Dragon Sign Wood Map Pack! [30 x 40] (Patreon)

Shadows in the Wood.

Farmers came in that morning, wild-eyed and spinning stories of a great shadow floating about the eastern wood. They mentioned entire herds of sheep going missing, and seeing the night's sky erupt in showers of liquid flame, spilling over the treetops and scorching the earth. The guard captain noticed none of them carried pitchforks or torches. None of them wore swords. None of them held an ounce of commitment or determination in their eyes - only fear.

"And what would you have me do?", the guard captain asked?

"You're head of the watch. You have the King's commission. Go out and do your job, sir!", shouted one voice from the mob.

"Aye, we want ye ta chase it off, we do!", joined another.

The captain sat back at his desk and surveyed the motley group of farmers with a slight curl of his lip, before reaching out and raising a hand.

"Fear not, good people, we shall see this beast from our lands. You have my word. Now, until we've dispatched beast, you should all likely seek accommodations at the Inn, lest you find yourselves meat for the beast, eh?", the guard captain said, as he stood and ushered the mob out of the room.

As the last farmer left, the captain turned toward one of his men, "Those adventurers that were causing all that trouble in town earlier. Where are they now?"

The soldier blinked, "Sir? You...had them thrown in the jail after the tavern brawl?"

Nodding once, the captain said, "Yes, good - go and fetch them. I think we have an offer to make concerning their early release."

--

Some possible plot hooks for this map:

1. Some local farmers thought they saw something flying over the eastern wood, and the local authorities would like someone to check it out.

2. A caravan that was supposed to arrive yesterday is missing, and the merchant house is paying adventurers to look for its whereabouts.

3. A meteor or other celestial object was seen crashing to earth in the neighboring wood last night, which most are taking as a bad omen. Others think there may be an opportunity and decide to strike out and discover it.

Hope you enjoy it!

I plan to release some free variants soon with Poison and Frost elements instead of fire to tie into LMoP and DoIP encounters.