An Avalon Games Product, All rights reserved, Version 1.

0, 2010

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Written
by
David Caffee

Layout
by
Robert Hemminger

Some Art by Sade

1
 Contents
Introduction Page 3
Background Page 3
Adventure Synopsis Page 3
Adventure Hooks Page 4
Area Overview Page 6
Bloodworm Bog Page 9
VILLAGE OF RAVENWOOD Page 10
BRANDYWINE VILLAGE Page 12
PORT OF LAST HOPE Page 17
Random Events Page 22
INTERLUDE: RAVENWOOD Page 30
ENCOUNTER 1: THE MERCENARIES Page 30
INTERLUDE: ABANDONED LIGHTHOUSE Page 32
ENCOUNTER 2A: LIGHTHOUSE, FIRST FLOOR Page 32
ENCOUNTER 2B: LIGHTHOUSE, SECOND FLOOR Page 33
ENCOUNTER 3A: TEMPLE GROUNDS Page 34
ENCOUNTER 3B: SUNKEN TEMPLE Page 36
INTERLUDE: WILDERNESS AMBUSH Page 37
ENCOUNTER 4A: SCOUTING PARTY Page 37
ENCOUNTER 4B: GOBLINS Page 39
ENCOUNTER 4C: MORE GOBLINS Page 40
ENCOUNTER 4D: THE GENERAL Page 41
CONCLUDING THE ADVENTURE Page 42
NEW MONSTERS AND HAZARDS Page 44

2

Introduction
Bloodworm Bog is a dangerous and terrifying place,
home to outlaws and savage swamp dwellers. Nasty
creatures lurk in the muddy waters while ghosts
stalk mortal folk from the shadows. Legends and
rumors surround the bog and the many souls who
where lost to its depths.
This book is a non-linear adventure for fans of
Dungeons and Dragons 4E. The DM can transplant
Bloodworm Bog into any preexisting campaign
world or homebrew setting. The adventure contains
setting information; plot hooks, quests, new
monsters, NPCs, and everything else the DM should
need to run adventures in this the area. The work
also provides plenty of room for the DM to expand
on what is written by including places to put
original dungeons.
Bloodworm Bog is a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
adventure for characters of 1st to 3rd level. You
need the Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and
Dungeon Master's Guide to play.
Background
The region bordering on the bog has a long history
of violence and tragedy. The area was once home to
tribes of human barbarians and savage humanoids.
Settlers from the southern shores of Lake Misery
occupied this region hundreds of years ago. It was
these settlers who built the first permanent
structures in the region, including the abandoned
lighthouse and the sunken temple. Conflict between
the settlers and their uncivilized neighbors erupted
into open warfare and the native inhabitants were
driven north into the Iron Ridge Mountains.
3
The early settlers would not inhabit the area long.
As their homeland fell from glory the settlers found
themselves without the support of their noble
patrons. A series of civil wars and the decline of
civilization decreased trade along the lakeshore and
this deeply hurt the economy of the first settlements.
As the early settlers abandoned their holdings they
were gradually replaced by the people of the
northern hill clans and freeholders from the west
who had been drive from their own lands.
Over the course of the last century and a half the
people of this area have been repeatedly attacked by
military forces from the great hobgoblin city-states
from the far north. The hobgoblins and their savage
allies have been able to take and hold large stretches
of land for a short time. During one campaign they
penetrated as far as Port of Last Hope. Most of the
time the goblin forces are content to simply raid the
outlying settlements for slaves and livestock. Just
over a year ago, a kingdom from the east of the bog
launched its own campaign against the hobgoblin
cities but this war ended in disaster for the attackers.
Adventure Synopsis
The area around the bog is home to a small number
of independent towns, villages and homesteaders.
These settlements are generally poor and the lives
of their residents are quite hard. Without the aid of a
large standing army, most of the populace is at the
mercy of anyone that wishes to take what is theirs.
The people live in fear of the monsters and undead
creatures that call this region home. Bandits and
other more mundane threats are also a constant
problem. Only the very bravest souls dare to
venture outside of their homes at night.
The people of this region are in need of hope. More
importantly, they are in need of heroes. The
common folk are too busy trying to simply feed
their families to venture into the depths of the bog.
However, great rewards can be had by anyone who
is brave enough to do just that.
Ravenwood: The adventurers encounter a group of
mercenaries who are extorting the people of this
small village. The villagers would be extremely
grateful to anyone who would run them out of town.
The party may be here on a quest to rid the village
of the mercenaries or they may simply be passing
through Ravenwood when trouble starts. See
Encounter 1 for more information.
The Abandoned Lighthouse: Rumor has it that a
treasure is hidden in the ruins of an ancient
lighthouse. The adventurers may discover this
location while exploring the bog. See Encounter 2A
and Encounter 2B for more information.
Temple Ruins: The adventuring party must travel
deep into the bog to a ruined temple that is slowly
sinking into the muck. The adventurers must fight
their way past traps and restless spirits to give a
proper burial to the warriors who died defending
this sacred place. See Encounter 3A and Encounter
3B for more information.
Wilderness Ambush: The adventurers face down a
goblin raiding party that is making its way across
the bog. The party may be on a quest to stop these
raiders or they may simply stumble across them as
they explore the bog. See Encounter 4A, Encounter
4B, Encounter 4C, and Encounter 4D for more
information.
Adventure Hooks
HOOK: JUST PASSING THROUGH
The adventuring party is passing through the area on
their way to someplace else. They may have
business in the Iron Ridge Mountains or on the
opposite shores of Lake Misery. This journey may
require the adventurers to charter a boat from one of
the local people or cross through bloodworm bog on
foot. As the characters attempt to make their way
through the region they will have plenty of
opportunities to explore the bog and experience its
dangers.
HOOK: MERCANARIES
The adventurers are contacted by a resident of the
Village of Ravenwood. The village recently hired a
group of mercenaries to protect their homes from
monsters and bandits. As the months passed, these
soldiers of fortune have made it clear that they are
less interested in defending the village and more
interested in lining their purses. They have
repeatedly used the threat of force to extract ever
higher payments from the council of elders. They
have also been mistreating the villagers, starting
fights with people and often taking whatever they
want from their shops and farms without paying for
it. They eat and drink at the local inn every night
without anything leaving for the innkeeper anything
except broken furniture.
Quest: Free Ravenwood
The adventurers are asked to liberate a village from
a gang of thugs.
4
 Start: The adventures receive a message from
someone in the Village of Ravenwood, such as a
local merchant or a member of the council of elders.

Goal: The party must defeat or drive off the

mercenary troop that has been extorting from the
villagers.
Outcome: Upon completing this quest the
adventurers gain 150 Quest XP. The local innkeeper
will be so pleased with this deed that he will offer to
put the party up in his inn for free whenever they
pass through. Should the adventurers fail in this
quest, the mercenary troop will continue to rob the
villagers’ blind and will eventually take control of
the entire village.
HOOK: INVADERS
A rumor has been circulating that an up and coming
hobgoblin general is looking to make a name for
himself by raiding the human villages that ring the
shores of Lake Misery. This general has pressed a
neighboring tribe of goblins into service and is
leading them on a scouting expedition through the
bog.
Quest: Stop the Hobgoblins

HOOK: ANCIENT TEMPLE
The adventurers learn of a temple that was built
hundreds of years ago. As the wetlands encroached
upon this site, the temple slowly sunk into the bog.
Legend tells that this temple held vast wealth and
magnificent treasures. An army of hobgoblins
raided the temple but the temple guardians fought to
the death to protect this sacred place. It is said that
the souls of these guardians now haunt the sunken
temple.
Quest: Proper Burial
The adventurers must bring peace to restless souls.
Start: The adventures learn of a haunted temple
that is supposed to contain fabulous riches.
Goal: The party must enter the sunken temple and
provide a proper burial to those that died defending
it.
The adventuring party must halt the advance of a
goblin raiding band.
Start: The adventures hear about a group of goblins
making their way through the bog.
Goal: The party must stop the goblins from reaching
the settled part of the bog.
Outcome: Upon completing this quest the
adventurers gain 750 Quest XP. The residents of the
neighboring settlements will rejoice in their victory
and hold many days of feasting in their honor. Should
the adventurers fail to stop the advance of this raiding
band, they will plunder the nearest village and enslave
the populace. When this slave train returns to the
north, the hobgoblin cities will take a break from their
perpetual internal wars to launch a full scale assault of
the southern region. The triumphant general will burn
everything in sight and return to his city with as many
slaves and whatever riches that can be found.

Outcome: Upon completing this quest the

adventurers gain 150 Quest XP. If the adventurers
fail to put the tortured souls to rest then they will
continue to haunt the ruins for all eternity.

5
 Area Overview
The area surrounding Bloodworm Bog is known as
the Moors. The Moors are bordered by Lake Misery
to the south and east. To the north lie the Iron Ridge
Mountains and to the west one can find the foothills
of the mountains giving away slowly to open plains.
The bog itself is a rocky wetland that alternates
between muddy ground and pools of shallow water.
The region is covered in thick, coarse grasses and
the occasional clump of trees. Thick layers of peat
moss blanket much of the bog. Many parts of the
bog that appear to be solid land are actually
comprised of a thick sheet of vegetation that rests
over a layer of water. The soggy ground often shifts
and tilts under the weight of a walking person and
sometimes even causes the trees to sway. This sheet
of vegetation will give out under the weight of
horses and carts, causing them to sink into the bog.
There are no major roads in this region, only a few
goat tracks and game trails. Most long distance
travel is done by boat. Anyone journeying across
the bog can find broken remnants of an old stone
highway but most of it has long since been
consumed and covered by the peat of the bog. To
the west of Brandywine village there is a dirt trail
that leads to a crossroads many miles distant.
Trading caravans use this trail to move goods to the
Iron Gate Trading Post but it is tricky moving
wagons and carts over this rough terrain.
A. LAKE MISERY
This large lake is known for its treacherous waters.
Lake Misery is just over 120 miles across at its
widest point and it is nearly a thousand feet deep in
the center. Hundreds of islands of various sizes
mark the surface of the lake.
The chilly waters are often covered in fog and its
shores are home to many sandbars and submerged
rock formations. The shallower parts of the lake are
overgrown with aquatic plants that clog channels
and catch the hulls of boats. Frequent storms with
high winds make travel dangerous. Only the most
skilled sailors can travel safely across the lake.
Despite its many dangers, the lake is beneficial to
the surrounding communities. Fish are found here in
abundance. Also, the waters of the lake make long
distance trade possible, though this is not as com-
mon as it once was.
B. WHITESTONE RIVER
The Whitestone River winds its way down from the
Iron Ridge Mountains and passes through the bog
on its way to Lake Misery. As the river makes its
way across the land it passes through a canyon with
steep walls of pale rock, hence its name. The height
of the land drops dramatically along the northern
stretches of the river and the riverbed itself is lined
with massive boulders. The fast moving water
creates a large number of dangerous rapids that
make traveling down this part of the river nearly
impossible. As the river passes through the bog its
waters turn brown. The area where the river meets
the lake is marked by a permanent pool of dark
water.
C. BRANDYWINE VILLAGE
This village sits just north of the shores of Lake
Misery, near the dark pool where the waters of the
Whitestone River enter the lake. This simple
settlement is built on a stretch of open, stony ground
near the edge of the bog. The houses here are built
from fieldstone and clay and often thatched with
thick coverings of straw. The people here make their
living by smelting iron and gathering peat from the
bog.
6
7
 C. BRANDYWINE VILLAGE
This village sits just north of the shores of Lake
Misery, near the dark pool where the waters of the
Whitestone River enter the lake. This simple
settlement is built on a stretch of open, stony ground
near the edge of the bog. The houses here are built
from fieldstone and clay and often thatched with
thick coverings of straw. The people here make their
living by smelting iron and gathering peat from the
bog.
D. TEMPLE RUINS
Built centuries ago, this ruined temple has slowly
sunk into the soggy ground of Bloodworm Bog.
Very little is known about the temple, no one is
even certain to which god it was dedicated.
However, local legend speaks of a great battle that
was found here, where a handful of temple knights
fought to the death against an army of hobgoblin
raiders. More information about this area can be
found in Encounter 3A and Encounter 3B.
E. THE VILLAGE OF RAVENWOOD
This small settlement sits on the sandy shores of
Lake Misery. The buildings here are simple wood
and stone structures with wooden roofs that are tiled
with bark. The people of Ravenwood are fishermen
and boat builders. This village is named for a small
patch of woodland to the north of the settlement.
More information about this area can be found in
Encounter 1.
F. BLACK MERE
This wide, shallow lake is named for its extremely
dark and murky waters. Measuring several miles at
its widest crossing, Black Mere is never more than
100 feet deep at any point. The dark waters of the
mere are home to both fish and waterfowl.
G. ABANDONED LIGHTHOUSE
The early settlers built this lighthouse hundreds of
years ago to protect fishermen and trading boats that
plied the waters near Dancer's Isle. The treacherous
waters between the island and the shore of the lake
have claimed many lives over the years. When the
culture of the original settlers began to fade the
lighthouse was abandoned and fell to disrepair.
More information about this area can be found in
Encounter 2A and Encounter 2B.
H. DANCER'S ISLE
Sailors and fisherman have long told stories about a
beautiful woman who would appear on the shores of
this island and dance on the beaches during moonlit
nights. Many people scoff at these stories and
dismiss them as the fancy of bored and lonely men.
Others insist that this mysterious dancing woman is
real and that there is something magical about this
fog enshrouded island.
J. PORT OF LAST HOPE
This once thriving port town is the largest
settlement in the region. Though few trading ships
stop by the port these days, Port of Last Hope does
serve as a home base for a small fishing fleet. Lake
pirates and smugglers have also been known to
make calls here. The port features an artificial
harbor that was made by dumping stone and earth
into the lake to create a barrier against the
treacherous winds and waves of Lake Misery. This
harbor is the only safe mooring for miles around;
hence the town was named Port of Last Hope by the
sailors who traverse the lake.
8

The buildings here are well made wooden structures
with raised stone foundations. The roofs are usually
covered in clay tiles and the walls are plastered. The
typical building in Port of Last Hope is a longhouse
that is composed of several small rooms that open
to the outside. Most houses are surrounded by a low
wall of stacked clay tiles and mortar. These walls
enclose a small garden and storage buildings. The
more expensive houses are comprised of several
longhouses and a courtyard that is hemmed in by a
large wall of cut stone. On the northern outskirts of
town the houses are much poorer and resemble the
wood and thatched roof buildings of Brandywine
and Ravenwood.
Difficult Terrain: The bog is covered in thick mud,
shallow water, and slime coated boulders. Unless
otherwise noted, the entire area is considered
difficult terrain. The overland movement of anyone
making their way through the bog is reduced by 1/2.
9
Bloodworm Bog
Bloodworm Bog is a region located in the Moors,
between the Iron Ridge Mountains and Lake
Misery. This is a temperate region with mild
summers and harsh winters. The bog itself varies
greatly in appearance depending on the time of year.
In early spring, the area is flooded by the snow fed
waters of the Whitestone River. Overflow from the
river covers much of the bog, forming a myriad of
channels and puddles, along with small pools of
dark red water. During the winter months the waters
retreat and parts of the bog freeze, making the area
look more like a patch of tundra than a wetland.
FEATURES OF THE BOG
The following features describe the general layout
and make up of Bloodworm Bog.
Sustenance: Despite its forbidding appearance, the
bog is filled with many different kinds of edible
berries and other sources of food. The DC of a
Nature check to forge for food is 15 for a single
person and 25 for up to five people.
Illumination: There are few trees in the bog,
meaning that there is nothing to obscure natural
illumination. The bog is brightly lit during the
daytime and dimly lit at night. Occasionally fog
from Lake Misery rolls over the bog, obscuring
vision. When the land is covered in fog, creatures
that are more than five squares away have total
concealment.
Doors: Almost all of the doors found in this region
are simple wooden doors. A DC 16 Strength check
is required to break one down. These doors have AC
and Reflex defenses of 5, Fortitude defense of 10,
and 20 hit points. A Thievery check (DC 20) is
required to pick the lock on one of these doors.
 VILLAGE OF RAVENWOOD
A small village on the shores of lake misery,
Ravenwood is home to fisherman and boat builders.
Population: 145, another 90 or so people live along
the lakeshore or on the outskirts of the bog. The
people of Ravenwood are all human, though a
number of elves and halflings live in the
surrounding area.
Government: The village is ruled by a council of
elders. Residents of the village are automatically
appointed to the council when they reach the age of
fifty and one. Few villagers make it to such
advanced years, so the council tends to have no
more than a dozen members.
Defense: The village has employed the services of a
small group of mercenaries. The mercenary band
numbers five (2 human guards, 3 human bandits).
Commerce: Most people in this village make their
living as fishermen. Other people participate in
related industries such as boat building and running
smoke houses. Few traders or merchants ever come
to this tiny community and the ones that do arrive
by boat. The lack of trade means that the locals
have to travel to Bradywine or Port of Last Hope to
sell their smoked fish and purchase the goods that
they need.
There is only one inn in Ravenwood; a run down
place called the Black Raven House. The Black
Raven Taproom is also the only tavern.
The largest merchant house in the village is Ram
Horn Traders. This trading house is the local green
grocer and they also supply much of the fishing
equipment that is used by the locals.
Organizations: The Lakeside Altar is a small
temple dedicated to Melora.
10

Key Locations
1. DOCKS
The lifeblood of this village is the docks. More than
a dozen families moor their small fishing vessels
here in this secluded cove and there is extra room
for the occasional trading boat as well. The village
smokehouses are located next to the docks and the
smell of smoked fish hangs thick in the air.
A nomadic halfling clan called the Farwalkers is
known to bring their fleet of houseboats into the
cove from time to time. The Farwalker clan barters
with the locals during these visits, trading trinkets,
cloth, and herbs for foodstuffs and other supplies.
The head of the clan is a leather-faced old halfling
named Zed Farwalker. Zed has lived his entire life
on the lake and he knows every inlet and island like
the back of his hand. Because they are constantly
traveling from port to port, Zed and his kin are an
excellent source of information about the lake and
the settlements around it.
2. BLACK RAVEN HOUSE
The Black Raven House is a stoutly built wooden
structure on the far northern edge of the village. The
owner is an elderly man named Krauss Hornsby.
The rooms at the Black Raven House are less than
ideal, as the aging building is often damp and chill
from strong drafts. The kitchen serves fresh fish and
rye bread for every meal. The local fishermen
gather here for drinks in the taproom after returning
from the lake. On the rare occasion that a traveler or
trade boat arrives in the village, Krauss is more than
happy to offer them a modest room for 4 sp per
night. Those of lesser means can sleep on the floor
of the taproom for 12 cp.
11
The mercenary band that “protects” the Village of
Ravenwood can often be found in the Black Raven
Taproom where they drink large amounts of ale and
brandy without ever offering to pay. The hired
soldiers also mistreat Krauss, the serving staff, and
the other patrons. The leader of the mercenaries, Sef
Grenwald, is especially prone to picking fistfights
with the local fishermen. On one occasion he pulled a
knife and stabbed a man, severely wounding him.
3. RAM HORN TRADERS
The Ram Horn Trading Company is the largest
business in Ravenwood. The proprietor, Jari
Koldstone, is a no-nonsense, hardnosed merchant
who doesn't pass up an opportunity to squeeze an
extra coin out of one of his customers. Jari has his
own boat docked in the cove and he makes regular
trips up to the Iron Gate Trading Post outside of
Brandywine. He buys fish from the smoke houses and
then barters with the Iron Gate merchants in exchange
for rope, tools, vegetables, grain, and casks of brandy.
Ram Horn Traders is a good place to buy any of the
mundane gear and supplies from the Player's
Handbook.
4. LAKESIDE ALTAR
This small chapel overlooking Lake Misery contains
an altar dedicated to Melora. There is no professional
clergy in attendance; the chapel is maintained by a
small group of elderly widows. The fishermen often
gather here to pray and make offerings before
heading out on to the lake each morning. A feast in
honor of Melora is held at the chapel once per year at
the start of spring.

5. OLD GRAN'S SHACK
Many people believe that Old Gran is a mad
woman. Others believe that she is a witch, a dark
sorceress who is in league with demons and devils.
The truth is that Gran is an eccentric old woman
who makes a meager living by telling fortunes and
selling talismans, charms, and the like. Her shack
on the far northern edge of the village is in constant
disrepair but the garden where she grows rare herbs
and roots is well tended.
Old Gran earns her coin by playing on the
superstitions of the local villagers but she has
actually learned a good bit about magic over the
course of her long life. Aside from her useless
charms, Gran also sells alchemical reagents, rare
herbs, and mystic salves. She can supply the
components that are needed to perform any ritual
with the Arcana, Heal, or Nature keyword. She also
has limited access to the following ritual scrolls;
Animal Messenger (2), Enchant Magic Item (1),
Eye of Alarm (1), and Gentle Repose (1).
BRANDYWINE VILLAGE
A large village near the Whitestone River, the
people of Brandywine support themselves by
harvesting raw materials from the bog.
Population: 860, roughly another 500 people live
in the countryside near the village. The majority of
the people in Brandywine are humans, elves, and
half-elves. A small number of halflings and dwarves
make their homes here as well.
Government: The village is ruled over by a group
of clan chieftains who represent the major human
and elven clans in the village. These chieftains are
in charge of administering justice and each of them
commands a force of militia soldiers.
Defense: The village has a small militia that is
about 200 strong.
Commerce: Most of the economic activity in
Brandywine is based around Bloodworm Bog. The
villagers dig through the muck to mine bog iron,
which they smelt into bars of rust-resistant iron.
They also collect peat, which is dried and sold as
fuel and fertilizer. A few specialized tradesmen
search for preserved bogwood, which is used for
making furniture. These raw materials are moved
overland to towns and cities to the west. Trade boats
occasionally pull up to the beaches outside of
Brandywine in order to barter with the villagers as
well.
The people living outside of the village are mostly
freeholders who farm the rocky ground on the
western edge of the bog. The land here is not ideal
for agriculture and crop yields are often poor. These
farmers raise potatoes and vegetables, along with
some cereal grains such as rye and barley. Pigs and
sheep are commonly raised and the freeholders keep
Brandywine furnished with a constant supply of
pork and mutton.
There are two inns in the village of Brandywine, the
Whitestone Lodge and the Cloudberry Inn. The
Whitestone Lodge is the more expensive of the two
and it caters to merchants and caravan masters. The
Cloudberry Inn is a more modest establishment that
serves the needs of poor travelers and fishermen.
As its name suggests, Brandywine Village is home
to a well known distillery where berry wine is
fermented and then distilled into strong, clear
liquor. This brandywine is then aged in oak barrels
until it takes on a caramel coloring. These spirits are
the pride of the village. Local brandywine is served
in the taproom of the Whitestone Lodge as well as
the Market Street Tavern, alongside imported ales
and wines.
12

Just to the southwest of the village is a walled
compound called the Iron Gate Trading Post.
Merchant caravans and trading boats make regular
stops here.
Organizations: The smelters guild is the largest
and most important guild in town. There is a large
shrine in the center of the village where Pelor,
Sehanine, Corellon, and the Raven Queen are each
worshiped in turn.
Key Locations
1. WHITESTONE LODGE
The largest and best kept of the two inns in
Brandywine Village, the Whitestone Lodge is an
impressive brick building with a clay tiled roof. The
lower floor of the lodge is sunken into the ground
and patrons must enter by going down a flight of
rough stone stairs. The Whitestone Lodge sits on the
western edge of Brandywine Commons.
13
The majority of the business at the lodge comes
from the merchants and caravan masters who are
doing business at the Iron Gate Trading Post. There
are also a small number of permanent residents who
live at the lodge and rent rooms there year round. A
spacious and comfortable room at the Whitestone
Lodge can be had for the price of 2 gp per night.
The lodge's kitchen is well known in the vicinity for
its lamb chops and crown pork roast. They offer
fresh fruit and honey for dessert. The lodge always
keeps a ready supply of the finest aged brandy in the
taproom alongside an assortment of wines and ales.
The owner of the Whitestone Lodge is attractive
older woman named Taril Wolfsbane. Taril is also
one of the clan chieftains who run Brandywine and
she uses the taproom of the lodge to hold meetings
among the other chieftains. Taril runs the lodge with
her husband, Erin. Erin Wolfsbane is a pleasant but
reserved half-elf who seems much younger than he
actually is. Erin speaks very little but he hears
everything and keeps his wife well informed about
the happenings in town.
There is a long standing feud between Taril's
Wolfsbane clan and the Raindrinker elves that hunt
in the foothills of the Iron Ridge Mountains. This
animosity stems from the fact that her husband is
the bastard child of the late Raindrinker chieftain.
Because of his unfortunate siring, Erin was unable
to inherit his father's title as chieftain. When their
father died, Erin's brother Cos drove him from the
clan. When he married Taril Wolfsbane, the new
chieftain was outraged to hear that his brother had
taken on his wife's family name. Seeing this as an
attempt by his brother to become a chieftain by
other means, Cos Raindrinker has become actively
hostile toward the Wolfsbane clan, especially his
new sister-in-law. Not one to be intimidated, Taril
has responded in kind. Only the intervention of the
other village chieftains has prevented the feud from
becoming violent.
2. MARKET STREET TAVERN
The large central boulevard through the village runs
north to south and passes through Brandywine
Commons. Outside of town it turns into a rough dirt
trail that the local farmers use to transport their
wares to the commons on market day, hence the
name Market Street.
The Market Street Tavern is a bustling and often
rowdy drinking establishment where the peat
diggers, bog miners, and farmers go to have a
brandy or a tankard of ale after a hard day's work.
The tavern also plays host to a gang of young rioters
who spend their days drinking, fighting, and playing
dice. On days when the dice are not being kind to
them, these wayward youth have been known to
resort to picking pockets. The oldest and toughest of
the group is Johl Frestrom, a vicious cur who also
makes a living as a hired thug. Johl will savagely
beat anyone for the price of a few copper coins.
Gamblers and merchants often employ his services
in order to collect on old debts.
3. IRON GATE TRADING POST
South and west of the village proper you will find
the Iron Gate Trading Post. This formidable walled
compound is surrounded by a solid wooden palisade
and a ring of earthworks. The only entrance to the
trading post is protected by a removable bridge and
a heavy wrought iron gate. A small force of hired
guards protects the trading post from bandits and
raiders. The Iron Gate is run by a retired human
adventurer called Fynis the Scar-Eyed. Fynis is a
tough but affable man with a hundred stories to tell
and plenty of time to tell them. Though he has a
greedy streak, Fynis is reasonable and can usually
reach a fair price with just about anyone. Operating
the trading post has been a profitable venture for
Fynis and he becomes noticeably irritated when
trading boats pull up onto the beach in order to
barter with the villagers directly.
Merchant caravans and trading boats come to the
trading post in order to barter their goods free from
the threat of bandits and raiders. The village's bog
iron is highly prized by foreign merchants for its
rust resistant properties. These merchants come here
to buy bars of iron as well as peat, bogwood, and
brandywine's namesake spirits. In exchange, the
merchants sell finished products such as ale, wine,
metal tools, and pottery. The travelling merchants
that do business at the trading post occasionally deal
in more expensive items such as gemstones, works
of art, and the like. A few have been known to keep
stores of weapons and armor. The Iron Gate Trading
Post is a good place to find any of the mundane
equipment from the Player's Handbook.
14

The Fynis the Scar-Eyed and his fellow traders are a
tight pursed lot. They will refuse to pay more than
30 gp for any single item, regardless of its actual
value. They almost never deal in magic items and
will demand a partial payment up front before even
making inquiries about such things.
4. CLOUDBERRY INN
The Cloudberry Inn is a modest, yet comfortable,
structure on the far southern stretch of Market
Street. Made from stout logs and mortar, the
Cloudberry Inn looks more like a military fort than
a respectable inn. The rooms are small but warm
and well appointed. A night at the Cloudberry Inn
costs 5 sp. The inn serves porridge two meals a day
and pork soup with cabbage, onions and barley for
supper. A glass of watered down ale or wine is
served with each meal but heavy drinking is
prohibited.
The proprietor of the Cloudberry Inn is a portly
elven fellow named Cutter. Not much is known
about Cutter except that he left the area many years
ago only to return recently and buy up a dilapidated
old warehouse. This warehouse was then torn down
and the Cloudberry Inn was built on its foundation.
When he isn't minding the inn, Cutter leaves his
cousin, Marobert, in charge and goes on hunting
trips for days at a time. The dining hall of the inn is
decorated with Cutter's many hunting trophies. It is
rumored that Cutter and Fynis the Scar-Eyed used
to be adventuring partners but they had a falling out
over some unknown dispute. If this is true then
neither of them has ever spoken about it.
15
5. BRANDYWINE COMMONS
The village's central square is known as
Brandywine Commons. The local farmers come
here on market day to sell livestock and foodstuffs.
One can always find heaps of peat along the eastern
edge of the commons where it is dried and sold as
fuel to heat the local houses. Local artisans also
participate in the activities of market day, closing
their shops and selling their goods from blankets
and carts. The traders from the Iron Gate turn out as
well, bringing in their latest treasures under the
protection of armed guards.
The rest of the time Brandywine Commons is a
place for people to meet with friends and family.
The local children have races and wrestling matches
on warm days and on summer nights the commons
is used to hold dances and festivals.
6. DISTILLERY
On the eastern outskirts of the village is the famous
distillery that gave Brandywine its name. The
village distillery is the oldest and most distin-
guished business in Brandywine. This wooden
building is nearly two hundred years old. The
village residents are justifiably proud of the high
quality spirits that are produced here. The proprietor
and brew master is a stern faced dwarf named Hoff
Gravelbeard. Families that work in the bog often
take their children with them to pick berries. Hoff
buys these wild berries from the children to make a
variety of wines, which are then distilled into
brandy and aged in oak barrels. The owner buys
these casks from a barrel maker in Port of Last
Hope and he makes sure that the Gravelbeard
family crest is clearly burnt into the surface of each
one.
The exact recipe for making this distinctive brandy
is a Gravelbeard family secret and Hoff guards it
jealously. The brew master sees very few people
save for his three biggest customers, the owners of
the Whitestone Lodge, Market Street Tavern, and
the Iron Gate Trading Post. Though he is a bit
paranoid, Hoff will willingly grant visitors a tour of
his facilities, complete with free samples. Anyone
who asks questions about the process of making the
brandy will be rudely shown the door.
The distillery holds cask after cask of finished
brandywine but Hoff will not release a single drop
of it until he is convinced that it has aged the proper
amount of time. Some of the barrels in the basement
are older than Hoff himself.
7. CENTRAL SHRINE
In the middle of Brandywine Commons is a small
hill, atop which rests a simple shrine of cut stone.
Four alcoves inside the shrine hold idols that
represent the four gods that are honored here.
Before each idol is a platform on which worshippers
can leave offerings to that god. On religious
holidays, the faithful gather in mass around the
shrine to join in prayer and ritual lead by the clan
chieftains or Alya, the village priestess. During
these holidays, the idol of the god being honored is
moved to a place of prominence on the central
platform of the shrine.
The priestess Alya is a disciple of the Raven Queen
and she leads services on holidays that honor her
god. The winter solstice and the eve of the new year
are particularly important to her. She also offers
prayers for the dead during funeral services. Alya is
often found at the shrine, either engaged in prayer
or selling incense and religious relics to the
villagers. She has also nurtured a reputation as a
fortuneteller and for a few copper coins she will tell
you all about the threads of fate in your life.
Alya makes and sells sanctified incense and mystic
salves. She can supply the components that are
needed to perform any ritual with the Heal or
Religion keyword. She has limited access to the
following ritual scrolls, Hand of Fate (1), Cure
Disease (2), Discern Lies (1), and Raise Dead (1).
8. SMELTER'S ROW
The center of the town's economic activity is a line
of soot-filled streets on the southern edge of town.
Smelter's Row is the area where members of the
smelter's guild turn chunk of reddish ore into bars of
fine bog iron. Smelting iron is hard and dirty work.
Those villagers unfortunate enough to live near here
are afflicted with a chronic cough. When the wind
blows the wrong way the entire village becomes
coated with soot and smoke from the charcoal
burning bloomery furnaces. The bloomeries convert
the raw ore into sponge iron, which is then sent to
other shops to be reheated and beaten with a
hammer until it has been turned into wrought iron.
Bars of wrought iron are then weighed before
shipping.
The smelters guild sets the price for iron in the
village and they regulate the activities of all the
furnaces and forges on Smelter's Row. They also
decide how much the furnace owners can pay for
raw ore and this puts them in direct conflict with the
local miners. However, the wrought iron is far more
valuable than the raw ore and this gives the furnace
owners the advantage. In addition, the bog miners
have no guild of their own so their members are
constantly undercutting each other. The smelter's
guild has forcefully discouraged the miners from
forming a guild, in order to retain control of the
industry.
16

The head of the smelter's guild is a grungy little
spit of a man named Has Claybourne. Has may be
small in stature but he possesses powerful muscles
from years of working the bellows and swinging
hammers. Has is as dumb as a rock but he knows
the business of smelting iron from the inside out.
After finishing work and closing up his furnace,
Has enjoys heading down to the Market Street
Tavern to raise a tankard of ale and maybe bust a
skull or two.
17
PORT OF LAST HOPE
A port town on the shores of Lake Misery, Port of
Last Hope is a rough and tumble place, often
home to lake pirates and smugglers.
Population: 2,425, another 1,800 or so people
live in the countryside a few miles north of town.
The population is predominantly human, though
members of all races can be found living inside
the town.
Government: The town is ruled by an elected
council. Only citizens are allowed to vote or run
for office and the majority of the residents are not
citizens but rather they are subjects. A person must
own at least 50 acres of land and hold no debts in
order to qualify as a full citizen with political
rights. While only the landholders can vote for the
council, anyone can buy their loyalty and
corruption is rampant.
Defense: The Port Company is a professional
army with 150 troops (human warriors). Their
barracks is Fort Misery, located on the lakefront.
Most of the landed citizens and wealthy merchants
keep a small band of soldiers to look after their
personal holdings. The town also employs a vigil
comprised of volunteers who patrol the streets at
night to watch for fires. True to their name, these
vigilantes also take it upon themselves to dispense
a rough form of justice should they witness a
crime.
Commerce: The people of the Port of Last Hope
make their living from the lake. The port acts a
home base for a small fishing fleet. Trading boats
from other parts of the lake also dock here, though
commerce of this type has declined in recent
years. As an active port, the town supports a
number of shipping related activities such as
making rope, barrels, sails, and metal tools.
18

Merchant houses on the waterfront furnish the
incoming boats with supplies. They also purchase
their cargoes and sell commodities of their own.
The primary import is timber, as this area has few
hardwood trees. A significant portion of the
population makes their living as artisans. Potters,
woodcarvers, smiths, weavers, and many more can
be found in shops around market square.
The vast majority of the people living in the coun-
tryside north of town are tenant farmers who live on
land rented from the wealthy estate holders. These
people work as planters and herders that raise hemp,
oats, potatoes, and vegetables along with sheep and
chickens. The landholders charge such steep rents
that their tenants barely produce enough to eat and
only rarely do they have enough left over to sell
their produce in the local market.
The finest inn in town is the Dancing Bear. Most of
its clients are estate holders who have come into
town on business or wealthy merchants that are
passing through. The rest of the inns in Port of Last
Hope are dingy, run down flophouses that serve the
needs of sailors and other common travelers.
There are many taverns and brew houses in Last
Hope, most of them located near the docks in an
area known as the Bronze Quarter. This is a rough
part of town that is notorious for brawling,
gambling and heavy drinking.
Organizations: There are many guilds and
associations in town but none are as influential as
the merchants and moneylenders guild, which is
headquartered at the Silver Guildhall. The Port of
Last Hope is home to a very large Temple of Erathis
as well as the Hall of Storms (Kord).
19
Key Locations
1. HARBOR
Stretching out into the waters of Lake Misery is an
arm of rocky land that forms a half-circle around
the harbor. A second, man-made barrier completes
the circle, leaving a gap between the two that boats
can pass through. This artificial bay was built
centuries ago by the original settlers. The land was
extended a little at a time by dumping rubble, stone
and earth into the lake until a new mass of land had
formed. The harbor here is the only deep water
anchorage on this part of Lake Misery. Large
trading boats must seek shelter here during storms,
which is how the town came to be known as Port of
Last Hope.
Trading boats move in and out of the harbor but
there are also a number of fishing boats that dock
here permanently. This small fishing vessels are
owned by local families. The area immediately
bordering on the harbor is filled with warehouses;
smoke houses, and shops that produce rope, netting,
barrels, etc.
2. TOWNHALL
The center of government in port of last hope is a
large stone building surrounded by a low wall. This
structure was once a keep owned by the last noble
lord to rule over Port of Last Hope. When the lord
was overthrown in a rebellion, the keep was made
into the meetinghouse of the elected council. Low
ranking administrators and scribes can be found
working here when the council is not in session.
 3. FORT MISERY
The barracks of the Port Company is a stone walled
compound that sits on a hill over looking the harbor.
Fort Misery was built on the site of a much older
structure. The stone outer wall is all that remains of
the original fortress. The buildings of the fort are
newer structures made from wood.
Next to the hilltop fort is a patch of level, open
ground that is used as a drilling yard for the soldiers
of the Port Company. Soldiers who are not on duty
at the town gates or otherwise occupied meet here
every day to practice their martial skills.
The commander of the Port Company is a
dragonborn female named Captain Kora. A stern
disciplinarian and harsh drillmaster, Captain Kora
trains her troops with a fanatical zeal. While the
common troops hate and fear their captain with a
passion, she has shaped them into a deadly and
disciplined fighting force. Kora often disagrees with
the decisions of the town council, especially when
they deny her requests for more funding. However,
the captain knows that it is her place to serve at the
whim of the elected government so she is restrained
in her criticism.
4. HALL OF STORMS
The Hall of Storms is a large wooden building that
houses a shrine to Kord. Smaller shrines outside of
the hall honor Melora and Avandra respectively. It is
located across from the drilling grounds where the
Port Company trains. The Hall of Storms is
frequented by the members of the company who
pray to Kord for strength in battle. The hall is also
popular with fishermen and sailors who wish to stay
in the good graces of the god of storms.
The high priest of this shrine is a dwarven male
named Rowan Grimeye, who tends the hall along
with a dozen lesser priests. A retired soldier turned
holy man; Rowan has lived his entire life in praise
of mighty Kord. The Hall of Storms is a rollicking
place where feasting and toasts to Kord's name are
common occurrences. Rowan Grimeye has a special
place in his heart for the men and women of the
Port Company and he sees himself as a guide and
mentor to them.
5. DANCING BEAR INN
The Dancing Bear is the largest and most expensive
inn in Port of Last Hope. The inn is surrounded by a
low stonewall that encloses an expansive courtyard
and several longhouses. Each longhouse is sur-
rounded by a covered patio. In the center of the
main courtyard are two L-shaped buildings that fit
together to form an inner courtyard. The main
courtyard is used as a kitchen garden to grow
fragrant herbs, spices, and hot peppers. The inner
courtyard contains a massive fire pit where meat is
roasted and oats are boiled. On warm days tables
and chairs are brought out so guests may eat in the
sunshine.
Rooms at the Dancing Bear are small but well
appointed and very comfortable. The serving staff is
large and well trained, seeing to the slightest whims
of the guests. The kitchen serves a wide variety of
exotic dishes and the finest ales and wines are
served with dinner. A night's stay at the Dancing
Bear costs 2gp.
20

The innkeeper is a pleasant halfling female named
Talia Brightwick. Talia is quite young by Halfling
standards but she has acquired a great deal of
experience and wisdom for her years. She runs the
Dancing Bear with great efficiency and attention to
detail. The serving staff knows that she will not
tolerate any slip ups. A burnt meal or poorly washed
blanket will be met with a swift rebuke. While
friendly and accommodating to her guests, Talia
will not tolerate any course behavior from her
patrons. Public drunkenness, quarrelling, and severe
breaches of etiquette will be answered with a
friendly warning the first time. Talia has no problem
tossing a landed citizen out on his rear if he cannot
mind his manners.
6. BRONZE QUARTER
This district of the city is named for the massive
amount of copper coins that flow through here every
time the traders and fishermen enter the port.
Located a short distance from the harbor, the bronze
quarter is home to many cheap inns and a half
dozen taverns. On the side streets of the quarter one
can find numerous street vendors selling everything
from trinkets and charms to bowls of noodle soup.
Many illegal activities take place in the Bronze
Quarter. Tucked in among the run down inns and
seedy taverns are a number of gaming houses and
thieves' dens. Many of the local warehouses are run
by fences that buy their goods from lake pirates,
smugglers, and pick pockets. Prostitutes are a
common sight here and drunken brawls are a
nightly occurrence. Even the town vigil hesitates to
walk through the quarter at night.
21
7. SILVER GUILDHALL
The headquarters of the merchants and moneylenders
guild is known as the Silver Guildhall. This
organization controls the majority of economic activity
in Port of Last Hope. The guild sets standard interest
rates on loans, makes sure that merchants honor
contracts with each other, and generally ensures that
commerce continues uninterrupted. The decline in trade
across the lake has meant a steady decrease in the
profits of the guild's members. This trend has reduced
the power of the Silver Guildhall but they are still a
force to be reckoned with inside the city.
The Guild Master is a wizened old miser named Norris
Highsun. A human male of nearly seventy years, Norris
looks like he is nearing one hundred. Generations of
guild members have learned their craft under the
tutelage of old Master Highsun. He has instructed his
pupils in known every way of cheating someone for a
copper piece without breaking the law or appearing to
be dishonest. He is also somewhat of a legal scholar
and the guild merchants and moneylenders pay Norris a
great deal of money in order to have him write un-
breakable contracts for them.
It is often rumored that Norris Highsun has bought the
loyalty of the elected council. This is patently false.
The clever Guild Master knows that it is far cheaper to
rent the loyalty of a politician than to buy it outright.
He also knows that there is no need to bribe the entire
council when a simple majority will do.
8. TEMPLE OF ERATHIS
Sitting on the far northern edge of the Market Square is
a grand temple dedicated to Erathis. This impressive
structure is made from pale stone that was brought
down from Whitestone Canyon at tremendous expense.
The temple features a columned façade that leads to a
massive inner hall. At the far end of the hall is a raised
platform where a large statue dedicated to the god of
civilization rests.
The temple is overseen by the High Priest Marin
Oakwood. His is assisted in his duties by a small
cabal of lesser priests and a few young men and
women who are priests in training. The High Priest
is a vibrant man in his early fifties who often acts as
an informal advisor to the town council. Marin is Random Events
trained in the arts of ritual magic. He can teach a
limited number of rituals, including Gentle Repose, The Moors are not a safe place to travel by any
Hand of Fate, and Brew Potion. means. This region is well known as a home to
9. MARKET SQUARE monsters and undead creatures. The bog is also used
as a hiding place for bandits and savage humanoids.
The Market Square is a large plaza in the center of For every few hours that the party spends in
town that is ringed by shops and businesses of all Bloodworm Bog or the surrounding hills, roll 1d20
kids. Those not fortunate enough to own their own and consult the table.
shop do business from blankets and carts in the
square itself. Most of the commerce taking place in 1-10
No event
the square involves foodstuffs, cloth, tanned hides,
and other basic items. Fishwives and grocers can be 11-14
Random Hazard
heard hocking their wares up and down the side
15-20
Wandering Monster
streets while weavers, tanners, and tailors conduct
business from their stalls. Travelling merchants stop
by here frequently as it is the largest market in the If the adventurers try to make camp in the wilds,
area. The Market Square is an excellent place to roll twice on the random events table. Any event
find any of the mundane gear found in the Player's that occurs will interrupt the adventurer's rest, so
Handbook. More exotic wares can be found from they do not gain the benefits that are normally
time to time due to the heavy traffic of traders that associated with an extended rest.
are coming and going in the square. The square is
also a good place to sell loot. The high density of RANDOM HAZARD
merchants and pawnbrokers makes it easier for
There are many hazards in the Moors besides
people to get a good price.
cutthroats and evil creatures. The environment itself
is harsh and unpredictable. Roll 1d6 and consult the
entries below.

1-2. Poison Gas Field

Deep beneath the mud and muck of Bloodworm

Bog are pockets of noxious gas that well up through
the dirty water and choke passers by. The
adventurers stumble upon one of these pockets of
poison gas as they journey through the bog.

22
 Poison Gas Field Level 3 Blaster

Hazard XP 150

The muddy water begins to bubble and churn as you are overwhelmed by a foul smell.

Hazard: This region of poison gas fills 10 contiguous squares. These squares are difficult terrain.

Perception

DC 20: The bubbling water and horrid smell identifies the area as a hazard of some sort.

Additional Skill: Nature

DC 20: The character recognizes the area as a poison gas field.

Trigger

When a living creature enters or begins its turn within the area, the hazard is triggered and attacks, releasing a burst of
poisonous gas around the creature.

Attack

Opportunity Action Melee

Target: Living creature within the field.

Attack: +8 vs. Fortitude

Hit: 1d6 + 3 poison damage and 5 ongoing poison damage (save ends).

Upgrade to Elite (300 XP)

_ Increase Perception and Nature DCs by 2.

_ Increase the size of the field to 20 squares.

_ Increase damage to 2d6 + 3 poison damage and 5 ongoing poison damage (save ends).

23
 Sinkhole Level 2 Obstacle

Hazard XP 125

A benign looking patch of grass and mud is actually the top layer of a deadly sinkhole. This layer of vegetation gives
out under the weight of a creature, plunging it into the black waters below.

Hazard: Five squares in the area hide water-filled sinkholes.

Perception

DC 20: The character notices that the ground quakes as he approaches.

Trigger

The hazard attacks each time a creature enters one of its five squares.

Attack

Standard Action Melee

Target: The creature that triggered the trap.

Attack: +4 vs. Reflex

Hit: The target falls into the sinkhole and secondary attack

Secondary Attack: +4 vs. Fortitude

Hit: 1d6 damage and immobilized (save ends).

Miss: The target returns to the last square that it occupied and its move action ends immediately.

Sustain Standard: A creature that is hit by the sinkhole is held under water and is subject to the hazard's secondary
attack each round until it escapes.

Countermeasures

_ A character who makes an Athletics check (DC 11) can jump over the sinkhole.

_ A character can climb out with a DC 20 Athletics check.

Upgrade to [Elite] (250 XP)

_ Increase Perception DCs and attack rolls by 2.

_ Increase damage of secondary attack to 3d6 damage.

24
 5-6. Toadstool Ring

Strange fey magic and ancient curses have affected the ecology of the Moors.
Torrents of mystical energy run through the landscape. Throughout the region
there are an enchanted toadstool rings that assault the minds of those who get too
close.

Toadstool Ring Level 2 Blaster

Hazard XP 125

A group of large mushrooms grow together in a perfect circle. Mystic energy seems to surround this point. As you
approach a beautiful, ghostly woman appears in the center of the ring and beckons to you.

Hazard: This hazard fills a square. When triggered it attacks with bolts of mental energy.

Perception

No Perception check is needed to notice the toadstool ring.

Additional Skill: Nature

DC 15: The character finds it odd that fungi should grow in such a symmetrical ring.

Initiative +4

Trigger

When a creature enters within 5 squares of the toadstool ring, it rolls initiative and attacks.

Attack

Standard Action Ranged 5

Target: One creature.

Attack: +7 vs. Will

Hit: 1d10 psychic damage, the target is pulled 1 square, and dazed.

Upgrade to [Elite] (250 XP)

_ Increase Nature DCs and attack rolls by 2.

_ Ranged 7

_ Increase damage to 3d10 psychic.

25
 WANDERING MONSTER
Bloodworm Bog is full of terrifying creatures and
dangerous foes. Anyone exploring this area is sure
to encounter some kind of threat. Roll 1d10 and
consult the paragraphs below.
1.
Bloodworm Swarm
Level 2 encounter, 625 XP
1 bloodworm swarm
The bog was named for these horrific creatures.
Bloodworms are ravenous, blood-sucking monsters
that attack anything they come across.
See the section on New Monsters and Hazards for
more information and accompanying stat block.
2.
Kobold Hunters
Level 1 encounter, 500 XP
4 kobold minions
2 needlefang drake swarms
1 kobold wyrmpriest
Somewhere to the northeast of Bloodworm Bog is a
kobold settlement built at the base of the Iron Ridge
Mountains. The kobolds from this settlement
commonly hunt in the bog. Though they are in the
area chasing game animals, this hunting party
would be more than happy to bushwhack a party of
unaware travelers.
The kobold minions begin combat by throwing their
javelins and then rushing headlong into the
adventuring party, trying to surround the weakest
member and gang up on him. The needlefang drake
swarms stay close to the wyrmpriest and viciously
attack anyone who comes near him, using pull down
followed by swarm of teeth. The wyrmpriest tries to
avoid melee combat and instead attacks with energy
orb. It saves its dragon breath power for an enemy
that moves in close, blasting this foe with a torrent of
cold. The minions will flee if the wyrmpriest falls in
battle but the wyrmpriest and the needlefang swarms
fight to the death.
3. Kobold Ambush
Level 1 encounter, 500
3 kobold slingers
2 stormclaw scorpions
Somewhere to the northeast of Bloodworn Bog is a
kobold settlement built at the base of the Iron Ridge
Mountains. These kobolds worship a white dragon
that lairs in the mountains. Raiding parties from the
kobold tribe often times lurk of the outskirts of the
settled parts of the bog. They seek to ambush people
who venture beyond the safety of their towns and
villages. The kobolds want to rob their victims and
offer any captives they take to the dragon as sacrifice.
The stormclaw scorpions are kept in hidden cages
that can be opened by pulling on a cord. The kobold
slingers hide out of sight while waiting for the
adventurers to get close to their caged scorpions
before releasing them. The enraged scorpions attack
whoever is closest to them. The kobolds wait until the
scorpions have grabbed at least one target with their
claws attack and then they emerge from their hiding
place. The slingers attack with special shot; favoring
gluepot and firepot. They switch to normal sling
attacks after using the third special shot. The slingers
have no desire to engage in melee combat and they
will flee if any of their number becomes bloodied.
26
 The scouts will stay close to each other and gang up
on the same target, preferably an enemy defender or
striker. They take advantage of the difficult terrain
of the bog by attacking and then using wild step to
4.
Hostile Elves shift away. If possible, the scouts will try to flank
their target and then use two-weapon rend in
Level 1 encounter, 500 XP conjunction with combat advantage. The archers
keep their distance and circle around the targets
2 elf archers while making ranged attacks. They use not so close
to counter an enemy that tries to engage in melee.
2 elf scouts The elves fight to the death.

5. The Nest
There are many clans of elves that live and hunt in
the area around the Moors. In recent days several Level 1 encounter, 500 XP
members of the Darkleaf clan have gone missing
while exploring the bog. A small search party has 2 kruthik young
been sent into the bog in order to find out what
4 kruthik hatchlings
happened to them. Seeing a party of armed
adventurers traveling through the same area is
bound to make these elves quite suspicious. The While exploring the bog, the party accidently
elves of the Darkleaf clan have not always gotten discovers the entrance to a nest full of kruthiks.
along with the other local communities and they While the parents seem to be away, the offspring are
may believe that the party is part of a force that is dangerous enough on their own.
organizing against them.
The kruthik hatchlings eagerly fall upon the party
The elf scouts approach the characters openly while using claw. The young use burrow to get behind the
the elf archers remain hidden nearby. The scouts party and begin making claw attacks of their own.
will politely but forcefully demand to know what The kruthiks fight to the death.
the party is doing in the bog. They will then begin
questioning the adventurers to see if they know
anything about their missing kin. A Diplomacy
check (DC 20) will convince the elves that the party
is innocent of any wrongdoing. If this check
succeeds, then the elves may ask the party to join
with them as they continue searching the bog. A
Bluff check (DC 17) allows a character to
convincingly give the elves false information that
will lead them away from the party. If these checks
fail or if the adventuring party refuses to answer any
questions then the elves may attack.

27
6.
Bandits
Level 1 encounter, 500 XP
2 halfling thieves
2 hyenas
Pack Rats
A pair of halflings named Gnori and Zander
Clearwater have long stalked the shores of Lake
Misery. The larcenous brothers pilfer and rob
without remorse, using their trained hyenas to
ambush unwary travelers.
These highwaymen use the Stealth skill to move
close to enemies and surprise them. They prefer to
concentrate on one or two enemies at a time. The
thieves send the hyenas in first in order to take
advantage of their harrier ability. If possible they
will stay close together so that the hyenas can use
pack attack. The halfling thieves always attack a
target that is adjacent to one of more of the hyenas
in order to gain the benefit of combat advantage. If
necessary, the thieves will use mobile melee attack
in order to strike a troublesome foe and then move
away. The brothers will flee if one of them becomes
bloodied and the hyenas will follow them. The
halflings make ranged attacks with their daggers in
order to discourage pursuit.
7.
Level 1 encounter, 450 XP
3 wererats
There is a clan of wererats that lives in the sewers
and tunnels beneath Port of Last Hope. Though they
blend in with the humanoid population, small
groups of these lycanthropes often venture out into
the bog so they can hunt without causing suspicion.
These particular wererats are greedy and covetous,
often picking pockets while in settled areas. A group
of well heeled adventurers provides an irresistible
opportunity for both food and treasure.
The wererats use change shape to assume dire rat
form and hide in the underbrush. Their goal is to
surprise the adventurers in order gain the benefit of
combat advantage. When the party approaches they
emerge from hiding and make bite attacks against
the closest targets. During the second round they
use change shape to assume true hybrid form and
begin making attacks with their short sword. If
possible the wererats will flank an opponent in order
to make use of combat advantage. If a single
wererat becomes bloodied then it will move away
from the battle and try to find cover. It will rejoin
the rest of the group once its regeneration has
brought it back to full hit points. If more than one of
the lycanthropes becomes bloodied at the same time
then the group will change back to dire rat form and
flee in different directions.
28
 8.
Death from Above 9.
Wolf Pack

Level 1 encounter, 500 XP Level 1 encounter, 500 XP

5 spiretop drakes 4 grey wolves

The Iron Ridge Mountains are home to a flock of
spiretop drakes. These drakes fly out over the
relatively open territory of the Moors in search of
prey, sometimes resting on the walls of Port of Last
Hope. Though they usually content themselves with
sheep and other livestock, the spiretop drakes will
not hesitate to attack a small group of humanoids.
The glinting of shiny metal and other trinkets is far
to alluring to pass up.
The spiretop drakes take turns using flyby attack
combined with snatch. Once a drake has hit with
snatch it leaves the area as fast as it can. If all five
drakes succeed in making snatch attacks they will
return victoriously to their nesting grounds. If a
spiretop drake is wounded then it becomes enraged
and begins using flyby attack in conjunction with
bite. Once a drake begins making bite attacks it will
continue fighting to the death.
The Moors and the surrounding foothills are home
to many wolves that often raid nearby communities
for livestock. Small children have even been
attacked by hungry wolves. Those who travel
through this region have to remain alert against wolf
attacks.
The wolves use a simple but effective strategy. They
focus their attacks on the weakest member of the
party, flanking him in order to gain the benefit of
combat advantage. Once a target has been knocked
prone by combat advantage, the remaining wolves
fall upon the prone target, dealing extra damage
with their bite attacks. When the other adventurers
come to the aid of their prone ally, two or more of
the wolves will use their greater movement in order
to flank one of the allies and begin the whole cycle
over again. The wolves will flee if three or more of
them become bloodied.

10. Hungry Dragon

Level 3 encounter, 750 XP 1 young white dragon

There is a dragon that makes its lair in a cave somewhere deep in Whitestone Canyon. The dragon is attended to
by a tribe of kobolds that journey across Bloodworm Bog in order to worship it and offer it living sacrifices. The
kobolds dare not approach its icy lair if they have nothing to impart to the dragon. It tolerates these weaker
creatures only when they bring it offerings of flesh or precious gems. When the kobolds fail to deliver enough to
eat, hunger forces the dragon to leave its lair and hunt. It normally prefers to snatch livestock away from the
farmers of Brandywine Village but the dragon has developed a taste for humanoid flesh and it will readily fall
upon a small group of travelers.

The young white dragon flies into the midst of the party and attacks with frightful presence. During the next
round it attacks with its breath weapon and then spends an action point to use dragon's fury. It continues using
dragon's fury each round until its breath weapon recharges. It will then spend its second action point to use once
again use breath weapon and dragon's fury in the same round. After that it uses breath weapon as often as
possible, resorting to dragon's fury during rounds that breath weapon has not recharged. The dragon fights to the
death.

29
 INTERLUDE: RAVENWOOD
The adventures enter the tiny village of Ravenwood
and are greeted with a mixture of warmth and
hesitation. The villagers rarely see travelers so they
are obviously excited and curious. On the other hand,
the villagers are fearful because they know that the
local mercenaries will not be happy to see a party of
armed adventurers strolling through “their” village. It
is likely that the party will have time to talk to the
local people, shop for supplies, and get to know the
area before any trouble starts. While in the village the
adventurers will witness the mercenary band
mistreating the local people, taking food from their
shops and knocking people to the ground for no rea-
son.
If the adventuring party has come to Ravenwood in
order to rid the people of the thugs who are extorting
from them then they may try to deliberately provoke
a confrontation with the mercenary band. They may
also try to surprise the mercenaries and attack them
unaware. If the party is just passing through then the
mercenaries will attempt to extort from them the
same way that do the villagers. The sell swords ask
the party what their business is and how long they
plan on staying. They then start mentioning a “safe
passage fee” that the adventurers will have to pay in
order to ensure their security while in the village. The
mercenaries do not name an exact price; they wait for
the party to make them an offer. Whatever offer the
adventurers make, the mercenaries will demand
double. If the party pays up then the mercenaries will
leave them alone, for awhile. However, it will not be
long before the band is back again with another
demand for payment.
ENCOUNTER 1: THE MERCENARIES
Encounter Level 2 (675 XP)
SETUP
The mercenary band that has taken up residence in
Ravenwood is not at all comfortable with a party of
armed travelers coming into the village. On the other
hand, they aren't going to miss the opportunity to
shake someone down for money. A confrontation is
inevitable; eventually one side or the other will make
an aggressive move and trigger a violent conflict.
The PCs begin the encounter on the southern end of
the main street. The mercenaries are lounging about
on the northern end of the street. Though they are
trying to look nonchalant, the mercenaries are alert
and keeping a close eye on the adventurers. The three
human bandits hang on the edges of the street while
the human guards approach the party directly. The
guards will demand that the PCs leave. Failing that
they will order them to surrender their weapons and
armor. If the PCs do not immediately comply, the
mercenaries attack.
This encounter includes the following creatures.
2 human guards (G)
3 human bandits (B)
30

When the adventurers enter the village
center, read the following:
The mercenaries scowl at you from the other end of
the street. They may be pretending to be interested in
other things but they cannot help but look your way
with an expression of disgust. Three lightly armored
men lean against the front wall of a shop while two
men in chainmail begin walking toward you. The
leader of the mercenaries calls out to you, “I am Seph
Grenwald, commander of the men that protect this
village. Your stay here has lasted long enough. It is
time that you made your leave. Turn around and
march directly away from here at once. We will not
have unlawful arms in our village. Surrender them or
be on your way.”
Insight
DC 12: You realize that Seph Grenwald seems very
nervous as he speaks. His forceful tone of voice
cannot hide the fact that his eyes are not on you but
instead on the villagers who have gathered to watch
these events unfold.
barrels on the street for cover against ranged attacks
while they do this. Once the battle begins in earnest,
the bandits will attempt to move behind the party,
trapping the adventurers between themselves and the
guards. The bandits use dazing strike to create a clear
path through the party. The bandits will not pass up
the chance to flank a target in order to make use of
combat advantage. The bandits use their mobility to
great advantage, shifting away from their targets after
making each basic melee attack.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
Illumination: The village of Ravenwood is brightly
lit in the daytime and dimly lit on most nights.
Barrels: Lining both sides of the street are barrels
full of smoked and salted fish. These barrels block
movement and provide cover.
Treasure: Searching the bodies of the fallen
mercenaries, the adventurers find that each of them
carried a purse full of silver coins. The five of them
together contain a total of 1,500 sp.

TACTICS

The human guards will stay within one square of each

other, depending on the reach of their halberds to
keep foes at a distance. They use powerful strike on
the first round. They continue using powerful strike
as often as possible, making basic melee attacks
during rounds when this power is has not recharged.
The narrow street of the village makes it nearly im-
possible for an enemy to move past the human guards
without provoking opportunity attacks. The human
bandits close in behind the guards and begin making
ranged attacks with their daggers. They use the

31
 INTERLUDE:
ABANDONED LIGHTHOUSE
ENCOUNTER 2A:
LIGHTHOUSE, FIRST FLOOR
Encounter Level 2 (675 XP)
SETUP
The ground level of the lighthouse is a wide open
chamber that once served as a kitchen and dinning
room for those who tended the fires. This room is
now overrun by a horde of vicious rats.
The PCs begin the encounter at the doorway on the
eastern wall of the chamber. The giant rats are lurking
along the eastern edge of the chamber, while the rat
swarms are spread out across the entire floor. The dire
rats begin the encounter hiding in a nest that has been
built in the old fireplace.
This encounter includes the following creatures.
5 giant rats (R)
2 dire rates (D)
2 rat swarms (S)
When the adventurers enter the lighthouse,
read the following:
As you enter the room, you see dozens upon dozens
of rats scurrying across the floor and remnants of
furniture. At the edge of your vision, you see large
shadows stirring in the flickering torchlight.
TACTICS
The rat swarms attack first, charging at the nearest
foes and attacking with swarm of teeth. They will try
to remain adjacent to as many foes as possible in
order to make use of swarm attack. The giant rats will
gang up on one or two foes and continuously make
bite attacks. The dire rats emerge from their hiding
places on the second round. They will immediately
single out a single enemy and try to flank it. If all of
the adventurers are all ready engaged in melee then
the dire rats will attack whoever is fighting the giant
rats. The rats fight until slain.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
Illumination: The room is dark; any illumination
comes from a light source that the PCs have brought
with them.
Stairs: A set of winding stone steps hugs the wall of
the chamber. The crumbling stairs lead to the second
floor of the lighthouse.
Treasure: Searching the rats' nest in the fireplace, the
adventurers find three amethysts (100 gp each).
32

ENCOUNTER 2B:
LIGHTHOUSE, SECOND FLOOR
Encounter Level 2 (700 XP)
SETUP
The second floor of the lighthouse was once the
bedchamber for the fire tenders. The walls and ceiling
have partially collapsed, leaving this chamber open to
the elements. Bits of rubble are scattered across the
floor.
The PCs begin the encounter at the top of the stairs.
The shadowhunter bats are roosting on the highest
peak of the remaining wall.
This encounter includes the following creatures and
hazards.
1 rockslide (R)
4 shadowhunter bats (S)
When the adventurers reach the top of the
stairs, read the following:
As you ascend the stairs that lead into the second
floor, you feel a strong breeze cut across your face.
The chamber before you is only partially intact, much
of the ceiling and walls have crumbled away over the
years.
Perception
DC 15: You hear a faint rustling and the sound of
claws scratching against stone.
33
Dungeoneering
DC 20: You realize that the stonework around you is
highly unstable.
TACTICS
When the adventurers enter the chamber, the
rockslide rolls initiative and attacks. The tumbling
stones disturb the shadowhunter bats that were
roosting in the upper part of the ruin. The enraged
bats swoop down at the party and use flyby attack
combined with tail slash. The remaining walls of the
lighthouse prevent the bats from making the most of
their mobility. The shadowhunters make up for this
by flying out through the openings in the walls after
each attack. On the next round they fly back into the
tower to delivery another flyby attack and tail slash.
The shadowhunter bats fight to the death.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
Illumination: The only light in this chamber comes
from natural light that filters in through the missing
pieces of the outer wall. The chamber is dimly lit in
the daytime and dark at night.
Rubble: Parts of this chamber are covered with
rubble. The squares that contain rubble are difficult
terrain.
Rockslide: The outer wall of the tower is unstable.
Massive blocks tumble down from the top of the
tower and land in this chamber, creating a rockslide.
See the D&D 4E Dungeon Master's Guide for more
information on this hazard.
Treasure: A DC 15 Perception check reveals a
cracked wooden chest that is partially buried under
the rubble. Searching this chest reveals a pair of
wavestrider boots and a shield of protection.
 ENCOUNTER 3A:

TEMPLE GROUNDS

Encounter Level 2 (678 XP)

SETUP

The temple grounds were the site of a fierce battle

between the temple knights and hobgoblin raiders.
The casualties of this battle have risen from the dead
to attack anyone who trespasses on this site.

The PCs begin the encounter on the southern or

western edge of the battle map. The zombies are lying
in shallow pools of water on the northern edge of the
map.

This encounter includes the following creatures.

3 bog zombies (B)

6 zombie rotters (R)

When the adventurers approach the temple,

read the following:

Rising up from the muddy waters of the bog, nine

animated corpses lurch to unlife before your eyes.

Perception

DC 12: You notice that three of the zombies seem to

be well preserved while the other six are falling apart.

34

Bog Zombie Level 3 Soldier
Medium natural animate (undead)  150 XP
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +1; darkvision
HP 42; Bloodied 21
AC 19; Fortitude 15, Reflex 16, Will 15
Immune disease, poison; Resist 10 necrotic;
Vulnerable 5 radiant
Speed 6, swampwalk
m Slam (standard; at-will) +10 vs. AC; 1d10 + 3
damage.
m Zombie Bite (standard; at-will) +8 vs. Reflex; 1d6
+3; the target is grabbed until escape. A grabbed
creature takes 5 points of each round on the bog
zombie's turn.
M Run Down (standard; encounter)
The bog zombie moves up to 12 squares and then
makes a basic melee attack.
Alignment Unaligned Languages ‐
Str 17 (+4) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 10 (+1)
Con 10 (+1) Int 1 (-4) Cha 3 (-3)
35
TACTICS
The bog zombies are much faster than their
lumbering allies. They rush headlong into
battle and attack whatever creature is closest
to them. The bog zombies will use run down
in order to close the distance if they have to.
The bog zombies alternate between slam and
zombie bite. If a bog zombie manages to
grab a target using zombie bite, a second bog
zombie may choose to join in and use
zombie bite on the same target. The zombie
rotters will move as fast as they can to join
the battle, mindlessly attacking whichever
target they come across first.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
Illumination: There are few trees in the bog,
meaning that there is nothing to obscure
natural illumination. The bog is brightly lit
during the daytime and dimly lit at night.
Bog: This area is covered in shallow pools of
water and thick mud. It is difficult terrain.
 TACTICS
ENCOUNTER 3B:
The phantom warriors materialize in the middle of the
room, between the false floor pit and the spear
SUNKEN TEMPLE
gauntlet. The ghosts do not trigger the traps so they
can move over these squares without harm. The
Encounter Level 2 (700 XP) phantom warriors will try to draw the adventurers
into the traps this way. They try to stay fairly close to
SETUP each other so thy can take advantage of phantom
tactics.
The rear of the temple consists of a raised platform
that houses the main chapel. The chapel contains a FEATURES OF THE AREA
once splendid altar but the ravages of time have
caused it to rot and decay. Illumination: This chamber is dimly lit during the
daytime as weak sunlit filters through dirty windows
The PCs begin the encounter on the steps that lead up and cracks in the ceiling. At night the chamber is
to the chapel. The phantom warriors materialize in completely dark and the only illumination comes
the space between the false floor pit and the spear from the light sources that the PCs bring with them.
gauntlet.
False Floor Pit: The entrance to the chapel is
This encounter includes the following creatures and protected by a false floor pit. See the D&D 4E
traps. Dungeon Master's Guide for more information on this
trap.
2 phantom warriors (W)
Spear Gauntlet: The main altar is protected by a
1 false floor pit (P)
spear gauntlet. See the D&D 4E Dungeon Master's
1 spear gauntlet (G) Guide for more information on this trap.

When the adventurers reach the top of the

stairs, read the following:

As you climb out of the muddy water, you see a long

chamber with a decrepit alter at the far end. Two
armored figures lay slumped at the base of the altar.

Perception

DC 20: You notice a patch of false stonework directly

in front of you.

DC 22: A short distance past the false stonework you

notice a number of trigger plates in the floor.

DC 27: You see a control panel hidden in the wall

near the altar.

36
 Slain Knights: There are two decomposing bodies
clad in rusty plate armor. These valiant souls died ENCOUNTER 4A:
defending their beloved temple but were never given
a proper burial. Because of this fact, their spirits arose SCOUTING PARTY
as the phantom warriors that haunt the chapel. If the
bodies are cremated or interned in a respectful Encounter Level 1 (550 XP)
manner then these souls can rest easy in the afterlife.
If not then the phantom warriors will return the next
night. SETUP

Treasure: On the bodies of the fallen knights the
adventurers find a +2 magical long sword and a +1
symbol of battle. A Perception check (DC 20) leads
the party to a hidden treasure cache beneath the altar.
Inside this hidden chamber is a polished wooden box
containing 2,500 sp.
INTERLUDE:
The PCs encounter the leading element of the goblin
scouting party on a series of hills southeast of the
temple ruins. The stony ground provides firm footing
and the terrain provides enough cover to conceal the
party should they attempt to use Stealth.
The PCs may begin the encounter anywhere they
want. The goblins enter the area in the northeast
corner of the map.

WILDERNESS AMBUSH This encounter includes the following creatures.

10 goblin cutters (C)

The adventures are trekking through the bog when
they discover evidence of a large war party that has 3 goblin blackblades (B)
recently passed through the area. They find an
abandoned campsite surrounded by trees that have
been repeatedly chopped and shot with arrows.

A DC 20 Nature check allows a character to read the

tracks and determine that the troop consists of around
three dozen medium and small humanoids. The small
creatures are barefoot while the medium sized
creatures are wearing hobnailed boots.

A DC 15 History check informs a character that the

hobgoblin armies from the north have often crossed
Bloodworm Bog on their way to raid the settlements
on Lake Misery.

If the adventurers move quickly they can move

around the war party and cut them off before they
reach the nearby villages. The much larger raiding
party is spread out and moving slowly across
unfamiliar landscape. The adventuring party, on the
other hand, is travelling much lighter and can make
better time.

37
 When the goblins approach, read the following:

Staring out over the waist high grasses and thick

FEATURES OF THE AREA
scrub brush, you cannot help but feel like something
is moving out there on the edge of your vision. Illumination: The encounter takes place at twilight.
The area is dimly lit by the setting sun.
Perception
Hill: The slope of the hill is considered difficult
DC 10: You see a group of ten goblins making their
terrain for anyone moving up hill. Those who are
way quietly across the bog.
travelling downhill make their movement as normal.
DC 15: You notice a second group of three goblins
Prisoners: If any of the goblins are taken captive
following the first.
then the PCs can use Intimidate (DC 11) to cow
TACTICS them into talking. The adventurers learn that the
leader of the raiding party is an ambitious hobgoblin
When the battle starts, the goblins cutters will split who calls himself General Bloodgourd. The general
into two groups and each group will rush a different used his magical prowess to overcome chieftain of
target. The cutters hope to overwhelm their foes with their tribe and press the goblins into service as his
sheer numbers. They use goblin tactics to move foot soldiers. Bloodgourd hopes that a successful
around enemies and flank them. The goblin raid will rally other hobgoblins around him for a full
blackblades try to move behind the party and gang up out assault against the local settlements.
on a target that appears to be vulnerable. They use
sneaky in conjunction with goblin tactics in order to
swap places with each other when one of them gets
wounded. The blackblades fight to the death but the
cutters will retreat and run back to the rest of the
troop if half of their number falls in battle. Any
cutters that escape will be encountered with the
hobgoblins in Encounter 4B.

38

ENCOUNTER 4B: GOBLINS
Encounter Level 3 (750 XP)
SETUP
After the first battle, the second wave of the raiding
party is alerted to the presence of the adventuring
party. They rush in to meet the threat head on. The
battle takes place of the border between the hills and
the bog.
The PCs begin the encounter on the western edge of
the encounter area; the hobgoblins enter from the
east.
This encounter includes the following creatures.
3 hobgoblin soldiers (S)
2 hobgoblin archers (A)
When the hobgoblins approach,
read the following:
You see the second wave approaching. With
impressive discipline, they move together as a single
unit. Three hobgoblin soldiers flanked by a pair of
archers approach your position with a look of fearless
intensity.
39
TACTICS
The hobgoblins form a battle line with the soldiers in
the center and one archer on each end. The battle line
moves together and the archers make a longbow
attack after each move. The archers will both
concentrate on a single target. When the battle line
moves in to melee range, the archers draw their long
swords and fight alongside the soldiers. The
hobgoblin soldiers do their best to hold formation in
order to gain the benefit of phalanx soldier. If one of
them is pushed out of the battle line he will use
formation strike to get back in formation. The
hobgoblins fight to the death.
If any of the goblin cutters from Encounter 4A
survived the battle they will stay behind the battle
line and gang up on any enemy that tries to get
behind the hobgoblins.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
Illumination: The encounter takes place at twilight.
The area is dimly lit by the setting sun.
Bog: The eastern half of this area is covered in
shallow pools of water and thick mud. It is difficult
terrain.
Trees: There are a number of small trees in the area.
The trees provide partial cover. Squares containing
trees are difficult terrain.
 ENCOUNTER 4C: MORE GOBLINS

Encounter Level 3 (750 XP)

SETUP

Following behind the group of five hobgoblins are the

goblin chieftain and his cohort. The goblins are not
interested in a head on battle. Instead they wait for
the hobgoblins to fall before trying to sneak up on the
party and attack from surprise.

The PCs begin the encounter wherever they were
when Encounter 4B ended. The goblins begin the
encounter on the northern edge of the area.
This encounter includes the following creatures.
1 goblin hexer (H)
3 goblin warriors (W)
2 goblin skullcleavers (S)
When the encounter starts, read the following:
After you finish off the last of hobgoblins, an eerie
calm falls over the battlefield. .
Perception
DC 14: You notice that a pair of goblins armed with
battleaxes are attempting to sneak up on your position
from the north.
they stay back from the party and make attacks with
their javelins. They use mobile ranged attack
combined with great position to deal extra damage
with their ranged attacks. If the goblin warriors are
forced into melee combat that use goblin tactics in
order to flank an opponent or move back and make a
ranged attack. The goblin hexer will try to stay close
to the goblin warriors so that he can use lead from the
rear and incite bravery. He attacks with vexing cloud
on the first round and sustains the effect as long as
there are enemies in the affected area. He then fol-
lows up with stinging hex the next round, targeting an
enemy melee combatant. The goblin hexer uses
blinding hex while he is waiting for stinging hex to
recharge. The goblin hexer will avoid melee combat
if possible and he will flee if the battle seems to be
going badly.

DC 15: You realize that another group of four goblins

are following behind the first.

TACTICS

The goblin skullcleavers are eager for battle and they

will charge directly at an enemy that they determine
to be a worthy foe. The warriors are more restrained,

40
 ENCOUNTER 4D: THE GENERAL

Encounter Level 3 (750 XP)

FEATURES OF THE AREA

Illumination: The encounter takes place at twilight.
The area is dimly lit by the setting sun.
Bog: The eastern half of this area is covered in
shallow pools of water and thick mud. It is difficult
terrain.
Trees: There are a number of small trees in the area.
The trees provide partial cover. Squares containing
trees are difficult terrain.
SETUP
The head of the goblin raiding party is a hobgoblin
warcaster who styles himself “General” Bloodgourd.
Having been made aware of the previous three
battles, the general is leading his troops around the
party's position and attempting to take the high
ground, namely the hills from Encounter 4A.
The PCs may begin the encounter either in the bog
area from Encounter 4B and Encounter 4C or in the
hills from Encounter 4A. The goblins begin the
encounter in the hills.

This encounter includes the following creatures.

1 hobgoblin warcaster (W)

5 hobgoblin grunts (G)

3 goblin sharpshooters (S)

When the encounters begins, read the following:

A terrible horn blows and the trumpet's blast echoes

throughout the area. You turn to see General
Bloodgourd and a cohort of troops standing atop the
highest hill. A loud war cry erupts from the
hobgoblins as they challenge you to dislodge them.

Perception

DC 22: You notice three goblins with crossbows are

training their weapons on you.

TACTICS

The hobgoblin grunts form a battle line and move as a

single unit in order to take advantage of phalanx soldier.
The goblin sharpshooters follow close behind them and
attempt to hide in the hills. The sharpshooters

41

then make ranged attacks from heir hidden position.
If forced into melee combat, the sharpshooters use
goblin tactics in order to flank an enemy or move out
of melee range. The hobgoblin warcaster is the
wildcard in this battle. Enraged at the loss of his
forces, the warcaster will fight with suicidal zeal and
inflict as much damage on a single enemy as possible.
He begins the battle using force lure to draw an
enemy into melee range and then follows up with
shock staff the next round. He uses force pulse on a
dazed foe. The warcaster uses his quarterstaff to make
basic melee attacks while he is waiting for his other
powers to recharge.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
Illumination: The encounter takes place at twilight.
The area is dimly lit by the setting sun.
Hill: The slope of the hill is considered difficult
terrain for anyone moving up hill. Those who are
travelling downhill make their movement as normal.
Treasure: General Bloodgourd carried a large
backpack with him. Mixed in with his mundane gear
and supplies are 3 potions of healing and a leather
satchel that contains 1,000 sp.
CONCLUDING THE ADVENTURE
RAIDING PARTY
If the characters defeat the goblins and prevent their
assault on the local villages then they must decide
whether to return to one of the local settlements or
push even further into the wilderness. They may want
to use one of the communities in this region as a base
camp between adventures. This might mean forming
alliances with local NPCs or establishing a
household.
FAILURE
If the characters do not face the goblin war party or if
they are defeated then General Bloodgourd will
march on Ravenwood and burn it to the ground. He
will brutally enslave the villagers and slaughter
anyone who resists. The raiding party turns to do the
same to Brandywine but they turn back when
confronted by the size of the village militia.
Bloodgourd returns to the mountains with his
captives in tow. Any player characters that fall in
battle and are captured will be stripped of their gear
and shackled with the other slaves.
Soon the tale of the general's conquest spreads among
the hobgoblin city-states and like minded warriors
will flock to his banner. With a much greater force
under his command, General Bloodgourd will launch
a campaign to conquer the Brandywine and Port of
No Hope, enslaving the populations and looting the
settlements of anything of value.
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CONTINUING THE ADVENTURE
There are many more adventures to be had in
Bloodworm Bog. If you are not yet ready for the
party to leave the region then this setting can be used
again and again. A DM has plenty of room to expand
upon the information in this book in order to continue
creating adventures in this setting. One way of
turning this adventure into a longer campaign is by
creating new dungeons in the area or expanding the
one that are provided. Another of creating adventures
in this setting is by introducing new enemies into the
story, increasing the level of these enemies as the
characters increase in level.
NEW DUNGEONS
A DM can easily expand the temple ruins from
Encounter 3A and Encounter 3B into a full fledged
dungeon. Simply add monsters, traps and treasure to
the empty rooms as you see fit. You can even created
a flooded sublevel of the temple in order to create an
underwater adventure with its own unique challenges.
You can also create a dungeon beneath the ruined
lighthouse from Encounter 2A and Encounter 2B.
Other good locations for original dungeons include
Dancer's Isle and the sewers and tunnels beneath Port
of Last Hope. Whitestone Canyon or the surrounding
mountains can be filled with caves that are filled with
any type of monster that you want.
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NEW ENEMIES
An easy way of adding new enemies to the adventure
setting is by using any of the encounters from the
wandering monster chart that the PCs have not
already come across. Some of these wandering
monster encounters can be linked together to create a
miniature adventure all its own. For example, take
wandering monster encounters 2, 3, 4, and 10. The
PCs can be made to battle the kobolds and then run
across the elves that are looking for their missing kin.
This naturally leads them to the dragon's lair in
Whitestone Canyon.
The adventuring party may wind up battling lake
pirates and thieves in Port of Last Hope or trying to
settle a clan feud in Brandywine Village. There are
numerous ways that you can create new adventures
that are directly linked to events from the adventure.
Perhaps the mercenaries that the PCs defeated in
Ravenwood were part of a larger mercenary
company. The commander of this company now
wants revenge against the adventurers. Perhaps the
region has not heard the last of the hobgoblin army.
The party may be tasked with uniting the local
settlements against a larger hobgoblin army.
 NEW MONSTERS AND HAZARDS
These are the new threats that the adventurers may
face as they explore Bloodworm Bog.
Poison Gas Field Level 3 Blaster
Hazard XP 150
The muddy water begins to bubble and churn as you are
overwhelmed by a foul smell.
Hazard: This region of poison gas fills 10 contiguous
squares. These squares are difficult terrain.
Perception
DC 20: The bubbling water and horrid smell identifies the
area as a hazard of some sort.
Additional Skill: Nature
DC 20: The character recognizes the area as a poison gas
field.
Trigger
When a living creature enters or begins its turn within the
area, the hazard is triggered and attacks, releasing a burst
of poisonous gas around the creature.
Attack
Opportunity Action Melee
Target: Living creature within the field.
Attack: +8 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 1d8 + 3 poison damage and 5 ongoing poison damage
(save ends).
Upgrade to Elite (300 XP)
_ Increase Perception and Nature DCs by 2.
_ Increase the size of the field to 20 squares.
_ Increase damage to 2d8 + 3 poison damage and
5 ongoing poison damage (save ends).
Sinkhole Level 2 Obstacle
Hazard XP 125
A benign looking patch of grass and mud is actually the top
layer of a deadly sinkhole. This layer of vegetation gives
out under the weight of a creature, plunging it into the
black waters below.
Hazard: Five squares in the area hide water-filled sink-
holes.
Perception
DC 20: The character notices that the ground quakes as he
approaches.
Trigger
The hazard attacks each time a creature enters one of its
five squares.
Attack
Standard Action Melee
Target: The creature that triggered the trap.
Attack: +4 vs. Reflex
Hit: The target falls into the sinkhole and secondary attack
Secondary Attack: +4 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 1d6 damage and immobilized (save ends).
Miss: The target returns to the last square that it occupied
and its move action ends immediately.
Sustain Standard: A creature that is hit by the sinkhole is
held under water and is subject to the hazard's secondary
attack each round until it escapes.
Countermeasures
_ A character who makes an Athletics check (DC 11) can
jump over the sinkhole.
_ A character can climb out with a DC 20 Athletics check.
Upgrade to [Elite] (250 XP)
_ Increase Perception DCs and attack rolls by 2.
_ Increase damage of secondary attack to 3d6 damage.
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 BOG ZOMBIE (new monster)

The acidic waters of a bog have a way of preserving the

bodies of creatures that die there. For this reason the
victims of human sacrifice are placed into bogs to preserve
their corpses. Often times, the preserved corpses from a
bog rise again as bog zombies.

Toadstool Ring Level 2 Blaster BOG ZOMBIE TACTICS

Hazard XP 125
A group of large mushrooms grow together in a perfect
circle. Mystic energy seems to surround this point. As you
approach, a beautiful, ghostly woman appears in the center
of the ring and beckons to you.
Hazard: This hazard fills a square. When triggered it at-
tacks with bolts of mental energy.
Perception
No Perception check is needed to notice the toadstool ring.
Additional Skill: Nature
DC 15: The character finds it odd that fungi should grow in
such a symmetrical ring.
A bog zombie charges directly at the nearest target and
begins attacking with slam and zombie bite. It uses run
down to overtake an enemy that flees or moves out of
range.
BOG ZOMBIE LORE
A character knows the following information with a
successful Religion check.
DC 20: Bog zombies are not created through necromancy
or ritual magic. They arise spontaneously out of the muck
of bogs that are tainted by the power necrotic energy
shadow energy. These hungry undead have no desire other
than to feast upon the flesh of the living.

Initiative +4

Trigger Bog Zombie Level 3 Soldier

When a creature enters within 5 squares of the toadstool Medium natural animate (undead)  150 XP
ring, it attacks. Initiative +5 Senses Perception +1; darkvision

Attack HP 42; Bloodied 21

Standard Action Ranged 5 AC 19; Fortitude 15, Reflex 16, Will 15

Immune disease, poison; Resist 10 necrotic; Vulnerable 5
Target: One creature. radiant

Attack: +7 vs. Will Speed 6, swampwalk

m Slam (standard; at-will) +10 vs. AC; 1d10 + 3 damage.
Hit: 1d10 psychic damage, the target is pulled 1 square,
and dazed. m Zombie Bite (standard; at-will) +8 vs. Reflex; 1d6 +3;
the target is grabbed until escape. A grabbed creature takes
Upgrade to [Elite] (250 XP) 5 points of each round on the bog zombie's turn.

_ Increase Nature DCs and attack rolls by 2. M Run Down (standard; encounter)

_ Ranged 7 The bog zombie moves up to 12 squares and then makes a

basic melee attack.
_ Increase damage to 3d10 psychic. Alignment Unaligned Languages -
Str 17 (+4) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 10 (+1)

Con 10 (+1) Int 1 (-4) Cha 3 (-3)

45
 BLOODWORM SWARM (new monster)
Bloodworms are tiny red worms that gather together
in massive swarms and feast on the blood of any
creature they come across.
BLOODWORM SWARM TACTICS
A bloodworm swarm waits for its prey in pools of
shallow water. It uses its tremor sense ability to detect
approaching creatures and then attacks as soon as the
prey is in range. The swarm is mindless and chases
after its enemies relentlessly. It uses feeding frenzy
on the first turn and then attacks with engulf on each
subsequent round. The swarm attempts to maneuver
itself adjacent to several enemies so that it can make
the best use of its swarm attack.
BLOODWORM LORE
A character knows the following information with a
successful Nature check.
DC 15: Bloodworms begin their life cycle as the
larvae of biting insects. These insects feed their brood
with the blood that they draw from other animals.
However, sometimes these hungry larvae are altered
by contact with the magical energy of the Feywild.
Not content with waiting around to be feed, the
ravenous offspring form swarms to actively hunt
living creatures.
DC 20: Bloodworm swarms are most active in the
summer, but they can be encountered during any time
of year.
Bloodworm Swarm Level 2 Solo Lurker
Large fey beast (swarm) 625 XP
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +3; tremor
sense
Swarm Attack aura 1; the bloodworm swarm
makes a basic melee attack against each creature
that begins its turn in the aura.
HP 160; Bloodied 80
AC 20; Fortitude 19, Reflex 18, Will 16
Resist half damage from melee and ranged
attacks; Vulnerable 10 against close and area
attacks
Saving Throws +5
Speed 6 (swampwalk)
Action Points 2
m Slam (standard; at-will) +7 vs. AC; 1d10 + 4
damage.
M Engulf (standard; at-will) +5 vs. Fortitude;
2d19 +4 damage.
C Feeding Frenzy (standard; encounter) Close
burst 1; +5 vs. Reflexes; 3d6 + 4 damage, and
weakened (save ends).
Alignment Unaligned Languages none
Str 17 (+4) Dex 15 (+3) Wis 14 (+3)
Con 16 (+4) Int 1 (-4) Cha 3 (-3)
46