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A Soldier's Tail | 5E Adventure for 5th, 8th, or 11th Level

Added 2021-11-05 20:48:25 +0000 UTC

- 19-Page Adventure for 5th, 8th, and 11th level characters

- Multiple VTT maps to accommodate different BBEGs in the lairs

A Soldier's Tail

A Soldier’s Tail is a Fifth Edition hybrid adventure for three to five characters with an average party level (APL) of 5, 8, or 11. The story focuses on establishing a deeper connection and backstory for a character that utilizes a military background. A former military companion long thought to be dead has come seeking the character’s help in rescuing other former comrades-in-arms from an old foe. After coming face to face with old adversaries, they learn the shocking truth that their old comrades were traitors. The characters must determine how they proceed in this story of broken oaths and traitorous companions. This adventure takes place in the Freelands campaign setting but easily fits any existing campaign with only a few modifications.

GM’s Note: This adventure is designed to focus on developing a character with a soldier or similar military background. Throughout the adventure, that specific character is referred to as “The Soldier” for ease of reference. Every warrior has a complex story of lost comrades and defeats in combat that changed their lives, and this adventure allows a character to explore their past.

Backstory

A soldier’s life is filled with stories of triumphs and failures that leave permanent marks on their minds and souls. One of the biggest failures in The Soldier’s life was the Battle of Kerlon’s Well. A routine patrol turned into a disastrous ambush that allowed a horde of monsters to invade the area. The Crimson Claws were a fierce and terrible warband that terrorized the nation for years. They had secretly built their army up to the point they could invade the area in force, capturing villages and establishing strongholds. Although the horde was eventually pushed back and the warband crushed, The Soldier lost many comrades in the struggle. The event was one among many that left a scar on The Soldier. But what they didn’t know was that they were betrayed by those very comrades they thought to be dead.

Dusaro Moonbend, a decorated dragonborn soldier, felt that he deserved more than what the military gave him. He acted as sergeant for a squad of surly soldiers who were more interested in gold than they were in fighting for their people. Dusaro and his squad sold out The Soldier’s patrol to the horde of monsters and slipped away during the battle, leaving them all to die. They proceeded to make new lives for themselves with the gold they earned, but it was not long before their greed took hold of them once more.

Although the war was long over, the traitorous sergeant reached out to the remnants of the Crimson Claws to devise a new scheme. The Crimson Claws would terrorize a local village or town just enough to raise a bounty against them. Dusaro and his band would come in and pose as adventurers willing to “kill” the monsters in exchange for the reward, which they would split.

This con has been working for the better part of the last three years, with Dusaro’s band of adventurers—the Moonbend Riders—gaining fame and accolades throughout the region. But Dusaro’s greed got the better of him, and he attempted to cheat the Crimson Claws of their last score from the town of Clearwater. However, the Claws were not so easily fooled, and Dusaro barely managed to escape with his life as they took the rest of his squad captive. The wounded dragonborn is now recuperating in Clearwater as the Claws threaten the town once more, demanding a ransom for the return of the “adventurers.”

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