The Velos Trials

The Velos Trials is a one-shot fantasy, medieval-themed adventure based on Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules and mechanics. This challenging experience can be taken on by any group of 3 to 5 players that requires a bit of strategy, a handful of lucky dice, and maybe a dash of cunningness.

It is essentially a chance for the party to gain a companion and a little bit of loot. Apart from the main rewards, this adventure might make way for some interesting social relationships that the PCs can establish and use in future campaigns.

Setting and Location

The Velos Trials is designed to be a drop-and-play adventure that can fit into any fantasy, medieval setting, or campaign since The Trials take place in a natural, neutral area – a forest. The names, lore, and other specifics may be changed to fit your world better, or it can be just a one-time adventure to enjoy.

Background

There are many mercenaries throughout the realm making a name for themselves, their guild, or their empire by either killing for profit or getting rid of the troublemakers that have become a nuisance for some lord. But amongst all, there is a small gathering of such merciless, cut-throat killers that has an unusual advantage on its side.

In the grim town of Skreg, where gargoyles stay guard at every entrance and no blade finds itself without an owner, there is a tradition that has peeked the interests of many adventurers and seekers of adrenaline that have heard of it. Once per year, when the final rays of winter shine upon the ground, the Velosian mercenaries come out of their hidings in hopes of finding themselves worthy companions through The Velos Trials.

The citizens of Skreg have had an agreement with the Velos for about eleven generations now, which states that once a year they are allowed into Rafayette Forest, territory belonging to the Velos, in order to find their perfect partner in crime.

Since a bond is needed between Master and Velos, mercenaries of Skreg train themselves since they can barely walk so they can ultimately impress the Velos with their aptitudes and clever thinking and show their hard work through these Trials as soon as they are seventeen years old.

Adventure Hook

The PCs are sitting in a tavern enjoying a cold brew and relaxing to a bard’s jolly tune when a dark, cloaked figure suddenly drops near them and hands them a piece of parchment. The figure whispers 'See you all soon' and vanishes just as suddenly as he appeared.

Hand the PCs the parchment. Hand-Out

by AnyaChan

While reading it, the party can hear the sound of a carriage being drawn outside and horses neighing excitedly. They also notice that the value of the prizes stated on the piece of parchment starts to decrease as they spend more time deciding what to do.

Outside the tavern, a black, shiny carriage with no driver is awaiting them. As they exit, the carriage door opens immediately, but they can fleetingly notice a round silver crest showing a stylized bird with wide wings adorning the wide door. When they are settled inside the carriage, the value of the prizes stops decreasing and the horses start galloping, making the door close with a thud behind them.

Chapter 1 – Arriving in Skreg

Let’s get straight to business!

The carriage leads the PCs to the dark stone, gargoyle guarded gates of Skreg where they are greeted by two cloaked mercenaries who stop them on the side of the road and tell them in a rather brusque tone that they should wait for their Guide.

While they do so, the PCs can witness the celebrations taking place inside the city walls. There are many stalls with freshly baked goods, foamy beverages, cloths, and weapons alike. Citizens buzz around excitedly and flutter black flags with the same silver crest that was on the carriage door, making the bird’s wings seem like they are about to take flight.

Additional Info

If the PCs try to enter the city, the guards will not allow them to do so, telling them ‘If you are lucky enough to come back from the trials, then and only then will you be allowed inside Skreg.’

The Guide, who is actually a mere boy of fourteen, eventually shows up and welcomes them to the Velos Trials. He then hastily escorts the party, not towards the inside of the city as they might hope, but instead, they take a small path by the side of the city walls towards the entrance of a forest, guarded by another set of gates, this time made of redwood with bronze hinges, where some make-shift barracks and a stage appear to have been recently built.

Contestants Reaction

As soon as the PCs approach, whispers cease and all eyes are on them. Most mercenaries throw dirty looks and smirks, showing off their muscled arms or brandishing their swords and daggers, while others seem either curious or infuriated by their arrival.

A woman wearing a bronze mask with foxlike eyes sits up from the barrel that she had been resting on and goes up the stage.

“Welcome future Velosians and tardy guests! Today we gather here yet again to celebrate The Velos Trials. On this fateful day each year, we witness mighty challengers creating bonds with members of the pristine Velos Tribe, while trying to prove their skills and aptitudes.

In case any of you have forgotten the rules or don’t know them’ she adds looking at you all ‘you may freshen up your memory and peruse them on the notice board behind you.

Contestants, you may plan your approach for only a few more minutes and when you hear the Guide’s canon, I would like to ask you to line up in front of the Red Gates. Thank you and Good luck! Make your people proud!”

After the speech, the woman approaches the party telling them that it is required for all weapons and personal items (including magic items) to be left behind other than an ordinary backpack (if any) and whatever potions they may possess. Ingredients for spells or herbs may also be kept. If a PC wishes to sneak in any object, they have to make a DC 20 Charisma (Deception) Check as the woman thoroughly searches them.

They are then led towards the barracks where they are told to choose three items each from what is offered.

List of Items

• Shovel
• Shield
• Unlit Torch
• 50 feet of Rope
• One Bronze Token with the Bird Crest on it
• Fishing Pole
• Short bow & 15 Arrows
• Garden Shears
• Bronze Mirror
• Small Animal Trap
• Hatchet
• Wooden Club
• Short sword
• Bag of Stinky Meat
• Dagger
• Crowbar
• Pickaxe
• Throwing Knives
• Old Backpack
• Pouch with 10 Steel Nails

Afterward, the PCs may read the rules posted on the board just outside of the barracks and they can try socializing with other competitors. You may allow them as much time as you want before the sound of the canon can be heard and everyone lines up in front of the Red Gates.
Rules

by AnyaChan

Conversations

The other contestants are not particularly interested in having a real conversation with the PC. Most of them would just ignore them or mock their attempt at taking part in these Trials.

Among the contestants, there is a rather popular fellow called Rayner Alabaster, who has five or six other mercenaries gathered around him listening to every word that he says.

If engaged in a conversation by the party, he will proudly list his many achievements – such as defeating a giant wild boar, capturing a banshee, fighting off dozens of swarms of bats, or shooting arrows to take down eagles while hanging upside down for a tree – and he will warn the PCs not to stay in his way.

Chapter 2 - Rafayette Forest

General Info

Rafayette Forest has belonged to the Velos for more than three centuries and part of it is actually used as training grounds by the Velos. That specific part has been tampered with in order to become more of a challenge for those in training. Therefore, the ground has been covered in thorny, snapping branches, fallen logs, and slippery moss while on the canopy and tree barks sticky sap has been spread and beehives have been moved towards this side to attract more wildlife. The dense part of the forest, which includes The Dark Grove, Mother’s Cradle, and The Shrieking Creek should be considered difficult terrain, and at any time during their travels through it roll on Encounter Table A to see what hardships they go through. The rest of the forest, which includes The Retreat, The Needle Sea, and The Moaning Meadow, is used by the Velos for hunting prey, so it was left mostly undisturbed, allowing wildlife to continue its natural cycle. At any point during the PCs travels through this side, roll on Encounter Table B.

For a more realistic feel of competition, two encounters per area should be rolled, but feel free to change this to fit the party better.

The map below should not be shown to the players until prompted.

Indications about the forest:

1. At any point you want during the PCs travel through the forest, roll on the Encounter Tables.

2. Where the paths end and meet the rivers there used to be two bridges, but for the purpose of the Trials, they have been destroyed by the Velos so that they can witness what plans the contestants come up with.

3. The lighting in the forest is mostly dim light offered by the moon, with the exception of the Dark Grove which has no light whatsoever due to its density.

Map

by AnyaChan

As soon as the canon blows the gates open and all contestants rush towards the forest, most of them choosing to take the left side of the path. They quickly disappear into the canopy and nothing but birds and rodents scampering away are left.

Further along the path, you notice ferns being rustled near a knobby, ancient-looking tree and you suddenly hear a voice saying ‘Psst! Psst!’.

As you approach it you start noticing that a man wearing a raggedy, grey bandana over his nose is crouching behind it, with something that looks like a long, wooden crate with leather straps beside him. He appears younger than the rest of the mercenaries and you don’t remember seeing him among those gathered at the barracks.

‘You shouldn’t go left yet’ the young man promptly states. ‘The others did that to confuse you, you know. And to make you lose time. It’s the first trick in the book.’

The young fellow’s name is Crow Alabaster and he is, in fact, posing as a competitor in the Trials, although being underage. He had been mapping the area and developing a plan to catch his own Velos for years, and recently decided that this should be the year when he finally attempts this.

He will ask the PCs for an alliance that could benefit both parties. His way of achieving this is by offering the PCs information and help along the way in exchange for their help if trouble should arise.

Information Crow Alabaster offers

- No bird will ever willingly choose to bond with outsiders and therefore they have few, if any, chances to actually acquire one on their own.

The PCs, like many others before them, were just called to take part in the trials for a taste of the unexpected and an easy hunt for the other competitors.

Trinkets may be found all around the forest, and they are needed as offerings to the Velos in order to create a bond with them.

There is one bird that might accept to bond with them but its location and specifics will remain hidden until Crow acquires his Velos.

Velos are always watching their every move and may seek to test them in certain situations.

- In order for them to bond with this specific Velos, they will need two trinkets instead of one. (If any of the PCs has taken the Bronze coin from the barracks, this task is easier since they now only have to find one trinket)

- He shows the PCs the Map.

Area 1 – The Retreat

General Info

Tall pine trees tower over the path, casting wide shadows only disturbed by the occasional drumming woodpecker or scurrying squirrel. The Retreat holds a Safe Zone that competitors can use at any given point in order to take a rest. In this area, fighting is not allowed and no encounters take place.

The PCs may use one of the cabins to stay in it and you may roll on the following table to see if any other mercenaries are around when the PCs decide to stay there.

Encounters in The Retreat

The Retreat is a peaceful area where only regular forest fauna can be seen - such as hares, deers, bears, squirrels, various birds, and others. If at any point, the party chooses to stay in one of the cabins, they will not have any problems during the night, but they will be able to hear others lurking outside as well as the sounds of wings flapping and occasional screeches.

Area 2 – The Moaning Meadow

General Info

In this part of the forest, there is a meadow populated by thousands of mandrakes and as the PCs step through them, they tend to moan or sigh loudly from being disturbed. Additionally, there is a Giant Bear that has not yet awakened from its winter slumber, sleeping in the underbrush by a tree hollow. The prolonged sound of the mandrakes will make the bear wake up.

On the other side of the meadow, there is a trinket that Crow has spotted a few days earlier being carried by a grey hare into its burrow. Since he didn't find himself capable of defeating the bear alone, he decided to let the foreign guests make the approach when they arrive. He has prepared three pairs of earmuffs, two of which he offers to the PCs. For those without earmuffs, he improvises some using cotton, leather, and a few vines that he has in his crate, but the PCs wearing those will have to make a DC 12 Constitution Saving Throw whenever they hear the cry of a mandrake that has been pulled from the ground. (On a fail, the affected PC gains one level of exhaustion and takes 1d4 psychic damage)

If the giant bear is awakened it will attack the party immediately. The PCs may grab mandrakes and pull them out of the ground and use their cries to weaken the bear.

Once they reach the burrow, the PCs can retrieve the trinket - a blue shell necklace - with a successful DC 10 Intelligence (Investigation) Check. Afterward, Crow tells them that they should head towards The Shrieking Creek to find the second trinket that they need for their Velos.

Giant Bear stats

by https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Giant_Bear_(5e_Creature)

Area 3 – The Shrieking Creek

General Info

There is no visible path through this area of the forest and upon the floor lie trees, fallen in harsh storms that have stripped away the bark and outer layer, leaving their ivory insides exposed. Like a terrifying skeleton army, the only sound in this area is the wind, shrieking as if through hollow bones, carrying any other sound as far as it can. There is also an eerie mist surrounding this area. The Shrieking Creek is considered difficult terrain.

As the PCs travel through this area, make them roll a DC 16 Constitution Saving Throw. Those that fail the roll, start craving a certain citrusy fruit that they don't remember ever eating. They also suddenly feel the smell of said fruit guiding them deeper into the forest.

Affected Player's Behaviour

The affected PCs will not listen to their comrades if they try to stop them, nor will their hunger be satiated if given anything other than the fruit to eat, and they will just follow the smell until they arrive at a mound of thorny bushes and fallen branches, from under which the smell seems to come out.

The party will have to first cut, burn, or by any other means, get rid of everything that is covering the fruits. When this task has been completed they will notice something small and black quickly roll away from under the mound and towards a berry bush a few feet away from them. A PC with a Passive Perception 12 or higher will notice, two tiny, shiny eyes watching them from under the bush.

If the players make any kind of check to investigate the fruits, they would not be able to find anything wrong or unusual about them. Once any of the PCs attempt to eat a fruit, read the following:

You suddenly hear the sound of wings flapping wildly as a small, black bird rolls out from under the bush and lands with a thud in front of you. When the bird opens its eyes and sees that it is so close to you, it quickly hides behind the fruits. ‘I can help you with the fruit’ you hear it say in a squeaky voice ‘but only if you can take me back to my mama.’

The young bird is actually a baby Velos called Thamy, who has gotten lost in the forest while chasing a fat bee.

Thamy wants to get back to her mama – who resides in Area 6 – The Mother’s Cradle.

Thamy's wish

If the party offers to help Thamy get back home, it will immediately become very excited and run around the fruits thanking the PCs. It will then throw itself through the fruits, knocking most over, carefully selecting fruits that are not poisoned, and pushing them with its tiny beak in front of the affected characters.

 In case the players choose not to help Thamy and continue looking for the trinket, the small bird will just follow them telling them stories about her great mama and eventually letting the players know that there are no more trinkets in this area. Thamy will not give them any more information until the PCs agree to help her find her mama. She will then share that she has seen one of the other contestants lose a trinket while falling into a trap in The Needle Sea.

Area 4 – The Needle Sea

General Info

Narrowing through thorny thickets and stinging nettles, on uneven ground, while also slipping on wispy moss might be difficult for the party which is why this area is considered difficult terrain.

As the PCs are walking through the Needle Sea, Thamy keeps on telling stories about her powerful mother and how no one was good enough to make her accept a bond while leading the PCs to where she had last seen the trinket.

 When the party arrives close to the location, they notice Rayner and his group of cronies, who are trying to get down the corpse of another contestant that had fallen into a trap and lost his life hanging upside down for too long. Furthermore, they notice Rayner flipping a small, bronze coin with his thumb. As soon as the party notices Rayner, Crow hides himself up a nearby tree and will not get involved in the fight. Thamy will also choose to hide somewhere nearby safely.

If any of the players does anything to make the mercenaries notice them, Rayner takes out his short sword and approaches the party menacingly.

'Well, well, well. Look what we have here, boys. Some wannabe mercenaries who thought that they are good enough to try and get one of our Velos. You know people die in these trials, right?' he asks approaching you further.

'You do realize that the rule about killing ANY creature we encounter in the forest refers to you too, right? Did you actually believe that the people of Skreg would allow you to just walk away with a Velos?'

'Come on, boys. Let’s show them exactly why we are feared.'

Rayner will attack relentlessly until defeated. If any of the PCs ever mention Crow’s name or shout for him, he will not respond but this will infuriate Rayner.

' Why are you saying that name? Did you meet anyone with that name here? That little worm better not be around here or I’ll skin him alive even if it makes mother cry.'

After they defeat Rayner the party may search their pockets in order to recover the bronze coin which is the second trinket they need and they may also collect the remaining items that the mercenaries still have with them. (any choice of items - or something similar - to those on the list they first received)

During the fight, while being up the tree, Crow noticed a Velos with a slightly longer than usual, shimmering tail that he realized was the one he was looking for. He urges the party to follow the bird as it flies through the leafy canopy towards Area 5 - The Dark Grove.

Area 5 – The Dark Grove

General Info

This area is, as the name suggested, engulfed completely in darkness. Any character that would move through this area without any light source will be Blinded. There are many creatures lurking in this area, but most of them would be weakened by bright lights.

With the help of a light source, the party can start searching around looking for the Velos. There are many traps surrounding this area, put up by other contestants, so feel free to get creative in what kind of traps the PCs may encounter here.

Thamy will continue to brag about her mother until she suddenly feels another Velos close by. She makes the party aware and they notice the shimmering, green tail of the Velos hanging down from a tree.

Shining a powerful light directly into the Velos' eyes will make it confused and unaware of its surroundings for a short while, which will keep it on the branch so that the party can have some attempts at catching it.

Also, if any PC has taken the Bronze Mirror from the objects on the list, they can now show it to the Velos in order to stop it in its motion. This Velos is particularly vain and would stop to look at itself but it would still keep a close eye on the party's movements, therefore a surprise ambush would be needed.

Otherwise, it will fly around the Dark Grove and the PCs along with Crow will have to follow it and catch it.

This part involves a chase around the Dark Grove in an attempt to somehow capture the Velos. The party may use their items of choice or come up with any plan to do so, but they are constantly reminded by Crow not to hurt the Velos.

This is the PCs chance to be creative and come up with a plan on how to catch The Velos.

Velos Stats

by AnyaChan

Outcome 1

If the PCs are the ones to catch the Velos, it will become interested in the party member that did most of the work and he will have a mental dialogue with that party member alone. The Velos is not interested in bonding with foreigners because it will cast a bad light on its reputation, and neither is it interested in bonding with Crow, who has not shown much skill and aptitude. If the PCs can convince the Velos to accept Crow as its master (a few DC 12 Persuasion or Deception Checks might be useful) then it will be moved by their truthful and honorable intentions and accept to bond with Crow.

Outcome 2

If the PCs don’t manage to capture it, the Velos will eventually fly towards the cliffs, a moment which Crow finds appropriate for putting his plan into action. In his crate, he had already prepared two arrows tied together with some vines - making something that looks like a bola but with arrows - and from those vines, he connected a longer rope which he now proceeded to tie around a tree. Crow then shoots the arrows from his longbow and he manages to make them entangle around the Velos, capturing its wings making it now Grappled. The longer rope prevents the Velos from falling down the cliffs, due to Crow pulling it safely to the edge.

Crow then asks the PCs to help him check the bird for any injuries that it might have suffered as it slightly crashed into the edge of the cliff. (DC 10 Medicine (Wisdom) Check will show that the Velos did not suffer any injuries other than some ruffled feathers)

The Velos, whose name is Neo, is impressed by Crow's skills and wits and will accept to bond with him, although it promptly comments on the fact that he is underage - which displeases it.

Offering the locket and bonding with Neo finishes Crow's mission in these trials, so now he decides to inform the party that in order to acquire a Velos for themselves, they would have to fight a particular one, and win. This would normally contradict the rules, unless, the Velos is the one asking for a fight.

Explanation

Since 'The importance of the rules lies in their order' and 'The Velos' wishes are always to be respected' rule is above the one about not harming it, this loophole can be used to fight with a Velos whose wish is to challenge anyone and everyone to a fight.

In Rafayette Forest there is only one Velos that challenges anyone to a fight, and that Velos can be found in the Arena in Area 6 – The Mother’s Cradle.

Area 6 – The Mother’s Cradle

General Info

This area of the forest is as dense as the others and traveling through it is also taken as difficult terrain. The Mother's Cradle holds the Velos' entertainment area - The Arena.

In this Arena a Velos known as Yingrit has been fighting and holding her title as Velos Champion for quite a few years now.

The Arena is a round terrain, about 70ft in diameter, with the floor made out of severed tree trunks placed at about 5-10 ft from one another. A misplaced step and one can end up down in the pit. This challenge requires not only for a character to be agile but witty, because the longer it lasts, the more chances you have of falling.

There is also an audience made of dozens of Velos, that watch the competition.

When the party arrives at the Arena, a battle is just about to finish. They can witness a fellow contestant slipping from one of the trunks that make up the arena floor, and falling into the pit while he was trying to shoot an arrow at a Velos that was flying just a few feet above him. As soon as the mercenary fell, all other Velos in attendance start screeching as if laughing at his poor attempt.

In that moment, a voice sneaks into their minds unexpectedly, shouting to all that were close enough to hear.

‘Is there no one here good enough to defeat me? Are there no more contestants? Is this what Skreg sends to us this year?’

Yingrit Stats

by AnyaChan

The PCs can then offer to accept the challenge. During the fight, whenever they move to a new position, they will have to roll a DC 12 Dexterity (Acrobatics) Check and if they fail, they will fall into the pit and therefore be disqualified from the challenge. If possible, they can attempt a DC 15 Strength Saving Throw in order to grab the trunk that they were standing on.

PC Death Info

None of the PCs will die from the fall, because Crow will send Neo to save them, but they will be disqualified if they fall.

Battle Outcome

No matter how many of the party members fall into the pit and get disqualified, if there is still one player left in the Arena, and Yingrit is defeated, they win.

Outcome 1: When the party if close to defeating Yingrit, and she is left with 8 HP or less, as soon as a party member's turn starts, read this:

As you move to strike, you suddenly hear Thamy's squeaky voice shrill 'Mama, NO! Don't lose! Mama!' and you can see hear tiny, wide eyes in tears as she watches your next move.

If the PCs spare Yingrit's life or somehow capture her without delivering the last blow, they win the competition.

Yingrit will be grateful to the PCs for bringing Thamy back to her and she will offer her services to the party as their new companion, in exchange for the two tokens.

Outcome 2: If all party members fall into the pit and are disqualified, Yingrit will still congratulate them for their attempt and tell them that, as a reward for their honorable quest of bringing a baby Velos back home, they may take with them a Velos Egg. The egg will hatch at some point in the next three moons and if they take care of it and make sure it is trained properly, it will become a powerful Velos.

Ending the One-Shot

No matter the outcome of the challenge, the PCs will be led out of the forest by Crow and Neo, who are going to offer their farewells before reaching the gates so as to not be noticed.

The woman with the fox mask will be waiting for them near the gates, seeming surprised that they have survived the trials. She will offer each of the PCs one of the silver crests that adorn all of Skreg's goods, telling them that it will serve as a way of gaining information or services from most mercenaries (GM's choice), but especially from the Velosian ones.

Money Prize

Seeing that the party lost some time fighting in the Arena, there can be two outcomes regarding the prize money:

1. If the PCs have defeated Rayner Alabaster during the Trials, they would win second place.(The woman will not disclose who won first place)

2. If the PCs evaded Rayner and he was not defeated, then they will win third place.

The woman will also now welcome the PCs into the city of Skreg where they can enjoy the celebration, after they have returned the three items each of them took into the trials, and getting back their personal belongings.

by Youth Hub

Encounter Table A

by AnyaChan

Encounter Table B

by AnyaChan

Contestant's Stats

For any contestant that the party meets in the forest, apart from Rayner Alabaster, you can use the standard Bandit Stats.

by https://roll20.net/

Crow Alabaster

by https://www.fantasy-faces.com/

Crow Alabaster is the youngest son of the Skreg ruler, Lord Lyon Alabaster, and he has entered the trials without anyone knowing, due to him being underage. He has wanted for a very long time to prove himself to his father and therefore decided that by finding a Velos, despite not being ready for such a partnership, he will manage to show to the family that he has just as promising a future as his brother, Rayner Alabaster, who is also part of this year’s Velos Trials.

by AnyaChan

Rayner Alabaster

For Rayner Alabaster you can use the standard Veteran Stats.

by https://roll20.net/

Plot type

Adventure One-Shot