Ashe Mission 1 - Fight the Inquisition
A one shot for some new characters based in the village of Ashe in the Eigerlands. An unproven ranger races to rescue his mentor from the Adherents of Iron. His mentor has a mysterious and shady past that put him in the sights of the dangerous cult known as the Adherents of Iron. An inquisitor will abduct him and hold him in a forest outpost in the Ashen Forest in the Eigerlands. The young ranger will need to recruit some skilled warriors to help him.
The town of Ashe is a group of huddled buildings and docks that sits on the shoreline of the River of Daggers. Beyond it to the West you see a wall of old growth trees. Massive conifers with wide bases surrounded by gnarled oak trees and dotted with white birch and ash. Thick brush, wide ferns, and tall grasses intermingle underneath to make it look like a forbidding structure not fit for a biped. In fact the forest is run through with man made and natural trails that allow skilled hunters and trappers to navigate the forest once they learn it's secrets.
The Eigerlands and the Ashen forest brings to mind the feel of the forests of central Europe. Dense woods that fill in valleys in between solitary mountains and rolling hills. In the morning the forest is blanketed with a thick mist created by the warm air within interacting with the cold night sky. This mist returns at sunset each day. Travelers who stay in the Ashen forest after dark are either very brave or not long for this world. Entering the forest brings a rush of sensory data, a humid and cool air hold the scents of sage, pine and peat. You hear a symphony of bird calls and insect vibrations. Small gliding mammals jump from tree to tree looking for rich fruits or a flowering tree dripping with nectar. Every once in a while you can hear the heavy footfalls of an elk or the quick darting of a spooked deer. A low growl from a predator will often raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
The town of Ashe is situated here because it serves the needs of the many hunters who venture into this forest. The shops in town will buy exotic animal or monster parts for good coin. These parts and strange substances are used all over the continent for spell components or magically infused items or potions. Exotic and common game put food on the table for the wealthy elite of Westinox and Helletowne but also the regular folk who live in the surrounding area. Most importantly to the people who have come to live here the town of Ashe is free of Lords, Great Houses, and national politics. Most everyone in town want to keep it that way. This also makes the area popular with those who have a price on their heads or have a much darker past they are trying to escape.
Basic structure will be introducing Wess and his relationship with his mentor and then some basic details about the village of Ashe. As Wess moves about town gathering materials to create some arrows we can introduce our other players and a quick animal attack. A stampede of ruminants rushes through town endangering some of the townsfolk. Allow for some hero moments as the players can save some townsfolk from rushing deer and moose like creatures. Then the reason they were running is some more terrible predators chasing them. Good combat situation. During this the Adherents will take the mentor and drag him into the woods. Create a forest compound find some maps and then the new team will have to rescue him. To do : Find some monsters find some maps fill out Ashe create mentor NPC.
The Town of Ashe
The town of Ashe is a group of huddled buildings and docks that sits on the shoreline of the River of Daggers. Beyond it to the West you see a wall of old growth trees. Massive conifers with wide bases surrounded by gnarled oak trees and dotted with white birch and ash. Thick brush, wide ferns, and tall grasses intermingle underneath to make it look like a forbidding structure not fit for a biped. In fact the forest is run through with man made and natural trails that allow skilled hunters and trappers to navigate the forest once they learn it's secrets.
The Eigerlands and the Ashen forest brings to mind the feel of the forests of central Europe. Dense woods that fill in valleys in between solitary mountains and rolling hills. In the morning the forest is blanketed with a thick mist created by the warm air within interacting with the cold night sky. This mist returns at sunset each day. Travelers who stay in the Ashen forest after dark are either very brave or not long for this world. Entering the forest brings a rush of sensory data, a humid and cool air hold the scents of sage, pine and peat. You hear a symphony of bird calls and insect vibrations. Small gliding mammals jump from tree to tree looking for rich fruits or a flowering tree dripping with nectar. Every once in a while you can hear the heavy footfalls of an elk or the quick darting of a spooked deer. A low growl from a predator will often raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
The town of Ashe is situated here because it serves the needs of the many hunters who venture into this forest. The shops in town will buy exotic animal or monster parts for good coin. These parts and strange substances are used all over the continent for spell components or magically infused items or potions. Exotic and common game put food on the table for the wealthy elite of Westinox and Helletowne but also the regular folk who live in the surrounding area. Most importantly to the people who have come to live here the town of Ashe is free of Lords, Great Houses, and national politics. Most everyone in town want to keep it that way. This also makes the area popular with those who have a price on their heads or have a much darker past they are trying to escape.
Basic structure will be introducing Wess and his relationship with his mentor and then some basic details about the village of Ashe. As Wess moves about town gathering materials to create some arrows we can introduce our other players and a quick animal attack. A stampede of ruminants rushes through town endangering some of the townsfolk. Allow for some hero moments as the players can save some townsfolk from rushing deer and moose like creatures. Then the reason they were running is some more terrible predators chasing them. Good combat situation. During this the Adherents will take the mentor and drag him into the woods. Create a forest compound find some maps and then the new team will have to rescue him. To do : Find some monsters find some maps fill out Ashe create mentor NPC.
Plot points/Scenes
Start with Wess speaking with Jaron about finding components to create new arrows.
Wess heads out and meets up with other characters who have come to town.
Wess heads back to Jaron only to find him in a tense conversation with some strange figures from the Thieves guild known as the Maldrith Moth. Jaron tells him to forget about it and they are interrupted by the stampede.
Defeat the predators
Then head to the local tavern to find some adherents of Iron making a show of religion and those who are unworthy or heretics.
possibly confrontation which during Jaron is dragged off into the forest for inquisition.
Characters must head out to rescue
him
Deinonychus battle Ettercap and giant spider Adherents of Iron
Ripley arrives
Ripley Vas Cody, you step off of the ship onto the dock. As you walk forward you find your way to the rocky shore and press your fist down into the solid happy to be back on solid ground. The voyage was difficult and you have never been one to enjoy open waters. You take a moment to clear your head and settle your stomach. Your next move will be to find lodging in town.
Your tribe, the Shepherds of the jungle, have sent you on a difficult quest. The shaman has asked you to bring home the beak of an owlbear, it is an old medicinal ingredient used by your tribe to stave of dementia. The shaman's wife has shown signs and he is in need of the beak to help when the day comes. The dangerous owlbear can only be found in the Eigerlands and this town was identified as the most likely.
Bichromius Cometh...
Bichromius Hoke you get off the same boat as Ripley and breath in the cool air. You come from the city of Serpico in Ventenheim and you have taken a journey to find another dragonborn whom you think may be your brother. Details are spotty and you are going off of an oracle from your temple that had a vision. It is possible that the master monk has had enough of you and has sent you on a false quest just to keep you busy and get you out of his hair. It's really a coin flip at this point.
You have come to Ashe to find a dragonborn man who may have information about the almost mythical figure known as Chimerae or Chim Chim the forsaken. A legendary figure who disappeared a couple centuries ago. The dragonborn in Ashe is one of the few on the entire continent. He is a master shipwright and is said to repair and build ships in this port. His name is Corflex Starwind, a bronze dragonborn who is over 200 years old. If anyone will know the story of Chim Chim it is him. Right now though it is late afternoon and you are hungry and tired. Maybe it's time for a drink and to find a room for the night.
Wess and Jaron
Wess you have lived in Ashe now for over two years. You and Jaron run the Artificer shop in the middle of town and you both have apartments that are built into the building. Early on you worked as an assistant to Jaron but over the last year you have begun to branch out and go on runs with some of the local hunters who work in the forest. Office life was never for you and you would often go exploring in the woods sometimes getting yourself into trouble. Rather than risk you getting eaten by a Dire wolf Jaron made arrangements for you to go with guides as an apprentice hunter. Your skill with a bow quickly outpaced most of them but their experience in woodcraft and tracking kept you humble.
Today though you find yourself putting the finishing touches on your mask. Tell us what it looks like as you hold it up to the light from the window. The late afternoon sun hits it as you put it on. You just spent most of the day out in the forest hunting and you have a brace of large rabbits bundled together with leather cord. Your legs are a little tired after a day hunting but mainly are hungry and thirsty for a good mug of ale. You throw the rabbits on your back and head out to drop them off at the butcher. But first You head into the shop to show Jaron and you see him completing a sale to a bearded human man who holds a small clock in a bundle of cloth. "Thanks again Jaron, the captain will be glad to get this back aboard his ship."
He shows the man out and turns around to look at you "Hoho! please my friend I have no money nor can I defeat such a fearsome foe!" He grins and puts his hands up as he sees you masked and approaching.
"So Wess how did you do today out in the forest? Those are some big rabbits, almost look like Dire Rabbits!"
"Be alert out there tonight, word is that some of those religious fanatics have come up from the coast. Those kind of folks don't stay long, just stay out of there way and let them pass."
"Also I have a few things for you, to add to your collection!" He presents you with a small bundle wrapped in oiled leather. Three arrows which are hand made and streaked with small metal filaments. Foam Arrow, Arrow of Switching, and a Bola Arrow.
Deinonychus battle Ettercap and giant spider Adherents of Iron
Ripley arrives
Ripley Vas Cody, you step off of the ship onto the dock. As you walk forward you find your way to the rocky shore and press your fist down into the solid happy to be back on solid ground. The voyage was difficult and you have never been one to enjoy open waters. You take a moment to clear your head and settle your stomach. Your next move will be to find lodging in town.
Your tribe, the Shepherds of the jungle, have sent you on a difficult quest. The shaman has asked you to bring home the beak of an owlbear, it is an old medicinal ingredient used by your tribe to stave of dementia. The shaman's wife has shown signs and he is in need of the beak to help when the day comes. The dangerous owlbear can only be found in the Eigerlands and this town was identified as the most likely.
Bichromius Cometh...
Bichromius Hoke you get off the same boat as Ripley and breath in the cool air. You come from the city of Serpico in Ventenheim and you have taken a journey to find another dragonborn whom you think may be your brother. Details are spotty and you are going off of an oracle from your temple that had a vision. It is possible that the master monk has had enough of you and has sent you on a false quest just to keep you busy and get you out of his hair. It's really a coin flip at this point.
You have come to Ashe to find a dragonborn man who may have information about the almost mythical figure known as Chimerae or Chim Chim the forsaken. A legendary figure who disappeared a couple centuries ago. The dragonborn in Ashe is one of the few on the entire continent. He is a master shipwright and is said to repair and build ships in this port. His name is Corflex Starwind, a bronze dragonborn who is over 200 years old. If anyone will know the story of Chim Chim it is him. Right now though it is late afternoon and you are hungry and tired. Maybe it's time for a drink and to find a room for the night.
Wess and Jaron
Wess you have lived in Ashe now for over two years. You and Jaron run the Artificer shop in the middle of town and you both have apartments that are built into the building. Early on you worked as an assistant to Jaron but over the last year you have begun to branch out and go on runs with some of the local hunters who work in the forest. Office life was never for you and you would often go exploring in the woods sometimes getting yourself into trouble. Rather than risk you getting eaten by a Dire wolf Jaron made arrangements for you to go with guides as an apprentice hunter. Your skill with a bow quickly outpaced most of them but their experience in woodcraft and tracking kept you humble.
Today though you find yourself putting the finishing touches on your mask. Tell us what it looks like as you hold it up to the light from the window. The late afternoon sun hits it as you put it on. You just spent most of the day out in the forest hunting and you have a brace of large rabbits bundled together with leather cord. Your legs are a little tired after a day hunting but mainly are hungry and thirsty for a good mug of ale. You throw the rabbits on your back and head out to drop them off at the butcher. But first You head into the shop to show Jaron and you see him completing a sale to a bearded human man who holds a small clock in a bundle of cloth. "Thanks again Jaron, the captain will be glad to get this back aboard his ship."
He shows the man out and turns around to look at you "Hoho! please my friend I have no money nor can I defeat such a fearsome foe!" He grins and puts his hands up as he sees you masked and approaching.
"So Wess how did you do today out in the forest? Those are some big rabbits, almost look like Dire Rabbits!"
"Be alert out there tonight, word is that some of those religious fanatics have come up from the coast. Those kind of folks don't stay long, just stay out of there way and let them pass."
"Also I have a few things for you, to add to your collection!" He presents you with a small bundle wrapped in oiled leather. Three arrows which are hand made and streaked with small metal filaments. Foam Arrow, Arrow of Switching, and a Bola Arrow.
Themes
The Inquisitor -
[DM Note: Let's use a new inquisitor rather than the ones that turn into Paladins of Insanity. This one will be a human man named Franco Estemvar. He is fairly new to the position and his main job is to find an artificer who can work with Shard rock. His main goal is to abduct Jaron but their cover as always is to harass normal citizens and question their faith in Eigeralon.]
- As you all walk through the streets of Ashe you watch as the people finish up their tasks for the days. Rough hewn carriages move through grooves in the hard dirt streets hauling timber to and from the sawmill. Many tough looking men and women haul game on their backs, deer, wild boar, and some just large antlers. The normal sights of people returning home from work and looking to relax. The late afternoon sun sits low on the horizon and begins to turn a bright orange color. The air grows a little colder as you see the two moons peek out from some clouds above. What would you like to do?
As you order your drink and sit down at the bar you take in the sights. Wess you see your friend Gilly from the sawmill laughing with Ulah Bearpaw the pleasant firbolg woman who works at the tannery. The bartender barks orders at the server who spins around a table holding a tray of drinks. The bartender looks at you and asks what you want to drink. As you settle down and wait for your order some armored men walk into the bar and you feel a change in the jovial atmosphere. They scan the room and slowly make their way in. Heavy weapons are strapped to their backs and their armor plates make a scraping sound as they walk the room. You hear them muttering questions at some of the patrons.
Gilly Travinloss - Halfling woman who works at the Sawmill. She has curly blonde hair and wears brown overalls. - Ulah Bearpaw - Firbolg woman who works at the Tannery. Light purple fur and long droopy ears. yellow eyes.
- Zinjah Sheeth - Drow woman who works at the brewery. She has pale blue skin and silver hair cut short, glasses.
- Corvo Multar - Dwarven man with Red hair and a big scar down his face. Informant type, often seen at taverns.
- Inigo Petrovich - A human man, one of the hunters who helps feed the town. Dark Hair, muscular, tall.
- Wrench - An elderly Ogre man with one leg. He is a fixture of the town and very wise. He gets around in a wheelchair.
- SPINE BACK GUARD - Archan Hong - asian looking man with dark leather studded armor.
- SPINEBACK GUARD - Van Dryleaf, a green elven man with bright green fur and a dyed purple mohawk.
- SPINEBACK GUARD - Theodosia Seven, dark skinned human woman with long black curly hair, and many daggers.
Structure
Exposition
The Stampede -
As tensions flare in the tavern you look outside and see the sun begin to set. A dangerous time on the edge of the Ashen forest. It also makes thirsty veterans and new comers alike drink more than they usually would.
Wess, you and Ripley can make Nature checks at this time. Bichromius you can make a perception check.
[DM Note: on a success Wess and Ripley "You feel a low rumble under your feet. Both of you come to the realization at the same time, dozens of hoofed animals are running with abandon and they are getting closer." Bichromius you notice one of the hunters leave his drink and walk quickly to the door, he seems distressed. What would you all like to do?"]
As you run out to the street you see people running at full speed, some scream at you to move. Behind them a small spotted deer bounds in a panic between the people. Then another, and another! You hear a scream from an older human man as he gets thrown by a tall animal. A Mossback Elk slams though him knocking him into a wall. Dozens more of the tall moose like creatures run with abandon through the streets!
As you move about assisting the townsfolk you hear a scream and see a shape leap onto someone down the street. It is then that you see the source of the stampede. Tall reptilian creatures with large back legs and quick snapping jaws begin to follow the herd.
Conflict
In the confusion Jaron will be carted off into the woods by the Adherents of Iron.
Completion Date
4/8/22
4/8/22
Plot type
One Shot
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