Slaughtered livestock
Something is killing the cows at night in the farms to the west of Last Hope.
Plot points/Scenes
Falaster Farm
Falaster Farm lies half a mile to the west of Last Hope. Owned by Harrow Falaster, the fields are used for cattle, which provide milk and meat for the town. Harrow lives alone in a small farm building. Two days ago, he awoke to find three of his cattle dead and mutilated in the fields. Initially, he thought it the work of wolves and put it down to misfortune. Then, yesterday, he awoke to find three more of his herd slain, mutilated in the same fashion. Afraid for both his livestock and his own safety, Harrow posted a plea for assistance on Last Hope's job board yesterday, hoping that someone would help, and has offered a small reward to anyone able to put a stop to the threat (see Rewards below)The slaughtered cattle
Harrow is happy to show the characters the slaughtered beasts. He has moved the six corpses to one of his fallow fields to avoid disturbing the surviving animals. The bodies are buzzing with flies and are all badly mutilated: their throats have been ravaged, as have their chests. Harrow is convinced it is the work of wolves or some other wild beast. Though the wounds at first look to be the marks of teeth and claws, a character succeeding on a DC 14 Intelligence (Investigation) check can determine that they have been caused by many savage cuts from a bladed weapon. Additionally, any character who succeeded at the Investigation check and who also succeeds at a DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check discovers that each beast's heart has been removed from its carcass. A successful DC 16 Wisdom (Medicine) check is required to deduce that the deaths took place around midnight of the two nights in question.The stakeout
Harrow suggests the characters hide in or close to the field where his six remaining cattle are kept. The south-western corner of the field contains bales of hay and a water trough and provides a mixture of half and full cover to anyone hiding behind or within them. A lantern provides faint light in the north-eastern corner. The gate to the field is in the northern edge of the wooden fence that surrounds the field. Any character investigating the fence and succeeding on a DC 14 Intelligence (Investigation) check notices that the posts in the south-western corner near the hay bales have been weakened to the extent that they can be slid apart to allow any medium-sized creature to enter the field.The Servants arrive
Shortly past midnight, three human figures approach the weakened portion of the fence. Wearing black clothes, they are only spotted by any creature succeeding on a DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check. Any creature positioned near or in the hay bales has advantage on this check. If the characters are guarding the weakened spot of the fence, the approaching figures are spotted without the need for a check. If they have not noticed the characters, the figures stealthily approach the closest three cattle. Each figure has a carved dagger which they use to repeatedly stab at the creatures, inflicting wounds intended to resemble an animal attack. Once the cows are slain, the figures cut open the beast's chests and retrieve their hearts, storing them inside leather satchels stained with dried bloodstains. Refer to the side panel for statistics to use for the Servants, based on the level of the party.Defeating the Servants
The Servants fight to the death. Though they are Servants of the Unbeating Heart, they steadfastly refuse to give any information about Forzakk the Unyielding. Any Servant who is captured and interrogated refuses to speak: instead, they recite a short incantation in Infernal that causes their own heart to immediately stop beating, which results in their death one minute later. Any creature within earshot who understands Infernal can tell the words of the incantation are "take me, oh unyielding one". The Servants are all human males. Other than the daggers and their normal weapons, they have nothing else on their persons. Any creature examining their bodies and succeeding on a DC 12 Intelligence (Investigation) check spots the tattoo above the Sevants' hearts: a black fist clenched around a small, bleeding heart (see sidebar). This is the symbol of the Servants of the Unbeating Heart, although Harrow has never seen it before and has no idea what it might signifiy.Reward
If the party defeat the Servants without any of Harrow's cattle being slain, he gratefully pays each character 5 gold pieces. If any of the cattle have been slain, he reduces this amount by one gold piece each per slain animal. Either way, he is grateful that the threat against his livestock appears to be over, and speaks highly of the characters in future to residents and traders in Last Hope.Adjusting the challenge
The party should reach level 2 after completing two of the Job Board sidequests. If they are level 1 when attempting this quest, the Servants are made up of two acolytes and one thug. If they are level 2, the Servants are made up of two thugs and one spy.The mark
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