Hollow's Last Hope DM KK

Game Master Freddy Honeycutt

Introduction:

The ramshackle town of Falcon’s Hollow rests perilously close to the infamous Darkmoon Vale. The jagged shadow of nearby mountains casts a shroud of gloom on the desperate souls who call this place home. Many are drawn here to make their fortune cutting a swath of darkwood lumber through the lush forests of the vale. Others journey to these remote fringes to start over, piecing together their shattered lives on the edge of an untouched wilderness far from the things of man.

Persecuted zealots and outcasts flock to Falcon’s Hollow. Here, these fanatics practice their strange and often deviant rites unfettered by the mores of civilization. Still others are lured to Falcon’s Hollow by the promise of great adventure. Peril and splendor await within the accursed halls of dwarven kings of old, whose glorious civilization long ago shattered and crumbled to dust.

“Only the desperate and the brave” is the proud motto of Falcon’s Hollow. Few choose a life on the outskirts of Darkmoon, whose dim, mist-laden forests are prowled by feral beasts, reeking trolls, and the restless souls of the dead. Fewer still possess the steely will to venture into the haunted ruins of the once-great dwarven kingdom. For those brave enough to claim them, treasures surpassing the dreams of princes and poets rest beneath the rocky slopes of Droskar’s Crag, but so too does an ancient evil. Sibilant whispers ride the vale winds after nightfall, jumbled promises of doom, blasphemy, and rot hissed from the darkness beneath the mountain. From deep below the earth come soul-shredding abominations,and as these unspeakable horrors rise, the lesser denizens of these dwarven ruins are forced to the surface.

Perched at the edge of civilized lands, the small town of Falcon’s Hollow has always had to rely on itself to solve its problems. Meanwhile, the uncaring lumber barons squeeze the common folk for every last copper, deaf to their pleas. Now the hacking coughs of the sick are heard throughout town. The plague has come to Falcon’s Hollow and the town’s leaders can’t be bothered to stop it.

Falcon’s Hollow

Falcon’s Hollow Environs

Welcome the new comers to Falcon's Hollow!
Newcomers welcome each other.

Faunra walked at a rather brisk pace, already being late for her interview at The Sitting Duck. Why did I have to over sleep, on the one day I set out on my own journey and finally strive to give back to my family... she thinks as she strolls quickly down the main streets of Falcon's Hollow. She notices as she's walking that the streets seem rather desolate and abandoned but she just chalks it up to being in the middle of nowhere.

She arrives at The Sitting Duck and knocks on the door. Hello...Sir, sorry I'm late but... she made her way into the bar as she spoke. Just as she walked in someone rushed out and knocked into her. The man was clutching a large coin purse and there came a groan from behind the bar. Faunra rushes behind the bar to see the owner on the ground. She squats down next to him. Are you okay?

As your eyes adjust to the sudden shock of the change from early morning sun to the darkness of the Sitting Duck....

You are surprised a bit that the man behind the bar is in fact a male gnome.

"I'm fine If yah could get offa mah cloak, names, Brickasnurd....Brickasnurd Hildrinsocks, an this is mah place tha Goose’n’Gander."

The man remains pleasant towards you even though he has taken a lump!

"Wait what am I doing here!"
The man looks around like he just woke up from a dream......

"This is not right, not right at all. I have to leave."

I can't believe that I have actually ended up here. If only that last job had actually paid out instead of that bastard stiffing me, now I am reduced to this. Falcon's Hollow, the last stop of the desperate. Well, no sense dwelling on it, I just need to make some coin and get back to the real world as soon as possible.

Darrid wanders into town, dirty, tired, and thirsty. "Well looking at the town I am guessing that dirty isn't that out of place".
He yells at a kid running past. "Hey! 2 coppers if you can lead the way to the best place to get a hot meal and a cold ale."

Weary from his long road, in need of food and shelter, Auk finally reaches the edge of town. Another town....will they treat me as the last ones have? Where is the compasion, understanding, and kindness father taught me of? At times these "civilized" people seem as bad as they make out the orc hoards to be.[i]

Making his way down the main road into town, he pauses out side the Sitting Duck, wathcing the townsfolk go about their business. [i]I must remember the will of the goddess. People can be redeemed, as I will be. They need only be shown the way.

With a last look around, he enters the Sitting Duck. Once inside he pauses a few steps in from the door, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness.

Hanathan leads his horse down the ferry ramp, he is not sure enough of his in saddle skill to try and ride down the plank. He takes in this small town, grimacing. Barely a town, well at lest I think I have lost any who pursue He looks around the docks "You there!" he says to one of the mill workers."Where can I find a room , without bugs sharing my bed and a hot meal?" he says tossing the man two silver.

@Faunra

The door opens suddenly and a dark shadow covers most of the doorway, a large man stands there.

@Auk
Auk's eyes adjust and he sees a male gnome and a female elf sitting at the bar, they do not appear to be drinking,instead the gnome looks a bit disturbed.

You actually heard the last bit of the conversation.....

@Darrid and Hanathan

Darrid and Hanathan each procure guides and end up riding nearly side by side towards the best place in Falcon's Hollow......

As your eyes adjust to the sudden shock of the change from early morning sun to the darkness of the Sitting Duck....

You are surprised a bit that the man behind the bar is in fact a male gnome.

"I'm fine If yah could get offa mah cloak, names, Brickasnurd....Brickasnurd Hildrinsocks, an this is mah place tha Goose’n’Gander."

The man remains pleasant towards you even though he has taken a lump!

"Wait what am I doing here!"
The man looks around like he just woke up from a dream......

"This is not right, not right at all. I have to leave."

She looks at the man a little worried and then puts a hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down. Calm down, I'm one of the people you were going to interview today. I know I'm late, and I appologize greatly for that and I hope once you regain your head a little you'll be willing to still go through with it. I'm a rather talented entertainer but fairly new to the workings of a barmade. She tucks a loose strand of hair behind one of her long ears.

As the figure enters the bar she starts a little and scans him over before she smiles and greets him, seeing this as an opprotunity to show her potential employer some of her people skills. Hello and welcome to the Sitting Duck, how may I help you?

Right now!

Faunra & Auk are in the Sitting Duck

Both right where they are supposed to be!

Darrid & Hannithan are riding slowly through Falcon's Hollow towards one of the buildings......

Darrid looks over at the other man being led in the same direction as he is going. "Looks like you have had a long journey as well. So do you fall into the desperate or the brave?" Darrid cracks a smile then reaches over, offering his hand. "The name is Darrid, good to meet you".

Concern on his face, Auk looks from the gnome to the woman. "Does your companion require attention?" His voice is deep and his features bestial, making an odd contrast with his concern and demeanor.

In the sitting duck
Faunra & Auk are here!

The gnome glances up and says "I am fine, just a bit too much to drink las night!"

Riding horses slowly behind two townsfolk as they lead them in
Darrid & Hanathan are here!

One of the men looks back at the mounted adventurers....
"The desperate mostly!"

Hanathan looks at the man, giving him a hard once over " I guess you could say, this is better then the place I left. My Name is Hanathan. As to weather that makes me brave or desperate, a bit of both I guess. And you Darrid?"

In a slightly harsh tone, Auk addresses the gnome,"Perhaps in the future you should refrain from drink that inhibits your mind and body. I am Auk, Paladin of Sarenrae and I require lodging for the evening, do you have any rooms available?"

"I have been trying to explain to this young woman that I am not the owner of this establishment and just drank too much last night."

"I need to be on my way."

The gnome exits the Sitting Duck as the two riders dismount and tie their horses to the hitching post......

Faunra blushes in embarassment and then looks to Auk. Hello there, my name is Faunra, and I was hoping to find the owner of this establishment since I was supposed to meet him for a job interview. What brought you to town?

Darrid finishes tying his horse and tosses the boy the promised coins. As he turns he has to dodge out of the way to avoid stepping on a small man exiting out of the establishment. "Let us hope that that is not the quality of service that causes me to leave with such urgency as well."
Darrid heads inside, his eyes adjusting to the dimmer light, makes out two figures inside. "You there, a large flagon on ale for me, and whatever you have that is hot, meaty and filling to eat." Darrid heads over towards a table.

At this moment our four hapless would be heroes find them selves in a tavern named the sitting duck with no barkeeper in sight.....

Faunra looks at the man that just entered the bar and then sighs a little. Neither of us work here, the barkeeper didn't bother coming in today but I'll see what I can find for you, being the closes thing to a staff member here. She starts to root around behind the bar and finds their ale and pours the man a large flagon and puts it on the bar. She then heads into the kitchen to look for some food.

Another man comes to the door of the sitting duck.
"Haven't yah heard tha blackscour taint is made ever-body sick an they closed up all tha places tah eat."

Hanathan sighs "Asmodeus 's Balls!" Hanathan swears low " Just where can one find something to eat in this...town then?" He says, weary from the long road "And a bed, one without bugs would be best."

Faunra comes out of the kitchen as the man comes to the door and she shakes her head. There went my job...

Excuse me, but what is the blackscour taint? None of us are from around here so we're not familiar with what goes on in this town.

"Err yah kiddin in the past week, numerous townsfolk have fallen ill, each suffering from the same hacking affliction."

"Local remedies prove as useless as prayers at the Church of Iomedae, goddess of valor, justice, and honor, and already at least one town elder has been claimed by the wheezing death."

Knowledge local DC 15

Knowledge religion DC 15

Where to? Falcon’s Hollow

"You, Madam.' He says looking at Faunra " seem to be from around here. Where is an Inn? And where is the next town down that road?"

I'm not actually from around here, I just arrived this morning hoping to get a job at this establishment.

Knowledge Local1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Knowledge Religion1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Sorry for posting under the wrong name...it hopefully won't happen again...and my luck with this dice roller continues...

NPC
"Yah must have seen tha people coughin an sick lined up at tha roots & remidies?"

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

"Seems just my luck to arrive at a place just as the plague strikes. Really nothing to eat? I am so sick of the trail food, what I wouldn't give for a nice big meal of meat and potatoes."

NPC
"Well they closed tha well,The man laughs at his own joke before continuing Brookman's well, said it was tha problem an makin everybody sick. Tha means tha people has further tah go fer water, an tha businesses all were usein tha water. Most o them closed up till this passes."

As you look around the town you soon find one area of activity.....

Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the façade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop bearing the faded sign “Roots N Remedies.”

A line of twenty-some somber townsfolk—some with pale, wheezing children, others seeming to be precipitously near tears—stretches from the open door……

I personally didn't notice the line outside of Roots and Remidies this morning but I think I'm going to go take a look and see what I can find. Anyone willing to come with me?

Weither alone or with the rest of the group at the bar Faunra will head off to Roots and Remidies. Once she see's the line forming outside of the building she sighs and waits patiently.

Check to see how sick those around her are:
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Heal:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Some of them appear ashen pale and have coughing fits that result in blood on rags they clutch in their hands, others appear perfectly fine, with a worried mother holding onto a childs hand.....

I agree Darrid, is there no Inn in this accursed town?

An hour passes as you All of you wait in the line to the shop.

The smell of burnt earth and spicy incense chokes the air of the cramped, mud-tracked shop. Bunches of dried herbs hang from theceiling, along with dangling pots, presses,alchemical apparatuses, and glassware of more arcane purposes.

Pouches of rare plants, jars of colored glass, and all mannerof dried, preserved, and jellied animal partsfill high shelves and tables doing double dutyas displays and workspaces. In the shop’srear, a rail-thin woman with severe-looking spectacles and hair pulled back tightly busies herself between an overpacked rack of herbs, a table covered in stray powders and measuring equipment, and a pot loudly bubbling over with thick gray froth. Over the din of her work and without looking up,the woman impatiently shouts to you

“And what’syour problem?”
Laurel

She is speaking to you collectively

"Having a bit of a bad day are we?" Then not really waiting for a response. "What the hell has happened here? Is everyone in this town sick? I do have some knowledge of the healing arts, perhaps I can assist with some of these folks, as long as I can get a decent meal somewhere around here. I am not a fan of working too hard on an empty stomach."

"I got my hands full with a full fledged epidemic, I do not know who or what is open, but if you do find some food, bring some back will you?"

Having gotten bored in the empty tavern and no Inn in site as far as he could tell Hanthan Fallows the others.Did that woman just tell us to loot the place? ' " Excuse me Madam, but who would be in charge here? I can see you have your hands full at the moment, however we ' He says sweeping his hands to the others "All seem to have just arrived. We are strangers here and are unsure of just what is going on. Pray tell can you explain in more detail?"

Diplomacy 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Well since yer nice an all let me catch yah up a bit."

Diplomacy works!

“Blackscours just a fungus that’snot good for anything. Hard, bitter, and sharp, it likes the water and gets you sick if you drink it down. Never heard of it growing around these parts, though, until now.”

“The sickness is called blackscour taint it’s a sickness,almost like any other, but you get the mold growing in you. It starts eating away in yourchest and belly and is damned determined to stay. Your body near turns itself insideouttrying to hack the stuff up, but all that does is cuts your guts up… bad.”

“It seems more than thirty have come down with it, honestly,though at least three times that thinks they’ve got it.”

“Not any cure around here. I’ll get these folks what I can and we’ll see what good it does.”

Faunra listens intently as the woman speaks. "You said no cure around here. Does that mean their is cure but it just can't be found around here or is their no cure?

“My grandmother’s book has a brew in it that says its good for this kind of thing. A weird concoction that sounds more like hoojoo than real medicine.”

“The medicine is made out of some rareroots and concentrations, most of which I have here, but there’s three I don’t. Elderwood moss, which I’ve never heard of, but granny says the stuff only grows on the oldest tree in a forest. A specially pickled root called rat’s tail, again, sounds like hoojoo to me. And seven ironbloom mushrooms, stunty little things that only grow in dark places thick with metal, a favorite among dwarves, or so I hear.”

"I myself have never been out o town, but if yah head to the Consortium Lumber Camp to the east and look for Milon Rhoddam—
the most experienced woodsman in the Lumber Consortium, I would start there.”

"If yah are willin tah go I got a big pot of stew on the fire in the back, with bread and ale."

Not much of an award Hanthan thinks to himself, but after weeks of hard tact that stew did sound awful inviting.

"I assume the town would get back to normal then, Madam? If that is the case, which leads to well being of the town" And more importantly a warm bed for myself he thinks to himself " I guess I could ride up and have a talk with this Rhoddam fellow" He says with a smile.

"I think everything would gets back tah normal. I had tah close tha well tha fungi was living there, an a few folks have already died. I assume things will gets back tah normal. I can only help tha ones who over-come it themselves, others when the sickness runs it's course will perish without a cure. I can not say how many that might be."

"Eat hearty o tha stew, I have some straw behind tha shop iffen yah want to put your horse out back."

Faunra listens to the woman explain what she needs and then seems to be a little confused. So let me get this straight. If we agree to risk our hides for a town we have no loyalties to, you'll reward us with a bowl of stew before we leave? And what do we get after?

Laurel

Outrage
“Pay you!? I’ll pay you in…! Well, I suppose I’m not doing all this for free either. If nothing else, this whole thing’s been good for business. How about this, you come back with everything I need to brew the medicine and I’ll cut you in: thirty gold each. Fair?”

"Now surely you're willing to negociate a little. And I meant no disrespect I just feel for such a risky task for a town I have no ties to I need a little more than what your offering. How does 50 gold sound?

Diplomacy Check:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"I can go as high as 45."

Faunra runs her hand through her long brown hair and ponders that for a second(Sense Motive)). If She's telling the truth Faunra will accept the offer of 45 gold, otherwise she will just laugh.

Sense Motive:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

She seems to be telling the truth.

I have done a lot worse for a lot less before, 45gp and the promise of a warm meal will do for now. How far is it to this camp?

"About 4 to 5 miles outside of town...."

I will be at a conference all day today ;(

As the road leads you out of falcons hollow and towards the lumber camp, just as the town gets out of sight you smell the fresh air of the open road. The wind blows at your back and you see the forest rising in the distance. The logging road is dirt, but well marked and should lead straight to the lumber camp.

Map

The Lumber Consortium Camp cuts an ugly scar of stumps into a dense stand of proud darkwood trees. Five sturdy-looking log buildings—seeminglya bunkhouse, meal hall, office, barn, and smithy—stand with numerous wide carts and sleds amid the sawdust-covered clearing.

A group of four surly looking loggers, each with an axe hefted over a shoulder approach you.

”State yer business or begone!”

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