1305 The Ravine of the Stag Lord

Ferns grown to extraordinary heights, towering above the heads of explorers.

• Terrain: Tangled forest (3), Aldweald
• Lost/encounters: 2-in-6
• Ley line Ywyr (p18): Arcane spell-casters perceive the distant moaning of the dead.

Ravine of the Stag Lord

Deep in the trackless woods of the east of this hex, deer paths lead to a secluded ravine. A winding series of ledges creates a route to the bottom, where the folded strata of the rock form a natural amphitheatre.

Grotto and pool: The amphitheatre faces a large grotto lined with sparkling mineral formations. Much of the grotto’s floor is occupied by a wide and shallow pool. Detection of magic shows both the pool and the grotto enveloped in a spiritual aura.

Hoof prints: A multitude of hoof prints can be seen in the mud around the pool. Most of the prints are those of large stags, but the occasional giant, web-toed humanoid footprint can also be spotted.

Those who touch the pool: Experience an icy chill and must Save Versus Hold or the touching limb is paralysed for 1d3 days.

Yorghan—The Stag Lord (Wood God)

A 30′ tall, lumbering humanoid with toad-like skin and hands and great fronds of shaggy fur hanging between its arms and torso. Its head is missing, causing the Wood God to stagger and lurch. (For more details, see p39.)

Demeanour (Neutral): Slow, out of touch with the modern world.

Speech: Gentle booming. Can communicate with all sentient beings through psychic projection.

Desires: To maintain the wilds of Dolmenwood and the dominion of the stags. To retrieve its head from the clutches of Atanuwë (hex 0904). The retinue of stags would enthusiastically join any who proposed a mission to retrieve the head.

Reward: Any who return the Stag Lord’s head are blessed with a set of magic antlers upon their crown— treat as an Arcane Longsword (p412)—and granted the undying friendship of all stags in Dolmenwood, as well as the ability to speak their secret language.

Large Monstrosity—Sentient—Neutral

Level 20 AC 16 HP 102 Saves D2 R2 H2 B3 S4 Att 2 stamps / fists (+13, 2d6 + evaporation) Speed 50 Morale 10 XP 4,050

Immunities: Only harmed by magic or magic weapons.

Evaporation: One who is killed by the Stag Lord dissolves into a pool of plasma, which evaporates within 1d6 Rounds.

New Moon Nights

On black nights of the new moon, 3d6 stags (red deer— DMB —with Morale 8) trace the winding forest ways that only they know, and make their way to the chasm floor. There is a 2-in-6 chance they are accompanied by 1d4 deorlings (DMB).

Ritual: The creatures gather together and bellow in unison to their master, Yorghan—the Stag Lord.

Manifestation of the Stag Lord: Heeding the call of its followers, the gigantic, headless Stag Lord manifests, emerging from the waters of the shallow pool in the grotto.

Stumbling procession: In the presence of their master, the stags are transported in an ecstasy of worship. They follow in a gleeful train as the Stag Lord stumbles blindly out of the ravine and through the woods, until it vanishes at dawn.

Enchanted antlers: During the procession, the stags’ antlers emanate an ultraviolet glow. Severed antlers function as a Arcane Longsword (p412) for one day before losing their power.

Treating with the Stag Lord

Interrupting the Stag Lord and its retinue during their wild cavorting is perilous—make a Reaction Roll (see Encoun ters, DPB). If the reaction is positive, the Stag Lord halts to converse with PCs. Otherwise, stags attack PCs for 1d4 Rounds before continuing their cavorting procession.

The Willow Gate (Hidden)

A natural archway formed of intertwined willow branches, swaying gently in a cool otherworldly breeze, can be found in an isolated part of this hex. Stepping through the archway, one is whisked away to the fairy road Skipping-a- Derry (see Fairy Roads, p26).