Fiction | Game | Medium Adventurers League ⚔️

Saving the Villagers from the Mob

The Queen, the Forest, and the Goblin Lord, cont’d

This is part of a story that works as an interactive game. You’ll need to have some paper and dice at the ready! Click here for the beginning of the story, and the beginning of this quest here.

Click here to go back to Hearthstone Hideout, or here for the rules.

“I hate to contradict the queen, but I think we should stop and help them,” you say. “It surely won’t take long to find out what’s going on.”

Add +1 to your reputation.

“Very well,” says Arriana, though she looks a little put out. “Take Polkin and hurry over. Be back in no more than ten minutes. We won’t reach Fey Serene before it gets dark, but I want to get to the elf-controlled part of the forest, at least.”

Not wanting to delay any further, you nod, then leap from the cart. Soon, you and Polkin are racing towards the burning building, bows in hand.

Before you have reached the destination, you have sized up the threat. Someone is inside the building, screaming in fear. Outside, hidden from your view at first but now visible, there are several kobolds with axes towards the back of the building. As you approach, they start to run towards you, ready for a fight.

Encounter: Kobold marauders.
Challenge rating: Easy (roll 12+).
Roll using brawn.

You can roll up to 3 times to shoot with your bow.
There are 16 kobolds. Each successful shot takes one down.
After that, you will have to fight them hand to hand.

You can also roll to see how well Polkin does. Roll his attacks at +5 to count for his brawn and his bow. He also gets 3 shots.

Take a note of the number of kobolds that remain, half it, and round up. This is the number that you will now have to face.

Switch to a hand weapon such as an axe, and adjust your brawn accordingly.

Now, continue as follows:

Challenge rating: Easy (roll 12+).
Roll using brawn or magic.
Each time you roll successfully, you kill one of the surviving kobolds. Each time you fail, they hit you. Reduce your health score by one.

You can flee back to the wagon any time, and leave the elves to deal
with the rest of the encounter. Click here.

If you die, click here. Otherwise, read on.

At last you look around, panting, to see that Polkin has killed his half of the kobolds, swinging around him deftly with a glittering shortsword, like some kind of mad dancer. You look at each other, and nod.

You now look at the house. There is still screaming coming from within, and the doorway has been barricaded shut by the kobolds.

You pull aside the debris, but find that something has fallen against the door from the inside, and now the flames are too fierce to get through.

Trying to stay calm, you move around the house, trying to find a way in.

Encounter: Emergency Rescue.
Challenge rating: Medium (roll 14+).
Roll using wits.
You can roll up to twice.

If you succeed, you find a way to break down a part of the wall without hurting yourself.

If you fail, you struggle to break open any area of the wall. Polkin comes to help, and after a few minutes of bashing open the wall, it collapses upon you.

Take two points of damage to health. If you die, click here.

Otherwise, read on.

At last, a terrified middle-aged dwarf woman staggers out of the burning house, and collapses, gasping.

You and Polkin check on the dwarf woman, and find that she is still breathing. Polkin pours a healing potion into her mouth, and in a moment she is sitting up, coughing, spluttering, but very much alive.

“What happened?”

“The Redrock Reavers,” she says. They have been causing terror and havoc in this area. They choose houses that are vulnerable, like myself — it’s only me here, since my husband died on a trip to the Trollkiller Mountains, and my son was lost to giant spiders in the forest.”

You nod.

“And then they burn the vulnerable residents?” queries Polkin.

“That’s right. I suppose that once we have burned to death, they search the place for gold or silver.”

You look at the still-burning house. “Is there a supply of water anywhere?”

In short order, you have brought Arriana, Chantilla, and the wagon driver to the property, and together with the dwarf and Polkin, have formed a chain to throw buckets of water over the burning house.

Encounter: Putting out Fire.
Challenge rating: Medium (roll 14+).
Roll using wits plus brawn.
You can roll up to three times.

If you succeed, you put out the fire before the house is totally consumed. Add one to reputation.

If you fail, you weren't quick enough, and the fire just gets stronger, forcing you to step back and watch the inferno from a distance. Subtract 1 from reputation.

“What’s your name?” asks Queen Arriana, looking at the dwarven woman.

“Raxi.”

“Well, Raxi,” says the queen kindly, “it seems that you need somewhere to live until this place is fixed up.”

“Yes, your majesty. But I ain’t got family.“

“Why don’t you head to The Bastion? It’s not far. Ask at Snakehole Tavern for a room. Give them this note from me, and they will give you a room for free, at least for the night.”

“Why, thank you, sweetie,” says the dwarf, glancing at the charred ruin of her house once again. “At least I can probably salvage… something.”

“And then tomorrow, ask for Terrance. He’s in the bar every day, and owes me a favor. Show him the same note, and he will organise a crew to come and help fix this mess up.”

The dwarf kisses the queen’s hand in gratitude.

Meanwhile, Polkin has been searching the slain kobolds. Their weapons are rusty and worthless, but he shares some silver coins and other valuables evenly between you all.

Add 14 silver pieces to your character sheet.

Add one pearl to your character sheet.

Add 2 wolf teeth to your character sheet.

Add a gold ring to your character sheet.

With that, you return to the wagon, a little dirtier and smokier, but satisfied that you have done a good deed.

Continue.