Community

Not long ago, a particularly vicious owlbear blundered through a fey crossing into the world. Bewildered by its abrupt transposition and unfamiliar with its new surroundings, the owlbear went on a deadly rampage through the woodlands nearby, driving out all other predators before claiming a barren stretch of land on the edge of the forest as its own. Despite their best efforts, a nearby group of elves known as the Graythicket tribe, also traumatized by the owlbear, were unable to drive it out.

Despite a general respect for all life, the Graythickets have decided that it would be best if the owlbear was destroyed. Unwilling to risk any more of their warriors, several of whom have been killed or injured by the creature, they spread the word that they in need of aid to hunt down the owlbear.

The first group to make the attempt was a band of adventurers who called themselves the Shevverim. One of their number was a Graythicket elf who had left to seek his fortune in the wider world. On hearing of his tribe’s troubles, he returned to lend his aid accompanied by some loyal allies. Unfortunately, the angry owlbear proved too canny a foe, and two of the adventurers became its next meal. The rest refused to consider fighting the beast again and left. The elf adventurer, Luthan, remained behind, and now travels to surrounding communities in search of other adventurers who will rid his tribe of the menace. The ravenous owlbear has begun hunting further afield from its claimed land, causing the Graythicket tribe no end of problems.

The first takers Luthan found were a group of roguish kenku mercenaries. Led by a scruffy scoundrel named Atatakk, the kenku were curiously eager to pursue the owlbear. But their enthusiasm apparently didn’t serve them well against the beast, as they never returned. Luthan scouted the area after they failed to report back, and saw only some scattered black feathers near the owlbear’s lair. No other sign of the kenku remained.

Discouraged, Luthan redoubled his efforts, and succeeded in finding three more groups willing to engage the owlbear, whose legend had grown among the local communities. But each of the groups Luthan sent failed to return. Further scouting missions didn’t even turn up sign of their clothes or belongings.

The first takers Luthan found were a group of roguish kenku mercenaries. Led by a scruffy scoundrel named Atatakk, the kenku were curiously eager to pursue the owlbear. But their enthusiasm apparently didn’t serve them well against the beast, as they never returned. Luthan scouted the area after they failed to report back, and saw only some scattered black feathers near the owlbear’s lair. No other sign of the kenku remained. Discouraged, Luthan redoubled his efforts, and succeeded in finding three more groups willing to engage the owlbear, whose legend had grown among the local communities. But each of the groups Luthan sent failed to return. Further scouting missions didn’t even turn up sign of their clothes or belongings. off, Atatakk and his band stole down silently and collected the fallen adventurers’ gear and money.

More adventurers followed in later days. Sometimes, if the owlbear was hard pressed, Atatakk would order his kenku into the fray to aid it. They always caught the adventurers by surprise and turned the tide, then fled before the beast could turn on them. Later, they would return and collect the treasure from the battle. The bulk of their loot has been sent back to their home flock in the city. But Atatakk has kept a few choice bits for himself…

Unknown to the Graythicket tribe or Luthan, another denizen of the Feywild recently wandered through the portal: a gnome arcanist by the name of Orva. A researcher at heart, she was disoriented at first, but quickly realized the portal she’d passed through had closed behind her. She set off in search of aid, but found the owlbear’s territory instead. The enraged beast caught the scent of its home plane and flew into a rage. It chased the panicked gnome, wounding her badly before she managed to find refuge in the branches of a nearby tree on the edge of the owlbear’s territory.

Orva has attempted to leave the tree twice, but both times, by chance, the owlbear was nearby and chased her. Now, her strength waning, she has succumbed to paranoia and despair, and doesn’t know what to do. She has nearly run out of food, despite rationing, and is now in danger of starving to death.

The goblin king Haruuc is dead. As is the way with his people, his body has been entombed in an ancient natural cavern set in the side of a large hill. A great set of stone double doors was constructed at the mouth of the cave to seal within the cavern the dead king and the treasures with which he was buried.

Recently, a trio of goblinoid malcontents led by the hobgoblin warlord Daavn have learned that an item of great power was buried with Haruuc, and they have set about opening the tomb to retrieve this item for their own nefarious purposes.

Individual DMs can decide what this item is and how these goblinoids plan to use it. Daavn’s group might be seeking Haruuc’s magic sword, his bone crown, or his royal seal. They might be seeking the corpse of the goblin king.

You can use any number of hooks to interest the heroes in investigating the tomb. They might learn about the location of the tomb from a member of a nearby goblin tribe. They might accidentally come upon Daavn and his cronies as they attempt to open the tomb doors. Or they might be seeking a powerful or valuable item and learn that the item they seek was buried with the dead goblin king.

The story takes place in the goblin nation of Darguun in the Eberron campaign setting. Although parts of this adventure reference that region and other specifics of Eberron, this adventure can be placed easily in any campaign setting.