First encounter, or First blunder?

[Ferret]

I start by telling them that they are out side a manor house, and a voice whispers to them "Over here!", it's a bard, he tells them about his lost love, who is in what seems to a be a coma. She is in fact trapped on the dream plane, or thats what the bard thinks.

He wants them to get a gem, he gives them a map, he talks of a reward.

That is all so far, I have thought of an encounter:

G'banshk, male hobgoblin Drd1: CR 1; Size M (6 ft., 5 in. tall); HD 1d8+4; hp 12; Init +3 (+3 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 13 (+3 Dex); Attack +1 (+0 Base, +1 Str) melee, or +3 (+0 Base, +3 Dex) ranged; SV Fort +6 (+2 Base, +4 Con), Ref +3 (+0 Base, +3 Dex), Will +6 (+2 Base, +4 Wis); AL LN; Str 13, Dex 17, Con 19, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 11.

Languages Spoken: Abyssal, Common, Druidic, Giant, Gnoll, Goblin, Undercommon.

Skills and feats: Balance +5, Bluff +2, Gather information +2, Hide +5, Innuendo +6, Listen +4, Move silently +7, Speak language +2, Spot +4; Dodge.

Possessions: 900 gp in gear.

Druid Spells Per Day: 3/2.

His local fey cross-roads is broken, I haven't thought of how they could fix it.

 

[Ferret]

Please some one help?

 

[Crothian]

Okay, so the Bard gets the Pcs to take the map to retrieve this gem. THis gem will some how be able to rescue the Bard's true love.

So, what are you looking for? Do you want the Druid to have the gem that the party needs? Or perhapos the Druid can aid them in retrieveing the gem, but the PCs need to figure out how to fix the cross roads.

 

[Ferret]

I want to know why the Cross roads is broken, I only read a little about them.

What I really want to see is how they will react...They need the crossroads to get to the gem fast, but they can walk it if they kill the Druid.

 

[Crothian]

What levels are the PCs? By the Druid stats it would seem they are low.

Instead of breaking the crossroads, I'd have then entrance captureed by some big meanie. The Druid cannot take it back alone, so he needs the PCs help. In return for their help he'll allow them to use his crossroads.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

reasons the crossroads is broken:

1) the druid rolled REALLY badly, and the crossroads guardian won't let him in (it is based on an NPC attitude check). the PCs have to impress the guardian on their own

2) the crossroad's guardian is dead (so that entrance to the crossroads in closed). this would require the PCs to cast (or have cast) create crossroad . if the PCs can't do it, a high level druid could, or a fey creature (a side quest(?)).

3) (based on Crothian's advice...) the entrance to the crossroads had been discovered by a Big Bad Evil Guy(tm), who's camped out at the site intending to use the crossroads as a quick escape route from his evil deeds (thievery, ambushes, hijackings, etc.). the PCs have a limited time to beat the BBEG before he (or one of his crew) figure out how to access the crossroads...

how's that?

 

[Ferret]

4 1st level (4 if I'm lucky) the BBEG couldn't a real chalange, the druid is low level because they might not like to talk.

I like the low rolling thing.

 

[Ferret]

I might even make the druid Gnelf.... A homebrewed race of ecl 2....