IK Unleashed Hogwash Scenario

Melissa Steele (order #7129055)

2ROLEPLAYING GAME AdvENtuRE KIt


3SCENARIO: HOGWASH

GAmE mAStER ONly!The synopsis and scenes described in this booklet should not be read by players. If you are a prospective player, do your Game Master the courtesy of allowing him to run this adventure for you and do not read it yourself!

You are about to delve into the savage wilderness of Iron Kingdoms Unleashed. This adventure will guide you through the untamed lands of western Immoren, where cunning warriors and ferocious beasts lurk. Surviving the wilds requires sharp senses, a sharper blade, and as many friends as you can muster. A world of magic and survival awaits!This adventure provides rules guidance, but the Game Master is encouraged to read through the accompanying rulebook to become familiar with the rules of the game and the capabilities of the pregenerated characters included.If this adventure spans multiple sessions, at the end of each session the Game Master rewards the players with 1 XP each and gives them the opportunity to purchase new skills, abilities, and more as their characters gain experience.

Adventure BAckgroundThe farrow warlord Morrg and his army of brigands have been raiding small communities on the fringes of his territory. Morrg has claimed a portion of Blackmarsh Valley in the southern Gnarls forest, and his forces have been stealing resources to facilitate a mad plan to wipe out the inhabitants of the entire region.Morrgs attacks have slowed recently as the valleys primary source of water, the Arrowhead River, has begun to dry up. Each day the river recedes slightly. If the water level drops much further, the entire region will suffer. Morrg has caused this

diminished flow by damming the Arrowhead in the hills to the south as part of his plan to exterminate the valleys inhabitants.Morrgs dam is a means to an end. Flooding the Blackmarsh would do nothing to its bog trog and gatorman inhabitants, and larger communities in the valley could weather the flooding. What Morrg plans is to unleash the pent-up river to deliver powerful alchemical explosives and flammable oil to settlements along the Arrowhead in a sudden deluge of water. The flooding will destroy homes and kill some inhabitants, but the explosions will be apocalyptic. The floodwaters will distribute the explosives much farther than otherwise possible, effectively covering the region with a random swath of destruction. The explosions will ignite the oil and turn

the waterway into a roaring inferno. Once the flames have died down, Morrg and his warriors can sweep through and slaughter whoever remains.The farrow warlord works for a Thurian magnate named Aidan Byrne. Byrne wishes to clear the valley of resistance so his workers can strip the forest there of its mineral resources. Morrg agreed to the contract because it will enable him to eliminate his many enemies within the valley and flee the Blackmarsh to retire on his lucrative payment before anyonesuch as the trollkinhas a chance for reprisal.The player characters assemble to investigate the rivers strange ebb, seek retribution for their lost friends and allies, and stop the warlord once and for all.


IRON KINGDOMS UNleaSheD ADVENTURE KiT SCENARiO

4

the gnArlsThe adventure takes place in the remote Blackmarsh Valley on the fringe of the southern Gnarls, a massive and dense temperate forest in the northwestern portion of the human kingdom of Cygnar. Ever-spreading climbing vines have overtaken the other vegetation in the forest, covering anything stationary within a few months.The Gnarls is home to many small, secluded wilderness communities. The forest is dominated by powerful trollkin kriels, dangerous when roused to anger. The valley is a perilous place for humans, though for some the temptation is too hard to resist. Lumberjack camps dot the banks of the Dragons Tongue River on the forests northern border, and the Gnarls is rumored to contain lost wonders such as hidden mines, abandoned settlements, and ancient ruins full of untold

treasures. Ambitious entrepreneurs seek to exploit the riches hidden beneath the dense canopy of the forest, willing to kill for a chance to discover its secrets.

synopsisThe adventure begins on the fringes of farrow territory, as the player characters (PCs) hunt down Warlord Morrg. Each character has compelling reasons for wanting to confront the warlord; Morrg has abducted their friends, killed their families, and imperiled their homeland.The PCs discover that Morrg has something terrible in store for the region beyond raids and skirmishes. Following a trail of clues, they learn he has devised a means to deliver death simultaneously to communities throughout the valley. Working with the bone grinder Knor, Morrgs farrow have built dozens of improvised incendiary and explosive devices. By damming and then releasing the Arrowhead River, Morrg can send barrels of explosives and liquid fire downstream in a sudden flood of ruin and destruction. In the course of a single night, whole communities will be destroyed.In their mission to prevent Morrg from opening the floodgates, the PCs must outmaneuver Morrgs army and confront his bone grinder, only to be ambushed as they try to ascend to his cliff-top bivouac. A group of White Maw Tharn arrives, giving the PCs the opportunity to escape, but Morrg destroys the rescuers with a short burst of explosive-laden floodwater. In one fell swoop the farrow proves the destructive capabilities of his improvised weapon and eliminates the PCs potential allies.

WARlORd mORRGMorrg commands a sizeable force of brigands who dwell at the southern edge of Blackmarsh Valley, hiding among a series of hills along the Arrowhead River. Morrg and his war band are farrow, a savage race of boar-men who live along the fringes of civilization.

Morrg is a warlock a powerful battle-mage and deadly warrior as effective in martial combat as when wielding arcane forces. A warlocks greatest talent, however, lies in harnessing the primal power of his warbeasts, creatures mystically bonded to him. Without his warbeasts, a warlocks power is greatly diminished. Morrg has two warbeasts, razor boars named Caldon and Crommen.

For years Morrg worked as a raider and mercenary, stealing from human caravans and his wilderness neighbors and selling his war bands strength to the highest bidder. His brigands have clashed with the inhabitants of Blackmarsh Valley numerous times over natural resources and dominance of the area. Morrgs greatest enemies in the Blackmarsh are the White Maw Tharn tribe to the north. The two groups compete for land between the territories of powerful kriels of trollkin, the dominant race of the Gnarls. After losing a recent battle, Morrg retreated to his encampment in the southern foothills to lick his wounds and devise a new plan.

Morrg has made many enemies in the Blackmarsh. He considered moving to a new territory to avoid reprisal but cannot allow himself to appear weak. His warriors would be quick to exploit any perceived vulnerability in favor of another warlord. To maintain control, the warlock needed to devise a method to destroy his many rivals.

tHE tICkING ClOCkMorrg plans to unleash his weapon at sundown, about six hours from the start of the adventure. Depending on how quickly the PCs proceed, they may arrive at the dam with hours to spare or just in the nick of time. Throughout the adventure, actions have an associated time cost. Performing these actions can be beneficial to the PCs, but it also means they have less time to stop Morrg.

There are countless different actions the PCs might choose that are not covered in this adventure, and a Game Master should feel free to set how long one of these tasks takes based on its complexity. A PC can travel about a mile through the woods every twenty minutes; standard skill use (Interrogation, Medicine, Navigation, Tracking) requires around fifteen minutes per attempt; and more complex actions (such as preparing alchemical items or setting complex traps) can require up to an hour or more per attempt.


5With no one to turn to but each other, the PCs battle their way through the warlords deadliest warriors in order to stop him before he accomplishes his mad ambition. Fighting on the cliffs, they confront Morrg and his two trained warbeasts, a pair of deadly razor boars.Once the PCs stop the warlord and end his threat, they realize he was only the beginning: the farrow was working for a human who seeks to exploit the Blackmarsh for its resources and is willing to wipe out everyone within it.

getting the plAyers involvedThis adventure kit includes four pregenerated characters. Each character has specific reasons for hunting down Morrgs war band as well as a goal to achieve during the adventure.Gullin Oakbreaker The pygmy troll tribe Gullin leads was hit by Morrgs raiding farrow. The farrow overwhelmed his village with massive force and took everything of worth they could carry. They also abducted several tribe members for use as laborers to handle the dangerous explosives needed for Morrgs plan. Gullin is on a quest to rescue his tribe members and retaliate against the warlord. Some members of his tribe want to leave the valleyabandoning their abducted kinto live among trollkin to the north. Gullin knows the larger trollkin kriels would offer protection if asked, but approaching them would indicate that pygs must rely on trollkin for rescue. That might be satisfactory for other pyg leaders, but not for Gullin. To prove his own worth as a leader as well as the worth of his people, he is determined to recover his lost tribe members.Longchops The ebbing of the Arrowhead River is affecting Longchops home within the valley; with water levels receding, prey in his territory is moving off. He could abandon his home for wetter pastures, but Zocha the Outcast promised him access to the White Maws northern hunting grounds if he helpsa tall order for her, but the gatorman is unaware of that. Additionally, his traveling and hunting companion Lurk encouraged him to join the group.Lurk Lurks swamp home is also vanishing due to the ebbing of the river, but more immediate to him is his bitter rivalry with Morrgs bone grinder Knor. Years ago, the two were members of a hunting party of bone grinders and fell into an argument over the most valuable component of a rare kill. Lurk bushwhacked Knor, incapacitating him and stealing the valuable components. He barely escaped the farrows retribution. Knor promised to claim the bog trogs life and soul by grinding Lurks bones for what he had done. With the others helping him, Lurk has a chance to get close to Knor, perhaps even turning one of the war bands powerful razor boars into an asset he can use to defeat his old rival once and for all.Zocha the Outcast Zocha hunts down Morrg for no less reason than to save her people and her homeland. She is part of the White Maw Tharn tribe, longtime enemies of Morrgs war band. During their most recent battle the Tharn drove the farrow back, but the White Maw chieftain was killed in the

clash, and the bone grinder Knor took the fallen chieftains heart as a trophy. Seeing the threat Morrg posed, Zocha made a claim for leadership of the tribe, but she was defeated in the battle for dominance that followed. Though physically powerful, the young new leader lacked the conviction or courage to pursue Morrg. Zocha suspected the dying river was part of a plot by Morrg, but the new chieftain disagreed. He claimed the water would return in time and that attacking the warlord would gain the White Maw nothing. The heated argument ended with Zocha striking out on her own. Soon after, a small group of warriors led by a Tharn named Galbar decided she was right and set out to assist her and her companions.

tHE WHItE mAW tRIbELater in the adventure, Galbar and a group of warriors from the White Maw tribe arrive to assist the PCs. These Tharn were persuaded by Zocha's arguments and set out to find her. They have marched hard to catch up to the PCs, tracking them deep into Morrgs territory.

If the Game Master wants to preserve the surprise, the White Maw show up in scene 4 exactly as written. To foreshadow this, consider having a wounded group of farrow scouts or a solitary survivor come from the north as the PCs travel. These wounded farrow are survivors of an attack by the White Maw and can tell the warriors that they are near. The wounded farrow are reluctant to offer much information but can be convinced to talk with a promise of their freedom. If the PCs attack instead, they later recognize wounds from Tharn-made weapons on the farrows bodies.

The adventure should showcase the PCs, not their Tharn allies. If the group wants to turn back to meet with the Tharn, gently remind the players that they do not know exactly where or how near the tribe is and that time is short before Morrgs plan comes to fruition. Hours spent searching for potential allies in the twisted Gnarls is time lost from stopping the warlords nefarious plan.


6SCENE 1: OpENING SHOtS

The adventure begins with the PCs on the trail of Warlord Morrg. At the fringe of his territory, the characters discover a group of Morrgs warriors picking through the remnants of a destroyed village. The brutish pig-men search the ruins for loot and argue among themselves, shouting loudly enough to draw the PCs attention.

Starting the AdventureOnce players have chosen their characters, read the following to set the stage and start the adventure.

REAd ALOud OR PARAPhRASEYouve followed the tracks of Morrgs raiding parties through Blackmarsh Valley for days, picking your way south through the twisted forest. Along the way you encountered derelict campsites abandoned by the brigands, a trail of refuse cast carelessly aside, and several small communities picked clean of provisions and left in ruins. Despite all the evidence of their work, the warlords raiders remain elusive.

Your luck begins to change on the afternoon of the third day. Through the trees ahead, you can make out the shapes of a few small thatch-roofed huts standing near the bank of the Arrowhead River. Even from a distance you can see the huts are in disrepair, with collapsing timbers and sagging sides. Theyve likely been abandoned for some time.

From within the ruins of the small village, a sudden loud, agitated squeal rings outthe shout of an angry farrow. It is quickly answered by another farrows retort, just as infuriated, and the voices launch into a heated argument. The farrow seem consumed by their debate.

A simple dirt path leads to the village, flanked on both sides by the vine-draped trees of the Gnarls. To the west, the recently depleted Arrowhead River snakes through the trees. The waterline has dropped significantly lower than it has ever been.

The trees are dense enough to conceal the PCs as they approach the village, so they can use the terrain to their advantage if they choose to proceed cautiously.

GAmE mAStERS NOtE: tHE SkIll ROll

If a PC chooses to approach the village stealthily, he must make a Sneak skill roll to do so without being noticed. To make a skill roll:

1. Determine the skill being rolled. Some skills, like Sneak, can be attempted even if the character does not have training in the skill.

2. The Game Master sets the target number of the roll. This is how challenging the attempt is. In the case of sneaking up on the village, the target number is 10.

3. Roll dice! A skill roll is 2d6 + Stat + Skill Level. Each skill uses a Primary or Secondary stat and skill level. If a character does not have training in the skill, he only adds the parent stat to his 2d6 roll. If the roll is equal to or greater than the target number, the attempted action is a success!

Remember, a character can always spend 1 feat point to boost a non-attack skill roll or reroll a failed skill roll.

If thE PCs SuCCESSfuLLY SNEAK uP ON thE vILLAGE,

REAd OR PARAPhRASEYou see the ruins of the old huts ahead, scattered in a loose ring surrounded by the forest. Morrgs war band came through here like a wildfire, reducing the town to wreckage. A rough dirt road runs through its center, guarded by a pair of farrow warriors keeping a lazy watch to the north.

Behind them you hear the angry squealing of a group of farrow. Three more pig-men are in the heart of the ruined village, arguing noisily over a miserable pile of loot. One shouts that theyve found enough and its time to head back. Another angrily rebuffs him, shouting, Todays our last chance! Morrg opens the gates tonight. Then who knows if anything valuable will be left? The pig-men keep bickering, drawing the attention of the guards. Without warning, one of the arguing farrow tackles another, causing the others to jeer and shout over the thrashing pair. The three watchers start making bets on who will emerge victorious.


7The brawling farrow distract their companions, giving the PCs the element of surprise (see callout) if they attack. The PCs can use this opportunity to gain a tactical advantage over their opponents.

GAmE mAStERS NOtE: SuRpRISE!

Whenever one group has the drop on another, there is a surprise round. A group with surprise gets to act before the opposing side has a chance to respond. Surprise represents ambushes, sneak attacks, and similar events.

During the surprise round, before rolling Initiative, Gullin can use his battle plan to let his allies move into cover. This gives them a bonus of +2 DEF against ranged attacks once the battle begins.

To resolve the surprise round:

1. Have Gullin decide if he wants to use Battle Plan: Take Cover.

2. Have the PCs roll 2d6 + Initiative. The highest roll gets to act first, followed by the next highest, and so on. This is an initiative roll.

3. Each PC gets to take a turn until the farrow notice they are there (when a PC takes definitive action, such as if Longchops fires his rifle or Zocha leaps among the farrow with her blade).

4. Once the farrow notice the PCs, start over as if it were the start of a new round. Roll for initiative, this time including the farrow. Now youre in a fight! (See Combat Encounter #1.)

The farrow brigands are not interested in waiting to see why the PCs are here. They are eager for a fight and immediately attack.

COmbAt ENCOuNtER #1If thE PCs SuRPRISE thE fARROw,

REAd OR PARAPhRASEScrabbling to recover from your surprise attack, the farrow dive for cover, tripping over the pile of loot and hurling themselves behind barricades with distressed squeals.

Once the farrow are aware of the PCs, a combat encounter begins. When an encounter begins, the PCs are typically placed on the bottom edge of the map. However, at the Game Masters discretion they may start the encounter on one of the maps other edges. All parties then roll 2d6 + Initiative to determine the order of turns in the encounter. Starting with the highest total, each character takes a turn. To save time, the Game Master can make a single initiative roll for all the farrow.

If thE PCs tAKE A dIRECt APPROACh OR fAIL tO SNEAK uP,

REAd OR PARAPhRASEYou hear bickering voices as you approach a bend in the dirt path that will take you into the village. Two of the savage pig-men are shouting loudly enough to be heard from a distance. One of them shouts that theyve found plenty of treasure and its time to head back. Another angrily rebuffs him, shouting, Todays our last chance! Morrg opens the gates tonight. Then who knows if anything valuable will be left?

As you advance, you see a pair of farrow guarding the entrance, distracted as their comrades start to brawl in the village center. One notices you in his peripheral vision and does a double take. Quickly snapping out of his confusion, he smacks the other guard to attention and calls to his comrades in the village with a short grunt. The farrow raise up their rifles, ready to fire!



8

enemy tActicsThe farrow brigands were not expecting a fight, so they are disorganized when the PCs confront them. Each farrow fights to save his own skin, but they team up against threats if it benefits them.

The farrow try to get to cover and shoot at the PCs with their scavenged rifles if possible, but they avoid shooting into melee. The farrow brigands make use of the Onslaught ability on turns where the PCs are in range for a charge.When only one farrow remains, he surrenders to the PCs in a bid to save his own life. (See Aftermath.)

encounter FeAturesThe encounter includes the following features.Fallen Logs: The fallen logs are linear obstacles. A character can move over linear obstacles without penalty, but he cannot charge over them unless he has the Relentless Charge or Pathfinder ability. A character who takes cover behind a linear obstacle gains solid cover (+4 DEF against ranged and magic attacks, +2 DEF against melee attacks) against attacks originating on the opposite side of the object.Huts: The village huts are obstacles that block line of sight. A character can climb atop a hut by making an AGL + Climbing roll against a target number of 12. A huts rooftop counts as rough terrain.

Pile of Loot: The pile of loot in the center of town is modest, containing only a few pieces of jewelry, skinning knives, and similar commonplace items. The loot is worth 2d6 + 3 gc.Trees: The patches of trees are forests. A forest is rough terrain, and a character cannot see farther than eighteen feet (3) through it. Characters in a forest gain concealment (+2 DEF against ranged and magic attacks).

AFtermAthWhen only one farrow remains, he makes a desperate gamble to stay alive.

REAd OR PARAPhRASEWith a despairing shriek, the last farrow throws down his weapon and surrenders. He pleads for you to let him live, offering you the pile of scavenged loot in the middle of the village.

Interrogating the SurvivorThe surviving farrow is Chrum, a low-ranking member of the war band. If the PCs critically injured Chrum before he has a chance to surrender, any information they elicit from him reflects his dying words.

A character can get the following information with an INT + Interrogation roll against a target number of 10 (or without a roll if Lurk uses the Cloak of Fear spell). Interrogating Chrum takes fifteen minutes per attempt. Chrum knows little of Morrgs overarching plans, but he can provide the following information.

When the encounter begins, place the figures on the tiles as shown.

4 fARROw BRIGANdS, 1 SLAuGhtERhOuSER

ENCOuNtER SEtup

ANtAGONIStS

S

b

Sb

b

b

b

tiles needed: A01, A02, A03, A08, A09, A10, A28, B15, BoArd A01, BoArd A03,

BoArd A04, BoArd A06hw A01

hw A08

hw B15hw A09

hw A10

hw A03

hw A02

hw BOARd A01 hw BOARd A03

hw BOARd A06hw BOARd A04

hw A28


9 Morrg has been ordering his patrols and raiding parties back to the camp recently, telling them they have until sundown tonight before he opens the gates. Chrums group used the commotion at Morrgs camp to slip away unnoticed, thinking they had plenty of time to check out nearby villages.

Morrgs second-in-command, Knor, took charge of the war bands prisoners, including a group of pygmy trolls. They are held in the main farrow camp, serving as forced labor for the bone grinder.

If pressed for details about what Morrgs plans entail, what waits behind the gates, or any similar information, the brigand responds with three words: Fire and flood. Any further attempts to interrogate him automatically fail. Chrum simply repeats those three words, squealing them at the PCs.

If a PC tries to intimidate the farrow into accompanying them, Chrum pretends to play along for a short time, but he constantly looks for a chance to escape. He might try to alert other farrow to the PCs presence, steal a weapon and fight his way out, or simply attempt to slip away when the PCs are distracted by other matters.

Investigating the BodiesThe PCs can take supplies from the fallen farrow and investigate the bodies for additional information. Each farrow carries the items listed in the Equipment section of his profile (p. 31).

A character searching the bodies can make a Detection roll to discover the following information. A character learns everything up to the result of his roll. Regardless of the roll, Longchops knows that the farrow smell like they would be delicious to eat.

detection

ROLL RESuLt INfORMAtION GAthEREd

8+

the farrows weapons are of a much higher quality than they typically carry. An odd symbol is etched into the grips of the weapons: a coat of arms, the sort used by a human noble or merchant.

11+

the farrow bodies have clumps of tar stuck in their matted fur. the tar reeks with a harsh and distinctive smell, but none of the PCs can identify its origin.

13+

One of the brigands wears a small runic talisman around his neck. Gullin recognizes

the item, since it belongs to one of the kidnapped members of his tribe.

fun with Body Parts (Improvised Alchemy)At the GM's discretion, the alchemy employed by a bone grinder can allow creative players to create useful improvised items from harvested organs and other body parts. The items being created should seem at least remotely plausible, be limited in impact, and generally only last a short time. Creating such items requires a skill check.

REGAINING VItAlItyDuring the course of the adventure, many instances might lead to the PCs losing vitality. To recover lost vitality, a character can take a brief rest of fifteen minutes to recuperate following an encounter. The PC automatically regains vitality points equal to his PHY stat. When a character regains vitality, he removes the damage from anywhere on his life spiral. If a character is incapacitated, he must first be stabilized with an INT + Medicine roll against a target number of 14 before he can regain vitality following an encounter.

Characters who have suffered damage continue to recover over time. A character regains 1 vitality point per hour for the first three hours after being injured. After that, he regains 1 vitality point each six hours until he regains all of his lost vitality.

For example, the GM can prompt Lurk to harvest an intact bladder or stomach from the group's downed foes to be transformed into a single-use "Meat Silencer" for Longchops' rifle. Lurk can create this improvised item with a successful INT + Alchemy roll against a target number of 14. If Lurk is played by a newer player who is unfamiliar with the game, the GM should suggest spending a feat point to boost this roll, since it is difficult. Each attempt requires fifteen minutes spent harvesting and preparing the organs.Meat Silencer This recently extracted bladder or stomach bound by tendons can be attached to a rifle barrel as a quick action. The next shot fired suffers a 2 RNG penalty but is greatly muffled, allowing the shooter to remain unnoticed during a surprise round and to retain the results of any previously performed stealth roll. This item is destroyed immediately on being used and only lasts six hours after being fabricated before it falls apart and cannot be used again.As they finish in the village, the PCs notice tracks made by the farrows distinctive hooves coming into the village from the south. Their course is obvious: retrace the brigands tracks south into the forest. The trail is easy to follow, but it requires time to trace through the forest. A PC following the tracks must make a PER + Tracking roll against a target number of 10. If the roll fails, the PCs can try again after spending fifteen minutes backtracking to relocate the path.If the PCs spend more than thirty minutes tracking the farrow through the woods, they encounter a patrol of farrow headed to Morrgs camp (4 brigands led by a slaughterhouser). If the PCs failed to gather any of the information available in the village, an encounter with one of these farrow patrols gives them a second chance for interrogation and investigation.


10

Striking out from the derelict village, the PCs can follow the trail of the brigands back into Warlord Morrgs territory. Periodically as they travel, the PCs spot gnawed bones hanging from the branches overhead. These are used to mark the perimeter of the warlords land. These grisly markers taken from the farrows defeated enemies are similar to warning markers used by the Tharn. Zocha knows these markers are intended to intimidate enemies, but she has seen her own tribe display far worse.The foul odor from the tar on the farrows bodies helps the PCs follow the trail. The route winds south through trackless forest for about three miles, weaving across game trails and earthen paths as it leads to a narrow path forking through the trees. The PCs should reach the fork in the trail about an hour after they leave the ruined village, though it might take them longer depending on how many Tracking rolls or side encounters occur along the way.

whEN thE PCs REACh thE fORK IN thE PAth, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

Ahead the tracks break off in two directions, following rough-cut trails through the woods. The tracks heading right lead down into a shaded hollow shrouded by low-hanging trees. To the left, the tracks move southeast into the wooded foothills of the Watcher Peaks. Both trails have seen extensive use; tracks both old and new converge on these trails, made by the passing of hundreds of hooved feet.

A cursory examination of the two paths reveals a mixture of farrow hoofprints and those of some kind of larger hoofed creatures. A successful INT + Lore (extraordinary zoology) roll against a target number of 10 identifies them as razor boar tracks made by an extremely large specimen.A PC who spends a moment examining the tracks can make a PER + Tracking roll against a target number of 13. If he succeeds, he notices a series of long drag marks in the dirt of the path to the right, partially obscured by the tracks of farrow. The path to the left has a greater number of fresh farrow tracks, heading into the foothills.The strange odor is present on both branches of the path, though the odor is faintly stronger to the right.Depending on which branch of the path the PCs choose, they encounter one of two different scenes. Along either path, they see plenty of signs they are headed the right way: older markers designating the previous boundaries of Morrgs territory, fresher farrow tracks in the soil, and occasionally a curing lump of tar smeared on the ground.

SCENE 2: tWO ROAdS dIVERGE

OptION 1: tHE RIGHt pAtH

whEN thE PCs ENtER thE hOLLOw, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

A short journey down the path leads into a swampy hollow sheltered by a wooded hill. Overhead, the trees grow together so thickly they block the sky, casting the area into shadow. Sinking into the muck are the remains of a long-abandoned mining or logging camp, built by human hands but now little more than rotting wood and scraps of rusted iron buried under a thick blanket of moss. The whole region reeks of musky swamp smells mingled with the strange odor of the tar that clung to the farrow brigands.

Traveling from the fork in the path to the hollow takes thirty minutes if the PCs follow the trail directly, but they might take more time if they choose to move off the path into the woods to avoid being noticed. The Game Master should adjust the amount of time required to reach the hollow based on the speed of the party.The PCs have come across an abandoned Cygnaran camp. Years ago, it was used by surveyors looking to exploit the natural resources of Blackmarsh Valley. Morrgs farrow discovered the derelict camp as they expanded their territory into the north and stripped it of any useful gear left behind. This is one of several similar failed mining sites in the area that belong to Aiden Byrne.

whEN thE PCs MOvE tO ExPLORE thE CAMP, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

Hot, stale air rises off the muddy ground and murky pool of swamp water. Other than the drone of black flies, the hollow is quiet. Beneath the stench, you smell the sour stink of fresh farrow sweat. At least some of the brigands you faced in the village to the north must have come this way. There might be a path that will lead you to Morrgs camp.

When the PCs move closer they see ample sign of recent activity in the derelict camp. The drag marks spotted at the fork in the path are much clearer here due to the soft soil. They lead to a storage shack built against the hill to the south, which houses one of the razor boars (see next page).


11

comBAt encounter: hungry hogsAs the PCs explore the abandoned camp, they are being watched. A pair of hunting boars, trained by the farrow to act like guard dogs, dwells in the ruins of two shacks. The boars wait for the PCs to approach before charging out. When any PC moves within thirty feet (5) of either shack, the boars attack. A PC can make a PER + Detection roll against a target number of 12 to notice the boars before they attack. If he succeeds, roll for combat normally. Otherwise, the razor boars gain the element of surprise (p. 7) when they attack.

whEN thE BOARS AttACK, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

The stillness of the hollow is split by an explosion of activity from one of the abandoned shacks. With an ear-piercing shriek, a heavy razor boar charges out, dragging a long iron chain like a leash. A second boar quickly follows, emerging from a similar building across the way.

The hunting boars have intentionally been left hungry by the farrow to encourage them to attack trespassers in the hollow. The boars attack anything that approaches within the range of their chains.

Enemy tacticsAt the brink of starvation, the razor boars simply charge the closest available target in an effort to bring it down.

terrainThe encounter includes the following terrain features.Camp Buildings: The camp buildings are deteriorated from neglect and exposure to the elements. A PC can climb atop a building with an AGL + Climbing roll against a target number of 12. If a PC starts his turn on top of a camp building, roll a d6. On a roll of 1 or 2, the section of wall or roof beneath the PC collapses, dropping him to the ground. The PC suffers no damage but is knocked down.Chains: Both boars are chained, preventing them from moving farther than thirty feet (5) from their starting positions. The chains are made of corroded iron and have ARM 15 and 10 vitality points. A razor boar is not strong enough to break its chain, but if it is unable to reach a target an enraged boar may try to pull its chain free from the wall. To do so, the boar must spend a quick action and make a STR roll against a target number of 15. If the roll succeeds, the boar breaks the chains anchor and can move about freely.A canny PC can limit the movement of a razor boar by using the chain to his advantage. Tangling the chain around an object, sticking it in place by stabbing between the links, or some other clever interference with the chain causes that razor boar to suffer the stationary condition for one round. (A stationary razor boar does not activate on its turn, is automatically hit in melee, and has DEF 5 against ranged and magic attacks.)Quagmire: A large pool of murky, stagnant water sits east of the main camp. It is deep water, which the boars refuse to enter.

When the encounter begins, place the figures

on the tiles as shown.

2 RAzOR BOARS

ENCOuNtER SEtup

ANtAGONIStS

tiles needed: A11, A12, A13, A18, A19, A20, A21, A22, B01, B02,

B04, B05, BoArd A01, BoArd A03, BoArd A04,

BoArd A06

R

RR



hw B01

hw A11

hw A12

hw A22

hw A13hw A18

hw A20 hw A21

hw A19

hw B02

hw B04

hw B05



12

AftermathOnce the PCs deal with the razor boars, they can investigate the surrounding buildings. The farrow clearly left the boars here to protect something.

the cAmpSearching the camp turns up a few items of interest. Many recent tracks pass through here, including those of pygmy trolls. The farrow swept through the camp and effectively picked it clean, leaving only the pair of razor boars to dissuade interlopers from discovering the hidden path to their camp (see next page).Several of the buildings contain human remains that have been here for years, if not longer. They clearly died violently and were left where they fell. The farrow stripped the bodies of armor, belts, weapons, and equipment. A PC who makes a PER + Detection roll of 14 or higher finds a cracked pocket watch worth 25 gc on one of the bodies, which can be used as trade (or a bribe).Javelins that Zocha recognizes as Tharn-made impale several of the corpses. She can recover d3 + 1 javelins from the bodies. These men worked for Byrne, trying to establish a permanent mine in the region. They were killed several years ago by the White Maw tribe for intruding on the Tharns territory, when the tribe still controlled the majority of the Blackmarsh. A PC can make an INT roll against a target number of 10 to recognize the men as Cygnaran from what scraps remain of their clothing. The Blackmarsh contains many such small human encampments, and the PCs know that humans from the south have been trying to establish settlements in the region for many years. Typically when one is discovered, one of the tribes in the area either drives the humans off or wipes them out in an effort to protect its territory. Some of the clothing bears a symbol, identical to the one the PCs might have found on the strange weapons carried by the farrow.The east shack reeks of the foul odor the PCs discovered earlier. There are dozens of drag marks just outside the shacks door leading out. Inside, several large wooden boxes have been ransacked for their contents, but one still contains something. A PC who examines the box sees several stinking barrels carefully packed inside. The box sits beneath a hole in the wooden roof and has partially filled with water. The barrels contain an alchemical compound that has mixed with water leaking in through the staves.A symbol charred into the wooden crates matches the one carved into the grips of the farrow brigands weapons in scene 1 and the clothing on the corpses here, which the PCs recognize with an INT roll against a target of 10. If the PCs looted those weapons, they recognize the symbol without a roll. Oddly, these crates have been here for some time, judging by their worn condition and the overgrowth of the Gnarls, while the weapons were recently manufactured.Lurk can make an INT + Alchemy roll to identify the alchemical compound. He learns everything up to his roll result.

Alchemy

ROLL RESuLt INfORMAtION GAthEREd

13 or lower

the compound is an element of human alchemy that has been rendered effectively inert by prolonged

exposure to water.

14+

the compound is a kind of alchemical explosive, more volatile than the blasting powder used in firearms.

humans frequently use this compound in mining.

the FAllen totemIn the ruins of the camp, the PCs find a territory marker similar to those used by the farrow. It is old and scattered, but markings on the bones and skulls are clearly Tharn in origin. This region was controlled by the White Maw prior to Morrgs intrusion into the valley.Zocha can reassemble the marker by spending a full action and making an INT roll against a target number of 10. She gains a +1 bonus for each ally who assists her.

If zOChA REASSEMBLES thE tOtEM, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

With a few minutes work, you restore the marker, once again claiming the land for the White Maw. All who pass this way will recognize that it belongs to the Tharn, and all White Maw who lay eyes upon it know that, fighting here, they fight to defend their home.

SCENt mASkDescription: Either brewed naturally from plant and animal matter or refined alchemically, scent masking is a way to confound animals that rely on scent for tracking and detection. Hunters who wish to conceal themselves and their equipment from wary animals often employ a scent mask.

Special Rules: A dose of scent masking lasts for d3 hours. PER rolls that rely on scent suffer a 2 penalty to detect a character under the effect of the scent mask.

Alchemical Formula: Brewing a scent mask requires an apothecary kit and two hours of labor spent mixing, cooking, and stabilizing the ingredients. At the end of this time, the alchemist makes an INT + Alchemy roll against a target number of 12. If the roll succeeds, the character creates one dose of scent mask. If the roll fails, he creates a useless, reeking mess.


13

you gonnA eAt thAt?A quick examination of the razor boars is enough to realize they are not Morrgs extraordinary warbeasts Caldon and Crommen but mundane razor boars, which the farrow trained in a fashion similar to war dogs.Lurk can harvest organic components from the dead hogstheir nasal cavities, blood, and fatto fashion into a scent mask (see previous page). The boars provide sufficient ingredients for him to create d3 + 2 doses. The remaining meat can be left behind or eaten as a quick snack. Harvesting the components requires thirty minutes of work to dissect the two hogs and grind the pieces into a thick paste, followed by a Survival roll against a target number of 10. If the roll fails, Lurk can try again after fifteen minutes of additional work, but he can then manufacture only a single dose.The PCs should realize that Morrg has something planned involving items he took from the camp, although the shape of his plan will not be clear until later.At the south end of the hollow, a narrow path winds into the foothills to the east. The PCs notice the path once they have explored the area. The path leads to Morrgs former base camp, effectively taking the PCs to the beginning of scene 3. They might choose to head back and explore the other path as well, which takes them an additional thirty minutes.

OptION 2: tHE lEft pAtH

whEN thE PCs tAKE thE LEft PAth, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

The path heads up into the wooded foothills of the Watcher Peaks, becoming rougher and steeper as it goes. Winding between hills, the road is marked by the hoofprints of dozens, possibly hundreds, of farrow who passed this way. Occasionally the twisting road crosses over what remains of the Arrowhead River via a small bridge or felled log. The river once had modest falls and rushing rapids, but the water is abnormally low.

As you travel, in the hills ahead you catch sight of farrow tents among the trees. Dozens of small campsites are scattered wherever there is a large enough patch of flat earth. Among the camps, you make out individual farrow working to break down and pack away their goods.

A fifty-foot cliff face looms to the south. Once the Arrowhead River rushed down the cliff as a powerful waterfall, but now the flow is reduced to a heavy spray. You can barely make out a large structure built atop the cliff above.

It takes the PCs about half an hour to reach the foothills of the Watcher Peaks, where they first spot the tents. This is the main territory of Morrgs war band. Due to the irregular terrain, the camp is split into a dozen or so smaller encampments built on suitably flat areas of ground among the trees. The camp is laid out in a loose semicircle about a mile across, standing on both

banks of the Arrowhead River. Each smaller camp contains three to five tents, rough shacks, or similarly crude shelters. Some have been abandoned, but most of the camps are occupied by a handful of brigands, occasionally under the supervision of the camps slaughterhouser. Several trained razor boars wander between the camps on the lookout for scraps.The only way to move beyond the smaller campsites without having to fight off an entire army of farrow is to advance stealthily. Fortunately for the PCs, the campsites are set far enough apart and the trees between them are dense enough to provide ample cover. An altercation at one of the sites does not necessarily draw attention from all the others.

bOOStING ANd REROllING SkIll ROllS

If the PCs take this path, it is important that they are not spotted by the farrow. The Game Master might want to encourage players to spend a feat point to boost a skill roll, thereby adding an extra d6 to the roll. Remember that a roll can be boosted only once. A character can boost any non-attack skill roll in this way.

If a character fails a skill roll, he can also spend a feat point to reroll the failed roll (and if he failed a boosted skill roll, he still gets the boosted roll when he rerolls the dice).

If the PCs find themselves in combat at one of the camps, make a PER + Detection roll for the farrow at the next nearest site at the start of each round. The target number of the roll depends on the method the PCs use in combat. If the PCs use melee and thrown weapons, the target number of the roll is 16. If the PCs use firearms, the target number drops to 12. If the farrow overhear combat at one of the sites, they move to join the fighting in d3 rounds. If three or more other groups are alerted in this manner, the camp goes on general alert, which makes further attempts to sneak forward more difficult.

The simplest way to advance through the encampment is to make use of the Sneak skill. Characters sneaking forward make an AGL + Sneak roll to determine the target number of the farrows PER + Detection rolls. The farrow in the camps are distracted and the PCs have ample cover, so a character sneaking forward gains a +3 bonus to his roll.This bonus does not apply if the PCs have caused a general alert in the camp. At the start of each round, have the nearest farrow make a PER + Detection roll to see if he spots a sneaking PC. If the farrow succeeds, he and d3 companions move to investigate.


14

If thE fARROw SPOt thE PCs, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

From a nearby group of tents you hear the alarmed cry of a farrow. A moment later other voices pick up the cry. Before long, the entire hillside is alive with the noise of farrow grabbing their weapons, ready to repel an attack. A handful of nearby farrow come crashing toward you through the underbrush.

The Game Master is encouraged to let the players try different approaches as they move through the valley. While sneaking is the obvious solution, it is by no means the only one. For instance, Longchops and Lurk can sneak upriver by swimming just beneath the surface while Zocha climbs through the canopy of trees and Gullin creeps beneath the undergrowth.No matter what method the PCs try, progressing beyond the camp takes fifteen minutes and at least three rounds of movement. As the PCs move, regardless of the method they employ, they might encounter some of the following scenes along the way.

A pair of farrow gamble outside their tent over a nice-looking pistol. It is oddly clean for a farrow weapon, obviously the product of human manufacture, and it appears to be in good working order. A PC can make an INT roll against a target number of 14 to recognize a Cygnaran symbol stamped into the grip of the weapon. It is one of the firearms given to Morrg by Aiden Byrne as payment for clearing Blackmarsh Valley.

A strong farrow in full plate orders a handful of brigands to haul a wooden wagon piled high with plunder up the treacherous pathways at the south end of camp.

A lazy brigand sitting on a barrel with a military rifle is startled by a comrade shouting at him to pack up his kit and get to the dam.

Two farrow grouse as they roll a tar-covered barrel along the ground. Rocks and twigs stick in the tar, weighing the barrel down and making the process slow and difficult. Behind them a larger farrow laughs at their misfortune. Wiping his filthy tar-covered hands on his armor, one of the barrel-haulers asks his comrade why the pygmy trolls are not doing this.

It should be clear that battling the farrow is not the ideal course of action, since they vastly outnumber the PCs. There is enough cover in the forest to make a covert incursion fairly easy. If the PCs choose to fight their way through the farrow, the Game Master should use farrow brigands and razor boars in sufficient number to represent a small force (24 brigands, plus 1 or more boars). The farrow continue to fight until the threat is driven off or eliminated, though if possible they haul the incapacitated PCs to Knor as prisoners rather than killing them outright.

GAmE mAStERS NOtE: SEttING tARGEt NumbERS

The following target numbers are useful when a player attempts an action not specifically outlined in the rules. As long as the Game Master determines the action has a chance to succeed, these target numbers can be used to quickly adapt to player choices on the fly.

Simple: No roll is required; the attempt automatically succeeds. Using Survival to identify a common plant or animal is a simple task.

Moderate: Target number 1012. Moderate tasks include climbing a tree with stout limbs or a rock wall with ample handholds.

Complex: Target number 1315. Spotting a camouflaged farrow hiding in the darkness is a difficult task.

Difficult: Target number 16+. Difficult tasks include attempting to bribe one of the farrow with a small amount of treasure to abandon the war band, or disguising the PCs to move through the camp unnoticed.

dO yOu SmEll tHAt?The farrow sense of smell is incredibly acute. Unless Lurk has created a scent mask (p. 12), they will have little difficulty smelling the bog trog. The PCs are used to the bog trogs odor and no longer notice it much, but they clearly see the farrow tracking the peculiar smell. As the PCs move through the encampment, have them make a PER + Survival roll against a target number of 10. If the roll succeeds, they notice the farrow wrinkling their snouts and sniffing at the air whenever Lurk comes near, clearly smelling him.

The farrow have little reason to suspect a bog trog in their midst, so they are likely to accuse one another of being the source of the smell. Only if Lurk comes too close to one of the camps does one of the farrow investigate the source of the fishy odor.

The bone grinder Knor is familiar not only with Lurks odor but also with the smell of any alchemical methods the bog trog could use to disguise it.

As the PCs move further into the foothills, it becomes clear the farrow are working frantically to pack up everything valuable they can carry from their various tents. Larger, more imposing farrow are shouting orders and slinging insults at their smaller cousins to keep them motivated. The farrow are moving south to the cliff face, hauling everything they can carry with them. They seem to be clearing out of Blackmarsh Valley altogether, heading for higher ground.


15

SCENE 3: kNOR tHE GREAt & tERRIblE

Once the PCs either move through the scattered campsites of the farrow or make their way up the trail from the abandoned mining operation, they spot a massive tent set away from those of the other farrow, near the base of the cliff described in scene 2. This is Morrgs personal tent, and his belongings are being hauled out by captured pygmy trolls.

whEN thE PCs ARRIvE At thE CLIff, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

The forest thins near the base of a high cliff face, crisscrossed with narrow, dangerous trails. Atop the cliff, a crude dam blocks the once-great waterfall. The dam looks like a pair of enormous doors made of scavenged metal scraps, with steam pipes venting into the air above it. North of the cliff, moving down the foothills and into the valley, the tents of the farrow camp spread out like a handful of scattered stones.

At the edge of the war bands encampment on the west side of the river, you see a huge, ostentatious tent. Scavenged cloth taken in dozens of raids has been stitched together in a motley of faded colors. The tent commands an impressive view of the forested hills below and the dozens of smaller and poorer farrow structures dotting the area.

Bolts of fine cloth, casks of wine, and other items of plunder piled outside of the tent are in the process of being transferred into a crude wagon by a small group of pygmy trolls. The pygmies labor under the watchful eyes of a pair of heavily armored farrow who occasionally lash out with a kick when one of their prisoners struggles with his load. The pygmy trolls haul their burden up the treacherous paths cut into the rocky face of the cliff, headed for the dam above.

New figures emerge from the tent. Two brigands with rifles flank a third farrow. He is taller by far than the other farrow youve seen, his heavy body covered in muscles and scars. As he turns to speak to his slaughterhousers, you see his face, a crude brass patch covering one of his eyes, and you recognize him as Knor, Morrgs right hand. The farrow bone grinder begins to grunt orders at the two warriors beside him, but he stops suddenly. He holds up a gnarled hand to silence them and begins to sniff at the air.

Gullin can make an INT + Lore (tribal) roll against a target number of 10 to identify the large structure as a chieftains tent. Smaller tents, still opulent by farrow standards, flank Morrgs. They belong to Knor and the warlords personal guard. Closest to the cliff, Morrgs tent serves as a final staging area for moving goods up the cliff face to the dam. Small piles of gear lie near the tents, waiting to be ported up the dangerous paths by the pygmy troll prisoners.

A large pile of barrels sits a short distance away from everything else in the area, stacked near a large cauldron set above a small campfire. Tar heated in the cauldron covers the barrels.

Knor is supervising the loading of Morrgs personal riches from his tent in preparation for the opening of the dam. Morrg is at the dam overseeing the final arrangements, but the players may think he might still be in his tent. Knor keeps checking the large shelter to ensure he has not forgotten anything of value, which the PCs might misinterpret as the bone grinder consulting with his warlord.The pathways leading to the dam require the PCs to pass near Morrgs tent. Dozens of farrow and pygmy trolls went this way recently, hauling salvage from the camp up to the cliff top. Knor and a small force of warriors block the way up to the dam. They will not permit the PCs passage without a fight. The PCs can make a PER + Survival roll against a target number of 10 to realize that even if they manage to sneak around to an alternate path, they will be exposed and visible to the entire encampment below.If the PCs move to attack, Knor and his warriors respond with violence immediately. They cannot risk anything interfering with Morrgs plan this close to its culmination.If the PCs remain hidden, Knor keeps sniffing the air and eventually sends his slaughterhousers to investigate the nearby area. The bone grinder is familiar with Lurks scent and the strange odor of a scent mask; he and Lurk worked together closely in the past, and he is familiar with the bog trogs particular recipe, despite how effectively it works against other farrow.

The bone grinder is on edge and instructs the others to keep alert, so the PCs cannot gain surprise. If they want to reach Morrg, rescue Gullins tribe, and discover what is really going on, they will have to fight their way through.



16

COmbAt ENCOuNtER #2whEN KNOR dISCOvERS thE PCs,

REAd OR PARAPhRASEThe bone grinder grunts and says, I thought I smelled some-thing familiar. Tell me, Lurk, tired of life so soon? Knor plunges a hand into a pouch on his belt and pulls out a putrescent totem of flesh and bone. As he thrusts it overhead, runes begin to coalesce around his hand. To his companions, Knor says, Kill the others, but leave the bog trog for me.

enemy tActicsOnce combat begins, Knors two slaughterhousers move to protect him. They charge any obvious targets that try to move in close. One slaughterhouser stays near Knor to defend him, but the other breaks away to outflank or engage the PCs as appropriate. Knor uses Parasite on the PC with the highest ARM in range to increase his own ARM. He attacks primarily with his cinder bombs.The brigands stay in cover whenever possible, firing their rifles at the PCs. If the PCs take cover near any of the barrels, Knor screams at the brigands to hold fire. Knor specifically targets

Lurk when he has the opportunity. The two are old rivals, and Knor throws caution aside if presented with an opportunity to take on the bog trog. If the PCs notice this, they can lure Knor away from his guards.

encounter FeAturesThe encounter includes the following features.Barrel Stack: The stack of tar-covered barrels provides solid cover to characters behind it. If an attack misses a character behind the barrels, roll a d6. On a roll of 1, one of the barrels is damaged by the attack and explodes. Center a 3 AOE on the initial target of the attack. Characters in the AOE suffer a POW 12 blast damage roll.

A character can pick up and throw one of the barrels as an improvised weapon with a range equal to half his STR. The character makes a STR roll against a target number of 14, followed by a PRW + Thrown Weapon roll against a target number equal to the intended targets DEF. A character hit by a thrown barrel suffers a damage roll with POW equal to the throwing characters STR and is knocked down.Cauldron: The cauldron is filled with hot, bubbling tar. A character who comes in contact with the tar suffers a POW 12 fire damage roll and the Corrosion continuous effect. A character who touches the cauldron suffers a POW 12 fire damage roll. A character can hurl the cauldron as a weapon with a range equal to half his STR by making a STR roll against a target number of 16, followed by a PRW + Thrown Weapon roll against a target number equal to the targets DEF. This attack is AOE 3. Characters in the AOE suffer a POW 12 fire damage roll and the Corrosion continuous effect.

Reinforcements: Farrow from elsewhere in the camp might arrive to reinforce their allies during the combat. At the beginning of each round, if there are fewer than four brigands on the map, roll a d6. On a roll of 36, place a brigand at the bottom edge of the map. Reinforcements stop appearing once Knor is defeated.

New brigands arrive at full strength and activate on the initiative of the other brigands.


ENCOuNtER SEtup

tiles needed: A14, A17, A25, A26, A27, B06, B07, B08, B10, B12, B13, BoArd A01, BoArd A03, BoArd A04, BoArd A06



hw B08

hw B07

hw A14

hw B06

hw B12

hw B13

hw B10

hw A17

hw A25

hw A26

hw A27S

k

b

S b

KNOR, 2 fARROw BRIGANdS, 2 SLAuGhtERhOuSERS

ANtAGONIStS

k

b

S


17

AFtermAthOnce the PCs defeat Knor, his allies, and any reinforcements, regardless of how many gunshots or explosions they caused, the remaining farrow in the camp spread out into the wilderness. Either these farrow find alternate paths farther east and west on the cliff face, or they abandon the war band and try to move out of the path of destruction. In either case, the farrow in the encampment figure that not rushing in to be slaughtered by the PCs is probably the best course of action.

whEN thE PCs LANd thE fINAL BLOw ON KNOR,

REAd OR PARAPhRASEWith an angry squeal, the bone grinder drops to one knee. He lashes out with a spell that misses the mark before he crumples facedown into the dirt.

Knor is incapacitated. Unless he is stabilized with a Medicine roll against a target number of 14, he will die in a few rounds. If any of his warriors survive the battle, they make a break for the winding paths in the cliff face, shouting for help from the camp above. The PCs can run down any survivors before they get very far, thanks in part to the slick, wet stones of the path.The PCs can loot items from the bodies of the fallen farrow. Knor carries the highest-value items, including an item of particular value to Lurk. Knors totem is of no use to the others, but in the bog trogs hands it greatly augments his capabilities in melee. The bone grinder also has a captive pygmy troll whelp he had intended to use for alchemy components. The PCs discover the whelp when they search Knors body.

whEN thE PCs SEARCh KNOR'S BOdY, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

A foul-smelling pouch on the bone grinders hip begins to move, as if a large rat were trapped inside. You see a pair of tiny blue hands emerge from the mouth of the pouch, followed by a wheezing pygmy troll whelp. It freezes in alarm before its gaze falls on Gullin.

Kugga, a member of Gullins tribe, spawned the whelp in the aftermath of a mishap handling the explosive barrels. Kuggas whelp is relieved to be free of the pouch, which contains all manner of organic scraps. The tiny whelp spends a few moments kicking Knor after it is set free.

Once its desire for revenge is sated, the little whelp grabs onto Gullin and tugs at his leg. The whelp leads him into the tent to find Kuggawhich Gullins whelp Knuckle does not appreciate much at all. To lighten the mood, the Game Master can have a jealous Knuckle start squabbling with the other whelp, throwing small objects from Gullins pockets at it or jumping down and threatening it in an exaggerated emulation of Gullins own fighting style.

Kuggas whelplike all whelpsis not very smart; it simply recognizes Gullin as a fellow pygmy troll and wants to lead him to its progenitor.

Investigating the SceneMorrgs tent is mostly empty, containing only a few of the warlords personal possessions. The farrow were clearly in the process of emptying the tent when the PCs arrived, and Morrgs valuables and weapons were the first items to be sent up the cliff.

Inside the tent, Kugga hides behind a wooden rack that once held Morrgs weapons and armor. Knor used the pygmy troll as an assistant, forcing the pyg to test his alchemical bombs and coat the barrels with tar. Kugga was caught in an explosion when a barrel got too hot during the tarring process, and he was left in the tent to regenerate from his wounds. When he heard the sound of fighting outside, he hid to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

If the PCs discover Kuggas whelp, it leads them directly to the pygmy troll. Otherwise, when they enter the tent they spot Kugga with a PER + Detection roll against a target number of 10, or they discover him without a roll if they search the interior. Kugga reeks of the alchemical mixture in the barrels.

whEN thE PCs dISCOvER KuGGA, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

In a dark corner of the tent, you see something stir behind an empty weapon rack. A stout pygmy troll with a twisted leg emerges from the shadows, limping toward you with his hands out.

Im ssorry, Knor, he stammers. I heard fighting and . . . The pygs voice trails off as he sees you, his eyes growing wide. He stares for a moment before breaking the silence with a cry of amazement. Chief! Youve come for me!

He raises his left arm with his open hand facing Gullin and claps his left elbow with his right hand in the traditional salute of the tribe. His whelp climbs atop his shoulder and mimics the gesture.

kuggAThe pygmy troll is overjoyed to discover his chieftain has come to save him. Since his capture by the farrow, Kugga has served under Knor and borne witness to his and Morrgs work. He is injured from his mishap with the explosive barrel a few days ago, and his left leg is still in the process of regenerating. The pygmy troll eagerly explains what he knows to the PCs, relating the following information. They took us to the top of the falls and made us build the dam. The

warlord is building a camp up there.

Me and some others had to haul old barrels from a human camp to the north. They were filled with stinking powder. Knor had me put tar on the barrels to protect them from the waterI guess they dont work when they get wet. One got too hot when I was painting tar on it and it blew up. Im lucky it didnt kill me.

There are two different kinds of barrels. Some we didnt have to put tar on. Knor was responsible for cooking what went in thosesome kind of stinking liquid. Morrg used some to build those bombs he carries around and sent the rest up to the dam.


18

Knor and Morrg were talking about the river, about the fire and the bombs. They were arguing over a map. They said a burn wanted the whole valley cleared.

Kuggas last statement is a misunderstanding of Aiden Byrnes last name. Knor and Morrg argued about which of their preferred methods was most likely to cause the most destruction alchemical explosives (preferred by Morrg) or burning oil floating on the surface of the water (preferred by Knor). Kugga explains that Knor and Morrg were on a schedule and made references to their employer paying for results, not caring about techniques. Kugga leads the PCs to the back of the tent to show them the items that were left behind. Unfurled atop a small crate is a leather map, frayed at the edges. An elaborate brass device sits on the crate next to it.

thE BRASS dEvICE

The brass device is a clockwork detonator, designed to set off the contents of one of the explosive barrels at a preordained time. It was left behind due to malfunction. Such a complicated piece of clockwork is uncommon in the wilderness, and the PCs cannot easily identify it, particularly as it appears damaged. To determine the detonators purpose, a PC must spend a minute examining it and make an INT roll against a target number of 12. If the PCs picked up the broken pocket watch from scene 2, they gain a +2 bonus to the roll due to the similarity of the mechanisms. If the roll succeeds, the PC realizes the purpose of the clockwork detonatorto turn the barrels into timed explosives. Each PC can attempt a single roll to determine the purpose of the device.

thE MAdMANS MAP

The map is crudely drawn, but a character can make a PER + Survival roll against a target number of 10 to recognize landmarks and identify it as Blackmarsh Valley. Marked on the map are most of the major settlements in the valley: Gullins tribe of pygmy trolls, the marshy lowlands that Longchops hunts, the White Maw Tharn tribe, and dozens of others.Sets of numbers in Morrgs crude handwriting appear alongside each of the major settlements. These calculations show how long it takes for barrels carried by the floodwaters of the Arrowhead to arrive at each location and a rough estimate of the number of barrels required to kill a significant portion of the population there. The floodwaters will distribute explosives across a wide area in the valley, but the warlord clearly requires a massive number of them to have any hope of affecting their intended targets. Many will snag on obstacles or break open against stones long before reaching their destinations, and others will be destroyed by early detonation. The warlord must have prepared at least sixty to ensure damage to significant villages.

To successfully decipher the meaning of these numbers, a PC must make an INT roll against a target number of 13. If the roll fails, the PCs can try again after spending another minute examining the map. PCs gain a +2 bonus to this roll if they have already discovered the purpose of the clockwork detonator.

whEN thE PCs dISCOvER thE MEANING Of thE MAP,

REAd OR PARAPhRASEMorrg plans to use the floodwaters to disperse the barrels of explosives down the Arrowhead River. With the rush of water flooding the rivers banks, these bombs will be carried into the hearts of villages along the banks of the river. Inhabitants who endure the flood itself will be blown apart. The farrow can then sweep through the Blackmarsh to finish off any survivors.

Interrogating KnorIf the PCs manage to keep Knor alive, the bone grinder stubbornly refuses to cooperate. He agrees to give the PCs information only if they promise to set him freethough if they do, he sneaks up to Warlord Morrg at the dam to warn his master of their incursion.Knor knows everything about Morrgs plan, but he lies to the PCs about the specifics. A PC can make a PER roll against a target number of 15 to realize Knor is withholding informationspecifically, the timed explosives the warlord intends to deliver by unleashing the dammed river, and the name of Morrgs employer, Aiden Byrne. The bone grinder divulges useful information only if he believes the PCs genuinely intend to give him his freedom. Otherwise, the bone grinder hurls insults at them and remains uncooperative. Getting Knor to talk requires an INT + Interrogation roll. He responds better to Negotiation attempts.Knor knows the following information:

Interrogation Target Number 10: Morrg established a small encampment atop the waterfall to protect the dam and its engine. The warlord is there now, seeing to the final stages of his plan. That is where he has taken the pygmy troll prisoners.

Interrogation Target Number 14: Morrg plans to use the dam as a weapon against Blackmarsh Valley. The PCs realize this is a ridiculous plan: the dam on the Arrowhead River is not capable of holding back enough water to significantly flood the valley. Communities would be damaged and some lives might be lost, but the consequences would be little worse than that.

Interrogation Target Number 15: The dam is essentially a giant gate powered by a steam engine salvaged from a human encampment. When opened, the gate will unleash the reservoir of water behind it. Gradually opening the gates will return the Arrowhead to its normal level without causing the river to flood.


19

SCENE 4: AmbuSH

AS thE PCs hEAd uP ONE Of thE PAthS, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

The steep paths wind upward toward the rocky edifice of the falls. Farrow-built scaffolds, bridges, and platforms line the path, remnants of the construction of the dam. Jets of water spraying from the dam overhead coat the stones, making them slick and difficult to traverse.

The pathways wind through rough and rocky hills to the cliff wall, where they proceed in switchbacks to ascend its face. The combination of the steep path and slick stones makes passage difficult and tiresome. It takes fifteen minutes to reach the top of the falls.In addition to the slick stones, other hazards await. The farrow placed numerous rockslide traps along the paths to prevent enemy forces from attacking the dam, starting about sixty feet from the bottom of each path. Each trap is a simple construction, typically triggered when someone walks across one of the bridges or scaffolds. The farrow have subtly marked the location of each trap to avoid accidentally setting it off. Since the trigger mechanisms are hidden beneath objects, the traps are particularly difficult to spot unless a PC notices these markings (twisted branches pointed at the trigger, three small stones alongside the path arranged in a straight line, and other similar methods). A PC must make a PER + Detection skill roll against a target number of 14 to detect one of the traps on the way up. Every five minutes of walking, roll for the PCs in secret to determine if they notice

a trap. If the roll succeeds, they spot a trap. If the roll fails, a rockslide is triggered, and a group of farrow ambushers emerge and attack.If the PCs set off one of the traps, it looses a large section of the cliff wall, which collapses onto the path, cutting it off. A PC who triggers a rockslide trap must make an AGL or STR roll against a target number of 12 to leap clear of the falling debris. If the roll succeeds, the PC avoids the falling stones. If the roll fails, the PC suffers a POW 10 damage roll and is made stationary for one round as he extricates himself from the rocks.If the PCs make it to the top without triggering one of the traps, farrow waiting in ambush there emerge and attack, trying to prevent them from reaching the top.Once a trap is triggered, a few things happen in quick succession:

Rocks fall, noisily blocking the path in a cloud of dust. The PCs hear whoops and squeals from a group of farrow

brigands who emerge from hiding in rocky fissures flanking the path. Gullin can use his Battle Plan to let his allies move into cover at this time.

The brigands open fire at the PCs.

With the brigands behind them and the way ahead blocked, the PCs must make a difficult choice. They can turn around and deal with the farrow, or they can attempt the treacherous climb up the rock face. In both cases, the farrow shoot at the PCs whenever they present viable targets.

ENCOuNtER SEtup

ANtAGONIStS

When the encounter begins, place the

figures on the tiles as shown.

hw BOARd B06 hw BOARd A07 hw BOARd A09 hw BOARd B04

hw B22

hw B18

hw A05

hw B19

hw A04 hw A06

hw B20

hw A07

hw B21

tiles needed: A04, A05, A06, A07, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, BoArd A07,

BoArd A09, BoArd B04, BoArd B06

b

bS

Sb

Sb

3 fARROw BRIGANdS, 2 SLAuGhtERhOuSERS

PC StARt


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comBAt encounter: FArroW AmBush

If thE PCs tuRN tO fIGht thE AMBuShERS, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

You turn to face the enemy as bullets whine through the air around you. The farrow vastly outnumber you. A growing army of brigands rushes up from the trailhead below and clogs the path behind you, each squealing angrily as he brings his weapon to bear.

Use two slaughterhousers and three brigands if the PCs charge at the ambushers. To represent the path they are fighting on, use the setup in the accompanying illustration.The intent in this situation is to keep pressure on the PCs. The boulders provide solid cover to characters behind them. The farrow stay in cover, firing at any PC in range. They use the Onslaught ability on any PC who moves into charge range, firing with their rifles and making a charge attack with their clubs.

Since the farrow outnumber the PCs, at the start of each turn replace the figures of any dead farrow to the west edge of the path. This continues until A Friend In Need, below.

If thE PCs CLIMB thE ROCKS, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

Bullets crack all around you, blasting stinging chips of stone from the cliff wall. Below you, constant rifle flashes flare amid a gradually spreading fog of blasting powder smoke. Its only a matter of time before one of the shots finds its mark.

Climbing the rocks requires four successful Climbing skill rolls against a target number of 13 to reach the top. Each round, the farrow below take d3 + 1 shots at the PCs with their rifles. If a shot hits a climbing PC, he makes a PHY roll against a target number of 10. If the roll succeeds, nothing happens. If the roll fails, the PC loses his grip and slips down the wall, canceling out one of his successful Climbing rolls.

A fRIENd IN NEEdLet the PCs spend a round or two climbing the rock face or fighting the farrow, but make it clear the odds are against them. There are too many farrow for the PCs to effectively fight them off or escape.

When things seem at their worst, aid comes from an unexpected source.

REAd OR PARAPhRASEThere are too many farrow for you to face or flee. Suddenly you hear howling and snarling coming from the foothills below. First one and then dozens of Tharn warriors emerge from between the trees, their transformed features predatory, their fangs bared.

Shortly after Zocha left to battle Morrg, a group of White Maw warriors led by Galbar set out after her. Unwilling to leave her to face the warlords army alone, they followed the trail the PCs

left behind. Galbars war party arrives just in time to distract the farrow. If Zocha rebuilt the totem in scene 2, the Tharn enter battle with shouts about reclaiming the White Maws land. The brigands turn to face this new enemy as the Tharn wade into their ranks and begin hacking them apart.This distraction gives the PCs the opportunity they need to break free from the farrow and continue up the rock face.

If thE PCs tRY tO fINISh thE fIGht INStEAd, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

Wrenching his axe free from the skull of a farrow warrior, a Tharn roars to you in words distorted by his transformed features, Go! Destroy Morrg! We will kill these ones! He punctuates his cry with a swing of his axe, lopping the head off the nearest farrow. In speech only Zocha understands, he says one final thing: You were right.

It should be clear that Galbar and the White Maw have this battle under control. Their full attention on this new threat, the farrow do not press the attack against the PCs. If the PCs stay to help, Galbar encourages them to go, stressing the importance of stopping Morrg.After the PCs break away, the fighting continues to rage, pushing to the base of the path by the large tent below. When it looks like the Tharn have the battle nearly won, the shrill sound of a steam engine at the top of the cliff causes White Maw and farrow alike to stop fighting and look up. The farrows eyes widen and they immediately try to run, ignoring Galbars warriors.

REAd OR PARAPhRASEWith a metallic grinding of gears, the dam overhead opens at the middle, unleashing a high-pressure spray of water. The dam parts only a fraction of its total width. Within the stream, you can see the dark shapes of objects as they shoot out. The farrow and White Maw warriors below turn to escape the sudden torrent, but they cannot flee in time.

Farrow and Tharn alike are smashed to the ground, battered against the rocks, and forced down the banks of the Arrowhead on a surge of water. The barrels in the water then explode like thunderclaps, blinding you in a flash of brilliant light. Some detonate in huge blasts, while others bobbing on the surface explode into a sheet of fire that roars across the water. The deafening noise of the explosions makes the earth shudder, loosing stones from the cliff wall that smash into the rockslide below you, breaking it free of the path.

As your hearing gradually returns, you hear a ragged chorus of farrow cheering from above. The gateway of the dam grinds back into place to build up pressure for another release.

In the aftermath of the explosions, Morrg and his farrow believe they have eliminated the threat and return to making preparations for the attack on the Blackmarsh. The PCs are no longer under attack and can press on to the top of the falls while Morrgs guard is down. Depending on how much damage the PCs have suffered, they might spend a moment seeing to their wounds before continuing to the top.


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SCENE 5: fIRE ANd flOOd

In the final scene, the PCs confront Warlord Morrg before he opens the dam again and unleashes explosives on Blackmarsh Valley below. The PCs now know he plans to wipe out the valley, seeking nothing less than the total annihilation of their tribes and allies.Morrg is aware of the attack on the encampment below from the sounds of combat and the reports of survivors who made their way to him, but he believes he wiped the enemy out when he tested the dam. Now he has relaxed his guard and turned his attention to the final stages of his plan. His farrow busily work to arm the last explosive barrels and push them into the reservoir. They do not immediately notice the PCs entering the fringes of the camp unless the characters charge in aggressively.

whEN thE PCs REACh MORRGS CAMP AtOP thE CLIff, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

Morrgs makeshift dam has created a small lake at the top of the cliff. Tents hauled up from the foothills below ring its edges. Morrgs elite forces work at a feverish pace, readying the last steps of the warlords mad plan.

On both sides of the basin, pygmy trolls drag tar-covered barrels to the waters edge. A member of the war band sets a clockwork detonator on each barrel before kicking it into the basin, where the current pulls it away from the shore.

Morrg oversees the operation with pride. In one hand he wields a massive blunderbuss with a wicked chopping blade mounted to the barrel. Two enormous boars stand beside him: his notorious warbeasts Caldon and Crommen, snapping their tusked maws at anyone who draws too near.

The pygmy trolls work in teams to push the explosives into the reservoir to join the large number of bombs already floating in it. Standing on the bridge over the river and on either bank, the pygs continue to drop barrels into the river until they are liberated by the PCs or combat begins, at which point their farrow handlers become distracted by the fight and they can slip away.

The pygs flee the camp once combat commences. They are unarmed and cant directly aid the PCs in a fight. The pygs scatter in random directions away from the camp unless Gullin makes an INT + Command roll against a target number of 10 to rally them to a safe place. If Gullin succeeds, he can instruct his tribe to provide assistance in the form of destroying equipment, disarming bombs on the riverbank, or other similar non-combat actions.

If the PCs choose to take a direct approach, the farrow are ready to meet them in combat and prepared to repel them.

COmbAt ENCOuNtER #3A: full StEAmThis encounter begins as soon as the farrow notice the PCs. Farrow on both sides of the river do not hesitate to attack, but Morrg commands them to keep loading the bombs into the water while he works the steam engine to open the dams gates.

whEN COMBAt BEGINS, REAd OR PARAPhRASE

Warlord Morrg bellows at you, eerily echoed by the two boars flanking him. Eyes wild with rage, he screams in farrow to his warriors, Weve got visitors. Keep them entertained. I have a valley to destroy!

With that, the warlord steps toward the controls of his steam engine and activates it.

Morrgs soldiers move into position as the warlock activates the engine powering his destructive weapon. With a shriek, the engine begins to slowly churn the great gates of the dam open. If the PCs want to stop him, they will have to fight their way through his forces.

morrgMorrg is a powerful combatant. He is well armed and skilled with his weapons as well as being a gifted spellcaster. He commands his pair of warbeasts with aggressive shrewdness. Throughout the final encounter, Morrg focuses primarily on activating the steam engine to open his dam. He relies on the capabilities of his warbeasts and warriors to deal with the threat the PCs pose to his plan.Caldon and Crommen: Morrgs warbeasts are a pair of massive razor boars, much hardier and stronger than their common cousins. In addition to having access to their animus (p. 28), both razor boars have +2 ARM, FURY, and Threshold, and the Tough benefit.

If one of the razor boars is incapacitated or killed, the surviving boar gains +2 on attack and damage rolls against any characters who dealt damage to its companion.



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wARLORd MORRG, 2 RAzOR BOARS, 4 fARROw BRIGANdS, 2 SLAuGhtERhOuSERS

ANtAGONIStS

ENCOuNtER SEtup

tiles needed: A02, A15, B08, B09, B11, B12, B13, B14, B16, B23, B25, B26, B27, B28, BoArd A02, BoArd A03, BoArd A04, BoArd A05, BoArd A06, BoArd A07, BoArd A08, BoArd A09, BoArd B01

hw BOARd A03

hw A02

m R b S

hw BOARd A02 hw BOARd B01

hw BOARd A04 hw BOARd A05 hw BOARd A06

hw BOARd A07 hw BOARd A08 hw BOARd A09

hw A15

hw B08

hw B11

hw B14

hw B23

hw B28

hw B27

hw B26

hw B25

hw B16

hw B09

hw B12

hw B13

S

S

b

b

b b

R

R

m


23

the deviceWhen the PCs arrive, Morrg is preparing the final stage of his attack on Blackmarsh Valley. His pygmy troll captives load primed explosives into the reservoir under the watchful eyes of his farrow warriors while he readies the steam engine that powers the dam. The engine is in shoddy condition and requires attention while it works to open the gates. To fully open the gates, Morrg needs to operate the engine for three cumulative turns. Rules for operating the steam engine are on page 24.Since the timers on the explosives are already ticking down, Morrg has only a short time to open the dam before they begin detonating. After ten rounds of combat, randomly determined barrels in the water begin to explode. One barrel detonates at the end of each round. If a barrel is near the dam when it detonates, it damages the gate (and anyone standing on top of it). Each gate can withstand five blasts before being completely destroyed. If one of the gates is destroyed, the water rushes out in force. Treat a destroyed gate as if the gates were fully open.

enemy tActicsMorrg, startled by the sudden arrival of the PCs, hastens to unleash his timed explosives on the valley below. Commanding his warriors to attack the PCs, Morrg moves to the steam engine and begins the process of activating it. He sends his slaughterhousers forward with the brigands to attack the PCs, casting Quagmire on one of the slaughterhousers to prevent its target from moving. Morrg and his warbeasts remain hidden behind the front line of farrow to avoid taking damage as the warlock powers up the steam engine.The brigands stay out of melee with the PCs and attack with their rifles. One stays on the far side of the river, keeping his distance from the PCs. They forfeit movement to aim their shots and focus their attention on the closest targets. If Lurk or Longchops moves into the water to disable the explosives in the reservoir, one of the brigands targets the barrel closest to him.

encounter FeAturesExplosive Barrels: Several barrels float in the reservoir behind the dam. Their clockwork detonators have already been set, and it is only a matter of time before they begin detonating.A PC can disable one of the bombs in a number of ways. The simplest is to disable or destroy the clockwork detonator on the bomb. To remove the detonator, a PC must be adjacent to the barrel and make an INT or STR roll against a target number of 13. If the roll succeeds, the detonator is disabled. Non-amphibious characters suffer a 2 penalty to these rolls due to the difficulty of maneuvering in the current and keeping grasp of a barrel as it moves in the water.Another way to disable a bomb is to expose its contents to water. Each bomb is ARM 14, and if it suffers 1 damage point without detonating, water rushes in, disabling the explosive. If a bomb suffers damage from a firearm or from a fire damage roll, it detonates. Center a 3 AOE on the damaged barrel. Characters hit suffer a POW 12 blast damage roll.

Fire Barrels: Fire barrels can be disabled as above. If the explosive charge inside the barrel is exposed to water, it cannot ignite the alchemical fluid inside. When one of the fire barrels is destroyed, replace it with a 3 AOE. The AOE is a patch of flammable fluid that will travel downstream with other objects (see below). If a character in the AOE suffers fire damage, the patch ignites. Any character on the surface of the water starting his turn in the AOE suffers a POW 12 fire damage roll. If a fire barrel explodes, replace it with a 3 AOE. Characters in the AOE suffer damage as above.

Reinforcements: At the start of each turn, place a brigand outside one of the four tents. If four brigands are already on the map, do not place a model. New brigands arrive at full strength and activate on the

IK Unleashed Hogwash Scenario

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