Nothing out of the ordinary
I created this adventure with a group of
four players who are at level five in
mind. However, as the DM you have the
flexibility to adapt the adventure to suit
the needs and strengths of your
particular party. Unlike typical
dungeon-crawling experiences, this
adventure emphasizes intricate social
dilemmas and engaging combat
scenarios that will challenge the party's
creativity and problem-solving skills.
(this product contains open-game content)
The plot
The party is hired by the peculiar and
corrupt nobles of a town to deal with a
group of bandits who have been causing
trouble. However, the party soon
discovers that the nobles are actually
doppelgangers who have taken on the
identities of the previous rulers. The
bandits, who are actually a Robin
Hood-esque group, approach the party
and ask them to disrupt a party that the
nobles are hosting so that the bandits
can rob the rich attendees and give to
the poor. The party must then choose to
either aid the doppelgangers or expose
them and help the villagers of
Rustwater.
The ride to Rustwater
You are all seated in the back of a sturdy
caravan, making your way toward the
quaint village of Rustwater. The air is
chilly, and the sun is barely peeking over
the horizon. The group of nobles who hired
you didn't disclose much about the task,
but you expect the pay to be modest.
(the players can use this time to
introduce their characters if they
haven't already)
The town of Rustwater
As you step out onto the dusty ground, you
take a moment to survey your
surroundings. The village of Rustwater
appears even poorer than you had initially
anticipated. The ramshackle houses are in
disrepair, with crumbling walls and leaky
roofs. The villagers you see are dressed in
tattered, dirty clothing, and their faces
bear the marks of poverty and hardship.
The stench of human waste and rotting
food wafts through the air, assaulting your
senses and making you feel ill at ease.
In the center of town, there is a well
with a man leaning against it, watching
you as you pass by. To your right, the
general store, which appears to be the
only shop in the village. To your left,
there is a tavern with a few patrons
milling about outside, and a small
church with a bell tower rising above it.
In addition to the general store, tavern,
and church, there is a large building at
the end of town that stands out from
the rest. It is well-maintained and
appears much more expensive than the
surrounding buildings. Here live the
nobles that hired the party.
With a DC 15 perception roll:
The player realises that there are almost
no shops in town beyond the large
general store at the center. It's unusual
for a village to have so few businesses,
especially when it's situated along a
major trade route.
NPC: Hudson stout
As your party approaches the well in the
center of town, you notice a man sitting in
front of it. He holds a worn and
half-broken mug in his right hand, while
his left arm hangs uselessly at his side. His
eyes meet yours and he calls out,
"Adventurers! Might you have a dime to
spare?"
The man explains that he believes
throwing a dime into the well will bring
him great fortune. Despite his poverty,
he has made it his mission to collect
enough spare change to make the
offering. He offers to trade any
information or services he can provide
in exchange for a coin.
The general store
The players enter the general store, and
they're greeted by Lily, a shop worker
with a bit of a rude attitude. The general
store is surprisingly large for a town like
Rustwater, and it contains most basic
adventuring gear at double the price
listed in the Player's Handbook. In
addition to the standard gear, there are
also magic beans for sale at a steep price
of 30gp each. These beans work like the
beans found in the Bag of Beans magic
item.
When questioned about the high prices,
Lily admits that they're quite steep but
doesn't know why they're so inflated.
She tells the players that the store
owner sets the prices and that she's just
an employee. Despite her
less-than-friendly demeanor, Lily is
willing to answer any questions the
players might have about the store's
wares.
Tavern of fortune
The players enter the Tavern of
Fortune, and despite its name, it looks
quite run down and empty. The floor
hasn't been cleaned in ages, and there is
a strange smell lingering in the air. An
old elf is sound asleep behind the
counter, and there is a group of hunters
playing a card game in the corner.
The elf's name is Gregory, and he's
quick to complain about the youth of
today. He seems more interested in
ranting than serving customers, but he'll
reluctantly serve a beer for the steep
price of 2 gold.
The nobles house
The players walk into a genuinely nice
and elegant building and are greeted by
a friendly-looking human named Ousk.
Two other nobles, Yuts and Lats, stand
quietly behind him. Ousk immediately
greets the players, saying, "You must be
the adventurers we've hired."
Ousk proceeds to give the players their
mission: to find a bandit camp located
by taking the trail north of the village.
The nobles offer 40 gold per person for
the job, but this price is obviously very
low and can be negotiated up to 200
gold per person.
Family of Zuckerberg
Ousk, Yuts, and Lats are not who they
appear to be. In truth, they are
powerful doppelgangers who have
taken on the identities of the previous
noble rulers of the town. These three
doppelgangers have hidden the bodies
of the former nobles within a secret
room in the library. As the players
delve deeper into the mystery, you
can drop hints and clues to suggest
that there is something inhuman
about Ousk, Yuts, and Lats.
Trail to the bandit camp
As the adventurers trek through the
wilderness on their way to the bandit
camp, those with a keen eye and a
passive perception score higher than 15
might notice subtle clues that suggest an
owlbear might be nesting nearby. They
might spot broken branches and claw
marks on trees.
Travel encounter: they suddenly hear a
deep, guttural growl that sends shivers
down their spines. They turn around to
see a massive owlbear charging towards
them with its sharp claws and beak
bared.
The bandit camp
The camp is surrounded by a makeshift
wall of wooden planks and some old
barrels. The tents look old and ragged, and
there is a strong smell of burnt meat in the
air.
As you approach the camp, you hear some
rustling from the bushes nearby. Suddenly,
a group of bandits jump out, wielding
swords and shields.
Billy, the clumsy one, trips over a rock
and falls to the ground. Bruce, with his
deep voice and intimidating presence,
steps forward and orders the players to
leave. Bryce, the mute one, simply
stands there with a crossbow pointed at
them.
Then, a figure in a hat steps out from
one of the tents. He introduces himself
as Rubus Hat and demands to know
why the players are there.
The players may choose to engage in
combat. In the event that combat
ensues, Bill, Bruce, and Bryce should
use the bandit statblock, while Rubus
Hat should use the bandit captain
statblock.
Note to the DM: If the players want to
attack the bandits, drop subtle clues
that they are actually the good guys
and that the nobles are draining the
town. For example, have the bandits
mention that they are stealing
fromthe rich to give to the poor, or
have them mention that the nobles
are exploiting the town and leaving its
people in poverty. This will give the
players a chance to reconsider their
actions and potentially change the
direction of the story.
 use read thoughts to confirm whether

Lets get criminal or not they are lying. However, the

nobles will not take direct action against
When the adventurers choose to ally
the players, as they fear that they may
themselves with the bandits, the outlaws
have valuable information about the
will request their assistance in
bandits' plans.
disrupting the noble's party that is set to
take place in a few days' time. The
bandits aim to take advantage of the
chaos caused by the disturbance to steal
the riches of the wealthy merchants and
It’s party time!
The players can indulge in any activities
nobles attending the event.
they wish. But If the players had
previously deceived or acted against the
In addition to the bandit's request to
nobles in any way, they will find
disrupt the noble's party, their leader
themselves under increased scrutiny.
Robus will approach the players with
The eyes of the nobles will be upon
another task. He suspects that the three
them, watching for any signs of
main nobles who are hosting the party
dishonesty or misdeeds.
are hiding something and behaving
oddly, almost as if they are not entirely
human. Robus believes that the players
may be able to uncover some
information that could shed light on the
matter.

Back in town baby!

The players might return to town with
the stolen loot and the bandits, either
alive or dead as requested. If the players
hand over the bandits as agreed, the
nobles will reward them with a
generous sum of gold and ask them to
help keep their upcoming event safe,
suspecting that the bandits may have
something planned.

However, if the players have sided with

the bandits, they will find themselves
returning to town empty-handed. Upon
arriving, the nobles will express their
frustration towards the players, and will
The library
As you step into the library, you're struck
by the grandeur of the space. The room is
expansive, with a soaring ceiling and
rows upon rows of elegant bookshelves
lining the walls. The shelves are filled with
books of every size and color, and you can't
help but feel a sense of reverence for the
vast knowledge contained within.
With a DC 15 History check, the players
can uncover some information about
the town's past. It seems that this place
used to thrive, but about twenty years
ago, the nobles in charge began to act
differently. Taxes were raised, and the
people began to suffer under their rule.
With a DC 15 Investigation roll or a
passive perception above 18 the players
are able to find a hidden door behind
the shelf. As they push it open, it reveals
a secret room filled with caskets, each
one containing a body identical to the
three nobles.
If the nobles were suspecting the party
of lying at the beginning read this:
Yuts suddenly turns to face you with a
menacing glare, and his voice takes on an
otherworldly quality as he speaks. 'You are
ruining everything!' he hisses. His skin
begins to shift and change, turning a sickly
shade of blue, and his eyes bulge
grotesquely from their sockets. Lats Ousk
and Yuts will start attacking the party.
The party hall
As the adventurers enter the opulent
ballroom, the grandeur of the noble
guests is palpable. The air is thick with
the mingling scents of perfumes, spices,
and intrigue. The players have free
reign to indulge in any activities they
wish, but they must tread carefully, for
their past deeds may have already
preceded them.
If the players had previously deceived
or acted against the nobles in any way,
they will find themselves under
increased scrutiny. The eyes of the
nobles will be upon them, watching for
any signs of dishonesty or misdeeds.
As you step into the grand ballroom, your
eyes are greeted by the sight of over fifty
people, including wealthy merchants,
high-ranking priests, and nobles of the
realm, with even a king and queen in
attendance. The space is adorned with
crystal chandeliers and fine furnishings,
and several dozen tables are spread
throughout the room, each laid out with a
feast of sumptuous delicacies. At the far
end of the ballroom, a stage has been
erected, and standing at its center is Ousk,
the host of this lavish event. As he speaks to
the assembled guests, his voice carries
effortlessly across the room, his words
amplified by magical means.
If the time is right or if the party causes
a distraction the sound of shouting and
chaos echoes through the hall.
Suddenly, a group of 15 bandits burst
through the door, led by three bandit
captains. The nobles that were
previously suspected of being
doppelgangers have transformed back
to their true form, revealing their
inhuman nature to the party.
The ending
The final outcome of the adventure is
entirely in the hands of the DM. you
create the consequences of the players'
decisions and shape the ultimate
conclusion of the story.

An adventure written by Julian Kroes
Cover art generated using mid-journey
Some assets in the map belong to two-minute
tabletop
Also thanks to Adventures Await Studios
since I used their work as a guideline for
writing this adventure
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Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. System
Reference Document 5.0 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the
Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris
Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert
J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve
Townshend, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax
and Dave Arneson. Copyright 2023 Julian Kroes