Quick Question

[Eltern]

My players will be heading to Ithell from Lakeshore tomorrow, probably by way of Strathon. On the map, there's pretty much nothing but grassland between the two big cities. Any suggestions on points of interest that would be in this area? Not necessarily monsters to fight, but small towns or something else to populate the sixteen days of travel time? 

Thanks!

[avisarr]

So, you want some ideas of thing they could run into on their journey? Well, there aren't many specific THINGS or LOCATIONS along that route. But here are some ideas for general happenings and events that you could throw at them along the journey. Stuff like this is easy to cook up for long journeys... here are a few ideas off the top of my head.


The Ruined Tower
From the road, the players see what looks like the remains of a ruined tower. Ancient and crumbling. Anyone with knowledge in history or stonecraft would recognize the architecture as Irenni. If passing by at night, they see strange lights or see a glow. If passing during the day, they distantly hear a woman's scream carried to them on the breeze.

When they go to investigate, they find a small band of orcs or goblins (exact size and race depends on the strength of the group) toying with a young human woman that they have tied up. Perhaps they've got the body of a young human male (her lover?, or her brother perhaps?). Maybe they are prancing around with the body, terrifying her. Depending on how dark you want to go, they could also be raping her or torturing her.

The players leap in, save her, save the day, etc. This could be a very short, nice little side adventure. The tower is nothing more than an old ruin that this tiny band of humanoids was using as a base to prey on travelers.


The Sayune Wandering
The players come across a sayune wandering – a large caravan of sayune wagons. Either traveling in the same direction as the players (the players are traveling faster and catch up to the caravan) and hence they could travel with the sayune for a spell. Or, the caravan is traveling the other direction and the two groups merely camp together for a single night. Either way, it's a good chance to show off the sayune culture (think gypsies). There could be a great feast, a sick child, a stripping beauty with a love potion, a thief in the night, etc. Of course, the sayune have much to sell and trade. Might be an opportunity for the players to buy a potion or scroll or sell some treasure that they've acquired.



The Wizards Home
They come across a small house on a hill a mile off the road. Smoke coming from the chimney. They hear chanting. They circle round the back to find a wizard in the midst of a summoning spell. Perhaps their sudden appearance upsets the delicate balance of mystical energies and the creature/demon/whatever that the wizard was trying to summon suddenly breaks free of the magical restraints or pentagram. Perhaps it attacks and then runs off. The wizard, upset at the players for disturbing the delicate ritual, demands that they chase after the creature and bring it back to him unharmed. This could be a very short, side adventure as well.


The Escaped Slave
The players come across an escaped slave – tattered clothes, lash marks on the back etc. Exact race and gender could be whatever you want. This slave escaped from a nearby town, village or caravan. Has been traveling for 3 days. No food or water. Is wounded. Almost dead. Perhaps a day before or after this encounter, the players encounter the owners of the slave. This situation could have many outcomes depending on how the party reacts to the escaped slave.


The Storm
A very bad rain storm sweeps in and drenches the party. Lots of wind and lightning. They take shelter in a very small woods on a hill a mile off the main road. In this tiny forest, they could encounter many things  - the escaped slave from the above paragraph. Or perhaps a coven of witches who are working magic (summoning the storm for some reason). Or they stumble upon the hidden lair of a group of bandits.


Dragon Sighting
A very large creature flies overhead. A winged reptile. Perhaps a dragon. Maybe something else. Shortly thereafter, a group of riders on VERY fast horses pass the players in pursuit of the flying dragon-like creature. This is just a red herring. A simple sighting. Not really an adventure in itself. If they try to stop the riders, they are ignored. If they force one of the riders to stop – he could tell them one of a hundred stories about why they are chasing the creature – it's a rogue dragon or it's an escaped experiment from a lab and their wizard master wants it killed or it's got a child in its claws and they are the military from a nearby village trying to rescue the girl – it could be anything. Also, the other riders might get angry if the players delay them for too long.


Ok, you get the idea. These are more like events or encounters. And of course, in addition to this, they would encounter a village at least every 25 miles (about once a day), and maybe a town every 10 days or so. Around the villages you've got crops and farmland and farmers and such, just living out their lives. The occasional roadside tavern or inn can be fun. Don't forget about other travelers on the road. Other groups, caravans, lone riders, etc. Going in both directions. Everyone needs to camp for the night. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has a destination and a history and a friend who's the cousin to the duke. Etc. Everything's connected.

Ok, that's all I have time for right now. I gotta run. Best of luck. Let us know how it goes!

[Kristian]

Nice work, David. Each of these encounters could also easily be expanded, if needed.