Page 5 - IBP 2001 - Bearing A Grudge - Labyrinth Lord Edition

bear. Belkan slew the bear and was about to go for the gold when two wolves appeared standing next to the druid and the pool. Belkan, badly hurt from the fight (and the curse), decided to give up at this point but wasn’t leaving empty-handed, so he pulled the bear out of the glade. With the help of his associates, they moved it to their camp where they skinned it and fed upon it. Lanky Po had previously been a furrier and he fashioned the bearskin into a wearable costume for Belkan, complete with skullcap helmet and attached clawed gloves. Belkan took to wearing it, and the others slowly noticed that he became more aggressive and agitated when he did. This was especially seen when Belkan and his men attacked a trader upon the road. Belkan’s associates are now worried that there is something wrong with Belkan, something to do with the glade and the skin. Belkan wants to head back to the sacred glade to take the treasure from the pool, but he has been unable to convince the others to do this yet.
Although Thearnan had been left for dead, the wolves dragged him to the pool and the pool’s healing powers restored him. The blow to his skull left him addled, and he has no memory of the past two hundred years. He speaks with a slur and has one-sided conversations with his long- dead weasel familiar Boosh. The animals have been trying to tell him what happened, but the druid thinks that they are merely having sport with him and he is content to merely stay within the glade and tend to it, much to the animals’ confusion and annoyance. The animals know the way to Belkan’s camp, but once outside the glade aren’t a cohesive enough group to attack Belkan and his associates, although the wolves and bears are considering doing it anyway.
Between the glade and The Two Sisters lives a tribe of kobolds who lair underground in overtaken abandoned badger burrows. These kobolds have laired here for almost four years after escaping from captivity during transportation to a private zoo by a nearby city “collector”. Unfettered by civilization, the kobolds – an equal mix of male and females – rapidly increased in number and expanded the burrows, eventually forming a large colony. There are almost one hundred kobolds at any time living around the burrows that keep mostly to themselves. Their food is sourced from the surrounding forest, but they are well aware of the sacred glade and Thearnan, although they do not take from it. Several months ago the kobolds attempted to trade some game with The Two Sisters but this fell through when a few rogue kobolds were caught attempting to steal some rabbits and pigs from the trading post. They have been unwelcome at The Two Sisters since and they have not returned.
For now, Belkan’s men have managed to convince Belkan that they should attack travelers on the road, but Belkan
wants revenge against The Two Sisters as well as the treasure in the sacred glade, and it is only a short amount of time before he tries for them.
REGARDING STATISTICS: Keeping with our motto, this module uses inline monster and NPC statistics in the text, with references to particular texts and page numbers for you to find fuller descriptions. New monsters and special items can be found in Appendix A. The following is an example on an inline statistic block:
We include as much information as you need inline so that you don’t have to refer to source texts unless needed. LL refers to the Labyrinth Lord main book, and AEC refers to the Advanced Edition Companion.
INTRODUCING THE VIGNETTE: This Vignette is designed to allow for a very free form approach to uncovering what has happened at The Two Sisters and getting involved, and does require that the players do some investigative work.
Some ways to introduce The Two Sisters Trading Post:
Statistics and Introducing the Vignette
Kobold Warriors (6): AL: C(E), HD: 1d4, HP: 4,4,4,3,3,2, AC: 6/5, MV: 60’ (20’), #ATT: x1 claw or x1 weapon, DMG: 1d4 or weapon-1, SV: F0, Mor: 6, XP: 5. Gear: Animal fur, sling or small knife, 20 sling bullets, 1d6 cp. LL (83).
1. The party has been hired as guards for a trader who is heading towards The Two Sisters with items that are needed. On the way, a group of 12 kobolds rush the trade caravan in an attempt to steal items of value.
2. The party is merely traveling through the area and The Two Sisters is on the way towards their next destination. Either Jothril or Pamil approach them and ask them if they are interested in going to the next town and picking up some items for trade for them. If they are, then when they return with a list of items that the sisters need, they’ll earn a total of 100 gp. Of course, the wanted posters pay a lot more...
3. A sheriff from another town has heard a rumor that Red Belkan and his associates (under other aliases) may have passed by The Two Sisters and has either deputized the party or requested them to go and seek out more information.
4. The party may be bounty hunters who have been given the same information as above, and are there to collect on the bounty themselves. If they are tasked with bringing Belkan back alive, this puts them at odds with the sisters.
Bearing A Grudge 3
Labyrinth Lord Edition