Ambush at the Broken Wagon Shadows at Dusk on the Caravan Road ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description You spot a shattered wagon across the road, its wheel splintered and axle broken. Hooded figures clutch scimitars and chant in guttural tongues. Captain Tarsin hisses, “Tribunal cultists—stand firm, or they’ll slaughter the lot of us.” The river ford waits just beyond this trap. Will you fight, bluff, or bargain your way through? Key Details As dusk falls, the party crests a low ridge to find a mangled wagon blocking the path: four Obsidian Tribunal cultists have ambushed the caravan. They stand behind the wrecked cart, chanting a dark incantation and daring the PCs to approach. The cultists will hold their ground unless persuaded otherwise (Persuasion or Intimidation DC 15) or driven off by force. Use the wagon and nearby terrain (shallow ditches, low rocks) for cover. If the PCs negotiate, they can learn the ambush was meant to sow terror ahead of a larger incursion. After the encounter—regardless of outcome—the caravan moves on and reaches Silverford Crossing. At that point, brief out-of-combat roleplay with the river guard transitions to the next session. Objectives Protect the caravan from the ambush “This road now serves the Tribunal! Turn back, or die!” Eliminate or repel the cultist threat Continue onward to Silverford Crossing Scenes Scene 1: Ambush at the Broken Wagon Shadows at Dusk ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Set the Scene The last rays of sunlight cast long shadows across the road. A ruined merchant wagon lies overturned, its cargo strewn about. Four hooded cultists flank the wreck, weapons drawn, chanting in a low, rhythmic drone. Wagon wheels and crates offer three-quarters cover, but leave little room to maneuver. Objective Defend the caravan and clear the cultist blockade. Key Features Cultist Blockade: Four Obsidian Tribunal cultists block the path, demanding tribute in the name of the Tribunal. Wrecked Wagon Cover: Crates and the broken cart grant three-quarters cover to creatures behind them. Hostile Demands: The cult leader taunts: “Abandon your coin, or furnish your deaths!” Negotiation Opportunity: A DC 15 Persuasion or Intimidation check can break their resolve; at DC 13 Insight you learn they fear a pursuing patrol. Monsters Obsidian Tribunal Cultist Medium Humanoid (Any race), Neutral evil • Low-Ranking Agent ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description A hooded figure in tattered leather, veins faintly glowing with dark runes. Lore Fanatical agents sent ahead of larger Tribunal forces to terrorize travelers and weaken defenses. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hit Points: 11 (2d8 + 0) Armor Class: 12 (Leather armor) Speed: 30 ft. STR: 10 (+0) - Strength DEX: 14 (+2) - Dexterity CON: 12 (+1) - Constitution INT: 11 (+0) - Intelligence WIS: 11 (+0) - Wisdom CHA: 13 (+1) - Charisma Skills: Intimidation (+4) Languages: Common Damage Immunities: poison Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 Challenge Rating: 1/2 Experience Points: 100 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Actions. Scimitar: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage. Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage. Loot Cultist’s Rune Bead: A small obsidian bead etched with Tribunal symbols; can be sold to a collector or used as a ritual focus. Obsidian Tribunal Cultist Medium Humanoid (Any race), Neutral evil • Low-Ranking Agent ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description A hooded figure in tattered leather, veins faintly glowing with dark runes. Lore Fanatical agents sent ahead of larger Tribunal forces to terrorize travelers and weaken defenses. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hit Points: 11 (2d8 + 0) Armor Class: 12 (Leather armor) Speed: 30 ft. STR: 10 (+0) - Strength DEX: 14 (+2) - Dexterity CON: 12 (+1) - Constitution INT: 11 (+0) - Intelligence WIS: 11 (+0) - Wisdom CHA: 13 (+1) - Charisma Skills: Intimidation (+4) Languages: Common Damage Immunities: poison Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 Challenge Rating: 1/2 Experience Points: 100 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Actions. Scimitar: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage. Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage. Loot Cultist’s Rune Bead: A small obsidian bead etched with Tribunal symbols; can be sold to a collector or used as a ritual focus. Obsidian Tribunal Cultist Medium Humanoid (Any race), Neutral evil • Low-Ranking Agent ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description A hooded figure in tattered leather, veins faintly glowing with dark runes. Lore Fanatical agents sent ahead of larger Tribunal forces to terrorize travelers and weaken defenses. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hit Points: 11 (2d8 + 0) Armor Class: 12 (Leather armor) Speed: 30 ft. STR: 10 (+0) - Strength DEX: 14 (+2) - Dexterity CON: 12 (+1) - Constitution INT: 11 (+0) - Intelligence WIS: 11 (+0) - Wisdom CHA: 13 (+1) - Charisma Skills: Intimidation (+4) Languages: Common Damage Immunities: poison Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 Challenge Rating: 1/2 Experience Points: 100 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Actions. Scimitar: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage. Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage. Loot Cultist’s Rune Bead: A small obsidian bead etched with Tribunal symbols; can be sold to a collector or used as a ritual focus. Obsidian Tribunal Cultist Medium Humanoid (Any race), Neutral evil • Low-Ranking Agent ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description A hooded figure in tattered leather, veins faintly glowing with dark runes. Lore Fanatical agents sent ahead of larger Tribunal forces to terrorize travelers and weaken defenses. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hit Points: 11 (2d8 + 0) Armor Class: 12 (Leather armor) Speed: 30 ft. STR: 10 (+0) - Strength DEX: 14 (+2) - Dexterity CON: 12 (+1) - Constitution INT: 11 (+0) - Intelligence WIS: 11 (+0) - Wisdom CHA: 13 (+1) - Charisma Skills: Intimidation (+4) Languages: Common Damage Immunities: poison Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 Challenge Rating: 1/2 Experience Points: 100 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Actions. Scimitar: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage. Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage. Loot Cultist’s Rune Bead: A small obsidian bead etched with Tribunal symbols; can be sold to a collector or used as a ritual focus. Scene 2: Arrival at Silverford Crossing The River's Edge ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Set the Scene With the last cultist routed or silenced, the road slopes down to the Silverspring River. A sturdy wooden bridge creaks under lantern light. Two Jorthiel guards clad in chain shirts stand watch, arms folded. Objective Secure passage across the bridge and gain entry to the river village. Key Features River Guard: Guards demand proof of your deeds. Present the head cultist’s token or a clear account of the skirmish. Bridge Toll: A standard toll of 5 gp per wagon can be waived with a DC 12 Persuasion check. Village Ahead: Silverspring is a small farming hamlet where you can rest, resupply, and send word to Dawnvale.

Ambush at the Broken Wagon Shadows at Dusk on the Caravan Road ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description You spot a shattered wagon across the road, its wheel splintered and axle broken. Hooded figures clutch scimitars and chant in guttural tongues. Captain Tarsin hisses, “Tribunal cultists—stand firm, or they’ll slaughter the lot of us.” The river ford waits just beyond this trap. Will you fight, bluff, or bargain your way through? Key Details As dusk falls, the party crests a low ridge to find a mangled wagon blocking the path: four Obsidian Tribunal cultists have ambushed the caravan. They stand behind the wrecked cart, chanting a dark incantation and daring the PCs to approach. The cultists will hold their ground unless persuaded otherwise (Persuasion or Intimidation DC 15) or driven off by force. Use the wagon and nearby terrain (shallow ditches, low rocks) for cover. If the PCs negotiate, they can learn the ambush was meant to sow terror ahead of a larger incursion. After the encounter—regardless of outcome—the caravan moves on and reaches Silverford Crossing. At that point, brief out-of-combat roleplay with the river guard transitions to the next session. Objectives Protect the caravan from the ambush “This road now serves the Tribunal! Turn back, or die!” Eliminate or repel the cultist threat Continue onward to Silverford Crossing Scenes Scene 1: Ambush at the Broken Wagon Shadows at Dusk ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Set the Scene The last rays of sunlight cast long shadows across the road. A ruined merchant wagon lies overturned, its cargo strewn about. Four hooded cultists flank the wreck, weapons drawn, chanting in a low, rhythmic drone. Wagon wheels and crates offer three-quarters cover, but leave little room to maneuver. Objective Defend the caravan and clear the cultist blockade. Key Features Cultist Blockade: Four Obsidian Tribunal cultists block the path, demanding tribute in the name of the Tribunal. Wrecked Wagon Cover: Crates and the broken cart grant three-quarters cover to creatures behind them. Hostile Demands: The cult leader taunts: “Abandon your coin, or furnish your deaths!” Negotiation Opportunity: A DC 15 Persuasion or Intimidation check can break their resolve; at DC 13 Insight you learn they fear a pursuing patrol. Monsters Obsidian Tribunal Cultist Medium Humanoid (Any race), Neutral evil • Low-Ranking Agent ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description A hooded figure in tattered leather, veins faintly glowing with dark runes. Lore Fanatical agents sent ahead of larger Tribunal forces to terrorize travelers and weaken defenses. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hit Points: 11 (2d8 + 0) Armor Class: 12 (Leather armor) Speed: 30 ft. STR: 10 (+0) - Strength DEX: 14 (+2) - Dexterity CON: 12 (+1) - Constitution INT: 11 (+0) - Intelligence WIS: 11 (+0) - Wisdom CHA: 13 (+1) - Charisma Skills: Intimidation (+4) Languages: Common Damage Immunities: poison Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 Challenge Rating: 1/2 Experience Points: 100 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Actions. Scimitar: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage. Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage. Loot Cultist’s Rune Bead: A small obsidian bead etched with Tribunal symbols; can be sold to a collector or used as a ritual focus. Obsidian Tribunal Cultist Medium Humanoid (Any race), Neutral evil • Low-Ranking Agent ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description A hooded figure in tattered leather, veins faintly glowing with dark runes. Lore Fanatical agents sent ahead of larger Tribunal forces to terrorize travelers and weaken defenses. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hit Points: 11 (2d8 + 0) Armor Class: 12 (Leather armor) Speed: 30 ft. STR: 10 (+0) - Strength DEX: 14 (+2) - Dexterity CON: 12 (+1) - Constitution INT: 11 (+0) - Intelligence WIS: 11 (+0) - Wisdom CHA: 13 (+1) - Charisma Skills: Intimidation (+4) Languages: Common Damage Immunities: poison Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 Challenge Rating: 1/2 Experience Points: 100 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Actions. Scimitar: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage. Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage. Loot Cultist’s Rune Bead: A small obsidian bead etched with Tribunal symbols; can be sold to a collector or used as a ritual focus. Obsidian Tribunal Cultist Medium Humanoid (Any race), Neutral evil • Low-Ranking Agent ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description A hooded figure in tattered leather, veins faintly glowing with dark runes. Lore Fanatical agents sent ahead of larger Tribunal forces to terrorize travelers and weaken defenses. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hit Points: 11 (2d8 + 0) Armor Class: 12 (Leather armor) Speed: 30 ft. STR: 10 (+0) - Strength DEX: 14 (+2) - Dexterity CON: 12 (+1) - Constitution INT: 11 (+0) - Intelligence WIS: 11 (+0) - Wisdom CHA: 13 (+1) - Charisma Skills: Intimidation (+4) Languages: Common Damage Immunities: poison Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 Challenge Rating: 1/2 Experience Points: 100 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Actions. Scimitar: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage. Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage. Loot Cultist’s Rune Bead: A small obsidian bead etched with Tribunal symbols; can be sold to a collector or used as a ritual focus. Obsidian Tribunal Cultist Medium Humanoid (Any race), Neutral evil • Low-Ranking Agent ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Description A hooded figure in tattered leather, veins faintly glowing with dark runes. Lore Fanatical agents sent ahead of larger Tribunal forces to terrorize travelers and weaken defenses. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Hit Points: 11 (2d8 + 0) Armor Class: 12 (Leather armor) Speed: 30 ft. STR: 10 (+0) - Strength DEX: 14 (+2) - Dexterity CON: 12 (+1) - Constitution INT: 11 (+0) - Intelligence WIS: 11 (+0) - Wisdom CHA: 13 (+1) - Charisma Skills: Intimidation (+4) Languages: Common Damage Immunities: poison Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 Challenge Rating: 1/2 Experience Points: 100 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Actions. Scimitar: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage. Dagger: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 piercing damage. Loot Cultist’s Rune Bead: A small obsidian bead etched with Tribunal symbols; can be sold to a collector or used as a ritual focus. Scene 2: Arrival at Silverford Crossing The River's Edge ────────────────────────────────────────────────── Set the Scene With the last cultist routed or silenced, the road slopes down to the Silverspring River. A sturdy wooden bridge creaks under lantern light. Two Jorthiel guards clad in chain shirts stand watch, arms folded. Objective Secure passage across the bridge and gain entry to the river village. Key Features River Guard: Guards demand proof of your deeds. Present the head cultist’s token or a clear account of the skirmish. Bridge Toll: A standard toll of 5 gp per wagon can be waived with a DC 12 Persuasion check. Village Ahead: Silverspring is a small farming hamlet where you can rest, resupply, and send word to Dawnvale.