney the Hood) 22
Main Zombie Plot Overview 24
Plot Encounter 1 25
Plot Encounter 2 27
Overall Dungeon (3 -8) 29
Encounter 3 Area 29
Encounter 4 Area 31
Encounter 5 Area 32
Encounter 6 Area 33
Encounter 7 Area 35
Encounter 8 Area 37
Roleplay Encounter 1 38
Roleplay Encounter 2 40
GM Endgame Notes 41
XP and Treasure Administration 41
Monsters and NPCs 42
Darwin Malefance 42
Near-Zombies (Various Types) 43
Randal Thurston 44
Skeleton - Damaged 45
Spiders (Beauty & Tree Spiders) 46
Villagers & NPCs 47
Average Villagers 47
Mayor MacTurren Cheese 48
Sheriff Andrea Taylor 48
Deputy Barnaby Fife 49
Armsmen Cobbler & Hobbs 49
Village Priests 50
Merchant Cyn Blayde 50
Adriana Flechette 51
Trevor Dandy 52
Rodney “the Hood” Blayde 53
Yarbin 54
Zombified Barn Animals 55
 Adventure Overview
This adventure is designed with multiple encounters to
match the 4E DUNGEON MASTER’S GUIDE guidelines on
encounter xp for levels 2 through 4.You can play it with 1st
level as all hard encounters or 5th with all easy ones, or
adjust the monster groupings for standard encounters.
Treasure total is based on the parcel guidelines and spread
out over the encounters. As the players may not complete
all of the encounters, they may finish with less treasure than
the parcel for their level would normally indicate.
The Plot
As detailed in the Hooks section, the players will
probably not enter the adventure’s area with plans to take
on the primary plot challenge. Instead, the plot will get
dumped in their laps. If they choose not to pursue the main
plot then either dangle more bait after they accomplish the
sub-plot challenge or simply point out that if they want
more experience and treasure they better look into the
zombie problem.
The chain of events starts about six months before the
players approach the beleaguered village of Sulphur Springs.
Randal Thurston is a wizard from the closest major city who
was doing illegal necromantic research in the hopes of
finding a ritual that could turn ghouls back into living folk.
His ambition was greater than his skill however, and he
failed in an epic manner. He infected himself and his entire
household with a slow infection that is turning them into
undead.
He worked furiously to find a cure but after four months
passed his household’s condition had worsened to the point
he could no longer conceal their affliction. So one night he
loaded everyone up into carts and carriages then moved
everyone out to his seldom used estate near Sulphur
Springs. Randal was desperate not to be found out by his
guildmates in the Order of the Silver Cowl.
Worried that anyone searching for him would check the
estate, he stayed there only a few days as he collected
research his grandmother the witch had left behind. Then he
took his now almost zombiefied household to the old burial
mounds near the marsh hoping he could lock everyone
inside while he completed the cure ritual. Randal
accidentally picked a burrow that has an undead occupant
already, but that entity has ignored Randal to remain
blissfully asleep to this point.
As Randal’s retainers and family members are only
mostly zombie, they must still eat and sleep. However they
have lost most of their reasoning ability. They have lost their
fear of being discovered and started raiding the closest
farms for livestock to eat. As they are infectious, they have
4
made some zombie animals of meals they sank their teeth
into that got away.
Meanwhile, two people are hot on his trail. Trevor
Dandy is an agent of the Silver Cowl’s. His goal is to see if
Randal can complete the cure and then to get the research
notes on the rituals. He is also under orders to keep the
entire affair secret as a public trial of Randal would have
unwanted ramifications on the Silver Cowl guild. If possible,
Trevor would like to see Randal and his staff saved and
returned to the city.
The other person is Adrianna Flechette. She is an avenger
from a death god cult whose’s beliefs are that necromancy is
bad and all undead should be destroyed. Her goal is the
destruction of Randal and his ilk and then to burn his
research as well.
Neither of these people feel confident they can defeat or
subdue Randal’s group alone so both will make a pitch to
the party about why the players should help them achieve
their goals. The players will have to pick someone - either
directly or indirectly - a wizard’s guild or a death god
temple.
While the players are at the inn, the Greenjeans couple
will burst in sobbing that “zombies took their baby”. It will
be up to the players to investigate and take whatever they
feel is the appropriate actions. Related to the main plot is
the problem with goblin invaders. They have been friendly
and on trading terms with the locals but have now become
aggressive because Randal’s zombies have raided their camp.
They blame the humans for riling up the dead in the
burrows.
Two subplots are available to play out at the same time
the zombie business is going on. A half-orc bandit leader
named Rodney the Hood is hiding out at the Tibor Ruins
near the village while a ghost has manifested to haunt the
Fey Bough Woods.
Organization Note
There are 4 side plots that might
or might not get used (as the players
act and the DM chooses). One of
them (side plot 3) should not be used
until after the DM starts the main
plot.
The main plot can be started by
the DM at any point. Page 24 has the
information for starting the main plot
encounters.
The Role Play nodes should not
be used until after the main plot is
underway.
Read the whole adventure first to
get a feel for how the pieces go
together before starting a game run.
Background Info & Story Hooks
Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs is a village of around 200 people that
serves a community of another 1,000 or so that live spread
out on farms and ranches within a 12 mile radius. It is in the
Canton of Lufton, which is part of the city-state of
Camphus. The village is in a “backwater” place off the
usually trade routes about 60 miles from Camphus. They
ship grains, wine, wool, and leather to the larger towns and
Camphus itself.
The village area is on a flat plain spotted with occasional
small copses of woods. Short but rugged hills line the
eastern edge of the region and beyond them is a lower
elevation flood plain that has numerous marshes. There is a
big creek running through the area that pushes the water
wheel for a grinding mill but is not large enough for boats
to travel on. On average it is only eighteen inches deep.
Sulphur Springs gains its name from natural hot springs
in the hills at the Spring Vale. Around thirty years ago these
springs gained a reputation as having special health
properties and a number of the wealthier members of
Camphus society built vacation homes on small estates near
the springs. The village boomed as a travel location for 20
years.
Things went bust ten years ago when an earthquake
shifted the underground steam vents and the springs went
dry or cold. The rich stopped coming to the village and
Sulphur Springs faded back to what it was originally - a
struggling agricultural community on the edge of nowhere
important.
The West Lufton Road stretches out to the border of the
canton where it dead ends in front of a wooded area.
Beyond those woods are miles of low laying, marshy flood
plain and eventually the hills that mark boundary of the Mt.
Cynder range. In the other direction the West Lufton Road
passed through five more villages, a town, then into
Camphus itself.
Lore Checks
Players can gain the following extra information with
checks against the listed skill.
History
DC 15 Despite being on the outer edge of the civilized
area that Camphus controls, Sulpher Springs has never
suffered raids or invasions by humanoids. The low laying
marsh lands beyond it are difficult to pass through and have
formed a natural buffer against the trolls, orcs, and ogres
that can be found around Mt. Cynder. It is said that a small
goblin clan lives in the area, peacefully coexisting with the
5 militia force of at least 250 men for the city’s defense.
village.
DC 20 Around 120 years ago the area now called Blue
Toad Marsh was dry land. A fairly wealthy town called Tarn
existed there. It was ruled by a family of Warlocks for a
number of generations. However after an eruption of Mt.
Cynder back then, ground water started seeping into the
area. Three heavy winters hit in a row and Tarn found itself
flooded. Many of the residents went to other areas, but
some moved a few miles away to higher ground on the other
side of the hills and started again at Sulphur Springs.
Lord Mayor Regina Feyword refused to leave. In effect
she “went down with the ship” as she was never heard from
again after the last families fled Tarn.
Streetwise
DC 15 The outer region of Lufton Canton where Sulphur
Springs lays has a reputation for harboring criminals on the
run from Camphus authorities. The Margrave of Lufton is
weak politically in the city and is among the poorest of the
Camphus Margraves. As Lufton’s Margrave cannot afford to
support many Canton Knights or hire many Trail Marshals,
law enforcement in the outer half of the canton is sparse
making it easy to hide out in the many small woods of the
canton.
Camphus and it’s cantons
Camphus is a magiocracy. It is ruled by an arcane caster
that is called the First Seat. A First Seat is chosen from the
main magic guilds of the city and rules until death or the age
of 85 (whichever comes first). The current First Seat is 83,
so the top five guilds have started their maneuvering to
place their pick in the first seat.
The city-state controls a spherical area around itself to a
radius of 80 to 100 miles. Anything within five miles of the
city walls is considered part of the city itself and is divided
into equal quarters as four cantons. Like spokes on a wheel,
the remaining 12 cantons radiate out like pie slices. Two are
mostly over the huge lake next to the city
A canton is essentially a county. Each has a noble family
attached to it. These are called the Entitled families. The
family heads are Margraves, with adult members of side
branches being lesser ranked Earls. Both titles are used for
both males and females.
Margraves are semi-fuedal. They typically own 10% to
15% of a canton’s land and have ongoing business ventures.
Most citizens of a canton a free land holders, but the
Margrave has the power of taxation. Margraves are expected
to enforce the city’s laws in their cantons and to maintain a
Story Hooks
Because of the way the main plot gets dumped into the
player’s lap at the inn, one way to start this adventure is to
just tell the players they are between adventures and en
route somewhere and happen to be staying over night at a
village inn.
For DMs with a more tightly focused campaign where
the players usually have a reason for going any particular
place here are a few hooks you can use to arouse their
interest in visiting Sulphur Springs. The italic type in blue is
meant to be directly read to the player(s) with the hook.
Serving a Warrant
The Council Seats that rule Camphus do not bother with
keeping a full time police unit meant for chasing wanted criminals
in the outer cantons. Instead they issue Arrest Warrants and assign
them like bounties.They use this system rather than open bounties so
that flocks of would be bounty hunters are not roaming the cantons
seeking quick coin for an arrest.
Warrants usually go to members of the Camphus Trackers Guild,
but through family connections or some other reason you have
gained the warrant to bring back a half-orc named Rodney the
Hood to Camphus. Rodney is wanted for high theft, highway
robbery, bigamy, and treason.
He is known to control a small gang of outlaws that includes a
spell caster. He has been seen near theWest Lufton Road and is
believed to be hiding near Sulphur Springs in Lufton canton as that
is his place of birth.
His warrant is for 400 gp dead or alive.The court officer that
handed you the warrant document hinted that dead was preferred
over alive.
If the player(s) make a DC 15 Streetwise check also
reveal the following:
Rodney has been growing in popularity among the farmers and
poor. Unconfirmed reports state that he has given his stolen loot to
the people. He seems to rob mainly the Entitled families and really
angered the city council when he knocked off a tax collection wagon.
Rumor says that the main reason he has a city warrant issued for
him is that he married two different daughters of Council Seats.
When the families found out they were enraged and got the warrant
passed through.
Primal Curiosity
This is best suited to a character of the primal power
source.
Recently you have heard rumor of a place called the Fey Bough
Woods near a village called Sulphur Creek that is supposed to be a
location with a thin barrier to the Fey realm as well as the home of
an ancient primal spirit. It is said a ghost has recently started
haunting the area, driving away all who enter. The truth of this
matter interests you.
6 unravel the secrets of how it functions.
Family Residence
Unless you wish to tie the player to this region for a
while, it is best to have a relative inherit the home rather
than a PC him or herself.
Last month you received a letter from your uncle. It said that
your uncle inherited a small estate home, near a place called
Sulphur Springs, from a distant relative everyone had mostly
forgotten about. In the letter he asks if you could stop by and check
the place out then write him back about it so he can decide if he
should move his family or plan on selling the place. A key and an
address on Grandwalk Lane is included with the letter.
This home can be anywhere in the Upper Estates area on
the map. It has not been occupied in eight years and is in
poor but stable condition. There are twelve acres of land,
five of which have an overgrown walnut orchard, and two
good wells. Renovating the place would require around 125
gp to fix up the house. If it is put on the market it will
require 1d6+2 months before a buyer can be found who
will offer 400 gp for the estate. The home is fairly big and
has six bedrooms.
Master’s Orders
For a character that serves a temple or has an arcane
teacher or magic guild that they apprentice to.
It is rare that your master makes a request of you, but the time
has come once again.You are to travel to the area around the village
of Sulphur Springs and bring back some component materials for
your master. On your shopping list are six dried Blue Toads from
that area’s marsh, twelve spider ferns (a plant of that area), the eyes
of three jumping tree spiders (also indigenous to the area) and a
sample of the poison curative sold by Mistress Aphasia who is an
apothecary that lives in the village.
Bring Out Your Dead ....
This is best suited to a character from a death deity, or
that is interested in defeating undead, or is interested in
necromancy (either to fight it or study it).
You were passing time reading an obscure diary about an area
near the present day Sulphur Springs when you came across a most
curious notation.That area is under the rule of the arcane oriented
city of Camphus and it seems that a group of wealthy people paid
for a magic barrier fence that repels undead to be built near some
old burial burrows.
There is no information on how this fence was made or by who.
However the entry indicates that the barrier is some eight miles
long.That is an impressive feat. As there are no reports of undead
marauding around Sulphur Springs either it works, or the rich
people were unduly worried about the burrows.
It would be a fine thing to investigate this barrier and try to
 Sulphur Springs Area Map Key
This section has information keyed by the places on the
map. It is presented in alphabetical order plus the map box
coordinates (vertical, horizontal). If there is a planned
encounter area within the keyed location, the encounter
designation is listed here for reference in the Encounters
section.
The map covers an area about 14 miles high by 18 miles
wide. Players can generally cover about 20 to 25 miles a day
with a wagon or on foot or close to 50 miles on a horse so
they should not have too much problem wandering the
around the map even if they keep returning to town at
night.
Map Areas
Blue Toad Marsh (E8, F7-9, G8-9)
This area is a mix of small strips of muddy land above
water level and standing water anywhere from six inches to
three feet deep. The region is filled with swamp grass and
cat tails, making it difficult to see the ground. Here and
there scraggly bushes and small trees pop up from the grass.
The entire area is either difficult or impassable terrain. The
water gets deeper the further out one goes and near Sunken
Tarn there is open water like a small lake that gets up to
fifteen feet deep.
The marsh is home to many types of snakes, frogs, and
birds. The Blue Toad lives near the edges of the marsh where
the ground is firmer. They are about six inches long. An
hour’s search will produce 1d4 chances to make a DEX
check vs DC 13 to catch one. Nature skill can be used
against DC 15 to collect 1d4 per hour.
Out near Sunken Tarn lives the Skunk Tail goblin tribe.
There is little of note otherwise in this marsh.
Boulder Creek (diagonal across center map)
This creek runs southward from the marsh area until it
eventually flows into a river. It has water year round, more
in the winter months when it will run six inches higher than
normal. In any given five feet stretch it will be 1d6+2 feet
wide and 1d12+6 inches deep. There is only one bridge
which is down right behind the village, however at most
places it is possible to simply jump across or wade through
the creek. Small fish and crawdads can be caught in it.
Fey Bough Woods (B4-5,A4-5)
Encounter Area SP 1
The trees in the Fey Bough stand taller than the other
woods in the area and are mostly evergreen needle types.
There is a lot of undergrowth and numerous game trails.
Characters with Nature skill who make a check against DC
15 will sense that these woods seem full of life somehow.
Any character with primal based at-will powers will
sense that some type of primal spirit is part of these woods
and that the strongest presence is towards the middle of the
woods.
Characters who approach the center will run into
Encounter SP 1 when an angry ghost appears and tries to
chase the party from the woods. It will not allow the players
to try to contact the primal spirit until the ghost’s goals are
met.
Once the ghost is mollified players may attempt to
contact the primal spirit. Any ritual that contacts nature will
do so, or a character with at least three primal based powers
can simply sit and meditate for an hour and try to make
contact. They make a WIS based attack against AC 15 with
any implements that aid in their powers applying to the roll.
This can be attempted once per hour. Once contact is made
the player will learn that tree spirit named Ghoolipzip is
about to fade away and has placed its essence in a tree
sprout. The spirit would like the sprout to be taken to the elf
woods to the west and planted there. If the player is willing
to do this (by promising to complete the task) it will grant a
spirit power to the character (if the DM allows for such
spirit powers).
This spirit power takes the place of a magic item.
Activating it is the same as a magic item activation. Remove
the 7th level magic item from the treasure in Encounter SP
1 if this spirit power will be learned.
Tree Spirit Essence Level 7
Ghoolipzip leaves a small seed of understanding and resistance
within your soul that you can call upon in times of need.
Grandmaster Training: 2,600 gp (Free here)
Property: Gain +1 item bonus to all poison saves
Power (Encounter): Minor.You gain a +2 to Nature
checks and resist 10 damage from attacks made by plant
type creatures until the end of the encounter.
The player has six months to go plant the sapling. If they
fail to do so it will die, Ghoolpzip ceases to exists, and he
curses the player by taking away the power above and
instead the player is -2 save on poisons, -1 on Nature checks,
and vulnerable 5 to attacks from plant creatures. The DM
can decide how this curse can be removed. Planting it
somewhere other than the elf woods will make Ghoolipzip
unhappy and he will take away the power listed above but
not curse the character who bore him to this new place. It
will take fifteen or twenty years for the tree to grow and
Ghoolipzip to be able to materialize its thoughts or powers
if not planted in the elf woods.
The Forest of Hed to the west is the elf woods in
question. They do not normally allow non-elves to enter
7 but will do so for the planting of this tree spirit.

Large Farm Area (B5-7, A6-7)
These are cultivated fields separated by split rail fences
and cart paths. Seven large farms operate here, each on
about a mile and a half square of land. The house area has
two or more barns, small grain silos, and a number of out
buildings as there are several farm hands working alongside
the owning family. The mayor’s place is in the B block about
on the line between 5 and 6. Alert herding dogs guard most
of the farm houses and barns.
Picnic Grove (D/E 3)
This area was made into something of a park back when
the idle rich used to visit and has been fairly well maintained
by the village in these past few years. The trees are leafy and
trimmed so that low branches are gone and there is very
little underbrush. A number of small clearings with wooden
picnic tables are spread out, any of which would make a nice
camp site. Iron cooking boxes with grills over the top are
placed in many of the clearings. Other than squirrels, field
mice, a few lizards and birds, there are no permanent
inhabitants.
Ranching Area (D5-6/E4-7)
An NPC related to the SP 1 encounter lives here.
Information on him is boxed. Do not mention him by name
or direct the players to his ranch unless they know of him
and are looking for him.
A number of homes and barns are spread through this
area. For the most part, cattle and horses are kept in the
southern part using the creek as a water supply while sheep
are herded near and even in the hills to the north. There are
no war horses trained in this region, but a number of the
ranches can sell riding horses to characters.
Most of the large animal ranches have fenced corrals and
holding pens near the barn. Horses are usually kept in
fenced pasture land (with the wealthier ranchers having
white painted fences) while the cattle are branded and left
to roam in a shared common pasture that borders the creek.
Quite a few dogs are kept for herding both the sheep and
the larger livestock.
8 numerous fist sized tree spiders that lair here.
Ben Cartleft’s Place
If the players are seeking to assist the ghost from the Fey
Bough Woods they will likely seek out Ben. Ben has one of
the most prosperous ranches and has bred a few race horses
for the wealthy of Camphus. He owns thirty acres and has a
large spread with two barns and four buildings. Three ranch
hands work for him.
He has two riding horses he will sell for 70 gp (that’s a
bit less than the regular price) and two others that are failed
race horses but very fast for a riding horse he will sell for
100 gp. These horses are speed 9 and can do 45 miles in a
day. (Better than a standard horse).
Of more importance to the players is the ring from the
ghost that Ben keeps in his left pocket. When he goes to bed
at night he places it in his sock drawer, otherwise he keeps it
with him. He has taken great care to make sure that no one
has seen it, but if the players questions the ranch hands one
of them will say that “the boss” keeps something in his left
pocket that he doesn’t want people to see but the hired
worker does not know what it is. The ranch hands will say
their boss has a bad temper but most of the time he is a
decent person to work for.
Ben rides into town once a day to check in the express
office to see if anything has arrived for him and usually stops
at the inn for a meal and drink before heading back.
He has a wife and a teenage son from a previous
marriage living with him. His first wife supposedly ran off
with a salesman from the big city, but in reality Ben killed
her six years ago then buried her under the shack that the
ranch uses to store fire wood .
Small Farms Area (D6-7/C5-7)
Encounter Area MP 1 is located here up around D7. Players
should not encounter it until they have gone through the Main Plot
Start.
This is a patchwork of small family farms. Each square
mile has 4 or 5 families farming it. Sometimes their homes
are clustered together, sometimes spread out over the area.
About half of them have a small barn for a plow animal.
Many of them keep chickens for eggs and meat. 42 families
farm here. Most of them cultivate a grain (wheat, barely,
etc.) that they sell to the miller in town who then sells the
grain and flour to merchants in the city.
These families are fairly poor, but they own the land and
the soil is fertile so they are basically well off. Only two
farm plots are currently unoccupied.
Spider Woods (A7-9/B9)
Encounter Area NP 1 is located around B8.
This is a mix of leafy and needle type trees with
moderate underbrush. The name is derived from the
 Spider Woods Continued
Six families live in cabins at the edge of the
woods. They harvest trees for firewood and lumber.
They also make charcoal that is sold in the village.
These hardy folk are skilled in spotting the active
spider webs while going about their work.
Should the players stop to talk with any of these
foresters they will learn that for the past two weeks
the woodsmen have been spooked by sightings of a
giant spider bigger than a war horse. The locals
have been avoiding the woods for a week and are on
the verge of going to the sheriff and mayor to see if
some type of hunting party can be put together
with the militia.
Other than a belief that the giant spider
sometimes sings in a language they don’t recognize,
they have no information on the beast or it’s goals.
This monster spider is detailed in Side Plot
Encounter 1 in the Encounters Section.
Springs Vale (F4-5)
In this small valley ringed by the hills are the remains of
the once famed hot springs. Twelve abandoned sites with
decks and small changing huts are scattered about. The
spring tubs these are built around are all dry now.
In the east end of the valley the smell of sulphur is
evident and one operating spring remains. This stinky but
otherwise harmless hot bath can comfortably hold eight
people and is a constant 101 degrees. The walkways, wood
decking, and two changing huts here are all in good repair.
Nearby is a modest shack that is the home of Belech Sorrow.
Belech is a tiefling and the brother of the tiefling that lives in
the village.
He has taken refuge here away from Camphus after an
encounter with devils that terrified him out of his warlock
pursuits. He has renounced his contracts and practices
arcane magic no more. Now he charges 3 sp a head to use
his spring. He owns the last operating spring in the region.
Belech knows little of what goes on around the village as
he only goes into Sulphur Springs about once a week. If the
players speak with him he can tell them that he has seen a
cloaked and hooded figure lurking around the Upper Estates
a few days ago and that before that there were lights in one
of the homes for two days but when he finally went down to
see who had come to visit their vacation home planning on
inviting them to his spring he couldn’t find anyone in any of
the homes that are not normally occupied. He has not seen
any undead or other unusual things recently other than that
cloaked figure skulking about.
Sulphur Springs (B-2)
Here sits the village proper. There are seven large
buildings along the road and then around thirty residences
scattered about mainly on the west side of the road. Many of
the people in those homes work small plots of farm land
within two miles of the village. Around the creek there are a
number of berry patches (strawberries, blue berries, etc.)
that have irrigation troughs that attach to the creek. A few of
those in the homes have jobs in the village.
More details about the village is provided in theVillage
Details section of this publication.
Sunken Tarn (F8)
Tarn was larger than the current Sulphur Springs. It was a
small town of almost 800 citizens within a walled central
core. It is now under around eight feet of water. Most of the
wooden buildings have rotted away, leaving an occasional bit
of rafter framing jutting above the water. Plant life clings to
these remains and disguises their origin.
Seven two story or taller stone building still stand with
the lowest level flooded. Most of the wall, which had a mud
brick center, has collapsed and is now submerged.
Unless the DM would like to place something living here
for players to encounter, Sunken Tarn has no inhabitants. The
Blackfoot Goblins have made a few forays to Sunken Tarn and
dove for coins and other things that they could trade to the
current village.
Tarn Burial Mounds (E/F 7 -8)
Encounter Areas MP 3-6 are located in the burial mound that
Randal Thurston has moved into. Ideally, the players will not go into
this burrow until after the main plot has gotten underway.
This area is partially screened by the Tarn Undead Barrier.The
NP-3 goblin encounter will probably occur in this area as well.
The hills are a bit lower and less rugged in this area. In
years past the citizens of Tarn entombed their more
prestigious members in burrows dug into these hills in a
manner similar to small catacomb complexes. A few of
9 them were looted in years past but four remain sealed.
 Tarn Burial Mounds Continued
The first feature of this area the players
are likely to come across is the Tarn
Undead Barrier fence.
This enchanted fence put in place a
few years after the rich folk started
building homes for spring visits. Its
purpose is to keep any wandering
undead that might exit the burial
mounds away from the village.
The fence itself is comprised of iron
posts that have a core of silver
spaced 13 feet apart. Each post has
a human or humanoid skull mounted
on it. Silk cords run between the posts
and have fluttering black lengths of cloth
six inches wide attached so that 13 hang
between each pole.
An Arcana skill detection against the
barrier will reveal the following:
DC 15 There is active magic within 20 feet of the line
between the poles that follows the silk lines from pole to
pole.
DC 20 This is very powerful arcane magic that repels the
passage of undead.
DC 32 This is necromantic based magic with a set
command that tells undeed to cease their advance and
return where they came from.
A Religion skill detection against the barrier will reveal
the following.
DC 20 There is powerful undead repelling magic active
but it is not divine in nature.
DC 36 This is arcane magic of the necromantic variety.
The field stops any undead under level 10 from crossing.
Higher level undead must make a save to pass the barrier. It
can be flown over or tunneled under.
The Blackfeet goblin clan has a camp at the eastern edge
of the burrows area next to the marsh. There are two war
bands (one of which is encountered in NP 3) and seven
females with two young. They were pushed out of the Mt.
Cynder area by other tribes and crossed the flood plains.
They stumbled into the Sulphur Springs area and decided
that they did not have nearly enough strength to capture the
area so they started scrounging and trading with the village.
Ultimately they plan to move on, probably heading south
as there is a wide gap between the cities of Camphus and
Wake that is not overrun with human settlements.
The entrances to most of the burrows are bricked walls,
but have become overgrown with weeds and brush. Finding
a burrow opening is difficult. The more obvious ones have
already been looted. However the one that Randal is in can
be found fairly easily as his minions have cleared the
10
entryway and left tracks that lead to the burrow. It belongs
to the son of the last Warlock leader of Tarn and is located in
the lower eastern part of the burrows area.
Note that the semi-undead minions of Randal can pass the
barrier as they still have a spark of life in them. An Aracana
or Religion skill check against DC 18 will tell a player that
they believe something not fully undead could probably pass
the barrier.
Vineyards Area (C3-4, D3-4)
Long trellises of grape vines crisscross this area. There are
about 12 square miles of grapes planted, in three varieties.
All of the varieties are for wine making but one of them is a
passable table grape as well. Twelve different families have
places in the area. They have divided themselves into three
groups, each of which collectively runs a winery making a
vintage from a different type of grape. They are competitive
with each other, but it is mostly a friendly rivalry as all three
have no trouble selling all the wine they can make.
Upper Estates Area (F3-4, E3-4)
Encounter Areas MP 2 is located here. It is the old Thurston
home. Ideally, the players will not go into this home until after the
main plot has gotten underway. Sitting on land plots anywhere
from 5 to 50 acres, twenty three rather stately homes sprawl
across this area. All but two are shuttered up.
The Thurston estate is located at about the F3 & F4 line
(but the exact location is not important). It is featured in
encounter MP 2.
One of the two homes still occupied belongs to Mason
Gangell. Mason is an elderly man in his eighties who made a
small fortune as a grain wholesaler in Camphus. He never
liked big city life and retired to Sulphur Springs in his old
age. He has a household staff of three attending to him. If
spoken to by players, no one in this household has seen
anything unusual recently. They did not
see lights in another house, but the
Thurston estate can not be seen from
this one.
The elf Langere Faindri lives in the
other. Langere lives alone and is a bitter
man who has placed himself in exile. He
was once in charge of an elven trading
house in Camphus but he got conned
into a bad business deal that busted
the house. He was too embarrassed to
return home and bought an estate
here on the cheap. Langere will
assume that any elf or eladrin that
visits him is there to laugh at him.
He saw the Thurston lights a few
nights ago but never investigated.
 West Lufton Road (enter G1, exit A2)
As the major road running across the western side of
Lufton County it was named “West” even though it runs
mostly southward. The starting point of this road is the
village of Blue Ox four miles from Camphus itself. This road
terminates at the end of the canton in a dead end where a
small fort stands that wards the open plains of “wild lands”
beyond. Sulpher Springs is the last village or town along the
road heading southward.
The road is two carts wide in this part of the canton. It
has curbstones lining each side and is a packed sandy soil
taken from the lake by Camphus mixed with crushed rock.
Under most rains it remains fairly solid.
There are no steep grades and wheeled traffic such as
carts and carriages can move an extra 10% distance per day
on this well made roadway.
Windleaf Woods (G2-G4)
Mistress Aphasia, the apothecary mentioned in one of
the adventure hooks, is a gnome woman living in these
woods. 8 in 10 of the woods inhabitants can tell a player
where her home is. She has the items required by the
player’s master (assume that the master gave the right
amount of cash to pay for it). She also has 3 potions of healing
for sale at 50 gp each and 125 gp worth each of Alchemical
Reagents, Rare Herbs, and Residuum for sale. Use the Gnome
Arcanist from the 4E MONSTER MANUAL if you need stats
for her. She is a pleasant, grand-motherly person to deal
with.
These woods extend for another four to eight miles
northward. The strip shown on the map is occupied by a
small enclave of gnomes and halflings. Many of their family
homes are underground burrows so it is not immediately
obvious that around 80 to 100 people live here unless one
actually enters the woods.
There are signs of occupation though. The two miles of
land around the woods are cultivated fields growing a
variety of food items. The halflings farming these fields
prefer to live in the sheltering woods and walk to their
fields unlike the humans to the souther that tend to have
their home in the center of their fields.
A number of the inhabitants of these woods are wood
sappers. A sweet syrup is produced from the sap of Narpal
trees that grow in the woods. There are also a few illegal
stills producing grain alcohol called Gnome Lightning or
Windleaf Whiteshine locally.
These stills are illegal because they do not pay the taxes
normally collected for the production of alcohol in this
canton. As the local sheriff is not part of tax collecting, she
won’t act against the stills unless ordered by her liege the
Margarve of Lufton to do so.
11
Sulphur Springs Village
The central part of the village is along the road. It
consists of seven large buildings, a permanent tent
structure, and an open air market that has rough wooden
tables left always in place. Around forty smaller buildings -
mostly homes with a few barns and storage sheds mixed in -
surround the village core out to a radius of about one and a
half miles. Many of these people have small plots of land
they farm on located within four miles of the village.
There has never been a wall around the village. It’s
remote location off major travel routes has kept it from
being invaded.
Village Administration
Mayor “Mac” Cheese was appointed mayor six years ago
by the Margrave. Most of those in the area view him as a fair
minded and effective leader. Mac is also the commanding
officer of the Sulphur Springs militia should that ever be
required.
Aristede Benson is Mac’s right hand man and the village
clerk. All village records, land deeds, and tax recordings go
through him.
Those two essentially make up the entire administrative
bureaucracy of the village.
Sheriff Andrea Taylor is the head law enforcement
official. Her position is also appointed by the Margrave.
Her entire village watch force consists of three other
people, Deputy Barnaby Fife and two men-at-arms soldiers
from the Margrave’s house armsman force named Hamlin
“Ham” Cobbler and Marcus Dresdin. The two soldiers sleep
most of the day in a small home given over for their use and
then patrol around the village at night. The sheriff and her
deputy handle the daytime duties.
Once a week a carriage arrives from the Margrave’s
town that has payroll money and any new laws or special
orders for the mayor or sheriff. The following day a town
meeting is held to discuss anything new.
About once a month a mounted group of house
armsmen along with an official of the Margrave’s come
through the village on their monthly tour of the canton.
They stay for a day then go to the fort at the end of the road
and return a few days later on their way back home. This
official has High Judicial status and will hold court in the
village to pass judgement on any important crimes such as
murder, treachery against the First Seat of Camphus, or the
practice of illegal magic such as necromancy.
There is no town council or merchant association. What
Mac decides is how things will be done.
All able bodied males between the ages of 16 and 30 are
expected to muster for the militia in an emergency.
 Village Personalities
The primary NPCs that the players might want to talk to H4
are all detailed under Villagers in the Monsters & NPCs section. H3
Subject based replies are provided to handle questions that
players might ask - mainly items related to the starting hooks B1
and rumors that tie into the main plot or side plot quests. B5
The Location Descriptions for the village will list when main
personalities can be found in those locations.

B2 B6
Village Rumors H2
Players will likely have specific subjects they want to ask M1
about from starting hooks or discovering side plots. These are
handled by looking up the personality the player is speaking B3
with as noted above to see what (if anything) that NPC knows B7
about the subject.
Listed below are some general rumors that players might
pick up by hanging around the inn and making small talk with
B4
the citizens of the village. For a player to pick up rumors,
B8
make a Streetwise skill check. For every 3 points above DC H1
15 provide one of the rumors below. (18 is one, 21 is two, 20’
etc.) Players can get the same rumor if they act independently
rather than travel in a group. A group makes one skill check
using the best skill from the player characters. Sulphur Springs Locations Key
1) In the past few days those that live near the Upper Estates
B1: The Glove & Dove Inn
area have caught glimpses of a sinister figure in a hooded dark cloak
skulking around in the evening. So far, no one has been able to find B2: Blayde’s Cutlery & Tool Shop
this person even though the sheriff has tried. B3: Nona’s Breakfast Nook
B4: Faith’s Home Temple
2) A representative from one of the big Mage Guilds in Camphus
has rented a cottage in the village. He’s been riding around the
B5: Village Hall & Sheriff Office
countryside on a horse the past few days but has yet to tell anyone B6: Mervins General Store
why he is way out here in the middle of nowhere. B7: Kyle’s Blacksmith & Stables
B8: Toleson’s Mill and Grainery
3) There is talk that the Blackfeet tribe of goblins have moved on
from their camp at the edge of the Blue Toad Marsh (False rumor)
H1: Home, Sheriff Taylor
4) Cyn Blayde (a local shop keeper) has a brother that is on the H2: Home, Two night guardsmen
run from the law.The brother grew up here in the village and might H3: Home, Clerk Aristede Benson
try to hide here, but Cyn apparently dislikes her brother so it might be
better if he stays away. H4: Home, Mervins family

5) Wendy Groves, a priestess at the village temple, gave birth to a M1: Open market tables
baby son last week. She named him Havlor after her husband’s
grandfather.

6) Many locals think that the mayor should have barred Kirsta
from marrying Ben Cartleft so soon after her husband had that
accident with the cow. After all, she had been running around with
Ben behind her husband’s back before he died. She only waited two
weeks before marrying Ben - a pretty short mourning period.
12
Village Locations
B1: The Glove & Dove Inn
This is a huge three story structure. The ground floor is
stone and mortar while the upper levels are timber
construction. The ground floor is the kitchens, storage, tap
room, and dining area. The middle floor has the common
sleeping room and six double bed rooms. The top floor is
where the owners (the Newheart family) live plus two
luxury suite rooms.
Standard 4E PLAYER”S HANDBOOK food, drink and
lodging costs apply. Sleeping in the common room is only 1
sp per night.
B2: Blayde’s Cutlery & Tool shop
This shop specializes in knives and daggers of all kinds.
Other things available here include eating utensils, cooking
gear, sewing needles, and various light duty hand tools
useful for farm living.
Cyn Blayde fashions blades and knives from steel shanks,
grinding and shaping them with loving hands. She fills a
number of special orders for people in Camphus for her
Blood-letter blades. Cyn will have 1d3 available for sale to
anyone that is passionate about their daggers for 85 gp.
A blood-letter dagger is keen crit for the first ten hits it
makes (meaning that it scores a crit on a 19 or 20 until it has
struck a target ten times). Then it must be sharpened by a
master once again (5 gp charge).
Cyn Blayde is here from morning to sundown every day
except worship day.
B3: Nona’s Breakfast Nook
This is a semi-permanent tent structure with one solid
wall in the kitchen area. Nona and six staff serve simple but
ample food from 5 am until 3 pm. It is buffet style. One
pass through for 1 sp and all you can eat for 2 sp.
As most of the small homes near the village do not have
kitchens, Nona has a packed house every morning and busy
lunches.
Nona and her staff are here from 4 am to 4 pm. The
sheriff, deputy and city clerk often eat breakfast here around
7 am to 8 am.
B4: Faith’s Home Temple
This brick structure is painted white and has a bell
steeple with a large bronze bell. The bell is rung at 6 am,
Noon, 3 pm, 6 pm and 10 pm and can be heard to about six
miles away. This temple houses two cults. A healing deity
and an agricultural god. Two full priests serve each of the
deities, trading off giving sermons on worship day. There are
four acolytes that serve the temple in general, paying
homage to both gods worshiped there.
In a basic 4E campaign Pelor is the best choice for the
harvest deity. There is not a standard healing god, so make
something up or use Erathis.
Within the Realms of WorTM setting the healing goddess
will be Shendor and the agricultural god Trow.
The two clerics trade off weeks “on-duty”. During the
day and early evening one cleric and two acolytes are
present. The healing cleric is Feldon Kildare and the nature
cleric Wendy Groves.
B5: Village Hall& Sheriff Office
The hall is a large wooden structure that is mainly one
large open meeting room with a raised stage at one end and
benches lined up within. In one corner is a railing that
separates out a corner that holds a desk, several
bookshelves, and three locked chests. This is where the
village clerk Aristede Benson works and the location of all
the village records. The chests are DC 22 to pick. They
contain mostly tax and arrest records plus the village payroll
(30+5d20 gp will be in there at any given time).
In the corner opposite the clerk’s area is an eight foot
square cell of iron bars and two more desks. The sheriff
works from this area. The cell keys are kept in a desk when
the cell is empty and with the sheriff when someone is in
there. DC 20 to pick but you need to be outside to reach
the lock panel.
Aristede is here most days from morning to evening.
There is a 1-3 chance on a d6 of the sheriff or a deputy
being in the office during any given hour when the sun is up.
At night on a 1-2 on a d6 one of the night guards is here
(otherwise they are walking around the village).
B6: Mervin’s General Store
Within this large brick building players can buy most
things found in the PLAYER’S HANDBOOK except weapons,
armor and livestock. They do not have anything like holy
water or potions.
During the day two or more members of the Mervin
family are staffing the store. They lock up at the 6 pm bell.
B7: Kyle’s Blacksmith and Stables
Huge doors allow wagons and horses access inside this
building. Kyle can perform simple to medium level wagon
repairs and is skilled at shoeing horses. While he is not
skilled enough to make swords, he can make ax and spear
heads and has a number of each type of weapon for sale.
Players can board their horses here for 1 sp per day. Kyle
has two riding horses and a pair of draft horses that he
13 can rent to characters for 2 sp per day (1 riding horse or
the draft pair together). He requires a 30 gp deposit to cottage to a player character for 2 gp per month. First and
secure the rental. His animals are not for sale, he will direct last month in advance, 10 gp deposit for damages. There is
characters looking to buy mounts to visit the ranching area.
The sheriff has a contract allowing her or her staff to
borrow the horses for village business whenever needed.
Kyle sleeps in a loft in the building.
As he lives in his business location, Kyle can usually be
found here.

Sulphur Springs Notable Names

Mayor: MacTurren “Mac” Cheese

Sheriff: Andrea Taylor
Deputy: Barnaby Fife
Guardsmen: Hamlin “Ham” Cobbler
Marcus Dresdin
Village Clerk: Aristede Benson
B8: Toleson’s Mill and Grainery
A waterwheel attached to the rear of the building drives Village Clerics: Wendy Groves
a set of grinding stones. Grains (like wheat or barley) are Feldon Kildare
ground into flour for shipping to the city. Toleson acts as a
wholesaler, buying the grain from the farmers and then
selling it to brokers from the city. The grain is stored in Blayde, Cyn (Knife smith)
wooden barrels. Drayson, Kyle (Blacksmith)
The storage wing of the building does not connect
Grady, “Big” Ben (Village idiot)
internally to the grinding room. There is a danger of
explosion from the grain dust so no open flames are allowed Moonleaf, Fleandre (Inn staff)
in the storage room. Any magic that does fire damage used Mervin Family (Shop keepers)
in the room has a chance of sparking an explosion equal to Newheart Family (Inn operators)
2x the damage done as a percent. Use the highest damage
roll for a blast effect. Thus a spell that did 20 fire damage to
Rusty the dog (Village stray dog)
the target has a 40% chance of sparking an explosion. Salda, Nona (Restaurant owner)
If the storage room explodes it will cause 10d10 damage Toleson, Ben (Mill owner)
to anyone inside. Those outside and within 50 feet of the Velheir, Clem (Mill worker)
walls face a +10 attack verse Reflex for 5d8 or half on a
miss. This is fire damage. Wells, Gandre (Villager)
During the day Ben Toleson and one or two of his hired Zorn, Denny (Village drunk)
workers is in the building. Ben keeps four dogs there all the
time. They are a rat-chasing breed but also serve as guard
dogs for the building. At night that are locked in the storage
room.

All the H locations: These are all simple wood framed

homes with mud brick walls and thatch roofs. Most have an
upper story loft in the attic space of the roof. A few that are
close to the village core have specific village personalities
assigned to them. The rest are occupied mainly by people
that farm a small plot of land near the village or work in the
village. The village clerk can arrange to rent an empty
14
 Side Plot One (Sp1)
This side story deals with the ghost that is haunting the
Fey Bough Woods. It is the shade of Leonard Stonetiller. He
was the husband of the Kirsta mentioned in village rumor
#6. He was murdered by Ben Cartleft (who had been
having an affair with Leonard’s wife). So far, Ben has gotten
away with it as the murder was made to look like a freak
accident and Ben’s employees have testified that he was at
his ranch when the event occurred. Kirsta is not aware of
the murder and wants to believe that Ben is innocent but
she has started to wonder if what the town thinks - that Ben
was somehow involved - is true.
This plot starts with a double encounter. A skill
challenge is wrapped inside a melee encounter as the players
try to reason with Stonetiller’s ghost while dealing with the
Hate Hounds that the ghost has summoned.
As the players near the center of the Fey Bough Woods
(perhaps seeking the primal spirit within) read them the
following descriptive text.
Your party is following a game trail when suddenly a
chill runs down your spine. The temperature rapidly
plunges; you can actually see your breath hanging in the
suddenly damp air. With growing alarm you all realize that
all of the animal and insect sounds have stopped.
A low moan sounds from seemingly all around you. It
sounds almost like the wind rushing through the branches -
except that there is no breeze. The air around you is dead
calm.
Any player character with a passive Insight of 10 or
higher will sense the following.
It would be difficult to say exactly how, but you sensing a
great sense of rage and hatred focused up the trail ahead of
you. Other smaller motes of hatred are forming out in the
trees around the party.
Primal based characters might try to sense if the anger is
from a primal spirit. An Insight check against DC 15 will
tell them that they do not think so. Divine or Psionic
characters can try the same insight check. Success will
indicate to them that some type of incorporeal spirit is
nearby. A very angry one.
After three rounds the party will be attacked by the
Hate Hounds. (Encounter groups are indicated on the next
page). Two rounds later Leonard’s shade will advance. He
will be lamenting his fate as he attacks, and the players can
respond to his words on their turn without using an action
point. The melee details are on page 16. The skill challenge
details are in the next column.
15
Stonetiller’s Skill Challenge
If the players can convince the shade that they plan to
bring his murderer to justice he will stop his attacks on them
and share what he knows of his own death. After that, should
they bring the killer to justice then Stonetiller’s soul will be
at peace and he will reward them and then move on. This
will allow the players to contact the primal spirit of the
woods if they so desire.
The tricky part is that they must convince him of their
intentions while he is in a hate fueled rage and attacking
them. Still, in the end he wants justice more than random
carnage so this is only a Complexity 2 challenge requiring 6
successes before 3 failures. Players will tackle this challenge
in their initiative order. They may make a skill roll as a free
action while performing other combat related actions. Once
they reach 6 successes all the Hate Hounds will disappear
and Stonetiller will calm down and tell his tale of woe.
Players do not need to undertake this skill challenge.
They can simply fight him. However they will not be able to
contact the primal spirit until Stonetiller’s soul is laid to
rest.
Primary Skills that apply:
Diplomacy (DC 12): Attempts to reason with the shade,
point out that the players are not responsible for his
condition and are his best chance of help, etc.
Heal (DC 14): Soothing words of psychological aid to
calm the shade and ease his grief.
History (DC 12): Tales of cases where justice was
donewhen it looked like the truth would never be
uncovered.
Intimidate (DC 13): Show that the character is not
afraid of the shade and that if the shade does not act
reasonably it will never gain release from the woods.
Religion (DC 12): Attempts to convince the shade to
trust in the gods, and information about gaining a better
afterlife than haunting a copse of woods.
Actions that apply:
A character who stops fighting and accepts a hit (they
choose to become AC 1 as a sign of good will) gains a success
after they take damage.
Secondary Skills that apply:
A secondary skill check success can erase a failure (and
the new Hate Hound brought forth will disappear as well). If
there are no failures the next character gains a +2 to their
skill roll.
Arcana (DC 14): Recognize that some type of ritual has
bound the shade, thus it should be possible to break that
ritual and free Stonetiller’s soul.
Insight (DC 14): Pick out something from the shade’s
actions or words that can be used to convince the shade that
some part of it wants help seeking justice rather than
randomly applied vengeance.
Monster Tactics
The hate hounds will advance into ranged attack distance
and use their howls as their first actions. After that they will
close on the player characters and melee with them. They
will try to spread out amongst targets rather than group on
one or two players. During the early rounds before
Stonetiller’s Shade arrives his moaning voice will be heard
seemingly coming from all around.
Stonetiller will berate the characters, insulting them
while complaining about his fate in general terms. Examples
are “More liars come to laugh at my fate”, “Begone useless
fools that cannot see the truth before your eyes. Do not dare
belittle my murdered soul”, and “Justice will be mine, no
matter how blind you villagers are.” His shade is in a rage
and has not noticed that the players are not from the village
yet. The first player to point this fact out as part of the skill
check will gain a +2 to their skill roll.
During the skill challenge a failure will further enrage
the shade who will then produce a new hound puppy within
three squares of his location that will join the attack. After
three failures he can no longer be reasoned with today. If
the party succeeds with the skill challenge then Stonetiller
calms down and all the hounds will disappear. The attack
will be over.
Note that while Stonetiller is angry, some part of him
knows it is wrong to kill those not responsible for his death.
Any players taken below 0 HP are incapacitated but not
killed. No death saves are required and they will wake up
again and automatically spend a healing surge 3d4 minutes
after they were rendered unconscious.
Should all the players get taken down, when they
awaken Stonetiller is gone and the players find scuff marks
in the soil that spell out “Begone from my woods until
justice is done”.
While the battle is engaged the hounds are fearless and
attack without remorse (although they do not kill as they
are in effect part of Stonetiller’s emotional energy).
Experience Awards
Success with Skill Challenge: 425 xp
Melee Encounter: Based on monsters reduced to 0 HP
Minor Quest: (If bring Cartleft to justice) 125 xp

Encounter Groups for SP 1

Level 2 Players
4 Players (500 xp) 5 Players (625 xp) 6 Players (750 xp)
(1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250 (1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250 (1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250
(1) Hate Hound 150 (1) Hate Hound 150 (1) Hate Hound 150
(2) Hound Minions 100 (1) Hound Puppy 125 (2) Hound Puppies 250
(2) Hound Minions 100 (2) Hound Minions 100

Level 3 Players
4 Players (600 xp) 5 Players (750 xp) 6 Players (900 xp)
(1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250 (1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250 (1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250
(1) Hate Hound 150 (2) Hate Hounds 300 (2) Hate Hounds 300
(4) Hound Minions 200 (4) Hound Minions 200 (2) Hound Puppies 250
(2) Hound Minions 100

Level 4 Players
4 Players (700 xp) 5 Players (875 xp) 6 Players (1,050 xp)
(1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250 (1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250 (1) Stonetiller’s Shade 250
(2) Hate Hounds 300 (2) Hate Hounds 300 (2) Hate Hounds 300
(3) Hound Minions 150 (4) Hound Minions 200 (2) Hound Puppies 250
(1) Hound Puppy 125 (5) Hound Minions 250

Notes: All encounter monsters are from this module.

Special Notes: Every failure during the Skill Challenge enrages Stonetiller’s shade such that a new Hound Puppy joins
the battle. It appears within 3 squares of him and acts in the round after the one in which is was formed.

16

1 through 6: Starting location of the
hounds. Start at #1 and
place them until none are
left in the encounter. Place
the higher xp hounds first.
S Stonetiller’s Shade. He appears in
this square on the third round.
A mollified shade
Should the players succeed in calming the shade through
the skill challenge he stops his aggressive actions towards the
players and tell them his tale of woe.
“Yes, I see now that you are new to Sulphur Springs and that you
had nothing to do with my injustice.Thank you for hearing my
plea.
A wealthy neighbor named Ben Cartleft was having an affair
with my wife Kirsta. Ben and I argued about it when Kirsta was
away visiting her mother and I told him I was going to tell the
village priests. Early the next morning I went to the barn to milk my
cows and he was hiding there already. In the dim morning light I
didn’t see that he had hoisted a hay bail up the pulley system I use
to get the bails into the hay loft. He dropped the bail on me and it
broke my shoulder and ribs and knocked me out.
I woke up to find that I had been dragged into the milking stall
and my cow Purdy was standing over me. My hand and feet were tied
but I was too hurt to move anyway. Ben was looking down at me 17
from over the cow and waving my father’s ring around.
He said,“You should have taken my buy out offer. Now I’ll take
this little bauble as my own. And your wife too.”
I spat at him and said,“over my dead body.”
“Exactly right,” he laughed.Then he injected something into
Purdy. A few moments later her legs got wobbly and Ben pushed her
over onto me. I screamed in pain and then found I couldn’t breath.
Purdy was crushing me to death.
Obviously I died because the next thing I remember is a floating
sensation. I was looking down at the ground where Ben was burying
a small box next to a tree. He read some words out of a book and the
letters on the page glowed.
Then he stood up and laughed. He yelled out,“ I don’t know if
you can hear me yet Leonard, but enjoy eternity bound to these
woods.You see, I can’t have you meeting my ex-wife in the afterlife.
Who knows ? The gods might hear your pleas and take vengeance on
me. So I have bound your soul to this spot through your big toe and
a ritual from this handy little book. I may not be a full wizard, but
enough arcane ability runs in my bloodline to handle pre-powered
rituals like the ones in this book.
Those fools in town will think you had an accident.They will
decide only someone as stupid and unlucky as you could die getting
crushed by a milk cow. But don’t get angry my friend. I will take
excellent care of Kirsta for you. Might even name our firstborn in
your honor.Ta - ta.”
The difficulty will be in proving Leonard Stonetiller’s
case. Testimony from the undead is not admissible evidence
in the Camphus court system. Leonard does not know where
his toe is buried. If the players ask him the direct question, he
can supply the following information.
Cow Medicines: He did not have anything that could
kill a cow on his farm. He knows that animal medicines are
available at the general store in town.
His Father’s Ring: It was gold with green stones and
worth about 200 gp. The ring was given to his father as a
young man as a reward for performing a brave service for the
Margrave. It was Leonard’s most prized possession and the
shade somehow senses that Ben keeps it with him during the
days.
The hay loft pulley: The hay loft is above the barn
ceiling. Hay is kept up there and dropped down into the stalls
through feeding shoots to feed the animals. To get the hay up
there it is compressed and bound with a set of wires so that is
becomes a heavy block weighing between 90 and 110
pounds. He wold then attach a line through the pulley and
haul up the bails to the loft. Normally the rope is left in place
but no hay is left dangling from the pulley attached to the
roof as that would be dangerous.
The Investigation of his death: He cannot leave the
Fey Bough Woods so he does not know the details but he has
overheard from folk talking while passing near the woods
his death is called an accident and Kirsta married Ben.
Investigating the Murder
Listed here are things the players might decide to
investigate and what they can find out.
Stonetiller’s Farm (Small Farms Area): The farm is
currently deserted. All the animals went to the Cartleft place
with Kirsta. Currently the farm is up for sale. The house is
empty. The barn is not locked. In the barn players can find
loose hay scattered about under the pulley and will discover
that the pulley rope in missing.
A DC 18 skill check against Perception will find the rope
under some scrap leather in an old barrel in the barn. It has
grease marks from the lubricant on the pulley and is now in
two sections. One end of each length looks like it was
severed with a knife. If the rope end is shown to Cyn the
knife dealer, she will opine that a serrated blade like one used
to saw through small animal bones was used.
Village Records: Either by sneaking into the Village
Hall or convincing the village clerk to let them look at the
written case records (a DC 12 CHA check will suffice or a
DC 16 Bluff or Diplomacy skill check) the players can learn
that as it seemed obvious that the cow crushed Leonard
Stonetiller the canton coroner (the officer that investigates
unusual deaths) was not sent for. It was guessed that the cow
died from a heart attack as nothing unusual was found when
it was butchered. Kirsta the wife was two days away visiting
her mother when it happened.
Ben Cartleft was questioned, but he said he was at home
and his hired hands agreed that he was. (Thus he had an alibi)
Leonard’s body was not closely examined. As per local
custom he was cremated. A list of articles on his body when
he was burned show that he still had his boots on.
A hand written note by the sheriff reads “Never found his
father’s ring. Strange. Leonard always wore it but it was not found on
his body. Did Leonard lose it?Was it stolen after his death? Or taken
while he was dying?”
The death was ruled an accident for lack of evidence
otherwise.
General Store - Cow Medicines: At Mervin’s
General Store the players can learn that the store sells a
sedative drug meant for large animals like cows and horses. It
is applied via a metal syringe and needle.
The Mervins are not veterinarians, but they believe that if
you gave a very large dose to an animal it would fall over and
eventually die from heart or lung failure as the muscle
relaxant quality of the drug would affect involuntary muscles
as well.
They remember that Ben Cartleft bought three bottles of
the drug four days before Leondard’s death. However as Ben
owns a large horse ranch such a purchase is not unusual or
even rare. He has not bought any since his last purchase.
Cartleft’s Ranch (Ranching Area): There are some notes
about Ben’s place listed in the Area Map Key section. Players 18
trying to search the place will be told by the ranch hands to
leave. If the players come up with an excuse to be there (say
to buy horses) and then someone makes a DC 14 Bluff check
then one or two players can slip away to look around for a
little while.
In the smoke house (where meat is dried into jerky)
there is a serrated knife. It is the one used to cut the pulley
rope but there is no way to prove it.
In the barn there a DC 15 Perception check will note
there are 2 bottles of the animal drug in question and two
metal syringes. If the players ask, the ranch hands say that
sometimes they need to drug mares that are having
problems foaling to help with the birth. If the syringes are
asked about a ranch hand will say they are very expensive
and he hopes that the boss doesn’t realize that there used to
be three and that one has been lost. None of the ranch hands
remembers losing it or even using one in the past month.
They will say that usually they keep two bottles on hand.
Half a bottle is generally enough to calm a horse. More
than two bottles would prove lethal.
A DC 20 Perception check (or a player stating they are
turning over all the trash barrels they can find) will find
three empty bottles of the drug and the missing syringe,
None of the ranch hands will have any idea how they got
into the trash barrel, nor when. Ben himself will say the
same thing.
A DC 20 Perception check inside the hut used to store
firewood can find a book of rituals related to binding the
dead wrapped in an oilskin bag and hidden in the rafters of
the hut. Ben and his ranch hands will deny any knowledge of
the book being there and guess that maybe the cloaked
stranger that has been seen lurking around put it there.
Leaning on the Ranch Hands
Intimidation can be used to shake a ranch hand from the
alibi. A DC 16 check result and the worker admits that the
ranch hands were all near the gnome settlements stealing
illegal liquor on the day Leonard passed away and do not
know where Ben was. This is what they did on days that Ben
was meeting Kirsta to cheat on Stonetiller. But they don’t
think she was around the ranch when her husband died.
Leaning on Ben
He cannot be intimidated into admitting his guilt. He
will fight if the players get very threatening.
Convincing the Sheriff
Delivering the empty bottles, syringe, knife and cut
pulley rope( from Leonard’s place) will be enough for the
Sheriff to reopen the case and bring Ben in for questioning.
The ritual book from the shed will put him in jail while
the sheriff investigates. An investigation will break the
alibi as the ranch hands will talk. Getting Leonard’s ring
from Ben will be proof positive he was involved.
Side Plot 2: (SP 2) Encounter Start
Read the following descriptive text to the players:
This is mostly a straight forward combat encounter with These woods have lived up to their name as you have seen
a forlorn aftertaste. countless small spiders - and a few that were as big as your fist.The
Beauty - a spider creature the size of a warhorse - has trees are full of gossamer stands of webbing but so far nothing
taken refuge in these woods. She is a lab experiment by a unusually dangerous has loomed ahead.
wizard to make huge spiders that gained intelligence. The Until now, that is. Just down the trail you are following is a
wizard couldn’t risk her exposure as creating artificial small meadow that has a set of stone pillars in a circular formation
intelligent life is illegal but didn’t have the heart to kill her so centered in the clearing. Heavy gobs of thick webbing runs between
he dumped her out her on the outskirts of civilization via the outer pillars, blocking sight through the structure. You can see
teleport. that an inner ring of smaller pillars protrudes above the mass of
Unfortunately for Beauty and anyone around her, she is webbing, proving extra support.
insane. She has a deep rooted paranoia that guild As you pause to assess the situation an eerie voice calls from
exterminators are out to kill her and a deep seated belief that somewhere within or behind the webbing.
as her nature is to trap things and kill them for their blood, “Oh, so the exterminators have finally come I see,” says this
she is evil and cannot change her ways but must always fight female sounding voice.“This was to be expected. Master abandoned
and kill. Beauty to these woods so that Beauty would be killed as the monster
She tried to make contact with some woodsmen she ran she is. So be it - Beauty is ready to protect herself. Beauty will suck
across thinking that perhaps she could somehow employ your body juices as is her monstrous nature. But first Beauty will tire
them to ward off “exterminators” but failed. Armed player her exterminators with her friends.”
characters will be viewed as “exterminators” and thus Around you the ground and trees squirm as a large number of
enemies that must be destroyed. spiders appear from hiding and advance on your party.
If the characters subdue Beauty they can try a Remove
Affliction ritual to cure her insanities. There are two, both Encounter Flow
Level 12. As the players are too low for this ritual (it is level The players must deal with two waves on enemies back
8) they will have to hire someone or otherwise convince to back. First is her spider minions. They are a set piece 2nd
someone to perform it for them. level encounter. When the last of the spiders is destroyed
Starting Placements one round will pass and then
Beauty herself will emerge with
F = Female Tree Spider her guardians and attack. The exact
M = Male Tree Spider
Note: If there are only
type of monsters in the second
3 females in play for the attack will vary based on the level
group size ignore one of of the players.
the F spots of DM’s
choice. Should there be
6 males, place a second Starting Placements
next to the 3 marked If there are more boxes than
places. monsters for the encounter level
B = Beauty just ignore some and leave them
EG = Ettercap Fang unfilled. The map at the left covers
Guard all possible combinations.
E = Ettercap You do not need to start the
Webspinner
T = Any Tree Spiders
players so close to the central web
that are part of the mass, but try to get them within 15
second wave. squares of Beauty before starting
the encounter.
Remember, the Remember that all the
second wave is not
visible until first is monsters starting in the web mass
destroyed. Draw webs remain hidden in it until the first
in if using the erasable wave of spiders is destroyed by the
tile from the store player party. Then they emerge and
set.
19 attack.
Web Filled Squares
Players that enter a square filled with webs (in the
central part of the tile) face an automatic trap attack of +10
vs Reflex. A hit means that they are grabbed and must stop
their movement. Escaping takes an action and is an
Acrobatics check against 15 or a Strength check against 13. A
character who escapes can shift one square.
When a webbed square fails to hit with a grab it is still
treated as difficult terrain. Escaping characters can still shift
in a new web square even though it is difficult terrain.
The webbed squares do not affect spiders, Beauty or
ettercaps.
Fire damage to a square attacks against AC 10. A hit of
more than 5 damage will clear that square of webs. Anyone
grabbed by the webs while they are burned will take the
same fire damage the webs took.
Monster Tactics
Wave one just charges in and goes into melee. When it is
time for wave two, Beauty will stay in the middle of the
webbed area and use ranged attacks for as long as she can,
sustaining up to three web-holds should she score that many.
Tree spiders will advance and attack. Ettercap Fang
Guards will advance out of the web and try to web tangle a
foe so they can use their spider bite. After that they use their
axe unless they can spider bite a target immobilized by
Beauty. Ettercap Webspinners will move to one square from
the edge of the web and use their ranged attack and try to
trap enemies at the edge of the webbed area so they can
reach them with their spears. Unless under ranged attack
neither the Webspinners nor Beauty will leave the webbed
area between the pillars. They hope that the attackers will
enter the web and grant them advantage in the fight.

Encounter Groups for SP 2

First Melee Wave (Level 2 Encounter)

All Levels
4 Players (489 xp) 5 Players (614 xp) 6 Players (728 xp)
(3) Female Tree Spiders 375 (4) Female Tree Spiders 500 (4) Female Tree Spiders 500
(3) Male Tree Spiders 114 (3) Male Tree Spiders 114 (6) Male Tree Spiders 228

Second Melee Wave

Level 2 Players
4 Players (513 xp) 5 Players (600 xp) 6 Players (725 xp)
(1) Beauty 300 (1) Beauty 300 (1) Beauty 300
(1) Ettercap Fang Guard 175 (1) Ettercap Fang Guard 175 (1) Ettercap Fang Guard 175
(1) Male Tree Spider 38 (1) Female Tree Spider 125 (2) Female Tree Spiders 250

Level 3 Players
4 Players (600 xp) 5 Players (725 xp) 6 Players (900 xp)
(1) Beauty 300 (1) Beauty 300 (1) Beauty 300
(1) Ettercap Fang Guard 175 (1) Ettercap Fang Guard 175 (2) Ettercap Fang Guards 350
(1) Female Tree Spider 125 (2) Female Tree Spiders 250 (2) Female Tree Spiders 250

Level 4 Players
4 Players (725 xp) 5 Players (875 xp) 6 Players (1,050 xp)
(1) Beauty 300 (1) Beauty 300 (1) Beauty 300
(1) Ettercap Fang Guard 175 (2) Ettercap Webspinners400 (2) Ettercap Webspinners 400
(2) Female Tree Spiders 250 (1) Ettercap Fang Guard 175 (2) Ettercap Fang Guards 350

Notes: All Tree Spiders and Beauty are from this adventure. Ettercaps are from the 4E MONSTER MANUAL.

20
End of Beauty
After Beauty has been reduced below 0 HP she will
expire, but not before a death bed soliloquy.
“Fate has ruled for the heroes over the monster this day. It is a
good day to die. I got to see the sun, feel the wind on my legs, and
revel in the night stars. I made friends willing to fight and die for
me. My only regret is that I was made into this form. Had I been
made as something else - perhaps we could have been friends rather
than enemies.”
There is a brass band around one of her legs that bears
the words “Ex 42. Beauty.” It also has the sun and moon
symbol of the Stargazer Magic Guild of Camphus stamped
into it. The DM can determine if there will be any follow up
to the creation and discarding of experiment 42 that
accidentally gained reason and intelligence.
Treasure
In the center of the large web mass is a wooden box with
some treasure in it. This was brought as an offering by
ettercaps. The amount depends on the average level of the
player characters.
All level groups: a set of +1 deathcut leather armor is
present from a previous adventurer she killed.
Level 2: 200 sp, 30 gp, 2 gems worth 20 gp each, and a
delicate necklace of multiple silver strands worth 15 gp.
(Total value 115 gp)
Level 3: 200 sp, 30 gp, 3 gems worth 20 gp each, and a
delicate necklace of multiple silver strands worth 15 gp.
(Total value 135 gp)
Level 4: 300 sp, 50 gp, 3 gems worth 20 gp each, and a
thin stranded golden necklace worth 25 gp. (Total 165 gp).
21
Side Plot 3: (SP 3)
This is a simple skill challenge of negotiation. The rare
type where intimidation can be used. It is best to employ this
encounter after meeting Adriana Flechette in Role Play 2.
Read the players the following information:
Your group is following a trail through a narrow gap between
two hills when a group of goblins step into the path at the head of
the gorge. Along the hilltops around you two dozen or more goblins
step into view along the ridge. More run down the hill and block
your escape route.
Goblins are not especially tough, but in these numbers they can
surely wipe out your party. However they have not attacked yet.They
must want something.Talking to what looks like the leader of the
group standing up the trail from you seems like the best course of
action.
If the players are dumb enough to fight anyway, just keep
using three or so level 1 and level 3 goblin groups from the
4E MONSTER MANUAL until the players go down. They will
not be killed outright as the goblin shaman will arrive to save
the players from death by pronouncing that the players are
the cure to the undead curse. Thus the players will awake
with their possession but missing any coins or gems and lose
one healing surge until they take a full rest. This is also the
result of failing the skill challenge.
Assuming the decide to talk, the leader stomps down and
addresses them.
“I am Grobak, chief of the Blackfeet clan.We have lived in peace
with the villagers for many winters until now. Bad mojo by a village
human has made the dead walk again.These dead have attacked my
clan. Our clan totem is missing - taken by an evil spirit. Shaman
says that villagers will send help against the walking dead, but I
think you are here to raid the Blackfeet while we are weakened.What
say you who dare to pass the line of skulls?”
Four successes before three failures will convince the
goblins to leave the matter to the player characters and
withdraw. Gain 500 xp for a challenge success.
Primary skills are Bluff, Diplomacy, Streetwise, and
Intimidation. Checks are against DC 10.
If the players hand over the totem (which they get from
the death god avenger) they gain an automatic success.
As part of the process allow players to gain the following
bits of information from the goblin chief about the issue at
hand.
1) His scouts saw a group of humans come from the
upper estate area several nights ago. They went into a burial
burrow marked with stone lions.
2) The next night a raid by fast moving zombies stole
food from their camp.
3) Some of their warriors are missing and have not been
seen since where defeated by the first zombie attackers.
seen
Side Plot 4: (SP 4)
This encounter deals with bringing Rodney the Hood to
justice. While Rodney has tried to form an image of himself
as a ”justice doer” fighting against the mage guilds for the
poor - in truth he is mainly a brigand just out for personal
gain. He has holed up in the old Tibor tower in the Tibor
grove from where he can watch the road.
Although he has placed watchers at the edge of the
woods, his sentries are of poor quality. The one watching the
direction the players approach from will be asleep from
drinking too much rum, allowing the players to get close to
the tower that Rodney had pitched his tent in before the
bandits can get organized to attack them.
If the players hail the bandits, Rodney will emerge from
his tent and speak with them, claiming to be the leader of a
mercenary group on its way to the city-state of Prak to seek
work. He offer hospitality and try to get the party inside the
tower where they cannot maneuver as well and attack them.
If the players say they know who he is and have come to
join him he will pretend to accept them. Again he will try to
lure them into complacency then attack. Only people that he
already knows are allowed into his gang, and the players are
strangers that he feels he can kill and rob without there being
any repercussions from the local population.
Should the players simply announce they are there to
bring him in for his warrant he will immediately attack.
Starting Placements
Encounter Start
Read the following descriptive text to the players:
You approached the Tibor Grove with care, keeping a watchful
eye for those that might be watching you. Just inside the tree line
you stopped to make a plan when the sound of snoring caught your
attention from the base of a tree. It turned out to be a drunk member
of Rodney’s gang that was supposed to be on look out. He quickly
told you that Rodney and a handful of others were in the ruined
tower of the Tibor family in exchange for a promise of turning him
over to the sheriff rather than just killing him.
Now you are near the tower, having crept close without seeing
any more guards.You can see that the tower has mostly collapsed and
much of the fallen stone has been carted away. Basically, it is an
open shell of a tower.There is a collapsed opening where the
entryway once stood.You can see a few of the brigands lounging
around. It looks as if they do not expect an attack.
Encounter Flow
If the players decide to immediately attack, they start
twenty squares off the map in whichever direction they
want. The brigands will respond piecemeal as best they can.
Should there be a parley that brings the players in close,
then the brigands will have a chance to surround the party
and be placed for an attack rather than scattered and
unaware of danger.
Either way, the brigands fight to the death - except for
Rodney who will attempt to surrender once he is below 20
hit points.

R= Rodney the Hood Starting Placements

1 through 6 represent
the location of the other
bandits.
Start at the top of the
list and place them
numerically. When you
run out of monsters,
ignore any remaining
numbers.
Example: A level 2
group of 5 would have
Rodney at R, a human
bandit at locations 1 and
2, and a dwarf bolter at
location 3.
Numbers 4 through 6
are ignored.
See the next page for
the bandit grouping by
player level.
22
Rodney starts in his tent. He
and perhaps other brigands within
the tower will not be immediately
visible to the players.
The placements on the map are
for when the players first see the
area. The bandits might move
around, and will cluster together
behind Rodney if any type of
conversation is started between the
players and the brigands.
Scaling the Wall
DC 14 to climb. Tallest parts
(where the white shows in the
map) are 35 feet high. Dip section
is only 20 feet high. The inner stairs
go up to twenty feet high and stop
mid-air as the floor above is long
gone.
 Encounter Groups for SP 4

Special Note - This is a more difficult encounter, set at +1 level over the level of the
player group.

Level 2 Players
4 Players (625 xp) 5 Players (725 xp) 6 Players (900 xp)
(1) Rodney 300 (1) Rodney 300 (1) Rodney 300
(2) Human Bandits 250 (2) Human Bandits 250 (2) Human Bandits 250
(1) Human Lackey 75 (1) Dwarf Bolter 175 (2) Dwarf Bolters 350

Level 3 Players
4 Players (725 xp) 5 Players (875 xp) 6 Players (1,025 xp)
(1) Rodney 300 (1) Rodney 300 (1) Rodney 300
(2) Human Bandits 250 (2) Human Bandits 250 (2) Human Bandits 250
(1) Dwarf Bolter 175 (1) Dwarf Bolter 175 (2) Dwarf Bolters 350
(1) Halfling Slinger 100 (1) Halfling Thief 125

Level 4 Players
4 Players (800 xp) 5 Players (975 xp) 6 Players (1,225 xp)
(1) Rodney 300 (1) Rodney 300 (1) Rodney 300
(2) Human Bandits 250 (2) Human Bandits 250 (2) Human Bandits 250
(1) Bugbear Strangler 250 (1) Dwarf Bolter 175 (2) Dwarf Bolters 350
(1) Bugbear Strangler 250 (1) Human Lackey 75
(1) Bugbear Strangler 250

Notes: Rodney the Hood is from this adventure. All others are from the 4E MONSTER MANUAL.
Scattered Blocks by Entrance
These blocks are from 1 to 3 feet high. Roll randomly to
determine if they can be used for cover by a being next to
one. They weigh hundreds of pounds and would normally
only be moved by a crane or a group of men with levers.
The Tent
This is just a standard cloth tend with a few bedrolls
inside along with assorted backpacks and travel gear. Rodney
starts inside the tend resting so he will not emerge for two
rounds once the alarm is raised.
Monster Tactics
Once the brigands become aware they are under attack
(or they start an attack) those with ranged at-will attacks will
seek partial cover and try to engage the enemy at range.
Melee fighters (like the bugbear) will take cover at first. If
they can charge a player that has separated from the group
they will risk it - otherwise they will likely fall back inside
the tower and wait for the players to come inside.
Rodney will follow these basic tactics as well and try to
stay at range from the player group..
23
Should Rodney and any brigands find themselves
trapped inside the tower with the players unwilling to come
in after them they will wait until dark falls. Around midnight
they will toss a rope over from the top of the stairs and some
will slide down the rope while others run through the door.
At that point the brigands are trying an every man for
himself escape and any remaining brigands run away in
different directions rather than try to fight.
Players must deliver Rodney or his body to Camphus for
their bounty. The sheriff will keep him locked in jail for
them if they have things to do other than leave with their
catch.
Treasure
All Levels: +2 Magic longsword (Lvl 6 item)
Add monetary treasure by group level as noted below.
Level 2: 350 sp, 60 gp, and a bracelet of gold and silver
worth 25 gp. (Total value 120 gp)
Level 3: 350 sp, 70 gp, and a bracelet of gold and silver
worth 35 gp. (Total value 140 gp)
Level 4: 400 sp,90 gp, and a bracelet of gold and silver
worth 50 gp. (Total value 180 gp)
 Main Zombie Plot
Exactly when you decide to start this ball rolling is up to
you.You can let the players handle one or more of their
story hooks first or simply wait for the first night that they
are in the inn then spring the main plot on them. It doesn’t
matter that much for how the scenario plays out.
Main Plot Flow
In general, the events should happen in this order:
1) The players are informed of the zombie and baby
problem as detailed in Starting the Plot.
2) The players go out to the Greenjeans farm to
investigate and undergo Plot Encounter One. Discourage
them from immediately following the tracks to the burrows
by introducing NPC Trevor Dandy and Role Play
Encounter One. Trevor tells them the general story of
Randal Thurston and tries to get them to work for his mage
guild. He tells the players of the estate that the Thurstons
had nearby.
3) Hopefully the players will go to the estate rather than
try to track undead in the dark. There they have a skill
challenge to gather clues and information in Plot
Encounter Two.
4) Armed with new info they set out for the burrows.
Along the way they meet NPC Adrianna Flechette who will
put a different spin on the Thurston story and ask the
players to act for the death goddess in this issue. Role Play
Two.
5) After the players pass the undead ward boundary you
might want to run Side Plot 3 with the goblins. Or skip it
if you’re eager to get to the dungeon crawl section.
6) The players enter the burrow and face Thurston and
his minions. They might or might not unleash a powerful
undead that is sleeping in a hidden place in the process.
These are the remaining Plot Encounters.
Starting the Plot
At some point coerce the players to go to the inn if they
are not staying there already. The starting scene is best
introduced in early evening (to discourage players from
going to the burrows right away because chasing undead late
at night is generally considered a foolish thing).
Your party is hanging out in the inn having a drink and
thinking about what you want to order for your meal when you
hear the sound of a wagon or carriage thunder up to the front door
and come to a stop amid a barrage of shouts from the driver and a
shower of gravel.
A few moments later the door burst open and a middle aged
farming couple barges in.They are obviously flustered and quite
agitated.
The woman is wearing a blue head scarf and crying.Through
her tears she cries out a desperate plea for help.
“Somebody help us ! Zombies took our baby!”
The locals jump up in an uproar and pandemonium ensues as
everyone tries to talk at the same time. After a few minutes you
finally get the main information.
This couple has a small farm about 9 miles north east from the
village near the hills.They heard a commotion out in their barn and
went out to investigate.What they believe to be zombies were
running all around the barn chasing the animals.The couple -
named the Greenjeans - then ran to the nearest farm and borrowed a
wagon and team to rush to town seeking help.
If the players ask about the baby, they will discover that
“Baby” is the name of their prize winning pig. They do not
have a child, and no small children have been harmed in the
creation of the main plot.
Assuming that the mayor is in the inn (and he should be,
as DM you have control over these things), he will wonder
how any undead could have gotten past the barrier fence
then order the sheriff to gather the other three village
watchmen and set up a patrol around the village proper. He
will then ask the adventurers if they would be willing to go
check out the farm. Sheriff Taylor will volunteer to lead
them to the farm as soon as she gets her men posted to
protect the village.
The players can ask questions of the Greenjeans. Listed
by subject are answers to things they know to help you the
DM answer questions on the Greenjeans’ behalf.
How many zombies OR What did they see ?
There were five or maybe six crusty looking humans with
parts of their flesh rotting off. All wore common city folk
clothing in the Camphus style. Baby’s squealing brought the
Greenjeans out to see what was going on. One zombie was
shambling away carrying baby while others were chasing
livestock around the yard between the house and barn. Being
scared of undead, the Greenjeans fled.
How did they get away ?
By wagon. Odd, now that they think about it the horse
was already in it’s harness and standing out of the barn next
to the wagon, allowing them to hitch it up and escape. None
of the zombies tried to chase them - but they avoided getting
close to any of them.
Have they seen anything unusual the past few days ?
While herding their sheep in the hills they saw a cloaked
figure walking along the outside of the undead barrier two
days ago. The person was too far way to see clearly and
24 disappeared over a hill. The Greenjeans did not follow.
 Plot Encounter One
The players have to cover about nine miles, heading out
to about where the border line between the D and E grid
box meets the border line of the 6 and 7 grid boxes. They
can walk, borrow horses, or use the wagon cart the
Greenjeans came in on if they swap out the horse. (It is tired
from the rush to the village).
Walking Speed 5 3.5 hours
Speed 6 3 hours
Speed 7 2.5 hours
Horse 2.1 hours
Wagon 3 hours
Characters can rush, reducing the travel time by 35%.
However they (or the mount if they didn’t walk) will arrive
in the Weakened state. A short 5 minute rest will be
required to remove that status.
If they do not wait for the sheriff to lead them out there
they must make a Nature skill check against DC 15 to find
the farm. (A pure INT check at the same DC will also
work). Failure adds 2d6x10 minutes to the time required to
get there. Waiting for the Sheriff adds 30 minutes for her to
round up and post her three deputies.
Truthfully, it doesn’t matter how long it takes to get
there. Try to get them there late night between 11 pm and 2
am by guessing at their travel mode and starting the plot at
the appropriate time. (Probably around 7 pm to 9 pm).
When the players get close to the Greenjeans farm read
them the following descriptive text:
The moon is three quarters full so for night time you have a
decent amount of light. Ahead of you some 50 yards is your
destination - the Greenjeans farm.
There is a small home on one side from which light glows throw
two of the windows you can see. Parked almost corner to corner with
the house is a red painted barn that has white trim that stands out
well in the moonlight. It looks like a fence and hedge enclose a yard
in front of the house and barn.
A barn door is open but there is no light within. It looks like the
house door on the porch is ajar as you can see dim light spilling
from it.
After watching the barnyard for a few minutes you see no signs
of movement - living or otherwise.The farm appears to be
abandoned.
If the sheriff is with them she announces the following -
Its probably my imagination but I keep glimpsing a shadowy
form trailing us in the trees over there. I’m going to ride over and
check it out.Why don’t you folks go secure the barnyard.Try not to
disturb any clues to what might have happened until I get there
okay? Thanks.
Basically you’re trying to get the sheriff out of the
upcoming fight so the players get all the xp. If anyone wants
to go with the sheriff she will assure them that she can take
care of herself, but will give in and let them if they insist. As
the encounter is scaled for party numbers you can use a
lesser encounter if one or two players go off with the sheriff.
The sheriff and anyone with her will come back empty
handed, but a Perception tracking check against DC 20 will
find signs that someone skilled at hiding their tracks was in
the trees but is now nowhere to be found.
The Farm Situation
All of the near-zombies are gone. However they left
behind infected livestock which attacked and infected other
farm animals so the farm is now occupied by rabid near-
zombie animals. Having a semblance of their former nature
they have stayed around the barn, however they will attack
anyone that enters the farmyard. The few remaining normal
animals have fled the farm or been killed outright by the
zombified animals.
Encounter Start
Two rounds after a player enters the farmyard tile the
chickens will come out from between the barn and house
while the cow and any other rabid zombified critters will
charge out from the barn. Each player should make a
Perception check against DC 10. Failure means they suffer
surprise the first round and do not act. (Over-ride the base
rule that if any party member makes the whole party does in
this case. A flock of zombie chickens around everyone will be
worth bending the rules).
Monster Tactics
Chickens will mob the nearest players, but generally no
more than three to a player. The bovine will charge the
largest player character by height / weight. Any other
animals present will seek to attack someone that is
not under attack by other zombified critters.
25
 Encounter Groups for Plot Encounter One

Level 2 Players
4 Players (500 xp) 5 Players (600 xp) 6 Players (725 xp)
(1) Zombified Cow 250 (1) Zombified Cow 250 (1) Zombified Cow 250
(1) Zombified Dog 125 (1) Zombified Dog 125 (2) Zombified Dogs 250
(5) Zombified Chickens 125 (1) Zombified Lamb 100 (1) Zombified Lamb 100
(5) Zombified Chickens 125 (5) Zombified Chickens 125

Level 3 Players
4 Players (600 xp) 5 Players (750 xp) 6 Players (900 xp)
(1) Zombified Cow 250 (1) Zombified Cow 250 (1) Zombified Bull 300
(1) Zombified Dog 125 (2) Zombified Dogs 250 (2) Zombified Dogs 250
(5) Zombified Sheep 100 (1) Zombified Lamb 100 (2) Zombified Sheep 200
(5) Zombified Chickens 125 (6) Zombified Chickens 150 (6) Zombified Chickens 150

Level 4 Players
4 Players (725 xp) 5 Players (875 xp) 6 Players (1,050 xp)
(1) Zombified Bull 300 (1) Zombified Bull 300 (1) Zombified Bull 300
(1) Zombified Dog 125 (2) Zombified Dogs 250 (3) Zombified Dogs 325
(2) Zombified Sheep 200 (1) Zombified Lamb 100 (2) Zombified Sheep 200
(4) Zombified Chickens 100 (9) Zombified Chickens 225 (9) Zombified Chickens 225

Notes: All monsters are from this adventure.

Treasure
Barn Walls Water Trough None. Everything here belongs to the Greenjeans
(Doors in white) anyway. The barn and house are filled with common living
implements one would expect to find on a farm.

Tracking the Zombies

A DC 15 Perception check can track five humanoid feet
(all wearing shoes) about 100 yards from the farm. Then the
tracks enter a dry rocky area and the tracks are lost.

Trevor Dandy Arrives

Trevor Dandy has followed while invisible. In fact if a
player character is about to get knocked negative you can
have him attack from hiding to assist the player. Otherwise
he will wait for the battle to be over then turn off his
invisibility and carefully approach the party before the sheriff
returns.
Refer to Role Play Encounter One for details on
Farmyard Information
what he has to say. In general he wants to enlist the players
All chickens start their move in the square with the C
to help his mage guild and will offer the players information
while all others start in the A square. The hedge is 5 feet
on what is going on and try to get them to go to the old
high and impassible. 10 points of fire damage will clear a
mansion to look for more clues.
square of hedge. The gate is unlocked, the fence four feet
He will flee if attacked and disappear before the sheriff
high and can be broken through with a DC 10 Strength roll.
returns if at all possible.
The well is not much wider than a bucket.
26
 Plot Encounter Two
This is a straight forward skill challenge reflecting the
players search of the old Thurston estate for clues as to what
Randal might be up to or where he might have gone. It is
likely that NPC Trevor Dandy has contacted the party and
has led them to the abandoned home. Start with him talking
to the players in front of the compound gates then read the
area description. Let the players tell you what they plan to
do then have them make the appropriate skill check instead
of them just saying “I use Perception skill” or what not.
Trevor Dandy stops before a rusted iron gate warding a walled
outer yard. He reaches into his belt pouch and pulls out a tarnished
brass key and offers it to your group.
“Well, as promised this is it.The old Thurston estate. I don’t
think anyone has lived here for something like 20 years. After
Randal’s grandmother died here no other family member has
returned that we know of.
“Randal’s grandmother was a witch of some skill. She was cast
out of the Dark-moon Magic Guild for conducting illegal researches
some forty years ago and moved here. My guess is that she was
dabbling in necromancy and Randal probably visited here to see if
he could find any useful notes that might help with his current
situation.
“When the grandmother left Camphus, she agreed not to destroy
any buildings in the city in exchange for the various Guild masters
promising that no member of any of their guilds would step foot on
her property here. Of course she also promised never to leave
Sulphur Springs - which she never did. As she kept her end of the
bargain, I have been instructed to not enter the Thurston demises
and plan to abide by those orders.
“However you, my friends, are not members of my mage guild.Yet,
anyway.... so you may search them without the Masters breaking
their pledge.Thus I offer you this, a key to the gates that was stolen
and kept hidden away for fifteen years now.You know - just in case
anything ever happened down here that the guilds had to respond
to.”
There is a stone wall eight feet tall surrounding an area
roughly 300 feet to a side.Through the gate you can see a
weathered home that appears to have three internal levels judging
by the windows.There is a garden area with short hedges that is
mostly overgrown and off to one side a set of head stones are visible
spouting up from the earth.
If the players try the lock tell them the following.
The lock in the gate is rusted, but it yields to the key after a bit
of force is applied and clicks open. Rusty hinges screech in protest as
you swing open the gates to gain entry to the abandoned estate.
You doubt anyone has opened it in years - but if the lock opened
for your key then it might have opened for another.
27
The Skill Challenge
This is a complexity two challenge seeking 6 success
before 3 failures. Once the players hit 3 failures they can no
longer find any useful information at the estate. Should they
reach 6 successes the DM should provide them with the
Events Conclusions paragraph. As players can be from two
different level groupings on the difficulty by level charts,
this adventure splits the difference for DCs.
Some skills must be “unlocked” for use by success with a
different skill. The player’s starting options are listed below:
1) Search the grounds for signs of use.
Perception vs DC 16. Finds signs of recent tracks
entering from a rear gate that has been closed and locked
upon exit. A small group, human sized, wearing shoes.
Maybe a few days old.
Nature vs DC 11. Notes that fruit is missing from the
fruit bearing trees. Someone has picked fruit recently.
2) Examine the graves.
No roll - they do not appear disturbed. They are all
Thurston family members buried between 30 and 20 years
ago. The grandmother is not listed on a tombstone.
Religion vs DC 11. The grave stones all have mystic
symbols etched into them meant to protect the bodies from
rising as undead.
3) Search the house.
Streetwise vs DC 11. This place has been robbed in the
years it has been abandoned. If anything useful is left it will
be well hidden.
Perception vs DC 16. Finds secret door to a basement
room. Enables History and Arcana to be used.
 The Secret Room
After this has been discovered the players can tell that it
was used for arcane research. There are notes on delicate,
aging paper spread around, vials and bottles with dried
residue of who knows what in them, and a small number of
books on a book shelf.
Arcana vs DC 11. From the looks of the notes and books,
the grandmother was indeed involved in necromatic studies.
Arcana vs DC 16. The grandmother has some notes that
indicate that she was interested in discovering a way to return
intelligent undead back to living status.
History vs DC 11. A number of the books are about the
old city of Tarn and the burial mounds they made. Her notes
indicate that the grandmother had a particular interest in the
burrow of the son of the last leader of Tarn. That son died as a
young man and was named Yarbin.
History vs DC 16. After looking at the books, you are
reminded of a tale that the last leader of Tarn had sworn that
her dead son would rise again to rule in her place.You do not
know of any stories that indicate that he ever left his burrow
though.
Thievery vs DC 16.You think that someone has recently
been in this room. They left notes laying out that were
removed from secret compartments that are still open and
left no scratches on any locked drawers - indicating they had
the keys or were very, very good. It also feels like they tried probably too much to hope for that easy answers would be
to leave the room looking like no one had entered including
resealing the secret door to the room.
That allows ten possible skill checks (separate the two
arcana and history ones above) that can be tried. If the players
fail to find the secret room before three failures they fail the Trevor of the discovery he will ask them to bring him all the
encounter. If they find the secret room but then fail their
checks they still fail the encounter but gain the free
information listed under the secret room entry at least. If
they run out of ideas before failures without finding the
secret door, then have them make Perception checks to find
the secret room until they fail three checks.
Assuming that they succeed in six of the ten checks then
along with the specific information they gathered tell them
that after consideration of all the evidence they have come to
the following conclusion
Events Conclusion -
It appears that Randal did visit this home and had the
family keys with him. He and his people must not be full
undead yet as they bothered to take food with them when
they left. It is unclear if he found any useful information to
add to his own research but from the positioning of the notes
and materials and the grandmother’s interest in a potential
intelligent undead (the Tarn leader’s son Yarbin) it would be
reasonable to assume Randal has gone to Yarbin’s burrow.
28
Encounter XP
If the players succeed with the challenge they will gain xp.
The challenge level is lower than a combat encounter, and the
average DC is between standard for levels 1-3 and 4-6. So the
following xp is suggested regardless of level.
4 players 5 players 6 players
390 480 570
(This represents 2/3rds of the target xp for an encounter
between 3rd and 4th level from the 4E DUNGEON MASTERS
GUIDE.)
Information Sharing with Trevor Dandy
If the players succeed and share their conclusion with
Trevor he will agree and then tell the players that he believes
that the Yarbin’s death burrow is in the south east corner of
the burrow grounds somewhat near the current undead
barrier. As Yarbin was called the Hawk of Tarn, Trevor thinks
that his tomb burrow will be marked with hawk insignias.
This is E 8 on the map but Trevor will not use such
coordinates. The rough directions and sketched map he
provides will correspond to that location on the map if the
players are looking at the area map during the play session.
If the players fail, then Trevor will sigh and say that it was
laying around the dusty old house. The only recourse he can
see at this point is to try to pick up the tracks from the
Greenjean’s farm at the other side of the rocky wash under
good daylight and follow them.
Succeed or fail, if the party finds the secret room and tells
notes and books from the room. If the players refuse, he will
offer them a potion of healing and a gravespawn potion (4E
ADVENTURER’S VAULT) in exchange for the documents. If
the players still refuse he will shrug it off for now but send
word later to his guild to send hirelings down to break into
the home and look for the secret room.
 Plot Encounters 3 - 8 Encounter 3 Area
These are the encounters involved with going into Either by following tracks from the retreating near-
Yarbin’s burial burrow to chase down Randal Thurston. zombies, or by directions they received from an NPC, the
Shown below are the encounter areas laid out to show players have arrived at Yarbin’s burrow. Start by reading
the above ground entrance and underground portions of the them the following area description.
burrow. Stone block averaging two feet long and 10 inches You have been walking on the remnants of an old paved path for
high line the walls. They have support columns of stone a little while now. Around you rise the mounds of various burial
every ten feet or so to keep the surrounding dirt from burrows. Some have had obvious entrances and some seemed to have
pushing into the passages. The floor is tile over stone, and no entrance at all, but none bore the hawk insignia you have been
covered with a fine layer of collected dust. The ceiling is looking for.
generally arched in the hallways and chambers and is also However your luck seems to have changed. As the path winds
stone blocks - these held in place with limestone mortar. around and between two tall mounds, between them ahead of you
Only a few of the areas are lighted. The other sections are lays a mound with a set of great white and purple doors. Five foot
completely dark unless the players provide their own light. tall statues of hawks flank the doors, set a bit up the hillside. A pair
(Some light can spill in from the entryway. of wooden benches sit before the statues.Those benches look a bit out
Note that there are two secret doors. Make sure to cut of place as they appear to be of recent make and not a few hundred
the provided map sheets as indicated so you don’t clue in years old.
the players accidentally. Its not going to be a cakewalk though. Shuffling around in front
Encounter 8 area:
of the doors are a few zombie goblins and humanoid skeletons of an
unknown race.They do not appear to have sensed your presence yet.
Yarbin’s resting The doors and undead are about 100 feet away from you at the
place. Hidden, moment.
Encounter 7 area: might not be found. If the players ask, these undead do not look like they
Randal’s would be members of the Thurston household. Mainly
experiment room. because they are not humans, and are not wearing Randal’s
Overall Notes
family livery. A Religion check against DC 17 will tell the
Randal has brought in character that they believe these skeletons to be standard
Encounter 6 area: some common living undead, but that the zombies look a little too “fresh”.
materials like beds and The skeletons are the creation of a crazed Vecna priest
Kitchen area for kitchenware that were
that stumbled across Randal in these burrows and was
Thurston retainers. not originally in the
burrow.Yarbin has interested in what the mage was up to. The priest offered to
ignored Randal so far, help Randal with his research, although mainly the priest is
preferring to remain in stealing what information he can while waiting for the mage
his own dreams. to become a complete undead at which point the priest
Encounter 5 area: hopes to place Randal under his control.
Encounter 4 area: You can tell the players the exact compliment of the door
Living quarters guard group by using the encounter chart on the next page
for Thurston Underground, this for the correct level and number of players in the group.
retainers. is a trapped hallway to
divert invaders.
Area Description
The ground in front of the entrance is a bit damp and
covered with a sickly green moss. The mound rises 10 feet
vertically for every 10 feet of run until it hits 80 feet high at
Encounter 3 area: the top. There is a stone entrance tunnel extending from the
mound that houses the doors.
Above ground, this Set a little back and flanking each door is a stone statue
is the entrance to the of a hawk in a perched pose (as opposed to wings extended).
burrow. If the players get close enough they can read the inscription
“Disturb not the rest of Yarbin, the Hawk of Tarn”. (Within
10 feet of so).
29
 The doors are painted purple with white trim. The paint Treasure
is faded and chipped. The doors are of heavy wood sheathed Varies by player group level. The goblin near-zombies
in copper and bound with iron bands. There is a large lock have coins from when they were normal tribe members just
mechanism and they are locked at the moment. a few days ago while some of the skeletons have jewelry
Thievery skill check against DC 20 will open the lock, or items on them from their original burial.
a DC 18 STR check can break the doors open. If two
characters hit the door together roll once using the better Level 2: 2 Golden Armbands (30 gp each) and 20 gp.
strength score with a +4 to the roll. Level 3: Ruby earrings (40 gp), silver neck chain with gem
stones (60 gp), and 35 gp.
Monster Tactics Level 4: As level 3 plus an emerald chip ring of gold (33
Any decrepit or damaged skeletons will rush the nearest gp)
party member when the players get within 4 squares of the
start of the play map. (So place it on a battle mat for spill off Monster Starting Locations
play). The near-zombie goblins will wait one round after the G: Near-Zombie Goblins
lesser skeletons attack, then wade into the melee as well. (If only two, ignore one of
the starting boxes)
They do not have orders and are hungry so they hope to eat
the party. The level 3 skeletons will move to make a S: Skeletons
defensive line across the doors and will not advance to (Place them until you run
attack until a player character moves to within 4 squares of out based on the group)
the doors. When one suffers a ranged attack that hits, it will
O: Others (Damaged and
then go after the character that damaged it and leave the Decrepit Skeletons)
doors behind. (Fill locations from left to
They are incapable of retreat or surrender. This group right until you run out of
will fight to the bitter end. monsters to place)

Encounter Groups for Plot Encounter Three

Level 2 Players
4 Players (500 xp) 5 Players (625 xp) 6 Players (750 xp)
(2) Near-Zombie Goblins250 (3) Near-Zombie Goblins 375 (3) Near-Zombie Goblins 375
(1) Skeleton 150 (1) Skeleton 150 (2) Skeletons 300
(4) Decrepit Skeletons 100 (4) Decrepit Skeletons 100 (3) Decrepit Skeletons 75

Level 3 Players
4 Players (600 xp) 5 Players (750 xp) 6 Players (900 xp)
(2) Near-Zombie Goblins250 (3) Near-Zombie Goblins 375 (3) Near-Zombie Goblins 375
(1) Skeleton 150 (2) Skeletons 300 (3) Skeletons 450
(4) Decrepit Skeletons 100 (3) Decrepit Skeletons 75 (1) Decrepit Skeletons 25
(1) Damaged Skeleton 100 (1) Damaged Skeleton 100

Level 4 Players
4 Players (725 xp) 5 Players (875 xp) 6 Players (1,050 xp)
(3) Near-Zombie Goblins375 (3) Near-Zombie Goblins 375 (3) Near-Zombie Goblins 375
(1) Skeleton 150 (2) Skeletons 300 (3) Skeletons 450
(2) Damaged Skeletons 200 (2) Damaged Skeletons 200 (2) Damaged Skeletons 200
(1) Decrepit Skeleton 25

Notes: Near-Zombie Goblins and Damaged Skeletons

are from this adventure. All others are from the
4E MONSTER MANUAL.
30
 Encounter 4 Area When characters examine the
casket they will see that it is
made of polished bronze. It
Area 4 is only the hallway on the right. A secret door
looks like gems used to be
(DC 17 to find with Perception) leads to Area 5.
This area is a trap for would-be tomb robbers. A fake 8
attached in sockets but the
sockets are now empty. The
casket and prayer area is in the chamber at the end of the
seal is broken and the lock on
hall. A pair of statues that fire flaming hot iron balls flank the
the casket has been broken
casket. There are trap triggers as indicated on the floor. The
open through force.
trap information box has the details for running the trap.
If they open the casket inside is
If the players arrive under daylight, light spilling in from
the mummified remains of a human.
the open doors will provide bright light for four squares and
It is clothed in tattered underclothes
dim light to the chamber at the end which has a magic red
and one hand is broken off. Any
glow providing dim light in the four squares around the
valuables that might have been in
casket.
When the players are in the doorway and looking into 8
here are long gone.
the passage, read them the following text.
The Secret Door
The passage before you is walled with stones and has an
It can be found with a DC 18
arching ceiling that reaches 15 feet high along the center Secret Door, Cut Sheet along the wall
Perception check. The floor is too
line. With the sunlight streaming in the doors you can see
hard for any tracks to be found.
that a straight hall runs about 50 feet then opens into what
might be a small chamber. In that chamber a red glow Blazing Iron-ball Trap Level 3 Blaster, XP 150
illuminates what likes like a casket set on a dias. There are a A pair of statues shoot fist sized flaming balls of heated iron
pair of statues against the wall on either side of the statue. In down the hall when the pressure plates are triggered.
the dim light you think they are either birds or winged Trap: Two statues fire a damaging shot down the hall once
humans with the wings extended out. A small pile of debris per round when the pressure plates are triggered.
lays near the chamber in the left half of the corridor. Perception:
From the doorway noticing that the debris pile is a
w DC 20: The character notices the trigger plates.
skeleton requires a DC 25 perception check. This is reduced
w DC 15: Upon activation, the character notices that the
by 5 every square.
attack came from a statue’s mouth.
The trap uses a mechanical system in the hollow statues
Trigger
that is powered by magic to trigger and operate the
The trap activates when a character enters one of the
machinery. As each side of the corridor is covered by one
trigger squares marked with a T.
statue, after one discharges there is a round when characters
Attack
can run up that side without triggering more shots.
Standard Action Ranged 15
Laying on the floor is the skeletal remains of a thief that
Targets: Each creature in the column of squares in which
penetrated the doors long ago. A close look at the body will
the trigger was activated. One shot travels the length of the
show that a fist sized chunk is missing from one side of his
hall, hitting up to 2 creatures.
head. There are old burn marks on the skull around the
Attack: +8 vs AC first target, +6 vs AC second target, +4
wound. A rotting leather belt pouch under the remains
vs AC any other targets in the column.
contains 40 gold pieces.
Hit: 1d8+3 plus 1d8 fire damage
Notes: Trap attacks all targets in the column of squares until
Fake Burial Chamber
two are hit. Then the iron ball has expended its energy and
The chamber has four plush chairs that are rotting with
stops movement.
age. Meant for mourners to sit on, they will collapse if more
Countermeasures
than 60 pounds of weight is put on one now.
On either side of the dais with the casket are a pair of w Athletics or Acrobatics check vs DC 11 to jump over a
statues depicting a man with a hawk-head and wings under trigger. DC 6 with a running start.
his arms. The beak is open and the trap fires hot balls of iron w Thievery check vs DC 25 from adjacent square can disable
from the beaks. A panel on the back can be opened to reveal the trigger plate.
the magically powered machinery that raises iron balls from w Thievery check DC 20 can jam the firing mechanism in a
a hopper so they can be heated and fired. statue to make the corresponding column safe.
31 w Statues can be destroyed. AC 16, others 13. HP 38.

Encounter 5 Area
Behind the secret door from area 4 is a short hallway with
a 90 degree bend. This hall is not lighted and ambient light
from the outer doors will only dimly illuminate the first two
squares.
Around the corner is a wooden door. It is not painted or
varnished and looks to be of new and poor construction. It
has a lock (DC 14 to pick). Busting it down is DC 16. If the
hall is still dark, then a faint trace of light can be seen under
the door from the room beyond.
The room inside is crammed full with a pair of beds, a
table and a chair plus some near-zombies. A set of four
candles casts a dim light in this room. If the players remain
quiet and pick the lock they will surprise the near-zombies. If
they bust open the door they will not surprise them.
When the players open the door read them the following
text.
You have found a small room 15 feet square. A small group of
candles are lit in a table in the opposite left corner and there is
another door directly across from you.Two beds and a chair are
crammed in here so there is not much room to move about.The thing
that most urgently catches your eye though is that this room is
occupied by a number of raggedly looking humans in tattered clothes.
They look like they are either very sick - or partially zombified !
Monster Start
The near-zombies are placed in pairs in order starting at
1, then 2 (which puts a pair squeezed into the beds) then any
remainders at 3 in the corner with the chair.
32
Monster Reaction / Tactics
If the players enter the room quietly the near-zombies
are all surprised.
Once the near-zombies can react, three will step into the
open hallway. One must remain standing on a bed (the north
east bed) waiting for a chance to get down.
If there are two in the corner at 3 they remain squeezed
into that square until some room opens up.
Should the players retreat for the main entrance area, the
near-zombies will follow. They know about the trap in the
hallway and will not go towards the fake casket even if the
players do. (They are no longer smart enough to reason that
the trap might be turned off).
Treasure
Under the table is a locked wooden box. (pad lock). The
box is painted with the crest of the Thurston family, a design
with a boat, an island, and a pile of gold coins in it. The lock
is DC 18 to pick. A can be broken off with a weapon attack
AC 15, HP 10, Resist 5 damage. Or the box can be broken
apart with Strength against DC 16. The contents depend on
the group’s level. Save for the goblets if the box is broken.
Level 2: 2 crystal goblets (5 gp each), Silverware set (15
gp), and 84 gold pieces.
Level 3: 6 crystal goblets (5 gp each), Silverware set (15
gp), and 84 gold pieces.
Level 4: 8 crystal goblets (5 gp each), Silverware set (15
gp), and 108 gold pieces.
Encounter Groups for Plot Encounter 5 Area
Level 2
4 players (500 xp): 4 Near-Zombie Maids
5 players (625 xp): 5 Near-Zombie Maids
6 players (500 xp): 6 Near-Zombie Maids
Level 3
4 players (600 xp): 4 Near-Zombie Gardeners
5 players (750 xp): 5 Near-Zombie Gardeners
6 players (900 xp): 6 Near-Zombie Gardeners
Level 4
4 players (700 xp): 4 Near-Zombie Guards
5 players (875 xp): 5 Near-Zombie Guards
6 players (1,050 xp): 6 Near-Zombie Guards
Notes: All monsters are from this adventure.

Encounter 6 Area
The next chamber does not have doors. A coffin from the
original burial of servants is here but a bunch of other stuff
has been added to make the area a kitchen of sorts. Bright
light fills the room and dim light the north/south halls that
enter and leave the chamber from the fire burning within it.
When the players open the door from area 5 read them
the following text.
You can see a glow coming from an opening along the hall
before you to your right but cannot see in that chamber from the
door.You think you can spot the end of a coffin laying at the edge of
the chamber. From the smell of smoke in the hall, you assume that a
fire is providing the light. Occasionally you hear a muffled,
frightened squeal and what sounds like tuneless humming.
Once the players can see into the room read this:
It is a coffin in the north west corner. It is a wooden stand and
the squealing is coming from inside.The top of the coffin has several
pots and cups along with a bag of salt and flour sitting on it.There is
a chair across from the coffin and a pair of tables in the back of the
room hold cooking materials. A butchered hog is on the one in the
north east.
There are two fire pits and one has a blaze going. A stand holds a
cooking pot over the fire and something is bubbling within.
You have run into more of those sorta-zombie people again. One
is obviously cooking and the others were just standing around
waiting.
Monster Start
All the groups have a goblin hexer and sharpshooter as
well as a near-zombie cook. The goblins will be in the upper
hall as indicated as they don’t like the near-zombies very
much. If the goblin warrior is in play he is there too. Place
any near-zombie kids in spots marked for them.
Placements
GH: Goblin Hexer
GS: Sharpshooter
GW: Goblin Warrior
ZC: Cook
ZK: Near-zombie kid
NZ: Any other near-
zombies in the
‘ group.
Note: Not all the
boxes might be filled. have the same tribal face paint but that the wooden
Number of monsters
depends on the
encounter group in
use by player level.
33
After that place any near-zombie gardeners, guards or
maids in any order desired in the boxes marked NZ.
Sneaking Up On (or past) the Kitchen
The near-zombies here have heard some noise from the
room below them but are too engrossed in the food to care
about it. They are listening and occasionally looking in that
direction though. Assume they have a combined Perception
check of 14. Any stealth checks to sneak up on them are
against a DC 14.
The goblins are at passive check should the players sneak
past the kitchen to where they are. That would be DC 11.
They are practically blocking the hall so they cannot be
sneaked past.
Monster Reaction / Tactics
Once the near-zombies become aware of the players they
will surge to the attack. The zombie-cook is less advanced in
the infection and is thinking a bit more clearly. He will
attempt to gain a flanking position by crawling over the
coffin to get behind anyone engaged with the other near-
zombies if that is his only path. He will accept opportunity
attacks for movement if necessary.
Near-zombie kids will wait to get to the players if they
must, then attempt to grab so they can use their bite attack.
The other near-zombies just go for the nearest player they
can get to and attack.
The two or three goblins are defectors from the local
tribe. If a fight breaks out in the kitchen they will move to
the locations marked 1 through 3. If the warrior is present
he goes to location 1 and uses his great position and
mobile ranged attack abilities then melees if necessary
after that. The goblin sharpshooter will go to 2 and use
ranged attacks while the goblin hexer will go to 3 and do the
same. The hexer will use his lead from the rear ability to
shift ranged attacks against him to the sharpshooter.
If the goblin sharpshooter and hexer cannot gain line of
sight on anyone they will advance farther south but will try
to avoid closing for melee. If all the near-zombies are taken
out and there is no active goblin warrior the hexer will try
to run away to his new master to the north.
Goblin Presence
The astute player will wonder what the goblins are doing
in the burial burrow. Assuming that they met the members
of the Blackfeet goblin clan they will see that these goblins
medallions they wear with the clan symbol all have a deep
scratch through the insignia. A Nature check for Goblin lore
against DC 14 will tell the player that the scratched
medallion indicates that they were cast out of the tribe
for some reason.
 Encounter Groups for Plot Encounter Six

Level 2 Players
4 Players (501 xp) 5 Players (613 xp) 6 Players (725 xp)
(1) Goblin Hexer 150 (1) Goblin Hexer 150 (1) Goblin Hexer 150
(1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125 (1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125 (1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125
(1) Near-Zombie Cook 150 (1) Near-Zombie Cook 150 (1) Near-Zombie Cook 150
(2) Near-Zombie Kids 76 (1) Near-Zombie Gardener 150 (2) Near-Zombie Gardeners 300
(1) Near-Zombie Kid 38

Level 3 Players
4 Players (601 xp) 5 Players (763 xp) 6 Players (913 xp)
(1) Goblin Hexer 150 (1) Goblin Hexer 150 (1) Goblin Hexer 150
(1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125 (1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125 (1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125
(1) Near-Zombie Cook 150 (1) Near-Zombie Cook 150 (1) Near-Zombie Cook 150
(2) Near-Zombie Kids 76 (2) Near-Zombie Gardeners 300 (2) Near-Zombie Guards 350
(1) Goblin Warrior 100 (1) Near-Zombie Kid 38 (1) Near-Zombie Kid 38
(1) Goblin Warrior 100
Level 4 Players
4 Players (726 xp) 5 Players (888 xp) 6 Players (1,038 xp)
(1) Goblin Hexer 150 (1) Goblin Hexer 150 (1) Goblin Hexer 150
(1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125 (1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125 (1) Goblin Sharpshooter 125
(1) Near-Zombie Cook 150 (1) Near-Zombie Cook 150 (1) Near-Zombie Cook 150
(2) Near-Zombie Kids 76 (2) Near-Zombie Gardeners 300 (2) Near-Zombie Guards 350
(1) Goblin Warrior 100 (1) Near-Zombie Kid 38 (1) Near-Zombie Kid 38
(1) Near-Zombie Maid 125 (1) Near-Zombie Maid 125 (1) Goblin Warrior 100
(1) Near-Zombie Maid 125

Notes: Near-Zombies are from this adventure. All goblins are from the 4E MONSTER MANUAL.
If they take any of the goblins alive, Intimidation or
Diplomacy against DC 12 will get the goblin(s) to tell their
story. A human cleric came to the tribe to recruit them and
the chief said no, the Blackfeet would have nothing to do with
human gods. But these three (who are brothers) were led by
the oldster (the hexer) to argue against the chief as the human
god promised power and control of the region. The hexer
would not stop arguing with the chief so he was cast out with
his brothers. They then found the cleric and joined him,
helping him attack their old tribe with near-zombies a while
back so that the cleric could see if goblins could be infected.
The cleric is named Darwin Malefance and follows Venca
(or Vademyhrr in the Worlund world. Pronounced “vade-
mer”)
larder. Baby is used to being carried and will let a player
pick him up and carry him around. However if baby gets
within 10 squares of a goblin or near-zombie he will smell it
and freak out. Baby will squeal loudly and struggle to escape
so he can run away.
Treasure
The goblins have half of the silver coins on their person
while the rest of the treasure is in a sack under the stand
holding up the coffin. Any magic weapon or rod is in the
coffin with Baby.
Level 2: 100 sp, 30 gp, 2 Gravespawn potions
(ADVENTURER’S VAULT) and a +1 Symbol of Hope.

Room Specifics Level 3: 200 sp, 50 gp, 2 Gravespawn potions

Anyone that gets moved into the fire square takes an
attack (+8 vs AC, hit does 1d6+1 fire damage). Starting your
turn in the square also triggers an attack.
The coffin is not locked but has a latch. The source of the
squealing is Baby the pig who is locked inside this makeshift
34
(ADVENTURER’S VAULT) and a +2 Rod of Dark Reward.
Level 4: 250 sp, 70 gp, 2 Gravespawn potions
(ADVENTURER’S VAULT), a +2 Duelist Short sword
and a +2 Rod of Dark Reward .
 Encounter 7 Area
This is where Randal has been trying to cure his ailment
while Darwin has been observing to decide how this arcane
ritual can be used for his own plans of conquest.
The door into this room has an arcane lock on it at DC 23
against thievery or strength checks. That might be too steep
for a lower level party to handle but there are other ways to
get the door open.
Randal set the password as Thurston, so if anyone says that
name within 5 squares of the door it will unlock for a round
and can be pushed open.
Also, the goblin hexer has access to the room. If he is alive
he can be made to open it or his dead body can be used to
place his hand on the latch. This will also open the door.
Once they open the door Randal will know the door has
been opened so he cannot normally be surprised. The players
will see the following.
This chamber is awash in magic light. In fact it is almost
painfully bright in here. Directly across from you can see a work
bench piled high with arcane items and scattered notes.The room has
a small entryway that blocks some of your vision to the left which is
the way the room opens up. What you can see is some type of magical
circle painted on the floor, part of a coffin extending from the wall
closest to you and a statue of a robed female holding an orb next to
her chest and a rod over her head that is set on a pedestal.
There might be more creatures around the corner, but you can see
one of those wierd psuedo zombies by the work bench. It looks at you
and croaks out “must protect master!” and starts to lumber your way.
It looks like diplomacy is out of the question.
Once the players can see into the rest of the room you
can tell them that they can see two other coffins and the
bench plus any other monsters in the room. The bed is
hidden but not of any real importance.
This is a harder than standard encounter, and is set at 1
level higher than standard xp for the level of the players.
Monster Start
Randal is at one end of the room mixing some powders
on the northwest coffin (because his work bench is over
flowing with junk). Darwin is sitting on the bench. He will
use a minor action to stand up in his first turn.
Assign the near-zombies starting with the first listed on
the next page. There are between one and five of them
depending on the player’s level. Ignore any near-zombie start
locations more than the number of near-zombies in the
encounter group.
At the start of the encounter the near-zombies are not
really doing anything. They are just standing around waiting
for orders. If there are five, the fifth one is actually sitting on
the end of the coffin that Randal is mixing on.
35
R: Randal
D: Darwin
Z1 through Z5: Any near-zombies present
Chamber Furniture and Objects
The coffins are all on raised stone platforms so that the
top of each is at four feet off the ground. The area under the
coffin is blocked by the stonework. If attacked they have AC
5, Fort 10 and HP 20. A DC 18 Strength check can break
apart one square of coffin as well. The coffins are two feet
deep so the stone platforms are two feet high. A broken
coffin will only provide cover while a complete coffin on a
dias provides superior cover. There are skeletal remains in
each coffin (of Yarbin’s favored servants).
Starting your turn in the square with the magic circle
will cause 5 points of necrotic damage.
If the work bench is subject to a fire or lightning attack
(by being in a blast or burst for example) then Randal’s notes
are destroyed and the contents of the work bench explode.
Close burst 2, Attack +7 vs AC, Hit: 3d6+2 force damage.
Apply this against the statue and wall as well.
The statue is part of a secret door. Perception against DC
20 to see that it slides forward, Thievery against DC 18 to
figure out how to trigger it to open. The statue itself is AC 5,
Fort 12 with HP 40 and resists 3 all damage. If broken the
secret passage to the next chamber is revealed and may be
used.
The wall behind the statue and the squares on either side
can be broken through to get to the chamber behind. AC 4,
Fort 12, HP 65 per square. Only one square needs to be
destroyed to allow passage.
Monster Reaction / Tactics
Randal feels he is about to make his final breakthrough.
Any strangers interrupting him (like the players) will be
attacked immediately. The near-zombies will head for the
players while Darwin uses the nearby coffin for cover and
Randal casts spells from the back of the room.
 Encounter Groups for Plot Encounter Seven
(Note: This is a +1 Level difficulty encounter)

Level 2 Players
4 Players (600 xp) 5 Players (750 xp) 6 Players (900 xp)
(1) Randal 250 (1) Randal 250 (1) Randal 250
(1) Darwin 200 (1) Darwin 200 (1) Darwin 200
(1) N-Zombie Gardener 150 (1) Near-Zombie Guard 175 (1) Near-Zombie Guard 175
(1) Near-Zombie Maid 125 (1) Near-Zombie Gardener 150
(1) Near-Zombie Maid 125

Level 3 Players
4 Players (725 xp) 5 Players (875 xp) 6 Players (1,050 xp)
(1) Randal 250 (1) Randal 250 (1) Randal 250
(1) Darwin 200 (1) Darwin 200 (1) Darwin 200
(1) N-Zombie Gardener 150 (1) Near-Zombie Guard 175 (1) Near-Zombie Guard 175
(1) Near-Zombie Maid 125 (2) Near-Zombie Maids 250 (2) Near-Zombie Gardeners300
(1) Near-Zombie Maid 125
Level 4 Players
4 Players (800 xp) 5 Players (1,050xp) 6 Players (1,200 xp)
(1) Randal 250 (1) Randal 250 (1) Randal 250
(1) Darwin 200 (1) Darwin 200 (1) Darwin 200
(2) Near-Zombie Guards350 (2) Near-Zombie Guards 350 (2) Near-Zombie Guards 350
(2) Near-Zombie Maids 250 (1) Near-Zombie Gardener 150
(2) Near-Zombie Maids 250

Notes: All monsters are from this adventure.

If at least two player characters get within 2 squares of
the workbench roll 1d12 for Randal on his turn. If the result
is higher than 9 he will fire a blast that includes the work
bench to cause the sympathetic explosion. He is betting that
he no longer needs his notes or won’t get a chance to use
them if the invaders win. Add +1 per extra player that would
get caught above two. Check each time that Randal’s turn
comes up.
Darwin will resort to melee combat once the players get
to or past the end of the coffin near him. His preferred battle
tactics are in his write up in the Monsters and NPCs
section.
Darwin Malefance’s Story
First, his last name is three syllables. “Mal-e-fanz”. He is a
cleric of an evil god that likes to ferret out secrets and has no
qualms about using undead to advance the deity’s agenda.
Darwin really hates the mage guilds of Camphus and has
been trying to take over part of a canton to then stage a
revolt against the mage-rule of the city. He has failed twice in
other areas. He decided to try for Sulphur Springs as his next
conquest because it is removed from the city and has little
protection. 36
He tried to recruit the goblins but that didn’t work out,
although he did pick up a few goblin followers and
confirmed that Randal’s magical disease would infect the
goblins. The near-zombie goblins out front don’t follow
orders very well though so he decided that zombifying the
goblin tribe was not a viable tactic. He met Randal while the
mage was moving into the burrow and decided to join
Randal to see what might become of Randal’s efforts.
Treasure
If the magic item is present, it is in Randal’s pack. He has
hidden it from the hungry bear-zombies. The coins in the
coffin that Randal was mixing ingredients upon. Ritual
components are on the workbench (and might get destroyed)
Level 2: 200 gp, and magic item Everlasting Provisions.
Level 3: 300 gp, and magic item Everlasting Provisions.
Level 4: 300 gp, alchemical reagents (40 gp), residuum (60
gp), and Lvl 8 Brightleaf reagent (125 gp) (ADVENTURER’S
VAULT.)

Encounter 8 Area
Y: Yarbin 1, 2 and 3: Any support monsters
Behind the statue secret door from area 7 is the final
resting place of Yarbin.
Yarbin is an intelligent undead. He has been quite content
to lay dreaming in his sarcophagus where his spirit can
contact the souls of his departed family members in the after-
life. Randal’s efforts woke Yarbin and held his attention for a
while but then Yarbin decided that Randal would probably go
away in a relatively short time and started ignoring him.
If the secret door is opened or the statue or wall
destroyed he will know it and rise from his sarcophagus ready
to battle those that dare intrude on his sleep.
Once the players can see inside read them this..
Unlike the other chambers in this burrow, the walls of this one
are covered with frescos depicting the exploits ofYarbin while living
and a scene of his soul leaving for the heavens while his body walks
on.The floor is a white marble tile and there is a sarcophagus etched
with many runes and magic symbols jutted out from the far wall.
Closer to you is a small pile of loose gold coins and some books
and scrolls before a throne made of a red stone. A pair of dead bushes
flank either side of the throne.
As nice as those coins look - you are not alone....
Then tell the players about any monsters they see inside.
Monster Start
Yarbin starts in his sarcophagus and needs a move action
to climb out. He can exit to any open square next to his
sarcophagus. Start with the first extra monster listed and
place it at position 1, the next at 2 and if there is a third it
goes at position 3. Ignore positions that you do not have a
monster for. There are 0 to 3 extra monsters in the encounter
groups.
Monster Reaction / Tactics
Any extra undead will move to form a line between the
players and the sarcophagus. If they only have melee attacks
they will move to engage the players.Yarbin will stand next
37
to his sarcophagus and use ranged attacks as long as possible.
Statue or Wall Broken
If an opening is created to his chamber by any means, in
the third round after it was made Yarbin will go on the
offensive and send his undead through the breach then stand
in it and use his attacks. He will start with the players first
(as Randal and Darwin have not annoyed him so far) but if he
wins he will then turn on any survivors of Randal’s party to
finally clear out his lair.
Players Retreat
If the players retreat then Yarbin will attack Randal and
company and leave the players for later. Should the players
exit the burrow then after two hours if they left any of their
members dead in the burrow, the bodies will be dumped
outside the doors and the main doors shut.
Yarbin will then place an Arcane Lock that has a DC 32
value to keep the pesky player characters out and then go
back to his napping.
Treasure
There are 165 gp laying on the floor for all player levels.
Additionally there is gold and platinum inlay in the
sarcophagus that can be pulled out and sold as for it’s weight
value. This is worth 35 gp.
Encounter Groups for Plot Encounter7 Area
(Hard encounter, +2 levels XP)
All Parties (any size & level): Yarbin
Then add the following
Level 2
4 players (750 xp): Yarbin is alone
5 players (875 xp): 1 Zombie Brute
6 players (1,050 xp): 2 Skeletons
Level 3
4 players (800 xp): 2 Decrepit Skeletons
5 players (1,000 xp): 2 Decrepit & 1 Blazing Skeleton
6 players (1,150 xp):1 Blazing &1 Boneshard Skeleton
Level 4
4 players (1,000 xp): 2 Decrepit & 1 Blazing Skeleton
5 players (1,250 xp): 2 Mad Wraiths
6 players (1,500 xp): 3 Mad Wraiths
Notes: Yarbin is from this adventure, all others are
from the 4E MONSTER MANUAL.
 Roleplay Encounter 1
After the players handle the undeadish livestock at the
Greenjean’s place a cloaked figure will step out from behind
the house and wave them over to talk. Read them the
following:
At a corner of the house a figure in a dark green cloak steps
out. He pulls his hood back, which opens the front of his cloak a bit.
He looks like a red headed half-elf with richly in a richly
embroidered shirt. He gestures for you to come close, saying;
“Quickly please my friends. I would like to talk with you before
the sheriff gets tired of looking for my image in the woods and
comes back.”
If the players attack him he jumps back around the
corner and disappears (goes invisible, then flies). If the
players go see what he wants he will introduce himself as
follows.
“Greetings to you. I am Trevor Dandy, a representative of the
Camphus magic guild named the Order of the Silver Cowl. I am not
a suspicious person, I assure you.
Well, I imagine I probably seem suspicious to you popping up
like this in the middle of nowhere. But I assure you there is a logic
to it all.
I believe I know what is going on with all this sudden zombie
trouble. I am willing to tell you what I know but it must be in the
strictest confidence.You see, this matter could create ...unwanted
political ramifications, should the lord of this Canton discover what
is going on.Thus my need to avoid bring the sheriff in as the sheriff
is sworn to her lord. By all rights she should report anything she
learns to her Margrave. Same goes for the mayor and basically most
anyone around the village.
To this end I would like to invite you to my home tomorrow
morning.Well, it’s not exactly my home; but it is a house I rented in
the village so its close enough. I will explain everything then. It is
my belief that the zombies will be satisfied for a few days with the
haul from this farm so no one will come to harm by waiting a day
or two.
My place is about twenty yards behind the Glove and Dove inn.
I have a blue and red quilt hanging over the garden wall so you
can’t miss the place.What do you say?Will you visit? Chasing
undead to their lair in the middle of the night seems an unwise
move after all.”
After saying what he had to say, Trevor will turn invisible
and then fly to put some distance between him and the
party. Basically, he just likes being mysterious.
The sheriff will return in another few minutes and say
that while she found some foot prints, she couldn’t find
whoever it was in the dark. She will then suggest that they
all return to the village and make sure things are okay there.
38
Any further investigations can wait for daylight tomorrow.
Players Tell Sheriff about Trevor
Sheriff Taylor will mull things over for a bit then say this.
“Well, I guess that the best thing to do is for you to meet with
him and find out what he has to say.Then come tell me about it at
village hall and we’ll decide on a course of action from there.”
A Visit with Mister Dandy
Finding his house proves easy. He is waiting for the party
in a finely tailored suit and has a house servant named May
who will bring tea and biscuits to the parlor where Trevor
will invite the party to sit.
Trevor himself will pace around the room as he talks,
occasionally striking dramatic poses and making large arm
gestures to punctuate his main points.
“Well, let us start with a little back story to provide context to
the current situation. As you are probably aware, the city-state of
Camphus is dominated politically by the major guilds of arcane
spell casters.Their leaders elect the city’s ruler who is called the First
Seat.This worthy person rules until death or age 85.The current
First Seat is 83 so the guilds are already maneuvering for political
position to place their favored candidate in the Seat.
Which brings us to my guild, the Silver Cowls.We are one of the
major ones and have a say in who will become First Seat. However a
public scandal will reduce our influence.
And this, my friends, brings us to poor Randal Thurston. He is a
Silver Cowl as his family forefathers have been for several
generations.While Randal meant well, it seems that he has
overstepped both the City’s law and his own arcane talents. Randal
was trying to devise a ritual that would return intelligent undead
back to a normal living state. A worthy goal, but technically this is
necromancy which is against City law. So he did his work in his
home and in secret.
Unfortunately something went wrong and he infected himself
and his household with a magical affliction that is turning them all
into living undead. Randal took his household staff and left the City
to protect the population from what he had created while he sought
a cure. Or at least that’s what we think he’s trying to do anyway.
If he is discovered and his story made public many people would
believe that the Silver Cowls were part of the illegal research and
this would cost my guild influence.
So to make a long story short - I am asking your group to
subdue Randal and secure his research notes and deliver both to me.
I will gate them to the Silver Tower where better minds than Randal
will complete the cure and restore him and his surviving household
staff back to normalcy.To this end there is some aid I can provide.
So what do you think my fine people. Is there reason to hope that
an accommodation can be made?”

Players Ask What Help He Can Give
“Why the most important aid of all - information.What you
probably don’t know is that the Thurstons have an estate here. His
grandmother was expelled from the Silver Cowls for illegal
experimenting and moved down here in a secret deal with the guild
leaders. She stayed out of Camphus and they left her alone.
She passed away six years ago but Randal would have known of
her past and probably came to Sulpher Springs to look for her old
research. She was quite skillful. In fact, it was she that designed and
helped install that undead barrier back in the day.
I can lead you to the house.We might find information telling
us where he went to do his research.”
If the players press for more aid, he does have two
potions of healing he will give them if the agree to his plan.
Players Ask What They Get For Cooperating
“Indeed, self interest does make the world go round doesn’t it?
Truth be told, I came down here to scout around and didn’t expect
to find Randal this close to Camphus. So I am not carrying a bunch
of money nor do I have authorization to enter contracts on the
Silver Cowl’s behalf.
But I am not without my own resources. It usually costs 1,000
gold to become a practicing guild member. However as a council
official I can sponsor three new members per lifetime. I am willing
to sponsor any of you with arcane casting into the guild.That
means its free to join.
Additionally, I can arrange a 10% discount when you buy
magic resources or items from the guild, or hire our members to
perform rituals.
Finally, it never hurts to have a powerful organization feel a
little indebted to you.Who knows what the future might bring for a
group like yours.”
What, Exactly, Is Trevorl’s Position In His Guild?
“I am proud to say that I am guild’s Administrator of Arcane
Research. I handle the records and paperwork that makes sure guild
members don’t intrude on each other’s intellectual property, handle
royalty payments for rituals, dal with the guild grant process, and
assist with regulation and law compliance. I work for and answer
directly to the Guild Council. It cuts into my personal arcane
development time but my work is fascinating.”
What, Exactly, Is Trevor’s Plan ?
“Well, our analysis of the notes he left behind and the corpse of
one of his servants that actually died from the disease, indicates that
they can be knocked out just like a normal person.
So I am asking that you defeat him and his remaining staff
without killing them.Then bind them and march them to me where I
will set up a transportation circle to zap the whole lot of them to a
secure location in the Silver Tower. Easy enough, right?”
Will Trevor Be Helping Directly ?
“Ohh, I wish I could face danger and hardship with you but that
won’t be possible.The guild’s agreement with the grandma Thurston
is still in effect.We promised to stay off her property and to take no
direct action against her heirs. So I can’t go search the estate nor
can I directly fight against the Thurston household. I’m not really
an adventuring type wizard anyway. My spells are mainly geared
toward administrative and transportation tasks”
An Insight check against DC 10 will tell the player that
they feel Trevor is not being honest in that he is actually
quite happy not to be directly involved in facing danger.
Insight Checks Against Trevor
A player might want to use their Insight to determine if
it seems Trevor is telling the truth and can be trusted. Use
the following list based on the roll result. All information at
DCs lower than that rolled are gained in addition to the DC
that is reached.
DC 10 He feel that he is telling you what he knows and
his story is genuine.
DC 15 He might be underplaying the guild’s involvement
in this Randal’s research. But that probably doesn’t matter to
the direct issue.
DC 20 This guy is an egotistic fop. He’s probably good at
his job but it’s undoubtedly a good thing he plans to stay in
the village. Hopefully he can at least handle the transport
magic he promised.
Players Go To Sheriff Taylor Later
She will thank the players for telling her and promise to
be discreet in her reporting to the Margrave. As long as the
threat of Randal goes away she doesn’t care if the players
39 slaughter Randal or send him to the Silver Tower.
 Roleplay Encounter 2 Whether it was an accident or on purpose this living death creation
of his must be destroyed.
Randal has fallen in with an evil cleric who recently tried to
The players will be on their way to the Yarbin burrow or
recruit the goblin tribe that lives on the other side of these burrows
following the tracks of the undead from the Greenjean’s
at the edge of the swamp.What they might be planning is something
farm. As they get near the undead barrier read them the
I don’t want to think about.
following:
I would like you to destroy the wizard Thurston and his creations
There is actually a game trail going towards the barrier and
and burn or give to me any research notes he may have.These
your destination. Up the trail on your side of the barrier pole line
burrows are holy ground dedicated to a god of the Tarnians and I
sits a dark skinned human woman with long braids. She is sitting in
cannot enter. On behalf of my goddess I ask that you finish my task
a lotus position on a blue blanket with her pack laying to one side.
for me. If you will do this then I have some aid I can offer and a
Spotting your group she bows in your direction and then stands.
boon from my temple.”
She isn’t armored but has a short sword strapped to her side.
Something about the dot tattoos on her face, the golden ring in her
nose, and the bone jewelry she wears is a bit unsettling.
The woman is not making any threatening moves and appears
to be waiting to speak with your group.When you draw near she
bows and introduces herself.
“Be at ease travelers, I mean you no harm. I am Adrianna
Flechette. I have the honor of serving (either “the Raven Queen”
or “the Mother of the Dead” depending on which death
god is in your campaign). I assume that you are seeking the
apostate wizard Randal Thurston. I would speak to you of
this matter if you will grant me a little of your time.”
The Mother of the Dead is Vell, an unaligned, mostly
benevolent deity of death in the Worlund campaign setting.
Or use the Raven Queen from the standard D&D 4E books
if desired. Either way, she is an avenger of the cult.
If the players ignore her and continue she does nothing
to hinder them. If they attack she uses a special Word of
Recall item to teleport herself back to her home temple at
first opportunity.
Assuming they converse with her she has this to say.
“My order is barred from openly worshiping or meeting in
Camphus because the mages there fear facing my temple’s wrath for
their unholy experiments with changing life and polluting death.
While arcane ability is itself just a tool, neither evil or good, the
mages of Camphus feel that the pursuit of arcane knowledge
transcends morality.This is wrong of course.There is dignity in life What Is This Boon?
and dignity in death. Both should be observed. If the players want to know what the prize is, it is a pair
Often the wizards and warlocks claim their necromantic goals of medallions that can be traded at a Raven Queen / Vell
are just - to find a way to stop undead.This is a fallacy. Many temple for any healing or religion category ritual of up to
faiths have divine spells that handle the undead already.The 8th level at no cost to the players. This covers raising the
arcanists just want to play with forces that are best kept out of dead, so in effect it is a pair of “get out of death free cards”.
mortal hands.
The Thurston family is one of those arcane blood lines that just If The Players Agree
cannot leave necromancy alone. For six generations now the Order of “Here is the aid I can offer.This magical pouch I prepared will
the Night Ravens has been watching this family.The earlier track the path of these unusual undead to whatever burrow they are
generations did unspeakable things.The past three seem to have been hiding in. In the burrow there will likely be too much necromantic
trying to undo their legacy of blood. Perhaps they even fooled energy for it to function however. Also, I managed to steal this from
themselves into thinking that their necromantic research was for the the evil cleric after he attacked the goblins when I failed to kill him.
good of society. I think it is their tribal totem and would be a useful bargaining
But now a line has been crossed that cannot be condoned. 40 chip if you encounter the tribe.” It is a foot bone fetish.
 GM End Game Notes
Players Are “Double Dipping”
It is possible that the players might agree to help both
Trevor and Adrianna either just to hear what information
the NPC had or maybe they agreed to help Trevor then
change their minds once they meet Adrianna and don’t want
to walk back to tell Trevor the deal is off. Then of course
they might have told the sheriff about what Trevor wanted
them to do as well. Heck, maybe the players are so wishy-
washy they want to see if there really is an evil cleric before
they decide.
If both NPCs expect the players to do their bidding,
when the players return both of them are waiting just past
the barrier about ten yards apart. They don’t get the
medallions for the rituals until they return or the influence
from Trevor unless they deliver Randal and his notes so a
decision collision cannot be avoided if the players let things
go this far unresolved.
Players Return With Near-Zombies
Should the players have the near-zombies with them,
Adrianna will issue a stern command.
“You accepted the aid of my goddess. Now repay her largess and
destroy those things or expect the payment due to betrayers!”
The players will either have to tell her no and bring the
near-zombies to Trevor or do as she asks.
Players Return Empty Handed
Trevor will throw his hands up in disgust and yell at the
party then disappear home.
“Oh, I should have known better than trust an ill bred lot like
you. Betrayers !Your name will be mud in Camphus. I suggest you
never go near the Silver Tower of even the City itself or your very life
may be forfeit.”
To which Adriana will retort,
“Better to risk your life than your immortal soul. A wise choice
my friends.”
Either Way -
Whichever NPC the players assist, the other will accept
that they have lost and leave the area without trying to
attack anyone. The group the party turned down - either a
death goddess cult or a powerful magic users guild - will be
alert for chances to get even with the players in the future.
They Narced To The Sheriff
Adriana will not care what the players tell the sheriff.
If the sheriff knows about Randal and the players
stopped him (in any fashion) then the mayor will give each
player 30 + their levelx10 gold pieces reward money.
41
If they accepted Trevor’s deal but told the sheriff then in
2d6 months a Margrave brings up the subject of the Silver
Cowls illegal research by member Randal Thurston in a city
meeting. The guild will restrict the 10% discount and stop
doing business with the players at all. In another 2d4 months
no major guild in Camphus will deal with the players. Some
of the small ones will be willing to do so in secret.
Should a player be a guild member they are not kicked
out but almost no one in the guild will have time to trade
spells, share research, or otherwise help or interact with the
player until they do something for the guild’s benefit to get
off the black list.
XP and Treasure Administration
The total XP the players can pick up is enough to clear a
level if they succeed at everything, but not all parties are
even going to search out every last possible encounter. As
each XP worthy encounter has the XP values listed, just
keep a running total of the XP gained and add it all up.
Group Quest XP Bonus - Capturing/Stopping Randal
Level 2 = +125 xp Level 4 = + 175 xp
Level 3 = + 150 xp
The total treasure laying around exceeds the
recommended amount for 10 encounters by about 200 gp
with potion values factored in. Again, not all players will
ferret out all the cash. For the record, level 2 can find about
1,250 gp, Level 3 can find about 1,650 gp and level 4 about
1,950 gp. If 6 players increase gold found by 25%.
There are four magic items placed in this adventure. The
distribution pattern looks like this.
Level 2 = Items of level 3,4,5 and 6.
Level 3 = items of level 4,5,6 and 7
Level 4 = items of level 5,6,7 and 8.
The Items Placed Are -
Level Item
3 Symbol of Hope +1
4 Everlasting Provisions
5 +1 Deathcut Leather Armor
6 +2 Magic Longsword
7 +2 Rod of Dark Reward
8 +2 Duelist Short sword
Replace items with different ones of the same level if the
listed ones are not appropriate for your player group. (No
warlocks for example).
If there are six players, add another item of player
level +2. (A level 4 item for 2nd level group, etc.)
 Monsters and NPCs
Darwin Malefance (Evil Cleric)
Darwin is a male half-orc cleric. He worships either
Vecna or Vademyhrr (if you are using the Realms of Wor
D&D campaign setting) or any evil deity that takes the DM’s
fancy. At the moment he has attached himself to the self
cursed wizard Randal Thurston to see if there is anything
that Darwin can use profitably from Darwin’s situation.

Description
Darwin’s features carry a lot of the orc side of his blood.
He has pronounced canine teeth and a boney ridge of a
forehead with somewhat pointed ears. His hair is a greasy
jet black and little beady brown eyes.
He stands a bit over six feet tall and has muscular arms.
His chainmail is cut to leave his arms uncovered and he
wears a spiked bracer on one arm along with a thin leather
cuirass that has chest and stomach muscles cut into the
leather. Both pieces are black and he cuts a rather imposing
figure.
Darwin Malefance - NPC Cleric Elite Controller Lvl 1
Personality Medium natural humanoid XP 200
Initiative +1 Senses: Perception +2
He has grand plans of conquest in his god’s name and HP: 26 Bloodied: 13 Saves: +2
remains confident that fate will smile on him despite him Speed 6 (5 in armor) Action Points: 1
repeated setbacks. Darwin is an arrogant bully who likes AC 16; Fortitude 13, Reflex 11, Will 14
ordering people around and is fond of saying things like “the
strong eat the weak” and “survival goes to the strongest”. M Weapon Attack (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+6 vs AC; 1d10+3 damage.
Despite his bravado, when things get dangerous for him S Lance of Faith (standard; at-will) u Divine, Radiant
personally he will seek to run away. He tells himself that it is +3 vs Reflex; Range 5. 1d8+2 radiant damage and one
“cunning” to withdraw from a losing situation in such times. of Darwin’s allies gains +2 to hit on next attack.
However if cornered his orcish battle rage surges to the m Healing Strike standard; daily) u Weapon
+6 vs AC; 2d10+3 radiant damage and marked until end
front and he fights with ferocity. of Darwin’s next turn. Also, if Darwin has an ally with a
healing surge within 5 squares it can be spent. (Darwin
History and Current Agenda does not have any surges).
He grew up in an orc tribe where his fortunes kept Cleric Features
Channel Divinity - Divine Fortune
swinging back and forth between being bullied for his (free action; encounter) u Divine
human blood and being fawned over for his strength and Darwin gains +1 to next attack or save before the end
potential for the tribe. One day a cleric of the god he would of his next turn.
become devoted to visited the tribe on a recruiting drive. Channel Divinity - Healing Word
(minor; encounter- special) u Divine, Healing
This cleric easily convinced Darwin that the young half -orc Close burst 5, Darwin or one ally regains 1d6 HP
was destined for greater things so Darwin (who’s name was plus can spend a healing surge. Can be used twice per
actually Bru’nog at the time) joined the cult and left the encounter but only once per round..
tribe for training. Half-Orc Racial Power
Furious Assault (free action; encounter)
Darwin has been running around trying to accomplish Trigger when hit with weapon attack. Add 1d10 extra
something grand for about year now. He tried the recruiting damage to the attack.
bit himself with some goblins and picked up a few followers.
Then he ran into Randal and was enthralled by the mage’s Skills: Bluff +5, Intimidation +5, Religion +6
Str 16 (+3) Dex 12 (+1) Wis 14 (+2)
story. Sensing that this strange semi-undead magic might Con 14 (+2) Int 12 (+1) Cha 11 (+0)
become something he could use to control or threaten the Equipment: Chainmail, Morningstar
area he has talked his way into staying at Randal’s side. He
doesn’t really want Randal to succeed at undoing the curse. 42
Near-Zombies - Various Types Near-Zombie - Cook
Medium natural animate (undead)
Level 3 Skirmisher
XP 150
These unfortunate souls are Initiative +0 Senses: Perception +5, Darkvision
result of an arcane ritual gone HP: 36 Bloodied: 18 (see zombie weakness)
really, really wrong. They are Speed 5
now turning into zombies but AC 15; Fortitude 15, Reflex 11, Will 12
still retain some attributes of
the living. M Butcher Knife (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+8 vs AC; 1d4+3 damage.
Near-zombies gain some
M Skewer & Knife (standard; at-will) u Weapon
strength and constitution but 2 attacks. Butcher Knife above plus skewer at +7 vs
lose half of most every other AC; 1d4+3 damage. If both hit same target, it takes 5
attribute. It is a disease-like ongoing damage (save ends)
condition that can be spread m Infectious Bite (standard, encounter) u Poison
by biting after it reaches the +5 vs AC; 1d6 poison damage and infection attack.
middle of three states. The Zombie Weakness
final state results in either Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP
instantly.
true death or a true zombie Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
status. Skills: Perception +5
The household staff that Str 12 (+2) Dex 9 (+1) Wis 6 (-1)
Randal infected continues to Con 15 (+4) Int 6 (-1) Cha 6 (-1)
serve their basic functions by
instinct. The goblins were Near-Zombie - Gardener Level 3 Soldier
recently infected and have not Medium natural animate (undead) XP 150
developed the hunger (or Initiative +0 Senses: Perception +0, Darkvision
the’ bite attack). A by-product of HP: 36 Bloodied: 18 (see zombie weakness)
this infection is a desire to Speed 5
feed often. On meat. Any kind AC 15; Fortitude 15, Reflex 11, Will 12
of meat. Cooked or raw.
M Sickle (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Near-zombies lack the immunities or resistences of true +9 vs AC; 1d6+3 damage. .
zombies but they also lack the vulnerabilities. They are still M Grab (standard; at-will)
affected by Turn Undead channel divinity features and attacks that +5 vs Reflex; target grabbed a(until escape). Checks to
specifically target the undead. escape the grab are at -3.
While they can take damage in amounts that would kill a living m Infectious Bite (standard, encounter) u Poison
being and continue to function, they share the head shot weakness +5 vs AC; 1d6 poison damage and infection attack.
of standard zombies. A critical hit will automatically reduce them Zombie Weakness
Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP
to 0 HP (it is assumed to be a head shot) as the magic infection
instantly.
that is centered in the brain is disrupted. Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
Skills: Nature +5
Near-Zombie - Goblin Level 2 Brute Str 14 (+3) Dex 7 (-1) Wis 6 (-1)
Medium natural animate (undead) XP 125 Con 15 (+3) Int 4 (-2) Cha 6 (-1)
Initiative -1 Senses: Perception +0, Darkvision
HP: 40 Bloodied: 20 (see zombie weakness) Near-Zombie - Guard Level 4 Soldier
Speed 5 Medium natural animate (undead) XP 175
AC 15; Fortitude 13, Reflex 11, Will 12 Initiative -1 Senses: Perception +0, Darkvision
HP: 44 Bloodied: 22 (see zombie weakness)
M Spear (standard; at-will) u Weapon Speed 5
+6 vs AC; 1d8+4 damage. (used two handed). AC 17; Fortitude 15, Reflex 12, Will 13
M Grab (standard; at-will)
+4 vs Reflex; target grabbed (until escape). Checks to M Mace (standard; at-will) u Weapon
escape the grab are at -3. +10 vs AC; 1d6+4 damage.
Burst of Speed (encounter, daily) m Infectious Bite (standard, encounter) u Poison
Near-zombie gains +1 speed until end of it’s next turn. +5 vs AC; 1d6 poison damage and infection attack.
Zombie Weakness Zombie Weakness
Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP
instantly. instantly.
Alignment: Evil Languages: None Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
Skills: Stealth +5 Skills: Intimidate +6
Str 14 (+3) Dex 7 (-1) Wis 6 (-1) Str 16 (+4) Dex 7 (-1) Wis 6 (-1)
Con 15 (+3) Int 4 (-2) Cha 6 (-1) Con 15 (+3) Int 4 (-2) Cha 6 (-1)
43 Equipment: Hide armor, light shield, mace
Near-zombies continued Randal Thurston
Randal is a human mage who is currently struggling with
Near-Zombie - Kid Level 3 Minion
Small natural animate (undead) XP 38 an arcane infliction he accidentally gave himself. He has
Initiative +0 Senses: Perception +5, Darkvision tested his best cures on himself and has maintained most of
HP: 1 (takes no half damage effect from misses) his intellect and his ability to talk. He feels he is close to
Speed 4 perfecting his ritual and has become paranoid that others
AC 13; Fortitude 11, Reflex 11, Will 12
will try to stop him so he is past the point where he can be
M Grab (standard; at-will) reasoned with. Darwin was only able to befriend him
+8 vs Reflex; target grabbed (until escape). Checks to because Randal had not set up shop in the burrow yet and
escape the grab are at +2. was not yet convinced that he was near a breakthrough.
m Infectious Bite (standard, encounter) u Poison
+5 vs AC; 1d6 poison damage and infection attack. This
attack is +8 against a target that has been grabbed. Description
Burst of Speed (encounter, daily) Randal is now a wreck of humanity. His flesh is starting
Near-zombie gains +2 speed until end of it’s next turn. to putrefy in places and his lips have melted away. He stands
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
Skills: Perception +5
only five foot six and has been wearing the same blue robe
Str 12 (+2) Dex 9 (+1) Wis 6 (-1) with green and yellow designs for two weeks now so it is
Con 15 (+4) Int 6 (-1) Cha 6 (-1) quite ratty in appearance now. His hands remain in very
Equipment: Bloody fabric teddy bear toy good shape however.
Near-Zombie - Maid Level 1 Lurker
Medium natural animate (undead) XP 100 Personality
Initiative -1 Senses: Perception +0, Darkvision Not much is left of his original personality. He wanted to
HP: 26 Bloodied: 13 (see zombie weakness) save his household staff from the infection and that is still a
Speed 5 drive factor for him. He will attack those that have harmed
AC 14; Fortitude 14, Reflex 10, Will 11
his servants. Mostly though he has become obsessed with
M Nailed Hand Slam (standard; at-will) perfecting his undead “cure” to the extent that he really isn’t
+6 vs AC; 1d6+2 damage. trying to undo the infection that much. His assumption is
M Grab (standard; at-will) that cracking the original problem he was working on will
+5 vs Reflex; target grabbed a(until escape). Checks to
escape the grab are at -2. provide an infection cure as a side benefit.
m Infectious Bite (standard, encounter) u Poison
+5 vs AC; 1d6 poison damage and infection attack. History and Current Agenda
Zombie Weakness Randal was carrying on the family tradition of messing
Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP
instantly. around with necromancy with “benign” intentions when his
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None ritual went wrong and he infected himself and his
Skills: Stealth +4 household. Knowing the authorities would soon spot the
Str 14 (+3) Dex 7 (-1) Wis 6 (-1) worsening condition of his staff he fled the city looking for a
Con 15 (+3) Int 4 (-2) Cha 6 (-1)
place to create a cure.
Infectious Bite - Thurston Virus
Characters that suffer a bite hit must make a save at the end of
the encounter. If they fail, they are infected. Level 9 disease.

Track Changes: Endurance- Improve DC 25, Maintain DC 21

gets worse with DC 20 or less.

Initial Effect: Lose one healing surge that cannot be regained

until cured. Also lose 1 speed but gain +1 strength.

Middle Track: Become near-zombie. Lose speech ability, Con &

STR go up a bit, most attributes are at ½. This stage calls for a
new check once a week rather than once every long rest.

Final Track: Die. If save verse death become a natural corpse. If

fail the save become a real zombie.
44
Randal Thurston continued Skeleton - Damaged
Tactics & Abilities Often these skeletons are
Randal retains the majority of his spell casting ability. His made from skeletal forms that
necromantic bolt is not from becoming semi-undead but were already damaged. Perhaps
from his study of necromantic magic techniques. He lacks a broken leg or smashed rib
the immunities and resistances of undead but also lacks the cage. The result is an undead
vulnerabilities although Channel Divinity class features that is less powerful than a
against undead will damage him (but not cause extra effects) standard humanoid skeleton
and powers that target undead affect him in the same way. undead.
He will use his phantasim attack early while he still has On rare occasions the damaged
functioning allies, then follow with flame burst. If his allies skeleton is the scarred survivor of a
are going down he will put up guardian blades. Burning battle long ago and the necromantic energy
hands is held for after his allies have gone down. If two or sustaining it has been slowly deteriorating.
more enemies get adjacent to him he uses mage escape. Those that animate damaged skeletons often arm them
Randal Thurston Level 6 Artillery with bows to make up for their generally slow movement
Medium natural humanoid (undead) XP 250 speed.
Initiative +4 Senses: Perception +2, Darkvision
HP: 50 Bloodied: 25
Other than the lesser armor and a ranged weapon, there
Speed 5 is little difference between a standard skeleton and a
AC 18; Fortitude 17, Reflex 14, Will 15 damaged one.
M Poisoned Dagger (standard; at-will)u Weapon, Damaged Skeleton Tactics
Poison
+10 vs AC; 1d4+5 damage and Randal makes a The are usually programmed with a set of instructions to
secondary attack of +8 vs Fortitude; ongoing 5 poison defend something. In most cases they will use their bow until
damage. (save ends). their enemy reaches a certain location close to whatever is
S Necromantic Bolt (standard; at-will) u Arcane, being defended then switch to short sword. If engaged in
Necrotic
Ranged 10; +11 vs Fort; 1d6+3 necrotic damage direct melee they will switch to short sword as well.
c Burning Hands (standard, encounter) u Arcane,
Fire Skeleton Lore
Close blast 5; +11 vs Reflex vs each creature in range; The same lore as listed in the 4E MONSTER MANUAL
2d6+4 fire damage.
a Flame Burst (standard, encounter) u Arcane, applies to this type of skeleton as well.
Fire
Burst 3 in range 10; +11 vs Reflex; 1d8+5 fire damage
to all enemies in the burst and targets pushed 1 square.
s Phantasim Attack (standard, daily) u Arcane, Skeleton - Damaged Level 1 Soldier
Illusion, Psychic Medium natural animate (undead) XP 100
Ranged 20; +11 vs will; 2d8+4 psychic damage plus Initiative +2 Senses: Perception +0, Darkvision
onging 5 psychic damage and target grants combat HP: 21 Bloodied: 10
advantage (save ends both) Speed 4
Mage Escape (immediate interrupt, encounter) Immune: disease, poison; Resist:10 necrotic;
u Arcane, Teleportation Vulnerable:5 radiant
Trigger: Randal is hit with a melee attack. AC 16; Fortitude 13, Reflex 11, Will 12
Effect: Randal teleports 5 squares to space not next to
an enemy. M Shortsword (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Guardian Blades (standard, daily) u Arcane, Force +8 vs AC; 1d6+2 damage.
Effect: Until the end of the encounter or Randal R Shortbow (standard; at-will) u Weapon
becomes unconscious, each adjacent enemy to him that Ranged 15/30+8 vs AC; 1d8+3 damage.
makes an attack roll against Randal takes 3 damage. Lesser Speed of the Dead
When making an opportunity attack the skeleton gets +1
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: Common bonus to attack and deals an extra 1d4 damage.
Skills: Arcana +9, Endurance +10, Heal +6 Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
Str 14 (+5) Dex 12 (+4) Wis 6 (+1) Skills: None
Con 14 (+5) Int 13 (+4) Cha 8 (+2) Str 15 (+2) Dex 16 (+3) Wis 12 (+1)
Equipment: Mage robe, keys (his estate gate and burrow Con 13 (+1) Int 3 (-4) Cha 3 (-4)
front doors). Equipment: Hide armor, shortsword, shortbow (12
45 arrows)
Spiders - Tree and Beauty Tree Spiders
Tree spiders have bodies as big as very large dogs. As their
name implies, they tend to live in trees. While they can make
Beauty webs, they tend to hunt rather than wait for prey to get
She is a common spider that has been made huge and trapped.
given intelligence through magical experimentation. Beauty
thinks of herself as monstrosity that is probably better off Tree Spider Tactics
dead because of comments she overheard by the wizards that The females are more aggressive and usually lead a tree
made her before they abandoned her in the woods. spider attack. They will leap at a target and cling to it with a
grab then bite it on the next turn. Males will wait around at
Beauty’s Tactics jumping range for a target to get grabbed then leap in with a
She expects to die in combat bonus to bite.
against heroes so she won’t
use advanced tactics or work Female Treespider Level 2 Lurker
Small natural animal XP 125
closely with allies. She will use Initiative +5 Senses: Perception +3, tremorsense 5
her web attack early HP: 24 Bloodied: 12
then close to melee using her Speed 7, climb 6 (spider climb)
bite when facing a single foe Resist: 5 poison
AC 16; Fortitude 13, Reflex 14, Will 13
and her repelling legs if two or
more enemies are adjacent to her. M Poison Bite (standard; at-will) u Poison
+7 vs AC; 1d10+3 damage and target slowed (save
Beauty Lore ends). If target already slowed then immobilized (save
ends)
A successful Nature check will reveal the following: M Hunting Leap (standard; at-will) u Poison
DC 15: The horse sized monster spider before you looks Treespider leaps at prey, shifting 4 squares and making
like a normal house spider common to the area enlarged by a a bite attack. If the attack hits the target is also grabbed.
huge amount. The spinnerets on this beast look unusually Bite attacks gains +3 to hit against grabbed targets.
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
mutated however.You do not thing that this beast is a Skills: Athletics +8, Stealth +9
naturally occurring creature. Str 14 (+3) Dex 16 (+4) Wis 12 (+2)
Con 12 (+2) Int 1 (-4) Cha 8 (+0)
Beauty the Spider Level 3 Elite Controller Equipment: None
Large magical beast (spider) XP 300 Tree Spider Lore
Initiative +5 Senses: Perception +5, tremorsense 5
HP: 60 Bloodied: 30 Action Points: 1
With a Nature skill check the following is known.
Speed 6, climb 6 (spider climb) Saves: +2, +4 vs poison DC 15: Female tree spiders have yellow markings and are
AC 17; Fortitude 15, Reflex 16, Will 14 more aggressive than the blue marked, smaller males. Both
sexes are very fast and can jump around 20 feet to make an
M Poison Bite (standard; at-will)
+7 vs AC; 1d10+3 damage and target is weakened
attack. Females will often cling to an enemy to make it an
(save ends). easier target for future attacks.
C Repelling Legs (standard; at-will) Male Treespider Level 1 Minion
Close burst 1; targets enemies; +6 vs Fortitude; Small natural animal XP 38
2d6+3 damage and target is pushed 3 squares. Initiative +4 Senses: Perception +1, tremorsense 5
a Sprayed Web (standard, encounter) HP: 1 (a missed attack never damages a minion)
Area burst 2 within 10; +6 vs Reflex; 2d10 poison Speed 9, climb 7 (spider climb)
damage and the target is grabbed. Escape attempts at -2. Resist: 5 poison
Spider’s Escape (immediate interrupt, recharge 6+) AC 15; Fortitude 12, Reflex 14, Will 12
Trigger: Hit with a melee attack. Effect: Beauty shifts
3 squares with a jump. Can move through enemies and M Poison Bite (standard; at-will) u Poison
ignore difficult terrain. +6 vs AC; 4 damage plus 5 poison damage.
Final Moment (when reduced to 0 hit points) M Hunting Leap (standard; at-will) u Poison
Beauty leaks a caustic magical gas that is inside her. Treespider leaps at prey, shifting 4 squares and making
Close Burst 2; +6 vs Reflex; 2d6+2 acid damage. a bite attack. Bite attacks gains +3 to hit against grabbed
targets.
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: Common Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
Skills: Intimidation +6, Perception +5, Stealth +9 Skills: Athletics +6, Stealth +9
Str 16 (+4) Dex 17 (+4) Wis 8 (+0) Str 12 (+1) Dex 18 (+4) Wis 12 (+1)
Con 12 (+2) Int 12 (+2) Cha 11 (+1) Con 12 (+1) Int 1 (-5) Cha 8 (-1)
Equipment: None
46 Equipment: None
Villagers and NPCs Villager B
Medium natural humanoid (human)
Level 1 Skirmisher
XP 100
Initiative +1 Senses: Perception +1
The majority of the villagers are either Villager “A”s HP: 22 Bloodied:11
(usually male adults), Villager “B”s (female adults, male or Speed 6
AC 13; Fortitude 13, Reflex 11, Will 11
female teens), or Villager “C”s (mainly children and the
elderly. If they are armed it will be with a farm implement or M Weapon (standard; at-will) u Weapon
a dagger - and the damage is the same either way. +5 vs AC; 1d4+1 damage.
If called out to militia duty status then the Villager “A”s M Fending Away Attack (standard; at-will) u Weapon
will have spears, leather armor and a light shield. Change +3 vs AC; 1d4+1 damage, and Villager B gains +2 AC
until the end of her next turn.
damage to 1d8 and increase AC by 3 and Reflex by 1. Vicious Opportunist
The following individuals have special statistic blocks - Villager B does +1d6 damage to targets she has combat
Mayor “Mac” Cheese advantage against.
Sheriff Taylor Alignment: Varies Languages: Common
Skills: Diplomacy +7, Insight +6, Nature +6
Deputy Barnaby Fife Str 11 (+0) Dex 12 (+1) Wis 12 (+1)
The guardsmen Cobbler & Dresdin Con 15 (+2) Int 12 (+1) Cha 14 (+2)
The clerics Kildare & Groves Equipment: Farm implement or dagger.
Merchant Cyn Blayde
Adriana Flechette Villager Tactics
Trevor Dandy First and foremost, if the situation allows villagers will
Rodney “the Hood” run away from danger. Most will not abandon their family or
friends however.
Villager A Level 1 Soldier In a “street” altercation (player gets caught breaking into
Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 100 a house, the drunk on the street gets rowdy, or a fleeing
Initiative +1 Senses: Perception +1
HP: 22 Bloodied:11
crime suspect, etc.) a villager B will attempt to grab and
Speed 6 hold the offender until the sheriff or other help arrives.
AC 13; Fortitude 13, Reflex 11, Will 11 In a monster attack situation they really only have one
option - melee attack. Villager A’s will try to group together
M Weapon (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+5 vs AC; 1d4+1 damage.
against a single enemy while Villager B’s hover nearby
M Grab (standard; at-will) looking for a chance to sneak in a vicious opportune attack.
+4 vs Reflex; target grabbed (until escape). Villager C’s will generally only fight in self-defense.
Militia Training
Gain +1 to hit and AC of two other villagers are adjacent
to the same target. Villager Lore
Alignment: Varies Languages: Common A History skill check will tell the player the following
Skills: Endurance +7, Insight +6, Nature +6 regarding the culture of Sulphur Springs.
Str 13 (+1) Dex 12 (+1) Wis 12 (+1) DC 15: Even though they live out in the country,
Con 14 (+2) Int 12 (+1) Cha 12 (+1) the leaders of their nation are wizards and warlocks
Equipment: Leather armor, spear, light shield kept at
home. Dagger or farm implement when not on militia call. so the people of area are used to having spell casters
come and go and are not unduly alarmed by such
people.
Villager C Level 1 Minion
DC 20: Females are expected to keep their
Small natural humanoid (human) XP 25
Initiative +1 Senses: Perception +1 heads covered in public from the age of 13 and
HP: 1 (A miss never damages a minion) up. Female visitors that do not adhere to the
Speed 6 local custom will sometimes catch villagers
AC 13; Fortitude 13, Reflex 11, Will 11 looking at them with disapproval.
Tradition requires all males between the
M Unarmed (standard; at-will) ages of 16 and 30 to be in the village militia.
+4 vs AC; 3 damage.
All of men of age keep a set of leather armor and
Plea for Help
Other villagers gain +1 to hit and damage against a shield and spear at home for militia duty.
enemies that have attacked a Villager C. DC 25: Before the Margrave annexed this
Alignment: Varies Languages: Common area the people were druid followers. Some of
Skills: History +5 (if an elder), Athletics +5 if a child their customs and superstitions stem from
Str 8 (-1) Dex 12 (+1) Wis 10 (+0) their time when druids led the society. This
Con 10 (+0) Int 8 (-1) Cha 13 (+1) was before the memory of any living
Equipment: None 47 villager though.
Mayor MacTurren “Mac” Cheese Sheriff Andrea Taylor
Sheriff Andrea Taylor Level 4 Elite Skirmisher
Mayor “Mac” Cheese has just Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 350
turned 50 though he is still in Initiative +6 Senses: Perception +4
HP: 56 Bloodied: 28 Saves: +1
robust health. He is a level headed Speed 6 Action Points: 1
man that likes to consider all of his AC 18; Fortitude 17, Reflex 16, Will 16
options before acting or making a
decision. His primary concern is M Spear (standard; at-will) u Weapon
always the safety and property of +8 vs AC; 1d8+3 damage.
R Crossbow (standard; at-will) u Weapon
the villagers over other concerns. Ranged 15/30; +9 vs AC; 1d8+3 damage.
Most often heard to say, “Well, S Eldritch Blast (standard, at-will) u Arcane
let’s hear everything out and Ranged 10;+7 vs Reflex; 1d10+3 damage. Basic attack.
then look at all our options. No s Eye Bite (standard, at-will)u Arcane, Charm,
Psychic
need to be hasty you know.” Ranged 10;+7 vs Will; 1d6+3 psychic damage and she is
invisible to the target until the end of her next turn.
Personal History s Eldritch Rain (standard, encounter)u Arcane
“Mac” served as a member of the household guard of the Ranged 10 vs 2 targets with 5 squares of each other; +7
vs Reflex; 1d10+5 damage.
current Margrave of Lofton’s father. When the elder s Curse of the Dark Dream (standard, daily)
Margrave died, “Mac” was installed as the mayor of Sulpher u Arcane, Charm, Psychic
Springs as a retirement bonus for his outstanding service to Ranged 10;+7 vs Will; 3d8+3 psychic damage and she
the Lords of Lofton. slides the target 3 squares.
Warlock Class Features
In his heyday, “Mac” was an accomplished swordsman. Eldritch Pact (fey). Prime Shot, Warlock’s Curse (+1d6)
He was as quick with his wit as he was with his blade. Now Feats
he is aging and only half the fighter he used to be, but he is Combat Mount, Alertness
still capable if push comes to shove. Alignment: Good Languages: Common
Skills:Arcana +9, Diplomacy +9, Insight +8,Intimidate +9
As his last name is Cheese, it struck his fancy to go into Str 12 (+3) Dex 15 (+4) Wis 13 (+3)
the business of making cheese. So his personal farmland Con 16 (+5) Int 15 (+4) Cha 16 (+5)
near the village is involved with the dairy and cheese trade.
He has had no need to call up the militia during his time Sheriff Taylor studied as a warlock for a number of years
as mayor. Nothing much at all has happened in fact. in Camphus but did not like living in the city very much.
Mayor MacTurren Cheese Level 4 Elite Soldier Her brother was in the city watch and got a job as a sheriff
Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 350 which gave her the idea to try for the same position
Initiative +7 Senses: Perception +4 elsewhere.
HP: 50 Bloodied: 25 Saves: +1 Her fey contractee was tired of the city so when she
Speed 6 (5 in scale mail) Action Points: 1
AC 15; Fortitude 17, Reflex 14, Will 14 landed the sheriff position in Sulphur Springs she was happy
to move to the sticks.
M Rapier (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+11 vs AC; 1d8+5 damage. Characteristics
M Sure Strike (standard; at-will)
+13 vs AC; 1d8+2 damage. Andrea is a no-nonsense type that is
m Piercing Thrust (standard, encounter) u Weapon dedicated to doing a professional job.
+13 vs AC; 1d8+7 damage. She’s of medium height and build and
m Brute Strike (standard, daily) u Weapon above average beauty. She wears her hair
+11 vs AC; 3d8+5 damage.
Fighter Class Features short and almost always sports what she
Combat Challenge, Combat Superiority (+2), Weapon calls her “uniform jacket” - a dark brown,
Talent (+1 w/ one handed, factored into attack). short cut duster type coat.
Feats In an arrest she will use her dream curse
Weapon Proficient (Rapier), Improved Initiative
Alignment: Good Languages: Common
power to subdue the foe and pull him to a
Skills: Diplomacy +9, Intimidate +9, Streetwise +9 place where her men and grab the criminal.
Str 17 (+5) Dex 12 (+3) Wis 14 (+4) In a fight she tries to stay at range, using the
Con 13 (+3) Int 13 (+3) Cha 14 (+4) crossbow or eldritch blast and saving her
Equipment: +2 Rapier. Scale mail and light shield
available in his home. AC is +5 with armor and shield in
spells in case the combat turns against
use. 48 her. Then its eye bite time.
Deputy Barnaby Fife Armsmen Cobbler & Dresdin
Deputy Fife was born in Sulphur Springs This pair is from the Margrave’s personal armsmen force
and has lived in the village his entire life. on detached duty to Sulphur Springs and placed under the
He was one of the village guardsmen under sheriff’s command. They aren’t the sharpest tools in the
the old sheriff and was promoted to deputy shed but they are loyal and brave to almost foolhardy levels.
by sheriff Taylor when she came to the Hamlin Cobbler Level 3 Soldier
village because she felt someone that Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 150
knew everyone in the area would Initiative +5 Senses: Perception +6
HP: 42 Bloodied: 21
be good to have at her side. Speed 6 (5 in armor)
Fife is a bit over serious about his job. He AC 18; Fortitude 16, Reflex 15, Will 14
feels like he has to perform at a high level
to prove himself “equal” to the mayor and M longsword (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+10 vs AC; 1d8+3 damage and the target is marked
sheriff who are both big city folk. until the end of Hamlin’s next turn.
R Shortbow (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Characteristics Ranged 15/30; +9 vs AC; 1d8+2 damage.
Barnaby is in his early thirties and sports a mustache and m Powerful Blow (standard, encounter) u Weapon
goatee. He always carries his crossbow around (that he calls +10 vs AC; 2d8+3 damage.
Buddy System
“bessy”). Despite his strong dexterity score, Fife often gets Hamlin gains +1 to hit and AC when adjacent to his
nervous when he is the center of attention and then he friend Marcus Dresdin.
tends to become clumsy. In general though, there is nothing Alignment: Unaligned Languages: Common
remarkable about him and he would be easily lost in a Skills: Athletics +9, Streetwise +7
Str 16 (+4) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 11 (+1)
crowd (if a crowd ever formed out in Sulphur Springs). Con 15 (+3) Int 9 (+0) Cha 12 (+23)
He is militantly proud of his hometown and will snub Equipment: Chainmail, longsword, shortbow
visitors that insult the place. His most curious trait is that he (12 arrows), light shield, lantern, 2 pints oil
swears he saw a werewolf steal a goat from his family’s farm
when he was a teenager. He has been obsessed with the idea Marcus Dresdin Level 3 Artillery
Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 150
that a werewolf stalks the hills around the village every Initiative +5 Senses: Perception +6
since. Whenever an animal goes missing, Barnaby blames a HP: 40 Bloodied: 20
werewolf. He even spent a good chunk of his life’s savings to Speed 6
have a silvered bolt made. He only has one - but he is sure AC 16; Fortitude 16, Reflex 15, Will 14
that one will be all he needs. M longsword (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+10 vs AC; 1d8+3 damage and the target is marked
Deputy Barnaby Fife Level 3 Artillery
until the end of Hamlin’s next turn.
Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 150
R Shortbow (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Initiative +4 Senses: Perception +7
Ranged 15/30; +9 vs AC; 1d8+2 damage.
HP: 38 Bloodied: 19
a Thunder Burst (standard, encounter) u Thunder
Speed 6
Area burst 1 within 10; +7 vs Fortitude; 1d8+4 thunder
AC 15; Fortitude 13, Reflex 14, Will 12
damage and target is dazed (save ends).
Buddy System
M Shortsword (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Marcus gains +1 to hit and AC when adjacent to his
+8 vs AC; 1d6+3 damage.
friend Hamlin Cobbler.
R Crossbow (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: Common
Ranged 15/30; +9 vs AC; 1d8+3 damage.
Skills: Athletics +9, Streetwise +7
r Lucky Shot (standard, encounter) u Weapon
Str 16 (+4) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 11 (+1)
Ranged 15/30; +9 vs AC; 2d8+3 damage.
Con 15 (+3) Int 9 (+0) Cha 12 (+23)
m Desperate Stab (standard, daily) u Weapon
Equipment: Hide armor, longsword, shortbow
+8 vs AC; 3d6+3 damage.
(12 arrows), lantern, 2 pints oil
Dexterity Trained
Barnaby uses dexterity rather than strength with light
blades.
Dresdin learned one spell and he often kids his friend
Alignment: Good Languages: Common about being the smarter of the two because he “knows
Skills: Bluff +8, History +7, Nature +8, Perception +7 magic”. Cobbler retorts that he has a special sword move
Str 13 (+2) Dex 16 (+4) Wis 12 (+2) that Dresdin could never master. Both of them like to tease
Con 14 (+3) Int 12 (+2) Cha 14 (+3)
Equipment: Hide armor, crossbow (19 bolts, 1 silvered
Barnaby Fife about werewolves. “Hey deputy Fife, a pie
bolt) 49 got swiped off the Miller’s porch. Werewolves for sure!”
Priests Feldon Kildare and Wendy Groves
Wendy Groves is a nature priestess.
She blesses the fields and animals. Her
husband owns a farm near the village
and she has recently given birth so she
is at home more than the village church
at the moment.
She is a kind person with dark hair
and a petite build. She prefers to wear
blue and likes silver accessories. Wendy
is intrigued by those with the primal power source and on
the rare times she meets such a person Wendy always tried
to convince the visitor that her god is a friend of the primal
spirits rather than a foe.
It used to be commonplace to find her meditating alone
out in the hills or forests of the area. During her pregnancy
she stopped wandering too far from home, which is a main
reason why no one has blundered into any of the encounter
issues that currently infest the village.
Feldon Kildare is a bald man with a sour disposition
despite his calling as a healing god priest. If he feels an
injury was from stupidity (or combat) Feldon tends to be a
little rough in handling his patient. As his only source of
income is church donations, he
is never shy about suggesting to
visitors that giving alms to the
church is a wise thing to do.
Especially if the visitor plans
to do something foolish like get
into a fight.
Either Village Priest Level 2 Controller
Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 125
Initiative +4 Senses: Perception +7
HP: 38 Bloodied: 19
Speed 6
AC 15; Fortitude 13, Reflex 14, Will 12
M Dagger (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+7 vs AC; 1d4+1 damage.
S Sacred Light (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Ranged 5; +7 vs Feflex; 1d6+3 radiant damage.
aBody Lock (standard, encounter) u Divine
Burst 1 within 10 against enemies; +7 vs Fortitude;
target is immobilized (save ends).
Healing Power (standard, encounter) u Divine
Close burst 5 self or an ally; target can spend a healing
surge if they have one, also gain 1d6 additional HP.
Protect the Faithful (standard, encounter) u Divine
Close burst 5 self or an ally; Target gains +1 to all
defenses until the end of the priest’s next turn.
Alignment: Good Languages: Common
Skills: Diplomacy +9, Heal +9, Insight +9
Str 12 (+2) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 16 (+4)
Con 14 (+3) Int 15 (+3) Cha 16 (+4)
Equipment: Dagger, robes, holy symbol, (2) holywater 50
Merchant Cyn Blayde
Cyn is a knife maker of very high skill. She has
customers that come from the major cities for her especially
sharp bloodletter knives. She is a fit and attractive woman
who can pass for a full human even though she is half-orcish.
Cyn is often unkept looking, and her face can take on a
sinister cast when she talks about her favorite subjects -
knives and knife fighting techniques.
Cyn Blayde Level 3 Skirmisher
Medium natural humanoid (half-orc) XP 150
Initiative +5 Senses: Perception +4, low-light
HP: 38 Bloodied: 19
Speed 6
AC 17; Fortitude 14, Reflex 15, Will 15
M Kukri (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+8 vs AC; 1d6+3 damage (brutal 1)
R Throwing Knife (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Ranged 5/10; +8 vs AC; 1d4+3 damage.
r Double Throw (standard, encounter) u Weapon
Make two throwing knife attacks.
Blood Letter Kukri
The first ten times she hits with the kukri, Cyn can get a
critical hit on a 19 or 20.
Furious Assault (free action, encounter, personal)
Cyn deals 1[w] extra damage on the hit.
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: Common, Giant
Skills: Athletics +6, Bluff +7, Nature +7, Streetwise +7
Str 11 (+1) Dex 16 (+4) Wis 12 (+2)
Con 15 (+3) Int 12 (+2) Cha 12 (+2)
Equipment: Bloodletter Kukri, (6) throwing knives
History and Connection to Rodney
Cyn and Rodney were born and raised near the springs to
an orc mother and the human warrior that spared her life
after a raid on the orc camp. When the pair became elder
teens, their parents decided to seek out the wife’s remaining
tribe members and left for places unknown.
Rodney left for Camphus while Cyn staying in the village.
She had already mastered the craft of making knives and
other small metal items so she set up shop in the village
proper. The villagers are always a little wary around her, but
she has never harmed anyone and if push comes to shove
they see her as one of their own and would defend
her from outsiders.
Cyn never got along well with her
older brother. He often roughed her up -
a reason she got her father to teach her
about knife fighting. He has not visited her
since returning to the area but he did
break into her shop and steal some coins
and daggers. If players ask Cyn where her
brother might be, she will say that he will
try to pick someplace in the trees near the
road so he can watch who passes by.
Adriana Flechette
Adriana is an avenger, a special holy warrior agent of a
goddess of death. Either the Raven Queen or in a Worlund
Campaign Adriana serves Vell. Her current duty is to see
that Randal’s undead experiment does not spin out of
control any larger than the problem has already become.

Description
Adriana has a dark skin tone and wears her long hair in
braids that resemble dred-locks. She has facial tattoos and a
golden nose ring and wears a steel choker that has the talon
of a wyvern dangling from it. Adriana is unarmored and
carries a wicked looking short sword and keeps numerous
daggers upon her person.

History and Current Agenda

Adriana was taken in by a death cult temple after her
parents were killed in an explosion caused by an illegal
arcane experiment in the building next to her folk’s home.
She was raised in the ways of the cult and exhibited early
martial skills that lead to her being offered a chance to train
as one of her goddess’ avengers.
She has undertaken several missions for her goddess,
each ending in success. Recently she has been working with
Adriana Flechette Elite Level 4 Skirmisher
Medium natural humanoid (human) XP 350
Initiative +5 Senses: Perception +5
HP: 50 Bloodied: 25 Saves: +2
Speed 6 Action Points: 1 an observation team stationed in Camphus where her
AC 18; Fortitude 15, Reflex 16, Will 15 temple cannot legally operate in the open. Her team found
evidence of the magical infection Randal caused and
M Short Sword (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+9 vs AC; 1d6+3 damage. watched as he left the city.
R Thrown Dagger (standard; at-will) u Weapon Adriana was dispatched to make sure that Randal and his
Ranged 5/10; +9 vs AC; 1d4+3 damage. research never trouble mankind again. Unfortunately for
S Radiant Vengeance (standard; at-will) u Radiant her, Randal moved into an area that is taboo for her to enter.
Ranged 10; +7 vs Reflex; 1d8+3 radiant damage and
Adriana gains 3 temporary hit points.
She has circled that area, looking to see if he emerged from
m Sequestering Strike (standard; encounter) u Weapon the opposite side. Near the swamps she witnessed the attack
Teleportation of near-zombies led by the cleric Darwin on the goblin
+9 vs AC; 2d6+3 damage and teleport target 2 squares tribe.
then teleport self adjacent to the target.
m Aspect of Might (standard; daily) u Weapon
Later when Darwin stopped to rest, she tried to slip in
+9 vs AC; 3d6+3 damage (half on a miss). Effect: Until and kill the cleric. However she only got one weapon thrust
end of encounter Adriana gains +5 bonus to Athletics and in before near-zombies rushed to his aid and were about to
+2 bonus to speed and melee attack damage rolls. overwhelm her. So she fled.
Distracting Flare (move; encounter) u Divine Lurking around the village she spied the player
Effect: Adriana becomes invisible and moves her speed.
She is invisible until the end of the movement. characters. After she sees them handle the zombified farm
Avenger Class Features animals she will decide to approach them in an attempt to
Avenger’s Censure, Channel Divinity, Oath of recruit them to her cause.
Enmity. She is aware of Trevor Dandy and has guessed his mission,
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: Common
Skills: Acrobatics +10, Intimidation +8, Stealth +10, but will not attack him to avoid starting an all-out war
Streetwise +8 between her temple and the mage guilds of Camphus.
Str 15 (+4) Dex 17 (+5) Wis 16 (+5) Adriana will also avoid engaging the players in combat
Con 14 (+4) Int 11 (+2) Cha 12 (+3) because there is no need for it. The mistress of death
Equipment: Shortsword, 6 daggers.
51 will call for the heroes on her own time and way.
Trevor Dandy outdoors.
Trevor is a young wizard who is a member of the Order While the guild council had guessed at what member
of the Silver Cowl in Camphus. He happens to work for the Randal was doing in his home, the instructed Trevor to look
guild council in the experimenting department and is on the the other way and not leave any records of Randal’s work,
track of Randal Thurston trying to get him back to the guild Then the work went really, really wrong. In fact, Trevor
tower before matters go public. happened to visit the Thurston home in the city on the day
after the mishap and was almost infected himself.
Description As Trevor already knew about the situation, the guild
Trevor is a pleasant looking half-elf who likes to dress in council decided to send him after Randal in an attempt to
fancy clothing. He stands 5’7”, is on the thin side, and has bring the wizard
reddish brown hair. back to the city.
While he is indeed a wizard, he has not learned many They gave
attack oriented spells. His other spell book spells deal with Trevor s scroll
analyzing and transportation. His rituals tend to be in those with a gate ritual
areas as well. that will lead to
a prepared place
History and Current Agenda in the tower. All
Trevor was born and raised in Camphus and feels that it Trevor has to do
is the natural order that those with the greatest arcane skill is figure out how
should rule the countryside. His mother is a member of the to get Randal
same guild as him, his father was a visiting elf wizard that and company to
left for the woods when he was 15. In point of fact Trevor stand still long
prefers the streets of the city over the dirt tracks of the enough inside
the ritual circle.
Trevor Dandy Elite Level 4 Artillery As Trevor is
Medium natural humanoid (half-elf) XP 350 something of a
Initiative +4 Senses: Perception +4
HP: 42 Bloodied: 21 Saves: +2
coward - and he
Speed 6 Action Points: 1 is especially
AC 16; Fortitude 16, Reflex 16, Will 17 afraid of undead-
he hopes to talk
M Dagger (standard; at-will) u Weapon the players into
+9 vs AC; 1d4+1 damage.
S Magic Missile (standard; at-will) u Force handling the
Ranged 20; +9 vs Reflex; 2d4+3 force damage. tough part of
a Icy Terrain (standard; encounter) u Cold wrangling the
Burst 1 within 10 vs all creatures; +9 vs Reflex; 1d6+3 near-zombies
and the target is knocked prone.
a Sleep (standard; encounter) u Sleep into the circle.
Area burst 2 within 20 vs all creatures; +9 vs Will; While Trevor
target slowed (save ends). If fail first save then does not know Adriana, he will recognize what she is and
unconscious (save ends). who she represents. He will not want to mess with her and
Quick Retreat (move; daily, personal)
Effect: Randal shifts up to twice his speed. start a major problem for his guild so if she wins the help of
s Lightning Wand (standard; daily) u Lightning the players he will not interfere.
Ranged 15; +9 vs Reflex; 2d6+3 lightning damage and
target stunned (save ends). Guild Magic Items
Cloak of Missions (minor; daily) u Illusion,
Teleportation
Trevor was given two magic items to help keep him safe
Effect: Randal becomes invisible until the end of the on his mission. One is a powerful wand that fires a big
encounter (or he attacks), also he gains fly 6 move until lightning zap. The other is the Cloak of Missions. This item is
end of the encounter. meant to allow an agent working for the guild to escape
Wizard Class Features
Cantrips, Ritual Casting, Implements - wands
from a situation and retreat to a safe distance.
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: Common, Elven Neither item is his, so he will guard them well so he can
Skills:Arcana+10, Diplomacy +9, History +10, Insight +9 return them to the council. He must also be aware of the
Str 12 (+3) Dex 14 (+4) Wis 14 (+4) daily use nature of both items. If he zaps, he cannot flee. So
Con 12 (+3) Int 17 (+5) Cha 14 (+4) he will not use the wand unless he is sure there will be
Equipment: Dagger, Lightning wand, Cloak of Missions.
52 no need for him to go invisible and fly away.
Rodney “The Hood” Blayde
Rodney is a male half-orc who has been living the life of
a bandit leader for a few years now. Recently he promised
to marry a noble’s daughter (planning to marry his way out
of legal trouble) only to have it discovered that he had
already married a tavern girl in the city the past year. This
made the noble excessively angered at the embarrassment
caused and he had made sure that the legal heat was turned
up against Rodney. So Rodney had to flee Camphus.
Description
Rodney looks far more orc than human. Still his
muscular form and savage looks have garnered his share of
female admirers. He can be unexpectedly charming.
Unfortunately he has a very short temper and is prone to
entering violent rages. While he can harness this rage for
battle, he sometimes loses his tempter and injures his allies
when he is angry.
History and Current Agenda
Rodney is mainly about getting money with minimal
effort. He’d like to be famous too. After his plans of
marrying into status and fortune fell apart he fled the city
with the law on his trail. The bounty on his head was leading
to too many close escapes so he decided to try reversing the
idea. He gave away most of the take from two heists and
spread a story that he was rebelling against made rule of the
lands. His hope was that people would start to view dealing
with him as a chance for profit rather than ratting him out.
It has worked to a limited degree. The main problem his
plan has is that the people of the countryside do not directly
deal with the major mage guilds very often. In the city the
guilds affect all aspects of life. In the countryside - not so
53
Rodney “the Hood” Blayde Elite Level 3 Brute
Medium natural humanoid (half-orc) XP 300
Initiative +1 Senses: Perception +2
HP: 60 Bloodied: 30 Saves: +2
Speed 6 (5 in armor) Action Points: 1
AC 20; Fortitude 18, Reflex 16, Will 14
M Broad Sword (standard; at-will) u Weapon
+7 vs AC; 1d10+4 damage.
R Long bow (standard; at-will) u Weapon
Ranged 20/40; +7 vs AC; 1d10+2 damage.
c Sweep Attack (standard; encounter) u Weapon
Close burst 1vs up to 3 targets. +7 vs Reflex; 1d10
damage and the target is knocked prone.
Dodge Ranged Attack (immediate interrupt; daily)
Trigger: Enemy making a ranged attack against him.
Effect: Rodney gains +4 to the AC, Fort and Reflex
until the end of his next turn.
Slippery Maneuver (immediate interrupt; daily)
Trigger: Enemy moves into flanking position on him.
Effect: Rodney shifts 2 squares.
Murderous Frenzy
Rodney gains 1 action point the first time he reduces a
foe to 0 HP in an encounter.
Berserking Regeneration
Rodney regenerates 5 when bloodied.
Half-Orc Racial Power
Furious Assault (free action; encounter)
Trigger when hit with weapon attack. Add 1d10 extra
damage to the attack.
Skills: Athletics +10, Bluff +9, Intimidation +9
Str 19 (+5) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 14 (+3)
Con 15 (+3) Int 11 (+1) Cha 16 (+4)
Equipment: Hide armor, broadsword, longbow
much. Thus the people of the countryside are not as
opposed to mage rule as some groups within the city
itself. But the city is too dangerous for him to stay in so
he can’t try his plan there.
Also, he isn’t really interested in leading a rebellion.
That would be far too much work.
He has fled to the area he knows best, his home town.
Rodney is aware of the fact that he used to pick on his
sister quite fiercely and assumes that she would not
welcome seeing him again. Rodney broke into her place
and took some stuff that he figured was due as his
inheritance from their parents that he never got but has
not tried to make contact with her.
In a way, staying away from his sister is the only
kindness he can do for her. She has managed to make a
place for herself in the village and doesn’t need her
outlaw brother showing up and dragging her into any
trouble.
He is laying low at the moment, looking for a chance
to score some more wealth in banditry while trying to
decide what his best course of action would be.
Yarbin (Mummy-ish Sorcerer)
Yarbin was always self centered in life, but he was still
accounted as a great hero of his city for his many
adventures. His mother was the leader of the city. When
Yarbin fell in battle against a dragon his body was too
damaged to return to life. So his mother had a sorcerer that
served her killed and transferred Yarbin’s soul into the body
and then worked rites that would make Yarbin into an
intelligent undead.
It worked, but Yarbin soon found that being an undead
unsettled the household and the people that once cheered
him in the street now feared him. So he had a burial burrow
built for himself and settled into it to sleep. The legend was
that if Tarn should ever need him he would rise and aid his
city. However Tarn was swallowed by the swamp and there
was nothing Yarbin could do to save his home.
When he sleeps,Yarbin finds that his shade can manifest
in the land of the dead. There he can be with his parents
(who are long dead) and the people he once knew no longer
fear him. He is happier there among his kin then wandering
the mortal world alone so he spends most of his time
napping and has no plans regarding the mortal realm.
Yarbin’s Tactics
Yarbin Solo Level 3 Artillery Yarbin tends to rely on his combo attack of khopesh
Medium natural humanoid (undead) XP 750 and power staff, even if he has to give up an opportunity
Initiative +2 Senses: Perception +3, Darkvision attack for using the blast from the staff. He regenerates
HP: 140 Bloodied: 70 Saves: +5 so dazing an opponent with two hits is worth the trade
Regeneration: 5 (will not function in a round Yarbin
takes radiant or fire damage) off to him.
Speed 5 Action Points: 1 When he takes ranged damage of fire or radiant type
AC 20; Fortitude 18, Reflex 16, Will 14 he tries to use his doom cast power on the enemy attacking
Immune: disease, poison. Resist: 5 necrotic. Vulnerable: him to soften them up then go for the dragonfang attack
5 fire and radiant.
M Khopesh (standard; at-will) u Weapon
to poison them.
+6 vs AC; 1d8+2 damage (Brutal 1) and 1d6 necrotic His bedeviling burst he saves for when more than three
damage. enemies are adjacent to him or if he is being flanked.
S Power Staff (standard; at-will) u Arcane, Force
Ranged 10; +6 vs Reflex; 1d10+3 force damage.
m Heroic Effort (standard; encounter) Yarbin Lore
Yarbin makes both a khopesh and power staff attack. If With a Religion skill check a character can discern
they hit they same target that target is dazed (save ends). the following after seeing Yarbin.
c Bedeviling Burst (standard; encounter, recharge 4+) DC 15: Yarbin looks like some type of modified
u Arcane, Psychic
Close burst 3 up to 2 targets; +6 vs Will; 1d10+4 mummy. He will probably be a regenerating undead
psychic damage, and target pushed 1 square. vulnerable to fire and might be able to spread the
s Doom Cast (standard; daily, recharge 5+) u Necrotic mummy rot disease.
Ranged 10; +6 vs Fortitude; 2d6+3 necrotic damage, The character knows the following information with
and target is -2 all defenses until end of Yarbin’s next
turrn. a History check.
s Dragonfang Bolt (standard; daily) u Arcane, Poison DC 15: Yarbin was the son of the last ruler of the
Ranged 10 vs up to 2 targets; +6 vs Fortitude; 2d6+4 free city of Tarn. Stories say that he was killed fighting a
damage and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends) dragon and his body was too damaged to return to life so
Despair (Fear) aura 5
Effect: enemies within aura are -2 to attack rolls against his mother bound his soul to the body of a dead sorcerer
Yarbin. and then used ancient rituals to turn Yarbin into an
Alignment: Evil Languages: Common undead.
Skills: Arcana +8, History +7, Intimidation +10
Str 16 (+4) Dex 12 (+2) Wis 10 (+1)
Con 14 (+3) Int 14 (+3) Cha 18 (+5)
Power Staff: This only functions through Yarbins innate
Equipment: Clothing, khopesh, staff 54 power and is not a magic item others can use.
Zombified Barn Animals Zombified Chicken Level 1 Minion
Tiny natural beast (undead) XP 25
Initiative +0 Senses: Perception -3
The infection that created the near-zombies from HP: 1 (will not take damage from a miss)
humans and goblins has a quicker and harsher effect on Speed 5
common animals. They become creatures that are essentially AC 12; Fortitude 10, Reflex 13, Will 10
weak zombies. They lack the immunities and vulnerabilities M Peck (standard; at-will) uWeapon
of full zombies. +3 vs AC; 1 damage and possibility of infection.
A number of the animals can pass the infection through a Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
bite or peck. See the Near-Zombie entries for information Skills: None
on the infection itself. Str 4 (-3) Dex 10 (+0) Wis 3 (-4)
Con 10 (+0) Int 1 (-5) Cha 3 (-4)
Equipment: None
Zombified Animal Lore
The player will know the following with a Religion
Zombified Cow Level 2 Elite Brute
check. Large natural beast (undead) XP 250
DC 15: Zombie animals are extremely rare. They usually Initiative +4 Senses: Perception +0, darkvision
decompose before becoming zombies because no one HP: 60 Bloodied: 30 Action Points: 1
embalms them to preserve the corpse. Speed 7 Saves: +2
AC 15; Fortitude 14, Reflex 12, Will 13
Zombified Lamb/Sheep Level 1 Skirmisher
Small natural beast (undead) XP 100 M Bite (standard; at-will)
Initiative +0 Senses: Perception +0, Darkvision +6 vs AC; 1d6+2 damage and chance of infection.
HP: 26 Bloodied: 13 (see zombie weakness) M Charge Attack (standard; at-will)
Speed 6 Cow charges; +7 vs AC, 1d8+2 damage and target is
AC 14; Fortitude 14, Reflex 10, Will 11 pushed 1.
M Stomp (standard, at-will) Only verse prone targets
M Bite (standard; at-will) +6 vs AC; 2d6+3 damage and target dazed (save
+5 vs AC; 1d6+2 damage and chance of infection. ends).
M Head Butt (standard; at-will) Zombie Weakness
+7 vs Reflex; 1d6+2 damage and target knocked prone. Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP
Requires a charge attack to function. instantly.
Zombie Weakness Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP Skills: None
instantly. Str 16 (+4) Dex 12 (+2) Wis 8 (+0)
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None Con 12 (+2) Int 12 (+2) Cha 3 (-2)
Skills: None Equipment: None
Str 12 (+3) Dex 10 (+0) Wis 3 (-4)
Con 15 (+3) Int 1 (-5) Cha 6 (-1) Zombified Bull Level 3 Elite Brute
Equipment: None Large natural beast (undead) XP 300
Initiative +4 Senses: Perception +0, darkvision
Zombified Dog Level 2 Soldier HP: 80 Bloodied: 40 Action Points: 1
Medium natural beast (undead) XP 150 Speed 7 Saves: +2
Initiative +0 Senses: Perception +0, Darkvision AC 15; Fortitude 15, Reflex 13, Will 14
HP: 30 Bloodied: 15 (see zombie weakness)
Speed 5 M Gore (standard; at-will)
AC 14; Fortitude 15, Reflex 11, Will 12 +8 vs AC; 1d10+3 damage and target is pushed 1.
M Charge Attack (standard; at-will)
M Bite (standard; at-will) u Weapon Bull charges and applies gore attack, with a hit the
+7 vs AC; 1d6+3 damage and chance of infection. target is also knocked prone.
m Bite and Grab (standard; encounter) M Stomp (standard, at-will) Only verse prone targets
+7 vs Reflex; target grabbed (until escape). Checks to +8 vs AC; 2d6+3 damage and target dazed (save
escape the grab are at -2. ends).
Zombie Weakness Zombie Weakness
Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP Any critical hit to the near-zombie reduces it to 0 HP
instantly. instantly.
Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None Alignment: Unaligned Languages: None
Skills: Nature +5 Skills: Intimidation +5
Str 14 (+3) Dex 7 (-1) Wis 6 (-1) Str 16 (+4) Dex 12 (+2) Wis 8 (+0)
Con 15 (+3) Int 4 (-2) Cha 6 (-1) Con 12 (+2) Int 12 (+2) Cha 3 (-2)
Equipment: None Equipment: None
55
Side Plot 1 map
Side Plot 2 map
Side Plot 4 map
Plot Encounter 1 map
Plot Encounter 3 map
Plot Encounter 4 and 5 map
Plot Encounter 6 map
Plot Encounter 7 and 8 map