Act 1.1 - The Silver Wood

Oct 9, 2025 2:19 pm
Act 1.1 - The Silver Wood
You are a newly-formed band of heroes who have come to Broadhurst, a quiet farming village in the barony of Dalrath, seeking adventure. Whispers of bandits on the road and monsters lurking in the Silver Wood suggest that someone, somewhere, must be in need of help.

Yet when you arrive, the townsfolk offer little more than polite nods and mumbled greetings. Broadhurst's inhabitants are hesitant to speak with strangers.

Now, you find yourselves in the common room of the Feather Bed Inn—the only inn in town. The smell of stew and ale drifts through the air as you settle at a wooden table. Across the room, a young man in gleaming plate armor, his expression locked in a permanent scowl, converses quietly with an older woman in mage’s robes, her silver-streaked hair hinting at decades of experience.

Suddenly, the door to the inn slams open and a wild-eyed woman in her late thirties wearing a soot-stained apron with a large gash on her head rushes in. She falls to her knees before the armored and robed humans nearby:

"Please! My daughter was taken on the road by goblins! I know the Gilded Hand can help.’"

The robed woman coldly says, "We don’t work for free." She and her armored companion, adventurers of the Gilded Hand, leave.

The bleeding, panicked mother turns to you, desperation on her face.

"I’ve nowhere else to turn. You must help me get my Violet back! Please!"

About an hour later...
https://i.imgur.com/xB0Bb72.png

The smell of stew and ale from the Feather Bed Inn has long since faded behind you. Ashleigh — Violet's mother and the town's blacksmith — leads you along the dirt road that winds out of Broadhurst and into the looming trees of the Silver Wood. The scent of pine and damp earth fills your lungs as the village disappears from view.

Her wound is bound now, but her face remains pale with fear. Every few moments, she glances nervously toward the shadowed treeline.
OOC:
Time to introduce your characters! Please tell us more about them...

What was it that made you agree to help Ashleigh so quickly? Was it compassion, greed, duty—or something else?

Did you ask her for anything in return before you set out? She doesn't have money, but perhaps you asked for a promise, a favor, or even a weapon?

As the group walks, how does your character look like? How does they carry themselves? What do the others see in your demeanor—calm focus, nervous tension, grim determination, excitement?

Describe your character feelings. What are they thinking about as they follow this desperate mother into the unknown?

As you travel, what questions do you ask Ashleigh or your companions? Let's roleplay that conversation!
Oct 9, 2025 2:32 pm
Shrike is a human, unadorned with simple clothes, with the skin and build of somebody who works the field and most of their strength was gained through toil.
Shrike didn't ask for anything from the mother, simply believing that his good will be returned by those in the community. It's all he's ever known, you all just do what you can or you don't make it. Plus you dont take what someone can't afford to help them keep somethubg they can't put a price on.
Oct 9, 2025 8:21 pm
Malfina sat at a table enjoying some stew when the mother burst in and asked for help. Some ponce tossers demanded payment up front, but the mother had nothing. She was distraught. Fortunately, Malfina and several others stepped up to help. After all, Malfina was a mom herself, so she understood. Her son Malfred was off on his own now, a successful merchant in a nearby town, but Malfina still feels that call to adventure. Malfred didn't inherit a flame soul, so he couldn't call the flames like she could; and with that flame soul comes a wanderlust, a fire inside that makes it hard to settle down and rest. Malfina asked for nothing from Ashleigh, though she night very well avail herself of a discount after the fact.

So Malfina was on the road again, looking for excitement, when excitement walked in and asked for help. Needless to say, she agreed! Malfina walked along the path following Ashleigh, and enjoying her walk in there afternoon air. She was a Polder standing at about three feet tall-- short by human standards, but perfectly average by Polder ones. She sported blue wavy hair down past her shoulders, and pale skin, with the ceremonial markings on her face of one touched by the flame. Similarly, she wore the orange and red robes of one who worships the flame, though in these parts her kind were so small as to be considered a cult more than a religion. She carries a ceremonial staff with her as well.

She smiled and chatted with the others, getting to know them, her mood light and her personality bubbly. She had traveled to this land with her son, helping him establish his business in a nearby city. Once he was all set up and business was booming, Malfina decided to go on one of her wanders, which is what brought here to that tavern today. She is excited to have a prospect for some adventure, a chance to "feel the flames", she says. Indeed, she seems like a fairly typical bubbly, warm polder mom, except for her strange fascination with fire.

heheh fire! Fire!

Ashleigh

htech

Oct 9, 2025 10:38 pm
For a few minutes, the only sounds are the whisper of wind through the trees and the uneven rhythm of footsteps. Then Ashleigh breaks the silence, glancing sidelong at the Polder woman padding along beside her.

"You…" she starts, her voice a little hoarse from fear and the wound she took. She swallows. "You’re a flamecaller, right? I saw the markings on your face. You— you can use fire? I… I’ve never met one in person. I heard stories when I was a girl. Flamecallers who could light the forest like a lantern, burn away the beasts that lurk in the dark. Is that… true? Could you really do that?"

She slows just enough to keep closer to Malfina, her voice dropping lower, almost pleading now.

"Could you protect her, if it comes to it? My Violet?"
OOC:
Malfina, what do you do?
Ashleigh
Oct 10, 2025 2:45 am
OOC:
PS, I specifically did not talk because my character's presence is 0 so it didnt seem like he would speak first.
Oct 10, 2025 2:53 am
Malfina walks along when Ashleigh speaks to her about being a flamecaller. She holds up a hand, scarred from burns, and says, "I will try, ma’am, but the fire is fickle and makes no promises. I can tell you, though, that if I cannot save her, I will burn those who harmed her to ash."
Oct 10, 2025 4:38 am
Walking slightly behind the stricken mother and polder, the orc can't help but smile at the little one's mention of vengeance by flame. "You would make a fine acolyte of Kul, the Father of Flames. Perhaps we shall talk after this is over."

To Vordokov, it wasnt even a question of whether to join or not when the woman burst into the tavern with her story of a kidnapped daughter. Inaction was anathema to Kul's teachings. The hunt was on.

And it couldn't have come soon enough. He had felt he had done all he could assisting at the church and was getting a bit stir crazy. When the clergy leader had asked for a volunteer to travel to and report on the recent monster activities in Broadhurst, Vordokov damned near demanded it be him. Clearly, Grole and Kul had listened.

Now, with an easy, sure-footed gait, gnarled, wooden staff in hand, the orc's hazel eyes catch those of Ashleigh. In an assertive tone, he asks "Tell me, how many goblins were there? Was there a leader?"

Ashleigh

htech

Oct 10, 2025 8:17 am
Malfina says:
"I will try, ma’am, but the fire is fickle and makes no promises. I can tell you, though, that if I cannot save her, I will burn those who harmed her to ash."
"I’ve heard stories about your kind," she says, almost whispering. "About flamecallers."

She swallows and looks ahead, eyes fixed on the dark treeline in the distance where the tomb lies hidden.

"They say you can set whole trees alight. That the fire answers you like a hunting hound. Is that true?"
After her answer, Ashleigh turns toward Vordokov.
Vordokov says:
"Tell me, how many goblins were there? Was there a leader?"
"A dozen of ’em. Came out of the trees like rats. We were walkin’ past that old tomb in the Silver Wood — the one folks whisper about, the one from long before my mother’s mother’s time. We never go near it. Folks say it’s haunted."

She glances down at the packed dirt path beneath her boots, jaw tight. "They came out of nowhere and snatched Violet. I fought tooth and nail, but I can’t swing a sword. I just make ’em. They gave me this—" She touches the bandage at her temple, wincing at the dull throb beneath. "—and left me for dead."

Ashleigh looks back up at Vordokov. "If there was a leader, I didn’t see ’em. They all looked the same to me in the chaos. All green. But I saw where they took her— into the tomb..."
OOC:
What do you do?
Ashleigh
Oct 10, 2025 8:28 am
OOC:
PhoenixScientist says:
PS, I specifically did not talk because my character's presence is 0 so it didnt seem like he would speak first.
Yup. No problems =)
Oct 10, 2025 5:06 pm
Malfina shrugs and says, "I serve the flame. It usually comes when I call, but I am not its master—not truly. Perhaps someday, but for now I know to respect the flame."

At Ashleigh's words Malfina begins to look around, up in the trees, for goblins. Do I know how far this Temple is? Are we close?
Oct 10, 2025 8:26 pm
Obsidian was downing a mug of ale washing down the dust from the road having just arrived in town. It was quite the journey from his homeland. As the lady entered the inn asking help to get her Violet back Obsidian stood up"I will help you lass, goblins are a bane in this world and I have had a few dealing with them in my past."

He is quite a sight to behold with dark stone skin and blood red hair and beard. He is quite large for a dwarf and his work in the family stone quarry has made solid as rock. He picks up his huge maul and says"Lead the way. You are in good hands."
Oct 12, 2025 10:56 am
Marbin was just about to relieve some poor farmer of his coin purse when Ahleigh burst in. At first he scoffed at the thought of coming along, especially when it became apparent she had no coin herself. Then as one by one people volunteered, a thought struck the pickpocket. He'd tag along, stay at the edge, share in the glory and once back in town he'd leverage the tale for free drinks and food for a few days. Besides goblins were cowardly creatures, if a half decent force showed up they were as likely to give up the girl and flee for easier loot. The dwarf alone could probably scare them away.

"You know what they wanted with her?" Marbin wonders. "I thought goblins were more drawn to shiny things than human prisoners."
Oct 12, 2025 7:26 pm
Marbin says:
"You know what they wanted with her? I thought goblins were more drawn to shiny things than human prisoners."
"I have no idea," she says, sad and worried.
A few minutes later, Ashleigh leads you off the road and down a small, overgrown footpath. She stops you just ahead of where the path opens into a clearing.

Dead ahead, a mossy, stone doorway opens to stairs leading down into the earth. Deep carved letters at the top of the doorway announce the name "Delius."


Overlays
Blue: Starting area for PCs and Ashleigh.
OOC:

Ashleigh's story about goblins makes everyone nervous as you approach the tomb. It’s time to make your first test.
[ +- ] How to roll
[ +- ] Naercalad
When everyone has rolled, we’ll use the highest total among the group to determine who acts first (PCs or Goblins).
[ +- ] Outcomes
Simultaneously, please choose one grid coordinate for your character to start. We will usually do this every combat. Even if you succeeded in this Test, a few goblins may act before your PC is able to!
[ +- ] House Rule: Accumulated Director Turns
OOC:
TL;DR
1. Roll for Intuition (Alertness), and;
2. Choose a starting grid location within the blue area for your character (ex: J26).
3. When everyone has rolled, I'll describe the scene;
4. Let's Draw Steel!
Oct 12, 2025 7:46 pm
Shrike will move up next to the tree nearest the enterance (J13), able to react quickly and be near ot at the front of the group.

Rolls

Alertness - (2D10+4)

(104) + 4 = 18

Oct 12, 2025 8:17 pm
Obsidian with his nasty maul in hand will move forward to n13 to form a point for the others.
OOC:
Ouch
Last edited October 12, 2025 8:18 pm

Rolls

Alertness - (2d10+1)

(34) + 1 = 8

Oct 12, 2025 9:13 pm
OOC:
Actually, the starting area is way behind (in blue, rows 26 and 27). You will be able to advance when combat starts, so I kept your column and changed the rows in the image below.

Do you wanna start somewhere else?
https://i.imgur.com/837Aj6m.jpeg
Oct 12, 2025 9:29 pm
OOC:
oops, missed that, give me M26.
Oct 12, 2025 10:12 pm
Malfina approaches the area, feeling the tension in the air. She slows and looks for trouble...
OOC:
And I'll take L26. Thanks!

Rolls

Intuition with Alertness - (2d10+2+2)

(510) + 4 = 19

Oct 12, 2025 11:54 pm
PhoenixScientist says:
OOC:
oops, missed that, give me M26.
Sure!

https://i.imgur.com/OLwyzM7.jpeg
Oct 13, 2025 1:04 am
Vordokov moves behind the others, keeping an eye on Ashleigh to make sure she doesn't do anything rash now that they were at the tomb's entrance.
OOC:
I'll move to M27
Last edited October 13, 2025 1:05 am

Rolls

Intuition - (2d10+2)

(22) + 2 = 6

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