Christmas One Shot!
In the country of Norheim, there is an odd tradition practiced by the locals. Long ago, during a time of war and great suffering, a lone Aasimar named Oloric, risked his life to trudge into a war zone. This conflict long ago devolved into a stalemate that had gone on so long that the dead were uncountable and no one even remembered what their fight was for. Armed with nothing but a bag of holding, he snuck into both camps of the opposing sides and handed out food, medicine, blankets, and healing herbs to the troops dug in on the battlefield. When asked by the commanding officers where these supplies came from, Oloric lied and said that the enemy officers had ordered him to deliver them as a sign of peace. Intrigued by this sudden generosity, The two forces agreed to meet on neutral ground for a feast and a peaceful meeting. This night, which came to be known as Cresthearth, began negotiations from both sides which would eventually lead to a peace treaty and an end to this bloody conflict. After that night, No one ever saw Oloric on this continent again. But the legend of his magnanimous act grew and spread down the generations.
Now, the generosity and selflessness of that mysterious Aasimar lives on every year on the night of Cresthearth. Cities and villages gather in a public square for a great feast and a night of gift giving among the populace. For one night out of the year throughout Norheim, there is peace, joy, and food enough for all.
You all find yourselves in a village called Falwyr, just outside the capital of Balmora. Near the foothills of Pongrund Mountain. Partaking in a Cresthearth celebration. The village of Falwyr in recent years seems to have turned Cresthearth night into some sort of a competition. Not wanting to be outshined by their neighbors in the capital, The village has turned this comforting peaceful tradition into a night of raucous frivolity. They purchase exorbitant gifts for one another, they import the finest and rarest ales and spirits from around the continent. And they spend months out of the year gathering and raising livestock from the nearby mountains to be used in the feast.
You were drawn here after hearing tales of the extravagance of the Falwyr feast and you were not disappointed. Game birds, Boar, Goat, beef, bison, fish of all sizes and colors, all laid out succulently on the feasting table as you entered the party. You have sampled wines and ales that you have never tasted before and are having a great time. You are gathered in front of a town hall. A tent with heated torches stands nearby where the feast will begin shortly. Right now you are standing in a crowd of humans, elves, and gnomes where a very important looking human is standing at the front on a podium greeting the guests.
*Mass Perception Check* DC 20
--You spy someone that looks rather out of place and taking large heapings of food into a sack
"A very Blessed Cresthearth to you all my dear friends! I am so happy to see you all gathered here. I see some new faces in the crowd so let me introduce myself. I am Mayor Buryngton and I humbly welcome you to Falwyr village. We are delighted to have you here for our feast. Please stay as long as you like and enjoy yourselves. And if our visiting friends have forgotten to bring gifts, fear not, you may supplicate this by making a donation to the mayor's office in coin"
You hear chuckles throughout the crowd.
"Anyway I hereby proclaim the start of this feast of Cresthearth Op-"
Suddenly you hear a commotion from the feast tent
"Gone, all gone, That monster! He's done it again! We're ruined!!!"
the crowd turns to see a skinny bald headed gnome rushing out of the tent toward the mayor's podium.
"I saw him! He struck while we were all distracted! He rushed in and snatched up all our food for the feast!"
"Who has done this?"
"It was... The Grievebeast!" The crowd all collectively gasps and some scream and some faint "He always attempts to ruin our feast with his shenanigans! I say it's time we put an end to him once and for all!" The crowd cheers in agreement. You hear cries for death of this Grievebeast The Mayor straightens himself "Grieve has left me no choice. To save Cresthearth night, I will offer a bounty. 3,000 gp to whomever brings that monster back here... Dead or alive. any volunteers? "I will do it!" A voice from the side rings out You see a confident looking human armed with a Crossbow step forward ::He will ask the party to join him on this quest if they don't volunteer at the mayor's request.:: ::The party embark up Pongrund mountain:: ::DC15 survival/investigation check to find where Grievebeast's hideout is:: You enter the dark cave and feel a breeze blow past you as you enter about 40 feet you come out of this narrow passage into a large chamber. ::The party meets (or is found) By Grievebeast after the Net trap:: a Big green Hobgoblin stands in front of you. He's a little underfed but still stands a head above most of you. He is bedecked in various baubles and odd contraptions around his belt and slung on his back. A Wolf of some kind stands at his feet, teeth bared, ready to strike. "So I guess, you're the ones sent here to kill me. So be it. But if I die, the people of that village will be slaughtered. And that will be on your conscience for the rest of your lives. I was once a human like you. (Harri Krier) A town guard in Falwyr. But I was lured to the hut of an evil Hag. She seduced me with magic and took my life while under some sort of spell. When I awoke, I could see my old self lying dead on her table. And I was in a new body. She had me serve her nefarious deeds for a year before I finally killed her and ended my servitude. But when I attempted to return to my home, I was shunned as a monster. My new appearance made them think I was there to harm them. Even my own family didn't recognize me. They tried to burn me alive but I fled into the mountain. I lived here in Isolation for nearly twenty years. I grew to hate the people of that village. despise them. Loathe them entirely! But then as time wore on, my hatred subsided. I learned to understand their actions were to protect themselves, they acted as anyone would act under those circumstances. I came to the realization that I was no longer one of them. But these are my people and I still felt compelled to protect them. So I did so from afar. I watched them, and guarded them from outside threats as I still do to this day. The reason I take the food from their feast is because it does not belong to them. I leave them enough to feed themselves and enjoy a little bit extra. But this excess of food they have been taking I return to the mountain. There is something very evil living up here. And the people of Falwyr have been unknowingly removing its only food source... When Yetis can no longer find enough food on its mountain, it will wander down and find the first settlement with living things and tear it to shreds. I have been stealing the excess of food and returning it to the Yeti in the hopes that it will be sustained enough to stay put. But each year, the villagers harvest more, and more. More goats, More plants, More of everything! And now I fear what I've stolen back will not be enough. I may need to stop it myself from finding Falwyr, Even if I lose my life, I will do so defending my home town. If you have the goodness of Cresthearth in your hearts, you would help me kill this thing." ::You hear a deafening roar echo up the mountain, carried on the wind. The source of this noise seems to originate down in the village:: "Oh no we're too late! Come Maximillian! We must go!" You see Grievebeast and his pup board a giant sleigh. just about big enough to hoist an entire feast up a mountain. Now stands empty save for its captain. Despite its rickety nature, there is plenty of room for all of you. "are you coming?" You apprehensively begin boarding as GB begins thrusting the sleigh forward urging it to move. You feel the speed of the sled increase along with the tilt axis of the vehicle. Before the fear can sink into you you are all traveling nearly vertical down this mountain. Icy winds whipping at your faces and clothing. A makeshift pulley system manned by Grivebeast is all that is steering you in the right direction. "We Should be fine, there may be some low branches. when you see them, DUCK!" DC 12 Dexterity save to avoid branches a failure of 5 or more results in 2d6 bludgeoning damage. Any less and the character is bonked in the head but suffers no damage. After several minutes, your chariot reaches the foothills of the mountain and takes on a more horizontal bearing as you see the lights of Falwyr not too far in the distance. You see Grievebeast begin pulling on both parts of the pulley system. in an attempt to slow your vehicle down "We've got a lot of weight on this thing. Finding it difficult to slow down... little Help?!?!" (DC40 Collective Athletics Check for all people involved to stop the sleigh safely. On a failure, everyone is thrown from the sleigh and lands prone taking 1d6 bludgeoning damage) (On a success, players safely land near the town square and the roar of the yeti draws them to the battle) You are back in the town square. You see this giant hairy white monster, almost looks like its invisible silhouetted against the fallen snow. It picks up a villager and bites into its side spraying blood everywhere. The crowd scatters, horrified. ::Encounter Party Vs. Abominable Yeti:: And so On that fateful cresthearth night,
an outcast and a group of outsiders stood up to fight.
With vicious axe and slinging spell
This unkillable creature finally fell
The people, now safe, jumped and rejoiced!
among the cheers was heard the Mayor's voice
"Grievebeast, sweet Grievebeast! You are our savior!
Despite our less than charitable behavior
You have saved us all, this much is true
Our lives and safety are indebted to you!
If you'd be so kind and ever so able
We'd be happy for you to join us at our Cresthearth table"
And something covered Grievebeast's face, never before seen
A bright toothy smile! Through teary eyes did beam
The people of Falwyr, in the name of charity and peace
solemnly settled down to a reasonable Cresthearth feast
With you brave heroes, and the loveable Grievebeast
((If GB dies in the battle)) A glass is raised by the people in honor of their fallen protector.
"It was... The Grievebeast!" The crowd all collectively gasps and some scream and some faint "He always attempts to ruin our feast with his shenanigans! I say it's time we put an end to him once and for all!" The crowd cheers in agreement. You hear cries for death of this Grievebeast The Mayor straightens himself "Grieve has left me no choice. To save Cresthearth night, I will offer a bounty. 3,000 gp to whomever brings that monster back here... Dead or alive. any volunteers? "I will do it!" A voice from the side rings out You see a confident looking human armed with a Crossbow step forward ::He will ask the party to join him on this quest if they don't volunteer at the mayor's request.:: ::The party embark up Pongrund mountain:: ::DC15 survival/investigation check to find where Grievebeast's hideout is:: You enter the dark cave and feel a breeze blow past you as you enter about 40 feet you come out of this narrow passage into a large chamber. ::The party meets (or is found) By Grievebeast after the Net trap:: a Big green Hobgoblin stands in front of you. He's a little underfed but still stands a head above most of you. He is bedecked in various baubles and odd contraptions around his belt and slung on his back. A Wolf of some kind stands at his feet, teeth bared, ready to strike. "So I guess, you're the ones sent here to kill me. So be it. But if I die, the people of that village will be slaughtered. And that will be on your conscience for the rest of your lives. I was once a human like you. (Harri Krier) A town guard in Falwyr. But I was lured to the hut of an evil Hag. She seduced me with magic and took my life while under some sort of spell. When I awoke, I could see my old self lying dead on her table. And I was in a new body. She had me serve her nefarious deeds for a year before I finally killed her and ended my servitude. But when I attempted to return to my home, I was shunned as a monster. My new appearance made them think I was there to harm them. Even my own family didn't recognize me. They tried to burn me alive but I fled into the mountain. I lived here in Isolation for nearly twenty years. I grew to hate the people of that village. despise them. Loathe them entirely! But then as time wore on, my hatred subsided. I learned to understand their actions were to protect themselves, they acted as anyone would act under those circumstances. I came to the realization that I was no longer one of them. But these are my people and I still felt compelled to protect them. So I did so from afar. I watched them, and guarded them from outside threats as I still do to this day. The reason I take the food from their feast is because it does not belong to them. I leave them enough to feed themselves and enjoy a little bit extra. But this excess of food they have been taking I return to the mountain. There is something very evil living up here. And the people of Falwyr have been unknowingly removing its only food source... When Yetis can no longer find enough food on its mountain, it will wander down and find the first settlement with living things and tear it to shreds. I have been stealing the excess of food and returning it to the Yeti in the hopes that it will be sustained enough to stay put. But each year, the villagers harvest more, and more. More goats, More plants, More of everything! And now I fear what I've stolen back will not be enough. I may need to stop it myself from finding Falwyr, Even if I lose my life, I will do so defending my home town. If you have the goodness of Cresthearth in your hearts, you would help me kill this thing." ::You hear a deafening roar echo up the mountain, carried on the wind. The source of this noise seems to originate down in the village:: "Oh no we're too late! Come Maximillian! We must go!" You see Grievebeast and his pup board a giant sleigh. just about big enough to hoist an entire feast up a mountain. Now stands empty save for its captain. Despite its rickety nature, there is plenty of room for all of you. "are you coming?" You apprehensively begin boarding as GB begins thrusting the sleigh forward urging it to move. You feel the speed of the sled increase along with the tilt axis of the vehicle. Before the fear can sink into you you are all traveling nearly vertical down this mountain. Icy winds whipping at your faces and clothing. A makeshift pulley system manned by Grivebeast is all that is steering you in the right direction. "We Should be fine, there may be some low branches. when you see them, DUCK!" DC 12 Dexterity save to avoid branches a failure of 5 or more results in 2d6 bludgeoning damage. Any less and the character is bonked in the head but suffers no damage. After several minutes, your chariot reaches the foothills of the mountain and takes on a more horizontal bearing as you see the lights of Falwyr not too far in the distance. You see Grievebeast begin pulling on both parts of the pulley system. in an attempt to slow your vehicle down "We've got a lot of weight on this thing. Finding it difficult to slow down... little Help?!?!" (DC40 Collective Athletics Check for all people involved to stop the sleigh safely. On a failure, everyone is thrown from the sleigh and lands prone taking 1d6 bludgeoning damage) (On a success, players safely land near the town square and the roar of the yeti draws them to the battle) You are back in the town square. You see this giant hairy white monster, almost looks like its invisible silhouetted against the fallen snow. It picks up a villager and bites into its side spraying blood everywhere. The crowd scatters, horrified. ::Encounter Party Vs. Abominable Yeti:: And so On that fateful cresthearth night,
an outcast and a group of outsiders stood up to fight.
With vicious axe and slinging spell
This unkillable creature finally fell
The people, now safe, jumped and rejoiced!
among the cheers was heard the Mayor's voice
"Grievebeast, sweet Grievebeast! You are our savior!
Despite our less than charitable behavior
You have saved us all, this much is true
Our lives and safety are indebted to you!
If you'd be so kind and ever so able
We'd be happy for you to join us at our Cresthearth table"
And something covered Grievebeast's face, never before seen
A bright toothy smile! Through teary eyes did beam
The people of Falwyr, in the name of charity and peace
solemnly settled down to a reasonable Cresthearth feast
With you brave heroes, and the loveable Grievebeast
((If GB dies in the battle)) A glass is raised by the people in honor of their fallen protector.
Traps:
Collapsing Roof
Mechanical trap
This trap uses a trip wire to collapse the supports keeping an unstable section of a ceiling in place.
The trip wire is 3 inches off the ground and stretches between two support beams. The DC to spot the trip wire is 10. A successful DC 15 Dexterity check using thieves’ tools disables the trip wire harmlessly. A character without thieves’ tools can attempt this check with disadvantage using any edged weapon or edged tool. On a failed check, the trap triggers.
Anyone who inspects the beams can easily determine that they are merely wedged in place. As an action, a character can knock over a beam, causing the trap to trigger.
The ceiling above the trip wire is in bad repair, and anyone who can see it can tell that it’s in danger of collapse.
When the trap is triggered, the unstable ceiling collapses. Any creature in the area beneath the unstable section (20ft square) must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d8) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Once the trap is triggered, the floor of the area is filled with rubble and becomes difficult terrain.
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Poison Darts
Mechanical trap
When a creature steps on a hidden pressure plate, poison-tipped darts shoot from spring-loaded or pressurized tubes cleverly embedded in the surrounding walls. An area might include multiple pressure plates, each one rigged to its own set of darts.
The tiny holes in the walls are obscured by dust and cobwebs, or cleverly hidden amid bas-reliefs, murals, or frescoes that adorn the walls. The DC to spot them is 15. With a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check, a character can deduce the presence of the pressure plate from variations in the mortar and stone used to create it, compared to the surrounding floor. Wedging an iron spike or other object under the pressure plate prevents the trap from activating. Stuffing The Holes with cloth or wax prevents the darts contained within from launching.
The trap activates when more than 20 pounds of weight is placed on the pressure plate, releasing four darts. Each dart makes a ranged Attack with a +8 bonus against a random target within 10 feet of the pressure plate (vision is irrelevant to this Attack roll). (If there are no Targets in the area, the darts don’t hit anything.) A target that is hit takes 2 (1d4) piercing damage and must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 11 (2d10) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
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Falling Net
Mechanical trap
This trap uses a trip wire to release a net suspended from the ceiling.
The trip wire is 3 inches off the ground and stretches between two columns or trees. The net is hidden by cobwebs or foliage. The DC to spot the trip wire and net is 10. A successful DC 15 Dexterity check using thieves’ tools breaks the trip wire harmlessly. A character without thieves’ tools can attempt this check with disadvantage using any edged weapon or edged tool. On a failed check, the trap triggers.
When the trap is triggered, the net is released, covering a 10-foot-square area. Those in the area are trapped under the net and Restrained, and those that fail a DC 10 Strength saving throw are also knocked prone. A creature can use its action to make a DC 10 Strength check, freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success. The net has AC 10 and 20 Hit Points. Dealing 5 slashing damage to the net (AC 10) destroys a 5-foot-square section of it, freeing any creature trapped in that section.
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