1502 Duke Mai-Fleur’s Hunting Lodge
HexDolmenwood Campaign Book · p.355
Open source p.355Rugged knolls dense with holly. Blasts of hunting horns echo on the wind.
Rugged knolls dense with holly. Blasts of hunting horns echo on the wind.
- Terrain: Hilly forest (3), Aldweald
- Lost/encounters: 2-in. Encounters are 1-in likely (2-in likely at night) to be with a Wild Hunt mustering in the woods around the lodge.
- Foraging: Successful foraging yields portions of Gillywort (DPB), in addition to the normal results.
The Unicorn Gate
A pair of great oak trees stands atop a tall hill. Into the living trunk of each tree is carved the likeness of a rearing unicorn. They face one another.
Blowing a horn: Causes a brisk wind to pick up and a shimmering blue mist to fill the space between the two trees.
Entering the mist: Whisks one away to the fairy road Duke Mai-Fleur’s Road (see Fairy Roads, p26).
Duke Mai-Fleur
A lithesome half-elf / half-human lord with ashen complexion and flowing raven locks. The light of a blazing sunset shines in his eyes. Dresses as a hunter, crowned with holly and ivy. Mai-Fleur is renowned as the most accomplished hunter in all Dolmenwood. See p30 for more details on the duke and his domain.
Demeanour (Neutral): Wild-spirited, mercurial. Dreadful anger and heartening laughter are ever imminent.
Speech: Commanding, indignant. Woldish, Old Woldish, High Elfish, Sylvan.
Desires: To locate game worthy of a fairy lord (e.g. the Stag Lord in hex 1305, the Bicorne in hex 0510).
Reward: One who aids Mai-Fleur may be gifted with a magical hunting horn which, if blown, summons a Wild Hunt to their command. This may be used once only and works like the mighty fairy rune Summon Wild Hunt — DPB. Worth 5,000gp.
Medium Fairy—Genius—Neutral
Level 14 AC 19 HP 75 Saves R5 H6 B7 S8 Att Dusk Bow (, + paralysis, range 70′ / 140′ / 210′) or Silver Sword (, ) or magic Speed 40 Morale 9 XP 7,550
Immunities: Only harmed by magic or magic weapons.
Magic Resistance: bonus to Saving Throws against effects of magical origin.
Dusk Bow: A Fairy Longbow (p412). A mortal hit by an arrow fired from the Dusk Bow must Save Versus Hold or be paralysed for Turns (aware but unable to move or act).
Silver Sword: A Fairy Longsword (p412) of fairy silver.
Fairy magic: Glamours Awe, Breath of the Wind, Danc ing Flame, Mirth and Malice, Moon Sight, Lesser runes (thrice a day) all, Greater runes (once a day) all, Mighty runes (once a day) Summon Wild Hunt. Duke Mai-Fleur can also cast the arcane spell Polymorph thrice a day.
Duke Mai-Fleur’s Hunting Lodge (Hidden)
A two-storey wooden lodge, camouflaged by the trailing moss that blankets it. Even the windows are obscured.
Stepping onto the front porch: The moss peels back, revealing a polished black door, carved with scenes of unicorn hunting and the holly-wreath sigil of Duke Mai-Fleur. The door is sealed with a Glyph of Locking (Level 14 caster).
Interior: Passages, drinking halls, and three bed chambers, spartanly furnished but replete with hunting trophies, including three great black bears and two majestic unicorns. Blue candles in wall sconces magically kindle.
Mai-Fleur’s Drinking Horn: At the centre of a drinking hall table is a 2′-long horn of fairy silver, studded with pale blue ice jewels. Once a day, water poured into the horn is transmuted into exquisite, sparkling wine. Worth 5,000gp.
Trespassers: Any who enter without permission are attacked by animated stuffed animals: 3 bears (DMB) and 2 blessed unicorns (DMB). As magical constructs, the creatures have Morale 12 and are immune to poison and mind-affecting magic (e.g. Ingratiate, Vapours of Dream).
The Wild Hunt
A raucous train of fairies gleefully charging through the forest after prey.
Leader: 3-in chance that the hunt is led by Duke Mai-Fleur himself, otherwise by an elf knight (DMB) loyal to the Duke.
Retinue: fairy hounds (stats as wolves), elf wanderers (DMB) on foot, elf wanderers (DMB) mounted on fairy horses (DMB), woodgrues (DMB —horn-blowers), sylvan centaurs (DMB).
Interference: The fairies do not discriminate between their intended quarry and PCs who get in their way.