938. The Thorny Grove
For as long as anyone can remember, the Thorny Grove has meant death: a hundred miles of cursed scrubland, home only to deadly, razor-sharp brambles and man-eating swarms of insects. Recently, however, you’ve heard rumors, credible rumors, that some have entered The Grove and returned with gold, jewels, and long forgotten magical power. Of course, no one has ever lived there. How could there be treasures? Who could have lost them?
It’s a mystery but it won’t last for long. The word is spreading fast and many bold or foolish folk are heeding it. You’ve come in the first wave of the desperate and curious to Brushside, the last settlement on the edge of the scrub. This is your chance: wealth, power, respect, glory; it all can be had if you’re willing to take your chance in the Thorny Grove.
It’s a mystery but it won’t last for long. The word is spreading fast and many bold or foolish folk are heeding it. You’ve come in the first wave of the desperate and curious to Brushside, the last settlement on the edge of the scrub. This is your chance: wealth, power, respect, glory; it all can be had if you’re willing to take your chance in the Thorny Grove.
"Maximum" XP at end of campaign: 576
"Minimum" XP at end of campaign: 364
"Minimum" XP at end of campaign: 364
Campaign Concept
The concept for this campaign is a relatively open table where people are free to play when they can and miss sessions when they need to. Characters will be based in a town named Brushside, to the west of the town is a large dangerous unexplored wilderness (The Thorny Grove). Although there will be adventure to be had in Brushside and the plains around it, the idea is parties will delve into The Grove, exploring it--following leads to uncover the secrets and treasures within.
Character Creation:
I will provide a stable of pregenerated PCs for new players or people that only intend to play one or two sessions. If you want to generate your own PC, I or another experienced player can walk you through it. It is fairly simple.
XP: You will start the campaign with 150 XP.
Equipment: You start with 80 gold pieces to buy equipment. If you are a wizard, you will also need to buy spells and a blank book for your spells and arcane notes. If you start as a priest in the Church of Ignimius you can chose to start with a claymore and 30 gold pieces, or 80 gold as normal. Food, ammunition, and torches will be tracked. If you want to have something, make sure to buy it and put it on your character sheet! Normal clothes, shoes, and a belt are free for everyone.
Background and Motivation: No complex background is necessary, if you decide to make one, I'm happy to help you make it fit into the world. Likewise, your motivation can be anything you want, but I suggest you be someone that is motivated to explore the Thorny Grove--Because that is where the game is!
Character Creation:
I will provide a stable of pregenerated PCs for new players or people that only intend to play one or two sessions. If you want to generate your own PC, I or another experienced player can walk you through it. It is fairly simple.
XP: You will start the campaign with 150 XP.
Equipment: You start with 80 gold pieces to buy equipment. If you are a wizard, you will also need to buy spells and a blank book for your spells and arcane notes. If you start as a priest in the Church of Ignimius you can chose to start with a claymore and 30 gold pieces, or 80 gold as normal. Food, ammunition, and torches will be tracked. If you want to have something, make sure to buy it and put it on your character sheet! Normal clothes, shoes, and a belt are free for everyone.
Background and Motivation: No complex background is necessary, if you decide to make one, I'm happy to help you make it fit into the world. Likewise, your motivation can be anything you want, but I suggest you be someone that is motivated to explore the Thorny Grove--Because that is where the game is!
DM's Map of the Area
This is the map that the DM used during play, showing the points of interest in and around the Thorny Grove.
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Travels During the Thorny Grove Hex Crawl
Maps of Brushside
Blank Map of the Area
The player map represented what you start off knowing about the area. You are welcome to print it off (link below) and try and map your journey so you can return to places you have been. But if that doesn't sound fun, then don't!
The road going east from Brushside leads to the city of Ban Gentul, about 60 miles away. The line of green hexes is the edge of the Thorny Grove, west of the line is deeper into the grove. The line of brown hexes is badlands that continue to the south. Off the edge of the map to the north are hills and mountains, but you don't have a clear idea where they are.
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Character Sheet and
Pregenerated Characters
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Its a blank character sheet. I have nothing to say about it.
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A well well rounded fighter. They picked up how to treat battlefield wounds somewhere. Could be a veteran, or a former highwaymen.
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An archer skilled in camouflage who can speak goblin.
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A fighter with very good armor and defenses. He (or she) was able to buy the armor, but had nothing to spare, even selling their fishing equipment.
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This giant of a man (or woman) never trained a day in their life. They sure seem like they will be a natural with their giant 2-handed hammer though.
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A boatswain turned priest. They can perform a well rounded selection of miracles. The Church has provided for their worldly needs, they start slightly indebt to them.
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A Keen-eyed thief from the big city who knows their way around the streets. They are more then capable of winning a fight, all long as its not a fair one.
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A well read wizard with a selection of spells already picked out. A hard row to hoe, most wizards are killed in their first adventure or two.
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