As you make your way through the town you can tell that it is not as lively as you remember it the last time Sir Tristan had hired you. There are not friendly people making conversation on the streets nor children running gleefully. The shutters to the shops are mostly closed and the only patrons milling about seem to be those who would be considered necessary jobs
You all arrive just after dawn; the near-full moon setting just as the sun is rising into the main hall of Sir Tristan. It is modestly lavish, as he is a prosperous lord yet humble. Once he sees you all arrive he stands and meets the gaze of each of you out of respect. “Thank you all for coming so quickly. I’ll get to the point. Our town has been attacked each night by a vicious, multi-headed beast we have been calling the Thessalhydra. It started attacking on the outskirts, devouring crops and livestock. My people fled for their lives when it seemed that the beasts hunger would not be satiated. My guards would drive it off each night, following into the forest, but it would seemingly vanish without a trace. We tried to track it to its lair, but it left no tracks behind. I fear my people cannot survive another attack since we have nothing left for it to devour besides the people themselves. My plea to you is this: hunt down this beast and slay it. For the good of my people and for me. I beseech you all most desperately.”
He looks to each of you to see if you will accept this quest…
“Good to see you again, old friend.” Knowing that ‘old’ is a relative term between Tristan and Thalron’s lifespans. “I am sorry it is under such circumstances.”
Thalron looks amongst the others gathered to see if he recognizes any who might have answered the call. He searches the faces, but finds none.
“I have and always will honor my pledge to assist you, Sir Tristan.”He says in a lull of everyone else’s acceptances.
"Progo thought business was bad where he was, but nothing like this. Progo will remove this, trackless monster. It will be done. Would you be able to see our supply need met before we begin?"
He motions to one of his servants who brings over a map “I will give you any and all information I can to help you.”
The map shows his keep and town located at the north end, his hold on a slight elevation with its back to small mountains and wilderness. The rest of the town descending to the south with the road continuing to the south and cutting through the forest valley. He indicates to an apple orchard just outside the gates, “here is where it attacked the last time. The lady of the orchard reported that all its apples are now gone, eaten by the monster.” He places his finger on a clearing further out southward, “here is the shepherd’s field where it began harassing my people. Devouring a few sheep at at time now all of their livestock are gone and the shepherds barely fled with their lives.” Finally, he shows you further down the road, “this is where my men and myself chased it off to. My men then tracked it a few hundred metres into the forest, west of the road, but they lost it there. Some of them reported that they lost sight of it, some say it vanished into thin air. They are weary and they may be delusional from their exhaustion and loss of their comrades. We simply know it attacks at night and is gone before dawn.”
He looks out into the distance, haunted “it was a large, malevolent beast. It had a strong, lethal tail. A maw rimmed with razor sharp teeth the size of long swords. And surrounding that maw, a mass of writhing serpent-like heads, each with its own intent to devour.”
Turning to the group, I have a way we might be able to track it. He holds a finger to his nose. "Oh, rather the unique critter I can turn into that can track the creature."
A stocky dwarf leans on the shaft of his great axe. He stands about 4’ 8” and has to be about 200 pounds. His flaming red beard is ridiculously thick and extends to his belly. His weathered common clothes do not appear to be hiding any armor but do carry the evidence of past blood stains, stretching and mending from hard use. He has shouldered a sizable pack that has also seen much use/abuse. Fashioned along one side of the pack is a leather strapping system that currently holds a handful of javelins.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintances. I am Thalron Moltenaxe, a bit of a wanderer and brawler. I’m glad to see Sir Tristan has such obviously competent friends. Though I’ve never worked with any of you all before, I’m sure we’ll become fast friends and confidants soon enough. And I pledge to you, that I will do all I can to ensure we all return here safely and with plenty of stories to tell your grandchildren some day.”
A jovial smile spreads across his face, deepening now obvious laugh lines around his eyes.
”Oh, you’re one of those shape-shifters, are you? That’s gunna come in real handy.” He says to the gnome.
“I know I am asking much of each of you. Your efforts will not go unrewarded. I desire to mount the beasts heads in my hall here. I am willing to pay 100 Gold Pieces for each head you bring back.” He goes and sits back down at his throne.
“I also do not intend to send you on this treacherous journey empty-handed, and you will undoubtedly need something in which to carry my trophies back to me.”
”I offer these to you as a sign of good-will, please take them if you wish.” The servants stand there with their arms extended waiting for the items to be claimed.
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As you make your way through the town you can tell that it is not as lively as you remember it the last time Sir Tristan had hired you. There are not friendly people making conversation on the streets nor children running gleefully. The shutters to the shops are mostly closed and the only patrons milling about seem to be those who would be considered necessary jobs
You all arrive just after dawn; the near-full moon setting just as the sun is rising into the main hall of Sir Tristan. It is modestly lavish, as he is a prosperous lord yet humble. Once he sees you all arrive he stands and meets the gaze of each of you out of respect.
“Thank you all for coming so quickly. I’ll get to the point. Our town has been attacked each night by a vicious, multi-headed beast we have been calling the Thessalhydra. It started attacking on the outskirts, devouring crops and livestock. My people fled for their lives when it seemed that the beasts hunger would not be satiated. My guards would drive it off each night, following into the forest, but it would seemingly vanish without a trace. We tried to track it to its lair, but it left no tracks behind. I fear my people cannot survive another attack since we have nothing left for it to devour besides the people themselves. My plea to you is this: hunt down this beast and slay it. For the good of my people and for me. I beseech you all most desperately.”
He looks to each of you to see if you will accept this quest…
Savitri nodded, " Of course, Sir Tristan. We will deliver you from this terror."
“Good to see you again, old friend.” Knowing that ‘old’ is a relative term between Tristan and Thalron’s lifespans. “I am sorry it is under such circumstances.”
Thalron looks amongst the others gathered to see if he recognizes any who might have answered the call. He searches the faces, but finds none.
“I have and always will honor my pledge to assist you, Sir Tristan.” He says in a lull of everyone else’s acceptances.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
"Gladly accept. Can you have one of your guards show us the areas where it was and to the forest before it disappeared."
D&D since 1984
"Progo thought business was bad where he was, but nothing like this. Progo will remove this, trackless monster. It will be done. Would you be able to see our supply need met before we begin?"
**feel free to have any basics a level 5 character would have just to streamline some things.
Sir Tristan nods to each of you in turn and smiles, “I knew I would be able to rely on you all, I am glad you are the ones who answered my call.”
He motions to one of his servants who brings over a map “I will give you any and all information I can to help you.”
The map shows his keep and town located at the north end, his hold on a slight elevation with its back to small mountains and wilderness. The rest of the town descending to the south with the road continuing to the south and cutting through the forest valley. He indicates to an apple orchard just outside the gates, “here is where it attacked the last time. The lady of the orchard reported that all its apples are now gone, eaten by the monster.”
He places his finger on a clearing further out southward, “here is the shepherd’s field where it began harassing my people. Devouring a few sheep at at time now all of their livestock are gone and the shepherds barely fled with their lives.” Finally, he shows you further down the road, “this is where my men and myself chased it off to. My men then tracked it a few hundred metres into the forest, west of the road, but they lost it there. Some of them reported that they lost sight of it, some say it vanished into thin air. They are weary and they may be delusional from their exhaustion and loss of their comrades. We simply know it attacks at night and is gone before dawn.”
"Can you describe the creature"
D&D since 1984
(DMG has some suggestions for levels 5 thru 10 - just to confirm, we are starting level 3, right?
Low/Standard Magic Campaign = 500 gp plus 1d10 × 25 gp, normal starting equipment.
High Magic Campaign = above plus one uncommon magic item.
Maybe tell us what we can have because if you need to barter with us for each item we want, it is unlikely to be streamlined)
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
**sorry I meant level 3. Let’s go Low/Standard
Fred's gold - 9
D&D since 1984
He looks out into the distance, haunted “it was a large, malevolent beast. It had a strong, lethal tail. A maw rimmed with razor sharp teeth the size of long swords. And surrounding that maw, a mass of writhing serpent-like heads, each with its own intent to devour.”
=500+ (5x25) = 625gp
D&D since 1984
500 gp plus 6 × 25 gp, normal starting equipment.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
Turning to the group, I have a way we might be able to track it. He holds a finger to his nose. "Oh, rather the unique critter I can turn into that can track the creature."
D&D since 1984
A stocky dwarf leans on the shaft of his great axe. He stands about 4’ 8” and has to be about 200 pounds. His flaming red beard is ridiculously thick and extends to his belly. His weathered common clothes do not appear to be hiding any armor but do carry the evidence of past blood stains, stretching and mending from hard use. He has shouldered a sizable pack that has also seen much use/abuse. Fashioned along one side of the pack is a leather strapping system that currently holds a handful of javelins.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintances. I am Thalron Moltenaxe, a bit of a wanderer and brawler. I’m glad to see Sir Tristan has such obviously competent friends. Though I’ve never worked with any of you all before, I’m sure we’ll become fast friends and confidants soon enough. And I pledge to you, that I will do all I can to ensure we all return here safely and with plenty of stories to tell your grandchildren some day.”
A jovial smile spreads across his face, deepening now obvious laugh lines around his eyes.
”Oh, you’re one of those shape-shifters, are you? That’s gunna come in real handy.” He says to the gnome.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
“I know I am asking much of each of you. Your efforts will not go unrewarded. I desire to mount the beasts heads in my hall here. I am willing to pay 100 Gold Pieces for each head you bring back.” He goes and sits back down at his throne.
“I also do not intend to send you on this treacherous journey empty-handed, and you will undoubtedly need something in which to carry my trophies back to me.”
He snaps and his servants produce a few items:
2 bag of holding
a Wand of Magic Missiles
5 ring of protection
and 5 Potion of Healing (Greater)
”I offer these to you as a sign of good-will, please take them if you wish.”
The servants stand there with their arms extended waiting for the items to be claimed.