The Twisted Runebeast
Fertile Crossing is a small farming community abutting ancient woods. Two local youths, Bree and Letham, disappeared into the woods seeking fame and adventure. They returned almost a week later - Bree dragging Letham’s lifeless body, torn with grief over Letham’s death and raving of a beast that chased him afterwards.
Humble as it is, Fertile Crossing harbors a dangerous secret. Deep in the woods to the east, a stone henge stands marks a place of ancient power. When Letham bleeds out on the altar stone, it initiates a ritual that is supposed to draw the Longwild into brief conjunction with the prime material plane and grant the Longwild’s fertility to the surrounding land. But when Bree removes Letham’s body from the altar stone just before the ritual finishes, Lethams spirit, the gathered energy from the Longwild and the blood energy from his death are trapped together and twisted. It corrupts the boar that killed him and fills it with the need to return his corpse to the altar and finish the ritual.
Unfortunately for Fertile Crossing, Letham’s body has been placed in the mausoleum next to the town's church, and the hallow effect on its grounds keeps the runehound away. The creature returns and circles the church repeatedly, testing the limits of the spell and returning to the woods in a desperate, mindless compulsion to complete the ritual. The runebeast attacks any people or animals that wander into it's path, growing stronger with the blood that it spills.
Soon, the townsfolk appeal to the capital of Easthome for help. The Saoi council of elders, knowing that the druid Lorkan is in their debt and headed in that direction, call on him to help the town. The rest of the help and are immediately make the day-and-a-half journey to Fertile Crossing. Once there, they interview townsfolk, examine evidence, and research the beast.
The PCs eventually suspect that the killing the beast won’t solve the problem - the only solution is to return the body to the altar in the woods and finish the ritual. Indeed, if the body of the boar dies, Letham’s soul would be trapped in the next animal that wanders by, joined by the power of the ritual and the spirit of the boar that has been added to the unholy union.
With the truth laid bare, the PCs are faced with the task of convincing the town to let them do this. They may not be certain of what will happen if the ritual completes, nor of the theological implications of it, but they know it is their best chance. They worry - will it tear open a door to the Longwild that they can’t close? Will Letham’s soul be sucked into some eternal torment? At the same time, Lethams soul appears to be currently sundered and it probably does have to do with the beast and the shrine. If he does nothing, does this sentence Letham to eternal damnation?
Upon arrival at the henge, they find that it’s grown monstrously powerful and dangerous. They have to fight to place the body on the altar, but when they do, the ritual completes, unleashing a wave of energy from the Longwild and invigorating themselves and the local plant and animal life for miles around.
Backdrops
Locations
The Twisted Runebeast takes place in the small village of Fertile Crossing and the woods nearby where two youngsters accidentally discovered an ancient shrine.
Plot type
Investigation
Parent Plot
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