*This is a DND campaign designed for levels 7-12 (approximately). If you, the DM, want to make any alterations please do so. This is only the first campaign I've written so if there are any mistakes or holes then it's on me. If there is a symbol, Like so *, before a paragraph or sentence, it means don't read it. It's information for the DM and no one else. If there is another one later on that means that the information is done, and you can start reading. I will also make it pretty obvious that you can start reading.*
*about the orc king: Latimer, also known as the infamous king of the orcs, is an avid follower of the god Gruumsh, the god of destruction. He dedicates countless hours to following and going down what he thinks is the right path that Gruumsh has set for him. From what he's learned, is that the god needs his help to escape the prison that the other gods have set for him. This leads Latimer, under the influence of Gruumsh, to believe that to set him free sacrifices must be made in his honour. This sets in motion his climb toward power over the people of the valley and the orc kingdom. Latimer was so determined to raise and free Gruumsh that he let him take a piece of his soul in place of part of the god's own in its place. Gruumsh granted Latimer immortality the day he did that. Now part of the gods' power and self is in Latimer.*
Read: you find yourself on top of a grassy hill, large towering deciduous trees snake their way into the trench of the valley around you and there's a haze in the air. The ground is littered with leaves and as you look around, you notice there's smoke in the distance. Roughly 1km away. It's dark and almost reaches the clouds, looming over a small village that stands in the clearing of the trees near a glimmering lake.
*If they decide to travel to the smoke read out*: You walk past through into the trees and follow up to a trail that leads alongside a small creek and you start to notice the strange feeling that you're being watched. The canopies above you block quite a bit of the sun's light and weave strange patterns on the ground. The wind picks up and you start to smell wood smoke. Not too far ahead of you orange light spills across an opening in the trees. From what you can see from behind the trees two elves and a dwarf sit huddled and tied up unconscious near the fire and large booming voice echos around you. "Show yourselves!" You walk around the great oak and stumble across a huge hideous orc. A few thumps startle you and 3 small goblins stand beside the orc. Roll for initiative.
*ORC: (change accordingly) Armor class - 14 (hidden) Hitpoints- 34 (2d8+6) Speed 30ft. Strength. 16 (+3) Dex. 12 (+1) Con. 18 (+4) Int. 7 (-1) WIS. 11 (+0) CHA. 10 (+0) (Actions) - Greataxe. Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d10+4) slashing damage. - Javelin. Melee or ranged weapon attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (2d6+3) piercing damage.
*Goblin: (Change accordingly) Armor class - 15 (leather, shield) Hitpoints - 21 (2d6) Speed - 30ft. Strength. 8 (-1) Dex. 14 (+2) Con. 10 (+0) Int. 10 (+0) Wis. 8 (-1) Cha. 8 (-1) (Actions) - Scimitar. Melee weapon attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (2d6+6) slashing damage. - Shortbow. Ranged weapon attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320ft., one target. Hit: 5 (2d6+4) piercing attack.
*If they're successful against the Orc and Goblins: If the party decides to free the hostages, explain a bit about the orc kings ruling and how there's an expedition going out tomorrow morning from the town to the east of here. If you get there in time maybe you'll be able to get things sorted with the ruling of the orc king. Also, explain a bit about how they were going to be sacrificed.*
*If they decide to travel to the village read out*: From the hill, you can see a few buildings and as you get closer the more you realize how defended it is. A stone wall circles it and a few stout archers stand on top. Roll for perception: *(10 or higher), If someone makes it make sure to tell them the following: You're able to tell that this town has seen battle, and burn marks line parts of the wall. Trees have been upturned around the perimeter, and a strange silence seems to encapsulate the place. *If no one was able to make it then no one sees anything*. >>>: [one of the archers yell to you. "you below! What is your business here?"] *Let the party members do their thing. Act accordingly. If they're idiots, then treat them like idiots, but if they're charismatic let them through.* >>>: [Inside the fort a busy town like any other is observable.] *if the players ask, there's an inn to the left, a tavern to the right, and a market in the town center.* For the buildings read; The inn read: Inside you can find an old bearded man, cleaning the glasses behind a wooden counter. "Hello, how may I help you?" *, let you and the players take over. If they ask about the burns and trees explain to them about the orc king and his oppressive ruling. He lives in the cave system of Mykor's mountain to the north.* The tavern read:[ A shaggy drunk lays slumped on the counter and a soldier with a blood-covered sword and a beer in the air cheers with 4 others yelling "down with the barbaric orc king!". A man behind the counter wipes the surface with a rag, fills a mug full of foamy liquid, and passes it to the drunk.] *Let the party decide. If they ask the bartender about the orc king or the burns, refer back to the extensively underlined sentences from the inn. If they ask the drunk, make up some stupid line about squid or something, and finally, if they ask the soldiers about anything at all. Like anything. Just make it into some excuse to join them in defeating the orc king and telling them how strong and mighty they look. If they ask them about the orc king make it a horrid twisted version of the underlined sentences in the inn part.* The market read: people bustled around wooden stalls, some selling remedies, some selling body parts, some selling relics. There in the center of it all, a lone soldier in metal armour paraded across a stage holding a fake replica of a foul beast *let them decide. if they go to any of the stalls sell them stuff, if they go towards the soldier >>>:* She stood there yelling, "Hear me when I say, that today is the day we stand against the oppressive rule of the orc king and his minions!" People rose in an uproar and the soldier threw the head to the crowd. "Join us in our quest against them!" She unsheathed her sword and raised it to the sky, "we will be VICTORIOUS!!" She lowers her sword and directs it to you saying, "will you join us, fierce warriors, in the battle against the orc king?" *Let them answer and play along with whatever they say. If they accept tell them to meet at the gates at sunrise. Take the party to the inn to rest and replenish anything they might need.*
Read: you stand ready at the gates and a group of roughly 25 soldiers covered in hastily armour wait with you. Two soldiers dressed in finely made metal armour stand in front ready to take charge. They open the gates and you start on your journey to the orc king's lair. You and the team walk for a half-day before you see anything. You are taken out of the woods and into a huge rock field dotted with ashy boulders. Roll for perception (11). *If anyone can pass it read to them/explain*: you're able to tell that the boulders thrown about the place were used as a sacrificing ground. Skulls and bones line around them, most of them white as ash providing evidence that this area has not been used in quite a while. Some bones even sunk into the ground a few inches, this place has been abandoned for a very long time. *If anyone makes it passed 18, read them this: You're able to sense an eerie stillness about the forest behind you. You look around you and out to the trees where you're able to spot glowing red eyes that follow you and the group around the site. You can tell they're not friendly and are ready to kill. *continue, if no one or someone got the check.*, read >>> Just then, monstrous shrieks echo across the valley like a beast before its prey. 3 Huge Perytons fly from the trees and descend on you trapping you between them like a lamb to the slaughter. Roll for initiative.
*Peryton: Medium monstrosity, Chaotic evil. Armour Class: 13 (natural) Hit Points: 33 (6d8+6) Speed: 20ft., fly 60 ft. STR. 16 (+3) DEX. 12 (+1) CON. 13 (+1) INT. 9 (-1) WIS. 12 (+1) CHA. 10(+0) Skills Perception +5 Damage resistances- Bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical attacks. Languages- can understand common and elvish but not speak it.
Dive Attack. if the peryton is flying and dives at least 30 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a melee weapon attack, the attack deals an extra 9 (2d8) damage to the target. Flyby. The peryton doesn't provoke an opportunity attack when it flies out of an enemy's reach. Keen sight and smell. The peryton has an advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell. ACTIONS: Multiattack. The Peryton makes one gore attack and one talon attack. Gore. Melee weapon attack: +5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d8+3) piercing damage. Talons. Melee weapon attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d6+3) piercing damage.
*The soldiers (Roughly): Humanoids, any good-neutral alignment. Armour Class: 12 (armour) Hit points: 57 (8d8+4) Speed: 25ft. STR. 11 (+0) DEX. 15 (+2) CON. 12 (+1) INT. 16 (+3) WIS. 13 (+1) CHA. 10 (+0) ACTIONS: short bow. 2d8 piercing, range 80/320, two-handed. Hand axe. melee or range attack. 1d8 slashing, range 30/50. Longsword. 3d8 slashing, versatile (1d10).
*The area you're in: the ground is covered in stones ranging in size from a small snail shell to a lute (IRL maybe a penny to a basketball or so). Sticks and small metal items are scattered around and boulders form a large U shape. Around these boulders, you can find the white bones of sacrificed people, some of them sunken a few inches into the rocks. Little tufts of grass show up here and there around the place, so scarce they could be missed easily. Around the edge of the clearing, a path carved its way out of the stone field and towards a large stone tower.*