d20 Expeditious Retreat Press 1 on 1 Adventures 08 - Blood Brothers.pdf - Expeditious Retreat Press - R5700

1 on 1 Adventures #8

Blood Brothers

By Suzi Yee

1 on 1 Adventures #8: Blood Brothers

For generations the brotherhood has watched over the borderlands in their dedication to truth,

justice, and the defense of the kingdom. Along the southern border, a patrol circuit has failed

to return from a routine sweep. Understaffed and stretched thin, Fort Lanward calls for your

assistance. Your mission is simple: bring your brothers home.

An adventure designed for 1 GM and

1 player (Level 7-9 Paladin)

Requires the use of Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition Core Books, published by

Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

WWW.XRPSHOP.CITYMAX.COM

This module includes 20 adventure-packed pages, complete with locations and maps, forming

a ready-made adventure. It has been crafted for one player and one GM so even the smallest

gaming group has adventures suitable to their needs with minimal preparation time. With

some minor scaling, Blood Brothers is suitable for use with a traditional four-player party.

If you enjoy this module, look for future releases in the One on One Adventures line from

Expeditious Retreat Press

One on One Adventures #8

Blood Brothers

by Suzi Yee

An Adventure for One Paladin Level 7-9

Credits

Author: Suzi Yee

Cover Artist: David Esbri and Joan Guardiet

Interal Artist: Claudio Pozas

Editing: Joseph Browning

Layout: Suzi Yee

Contents

The Brotherhood.......................................................................2

Adventure Setup.......................................................................2

Goblins of the Southern Borderlands.............................2

Swamp Ambush........................................................................2

Outpost #1..................................................................................3

River Crossing...........................................................................3

Outpost #2..................................................................................5

Ruined Tower............................................................................5

Outpost #3..................................................................................6

Metg’s Ambush.........................................................................6

Witch’s Peak...............................................................................7

Crescent Outpost.......................................................................7

1. Hallway of Death..........................................................7

2. Northern Defense Room..............................................8

3. Northwest Barracks......................................................8

4. Southern Defense Room...............................................8

5. Southwestern Barracks.................................................8

6. Common Room.............................................................9

7. Common Kitchen..........................................................9

8. Storage Room...............................................................10

9. Dark Altar....................................................................10

10. Acolyte Quarters.......................................................11

11. Head Priest’s Quarters.............................................11

12. Northeast Barracks....................................................11

13. Southeast Barracks....................................................12

14. Worg Keeper’s Room...............................................12

15. Brilok’s Quarters.......................................................12

16. Wretig’s Quarters......................................................13

17. Metg the Cruel’s Quarters.......................................13

18. Blacksmith Apprentices’ Quarters..........................14

19. Armory.......................................................................14

20. Jailor’s Quarters.........................................................14

21. Blacksmith’s Quarters..............................................15

22. Smithy.........................................................................15

23. Rei nery......................................................................16

24. Prison..........................................................................16

25. Mine............................................................................17

26. Hobgoblin Storage Room.........................................17

27. Worg’s Room.............................................................17

Wrapping up the Adventure.................................................17

Sample PC................................................................................18

Maps..........................................................................................18

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a..................................20

The Brotherhood

The brotherhood is a league of paladins dedicated to truth,

justice, and the defense of the kingdom. The brotherhood

began as a martial branch of a religious movement, but as the

younger sons of inl uential families began joining the ranks

of the brotherhood, it soon came into its own stature. The

brotherhood still bears vestigial practices from their religious

roots, such as the practice of drawing blood at initiation.

The height of the brotherhood was during an

expansionistic period, where spoils of war went hand in hand

with promoting truth and justice. As the kingdom grew, it

pushed its boundaries and spread its forces across an ever-

expanding border. As the need for more manpower increased,

the brotherhood gradually accepted more in their service, so

long as their hearts were true to the cause. The borderland is

protected by a series of outposts manned by the brotherhood.

While some paladins guard these stations, other groups of

paladins make routine circuits and eliminate the evil creatures

that lurk beyond the kingdom. The mark of the brotherhood is

simple but bold crest, often worn on as a tabard.

l esh typically on their left arm or thigh. They reside west of

the ruined tower, but east of the witch’s peak. But a new threat

has consolidated the scattered goblin hordes: hobgoblins.

On the off chance that the PC does not outright kill all the

goblinoids he comes across, there is information to be gained

through talking with them, depending on whose talking.

The blue hands can reveal that the bone faces are waging

a war for territory. This is not new to the blue hands, but the

bone faces have recently found a new ally and an effective

tactic that have given them the upper hand, namely worgs.

The bone faces can reveal that they have made a pact

with the neighboring tribe that burn their skin with a curved

sliver of hot metal. They have given the bone faces worgs in

exchange for a war pact: they will not i ght each other, the

branded goblins supply the bone faces with worgs, and when

called, the bone faces will raise a force to attack the humans

with the branded goblins.

The crescent goblins can reveal that six months ago, their

chief was deposed and the tribe was taken over by a warband

of hobgoblins. They have brought the tribe to greatness with

the addition of superior military training and worgs.

Adventure Setup

The adventure takes place on the southern border, a lightly

forested area where swampy ground turns into l atlands

and gently rolling hills. The primary fortii cation in the area

is the Lanward Fort, named after the inl uential general that

expanded the southern border to its current location. Lanward

Fort has basic supplies for travel and military pursuits. There

are limited personnel at the Fort, no more than 100 people at

any given time. The fort is the center of supplies for the string

of three military outposts that arch around the Parigo Swamp.

When new recruits enter in the brotherhood, they undergo

basic training and are assigned to a regional fort, like Lanward

Fort, where they hone their skills and keep the borders safe.

The most prominent humanoids in the area are goblins,

and this is where many new brotherhood recruits cut their

teeth. Circuit duty is especially tedious in the terrain, where

fully barded animals and full-plated paladins skirt the swampy

areas to clean out the goblins. Recently, there has been a wave

of activity from the goblins, mostly more frequent raids on

supplies and unsuccessful ambushes. However, a remote

outpost has reported a missing circuit. Understaffed and

stretched thin, they have placed a request for aid to the regional

director, who has sent the PC to i nd his missing brothers.

The PC is familiar with the area, having dulled his blade

and honed his skills on the now-extinct lizardmen of the

southern border. On his special mount, it is 3 days ride to

the i rst outpost, 2 days to the second outpost, and another 2

days to the outpost that reported the missing men. The PC is

suppose to report to the outpost, assess the situation, and i nd

the missing paladins.

Swamp Ambush

It is a three-day ride from Fort Lanward to outpost #1 on a

heavy warhorse. The general landscape is still quite swampy,

and sometime along the three-day journey, the PC will

encounter a hungry giant crocodile. Read the following text

when that occurs.

Your steed navigates on solid ground, a scarce commodity

amongst the marshy terrain. The smell of ripe vegetation

and stagnate water hangs in air as the trees bow and fan

their branches in the slow breeze. A noise from the brush

ahead breaks your lazy daydreaming induced by the

warm, damp air.

The giant crocodile is an expectant mother who is guarding

her nest close to the water’s edge. She is both very hungry

as well as displeased with the close proximity of the PC and

his steed. She will attempt to get a quick bite to eat while

defending her nest. While the water along the perimeter of the

swamp is no more than a few feet deep, it can be quite deadly

if she grapples the PC or his steed and drags them into the

water. The giant crocodile will retreat into the water when she

loses half her hit points, but she will return to i ght if the PC

persists toward her nest.

Giant Crocodile: CR4; Huge Animal; HD: 7d8+28; hp 59; Init

+1; Spd 20.ft, swim 30ft.; AC 16, touch 9, l at-footed 15; Base

Atk +5; Grp +21; Atk or Full Atk: Bite +11 melee (2d8+12) or

tail slap +11 melee (1d12+12); Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.; SA

Improved grab; SQ Hold breath, low-light vision; SV Fort +9,

Ref +6, Will +3; Abilities Str 27, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 1, Wis 12,

Cha 2; AL N

Skills and Feats : Hide +1*, Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +16;

Alertness, Endurance, Skill Focus (Hide)

Language : none

Possessions : none

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a giant crocodile

must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start

a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of

opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, the giant crocodile

establishes a hold on the opponent with its mouth and drags it

into deep water, attempting to pin it to the bottom.

Goblins of the Southern

Borderlands

The three goblin tribes are the blue hands, bone face, and the

crescent goblins, each distinguished by their unique methods

of body decoration and occupying different geographical

areas. The blue hands stain their skin with a pigment made

from a common swamp berry and reside north of the Parigo

River. The bone face use sharpened pieces of bone and pierce

their brows and ears, making a ghastly site in conjunction with

their shrill warcry. The bone faces reside south of the Parigo

River, but are expanding their territory north of the river. The

crescent goblins have moon-shape brands burned into their

Hold Breath (Ex): A giant crocodile can hold its breath for

a number of rounds equal to 4 x its Constitution score before it

risks drowning.

Skills: A giant crocodile has a +8 racial bonus on any

Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard.

It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if

distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while

swimming, provided it swims in a straight line. *A giant

crocodile gains a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when in the

water. Further, a giant crocodile can lie in the water with only

its eyes and nostrils showing, gaining a +10 cover bonus on

Hide checks.

lance, longsword (masterwork), potions of cure light wounds

(2) and cure moderate wounds , rations (5), rope (hemp), torches

(5), waterskin, 30 gp, 50 sp, 70 cp

Brotherhood recruits (3), male human, paladin 2: CR 2;

Medium Humanoid (human) ; HD 2d10+4; hp 19; Init +0; Spd

20 ft.; AC 20, touch 10, l at-footed 20; Base Atk +2; Grp +4; Full

Atk masterwork longsword +5 melee (1d8+2/19-20) or lance

+4 melee (1d8+2/x3) or heavy crossbow +2 ranged (1d10/19-

20); SA Smite evil (1/day); SQ Aura of good, detect evil , divine

grace, lay on hands; SV Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +2; Abilities Str

14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 13; Al LG

Skills and Feats : Diplomacy +3, Heal +5, Knowledge

(nobility and royalty) +2, Knowledge (religion) +1, Ride +5,

Sense Motive +3; Cleave, Power Attack

Languages : Common

Possessions : Backpack, bedroll, bolts (20), l int and

steel, full plate, heavy crossbow, heavy steel shield, lance,

longsword (masterwork), potion of cure light wounds , rations

(5), rope (hemp), torches (5), waterskin, 30 gp, 50 sp, 70 cp

Outpost #1

Once the PC arrives at outpost #1, he will i nd 10 men living

there, taking turns on circuit runs in groups of 4 or 5. They will

offer the PC a place to stay for the night and limited provisions

(rations, torches, stabling, etc.).

Upon talking with the men of outpost #1, the PC will

i nd out the following information. Outpost #1 patrols the

area north of the Parigo River, where a tribe of goblins known

as the blue hands are dominate. They their skin with a dye

extracted from a common swamp berry, and their i ngers and

hands bear the stains of painting body art. Lately there has

been some i ghting between the blue hands and other goblin

tribes from the other side of the river, which has made circuit

patrolling less predicable and consequently more dangerous.

Brotherhood recruits (6), male human, paladin 1: CR 1;

Medium Humanoid (human) ; HD 1d10+2; hp 12; Init +0;

Spd 20 ft.; AC 19, touch 10, l at-footed 19; Base Atk +1; Grp

+3; Full Atk longsword +3 melee (1d8+2/19-20) or lance +3

melee (1d8+2/x3) or heavy crossbow +1 ranged (1d10/19-20);

SA Smite evil (1/day); SQ Aura of good, detect evil ; SV Fort +4,

Ref +0, Will +1; Abilities Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12,

Cha 13; Al LG

Skills and Feats : Heal +5, Knowledge (nobility and royalty)

+1, Knowledge (religion) +1, Ride +4, Sense Motive +2; Cleave,

Power Attack

Languages : Common

Possessions : Backpack, bedroll, bolts (20), l int and

steel, half plate, heavy crossbow, heavy steel shield, lance,

longsword, potion of cure light wounds , rations (5), rope

(hemp), torches (5), waterskin, 20 gp, 40 sp, 60 cp

Outpost leader, male human, paladin 3: CR 3; Medium

Humanoid (human); HD 3d10+6; hp 27; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.;

AC 20, touch 10, l at-footed 20; Base Atk +3; Grp +5; Full Atk

masterwork longsword +7 melee (1d8+2/19-20) or lance +5

melee (1d8+2/x3) or heavy crossbow +3 ranged (1d10/19-20);

SA Smite evil (1/day); SQ Aura of courage, aura of good, detect

evil , divine grace, divine health, lay on hands; SV Fort +6, Ref

+2, Will +3; Abilities Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha

13; Al LG

Skills and Feats : Diplomacy +4, Heal +5, Knowledge

(nobility and royalty) +3, Knowledge (religion) +1, Ride

+6, Sense Motive +4; Cleave, Power Attack, Weapon Focus

(Longsword)

Languages : Common

Possessions : Backpack, bedroll, bolts (20), l int and steel,

full plate, heavy crossbow, heavy steel shield (masterwork),

River Crossing

It is two days travel between outpost #1 and outpost #2.

Halfway is the slow, meandering Parigo River that feeds the

Parigo Swamp. Read the following text as the PC approaches

the river.

If the PC successfully drives the wolves away, he can

investigate the grotto and the pile of bodies more thoroughly. He

will i nd bodies mostly striped of equipment and possessions.

Most of the bodies have blue stained decoration on their skins

but are missing their heads. He does i nd some bodies that still

have their heads and are missing the characteristic blue tattoos

of the blue hand goblins. These goblins all have pieces of bone

pierced along their brows and ears.

The ground gives better purchase to your mount’s step

as swamp gives way to rolling hills. The stale air of the

swamp lessens as you approach the river. On the crest

of last hill, the glistening sun sparkles on the slow but

moving water, but the site is marred with spikes, each

barring a different but all too familiar face of death.

Along the northern bank of the river is a series of spiked

heads. If the PC looks closer, he sees they are goblin heads all

facing north, dead no more than 3 days from the stench and

decomposition. Along the cheeks and brows are symbols and

designs painted in blue. In total, there are 25 heads, each 10

feet apart from each other.

If the PC investigates the surrounding area, he sees a

grotto nestled amongst some trees. Read the following text if

he decides to investigate the grotto.

Dire wolf: CR 3; Large Animal ; HD 6d8+18; hp 45; Init +2;

Spd. 50ft.; AC 14, touch 11, l at-footed 12; Base Atk +4, Grp +15;

Full Atk Bite +11 melee (1d8+10); Space/Reach 10ft/5ft; SA:

Trip; SQ: Low-light vision, scent; SV Fort+8, Ref +7, Will +6;

Abilities Str 25, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10; AL N

Skills and Feats : Hide +0, Listen +7, Move Silently +4, Spot

+7, Survival +2*; Alertness, Run, Track B , Weapon Focus (bite)

Languages : None

Possessions : None

Trip (Ex): A dire wolf that hits with a bite attack can

attempt to trip its opponent (+11 check modii er) as a free

action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack

of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react

to trip the dire wolf.

Skills: A dire wolf has a +2 racial bonus on Hide, Listen,

Move Silently, and Spot checks.

*It also has a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when

tracking by scent.

The smell of death hangs heavier in the air as you near

the grotto. The ground is littered with broken tents,

smashed containers, debris, and gore. In the corner is a

pile of decaying l esh, no doubt the former owners of the

heads that line the river bank. Low growls come from

behind the heap of bodies as a pack of wolves make their

presence known. Over the top of mound strides the leader

of the pack, a sleek black canine of extraordinary size and

strength.

Wolf (7): CR 1; Medium Animal ; HD 2d8+4; hp 13; Init +2;

Spd 50 ft.; AC 14, touch 12, l at-footed 12; Base Atk +1; Grp +2;

Full Atk Bite +3 melee (1d6+1); SA: Trip; SQ Low-light vision,

scent; SV Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1; Abilities Str 13, Dex 15, Con

15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6; AL N

Skills and Feats : Hide +2, Listen +3, Move Silently +3, Spot

+3, Survival +1*; Track B , Weapon Focus (bite)

Languages : None

Possessions : None

This was once an encampment for a band of blue hand goblins,

but it is now destroyed. A pack of wolves have stumbled upon

a feast that they are unwilling to relinquish. If the PC backs

away from the grotto, the wolves will stay their ground and

continue eating, although with one ear cautiously listening for

future interruptions. If the PC does not back down, the pack

will attack, led by their dire wolf leader using l anking tactics.

The pack will disperse if the leader of the pack or if over half

their number is slain.

d20 Expeditious Retreat Press 1 on 1 Adventures 08 - Blood Brothers.pdf

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