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Message: <blockquote data-quote="practicalm" data-source="post: 8151490" data-attributes="member: 6777923"><h2>You Can Lead a Horse to Water</h2>Measured StepForeign CoinDream SurfSilver StarHeavy MetalDisguise KitAdventure for low level heroes in a fantasy setting. Local merchant, Wulfwin Jordan, approaches the heroes to escort his prized racehorse, Silver Star, from Redhorn, their current location, to Thalberg, a city 2 days away, and return with the payment.  The job pays 25 silver each. Heroes can try to increase the fee 50 silver each with a DC 17 persuasion or intimidation checkThe merchant expect them at dawn tomorrowResearch:The heroes learn Wulfwin controls the local mines no roll requiredA DC15 investigation check provides a rumor the mines are no longer profitable.  A DC20 Investigation check reveals Wulfwin seems to be selling a lot of his possessionsA DC18 nature check provides a rumor that crops are not doing wellAt the estate, the heroes are shown Silver Star.  If the heroes can talk to animals, Silver Star says he is looking forward to the trip.The groom gives the heroes a disguise kit if they think they need to disguise Silver Star to avoid troubleOn the first day of travel the heroes find a damaged bridge. The repair crew points out the ford just upriver. Silver Star hesitates to cross the river.  The hero leading Silver Star must make an animal handling roll of DC14 for Silver Star to crossOn failure, Silver Star bolts and the hero must make a DC 13 DEX check or fall in the waterIf Silver Star bolts, heroes need to make a group animal handling check or be able to talk to Silver Star.A failure means spending 4 hours chasing the horse.On a DC 13 Perception, Nature or Tracking check while crossing the ford, the heroes see troll tracks that are a few days old.If they follow the tracks, they notice the distance between the steps seems unusually far.  If the heroes measure the steps they find the Troll would have to be 20 feet tall.  Any character with tracking, nature, or investigation skill to see the troll tracks turn into small humanoid tracks.  If the heroes follow the humanoid  tracks, they come to a door in the hillside.  Two gnome children appear at the door and pretend to know nothing about any trolls or troll tracks.  The children say their parents are repairing the bridge.  If the heroes visit the parents, they thank the heroes for letting them know about their children’s prank and give the heroes a horse brush with an enchantment speeds up brushing animals (10 minutes instead of an hour)If the heroes use the brush, the disguise on Silver Star comes off and it becomes clear that this horse isn’t Silver Star. The heroes can put the disguise back or return to RedhornAfter the bridge, the heroes find an inn to spend the night.On the second day, the road runs alongside a large river. Heroes will notice that the river seems to be unusually high.  Eventually, a nymph named Dream Surf, calls to the heroes and asks to trade for the horseDream Surf offers them a chest filled with foreign coins of usual type (mostly silver with some copper and gold).  Investigating the chest DC18 reveals a hidden map to a pirate crew’s treasure (The Black Teeth)If the heroes don’t trade for the horse, the nymph will use its siren song to draw Silver Star to the water.  Once in the water the nymph and the horse will swim awayWhen the heroes get to Thalberg  and have the horse, a careful inspection by the buyer shows that this horse is not Silver Star.  The buyer sends the heroes back to RedhornThe heroes try to find Dream Surf but she has forgotten that she wanted the horse.When the heroes return to Redhorn, they find the merchant’s estate empty.The day after the heroes left, a local priest found that heavy metal from the mine tailings were leaching into the water supply and affecting the crops and children.  The merchant escaped just ahead of the mob.ResultsHeroes have the horse, the local magistrate takes it.Heroes don’t have the horse, they local magistrate demands the paymentWhen the townspeople learn about the disguised horse, the heroes are said to be affected by the heavy metalHeroes give up the treasure from the nymph, they get their original paymentComplicationsIf the heroes hide the chest of coins, when they start using the coins The Black Teeth will show up looking for the chest</blockquote>

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