The Siege of Kol-Dun

N
ot all stories are those of heroes and great Expectations - The Setting
deeds. Most stories are never told, and if
they were, none would care to listen. These This adventure will pit a party's investigative skills and moral
stories of the common, the unsung, the decision-making to the test. The ending of this scenario will
forgotten... Endless volumes of mundane largely be determined by their ability to unravel a mystery or
trajedy, little noticed victory, and easily- their own moral decisions. Their successes, as well as their
dismissed betrayal in the name of survival. decisions, will determine the one-of-many outcomes.
Several suggested endings will be included in this
An unusual Origin Story adventure, but the Game Master should feel freedom in the
ability to use the setting and create their own endings.
Some commonly used tropes in adventure storytelling should
raise questions, though it's seldom given a thought. Take for
example tournaments and gladiating events. Kol-Dun Keep
The arena is a staple in many adventures and fantasy Kol-Dun Keep is a destitute frontier outpost. Where
settings. It's an effective tool which adds challenging combat it resides is less important than what it is. It can be
with the reward of a purse, all from the safety of a city or wherever the GM needs it to be, provided some
settlement. assumptions are accounted for.
There's winners, their winnings in the form of coin and
renown. There's losers, some who were predestined to lose. It borders territory with goblinoid population
Fodder for the meat grinder, one would say. But... what was centers, namely Bugbear dens
their origin story? It is remotely located, but receives trade from
bordering nations as a trade hub
The Victims and the victors
In feudal times it was not uncommon to force criminals
against their will to entertain the masses in blood sport. Astral Exclusive Adventure
Beasts would also be forced to take part either directly, or as This adventure was designed for use on Astral. This
"environmental hazards". Each of those participants came advenuture PDF is supplied with the Astral Module, which
from somewhere and there was great prosperity to be had for comes complete with pregenerated player characters, Astral
those who could supply such tools for entertainment. Maps, NPCs and more. Rather than provide stat-blocks,
This adventure explores the consequences of such maps, and other game-specific supplementary materials
dealings. within this PDF, the PDF is instead a supplementary addition
to the Astral campaign.
Prologue
There is a mystery at Kol-Dun Keep. Lately, the outlying
villages have been under attack. Villagers have gone missing
after leaving to tend fields or fish streams. Rumor has it that
at least one of the smaller hamlets has disappeared
completely. From the stories, nothing remained but broken
huts, shacks, and barns. Doors were ripped from their hinges
and livestock and fields left unattended.
The whispers among the common folk and village peasants
were unanimous. The Bugbears. There was no doubt. Before
now, the distant dens in the hills had been nothing more than
stories to tell children. A place to avoid.
Something has changed. The villages are no longer safe,
and villagers flock to the Keep, abandoning everything they
own. Farmers are taking up swords, training as a militia in
the Keep's bailey. It seems that a fight on the frontier is
inevitable.
Expectations - The Party
This scenario will run for 2-3 sessions depending on the
party's decision and their ability to piece together the mystery.
The 2-4 encounters are suited for a party of 4 characters at
5th level but can be scaled up as necessary by adding
optional adversaries.

Prologue
1
The Truth and the Mystery...
T
he Party will have many paths they can take in
this highly narrative adventure. As they make
their choices, some paths will be easier or
harder to follow. As the GM, you should
present what the party discovers in a way that
will still allow the party flexibility in making
their decisions, as well as not revealing the
true nature of the mystery until the party succeeds in piecing
together their findings.
The Bugbear Menace
The rumors are true. Bugbears have been behind the recent
disappearances.
Historically, Kol-Dun has endured a generation of peaceful
rule with no conflict with the neighboring dens where the
Bugbears reside. There seems to be no reason or provocation
that would explain why relations escalated to violence.
Kol-Dun Keep's recent prosperity
Until recently, Kol-Dun and the surrounding villages and
hamlets barely made ends meet. After the death of the
previous Lord Gabbin Guethern, his daughter, Lady Isabella
Guethern, took his place.
Shortly after, Lady Guethern reformed the local economy.
Merchants were encouraged to set up shop in the Inner
Bailey, frequent caravaners were given incentives for making
a long and hazardous journey, trade taxes replaced with
mercantile permits, and a swath of other changes enacted to
encourage trade and use of local establishments. The bailey
and the surrounding villages seemed to come to life, and the
Keep began to prosper. Over a few short years it went from a
defensive outpost to an inter-regional trading hub.
The citizens, both within the keep and from the
surrounding villages and hamlets, viewed Lady Guethern as
the savior who brought wealth to the land. From an outward
perspective it wouldn't be hard to come to that conclusion.
Dealings in the shadows
Before this, the Keep Guard had stood their post for decades,
watching the town and surrounding village do just well
enough to continue and nothing more. Behind closed doors,
they criticized the previous lord for his inaction. They became
bitter while they watched their families and neighbors wither
away into insiginficancy.
They began to deliberate. Something had to be done.
There were no valuable resources in the area, nothing they
could sell, trade, or otherwise use to bring profit. The soil was
poor but usable, while forests and rivers contained enough
game and fish to keep the local population going.
They began to talk to travellers, routinely asking for trade
rumors and news from the inner realm. Matters were being
taken into their self-described capable hands.
The Deal (and plot) of a Lifetime
Word of prosperous schemes and business propositions run
wild on the frontier. Laws are lax, aspirations high, watchful
eyes few and far between. The Keep Guard, now working in
the shadows and away from Lady Guethern's gaze, learned of
bounties paid for Arena contestants and beasts. Their
goblinoid neighbors now seemed to them like a blessing in
disguise.
The conspirators knew that Lady Guethern would never
allow forces under her banner to take aggressive action of
any kind upon otherwise peaceful neighbors and risk
threatening the relative peace they had enjoyed so far. The
Frontier presents extreme danger and challeneges in itself,
and no actions that could bring further danger would be
tolerated. They scrounged what they could for trade in secret,
and through travelling merchants purchased trapping
equipment and practiced, while at night building cages for
captivity.
Within a month they had their first catch. Pre-arranged
meetings took place, and money exchanged hands. The keep
was none the wiser. The guards, careful with their bounty lest
they draw attention to themselves, offered incentives for
traders to leave weary livestock and pack-animals. Merchants
were provided gifts and lavish accomodations for providing
discount prices to locals. The locals began prospering, and
Lady Guethern's actions were the reasonable explanation.
No questions were ever asked in these exchanges, and no
complaints reached Lady Guethern's ears. The Keep Guard
was a strictly kept fraternity, and they felt invincible in the
flawlessness of their schemes. In their eyes, there were no
victims but beasts.
An alien culture
Bugbear culture is, for this advenuture, assumed to be just as
versatile as the cultures of common non-goblinoids, such as
Human or Elven cultures.
Possible Party Knowledge
Despite this adventure's assertion of versatile and
diverse culture, some constants of Bugbear or
goblinoid culture can safely be assumed by the
party, such as with a relevant History or Lore check.
Tribes are usually ruled by a single Chief
In most cases, Chieftainship is achieved
through a mixture of trial-by-combat and tribe
support. The strongest might not be able to
lead if the others won't follow them into battle.
As chaotic as they may appear, there are varying
sets of strict codes and morals between tribes.
Prologue
2
 History of Peace
In this aggressive goblinoid culture, some norms take
different meaning. The idea of negotiation takes a different
form. It's presented through actions or inaction rather than
words and treaties. The act of purposely not attacking a
neighboring region is, in itself, a pact of peace.
In the Tribe's eyes, the fact that there was peace was an
assurance of mutual respect. Healthy respect to each other's
borders was a reinforcement of trust. The lack of violence
and trespass meant that there was an agreement of non-
violence.
The Tribe's numbers had declined over the past few
generations. In-fighting, excommunications and tribe
migration had not been kind to their numbers. While they
had no reason for violence, this was a further incentive to
maintain peace.
The Start of Violence
Over years, Bugbears were kidnapped by an unknown
adversary. The current Bugbear Chief - Grokk'Nor, had tried
to temper the tribe against quick action at his Hobgoblin
Advisor's request. In time, Zsrab the Advisor formulated a
plan. He urged the Worgs to stalk hunting parties, who
eventually witnessed the Men in the process of a kidnapping.
After this revelation, there was no further chance of peace.
Grokk'Nor took up the title of War Chief. Raids on villages
took place, and all villagers kidnapped or killed, corpses and
captives hauled away to the dens.
Suggested Plot Angles
The Kol-Dun Keep Guard
Gaurdsman Barnaby is the Marshal of the Guard, the most
prominent character in the fraternity.
The members of the Guard generally perceive the
bugbears to be the equivalent of a natural predator, such as a
lynx or wolf. Dangerous, and to be contained or controlled.
Selling live Bugbears and non-goblinoids (presumed to be
criminals) to inner-realm regions for use in arenas is not
necessarily frowned upon, and no questions are asked. The
Frontier is a dangerous place, and criminals as well as
threats to the outpost are often able to be handled in ways the
overseer of the region deems fit.
The Guard have kept their dealings a secret from all,
especially Lady Guethern. They see her as a useless
extension of her father, though her changes have provided
them a layer of cover as they worked to jump-start the local
economy through risky and questionable means. They see
themselves as the only thing standing between their families
and destitution, and would go so far as to take leadership by
force to keep themselves in a position to watch over Kol-Dun.
Prologue
3
Lady Guethern
Lady Guethern is dedicated to making the region prosper.
She saw her father fail his people, and is overly and
obsessively committed to achieving prosperity for her people.
She has a strong moral compass, and would never put her
people in danger, or stoop so low as to sanction kidnappings
of a peaceful neighboring society and risk inciting violence.
She has no idea of the dealings the Guard have been
committing behind her back, and is far too wrapped up in the
affairs of the region to notice.
As for Lady Guethern's changes, the changes have indeed
had a positive impact, regardless of the dealings of the Keep
Guard. The Keep has become an attractive site of trade and
commerce, and travellers have become frequent visitors. The
local population has thus benefitted from luxuries and
commodities they may otherwise have never had within
reach.
Due to the realistic benefit her changes have provided, as
well as the surge in prosperity the Keep Guards have
introduced (unknown to Lady Guethern), she believes herself
to be the savior her people think she is.
The Bugbears
Grokk'Nor is the current War Chief, and leads the Tribe in co-
operation with Zsrab the Advisor and Grus'Dogal the Magus,
Seer to Grokk'Nor. He rules with a calm temper and
restrained power, at least by Bugbear standards.
Grus'Dogal the Magus is an elder Bugbear. His attunement
to magic and usefulness to the tribe has ensured his safety,
allowing him to grow much older than typical Bugbears. His
loyalty to Grokk'Nor is well established, as he often recounted
visions of Grokk'Nor's leadership restoring the Tribe's
strength among the Bugbear tribes.
Zsrab the Advisor is a Hobgoblin of notable reputation in
the tribe. His quick wit, conniving plots and prowess for
ambush tactics has earned himself a spot beside the Chief.
He considers himself solely responsible for keeping the tribe
intact against overwhelming odds over recent years.
The Tribe as a whole sees the kidnappings as a betrayal.
They had existed in peace, and there was no escalation. To
them, these kidnappings are done by dishonorable cowards
and they have no choice but to fight.
Crest of the Kol-Dun Keep Guard

Suggested Plot Paths
While this adventure is designed to be as open ended as
possible, you'll be provided with some example plot paths
that can be followed depending on the party's decisions and
investigation.
Supporting Lady Guethern
If the Party discovers the cause of the Bugbear attacks and
unusual prosperity, they may opt to support Lady Guethern
and inform her of the plot hatched by the fraternity Keep
Guard, and prevent further kidnappings. This will be a path
directly against the Guard, and can potentially support the
Bubgears.
The motive may be moral, to stop the kidnappings and
sales to slavery. It may be noble, to stop what appears to be a
coup in the making. The motive may simply be based on
greed. Lady Guethern would undoubtedly pay a reward for a
return to order. This could present itself as gathering
evidence and witnesses from the townsfolk, uncovering the
holding areas where Bugbears await the flesh traders, or
otherwise rooting out the Guard's ringleaders.
Supporting the Keep Guard
If the party discovers the cause of the Bugbear attacks and
unusual prosperity, they may opt to support the Keep Guard.
This will be a path directly against the Bugbears. As Lady
Guethern is unaware of the plot, it would not necessarily be
going against her. The suffering of the commoners in this
region is plain to see and the region would be indebted to the
party for resolving the conflict.
The motive for this path may be moral, for the suffering of
the people at the hands of bugbear attacks is evident across
this region. Many people have been displaced and now take
refuge in the Keep, and the townsfolk live in a constant state
of fear. It may be greed based. Perhaps the party wants in on
the cut, or will opt to blackmail the Guard by threatening to
uncover their plot. It might just be the party's most
straightforward and direct end to the conflict.
This could present itself as an attack on the bugbears to
kill their leader, or to force the bugbears out of the region.
The party could attempt a rescue on the humanoid prisoners
being held captive, weakening the Bugbears leverage.
Supporting the Bugbear Tribe
If the party discovers the cause of the Bugbear attacks and
the Keep's unusual prosperity, they may opt to support the
Bugbear Tribe. This will be a path directly against the Guard,
and possibly for or against Lady Guethern depending on
choices made.
The motive for this path may be moral, to stop the
injustices and crimes committed against the tribe. It may be
chaotic in nature, perhaps the party would just like to see the
area destabilized and push back against the encroachment of
Humanity.
The Difficult Path
Supporting the Bugbear Tribe is by far the most difficult path
that the party can attempt to take. The party most likely will
need to recognize the motive behind the Bugbear attacks on
the region through their investigations, as well as attempt to
parley with the Bugbear leaders, convince them of the party's
intentions, and reason with them in a way that Bugbears can
respect. Failure to do so will likely end in death on both sides.
Parley with the Bugbear Leader
If no one in the party speaks goblinoid, the party will have to
find a way of being understood by, and communicating with,
Bugbears in a way that both cultures can accept and respect.
If neither party can understand each other, a language
puzzle can be presented. If the party succeeds in reasoning
with the Bugbears and expressing their cooperation, they can
try to support the bugbears in a variety of ways, but will also
need to find a way to either work around (or appease) their
lust for retribution and revenge.
Satisfying an obligation to retribution
War Chief Grokk'Nor has an unspoken duty to his tribe. Tribe
mates that look to him for protection and guidance have
disappeared by the hands of men of the Keep. Their dens are
no longer safe, and while their numbers are not strong
enough to take the keep by force, there is no option to retreat
further into goblinoid territory.
While Grokk'Nor would never agree to retreat, the
Bugbear culture is a further incentive. To abandon their kin
without a proportionate response is unacceptable, and
dissent among the tribe would be immediate. His leadership
would be immediately challenged, leading to infighting and
likely his own death. He is duty bound to both free his kin and
ensure it never happens again through a show of strength,
and he is proud to carry out this duty.
Prologue
4
 The Adventure Begins: Chapter 1

T
he party starts on the outskirts of Kol'Dun
Keep's territory. They run across a burning,
abandoned village, followed by refugees
further down the road where they will receive
the quest to investigate the happenings at Kol-
Dun Keep and the surrounding territory.
The Burning Hamlet of
Hamlet
Discovering the Hamlet
As the party is travelling on the main road towards Kol-Dun
Keep, they come across a cliff face. Above them they see
smoke and embers burning. As they travel further down the
road they'll arrive at an intersection. A road leads up the
slope, towards the smoke. A dim red glow is visible amidst
the smoke. There is a makeshift way-making sign at the
intersection of the road, pointing towards the sloped path. It
reads "Hamlet".
Living conditions
This hamlet is a small village in a fringe territory. There's no
wealth of any kind to be had. The road leading up to the
village is compacted dirt, the fences made of broken tree
trunks and branches creating a snake rail stacked fence.
Buildings, while sturdy, have boards for doors and windows.
The hamlet seems to mostly export crops to the Keep.
There's some tilled land and fields, but is built to produce
more food than the small population housed here could eat.
The meager amount of livestock and poultry seems to be for
the hamlet's personal stock rather than export.
A recent attack
The hamlet has recent damage which is plain to see.
Sections of fence have been smashed through, doors ripped
from their hinges, and fires set to the buildings.
The following information can be found with a
relevant skill check, or by fulfilling a condition:
While most of the tracks are from farm animals,
some are not. Some are monstrous.
Perception/Animal Handling/Survival/Nature
(DC:12)
Knowledge of Bugbears (e.g. Favored
Enemy) or critical success reveals that it
is Bugbear tracks
There are no valuables, but that seems more to
be due to the village's impoverished conditions
rather than any looting. Belongings don't appear
to have been looted through.
Perception/Investigation (DC:14) OR Rogue Class
If the party successfully investigates the tracks,
they are able to find tracks both leading in, and
travelling out of the village towards the rocky
terrain, which descends into a rocky, forested area
with terrain and brambles too difficult to traverse.
Optionally, you can choose to reveal some
information automatically if a party member has a
high initial skill level.
Optional hook towards encounter
If the party is spending too long trying to investigate the
hamlet or thinking of pursuing the Bugbears into the difficult
terrain, consider launching the attack on the refugees just up
the road, within earshot of the party, then continue to Page 6.
You may want to change some details, such as removing the
tents and campfire from the scene.

Upon Investigating the Hamlet of

Hamlet:
The following information is plain to see. Consider
revealing as they investigate certain buildings or
sections:
There are no bodies. It also doesn't appear that
there's any blood anywhere.
Several buildings are on fire.
The barn/sheds may be still full of food or
supplies.
There are tracks everywhere from the work
animals. There are some pigs, goats, a couple
mules, a gangly cow and a horse that have
escaped their enclosure.

The Adventure Begins: Chapter 1

5

Encounter - Skirmish by
the Refugees
Finding the refugees
The hamlet is still a full day's travel from the Keep. The road
leads the party to a downward slope. Further up the road a
small campfire can be spotted as light at the tops of the tree
canopy at dusk. Some refugees have set up a small camp for
the night and seem to have been travelling for most of the day.
The refugees are few in number. A child and a handful of
adults have pitched up tents, lit a fire and are resting by the
road. They have a small wagon packed with some provisions,
such as a sack of grain and a crate of vegetables.
Preparing for a siege
Feudal tactics for preparing a keep to repel assaults relied
heavily on commoners who reside outside the keep's bailey.
Villagers and commoners were often expected to bring
provisions from their locality with them when they sought
shelter inside a fortification.
Such provisions in the stockpile dictate how long a keep
can withstand a siege. Refugees would likely feel pressured
to contribute both by responsibility as well as fear of
authority.
The grain and vegetables in the wagon is the villagers'
offering to the Keep's stockpile, and might be their only ticket
into the bailey if the Keep's stockpile isn't sufficiently stocked
to support it's current refugee population. Furthermore, if the
Keep runs low on provisions, the villagers from surrounding
settlements are likely to be forced out of the bailey, so the
investment of provisions ensures the villagers lasting safety
in this regard.
Meeting the Refugees
If the party does not aid the refugees
The fire has drawn the attention of more than just the party.
A small hunting group of the Bugbears is stalking the
refugees from the wooded hills.
Without intervention from the party, the refugees will be
attacked and killed, or kidnapped. How this presents itself to
the party depends on their decisions. If the party chooses not
to investigate the fire up the road at dusk, or if the party
investigates the refugees and decides to abandon them and
continue through the night, they may only hear brief screams
from the direction of the camp, followed by the campfire
being extinguished.
If the party aids the refugees
The refugees are not in fighting shape, and are desperate to
get to the Keep. A young boy huddles near the fire, his father
and mother not far from him. The other two men stand
guard, one with a hammer, the other a pitchfork.
Upon approach, the two villagers on lookout call out "Who
goes there?", brandishing their makeshift weapons as the
family rushes to their child. They are tired and frightened,
their clothes are tattered and damp. They are clearly unable
to protect themselves.
If the party approaches and expresses that they won't do
harm, the villagers are relieved, but respond with a desperate
plea. They are the refugees of the burned hamlet up the road,
and fear they won't make it to Kol-Dun Keep.
Speaking with the Refugees
The refugees are willing to provide any information
that they know, and upon an appropriate inquiry
will provide the following information that they are
aware of:
They know the region, including the
neighboring villages and Kol-Dun Keep.
There were a dozen other villagers from the
hamlet that they are worried have come to
harm.
They are aware of the Keep and it's leadership,
Lady Guethern, and can provide information
about the normal day-to-day happenings in the
region.
If they are asked about Lady Guethern,
they can provide testimony to her
benevolent leadership and generosity to
her people.
If asked about the Keep, they are aware
that the keep has sent word by
messenger to have villages prepare to
take shelter in the Keep's bailey.
Upon any questions as to what happened, the child starts
crying, and the mother and father try to comfort the child.
The two watchmen identify themselves as Bragan and
Dolphur, and are eager to describe what happened.
Bragan and Dolphur are insistent on the attackers being
the Bugbears that lurk deeper within the frontier. This attack
caught the entire village off guard. They had been notified by
courier to make preparations to take shelter in the Keep's
bailey earlier that morning.
The courier gave no explanation as to why the preparations
were happening, only to send provisions for the keep's larder,
prepare the villagers to take refuge in the keep, and await
word.
Hours later, in the midst of the preparations, the attack
began. The small number of refugees before the party were
the lucky few who managed to escape. The family fled while
Bragan and Dolphur grabbed the lightest cart of provisions
they could carry to follow them onto the road.
First-hand account of the attack
"The attack was brutal and fast, m'lords. I don' know
how else to describe it. And in broad daylight! Men,
women and children, ripped straight outta their
homes... Anyone who fought back was clubbed until
they stopped movin' or were dead.
It happened fast as lighting. I ain't never seen such
anger... I ain't never been so scared... We was just
makin' our way onto the road with the provisions
when it started."
The Adventure Begins: Chapter 1
6
 The attack on the refugees
Assuming the party doesn't leave the refugees to fend for
themselves, when a decision has been made to either depart
immediately and head to the Keep or to wait until dawn to
travel, the Bugbears have gotten close enough and are trying
to position themselves for an ambush!
The attack begins after the party has spoken with the
refugees. The Bugbears are attempting to sneak close
enough for a surprise attack. They are using the thick trees
and shrubs as cover.
Detecting the ambush in advance
These Bugbears are trying to move quietly to set up
an ambush. The party must roll a Perception Check
(DC:16) (Darkvision grants advantage) to determine
if they are aware of the attack before it happens.
Success allows the member of the party who
succeeded to be aware of a presence in the forest off
the road moving closer.
If the party succeeds, they have enough time to
come up with a plan, be that prepare to defend or
prepare the refugees to flee through the night to
the Keep.
If the party fails to detect the raiding party, they are
caught off guard and are unable to evade the threat.
In order to flee with the refugees
The refugees are hesitant to leave their wagon full
of provisions. They are fearful that without it they
will be denied entry into the keep.
The refugees can be persuaded or intimidated
into leaving the provisions, otherwise they will
move too slowly to escape the bugbears and will
be caught in the ambush.
Either through Persuasion or Intimidation checks
(DC:12) the party can attempt convince the
villagers as a group, but the villagers can only be
approached once for each type of diplomacy.
Once any player character attempts one, the
villagers will not listen to further attempts of
the same type of diplomacy.
The Bugbear Raiding Party
The raiding party consists of 3 standard Bugbears, equipped
with Javelins and Cudgels. They are accompanied by 1
Bugbear designated as a Raid Leader, equipped with the
same weapons. The Raid Leader is a larger Bugbear, and is a
more formidable opponent. (Refer to this character's Astral
Character Sheet for details.)
If the party decides to stand their ground at the campsite,
or if they are otherwise unable to avoid the ambush further
down the road but are unwilling to leave the refugees to fend
for themselves, the raiding party will catch up to the refugees
and battle will commence.
The Adventure Begins: Chapter 1
7
The Battle
A word about NPC Tactics
Throughout this adventure, each of the combat
scenarios will involve combatants on both sides
who are capable of complex reasoning and
communication.
Instead of mindless NPCs attacking the closest
possible enemy target, this experience is best
played out in a mindset of strategy and NPC
coordination.
Consider contextual clues, such as Bugbears
barking orders at each other, or shouting threats in
Goblinoid at the party. Even if the party doesn't
speak Goblinoid, such clues help indicate heirarchy
and cooperation of the opposing force.
Bugbear Priorities
The current priorities of the Bugbears involve capturing living
humanoids, and killing any who resist. Anyone taking part in
combat will be met with lethal force, while those who do not
fight will be met with non-lethal force.
Defeating the Bugbear Leader
These Bugbears are not expecting worthy opponents. The
raids so far have been met with little effective resistance.
The Bugbear raiding party is being led by a Raid Leader.
This Raid Leader is visibly much larger than the others, but
otherwise has no indication of rank visible, and other than
the description of the Raid Leader's size, the players will not
know of any difference. If the players can determine the Raid
Leader's importance and prioritize it, or otherwise defeat
this Bugbear first, the others will flee into the forest. If the
Raid Leader is the last able-bodied Bugbear in combat, he
will flee into the forest.
After victory
The Bugbear(s) look upon his(their) fallen
comerade(s), then back to the adventurers. After a
moment of hesitation, he(they) releases a pair of
short roars, then take off into the tree line to
disappear into the night. Even the thickest brush at
the edge of your vision doesn't slow him(them)
down, almost as if the Bugbear(s) are absorbed into
the surrounding forest.
If the party retreats or is defeated
If the Bugbears overwhelm the party, or if the party retreats
from combat, the Bugbears will capture any surviving
refugees and retreat into the forest, with the exception of the
child who can be found hiding not far from the combat area
by the party.
Rescuing the child
The child survives the attack, and will approach the party if
they are still in the area. He's frightened and barely able to
speak. His name is Leyam, and he begs to be taken to the
keep. If the party is merciful, they may opt to take Leyam
with them to the keep.
Kol'Dun Keep
Arriving at Kol-Dun
Outside the gates of Kol-Dun, an outlying large settlement
extends from the gates up to the Crossroads.
The village is bustling with activity. It seems carts and
beast-drawn wagons are being brought from several
directions via the crossroads in front of Kol-Dun Keep. On
some, the look of fear is unmistakeable. The Keep is strictly
controlling who may enter and who may leave by a system of
permits controlled by the Guard. The main gatehouse is the
only point of ingress.
Outside Kol-Dun Keep
The village has a small market just before the keep,
but no merchants sell their wares today. The market
has been turned into a mustering ground where
guards from the keep are directing newcomers, being
assisted by volunteers made up of tradesmen and
guild members.
Couriers remain on standby as word comes in from
nearby villages, ready to alert the keep of news, or
send word to neighboring regions by horseback.
The common folk don't seem to be aware of what's occurring,
only that the authorities have decreed that the people of the
region prepare to take shelter at the keep. It's fairly clear that
the Guard seems to be directing the effort and are in charge.
Speaking with the Guard
Foreigners who have no business in the Keep are
likely to be turned away. The region is alerted to
the threat of attack, though the origin of that threat
still remains unclear.
If the adventurers (and any refugees) approach
the Keep gatehouse before approaching the
mustering grounds in the village, they are turned
away, instructed to report to Guardsman Anton in
the market. No one can enter without a writ of
passage from the Mustering Grounds.
At this time, three possibilities are likely:
The Party came with the rescued refugees
The party came with the boy as the sole survivor
The Party came by themselves
If accompanied by Refugees
Guardsman Anton is the current guard-in-charge at the
Mustering Grounds. The refugees are eager to tell
Guardsman Anton of the events that transpired. Either
Bragan or Dolphur recant the story of the attack on Hamlet,
and their close call on the road to Kol-Dun Keep. The Guard
are also told how the adventurers were responsible for their
safe arrival.
After this testimony, the Guard will send a courier to the
Keep to warn the Lord Marshal of the Guard that attacks
are confirmed to be underway against the villages.
The party is granted writs of passage required to gain
access to the keep and are asked to report to Lord Marshal
Barnabus as soon as they are able to provide first-hand
accounts of the party's findings. This will affect the parties
reputation in Kol-Dun positively.
If accompanied by the Child
The child is the sole survivor, but is panicked and
traumatized by the attack. The boy is unable to speak well
enough to provide a testimony, and the party will have to
convince the Guard of the authenticity of the attack on the
village and the attack on the refugees.
If the party arrives alone
If the party arrives alone, they are outsiders with only rumors
of an attack. Since they have no proof, their claims are easily
dismissed.
Example Guardsman Anton
Dialogue
"How do we know you aren't spinning us a tale to get
into the Keep? In fact, we sent a courier just
yesterday, and she returned last night to let us know
Hamlet was making preparations."
He calls over a courier from the reserve
messengers post. The courier wears a green and
orange sash alongside her courier satchel.
"You there! You sent word to Hamlet, yeah? Did
you notice anything amiss?
The courier denies noticing anything out of
order. Guardsman Anton turns back to the courier
and instructs her to make a run to Hamlet and
investigate the parties claims, then returns his
attention to the party.
"I can't prove your claims, and I just don't see any
reason to provide you with a writ of passage. Writs are
only being provided for refugees and volunteers to
the militia. We'll send someone to investigate Hamlet,
but the last thing we need is a panic. Stay silent on
this matter, or we'll have you arrested."
The Adventure Begins: Chapter 1
8
 Encounter - Scouting
Mission
Optional Encounter
The party will need to prove to the fraternity of the Keep
Guard that they are of some use to the Keep and have a
reason to enter to gain a writ of passage. If the party is able to
gain access to the keep by other means, such as the refugees
vouching for them, this encounter can be repurposed as a
mercenery-for-hire or militia side quest to be found inside
the keep. Some phrasing may need changed to keep it
relevant to the party in this case. The mission as provided
assumes that the party has received this task from
Guardsman Anton.
Finding the missing courier
Guardsman Anton is concerned about a courier that hasn't
returned. The courier was due back late last night, but never
arrived. His requests for guardsmen to investigate have gone
unanswered amidst the chaos of siege preparations.
If the party offers to assist Guardsman Anton, assist in
siege preparations, or presses for a way to prove their
good intentions, Guardsman Anton will ask for help.
Example Guardsman Anton
Dialogue
"I'll be honest, we need all the help we can get, and
there's not enough recruits and able-bodied
volunteers. If that isn't bad enough, one of the
couriers have gone missing. They were travelling
through the western pass to a village about two days
travel from here."
He gestures over to the cliffs overlooking the
keep to the west.
"I know the courier. He was due back last night but
never arrived. He's young, but reliable, and I've never
known him to be late to anything. He could have run
into trouble. I need someone who can handle
themselves to investigate."
Guardsman Anton begins to look uneasy.
"If you help me find him, I'll vouch for your group
and you'll get your writ of passage. We need the help,
and there's surely work to be had in the Keep for able-
bodied mercenaries. Especially in times like this. Just
bring him back here, or if you find anything, you bring
it straight to me."
A succesful Sense Motive check will reveal that Guardsman
Anton is very concerned for this courier and seems to have a
personal relationship with him. If pressed on the topic with a
successful Persuasion check, Guardsman Anton reveals that
the courier is his eldest son.
The Roadside Encounter
Just hours up the road, the party encounters a pair of wagons
upended on the side of the road. Some produce and supplies
have been tossed, but there's no one to be seen.
The Adventure Begins: Chapter 1
9
Upon Investigating the Abandoned
Wagons:
The following information is plain to see:
There are no bodies.
There is some blood on the ground and against
one of the wagons.
The wagons' supplies haven't been looted. It
looks more like the wagons were thrown, and
giant claw marks can be seen on one side of
one wagon.
There are tracks everywhere. Many humanoid
footprints, and many other types of footprints.
There is a green and orange sash much like the
ones the party saw the other couriers wearing
near one of the carts. It is torn, with only a
couple drops of blood visible.
The following information can be found with a
relevant skill check, or by fulfilling a condition:
There was at least 10 sets of tracks from non-
monstrous origin, the rest are monstrous. The
tracks belonging to the courier abruptly stop at
where the party found the sash and are replaced
by monstrous tracks leading back into the
forest on the edge of the road. Perception,
Animal Handling, Survival, Nature
Knowledge of Bugbears / Wargs / Hobgoblins
(e.g. Favored Enemy) or critical success reveals
that other tracks are from goblinoid and warg
origin. Perception, Survival, Nature, Favored
Enemy: Bugbears
Skill check success of a high threshold can
reveal that the humanoid tracks scatter off the
road. There was a panic, and that the goblinoid
and warg tracks give chase to the others. Each
trail ends the same. Humanoid tracks end abruptly
with signs of struggle, and only goblinoid tracks
continue, heading back into the forest.
Returning to Guardsman Anton
Guardsman Anton drops what he's doing upon seeing the
returning party, breaking off mid-conversation with the
refugees he was interviewing. He's struck with grief upon
hearing the news, crying "My gods, this is my
punishment...".
He tells the party that they must report to Lord Marshal
Barnabus with their first-hand account of the party's
findings.
Later, this task may prove useful in convincing Lady
Guethern of the party's good intentions.
Optional Mission Reward
If this mission was not issued by Guardsman Anton but as an
optional side-quest found in the keep, Lord Marshal
Barnabus can provide a reward for this investigation of 25gp
for each player, as well as a discount at the local vendors.
Trouble At Kol-Dun Keep: Chapter 2
A
pproaching the gatehouse with the writ of
passage in hand, the party now has access to
the Keep with a task to approach Lord Marshal
Barnabus with information about the growing
threat.
Approaching the gates side by side with
refugees from surrounding villages, the tension
and suspense is tangible.
Within the Gates of Kol-
Dun
Kol-Dun Keep is surrounded by a large outer wall, with a
singular gatehouse built into the north wall. The wall is
fashioned together with massive, unevenly cut blocks of
stone. A crude yet effective implementation. While a fringe
outpost, the size of the inner bailey seems to indicate that it
was intended to watch over many more settlements than
exist in this region.
Passing through the gates, the party is immediately met
with a crowd of people in the inner bailey. Some tents,
shanties and other temporary structures have been erected to
deal with the influx of refugees. Carts of supplies being sent
up to the keep larder and other commotion is abound in the
streets.
The permanent buildings of Kol-Dun show disparity from
construction quality and the wealthy decor. Likewise, the non-
refugee citizens of Kol-Dun and the surrounding settlement
seem dressed in attire of a higher quality and value than
would be expected judging from the architecture and quality
of the buildings.
Kol-Dun Keep History
From the information found in the Prologue (Page 2, Kol-Dun
Keep's Recent Prosperity), the Keep's population is only
aware of the efforts Lady Guethern has put forward.
The Founding of Kol-Dun Keep
At the original time of founding, the Keep was meant to
oversee a period of growth as settlements developed in the
region. The region proved to be unfruitful, and expansion and
development of the region wasn't succesful. Since that initial
founding, the region had been met with hardship and poverty.
In the early days, vigilant missionaries from the Church of
the Crying God came to aid the local population. They
provided all manner of aid, from medical treatment, to
compassion and guidance, to hard labor to ease the burden
on the region. The population has remained ever-thankful for
their support, and a church was erected in the center of the
bailey in their honor.
Common knowledge:
The Siege preparations began just a few days
ago. The Fraternity of the Guard haven't
explained what prompted this decision. The
population believes the Bugbear Tribe to be the
cause of the siege preparations, but those
suspicions have gone unanswered.
People looking for work can enlist with the
militia. Interested parties should seek out the
Lord Marshal in the training grounds.
Some travelling entertainers arrived the week
before the order to prepare for a siege. They
can be found in the Marketplace.
Nearly all the merchants and tradespeople who
are still selling wares are doing so with
unreasonably high prices.
Most everyone supports Lady Guethern. She
has proven herself a capable and benevolent
leader.
Kol-Dun Keep's History (Outlined in the section
below)
The Following rumors are
whispered on the street
-
Lady Guethern was Cleric Fernhir's apprentice
before she took her position as regional
overseer. Cleric Fernhir knows her better than
anyone. She still holds him in the highest esteem.
The Keep Guard have been seen exchanging
coin with travelling merchants, but no goods
seem to be traded in these exchanges.
Some members of the Keep Guard don't seem
to approve of Lady Guethern.
At night, and less often, during the day from
shadows, the sounds of crying and sobbing
could be heard. This crying has been present
months before the current situation.
Guardsmen have died in the line of duty or
been injured much more often the past year.
Notable Establishments
and Locations
These are the notable locations in Kol-Dun Keep and their
details. Notable Characters and their introductory dialogue
are categorized by their locations.
Trouble At Kol-Dun Keep: Chapter 2
10
 The Smithy
Near the gate, a blacksmith shop is busy working to forge
arms and armor. It seems many of the tradesmen of the
village are here. They will not sell weapons or armor, and will
tell the party that all their effort is being put towards arming
the militia.
The Church of The Crying God
Notable Characters: Cleric Fernhir, Brother Gabel
The Church
The Church of The Crying God has stood since the earliest
days of Kol-Dun Keep, and the Crying God's following has
remained strong throughout the keep's history.
Currently the Church has been converted to a makeshift
infirmary, where Cleric Fernhir is tending to some ill
villagers.
Outside the church, Brother Gabel, a devout sufferer, cries
to passerby in earnest.
Example Sufferer Cries
"Hear me weep, for the Crying God weeps as well!
He has turned his gaze from us, ashamed at what
we've become. We have been taught to seek out
injustices! We must remain vigilant and persevere!
Will you turn a blind eye? Help us ease the torment
suffering of all, not just ourselves!"
"Please, brothers and sisters. We have been
through so much. Even in these frightful times, we
cannot let our pain change our ways, just as we
cannot allow the comfort we've been waiting for to
dull our senses like a drug. We must endure,
gracefully."
Tension with the Keep Guards
A pair of guards are attempting to stop the crier from
delivering their message, accusing the Brother Gabel of
inciting unrest during a crisis. They stop short of forcibly
removing him, but threaten to arrest him if he continues.
Optional Minor Side Quest
If the party seeks work from the Keep Guard, either the
guards confronting Brother Gabel, Guardsman Dolton or a
guard in the tavern may request that the party convince
Brother Gabel to stop spreading the message. The character
issuing the mission is very specific that no members of the
Church should be harmed or threatened.
Brother Gabel will stop spreading the message if he is
persuaded that he is doing more harm than good.
Difficulty DC: 18 (One Attempt Permitted)
Upon success, Brother Gabel begrudgingly agrees
to cease the public outcry. He asks the party to stay
vigilant against suffering. 15 GP per player
Upon failure, Brother Gabel begs the party member
to consider his words, and why someone would
want to have those words silenced.
Trouble At Kol-Dun Keep: Chapter 2
11
Inside the Church
Within the church, Cleric Fernhir tends to some unwell
refugees, exhausted by travel. While the Church has allowed
some refugees to take shelter inside the atrium, the nave has
been set up in preparations to treat potential casualties.
Speaking with Cleric Fernhir
Cleric Fernhir is welcoming and compassionate. He's willing
to offer any aid requested of him provided it's within the law
and doesn't retract from his attention to the refugees. He can
provide healing and answer questions about the locals or the
Keep.
If the party is assisting the Keep with any dangerous
activities, he will offer each party member a healing potion.
Cleric Fernhir is willing to share
the following information:
Cleric Fernhir is a devout sufferer, and is an
expert in their fields of medicine and their
religion.
Something has happened at the Keep that has
earned the scorn of the Crying God. "He has
turned away from us" in Fernhir's words. An
atrocity must have happened, but he doesn't
know what. If asked, he will share the following:
His prayers have gone unanswered for
weeks.
The Cleric tells of an invisible watcher, as
if describing a specter, crying from
within the keep. When the noises are
investigated, no one is found.
A vision struck the Cleric weeks ago,
around the time his prayers started
going unanswered, before the current
situation. He was overcome with a vision
of a thin middle aged man in torn
clothes and chains, bleeding and beaten.
The many chains tied around his neck
and anchored to the ground was too
short for him to stand, and his gauntness
pointed towards malnourishment. The
Cleric was wrought in agony, feeling the
pain and hunger of the victim. A whip
cracks out, striking the man in chains in
the back, who releases an inhuman roar
that no man could make. When the
Cleric regained himself and came to, he
found that he was bleeding from his
back. He shows the party his freshly
healed wound.
Lady Guethern is close with Cleric Fernhir. He is
willing to testify to her benevolence and
integrity, or answer questions about her.
If asked about her past, he will admit
that she was his student before her
father died. When he passed, she took
up his mantle and pledged to take her
learnings and use them to help her
people.
Cleric Fernhir has noted that the Guard have
sought his healing services more as of lately,
unusually so.
The Marketplace
Notable Characters: Neville and Bigsby, the travelling
entertainers.
The Shop Stalls
The Marketplace in the center of the Bailey still has some
market stalls and shops selling wares, but many of the stalls
have been converted to cookhouses to prepare to feed
refugees. Food, basic tools and supplies can be purchased. All
prices are 25% higher than normal market value.
The Travelling Entertainers
Two halfling entertainers, Neville and Bigsby, have set up
their tents near the Marketplace and are practicing feats of
magic mixed with acrobatics, entertaining some refugees.
Examples include Neville and Bigsby feigning poor
acrobatics moves together, ending with Bigsby leaping into
the mouth of a carnivorous flower, appearing to be eaten. As
Neville feigns concern, the flower erupts into fireworks as the
onlookers are showered with petals.
Speaking with Neville and Bigsby
Neville and Bigsby go everywhere together, and are an
inseparable pair. They frequently interrupt each other in
conversation, and are generally lighthearted and meet
everything with humor.
Neville and Bigsby are willing to
share the following:
Lady Guethern payed them generously to stay
during the crisis, which they accepted.
There will be a performance during the coming
festival, and most of the Keep's current
occupants will be there.
Neville and Bigsby can be convinced
to share the following:
Neville and Bigsby are not good at hiding
information and are natural gossips. Have the
investigating party member roll either Persuasion or
Intimidation checks. The same check can be used
to receive any of the below information if it
succeeds:
In past visits the Keep Guard have given them
coin outside of their agreement with the Keep,
persistently requesting that they return to
provide entertainment in the future. This has
made them uncomfortable, giving the
impression of a back-street deal. DC: 10
They are scared of the Keep Guard more than
the risk of being wayleid in the road leaving the
region. After agreeing to stay and receiving pay,
they found that no one is allowed to leave the
Keep without permission from the Guard. They
feel trapped. DC: 12
In a whisper, they admit that they overheard the
Keep Guard discussing a deal in the Tavern, one
that excludes Lady Guethern. The Guardsmen
threatened them upon realizing they overheard,
but don't know specifics. DC: 15
The Festival
The Festival was originally planned for the upcomin solstice,
but has been arranged by Lady Guethern during the crisis to
ease morale. It will take place on the night directly after the
party approaches the Cliffs of War to deal with the Tribe.
The Enchanter's Shop
An enchanter resides within the bailey against the Northwest
corner. They perform services such as sending out Animal
Messengers, and other low-level spells at request for a fee
proportional to the task. They also have an array of magical
items and potions for sale. All prices are 25% higher than
normal market value.
The Stables
A stables and horse trader reside against the Northeast
corner. They are willing to purchase horses and working
animals, but are not willing to sell. Once the crisis is
resolved (as long as the party are not fugitives), this
stables will be willing to sell horses.
The Tavern
Notable Characters: Guardsman Anton (When Off Duty),
Bragan and Dolphur (If they survived)
The Tavern is currently being used as a makeshift mess
hall. Drinks are still being poured, but the prices for alchohol
are extortional for all but the Keep Guard and those training
for the militia, who drink for free. Ale and beer are being used
as an incentive to join the Militia to defend the keep.
Bragan and Dolphur are present, speaking to each other
about joining the militia.
The Guard House & Dungeon
The Guard House functions as the barracks for the Keep
Guard, as well as the entrance to the Keep Dungeon. The
Guard House itself is a large wooden structure built on top of
a descending stairwell leading to the dungeon.
Heavily guarded
Access to the guardhouse should be hard to obtain.
Naturally, the guard house and dungeon have a heavy Keep
Guard presence. The Keep Guard allow visitors to the
dungeon if they have business speaking with a prisoner,
otherwise will refuse admittance. Victims may report crimes
to the Guard at the guardhouse, but are not permitted to stay
unless they have business with the Guard.
The Guard House can be a potential avenue of discovering
captive bugbears. It's likely the Guard House will have fewer
Guardsman occupants during the festival performances.
Trouble At Kol-Dun Keep: Chapter 2
12
 Within the Guard House
If the party does gain access to the Guard House and the
dungeon underneath, they can note the following:
The Guard House has several guards within, at tables or
resting on cots in back rooms.
The entrance to the dungeon is a descending staircase
behind a cast iron gate.
Within the dungeon, there's an "L" shaped hallway where
the prisoners are kept. It doesn't seem that the prison cells
past the bend are used. At the end of that hall past the
bend, a tapestry hangs on the wall. A sharp eye (passive
Perception 14+) would notice a concealed hatch door
behind the tapestry. This door leads to the hidden tunnels
where the Guard are keeping the cages.
The Hidden Tunnels
The hatch door in the wall opens into a narrow torchlit
descending staircase. Several furs, cloth sheets and carpets
line the staircase to muffle sound. It leads to an opening in a
natural cave. This cave's mouth acts as an entrance far
beyond the walls of the keep.
Within the tunnels, structural supports and some railings
have been made to help remove dirt and stone during
excavations. Everything seems fairly new, done within the last
few years.
Bugbear Captives can be found within the tunnel network.
They are unarmed, unclothed and in cages. Each of them
have been shackled to the ground, and a collar with chains
anchors their necks to just a few feet above the ground. They
appear to be on the verge of collapse and could not put up a
fight.
The tunnels as an optional stealth
mission
If the party recognizes the Guard are hiding
something and manage to gain access to the
tunnels in secret, they may be able to find the
Bugbear Captives. This could be used to either
convince Lady Guethern of the Guard's dealings, or
if siding with the Bugbears, provide an opportunity
to help the Tribe free the captives.
When searching the caves, the following can
apply depending on the time the party chooses to
explore:
If during the Festival celebrations, there will
only be one Guardsman in the tunnels.
If any other time, four Guardsman are present.
Using Stealth, the party may be able to gain
information about prisoners kept in the tunnels.
Trouble At Kol-Dun Keep: Chapter 2
13
Training Grounds
Notable Characters: Lord Marshal Barnabus and
Guardsman Dolton
There is a militia training outside the main entrance to the
Keep. It's been converted to a training grounds, where
weapons and shields have been stockpiled. Militia are
training with weapons here under the care of the Keep
Guard.
When the party approaches Lord Mashal Barnabus and
Guardsman Dolton, the Guard Captain, are in the middle of a
conversation with the local Enchanter, who brings them
relieving news.
Example Enchanter dialogue
"Yes, three familiars carrying the same message. The
seal is appropriate, and I'm certain of the authenticity.
They have sent the requested reinforcements, which
should arrive early next morning at the latest. Please
inform Lady Guethern that The Order fully supports
Kol-Dun Keep in this time of need."
Lord Marshal Barnabus is overseeing the enlistment, training
and tasks for the militia. He's accompanied by the Guard
Captain, Guardsman Dolton, his right-hand man.
Lord Marshal Barnabus
The Lord Marshal may be willing to divulge the
following information if the party intends to offer
their services to the Keep, or if they rescued the
refugees at the roadside.
The Militia is preparing to defend the Keep.
The Keep Guard have petitioned the Order of
the Blue Orchid for assistance, a knightly order
sympathetic to Kol-Dun. He brags that with
those reinforcements, no force in the frontier
can challenge the Order and the Keep's
defenders.
 The Lady Guethern in the Main Chamber
Keep Guard & Lord Marshal The Lady resides in the main chamber during the day. She
Barnabus Quick Reference: pours every ounce of effort on a massive table filled with
Lord Marshal Barnabus is a loud, arrogant man, but
papers, expense reports, and a map of the region. Several
effective as an authority figure. He's a leading markers on the map are present marking abductions and
member of the Keep Guard. attacks.
His vocal criticisms of the deceased Lord
Guethern had earned him much support within the
fraternity of the Keep Guard, and behind closed Lady Guethern Quick Reference
doors continues voicing his disapproval of the Lady The Lady Guethern and her family has ruled over
Guethern to those he trusts. the Kol-Dun region since it was founded several
generations ago.
the following information will
initially not be known to the party Involvement with the Church
He and Guardsman Dolton organize the She was heavily involved with the Church of the
kidnappings and flesh trade in Kol-Dun. The Crying God, and looks to Cleric Fernhir as a mentor
funds gained are used to artificially stimulate and father figure. He had guided her through the
the local economy. grief she felt over the neglectful nature of her
Grand Marshal Barnabus has considered father and convinced her to spend her life trying to
removing the Guethern family by force, and it improve
wouldn't take much to force his hand.
There is often casualties related to the Attitude and relationships
kidnappings and handling of bugbears, which She despised her father for his complacency
accounts for the increase in the past year of She holds Cleric Fernhir in high regard
injuries and deaths amongst guardsmen. She did not want to leave the Church, but felt it
Not all guardsmen are involved in the was her duty to take her place as the heir
conspiracy. Only veterans are in-the-know. The Keep Guard's attitude towards her hasn't
been realized, and she respects the Guard.
The Knights in her retinue are considered close
friends and allies. They hold her in the same
Within the Keep esteem and are devoted to her defense.
Gaining access to the Keep initially is difficult. The Lady
Guethern is preparing for a crisis of unknown origin, and
strangers or commoners are very unlikely to gain access
without good reason.
Behind the Training Grounds lies portcullis access to the
Keep main doors, the only way in or out.
If the party gains access, they may be able to observe the
happenings in the keep.
The Keep Interior
The keep interior's most notable room is the main chamber.
Lady Guethern conducts all her affairs from this chamber.
The main hall houses the seat of state, where during average
times the lady would greet guests and general
businesspeople. Now she spends her time at the tables
occupying the center of the room.
On top of the tables are several documents, tallies for
current counts of refugees and supplies, expense reports,
letters delivered by courier and the like. A map of the region
is displayed, with two red markers placed towards the
northwest of the Keep.
The Lady's Knights
The Keep interior is guarded by Lady Guethern's personal
retinue of 6 knights. Two guard the portcullis entrance, two
guard the Lady herself, and two reside within the keep at any
time. While the Lady often attends events and social calls,
her Knights are never fully out of sight.
While the Keep Guard are also responsible for her defense,
these Knights are not affiliated with the Keep Guard, and are
fiercely loyal to the Lady Guethern.

Trouble At Kol-Dun Keep: Chapter 2

14

Quests / Points of Interest
Available Work
The Keep Guard are looking for recruits for the militia. They
have some work available for interested parties.
If the party chooses to join the militia or do work for the
Keep Guard, the following options may be available:
Joining the Militia pays 1gp per day. Being a part of the
Militia means the party must be ready to carry out tasks
related to Keep defense, and the party must defend in the
event of an attack.
If the party member is both a member of the militia and is
skilled in melee weapons, they can assist the Keep Guard
in training the Militia by taking part in duels with the
trainees. This pays 1gp per duel, up to twice a day.
Damage is Non-Lethal. Unknown to the party, doing so
will improve the number of Militia members they can
take with them later.
If the Scouting Mission was not a required mission, this
mission may be repurposed as Available Work, with the
instructions to speak to Guardsman Anton to receive the
quest. (Details of this quest are found on Page 9)
The Guards want the Sufferer crying outside of the
Church of the Crying God to be silenced peacefully. They
claim Brother Gabel is causing upset in an already
delicate situation. (Details available on Page 11)
Activities
Neville and Bigsby's Games of Chance - Neville and
Bigsby operate some carnival-themed games outside of
their tents. One of the games of chance is called "Take My
Coin!", which Neville and Bigsby yell to draw attention to
their games.
"Take My Coin!"
The patron chooses the amount of coin they'd
like to risk (up to 5gp), which Neville and
Bigsby will match.
When the coin is received, they will add their
contribution. Neville and Bigsby then put their
hands (and the two real contributions together)
under a cloth. When the cloth is removed, each
of their 4 hands carry coin identical to the
patron's and the entertainer's contributions. The
two real contributions are together in the same
hand.
The duplicates are made of magic, and are
almost indistinguishable from the real coin. A
successful Dc:15 Perception Check rules out 2
of the fakes from the 4 options when revealed.
An extraordinarily perceptive individual (passive
Perception 18+) can identify the real coin.
To make the choice, the patron must take the
coin from the entertainers hands. If the patron
is cheating (e.g. using a method to detect
magic), Neville and Bigsby know upon touching
the patron and the game ends by forfeit, and
further attempts are denied.
Magic coins dissolve after a few minutes and
are worth nothing.
Trouble At Kol-Dun Keep: Chapter 2
15
Tavern Knife Throwing Competition - Members of the
Guard and members of the Militia have turned knife
throwing into a drinking game.
"Drunk Daggers"
Players bet coin to "buy in", up to 15gp which
also pays for the pints of beer. A party member
can only play once per rest, as they'll remain
intoxicated.
The game starts by the competitors drinking
several pints. At this point they throw a dagger
at a training dummy that's been set up against
the Tavern wall. The competitors can either use
their Strength Modifier or their Dexterity
Modifier versus an opponent with a +2 Modifier.
Each round both competitors must throw the
knife at the target. If a competitor hits the target
and their opponent misses, they win the match.
If both miss, they must rethrow. If both hit, they
must advance to the next round and drink even
more.
Each time both competitors hit, the competitor
who rolls the highest struck their knife closest
to the center of the target. The competitor who
is farthest from the target must choose to
forfeit or pay 1GP to advance to the next round,
which is added to the total winnings. In the
event of both competitors being "equal
distance" from the bullseye, they both must
choose to pay 1GP to continue, or forfeit to the
opponent.
The AC rating of the target dummy increases each
round as the participants become more
intoxicated. To start, the target has AC: 10,
which increases by 2 each round.
The winnings for the match are both participants
initial buy in excluding 2gp, plus the gold payed
between rounds from both participants. For
example, a participant who bet 15gp initially,
then earned 3gp by outperforming their
opponent, would win a purse of 31gp. (15+15-
2, +3)
Anyone with knowledge in healing and medicine is
welcome to volunteer at the Church of the Crying God to
assist in treatment of refugees.
Prelude to The Siege
When the party has had ample time to rest, investigate the
happenings at the Keep, and complete their optional
objectives, the attack will begin, outlined in Chapter 3.
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
U
nebknownst to the party, the Bugbear tribe
has been hard at work positioning
commandeered siege engines on a ridge
across the nearby mountain, with the
assistance of their Hobgoblin tribe members.
Once the players have rested and tended to
their business about the keep, the next
morning on the day of the entertainer's performance, the
attack will begin.
The Attack
The Player's Perspective
The party is within the Keep walls when the attack begins.
Without warning, buildings begin to tear open. In the sky,
ballista javelins are coming within view before crashing into
the walls or into buildings. They seem to be coming from a
cliff off the nearby Mount Kol-Dun.
Panic during the assault
Refugees sheltered only by tents begin to panic
in the street and attempt to take cover within
stronger buildings.
Cleric Fernhir and Brother Gabel attempting to
usher refugees into the Church.
Keep Guardsmen are rushing to at-the-ready
positions, manning the walls and the
gatehouses, assisting in directing refugees off
the street.
Lord Marshal Barnabus and Guardsman Dolton
are organizing the militia, distributing weapons
and basic armor, preparing them for a fight.
Mustering the Militia
Criers have been sent to every corner of the Keep's Bailey
with the same message.
Crier Message
"Militiamen, attend! Report to the Training Grounds
with haste! Anyone who is able bodied and has not
yet joined the militia, now is the time to do so!
Defend your land, your family, your neighbors!"
The Militia are gathering at the Training Grounds and are
being outfitted. Bragan and Dolphur (assuming they
survived) are present and have enlisted.
The Bugbear Strategy
The tribe's numbers are not enough to take the walls by force.
Through Zrab's careful planning, they have devised a plan to
force the defenders out of the Keep. They plan to besiege the
keep, then force the keep to sally out and meet them in the
field.
Siege Weapons & The Order
The Order of the Blue Orchid sent a detatchment to the
Keep, but they never made it to their destination. The
reinforcements were ambushed en-route and looted.
The Order was outfitted for battle and were hauling 3
ballistae with the knights to support Kol-Dun Keep's defense.
Zrab saw value in these machines and devised a plan to
besiege the Keep. The Bugbears, using their innate strength,
carried the siege equipment and ammunition through dense
forest and rough terrain onto a difficult to reach cliff face and
are firing over the walls.
Lord Barnabus's plan
Soon after the attack begins, scouts and couriers begin
running information to the Keep's defenders.
If the party has not chosen to meet with Lord Barnabus
after the attack begins, a courier approaches them,
informing the party that Lord Barnabus requests an
audience.
The Keep Guard and Militia need volunteers for an
offensive to stop the siege weapons from firing over the walls.
The main roads are being watched by raiding parties while
the bulk of the tribe's numbers appear to be laying siege from
the cliffs. Lord Barnabus believes that a strike party can sally
out in force on foot and push through the raiding parties
which are spread thin in the blockade, and approach the cliffs
from the mountainside.
The Counter-Offensive
The party will be accompanied by Guard Captain
Dolton and the Militiamen that excelled in
training, outfitted with longswords and shields.
There are 6 members of the Militia that
Guardsman Dolton feels is ready for
such a mission.
If a member of the party assisted in
training by dueling, an additional 2
Militiamen are ready in addition to the 6.
If Bragan and Dolphur survived the first
encounter, they are ready and are added
to the total militiamen, for a potential
total of 10 militiamen.
Since the party is not from this region, the
Guard offer them an incentive to sally out with
the strike team. There is a reward for anyone
who returns victorious. 100gp to each one who
returns after the ballistae are taken out of
operation.
The Siege of Kol-Dun Keep: Chapter 3
16
 The Counter-Attack
Setting off with the Militia
Leaving the keep
As the siege is ongoing, the path to leave the Keep is a tense,
panic stricken environment. Refugees are clearing the
streets, and every few moments, a new ballistae javelin
crashes into the bailey, damaging buildings, tearing down
stalls and tents, creating casualties that are being sent to the
Church of the Crying God for Cleric Fernhir and the rest of
the Sufferers' care.
Descriptive narrative
As the strike party rushes towards the main
gatehouse, a crack is heard from the apex of the
Church as it's struck by a javelin. Stone bricks and
debris shower down upon the refugees rushing
into the atrium.
"Move forth, don't stop!" shouts Guardsman
Dolton, refocusing the Militiamen.
The Blockade Outside the Gates
The bugbear tribe has spread their warriors across all the
main roads. While they could reinforce any position quickly,
the strike team will be able to break through and push up
towards the cliff.
Pushing the Blockade
The strike team, no matter the path they take, must
push past the blockade. This can either be done
through combat or narrative as the strike team is a
larger force than the lookouts currently on the
road. Guardsman Dolton will be persistent that the
party must move quickly to avoid being caught by
reinforcements.
If the GM wishes to perform the push using
combat, participants include two bugbears, a
hobgoblin and a Worg. The party has their
Militia allies and Guardsman Dolton, making
this an easy encounter. As soon as combat
starts, the Hobgoblin and Worg will attempt to
escape to warn the Raiding Parties, while the
Bugbears engage.
As the strike force easily overwhelms the
bugbears, if the GM would rather use narrative,
a description can be provided of the militiamen
and the party striking down the bugbears, then
the Hobgoblin jumping on the Worg to ride off
to alert the Raiding Parties.
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
17
The Cliffs of War
The Vantage Point
The climb to the cliffs where the siege is being orchestrated
from is difficult terrain, but the strike team will be able to
position themselves from a vantage point.
From this point, they are able to view the besieging forces.
It's a small army of Bugbears, Worgs and Hobgoblins.
View from the Vantage Point
The party can see the besieging forces from this
vantage point. The vantage point is level with the
cliffs, meaning the party can see almost everything
from this position.
A large swath of Bugbears are in front of an
ingress point between the cliffs, a slope where
the Bugbears are firing from the top. Hobgoblin
tribe members are assisting Bugbears in the use
of the siege equipment.
A pile of rubble and spears has been mashed
together into makeshift cheval-de-frise (or
spike wall) at the mouth of the slope. There's
still room to enter, but it's now an effective
chokepoint.
At the crest of the slope, a massive bugbear
adorned in a green sash, metal rings, leather
armor and steel pauldrons, stands with what
appears to be a grey-haired bugbear and an
armor-clad Hobgoblin. The Hobgoblin holds a
large white flag.
There appears to be cages with captives from
raids behind the cliff.
It appears that the entirety of the tribe is taking
part in the siege, even the younglings. Every
member of the tribe is somehow contributing
to this effort. Not all of them seem ready for
combat, some younglings and mortally injured
Bugbears and Worgs can be seen behind the
front line.
There is a potential "Large Scale" battle that can take
place. Rules for managing this battle will be included in
the combat section on PAGE 21.
Multiple Story Paths
There is an opportunity for parley with the tribe leaders
that could spark diplomacy. This will be the first major
decision the party has to make regarding who to support.
They may be unaware that the decision is being made, but
their actions moving forward will help guide the GM to the
story path option that best fits their decision.
Guardsman Dolton's Plan
Stopping the Ballistae
Guardsman Dolton will suggest to the party that they force
their way past the bugbears onto the slope. He believes that
killing the bugbear leaders or destroying the ballistae will
halt the attack. His only objective is to stop the ballistae, not
break the siege. He also has no interest in rescuing the
captives as he feels they will likely die trying to escape, or get
the strike party killed attempting the rescue.
He expects the Order of the Blue Orchid to reinforce the
keep soon, turning the tide on the conflict. Taking out the
ballistae will give the Keep time to organize their forces to
break the siege and stop further innocent deaths.
The push to the slope
Using the shield bearers, Guardsman Dolton proposes the
strike party force their way to the slope, where he and the
player characters will move to destroy the ballistae.
The Militia will form a shield wall at the palisades to buy
the party time to complete their objective.
A winning objective must be secured before the Bugbears
can break through the wall and overwhelm the party.
The Escape
After an objective is completed, any remaining survivors will
push further up the slope and take a difficult path around the
mountain, pushing back to the Keep. They will likely be
chased, so every effort to move quickly must be made.
If the party suggests they take the escape route to ambush
the ballistae from behind, it can be noted that it would take
far too long, possibly hours. Guardsman Dolton will not let
the party take the militia on an errand that will result in more
deaths in the keep.
Ascending the slope
Rather than the party having to force their way up onto the
slope, the tribe will allow passage towards the Tribe Leaders.
Upon approach to the slope, Zrab clearly and deliberately
presents the white flag they carry. The ballistae cease firing.
The bugbear warriors at the entrance to the cliff face form a
"funnel", allowing passage to the slope.
At the entrance to the slope, three Bugbears allow
Guardsman Dolton and the Player Characters past, but
block the Militia.
The cheval-de-frise
When passing by the cheval-de-frise, the following
is noticable:
The base, while appearing to be made from
spears and rubble, on closer inspection is
revealed to be made out of humaniod corpses
and horses, some that have been torn limb from
limb.
A character with a passive Perception
16+ is able to see inscriptions of a blue
orchid on the clothes and armor of the
corpses, as well as the halberds and
spears. This inscription is also visible on
the ballistae.
The Ballistae
The Ballistae are exceptional quality, and were looted from
the Order of the Blue Orchid. They are custom made, and
appear to be delicate but powerful. The ballistae are
enchanted and imbue force energy into the bolts as they are
fired.
Enchanted Ballistae
Siege Equipment
Armor Class 14
Hit Points 40
Actions
Mobile Siege Equipment - This equipment cannot
act on it's own, but can be manned by up to two
characters. Each character allows the ballistae to be
moved either 15 feet, or rotated 90 degrees.
Ballistae Bolts - Firing the ballista takes 2 full actions.
First to load, second to aim and fire. If the
equipment is manned by two people, their actions
can be combined to fire on the same turn.
Firing can only be done in a 90 degree angle from
the direction the ballista is facing. The operator(s)
must first declare a target. This could be a character
or a region of empty space.
Accuracy of the shot is determined by a D20 roll.
The roll result will show either a direct hit, or
indicate which direction the shot traveled from the
intended destination. At this range variance will be
minor.
17-20 - Direct hit on intended target
13-16 - Hit 10 feet (2 squares) North of
intended target
9-12 - Hit 10 feet (2 squares) East of intended
target
5-8 - Hit 10 feet (2 squares) South of intended
target
1-4 - Hit 10 feet (2 squares) West of intended
target
On Hit - The ballista bolt is imbued with force
energy as it is fired, and does 3d8+10 force
damage to anything within a 5 foot radius of the
impact. (Damage to siege equipment doubled)
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
18
 Choosing to Parley with the Tribe
this section is intended
for use if the party
atttempts to negotiate
If the decision is reached by the party to parley with the Tribe,
immediately Guardsman Dolton rebukes them, demanding
they stick to the plan. He uses the phrase "They're bugbears!"
frequently in his insistence.
The Language Barrier
The Tribe only speaks Goblinoid. If no members of the party
speak Goblinoid, the language barrier will be a hurdle that
needs overcome.
If a member of the party speaks Goblinoid, all
translation milestones can be used as topics of interest
during the negotiations and do not need translation.
The tribe's Seer, Grus-Dogal, will attempt to translate the
words of Grokk-Nor through magical imagery, shaping smoke
into figures to convey the message.
The Party will need to find a way to do the same, be
that a magical solution, pantomiming using performance,
or another solution. If the party cannot find an absolutely
clear way to represent their intended message, Grus-Dogal
can attempt a Wisdom Check to understand.
Language Puzzle
The party must achieve every major translation
milestone to engage in diplomacy. The Tribe's
patience is thin, and they will only tolerate
diplomacy as long as there is noticable progress.
When Grus-Dogal issues a statement, the party
is expected to respond appropriately, and the
response needs to be understood by Grus-
Dogal, who relays the information to Grokk-Nor
Each time the party fails to translate something,
provide a response, or a response is not
understood by Grus-Dogal, it is considered a
failure. The Tribe will end dimplomacy after two
such failures.
The party may be able to meet optional minor
translation milestones, which will reset the
current failures when achieved.
Some major milestones and optional milestones
are provided with this adventure. Especially in the
case of optional milestones, the GM should
consider allowing equally appropriate responses as
milestones.
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
19
Major Translation Milestones
The Bugbears have been attacked and held
hostage by Guardsmen of Kol-Dun Keep.
Grus-Dogal could display a scene of
humanoid smoke figures catching a
Bugbear-esque shape in a net, with the
scene being overtaken by the signet of
the Fraternity of the Keep Guard, which
is currently on display on Guard Captain
Dolton's armor.
(Optional minor milestone - The party
may state they are not subject to the
Keep Guards' authority, or somehow
separate themselves from the Guard in
the Tribe's eyes and establish
themselves as neutral arbitrators.)
The tribe demands a prisoner exchange.
Grus-Dogal may point to the cages with
some captive villagers, then return to his
smoke demonstration. Two rows of
figures form in the smoke, single file and
chained. The large monstrous smoke
figures are passed across the scene,
where the humanoid figures are then
allowed to cross heading in the opposite
direction. When both rows of figures are
across, the chains fall from them.
(Optional minor milestone - The party
may agree to negotiate the exchange)
The final demand: Grokk-Nor demands
retribution. The Tribe wants the members of the
Keep responsible for the attacks. The party has
one day to do so.
Grus-Dogal may attempt to associate the
word "leader" with imagery by pointing
to Grokk-Nor, then return to his smoke
demonstration. The smoke takes the
form of Grokk-Nor, standing above many
smaller monstrous figures in subservient
poses. A similarly large humanoid figure
bearing the Signet of the Fraternity of the
Keep Guard is shown, with smaller
humanoid figures also in subservient
postures. Grus-Dogal takes the large
humanoid figure bearing the signet, then
offers it to Grokk-Nor. The smoke scene
shows a sun setting, the moon rising
then setting, and then a sun rising in the
sky.
During Diplomacy
Guard Captain Dolton's reactions to
diplomacy
Guard Captain Dolton will attempt to discourage diplomacy
any chance he can get. He will not attempt to communicate
with the Bugbears, and focuses on discouraging the party
from further attempts, and encouraging attacking while they
have the element of surprise.
Choosing to abandon diplomacy
At any time, if the party takes hostile action during diplomacy,
diplomacy ends and Guard Captain Dolton signals the
militia to block the chokepoint, starting combat. Proceed to
the combat section on Page 21 to continue
If diplomacy fails
If the party fails diplomacy either through failure to translate
or refusal to listen to demands, diplomacy ends and Guard
Captain Dolton signals the militia to block the chokepoint,
starting combat. Proceed to the combat section on Page
21 to continue
After successful diplomatic attempts
After all the diplomacy topics are addressed, the Tribe will
allow the party to leave and will not continue firing upon the
Keep. The assumption is that the party will return to the keep
with the demands.
Diplomacy Objectives
If the negotiations were successful, the following
demands need met:
The Bugbear Tribe requires retribution. Blood
must be shed by those responsible for the
kidnappings.
The Bugbears are convinced that their fellow
tribe members are being held somewhere
within the Keep walls. Captive tribe members
must be released.
Both objectives must be completed within the
agreed upon timeframe, or the Tribe will resume
besieging the Keep and firing into the bailey. Once
the Tribe runs out of ballistae bolts, they will attack
the walls.
The Tribe doesn't have the numbers to win this engagement,
but there will likely be heavy casualties on both sides. There
would be little hope of either side recovering from such an
engagement, even the Keep would likely crumble over time
after such a pyrrhic victory.
Alternative diplomacy endings
While this adventure can't account for all possible courses
the adventurers can take, the flexibility of this encounter
allows for many different resolutions.
Gaining the tribe's favor
If the party has fully decided to support the Tribe, they may
try to gain Chieftain Grokk-Nor's favor. This could be
narrative, promising to support their cause and return any
captive tribe members, but immediate action that appeals to
their code is the most sure-fire way to gain unwavering
support from the Tribe.
Turning over Guard Captain Dolton to face the tribe's
retribution will immediately earn the tribe's support.
Chieftain Grokk-Nor will brutally kill Guard Captain
Dolton in one-on-one combat. This could be used to
satisfy Grokk-Nor's obligation to retribution.
If the party speaks goblinoid or has developed a sure
method of communication, they may be able to use the
Bugbears in their plan to release the captives, such as a
distraction outside the walls to occupy guards in the keep.
The Militia as witnesses
The militia are farmers and commoners, and don't
necessarily share views with the Fraternity of the Keep
Guard.
However, witnessing the party handing over the guard
captain would not be something they'd view favorably.
If Bragan and Dolphur survived and are present in the
Militia, the party can use them as character witnesses.
This, with the explanation of the reason of the attack and
the revelation that the Keep Guard started the conflict,
will buy the Militiamen's silence.
If the party cannot convince the militia that this was
necessary to stop the violence, the militiamen will report the
events to the Keep Guard. The party can make it back to the
keep before the Militia, but the Keep Guard will be made
aware of the betrayal within an hour after they arrive. This
may gain the party time to speak to Lady Guethern
regarding the party's findings and sway her to appease the
bugbears or hold the Guard accountable.
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
20
 Combat Encounter: Cliffs of War
This section is intended
for use if the party
chooses to fight, or if
negotiations fail
Large-Scale Battle Mechanics
The Tribe overwhelmingly outnumbers the strike
party. Taking this force head-on isn't feasible.
Instead, NPC adversaries are separated into two
groups. This will make the combat manageable for
the GM while giving the party the perception of a
large-scale battle.
Combat Participants
Participants in this section include the party,
Grokk-Nor, Zrab, and Grus-Dogal, and the Bugbears
and the Hobgoblin operating the ballistae.
"Battle Timer" Participants
Guard Captain Dolton and the militia members are
holding back the forces of the Tribe at the narrow
chokepoint at the cheval-de-frise. They will hold
back the Tribe as long as they can so the party can
complete the battle objectives.
How long the militiamen can hold the point
depends on the number of militiamen brought, as
well as a die roll. Each turn, roll a 1d6 w/ Advantage.
If the the result is anything lower than a 6, one
militiaman falls.
Guard Captain Dolton will be the last man standing.
If he is the last one, he will shout to the party that the
line has failed and to escape.
When all militiamen and Guardsman Dolton fall,
the tribe breaks through and the party must
disengage or face death, or worse.
The GM may elect to occasionally remove a
Tribe member "Battle Timer" participant to give
the appearance of casualties on boths sides. If this
is done, keep the ratio of participants overwhelmingly
favoring the bugbears to provide an incentive to fight.
Combat Objectives
Regardless of how combat starts, the party will have the
objective to either destroy the ballistae or assassinate the
tribe leaders. Killing all adversaries is not required.
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
21
Combat Participants and roles
Warchief Grokk-Nor
The Warchief is the unequivocal leader of the Tribe. The
following applies when he is in combat:
Any tribe members in combat will attempt to protect
Grokk-Nor to the best of their ability.
Grokk-Nor has the feat Inspire Tribal Ferocity.
Inspire Tribal Ferocity
At the beginning of his turn, Grokk-Nor can designate a
single ally to receive Advantage on their next attack roll,
and add an additional 1d6 to their damage if they hit. This
bonus is applied at the start of the target's turn, afterwards
they suffer a -2 AC penalty until the start of the following
turn.
More details about Grokk-Nor can be found in their
character sheet.
Zrab the Advisor
Zrab is the equivalent of a rogue, able to use the Backstab
ability and the Sneak Attack ability. Optionally, consider
using the optional "Flanking" 5e rules to make Zrab a more
potent threat.
Grus-Dogal
The Tribe Seer has limited magical abilities and is a combat
caster. He will directly attack the party with any means
possible, but should attempt to save a spell slot for Hold
Person to prevent the party from escaping after a victory
objective is achieved.
Refer to Grus-Dogal's character sheet for a full list of their
abilities.
Ending Combat
Prior to the encounter, Guard Captain Dolton shared with
the party an escape route leading around the mountain
behind the cliffs. Guard Captain Dolton and any surviving
Militiasmen will retreat with the party. Rather than going
through the main forces at the chokepoint, the party can use
this route to make it safely back to the Keep.
Returning to the Keep
The citizens of Kol-Dun greet the returning strike party, eager
to hear news. Lord Marshal Barnabus greets the party at
the gate.
If returning to the keep after
successful battle
After either killing the Tribe leaders or destroying the
Ballistae, the threat is over for now.
Upon hearing of their success, Lord Marshal Barnabus
relays the news to the citizens, who cheer and celebrate the
party's success. The party is invited to meet with Lady
Guethern to receive their reward.
Meeting the Lady in the Keep, each party member receives
the agreed reward as well as the Lady's personal thanks.
Furthermore, she instructs Lord Marshal Barnabus to
provide accomodations for the party, and they can receive
discounts at any of the local merchants for the remainder of
their stay.
If the party chooses to approach Lady Guethern about
the dealings of the Fraternity of the Keep Guard after the
Bugbear Threat has been eliminated, proceed to Page 23
If returning with the tribe's
demands
Lord marshal Barnabus
As soon as the gates are approached, Guard Captain Dolton
(or the Party, if Guard Captain Dolton did not survive)
confers with Lord Marshal Barnabus. When informed of the
demands by the Party, he does not react well. He rebukes the
party for not dealing with the threat, citing the wasted
element of surprise.
The party is instructed to stay nearby and await word from
the Keep Guard. The festival is about to start, and Lord
Marshal Barnabus must meet with the leaders of the
Fraternity before coming to a decision. The Party are told not
to approach Lady Guethern, or they'll be imprisoned.
If the party waits for Lord Barnabus's
summons
In the late evening after the festival performance, Lord
Marshal Barnabus will send for the party. The party is
brought into the Guardhouse, where Lord Marshal
Barnabus (and Guard Captain Dolton, if he survived) are
waiting. Lord Marshal Barnabus greets them, waiving them
in.
Example dialogue
"I spoke with the Fraternity, and it was agreed that
your noble attempt at diffusing the situation was
made in good faith."
Lord Marshall Barnabus's expression becomes
stern.
"That doesn't make the gravity of this situation any
less dire. There are no captives, there will be no
exchange, and they will not stop. I'll give you all one
last chance to make this right. Those beasts are
expecting a response, which means we still have one
last chance. Either you go back with the strike party
tonight and finish this, or you leave these walls. The
Bugbears watch the roads, so you can take your
chances with them. Choose wisely."
If the party accepts the proposal, the party will join the same
strike team and return to the encounter at the Cliffs of War
with the combat objectives listed on Page 21
Convincing Lady Guethern of the
threat of the Keep Guard
If the party has uncovered enough of the Keep Guard's plot,
they may elect to appeal to Lady Guethern.
Gaining access to Lady Guethern
If the party chooses to attempt to reach Lady Guethern
regarding the demands and the accusations against the
Fraternity of the Keep Guard, they will need to gain access
to her. The Fraternity of the Keep Guard will attempt to
stop the party if they are made aware of the intention to
approach Lady Guethern.
Avenues to approach Lady Guethern
If the party has not yet discovered the bond between
Cleric Fernhir, inquiries about reaching Lady Guethern
directed towards non-Guard members, such as merchants
and citizens can reveal their close connection. Cleric
Fernhir is always welcome in Lady Guethern's presence
and can gain an audience at any time.
Neville and Bigsby's festival performance is tonight. The
performers are aware that the Lady will be in attendance
and can help the party get close to her. If the party can
approach Lady Guethern or her knights during the
performance, she (or they) will grant them a private
audience to hear their concerns in the Keep's main
chamber.
Before or after the performance, if the Party can sneak
past the Guard, they can convince the Lady's Knights to
allow an audience at the entrance to the Keep's chamber
while Lady Guethern resides in the main hall.
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
22

Receiving an Audience
with Lady Guethern
The Meeting
The Knights or Lady Guethern can be easily convinced to
allow a meeting, as the party has first-hand knowledge of the
attack, and the Guard have been vague on details.
This meeting will be done in private in the Keep's main
chamber. Two of the Lady's Knights will remain at her side at
all times.
The Party's intentions
Depending on why the party is meeting with Lady Guethern,
the party will likely need to convince her of their intentions.
This section assumes that since the party is breaking with
the Keep Guard's instructions, that they are either trying to
convince Lady Guethern of the Guard's plot and the damage
they've caused, or that the Lady needs to act to release the
Bugbears and stop the attack.
Convincing Lady Guethern
Lady Guethern is receptive to speaking with the party, but
she will need to be convinced of the situation. She doesn't act
on a whim. The party will need to tell her their findings, then
convince her of the situation.
Shortly after, the Keep Guard will break into the halls to
arrest the party, led by Lord Marshal Barnabus, Guard
Captain Dolton (if he survived), and Guardsman Anton.
They are accompanied by 3 senior guardsmen.
Possible Approaches
If the party has been resourceful in their
investigation, they may have brought with them
evidence or witnesses to assist in swaying Lady
Guethern.
If Cleric Fernhir is asked to accompany the party,
or otherwise helps the party gain access to Lady
Guethern, he will provide testimony to his
visions and the belief that something wrong has
taken place within the keep. He is Lady
Guethern's mentor, and she will take his word
to heart.
If the party has discovered the tunnels and the
Bugbear prisoners, they can reveal this
information to Lady Guethern. She will demand
to investigate such a tunnel, which will lead her
to the Bugbear prisoners.
If the party assisted Guardsman Anton with the
scouting mission, he will break ranks with the
Guard when Lady Guethern questions them and
admit to the dealings, siding with the party. He
states that his son is dead or captive due to this
recklessness and he will not play a part in it any
further.
Finally, if none of the above conditions can be
satisfied, the party can attempt to persuade Lady
Guethern (DC: 14, one opportunity) of the reality of
the situation.
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
23
The Keep Guard Intervenes
Once the party has made their case, the Keep Guard will
burst through the main chamber's doors to arrest the party.
Lord Marshal Barnabus's Dialogue
"I'm sorry my lady. These mercenaries have been
spreading panic and discord. They are to be detained
at once. The Keep Guard have the situation under
control."
If Lady Guethern was not swayed
If the party failed to meet any conditions to sway Lady
Guethern, and they were unable to persuade her, she does
not accept the word of strangers over the Keep Guard.
The Keep Guard arrests the party
"You are to come with us. You won't be harmed, but
you can't be allowed to interfere any further in this
time of crisis. You'll be detained until this situation is
over, at which time you will leave the Kol-Dun
region."
From within the Keep's prison, Guardsman Anton meets
them some time later and unlocks their cell to help them
escape. He instructs them to flee through the hidden tunnels
and never return, saying that the Keep Guard have failed to
stop the Bugbears and blame the Party, and he doesn't
believe they will be merciful upon their arrival. The party will
henceforth be fugitives in this land.
The party will need to fight 4 guardsmen in the tunnels
to escape, and can optionally free the Bugbears on their
way out.
If Lady Guethern has been convinced to
consider the Party's claims
Depending on what leverage the party presents to Lady
Guethern, her response to the guard's interruption of the
meeting is built from those possibilities.
If Cleric Fernhir is present and the party leverages him,
Lady Guethern will demand further information from Lord
Marshal Barnabus.
Cleric Fernhir as a witness
"Fernhir is an influential member of our community.
When he tells me something is amiss, I believe him.
In fact, the severity of this situation and the obscurity
I've received from the Keep Guard reinforce this
belief with me. I think you should explain yourself,
Lord Marshal, and I won't allow the Guard to take any
further action until they do!
If the party leverages information about the secret tunnels,
Lady Guethern will demand to investigate.
Hearing of the tunnels
"If there really are no tunnels, then there's an easy
way to solve this dispute. My knights and I will
accompany the Keep Guard and this band of
mercenaries to the Guardhouse. If they're lying as you
Guardsmen claim, all the faster to lock them in a
cell."
At any point if Guardsman Anton's conditions are fulfilled as
described in the "Possible Approaches" section, he will break
ranks with the Keep Guard and tell the Lady of the Guard's
dealings.
Guardsman Anton's confession
"Thank you, Guardsman Anton, for your honesty. This
can go no further. Lord Marshal Barnabus, I'm
shocked at this betrayal. I relinquish you from your
position as Lord Marshal, and we must start an
investigation into the Keep Guard. Guardsman Anton,
I will need your counsel here to know how far this
treason spreads."
The Keep Guard stage a coup
The treasonous members of the Keep Guard led by Lord
Marshal Barnabus have been backed into a corner. Their
dismal opinion of Lady Guethern along with the severity of
the situation they've created has escalated their grievances,
and this interference from the Lady is the final straw. The
Guardsmen bar the door, and Lord Marshal Barnabus
addresses the lady.
Lord Marshal Barnabus's Dialogue
"After everything we've done for this city, and you
dare to question us? We stand at the face of the crisis
of our age! What did you, or your useless father ever
do for us? No! We brought this region back from the
clutches of destitution, not you! And there's no way
I'll allow you to send us back there. Arrest them all!"
Fighting the Keep Guard
Participants and positions
The Keep Guard present in this meeting are loyal to Lord
Marshal Barnabus. The Guards, with the exception of
Guardsman Anton, if he has a change of heart, will attempt
to take down the Party. As the party is between the Guards
and the Lady, the Guards engage the party first.
Lady Guethern is pulled from the room by the two
attending Knights through a hidden door in a side alcove.
The two knights outside the main chamber doors hear the
commotion and are trying to break down the main hall doors
from the other side, but are unable to participate.
Victory conditions
Killing or incapacitating each Guard member participating in
combat will achieve victory, as well as ensure Lady
Guethern's safety. With the leading treasonous members of
the Keep Guard removed from authority, the most vocal
opponents of Lady Guethern have been silenced and the
Lady's authority is assured.
If the party manages to take out the guardsmen protecting
Lord Marshal Barnabus, they can demand his surrender. He
will not fight to the death in certain defeat. This may allow
the party to satisfy Grok'Norr's obligation to retribution.
Either Lord Marshal Barnabus or Guardsman Dolton can
satisfy this requirement.
After Lady Guethern is allowed control of the main
chamber, she will pledge to take over negotiations with the
Tribe.
A Noble Reward
After revealing a coup-in-the-making, as well as the injustices
dealt to the Bugbear Tribe by the Keep Guard, Lady
Guethern is indebted to the party. She offers each member of
the party a purse of 100gp, as well as discounted prices at
every establishment in Kol-Dun (thus normalizing prices.)
In addition to this, she extends an invitation to lordship and
ladyship for the Party.
Lady Guethern's Invitation
"You've shown yourselves to be poeple of decisive
action. It was only through deliberate care that anyone
could have found peace from this dire of a situation.
After the treatment we dealt to our neigbors, and
somehow still managing to make right in so much
wrong..."
"The Kol-Dun region has endured much suffering,
and we have all been made to become resilient,
resourceful. I recognize the worth of those that stand
before me. I could not in my right mind send you
away with coin without asking if you would be willing
to stay."
The Estate
The Lady offers an estate within the region of Kol-Dun. The
party would become lords and ladies of their estate, and
could use their land however they see fit, assuming it adheres
to the laws of the Kol-Dun region.
She asks that the party manage this estate and see to it's
affairs, and it be allowed to operate as a way-station in
desperate times. The party would be able to recruit working
hands from able bodies in the region to operate while they
have business elsewhere.
The Siege Of Kol-Dun: Chapter 3
24
 Thanks to:
Clinton Oberholster for their skilled VTT conversion work.
They just opened a patreon, check it out!
https://www.patreon.com/crows_nest_rpg
Mythic Portal Games (VTT assets and audio)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/7140/Mythic-
Portal-Games-LLC
Direquest (Bugbear portraits and cover image)
https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Direquest
Homebrewery for the PDF
"Darren Curtis", for the Camelot Monastery track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4Vgb8UC07I
RollAdvantage.com
https://rolladvantage.com/tokenstamp/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Thanks for helping me make this happen!

Accreditations
23