Actions

Multiattack. Eyes makes two shortsword attacks.

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Traits

Blindness [IE 4]. Eyes's vision is absent completely, and he has learned to navigate the world with little or no reliance on his eyes, depending on other senses instead. He has a −4 on sight-related attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws including ranged combat beyond 10 ft. but a +4 bonus when using other senses to compensate, not because they’ve become stronger, but because he's learned to use them more effectively.

Assistive Device

Blindfold of Awareness
Wondrous Item, rare (requires attunement)

This blindfold, while worn, gives you blindsight out to a range of 30 ft and advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks against creatures using stealth within range. It also allows you to hear the heartbeat of a creature within range that has a heart, giving you a +2 bonus on Wisdom (Insight) checks to determine when such creatures are lying.

In an environment with considerable background noise, the blindsight gets disrupted, and you lose all benefits from the blindfold.

Section Summary

Yllbella, the druid, lives in a purposefully hidden grove in the forest. Guarded and reclusive, the path to her hut (or hideout, however one prefers to interpret the way she lives), is known only to a select few, including Ashur Ivaako, who tells the party how to find her once he determines that they’re trustworthy. He takes the party aside and whispers:

Unfortunately, as this information is bound to be passed at the Brawler’s Caldron, Francis, the former captain of the burg and secret leader of the criminals, monitors their movements. He sees Yllbella as a possible threat to his dominance. She’s always lurking around, only found when she pleases, while moving unhindered. Uncertain of the amount of information she possesses on his operation, Francis sees an opportunity to finally locate her hideout to “take measures if need be”. He sends his best team to follow the adventurers to the spot and oversee their movements.

The Scouts’ Mission

The team of villains have specific instructions to locate the hut and decide whether to interfere based on the itinerary of the party. If they locate the druid and move towards town, they are to assume the adventurers have recruited her and are finally going to enter the castle to “fulfill their intended purpose.” In that case, the scouts are to wait for them to leave and then sack and destroy her home, since there’s be no use for her afterwards.

If the party finds her and moves elsewhere, the scouts are to follow. Francis suspects a second entrance to the underground levels of the castle through the woods, which would be valuable information. On discovering an entrance, the scouts are to map it and return. If the adventurers enter this newfound location, one of the scouts remains there to observe and report to Francis.

Francis also wonders about the supposed curse, interested in verifying both the veracity of the rumor and how it may affect the pillage of the castle and maintenance of the power established there.

The scouts are to remain unseen and to avoid combat unless their presence may somehow expose their leader and organization, in which case they are to eliminate all present.

The Scouts: The Gray Brothers

The Scouts are a group of three identical triplets dressed in hooded grey leather clothing. During a heist gone wrong, they suffered serious injuries from an explosion, and since then, they possess unique characteristics. They use their identical appearance to misguide those trying to tell them apart, resulting in no one knowing their names. They can be distinguished only by their scars and have all adapted to the loss of one of their primary senses.

• Eyes
• Ears
• Face

Note: As the Gray Brothers follow the trail left by the party, not the group itself, the GM should only run Wisdom (Perception) checks if the party is, for some reason, searching actively for someone following them. The brothers not only actively try not to be perceived, but they are also skilled in doing so. They do not intend to engage the party in combat yet, only when they’re back in town, and the party has fulfilled their usefulness.

The Singing Forest

The Singing Forest is known as such for the high concentration of insects, that create a constant and oscillating humming sound. The deeper into the forest one goes, the louder the sound becomes, and the vegetation becomes denser, which keep most people from venturing too deep.

Yllbella makes her home in the eastern part of the forest, close to the burg, beside a dried water fountain.

The hut is actually a very big tree that literally embraced Yllbella’s presence and has molded its roots into a home for her. She lives there and is gravely concerned with the drying up of the water fountain and the fact that the biomes are restless. The forest itself, as a living organism, seems afraid of something or someone, but Yllbella is not wise and powerful enough to understand its worries, which is why she’s seeking help.

The Stone Gate

At some point while traveling through the woods heading west, read or paraphrase:

As you walk carefully through the tangle of roots that cover the ground, half obscured by the fallen foliage, the humming of the forest grows to a Fortissimo and a sudden stop. As the sound slowly restarts, small points of light start to glow, as a pulsating heart. Fireflies start flying in a small group in concentric circles, then in a line, as if forming an arrow-like pathway that moves forward through the trees, their buzzing wings producing a sound distinct from the ambient forest music.

The fireflies are being guided by the forest itself. The humming of the insects seems to guide them with cadence.

A successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Nature) check reveals that the roots and branches are moving, as if hiding the path taken by the adventurers.

Note: Unbeknownst to them, the forest is in fact trying to protect them from the Gray Brothers.

After two hours of walking in zigzag through the forest, assuming they’ve followed the fireflies, read or paraphrase:

After two hours of following the fireflies, the pathway they take you through leads to a beaten path. Further on, the path narrows to a passage with two huge boulders in each side, as if nature itself had formed a gate there. As the glowing insects proceed normally forward, the growling of beasts adds a new bass line to the music of the forest.

Leaving the shadows ostensibly, five dire wolves reveal themselves upon the boulders, as feral guardians, with fresh blood dripping from their bare teeth.

Meanwhile, the fireflies continue forward, disregarding the beasts above.

The wolves are intimidating but do not attack the party, even though they look like they will. They are aware of the presence of the Gray Brothers and are lying in ambush for them. If the adventurers simply continue forward, the beasts only look menacingly and growl but do not attack.

If the party attacks or pose as a threat, the animals attack. The fireflies, however, continue forward towards Yllbella’s hut, unless there is combat or a very loud noise, in which case the humming of the forest becomes silent, and the fireflies stop, resuming their way after peace is restored.

The Druid

After the adventurers pass through the stone gate, they soon find Yllbella.

The interaction between them is at the DM’s discretion, in order to steer the party one direction or the other, taking into consideration her traits and personality.

Read or paraphrase:

Gradually, the vegetation starts to wane as the forest opens up to you. The space between the trees gives you room to breathe and move, and the whole environment seems to lighten as the fireflies spread upwards as the humming of the insects stops completely. Over a small hill reveals a small house in the trunk of a tree, as if the tree had grown in that shape, without the interference of metal tools.

A hooded shape waves her hand, Yllbella signaling them up as birds and squirrels gather around her acting cute, as if she found a way to weaponize fluffiness.

“Welcome heroes! Come, take a seat with me at the fireplace and warm our bellies and hearts with some food. I have waited long for someone brave that would help me bring rest to the Singing Forest.”

Yllbella talks about the strange occurrences in the forest, such as monsters wandering around, the drying up of the fountain that is beside her hut and the strange dreams that she’s having, which she states are manifestations of the will of the Singing Forest, the way the forest “talks to her”.

She is convinced that the source of this evil comes from under the castle, but she knows of a tunnel in the forest from which evil creatures are emanating, and she believes it goes into the castle. She proposes going there to investigate. She is kind and is equally concerned about the criminals there and can easily agree to follow that route of investigation as well.

If over an hour passes without the party leaving Yllbella’s home, a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check reveals muffled sounds in the distance. A successful DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check clarifies that it’s the sound of the wolves dying. The Gray Brothers stumbled upon them and quickly finished them.

Possible Outcomes

• The party decides to go towards the burg and investigate the criminals, in which case they’ll have a violent welcoming committee on arrival.
• The adventurers decide to investigate the source of the curse through the outside, in which case they are going to enter the main dungeon through route 2 (see the dungeon map)
• The group goes with Yllbella straight to the castle doors to investigate the location in a direct approach, in which case, Francis walks with them to the door, and no criminals attack.
• The party somehow discovers that that the Gray Brothers are following them and confront them, which causes the Gray Brothers to flee the scene in order to avoid confrontation and stick to their plans.
• The group manages to catch up with the Gray Brothers, triggering combat, in which case Face and Eyes stay to fight, while Ears goes back to warn Francis, who in turn arranges a violent welcoming committee for them once they show up back in town.
• The adventurers somehow conclude that Francis is the leader of the criminals, after collecting evidence upon defeating the brothers in combat.

Background

Lord Zuulpa Thall was once a noble of great renown with a notoriously brilliant mind. Cherished by all, the lord was in charge of the administration of southern part of the kingdom, a position of great prestige that brought admiration upon him, as well as envy. The reasons why the beloved man has become an outcast whose name invokes fear in the hearts of all is covered in mystery. Rumors say that he lost his edge when his only daughter perished in a tragic accident, but only one thing is certain—the southern lands are unruly and chaotic, and the lord has not been seen for a decade, while everything dies around his manor as if a curse has fallen upon it.

When the lack of control and leadership became an insurmountable problem, the surrounding lords started to send their own people to investigate the absent lord and determine the reason for his lack of governance. All that went to the lord’s castle have returned in a box, discovered as as mutilated corpses, or didn’t return at all. The surrounding lords started annexing some of the land, partly taking advantage, partly having no choice but to rule over the land in order to resolve the problems brought by the absence of leadership.

The burg that surrounds the castle, however, remains unconquered in absolute chaos where the strong oppress the weak. A group of residents, led by an elderly former captain, have taken the destiny of the town in their own hands and are looking to hire a group of capable adventurers to enter the castle and find out what happened with their liege lord and resolve this tension once and for all.

It would be true to say that some of the lords that now control areas once controlled by Lord Thall had some economic advantages in the appropriation of lands under the excuse of keeping the king’s peace and protecting the people, but they are unanimously willing to give back the lands once the rightful owner appears again. As the king himself has not decreed otherwise, maybe for all the friendship that was between them, no one is authorized to take the burg by force in order to investigate the whereabouts of the missing lord or to reestablish order. Given the circumstances, a small criminal group has taken the town, and the people that refuse to abandon it are at their mercy, creating a safe haven for all varieties of backstabbers, cutthroats, and wanted criminals, since invading the burg would be an act against the king himself. In theory, Lord Thall is still the warden of the South and represents the king and his royal will, despite the ways his castle or lands are being used by others without his supervision.

The once beautiful burg, both the castle and the small town contained within its walls, are now a clear image of decadence. The front of the burg has strong walls and a thick gate. Around it, the natural protection of cliffs that surround it, so steep that only spiders could climb, or wings could reach. Around the triangular shaped piece of land, a canyon offers perfect protection from all other directions, and at the far end sits the lonely castle.

All are interested and involved in a collective effort to solve the dire situation in the most decisive yet discreet way possible. The Southern Lords, the king, the people, all want a resolution for the dilemma, either by finding a corpse, a man struggling with the effects of trauma, or even final evidence of his disappearance, anything that would assemble evidence enough for another lord to be named in his stead and the disbanding of the criminals that plague the region. Individually and collectively, the lords plot a way to send people in and unfold this mystery to bring order to the South.

Adventure Hooks

• The king himself is bothered by the lack of solution on the matter and has sent an envoy, with the royal sigil, looking for a specialized group that will solve the issue without causing turmoil amongst the noble houses. There is animosity and suspicion that the Lords are not solving the matter for the advantages that they may gain.
• The Southern Lords of the region gathered in a joint effort to rid the region of criminals and put an end to the dissatisfaction of their king. They are hiring willing capable people to solve the matter unofficially to get the criminals with their guard down and avoid further shame on the noble houses.
• The Circle of Druids is highly concerned by the spread of maleficent corruption in the region and decay of the forests and are looking for “city dwellers” that could further investigate its origin, since its source comes from inside the city walls.

Where are we?

Stat Blocks

• Belmaia
• Ashur Ivaako
• Yllbella
• Eyes
• Ears
• Face
• Thug
• Dire Wolf
• Wolf
• Eagle

Encounters

1. The People's Plea
2. Lights and Grays
3. Pawns of Francis

Maps

• Chasm Town
• The Brawler’s Cauldron

Traits

Alleviation Behavior (Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior: Trichotillomania) [IE 3, Frequent]. His mind or body craves a substance or behavior that causes a compulsive pursuit of its associated reward in spite of consequences. This desire causes anxiety that can be alleviated through certain actions, but these responses reinforce the anxiety overall and create a cumulative dependence on the behavior. When he encounters the stimulus or an opportunity to follow his compulsion, he must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw or follow his compulsion, repeating the saving throw every 3 minutes until successful.

Every time he follows the compulsion, he must make a DC 8 Constitution saving throw. On failure, the IE increases by one.

He feels a need to pick at, pull, and eat his hair. He must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom check to resist this behavior, repeating the saving throw every 3 minutes until successful. When people who don't know him see him, they usually only see his hair. This gives him +3 to Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks but −3 (up to −4) to disguise checks or Dexterity (Stealth) checks to blend into a crowd as well as a −3 penalty on Charisma (Persuasion) checks due to many people’s discomfort around those with unexpected appearances.

Actions

Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage, or 4 (1d8) bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.

Assistive Device

Ashur's Limitless Locks. Wondrous Item, Common
This locket has 6 charges. While wearing it and placing a lock of the hair you intend to duplicate (consumed in casting) within it, you can expend 1 charge as an action to grow your hair to exactly the length and style you choose and the color and texture of the lock used in casting. For 1d4 hours after casting, if this hair is cut, pulled out, or damaged, it will regrow. You have +1 to any ability checks you make to create a visual disguise to avoid being recognized. The locket regains 1d6 expended charges daily at dawn.

Background

Ashur is a Half-Elf wizard who uses his magic as an artisan. Adventuring was never something Ashur had ever desired. He can most often be found in his lab, either tinkering away at his latest project or minding the shop. Ashur was born and raised in a small town often used as a rest stop by adventurers. His mother works at the local tavern and his father was an adventurer who was passing through town. His father tried taking Ashur on adventuring expeditions but quickly found that he had no passion in being out and adventuring. His dad was accepting and helped Ashur find his own path in life. Ashur grew up around many different kinds of people, all coming and going, so he has heard stories of all sorts of faraway places and will often recognize where any party member is from, with varying degrees of familiarity. He found that he would much rather help those in town and support other adventuring parties instead of being in one himself. He would much rather take a supportive role in the community, and communicate with the citizens and travelers that way. In his free time, he frequents his parents' tavern and reads a lot of books.

Personality

Ashur is soft spoken, sweet, and helpful. He is easily embarrassed and quickly flustered. When nervous, he pulls out his eyebrows and eyelashes, and therefore always wears his locket. The locket has served him well over the years. Ashur is also able to discuss and share experiences with others who work through the same emotions.  He understands that the world around him is vast and full of stressful scenarios and hopes that his shop can be a place of peace and comfort for those who enter. He takes comfort in his work and takes pride in his inventions helping people.

Plot Hooks

1. The adventurers could end up needing a specific item enchanted and Ashur’s shop is the only one that is available.
2. As Ashur does not prefer to adventure, he tends to hire groups to retrieve rare materials that he may need from time to time.
3. Ashur may be concerned that some of his most valuable items have been stolen and swapped out for fakes. He requests the group to find out whoever was trying to sabotage his business and hurt those around him.

Traits

Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (Trichotillomania)[IE 3, Triggered]. She feels a need to pick at, pull, bite, and/or eat your hair. She must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom check to resist this behavior. When people who don't know her see her, they usually only see her hair. This gives her +3 to Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks but −3 to disguise checks or Dexterity (Stealth) checks to blend into a crowd as well as a −3 penalty on Charisma (Persuasion) checks due to many people’s discomfort around those with unexpected appearances.

Sleep Disturbances (Insomnia) [IE 2, Frequent]. Belmaia has trouble falling or staying asleep or both (equal chances each). When beginning a long rest, she must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw to fall asleep quickly. On a failure she loses the difference between your result and the number needed in hours of sleep, and loses the benefits of rest accordingly unless she sleeps longer at the end of the long rest to compensate. If she wakes in the night, determine the time she wakes randomly by subtracting the loss from the total hours attempted, and roll 1d(difference) to see how many hours she sleeps before waking. If it is mixed insomnia, follow the above, but then roll to determine how many of the lost hours are at the beginning and how many are after waking.

Startle Amplification [IE 2, Triggered when her wig is removed unexpectedly]. Belmaia has an overactive stress response that can cause a fight-flight-freeze reaction to non-threatening situations. This response is triggered randomly 2d4 times per day and during any remotely stressful situation. She has a +2 bonus to Charisma (Intimidation) checks and a −2 penalty to Charism (Persuasion) checks along with a +1 on Initiative.

Traumatic Flashbacks [IE 3, Triggered when her wig is removed unexpectedly]. Belmaia experiences memories of her past traumas as if they are happening. These are triggered by external stimuli, some predictable and others that feel random. These triggers happen 3d4 times per day or when exposed to an appropriate stimulus, and last 3d6 minutes unless she succeeds a DC 11 Constitution saving throw. All spell casting and ability checks require that she succeed on a concentration check or make the subsequent check at disadvantage, and tasks that normally require a concentration check are made with a −3 penalty. If she takes damage during a flashback that doesn’t make sense within the context, she may attempt another Constitution saving throw immediately.

Actions

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage.

Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d8) piercing damage.

Assistive Device

Bell’s Beautiful Bonnet. Wondrous Item, common
While wearing this hat, you can use a bonus action to change the style, color, and apparent material of the hat and hair appearing to grow beneath it. If removed, the hair goes with it as a wig. The hat can be any kind of hat and replicate any nonmagical hair but regardless of its appearance, it neither protects from nor causes damage.

Background

Belmaia grew up in an abusive household. Due to her parents' close connection to infernal beings, they were highly competitive. From a young age, they focused on all the ways that Bell was inadequate in their eyes, hoping to foster her own competitive spirit. Instead, a growing sense of stress, anxiety and inadequacy grew as she was never able to meet her parents' unrealistic expectations. As the pressure grew, Bell started picking at her hair. This became a new source of critique from her parents.

One night while traveling home from another day of intense lessons and harsh tutors who regularly berated Bell for her lack of progress, she met a stranger along the road. This stranger turned out to be an Archfey. They listened to Bell’s pain and offered her a deal: a chance to escape the pressure of her oppressive home life with the only obligation to sow chaos and joy wherever she went. With the support of her new patron by her side, Bell left without ever returning home again.

She soon settled down in a town far away from her family or origin, opening a rather successful café in the process. Here the drinks are filled with magic and delight that tickles the fancy of each customer, leaving them with a smile. Her café has since become a center for community including space for performances, artists of all types, and classes such as make-up lessons, crafting sessions, and more.

Personality

Bell is very friendly towards everyone even though she may present as reserved at times. This largely happens when she is under high amounts of stress or worried about a close friend. She has a giving heart and donates a portion of her proceeds to other survivors of abuse, and works hard to build a space that is welcoming to everyone. When she is reminded of her past trauma, Bell can become stuck in her head or much more anxious than normal. During these times she becomes more closed off from those around her, though not for long. Overall, she is a helpful person and would be a great aid to any adventuring party.

Plot Hooks

1. A character needs a mentor or class to help them retrain a skill or for an appropriate multiclass.
2. The party is looking to help another NPC find safety from an abusive environment.
3. The party needs someone well connected to the local community to help them find someone.