The Crossroads

Hex 5.8. The last stop between the Mucklands and the Grimdingle, the Crossroads represent a little taste of how the world used to be. At its center is a tall, leafless tree trunk with dozens of directional signs. Each lists settlements and points of interest frequented by travelers. Originally built as a marker for the once bustling trade road that connected the Mucklands with the Middle-Route Run, the Crossroads are now in a state of disrepair.

Nowadays, only the most prepared adventurers dare venture into Grimly Wood, let alone survive the forest along the Middle-Route Run. The surrounding landscape teems with BANDITS. Despite the dangers, there's a certain charm that comes with all those signs pointing this way and that—untold opportunity and high adventure!

what's going on

• GLOOM ebbs like a tide from the misty forest floor of Grimly Wood.
• The bogril Bulwarks have shut down the Crossroads leading into the forest, fearing the GLOOM.
• The most powerful BANDIT queen of the Middle‑Route Run has died, resulting in a wake of destruction and infighting dubbed the Bandit Wars. BANDITS are dispersing to the south from the westlands, many making their way into the northern Drippy Downs, while others disappear without a trace in Grimly Wood.

sights and sounds

COMMANDER NARLIN ZEPPA

A knobby, hard-nosed bogril Bulwark paladin that guards the way into Grimly Wood. Narlin fears the GLOOM presents a powerful risk to travelers, not to mention a threat to the Mucklands as a whole.

• Traits: Superstitious, fears the days to come, always refers to “the old days.”
• Motivation: Protect the Muckland inhabitants from any threat.

1. A lost bugbear can't seem to find the way to Dunk.
2. A caravan of miners silently rolls into Grimly Wood.
3. A thirsty BANDIT begs for a drink, but won't accept water.
4. The pet CATTYPILLAR of a shrym traveler is stuck at the top of the Crossroads signpost.
5. A strong wind blows through, kicking up dust, causing the signpost to creak and sway.
6. A team of boggles freshen up signs with new paint.

rumors

• Ever since the GLOOM started emerging from Grimly Wood, GHOSTS have haunted the Crossroads and Whisperdale Meadow.
• Rumor has it that the Bandit Queen of the north has died, and the ensuing conflict has dispersed hundreds and hundreds of scoundrels into the Mucklands.
• A Bulwark commander at the Crossroads is woefully understaffed and needs help maintaining safety.

outbound rumors

• Whisperdale Meadow is haunted, some say by the GHOSTS of restless warriors. They terrorize anyone who passes through.
• A VAMPIRE is said to live in a castle at Trollridge. Some say he is a benevolent king.
• The Sounder Hills contain treasure troves of loot stolen from travelers by BANDITS and ETTINS.
• A gigantic SKROKWING is attacking travelers in the Used T'Be Forest along the Great Slog.

WEYLAN WAFTWING

A welkin working closely with Commander Zeppa as a freelance Bulwark Scout. Weylan's ability to fly and keep an eye on things helps Narlin know when trouble is about. Weylan also waylays adventurers who ignore the warnings to stay out of Grimly Wood.

• Traits: Cheery, vigilant, loves playful ribbing.
• Motivation: Keep travelers out of Grimly Wood.

PIP AND KIP DUNNEM

A boggart sister and brother duo. They joined the Bulwarks after their village was destroyed by sarpathi. They've got no shortage of enthusiasm, but are greener than the rolling hills.

• Traits: Enthusiastic, inexperienced, always bickering.
• Motivation: Protect the Drippy Downs from the sarpathi.

quests

AN EXPLOSIVE SOLUTION

Commander Narlin has an idea to get these infernal BANDITS out of the area, and it rhymes with “bye‑namite.” He and Weylan just confiscated a few crates of explosives, and they're itching to use them. Teach the Tricky Toe Gang a lesson and blow up their nearby hideout at the edge of Grimly Wood while they're away.

A NIGHT IN GRIMLY WOOD

Commander Narlin has lost more new recruits than he can count, all of them scared stupid by the eerie, cold fog. He's looking for stalwart adventurers to help Pip and Kip brave a night in Grimly Wood, and teach them true courage.

• At night, swirling GLOOM and a group of menacing WEORGS (L2-B, 1×L4-C) accost the PCs' camp. Narlin only rewards the PCs with a Magnificent Bulwark shield if Pip and Kip last the night and don't flee.

THE ORPHAN ROBBERS

Scout Waftwing reports a Sheemee Cantoonie's wagon broke down somewhere after the Sounder Hills. Commander Narlin requests aid to get the goblin philanthropist's wagon full of clothes, books, and medicine for the Rascalton Orphanage back on its way.

• Upon arrival, Sheemee is nowhere to be found, just a broken wagon, and a lonely wheel filled with arrows. A cow called Gus standing by the roadside saw the whole thing.
• Tricky Toe Gangsters kidnapped Sheemee and took the donations. Their hideout, according to Gus, is near the Ruins of Ryloch.

THE SIGN THIEF

Someone stole the road signs of the famous crossroad marker. Commander Narlin is stressed enough as it is without vandalism. Find the culprits and maybe help gather WURLWOOD to replace the signs. Weylan believes he saw a hooded figure running towards the Sounder Hills (p380).

• The hooded figure is actually a SARPATHI REAVER (L6‑C) who is burning the signs for a ritual. If completed, it creates a Magic map, which is almost complete when the PCs arrive.
• Map of Mucklands Folklore: Once every session, reveal a rumor about a neaby place in the Mucklands.

THE LOST BADGE

Weylan can't let Commander Narlin know, but he dropped his Bulwark Badge while flying over the Dripdrop Bridge. He thinks it fell into the water, but the TROLL there is a stickler for protocol. Find Weylan's lost Bulwark Badge at Drippy Drop Bridge (p36).

• Shrugga the Stomper, a stickler for the laws of the Toll Codex, believes everything in the river belongs to him. He'll only part with the badge if PCs complete the quest The Vandals (p36).
• Stealing from Shrugga is certainly not impossible because he has many blind spots as big as he is. But if there's one thing Shrugga likes to stomp, it's hooligans!