The Hermit’s Cabin
Location & Approach: The cabin sits in a small clearing roughly a mile south of Greendale (Campaign), accessible only by a narrow deer path that winds through dense undergrowth. Ancient oak trees tower overhead, their thick canopy filtering the light into dappled patterns on the forest floor. The approach is deliberately obscured—Olymyster Oakleaf values his privacy and has spent years ensuring his home remains hidden from casual discovery.
The Cabin Itself: A modest log structure that seems to have grown from the forest itself, Olymyster Oakleaf’s cabin is built around the trunk of a massive dead oak tree. Mushrooms and moss cover much of the roof, while herbs and wildflowers grow in chaotic profusion around the foundation. What should be a charming woodland dwelling has an air of watchful tension—too many small details suggest defensive preparations.
Initial Observations (Perception DC 12):
- Two figures with weapons visible near the cabin’s entrance
- Wisps of smoke rising from a concealed chimney
- Fresh-cut branches arranged as crude barriers along the path
- The sound of an old man’s voice muttering from within the cabin
- Animal tracks everywhere, but they seem to avoid a 20-foot radius around the building
The Mercenaries: Finn and Fron
Finn Graybough (Elder Brother):
- AC 16 (Chain mail, shield)
- HP 32 (5d8+10)
- War hammer and handaxe
- Calm, measured speech
- Will attempt to de-escalate before fighting
Fron Graybough (Younger Brother):
- AC 14 (Leather armor)
- HP 27 (5d8+5)
- Light crossbow and shortsword
- More suspicious of strangers
- Quick to draw but slow to strike
Initial Encounter: As the party approaches within 100 feet, Finn and Fron intercept them on the path. They’re not immediately hostile, but their weapons are visible and their positioning blocks access to the cabin.
Finn speaks first: “Hold there, friends. This path leads nowhere you need to be. Old fellow up ahead isn’t well, and all the festival commotion has him more addled than usual. Best you turn back.”
Fron adds: “Been getting too many visitors lately. Strange folk asking strange questions. Don’t suppose you’re here about missing livestock or unusual lights in the forest?”
Potential Misunderstandings:
- The brothers’ defensive positioning suggests they’re guarding something valuable
- Olymyster Oakleaf’s paranoid rambling from inside could be mistaken for plotting
- Their weapons and rural accents might mark them as possible bandit associates
- References to “strange visitors” could seem connected to the investigation
Escalation Points:
- Low: Attempting to push past without explanation
- Medium: Demanding to see Olymyster Oakleaf or mentioning official business
- High: Drawing weapons or using threatening language
- Combat: Any hostile action or refusal to respect their clearly stated boundaries
Combat Dynamics (If It Comes to That):
- Finn engages in melee while Fron provides crossbow support
- They fight defensively, trying to keep enemies away from the cabin
- Olymyster Oakleaf may cast Entangle from inside if he hears combat
- The brothers will surrender if reduced to quarter health, prioritizing survival over pride
- They have no intention of fighting to the death over misunderstandings
Peaceful Resolution Options:
Diplomacy (Persuasion DC 13): “Look, we’re just farmers trying to do right by someone who helped us. You seem like decent folk—explain your business and maybe we can work something out.”
Appeal to Community (DC 15): “If you’re really here about threats to Greendale (Campaign), then we’re on the same side. Old Olymyster might be addled, but he sees things others miss.”
Show Official Authority (Automatic if convincing): “Captain Aldrich sent you? Well… suppose that changes things. But you treat the old fellow gently, you hear?”
Inside the Cabin
Interior Description: The cabin’s single room is a chaotic blend of druidic workshop and hermit’s den. Bundles of dried herbs hang from every rafter, while shelves carved into the living oak trunk hold an assortment of bottles, bones, and mystical oddments. Olymyster Oakleaf sits cross-legged in the center, surrounded by small offerings from woodland creatures—shiny pebbles, interesting twigs, and colorful feathers.
Olymyster Oakleaf’s State: When the party enters, the old druid is engaged in animated conversation with several mice who’ve made nests in his sleeves. His appearance matches the description from his character profile—wild silver hair adorned with twigs and leaves, green-stained hands, and robes that seem to be sprouting actual mushrooms.
Initial Dialogue: “Visitors? But the council of whispers said you wouldn’t arrive until the moon wept silver tears! Or was that the shadow-dancers? So hard to remember when the voices overlap…”
He peers at the party with sharp green eyes that seem lucid one moment and distant the next.
“You smell of purpose and steel-song. Good, good. But have you seen them? The watchers in the deep green? They wear faces that aren’t faces and speak words that steal warmth from summer stones.”
The Riddle Information: Olymyster Oakleaf has indeed seen scouts, but his fractured mental state makes extracting useful information challenging:
Direct Questions: He responds with seemingly nonsensical riddles and warnings about “shadow councils” and “tree-murderers”
Patient Listening (Insight DC 15): Reveals that among his rambling are fragments of genuine observation:
- References to “steel-tooth men who cut the old songs” (bandits clearing camping spots)
- Mentions of “the hungry dark that devours coin-glitter” (thieves planning robbery)
- Warnings about “where the old stones sleep fitfully” (ancient ruins or stone circles)
Useful Information (If Properly Decoded):
- Three days ago, he saw “shadow-walkers” moving through the forest
- They were heading toward “the place where giants once stood” (could refer to ancient standing stones)
- The forest animals have been fleeing south from “the green that burns without flame”
- He sensed “death-hunger” from these intruders—not just greed, but willingness to kill
Olymyster Oakleaf’s Cryptic Warnings: “The shadow-that-walks-upright comes from where the old stones sleep. Beware the green that is not green—it wears the face of forest but feeds on gold-hunger and red-thirst.”
(This could be interpreted as the bandit camp being hidden in an area with ancient stone markers)
Time Investment: This encounter should take 20-30 minutes of game time, representing another significant investment in a lead that provides limited useful information while consuming precious investigation time.
What the Brothers Know: If questioned separately, Finn and Fron can provide:
- They’ve been protecting Olymyster Oakleaf for two months since the blessing
- Recently, he’s been more agitated than usual, talking about “hunters” and “shadow councils”
- Three days ago, they found him collapsed near the forest edge, babbling about “steel-teeth in the sacred groves”
- Their farm is indeed prospering unnaturally—crops growing faster and larger than should be possible
Potential Outcomes:
- Information Gained: Cryptic but potentially useful intelligence about bandit movements
- False Lead Elements: Much of Olymyster Oakleaf’s rambling is pure delusion
- Resource Expenditure: Time spent here reduces available investigation time
- Moral Complexity: The party must decide whether to press a clearly disturbed individual for information
Connection to Main Plot: While this encounter doesn’t directly advance the bandit investigation, it can:
- Provide oblique clues about the camp’s location near “old stones”
- Confirm that dangerous individuals have been moving through the area
- Establish timeline information (three days ago matches other scout sightings)
- Create red herrings through Olymyster Oakleaf’s confused warnings about threats that don’t exist