Introduction and Background
This is a short adventure for a party of characters of levels 2-4 using the B/X D&D rules
In west-most Karameikos, near the border with the Five Shires there was the hamlet of Hawthornfield, a tiny village, now abandoned for over 20 years. It sat on the Cruth River, and around it are the Cruth Highlands, leading up to the Cruth Mountains in the north. Its water supply was Pendle Stream, a stream that feeds into the Cruth river.
Nearby there is Vurparnu Mansion, the centre of civilization in this corner of the Known World. And recently there has been a burst of enthusiasm in the Manor about regaining lost territory and reestablishing the old Vurparnu estate. Hawthornfield is of particular interest because of reports it still has a functioning water mill - an asset of great use to any grain-growing community. Thus brave adventurers are being asked to investigate and clear out the hamlet so that it can once again produce fine-ground flour for western Karameikos.
20 years ago the village was raided by orcs - nearly half the inhabitants were killed and most of the survivors fled to safer settlements. Soon afterwards Hawthornfield was taken over by a powerful necromancer called Ezzorius, looking for a quiet base of operations. He went to work building an army of the undead, using all sorts of dead bodies for reanimation. However, about 2 years ago Ezzorius had an unfortunate encounter with a wandering cockatrice, and is now a stone statue in the middle of the hamlet. His undead minions are still milling about, uncontrolled and mindless.
The buildings are dilapidated but still structurally intact and upright. For the sake of simplicity, all buildings here are single storey. However, dotted around the hamlet there are various petrified remains of wildlife and livestock - a cow, or a rabbit or a badger frozen as statues. As far as clearing out the hamlet is concerned, the cockatrice is the principle problem. Dealing with animated undead, kobolds and wandering wildlife is secondary although still appreciated by civilized folk.
Key to map:
1) The Mill. Note that outside the mill's front door (the star on the map) is a statue of a wizard-like human with his hands thrown up in defence and a look of horror on his face. If somehow brought back to life, his name is Ezzorius and he is a 10th level chaotic magic user who can command any of the undead creatures in the hamlet. He will be grateful enough to let the PCs leave with their lives but is otherwise not a nice person to deal with.
a) Empty
b) The milling room. This is dominated by a pair of millstones linked by cogs and axels to the waterwheel outside. Lurking in the rafters here is a giant crab spider that will attack any intruders.
Crab Spider: AC 7, HD 2*, hp 6, Move 120ft/Climb 120ft, THAC0 18, ATT 1 bite for 1d8 + poison, Save F1, Ml 7, Align Neutral, XP 25, Poisonous bite: Anyone bitten by giant crab spider must make a save vs poison at +2 to the roll or die in 1d4 turns.
c) The miller's house main room
d) The miller's house bedroom. Under a floorboard is the miller’s savings, a sack containing 25gp, 122sp and 270cp
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| from AD&D 1E MM, art by Tom Wham |
e) Sluice and Millpond. The sluice controls the flow of water out of the millpond and through the waterwheel. It has been left open for decades and the water flowing through is not enough to turn the wheel, just flowing around it. The sluice also acts as a footbridge over Pendle Stream. Deep in the millpond near its centre there now lurks a giant pike:
Giant Pike: AC 5, HD 4, hp 20, Move swim 360ft, THAC0 16, Att 1 bite for 4d4, Save F2, Ml 9, Align Neutral, XP 75. Sudden Speed: Pike can surprise opponents on 1-4 on d6. Entirely Aquatic: Giant pike can breathe underwater but cannot breathe air, and similarly cannot move on land.
2) The Hairy Halfling Tavern
a) Bar room. The front door here has been smashed , allowing animals access inside. Inside the bar room amidst broken furniture and glassware there is a cockatrice that will attack any intruders. Behind the bar the creature has amassed a small hoard of trinkets: 4300sp, 950gp, 56pp and 5 gems worth 50gp (agate), 50gp (Tigereye), 100gp (amber), 100gp (pearl) and 300gp (beryl). Note that the cockatrice may wander around the hamlet during the day and will attack any living thing, though it generally ignores undead monsters.
Cockatrice: AC 6, HD 5**, hp 25, Move 90ft, fly 180ft, THAC0 15, Att 1 beak for 1d6 + petrification (save vs Petrification or be turned to stone), Save F5, Ml 7, Align Neutral, XP 425
b) Kitchen: This room is empty apart from petrified remains of 4 giant rats.
c) Store room. Most of the foodstuffs and drink here has long since perished, but there is a gallon-sized barrel of finely aged gnomish whiskey worth 300gp
d) Innkeeper's bedroom. Nothing of value here.
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Image by Jeff Dee, from D&D Expert Rulebook
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3) Shrine of Law. This building has been descrated and now no longer functions as holy land. However, lawful clerics and others respectful of such matters may aspire to re-consecrate this shrine.
a) Vestibule. In here are 8 crawling claws that will attack living things.
Crawling Claw: AC 8, Move 60ft, HD 1/2, hp 2, THAC0 20, Att 1 claw for 1d3, Save NM, Ml 12, XP 5
b) Main Shrine. This room is dominated by a broken statue of a saint who lived in the area over a century ago (Saint Verbian the Defiant who was renowned for protecting farmers from marauding monsters).
4) The Alnithons' Farm
a) Sheep Shed - This flimsy building now holds 5 skeletons (formerly human) that have been standing aimlessly for decades. They will attack any intruders.
Skeleton: AC 7, HD 1, hp 4 each, Move 60ft, THAC0 19, Att 1 weapon for 1d6, Save F1, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, XP 10. Undead traits: As undead, skeletons are immune to Charm, Sleep, Poison and disease
b) Farm shed - includes various farming tools, storage bins and a small plough, plus 2 skeletal horses. They will stand absolutely still unless either touched or attacked, in which case they spring into action.
Skeletal Horse: AC 7, HD 3, hp 15, 13, Move 90ft, THAC0 18, Att 2 hooves for 1d4/1d4, Save F2, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, XP 35, Undead traits: As undead, skeleton horses are immune to Charm, Sleep, Poison and disease
c) Farmer Alnithon’s main room. This is empty, and has nothing of value.
d) Alnithon’s bedroom. Farmer Alnithon has been transformed into a ghoul by a cursed amulet. He hungrily attacks any intruders. The amulet around his neck is silver and moonstone, worth 200gp, but anyone wearing it for a week will be transformed into a ghoul - Detect Evil will reveal something very wrong with it, while Detect Magic will show a strong aura of Necromancy about the amulet.
Ghoul: AC 6, HD 2*, hp 10, Move 90ft, THAC0 18, Att 2 claws/1 bite for 1d3/1d3/1d3 + paralysis, Save F2, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, XP 25
5) The Borthons' Farm
a) Borthons’ front room: 4 skeletons (formerly orcs) are here, guarding the farmhouse. They attack any intruders.
Skeleton: AC 7, HD 1, hp 4 each, Move 60ft, THAC0 19, Att 1 weapon for 1d6, Save F1, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, XP 10. Undead traits: As undead, skeletons are immune to Charm, Sleep, Poison and disease
b) kitchen & storeroom. There is nothing of interest here - broken crockery and cooking utensils, plus a metal stove next to barrels of long-decayed foodstuffs.
c) Borthons’ bedroom. This room holds 6 stirges that will initially attack but will fly out of the window if they fail morale checks
Stirge: AC 7, HD 1 (4hp each), Move fly 180ft/crawl 30ft, THAC0 19, Att 1 beak for 1d3, Spec abil Swooping strike (+2 to first hit roll), Blood drain (automatic 1d3 damage/round after successful hit), Ml 9, Save F2, Align Neutral, XP 13
d) Cattle shed & dog kennel. In here are 3 reanimated large dogs, using the same stats as zombie wolves.
Zombie Dog: AC 6, Mv 90ft, HD 3+2 (hp 17, 14), THAC0 16, Att 1 bite for 1d6+1, Save F2, Ml 12, Align C, 50 XP, Spec Quality: undead - immune to poison, disease & mind-affecting spells, turned by clerics as ghouls.
e) chicken coop. This is empty apart from various feathers, straw and bits of egg shell.
6) The Clacktors' Farm: This farm has recently been taken over by a band of kobolds. They are rightly terrified of the cockatrice and will avoid it at any cost. They might be open to negotiation as long as they are not asked to fight "the feathered horror". They know it wanders around during the day and thus they only emerge from the farmhouse at night. If the cockatrice is slain the kobolds might be persuaded to move out peacefully.
a) Clacktons's front room: The front door here has been reinforced and is not easy to break down. Inside are 6 kobolds + 6 kobold slingers.
Kobold: AC 7, Mv 60ft, HD 1/2 (2hp each), THAC0 20, Att 1 weapon for 1d4, Save NM, Ml 6, Align C, XP 5, equipment: dagger (slingers also have slings + 10 stones each)
b) Dining room and kitchen: 4 kobolds are here. The window has been heavily boarded up.
Kobold: AC 7, Mv 60ft, HD 1/2 (2hp each), THAC0 20, Att 1 weapon for 1d4, Save NM, Ml 6, Align C, XP 5, equipment: dagger
c) Clacktors' bedroom: Quarters for the kobold leader and 3 kobold slingers. In a crude chest under the bed there is the kobolds' treasure: 2100sp, 620gp and 2 potions of healing. The windows have been heavily boarded up.
Kobold Leader: AC 5, Mv 60ft, HD 2 (12hp), THAC0 18, Att 1 weapon for 1d6, Save F2, Ml 8, Align C, XP 20, Equipment: chainmail armour (halfling-sized), shortsword
Kobold: AC 7, Mv 60ft, HD 1/2 (2hp each), THAC0 20, Att 1 weapon for 1d4, Save NM, Ml 6, Align C, XP 5, equipment: dagger (slingers also have slings + 10 stones each)
d) Farm shed. The door here has been broken down and inside are 4 petrified kobolds in poses of terror and panic. Up above in the rafters on the ceiling there are 3 giant bats which may attack if PCs loiter or cause a racket.
Giant Bat: AC 6, HD 2, hp 6, 8, 5 Move 30ft/fly 180ft, THAC0 18, Att 1 bite for 1d4, Save F1, Ml 8, Align N, XP 20 each
e) Sheep shed. In here are the inanimate remains of a dozen sheep.
7) The Dirrinors' Farm: This was where the necromancer lived until his unfortunate transformation (see area 1). Note that wandering around the farmyard is a skeletal ogre, patrolling endlessly.
Skeletal Ogre: AC 7, HD 4+1, hp 18, Move 90ft, THAC0 17, Att 1 club for 1d10, Save F4, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, XP 125, undead - immune to poison, disease & mind-affecting spells, turned by clerics as zombie
a) Dirrinors' front room. This room has a front door that has been trapped with a crossbow and trigger wire (2 shots, THAC0 12, dam 2d4 per hit), but there is also a smashed-in window so any observant character can bypass the trap.
b) first bedroom. 2 Bone Warriors are guarding this room.
Bone Warrior: AC 5, HD 3, hp 14. 15, Move 120ft, THAC0 17, Att 1 weapon for 1d8+1, Save F3, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, undead - immune to poison, disease & mind-affecting spells, turned by clerics as wight
c) kitchen and storeroom: 10 skeletal giant rats are here, and they will attack intruders.
Skeletal Rat: AC 7, HD 1/2, hp 2, Move 90ft, THAC0 20, Att 1 bite for 1d3, Save NM, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, XP 5, undead - immune to poison, disease & mind-affecting spells, turned by clerics as skeletons
d) Necromancer's quarters. This place is clearly more recently used and has a neat bed, and a bookshelf stacked with mystical and terrible grimoires and tomes. There are 10 of these books and are worth 1d6 x 100gp each. Although Read Magic is necessary to understand these books, once cast the reader sees that the books are about necromancy and various ways to animate and control the undead as well as treatises on the nature of undead creatures. Under the bed covers is the necromancer's spellbook. It has the following spells
- 1st level spells: Read Magic, Detect Magic, Charm Person, Shield
- 2nd level spells: Continual Light/Darkness, Web, Caustic Bolt, Stinking Cloud
- 3rd level spells: Dispel Magic, Lightning Bolt, Protection from Evil 10ft Radius
- 4th level spells: Remove Curse/Curse, Wall of Fire, Dimension Door
- 5th level spells: Animate Dead, Cloudkill
8) Independent cottages. These were used by non-farmer residents of the hamlet.
a) The door here has been broken down. Inside are two petrified kobolds, one of them frozen while trying to climb out of the window.
b) This place now holds 3 skeletons plus a skeletal horse. If the place is searched it is clear this belonged to a tailor, with needles, threads and pieces of cloth on a workbench, and a wardrobe with finished and partially made cotton and linen items. In a box under the workbench is a Robe of Protection +1 and a large roll of fine silk worth 200gp.
Skeleton: AC 7, HD 1, hp 4 each, Move 60ft, THAC0 19, Att 1 weapon for 1d6, Save F1, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, XP 10. Undead traits: As undead, skeletons are immune to Charm, Sleep, Poison and disease
Skeletal Horse: AC 7, HD 3, hp 15, 13, Move 90ft, THAC0 18, Att 2 hooves for 1d4/1d4, Save F2, Ml 12, Align Chaotic, XP 35, Undead traits: As undead, skeleton horses are immune to Charm, Sleep, Poison and disease
c) Empty
d) Empty
e) Coiled up here is a large pit viper that will lash out at any thing that approaches it.
Pit Viper: AC 6, HD 2*, hp 11, Move 90ft, Att 1 bite for 1d4 + poison, Save as F1, Ml 7, Align Neutral, XP 25, Venomous bite: Anyone bitten must save vs poison or die instantly.
f) 5 stirges are roosting here in what was the hamlet's bakery. There is a large oven here; inside of it are lots of ashes but in the ashes is a single green Chrysoberyl gem worth 300gp.
Stirge: AC 7, HD 1 (4hp each), Move fly 180ft/crawl 30ft, THAC0 19, Att 1 beak for 1d3, Spec abil Swooping strike (+2 to first hit roll), Blood drain (automatic 1d3 damage/round after successful hit), Ml 9, Save F2, Align Neutral, XP 13
