Contents
- 1Running the Adventure
- 2Axeholm
- 3Butterskull Ranch
- 4Circle of Thunder
- 5Dragon Barrow
- 6Dwarven Excavation
- 7Falcon's Hunting Lodge
- 8Gnomengarde
- 9Icespire Hold
- 10Loggers' Camp
- 11Mountain's Toe Gold Mine
- 12Shrine of Savras
- 13Tower of Storms
- 14Umbrage Hill
- 15Woodland Manse
- 16Ending the Adventure
- 17Creatures
- 18Sidekicks
- 19Printable Assets
- 20Credits
Circle of Thunder
"Circle of Thunder" is balanced for characters of 6th level, though characters of 4th or 5th level can weather its challenges if they are cautious.
No quest leads the party to this location. However, characters who brave Dragon Barrow might come here with Xanth the centaur, while those who raid the Woodland Manse might be led here by Grannoc's map. In the aftermath of the counterattack on Falcon's Hunting Lodge (see "Counterattack!" on page 47), characters can follow Gorthok's trail back to the Circle of Thunder, where that creature was summoned.
Location Overview
The reclusive anchorites of the Circle of Thunder gather on this hill to make sacrifices to Talos the storm god. In stormy weather, the anchorites also perform rituals to summon Gorthok the Thunder Boar, a destructive force they can unleash against their enemies. A circle of standing stones atop the hill helps to focus the anchorites' magic to make the summoning of Gorthok possible.
Three anchorites—Flenz, Narux, and Yargath—defend the hill. When not performing rituals in the circle of standing stones, they patrol the surrounding woods, forage for food, and lurk in caves dug out of the hillside. When the characters arrive, the anchorites are gathered on the hilltop. If Gorthok has not been defeated yet, the anchorites are in the midst of summoning the great boar. Otherwise, they are conjuring a storm.
Travel to the Circle
Characters traveling to the Circle of Thunder have the following two encounters en route.
Tree Trap
This encounter can occur anywhere in Neverwinter Wood. Set the scene by reading the following boxed text:
Ten twig dolls are bound to the charred tree, all within easy reach. A detect magic spell reveals an aura of transmutation magic emanating from the tree and the ground in a 60-foot radius around it.
Close examination of a twig doll reveals something wrapped inside it. By breaking a doll apart, characters can see that it contains a still-beating pig's heart. Any damage to a heart kills it and causes the dead tree's roots to magically animate and erupt from the ground.
When the constricting roots erupt, each creature standing in the clearing must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 5 (2d4) bludgeoning damage and be restrained. The creature takes this damage again at the start of each of its turns until it escapes. A creature can use an action to free itself or another creature within its reach with a successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check, or by dealing 5 or more slashing damage against a root with a single melee weapon attack. The roots have AC 13 and immunity to all damage except slashing.
Yargath's Patrol
As they move through the forest, the characters are beset by Yargath, an anchorite of Talos, and a band of orcs—two orcs per character in the party, including sidekicks. Set the scene as follows:
On the first round of combat, Yargath casts bless on up to three orcs. Meanwhile, the orcs charge across the ravine and close to melee range
Treasure
Yargath carries a potion of greater healing. If the characters acquire this potion, give the players the Potion of Greater Healing DIP or they can reference it in the Magic Items Listing.
Arrival
Characters coming from the Woodland Manse approach the Circle of Thunder from the south. Describe the location to the players as follows:
The standing stones and the dancing figures are described in area C1. Characters who circle the hill before climbing it spot three caves (x, 0a0, and 0a2) near the hilltop.
Circle of Thunder Locations
The following locations are keyed to the map of the Circle of Thunder.
C1. Henge
Atop the hill is a ring of eight upright stone structures, each one consisting of two 10-foot-high vertical stone slabs spaced 5 feet apart and topped with a 3-foot-thick flat lintel stone. These uprights can be toppled by creatures with a combined Strength score of 80 or higher.
In the middle of the circle, two humanoid figures dance around a deer carcass, each wearing the rotting head of a boar as a mask. These foes are Flenz and Narux, two anchorites of Talos. They are joined by frolicking twig blights—two blights for each character in the party, including sidekicks. Flenz and Narux are either performing a ritual to summon Gorthok the Thunder Boar, or they are making a sacrifice to appease Talos and call forth a storm. If the characters have not yet defeated Gorthok, the boar arrives once both anchorites are dead, appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the circle with a thunderclap. Gorthok fights to the death.
Secret Trapdoors
Any character who searches the hilltop and succeeds on a DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check finds one of three flimsy wooden trapdoors hidden under the grass and dirt. Below these trapdoors are tunnels leading to areas C2, C3, and C4.
C2. Northwest Cave
Carved into the lintel stone above the cave mouth is a picture of a boar chasing after a stick-figure humanoid.
Treasure
Flenz hides a potion of invulnerability in his quarters, buried in a random square beneath the floor. If the characters obtain the potion, give the players the Potion of Invulnerability DIP or they can reference it in the Magic Items Listing.
C3. Northeast Cave
The lintel stone above the mouth of this cave is bare.
C4. Southeast Cave
Carved into the lintel stone above the mouth of this cave is a pictograph depicting three stick-figure humanoids being struck by lightning. Yargath keeps no treasure here.