Adventure 4 - Bounties

Two more PCs joined the party, so I planned a fairly straightforward mission. Needless to say, they came out on top and ended up with a Unicorn tail hair to call on whenever they wanted.

As the heroes walk through the town of Oakedge they come to a large board outside the Town Hall. It announces itself as a Notice Board and one of the sections of the board is concerned with Bounties with two current bounties on it.

The first is that a Unicorn has been spotted. A private collector is interested in the unicorn’s horn; the leaflet contains details of where to bring the horn, promising 2000 gold for successful completion. Going straight for this one means a difficult nature skill challenge and a fight with a level 9 solo unicorn. Information about this bounty comes from Fuergar, a gnome wizard, who operates out of a dirty shack packed with engineering equipment, about a mile out of town towards the forest. He is short-tempered and has no time for the adventurers unless they are able to do what he wants.

The second is compatible with the first. A band of Goblins has been spotted moving through the forest towards Oakedge and the townsfolk want rid of them. In addition, chickens and cattle have begun to disappear from the outskirts of town. The bounty offers 1000gp. Investigating this finds a band of goblins at a small camp, found using a nature skill challenge. Attacking during the day provides a possibility of surprise as they sleep during the day and operate at night. However, if the adventurers go in at night they find that the Goblins are in the midst of attacking a Unicorn; in fact, the battle is nearly over, with one of the Goblins injured and the unicorn nearly dead. One of the goblins is using a magical item to subdue the unicorn.

Goblin encounter: (XP 750)

2 goblin sharpshooters

4 goblin warriors

4 goblin cutters

One of the sharpshooters has a Rod of Binding Awe (Level 7, +2) which it is using to hold the unicorn in place. The rest have a random loot in their pocket.

On defeating the Goblins, the Unicorn begs for support, saying its name is Faran. Using a Heal check enables the PCs to stabilise the Unicorn and it promises them a single boon in response, if it’s within its power. It gives them a single hair from its tail and tell them that, if they need his help, they should tie the hair into a knot and say his name. Then it uses Fey Step and is gone.

If the PCs choose to kill the unicorn, or they take the second bounty before the third, the party may find themselves in possession of a unicorn’s horn. The person who has asked for the horn is a gnome wizard by the name of Fuergar who is performing experiments on constructs, trying to give them life. He is not part of the SIC; in fact, he pours scorn on them if the adventurers happen to ask. He is, in fact, a rogue ex-member of the College. Ultimately he doesn’t impact on the adventurer’s overall adventure yet.