Adventure Pack 2

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Adve

nt

ure Pa

ck 2

TWO MYTHIC ADVENTU

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��:

Martin Bergst

Martin Bergström, Mattias Johnsson,röm, Mattias Johnsson, Mattias Lilja

Mattias Lilja

�� :

Paul Baldowski, Martin Englund, Meredith Gerber, Aline Gladh, Ulrika Haake, Garry Paul Baldowski, Martin Englund, Meredith Gerber, Aline Gladh, Ulrika Haake, Garry Harper, Tomas Härenstam, Magnus Lekberg, Andreas Marklund, John Marron, Kina Harper, Tomas Härenstam, Magnus Lekberg, Andreas Marklund, John Marron, Kina Nyman, Tobias Ohls, Per Pettersson, Sigita Varniene and all our friends at Rollspel.nu Nyman, Tobias Ohls, Per Pettersson, Sigita Varniene and all our friends at Rollspel.nu

and /r/Symbaroum and /r/Symbaroum ��: ��: Mattias Lilja Mattias Lilja �� :��: Mattias

Mattias JohnssonJohnsson

��: ��: Martin Bergström Martin Bergström ��: ��: ��-��-��-��-� ��-��-��-��-� ��: ��: �.�� .�� : �� : Johan Nohr Johan Nohr Christian Granath Christian Granath ��: ��: John-Micha

John-Michael Warkentinel Warkentin

��: ��: Johan Nohr Johan Nohr Lars Strömqvist Lars Strömqvist ��: ��: Nya Järnringen �� Nya Järnringen ��

Adv

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1

1 ��

��

�

Player Characters

Player Characters...��

The Legend o the Wild Hunt

The Legend o the Wild Hunt...��

Treasure Hunting Player Characters

Treasure Hunting Player Characters...��

2

2 ��

��

Salindra’s Hope Salindra’s Hope...�� Non-player Characters Non-player Characters...��

3

3 ��

��

Developments Developments ...�� Surrounding Factions Surrounding Factions...�� Possible Endings Possible Endings... ��

F E

V E R

O F

T

H E

H U N T

Thus spoke Aroaleta

And the gaunts char

ged forth,

thirsting and hungering,

thousand and thousand again

through the night-colored woods

Clan-Clan-

folks fell and

perished,

trampled and booted,

women, men and spawns,

dead then drained and wolfed

But grand was Adina’s bell,

ﬂawless and vibrant,

ﬁlled by a

diﬀeren

t thirst,

it chimed the gaunts to ruin

�� ...

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4

4 ��

��

Player Characters Player Characters...�� Background Background... �� Scholarly Matters Scholarly Matters...��

5

5 ��

��

The Town o Kastor

The Town o Kastor...��

Non-player characters

Non-player characters...��

6

6 ��

��

A State o Emergency

A State o Emergency...��

Initial

Initial InvestigaInvestigationstions... ��

Developments

Developments ...��

Complications

Complications...��

Climax: In the Serpent’s Lair

Climax: In the Serpent’s Lair...��

7

7 ��

��

New Rules New Rules... �� Artiacts Artiacts... ��

Map: Salindra's Hope

Map: Salindra's Hope...��

Map: Kastor Map: Kastor...��..��

T

H E

B E L L

T O L L S

F O R K A

S T O

R

A P P E N D I X

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��

�� revolves around a conlict revolves around a conlict

between two powerul orces o nature: a predatory

winter el, and an ancient orest spir

winter el, and an ancient orest spirit in the shapeit in the shape

o a giant aboar. According to legend, t

o a giant aboar. According to legend, the two orceshe two orces

clashed about three centur

clashed about three centuries agoies ago; both were injured; both were injured

and the el

and the el ound shelter in an old Symbarian ser-ound shelter in an old Symbarian

ser-pent temple. Since then the Elder Sow Gylta has been

pent temple. Since then the Elder Sow Gylta has been

circling the site waiting or the battle to continue,

and now humans are digging their way into the

temple, threatening to provoke the winter el into

action. The ﬁnal conrontation is drawing near...

The second adventure,

The second adventure,The Bell Tolls or KastorThe Bell Tolls or Kastor,,

is set on t

is set on the plains ahe plains along Davokar’long Davokar’s southern edge.s southern edge.

Again, there is a

Again, there is an old legend that to some extentn old legend that to some extent

can explain what is happening – the tale o a greedy

dragon and the artiact that made it possible or a

witch, a chiefain and a sorcerer to deeat the beast

and banish it to the Yonderworld. But in this case,

the most acute thre

the most acute threat comes rom a cult o monsterat comes rom a cult o monster

worshippers who recen

worshippers who recently managed to outsmartly managed to outsmart andt and

deeat a rival sorcerers’ cult. The

deeat a rival sorcerers’ cult. The cultists have tacultists have takenken

control o Kastor and are now brutally

control o Kastor and are now brutally searchingsearching

or inormation that can help them return their

monstrous dragon lord rom the world beyond.

In both these adventures, the characters can

have a number o reasons or getting involved. The

suggestions oﬀered should be regard

suggestions oﬀered should be regarded as a point oed as a point o

departure and inspiration, but in the end each ��

must adjust what is written to suit his or her gaming

group. As in most roleplaying games, t

group. As in most roleplaying games, the motivationhe motivation

can always come rom

can always come rom ﬁnding treasuﬁnding treasure and bashingre and bashing

monsters, but in the case o

monsters, but in the case oSymbaroumSymbaroum the charac- the

charac-ters’ incentives can als

ters’ incentives can also be rooted in belies, moralso be rooted in belies, morals

and relations to powerul actions. How to handle

this is not or us to say; in the end

this is not or us to say; in the end SymbaroumSymbaroum is is

what you and your riends want it to be.

Legends

come alive…

…

��

eatured in t

his book. The world o

Symbaroum

is built on layer upon layer o deﬁning events. Some o these had an obvious and

immediate eﬀect on whole co

ntinents or regions, like t

he death o Alberetor; others

were more limited but with a proound impact on the local area. However, there

is no clear

distinct

ion between these two: depending on the outcome

, what ﬁrst

appears as a local crisis c

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he muddy hill stands in desolate majesty

amidst the woodlands o Davokar. At its oot

some hun

dred treasure

hunters are crammed

behind a simple palisade, seeking shelter

rom the da

ng

ers o the orest; wild an

imals,

elves, and worse. You are met by muddy

daythalers staggering towards t

heir shacks or some sleep

,

while a ew prospectors celebrate their ﬁndings on “the Main

Street” – a couple o jerry-built houses with ostentatious

exteriors in the m

iddle o the camp.

Suddenly, the bellow o a wounded beast echoes through

the woods. “Did the sow righten you?” A rugged woman in

a leather apron approaches, holding a repeating crossbow

in her arm

s. Hal her ace is

covere

d by a ma

sk o blackene

d

silver. “You better get used to it; the old lady reuses to die

and keeps bothering us with her wailings.” She adjusts her

mask and continues: “They call me Silvercheek. I am the one

to see, i you are to purchase a claim. Come, this way.”

On the path to her oﬃce you pass a wooden pole sticking

up rom the clay, dressed in withered ﬂowers. “There lays

Salindra, hoping,” grins Silvercheek. Prayers have been

carved into the rough wood, and the g

round below is strewn

with copper coins; meager oﬀerings to appease the ancient

orces o the orest, untamed and hungry ...

T

Feve

r

of

Hunt

th

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Int

roducion

�� ,

prospectors are digging or treasure in a hill o clay.

Hoping to ulﬁl their dreams, they challenge the region’s barbarian clan,

Karohar, or w

hom the place is taboo. The pla

yer characters

arrive as t

reasure

hunters – or under the guise o being treasure hunters. Soon they realize that

these dreamers cannot all be right about the area; the objects o their desires

are too diverse to be ound in the clay o a single hill, but they are seemingly

blind to this obvious act.

Great orces are in motion. The real threat to a

Great orces are in motion. The real threat to allll

o their lives comes rom two directions. In the

deep o the hill hides an ancient and

bloodthir-sty hunter, on the run rom a past prey, an Elder

sty hunter, on the run rom a past prey, an Elder

Sow circling the hill, waiting to ﬁnish what she

star

started. To both o them, the prospectors are mereted. To both o them, the prospectors are mere

tools in their age-long ﬁght or supremacy in the

region; a ﬁght which afer centuries o attacking

and retreating now approaches its climax.

and retreating now approaches its climax. TheThe

prelude to the ﬁnal battle begins, as it ofen does,

with a murder.

Fever o the Hunt

Fever o the Hunt is designed as a combination o is designed as a combination o

an adventure landscapes and a cla

an adventure landscapes and a classic advenssic adventure.ture.

In the spirit o the landscape, we present a setting

(Salindra’

(Salindra’s Hope), some non-player characters s Hope), some non-player characters withwith

their own ambitions (a ew driven people in the

treasure hunter’s camp and, in the background,

the two ancient orest gods), and a dramatic event

(Handelo’s murder) that sets the ball rolling. From

there on, the players may do as they please.

There is also an a

There is also an aspect o classic adventurespect o classic adventure to

toFever o the HuntFever o the Hunt, as it ollows a set chain o, as it ollows a set chain o

events comprised o �� scenes. This event chain

describes what happens i the player characters

do NOT act to change its course. Sure, even with

the players’ involvement some outcomes are more

the players’ involvement some outcomes are more likely than others (see Possible Endings, page

likely than others (see Possible Endings, page

��), but it is important that the players eel that

their actions have consequences, making their

adventure unique.

Player Charac

ters

��

�� be played using any charac-be played using any

charac-ters with reason to travel to a peri

ters with reason to travel to a perilous and remotelous and remote

place like Salindra’s Hope, together as a group or

on their own.

There can be several reasons or the characters

to head or the digging site; and when they have

arrived there are many ways to start the

adven-ture (or suggestions, see Other reasons to visit

ture (or suggestions, see Other reasons to visit

Salindra’s hope below).

��

The Iron Pact has placed an inﬁltr

The Iron Pact has placed an inﬁltrator in Salindra’sator in Salindra’s

Hope, to keep a watch

Hope, to keep a watchul eye on the place and prom-ul eye on the place and

prom-ptly learn i the situation grows into a threat against

ptly learn i the situation grows into a threat against

the surrounding are

the surrounding area. The player characters can bea. The player characters can be

sent as backup, since the inﬁltrator Semel ha

sent as backup, since the inﬁltrator Semel hardlyrdly

is a man o action.

I so, their mission is to make sure t

I so, their mission is to make sure that the situ-hat the

situ-ation is not aggravated, that is, to maintain status

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quo. The mission is worth �� thaler; �� with a

passed

passedPersuasivePersuasive test. Hal test. Hal o the money is paid upo the money is paid up

ront, the rest upon the player characters’ return.

The leader o the grou

The leader o the group gains an p gains an additional ��additional ��

thaler or the road by the secretive employer in

Thistle Hold; the veiled woman does not hide the

act that she is Ironsworn and t

act that she is Ironsworn and that the player charac-hat the player

charac-ters are act

ters are acting on the Pact’s behal. She is, however,ing on the Pact’s behal. She is, however,

unwilling to r

unwilling to reveal her identity.eveal her identity.

To make sure that the player charac

To make sure that the player characters receiveters receive

the rest o the payment, the employer allows them to

choose one person in This

choose one person in Thistle Hold to keep the moneytle Hold to keep the money

or them until t

or them until the mission is completed. The leadhe mission is completed. The leaderer

also receives an

also receives an iron ring, beautiully engraved,iron ring, beautiully engraved,

to show Semel in Salindra’s Hope. The woman is

Lysindra Goldengrasp, a ormer treasure hunter

who has had a change o heart and rea

who has had a change o heart and realized whatlized what

man’s ventures into Davokar will cost them, and

what it has cost a

what it has cost already.lready.

��

Here are a ew alternative reasons

Here are a ew alternative reasons or the playeror the player

characters’ presence. They might suit the players

better than working or the Iron Pact. I t

better than working or the Iron Pact. I the grouphe group

is indeed hired by the Ir

is indeed hired by the Iron Pact, one or a ew playeron Pact, one or a ew player

charac

characters could have additional motives or goingters could have additional motives or going

to Salindra’s Hope. Should that be the case this may

complicate the main mission in interesting ways,

without compromising the quest as a whole.

Consultants

Rumors o the

Rumors o the place’place’s eerie ability s eerie ability to inﬂuenceto inﬂuence

one’

one’s senses have atts senses have attracted the racted the curiosity o somecuriosity o some

organization (most likely the Sun Church or Ordo

Magica). Thus, they send reliable consultants to

study the

study the phenomenphenomenon, but with no eon, but with no expressedxpressed

orders to inter

orders to intervene in any way. vene in any way. The player charThe player charac-

ac-ter receives �� thaler in travel unds, or personal

ter receives �� thaler in travel unds, or personal

expenses, bribes, and so on.

Dreamers

Player characters with

Player characters with obsessive tendenciobsessive tendencies or per-es or

per-sonal goals o a kind that in theory might be hidden

sonal goals o a kind that in theory might be hidden

within a hil

within a hill in the woods, could themselves be drea-l in the woods, could themselves be

drea-ming o the place and think it worth investigating.

ming o the place and think it worth investigating.

Rescue mission

The meek and passionate dreamer Gidjabolgo has

inﬂuential parents. His mother Felega is married

to a wealthy merchant in Thistle Hold, and would

pay ﬁne silver to have her son brought back – with

or without his approval. The last time she heard

rom him, he told her about a breakthrough in his

treasure hunt and claimed Salindra’s Hope to be

the next stop on his journey. Felega has oﬀered a

reward o �� thaler, and another �� i t

reward o �� thaler, and another �� i the playerhe player

character succeeds with a

character succeeds with aPersuasivePersuasive test during the test during the

negotiation. Ha

negotiation. Haggling aside, the travel unds wggling aside, the travel unds will beill be

�� thaler, or bribes and other expenses.

Sorcerer wanted

Player characters who are Black Cloaks, witch

hunters or Templars have, while interrogating

cultists, heard o a ski

cultists, heard o a skilled sorcerer residing in thelled sorcerer residing in the

prospectors’ camp. Or maybe one o the player

characters is a sorcerer himsel, a

characters is a sorcerer himsel, and has heardnd has heard

the same rumors rom

the same rumors rom his or her own network.his or her own network.

◆

◆ I the pI the playlayer character characters are wiers are witch huntch hunters,ters,

they have heard about a Black Cloak named

Neerena who went to Salindra’s Hope and

then vanished. Caution is advised!

◆

◆ In the laIn the latter castter case, the chare, the characteracters eiths either haver have ae a

problem that, supposedly, only a sorcerer can

solve, or one o them is in need o a dark

master and r

master and rumors suggest that the sorcererumors suggest that the sorcerer

in the camp could prove to be just that.

Whatever their reason or seeking the sorcerer, the

playe

player characters r characters know nothing about him, otherknow nothing about him, other

than his

than his supposed whesupposed whereabouts and that the mareabouts and that the mann

called himsel

called himsel Vendal while in Thistle Hold (he noVendal while in Thistle Hold (he no

longer does, see Khenad/Handelo/Vendal among

the Non-player Characters).

��

The characters can ﬁnish t

The characters can ﬁnish the adventure in severalhe adventure in several

diﬀere

diﬀerent ways. The ollowing are a number o pos-nt ways. The ollowing are a number o

pos-sible endings avorable to the player characters.

sible endings avorable to the player characters.

◆

◆ TheThey prevy prevent Sikent Sikanderander, a allen Maste, a allen Master o Ordor o Ordo

Magica, rom reaching the

Magica, rom reaching the Eternal Hunter.Eternal Hunter.

Although it merely delays the battle between

the orest gods it is still a victory o sorts.

◆

◆ TheThey realize thay realize that the ﬁnal battle wt the ﬁnal battle would lould leaveavee

the Eternal

the Eternal Hunter corrupted by darkness,Hunter corrupted by darkness,

and convince him lay down arms.

◆

◆ They They realize that Gyrealize that Gylta is ablta is about to out to get heget her ownr own

herd killed, and make her see the danger in

ﬁghting. Then she will not interere with

the Eternal Hunter, as they go their separate

ways. I – and in that case, where – the two

will meet again, is

will meet again, is another story.another story.

◆

◆ They They deeadeeat the Et the Eternal Hunternal Hunter inster inside thide thee

Serpent Temple below the hill, or during the ﬁnal

battle – the Dance o Death – on top o the hill.

◆

◆ They They deeat deeat Gylta, Gylta, protector protector o the o the aboars; aaboars; a

mighty task, as she is constantly surrounded

by members o the herd.

Let the

players decide

The player group should The player group should agree on what reason agree on what reason (or reasons) their (or reasons) their cha-racters have for visiting racters have for visiting the site. Certain player the site. Certain player characters may of characters may of cour-se have their own highly se have their own highly personal incentives, personal incentives, but it is often helpful if but it is often helpful if the group settles on a the group settles on a common goal. The game common goal. The game master should present master should present the possible reasons for the possible reasons for the group’s presence in the group’s presence in Salindra’s Hope, and let Salindra’s Hope, and let the players discuss what the players discuss what option suits them best. option suits them best.

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The Lege

nd of the Wild Hunt

The legend o the Wild Hunt is signiﬁcant or the

adventure’s backstory. The legend is widely known

in Davokar, in broad strokes, but also has a very

speciﬁc meaning to the area surround

speciﬁc meaning to the area surrounding Salindra’sing Salindra’s

Hope. The two levels o the legend, general and

speciﬁc, are brieﬂy presented below, along with

what it takes or the player characters to know

o them.

�� : �� :

Who

Who: Player characters with the ability: Player characters with the abilityLoremasterLoremaster..

The barbarians o Davokar tell diﬀerent versions

o the legend. It all centers on a hunter and his

savage band o ollowers – sometimes a hunting

god, other times a bloodthirsty winter el or an

undead Symbarian lord who even in death indulges

in his avorite avocation: hunting. The hunter’s

prey is usually some other mythological creature,

such as a lindworm, an aboar or another winter el.

Perhaps the tale is but a thrilling way to explain

the storms t

the storms that sometimes shake Davokar, orcinghat sometimes shake Davokar, orcing

barbarians to cower in their

barbarians to cower in their huts or seek reuge inhuts or seek reuge in

the halls o t

the halls o their chiefains; perhaps it is an attemptheir chiefains; perhaps it is an attempt

to deﬁne the nameless horrors that run ra

to deﬁne the nameless horrors that run rampantmpant

through the nights? There is also a moral version

o the story, where people are hunted or having

broken the witches’ taboo.

��

:

Who

Who: The witch Girind, and player characters with: The witch Girind, and player characters with

the ability

the abilityLoremasterLoremaster who successully passes a who successully passes a

Cunning

Cunning test. test.

In the region where the adventure takes place the

myth actually has a

myth actually has a historical basis. The witcheshistorical basis. The witches

o clan Karohar tell it as ollows: the hunter is one

o the ancient gods o Davokar, who has orsaken

his duties as a shepherd or the more pleasurable

activity o hunting. The local witches know him

as the Eternal Hunter. His prey is the Elder Sow

known as Gylta, t

known as Gylta, the mighty protector o the reghe mighty protector o the region’ion’ss

aboars. Having tired o pursuing easy game, the

Eternal Hunter decided to go afer the Elder Sow.

About three centuries ago they ought in this very

place. The Eternal Hunter slaughtered the aboars

and their piglets, and in turn the sow stomped and

Where is

Salindra’s Hope?

In this scenario, the In this scenario, the treasure hunter’s treasure hunter’s out-post Salindra’s Hope is post Salindra’s Hope is located along the river located along the river

Eanor

Eanor, in the , in the territoryterritory of clan Karohar. But the of clan Karohar. But the camp could be placed camp could be placed anywhere in Davokar, as anywhere in Davokar, as long as it is reachable long as it is reachable by water and by water and surroun-ded by barbarians ded by barbarians isolating the place with isolating the place with

strict taboos. strict taboos.

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Table 1: The player characters’ claim

�

��

1–10

1–10 NothingNothing

11–14

11–14 Pieces of mosaic, black and white (worth 1D10 Pieces of mosaic, black and white (worth 1D10 shillings to a shillings to a collector)collector)

15–17

15–17 A religious oﬀering (worth 1D10 thaler A religious oﬀering (worth 1D10 thaler to a collector), roll 1D4:to a collector), roll 1D4: 1.

1. Bronze Bronze censercenser 2.

2. Silver Silver box box of of myrrhmyrrh 3.

3. Obsidian Obsidian serpent serpent ﬁgurineﬁgurine 4.

4. Wooden bWooden box containing an embalmed ﬁngerox containing an embalmed ﬁnger, painted like a snake, painted like a snake

18–19

18–19 A Symbarian gold coin, value 10 thaler a piece (15 to a collector)A Symbarian gold coin, value 10 thaler a piece (15 to a collector)

20

20 Serpent jewelry, a jade snake in a chain of golSerpent jewelry, a jade snake in a chain of gold, once worn by the priests of the temple (20d, once worn by the priests of the temple (20 thaler, worth double to a collector)

thaler, worth double to a collector)

gored his ollowers. It was a vicious battle, raging

all over the region so that men, beasts, and even

elves were killed or orced to ﬂee or their lives.

Eventually, the hunting god and the sow aced each

other upon a muddy hill among the r

other upon a muddy hill among the ruins o an olduins o an old

temple. The hunter was all but killed by the sow’s

terrible tusks and ﬂed deep into the hill. Mad w

terrible tusks and ﬂed deep into the hill. Mad withith

lingering rage, the Elder Sow has circled the hill

ever since, grunting and snorting, killing

indiscri-minately

minately. And within . And within the hill the hill the wounded hunterthe wounded hunter

still licks his

still licks his wounds. Both awwounds. Both await an opportunityait an opportunity

to ﬁnish the battle.

The witches declared the hill and its

surroun-dings taboo, hoping that the two gods would keep

dings taboo, hoping that the two gods would keep

each other at bay and that none o them would gain

the upper hand

the upper hand. Should that day come, it would be a. Should that day come, it would be a

bloody one or all living in the area

bloody one or all living in the area – according to the– according to the

prophecies spoken by the witches o Clan Karohar.

Treas

ure

Hu

nt

ing

Player

Chara

cter

s

��

�� possible or the player characters topossible or the player characters to

purchase a claim or themselves and start digging,

believing that there really are treasures hidden

inside the hill. And t

inside the hill. And there are indeed things to behere are indeed things to be

ound, i nothing that would secure t

ound, i nothing that would secure their uture.heir uture.

Use the ollowing guidelines or the player

characters’ activities in the claim.

◆

◆ SettinSetting up thg up the claim ane claim and beginnd beginning to ing to digdig

takes one day. No dice need to be rolled and no

treasures can be ound.

◆

◆ Afer the ﬁrsAfer the ﬁrst dayt day, eve, every ull day ory ull day o digging digging

grants a roll against

grants a roll againstVigilantVigilant. A successul roll. A successul roll

grants one roll on table �. I

grants one roll on table �. I there are severalthere are several

player characters digging, they m

player characters digging, they make sepa-ake

sepa-rate rolls. I several characters d

rate rolls. I several characters dig or onlyig or only

part o the d

part o the dayay, the game m, the game master lets them rollaster lets them roll

when the total time amounts to one day.

◆

◆ I I the the roroll all againgainststVigilantVigilant results in ��, some results in ��, some

disaster occurs. Roll ��:

�. River of mud:

�. River of mud: Muddy water bursts through the Muddy water bursts through the

clay wall, hauling the digger along with it i he or

she does not succeed with a

she does not succeed with aQuickQuick test. Failure does test. Failure does

�� dam

�� damage, ignoring armor.age, ignoring armor.

�. Collapse:

�. Collapse: A AQuickQuick test is needed not to avoid being test is needed not to avoid being

buried. A digger drowning in the mud takes ��

damage each tur

damage each turn (ignoring armor)n (ignoring armor), and it ta, and it takes akes a

Strong

Strong test to rescue him or her (both the buried one test to rescue him or her (both the buried one

and possible rescuers m

and possible rescuers may roll).ay roll).

�. Snakebite:

�. Snakebite:A kanaran A kanaran slithers through the mudslithers through the mud

and attacks the player character, who counts as

being

beingSurprisedSurprised. The serpent tries to constrict its. The serpent tries to constrict its

victim and drag it urther into the hill… For the

serpent’s stats, see page �� in the

serpent’s stats, see page �� in theCore RulebookCore Rulebook..

�. The ground gives way

�. The ground gives way, leading to the temple, leading to the temple

where the Eternal Hunter is waiting...

The Fever of the Hunt

The title of the

The title of the adventure refadventure refers to the particular obsession linked to theers to the particular obsession linked to the clay hill and

clay hill and to the ﬁerce battle between the two forest gods, the Elder Sowto the ﬁerce battle between the two forest gods, the Elder Sow Gylta and the winter elf

Gylta and the winter elf known as the Eternal Hunter.known as the Eternal Hunter. The Fev

The Fever of the Hunt er of the Hunt is not a direct consequence of any ritual oris not a direct consequence of any ritual or power that these gods use. The obsession arose in the

power that these gods use. The obsession arose in the meeting betweenmeeting between the powers and the limitless passion of the seekers, which on the slopes the powers and the limitless passion of the seekers, which on the slopes of the hill form a certain kind of alchemy. This is Davokar, and here one of the hill form a certain kind of alchemy. This is Davokar, and here one can experience curious, dreadful and wondrous things that seldom can experience curious, dreadful and wondrous things that seldom occuroccur anywhere else. It is entirely up to the game master to make use of, or anywhere else. It is entirely up to the game master to make use of, or discard, this sort of eﬀect in other places of the forests. In any case, upon discard, this sort of eﬀect in other places of the forests. In any case, upon the hill, under

the hill, under the special circumstances of the scenario, the Fever of thethe special circumstances of the scenario, the Fever of the Hunt is very

(24)

(25)

Te Ldscape

��

the adventure is a muddy, treeless hill in the middle o

Davo

kar. Not ar

rom t

here ﬂows a r

iver

, givi

ng passage to those who do

not want, or dare, to challenge the barbarians along the orest paths. To

clan Karohar the place is taboo; they will hunt down anyone travelling

there or trying to leave. But the Karits will not enter the area itsel.

Salindr

a’

s

Hope

�. Palisade and gate

The palisade is little more than three meters high

and sturdy enough to withstand even a raging

aboar. The gate, roughly ﬁve meters wide, is the

weakest point o the palisade.

�. Salindra’s tomb

A simple wooden pole in the mud, surrounded by

modest oﬀerings such as dried ﬂowers, a wooden

cup o ale, and a dozen patinated ortegs.

�. The gambling den �:�

�. The gambling den �:�(the sign depicts a pair o(the sign depicts a pair o

dice, a ﬁve and a two)

People:

People: Silvercheek Silvercheek

Price for a claim:

Price for a claim: �� thaler (� i �� thaler (� i [Persuasive –�][Persuasive –�]))

�. The

�. The Prospector’Prospector’s Friends Friend

Here Semel sells equipment or twice the price

listed in the

listed in theCore RulebookCore Rulebook (×�,� i (×�,� i[Persuasive [Persuasive +�+�]]).).

�. The Great Fire

The Great Fire burns every night, and continues

to glow until the next one. Its embers constitute

a meeting place or unemployed daythalers, who

ofen roast river rats and other rodents while

sin-ging melancholy songs about their araway homes.

ging melancholy songs about their araway homes.

Now a massive aboar piglet rotates over the ﬁre,

eeding many; a gif rom Silvercheek to bolster

morale in the camp.

The treasure hunter Handelo made himsel

known to t

known to the camp’he camp’s prospectors as he seas prospectors as he searchedrched

the piglet’s entrails or “alchemical

the piglet’s entrails or “alchemical substances”,substances”,

which the daythalers love talking about as the

news o Handelo’s death arrive. (see The Murder

o Handelo, page ��).

�. The cluster of daythaler shacks

A crude array o shacks

A crude array o shacks giving shelter to the manygiving shelter to the many

daythalers. When they are not resting here

daythalers. When they are not resting here or toil-or

toil-ing on the hill, t

ing on the hill, they dawdle around the Great Fire.hey dawdle around the Great Fire.

�. The hill and its claims

�.�. Sikander’s excavation

�.�. Gidjabolgo’

�.�. Gidjabolgo’s clas claimim

�.

�.�. Ha�. Handelo’s excavationndelo’s excavation

�.�. Arkali’s grave digging

�.�. Neferena’s search for saints

�. The Elder Sow’s tracks around the hill

The wide tracks o a great beast having paced the

orest in circles, round and round, or ages.

Vigilant

Vigilant and the ability Beast lore: the tracks and the ability Beast lore: the tracks

were made by an exceptionally huge aboar.

�. The witch Girind’s lookout

A wooden platorm up a tree on the hill, with a small

camp o tents where Girind and her bodyguards

reside.

The Serpent Temple

Made o adobe bricks, the temple is sunken into the

hill. The crawlway walls

hill. The crawlway walls are ulare ull o holes, wherel o holes, where

serpents once slithered across devotees crawling

towards the center o the shrine. Most o them are

long g

long gone, as is their guardone, as is their guardian, a sacred lindworm toian, a sacred lindworm to

whom disobedient believers were ed by the priests.

Its withered carcass can still be ound at the heart

o the temple.

A. Crawlways

A. Crawlways::The Serpent Priests built their temp-The Serpent Priests built their

temp-les so that worshippers would have to crawl their

(26)

(27)

way to that which was most holy. Some serpents

still slither inside the temple walls, and those

entering the crawlways have a one-in-six risk o

encountering one. I so, it takes a successul roll

against

againstResoluteResolute not to be overcome by claustrop- not to be overcome by

claustrop-hobia. A terriﬁed person may still continue, but

hobia. A terriﬁed person may still continue, but

gets a second chance at ailing every test while

staying inside the hill.

B. The heart of the temple

B. The heart of the temple:: Hal a dozen kana- Hal a dozen

kana-rans, along with the withered remains o the

rans, along with the withered remains o the

lindworm that was once both god and guardian

o the temple can be ound here. Furthermore,

there is the Eterna

there is the Eternal Hunter, resting on his backl Hunter, resting on his back

inside the lindworm’s skeleton, staring at the

ceiling, his eyes glowing red (see the Eternal

Hunter on page � Hunter on page ��).�). � � �� 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 9 9 8 8 7 7.1.1 7 7.2.2 7 7.3.3 7 7.4.4 7 7.5.5 A A A A A A A A B B 2×2 2×2 m² m²

(28)

(29)

��

What is today a muddy hill divided into claims

was once a Symbaria

was once a Symbarian serpent temple, now buriedn serpent temple, now buried

deep in the mud. Throughout Symbaroum the Cult

o the Serpent wa

o the Serpent was held in high esteem beores held in high esteem beore

losing ollowers as the Symbarians went on to

worship

worship other, darker powers. The other, darker powers. The temple wastemple was

abandoned and slowly began to sink into the

muddy grounds. Afer the all o Symbaroum, t

muddy grounds. Afer the all o Symbaroum, thehe

elves planted the orest o Davokar over the land,

but nothing would grow on the hill; it remained

a pile o clay.

Much later, the desolate hill became the scene

o a duel between two gods o the orest: the Elder

Sow Gylta and the bloodthirsty winter el

Sow Gylta and the bloodthirsty winter el knownknown

as the Eternal Hunter. The sow won the ﬁrst round,

sending the hunter ﬂeeing down the crawlways

o the serpent temple. These were too narrow or

the sow’

the sow’s tusks to s tusks to reach very ar, so the mortareach very ar, so the mortallylly

wounded winter el could slumber at a sae distance

rom his enemy. With the passing centuries, the

temple slowly sank deeper into t

temple slowly sank deeper into the clay, and was inhe clay, and was in

time completely hidden rom the world. But Gylta

did not orget

The Elder Sow, grunting and rummaging as

she circled the hil

she circled the hill, obsessed with the tl, obsessed with the thoughhought ot o

ﬁnishing what she started, posed a great th

ﬁnishing what she started, posed a great threat toreat to

the region’

the region’s barbarian s barbarian clan, Kaclan, Karohar. This causedrohar. This caused

the witches to declare the hill taboo, along with its

immediate surroundings.

��

The clay hill has rapidly grown into a prospecting

camp with simple entertainment establishments

and a tired bailiﬀ who, on orders o local

mer-chants, attempts to keep some degree o order

chants, attempts to keep some degree o order

among the many dreamers and ortune seekers

attracted to the place. O the almost two hundred

people present, abou

people present, about twenty are quat twenty are qualiﬁed drea-liﬁed

drea-mers, smitten by the Fever o the Hunt. The rest

mers, smitten by the Fever o the Hunt. The rest

are daythalers, toiling or those with the means

to pay or their services.

Most o these daythalers are destitute

barba-rians who, desperate with hunger and against

rians who, desperate with hunger and against

their better judgement, dey the taboos. It is hard

work, but so is the work available in the south.

Furthermore, tasks t

Furthermore, tasks that would be worth an orteghat would be worth an orteg

on the plains can here earn you a shilling.

The river and the monthly stops made by a

ew river merchants are the l

ew river merchants are the lieline o the camp.ieline o the camp.

Travelling by land is d

Travelling by land is dangerous, bordering onangerous, bordering on

suicidal. In the orest surrounding the hill roams

a grunting and bellowing she-beast, wounded by

a hunter’

a hunter’s spear and ﬁlled ws spear and ﬁlled with hate or all thingsith hate or all things

living. The sow leads a herd o aboars, who has

not yet attacked the camp itsel. But those heading

out to collect ﬁrewood and hunt smal

out to collect ﬁrewood and hunt small game ofenl game ofen

end up disappearing; i t

end up disappearing; i they are ever ound, it ishey are ever ound, it is

a gruesome sight: the remains o dismembered

bodies and gear stomped into a shallow pit,

rum-maged through the ground by raging tusks and

maged through the ground by raging tusks and

mighty hooves.

The barbarians o the region, the Karits o Clan

Karohar, will never enter the area because o

anci-ent taboos, but they observe the camp rom among

ent taboos, but they observe the camp rom among

the trees o a distant hi

the trees o a distant hill. For all who have brokenll. For all who have broken

the taboo, leaving the area by land

the taboo, leaving the area by land is punishableis punishable

by death – at least according to what is said among

the inhabitants o the ca

the inhabitants o the camp.mp.

��

There are many anciul and contradictory

rumors ﬂoating around the camp regarding what

lurks in the orest and what is really hiding inside

the hill. Here are some samples or the Game

Master to use as he or she sees ﬁt, either when

the player characters ask around t

the player characters ask around the camp or passhe camp or pass

small gr

small groups o prospectors loudly discussingoups o prospectors loudly discussing

the matter.

Rumors regarding the hill:

◆

◆ ”The hill is a ”The hill is a giant maze o narrow cgiant maze o narrow crawlwayrawlways, Is, I

have seen them!”

◆

◆ ”Several diggers have suﬀered nasty snake bites,”Several diggers have suﬀered nasty snake bites,

many of them lethal.”

◆

◆ ”Several diggers, at least a dozen, have disap-”Several diggers, at least a dozen, have

disap-peared inside the hill, not just in a collapse, but

peared inside the hill, not just in a collapse, but

without a trace.”

◆

◆ ”I heard the cr”I heard the cry of children from within the hill,y of children from within the hill,

both of infants and older kids.”

◆

◆ ”I saw an alluring light down there. It was green.”I saw an alluring light down there. It was green.

Or blue-green. Spooky ...”

◆

◆ ”I could feel the clay pulsing, as if a heart was”I could feel the clay pulsing, as if a heart was

beating in the dirt.”

◆

◆ “I got clay in my mouth yesterday, and I swear, it“I got clay in my mouth yesterday, and I swear, it

tasted like blood.”

◆

◆ “I tell you, I could hear someone humming from“I tell you, I could hear someone humming from

inside the hill!”

Rumors regarding the creatures of the

Rumors regarding the creatures of the forest:forest:

◆

◆ ”An enormous abomination wanders the forest.” ”An enormous abomination wanders the forest.”

◆

◆ ”The elves butcher those venturing too far into the”The elves butcher those venturing too far into the

forest, leaving only shreds of ﬂesh.”

◆

◆ ”Someone downed a piglet earlier, and the sow”Someone downed a piglet earlier, and the sow

was injured – she is still out there, wounded and

vengeful.”

◆

◆ ”The barbarians are watching us rom the woods.” ”The barbarians are watching us rom the woods.”

◆

◆ ”This place is taboo for the ”This place is taboo for the barbarians, but thatbarbarians, but that

does not stop the

does not stop the witches from sending theirwitches from sending their

tamed aboars to kill us!”

(30)

Adventure Pack 2

Adve

Adve

nt

nt

ure Pa

ure Pa

ck 2

ck 2

TWO MYTHIC ADVENTU

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�� ����� ���� ������ ��:

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2

2

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3

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F E

F E

V E R

V E R

O F

O F

T

T

H E

H E

H U N T

H U N T

Thus spoke Aroaleta

Thus spoke Aroaleta

And the gaunts char

And the gaunts char

ged forth,

ged forth,

thirsting and hungering,

thirsting and hungering,

thousand and thousand again

thousand and thousand again

through the night-colored woods

through the night-colored woods

Clan-Clan-

folks fell and

folks fell and

perished,

perished,

trampled and booted,

trampled and booted,

women, men and spawns,

women, men and spawns,

dead then drained and wolfed

dead then drained and wolfed

But grand was Adina’s bell,

But grand was Adina’s bell,

ﬂawless and vibrant,

ﬂawless and vibrant,

ﬁlled by a

ﬁlled by a

diﬀeren

diﬀeren

t thirst,

t thirst,

it chimed the gaunts to ruin

it chimed the gaunts to ruin

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