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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BookTenTiger" data-source="post: 8933064" data-attributes="member: 6685541">A month and a half later, here's the final piece of the puzzle... Structure for the CampI wanted to throw a small settlement in near the dungeon, a place where the characters could retreat, meet interesting NPC's, and get side quests. I decided to save this for last, so that I could tie it into the dungeon.The CampThe camp is a small settlement near the dungeon. It is made up mostly of (race or language / class / background) who are experts at (skill / tool / class feature). The community shares a  ideal with one character (ideal), and a flaw with another character (flaw).The camp can provide a resource to the characters related to (skill / tool / class feature).One significant NPC shares a bond with one character (bond), and can provide a resource to improve (skill / class feature).Another NPC (or group of NPCs) requires a resource from the dungeon, which can be accessed through the use of (skill / tool / class feature). They will reward the characters with a valuable treasure related to (skill / tool / class feature).A threatening force endangers the camp. It is a source of danger vulnerable to (skill / class feature), but resistant to (skill / class feature). If the characters do not defeat this threat, the camp will be damaged or destroyed.Rolling, Rolling, RollingThe camp is a small settlement near the dungeon. It is made up mostly of Warlocks (Arkmenos) who are experts at Animal Handling (Croto). The community shares a  ideal with one character: Respect. Respect is due to me because of my position, but all people regardless of station deserve to be treated with dignity. (Danara), and a flaw with another character: Gold seems like a lot of money to me, and I’ll do just about anything for more of it. (Bug).The camp can provide a resource to the characters related to Speak with Animals (Croto).One significant NPC shares a bond with one character: I sponsor an orphanage to keep others from enduring what I was forced to endure. (Bug), and can provide a resource to improve Retainers (Danara).Another NPC (or group of NPCs) who is an expert in Unseen Servant (Arkmenos) requires a resource from the dungeon, which can be accessed through the use of Perception (Bug). They will reward the characters with a valuable treasure related to Spell Focus (Orb) (Arkmenos).A threatening force endangers the camp. It is a source of danger vulnerable to Persuasion (Danara), but resistant to Mountain Born (Croto). If the characters do not defeat this threat, the camp will be damaged or destroyed.Filling in the DetailsIf the characters pass by the entrance to the Bastion of the Stone Swords, they will find a coven of warlocks living beneath the branches of a massive, ancient oak tree. The warlocks use this tree to worship their patron, an archfey called Acora. She used to be worshiped throughout the mountains, but over time the villages of the Giants Chain shifted to other gods. Acora teaches respect for all inhabitants of the mountains, and is upset that Valhaxron has introduced the corruption of the Far Realms into her domain. Acora is nostalgic for the days when the townsfolk of the Giant’s Chain gave her offerings of animals and monsters forged from gold, silver, and other valuable materials. From the branches of her tree hang hundreds of these baubles, some hundreds of years old.The Oaken Coven trains small animals as spies and couriers throughout the mountains. They are willing to trade trained animals for offerings to Acora.One warlock, a dragonborn named Ragwood, is a teacher to young warlocks in training. Some of these young warlocks are children of the coven; others are refugees from communities that have fallen to bandits or other outside threats. Some of the older children may want to journey with the characters, tempted by a life of adventure. If the characters prove themselves trustworthy, Ragwood will allow one child to travel with them, acting as a retainer and providing magical resources during downtime.A few warlocks have the role of Spirit Tamer, conjuring fey spirits to aide their coven. They use runes aligned with different elements to conjured spirits. The Spirit Tamers will ask the characters to find special Stone Giant runes built into the Bastion of the Stone Swords. As a reward, they will use the runes to craft an Elemental Gem (Earth Elemental).As the characters travel towards the Oaken Coven, they will notice the air growing colder, until eventually the cliff walls are coated in ice and snow drifts down from low clouds. The coven is under the curse of a Bhuer Hag named Chillblaine, a former warlock who was rejected by Acora after suggesting they align themselves with Valhaxron and the Elder Brain. Chillblaine has hidden herself in a cave high in the cliff walls, and hopes to earn Valhaxron’s favor by destroying the Oaken Coven. However, if the characters can prove their own capability in defeating Valhaxron, Chillblaine may be convinced to lift her curse. Otherwise, the coven will be forced to leave and try to find another one of Acora’s ancient oaks somewhere else in the Giant’s Chain Mountains.ReflectionThis was suuuuuper fun! It was nice taking a break from the dungeon and just letting my creative juices flow. It was an interesting challenge to create this coven that believed in respect, could train animals, and loved gold. I think it came together in a really interesting way though!There were some really interesting combinations of character features. Having an orphanage that can improve Danara's Retainers background feature was a fun combo!The biggest challenge was figuring out how to combine experts in Unseen Servant, perception, and Spell Foci (Orb). I think it came together in a neat way, with the Spirit Tamers and the Elemental Gem.Okay, this has been a great experiment. I'm going to do one more big post with a reflection of the whole process!</blockquote>

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