the willow
Overgrown entrance to the ancient mole city. Destroyed
island
On a small swampy island in the middle of a river, the local rat warlord
Kayzer forged an alliance with the mysterious cult of the Rat-With-
Horns - a sinister creature from a distant perilous world of grim
adventures. Thanks to the support of foul magic, Kayzer managed to
subjugate the nearby rat gangs and started conquering the island.
The only force that still resists him is the small fishing village of Hillford.
In order to prevent the villagers from getting support from the mainland,
the priests of the Rat summoned a great catfish from the depths, which
would sink any ship attempting to approach the island.
Who will help the people of Hillford? Maybe brave mice that somehow got
through the blockade? And if they are not eager to help, maybe they will
be tempted by the legends of the ancient treasures hidden
somewhere on the island?
Factions and their objectives
The village of Hillford (Elmer the Elder, devoted residents)
Defeat Kayzer's army
Drive away the catfish and restore the connection to the mainland
Kayzer and his army of rats (support of the Rat cult)
Conquer the entire Willow Island
Establish cooperation with the cat Baltazar
Cult of the Rat-With-Horns (powerful magic, control over the catfish)
Discover the location of the portal to the immaterium
Summon an avatar of the Rat-With-Horns
Axorius the Kingfisher (elemental magic, hidden).
Reclaim his abode
Chase the crows off the island
The Coven of Crows (dark spells, loose alliance with Kayzer)
Learn the secrets of kingfisher magic
Find out what the Rat Cult is really looking for
The Willow Island is an independent production by Boodzik and is
not affiliated with Losing Games. It is published under the
Mausritter Third Party Licence.
Mausritter is copyright Losing Games.
Icons used: www.Game-Icons.net.
Used under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
The illustration: public domain
Hillford. A mouse fishing village terrorized by a large
catfish. Bravely resists the rat forces, but the defenders'
morale is weakening. Protected by a wooden palisade.
One of the mice is actually the Kayzer’s agent.
A fey burial mound. At its top, a broken stone circle. It
will summon the fey from a magical realm if repaired. An
ancient temple inside. The entrance is hidden under a
stone slab on the altar in the center of the circle. Deep in
the dungeon, a magical portal that the priests of the Rat
are trying to find.
Nest of Axorius the Kingfisher. A cave in a slope on the
river bank. Occupied by rats that chased the owner away
and imprisoned the salamanders that served him.
The temple of the Rat-With-Horns cult, hidden among
the riverside marshes. Bloody sacrifices to obtain gifts
from a dark deity. Patrolled by cult acolytes drugged with
magical fumes.
by a powerful earthquake a long time ago. Underground
corridors hide unimaginable treasures. A tall withered tree
on a hill - the nest of the Coven of Crows, warded by
magical alarms.
Kayzer's army camp. Tent camp surrounded by
a wooden palisade. Kayzer is always accompanied by the
priest of the Rat-With-Horns. Mouse prisoners are
kept in cramped wooden cages.
The ruins of the mouse castle. Haunted by the spirits of
the nobleman and his team, who do their penance for
eating a human ruler alive. Near the castle, a camp of
partisan commandos. They are waging a guerilla fight
against the army of rats.
Random encounters (d6)
1. d4 + 1 rats patrolling the area. They are looking for an escaped
prisoner.
2. A priest of the Rat-With-Horns is looking for ingredients to
prepare a spell. He is protected by d3 rat soldiers who are terribly
bored.
3. Mouse guerillas (d3) taking care of a wounded comrade
4. d4 rats chasing a terrified salamander.
5. Mouse prisoners (d6 + 3) forced to fell trees in the forest. Guarded
by k4 + 2 rats. Every now and then the guards bully one of the
prisoners.
6. A crow witch performs a dark ritual. d4 restless spirits gather in the
area.
Rumors (d6)
1. Kayzer's rats are actively looking for something near the old fey burial
mound (T)
2. Some mice escaped to the forest to fight as guerillas (T)
3. The rat priests somehow control the great catfish (T)
4. The rat priests are in conflict with the Coven of Crows (T/F)
5. There is an ancient mole kingdom under the island, whose inhabitants
will help to defeat Kayzer (T/F)
6. The Kingfisher and his salamanders have left the island and will not
come back (F)