DM Moonshae Islands
MOON1-1 Moonshae Treasure Hunt (lvl 1)
Introduction. A Prophecy
Location: Alaron, Caer Callidyrr. The adventurers are traveling through the docks of Caer Callidyrr on the island of Alaron.
The Moonshae Isles, beautiful and dangerous, provide adventurers the opportunity to fight evil - and uncover ancient secrets and treasures. When a mysterious figure predicts a grave future for you, it triggers an Isles-spanning adventure full of intrigue, fun, and danger!
Sister Barley, halfling seer
Captain Poppie Logan owns and runs a small sailing vessel, the Shantu. She has been a sailor, pirate, smuggler, and honest tradeswoman (by turns) for half a century. Her crew is comprised of her children, half-siblings all by different fathers.
Part 1. The Axe Aflame
Hook: The second stanza talks about the Fairheight peaks. The only civilized folk she knows there are the dwarves who live in the town of Highrock. She offers to take the party there.
Location: Highrock on the island of Alaron, within the mountains known as the Fairheight Range.
Winnow Rustfire, Clan leader Narbert Rustfire’s daughter, a close friend of Petra Rookoath (daughter and heir to the Rookoath Clan leader, Brunhi), and a potential leader of a new combined clan allying the Rookoaths and the Rustfires. A priestess of Berronar Truesilver, dwarven deity of home and protection. She wears her long red hair in many braids, and she has an earnest demeanor for strangers. With friends, she is more relaxed with a wicked sense of humor. Wardens of the Deepshaes, sworn to protect the Underdark beneath the Moonshae Isles.
Happi the Unhappy Oyster, half-orc pirate cursed by the Hag Hyll. Used to serve under the pirate Captain Bluto.
Part 2. Goblinwrath
Hook: The third stanza talks about a goblin. If they want to know about goblins, she suggests they head south from Caer Callidyrr into the forest toward the village of Lehigh.
Location: Lehigh is a small village along the King’s Road to the south of Caer Callidyrr. It’s built in the eaves of the forest. The center of social activity is the Silver Eye Tavern and Inn.
Antola Pilark, Antola Pilark is a female halfling and the Great Druid of Alaron. Her grove is just to the west of Lehigh and she spends a lot of time in the village. She is a devout follower of the Earthmother and seeks to reclaim the Dernall Forest from the depravations of the Great Gark. Defenders of the Earthmother, who seeks to protect and maintain the Earthmother, who represents the power of nature in the Moonshaes.
Bulak, feywild hobgoblin menace, goblinwrath
Torak, hobgoblin follower of Great Gark (goblin king of Feywild)
Part 3. A Weighty Matter
Hook: The only thing she recognizes in the fourth stanza is Blodvahrer. It’s a small town on the northwest coast of Gnarhelm (northern Alaron), and she offers to take them there.
Location: Blodvahrer, a small trading hub and fishing town located about one day’s sailing northwest of Olafstaad on the isle of Alaron.
Ragnar Alisson, the lawspeaker that lives at the edge of town
Gorn Harander, the local priest of Tempus
Gorm Gudbranson, father of Yrsa and Gulli. Initiates of Flame
Yrsa and Gulli. While visiting the town of Bloodvahrer you came across a pair of twins, Yrsa and Gulli, who have arcane abilities. Blodvahrer is not a hospitable place for arcane casters at this time, and when the twins approached you for help in leaving town, you gave it. Traveling with the twins, even if for a short while has shown you that their powers are quickly growing in strength, but that unfortunately their control of them is not growing at an equal speed. It did however give you the chance to witness an actual rain of frogs. The twins left your company in Caer Moray to be reunited with their father who has joined a group called the Initiates of Flame. What the future holds for these two is anyone’s guess.
Leveling: +1 Level (Level 2) before part 4.
Part 4. Thar Be Pirates!
Captain Bluto (Boris Blutovich), Bluto claims to act in the interest of the owner of this area. He considers himself a lawful privateer acting within his rights to claim trespassers as prisoners (slave trader). This is of course not true, but there is no reasoning with him. In his youth, Boris served as an officer on a bombard, a giff cannon ship capable of navigating between worlds. Normally a very lawful people, Boris made some dishonorable choices in an attempt to advance in rank. He was released from service and marooned in exile on Faerûn. As such, he holds a disdain for this world and its people, a view he shares with the dark fey. He soon met the eladrin pirate, Silver Silwyrt, who leads a feared fleet in the Moonshae waters. She saw the potential of the combination of naval command experience and brooding anger and offered him a ship, the Devil’s Regret, and crew. His payment is a cut of whatever he can get by selling prisoners into slavery. Still sporting his ill-fitting service uniform, sans rank insignia, he has built a reputation of being merciless. He demonstrates this by occasionally making an example of a victim using his blunderbuss. A rare weapon on this world, it has quickly gained notoriety.
First Mate Ferdeth, tiefling apprentice
Quartermaster Rungrin, thug
MOON2-1 Defenders of Caer Moray (lvl 2)
Locations: Caer Moray
Foes: Black Blood Tribe
The most untamed of the Moonshaes, residents on Moray are accustomed to defending themselves. Recently something has stirred the dark forces that threaten the families of this strategically vital location. With every spare sword allocated to the homelands, who will answer their call for aid?
Brodrick Nails the Carpenter. He’s a large jovial, balding carpenter with a work belt filled with carpentry tools. He also has a magnificent mustache. He enjoys physical competition and activities.
You came upon Brodrick Nails as he started to fall off the roof he was fixing. How did you keep him from hurting himself or at least hurting himself seriously?
Brodrick enjoys physical competition and activities. What physical activities have you and Brodrick engaged in during the past week? Work? Caber tossing? Axe throwing? Other kinds of sport?
What secret has Brodrick entrusted you with that others might not know?
How would you define your and Brodrick’s relationship? Friends, buddies, connected, friendly rivals, budding romantic partners, something else?
Sandra Taggard the Barkeep. Known as the “Lily of Caer Moray,” Sandra is a barkeep at the Darkening Moon. She is a full-figured woman who likes to play cards and drink whiskey, especially the house whiskey. She is always up for trying imports from elsewhere. Sandra loves to tell and hear stories.
You helped Sandra with a situation in the Darkening Moon. What was the situation? How did you help? Why was she impressed? What was she not impressed with?
Sandra loves to tell and hear stories. What was the most interesting story she told you? What memorable story did you tell her?
Why does Sandra trust you and why do you trust her after so short a time?
How would you define your and Sandra’s relationship? Friends, buddies, connected, friendly rivals, budding romantic partners, something else?
Tybie Gow, Braichdyn of the Palisade Guard. Tybie is a fit and tall middle-aged woman who has made a name for herself in Caer Moray. She’s serious when on duty but is quite affable when off duty and known for her scathing wit. Tybie loves to talk about famous battles, tactics, and martial techniques. She is also a member of the Kendrick Loyalists, a group that believes that the Moonshae Isles will be stronger if unified under a common king.
Tybie bought you a drink because you dealt with a dangerous situation by the palisade. What situation did you deal with? Saved a guard from a troll? Fought off some orcs? Diffused a tense situation between two guards? Something else?
Tybie is a soldier at heart and loves to talk about famous battles, tactics, and martial techniques. How did you impress her concerning this topic?
Tybie got drunk one night and told you something about herself that your pretty sure no one else knows. It’s more embarrassing than problematic but she’d like to keep it secret. What did she tell you?
How would you define your and Tybie’s relationship? Friends, buddies, connected, friendly rivals, budding romantic partners, something else?
Brython the Druid. Brython is an earnest young man and a devout follower of Earthmother. He cares deeply about the people and animals of Caer Moray. He’s nervous in large groups which causes him to stutter. He has quite the green thumb and is great with animals, making him popular with the farmers in Caer Moray.
You helped Brython resolve a dangerous situation between a farmer and wild animals. What situation did you deal with? Saved a farmer from a animal attack? Calmed a angry mother bear? Rescued a panther from a trap? Something else?
Brython cares deeply for the people and animals of Caer Moray and is passionate about his faith in the Earthmother. How did you impress him concerning this topic?
Brython shared the reason why he stutters when he gets nervous. Something he is shy about others knowing. What did he tell you?
How would you define your and Brython’s relationship? Friends, buddies, connected, friendly rivals, budding romantic partners, something else?
Captain Kree. Captain Kree is the captain of the Leaky Mermaid and a charismatic scoundrel. He wheels and deals and throughout the Moonshaes, keeping just barely ahead of his many enemies. He laughs and deflects blame with a self-deprecating wit, while always looking for an advantage for himself. He avoids murder, focusing on smuggling, selling information, and theft.
You encountered Captain Kree, while he was pursuing one of the mentioned crimes. What was the crime he was involved in and how were you involved? How did you impress him? How was he not impressed?
Captain Kree enjoys a clever scheme using whits and luck to outmaneuver foes. How did you impress him with your charisma and whit?
What secret has Captain Kree entrusted you with that others might not know?
How would you define your and Captain Kree’s relationship? Friends, buddies, connected, friendly rivals, budding romantic partners, something else?
Twaine Stone, Braichdyn of the Moor Patrol.
Julia Mist. Julia Mist is a jackalwere agent for the Black Bloods. She views ordinary people as prey to be hunted, used, and eaten as needed. She is fiercely devoted to the Black Bloods generally and Twaine Stone specifically. She is distant and aloof, hiding her distaste for prey behind a cold veneer.
Leveling: +1 Level (Level 3) by end of adventure
MOON2-2 Army of the Unseen (lvl 3)
Locations: Dynnegall. Little more than an outpost, Dynnegall is the life-blood of resources that flow from Caer Moray, supporting Ffolk townships across the archipelago.
The supply boat is overdue by almost a tenday and hope is difficult to find. With the recent attacks repelled an opportunity exists to send aid, but who dares to venture outside the walls?
Hook: Caer Moray. A call has gone up in Caer Moray. With recent attacks repelled and quiet upon the walls, Earl Orwin Rhys seeks soldiers brave enough to venture through the mists to Dynnegall. There is a handsome reward offered for any skillful adventurers who return with the supply boat in tow.
Earl Orwin Rhys seeks soldiers brave enough to venture through the mists to Dynnegall.
Seren. A Llewyrr elf skilled warrior on her way to Dynnegall in search of her son Andras. This resilient elf has a demeanor of sincerity but isn’t opposed to weaving friendships. She is from Chrysalis in Synnoria. Despite her candid nature, she does have a sensitive side and engages in small talk and banter. She’s a member of the Sarifal Faithful, a Moonshae organization that seeks to bridge the divide between the fey and the mortals of the Moonshaes. She’s on her way to Dynnegall in search of her half-elf son, Andras Naïlo, a soldier stationed at the outpost.
Andras. The only survivor of the Howling Disease, a skilled sorcerer working on a ritual.
Leveling: +1 Level (Level 4) by end of adventure
MOON2-3 The Eye in the Mist (lvl 4)
Locations: Tarthwood. This adventure takes place in Tarthwood, also known as the Veiled Forest, on the eastern shore of the island of Moray in the Moonshaes, as well as inside the moonwell. Often called the Veiled Forest, Tarthwood is a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest in the lowlands of northeastern Moray. At its heart is the Eye in the Mist.
The events at Dynnegall revealed evidence that a new threat to fey and Ffolk may have emerged on Moray. The ties to prophecy are too strong to ignore. If true, every moment is critical. The Earthmother herself shudders as attention turns to the Eye in the Mist, a moonwell in the forest of Moray’s eastern coast
Hook: Prophecy Revealed. They begin in Dynnegall after uncovering a prophecy concerning the Howling Disease.
Hyll the Ugliest Hag is a green hag who suffers under a curse by the High Lady Ordalf of Sarifal that gives her the beauty and demeanor of a nymph until such time as “the mask becomes the face.” Hyll is horrified by her transformation, and her attempts to wreck her new appearance have proven fruitless. Her coven has expelled her, and she dwells alone in Tarthwood. Hyll hides her lovely appearance under rags and a burlap sack on which she has drawn a rough approximation of her old guise. She hopes that this is the mask that will become the face and break the curse. Hyll refers to herself as the Ugliest Hag. In her eyes, her nymph-like looks and demeanor are a curse that have destroyed her life. Hyll attempts to say terrible things but in her sweet, honeyed voice they don’t sound so bad. She tries to be intimidating, but it comes off as adorable. This just makes her angrier. She’s just as evil as any hag, but the curse twists everything she does to be helpful and kind. She masks herself with a glamour (a fey illusion) that varies wildly but is always comely. Yellow skin with cotton candy pink hair. Grass green skin with black tresses.
Snicklet is a quickling who serves Hyll the Ugliest Hag. He talks fast, constantly jitters and fidgets, and gets bored really easily. He craves constant stimulation. He enjoys playing tricks on lumberlings (anyone not a quickling)
Kauth is a servitor of a secretive master from the Shadowfell. He has taken the form of the “Shadow of the Beast” and managed to possess Llyneth through her tainted black blood ancestry. Kauth is using Llyneth’s body as his shell in the mortal world and corrupted the moonwell in Tarthwood. He seeks to spread the Howling Disease and bring chaos and fear to the fey of the Moonshaes.
Llyneth Kincaid is the great druid of the Eye in the Mist, a moonwell on Moray. She is a middleaged woman, unbent by age. Her black hair is streaked with gray and she has it swept up in elaborate braids that are laced with flowers. Llyneth is a quiet, introverted woman who prefers the solitary life as a steward of a moonwell. She is sparse with her words and deliberate with her mannerisms. Llyneth prefers to reflect and meditate before committing to any course of action. A dark legacy from her ancestry allowed Kauth to possess her and corrupt the moonwell.
Leveling: +1 Level (Level 5) by end of adventure
MOON3-1 Atop the Fairheights (lvl 5)
Locations:
Alaron - The Fairheight Range in the northern reaches of the island of Alaron, is home to the hill dwarf Rookoath clan.
Highrock. The town of Highrock is a dwarven town that rests in a valley between the hills and mountains on the eastern edge Fairheight Range on the Isle of Alaron. Built on trade and mining revenue, the place boasts a decent number of shops, business, inns, and taverns, including the Dry Whetstone.
Gwynneth - Cambro Mountains. Clan Rustfire, a mountain dwarf clan, lived beneath the Moonshae isle of Gwynneth in the Cambro Mountains. Clan Rustfire fled their homes through the Dwarvenholm Tunnels, under the Strait of Alaron, to Blackstone on Alaron when the dark fey from Gwynneth attacked, driving them out.
Foes: Fey, Undead
Just as it looked like the combined forces of Clan Rookoath and Clan Rustfire might drive a long-time threat from their ancestral homes, the dwarven forces suffer a terrible defeat. The proud and slightly xenophobic dwarves reach out for assistance. But is it too late, or can a group of heroes turn the tide?
Hook: Friends of Winnow Rustfire. Contacted directly by Winnow to come and assist her clan.
Brunhi Rookoath. Clan Rookoath is a matriarchal society, and Brunhi is the clan leader at the moment. When Clan Rustfire fled to Alaron, Brunhi and the Rookoaths welcomed them with open arms. Now that both clans are in trouble, she’s being pressured by dwarves from both clans to merge them. She understands the need for mutual protection, but she’s hesitant to give up her clan’s traditions. Brunhi is tall for a hill dwarf, with light hair and shining green eyes. She’s careful and calculating, speaking only when she has something important to say.
Narbert Rustfire. Clan Rustfire was almost destroyed when the dark fey of Gwynneth attacked, and only a daring escape through the Dwarvenholm Tunnels saved them. The Rustfires sought and received refuge from Clan Rookoath in the Fairheight Mountains, but trouble soon found both clans. Narbert believes that it only makes sense for the two clans to merge, and he cannot understand Brunhi Rookoath’s reluctance to join the two clans together. Narbert has red hair and a redder beard, and deep wrinkles on his face from years of hard work, hard laughing, hard crying, and hard drinking.
Petra Rookoath. Brunhi’s daughter, and the heir to the leadership of Clan Rookoath. She appears as a younger version of her mother, with similar features and mannerisms. She’s not as taciturn as her mother, however. She speaks her mind without always fully thinking through the consequences.
Shale Rustfire. Narbert’s son, and the heir to the leadership of the Clan Rustfire. He begins the adventures as a captive of the orc forces. Shale is considered very handsome and charming, with brown hair, a forceful personality, and a quick smile. When the adventurers find him, however, he’s been severely beaten, covered with cuts and bruises.
Winnow Rustfire. Clan leader Narbert Rustfire’s daughter, a close friend of Petra Rookoath (daughter and heir to the Rookoath Clan leader, Brunhi), and a potential leader of a new combined clan allying the Rookoaths and the Rustfires. A priest of Berronar Truesilver, dwarven deity of home and protection. She wears her long red hair in many braids, and she has an earnest demeanor for strangers. With friends, she is more relaxed with a wicked sense of humor.
Leveling: +1 Level (Level 6) by end of adventure
MOON3-2 Within Dwarvenholm (lvl 6)
Location:
Rookoath Ancestral Vaults. These crypts were built to house several important ancestors of the Rookoath Clan who lived near Blackstone several centuries ago, Bronwyn Rookoath prominent among them. Below the Vaults is a hidden library of important texts containing clan histories, mining and crafting records, and a volume on the nearby moonwell under the Cairn of Cymrych Hugh.
With the immediate threat to Clans Rookoath and Rustfire quelled, the next step is to clear the tunnels of Dwarvenholm, allowing the clans to again move freely between their homes. However, the enemy will not give up their gains so easily, as a new player enters the battlefield.
Hook: The heroes attempted to rescue Shale Rustfire. Whether he lived or died, the dwarves of Clan Rustfire and Clan Rookoath are grateful for their efforts and ask them to continue helping the dwarves take back their lands.
Aidan Rustfire. A young dwarf who’s a survivor of Blackstone assault by the shadow forces. He stumbled into the dwarven crypts two days ago and locked himself in where he hoped the monsters wouldn’t find him. Bronwyn has harassed him relentlessly for most of that time, telling him he doesn’t belong here. He’s in way over his head and knows it.
Bronwyn Rookoath. A former leader of clan Rookoath, noted in clan histories for her sharp temper and quick wit. It appears that being dead has had no impact on those facets of her personality and she now guards the halls of her clan eternally. She’s suspicious of outsiders, although she dislikes the orcs and other monstrous invaders of her home even more.
Darrick Rustfire. A distant cousin of Winnow Rustfire and speaker for the survivors of Blackstone. Darrick is a veteran of many battles with the orcs and has seen much bloodshed. He’s grim, purposeful, and relentless.
Queen Connomae. The dark fomorian queen of the Feywild kingdom of Vor Thomil, she has found a passage from that plane to the island of Oman. From there, she extends her grasp to other parts of the Moonshaes, scheming and sending out her fellow fomorian servants to enact some currently unknown plan.
Pryumbranth. The shadow black dragon has spent years within the bleak confines of the Shadowfell and is hungry to spread the darkness and evil of that plane. To that end, Pryumbranth has returned to set up her domain in the Realms, and she chose the Fairheight Range. She has allied temporarily with Queen Connomae of Vor Thomil and local orc tribes to do so. Her scales and features are a mixture of black and grey, mutated by shadow magic.
Leveling: +1 Level (Level 7) by end of adventure
MOON3-3 Beneath the Cairnwell (lvl 7)
The lost moonwell, known as the Cairnwell, plays a significant role in the battle for the Fairheight Range. Can it be saved and turned into a source of weal for the dwarves, or will the enemy take its power and turn it into a fountain of woe?
Hook: The Lost Moonwell. The heroes are following information gleaned from a book at a lost library. The tome revealed the existence of the Cairnwell, a lost moonwell beneath the cairn of Cymrych Hugh. The adventurers travel to the mountains to find the site of the ancient moonwell and stop the shadow dragon from using it as a portal.
Princess Moogugh. Due to her deformities, the fomorian wears nothing more than scraps of cloth but the materials are the finest quality silks and satins. She considers small folk vermin and enjoys torturing and killing them. She believes this potential alliance with the orcs is foolish, but she followed the orders of Queen Connomae to come and evaluate.
Leveling: +1 Level (Level 8) by end of adventure