Player characters, even in their fl edgling days, have heard dread tales of these tyrants, sadists, and dark lords. Once our heroes have completed a few adventures, they will likely cross paths with one of these infamous villains. Each is listed below with an introductory quest.
- Longshadow ^longshadow
- Location: Cairn Bay
- Widely Known: Likely the most dreaded elder wizard in The North Holds, Longshadow is a real-life boogie man. Little is known about his origin, but all too many know the withering death of his arrival⌠always in the last rays of daylight.
- Quest: The Ring of Keranzan: Moving in larger circles of infl uence, our heroes learn that Longshadow has returned along with his murderous cultists, building a strange tower in Cairn Bay. Scholars tell of a powerful ring that he uses to channel immense power. If the ring could be stolen⌠Longshadowâs newest plot could be foiled⌠âIf you can fi nd the wizardâs new stronghold⌠heâll keep the ring somewhere safe⌠not simply slipped onto a fi nger. A vault perhaps, or some high chamber hidden awayâŚâ
- Nails ^nails
- Location: Cloudtop area
- Widely Known: Also known as the âskeleton riderâ or âDead Horse,â Nails is a being displaced from his own realm, wandering in a haze of rage and confusion in The Holds. He is seen as a cloaked skeleton in riding boots, black-brimmed hat, spurs and gun belts. Where the rider goes, death follows.
- Quest: Back to Hell: Nails is terrorizing small towns, using enchanted fi rearms unlike any in The Holds, searching for someone named Dyre, and ranting about devils and angels. When a player character loses a family member to the marauder, the madness must be stopped. Rumor has it the rider cannot be killed, but can only be defeated by sending him back to the dimension the came from⌠but how? âI saw the rider out on Peteâs Bluff⌠just staring into the sunset, that black hat against the sky. A demon, I say! A demon from another time!â
- Toad King Highlord Croakokame, Pikeborn, Emperor of Exodur, Protector of the Marsh, Ruler of all Frogdom, architect of the Seventh Age, Lord of the Swamp ^toad-king-highlord-croakokame-pikeborn-emperor-of-exodur-protector-of-the-marsh-ruler-of-all-frogdom-architect-of-the-seventh-age-lord-of-the-swamp
- Location: Isle of Toads
- Widely Known: There is no corner of the world where Croakokame is not known. He is one of the mightiest rulers ever to live. For over four hundred years he has reigned as seventh emperor⌠a titan. Even so, very few are allowed the privilege of even seeing his majesty.
- Quest: One Consort Too Many: When Godiva Goodwin, a muchloved druidâs apprentice from Mooncrest, is kidnapped and taken to Croakokameâs bath houses to be his newest concubine, a movement grows to wage a near-suicidal rescue mission into the frog empire. Near the top of a short list of heroes for the job? You and your allies. No land-walker has ever laid eyes on the imperial palace of Croakokame and lived. When the mission seems impossible a wild card appears: a frogman warrior who has defected from the cruel empireâŚ
- Kuggbang, Oggbangâs Father ^kuggbang-oggbangs-father
- Location: Ogre Neck
- Widely Known: Tales of the ogre nation have begun to spread, mostly that the High King of Thryn has beaten them in every battle since their appearance. Offi cial word from Thryn claims the war set to end in victory within a year⌠the ogre menace decimated. Oggbang, the current heir, has already gone missing, presumed dead.
- Quest*: Towering Treachery: Oggbang himself, a crowned Ogre prince, approaches the heroes in an isolated locale. He explains with great care and eloquence how the elves have waged a terrible genocidal war on his folk, that a truce must be reached, but that his father, Kuggbang, refuses to yield, preferring annihilation to dishonor. Oggbang has given up trying to convince his father, and now seeks help to evacuate a large contingent of ogre families from the peninsula before the elves unleash their fi nal, destructive assault. âWait, wait! Before you go drawinâ blades and slinginâ spells, hear me out, humans⌠or wait Iâm not sure what you is- anyway! Hear me out little folk! Oggbangâs not here to hurt no one! Oggbang needs your help!â
- Queen Hinnla of Harnmoor ^queen-hinnla-of-harnmoor
- Location: Harnmoor Citadel
- Widely Known: Ruler of dwarves in the west, Hinnla is the muchdisputed heir to Azmagarr Farbrow, who was a long-reigning king. Her rule is tenuous, but her goals mighty. Ullur is seldom a place of peace.
- Quest: The Astral Bridge: To win her people over, Hinnla has deployed a small fl eet of ships to verify an old legend: that there is a wizardâs gateway linking the shores of Ullur and The Chained Tower. If such a bridge could be found, it would be the greatest trade route ever discovered. Word of this search reaches our heroes, and the bounty is free choice from Hinnlaâs treasure vaults to the heroes who succeed.
- Caligos the World-Drinker ^caligos-the-world-drinker
- Location: Caverns below Runnminir
- Widely Known: Caligos is only known as the âNightmare Eyeâ or âDrinker of Dreams.â Exactly who or what it is remains a mystery⌠only that it is undeniably there.
- Quest: Nightmare Walkers: A whitebeard scholar in Rivergate, a beloved old sage called Higgles, has been using lucid dreaming to unravel the enigma of Caligos. He has learned that a physical portal can be established, traversing the dream realm to meet Caligos in his own domain. As his research is completed, he disappears, prompting the aid of our heroes to follow in his footsteps.
- Hasgar the Dead, Usurped King of Ullur ^hasgar-the-dead-usurped-king-of-ullur
- Location: Ullurâs Teeth wilderness
- Widely Known: Hasgar is a defunct king, a Frost Giant some believe dormant. In truth, Hasgar is raising a fighting force to lay Harnmoor low once and for all⌠this is widely known, but seldom spoken of.
- Quest: Prisoners of the Ice King: Princess Kaylia contacts our heroes, warning that the west may fall if Hasgar is not dealt with. She hatches an elaborate plan to be taken prisoner, along with the adventurers, and carted off to Hasgarâs ice mines. The mission? Find out what state Hasgarâs army is in, their plans, and any weaknesses they may possess⌠and get out in one piece.
- Obleth ^obleth
- Location: The Fissures
- Widely Known: Eons before land walkers arose, a breed of spider folk reigned supreme. In those nightmare times, darkness and bone-white webs ruled the land. She who fed upon all others was called Obleth. Obleth the Eater of Young. Some say she yet livesâŚ
- Quest: Below the Oakenwood: When young explorers go looking into the poisoned waters of Oakenwood, they fi nd much more than they bargained for: Obleth the Ancient is nesting far below the old growth forest, raising a new hatch of young for the fi rst time in a millennium. The hatch must be stopped, or The North Holds will be fl ooded with spiderkind.
- Dark Lord Royce of Blood Manor ^dark-lord-royce-of-blood-manor
- Location: Blood Manor
- Widely Known: Lord Royce, nicknamed âThe Avarice of Blood,â is an arch vampire of the highest order⌠one who embraced evil rather than keep it at bay. Over the last three decades, his homicidal thirst for human fl esh has cast a terrible shadow on all. By decree, request, or vendetta, our heroes become entangled in a desperate play to end it.
- Quest: Feast of Flesh: Once a decade, Royce invites a handful of nobles and lords to his opulent castle for a week of revelry, feasting, and indulgence. Lady Walcrest of Rivergate has one such invite, and plans to use it as a ruse to smuggle in a team of heroes. Their goal? Recover and contain the legendary fl ying sword called Alucarr, Royceâs greatest treasure. With this weapon secure, Walcrest means to draw him out and slay him once and for all. âThese clothes wonât do. If you want to slay an arch-vampire, you need to look the part.â
Looks like plenty of ways to die out there. These quest starters are for players. If youâre the GM for your group, fl ip forward to the GMâs Guide, Atlas, and Enemies for everything you need to bring these adventures to life.