WitchHammer - Adventures

The Adventures are still a work in progress. I have not decided whether to keep my current system, or to make it more granular and simulationist in order to have more flexibility in generation. Also, I need to add in many-many more plots, rather than just the vertical slice that I have right now. Currently I just have a few generalist plots plus some many traitor-type plots, which makes it seem like every NPC is a back-biting rebel cultist. That will change as more plot nodes are added with other themes. WitchHammer Adventures

Adventure 1: The Terror of the Hunter Blink

Village Name: Uig
Tavern Name: The Staggering Lamb

Traits:
VillageResource: Dog Town. A centerpiece of the Dog trade in the area.
VillageOddity: Has a locally famous pie baking contest
VillageProsperity: Poor
VillageSize: Small
VillageLocation: Windmill
VillageLocation: Orchard field
VillageLocation: Loner's wattle-daub hut
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Church
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Grain silo
VillageLocation: Graveyard

Creature1:
Thulian Ratgaunt
Power Level: 109

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 30
DefenseMod: 7
AttackMod: 12
DamageMod: 7
Init: 7

Traits:
Aspect: Mummified: Made out of dried flesh and cloth. Immune to almost all poisons, weakness to fire, bonus to resist ice. Has night vision.
Frame: Rat
Size: Huge Sized: +4 attack, -2 def, +20 HealthMax
Health: Normal Health: This creature has no health advantages, outside of those provided by its shape and aspect.
Reflex: Olympian Reflexes: This creature has amazing reflexes. In the entire world there are only a few humans who could best it without magic. +7 init, +6 attack/def.
Strength: Olympian strength: This creature is as strong as any mortal in the world. It can hurl stones and bodies across a room. +2 atk, +6 dmg.
Ability: Heat Vision: Can see heat, and uses that to locate prey.
Ability: Aetheric Step: Has a short-range teleport action. Also +3 defense.
Attack: Monstrous Bash: Can make a knock back attack, knocks a hit target back by 4 spaces.
Attack: Bug Spray: Fires a cone of Flies out of its mouth at high pressure, hitting targets at up to Medium distance. The Flies then proceed to act as a mook. Usable twice per day.
Attack: Injecting Proboscis: This creature does not have a bite attack, but rather a proboscis that injects Blinding Poison.
Defense: Mask form: Can assume a human form. Transforming to human or back takes 1 full round.
Defense: Spell Immunity 2: No damage from spells, +10 to saving throw and immediate saving throw.
Defense: Partial Invisibility (except mouth) : The creature is invisible, with the exception of its mouth. Can move and attack while in this state.
Weakness: Skin Shield: Needs to wear the skin of other creatures in order to survive in the world. Otherwise loses powers, takes penalties.
Weakness: Avoidance Hearths: Strongly avoids and will not approach Hearths
Weakness: Blood thirsty: Cannot resist the smell and taste of blood. Will continue to pursue and target a wounded character until they are dead. Once it has a source of blood, will continue drinking it until it is empty. To break free before finishing all the blood, must make a hard Will save. Can make one such save per round.
Appearance: Crown of shadow
Appearance: Has an emaciated belly.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: There is a region wide increase in vermin. In particular, Fat Maggots can be found in much greater numbers.
Smell: Burning Pine Wood
VictimChoice: Taste for depressed people
VictimWound: Hangs victims from tree branches to make feeding easier.

Arrive at afflicted Village
8:00 AM -- Graveyard
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Thulian Ratgaunt (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Monstropologist
10:00 AM -- Orchard field
The WitchHammers run into who has seen and wishes to study the HexBeast. is rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel. They are likely anxious/nervous as they recognize the WitchHammers pose a threat to their research, and maybe even to themselves. They will try to act normal, find out info about the players, and then get away to plot further action...

Find a large pile of meat-treats
12:00 AM -- Grain silo
The traitor has been leaving food (mostly cow meat) out in the woods for the HexBeast to eat, as part of the effort to study and tame the HexBeast. The villager has found the meat (or the PCs if they are pro-active enough in searching) and reported it to the group. A large amount of the meat has been eaten.

Poison by Traitor
2:00 PM -- Graveyard
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Emetic Poison added to their Low Quality Beer. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Bad food
4:00 PM -- Orchard field
The food, if any, supplied by the villagers is bad. It will result in stomach aches, vomiting, and general malaise for the a full day before the symptoms come somewhat under control. You can treat this as a -2 penalty to all rolls for the duration.

False report by tattle-tale child
6:00 PM -- Church
A child reports that they have seen out in the woods at night doing strange things. The child is making this up, because they are an asshole.

Bad Traitor no traiting
8:00 PM -- Small limestone cave
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Scary Tales from Traitor
12:00 PM -- Townhall
The traitor tries to scare off the WitchHammers by telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. Will try to get WitchHammers to leave early and move on to the next adventure.

Villager beats off monster (false)
6:00 AM -- Townhall
The villager reports that they were attacked! Will say this loudly and too anybody that will listen, how they were attacked but drove off the monster. This made up to make them look brave and to cover up the fact that a cat badly scratched them.

Defend the Precious the HexBeast
8:00 AM -- Orchard field
The HexBeast has been found and the PCs prepare for battle. The traitor steps up to defend their project/pet/love. They are killed by it and then the fight begins.

NPC 1:
Synn

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Dry Goods Shop Keeper
VillagerQuirk: Wears very little for the weather. If a guy, goes shirtless.
VillagerPcRelation: Lazy. will help, but must always be pushed/bribed.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: hawking goods from store front
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street

NPC 2:
Trian

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Fisherman
VillagerQuirk: Carries the blessing of Sithrak. The God's power will watch over them and curse those who try to injure them.
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was orphaned at young age but despite hardships has irrepressible cheer and positive outlook on the world.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 3:
Batalli

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Imperial Lieutenant
VillagerQuirk: Speaks in mono-syllables
VillagerPcRelation: Mildly unhelpful, through sheer laziness. The less work it requires the more helpful they will be.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drilling Soldiers
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 4:
Alianna

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Cat Burglar
VillagerQuirk: Terrible short term memory
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a Servile personality in general.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 5:
Borkowski

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Slave Driver
VillagerQuirk: Body has numerous red and inflamed boils
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; dislikes the Empire and views WitchHammers as one tentacle of the Empire.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 6:
Hetty

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: House Servant
VillagerQuirk: Very Badly Flatulent
VillagerPcRelation: Mildly helpful, but will do their best to claim credit for WitchHammer's successes while blaming them to the town for their failures.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 7:
Myla

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Herder
VillagerQuirk: Broken leg, is on crutches (from falling tree, both the legs and the crutches)
VillagerPcRelation: Potentially helpful; they believe in hard work and the common man and will respond well to salt-of-the-earth types. Will quickly turn sour and recalcitrant if faced with snobbishness or high-falutin' behavior.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

NPC 8:
Bannana

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Cut-purse
VillagerQuirk: Hunchbacked
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful and hard bitten; was orphaned at early age and learned not to stick self out for others.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

NPC 9:
Mathieson

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Cartographer
VillagerQuirk: Mute (tongue cut out by bandits?)
VillagerPcRelation: Arrogant. Thinks they are above wandering killers such as the WitchHammers. Will only grudingly help.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book

Adventure 2: The Lost Rot Crocodile

Village Name: Gonte
Tavern Name: The Golden Badger

Traits:
VillageResource: Has a large library and many scholars
VillageOddity: Bustling Trade Routes
VillageProsperity: Moderate
VillageSize: Large
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Wheat field, uncut
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Loner's wattle-daub hut
VillageLocation: Church
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave

Creature1:
Corrupting Crocogaunt
Power Level: 13

Stats:
Poise: 20
Health: 40
DefenseMod: 1
AttackMod: -5
Init: -2

Traits:
Aspect: Rotting: Made out of rotting and bloated flesh. Immune to almost all poisons. Has +5 Health. Has night vision.
Frame: Crocodile
Size: Small Sized: -2 attack, +2 def, -5 HealthMax
Health: Iron: This creature does not die easily, and must be hacked apart. To put it down will require multiple grievous wounds. +30 Health.
Reflex: Slow Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of a librarian. Init -2, Attack/Def -1
Strength: Weak: This creature is surprisingly weak for its size and appearance. Farmers should still be afraid of it. -2 atk, -4 dmg.
Ability: Spider Eyes: The creature has a cluster of compound eyes that take up much of its face. The eyes give it amazing vision (and great peripheral vision) and make it quite difficult to surprise.
Ability: Power from corpses: Gains power from corpses. Estimate of 1 Atk/Def, and 2 Poise per corpse consumed in the last day.
Attack: Rampage: Starts battle with +3 attk/def. This bonus decreases by 1 at end of each round, as the creature tires. So it would be +3 at first round, +1 after 2 rounds, -1 after 4 rounds, etc.
Attack: Breath of Unlife: Can breathe into a corpse's mouth, and have it raise as a zombie in seconds. Can badly damage an incapacitated person by breathing into their mouth.
Weakness: Hates reflection: Hates the sight of its reflection in a mirror. Will attack its reflection in a blind rage until it has been smashed to pieces.
Weakness: Skin Shield: Needs to wear the skin of other creatures in order to survive in the world. Otherwise loses powers, takes penalties.
Weakness: Animal Intelligence: IQ 40
Appearance: The creature's skin is covered in glowing Silver runes.
Appearance: Has long, thin spikes of iron piercing all the way through its body. The spikes stick out a few inches from the skin on either side, but do not seem to impede its movement.
NumAppearing: Packs of 3
Spore: Livestock in the region becomes sick and covered with sores.
Smell: Peaches
VictimChoice: Taste for Horses
VictimWound: Takes the skulls of victims and piles them in little pyramids.

Arrive at afflicted Village
12:00 AM -- Wheat field, uncut
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Corrupting Crocogaunt (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Graft Mayor
2:00 PM -- Church
The mayor has been stealing from the tax revenues that he should be sending back to the Capitol. What is more, he has been stealing a completely unreasonable amount. The mayor fears the WitchHammers as agents of Imperial power, and will do his best to make sure they never leave the town alive. The mayor will be polite but greasy in his interactions with the WitchHammers. The mayor has an absurd stash of gold coins hidden in his Base of Town Statue.

False report by tattle-tale child
4:00 PM -- Wheat field, uncut
A child reports that they have seen out in the woods at night doing strange things. The child is making this up, because they are an asshole.

Monster taunts the WitchHammers with human venality
6:00 PM -- Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
The next time the WitchHammers face the creature, it will taunt them that they are not even supported by their own people. Will bring up evidence of the mayor's peculation and the effect it has had on the town. Mention that its victims have all been weak, scrawny, and ill-fed.

Grave Robbery
8:00 PM -- Wheat field, uncut
The creature shows up at the village graveyard in order to dig up corpses. The creature will dig up, and then use/consume approximately a dozen corpses if not interrupted. The process takes ~20 minutes and is quite loud at part as coffins need to be broken open and tomb stones knocked over. If not interrupted, the creature will grow more powerful and then depart. If interrupted, it will evaluate the threat and then either kill the intruder, or flee if it seems in any real danger.

Mayoral Bushwhacking
12:00 PM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
The mayor has hired a group of thugs to try and remove the WitchHammers. They will attack from ambush and show no mercy, though as they are mercs their moral is not good.

Bribe Attempt by Mayor
6:00 AM -- Church
The mayor is getting worried about the WitchHammers. If they seem at all amenable, will try to bribe them to leave the area. Will say that the town can take care of itself, and that they don't need the Empire getting involved in their day to day affairs.

Meet the Monster Cultists
8:00 AM -- Tavern
The WitchHammers run into and . is shopping for dry goods. They are insane and atavistic cultists who wish to use the HexBeast as an instrument of their violent desires. They have been setting up altars in the woods and sacrificing animals, which may or may not have summoned the HexBeast to the village. They stick together and maintain a sufficient facade of normality. They will both have a coldness and quietly intense dislike of the WitchHammers and will do what they can to get them killed.

Goose Chase by Traitor
10:00 AM -- Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Bad Traitor no traiting
12:00 AM -- Church
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Mayoral Spy
2:00 PM -- Wheat field, uncut
The mayor has set a henchman, , to spy on the PCs. This henchman will follow them around and keep tabs on them as unobtrusively as possible. The henchman is not particularly loyal and is only moderately skilled; they will spill what they know if they are caught.

Venal and Officious Mayor
2:00 PM -- Church
The mayor of the village, , gives the WitchHammers problems. He will attempt to charge them taxes for their wagon, horses, and equipment. Will also keep a tally of things (and people) broken during the adventure that they owe the community money for.

Foul house smells
4:00 PM -- Wheat field, uncut
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Copy cat killing
6:00 PM -- Cross roads near town
The traitor kills a villager in order to try and emulate the monster. The body will be found in a similar state as if it had been killed by the HexBeast, but not quite so (since it was just a human who did it rather than a force of terrible magic).

Boozing by traitor
8:00 PM -- Cross roads near town
The traitor tries to get the WitchHammers passed out drunk, both to find out information from them and to help them die on the following day. Will pay for all the beer and food, will toast the WitchHammers, and will do their best to get them completely soused. Will hail them as heroes of the village, will suggest they try one more drink of the village's special brew, will challenge them to drinking contests.

Official Vigilantism
12:00 PM -- Church
The mayor has hired a group of thugs to try and kill/drive off the WitchHammers. They will try to set fire to the WitchHammer's residence, shoot them with crossbows, and then flee into the night. They are not committed to killing all of the WitchHammers, just want to wound/kill some of them and send a message to get out of town.

Blood Altar found in woods
6:00 AM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
Either the WitchHammers, or some villagers come across on of the Cultist's blood altars in the woods.

Silence the Troublemakers
8:00 AM -- Cross roads near town
The mayor and his cronies will try to silence the WitchHammers to prevent them from notifying the authorities. They will wait until the WitchHammers are engaged in combat with a monster, and then pile in to the combat at an in-opportune time.

Poison by Traitor
10:00 AM -- Wheat field, uncut
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Choking Poison added to their Fresh Wheat Bread. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Villager reports spore.
12:00 AM -- Tavern
comes to the players and reports that they have found Spore from the creature. Spore is:
Livestock in the region becomes sick and covered with sores.

Goose Chase
2:00 PM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
The villager accidentally reports a sighting of the HexBeast at a distant location and potentially sends them on a goose chase, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will inaccurately describe the creature, since the has never seen it firsthand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since does not want to be killed by the creature.

Villager's property destroyed by monster (false)
4:00 PM -- Church
The villager reports that their wagon was destroyed by the monster.

Defend the Precious the HexBeast
6:00 PM -- Wheat field, uncut
The HexBeast has been found and the PCs prepare for battle. The traitor steps up to defend their project/pet/love. They are killed by it and then the fight begins.

NPC 1:
Aysha

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Painter
VillagerQuirk: Has a terribly unattractive bowl-cut hairdo
VillagerPcRelation: Dutiful servant of the state. Will do what is required by law and for good of community, but nothing more and not with pleasure. Stickler for rules.
CommonTask: drawing a portrat of a local village headman
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 2:
Firefox

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Hunter
VillagerQuirk: Has horrible pock marks from childhood disease
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; has a policy against getting involved in other people's dangerous affairs.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 3:
Babycakes

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Rat Catcher
VillagerQuirk: Wears very little for the weather. If a guy, goes shirtless.
VillagerPcRelation: Mostly Neutral; they have been dealt with WitchHammers before, and it ended up costing them large amounts of time/money/goods.
CommonTask: walking towards the back entrance of the tavern with a string of 2 dozen rats around their neck
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 4:
Beaner

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Miner
VillagerQuirk: Lucky. Improbably survives situations that would leave 99 percent of people dead.
VillagerPcRelation: Fearful of recent events/deaths and wants to help because of that.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 5:
Simion

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Spy
VillagerQuirk: Likes to talk at length about their profession.
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; dislikes the Empire and views WitchHammers as one tentacle of the Empire.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book

NPC 6:
Guinivere

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Butcher
VillagerQuirk: Only has one eye, other is a poorly made glass imitation eye
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; has a policy against getting involved in other people's dangerous affairs.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: cutting apart a cow carcas with brutal strength
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 7:
Urobuchi

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Grave Digger
VillagerQuirk: If unable to recall word, stops conversation and will not give up until can finally remember it
VillagerPcRelation: Mostly Neutral; they have been dealt with WitchHammers before, and it ended up costing them large amounts of time/money/goods.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 8:
Yutaka

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Traveling Tinkerer
VillagerQuirk: Terrible body odor (not really cleanliness; just exudes smell)
VillagerPcRelation: Lazy. will help, but must always be pushed/bribed.
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 9:
Pura

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Has a small and evil looking black cat that follows them around. The cat hisses and gives the evil eye at strangers.
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral to unhelpful/antagonistic; they have been unfortunate in life recently and caused their mood to sour (e.g. financial loss, enemy promoted, bad harvest).
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 10:
Kieros

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Monument Carver
VillagerQuirk: Light case of Leprosy
VillagerPcRelation: Secret Witch Sympathsizer. Will be as unhelpful/misleading as they think they can get away with, with occasional forays into trying to get the WitchHammers actively killed.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: supervising a team which is dragging a large marbe block into town

Adventure 3: Hunters of Slime Warping

Village Name: Huntly
Tavern Name: The Frowning Goat

Traits:
VillageResource: On a lake with plentiful fish and crustaceans
VillageOddity: Has famous Hog festival
VillageProsperity: Moderate
VillageSize: Medium
VillageLocation: Thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Grain silo
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Horse barn
VillageLocation: Windmill
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Tavern

Creature1:
Lemurian Marmacube
Power Level: 35

Stats:
Poise: 20
Health: 20
DefenseMod: 8
AttackMod: 3
Init: 7

Traits:
Aspect: Silver Ooze: Made out of a Silver jelly like substance with smaller, darker nodules inside. Immune to most poisons. Half damage from crushing weapons. Has +10 Health. Can escape through any hole that is at least one inch wide.
Frame: Cube
Size: Small Sized: -2 attack, +2 def, -5 HealthMax
Health: Delicate: This creature is oddly delicate, and a few solid blows will kill it. -5 health.
Reflex: Olympian Reflexes: This creature has amazing reflexes. In the entire world there are only a few humans who could best it without magic. +7 init, +6 attack/def.
Strength: Underdeveloped: This creature is weak for its size and appearance. Farmers should still be afraid of it. -1 atk, -2 dmg.
Ability: Telepathic: This creature can read a target's mind at up to Long range. Can communicate with the target if it wishes, though often it will not. Mechanically, this can be reflected by letting the GM make use of meta-knowledge gained from player's table talk. Additionally, gives a +5 bonus vs target in all contests.
Attack: Hallucinations: Causes unsettling hallucinations to those nearby. Worms and ants under the skin. The sense that you are already dead and rotting. Color inversion. Wild and strong emotions
Defense: Mask form: Can assume a human form. Transforming to human or back takes 1 full round.
Weakness: Sensitive ears: Loud, jarring sounds cause this creature to distraction and pain. Depending on the loudness and dissonance of the sound, takes a -1 to a -10 penalty and cannot use abilities.
Weakness: Blood thirsty: Cannot resist the smell and taste of blood. Will continue to pursue and target a wounded character until they are dead. Once it has a source of blood, will continue drinking it until it is empty. To break free before finishing all the blood, must make a hard Will save. Can make one such save per round.
Appearance: Crawling with fleas and other insects
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Most birds flee the region the creature is in.
VictimChoice: Rot Hungry: Cannot resist carrion. Will seek out rotting meat and plants. If it can, will let victim's bodies rot before consuming.
VictimWound: Cripples victims before burying them alive. Comes back to eat the buried body in a few days, after it has ripened.

Arrive at afflicted Village
12:00 AM -- Horse barn
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Lemurian Marmacube (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Villager reports spore.
2:00 PM -- Windmill
comes to the players and reports that they have found Spore from the creature. Spore is:
Most birds flee the region the creature is in.

Players see monster in distance, then it retreats
4:00 PM -- Windmill
A player sees Lemurian Marmacube in the distance, on a hill or at the edge of the forest. The beast makes eye contact with the player, marking them for later destruction, and then fades back into the woods/hills. If appropriate it gives a fearsome hunting cry before disappearing.

Meet the Monster Lover
6:00 PM -- Creek bed, dry
The WitchHammers run into who has seen and fallen in love with a HexBeast. is shopping for dry goods. They are likely anxious/nervous as they recognize the WitchHammers pose a threat to their crush and to themselves. They will try to act normal, find out info about the players, and then get away to plot further action...

Poison by Traitor
8:00 PM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Thirst Poison added to their Apple Juice. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Scary Tales from Traitor
12:00 PM -- Cross roads near town
The traitor tries to scare off the WitchHammers by telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. Will try to get WitchHammers to leave early and move on to the next adventure.

Foul house smells
6:00 AM -- Tavern
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Bad Traitor no traiting
8:00 AM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Find a large pile of meat-treats
10:00 AM -- Windmill
The traitor has been leaving food (mostly cow meat) out in the woods for the HexBeast to eat, as part of the effort to study and tame the HexBeast. The villager has found the meat (or the PCs if they are pro-active enough in searching) and reported it to the group. A large amount of the meat has been eaten.

Call the Vicious HexBeast
12:00 AM -- Windmill
The Traitor dramatically calls the HexBeast Lemurian Marmacube to fight the WitchHammers, and declares their attachment to it. The creature will answer the call, but it feels no loyalty to its caller and if convenient will kill bloodily at the start of the fight. will act and fight for the HexBeast, up until the moment that they realize the HexBeast is a bloody monster that will kill them.

NPC 1:
Valkerie

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Fisherman
VillagerQuirk: Has an elaborately coiffed and curled mustache that is their pride and joy.
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; WitchHammers helped save their family back when they were a kid.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 2:
Finders

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Cat Burglar
VillagerQuirk: Carries the blessing of Mercatoria. The God's power will watch over them and curse those who try to injure them.
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; dislikes the Empire and views WitchHammers as one tentacle of the Empire.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 3:
Dimon

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Monument Carver
VillagerQuirk: Has a hook hand
VillagerPcRelation: Generally helpful, though is a determined atheist and hates religious characters. He will quietly (or unquietly) work against their interests.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: supervising a team which is dragging a large marbe block into town

NPC 4:
Belinsky

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Rebel
VillagerQuirk: Rarely bathes, and it shows
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; both parents died recently from illness and kind of checked out on life.
CommonTask: intercepting people traveling on forest road, to either Robbin Hood them or just hood them.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 5:
Hakoda

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Has golden tooth (is a family heirloom; passed down from parent to child)
VillagerPcRelation: Generally helpful, though is a determined atheist and hates religious characters. He will quietly (or unquietly) work against their interests.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: organazing a party of men to act as a guard
CommonTask: shaking down a worker for small change

NPC 6:
Preistess

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Card Sharp
VillagerQuirk: Has horrible pock marks from childhood disease
VillagerPcRelation: Moderately helpful. They are greasily obsequious and will try to curry the WitchHammers favor in hopes of reward/protection/good word to the Empire.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 7:
Grubbs

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Lieutenant
VillagerQuirk: Has an elaborately coiffed and curled mustache that is their pride and joy.
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; WitchHammers helped save their family back when they were a kid.
CommonTask: drilling Soldiers
CommonTask: writing plans for patrol routes, supplies, garrisons
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 8:
Miyake

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Fisher
VillagerQuirk: Heavily tattooed
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; finds WitchHammers to be exotic and piquaresque.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 9:
Virginians

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Farmer
VillagerQuirk: Only has one eye, other is covered with eye patch
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

Adventure 4: Caterpillar Bush Hunter

Village Name: Peterhead
Tavern Name: The Leaping Dog

Traits:
VillageResource: Milling center; powered by many large windmills
VillageOddity: Has a locally famous pie baking contest
VillageProsperity: Moderate
VillageSize: Large
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Grain silo
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Loner's wattle-daub hut
VillageLocation: Thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Windmill
VillageLocation: Church
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak

Creature1:
Imperial Nariscene Seedpillar
Power Level: 62

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 70
Armor: 1
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 10
DamageMod: 10
Init: 3

Traits:
Aspect: Vines: Made out of animated vines, leaves, and flowers. Immune to many poisons. Has 1 Natural armor and + 10 hp.
Frame: Caterpillar
Size: Huge Sized: +4 attack, -2 def, +20 HealthMax
Health: Iron: This creature does not die easily, and must be hacked apart. To put it down will require multiple grievous wounds. +30 Health.
Reflex: Fast Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of a trained fencer or athlete. +3 Init, +2 Attack/Def
Strength: Gigantic strength: This creature has a strength completely out of proportion to its physical form. It can crush skulls and metal armor in grip, or knock through walls with its body. +4 atk, +10 dmg.
Attack: Long Fangs: Extra bite damage
Weakness: Blinding hunger: Once it starts feeding, finds it extremely difficult to stop. If it is being attacked or is facing imminent harm, can make Hard Will Saves to break free of this compulsion. Can make one such save per round.
Weakness: Soft Underbelly. Takes 3x damage when prone or if attacker is beneath it.
Weakness: Motion Sight: Cannot see creatures that are motionless. The less motion/movement a person makes, the more difficult it will be for this creature to see/target them. Can use scent and sound and intuition if it knows/suspects a character is at a certain area but "invisible".
Appearance: Ram Horns: The creature has a thick and curling set of ram's horns on its head
Appearance: Wears a featureless white mask over its face.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Nearby Metal rusts. The effect is very slight one mile out, but becomes stronger as you get closer to the creature. Spending more than a minute in combat will make metal weapons and armor brittle.
Spore: Fowl Murder: The dead bodies of ducks and geese are found in the morning. The animals heads are missing.
VictimChoice: Drawn to magic: Drawn to places of magical power/items/spells/wizards
VictimWound: Hides remains in shallow graves. Sometimes never found, sometimes found by dogs or other animals.

Arrive at afflicted Village
12:00 AM -- Church
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Imperial Nariscene Seedpillar (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Venal and Officious Mayor
2:00 PM -- Church
The mayor of the village, , gives the WitchHammers problems. He will attempt to charge them taxes for their wagon, horses, and equipment. Will also keep a tally of things (and people) broken during the adventure that they owe the community money for.

Meet the Graft Mayor
4:00 PM -- Church
The mayor has been stealing from the tax revenues that he should be sending back to the Capitol. What is more, he has been stealing a completely unreasonable amount. The mayor fears the WitchHammers as agents of Imperial power, and will do his best to make sure they never leave the town alive. The mayor will be polite but greasy in his interactions with the WitchHammers. The mayor has an absurd stash of gold coins hidden in his Graveyard.

Meet the Monster Cultists
6:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The WitchHammers run into and . is shopping for dry goods. They are insane and atavistic cultists who wish to use the HexBeast as an instrument of their violent desires. They have been setting up altars in the woods and sacrificing animals, which may or may not have summoned the HexBeast to the village. They stick together and maintain a sufficient facade of normality. They will both have a coldness and quietly intense dislike of the WitchHammers and will do what they can to get them killed.

Mayoral Spy
8:00 PM -- Townhall
The mayor has set a henchman, , to spy on the PCs. This henchman will follow them around and keep tabs on them as unobtrusively as possible. The henchman is not particularly loyal and is only moderately skilled; they will spill what they know if they are caught.

Copy cat killing
8:00 PM -- Grain silo
The traitor kills a villager in order to try and emulate the monster. The body will be found in a similar state as if it had been killed by the HexBeast, but not quite so (since it was just a human who did it rather than a force of terrible magic).

Separate Sheep from Flock
12:00 PM -- Loner's wattle-daub hut
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Poison and knives by Traitor
6:00 AM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Thirst Poison added to their Eggs and Onino. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will stick around to try and finish off any weakened WitchHammers, and then flee into the forest once the odds look too bad.

Bad food
8:00 AM -- Thick woods outside town
The food, if any, supplied by the villagers is bad. It will result in stomach aches, vomiting, and general malaise for the a full day before the symptoms come somewhat under control. You can treat this as a -2 penalty to all rolls for the duration.

Blood Altar found in woods
10:00 AM -- Thick woods outside town
Either the WitchHammers, or some villagers come across on of the Cultist's blood altars in the woods.

Monster taunts the WitchHammers with human venality
12:00 AM -- Thick woods outside town
The next time the WitchHammers face the creature, it will taunt them that they are not even supported by their own people. Will bring up evidence of the mayor's peculation and the effect it has had on the town. Mention that its victims have all been weak, scrawny, and ill-fed.

Eldritch sticks found in woods
2:00 PM -- Grain silo
The villager reports to the WitchHammers that they have found strange signs and sigils in the woods. Will take the WitchHammers out there, but on inspection they will probably be able to tell that this was just random chance, pagan worshipers, an arts and crafts project, a fallen hut, etc. rather than actual deviltry.

Call the Vicious HexBeast
4:00 PM -- Townhall
The Traitor dramatically calls the HexBeast Imperial Nariscene Seedpillar to fight the WitchHammers, and declares their attachment to it. The creature will answer the call, but it feels no loyalty to its caller and if convenient will kill bloodily at the start of the fight. will act and fight for the HexBeast, up until the moment that they realize the HexBeast is a bloody monster that will kill them.

Graft becomes obvious
6:00 PM -- Church
The WitchHammers notice the poverty and ruin of the town. Starving women and kids, rundown streets and buildings, beggars and depression. Will seem odd given the richness of the surrounding lands. When asked, citizens will complain of the Mayor and his cronies and their ruinous taxes.

Official Vigilantism
8:00 PM -- Church
The mayor has hired a group of thugs to try and kill/drive off the WitchHammers. They will try to set fire to the WitchHammer's residence, shoot them with crossbows, and then flee into the night. They are not committed to killing all of the WitchHammers, just want to wound/kill some of them and send a message to get out of town.

Bribe Attempt by Mayor
12:00 PM -- Townhall
The mayor is getting worried about the WitchHammers. If they seem at all amenable, will try to bribe them to leave the area. Will say that the town can take care of itself, and that they don't need the Empire getting involved in their day to day affairs.

Silence the Troublemakers
6:00 AM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
The mayor and his cronies will try to silence the WitchHammers to prevent them from notifying the authorities. They will wait until the WitchHammers are engaged in combat with a monster, and then pile in to the combat at an in-opportune time.

NPC 1:
Wolfing

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Hunter
VillagerQuirk: Waist length hair
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

NPC 2:
Rafalski

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Slave Driver
VillagerQuirk: Claw scars all over face (fought a bear once)
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was raised on tales of the WitchHammer's and their adventures.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 3:
Tamashii

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Large scar down across eye (fighting bandits/bandit hunters)
VillagerPcRelation: Generally helpful, though is a determined atheist and hates religious characters. He will quietly (or unquietly) work against their interests.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 4:
Arella

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Country Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Wooden nose; they lost their nose to an angry lover
VillagerPcRelation: Miserly. Will be very difficult to get to do anything that costs them money or puts their life in danger.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book

NPC 5:
Adiuvat

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Butler
VillagerQuirk: Has an old slave-tattoo
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; they are just generally sadistic and are happy to see WitchHammers or others get hurt.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 6:
Durbeyfield

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Miner
VillagerQuirk: Gigantic. 7ft tall, easy 300 lbs. (due to genetics, not magic)
VillagerPcRelation: Potentially helpful; they believe in hard work and the common man and will respond well to salt-of-the-earth types. Will quickly turn sour and recalcitrant if faced with snobbishness or high-falutin' behavior.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 7:
Dimmsdale

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Is the scion of an Empire noble family who was exiled and now is occupying a role far below their family status.
VillagerPcRelation: Dutiful servant of the state. Will do what is required by law and for good of community, but nothing more and not with pleasure. Stickler for rules.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: shaking down a worker for small change

NPC 8:
Kinz

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Plague Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Somewhat senile
VillagerPcRelation: Miserly. Will be very difficult to get to do anything that costs them money or puts their life in danger.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 9:
Whirley

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Has a wandering eye; stares randomly and independently of the main eye
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shaking down a worker for small change

NPC 10:
Ragna

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Card Sharp
VillagerQuirk: Has an old, bad burn scar across 1/3 of face
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; used to be a WitchHammer until the trauma and terror became too much for him.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

Adventure 5: Corruption!!! Corruption!!!

Village Name: Orito
Tavern Name: The Laughing Mountain

Traits:
VillageResource: Rich soil that grows vast crops of Corn
VillageOddity: Site of an important battle
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Small
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave
VillageLocation: Orchard field
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Wheat field, uncut
VillageLocation: Sheep paddock
VillageLocation: Church

Creature1:
Greater Hunter Necrolion
Power Level: 92

Stats:
Poise: 20
Health: 40
DefenseMod: 14
AttackMod: 11
DamageMod: 4
Init: 11

Traits:
Aspect: Bone: Made out of bone, scraps of sinew, and magic. Immune to almost all poisons, bonus vs fire and ice. Has night vision. Half damage from piercing weapons.
Frame: Lion
Size: Small Sized: -2 attack, +2 def, -5 HealthMax
Health: Steel: This creature does not die easily, and must be hacked apart. It will shrug off wounds that would kill a normal beast. +35 Health.
Reflex: Lightning reflexes: This creature's movements are unnaturally precise and fast, and are difficult to follow with the eye. It is able to tear through any single human without magical aid. Those with magical aid could last for several passes. +11 init, +10 atk/def
Strength: Very Strong: This creature is as strong as a professional weight lifter. It can hurl stones and bodies across a room. +1 atk, +4 dmg.
Ability: Keen Ears: Extremely good sense of hearing. Can hear voices from a mile away, or the smallest leaf crunch up close.
Ability: Immense Intelligence: These creatures are extremely intelligent, so much so that they are often thought to have magical or oracular powers. In practice, the difference is somewhat moot, as their vast knowledge, perfect recall, and incisive thinking allows them to be one or three steps ahead of most opponents. Will see through almost all traps, and can be expected to have contingency plans set up for most events. You should try to have at least 3 three surprises set up when facing these creatures, as it will usually predict the first two.
Attack: Entomb: This creature touches the target and entombs them in the ground. Hard Will Save. On failure, they are moved partially into the ground. The degree of failure indicates how far, with failing by 15+ being buried up to the crown of their head, while failing by 5 means being buried up to the kneecaps.
Attack: Multiple Mouths: Makes more than one bite attack. On more than one success, target is immobilized as one of the maws holds the target in place.
Defense: Spell Immunity 2: No damage from spells, +10 to saving throw and immediate saving throw.
Defense: Immune to pain: This creatures takes 1/3 the normal penalty for health damage.
Weakness: Sun Death: Takes damage while in sunlight.
Weakness: Vulnerable to strobing or flashing light: Movements will be jerky and imprecise. -5 penalty, and acts last in round.
Weakness: Vulnerable to light: Hates all light. Depending on the severity of the light, takes -1 to -10 penalty. A torch or a full moon would be -2, full sun would be -10.
Appearance: Blindfold: Wears a blindfold of cloth coverings its eyes. Does not seem to impede is senses.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Toads rain from the sky every 2-3 days.
VictimChoice: Taste for bitter, angry old men
VictimWound: Grinds up the teeth of its victims and then eats the dust.

Arrive at afflicted Village
2:00 PM -- Church
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Greater Hunter Necrolion (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Graft Mayor
4:00 PM -- Church
The mayor has been stealing from the tax revenues that he should be sending back to the Capitol. What is more, he has been stealing a completely unreasonable amount. The mayor fears the WitchHammers as agents of Imperial power, and will do his best to make sure they never leave the town alive. The mayor will be polite but greasy in his interactions with the WitchHammers. The mayor has an absurd stash of gold coins hidden in his Base of Town Statue.

Meet the Monster Cultists
6:00 PM -- Small limestone cave
The WitchHammers run into and . is walking to their job. They are insane and atavistic cultists who wish to use the HexBeast as an instrument of their violent desires. They have been setting up altars in the woods and sacrificing animals, which may or may not have summoned the HexBeast to the village. They stick together and maintain a sufficient facade of normality. They will both have a coldness and quietly intense dislike of the WitchHammers and will do what they can to get them killed.

Villager is severely wounded by beast
8:00 PM -- Small limestone cave
limps into the village, having been severely wounded by Greater Hunter Necrolion. They can gasp a few words, but will be largely unresponsive and on deaths door even if they get prompt care. Without prompt care, will die within the hour.

Monster taunts the WitchHammers with human venality
12:00 PM -- Graveyard
The next time the WitchHammers face the creature, it will taunt them that they are not even supported by their own people. Will bring up evidence of the mayor's peculation and the effect it has had on the town. Mention that its victims have all been weak, scrawny, and ill-fed.

Goose Chase by Traitor
6:00 AM -- Graveyard
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Eldritch sticks found in woods
8:00 AM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The villager reports to the WitchHammers that they have found strange signs and sigils in the woods. Will take the WitchHammers out there, but on inspection they will probably be able to tell that this was just random chance, pagan worshipers, an arts and crafts project, a fallen hut, etc. rather than actual deviltry.

Graft becomes obvious
10:00 AM -- Sheep paddock
The WitchHammers notice the poverty and ruin of the town. Starving women and kids, rundown streets and buildings, beggars and depression. Will seem odd given the richness of the surrounding lands. When asked, citizens will complain of the Mayor and his cronies and their ruinous taxes.

False accusation by villager
12:00 AM -- Sheep paddock
The villager accuses of being in league with the HexBeast. They should be beaten, confined, and or killed!

Poison by Traitor
2:00 PM -- Sheep paddock
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Itching Poison added to their Mushroom Soup. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Goose Chase
4:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The villager accidentally reports a sighting of the HexBeast at a distant location and potentially sends them on a goose chase, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will inaccurately describe the creature, since the has never seen it firsthand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since does not want to be killed by the creature.

Poison and knives by Traitor
6:00 PM -- Creek bed flowing with water
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Soporific Poison added to their Beef Stew. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will stick around to try and finish off any weakened WitchHammers, and then flee into the forest once the odds look too bad.

Mayoral Bushwhacking
8:00 PM -- Church
The mayor has hired a group of thugs to try and remove the WitchHammers. They will attack from ambush and show no mercy, though as they are mercs their moral is not good.

Scary Tales from Villager
12:00 PM -- Orchard field
comes to the WitchHammer with tales of terror and telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very murderously dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. No real reason to tell the tales (they might even be true_, just like scaring people and feeling important

False report by tattle-tale child
6:00 AM -- Sheep paddock
A child reports that they have seen out in the woods at night doing strange things. The child is making this up, because they are an asshole.

Bribe Attempt by Mayor
8:00 AM -- Church
The mayor is getting worried about the WitchHammers. If they seem at all amenable, will try to bribe them to leave the area. Will say that the town can take care of itself, and that they don't need the Empire getting involved in their day to day affairs.

Silence the Troublemakers
10:00 AM -- Creek bed flowing with water
The mayor and his cronies will try to silence the WitchHammers to prevent them from notifying the authorities. They will wait until the WitchHammers are engaged in combat with a monster, and then pile in to the combat at an in-opportune time.

Curse your sudden and inevitable support for the HexBeast
12:00 AM -- Townhall
The Traitor waits for the WitchHammers to fight the Greater Hunter Necrolion. Once combat has started, will betray the characters and attack them from behind. The HexBeast has no particular affection for the traitor, and will kill them if convenient. The traitor is smart enough to realize this and will try to stay out of the HexBeasts way during the combat, fleeing if need be if things go south.

NPC 1:
Gabrieli

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Soldier 3rd class
VillagerQuirk: Eyes are two different colors. (It is genetics, not magic)
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; has crush on one of the WitchHammers.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: whistling and making comments about passing members of the opposite sex

NPC 2:
Langner

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Butler
VillagerQuirk: Heavily tattooed
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a prized pig (default name: Muriel) and doesn't want any monster to eat it.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 3:
Pamplemousse

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Grave Robber
VillagerQuirk: Has horrible pock marks from childhood disease
VillagerPcRelation: Mildly unhelpful, through sheer laziness. The less work it requires the more helpful they will be.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: selling stolen trade goods silks(?)

NPC 4:
Arabs

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Slave Driver
VillagerQuirk: Gigantic. 7ft tall, easy 300 lbs. (due to genetics, not magic)
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a Servile personality in general.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: brutally beating a recalcitrant slave
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 5:
Stellan

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Vacationing Mercenary
VillagerQuirk: Cross Eyed
VillagerPcRelation: Deceitfully helpful. Will give assistance, but will try to sell it at a high price or otherwise profit from situation. Taxes, fees, family members that need medicine, sell their guide services when not needed, etc.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: arm Wrestling in a tavern

NPC 6:
Huddle

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Has peg leg
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; WitchHammers helped save their family back when they were a kid.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

NPC 7:
Herrold

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Grave Robber
VillagerQuirk: Very soft voice
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; family member(s) kiled by Witches, and blames WitchHammers for failing to stop it.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: sneaking through the night with dimmed lantern and shovel

NPC 8:
Warlick

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Dry Goods Shop Keeper
VillagerQuirk: Likes to talk at length about their profession.
VillagerPcRelation: Miserly. Will be very difficult to get to do anything that costs them money or puts their life in danger.
CommonTask: hawking goods from store front
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 9:
Guenther

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Vacationing Mercenary
VillagerQuirk: Has peg leg
VillagerPcRelation: Fearful of recent events/deaths and wants to help because of that.
CommonTask: passed out drunk in street
CommonTask: fighting in a tavern
CommonTask: casing out the village, semi-inconspicously. Presents themself as a tourist.

NPC 10:
Verbeck

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Butler
VillagerQuirk: Hunchbacked
VillagerPcRelation: Secret Witch Sympathsizer. Will be as unhelpful/misleading as they think they can get away with, with occasional forays into trying to get the WitchHammers actively killed.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

Adventure 6: Track of the Sect

Village Name: Carbon
Tavern Name: The Drunken Pegasus

Traits:
VillageResource: Works a Iron Mine
VillageOddity: Has famous Hog festival
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Medium
VillageLocation: Thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Church
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Sheep paddock
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Orchard field
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit

Creature1:
Miserable Southern Ectorse
Power Level: 19

Stats:
Poise: 20
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 10
AttackMod: 4
Init: 10

Traits:
Aspect: Ghost: Made out of ectoplasm and a cold and drifting light. Immune to poisons. Can escape anything but an airtight room, has night vision.
Frame: Horse
Size: Small Sized: -2 attack, +2 def, -5 HealthMax
Health: Normal Health: This creature has no health advantages, outside of those provided by its shape and aspect.
Reflex: Monstrous reflexes: This creature's movements are unnaturally precise and fast. It a fair fight, it would eventually bring down any un-aided human within a pass or two. +9 init, +8 atk/def
Strength: Weak: This creature is surprisingly weak for its size and appearance. Farmers should still be afraid of it. -2 atk, -4 dmg.
Ability: Long: The mid section of this creature is absurdly elongated (e.g. dachshund). More Health, more agility.
Attack: Flash Freeze Gaze: This attack is applied by Gaze. This creature's Gaze freezes the target in place. The target's skin is covered in a cm thick layer of ice, preventing movement and defense. Can make a hard con save to avoid effect or to break out of effect.
Defense: Immunity to Acid: No damage from Acid
Weakness: Sun Death: Takes damage while in sunlight.
Weakness: Music Appreciator: The creature can be hypnotized by the sound of beautiful and intricate music. The creature becomes lost in the notes, and inattentive to combat and threats to its life. Combat penalties range from -1 to -10, depending on the quality of the music. If the creature is not actively in combat, it can also be lulled into complete inaction by music. Wind instruments and stringed instruments are best for this, but even drums can have some effect.
Appearance: Continually screams
Appearance: Is grossly fat.
NumAppearing: Packs of 3
Spore: Mirrors warp where ever it goes
Spore: Tramps down odd geometric patterns in crops and fields
VictimChoice: Taste for depressed people
VictimWound: Prefers to drown victims, and then eats the water-logged bodies.

Arrive at afflicted Village
10:00 AM -- Orchard field
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Miserable Southern Ectorse (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Bad food
12:00 AM -- Cross roads near town
The food, if any, supplied by the villagers is bad. It will result in stomach aches, vomiting, and general malaise for the a full day before the symptoms come somewhat under control. You can treat this as a -2 penalty to all rolls for the duration.

Meet the Monster Cultists
2:00 PM -- Townhall
The WitchHammers run into and . is walking to their job. They are insane and atavistic cultists who wish to use the HexBeast as an instrument of their violent desires. They have been setting up altars in the woods and sacrificing animals, which may or may not have summoned the HexBeast to the village. They stick together and maintain a sufficient facade of normality. They will both have a coldness and quietly intense dislike of the WitchHammers and will do what they can to get them killed.

Villager reports false Spore.
4:00 PM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
comes to the players and reports that they have found Spore from the creature. The report is incorrect; it was just a result of rumor and fear and chance. Spore is:
No fish are caught at all. They seem to have deserted the creeks and streams.

Quiet... too quiet
6:00 PM -- Church
Nothing happens, or at least nothing that the PCs do not cause. All the threats working against them are quiet, sleeping, napping, planning, etc.

Foul house smells
8:00 PM -- Graveyard
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Blood Sign from the Traitor
12:00 PM -- Graveyard
The traitor leave a horribly mutilated animal at the WitchHammer's doorstep while they sleep. If they have time, will also paint bloody rune on their door. Characters should have a slight chance to catch the traitor, but only slight. The traitor will be on guard and will abort and run off into the night if they think they are in danger of being caught.

Poison by Traitor
6:00 AM -- Creek bed flowing with water
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Agonizing Poison added to their Eggs and Onino. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Blood Altar found in woods
8:00 AM -- Orchard field
Either the WitchHammers, or some villagers come across on of the Cultist's blood altars in the woods.

Copy cat killing
10:00 AM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
The traitor kills a villager in order to try and emulate the monster. The body will be found in a similar state as if it had been killed by the HexBeast, but not quite so (since it was just a human who did it rather than a force of terrible magic).

Poison and knives by Traitor
12:00 AM -- Church
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Itching Poison added to their Low Quality Beer. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will stick around to try and finish off any weakened WitchHammers, and then flee into the forest once the odds look too bad.

Call the Vicious HexBeast
2:00 PM -- Graveyard
The Traitor dramatically calls the HexBeast Miserable Southern Ectorse to fight the WitchHammers, and declares their attachment to it. The creature will answer the call, but it feels no loyalty to its caller and if convenient will kill bloodily at the start of the fight. will act and fight for the HexBeast, up until the moment that they realize the HexBeast is a bloody monster that will kill them.

NPC 1:
Alianovna

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Bar Maid
VillagerQuirk: Cross Eyed
VillagerPcRelation: Potentially helpful; they believe in hard work and the common man and will respond well to salt-of-the-earth types. Will quickly turn sour and recalcitrant if faced with snobbishness or high-falutin' behavior.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 2:
Coulthard

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Beggar
VillagerQuirk: Devout believer in Mercatoria. Extremely intolerant of people who contradict that faith.
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful and happily flirty. They like people in general and will try to get with the most likely WitchHammer.
CommonTask: piteously asking for alms on street
CommonTask: being chased by little kids
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 3:
Baldry

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Bandit
VillagerQuirk: Cross Eyed
VillagerPcRelation: Fearful of recent events/deaths and wants to help because of that.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: selling stolen trade goods silks(?)
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 4:
Kiyone

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Traveling Merchant
VillagerQuirk: Terrible short term memory
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; both parents died recently from illness and kind of checked out on life.
CommonTask: haggeling furiously with a customer
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 5:
Barnacle

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Card Sharp
VillagerQuirk: Only has one eye, other is covered with eye patch
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; finds WitchHammers to be exotic and piquaresque.
CommonTask: gambling
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 6:
Radish

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Fortune Teller
VillagerQuirk: Albino
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; has crush on one of the WitchHammers.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 7:
Ouellet

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Cut-purse
VillagerQuirk: Silver nose; they lost their nose to an angry lover
VillagerPcRelation: Moderately unhelpful; was once seduced by a WitchHammer who then snuck out on them after 3 days.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 8:
Eichman

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Spy
VillagerQuirk: Has an old, bad burn scar across 1/3 of face
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a large and happy family and wants to keep them safe.
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: writing letters, in code, to be sent by his contact back to the regional capital. Will mention WitchHammers actions and recent events.
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 9:
Arato

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Country Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Terrible breathe (and even worse teeth; blackened, uneven, missing)
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; they are just generally sadistic and are happy to see WitchHammers or others get hurt.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book

Adventure 7: The Palace of the Vampiric Crocodile

Village Name: Lauder
Tavern Name: The Staggering Eel

Traits:
VillageResource: Carvan stop; is at the conjunction of 6 well trafficked roads
VillageOddity: Has famous Llama festival
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Medium
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Windmill
VillageLocation: Loner's wattle-daub hut
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Grain silo

Creature1:
Akkadian Etherdile
Power Level: 46

Stats:
Poise: 20
Health: 30
DefenseMod: 6
AttackMod: 3
DamageMod: 4
Init: 5

Traits:
Aspect: Ghost: Made out of ectoplasm and a cold and drifting light. Immune to poisons. Can escape anything but an airtight room, has night vision.
Frame: Crocodile
Size: Small Sized: -2 attack, +2 def, -5 HealthMax
Health: Very Tough: This creature does not die easily, and will fiercely hold on to life. To put it down will require multiple grievous wounds. +25 Health.
Reflex: Very Fast Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of a top level fencer or athlete. +5 Init, +4 Attack/Def
Strength: Very Strong: This creature is as strong as a professional weight lifter. It can hurl stones and bodies across a room. +1 atk, +4 dmg.
Ability: Extra power during New Moon: Gains +10 atk/def during New Moon. Prefers to do its hunting then.
Attack: Life Draining Bite: This attack is applied by Bite. Heals 1 Health for each wound it does
Defense: Mist Form: Can turn into mist to escape attack or for maneuver. Usable twice per day.
Weakness: Hates reflection: Hates the sight of its reflection in a mirror. Will flee from its reflection in blind fear and panic.
Weakness: Fishes for compliments: Loves to be complimented. No matter what, will spare a person and hold off on attacking so long as they are being flattered.
Appearance: Has large iron pins embedded in its face and head at regular intervals. There are dozens of these pens, but they do not seem to impede the creatures actions.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Paranoia Aura: Over time, people in the region become distrustful, fearful, and aggressive. At its peak, can lead to assaults and murders.
VictimChoice: Taste for Horses
VictimWound: Takes the skulls of victims and piles them in little pyramids.

Arrive at afflicted Village
4:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Akkadian Etherdile (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Rebel Monster Lover
6:00 PM -- Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
The WitchHammers run into . is shopping for dry goods. The traitor hates the Empire with an insane passion, and wishes to use the HexBeast as an instrument of revenge on its citizens. They have seen the HexBeast kill, from a distance, and are now working in secret to help the HexBeast destroy the village. They are only too pleased to see the WitchHammers, as killing them would be an even more direct way to strike at the Empire.

Foul house smells
8:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Goose Chase by Traitor
12:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Poison by Traitor
6:00 AM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Soporific Poison added to their Beef Stew. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Poison and knives by Traitor
8:00 AM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Soporific Poison added to their Mushroom Soup. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will stick around to try and finish off any weakened WitchHammers, and then flee into the forest once the odds look too bad.

Curse your sudden and inevitable support for the HexBeast
10:00 AM -- Creek bed, dry
The Traitor waits for the WitchHammers to fight the Akkadian Etherdile. Once combat has started, will betray the characters and attack them from behind. The HexBeast has no particular affection for the traitor, and will kill them if convenient. The traitor is smart enough to realize this and will try to stay out of the HexBeasts way during the combat, fleeing if need be if things go south.

NPC 1:
Crete

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Slave Driver
VillagerQuirk: Is the scion of an Empire noble family who is secretly slumming it and taking a role far below their family status.
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral to unhelpful/antagonistic; they have been unfortunate in life recently and caused their mood to sour (e.g. financial loss, enemy promoted, bad harvest).
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: selling a few working slave at a small auction

NPC 2:
Oakie

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Butler
VillagerQuirk: Eyes are two different colors. (It is magic, not genetics)
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; both parents died recently from illness and kind of checked out on life.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 3:
Mcnab

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Anthropologist (performing studies on the various subject peoples of the Empire)
VillagerQuirk: Has naturally fire-red hair.
VillagerPcRelation: Mostly Neutral; they have been dealt with WitchHammers before, and it ended up costing them large amounts of time/money/goods.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book

NPC 4:
Remedi

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Constable
VillagerQuirk: Speaks very slowly and carefully (e.g. Obama)
VillagerPcRelation: Lazy. will help, but must always be pushed/bribed.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: organazing a party of men to act as a guard
CommonTask: dragging an insensible drunk in to a cell to sleep it off

NPC 5:
Javensen

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Rebel
VillagerQuirk: Has peg leg
VillagerPcRelation: Cheerful and Generous. A fortunate person who has a positive outlook on life.
CommonTask: talking with a towns-person they hope to recruit
CommonTask: selling stolen trade goods silks(?)
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 6:
Alexus

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Plague Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Has horrible pock marks from childhood disease
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; he finds WitchHammers to be arrogant bastards, and will do what he can to bring them down a notch without overly risking himself.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 7:
Vuttons

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Cartographer
VillagerQuirk: Wooden nose; they lost their nose to pirates
VillagerPcRelation: Mildly unhelpful, through sheer laziness. The less work it requires the more helpful they will be.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 8:
Bowley

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Spy
VillagerQuirk: Falsely believes themself to be agent of Mercatoria power on earth.
VillagerPcRelation: Secret Witch Sympathsizer. Will be as unhelpful/misleading as they think they can get away with, with occasional forays into trying to get the WitchHammers actively killed.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 9:
Wednesdays

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Grave Digger
VillagerQuirk: Claw scars all over face (fought a bear once)
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; used to be a WitchHammer until the trauma and terror became too much for him.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: burying a corpse at in a blasted heath
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

Adventure 8: The Revenge of the Ubungsflugzeug Hunter

Village Name: Hornillos
Tavern Name: The Drunken Eel

Traits:
VillageResource: Shrine and medium sized ministry to X God
VillageOddity: Has a locally famous pie baking contest
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Large
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Grain silo
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Church
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall

Creature1:
Crabby Penguin
Power Level: 132

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 100
DefenseMod: 4
AttackMod: 14
DamageMod: 10
Init: 7

Traits:
Aspect: Mummified: Made out of dried flesh and cloth. Immune to almost all poisons, weakness to fire, bonus to resist ice. Has night vision.
Frame: Penguin
Size: Huge Sized: +4 attack, -2 def, +20 HealthMax
Health: Unkillable: This creature refuses to die, and must be hacked apart. To put it down will require many grievous wounds. +70 Health.
Reflex: Olympian Reflexes: This creature has amazing reflexes. In the entire world there are only a few humans who could best it without magic. +7 init, +6 attack/def.
Strength: Gigantic strength: This creature has a strength completely out of proportion to its physical form. It can crush skulls and metal armor in grip, or knock through walls with its body. +4 atk, +10 dmg.
Ability: High Intelligence: These creatures are very intelligent. They use their abilities effectively, are wary of standard counters, and will usually see through obvious traps.
Ability: Keen Eyes: Extremely good eye sight. Can see prey that is miles away, and usually notices hidden or camouflaged creatures.
Ability: Monstrous Speed: Has an extra action slot.
Attack: Giant Crab claws: Extra damage. On a hit, can grab to keep doing more damage on the next turn.
Attack: Agonizing Gaze: This attack is applied by Gaze. This creature's Gaze causes debilitating agony.
Defense: Detachable limbs: Even when separated, limbs will continue to fight. Claws will scrabble along like spiders, will scamper into brush, etc. Can rejoin with main body if given a few minutes of peace.
Defense: Danger Oracle: Has magical warning of the one, next thing that threatens its life.
Defense: Immune to pain: This creatures takes 1/3 the normal penalty for health damage.
Weakness: Fishes for compliments: Loves to be complimented. No matter what, will spare a person and hold off on attacking so long as they are being flattered.
Weakness: Motion Sight: Cannot see creatures that are motionless. The less motion/movement a person makes, the more difficult it will be for this creature to see/target them. Can use scent and sound and intuition if it knows/suspects a character is at a certain area but "invisible".
Weakness: Blood thirsty: Cannot resist the smell and taste of blood. Will continue to pursue and target a wounded character until they are dead. Once it has a source of blood, will continue drinking it until it is empty. To break free before finishing all the blood, must make a hard Will save. Can make one such save per round.
Appearance: Has baby-sized hands growing out over its entire body.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: By ones and twos, children grow sick. Some waste away for weeks, others die. Will get better if the creature is killed.
Smell: No smell at all
VictimChoice: Taste for Cattle
VictimWound: Takes a large hank of the victim's hair. Does not usually kill, but drains their life force over time and at a distance using the link of the hair.

Arrive at afflicted Village
2:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Crabby Penguin (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Scary Tales from Villager
4:00 PM -- Townhall
comes to the WitchHammer with tales of terror and telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very murderously dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. No real reason to tell the tales (they might even be true_, just like scaring people and feeling important

Meet the Angry Drunk
6:00 PM -- Townhall
The WitchHammers run into the traitor , who is badly drunk and stumbling and smelly and being jeered by villagers. is an angry drunk, mean and bitter from years of humiliation and failure, and wishes to use the HexBeast as an instrument of revenge on their community. They have seen the HexBeast kill, from a distance, and are now working in secret to help the HexBeast destroy the village. They are unhappy to see the WitchHammers, as they might foil their vengeance.

Boozing by traitor
8:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The traitor tries to get the WitchHammers passed out drunk, both to find out information from them and to help them die on the following day. Will pay for all the beer and food, will toast the WitchHammers, and will do their best to get them completely soused. Will hail them as heroes of the village, will suggest they try one more drink of the village's special brew, will challenge them to drinking contests.

Goose Chase
12:00 PM -- Church
The villager accidentally reports a sighting of the HexBeast at a distant location and potentially sends them on a goose chase, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will inaccurately describe the creature, since the has never seen it firsthand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since does not want to be killed by the creature.

Copy cat killing
6:00 AM -- Grain silo
The traitor kills a villager in order to try and emulate the monster. The body will be found in a similar state as if it had been killed by the HexBeast, but not quite so (since it was just a human who did it rather than a force of terrible magic).

Goose Chase by Traitor
8:00 AM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Villager is severely wounded by beast
10:00 AM -- Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
limps into the village, having been severely wounded by Crabby Penguin. They can gasp a few words, but will be largely unresponsive and on deaths door even if they get prompt care. Without prompt care, will die within the hour.

Scary Tales from Traitor
12:00 AM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor tries to scare off the WitchHammers by telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. Will try to get WitchHammers to leave early and move on to the next adventure.

Villager's property destroyed by monster (false)
2:00 PM -- Grain silo
The villager reports that their wagon was destroyed by the monster.

Call the Vicious HexBeast
4:00 PM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
The Traitor dramatically calls the HexBeast Crabby Penguin to fight the WitchHammers, and declares their attachment to it. The creature will answer the call, but it feels no loyalty to its caller and if convenient will kill bloodily at the start of the fight. will act and fight for the HexBeast, up until the moment that they realize the HexBeast is a bloody monster that will kill them.

NPC 1:
Jadey

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Plague Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Has 6 fingers on both hands. Tries to hide this, but always ends up drawing attention to it instead.
VillagerPcRelation: Mildly unhelpful, through sheer laziness. The less work it requires the more helpful they will be.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: dissecting a corpse

NPC 2:
Dalila

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Likes to talk at length about their profession.
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was orphaned at young age but despite hardships has irrepressible cheer and positive outlook on the world.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 3:
Waggner

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Anthropologist (performing studies on the various subject peoples of the Empire)
VillagerQuirk: Only has one eye, other is covered with eye patch
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: writing letters, in code, to be sent by his contact back to the regional capital. Will mention WitchHammers actions and recent events.
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 4:
Filii

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Card Sharp
VillagerQuirk: Has an old, bad burn scar across 1/3 of face
VillagerPcRelation: Arrogant. Thinks they are above wandering killers such as the WitchHammers. Will only grudingly help.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: passed out drunk in street
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 5:
Majewski

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Bandit
VillagerQuirk: Mute (tongue cut out by bandits?)
VillagerPcRelation: Very Helpful; has heard stories of the chaos that Beasts can cause and wants to prevent that.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 6:
Trilling

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Card Sharp
VillagerQuirk: Has peg leg
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; they want to be a Witchahmmer themselves on day.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 7:
Longhi

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Farmer
VillagerQuirk: Has an old slave-tattoo
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was orphaned at young age but despite hardships has irrepressible cheer and positive outlook on the world.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: driving a cartload of produce into town
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 8:
Thundercloud

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Miner
VillagerQuirk: Has no teeth
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; they want to be a Witchahmmer themselves on day.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

NPC 9:
Dozier

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Grave Robber
VillagerQuirk: Drunkard, will be at least lightly soused in most interactions
VillagerPcRelation: Cowardly. Very scared by events, will do little and will often hide.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

Adventure 9: The Night

Village Name: Ahillas
Tavern Name: The Prancing Mountain

Traits:
VillageResource: Carvan stop; is at the conjunction of 6 well trafficked roads
VillageOddity: Bustling Trade Routes
VillageProsperity: Poor
VillageSize: Large
VillageLocation: Thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Orchard field
VillageLocation: Grain silo
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall

Creature1:
Western Shadow Worm
Power Level: 48

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 65
DefenseMod: -2
AttackMod: 6
DamageMod: 6
Init: 0

Traits:
Aspect: Shadow: Made out of animated shadows and unholy light. Bonus to stealth, bonus to resist ice. Immune to poisons. Can escape anything but an airtight room, has night vision.
Frame: Worm
Size: Huge Sized: +4 attack, -2 def, +20 HealthMax
Health: Steel: This creature does not die easily, and must be hacked apart. It will shrug off wounds that would kill a normal beast. +35 Health.
Reflex: Human Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of an average, active human being.
Strength: Olympian strength: This creature is as strong as any mortal in the world. It can hurl stones and bodies across a room. +2 atk, +6 dmg.
Attack: Breath of Unlife: Can breathe into a corpse's mouth, and have it raise as a zombie in seconds. Can badly damage an incapacitated person by breathing into their mouth.
Weakness: Tasteless: Has no mouth feel; cannot taste or other wise use its mouth to tell what it is eating.
Weakness: Sun Vulnerability: Is impaired while in sunlight (-4 to attack and defense)
Weakness: Vain: Loves to look at self. Can become entranced by mirrors or still pools of water.
Appearance: Wears knotted strings of human bone wrapped around its body: +1 Armor
Appearance: Speaks a stream of nonsense phrases as it attacks. Doesn't seem to understand the words; seems to be parroted phrases that it has overheard.
NumAppearing: Packs of 2
Spore: Old injuries act up. The elderly suffer from limps, aches, and pains.
Spore: Mirrors warp where ever it goes
Smell: Yeast
VictimChoice: Taste for sickly people
VictimWound: Prefers to drown victims, and then eats the water-logged bodies.

Arrive at afflicted Village
10:00 AM -- Orchard field
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Western Shadow Worm (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Rebel Monster Lover
12:00 AM -- Townhall
The WitchHammers run into . is diving through refuse dump for scraps. The traitor hates the Empire with an insane passion, and wishes to use the HexBeast as an instrument of revenge on its citizens. They have seen the HexBeast kill, from a distance, and are now working in secret to help the HexBeast destroy the village. They are only too pleased to see the WitchHammers, as killing them would be an even more direct way to strike at the Empire.

Foul house smells
2:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Quiet... too quiet
4:00 PM -- Townhall
Nothing happens, or at least nothing that the PCs do not cause. All the threats working against them are quiet, sleeping, napping, planning, etc.

Poison by Traitor
6:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Choking Poison added to their Roast Duck. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Separate Sheep from Flock
8:00 PM -- Grain silo
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Goose Chase by Traitor
12:00 PM -- Creek bed flowing with water
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Villager reports false Spore.
6:00 AM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
comes to the players and reports that they have found Spore from the creature. The report is incorrect; it was just a result of rumor and fear and chance. Spore is:
Inscribes odd geometric patterns in walls. If it has the time for it, will scrawl these patterns across an entire wall or room.

Curse your sudden and inevitable support for the HexBeast
8:00 AM -- Orchard field
The Traitor waits for the WitchHammers to fight the Western Shadow Worm. Once combat has started, will betray the characters and attack them from behind. The HexBeast has no particular affection for the traitor, and will kill them if convenient. The traitor is smart enough to realize this and will try to stay out of the HexBeasts way during the combat, fleeing if need be if things go south.

NPC 1:
Esca

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Boatman
VillagerQuirk: Broken leg, is on crutches (from falling tree, both the legs and the crutches)
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; WitchHammers helped save their family back when they were a kid.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 2:
Bier

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Crab hunter
VillagerQuirk: Has naturally fire-red hair.
VillagerPcRelation: Fearful of recent events/deaths and wants to help because of that.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 3:
Tohma

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Wears very little for the weather. If a guy, goes shirtless.
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was orphaned at young age but despite hardships has irrepressible cheer and positive outlook on the world.
CommonTask: looking at passers by with wariness and hostility
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

NPC 4:
Hott

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Fisher
VillagerQuirk: As much as possible, will try to answer your questions by asking you a question
VillagerPcRelation: Venal. Will help, but must always be pushed/bribed.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 5:
Coretti

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Cat Burglar
VillagerQuirk: Lots of large and various facial warts
VillagerPcRelation: Mildly helpful, but will do their best to claim credit for WitchHammer's successes while blaming them to the town for their failures.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 6:
Vitaly

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Painter
VillagerQuirk: Has odd, bulging eyes.
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; they think WitchHammers bring monsters rather than the other way around.
CommonTask: drawing a landscape painting of a scenic glade
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 7:
Honoo

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Boatman
VillagerQuirk: Gigantic. 7ft tall, easy 300 lbs. (due to genetics, not magic)
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: rowing a group of villagers across a river
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 8:
Nyte

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Plague Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Terrible breathe (is slowly dying from liver disease)
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; both parents died recently from illness and kind of checked out on life.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 9:
Mizumi

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Beggar
VillagerQuirk: Wears what is quite obviously a wig in a garish wheat-blond color.
VillagerPcRelation: Arrogant. Thinks they are above wandering killers such as the WitchHammers. Will only grudingly help.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: diving through refuse dump for scraps
CommonTask: piteously asking for alms on street

Adventure 10: Mastiff!!! Mastiff!!!

Village Name: Vigo
Tavern Name: The Leaping Eel

Traits:
VillageResource: Frontier Fort
VillageOddity: Grudge against neighboring Village
VillageProsperity: Poor
VillageSize: Large
VillageLocation: Wheat field, uncut
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Church
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Horse barn
VillageLocation: Graveyard

Creature1:
Terrible Freezing Hundberg
Power Level: 73

Stats:
Poise: 20
Health: 30
DefenseMod: 4
AttackMod: 0
Init: 4

Traits:
Aspect: Ice: Made out of animated ice and frost-bitten flesh. Bonus to resist ice. Freezes anything in close contact with it. Immune to most poisons.
Frame: Hound
Size: Small Sized: -2 attack, +2 def, -5 HealthMax
Health: Very Tough: This creature does not die easily, and will fiercely hold on to life. To put it down will require multiple grievous wounds. +25 Health.
Reflex: Fast Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of a trained fencer or athlete. +3 Init, +2 Attack/Def
Strength: Normal Strength: This creature has no unnatural strength advantage, outside of those provided by its shape and aspect.
Ability: Night Vision: Can see in complete darkness without any difficulty.
Ability: High Intelligence: These creatures are very intelligent. They use their abilities effectively, are wary of standard counters, and will usually see through obvious traps.
Ability: Soundless world aura: There is no sound when within short range of the creature. Eerie. +3 creature attack as this throws off the normal cues a person would use to defend. Also interferes with attempts to coordinate while fighting the creature. (optional, up to GM) As a meta-game effect, players who's PCs who are inside the aura can't talk with other players. They can gesticulate wildly, write notes, but not communicate about battle.
Attack: Heart Bleed Breath: This attack is applied by Breath. This creature's Breath causes the target's heart to lacerate and bleed, usually resulting in rapid death. Difficult to land the attack, the target usually must be restrained or badly injured for it to hit. (-10 attack). Does 3 bleed wounds per round for 10 rounds.
Attack: Cold Snap: Can send out a pulse of cold that flash freezes all objects within Medium Range. The closer you are, the more cold you get. Water will ice over, hair and eye brows will be laden with ice crystals, glass and parchment will be covered with a layer of frost, and mechanical items might lock or break. Medium Con Save at close range or take damage and penalty until your clothes and limbs are de-iced. Usable twice per day.
Attack: Soul Eat: Deals death blow by eating the soul of its target. Gains the target's knowledge, and a portion of its strength. Leaves a mindless, soulless, vegetative husk behind. Might or might not eat the husk too.
Defense: Dark Aura: Shrouded in shadow. Torches and fires are extinguished, even sun seems dimmer.
Defense: Weapon Immunity 2: Max of 1 damage normal weapons
Defense: Mind Cloud: Can cause brief visual hallucinations at up to long range. For instance, could make someone think they were selecting one potion instead of another. Or, if firing a ranged weapon into a melee, could make them target the wrong opponent. Usable once per round out to long range. Hard Mind save to resist or notice the effect.
Weakness: Blinding hunger: Once it starts feeding, finds it extremely difficult to stop. If it is being attacked or is facing imminent harm, can make Hard Will Saves to break free of this compulsion. Can make one such save per round.
Weakness: Spheresome Aura: For esoteric magical reasons, the form of the Sphere is baneful to this creature. The creature is deathly afraid of spheres, and can be warded off, terrified, and "burned" by them. Note the sphere does not have to be perfect, but a lop-sided oval simply will not be effective. The Creature takes a -1 to -10 penalty based on the visual impressiveness of the sphere and how close it is to the beast.
Appearance: Small candles and pooled wax cover the shoulders of the creature. The candles burn with an eerie Black light, and will never go out so long as the creature is alive.
Appearance: Tiny Horns: The creature has a small set of devil horns on its head
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Old injuries act up. The elderly suffer from limps, aches, and pains.
VictimChoice: Taste for Horses
VictimWound: Eats the flesh and muscles, and then carves strange sigils on the bones of the victim.

Arrive at afflicted Village
4:00 PM -- Graveyard
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Terrible Freezing Hundberg (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Monstropologist
6:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The WitchHammers run into who has seen and wishes to study the HexBeast. is walking to their job. They are likely anxious/nervous as they recognize the WitchHammers pose a threat to their research, and maybe even to themselves. They will try to act normal, find out info about the players, and then get away to plot further action...

Bad Traitor no traiting
8:00 PM -- Graveyard
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Meet the Nerrrrrd
12:00 PM -- Creek bed flowing with water
The WitchHammers run into the traitor , who is hurrying through the streets being made fun of by some local laborers. is an angry nerd, bitter from years of social and romantic embarrassments, and wishes to use the HexBeast as an instrument of revenge on their community. They have seen the HexBeast kill, from a distance, and are now working in secret to help the HexBeast destroy the village. They are unhappy to see the WitchHammers, as they might foil their vengeance. However they are a physical and social coward, so their means of working against the WitchHammers are somewhat limited. They will be nervous (even more than usual) if talking to the WitchHammers and not particularly good about hiding their anger at the laborers and other townsfolk.

Poison by Traitor
6:00 AM -- Creek bed, dry
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Blinding Poison added to their Mushroom Soup. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Goose Chase by Traitor
8:00 AM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Scary Tales from Traitor
10:00 AM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor tries to scare off the WitchHammers by telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. Will try to get WitchHammers to leave early and move on to the next adventure.

Find a large pile of meat-treats
12:00 AM -- Creek bed flowing with water
The traitor has been leaving food (mostly cow meat) out in the woods for the HexBeast to eat, as part of the effort to study and tame the HexBeast. The villager has found the meat (or the PCs if they are pro-active enough in searching) and reported it to the group. A large amount of the meat has been eaten.

Call the Vicious HexBeast
2:00 PM -- Horse barn
The Traitor dramatically calls the HexBeast Terrible Freezing Hundberg to fight the WitchHammers, and declares their attachment to it. The creature will answer the call, but it feels no loyalty to its caller and if convenient will kill bloodily at the start of the fight. will act and fight for the HexBeast, up until the moment that they realize the HexBeast is a bloody monster that will kill them.

Bad food
4:00 PM -- Wheat field, uncut
The food, if any, supplied by the villagers is bad. It will result in stomach aches, vomiting, and general malaise for the a full day before the symptoms come somewhat under control. You can treat this as a -2 penalty to all rolls for the duration.

Eldritch sticks found in woods
6:00 PM -- Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
The villager reports to the WitchHammers that they have found strange signs and sigils in the woods. Will take the WitchHammers out there, but on inspection they will probably be able to tell that this was just random chance, pagan worshipers, an arts and crafts project, a fallen hut, etc. rather than actual deviltry.

Separate Sheep from Flock
8:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Villager reports a false sighting of the creature
12:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The villager comes to the player and reports seeing Terrible Freezing Hundberg in the distance, on a hill or at the edge of the forest. The beast glared frightfully and then fades back into the woods/hills. It gave a fearsome hunting cry before disappearing.

Call the Cunning HexBeast
6:00 AM -- Church
The Traitor dramatically calls the HexBeast Terrible Freezing Hundberg to fight the WitchHammers, and declares their attachment to it. The creature will answer the call. It has some affection for its caller, and will not kill them until after everyone else is dead or fled. will act and fight for the HexBeast, not realizing their eventual fate.

NPC 1:
Quebrada

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Country Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Has an old slave-tattoo
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a Servile personality in general.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 2:
Gouldings

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Lieutenant
VillagerQuirk: Has an old slave-tattoo
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; WitchHammers helped save their family back when they were a kid.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 3:
Cobretti

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Rebel
VillagerQuirk: Has an old, bad burn scar across 1/3 of face
VillagerPcRelation: Fearful of recent events/deaths and wants to help because of that.
CommonTask: selling stolen trade goods silks(?)
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 4:
Wilcock

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Bandit
VillagerQuirk: Has a rather enormous neck goiter
VillagerPcRelation: Fearful of recent events/deaths and wants to help because of that.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 5:
Naser

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Teamster
VillagerQuirk: Broken leg, is on crutches (from falling tree, both the legs and the crutches)
VillagerPcRelation: Surly. Wants nothing to do with strangers. Will do bare minimum.
CommonTask: feeding their oxen team
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 6:
Pollini

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Bandit
VillagerQuirk: Unlucky. Will die at first opportunity
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral to unhelpful/antagonistic; they have been unfortunate in life recently and caused their mood to sour (e.g. financial loss, enemy promoted, bad harvest).
CommonTask: casing out the village, semi-inconspicously. Presents themself as a tourist.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: selling stolen trade goods silks(?)

NPC 7:
Tsukiyo

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Courier
VillagerQuirk: Wears a Green sash, very vain about it
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral to unhelpful/antagonistic; they have been unfortunate in life recently and caused their mood to sour (e.g. financial loss, enemy promoted, bad harvest).
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 8:
Luda

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Lieutenant
VillagerQuirk: Devout believer in Sithrak. Extremely intolerant of people who contradict that faith.
VillagerPcRelation: Surly. Wants nothing to do with strangers. Will do bare minimum.
CommonTask: drilling Soldiers
CommonTask: executing captured rebels
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 9:
Everts

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Anthropologist (performing studies on the various subject peoples of the Empire)
VillagerQuirk: Has odd, bulging eyes.
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; dislikes the Empire and views WitchHammers as one tentacle of the Empire.
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: asking people to fill in survey's about how they feel about the Empire

NPC 10:
Harver

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Anthropologist (performing studies on the various subject peoples of the Empire)
VillagerQuirk: Rarely bathes, and it shows
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; used to be a WitchHammer until the trauma and terror became too much for him.
CommonTask: writing letters, in code, to be sent by his contact back to the regional capital. Will mention WitchHammers actions and recent events.
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

Adventure 11: The Rat Dilemma

Village Name: Loch Earn
Tavern Name: The Lonely Badger

Traits:
VillageResource: Has a large dam and several important mills
VillageOddity: Bustling Trade Routes
VillageProsperity: Moderate
VillageSize: Small
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Orchard field
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Sheep paddock
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Shop
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit

Creature1:
Thulian Ratgaunt
Power Level: 109

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 30
DefenseMod: 7
AttackMod: 12
DamageMod: 7
Init: 7

Traits:
Aspect: Mummified: Made out of dried flesh and cloth. Immune to almost all poisons, weakness to fire, bonus to resist ice. Has night vision.
Frame: Rat
Size: Huge Sized: +4 attack, -2 def, +20 HealthMax
Health: Normal Health: This creature has no health advantages, outside of those provided by its shape and aspect.
Reflex: Olympian Reflexes: This creature has amazing reflexes. In the entire world there are only a few humans who could best it without magic. +7 init, +6 attack/def.
Strength: Olympian strength: This creature is as strong as any mortal in the world. It can hurl stones and bodies across a room. +2 atk, +6 dmg.
Ability: Heat Vision: Can see heat, and uses that to locate prey.
Ability: Aetheric Step: Has a short-range teleport action. Also +3 defense.
Attack: Monstrous Bash: Can make a knock back attack, knocks a hit target back by 4 spaces.
Attack: Bug Spray: Fires a cone of Flies out of its mouth at high pressure, hitting targets at up to Medium distance. The Flies then proceed to act as a mook. Usable twice per day.
Attack: Injecting Proboscis: This creature does not have a bite attack, but rather a proboscis that injects Blinding Poison.
Defense: Mask form: Can assume a human form. Transforming to human or back takes 1 full round.
Defense: Spell Immunity 2: No damage from spells, +10 to saving throw and immediate saving throw.
Defense: Partial Invisibility (except mouth) : The creature is invisible, with the exception of its mouth. Can move and attack while in this state.
Weakness: Skin Shield: Needs to wear the skin of other creatures in order to survive in the world. Otherwise loses powers, takes penalties.
Weakness: Avoidance Hearths: Strongly avoids and will not approach Hearths
Weakness: Blood thirsty: Cannot resist the smell and taste of blood. Will continue to pursue and target a wounded character until they are dead. Once it has a source of blood, will continue drinking it until it is empty. To break free before finishing all the blood, must make a hard Will save. Can make one such save per round.
Appearance: Crown of shadow
Appearance: Has an emaciated belly.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: There is a region wide increase in vermin. In particular, Fat Maggots can be found in much greater numbers.
Smell: Burning Pine Wood
VictimChoice: Taste for depressed people
VictimWound: Hangs victims from tree branches to make feeding easier.

Arrive at afflicted Village
2:00 PM -- Graveyard
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Thulian Ratgaunt (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Rebel Monster Lover
4:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The WitchHammers run into . is rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel. The traitor hates the Empire with an insane passion, and wishes to use the HexBeast as an instrument of revenge on its citizens. They have seen the HexBeast kill, from a distance, and are now working in secret to help the HexBeast destroy the village. They are only too pleased to see the WitchHammers, as killing them would be an even more direct way to strike at the Empire.

Goose Chase
6:00 PM -- Shop
The villager accidentally reports a sighting of the HexBeast at a distant location and potentially sends them on a goose chase, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will inaccurately describe the creature, since the has never seen it firsthand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since does not want to be killed by the creature.

Foul house smells
8:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Separate Sheep from Flock
12:00 PM -- Shop
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Players see monster in distance, then it retreats
6:00 AM -- Small limestone cave
A player sees Thulian Ratgaunt in the distance, on a hill or at the edge of the forest. The beast makes eye contact with the player, marking them for later destruction, and then fades back into the woods/hills. If appropriate it gives a fearsome hunting cry before disappearing.

Poison and knives by Traitor
8:00 AM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Poison added to their Roast Duck. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will stick around to try and finish off any weakened WitchHammers, and then flee into the forest once the odds look too bad.

Goose Chase by Traitor
10:00 AM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Villager is severely wounded by beast
12:00 AM -- Creek bed, dry
limps into the village, having been severely wounded by Thulian Ratgaunt. They can gasp a few words, but will be largely unresponsive and on deaths door even if they get prompt care. Without prompt care, will die within the hour.

Curse your sudden and inevitable support for the HexBeast
2:00 PM -- Tavern
The Traitor waits for the WitchHammers to fight the Thulian Ratgaunt. Once combat has started, will betray the characters and attack them from behind. The HexBeast has no particular affection for the traitor, and will kill them if convenient. The traitor is smart enough to realize this and will try to stay out of the HexBeasts way during the combat, fleeing if need be if things go south.

NPC 1:
Tolan

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Grave Robber
VillagerQuirk: Likes to talk at length about their profession.
VillagerPcRelation: Fawning; is a fanboy of WitchHammers. Will do anything they ask and probably get killed doing it.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 2:
Jacobus

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Rebel
VillagerQuirk: Extremely tall, somewhat lanky (e.g. 7 ft basketball player type)
VillagerPcRelation: Very Helpful; has heard stories of the chaos that Beasts can cause and wants to prevent that.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: talking with a towns-person they hope to recruit
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 3:
Furnier

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Courier
VillagerQuirk: Grossly underweight
VillagerPcRelation: Cheerful and Generous. A fortunate person who has a positive outlook on life.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 4:
Purchase

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Fisher
VillagerQuirk: Eyes are two different colors. (It is genetics, not magic)
VillagerPcRelation: Cowardly. Very scared by events, will do little and will often hide.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 5:
Delvechio

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Fortune Teller
VillagerQuirk: Body has numerous red and inflamed boils
VillagerPcRelation: Cowardly. Very scared by events, will do little and will often hide.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 6:
Bohe

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Light case of Leprosy
VillagerPcRelation: Fawning; is a fanboy of WitchHammers. Will do anything they ask and probably get killed doing it.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

NPC 7:
Okaasan

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Speaks in mono-syllables
VillagerPcRelation: Moderately unhelpful; was once seduced by a WitchHammer who then snuck out on them after 3 days.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: organazing a party of men to act as a guard
CommonTask: shaking down a worker for small change

NPC 8:
Darado

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Dry Goods Shop Keeper
VillagerQuirk: Has 6 fingers on both hands. Tries to hide this, but always ends up drawing attention to it instead.
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful and happily flirty. They like people in general and will try to get with the most likely WitchHammer.
CommonTask: hawking goods from store front
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: unloading a massive shipment of goods from an overloaded cart

NPC 9:
Gusta

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Fisherman
VillagerQuirk: Very Badly Flatulent
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral to unhelpful/antagonistic; they have been unfortunate in life recently and caused their mood to sour (e.g. financial loss, enemy promoted, bad harvest).
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

Adventure 12: The Great Hunter Adventure

Village Name: Purchena
Tavern Name: The Laughing Pony

Traits:
VillageResource: Milling center; powered by many large windmills
VillageOddity: Has famous Goat festival
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Small
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Grain silo
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Shop
VillageLocation: Sheep paddock
VillageLocation: Horse barn
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave

Creature1:
Akkadian Swamp Maggot
Power Level: 61

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 55
DefenseMod: 2
AttackMod: 4
DamageMod: 6
Init: 3

Traits:
Aspect: Fungus: Made out of decomposing and rotted plant matter, like an animated compost heap. Immune to many poisons. Has +10 Health.
Frame: Maggot
Size: Medium Sized
Health: Steel: This creature does not die easily, and must be hacked apart. It will shrug off wounds that would kill a normal beast. +35 Health.
Reflex: Fast Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of a trained fencer or athlete. +3 Init, +2 Attack/Def
Strength: Olympian strength: This creature is as strong as any mortal in the world. It can hurl stones and bodies across a room. +2 atk, +6 dmg.
Ability: Night Vision: Can see in complete darkness without any difficulty.
Ability: Keen Eyes: Extremely good eye sight. Can see prey that is miles away, and usually notices hidden or camouflaged creatures.
Attack: Razor Sharp Bite: This attack is applied by Bite. Pierces armor; ignores the normal effects of first 3 points of armor.
Attack: Giant Crab claws: Extra damage. On a hit, can grab to keep doing more damage on the next turn.
Defense: Pierce Resistant: Half damage from piercing weapons
Weakness: Blood thirsty: Cannot resist the smell and taste of blood. Will continue to pursue and target a wounded character until they are dead. Once it has a source of blood, will continue drinking it until it is empty. To break free before finishing all the blood, must make a hard Will save. Can make one such save per round.
Weakness: Vulnerable to Alcohol: Cannot stand Alcohol. Will burn the creature's skin and poison its body. Depending on amount of exposure, and takes a -1 to -4 penalty per application. Lasts until next full rest.
Appearance: Has a thick and distended abdomen.
Appearance: Eyes never point in same direction
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Leaves deer-like pellets that are a bright Black color.
Spore: Glass and porcelain cracks more often. You might wake up in the morning to find a window with a long crack in it, or an old plate that has split in half.
Smell: Burning Sugar
VictimChoice: Taste for bitter, angry old men
VictimWound: Likes to make a nest/bed out of its victims. Naps there for a while after a kill.

Arrive at afflicted Village
10:00 AM -- Graveyard
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Akkadian Swamp Maggot (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Monstropologist
12:00 AM -- Cross roads near town
The WitchHammers run into who has seen and wishes to study the HexBeast. is shopping for dry goods. They are likely anxious/nervous as they recognize the WitchHammers pose a threat to their research, and maybe even to themselves. They will try to act normal, find out info about the players, and then get away to plot further action...

Goose Chase by Traitor
2:00 PM -- Horse barn
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Villager is severely wounded by beast
4:00 PM -- Creek bed flowing with water
limps into the village, having been severely wounded by Akkadian Swamp Maggot. They can gasp a few words, but will be largely unresponsive and on deaths door even if they get prompt care. Without prompt care, will die within the hour.

Meet the Fan of Purity of Essence
6:00 PM -- Grain silo
The WitchHammers run into who has seen the HexBeast kill and admires its sublime ferocity. is rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel. is somewhat insane and not particularly nervous; they will want to see the HexBeast kill the WitchHammers and others, and will try to help the beast along with its divine violence. They will try to find out what they can about the WitchHammers. They will also try to attach themselves to the WitchHammers with offers of help, assistance, guidance, etc. This way they can better betray them later. The encounter should also give some hint as to the fact that is somewhat off in the head.

Poison by Traitor
8:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Emetic Poison added to their Fresh Wheat Bread. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Foul house smells
12:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Bad Traitor no traiting
6:00 AM -- Graveyard
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Copy cat killing
8:00 AM -- Small limestone cave
The traitor kills a villager in order to try and emulate the monster. The body will be found in a similar state as if it had been killed by the HexBeast, but not quite so (since it was just a human who did it rather than a force of terrible magic).

Find a large pile of meat-treats
10:00 AM -- Cross roads near town
The traitor has been leaving food (mostly cow meat) out in the woods for the HexBeast to eat, as part of the effort to study and tame the HexBeast. The villager has found the meat (or the PCs if they are pro-active enough in searching) and reported it to the group. A large amount of the meat has been eaten.

Defend the Precious the HexBeast
12:00 AM -- Small limestone cave
The HexBeast has been found and the PCs prepare for battle. The traitor steps up to defend their project/pet/love. They are killed by it and then the fight begins.

Quiet... too quiet
2:00 PM -- Graveyard
Nothing happens, or at least nothing that the PCs do not cause. All the threats working against them are quiet, sleeping, napping, planning, etc.

Villager reports false Spore.
4:00 PM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
comes to the players and reports that they have found Spore from the creature. The report is incorrect; it was just a result of rumor and fear and chance. Spore is:
Bats swarm thickly at night, harassing people, cattle, and windows with unusual fierceness.

Quiet... too quiet
6:00 PM -- Sheep paddock
Nothing happens, or at least nothing that the PCs do not cause. All the threats working against them are quiet, sleeping, napping, planning, etc.

Separate Sheep from Flock
8:00 PM -- Graveyard
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Honeypot Traitor
12:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try seduce one of the WitchHammers and separate them from the group. They will then call the Hexbeast to murder the WitchHammer. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive.

Defend the Precious the HexBeast
6:00 AM -- Graveyard
The HexBeast has been found and the PCs prepare for battle. The traitor steps up to defend their project/pet/love. They are killed by it and then the fight begins.

NPC 1:
Ainslie

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Herder
VillagerQuirk: Only has one eye, other is covered with eye patch
VillagerPcRelation: Secret Witch Sympathsizer. Will be as unhelpful/misleading as they think they can get away with, with occasional forays into trying to get the WitchHammers actively killed.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 2:
Romanow

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Dry Goods Shop Keeper
VillagerQuirk: Claw scars all over face (fought a bear once)
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; he finds WitchHammers to be arrogant bastards, and will do what he can to bring them down a notch without overly risking himself.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 3:
Verdes

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Miner
VillagerQuirk: Wears a Umber sash, very vain about it
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful and comically bad at flirting. They like people in general and will try to get with the WitchHammer/player who most obviously would be made uncomfortable by that.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: washing tailings into a river

NPC 4:
Gelman

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Inn Keep
VillagerQuirk: Mute (due to mental trauma caused by time traveling kid)
VillagerPcRelation: Miserly. Will be very difficult to get to do anything that costs them money or puts their life in danger.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 5:
Teris

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Herder
VillagerQuirk: Speaks in mono-syllables
VillagerPcRelation: Fawning; is a fanboy of WitchHammers. Will do anything they ask and probably get killed doing it.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 6:
Nasu

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Vacationing Mercenary
VillagerQuirk: Has odd, bulging eyes.
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful and happily flirty. They like people in general and will try to get with the most likely WitchHammer.
CommonTask: casing out the village, semi-inconspicously. Presents themself as a tourist.
CommonTask: looking at passers by with wariness and hostility
CommonTask: passed out drunk in street

NPC 7:
Kyan

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Butcher
VillagerQuirk: Large scar down across eye (fighting bandits/bandit hunters)
VillagerPcRelation: Moderately helpful. They are greasily obsequious and will try to curry the WitchHammers favor in hopes of reward/protection/good word to the Empire.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: washing blood off a cutting block

NPC 8:
Chiron

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Bandit
VillagerQuirk: Has many fierce facial piercings
VillagerPcRelation: Cheerful and Generous. A fortunate person who has a positive outlook on life.
CommonTask: selling stolen trade goods silks(?)
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 9:
Edens

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Cartographer
VillagerQuirk: Has naturally fire-red hair.
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; he finds WitchHammers to be arrogant bastards, and will do what he can to bring them down a notch without overly risking himself.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 10:
Rikka

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Apothecary
VillagerQuirk: Light case of Leprosy
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

Adventure 13: Hunters of Moose Terrifying

Village Name: Bergondo
Tavern Name: The Laughing Goat

Traits:
VillageResource: On a lake with plentiful fish and crustaceans
VillageOddity: Has famous Goat festival
VillageProsperity: Poor
VillageSize: Large
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave
VillageLocation: Sheep paddock
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Horse barn
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Grain silo
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Townhall

Creature1:
Magnificent Terrifying Moogaunt
Power Level: 57

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 35
DefenseMod: 3
AttackMod: 10
DamageMod: 10
Init: 5

Traits:
Aspect: Rotting: Made out of rotting and bloated flesh. Immune to almost all poisons. Has +5 Health. Has night vision.
Frame: Moose
Size: Large Sized: +2 attack, -1 def, +10 HealthMax
Health: Normal Health: This creature has no health advantages, outside of those provided by its shape and aspect.
Reflex: Very Fast Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of a top level fencer or athlete. +5 Init, +4 Attack/Def
Strength: Gigantic strength: This creature has a strength completely out of proportion to its physical form. It can crush skulls and metal armor in grip, or knock through walls with its body. +4 atk, +10 dmg.
Ability: Night Vision: Can see in complete darkness without any difficulty.
Attack: Fear Gaze: This attack is applied by Gaze. The Gaze of this creature is intensely creepy. Being hit by it and taking a wound requires save or run/cower in fear. This is in addition to the fear aura that most monsters have
Attack: Monstrous Gaze: This attack is applied by Gaze. This creature's Gaze attack will infect and transform the target. When hit for health damage, must make saves at 1 round, 5 minutes, and 12 hours after the hit. On 6 or more failed saves, begins to transform into a lesser version of the creature.
Weakness: Vulnerable to strobing or flashing light: Movements will be jerky and imprecise. -5 penalty, and acts last in round.
Weakness: Hates reflection: Hates the sight of its reflection in a mirror. Will attack its reflection in a blind rage until it has been smashed to pieces.
Weakness: Sun Vulnerability: Is impaired while in sunlight (-4 to attack and defense)
Appearance: Skin is burnt and charred and blackened
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Quiet, too quiet: Wild animals desert the area within a few mile radious of the creature. Birds, deer, small animals, cats, squirrels; they all flee to less unsettling climes. Traveling outdoors becomes unsettling and eerie without the normal sounds.
Smell: Sulfur
VictimChoice: Drawn to magic: Drawn to places of magical power/items/spells/wizards
VictimWound: Cracks all the bones of its victims and then twists them into spirals.

Arrive at afflicted Village
4:00 PM -- Graveyard
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Magnificent Terrifying Moogaunt (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Kind Monster Tamer
6:00 PM -- Grain silo
The WitchHammers run into who is trying to tame the monster. is shopping for dry goods. is kind hearted but badly misguided, and cares for the beast like one might for a favorite pet. They are worried that the WitchHammers will kill or drive away the creature, which has been coming to them regularly for (non-human) food. They think they can tame the beast and make it safe and useful to be around. Despite their delusions, not willing to kill or hurt people to defend the beast.

Goose Chase by Traitor
8:00 PM -- Horse barn
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Boozing by traitor
12:00 PM -- Horse barn
The traitor tries to get the WitchHammers passed out drunk, both to find out information from them and to help them die on the following day. Will pay for all the beer and food, will toast the WitchHammers, and will do their best to get them completely soused. Will hail them as heroes of the village, will suggest they try one more drink of the village's special brew, will challenge them to drinking contests.

Find a large pile of meat-treats
6:00 AM -- Grain silo
The traitor has been leaving food (mostly cow meat) out in the woods for the HexBeast to eat, as part of the effort to study and tame the HexBeast. The villager has found the meat (or the PCs if they are pro-active enough in searching) and reported it to the group. A large amount of the meat has been eaten.

Bad Traitor no traiting
8:00 AM -- Townhall
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Scary Tales from Traitor
10:00 AM -- Graveyard
The traitor tries to scare off the WitchHammers by telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. Will try to get WitchHammers to leave early and move on to the next adventure.

Defend the Precious the HexBeast
12:00 AM -- Grain silo
The HexBeast has been found and the PCs prepare for battle. The traitor steps up to defend their project/pet/love. They are killed by it and then the fight begins.

NPC 1:
Rodrigue

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Dry Goods Shop Keeper
VillagerQuirk: Heavily tattooed
VillagerPcRelation: Lazy. will help, but must always be pushed/bribed.
CommonTask: hawking goods from store front
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 2:
Shung

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Imperial Courier
VillagerQuirk: Grossly underweight
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful due to an obedience/belief in the established order.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 3:
Chione

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Fisherman
VillagerQuirk: Mouth is very puckered. Reminds you a bit of a cat's ass.
VillagerPcRelation: Arrogant. Thinks they are above wandering killers such as the WitchHammers. Will only grudingly help.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 4:
Taunus

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Cartographer
VillagerQuirk: Heavily tattooed
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; has crush on one of the WitchHammers.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 5:
Natt

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Blacksmith
VillagerQuirk: Is sickly and pale; was kidnapped by bandits once and has never quite recovered
VillagerPcRelation: Mildly helpful, but will do their best to claim credit for WitchHammer's successes while blaming them to the town for their failures.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: fiercly hitting a burning hot piece of iron with a hammer

NPC 6:
Trevers

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Has an extra-ordinary beard. Long and flowing and lush
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a large and happy family and wants to keep them safe.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: looking at passers by with wariness and hostility
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor

NPC 7:
Emyrs

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Herder
VillagerQuirk: Is accompanied by a small and yappy dog
VillagerPcRelation: Generally helpful, though is a determined atheist and hates religious characters. He will quietly (or unquietly) work against their interests.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 8:
Erebos

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Traveling Tinkerer
VillagerQuirk: Extremely short (4'8). Not a dwarf, just short
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 9:
Wyland

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Courier
VillagerQuirk: Rarely bathes, and it shows
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; Is somewhat fearful/nervous due to the WitchHammer's reputation for violence.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

Adventure 14: The Edderkopp Dilemma

Village Name: Purchena
Tavern Name: The Drunken Eagle

Traits:
VillageResource: Grape Vines
VillageOddity: Has famous Llama festival
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Large
VillageLocation: Shop
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Horse barn
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Grain silo
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall

Creature1:
Uqbarian Spiderbauble
Power Level: 86

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 70
Armor: 1
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 2
DamageMod: 12
Init: 0

Traits:
Aspect: Gems: Made out of an assemblage of animated gems and wire. Bonus to resist fire. Immune to most poisons. Has 1 natural armor.
Frame: Spider
Size: Medium Sized
Health: Nigh-Unkillable: This creature refuses to die, and must be hacked apart. It will shrug off wounds that would kill a normal beast. +50 Health.
Reflex: Human Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of an average, active human being.
Strength: Terrifying strength: This creature has a strength completely out of proportion to its physical form. It can bend plate metal like putty, or throw a church bell across town. +5 atk, +12 dmg.
Ability: Heat Vision: Can see heat, and uses that to locate prey.
Attack: Mind Fog: The creature exudes a thick mist that clouds the mind. So long as you are in the mist and breathing it/have significant skin contact with it, must make an easy Will Save at start of round or forget what you are doing for the round. If the creature is moving quickly, the mist will not be able to gather and pool enough to have an effect. If the creature stays in an area for 3 rounds, the mist will build up and extend to Short range around the creature. Staying in an area of 5 minutes or longer will extend the mist to Medium range, while a full day is required for Long range. The mist impairs sight and will cause a -1 to -5 penalty for ranged attacks/senses depending on how far through the mist you are peering.
Attack: Three Headed: Has an two extra action slots for bite/breath actions. +10 Health, but the heads do interfere with each other on the attack.
Defense: Danger Oracle: Has magical warning of the one, next thing that threatens its life.
Weakness: Vulnerable to strobing or flashing light: Movements will be jerky and imprecise. -5 penalty, and acts last in round.
Weakness: Hates reflection: Hates the sight of its reflection in a mirror. Will attack its reflection in a blind rage until it has been smashed to pieces.
Weakness: Vulnerable to Bear Urine: Cannot stand Bear Urine. Will burn the creature's skin and poison its body. Depending on amount of exposure, and takes a -1 to -4 penalty per application. Lasts until next full rest.
Appearance: Has stumps instead of hands/feet. Does not interfere with its deadliness.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Dogs bark and whine all night for no reason.
Spore: No fish are caught at all. They seem to have deserted the creeks and streams.
Smell: Cabbage
VictimChoice: Drawn to magic: Drawn to places of magical power/items/spells/wizards
VictimWound: Likes to let prey rot for a few days before consuming

Arrive at afflicted Village
8:00 AM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Uqbarian Spiderbauble (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Rebel Monster Lover
10:00 AM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The WitchHammers run into . is rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel. The traitor hates the Empire with an insane passion, and wishes to use the HexBeast as an instrument of revenge on its citizens. They have seen the HexBeast kill, from a distance, and are now working in secret to help the HexBeast destroy the village. They are only too pleased to see the WitchHammers, as killing them would be an even more direct way to strike at the Empire.

Meet the Monster Cultists
12:00 AM -- Tavern
The WitchHammers run into and . is walking to their job. They are insane and atavistic cultists who wish to use the HexBeast as an instrument of their violent desires. They have been setting up altars in the woods and sacrificing animals, which may or may not have summoned the HexBeast to the village. They stick together and maintain a sufficient facade of normality. They will both have a coldness and quietly intense dislike of the WitchHammers and will do what they can to get them killed.

Bad Traitor no traiting
2:00 PM -- Horse barn
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Poison and knives by Traitor
4:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Embalming Poison added to their Roast Duck. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will stick around to try and finish off any weakened WitchHammers, and then flee into the forest once the odds look too bad.

Copy cat killing
6:00 PM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
The traitor kills a villager in order to try and emulate the monster. The body will be found in a similar state as if it had been killed by the HexBeast, but not quite so (since it was just a human who did it rather than a force of terrible magic).

Separate Sheep from Flock
8:00 PM -- Horse barn
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Villager beats off monster (false)
12:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The villager reports that they were attacked! Will say this loudly and too anybody that will listen, how they were attacked but drove off the monster. This made up to make them look brave and to cover up the fact that a cat badly scratched them.

Goose Chase by Traitor
6:00 AM -- Townhall
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Players see monster in distance, then it retreats
8:00 AM -- Grain silo
A player sees Uqbarian Spiderbauble in the distance, on a hill or at the edge of the forest. The beast makes eye contact with the player, marking them for later destruction, and then fades back into the woods/hills. If appropriate it gives a fearsome hunting cry before disappearing.

Foul house smells
10:00 AM -- Graveyard
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Villager's property destroyed by monster (false)
12:00 AM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The villager reports that their house was destroyed by the monster.

Poison by Traitor
2:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Agonizing Poison added to their Beef Stew. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Blood Altar found in woods
4:00 PM -- Townhall
Either the WitchHammers, or some villagers come across on of the Cultist's blood altars in the woods.

Curse your sudden and inevitable support for the HexBeast
6:00 PM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
The Traitor waits for the WitchHammers to fight the Uqbarian Spiderbauble. Once combat has started, will betray the characters and attack them from behind. The HexBeast has no particular affection for the traitor, and will kill them if convenient. The traitor is smart enough to realize this and will try to stay out of the HexBeasts way during the combat, fleeing if need be if things go south.

Boozing by traitor
8:00 PM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
The traitor tries to get the WitchHammers passed out drunk, both to find out information from them and to help them die on the following day. Will pay for all the beer and food, will toast the WitchHammers, and will do their best to get them completely soused. Will hail them as heroes of the village, will suggest they try one more drink of the village's special brew, will challenge them to drinking contests.

Honeypot Traitor
12:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try seduce one of the WitchHammers and separate them from the group. They will then call the Hexbeast to murder the WitchHammer. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive.

Curse your sudden and inevitable support for the HexBeast
6:00 AM -- Shop
The Traitor waits for the WitchHammers to fight the Uqbarian Spiderbauble. Once combat has started, will betray the characters and attack them from behind. The HexBeast has no particular affection for the traitor, and will kill them if convenient. The traitor is smart enough to realize this and will try to stay out of the HexBeasts way during the combat, fleeing if need be if things go south.

NPC 1:
Kree

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Lieutenant
VillagerQuirk: Broken leg, is on crutches (from falling tree, both the legs and the crutches)
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was raised on tales of the WitchHammer's and their adventures.
CommonTask: writing plans for patrol routes, supplies, garrisons
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: drilling Soldiers

NPC 2:
Argyros

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Hermit
VillagerQuirk: Has a small and evil looking black cat that follows them around. The cat hisses and gives the evil eye at strangers.
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful and comically bad at flirting. They like people in general and will try to get with the WitchHammer/player who most obviously would be made uncomfortable by that.
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: quietly meditating in nature
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 3:
Lusty

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Bandit
VillagerQuirk: Has golden tooth (is a family heirloom; passed down from parent to child)
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; both parents died recently from illness and kind of checked out on life.
CommonTask: selling stolen trade goods silks(?)
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 4:
Dojima

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Imperial Spy
VillagerQuirk: Flatulent, but only at completely inappropriate times (e.g. the king has been murdered by elven assassins!)
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was raised on tales of the WitchHammer's and their adventures.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: writing letters, in code, to be sent by his contact back to the regional capital. Will mention WitchHammers actions and recent events.

NPC 5:
Pauly

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Cat Burglar
VillagerQuirk: Terrible breathe (is slowly dying from liver disease)
VillagerPcRelation: Cowardly. Very scared by events, will do little and will often hide.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 6:
Firey

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Imperial Lieutenant
VillagerQuirk: Has a single, large wart on their nose, with two large hairs dangling temptingly from the wart
VillagerPcRelation: Mostly Neutral; they have been dealt with WitchHammers before, and it ended up costing them large amounts of time/money/goods.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: drilling Soldiers
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 7:
Garnette

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Dry Goods Shop Keeper
VillagerQuirk: Extremely tall, somewhat lanky (e.g. 7 ft basketball player type)
VillagerPcRelation: Gracious and welcoming. Enjoys people's company and takes care of guests in a generous and warm fashion.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 8:
Bruton

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Midwife
VillagerQuirk: Very Sleepy. Will take any chance to nap or rest
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; Is somewhat fearful/nervous due to the WitchHammer's reputation for violence.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 9:
Monika

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Chimney Sweep
VillagerQuirk: Terrible body odor and cleanliness due to never bathing (fear of water; nearly drowned as a child)
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; they think WitchHammers bring monsters rather than the other way around.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: taking a break on a rooftop

NPC 10:
Eula

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Slave Driver
VillagerQuirk: Hunchbacked
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; finds WitchHammers to be exotic and we don't like that in our town.
CommonTask: selling a few working slave at a small auction
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job

Adventure 15: The Time of the Krahen

Village Name: Crail
Tavern Name: The Lonely Pegasus

Traits:
VillageResource: Has a large library and many scholars
VillageOddity: Bustling Trade Routes
VillageProsperity: Moderate
VillageSize: Medium
VillageLocation: Loner's wattle-daub hut
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Windmill
VillageLocation: Wheat field, uncut
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Church

Creature1:
Uqbarian Glint Crow
Power Level: 81

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 25
DefenseMod: -2
AttackMod: 2
Init: 0

Traits:
Aspect: Glass: Made out of animated and oddly fluid glass. Immune to most poisons. Increased damage from crushing weapons.
Frame: Crow
Size: Huge Sized: +4 attack, -2 def, +20 HealthMax
Health: Delicate: This creature is oddly delicate, and a few solid blows will kill it. -5 health.
Reflex: Human Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of an average, active human being.
Strength: Weak: This creature is surprisingly weak for its size and appearance. Farmers should still be afraid of it. -2 atk, -4 dmg.
Ability: Telepathic: This creature can read a target's mind at up to Long range. Can communicate with the target if it wishes, though often it will not. Mechanically, this can be reflected by letting the GM make use of meta-knowledge gained from player's table talk. Additionally, gives a +5 bonus vs target in all contests.
Ability: Extra power during Noon Hour: Gains +10 atk/def during Noon Hour. Prefers to do its hunting then.
Ability: Immense Intelligence: These creatures are extremely intelligent, so much so that they are often thought to have magical or oracular powers. In practice, the difference is somewhat moot, as their vast knowledge, perfect recall, and incisive thinking allows them to be one or three steps ahead of most opponents. Will see through almost all traps, and can be expected to have contingency plans set up for most events. You should try to have at least 3 three surprises set up when facing these creatures, as it will usually predict the first two.
Attack: Ice Bolt: Spits a bolt of elemental damage. Long range, single target.
Defense: Partial Invisibility (except features): The creature is invisible, with the exception of its eyes and mouth. Can move and attack while in this state.
Defense: Immune to pain: This creatures takes 1/3 the normal penalty for health damage.
Defense: Danger Sense: Excellent ability to detect immediate threats. It is not that its senses are necessarily better; rather it just has a sharp mind for detecting danger and putting warning signs together.
Weakness: Soft Underbelly. Takes 3x damage when prone or if attacker is beneath it.
Weakness: Blinding hunger: Once it starts feeding, finds it extremely difficult to stop. If it is being attacked or is facing imminent harm, can make Hard Will Saves to break free of this compulsion. Can make one such save per round.
Appearance: Perfectly reflective Ice Blue eyes
Appearance: Wears a featureless Gold mask over its face.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Most birds flee the region the creature is in.
Spore: Makes weird stick-dolls and hangs them from trees before it rests for the day.
Smell: Burning Bone
VictimChoice: Taste for Children
VictimWound: Takes a large hank of the victim's hair. Does not usually kill, but drains their life force over time and at a distance using the link of the hair.

Arrive at afflicted Village
2:00 PM -- Tavern
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Uqbarian Glint Crow (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Villager reports spore.
4:00 PM -- Tavern
comes to the players and reports that they have found Spore from the creature. Spore is:
Most birds flee the region the creature is in.

Meet the Graft Mayor
6:00 PM -- Tavern
The mayor has been stealing from the tax revenues that he should be sending back to the Capitol. What is more, he has been stealing a completely unreasonable amount. The mayor fears the WitchHammers as agents of Imperial power, and will do his best to make sure they never leave the town alive. The mayor will be polite but greasy in his interactions with the WitchHammers. The mayor has an absurd stash of gold coins hidden in his Backyard.

Bad food
8:00 PM -- Windmill
The food, if any, supplied by the villagers is bad. It will result in stomach aches, vomiting, and general malaise for the a full day before the symptoms come somewhat under control. You can treat this as a -2 penalty to all rolls for the duration.

Mayoral Spy
12:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The mayor has set a henchman, , to spy on the PCs. This henchman will follow them around and keep tabs on them as unobtrusively as possible. The henchman is not particularly loyal and is only moderately skilled; they will spill what they know if they are caught.

Mayoral Bushwhacking
12:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The mayor has hired a group of thugs to try and remove the WitchHammers. They will attack from ambush and show no mercy, though as they are mercs their moral is not good.

Graft becomes obvious
6:00 AM -- Graveyard
The WitchHammers notice the poverty and ruin of the town. Starving women and kids, rundown streets and buildings, beggars and depression. Will seem odd given the richness of the surrounding lands. When asked, citizens will complain of the Mayor and his cronies and their ruinous taxes.

Monster taunts the WitchHammers with human venality
8:00 AM -- Cross roads near town
The next time the WitchHammers face the creature, it will taunt them that they are not even supported by their own people. Will bring up evidence of the mayor's peculation and the effect it has had on the town. Mention that its victims have all been weak, scrawny, and ill-fed.

Bribe Attempt by Mayor
10:00 AM -- Tavern
The mayor is getting worried about the WitchHammers. If they seem at all amenable, will try to bribe them to leave the area. Will say that the town can take care of itself, and that they don't need the Empire getting involved in their day to day affairs.

Silence the Troublemakers
12:00 AM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The mayor and his cronies will try to silence the WitchHammers to prevent them from notifying the authorities. They will wait until the WitchHammers are engaged in combat with a monster, and then pile in to the combat at an in-opportune time.

NPC 1:
Arana

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Village Idiot
VillagerQuirk: Terrible body odor and cleanliness due to never bathing (fear of water; nearly drowned as a child)
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; Is somewhat fearful/nervous due to the WitchHammer's reputation for violence.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: doing awkward somersaults
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 2:
Harle

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Constable
VillagerQuirk: Completely and Brutally Honest
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a large and happy family and wants to keep them safe.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: putting up a wanted poster for bandits
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 3:
Hamme

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Monument Carver
VillagerQuirk: Has a single, large wart on their nose, with two large hairs dangling temptingly from the wart
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a Servile personality in general.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: supervising a team which is dragging a large marbe block into town
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 4:
Kugar

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Anthropologist (performing studies on the various subject peoples of the Empire)
VillagerQuirk: Has no teeth
VillagerPcRelation: Suspicious and unhelpful unless verified. Has been burned before.
CommonTask: making detailed measurements of people's crainiums
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book

NPC 5:
Asselin

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Card Sharp
VillagerQuirk: Cross Eyed
VillagerPcRelation: Very Helpful; has heard stories of the chaos that Beasts can cause and wants to prevent that.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: gambling

NPC 6:
Sirico

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Idiot
VillagerQuirk: Extremely short (4'8). Not a dwarf, just short
VillagerPcRelation: Moderately unhelpful; was once seduced by a WitchHammer who then snuck out on them after 3 days.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 7:
Financials

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Mouth is very puckered. Reminds you a bit of a cat's ass.
VillagerPcRelation: Dutiful servant of the state. Will do what is required by law and for good of community, but nothing more and not with pleasure. Stickler for rules.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 8:
Guiche

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Has a hook hand
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was raised on tales of the WitchHammer's and their adventures.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 9:
Sherridan

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Traveling Merchant
VillagerQuirk: Says everything in what could be a sarcastic voice. Can't tell 100 percent; just kind of on the edge there.
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: haggeling furiously with a customer
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street

Adventure 16: Rat Patrol

Village Name: Castelflorite
Tavern Name: The Drunken Pegasus

Traits:
VillageResource: Carvan stop; is at the conjunction of 6 well trafficked roads
VillageOddity: Site of an important battle
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Small
VillageLocation: Shop
VillageLocation: Horse barn
VillageLocation: Windmill
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Sheep paddock
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Loner's wattle-daub hut
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house

Creature1:
Azadian Witherrat
Power Level: 39

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 35
DefenseMod: -3
AttackMod: 1
DamageMod: 4
Init: -5

Traits:
Aspect: Mummified: Made out of dried flesh and cloth. Immune to almost all poisons, weakness to fire, bonus to resist ice. Has night vision.
Frame: Rat
Size: Large Sized: +2 attack, -1 def, +10 HealthMax
Health: Tough: This creature does not die easily, and will fiercely hold on to life. To put it down will require multiple grievous wounds. +15 Health.
Reflex: Terrible Reflexes: This creature is somewhat slow and fumbling. Init -5, Attack/Def -2
Strength: Very Strong: This creature is as strong as a professional weight lifter. It can hurl stones and bodies across a room. +1 atk, +4 dmg.
Ability: Keen Eyes: Extremely good eye sight. Can see prey that is miles away, and usually notices hidden or camouflaged creatures.
Attack: Deafening Roar: This creature can unleash a deafening roar that effects all in short range, and at a penalty all in medium range. Only does poise damage.
Weakness: Sun Vulnerability: Is impaired while in sunlight (-4 to attack and defense)
Weakness: Motion Sight: Cannot see creatures that are motionless. The less motion/movement a person makes, the more difficult it will be for this creature to see/target them. Can use scent and sound and intuition if it knows/suspects a character is at a certain area but "invisible".
Weakness: Sensitive ears: Loud, jarring sounds cause this creature to distraction and pain. Depending on the loudness and dissonance of the sound, takes a -1 to a -10 penalty and cannot use abilities.
Appearance: Vestigial Wings: The creature has small, raggedy wings on its back
NumAppearing: Packs of 2
Spore: Nearby Metal rusts. The effect is very slight one mile out, but becomes stronger as you get closer to the creature. Spending more than a minute in combat will make metal weapons and armor brittle.
Spore: Leaves behind owl like pellets of bone, hair, fur, and feathers. Also bits of metal, buckles, coins from people it has eaten.
VictimChoice: Does not target the elderly
VictimWound: Only eats its victim's shin bones.

Arrive at afflicted Village
6:00 AM -- Sheep paddock
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Azadian Witherrat (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Monstropologist
8:00 AM -- Creek bed, dry
The WitchHammers run into who has seen and wishes to study the HexBeast. is walking to their job. They are likely anxious/nervous as they recognize the WitchHammers pose a threat to their research, and maybe even to themselves. They will try to act normal, find out info about the players, and then get away to plot further action...

Quiet... too quiet
10:00 AM -- Sheep paddock
Nothing happens, or at least nothing that the PCs do not cause. All the threats working against them are quiet, sleeping, napping, planning, etc.

Bad Traitor no traiting
12:00 AM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Meet the Kind Monster Tamer
2:00 PM -- Windmill
The WitchHammers run into who is trying to tame the monster. is shopping for dry goods. is kind hearted but badly misguided, and cares for the beast like one might for a favorite pet. They are worried that the WitchHammers will kill or drive away the creature, which has been coming to them regularly for (non-human) food. They think they can tame the beast and make it safe and useful to be around. Despite their delusions, not willing to kill or hurt people to defend the beast.

Poison by Traitor
4:00 PM -- Cross roads near town
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Soporific Poison added to their Fresh Wheat Bread. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Goose Chase by Traitor
6:00 PM -- Creek bed, dry
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Find a large pile of meat-treats
8:00 PM -- Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
The traitor has been leaving food (mostly cow meat) out in the woods for the HexBeast to eat, as part of the effort to study and tame the HexBeast. The villager has found the meat (or the PCs if they are pro-active enough in searching) and reported it to the group. A large amount of the meat has been eaten.

Goose Chase
12:00 PM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The villager accidentally reports a sighting of the HexBeast at a distant location and potentially sends them on a goose chase, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will inaccurately describe the creature, since the has never seen it firsthand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since does not want to be killed by the creature.

Eldritch sticks found in woods
6:00 AM -- Creek bed, dry
The villager reports to the WitchHammers that they have found strange signs and sigils in the woods. Will take the WitchHammers out there, but on inspection they will probably be able to tell that this was just random chance, pagan worshipers, an arts and crafts project, a fallen hut, etc. rather than actual deviltry.

Scary Tales from Traitor
8:00 AM -- Sheep paddock
The traitor tries to scare off the WitchHammers by telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. Will try to get WitchHammers to leave early and move on to the next adventure.

Defend the Precious the HexBeast
10:00 AM -- Loner's wattle-daub hut
The HexBeast has been found and the PCs prepare for battle. The traitor steps up to defend their project/pet/love. They are killed by it and then the fight begins.

Villager reports false Spore.
12:00 AM -- Windmill
comes to the players and reports that they have found Spore from the creature. The report is incorrect; it was just a result of rumor and fear and chance. Spore is:
Dogs bark and whine all night for no reason.

Villager's property destroyed by monster (false)
2:00 PM -- Windmill
The villager reports that their finest cow was destroyed by the monster.

Quiet... too quiet
4:00 PM -- Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
Nothing happens, or at least nothing that the PCs do not cause. All the threats working against them are quiet, sleeping, napping, planning, etc.

Villager is severely wounded by beast
6:00 PM -- Cross roads near town
limps into the village, having been severely wounded by Azadian Witherrat. They can gasp a few words, but will be largely unresponsive and on deaths door even if they get prompt care. Without prompt care, will die within the hour.

Boozing by traitor
8:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor tries to get the WitchHammers passed out drunk, both to find out information from them and to help them die on the following day. Will pay for all the beer and food, will toast the WitchHammers, and will do their best to get them completely soused. Will hail them as heroes of the village, will suggest they try one more drink of the village's special brew, will challenge them to drinking contests.

Players see monster in distance, then it retreats
12:00 PM -- Creek bed, dry
A player sees Azadian Witherrat in the distance, on a hill or at the edge of the forest. The beast makes eye contact with the player, marking them for later destruction, and then fades back into the woods/hills. If appropriate it gives a fearsome hunting cry before disappearing.

Defend the Precious the HexBeast
6:00 AM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The HexBeast has been found and the PCs prepare for battle. The traitor steps up to defend their project/pet/love. They are killed by it and then the fight begins.

NPC 1:
Beaverhausen

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Rat Catcher
VillagerQuirk: Albino
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; was involved in heavy fighting while putting down a rebellion and does not want to experience anything like that ever again.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 2:
Hilter

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Dry Goods Shop Keeper
VillagerQuirk: Extremely tall, somewhat lanky (e.g. 7 ft basketball player type)
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; they are just generally sadistic and are happy to see WitchHammers or others get hurt.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 3:
Kirisawa

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Bandit
VillagerQuirk: Has an elaborately coiffed and curled mustache that is their pride and joy.
VillagerPcRelation: Mildly helpful, but will do their best to claim credit for WitchHammer's successes while blaming them to the town for their failures.
CommonTask: selling stolen trade goods silks(?)
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 4:
Botter

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Butcher
VillagerQuirk: Drunkard, will be at least lightly soused in most interactions
VillagerPcRelation: Generally helpful, though is a determined atheist and hates religious characters. He will quietly (or unquietly) work against their interests.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: washing blood off a cutting block
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 5:
Bibby

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Village Constable
VillagerQuirk: Broken leg, is on crutches (from falling tree, both the legs and the crutches)
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was orphaned at young age but despite hardships has irrepressible cheer and positive outlook on the world.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: putting up a wanted poster for bandits

NPC 6:
Burtt

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Cartographer
VillagerQuirk: Has overly large ears
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; was raised on tales of the WitchHammer's and their adventures.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 7:
Finston

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Fisher
VillagerQuirk: Terrible breathe (and even worse teeth; blackened, uneven, missing)
VillagerPcRelation: Dutiful servant of the state. Will do what is required by law and for good of community, but nothing more and not with pleasure. Stickler for rules.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 8:
Weddie

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Butcher
VillagerQuirk: Very Badly Flatulent
VillagerPcRelation: Mostly Neutral; they have been dealt with WitchHammers before, and it ended up costing them large amounts of time/money/goods.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 9:
Landingham

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Painter
VillagerQuirk: Mute (due to mental trauma caused by time traveling kid)
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; family member(s) kiled by Witches, and blames WitchHammers for failing to stop it.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds

NPC 10:
Cabret

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Country Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Lots of large and various facial warts
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; finds WitchHammers to be exotic and we don't like that in our town.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

Adventure 17: The Time of the Rot Buho

Village Name: Mallaig
Tavern Name: The Prancing Pony

Traits:
VillageResource: On a lake with plentiful fish and crustaceans
VillageOddity: Bustling Trade Routes
VillageProsperity: Moderate
VillageSize: Small
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Wheat field, uncut
VillageLocation: Townhall
VillageLocation: Church
VillageLocation: Thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Grain silo

Creature1:
Acherite Owlorpse
Power Level: 0

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 20
DefenseMod: -2
AttackMod: -4
Init: -5

Traits:
Aspect: Rotting: Made out of rotting and bloated flesh. Immune to almost all poisons. Has +5 Health. Has night vision.
Frame: Owl: Does not actually fly. Instead it hop-walks along the ground.
Size: Medium Sized
Health: Solid: This creature is tougher than it looks, and more resistant to harm than a natural beast. +5 Health.
Reflex: Terrible Reflexes: This creature is somewhat slow and fumbling. Init -5, Attack/Def -2
Strength: Weak: This creature is surprisingly weak for its size and appearance. Farmers should still be afraid of it. -2 atk, -4 dmg.
Attack: Blood Rage: Becomes enraged and furious as it draws and tastes blood. Gains a +2 bonus each time it causes a wound. The bonus fades very quickly out of combat.
Weakness: Blinding hunger: Once it starts feeding, finds it extremely difficult to stop. If it is being attacked or is facing imminent harm, can make Hard Will Saves to break free of this compulsion. Can make one such save per round.
Weakness: Vulnerable to Fire: Will do 3X damage. In addition, cannot use its abilities next turn. Depending on amount of exposure, and takes a -1 to -4 penalty per application. Lasts until next full rest.
Weakness: Dumb: IQ 70
Appearance: Small candles and pooled wax cover the shoulders of the creature. The candles burn with an eerie Ice Blue light, and will never go out so long as the creature is alive.
NumAppearing: Packs of 2
Spore: Dogs bark and whine all night for no reason.
VictimChoice: Taste for sickly people
VictimWound: Preferentially eats the hands of its victims

Arrive at afflicted Village
2:00 PM -- Wheat field, uncut
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Acherite Owlorpse (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Rebel Monster Lover
4:00 PM -- Thick woods outside town
The WitchHammers run into . is walking to their job. The traitor hates the Empire with an insane passion, and wishes to use the HexBeast as an instrument of revenge on its citizens. They have seen the HexBeast kill, from a distance, and are now working in secret to help the HexBeast destroy the village. They are only too pleased to see the WitchHammers, as killing them would be an even more direct way to strike at the Empire.

Poison by Traitor
6:00 PM -- Church
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Embalming Poison added to their Fried Fish. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Separate Sheep from Flock
8:00 PM -- Church
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Boozing by traitor
12:00 PM -- Thick woods outside town
The traitor tries to get the WitchHammers passed out drunk, both to find out information from them and to help them die on the following day. Will pay for all the beer and food, will toast the WitchHammers, and will do their best to get them completely soused. Will hail them as heroes of the village, will suggest they try one more drink of the village's special brew, will challenge them to drinking contests.

False report by tattle-tale child
6:00 AM -- Church
A child reports that they have seen out in the woods at night doing strange things. The child is making this up, because they are an asshole.

Quiet... too quiet
8:00 AM -- Wheat field, uncut
Nothing happens, or at least nothing that the PCs do not cause. All the threats working against them are quiet, sleeping, napping, planning, etc.

Villager beats off monster (false)
10:00 AM -- Cross roads near town
The villager reports that they were attacked! Will say this loudly and too anybody that will listen, how they were attacked but drove off the monster. This made up to make them look brave and to cover up the fact that a cat badly scratched them.

Goose Chase by Traitor
12:00 AM -- Townhall
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Villager is severely wounded by beast
2:00 PM -- Grain silo
limps into the village, having been severely wounded by Acherite Owlorpse. They can gasp a few words, but will be largely unresponsive and on deaths door even if they get prompt care. Without prompt care, will die within the hour.

Poison and knives by Traitor
4:00 PM -- Creek bed, dry
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Petrifying Poison added to their Low Quality Beer. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will stick around to try and finish off any weakened WitchHammers, and then flee into the forest once the odds look too bad.

Curse your sudden and inevitable support for the HexBeast
6:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The Traitor waits for the WitchHammers to fight the Acherite Owlorpse. Once combat has started, will betray the characters and attack them from behind. The HexBeast has no particular affection for the traitor, and will kill them if convenient. The traitor is smart enough to realize this and will try to stay out of the HexBeasts way during the combat, fleeing if need be if things go south.

NPC 1:
Orozco

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Slave Driver
VillagerQuirk: Has a small and evil looking black cat that follows them around. The cat hisses and gives the evil eye at strangers.
VillagerPcRelation: Fearful of recent events/deaths and wants to help because of that.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: selling a few working slave at a small auction

NPC 2:
Korolev

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Hermit
VillagerQuirk: Has peg leg
VillagerPcRelation: Dutiful servant of the state. Will do what is required by law and for good of community, but nothing more and not with pleasure. Stickler for rules.
CommonTask: quietly meditating in nature
CommonTask: fasting on top of a rock
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 3:
Lupton

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Boatman
VillagerQuirk: Wears an absurd Ice Blue hat
VillagerPcRelation: Generally helpful, though is a determined atheist and hates religious characters. He will quietly (or unquietly) work against their interests.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: smoking a pipe philosophically
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 4:
Brumfield

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Anthropologist (performing studies on the various subject peoples of the Empire)
VillagerQuirk: Speaks about self in the third person
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a large and happy family and wants to keep them safe.
CommonTask: asking people to fill in survey's about how they feel about the Empire
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 5:
Blosson

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Plague Doctor
VillagerQuirk: Devout believer in Mercatoria. Extremely intolerant of people who contradict that faith.
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; finds WitchHammers to be exotic and we don't like that in our town.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: dissecting a corpse
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book

NPC 6:
Nightstar

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Imperial Courier
VillagerQuirk: Outspoken Vegan
VillagerPcRelation: Dutiful servant of the state. Will do what is required by law and for good of community, but nothing more and not with pleasure. Stickler for rules.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 7:
Toda

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Has a rather enormous neck goiter
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a large and happy family and wants to keep them safe.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 8:
Hibana

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Vacationing Mercenary
VillagerQuirk: If unable to recall word, stops conversation and will not give up until can finally remember it
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful and happily flirty. They like people in general and will try to get with the most likely WitchHammer.
CommonTask: arm Wrestling in a tavern
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: fighting in a tavern

NPC 9:
Beowolf

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Has an elaborately coiffed and curled mustache that is their pride and joy.
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; he finds WitchHammers to be arrogant bastards, and will do what he can to bring them down a notch without overly risking himself.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

Adventure 18: The Terrifying Moose Dilemma

Village Name: Coya
Tavern Name: The Lonely Eagle

Traits:
VillageResource: Bountiful Pear Orchards
VillageOddity: Site of an important battle
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Small
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Wheat field, uncut
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Creek bed flowing with water
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave

Creature1:
Magnificent Terrifying Moogaunt
Power Level: 57

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 35
DefenseMod: 3
AttackMod: 10
DamageMod: 10
Init: 5

Traits:
Aspect: Rotting: Made out of rotting and bloated flesh. Immune to almost all poisons. Has +5 Health. Has night vision.
Frame: Moose
Size: Large Sized: +2 attack, -1 def, +10 HealthMax
Health: Normal Health: This creature has no health advantages, outside of those provided by its shape and aspect.
Reflex: Very Fast Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of a top level fencer or athlete. +5 Init, +4 Attack/Def
Strength: Gigantic strength: This creature has a strength completely out of proportion to its physical form. It can crush skulls and metal armor in grip, or knock through walls with its body. +4 atk, +10 dmg.
Ability: Night Vision: Can see in complete darkness without any difficulty.
Attack: Fear Gaze: This attack is applied by Gaze. The Gaze of this creature is intensely creepy. Being hit by it and taking a wound requires save or run/cower in fear. This is in addition to the fear aura that most monsters have
Attack: Monstrous Gaze: This attack is applied by Gaze. This creature's Gaze attack will infect and transform the target. When hit for health damage, must make saves at 1 round, 5 minutes, and 12 hours after the hit. On 6 or more failed saves, begins to transform into a lesser version of the creature.
Weakness: Vulnerable to strobing or flashing light: Movements will be jerky and imprecise. -5 penalty, and acts last in round.
Weakness: Hates reflection: Hates the sight of its reflection in a mirror. Will attack its reflection in a blind rage until it has been smashed to pieces.
Weakness: Sun Vulnerability: Is impaired while in sunlight (-4 to attack and defense)
Appearance: Skin is burnt and charred and blackened
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Quiet, too quiet: Wild animals desert the area within a few mile radious of the creature. Birds, deer, small animals, cats, squirrels; they all flee to less unsettling climes. Traveling outdoors becomes unsettling and eerie without the normal sounds.
Smell: Sulfur
VictimChoice: Drawn to magic: Drawn to places of magical power/items/spells/wizards
VictimWound: Cracks all the bones of its victims and then twists them into spirals.

Arrive at afflicted Village
8:00 AM -- Wheat field, uncut
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Magnificent Terrifying Moogaunt (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Fan of Purity of Essence
10:00 AM -- Small limestone cave
The WitchHammers run into who has seen the HexBeast kill and admires its sublime ferocity. is hawking their wares in the main street. is somewhat insane and not particularly nervous; they will want to see the HexBeast kill the WitchHammers and others, and will try to help the beast along with its divine violence. They will try to find out what they can about the WitchHammers. They will also try to attach themselves to the WitchHammers with offers of help, assistance, guidance, etc. This way they can better betray them later. The encounter should also give some hint as to the fact that is somewhat off in the head.

Copy cat killing
12:00 AM -- Small limestone cave
The traitor kills a villager in order to try and emulate the monster. The body will be found in a similar state as if it had been killed by the HexBeast, but not quite so (since it was just a human who did it rather than a force of terrible magic).

Villager is severely wounded by beast
2:00 PM -- Small limestone cave
limps into the village, having been severely wounded by Magnificent Terrifying Moogaunt. They can gasp a few words, but will be largely unresponsive and on deaths door even if they get prompt care. Without prompt care, will die within the hour.

Players find dead villager
4:00 PM -- Creek bed, dry
Players find the body of , killed by Magnificent Terrifying Moogaunt in its characteristic fashion.

Foul house smells
6:00 PM -- Tavern
A WitchHammer notices a foul smell coming from the house of the traitor . This is because the house contains several dead bodies hidden in the walls/basement, of those that the traitor has killed in order to stop them from interfering with the HexBeast. If pressed, the traitor will try to pass it off as their new soup recipe.

Honeypot Traitor
8:00 PM -- Creek bed, dry
The traitor will try seduce one of the WitchHammers and separate them from the group. They will then call the Hexbeast to murder the WitchHammer. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive.

Separate Sheep from Flock
12:00 PM -- Creek bed flowing with water
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Call the Vicious HexBeast
6:00 AM -- Creek bed, dry
The Traitor dramatically calls the HexBeast Magnificent Terrifying Moogaunt to fight the WitchHammers, and declares their attachment to it. The creature will answer the call, but it feels no loyalty to its caller and if convenient will kill bloodily at the start of the fight. will act and fight for the HexBeast, up until the moment that they realize the HexBeast is a bloody monster that will kill them.

NPC 1:
Bergh

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Farmer
VillagerQuirk: Hunchbacked
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; family member(s) kiled by Witches, and blames WitchHammers for failing to stop it.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: cutting a field with a scythe
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 2:
Krzyzewski

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Blacksmith
VillagerQuirk: Speaks in mono-syllables
VillagerPcRelation: Lazy. will help, but must always be pushed/bribed.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: fiercly hitting a burning hot piece of iron with a hammer
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 3:
Malan

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Village Idiot
VillagerQuirk: Has a single, large wart on their nose, with two large hairs dangling temptingly from the wart
VillagerPcRelation: Gracious and welcoming. Enjoys people's company and takes care of guests in a generous and warm fashion.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 4:
Palomino

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Apothecary
VillagerQuirk: Only has one eye, other is covered with eye patch
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street
CommonTask: gathering herbs in nature
CommonTask: mixing together foul smelling herbs and chemicals in alembics

NPC 5:
Nargles

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Cartographer
VillagerQuirk: Falsely believes themself to be agent of Mercatoria power on earth.
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; finds WitchHammers to be exotic and we don't like that in our town.
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 6:
Shankman

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Imperial Soldier 3rd class
VillagerQuirk: Terrible body odor (not really cleanliness; just exudes smell)
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; finds WitchHammers to be exotic and we don't like that in our town.
CommonTask: whistling and making comments about passing members of the opposite sex
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 7:
Lamaze

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~35 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Is sickly and pale; was kidnapped by bandits once and has never quite recovered
VillagerPcRelation: Venal. Will help, but must always be pushed/bribed.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: organazing a party of men to act as a guard
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 8:
Gandolfi

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~12 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Cat Burglar
VillagerQuirk: Has horrible pock marks from childhood disease
VillagerPcRelation: Cowardly. Very scared by events, will do little and will often hide.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 9:
Stapler

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Traveling Merchant
VillagerQuirk: Hunchbacked
VillagerPcRelation: Moderately unhelpful; was once seduced by a WitchHammer who then snuck out on them after 3 days.
CommonTask: haggeling furiously with a customer
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street

Adventure 19: The Abominable Blood Knife

Village Name: Grulleros
Tavern Name: The Golden Eel

Traits:
VillageResource: Has a large dam and several important mills
VillageOddity: Has famous Llama festival
VillageProsperity: Poor
VillageSize: Medium
VillageLocation: Horse barn
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Orchard field
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Loner's wattle-daub hut
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Tavern
VillageLocation: Wheat field, uncut
VillageLocation: Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
VillageLocation: Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese

Creature1:
Uqbarian Glint Crow
Power Level: 81

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 25
DefenseMod: -2
AttackMod: 2
Init: 0

Traits:
Aspect: Glass: Made out of animated and oddly fluid glass. Immune to most poisons. Increased damage from crushing weapons.
Frame: Crow
Size: Huge Sized: +4 attack, -2 def, +20 HealthMax
Health: Delicate: This creature is oddly delicate, and a few solid blows will kill it. -5 health.
Reflex: Human Reflexes: This creature has the reflexes of an average, active human being.
Strength: Weak: This creature is surprisingly weak for its size and appearance. Farmers should still be afraid of it. -2 atk, -4 dmg.
Ability: Telepathic: This creature can read a target's mind at up to Long range. Can communicate with the target if it wishes, though often it will not. Mechanically, this can be reflected by letting the GM make use of meta-knowledge gained from player's table talk. Additionally, gives a +5 bonus vs target in all contests.
Ability: Extra power during Noon Hour: Gains +10 atk/def during Noon Hour. Prefers to do its hunting then.
Ability: Immense Intelligence: These creatures are extremely intelligent, so much so that they are often thought to have magical or oracular powers. In practice, the difference is somewhat moot, as their vast knowledge, perfect recall, and incisive thinking allows them to be one or three steps ahead of most opponents. Will see through almost all traps, and can be expected to have contingency plans set up for most events. You should try to have at least 3 three surprises set up when facing these creatures, as it will usually predict the first two.
Attack: Ice Bolt: Spits a bolt of elemental damage. Long range, single target.
Defense: Partial Invisibility (except features): The creature is invisible, with the exception of its eyes and mouth. Can move and attack while in this state.
Defense: Immune to pain: This creatures takes 1/3 the normal penalty for health damage.
Defense: Danger Sense: Excellent ability to detect immediate threats. It is not that its senses are necessarily better; rather it just has a sharp mind for detecting danger and putting warning signs together.
Weakness: Soft Underbelly. Takes 3x damage when prone or if attacker is beneath it.
Weakness: Blinding hunger: Once it starts feeding, finds it extremely difficult to stop. If it is being attacked or is facing imminent harm, can make Hard Will Saves to break free of this compulsion. Can make one such save per round.
Appearance: Perfectly reflective Ice Blue eyes
Appearance: Wears a featureless Gold mask over its face.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Most birds flee the region the creature is in.
Spore: Makes weird stick-dolls and hangs them from trees before it rests for the day.
Smell: Burning Bone
VictimChoice: Taste for Children
VictimWound: Takes a large hank of the victim's hair. Does not usually kill, but drains their life force over time and at a distance using the link of the hair.

Arrive at afflicted Village
2:00 PM -- Wheat field, uncut
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Uqbarian Glint Crow (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Scary Tales from Villager
4:00 PM -- Loner's wattle-daub hut
comes to the WitchHammer with tales of terror and telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very murderously dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. No real reason to tell the tales (they might even be true_, just like scaring people and feeling important

False report by tattle-tale child
6:00 PM -- Tavern
A child reports that they have seen out in the woods at night doing strange things. The child is making this up, because they are an asshole.

Wounded villager is used to bait a trap by the beast
8:00 PM -- Cliff face with a 30 ft drop into mining pit
has been taken by the beast and severely wounded. The beast hopes to use their screams to draw out people from the village so that they can be picked off more easily. This is still a probing maneuver, and they will not follow through on the attack unless they see a juicy target.

Do we trust the WitchHammers?
12:00 PM -- Horse barn
While out searching, the WitchHammers come across two figures hidden in the dark. If they watch and wait, they will see them whispering. Then some arguing and low level shouting. and are arguing about whether to trust the WitchHammers, and whether the pair should help them, stand aside, or run. ROTH expand it so that the two NPCs both have rebel sentiments.

Meet the Monstropologist
6:00 AM -- Pond with ducks, and/or angry geese
The WitchHammers run into who has seen and wishes to study the HexBeast. is rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel. They are likely anxious/nervous as they recognize the WitchHammers pose a threat to their research, and maybe even to themselves. They will try to act normal, find out info about the players, and then get away to plot further action...

Goose Chase
8:00 AM -- Loner's wattle-daub hut
The villager accidentally reports a sighting of the HexBeast at a distant location and potentially sends them on a goose chase, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will inaccurately describe the creature, since the has never seen it firsthand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since does not want to be killed by the creature.

Venal and Officious Mayor
10:00 AM -- Tavern
The mayor of the village, , gives the WitchHammers problems. He will attempt to charge them taxes for their wagon, horses, and equipment. Will also keep a tally of things (and people) broken during the adventure that they owe the community money for.

Bad Traitor no traiting
12:00 AM -- Tavern
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Scary Tales from Traitor
2:00 PM -- Orchard field
The traitor tries to scare off the WitchHammers by telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. Will try to get WitchHammers to leave early and move on to the next adventure.

Eldritch sticks found in woods
4:00 PM -- Orchard field
The villager reports to the WitchHammers that they have found strange signs and sigils in the woods. Will take the WitchHammers out there, but on inspection they will probably be able to tell that this was just random chance, pagan worshipers, an arts and crafts project, a fallen hut, etc. rather than actual deviltry.

Poison by Traitor
6:00 PM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Embalming Poison added to their Beef Stew. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Quiet... too quiet
8:00 PM -- Orchard field
Nothing happens, or at least nothing that the PCs do not cause. All the threats working against them are quiet, sleeping, napping, planning, etc.

Find a large pile of meat-treats
12:00 PM -- Loner's wattle-daub hut
The traitor has been leaving food (mostly cow meat) out in the woods for the HexBeast to eat, as part of the effort to study and tame the HexBeast. The villager has found the meat (or the PCs if they are pro-active enough in searching) and reported it to the group. A large amount of the meat has been eaten.

Defend the Precious the HexBeast
6:00 AM -- Loner's wattle-daub hut
The HexBeast has been found and the PCs prepare for battle. The traitor steps up to defend their project/pet/love. They are killed by it and then the fight begins.

NPC 1:
Latisha

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Bar Maid
VillagerQuirk: Has a terribly unattractive bowl-cut hairdo
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; Is somewhat fearful/nervous due to the WitchHammer's reputation for violence.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 2:
Walhberg

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Village Headman
VillagerQuirk: Mute (tongue cut out by bandits?)
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; family member(s) kiled by Witches, and blames WitchHammers for failing to stop it.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: shaking down a worker for small change
CommonTask: organazing a party of men to act as a guard

NPC 3:
Malachai

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Hermit
VillagerQuirk: Mute (tongue cut out by bandits?)
VillagerPcRelation: Lazy. will help, but must always be pushed/bribed.
CommonTask: quietly meditating in nature
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: fasting on top of a rock

NPC 4:
Gord

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Traveling Tinkerer
VillagerQuirk: Grossly overweight
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful; they think WitchHammers bring monsters rather than the other way around.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street
CommonTask: helping a family grind an axe to get a fresh blade on it

NPC 5:
Tannenbaum

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Traveling Tinkerer
VillagerQuirk: Has an impressively manicured goatee
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a prized pig (default name: Muriel) and doesn't want any monster to eat it.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street

NPC 6:
Silvera

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Butler
VillagerQuirk: Grossly underweight
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a Servile personality in general.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 7:
Failte

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~60 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Cross Eyed
VillagerPcRelation: Unhelpful and hard bitten; was orphaned at early age and learned not to stick self out for others.
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: looking at passers by with wariness and hostility
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 8:
Tartt

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Fisherman
VillagerQuirk: Has a small and evil looking black cat that follows them around. The cat hisses and gives the evil eye at strangers.
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; WitchHammers helped save their family back when they were a kid.
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: hawking their fish at market
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 9:
Camuto

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Cartographer
VillagerQuirk: Extremely short (4'8). Not a dwarf, just short
VillagerPcRelation: Arrogant. Thinks they are above wandering killers such as the WitchHammers. Will only grudingly help.
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

Adventure 20: Hippo Flodhest!!!

Village Name: Canyellas
Tavern Name: The Lonely Eagle

Traits:
VillageResource: Rich soil that grows vast crops of Pumpkins
VillageOddity: Bustling Trade Routes
VillageProsperity: Rich
VillageSize: Medium
VillageLocation: Small limestone cave
VillageLocation: Thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Graveyard
VillageLocation: Ancient, large, and lightning-blasted oak
VillageLocation: Cross roads near town
VillageLocation: Creek bed, dry
VillageLocation: Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
VillageLocation: Sheep paddock
VillageLocation: Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
VillageLocation: Large, multi-family farm house
VillageLocation: Tavern

Creature1:
Southern Nilpferd
Power Level: 66

Stats:
Poise: 30
Health: 30
DefenseMod: 10
AttackMod: 17
DamageMod: 4
Init: 16

Traits:
Aspect: Flesh
Frame: Hippo
Size: Huge Sized: +4 attack, -2 def, +20 HealthMax
Health: Sickly: This creature is in terrible condition, and can be pushed into the grave with a few good shoves. -10 health.
Reflex: Terrifying reflexes: This creature's movements are a blur of death. It moves like the wind, and is incredibly precise and agile. +15 init, +12 atk/def. Has an extra action slot at -15 init.
Strength: Very Strong: This creature is as strong as a professional weight lifter. It can hurl stones and bodies across a room. +1 atk, +4 dmg.
Ability: Death Explosion: As the creature dies, it explosively dissolves into a steaming pile of acidic goo. Creatures at Medium range make an Easy agility save, at Short range make a hard agility save. On failure, takes 3 points of Health damage as the acid flies. Armor and thick clothing can help block this. The acid tends to leave ugly, pock-marked scars.
Ability: Keen Nose: Extremely good sense of smell. Can easily track most prey, and is usually warned of approaching creatures.
Attack: Soul Eat: Deals death blow by eating the soul of its target. Gains the target's knowledge, and a portion of its strength. Leaves a mindless, soulless, vegetative husk behind. Might or might not eat the husk too.
Defense: Danger Oracle: Has magical warning of the one, next thing that threatens its life.
Weakness: Lair Soil: Needs to build lair and return to it once every 12 hours. Building a lair takes 12 hours. For every 4 hours over, takes -1 penalty and 1 health damage.
Weakness: Hates reflection: Hates the sight of its reflection in a mirror. Will attack its reflection in a blind rage until it has been smashed to pieces.
Appearance: Blind white eyes
Appearance: Has three sets of eyes, set one on top of another.
NumAppearing: Solitary
Spore: Cattle go mad, braining them selves against trees and writhing in agonized heaps on the ground.
Spore: Plants and trees grow thorns on its passing
Smell: Burning Pine Wood
VictimChoice: Taste for bitter, angry old men
VictimWound: Cripples victims and lays worm sized young inside of them.

Arrive at afflicted Village
4:00 PM -- Tavern
The adventures arrive at a village that has been attacked by an Southern Nilpferd (though of course its name is not known as of yet). They are met by a crowd that has gathered around the creature's latest kill.

Meet the Rebel Monster Lover
6:00 PM -- Tavern
The WitchHammers run into . is walking to their job. The traitor hates the Empire with an insane passion, and wishes to use the HexBeast as an instrument of revenge on its citizens. They have seen the HexBeast kill, from a distance, and are now working in secret to help the HexBeast destroy the village. They are only too pleased to see the WitchHammers, as killing them would be an even more direct way to strike at the Empire.

False report by tattle-tale child
8:00 PM -- Sheep paddock
A child reports that they have seen out in the woods at night doing strange things. The child is making this up, because they are an asshole.

Separate Sheep from Flock
12:00 PM -- Tavern
The traitor will try to get one of the WitchHammers alone so that they can be killed. Will claim that they have an important secret that the WitchHammer needs to see, or a business proposal that they want to talk about in secret. Will bring the WitchHammer to the HexBeasts hunting grounds, where the beast will appear and attack. The traitor will want to watch and appreciate and not interfere with the attack. This is an interstital attack; the creature will flee if things look hairy. Assume that in this situation it will take 3 rounds for the other WitchHammers to arrive in response to calls for help.

Meet the Monstropologist
6:00 AM -- Tavern
The WitchHammers run into who has seen and wishes to study the HexBeast. is walking to their job. They are likely anxious/nervous as they recognize the WitchHammers pose a threat to their research, and maybe even to themselves. They will try to act normal, find out info about the players, and then get away to plot further action...

Players see monster in distance, then it retreats
8:00 AM -- Thick woods outside town
A player sees Southern Nilpferd in the distance, on a hill or at the edge of the forest. The beast makes eye contact with the player, marking them for later destruction, and then fades back into the woods/hills. If appropriate it gives a fearsome hunting cry before disappearing.

Goose Chase by Traitor
10:00 AM -- Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
The traitor tries to mislead the WitchHammers and send them on a goose chase to a moderately far location, e.g.a days travel there and back again. Will claim to have heard of a sighting of the creature there. Will accurately describe the creature, since the has seen it first hand. Will try to avoid going with the WitchHammers, since wants to use the time to complete their own plans with the creature.

Poison and knives by Traitor
12:00 AM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Embalming Poison added to their Cinnamon Rolls. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will stick around to try and finish off any weakened WitchHammers, and then flee into the forest once the odds look too bad.

Scary Tales from Traitor
2:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The traitor tries to scare off the WitchHammers by telling them the HexBeast is very, very, very dangerous. Will claim that the other villagers have downplayed the number of murders, and/or that a previous team of WitchHammers has already been killed by the creature. Will try to get WitchHammers to leave early and move on to the next adventure.

Poison by Traitor
4:00 PM -- Cross roads near town
The traitor will try to poison the WitchHammers using Itching Poison added to their Eggs and Onino. They will present the poisoned food as a hospitality and the least they can do for the brave WitchHammers. Will excuse themselves and them flee into the woods once the poison has been delivered.

Curse your sudden and inevitable support for the HexBeast
6:00 PM -- Cross roads near town
The Traitor waits for the WitchHammers to fight the Southern Nilpferd. Once combat has started, will betray the characters and attack them from behind. The HexBeast has no particular affection for the traitor, and will kill them if convenient. The traitor is smart enough to realize this and will try to stay out of the HexBeasts way during the combat, fleeing if need be if things go south.

False accusation by villager
8:00 PM -- Large, multi-family farm house
The villager accuses of being in league with the HexBeast. They should be beaten, confined, and or killed!

Villager is severely wounded by beast
12:00 PM -- Creek bed, dry
limps into the village, having been severely wounded by Southern Nilpferd. They can gasp a few words, but will be largely unresponsive and on deaths door even if they get prompt care. Without prompt care, will die within the hour.

Bad Traitor no traiting
6:00 AM -- Clear grove of flowers in the thick woods outside town
A child will try to tell the WitchHammers info about the Traitor . E.g. that they've seen them in the woods with scary things, or smelled weird things from their house, found gnawed bones in their backyard, or seen odd lights from their home at night. Will not be 100% believable, since it is just a kid.

Find a large pile of meat-treats
8:00 AM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The traitor has been leaving food (mostly cow meat) out in the woods for the HexBeast to eat, as part of the effort to study and tame the HexBeast. The villager has found the meat (or the PCs if they are pro-active enough in searching) and reported it to the group. A large amount of the meat has been eaten.

Call the Vicious HexBeast
10:00 AM -- Dramatic, 100ft waterfall
The Traitor dramatically calls the HexBeast Southern Nilpferd to fight the WitchHammers, and declares their attachment to it. The creature will answer the call, but it feels no loyalty to its caller and if convenient will kill bloodily at the start of the fight. will act and fight for the HexBeast, up until the moment that they realize the HexBeast is a bloody monster that will kill them.

NPC 1:
Demetra

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~8 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Apothecary
VillagerQuirk: Extremely short (4'8). Not a dwarf, just short
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful and happily flirty. They like people in general and will try to get with the most likely WitchHammer.
CommonTask: hawking their wares in the main street
CommonTask: gathering herbs in nature
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well

NPC 2:
Haust

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Rebel
VillagerQuirk: Outspoken Vegan
VillagerPcRelation: Moderately helpful. They are greasily obsequious and will try to curry the WitchHammers favor in hopes of reward/protection/good word to the Empire.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 3:
Dillo

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~30 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Falsely believes themself to be agent of Mercatoria power on earth.
VillagerPcRelation: Arrogant. Thinks they are above wandering killers such as the WitchHammers. Will only grudingly help.
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 4:
Shiek

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Painter
VillagerQuirk: Has horrible pock marks from childhood disease
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; both parents died recently from illness and kind of checked out on life.
CommonTask: drawing a portrat of a local village headman
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 5:
Lapinski

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~40 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Caravan Guard
VillagerQuirk: Has an elaborately coiffed and curled mustache that is their pride and joy.
VillagerPcRelation: Cheerful and Generous. A fortunate person who has a positive outlook on life.
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 6:
Geroux

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~20 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Herder
VillagerQuirk: Has an old slave-tattoo
VillagerPcRelation: Very helpful; they want to be a Witchahmmer themselves on day.
CommonTask: walking to their job
CommonTask: driving a flock of animals near the outskirts of town
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern

NPC 7:
Shavers

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Miner
VillagerQuirk: Is the scion of an Empire noble family who is secretly slumming it and taking a role far below their family status.
VillagerPcRelation: Neutral/cold; both parents died recently from illness and kind of checked out on life.
CommonTask: drawing water from the town well
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel

NPC 8:
Toliver

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~50 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Inn Keep
VillagerQuirk: Carries the blessing of Sithrak. The God's power will watch over them and curse those who try to injure them.
VillagerPcRelation: Helpful; has a Servile personality in general.
CommonTask: light heartedly drinking at the tavern
CommonTask: rubbernecking at a cart with a broken wheel
CommonTask: shopping for dry goods

NPC 9:
Okama

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~45 years old
VillagerGender: Female
VillagerJob: Blacksmith
VillagerQuirk: Has golden tooth (is a family heirloom; passed down from parent to child)
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: quenching a newly forged sword in water
CommonTask: grimly drinking self into a stupor
CommonTask: walking to their job

NPC 10:
Lefton

Stats:
Poise: 15
Health: 10
DefenseMod: 0
AttackMod: 0
Init: 0

Traits:
VillagerAge: ~25 years old
VillagerGender: Male
VillagerJob: Anthropologist (performing studies on the various subject peoples of the Empire)
VillagerQuirk: Is accompanied by a small and yappy dog
VillagerPcRelation: Very Unhelpful; A Witchhammer killed someone they loved in a minor feud
CommonTask: sitting outside and reading a book
CommonTask: watching the birds and clouds
CommonTask: walking to their job