Secrets of Shadow

An Act of Betrayal

An Introductory Adventure for 1st-2nd Level Characters in Steel Hill

Author: Eric Olson (Kane)

Additional Design and Writing: Iain J. Brogan

Requires use of the Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition Core Books, published by Wizards of the Coast , Inc.
Also recommended: Midnight Second Edition and Forge of Fury, published by Fantasy Flight Games, Inc.

Howls in the night 1

 control of Steel hill, but the Dorns of the Leal live
in the hope that they will be the one to strike off the
An Act of Betrayal chains of shadow that subjugate their beloved land.
ʻHonor is the tie that binds us in these dark times; it
keeps the black wolf, Despair, beyond the hearth fire.ʼ
- Mhor Finngal of Clan Banoch Clan Banoch is a Leal clan based in the lands to the
northwest of Steel Hill. Over the past four months
Steel Hill is the Shadow’s foundry, responsible for the orc garrison has become more aggressive and
equipping the Dark God’s vast armies engaged in much more successful in tracking the movements of
crushing the last scattered resistance in the Clan Banoch, forcing Mhor Finngal to move his
Northlands and fighting a brutal war of attrition people frequently to avoid discovery. As a result,
against the fey. Little over a century ago, Steel hill the clan’s hidden crop lands and traditional forage
was the seat of Great House Falon, before bloody haunts have had to be abandoned. The Mhor fears
betrayal cast her gates wide to a vast orc army. that the clan will be near starvation before the first
Many were slaughtered in a night of violence and snows. Desperate for food and shelter for his
terror. Those that survived were enslaved. The people, Mhor Finngal sent a large raiding force well
betrayers, disaffected lesser clans of House Falon, to the east of Steel Hill to attack a caravan of
gained the power they had long coveted, but at the wagons reportedly laden with food and bales of
price of their honor and the lives of their kin. Only cloth. The caravan turned out to be a trap, and all
a handful of ‘true’ clans survived the fall of Steel but one of the clan raiders was killed. The sole
Hill and fled into the surrounding wild lands. survivor, Balsic, was taken to Steel Hill to be sold
into slavery. The failed raid, the most recent of
The remaining true clans of House Falon, the Leal, many, confirmed the Mhor’s fears; one of his clan
have persisted with typical Dornish tenacity in the was passing information to the orcs. Until the
face of overwhelming adversity. Over the last betrayer is discovered the entire clan is at risk.
hundred years they have waged a bitter war against
the Dark God’s forces and their traitorous kin in
Steel Hill. The clans of the Leal are loosely
governed by the Cogadh Comairleh, or war council,
which consists of the Mhors of each clan. However,
old clan loyalties, and rivalries, are too strong to
allow a truly coordinated resistance against the
Shadow. The Leal operate mostly as individual
clans, co-operating only to share information and
occasionally resources in their fight against the
hated enemy. The Leal clans conduct raids against
collaborator lands and holdings, caravans laden
with weapons and armor for the southern wars, and
even the less well garrisoned orc watch posts and
smaller patrols. In truth, these attacks are more
annoyance than serious threat to the Shadow’s

2 Howls in the night

ADVENTURE SYNOPSIS
‘An Act of Betrayal’ is designed for a starting
party of first or second level characters who are not
familiar with Steel Hill. The adventure should give
the PC’s a chance to gain general knowledge of the
city and build some basic contacts that will help
them in future adventures in and around Steel Hill.
The adventure is not designed to be combat heavy
and open combat in the city or Tarish Town will
make completing the mission much more difficult.
The adventure is designed around four main acts:
-Encountering Clan Banoch
-Speaking with Mhor Finngal
-Finding Balsic, and
-Confronting the traitor
Additional optional encounters are provided to
expand the scope of the adventure if desired. The
encounters in this adventure are presented as
follows:
Trouble on the Road: This short encounter
serves to start the adventure with action and
introduce the player characters to Clan Banoch.
The Mhor’s Request: If the PC’s accompany
the clansmen, they are taken to the Mhor who asks
a boon of them. This encounter sets the scene for
the rest of the adventure and provides an
opportunity to make new friends ... and enemies.
Finding Balsic: In this act, the PC’s must first
locate the captured clansmen, Balsic. On locating
him they must decide whether to rescue him or just
gain the information he holds - neither will be easy.
The Traitor: This encounter sees the PC’s
return to the Mhor and unveil the traitor within the
clan. Their actions at this point will determine how
they interact with Clan Banoch in the future.
The events in ‘An Act of Betrayal’ occur in the
last days of autumn, when the wild woods of Lia
Rudh Emyn are a riot of color. Be sure to use the
notoriously inclement wether of the region to
‘enrich’ the PC’s lives as they seek the missing
Howls in the night
clansman and uncover the identity of the Clan
Banoch traitor.
ACT 1: TROUBLE ON THE ROAD
This combat encounter gives the players a chance
to test out their characters and provides them with a
harsh introduction to the brutalities of Midnight.
Read or paraphrase the following:
_______________________________________
‘The woods through which you travel are a riot
of color - red and orange warning that Autumn is
well advanced and Winter is not far away. The
track you’ve been following is deeply rutted
beneath a carpet of leaves, an indication that heavy
wagons have been used here when the mud was
deep, but the encroaching weeds suggest the road is
only occasionally used.
The oppressive silence of the wooded hills is
suddenly broken by a scream of fear and pain
followed quickly by raucous laughter and high
pitched gibbering in a foul sounding tongue.’
_______________________________________
The sounds ahead on the track are those of a
band of goblin slavers accosting a farmer and his
son who were on their way to Tarish Town to sell
their wares - barrels of ale intended for Kregar’s
Den. Despite the pair being from a collaborator
clan, the goblins are taking advantage of the
isolated setting to have some fun with the humans.
The trail is thickly wooded, giving ample cover.
The wagon is the center of a small clearing and the
small goblin band (5 standard goblin warriors or a
minimum of one per party member) surround the
two Dorn farmers whose backs are to their wagon.
The characters should hear the goblins before they
see them. The goblins are distracted by their sport
and suffer a -5 penalty to Listen and Spot checks to
detect the PC’s.
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 If the PC’s attack the goblins, the farmer and his
boy crawl beneath their wagon to take cover,
emerging only when the goblins are dead or gone.
Two of the goblins use the wagon for cover (+4 to
AC) and fire on the PC’s if able, while their
companions fan out through the woods attempting
to circle behind the characters and catch them in the
flanks or rear. Both goblins and PC’s gain
concealment from the woods when attempting to
hide (20% miss chance; may attempt a Hide check).
Ultimately, being cowardly brutes, the goblins try
to flee as soon as it’s apparent that the PC’s
outmatch them (when two or more of their number
is dead).
AFTERMATH
The farmer and his son are extremely grateful for
the PC’s intervention and promise aid in the future
if they’re able to give it.
Shortly after the PC’s chase off or vanquish the
goblins, the buzzing of arrows in flight fill the air
and the farmer and his son fall dead, black and
white feathered shafts protruding from their chests.
A large group of clansmen (more than three per
party member) in woodland colors materialize from
the woods and surround the PC’s. Their leader,
Alwyn, addresses the characters.
Read or paraphrase the following:
_______________________________________
‘So shall the faithless be served!’
The Dorn woodsman regards you with
appraising eyes, ‘We saw you aid these traitors
against the goblinkin - a worthy, if misguided act.
We’ve been looking for such as you these last few
days.
I give you a choice, strangers: accompany us
back to our camp and hear our Mhor ... or suffer
the fate of spies and trespassers. I’m sorry, but
these are not the times when men may meet without
suspicion and fear of betrayal.”
_______________________________________
4 Howls in the night
The farmer and his son belonged to a
collaborator clan, and were known to the Banoch
clansmen as informants and Shadow sycophants.
The retribution of the Leal is hard and
uncompromising.
If the players agree to accompany the clansmen,
they are taken by winding trails through the woods
to a hidden gorge where Clan Banoch is currently
encamped. Alwyn insists that the players where
blindfolds for much of the way, only removing
them as they enter the gorge.
ALTERNATE START
If you don’t want to use Act 1 as the intro to this
adventure, you might consider the following
suggestions for forming the party and starting out.
The city of Steel Hill provides a number of
reasons for individuals of disparate races and
cultures to be thrown together - the characters
might be:
• slaves freed or escaped from a slave caravan
prior to its arrival at Steel Hill
• refugees fleeing toward Erethor and intercepted
by local resistance forces
• free men on their way to the city to sell their
services or attempting to buy or barter for
equipment in Tarish,
• or even local clansmen from collaborating
clans who’ve decided that honor is more
important than loyalty to their birth clan.
Whatever the PC’s backgrounds and the reason
for them to join forces, it’s important to convey tot
he palyers that their characters are outsiders in this
land; they are neither affiliated with the established
resistance groups, nor do they have previous history
in Steel Hill or Tarish Town.
Once the PC’s have established their back-
stories, the adventure should begin with the
characters being led by their escort to a local
resistance leader: Mhor Finngal of Clan Banoch.
 ACT II: THE MHORʼS REQUEST
This encounter has no (planned) action, however,
it’s a good opportunity for the players to role play
their characters, learn more of the clan they may be
about to help, and the task that lies ahead. If this
doesn’t fit your style of play, then this encounter
can be dispensed with fairly quickly and used
simply to set the characters on the course of the
adventure.
Read or paraphrase the following:
_______________________________________
‘Under leaden skies, you are led into a narrow
gorge where the air hangs chill and damp. Some
way in, the stunted and twisted trees give way to an
open area beneath a large overhang of rock that
provides scant shelter for a destitute camp of
makeshift tents and bundled belongings ready for
travel. Thin women clutch equally frail children as
you pass, their expressions a mixture of fear,
smoldering anger and, oddly, hope. At the far edge
of the camp, a shallow cave houses a small, almost
smokeless fire, about which four large Dornish men
in their middle years. By their armor and arms,
muscled frames, and dour countenances, you take it
that these are the war leaders of Clan Banoch. A
fifth man stands with them, older than the others,
but radiating an unmistakable aura of strength and
unquestioned authority. The men watch your
approach in silence, the eyes of the old man, grey
like the skies, bore into you weighing your worth.’
_______________________________________
Unlike his grim-face warriors, Mhor Finngal is
warm and welcoming, offering the characters what
little hospitality he may under the circumstances.
He apologizes for the manner of their arrival and
the shabby appearance of the camp, explaining that
his clan has recently been forced to flee the
Shadow’s minions: “The orcs have developed an
uncanny ability to find our camps of late!”
The Mhor is engaging as he greets each member
of the party, asking about their backgrounds and
trying to make them feel at ease. He’s in no hurry
Howls in the night
as he talks to the party and it’s clear that he’s using
the time to appraise their capabilities. The other war
leaders are far less comfortable with the party but
try to emulate their leader as best they can. After
approximately a half an hour, the Mhor appears
satisfied that he can tell the party the reason for
summoning them. Motioning for the PC’s to sit,
Mhor Finngal paces before the fire and then
addresses them.
Read or paraphrase the following:
_______________________________________
‘Eight days ago, I sent raiders to take a supply
caravan east of Steel Hill. The caravan was
supposed to be carrying food, cloth, and some
spices. It should have been lightly guarded as it was
traveling far from where we normally raid, but it
was a trap .. none of my men have returned.
This latest disaster confirmed my fears; we have
been betrayed by one of our own! The orcs have no
scouts in these woods, yet they move like an arrow
directly toward our camps. The caravan was not
worthy of a large escort; yet twenty well-armed
clansmen did not return. There can be no other
explanation; a traitor dwells amongst us. I need to
who he is before more of my people are killed.
This is why I need you - you are not our clan, so
won’t be blinded by past loyalties or blood debts.
Our enemies don’t know you; so with caution you
should be able to move more freely than my own
warriors.’
The other clansmen appear unhappy with their
Mhor’s words and start to voice their opposition.
Finngal silences them with a wave of his hand
and continues.’Two days ago, a friend in Steel Hill
sent word that one of our clansmen survived the
raid and was taken in chains into the city. I need to
know what happened .. see if he can tell us anything
about who betrayed us.
I want you to travel to the city, locate our
captured kinsman and find out what he knows. His
information could reveal our betrayer. Rooting out
the traitor is vital to our survival. Free our kinsman
if you can, but returning with his information is
5
more important. One life is not worth the life of the
clan.
Will you help us?’
_______________________________________
Assuming the PC’s agree to help, the Mhor
dismisses his warriors and addresses the players in
private. Read or paraphrase the following:
_______________________________________
‘The warrior you seek is a man named Balsic.
According to my friends in the city, Balsic was alive
when they saw him, but he’d suffered a nasty blow
to the left side of his face and seemed unconscious.
That wound may be the best way for you to identify
him. Balsic could be anywhere in the city, but the
orcs probably sold him at the slave market if they
haven’t executed him. Ask around and see if anyone
remembers him.
If you have questions, I’ll answer as best as I
can, but time is short. You should start out for Steel
Hill no later than first light.
One last thing, Balsic won’t know you, so you’ll
have to gain his trust. When you see him, tell him
the son of Othwig seeks his words.’
_______________________________________
While the Mhor needs the party to find Balsic,
there is some information that he can or will not
reveal. Key contacts, hidden routes into Steel Hill,
and safe havens near the walls are crucial to the
clan’s survival and can’t be trusted to unproven
outsiders. Allow some latitude for players with
good diplomacy, gather information, or sense
motive skills to get some minor additional
information or assistance (left to GM’s discretion).
What the Mhor knows or is willing to tell the
party:
• The roads and villages to the south are
patrolled by orcs
• The city has three gates that are constantly
guarded
• Most slaves are sent to the mines
6 Howls in the night
• There is a town on the road to the mine, Tarish
Town
• Outside the walls there are sprawling shanties
for the charcoal burners, tanners, and river traders
• The slave market is held inside the city, but the
slave pens are to the north of the walls
What he doesn’t know or won’t tell the party:
• Who his “friends” are in the city
• How to get into the city
• Where to get supplies or weapons near the city
What the Mhor can give the party:
From the state of the camp, it’s obvious that the
clan has little to spare. However, the Mhor is too
bound by honor and Dornish tradition to send the
party away empty-handed. He can provide any or
all of the following to the PC’s if they ask
(diplomacy check) to be provisioned:
• A short bow, 20 arrows, 2 hand axes, 1
captured vardatch (DC 10)
• A limited supply of food (8-12 man days
worth) (DC 14)
• A small number of sproats (Steel Hill coins) for
trading (DC 16)
• A minor charm: a wolf’s canine bound with
silver at one end and hung from a leather thong
(+2 to hide checks) (DC 18)
COMPLICATIONS
The traitor believes that the PC’s will expose him
if they get back from Steel Hill. To prevent them
from returning, the traitor sends a description of the
characters to the orcs of the Splintered Skull. Due
to the difficulty in getting word safely to the orcs,
the characters have 48 hours in the city before their
descriptions are passed to the orc guards (assuming
the party leaves in the morning following the
audience with Mhor Finngal and aren’t delayed in
their travels).If the PC’s are still within Steel Hill
after this time and don’t make an attempt to alter
their appearance, the chance that they’ll be
recognized increases significantly.
 Before the characters’ descriptions are circulated
the Difficulty Class of a Hide check to blend in
with the other citizens of Steel Hill is 10. Once the
48 hours is up, the DC increase to 15 (see Blending
In, page 118 Midnight 2nd Edition).
There are several ways the PC’s can lessen their
chance of being detected:
• Change their appearance, different clothes or a
disguise: +2 circumstance bonus to Disguise and
Hide checks used to blend in; +2 synergy bonus
to Hide check used to blend in if the player has 5
or more ranks in the Disguise skill. A PC may use
his Disguise or Hide skill to blend in, whichever
is higher.
• Enter or leave the city separately. The orcs
aren’t that smart or diligent and are looking for a
group of individuals. Unless a character is really
unique (a dworg or fey), they will draw less
attention traveling on their own (+2 circumstance
bonus to Hide checks used to blend in).
ACT III: FINDING BALSIC
GETTING TO THE CITY
Outside a ten mile arc from the city, there is little
chance that the players will encounter an orc or
goblinkin patrol as long as they stay off the major
roads. Once inside ten miles of the city, the party
will be force to travel along by a route controlled
by the local garrison. Recommend use of the
Evading Patrols rules provided on page 121 of the
Midnight 2nd Edition rules to add a little suspense
and to get new players use to how difficult travel
can be in Shadow controlled regions.
OPTIONAL ENCOUNTER
Having the party encounter an orc patrol en-route
Steel Hill provides a (possibly deadly) challenge
that can be used to illustrate the tyranny the orcs
exercise in the region. A typical orc patrol is
provided in the combat sheets at the back of the
adventure.
The orcs confiscate items they fancy from the
PC’s belongings and might ‘rough them up’, using
Howls in the night
the characters as temporary relief from the boredom
of their patrol (non-lethal damage only unless the
players resist). Allow the PC’s a chance to use their
bluff or diplomacy skills to lessen their beatings or
loss of items. Clever players may try to claim
allegiance to one of the traitor clans, but without
clan colors they’re unlikely to be believed.
If a character bears a weapon larger than a dagger
or hand axe, the orcs attack him - or the whole
party if they come to the character’s aid -
attempting to subdue rather than kill so they can
sell any captives to slavers. Fighting with the orcs
is likely to be observed and the alarm raised.
Response time varies depending on how far the
encounter is from the city. The encounter should be
a lesson for new players, not an end to the
adventure. Give the players some chance to make
up for their mistake, but be sure they realize just
how foolish it is to attack the Shadow near the city.
THE SPRAWL
Smoke and stench fills the air as the party
approaches Steel Hill. Vast shantytowns, home to
laborers, charcoal burners and slaughterhouses
cling to the city like scabs. The noise and smells are
overwhelming. Heavily armed orcs, goblins, and
men, some in clan colors, push through the
wretched Dorns that call these slums their home,
taking what they want and executing “justice” as
they see fit.
The city’s dark curtain wall is pierced by three
gates. To the north is the infamous Road of teh
Damned leading to Tarish Town and the Great
Mine. A slow but steady stream of wagons piled
high with black ore are ponderously pulled by
teams of boro from the mines to feed the glowing
heart of the city. Wretched slaves, from the city and
the holding pens to the north, flow toward the
mines where they’ll spend the rest of their short
lives in darkness mining that ore. To the south of
the city is the Gate of Ghosts and the road to the
remains of the city of Nalford and ghost haunted
Cale.
7
 The party should be able to move freely through
the Sprawl and avoid orc Patrols fairly easily. They
can get basic supplies (no weapons) from the
Sprawl if they have something to barter with and
also get some basic information without attracting
too much attention. For example, they can find out
that slave auctions are held in the market square in
the center of the city, the last auction was three days
ago, and the next is four days away. No one pays
much attention to the endless stream of slaves that
enter the city, so no one noticed Balsic entering or
leaving the city. Asking about an individual slave is
a fairly common occurrence as people seek their
kin taken as slaves.
ENTERING THE CITY
Steel Hill is not an open city, the gates are well
defended and both the orc legion and the
Bloodguard keep a careful watch on all who enter
and leave the city. People entering the city are
stopped and must provide a reason for why they
should have access. Recognized merchants,
collaborating clans, and work parties are waived
through without inspection. If the party observes
the gates for any length of time they should realize
that they can’t simply walk in. However, there are a
number of ways for the party to get around the gate
guards. Some possibilities might include:
• Buy/barter goods in the Sprawl and carry them
into the city posing as a local merchant or farmer
• Wait until nightfall and try to find an unmanned
or damaged portion of the wall and scale it
• Disguise themselves in the clan colors of a
collaborating clan
A HELPING HAND
If the players are struggling to figure out a way
into the city, these optional encounters might
provide them with the helping hand they need to get
inside.
DOCK WORK
If the PC’s pass near the docks in the Sprawl,
they see two barges loaded with barrels of fruit,
8 Howls in the night
wheels of cheese, and assorted other crates tying
off. A gnome and his bodyguards approach the
crowd and offers a meal in return for a day’s labor
unloading the barges and transporting the goods to
the Merchants’ Quarter inside the city.
The gnome hires 10-12 men (have the PC’s make
diplomacy or intimidate checks to win the job or
discourage their competition). It takes most of the
day to unload the barges, put the supplies on
wagons, drag them to the Merchants’ Quarter ( the
gnomes don’t own a horse). Despite the guards, it
should be easy to slip away once in the city (Move
Silently, Hide, or Streetwise check DC 10).
DISTRACTION
As the party is trying to enter the city, the orcs
grab a young farmer’s wife and children. The
farmer screams for help and attacks the orcs with a
hand axe, cutting down one of the orcs before going
into a berserk rage. The causeway clears as people
begin to panic and more orcs and a few Bloodguard
start to come out of the towers to join the melee.
The party could use the confusion to slip into the
city, but helping the farmer would be suicidal. The
farmer is quickly killed and his family is sold into
slavery. If the party attends the next slave market,
they’ll see the farmer’s family on the auction block.
The GM should try to convey that these are
common event in Steel Hill: life is grim and often
brutal int he Shadows foundry city.
INSIDE THE CITY
The city is little better then the squalid slums
outside the walls. Ancient buildings lean against
each other for support. Many are derelict, and all
are covered in a fine layer of soot. Unless a rare
rainfall has granted temporary relief, the streets are
normally filthy from the collected dirt and soot.
Once beyond the gate area, the city feels almost
empty, with those not actively working at the forges
trying to stay out of sight. Only the main market
square and the forges show any sign of life and
even they are pale reflections of what the city was
like before the fall of the Kingdom of Erenland.
Bands of orcs and Bloodguard keep order and
patrol the main streets, but rarely enter the alleys or
the Winde.
In the city, the party can avoid detection if they
keep a low profile. Staying away from the main
squares and living in the Winde should keep the
party safe. Asking too many questions in the wrong
parts of town is very dangerous. There are too
many people who would turn the party over to the
Bloodguard out of fear or for enough food to feed
their family. If the party is careful and asks locals
near the slave market about a Dorn with a face
recently scarred, they’ll find that Balsic fought
against his captors and caught the eye of Kregar,
the master of the fighting pit in Tarish Town.
Kregar bought the slave and had him hauled away.
OPTIONAL ENCOUNTER
If the party spends any time in the WInde, a
young Dorn will approach them, no more than
twelve years old. The boy (Com 1/Rog 2) looks like
he’s spent his life on the streets. He asks if the party
wants to do a small job and in return they’ll get the
information they need. If the party attempts to
restrain the boy, he’ll pull out a concealed dagger
and try to fight his way free. The party can give
chase, but this is his home and he should fairly
easily elude the party, using his small size to slip
through the crowd and into spaces far too narrow
for a human adult to enter. If the party agrees to do
the small job and complete it, they’ll be told that
Balsic is in Kregar’s fighting pit. The job is a
simple delivery mission; the party will be given a
sealed package with contraband (weapons, poison,
a book, etc) that they have to deliver to an inn near
the gate going up to the hill.
The inn is frequented by Bloodguard and there’s
little reason why the party should be there. The
party has to find a way to deliver the package
without drawing attention to themselves. If the
party is successful, the boy’s master may use them
for other missions in the future.
Howls in the night
TARISH TOWN
The road to Tarish Town is busy, with ore and
raw steel shipments, produce, and a variety of
merchants, clansmen, orcs, and Bloodguard. The
town provides for the needs of the mines and its
guards, with brothels, gambling and fighting pits,
and markets for items difficult to acquire or even
illegal in Steel Hill. Tarish has more life then the
city. Those seeking to avoid the tyranny of Prince
Aushav’s rule come here to watch the fights or find
other forms of entertainment.
KREGAR’s DEN
Kregar’s Den is the largest fighting pit it Tarish
and the center of Kregar’s “empire.” The fighting
pit has two types of fighters, slaves and those
desperate or deranged freemen who seek to earn
coin from their fighting skills. The slaves fight for
their upkeep and the chance they’ll be given their
freedom if they fight well. Freemen come to the
pits to try to earn money or goods to help feed their
families. The combats are bloody, and range from
bare knuckle fights to melees with swords and
maces. New fighters start in the bare knuckle pit,
where they’re sized up for skill and bloodlust.
Kregar has found that fighters are more willing to
fight well with weapons once they’ve spent a few
weeks beating their fellow Dorns to a bloody pulp
with their bare hands.
Contacting the fighters is very difficult. The
fighters, both freemen and slaves, are kept in cages
under a portion of the stands. The cages are open on
the top so the gamblers can size up whom to bet on,
taunt the gladiators, spit on them, or rarely, to offer
encouragement. Trying to shout to the fighters is
not a good idea as there will be orcs and
Bloodguard in the crowd. Passing a note is also
exceedingly dangerous as it will draw attention to
the party and will ultimately be unsuccessful as
Balsic can’t read.
If the party contacts the captured Dornish
resistance fighter, he tells them he doesn’t have
specific information on who was betraying the clan.
He’s had some time to think and believes it has to
9
be one of the senior members of the clan as
information on the target of the raid wasn’t
widespread. He only found out after they’d left
camp and were en route to the caravan. He did hear
the orcs gloat that since they raided the farm (not
specified where) they “had him by the balls” and he
(the traitor) would do whatever they asked. The
orcs thought the traitor was a fool to waste good
fighting men for a few women and children.
While Balsic can’t piece together who it is from
the orcs’ comments, the Mhor will be able to. The
Mhor knows that one of his war leaders has his
family on a farm to the north. All the others brought
their families into the camps.
OPTIONAL ENCOUNTER
If the party has an exceptionally large or strong
character, he’ll be approached by one of Kregar’s
agents asking him if he wants to fight in the pits for
a chance of receiving a good amount of coin.
Winning fighters get a fixed fee (purse) plus
whatever the crowd throws to them. Especially
theatric or bloody fighters can do quite well. If one
of the characters agrees to fight, he’ll be able to talk
to the other fighters. Remember that the other
fighters will see the player character a an enemy/
threat and will not want to cooperate. Some are
little short of sociopaths who enjoy hurting people.
LEAVING TARISH TOWN
Leaving Tarish Town isn’t difficult as long as the
party doesn’t try to free Balsic and they haven’t
made the orcs or Bloodguard suspicious. If they
attempted to free, or actually rescued Balsic, the
party may have major difficulty getting out of the
area. Kregar has many friends and a reputation to
maintain; the party will be pursued. If the party gets
away, they should be cautious entering Tarish
again, as Kregar has a long memory and he runs the
town.
OPTIONAL ENCOUNTER
As the party is leaving Tarish Town, they stumble
across a fight between four Bloodguard and five
10
orcs. Steel has been drawn and it looks like both
groups are trying to kill each other. If the party
moves quickly, they can escape notice and avoid
the fight. If they delay, both sides will mark the
party as unwanted and potentially dangerous
witnesses. Relations between the orcs and the
Bloodguard are very bad, and neither side will want
a witness to their activities. If the players join the
fight on either side, they’ll gain potentially valuable
contacts, especially if they side with the
Bloodguard. If they side with the Bloodguard and
at least one guardsmen survives, the prty will be
thanked, given anything they want from the orcs
and told to quickly leave the area. If the party sides
with the orcs, the party gains little, as the orcs are
less willing to acknowledge that they needed help
and may attack the party to cover their trail. At best
the orcs will ignore that the party is illegally armed
and let them go on their way.
ACT IV: THE TRAITOR
Whether the party is successful in talking to
Balsic or not, they should be encouraged to go back
to the Mhor. As the party nears the woods heading
toward the resistance camp, they’re met by one of
the warriors that was with the Mhor around the
campfire. The warrior, Hengst, will raise his hand
in greeting and walk toward the party until he gets
within 30 feet. When he gets to 30 feet, his
expression will change; he’ll draw his sword and
yell, “kill the traitors!” In the woods are two of his
cousins armed with bows. They’ll fire one volley
and then draw weapons and join the fray (they’re
80 feet from the party at the start of the encounter).
How the party reacts will determine the actions
of the three tribesmen:
• If the party tries to surrender, Hengst won’t
stop his attack, as he believes the party will
expose him. His cousins won’t understand his
behavior and will try to stop him. Hengst, in his
fear and fury, will turn on his cousins if they try
to stop him.
Howls in the night
 • If the party attempts to flee, Hengst will insist CONTINUING THE STORY
on a chase and won’t rest until he’s tracked down With the traitor uncovered, Clan Banoch can
the last party member. If the party is hard pressed, safely retreat to their winter strongholds and find
Hengst’s cousins may refuse to give chase, enough food to survive the winter. The clan will use
forcing Hengst to track the party on his own. that time to plan additional raids which will offer
• If the party kills Hengst and the two cousins are the party the opportunity to become active members
hurt, they may ask to surrender. The cousins only of a resistance band near Steel Hill. The party now
attacked the party as their cousin, Hengst, asked has some potentially valuable contacts and allies in
for their help in killing traitors. That have nothing the region and a working knowledge of the city.
to do with his betrayal of the clan. hey’ve only just scratched the surface of what the
city can provide.
CONCLUDING THE ADVENTURE
ENDNOTE
THE MHOR’S REWARD If the players didn’t realize it, the Mhor didn’t
Assuming the party beats Hengst and returns to expect to get any information out of Balsic; he was
the resistance camp, they’ll be rewarded by the hoping that the traitor would do something to give
Mhor. The amount of reward (in both experience himself away. The characters, not being of his clan,
and equipment) is determined by what they were expendable. From the Mhor’s perspective he
accomplished: had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Killing Hengst and proving his guilt:
• Acceptance in the clan/resistance group
• One weapon (not exotic or masterwork) of their
choice per character
Not killing Hengst’s cousins:
• The cousins will declare a blood debt to the
party. The cousins will support the party until
they feel that they’ve paid off their family’s debt.
Rescuing Balsic:
• The Mhor will give the party suits of leather
armor and whatever basic supplies they require.
• Balsic’s family will treat the party as heroes
and their homes will always be open to the party.

AWARDING EXPERIENCE
Combat experience should be awarded as normal.
In addition, good role playing and achieving their
goals with minimal fighting should be rewarded.
The following are recommended experience
awards:
Getting into the city without detection: 100 XP
Delivering the Winde package: 100 XP
Finding a way to talk to Balsic: 150 XP
Not killing Hengst’s cousins: 100 XP
Completing the mission: 500 XP

Howls in the night 11

 COMBAT SHEET/NPCs:
GOBLINS:
Goblin Slaver, Male Goblin, War 1; CR 1/3;
Small Humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 5; Init +1; Spd 30
ft; AC 14, touch 11, flat footed 13; Base Atk +1;
Grp +3; Atks +2 melee (1d6 morningstar) or +2
melee (1d6 short spear) or +3 ranged (1d6 short
bow); Space/Reach 5 ft/5 ft; SA none; SQ goblin
traits; AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +1; Str 11,
Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 6.
Skills: Move Silently +5
Feats: Alertness
Languages: Black Tongue, Orcish
Possessions: Poor quality studded leather armor,
morningstar or short spear, short bow and 20
arrows, knife.
ORC PATROL:
Orc Soldier, Male Orc, Ftr 1: CR 1, Medium
Humanoid; HD 1d10+3; hp 10; Init +1; Spd 20 ft;
AC 17, touch 11, flat footed 16; Base Atk +1; Grp
+5; Atk +5 melee (1d12+4, vardatch) or +2 ranged
(1d6+4, javelin); Space/Reach 5 ft/5 ft; SA none;
SQ orc traits; AL NE; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +1;
Str 18, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills: Climb +0, Jump +0.
Feats: Power Attack, Weapon Focus (vardatch).
Languages: Black Tongue, High Elvin Pidgin, Old
Dwarven Pidgen, Orcish.
Possessions: Serviceable chain shirt, heavy steel
shield, vardatch, and 4 javelins.
Fist Commander, Male Orc, Ftr 3: CR 3;
Medium Humanoid; HD 3d10+9; hp 26; Init +1;
Spd 20 ft; AC 18, touch 11, flat footed 17; Base Atk
+3; Grp +7; Atk +8 melee (1d10+4, crafted
vardatch) or +4 ranged (1d6+4, javelin); Space/
Reach 5 ft/5 ft; SA none; SQ orc traits; AL NE; SV
Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 18, Dex 12, Con 16,
Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 8.
Skills: Climb -2, Intimidate +4, Jump +2,
Knowledge (Northern Marches) +1, Survival +2.
12
Feats: Cleave, Improved Sunder, Power Attack,
Weapon Focus (vardatch).
Languages: Black Tongue, High Elvin Pidgin, Old
Dwarven Pidgen, Orcish.
Possessions: Sturdy breastplate, heavy steel shield,
crafted vardatch, large fighting knife, and 4
javelins.
BLOODGUARD:
Dorn Soldier, Male Human Ftr 2; CR 2; Medium
Humanoid; HD 2d10+4; hp 16; Init +1; Spd 20 ft;
AC 16, touch 11, flat footed 15; Base Atk +2; Grp
+5; Atks +6 melee (1d10+3 bastard sword) or +5
melee (1d6+3 short spear) or +2 ranged (1d6+3
short spear); Space/Reach 5 ft/5 ft; SA none; SQ
Dornish traits; AL LE; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +1;
Str 17, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills: Climb -2, Intimidate +2, Jump -2
Feats: Cleave, Power Attack, Self Sufficient,
Weapon Focus (bastard sword)
Languages: Erenlander, Norther, Orcish Pidgin
Possessions: Well worn scale mail, light steel
shield, armored greaves, knee high leather boots,
bastard sword, shortspear, and large fighting knife.
HENGST
Dorn Clansman, Male Human Ftr 4; CR 4;
Medium Humanoid; HD 4d10+8; hp 34; Init +1;
Spd 20 ft; AC 15, touch 11, flat footed 14; Base Atk
+4; Grp +6; Atks +7 melee (1d10+3 bastard
sword); Space/Reach 5 ft/5 ft; SA none; SQ
Dornish traits; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +1;
Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Skills: Survival +6, Move Silently +4, Hide in
Shadows +3
Feats: Cleave, Improved Bulls Rush, Power Attack,
Track, Weapon Focus (bastard sword)
Languages: Erenlander, Norther, Trader Tongue,
Orcish Pidgin
Possessions: Chain Shirt, large wooden shield,
bastard sword, large fighting knife, and two days
rations.
Howls in the night
 HENGST’S COUSINS (2):
Dorn Clansman, Male Human War 1; CR 1;
Medium Humanoid; HD 1d8+1; hp 9; Init +1; Spd
30 ft; AC 14, touch 11, flat footed 13; Base Atk +1;
Grp +3; Atks +3 melee (1d6+2 battle axe) or +3
ranged (1d6+2 short bow); Space/Reach 5 ft/5 ft;
SA none; SQ Dornish traits; AL LN; SV Fort +3,
Ref +1, Will +0; Str 14, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 10,
Wis 10, Cha 12.
Feats: Toughness
Languages: Erenlander, Norther, Orcish Pidgin
Possessions: Studded Leather Armor, Battle Axe,
Short Bow and 20 arrows.

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14 Howls in the night