Adventure: Witch and Hunter (A Fairy Tale Story)

This adventure never has seen the light... but I think it could be good for children 8-10 years old who want to play together with their parents.

Witch and Hunter

An adventure for 2-4 1^st-2^nd level PCs

Backstory

A little while ago, the Baroness Artemisia DeBlack instructed the palace’s huntmaster, Emil VeeMillian (CG skinwalker [witchwolf] ranger [trapper] 5), to take her daughter Ebony in the woods, when the people began to suspect her of witchcraft. Ebony (CG changeling bard [animal speaker] 3) was actually exchanged for the real child of the Barons as a baby. She began to hear her true mother’s call when she reached puberty, but managed to resist until now. Her human mother, however, suspected the truth and drove her out as soon as the girl showed some signs of magic. Emil should have waited with Ebony in a shackle out of town, while Artemisia prepared an ancient ritual to destroy the evil within the girl. Certain that the Baroness meant to have Ebony killed, Emil escaped with the girl in the forest. He is resolute to protect her at every cost.

Actually, Artemisia is a good witch herself (LG human witch 12, Healing patron) and loves her stepdaughter. Emil misunderstood the Baroness’ orders. The “ancient ritual” is a powerful spell able to turn the girl into a full human, “destroying the evil” in her blood. Unfortunately, Artemisia can’t leave the castle until all the preparations are made, and with Emil and Ebony lost in the woods, she fears that everything could be in vain.

The PCs could be adventurers hired by the Baroness to rescue Ebony, or could be young boys and girls from the village who don’t believe the stories about witchcraft, and set out on their own to save her.

Part 1: Rescue Mission

Haple’s people are afraid. Everybody’s barricaded in their homes and all doors and windows are shut. In the middle of the central square, a signpost bears a proclamation with the Baron’s seal: “The Baroness Artemisia will richly reward anyone who rescues her lost daughter. Bold adventurers, come to the Castle”.

If the PCs go talking with the Baroness, a palace butler escorts them in a little room paved with drapes and tapestries, where the lady meets them after a long enough waiting. Artemisia is still young, but her beauty is marred from signs of tears and little sleep.

“Thank you for coming”, she says in a feeble but firm voice. “My husband is very ill since our child escaped, and I’m afraid it could be too late to save her. You are our last hope. Please find Ebony. We just want her back”.

Artemisia explains that she sent Ebony out of town for fear that the villagers could harm her, or that the girl could lose control of her magic abilities. The Baroness doesn’t speak about her daughter’s true heritage. If the characters ask more precise questions, she may admit to be only Ebony’s stepmother, and that “she has a great evil inside that will consume her if not destroyed”. While pronouncing these last words, a tear runs down her cheek.

Artemisia can offer to the PCs two magic items -a rope of entanglement and a buffering comb- and the help of a recently hired mercenary, Darwsk “Lefty” Thedesh. The dwarf introduces himself only as a “veteran tracker”, smiling openly. If the PCs aren’t hired by the Baroness or refuse his help, the dwarf follows them secretly anyway, coming out if needed.

If the PCs search for information in the village, they could gather the following rumors, depending on the Diplomacy check result:

10- “I always knew she was a witch. She has eyes of two colors”.

12- “I saw her call animals to do her bidding”.

15- “Lady Ebony is not the Baron’s real daughter. I know for certain that they found her in a wicker basket after their real baby was dead”.

18-“The huntmaster is a werewolf. She transformed him with magic to force him to protect her…”

20-“The Baroness seems more like a witch to me. She’s only the Lord’s second wife, anyway”.

21-“I say she is the one who caused the Baron’s illness. Everybody knows she dabbles with strange concotions…”

A successful Wisdom check (DC 12) allows to realize that Ebony never actually harmed anyone in the village.

Part 2: The Haunted Forest

The search starts in the shackle where the two runaways were sent. A Survival skill check (DC 10) allows to find their path. If the PCs fail, Darwsk can find it easily enough -maybe too easily- and lead the way. While coming nearer to the cavern where Emil and Ebony hide, the company must pay attention to half a dozen swarm traps set by the ranger (DC 14). If some PCs are badly hurt, Dawrsk can offer some cure potions.

The dwarf seems a nice fellow and talks a lot, but only gives evasive answers to questions about himself. Every now and then, he gives some hint that he’s not very certain about the mission. “Saving the girl is good enough… but do you think that the Baroness really wants to help her? She’s not her real mother, after all. How does she plan to ‘destroy the evil in her’? Something smells fishy here. Maybe it could be better to let those two escape…”

In the end, when the company approaches the cavern, Emil comes out slowly, hand raised, saying aloud “Look, I don’t want to fight! Just leave us alone, please!”.

If the PCs don’t attack, Emil tells them the whole story from his point of view. If they attack, he fights in wolf form. Ebony, from inside the cavern, may summon a dog to help him. The witchwolf just wants to defeat the PCs without hurting them too much. If he wins, he stops and says “Will you hear us now?”. If the PCs win, Dawrsk stops them from killing the wolf, saying “We could as well hear what they have to say”.

Ebony comes forward and begs the PCs not to get them back to the castle. Dawrsk then offers: “I know a place where you could live in peace… would you let me guide you there?”

Ebony looks at the dwarf strangely and says, in a dreaming voice: “Do I know you? I think I saw you before… I can’t remember…”

Part 3: The Hunt

Dawrsk is not what he seems. Actually, the green hag who is Ebony’s birth mother took the dwarf’s form to retrieve her child. A Sense Motive check exposes her true intentions.

If the PCs call out her bluff or insist to go back, the hag resumes her true shape and attacks. The PCs can fight with Emil’s and Ebony’s help, or try to flee with them, meeting with the castle guards (see below).

If the PCs trust “Dawrsk”, the hag tries her best to persuade them to go back. “You can keep the Baroness occupied or tell her they are escaped, while I accompany them in a safe place. Believe me, it will be quicker this way. The terrain is risky and I’m the only one who knows it well”.

The PCs can agree or insist to follow. They could even try to secretly send a message to the Baroness, if they suspect something. Emil, however, remains wary.

If the PCs follow, the hag leads the company to her den in the swamps. The PCs may notice that the terrain feels more and more “evil”, and that Ebony has a more and more faraway look (Perception check, DC 10). Once arrived, the hag reveals itself and attacks. For every round of fight, there’s a 10% chance that Ebony answers her mother’s call, passing to her side. She will come to herself only when the hag is defeated. If the hag is killed, the shock causes Ebony to definitively transform into an hag herself, attacking and trying to kill her former protectors.

Meanwhile, the Baroness discovered Dawrsk’s true identity with magic, and sent her guards (human warriors 3). If the PCs came back, the guards inform them and hurry with them after the hag, arriving just when she’s about to kill Emil. If the PCs followed the hag and sent a message, the guards arrive after 3 rounds of fight. Otherwise, they come only at the 6th round. The guards have been warned not to kill the hag.

Part 4: Resolution

Once the PCs have defeated and taken prisoner the hag, the sergeant bows before Ebony and says: “My lady, know that your mother loves you and worries for you. Please come back”. Ebony accepts.

At the palace, Artemisia tenderly embraces Ebony and thanks the PCs. Then she lets a hair of the hag fall in a golden bubbling cauldron (the hair may also come from a weapon used against the hag, or a wound she caused), and then steeps a fruit in it. Eating the fruit, Ebony becomes human and is free from the curse.

Now the villagers know the truth and celebrate. The PCs are rewarded with 1,000 gp each and can keep the magic items. The hag may be set free if she promises to go away and never come back, otherwise she stays in prison. Everything is settled in Haple… ever after.