Troll Trouble PDF
Troll Trouble PDF
    Introduction:	Desperately	needed	supplies	have	failed	to	arrive	at	the	suffering	frontier	settlement	
    of	Ravendale.	Rumors	are	flying	that	the	supply	wagon	must	have	fallen	afoul	of	the	legendary	troll	
     of	Stonebottom	bridge.	The	townsfolk	are	in	desperate	need	of	heroes	to	reclaim	their	supplies	or	
                             the	town	won't	survive	the	encroaching	winter!	
                                                                                      	
                                                                                      	
by Gary Whicker
	
	
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Introduction                                                                 	
	                                                                            Being	goblins,	they	poked	and	prodded	until	they	
Troll	Trouble	is	designed	as	a	short	adventure	for	a	                        activated	the	pit	by	accident	and	discovered	that	
party	of	4-6	1st	or	2nd	level	characters.	It	has	been	                       they	could	combine	creatures	in	the	pit	to	create	
optimized	for	a	party	of	5-6	1st	level	characters	or	3-                      warped	abominations	under	their	command.	
4	2nd	level	characters.	While	this	adventure	has	been	                       Experimenting	with	the	evil	power	there	for	over	a	
placed	in	the	Forgotten	Realm’s	campaign	setting,	it	                        year	the	goblins	have	graduated	from	warping	small	
can	fit	most	any	setting	where	there	is	a	small	                             beasts	to	larger,	more	dangerous	prey.	
farming	community	on	the	mountainous	frontier.	                              	
	                                                                            Unfortunately,	the	power	that	the	goblins	have	
                                                                             harnessed	comes	at	a	steep	price.	Weather	patterns	
Adventure Background                                                         have	changed,	bringing	drought	upon	all	lands	in	a	
	                                                                            30-mile	radius	of	the	shrine,	leading	to	famine	not	
Ravendale	is	a	small,	remote	farming	community	                              only	for	the	settlers,	but	for	the	now	hungry	goblins	
that	sits	in	a	once	idyllic	valley.	The	valley,	nestled	in	                  as	well.			
the	southern	foothills	of	the	Sword	Mountains,	is	                           	
roughly	80	miles	to	the	west	of	Amphail.	A	rutted	                           As	the	wagon	of	supplies	from	Amphail	lumbered	its	
and	poorly	marked	cart	trail	provides	the	only	trade	                        way	up	the	trail	on	its	way	to	Ravendale,	the	goblins	
access	to	Ravendale.		Wagons	must	jolt	along	the	                            made	a	deal	with	a	local	ogre	and	attacked	the	
trail	through	a	canyon	formed	by	Stonebottom	                                wagon.	The	ogre,	whom	has	been	misidentified	by	
creek.	There	is	little	trade	that	comes	to	Ravendale	                        locals	as	the	fabled	bridge	troll,	took	the	horses	
and	fewer	visitors	save	for	the	occasional	mining	or	                        while	the	goblins	took	the	grain	and	supplies.	The	
adventuring	party	seeking	to	explore	the	Sword	                              goblins	also	took	the	driver,	Shalia	Redmane,	as	a	
Mountains.		                                                                 captive	to	experiment	on.	Likewise,	the	goblins	
	                                                                            ambushed	Jorgan	Ralvar	when	he	came	to	
Being	so	remote,	the	town	is	highly	dependent	on	                            investigate	and	have	taken	him	to	the	shrine	as	well.		
the	success	or	failure	of	their	crops	of	wheat,	oats,	
vegetables	and	livestock.		Recently,	back	to	back	                           Adventure Overview
seasons	of	drought	and	failed	crops	have	drained	                            	
their	grain	and	meat	supplies	to	dangerously	low	                            The	adventure	begins	as	the	party	members	
levels.	The	settlers	know	that	unless	something	                             overnight	in	Ravendale.	The	Innkeeper	will	relate	
changes	very	soon	many	will	not	survive	the	harsh	                           the	town’s	tale	of	trouble	to	the	party.	If	they	seem	
winter	ahead.		                                                              inclined	to	help,	the	Innkeep	will	provide	free	
	                                                                            lodging	and	what	meager	fare	the	tavern	can	supply	
In	desperation,	the	town	elders	pooled	together	                             in	payment	for	investigating	what	happened	to	the	
their	last	remaining	coin	to	pay	for	a	shipment	of	                          wagon	driver,	their	constable,	and	the	missing	
grain	and	supplies	from	Amphail.	That	wagonload	                             supplies.		
and	its	driver	Shalia	Redmane	are	a	week	overdue,	                           	
and	to	make	matters	worse,	Ravendale's	acting	                               Traveling	down	the	canyon	road	to	Amphail,	the	
constable,	Jorgan	Ralvar	went	looking	for	the	wagon	                         party	encounters	bizarre,	mutated	beasts	and	the	
two	days	ago	and	has	also	gone	missing.	The	rumors	                          ruined	supply	wagon	near	the	bridge	where	their	
have	been	flying	that	the	fate	of	Shalia,	the	supplies,	                     investigation	could	lead	them	to	the	“Troll”	or	
and	now	Jorgan,	must	be	tied	to	a	troll	who	they	say	                        towards	the	trail	of	the	grain	which	clever	tracking	
lives	under	the	Stonebottom	bridge.	                                         can	uncover.	
	                                                                            	
Unknown	to	the	settlers,	the	reasons	for	the	failed	                         Eventually	the	fate	of	the	supplies	and	captives	will	
crops	and	the	missing	supplies	have	the	same	                                be	tracked	up	the	mountain	to	the	ruins	of	a	temple	
source.	A	small	tribe	of	goblins	have	discovered	an	                         atop	an	outcropping	of	rock	known	locally	as	“the	
ancient	shrine	to	Demogorgon	carved	into	the	rock	                           demon	twins”	for	the	likeness	of	two	demonic	heads	
wall	overlooking	the	canyon.	Deciding	to	make	the	                           formed	naturally	by	the	jagged	rock	face.	Here	they	
shrine	their	lair,	the	goblins	found	within	an	altar	                        discover	the	twisted	minds	responsible	for	the	
and	a	pit	where	unspeakable	rites	and	mad	                                   abominations	which	are	roaming	the	land.	They	also	
experiments	had	been	carried	out	in	the	dim	past.		                          find	the	supplies	and	hostages	in	need	of	rescue!	
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .   Troll Trouble    2
Part 1 – Ravendale                                                           	
	                                                                            Roleplaying Roanna
The	adventure	starts	in	the	small,	quiet	farming	
hamlet	of	Ravendale.	The	area	surrounding	the	small	                         Personality – Kindly to strangers and generous to a fault. She
village	has	a	few	rustic	farmsteads	sitting	on	fields	                       is the local herbalist and midwife and habitually puts the
                                                                             concerns of others before her own. She is clearly upset, but
which	all	lay	fallow.	The	town	proper	has	only	a	few	
                                                                             holds her worries to herself unless asked.
weathered	buildings	-	a	general	store,	an	inn/tavern,	
an	herbalist	shop,	and	empty	grain	storage	buildings,	                       Quirks – Calls everyone “child” regardless of their age. Uses
all	of	which	are	built	around	the	single	well.		                             folksy sayings a lot. “A little too late is much too late”, “A
	                                                                            clean conscience makes a soft pillow” and so on.
How	the	characters	got	to	Ravendale	and	why	is	up	
to	you.	When	they	arrive	you	can	read	or	paraphrase	                         Desires – Any information on the whereabouts and health of
the	following.	                                                              her daughter is foremost.
It	has	been	a	long	week	of	traveling	along	a	parched	and	                    Offers – Will offer the last 4 potions of healing that she has
dusty	trail.	You	look	about	you	at	your	companion’s	faces	                   brewed if the party agrees to seek out her daughter.
and	not	for	the	first	time	are	glad	to	have	them	at	your	                    	
side.	While	you	started	out	your	journey	as	strangers,	the	                  The	man	is	Delgrin	Turl,	proprietor	of	the	Broken	
call	of	adventure	and	its	inherent	dangers	tends	to	create	                  Plow.	In	addition	to	the	tavern	he	owns	a	small	plot	
strong	bonds.	                                                               of	land	where	he	grows	vegetables	and	raises	a	small	
	                                                                            herd	of	sheep.	He	uses	the	produce	and	meat	from	
As	the	long	shadows	of	afternoon	disappear	with	the	                         his	land	for	cooking	the	meals	he	serves	to	his	
setting	sun,	you	breathe	a	sigh	of	relief	when	you	spy	the	                  customers.	Unfortunately,	the	hard	times	have	
lights	of	a	small	farming	hamlet	nestled	in	the	valley	                      reduced	his	current	menu	options	to	a	somewhat	
ahead.	A	soft	bed	and	a	hot	meal	will	be	a	much	welcomed	                    unappetizing	but	still	nourishing	porridge	of	oats	
change!	                                                                     and	lamb	suet.		Soon	even	those	staples	will	be	in	
                                                                             short	supply.	
                                                                             	
	
                                                                             Delgrin	is	well	weathered,	tall	and	almost	
When	the	party	arrives	in	town	there	are	lights	
                                                                             cadaverously	thin	with	a	balding	pate	and	intense	
coming	from	the	tavern	which	is	a	single	story	
                                                                             brown	eyes	beneath	bushy	gray	eyebrows.	He	moves	
building	made	of	roughhewn	timber.	A	shingle	
                                                                             with	purpose	and	economy.	As	the	nominal	leader	of	
outside	it	proclaims	it	to	be	the	Broken	Plow.	None	
                                                                             the	town	elders	his	was	the	vision	behind	expanding	
of	the	villagers	seem	to	be	out	and	about	in	town.	If	
                                                                             scattered	smallholdings	into	the	settlement	of	
not	for	the	warm	light	spilling	into	the	street	from	
                                                                             Ravendale.	He	is	now	facing	the	increasing	
the	tavern	it	would	seem	a	ghost	town.		
                                                                             likelihood	that	his	dream	and	community	will	fail.		
	
                                                                             	
The	farmers	have	retired	soon	after	sunset.	Even	the	
                                                                             Delgrin	welcomes	any	adventurers	with	open	arms,	
tavern	is	nearly	empty,	with	only	a	single	elderly	
                                                                             hoping	to	convince	them	to	help	the	town	with	their	
woman	customer	sitting	at	a	table.	A	thin,	gaunt	
                                                                             predicament.	If	asked	what	he	thinks	happened	to	
faced	man	wearing	a	stained	apron	is	fastidiously	
                                                                             the	shipment,	he	will	offer	two	possibilities	-	either	
cleaning	the	only	other	table	in	the	small	taproom.		
                                                                             bandits	or	perhaps	some	monster.	If	the	PCs	press	
	
                                                                             him	on	what	sort	of	monster,	he	will	reluctantly	talk	
The	woman	is	Roanna	Redmane,	whose	locks	are	
                                                                             about	the	rumors	of	a	troll	who	lives	under	the	
grey	despite	the	name.	Her	clear	blue	eyes,	which	
                                                                             Stonebottom	bridge,	down	the	canyon	on	the	trail	to	
hold	deep	sadness	and	worry,	peer	out	from	a	gaunt,	
                                                                             Amphail.	He	is	rightly	afraid	the	prospect	of	fighting	
wrinkled	face.		
                                                                             a	troll	might	scare	the	adventurers	off.		
	
                                                                             	
Roanna’s	only	daughter	Shalia	had	volunteered	to	
                                                                             He	will	tell	them	that	both	Shalia	and	Jorgan	are	
make	the	journey	to	get	the	much	needed	supplies	
                                                                             hardy	and	seasoned	travelers,	making	it	unlikely	
from	Amphail.	She	is	long	overdue,	and	her	worried	
                                                                             they	got	lost	or	were	victims	of	an	accident.		
mother	spends	her	nights	in	the	tavern	rather	than	
                                                                             	
face	an	empty	home.		
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .       Troll Trouble       3
Roleplaying Delgrin                                                          	
                                                                             	The	wagon	is	in	fact	the	one	driven	by	Shalia	
Personality - Kind and attentive to strangers. He is cautious                Redmane,	which	had	been	laden	with	supplies.	A	
with his words and is afraid to scare off adventurers from                   detailed	Intelligence	(Investigation)	skill	check	
taking on their cause. He won’t outright lie about the danger,               reveals	the	following	clues	depending	on	the	roll.		
but will try and downplay any concerns.                                      Characters	with	survival	skill	can	aid	in	this	check	by	
                                                                             looking	for	tracks	to	provide	advantage.		
Quirks - Tends to get sidetracked easily into talking about his              	
grand plans for Ravendale. How it will be an idyllic
                                                                               Roll	    Finding	(Include	results	from	lower	
community far from strife, politics and war.
                                                                                        rolls)	
Desires – He is desperate to get the supplies for the town to                  <10		      The	wagon	looks	like	it	is	mostly	intact	
survive the winter ahead. He is also concerned about the                                  with	the	only	visible	damage	being	to	
fates of Shalia and Jorgan but that is secondary.                                         the	tail	gate	of	the	wagon,	which	is	
                                                                                          smashed	and	laying	on	the	ground,	and	
Offers – Free room and board for now and in the future as
                                                                                          the	leather	straps	of	the	horses	
well as the use of horses if the party needs them in exchange
                                                                                          harnesses	which	have	been	snapped	
for their help in finding and returning the missing supplies.
	                                                                              10-15	     It	looks	as	if	something	with	great	
If	the	group	speaks	to	other	farmers	who	come	into	                                       strength	stopped	the	wagon	and	pushed	
town	the	next	morning,	they	will	hear	tales	about	the	                                    it	over.	There	are	large	footprints	in	the	
troll	and	how	the	drought	is	a	curse.	Some	of	them	                                       dust	around	the	wagon	which	come	
even	blame	Delgrin	for	leading	them	here.	                                                from	and	lead	towards	the	bridge.		
	                                                                              16-19	     The	horse	harness	straps	have	been	
                                                                                          ripped	apart	rather	than	cut.	A	feat	that	
Part 2 – Stonebottom Bridge                                                               would	require	tremendous	strength.	
	                                                                                         There	are	also	indications	that	the	
Assuming	the	characters	agree	to	help	the	villagers,	                                     horses	were	knocked	down.		
they	will	be	directed	to	head	down	the	canyon	road	                            20-24	     There	are	very	faint	tracks	of	humanoids	
towards	Amphail	which	is	the	route	the	supply	                                            mixed	in	with	the	large	footprints.	In	the	
wagon	and	Jorgan	had	taken.	The	bridge	where	the	                                         bushes	nearby,	a	well	hidden	crude	
locals	say	the	troll	lives	is	located	20	miles	down	the	                                  arrow	with	dried	blood	on	the	tip	and	
canyon	where	a	smaller	tributary	of	Stonebottom	                                          black	fletching	can	be	found.	
creek	crosses	the	cart	trail.		
	                                                                              25+	       A	very	faint	trail	of	spilled	grain	leads	up	
	When	the	party	nears	this	location	read	or	                                              the	side	of	the	canyon.		
paraphrase	the	following:	
                                                                             	
                                                                             The	acrid	smell	in	the	air	is	that	of	horse	meat	
Having	trekked	nearly	twenty	miles	down	the	wooded	and	                      cooking	in	the	ogre’s	cave.	A	DC	15	Wisdom	
dusty	canyon	trail,	which	parallels	the	anemic	trickle	of	                   (survival)	check	can	identify	the	smell.		
Stonebottom	creek,	you	notice	something	ahead	and	off	                       	
the	side	of	the	path.		                                                      If	the	trail	is	found	it	leads	up	along	a	small	tributary	
	                                                                            which	feeds	into	Stonebottom	creek.	The	tributary	is	
It	appears	to	be	a	wreck	of	a	wagon,	lurched	over	at	a	                      mostly	dried	up	due	to	the	drought	and	it	winds	up	
precipitous	angle,	kept	from	completely	toppling	on	its	                     the	slope	towards	a	massive	outcropping	of	rock	
side	by	a	sturdy	pine	tree.	No	horses	or	any	other	signs	of	                 that	juts	from	the	side	of	the	canyon.	The	face	of	the	
occupants	can	be	spotted	near	the	wagon.	There	is	a	faint	                   rock	has	the	uncanny	resemblance	of	two	demonic	
acrid	smell	in	the	air.		                                                    heads	side	by	side,	looking	down	into	the	canyon.	If	
	                                                                            the	party	follows	this	trail	rather	than	investigating	
Perhaps	a	hundred	feet	further	down	the	path	you	can	just	                   the	Troll	cave,	proceed	directly	to	part	3.	
make	out	the	stone	and	wood	arch	of	the	Stonebottom	                         	
bridge	through	the	trees.		                                                  If	the	group	follows	the	trail	towards	the	bridge,	they	
                                                                             will	see	that	it	spans	a	small	ravine	where	the	side	of	
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .     Troll Trouble      4
the	canyon	collapsed	several	decades	before	during	                          He	will	tell	them	he	isn't	a	troll	for	one	thing,	and	
a	flood.	Originally	the	bridge	was	constructed	by	                           that	attacking	the	wagon	was	the	goblin’s	idea,	not	
dwarves	who	were	prospecting	in	the	mountains,	                              his.	He	helped	because	they	said	he	could	have	the	
but	it	has	been	shorn	up	with	fresh	timbers	in	more	                         horses	and	he	was	starving.	He	didn’t	hurt	the	“fire	
recent	times	by	the	Ravendale	settlers.	The	collapse	                        hair	woman”.		
also	opened	up	a	natural	cave	beneath	the	span	                              		
which	in	recent	months	has	been	occupied	by	Burt	                            If	the	party	decides	to	talk	rather	than	fight	Burt	will	
the	Ogre.		                                                                  tell	the	group	about	goblins	who	have	moved	into	
                                                                             the	area.	He	thinks	they	are	holed	up	in	a	ruin	up	
The “Troll” Cave                                                             atop	demon	rock.	Burt	avoids	that	place,	“cuz	it	has	
	                                                                            bad	feelin’.	No	critters	go	dere	at	all.”	However,	as	
The	cave	where	Burt	makes	his	home	has	a	                                    Burt	puts	it,	“Gobbies	no	sense	got,	so	dem	stay	dere.	
relatively	narrow	8’	wide	10’	tall	opening	barely	big	                       Dey	like	ticks	be.	Once	dem	dig	in,	dey	hard	to	dig	
enough	for	the	ogre	to	squeeze	through,	but	10’	past	                        out!”	
the	entrance	the	cave	opens	up	into	a	large	chamber	                         	
which	is	roughly	50’	in	diameter	with	15’	ceilings.		                        He	will	know	that	they	have	been	hunting	and	
	                                                                            trapping	all	sorts	of	“critters”	up	and	down	the	
Burt	is	much	more	intelligent	and	peaceful	than	                             stream.	They	have	gotten	bolder	recently,	going	after	
others	of	his	kind.	Unfortunately	for	Burt,	his	skin	                        bigger	game.	When	a	wagon	full	of	food	was	spotted	
has	a	greenish	cast	to	it,	and	by	virtue	of	living	                          they	quickly	made	a	deal	with	the	Ogre	just	to	stop	
underneath	a	bridge,	he	has	been	mistaken	and	                               the	wagon	“Cuz	dey	want	fire	hair	lady	alive”.		
targeted	as	a	troll	on	more	than	one	occasion.			                            	
	                                                                            In	order	to	avoid	a	fight	and	as	a	show	of	good	faith	
When	the	adventurers	arrive	at	the	bridge	and	                               Burt	will	be	willing	to	give	up	the	horse	that’s	still	
ravine,	read	or	paraphrase	the	following:	                                   alive.	He	can	also	help	later	in	the	adventure	with	
                                                                             carting	rescued	supplies	and	fixing	the	wagon.	He	
Acrid	smoke	that	carries	hints	of	burning	pine	and	charred	                  won’t,	however,	help	against	the	goblins	as	he	is	
meat	billows	out	from	a	cave	opening	beneath	the	bridge	                     afraid	to	go	too	near	the	“bad	place”.		
which	spans	the	ravine.	In	front	of	the	cave,	a	nervous	                     	
horse	whickers	and	snorts,	pulling	on	the	crude	hempen	                      If	it	does	come	down	to	a	fight	and	Burt	is	defeated,	
rope	that	tethers	it	to	a	large	boulder.		                                   he	has	a	dozen	“purty	rocks”	which	are	nuggets	of	
	                                                                            gold	he	found	while	wandering	the	stream	stashed	
From	the	cave	mouth	gruff	and	horribly	off	key	singing	can	                  away	under	his	sleeping	fur.	They	are	worth	1	GP	
be	heard,	repeating	the	same	verse	over	and	over:	                           each.		
	                                                                            	
Turn	turn,	sizzle	and	burn	
                                                                             Award	the	party	450xp	if	they	successfully	negotiate	
                                                                             with	Burt,	which	is	the	same	amount	they	would	get	
Pop	pop,	crackle	and	slop	
                                                                             for	defeating	him.		
Juicy,	crunchy	dripping	meat	
                                                                             	
Down	me	gullet	oh	so	neat!	
                                                                             	
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .    Troll Trouble    5
Part 3 – The Demon Twins                                                     At the top
                                                                             	
	                                                                            When	the	characters	reach	the	end	of	the	400’	trail	
When	the	party	starts	the	journey	up	the	tributary	                          they	find	that	it	winds	around	and	takes	them	above	
with	the	intention	of	reaching	the	top	of	the	demon	                         the	rock	outcropping,	so	that	they	are	looking	down	
twin	rock	outcropping	they	will	find	the	path	and	                           on	it	50’	below	them.		
climb	to	be	difficult	(i.e.	difficult	terrain).		                            	
	                                                                            When	this	point	is	reached,	read	or	paraphrase	the	
Members	of	the	party	who	have	a	Passive	Perception	                          following:	
of	13	or	higher	will	get	the	distinct	feeling	of	being	
watched,	though	they	can’t	pinpoint	from	where.	
                                                                             Peering	down	from	the	canyon	lip,	you	can	see	the	top	of	
They	also	get	glimpses	of	bizarre	creatures	as	they	
                                                                             the	massive	rock	outcropping	whose	demonic	looking	face	
travel.		
                                                                             you	had	spied	from	the	floor	of	the	canyon	below.		The	top	
	
                                                                             is	almost	perfectly	flat	with	enough	soil	having	built	up	on	
· A	squirrel	with	bat	wings	glides	above	them	from	                          the	rock	to	allow	scrub	brush	to	gain	purchase	in	clumps	
  one	tree	to	disappear	into	another.		                                      across	it.	
	                                                                            	
· A	squat-looking	fox	yips	at	their	approach	and	                            Shattered	slabs	and	broken	columns	of	weathered	dark	
  then	burrows	into	the	ground	with	badger	claws,	                           stone,	some	as	large	as	a	man,	lay	scattered	about	the	
  flinging	up	great	clods	of	dirt.		                                         plateau.		Like	the	unearthed	bones	of	an	ancient	beast	they	
	                                                                            serve	as	evidence	of	a	structure	that	must	have	once	stood	
· A	toad	with	the	head	of	a	blue	jay	hops	across	the	                        here.		
  trail	ahead,	pecking	at	the	ground	for	insects	                            	
  before	it	vanished	under	a	pile	of	rocks.		                                At	the	center	point	of	the	ruins,	a	descending	passage	has	
  	                                                                          been	carved	into	a	plateau,	with	stairs	leading	down	into	
                                                                             the	heart	of	the	rock.	To	each	side	of	this	portal	stands	a	
Ambush!                                                                      goblin	sentry.	Near	them	on	a	rope	leash	is	a	large	boar	
	                                                                            with	the	shaggy	coat	and	claws	of	a	bear	rooting	at	the	
About	a	hundred	feet	up	the	rocky	slope,	two	                                ground	and	snorting.		
goblins	with	two	bunny-wolves	(wolves	with	the	
hind	legs	and	ears	of	a	rabbit)	on	leashes	are	waiting	
in	ambush.	They	are	hidden	by	the	trail	in	a	cluster	                        Unless	the	two	sentry	goblins	have	been	warned	by	
of	boulders	and	pine	trees.	It	requires	a	                                   any	goblins	who	escaped	the	ambush,	they	will	be	
Wisdom(Perception)	check	of	16	or	higher	to	spot	                            only	halfheartedly	keeping	watch.	The	boar-bear	on	
the	ambush	and	avoid	being	surprised.	                                       the	other	hand	is	alert.		As	soon	as	the	goblins	are	
	                                                                            alerted	to	enemies	they	will	release	the	boar-bear	
The	attack	will	be	launched	when	the	party	gets	to	                          and	stay	back	to	attack	with	bows.		
within	30’	of	the	goblins.	The	goblins	will	release	the	                     	
bunny-wolves,	while	they	stay	back	and	attack	with	                          The	sentries	have	been	given	strict	instructions	not	
their	short	bows.		                                                          to	bother	the	other	goblins	inside	the	shrine	unless	it	
                                                                             is	a	dire	emergency,	as	they	are	not	to	be	disturbed	
If	the	battle	turns	against	the	goblins	they	will	                           while	getting	ready	for	their	next	sacrifice.	Thus	the	
attempt	to	retreat,	dropping	their	weapons	and	                              goblins	will	fight	until	reduced	to	half	hit	points	
running	up	the	path	to	warn	the	others	atop	the	                             before	they	will	attempt	to	shout	down	the	stairs	to	
rock.		                                                                      raise	reinforcements	from	Area	1	of	the	shrine	
	                                                                            complex.	If	they	do	raise	the	alarm,	4	goblins	will	
The	goblins	have	little	in	the	way	of	valuables	on	                          emerge	from	the	portal	at	the	start	of	the	sentries’	
their	persons	besides	their	weapons,	but	they	do	                            next	round.		
wear	identical	crudely	made	amulets	of	woven	grass.	                         	
These	amulets	have	become	the	goblins	“holy	                                 Like	the	goblins	encountered	in	the	ambush,	these	
symbols”	which	are	based	on	designs	found	on	the	                            sentries	and	the	rest	of	the	goblins	within	the	shrine	
altar	in	Demogorgon’s	shrine.	                                               all	wear	the	woven	grass	amulets.		
                                                                             	
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Part 4 – The Shrine of Demogorgon                                            Searching	about	this	room	will	uncover	bones	and	
                                                                             cracked	skulls	that	serve	as	makeshift	containers	for	
	                                                                            animal	fat,	which	has	been	rendered	into	grease.	
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Jorgan	will	tell	the	group	that	the	goblins	found	                           If	the	party	searches	the	eastern	end	of	the	room	
something	deeper	within	the	temple	and	have	been	                            they	can	recover	the	following	items	of	value	from	
bringing	animals	into	the	ruin.	After	a	time,	                               the	disorganized	piles:		
monstrous	things	come	out,	which	are	under	the	                              	
goblins’	control.	They	have	been	working	with	larger	                        200	Silver	pieces	
and	larger	creatures,	and	now	he	fears	they	are	                             45	Gold	pieces	
about	to	experiment	with	their	human	captives.		                             8	obsidians	worth	10	gp	each	
Shalia,	the	wagon	driver,	was	taken	back	where	the	                          3	black	jaspers	worth	50	gp	each	
animals	have	gone	less	than	an	hour	before	the	                              A	glass	pair	of	dice	worth	25	gp	
characters	arrived.		                                                        A	silver	and	turquois	figurine	of	a	fish	worth	50	gp	
	                                                                            Jorgan’s	chain	shirt,	shield,	and	spear	
Jorgan	can	barely	stand,	but	he	desperately	wants	to	                        A	potion	of	healing	
help	the	adventurers	rescue	Shalia.	It	is	clear	to	all	
but	Jorgan	that	should	he	come	along	in	his	current	                         Area 4 – The Pit of Demogorgon
state	he	would	slow	them	down	and	would	not	                                 	
survive	any	sort	of	battle.	Jorgan	can	be	persuaded	                         This	room	is	the	sanctum	of	the	ancient	temple	
not	to	go	with	a	Charisma	(Persuasion)	DC	15	check,	                         where	sacrifices	and	experiments	are	carried	out.	
which	can	be	made	with	advantage	if	they	offer	him	                          Unlike	the	other	rooms	in	the	complex,	there	is	light	
some	other	important	job	that	is	out	of	harm’s	way.		                        here	from	two	lit	braziers,	on	either	side	of	an	altar.	
Jorgan	has	1hp	currently	and	the	stats	of	a	Guard	                           The	braziers	are	burning	animal	fat,	the	source	of	
(MM	pg.	347)	without	armor	or	weapon.	                                       the	acrid	smoke	that	swirls	through	the	chamber.		
                                                                             	
Area 3 – Storeroom                                                           When	this	point	is	reached,	read	or	paraphrase	the	
	                                                                            following:	
This	room	is	used	by	the	goblins	to	store	their	food	
supplies	and	other	valuables,	but	it	is	sealed	by	a	                         The	first	thing	you	notice	in	this	room	is	the	cloying	stench	
thick	wooden	door	and	a	padlock	that	the	goblins	                            of	animal	fat	burning	in	two	stone	braziers	which	stand	on	
found	amongst	the	wagon	supplies.	The	key	is	                                either	side	of	a	large	stone	altar.		In	the	flickering	light	
currently	in	the	possession	of	Garlgriss	the	goblin	                         they	produce	you	can	make	out	warped	and	unholy	
shaman	in	Area	4.	The	lock	can	be	picked	with	a	                             symbols	carved	along	the	sides	of	an	altar.	The	symbols	
Dexterity	check	DC=15	or	pried	free	of	the	door	latch	                       resemble	the	woven	grass	amulets	you	have	found	on	the	
with	a	Strength	check	DC=15.	                                                goblins.		
	                                                                            	
When	the	door	is	open,	read	or	paraphrase	the	
                                                                             Several	goblins	are	gathered	at	the	altar.	Their	backs	are	to	
following:	
                                                                             the	entrance	as	they	watch	a	misshapen	creature	that	
                                                                             looks	to	be	part	lizard,	part	bird	scurry	around	atop	the	
The	door	swings	open	to	reveal	a	very	long	room	running	
                                                                             altar.	A	larger	goblin	wearing	strands	of	small	bones	and	
east-west.	The	air	inside	is	much	cooler	than	the	rest	of	the	               feathers	presides	over	this	gathering,	watching	the	
shrine	and	it	smells	a	bit	fresher	despite	the	many	dead	                    creature’s	movements	as	if	it	were	some	sort	of	omen.		
birds,	squirrels	and	lizards	that	hang	down	from	makeshift	
                                                                             	
wooden	racks.		                                                              Further	back	in	the	room	is	an	ominous	looking	pit.			A	
	
                                                                             makeshift	crane	extends	its	arm	out	over	the	pit	with	a	
In	the	eastern	end	of	the	room	can	be	seen	several	
                                                                             large,	crude	wooden	cage	dangling	precariously	from	the	
disorganized	piles	of	animal	skins	and	furs	as	well	as	items	
                                                                             end.		Inside	the	cage	is	a	red	haired	woman	and	a	
that	have	been	scavenged	by	the	goblins	in	their	time	
                                                                             mountain	lion.	Both	are	trussed	up	with	ropes.	The	woman	
living	here.		
                                                                             seems	unconscious	while	the	mountain	lion	growls	and	
	
                                                                             hisses.		
The	western	end	of	the	room	holds	a	very	welcome	sight.	
The	grain	and	other	supplies	that	were	stolen	from	the	
wagon	are	there	and	look	to	be	intact!	                                      Fortunately	for	the	characters,	Garlgriss	the	shaman	
                                                                             who	is	leading	the	ritual	and	the	goblins	he	
                                                                             commands	(there	is	one	goblin	present	per	PC	in	the	
                                                                             party	–	minimum	4)	are	busy	arguing	over	when	to	
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start	the	ritual.		They	are	trying	to	interpret	bird-                        	
lizard’s	movements	as	a	signal	to	start,	making	it	                          If	PCs	stop	the	ritual	from	completing,	the	ground	
clear	to	the	onlookers	that	they	don’t	really	                               will	shake	for	a	full	minute	with	an	angry	grumbling	
understand	what	they	are	doing.	While	the	goblins	                           noise	issuing	forth	from	the	pit.	When	the	rumbling	
are	thus	distracted	with	their	arguing	(3	turns),	                           stops	the	pit	falls	silent	and	becomes	inert,	its	evil	
stealth	rolls	against	them	are	at	advantage.	                                power	no	longer	functioning.			
	                                                                            	
In	order	to	rescue	Shalia	the	party	must	free	her	                           If	the	PCs	carefully	search	the	altar,	succeeding	at	an	
from	the	cage	before	it’s	lowered	into	the	pit	and	the	                      Intelligence(Investigation)	check	DC=15,	they	will	
ritual	is	completed.	There	is	an	old	winching	                               notice	that	there	is	a	catch	mechanism	disguised	as	
mechanism	which	the	goblins	use	to	both	raise	and	                           part	of	a	swirling	symbol	carved	on	its	side.	A	
lower	the	cage	and	to	swing	it	to	the	side	of	the	pit.		                     further	Wisdom(Perception)	check	DC=12	to	notice	
	                                                                            there	are	tiny	holes	around	the	catch	which	indicate	
It	takes	1	turn	to	swing	the	cage	away	from	the	pit.	1	                      a	poison	needle	trap.	The	trap	can	be	disabled	with	a	
turn	to	lower	it	to	the	side	of	the	pit,	and	1	turn	to	                      Dexterity(Thieves	tools)	check	DC=12.		
unlatch	it.	The	mechanism	is	old,	finicky	and	not	                           	
particularly	silent.	It	requires	a	Dexterity	check	                          If	the	trap	is	triggered	needles	stab	out	puncturing	
DC=13	each	turn	to	successfully	operate	it.	If	the	                          fingers.	The	needles	inflict	1	HP	of	piercing	damage	
mechanism	is	oiled	or	greased	with	fat	beforehand,	                          and	the	victim	must	make	a	DC=13	Constitution	
the	check	is	made	at	advantage.	                                             saving	throw,	taking	9(3d6)	points	of	poison	damage	
	                                                                            on	a	failed	save,	or	half	as	much	damage	on	a	
· If	the	check	is	failed	the	mechanism	fails	to	                             successful	save.	Triggering	the	latch	opens	a	secret	
     move	and	makes	a	screeching	noise	which	will	                           compartment	in	the	Altar,	revealing	a	small	treasure	
     give	the	goblins	another	chance	to	make	a	                              stash	the	goblins	never	found	which	containing	the	
     Wisdom	(perception)	check,	this	time	with	                              following:	
     advantage,	to	notice	what	is	happening.		                               	
	                                                                            200	Silver	pieces	
· If	the	check	fails	by	5	or	more,	the	cage	will	also	                       110	Gold	pieces	
     drop	5	feet	towards	the	pit.	If	this	happens	twice	                     4	opals	worth	50	gp	each	
     while	the	cage	is	over	the	pit,	it	cage	will	be	                        A	gold	figurine	of	Demogorgon	worth	25gp	
     inside	the	pit	the	ritual	will	complete.		                              A	soapstone	small	bracelet	worth	25gp	
	                                                                            A	Wand	of	Web	(SRD	pg	253	or	DMG	pg	212)	
The	mechanism	can	also	be	purposefully	jammed	
making	the	crane	inoperable.	This	is	an	Intelligence	                        Epilogue
or	Strength	check	DC=15.	                                                    	
	                                                                            If	the	ritual	was	stopped,	Shalia	and	Jorgan	can	be	
If the cage is lowered into the pit, there will be a                         lead	down	the	mountain.	It	will	take	several	hours	to	
scream and then a rumbling growling sound that                               cart	down	all	the	supplies	and	fix	up	the	wagon	so	
                                                                             that	it	can	be	brought	back	to	Ravendale.	If	the	PCs	
causes a slight tremor in the ground. After this happens
                                                                             approach	Burt	the	Ogre,	he	will	be	willing	to	help	
raising the cage (1 round to raise + 1 round to swing
                                                                             with	this	task	if	they	promise	that	the	villagers	won’t	
the cage over to the edge of the pit) will reveal that
                                                                             come	to	bother	him.		
Shalia and the cougar have now merged and                                    	
transformed into a Pumera (a cat woman). The                                 When	they	arrive	back	in	Ravendale,	heavy	clouds	
creature will break out of the cage on the next round                        have	covered	the	sky	and	the	first	rain	in	many	
and attack everyone in the room, goblins included.                           months	begins	to	fall.	The	villagers	rejoice	and	
	                                                                            Delgrin	prepares	a	great	feast	in	the	adventurer’s	
As	soon	as	the	PCs	are	noticed,	Garlgriss	will	start	                        honor.	Their	deeds	will	long	be	remembered	here	as	
the	ritual	and	goblins	will	try	to	lower	the	cage	into	                      the	stuff	of	legends!	
the	pit	(if	it	has	not	already	been	disabled	-	see	                          	
above).	It	will	take	2	rounds	to	fully	lower	the	cage,	                      Award	500xp	for	returning	the	supplies,	and	200xp	
and	one	goblin	will	focus	on	the	crane	as	long	as	they	                      each	for	returning	Shalia	and	Jorgan	safely.		
are	able	to	stay	out	of	the	fight.	
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Map of Demogorgon’s Shrine
	
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Appendix A: Monsters
BOAR-BEAR                                                                    BUNNY-WOLF
Medium Monstrosity, unaligned
                                                                             Medium Monstrosity, unaligned
AC 11 (natural armor)
Hit Points 19 (3d8 + 6)                                                      AC 13 (natural armor)
Speed 40 ft.                                                                 Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2)
                                                                             Speed 40 ft.
Skills: Perception +3
Senses: Passive Perception 13                                                Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +4
Languages -                                                                  Senses: Passive Perception 13
Challenge 1 (200XP)                                                          Languages -
                                                                             Challenge 1/2 (100XP)
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GARLGRISS (GOBLIN SHAMAN)                                                    GOBLIN
Medium Humanoid (goblin), chaotic evil                                       Small Humanoid (goblin), chaotic evil
AC 14 (hide armor)                                                           AC 15 (leather armor, shield)
Hit Points 24 (4d8 + 8)                                                      Hit Points 7 (2d6)
Speed 30 ft.                                                                 Speed 30 ft.
ACTIONS
Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+2) slashing damage.
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OGRE (BURT)                                                                  OWL-BEAR
Large Giant, chaotic evil                                                    Large Monstrosity, unaligned
AC 11 (hide armor)                                                           AC 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 59 (7d10 +21)                                                     Hit Points 35 (5d10 + 10)
Speed 30 ft.                                                                 Speed 40 ft.
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PUMERA                                                                       Suggestions on scaling the adventure
                                                                             	
Medium Monstrosity, Neutral
AC 14 (natural armor)                                                        To make the adventure more challenging, consider the
Hit Points 35 (7d8 + 7)                                                      following changes:
Speed 30 ft.
                                                                             · Add an encounter with 2-3 bunny-wolves when the
STR:15(+2) DEX:16(+3) CON:13(+1)                                               party is examining the wagon.
INT:10(+0) WIS:11(+0) CHR:10(+0)                                             · Give Burt maximum HP if the party decides to attack
                                                                               him.
                                                                             · Make the owl-bear in Area 2 of the shrine an actual
Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +3
                                                                               Owlbear
Senses: Passive Perception 14
Languages Understands common, but can’t speak                                · Make the bird like lizard on the altar a Cockatrice
Challenge 2 (450XP)                                                            who will aid the goblins.
                                                                             · Give the Pumera max HP if the ritual is completed.
Keen Hearing and Smell. The pumera has advantage
on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or
smell.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The pumera makes two attacks: one with
its bite and one with its claws.
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