D&D 5E EN5ider #386 - Dangerous Scenarios: Tricksy Riddles Three

It's classic gaming today on EN5ider with a bridge, a troll, a cyclops, and an exciting battle as the span the monsters protect falls apart beneath everyone's feet!



Free Articles including a complete adventure, a sidequest adventure, and the smart-fighting savant character class!
Join EN5ider for Immediate Archival Access: Pay as little as $3 each month to become a member and get instant access to the library of 380+ articles at no extra charge!

Lately on EN5ider:

• 386. Dangerous Scenario: Tricksy Riddles Three. On an ancient bridge that stands far above a raging river, a troll named Bumbus and a cyclops named Hooble stand collecting tolls from travelers unfortunate enough to run into them. Instead of demanding currency the duo ask a series of complicated riddles and smash to bits anyone who answers wrongly or refuses to play their game. Only a select few have been allowed to pass unharmed—when it's the adventurers turn, should they fail as well the combat becomes far more dire as the deadly brawl causes the bridge beneath them to crumble and fall apart! Dangerously designed by J. D. Mills, illustrated by Indi Martin, and feature cartography by Dyson Logos.
• 385. Enchanted Trinkets: Spoils of War. Raiding monsters are nothing new but their loot doesn't always have to be what they've taken from their most recent victims. Sometimes monstrous creatures have treasures all their own! Spice up that sahuagin encounter with a magic item destroying maw of the shark god, put the drop on an enemy with a portable kobold pit, make it easier to charm a creature by giving it your pristine harpy feather—each of these 11 enchanted trinkets are perfect for adding a little depth to a wide variety of encounters. Dastardly designed by Andrew Engelbrite, illustrated by Rachel Maduro.
• 384. To Stake A Vampire: Part 1. The Holdenshire Chronicles continue in To Slay A Dragon's sanguine sequel! Knighted following their triumph over the dread red dragon Cirothe, the adventurers enjoy a short reprieve before a dismal winter grips the countryside and the people around them become more despondent and angrier with every passing day. The region begins to suffer the effects of dreadful and ancient curses put into motion when the party were last in Deepcrest Chasm, unknowingly unleashing the primordial vampire lord Nemirtvi. In this first act the PCs undertake two quests: discovering the grisly corruption of foodstuffs in the towns, and then delving into the tomb of Hugo Weightman where they learn of heroes from long ago (the Order of Light). This adventure for 4 PCs of 7th level includes: three new traps, the amulet of the spectral grove, fiendish dire boar (CR 3), commoner swarm (CR 2), vampiric dire bear (CR 10), Penner the Pigfarmer (CR 6), and a cursed ghost (CR 11).
• 383. Masterclass Archetypes: Tradecraft. There's a suite of fantastic character classes here on EN5ider and today's issue brings greater depth to three of them with new class archetypes for sneaky savant field agents, subtle noble spymasters, and observant watcher tinkerers (drone included). Blend seamlessly into new communities, direct your allies with silent efficiency, and rain down death from above via your clockwork companions! Masterfully designed by Peter Martin, illustrated by Júlio Cesar Oliveira Rocha.
• 382. Intriguing Organizations: Arcane Investigation Unit. This article has everything needed to include the Arcane Investigation Unit in a campaign, bringing a taste of one of American television's longest running series into the realm of medieval fantasy! Whether the party are recruited into the AIU or simply work close with one of their investigators—like Sergeant Aelith Silverstreet, a CR 6 officer—this is an issue of EN5ider we definitely needed. Dutifully designed by Anthony Pryor, illustrated by Rachel Maduro, with interior art by Indi Martin.

 

[Davies]

Unanswered question -- how much would it cost to fix the place up so that it wasn't on the verge of collapse? Granted that the bridgekeepers are jerks, but the bridge itself is still a very valuable and useful thing, and an enterprising party might want to keep it in working order, maybe even hiring those two to collect tolls. (Which will probably not go well, but that's life.)

 

[Mike Myler]

Unanswered question -- how much would it cost to fix the place up so that it wasn't on the verge of collapse? Granted that the bridgekeepers are jerks, but the bridge itself is still a very valuable and useful thing, and an enterprising party might want to keep it in working order, maybe even hiring those two to collect tolls. (Which will probably not go well, but that's life.)

I've asked J.D. and will letcha know what he says!

 

[Mike Myler]

Unanswered question -- how much would it cost to fix the place up so that it wasn't on the verge of collapse? Granted that the bridgekeepers are jerks, but the bridge itself is still a very valuable and useful thing, and an enterprising party might want to keep it in working order, maybe even hiring those two to collect tolls. (Which will probably not go well, but that's life.)

J.D. Mills
That's interesting. Using MCDM's Strongholds and Followers as a basis I think repairing the bridge should cost anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 gold. Because it has a fortress attached it would become quite a profitable crossroads through a hostie mountain path. I don't have much of an idea of how to handle monthly income in D&D but a few hundred gold pieces coming in a month from tolls and housing would probably be a nice reward for sparing the place. As for paying Bumbus and Hooble, they would maintain the structure and building and do a great job defending the fortress from attackers and would probably want half the income. It is definitely possible and probably ideal option to negotiate with them and work out a fair deal!