Badwater

Setting

In a fertile valley a long day's ride east of Luxor(map, the village of Gredding is home to just under a thousand pastoral farmers, hunters, miners, foresters, brewers, craftspeople and their families. To the south, Ravenwood, and the Hills of Nimlith roll ever higher to the north and east.

Recently, water quality complaints have dominated the weekly town meeting, and many worry that Sally's Brook, the stream that supplies most of the village's water, has become fouled, and perhaps the village's two community wells are next. Word was sent to Luxor a week ago, with no response to date.

Yesterday, a breathless woodsman reported being chased out of his camp by "the walking dead" near the headwaters of Sally's Brook, and as his story has spread, panic threatens to overtake the town.

Having no standing security force, Mayor Griswald has therefore assembled a hardy group of capable travelers to investigate the issue upstream, with hopes that Luxor will send additional help soon.

Character Creation Guidelines

These are 100-point characters who can expect relatively rapid advancement in this campaign.

This is a frontier community and you are therefore hardy and capable of long-distance travel.

You've been selected for a reason, and your character story should articulate that reason. Examples for inspiration and mix-and-match:

• The half-elf hunter/ranger who knows the uplands intimately
• The strongman who always wins the wrestling competition
• The clever city engineer who can always figure out the best & cheapest logistics
• The landlord of noble birth who received military leadership training
• The naturopath who speaks to plants and has a cache of healing herbs
• The one mage in town, known for helpful magic
• The mayor's cousin, who has no special skills but the mayor owes him one -- or is trying to be rid of him.

A Sense of Duty and actual Duty to your friends and families in the village of Gredding is required, but implied -- no need to document it.

An Area Knowledge of the immediate surroundings of your village is implied. Knowledge of the depths of Ravenwood or the heights of the Hills of Nimlith or streets of Luxor must be purchased with character points.

Magery is allowed with an additional 10 point Unusual Background.

Otherwise, spend a max of:

• 100 points on primary attributes (might be wise to spend much of this to set a good basis for skills)
• 50 points on advantages
• 50 points on disadvantages (spending it all would be wise)
• 50 points on skills (might be wise to have many one-point skills ready for advancement)

Characters

• Elena, Daughter of the Soil
• Garrick Holt, woodsman/generalist
• Demitry, young princelet, recently spurned

What Happened

Launch

Mayor Griswald, having gotten reports (and first hand experience) of the waters of Sally's Brook becoming fouled with a sour-bitter taste that burns the mouth, recently sent for help to the engineers of Luxor. However, no help has arrived and so he has convened to the townsfolk to answer their demands that he do something.

After twisting the tips of his mighty white mustache, he assuages the assembled citizens and calls for volunteers to investigate the resolve the issue. It takes just a glance at Garrick Holt to acquire the first volunteer. Elena quickly follows, given her deep concerns about the fouling the land she cherishes. After a pause and rather direct glare at his young cousin Demitry, the young leather-clad flirt nods his assent.

The mayor promises to outfit the team with whatever is needed and the team forthwith walks over to the tavern to discuss. While planning, a local woodsman known for his slightly deranged superstitions, bursts into the tavern with a story of skinless monsters with green glowing eyes wandering the high forests. After being further pleadingly harassed by anxious citizens over several drinks, the team resolves, despite the late hour, to head out immediately. They camp at a familiar site along the brook a few hours later.

Before dawn, they are awakened by a trio of two-meter-long snakes. Made of interlocking segments of tin or steel. And glowing green eyes.

With difficulty (and minor injuries), they smash the three mysterious automatons.