18/11/2024
I was asked to run a one off, stand alone adventure for my daughter Michelle, Scott, Ben and Nicky. Here is the adventure based on the very first dungeons and dragons adventure I ran as a DM back in 1979. Hegrash the Bandit Ogre. Here it is:
Nicky: Iolo, male human folk hero fighter
Ben: Varis, male high elf wizard
Scott: Alton, male halfling rogue
Michelle: Duvana, female hill dwarf cleric
A stand alone introductory adventure for 4 level 1 characters.
Setting the
Scene:
The Village of Farlight: The adventure begins in the quaint village of Farlight, a peaceful
hamlet nestled along the base of the rocky Fendral Hills. Farlight is home to
about fifty villagers, mostly farmers, shepherds, and artisans who rely on one
another for survival. Recently, however, the villagers have been gripped by
fear as Hegrash the bandit ogre has raided their homes, stolen their livestock,
and threatened harm if they report him to the authorities. The villagers are
too scared to fight back and have pooled what little coin they have, to hire a
group of brave adventurers to put an end to Hegrash's tyranny.
Detailed Account of the Encounter
Journey to Hamlet Farlight
The sun was low on the horizon as the group of adventurers arrived in Farlight. The hamlet was quiet, with only the occasional bark of a dog or the rustling of leaves breaking the stillness. The dirt paths between the cottages were rutted from carts, and the villagers eyed the strangers warily, their faces shadowed with fear and suspicion.
The party was directed to the central square where Headman Maerwin waited. A wiry man with a weathered face, Maerwin spoke bluntly. "You're here about Hegrash? Good. That brute has been raiding us, taking what little we have. Deal with him, and Farlight will be in your debt." He avoided giving details but insisted the ogre was hiding in the hills.
Iolo, the human fighter, stepped forward. "We’ll handle it. No one terrorizes a village under our watch."
With the deal struck, the adventurers set out for the hills, following faint trails marked by the villagers' fear and desperation.
Discovering the Hideout
After hours of trekking, the party found themselves before a concealed tunnel entrance in the rocky hillside. The air was cooler here, and the sound of distant water hinted at a deeper system within. Alton, the halfling rogue, moved silently ahead, scouting the left side of the entrance. His keen eyes caught the faint glimmer of a slit in the wall—an archer's position.
“Looks like they’re watching us,” he whispered, retreating back to the group.
Duvana, the dwarven cleric, inspected the light source to the right but found the slit too high to reach. "A clever design," she muttered.
Varis, the High Elf wizard, frowned. "If we can’t climb, we’ll force our way in."
With a nod from the group, Duvana raised her hand, murmuring a prayer. A burst of power echoed through the stone as the doors swung open with a creak, revealing a dimly lit room beyond.
First Engagement
The moment Alton stepped inside, an arrow shot out from the darkness, striking him in the shoulder. He grunted in pain and staggered back. Iolo rushed forward, grabbing the rogue and pulling him behind cover on the left side of the doorway. “Stay low!” he barked.
Drawing his longbow, Iolo fired through the doorway, his arrow thunking into the shadows. Alton, despite his wound, slipped back into the room and ducked behind a stack of crates to the left. Varis and Duvana took positions to the right, crouching near a pile of broken barrels.
The dim room smelled of damp wood and sweat. Flickering torches in sconces cast ominous shadows.
A goblin rushed from the far corner, its dagger flashing in the torchlight. It lunged at Varis but missed. The elf retaliated with a crackling surge of lightning from his palm, the spell sizzling the goblin where it stood.
Duvana charged forward, only to find another goblin crumpled behind the crates—an arrow from Iolo’s earlier shot buried in its eye.
Searching the Goblins the only thing of worth was a folded scrap of paper in a pouch on the goblins belt. A crude drawing was on the scrap:
The Symbol of Hegrash the bandit Ogre.
Using a Goblin as Bait
The adventurers dragged the goblin corpses back to the doorway, arranging one as a grisly lure. Iolo crouched behind cover on the left, greatsword ready, while Alton nocked an arrow and hid near the doorframe. Duvana stepped into position near the second door, and Varis called out in Goblin, his voice high and panicked, “Help! Help! They’ve killed us!”
The ploy worked. The second door creaked open, and a human bandit stepped through cautiously.
Iolo sprang into action, swinging his greatsword, but the bandit ducked just in time. A ray of frost from Varis slowed the man, while an arrow from Alton caught him in the shoulder. Duvana called upon her divine magic, but her first sacred flame missed. Her second attempt scorched the bandit as Iolo delivered a killing blow with a vicious slash.
Advancing to the Second Room
The group cautiously advanced into the next room. The air was heavier here, smelling of smoke and rotting food. Crates and barrels were stacked haphazardly, and the remains of a half-eaten meal lay on a table.
Suddenly, crossbow bolts flew from the far side of the room. Alton ducked low, loosing arrows in return. Varis sent another ray of frost into the fray, while Iolo charged forward, his greatsword cleaving the second human bandit in two.
Confrontation with Hegrash
As the group approached the third door, a deep voice rumbled from within. “Enough blood. Come in and talk, or fight and die like the rest.”
The adventurers exchanged glances and decided to parley.
Inside, Hegrash loomed over a crude throne. His massive frame was intimidating, but his expression was weary rather than hostile. “You think you’re heroes?” he growled. “Ask your precious villagers about their promises. I saved them, once. When their crops failed, it was me who shared my food. But they’ve forgotten. Now I take what’s owed.”
Duvana stepped forward, her tone firm. “If this is true, what do you demand?”
“Simple,” Hegrash replied. “Twelve sheep. Four sacks of grain. And I’ll leave them in peace.”
The party agreed to take the terms back to the village, though Varis muttered under his breath, “This isn’t over.”
Return to Farlight
Back in Farlight, the group decided to scout the villagers’ resources before presenting Hegrash’s terms. Alton discovered the villagers had only six sacks of grain, a handful of livestock, and a few cows.
When the party relayed Hegrash’s offer to Maerwin, the headman’s face darkened. “Proof. Show me proof you’ve dealt with him.”
Iolo frowned. “We brokered peace. Isn’t that enough?”
Maerwin’s tone turned cold. “You’ve done nothing but help that brute rob us blind. Leave. We don’t need your kind here.”
Duvana’s eyes narrowed. “You dare accuse us? What will you say when we tell the local lord of your broken agreements?”
Maerwin scoffed. “Tell him whatever you like. You’re no friends of Farlight.”
As the villagers turned their backs, the adventurers stood alone in the square, the weight of their decisions heavy on their shoulders.
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