Fantasy Core Ireland--Adventure Part 4

FANTASY CORE RPG
(c) Jerry Harris, 2012
Published here as Open Game Content.

Adventure Index

Stampede (2 XP for saving most of the captives and preventing the complete loss of the herd, 1 XP if they’re less successful):

There is an easy trail of loose cows leading from the Kavanagh pasture. It leads into the Moin Coltna Bog. A thick fog (normal fog) obscures the land even under a bright full moon. Right now there are 19 Orcs (all wearing masks) trying to move 30 head of cattle. There are also 5 unconscious, bound human captives, laid out on top of them (these are for the wight that rules the haunted fort in the bog). The Orcs are having a slow, tough time of it, not being well acquainted with husbandry. The Orcs are fairly easy to spot as 5 of them are carrying torches (while the Orcs can see in the dark, the cows can’t). 4 of the Orcs are only wielding whips. The rest are armed with swords. (Given the conditions, none of them will have a ranged attack option.) There is 1 sergeant type among them.

The characters should first encounter 3 Orcs trying to move a couple of obstinate cows. One with only a torch, one with a whip, and the other with a sword. This will let the players know roughly what they’re facing. The characters will be able to surprise this group fairly easily as they’re busy. They will try to escape first if attacked. The main body is easily visible in the near distance.

Frankly the characters would be easy pickings for this large group of Orcs, except that they are desperately trying to quickly move the cattle to the ruined fort of Tir Crannog, which is only a mile away. The fog, the dark, along with the terrain (which is undulating and filled with many misshapen old trees) can easily allow the characters to trail the slow-moving Orcs, get a good gauge of their strength and set up an ambush. (If the players insist on a front assault, they’re in trouble.)

There is one Orc clearly in charge. If the group is attacked, he’ll order a runner to the fort for reinforcements, and lead a group of five against any visible attackers, and order the rest to keep moving the cattle. The loss of the sergeant will send the rest into disorganized confusion. Likewise, taking out the torchbearers (each one put out scatters 5 cows along with 1 captive) or otherwise spooking the cattle (like with a magic spell) will scatter everybody. The characters will have no more than 10 minutes (game time, about 10 rds) to disrupt things before the cattle either make it to within sight the fort or Orc reinforcements arrive, if a runner retrieved them. Luckily by this point, a groggy Nialls Kavanagh arrives with a mounted troop, definitely scaring off the Orcs.

Nialls is good and angry, but is far more interested in rounding up the cattle than launching a raid into the haunted bog at night. The Orcs will quit the field quickly and scurry back to their underground warren. “What are these damn O’Gradys doing here with our cattle? It’s war tomorrow!” This would be a good moment for the characters to unmask a dead Orc. “What? These creatures are responsible? I’ve never seen them so bold or have such sorcery under their command.” If the characters try to trail the Orcs, they’ll see them going into the ruined fort. Nialls will warn them off, saying “In Tir Crannog, the dead there walk at night.” Many Skeletons and zombies will be clearly visible manning the ramparts if approached. He’ll tell them to help with the cattle instead for now.

At this point, insert your best impersonation of the howl from “An American Werewolf in London,” followed by several answering howls. All of the warriors in the area stiffen in fear and quickly gather whatever cows and captives are on hand and then start beating a hasty retreat. This is just a little cameo by Tia O’Grady and the werewolf pack. Consider this a warning to 1st level characters that the bog is a bit too dangerous for them right now. And speaking of cameos, as the troop is a leaving, a lone cow can be seen lowing by a tree. Suddenly it is caught by some webbing and then jerked up out of sight into the tree, where it makes a terrible scream.