Quickleaf
Legend
Yeah that's the idea. Throughout the adventure there is the question of "What is the purpose of the Wild Hunt? What is it after?"Ah, yeah, that's a bit twisty. Its good though, if the PCs fail, then there's some sort of conflict with the Wild Hunt (unnecessary and probably ill-fated). If they succeed then the correct enemy is divined and things go better for the PCs. Works for me.
Hmm, maybe coming at this from the players' perspective will help me create clues. What sorts of questions are my players likely to ask upon investigating the Wild Hunt in Dunneebrook? Then I'll use those questions to create clues.
Q1: Are there any survivors?
I want the players to use their deductive reasoning to figure out what happened, so I don't want a survivor just explaining everything to them on a silver platter. It is possible however that a compromised survivor - such as the village idiot or madman - might have information but be unable to convey it clearly. But why would the mages leave this one person alive?
Q2: Why would anyone attack an innocent village like Dunneebrook? Does it have something to do with trading with fey?
Common view of the Wild Hunt is that there is no rhyme nor reason to its raids. However, the whole "faerie market" angle will arouse the players' suspicions. There could be some fey the PCs can interact with...perhaps household brownies who fled to the Feywild when the Wild Hunt came? Or simply trading partners that dwell in the Feywild most of the year? They wouldn't be direct witnesses...but maybe they can explain the minor magic that is traded and the ley line?
Q3: Are there any signs of the catoblepas / Questing Beast?
The group has already agreed to a quest to bring a catoblepas heart to a Vistani witch (and the vampire cavalier agreed to a geas). The King had a vision of a catoblepas which foretells his death unless the catoblepas's head is presented to the king before the end of winter. The catoblepas is preferred prey of the Wild Hunt, so the PCs may suspect the Wild Hunt came to Dunneebrook tracking the catoblepas. Maybe as a creature which traverses between worlds the catoblepas follows the ley line?
Q4: Where has the Wild Hunt or whoever is responsible gone?
There is a trapped peryton shadow somewhere in the village. Perytons have humanoid shadows, and in 4e it's theorized they are cursed elves. In my campaign, perytons follow the Wild Hunt as scavengers but are also mystically bonded to it as the Wild Hunt is likewise cursed. I'm not sure how the shadow was trapped - pixie magic? - but if the PCs release it they can try to follow the shadow back to the Wild Hunt. Not sure how I can relate this to the core mystery of the investigation though?
When it comes to the mages who used a teleport circle to return home, it's feasible the PCs might encounter the rare ink and chalk used to create the circle (which has since been obscured). I'm thinking a chalk made from crushed blink dog bones or something equally evil.