fatal

Preparation
The Aedile must observe the character
sheets of the players. Specifically, the Aedile must
note the Race, Disposition, Birthplace, and Social
Class of each character. Next, the Aedile must create
an explanation of how each character lives in
the hamlet.
Different dispositions may respond differently
to this plot. A character with an ethical or
moral disposition may seek to discover what happened
to their hamlet, ultimately hoping to either
return or avenge their family. A character with an
unethical or immoral disposition may despise their
hamlet and see this as an opportunity for looting
and personal gain or the ideal time to begin adventuring.
Whatever disposition is involved, this plot
should provide motivation to adventure.
Invent a basic description of the hamlet that
compliments the group of characters. If different
races exist in the group, invent a reason why these
races live together. The hamlet should be comprised
of a number of families equal to the number of
characters in the group, so that 1 character belongs
to each family. The population of the hamlet should
not exceed 100. For the sake of simplicity, the following
information assumes the hamlet and all families
are human. The name of the hamlet is Acedia,
and it is comprised of 6 families. The population is
roughly 50, and the average family has 8 members.
Invent names and basic information of prominent
family members and inhabitants, and any background
deemed relevant. Finally, prepare a reason
for each player why they have not extensively explored
the world beyond their hamlet but have always
been content with their small community.
Introduction
One wintery day, snow covers the ground.
The cold is not overwhelming today in this northern
territory, but the wind irritates you. As is routine,
each of you have been selected by your family
today to venture forth into the surrounding forest
and gather firewood. Your hamlet is merely a community
of a few families amidst a northern forest.
Successfully, you return as a group with more than
enough firewood. Upon entering the hamlet, you
hear only silence. As your group explores your hamlet,
each of you enter the main house of your family
to find them empty or abandoned. Slowly, you
congregate together in the middle of the hamlet,
surprised to be alone.
Introduce information specific to the hamlet.
Explain to each player why their character has
not extensively explored beyond their hamlet in the
past. Allow the characters time to interact. Either
individually or as a group, characters may attempt
to loot either their own family or another family. In
this instance, each family should be poor and have
little of value. If a character has any adventuring
gear, such as weapons and armor, now would be an
ideal time to equip it.
Clues
Following are clues to the truth behind the
disappearance of the inhabitants of the hamlet.
Each clue may be discovered when deemed appropriate
by the Aedile:
• One set of tracks from a horse suggest that
a horse walked into the hamlet from the
north and left to the south. The horse
walked up to each cottage before leaving.
The horse tracks are recent, probably only a
few minutes old. Steaming horse defecation
is in the middle of the hamlet.
• The prized weapon of the hamlet, a Goring
Zweihander + 6, has been stolen from one
of the cottages. In its place is a rusted and
nicked zweihander.
• No other tracks exist, indicating that none
of the inhabitants walked out of the hamlet.
Chapter 15: Conducting the Game
797