Fantasy Ireland Adventure: Keeper Hill-Elvish Strike Force

KEEPER HILL

A Fantasy Core and D&D 5^th Edition Fantasy Ireland Adventure

© Jerry Harris 2016

Published here as Open Game Content.

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Playtest Rules.)

Fantasy Ireland Index

Keeper Hill Index

Work Level Index

Elvish Strike Force

(This encounter might have already occurred in the Main Chamber.  It could also happen by either exit instead or somewhere else entirely, even the next level.  This location is just where I’m placing it.) 

10) At Lady Nim’s request, the Elves have conducted a raid into Keeper Hill.  The Elves want Apollos the Centaur back.  They don’t really care about retrieving the magic mirror he stole, but they want to know what Apollos was doing stealing it and certainly don’t want a Fey citizen in the hands of the Formorians. 

They know how to easily get into the Dark Road and know the general layout of Keeper Hill, and can guess where Apollos is being kept (on the assumption he’s being kept alive to be ransomed back to the Elves).  The strike force was unfortunately only vaguely aware that there was some kind of chaos going on inside Keeper Hill.  They didn’t know that it was undead and were woefully unprepared for energy-draining Wights holding the entrance to the complex.  To their credit, the Elves fought bravely.  The Wights were rightly apprehensive about their magic weapons, and Ghoul paralysis doesn’t work on Elves, so the undead retreated to gather more troops.  The remaining Elves took the opportunity get inside and hide, waiting for the right moment (or perhaps finding some allies) to make a break for the next level, where their objective is.

Normally, the haughty and arrogant Elves would never consider joining forces with anyone, but by this point, they’ve figured out they’ve bitten off more than they could chew.  Attempting to continue the mission and salvage their honor has likely lead to a situation where they are going to have to call for help and be truly shamed.  The Character group showing up with their magic weapons will present an opportunity for them to save face and find the centaur.    

Wherever this encounter between the Characters and the Elves occurs, if the Formorians are with them, this will be the Elves conversation ice breaker, “I had to see this for myself: Milesians and Formorians joining forces,” their leader will say, announcing themselves to the group.  Billy and Sam will be apoplectic about this intrusion.  The Elves will defend their actions, “We are perfectly in our right to be here.  We are investigating the possible abduction of a Fey citizen, Apollos the Centaur.  He may have also been involved in the theft of a valuable magical item, in which case he will face Elvish justice.”  Billy will be grimacing with each word.  He obviously knows something. 

There should be some posturing and a threat of violence, but the dire straits of both groups should be enough facilitate a temporary alliance.  (Give the Players an opportunity to act as peacemakers, earning 1 XP or some Inspiration.)  Billy will pledge to allow Apollos (if he’s still alive) back into their custody in return for their help against the undead.  He’ll deny knowing anything about a “Black Mirror.”  (If Billy isn’t there, you’ll have to improvise something.)

The FC group would be 4 Arcane Rangers, Duke Torren, and Baron Louis.  (The Duke arrogantly speaks for the group with Louis chipping in some diplomacy.)  The 5e group would be 2 Rangers, 2 Druids, and Vassily the Banshee.  (The Druids would speak for the group.  Name them Georges and Simon.) 

Obviously, these two forces will play very differently.  The FC group will be slinging spells mostly, while the 5e group will be hiding behind their banshee, shooting arrows.  Given that both groups are stocked with magic weapons, the Wights will want to use the lesser undead to soften them up before engaging them. 

All members of the Elvish force are immune to Ghoul paralysis.  Whoever the Elvish leader is, he’ll have a magic crystal ball with him that allows him to detect Fey people and objects (we’ll say roughly across a level).  This would include Apollos, the Characters’ weapons (which they’ll ask about), the Black Mirror, and the locket with Nim’s hair.  They’ll certainly collect that locket if given the opportunity.  The crystal ball would also allow them to summon help, and would serve as a beacon if the entire force was lost, bringing in Prince Alex and a more formidable host.