Peril in Pinebrook

Character Sheets

This packet includes four character sheets and a handy guide that explains some of the rules and character options in more detail. Give each player one character sheet. If you have more than four players, they can change the names and descriptions on a duplicate character sheet so that they'll have unique characters with similar abilities and equipment.

• Evandon Haart
• Gallantine Birchenbough
• Noorah Eldenfield
• Shalefire Stoutheart

Character Actions

A character's actions hold the potential for either success or failure. Can you hit a monster with your weapon? Can you balance on a narrow ledge as you ascend a mountain? Can you convince a dragon not to eat you?

You find the answer to these questions during the game by making a d20 roll!

d20 Rolls

The 20-sided die (d20) is the most-used die in D&D. It is rolled whenever a character or a creature tries to do something important.

Things a character might try to do are listed under "Attacks" and "Skills" on the character sheets. Next to attacks and skills are number expressions, such as "+5 to hit." This is the number you add to your die roll when your character uses that attack or skill.

For example, the character sheet for Shalefire Stoutheart lists "Handaxe" under "Attacks," with "+6 to hit" next to it. If Shalefire wants to attack a monster with their handaxe, the player rolls a d20. If the die roll is a 10, the player adds 6 to the die roll for a final attack score of 16.

How does the player know if their roll succeeds or fails? Read on to find out!

Armor Class

The number a character tries to equal or exceed with an attack roll is called Armor Class (also called AC). The higher a creature's Armor Class, the harder that creature is to hit. In the previous example, Shalefire's attack roll with a handaxe would hit a creature with an Armor Class of 16 or lower.

Damage

When an attack roll hits, it deals damage. The damage roll appears after the attack on the character sheet. Shalefire's handaxe does "1d6 + 4 damage," so the player would roll one 6-sided die (d6) and add 4 to the die roll.

Difficulty Class

Difficulty Class (DC) is the number that a character must equal or exceed to succeed at an action that is not an attack. This includes rolls to use skills.

For example, if Shalefire wants to move a heavy boulder blocking the mouth of a cave, that requires a skill called Athletics. Under "Skills" on Shalefire's character sheet, it says "Athletics +6," so Shalefire's player rolls a 20-sided die and adds 6 to the number on the die. If the Difficulty Class to move the boulder is 12, the player would need to roll a 6 or higher for Shalefire to move the boulder.

The Difficulty Class for actions a character can attempt is given in the adventure text. In general, a Difficulty Class of 10 (DC 10) is easy, while a DC of 15 is challenging. Most of the actions in this adventure are DC 10. The Dungeon Master can change DCs if circumstances make an action easier or harder. They can also make up their own DCs when the characters attempt actions not covered in the adventure.

Advantage and Disadvantage

Sometimes what's happening in the adventure makes things easier for a character. At other times, the odds are stacked against the heroes. These circumstances can be reflected in D&D as "advantage" or "disadvantage."

Hit Points

Every creature in D&D has a number of "hit points." This number reflects the damage a creature can take before it falls unconscious or is defeated. When a character or creature is damaged by an attack roll or a hazard in the game, the amount of damage dealt is subtracted from the character's or creature's hit points.

If a creature reaches 0 hit points, they are defeated. The players can decide if this means a creature is dead or unconscious or if they run away.

When a character reaches 0 hit points, they are unconscious. In this adventure, a character at 0 hit points remains unconscious until they regain hit points through healing or until the end of the encounter, when they regain 1 hit point automatically. The adventure details ways to regain hit points.

Presenting Encounters

This adventure is divided into "encounters," which are like scenes from a movie or show. Each encounter has specific challenges. Once the players complete the challenges, move on to the next scene. The flow of the game is described below.

Game Flow

A D&D session begins with the DM and the other players having a conversation. The DM explains the situation the characters are in. The players can ask questions about the situation, and the DM answers those questions to further explain what's happening.

Then the DM asks the most important question in the DM's toolbox:

"What do you do?"

At this point, players should explain what they want their characters to do. (If what they want to do is impossible, the DM says so and asks the player to choose a different action. For example, a character can't walk through a wall unless they have some special ability or magic that allows them to do so.)

If the action is possible and very easy to do, the character automatically succeeds. Opening an unlocked door or lifting a light object doesn't require heroic effort, so no d20 roll is necessary.

When the action is somewhere between easy and impossible, trying to do it could lead to success or failure. That's when the DM calls for a d20 roll. See the "d20 Rolls" section earlier in this document.

The d20 roll, plus its modifiers, determines whether the action succeeds or fails. What does success or failure mean for an adventure? This is where you and the players get to tell a story together!

Narrating Successes and Failures

When a d20 roll succeeds or fails, the DM and the players can turn that result into a part of the ongoing story. What does it look like when a monster is defeated? What does Shalefire say or do if the heavy boulder blocking the cave doesn't budge? These points in the game can spark great storytelling and acting moments.

Remember, though, that part of the DM's job is to keep the game's story moving forward. If describing every single attack roll in a long combat gets boring, just say how much damage the attack deals and get to the next exciting moment.

Tips for Dungeon Masters

Here are some tips for DMs that can help them run great games:

• Rule 0. Rule 0 of D&D is simple: Have fun. It's fine if everyone agrees to change the rules as long as doing so means the game is more fun for everyone.
• Be Supportive. The players and the DM are all on the same team. DMs aren't playing against the characters. The DM wins when the players have fun and the story is exciting and memorable.
• Use "Yes, and..." or "No, but...". Allow the players to succeed as much as possible, and let them participate in the telling of the story. If they want to try something unexpected, try to say "yes" and then work their ideas into the story. If you have to say "no" to a player's idea, suggest options that let them do something similar.
• Use Your Imagination. Peril in Pinebrook is an outline for your game. Change or make up anything you need to if it makes the game more fun. The text can't cover everything players might want to do. What does a monster smell like? That's up to you, or you can ask the players what they think!
• NPCs Are Your Voice. While the players determine what their characters do, the DM controls all the other characters in the game. Nonplayer characters (also known as NPCs) are a great tool for the DM to help the characters understand the game and the story, and to work information into the story smoothly.
• Allow Alternatives. D&D is a game of fantasy, where heroes use wits, skill, and determination to overcome obstacles. Sometimes those obstacles are defeated with weapons and spells. But characters can succeed in other ways. Communicating with monsters, tricking them or frightening them away, or avoiding a fight while cleverly sneaking past a challenge can be just as much fun. Such options are ideal if anyone playing the game wants to avoid violence.
• Listen to Your Players. Encourage your players to speak to you, publicly or privately, if something in the game upsets them. Then respond appropriately. For instance, you can move past upsetting topics by quickly narrating a resolution to a scene, then quickly move to the next part of the story.

Roleplaying

D&D lets players act as their characters. Players might use a different voice or move as their character might. But if a player isn't comfortable roleplaying in that way, they can describe their character as if from a book or story instead.

It's okay if some players seem hesitant to talk or have trouble roleplaying. It's more important to make the players feel comfortable than to make them talk. To help them feel more comfortable with roleplaying, consider asking them one or two of the following questions:

• What's your character's name or nickname?
• What does your character look like?
• What does your character sound like when they talk?
• What is your character good at doing?
• What does your character carry as they patrol the forest?
• How does your character feel about being on patrol the day

after evidence of ice trolls was found in this area? Once all the characters have introduced themselves, Captain Kole speaks again:

Let the players respond for their characters if they want to. Then, describe how Captain Kole moves carefully into the forest, motioning for the characters to follow.

Proceed to Encounter 1: A Not-So-Fearsome Dragon.

Roleplaying and Information

The players will probably ask questions throughout the adventure. To give the players the proper information, try dividing answers into the following three categories:

• Information the Characters Know. If the players ask about information their characters would know, you can tell them that information. For example, the characters always know what they see, hear, and smell.
• Information the Characters Might Know. Players might learn information based on their characters' skills. For instance, Shalefire or Gallantine could ask if this is a baby silver dragon. As the DM, you can have their players make a DC 10 check with an appropriate skill to see if they know the answer to that question. Shalefire could use the Animal Handling skill, while Gallantine could use the Nature skill. If they succeed on the check (d20 + skill modifier is 10 or higher), you can tell them "Yes! This is a newborn silver dragon." You might add that they often eat meat and other food as well.
• Information the Characters Don't Know Yet. A question like, "Where did this baby dragon come from?" is something the characters don't know, at least not yet. When this happens, you can simply say, "You're not sure, but you can try to find out."

If the characters fail their checks or don't ask the right questions, you can have Captain Kole provide information. She can confirm that this is a baby silver dragon, and she refuses to allow the characters to harm it in any way.

After the players ask all their questions and roleplay their reactions to the dragon, read the following:

The page Captain Kole gives the characters is found in appendix A. It contains translations of Draconic, the language of dragons, into the Common language the characters know. The characters don't need to read it now, but the information will be useful in the adventure.

Feeding and Care

After Captain Kole leaves, the characters should attempt to find food for the dragon. You may want to point out that all the characters have rations listed on their character sheets under "Other Equipment." Alternatively, Shalefire can make a DC 10 Survival check or Gallantine can make a DC 10 Nature check to find berries and nuts the dragon can eat. Remind players how to make d20 rolls if needed.

After the dragon is fed, it says one word: "Nytha." The characters won't learn this until later, but the baby just called the characters "Mama" in Draconic.

Once the dragon eats, it perks up and follows the characters. They can carry the dragon, who enjoys the attention. The dragon also loves belly rubs!

Moving the Adventure Forward

The mountain Captain Kole pointed the characters toward is visible above the trees.

When the players are ready, proceed to Encounter 2: Living Icicles.

Taking Turns

First, describe how the monsters are vicious, and the danger they present. Highlight how sharp their claws are. Try to make the players feel as if they're in a battle for their characters' lives. If the monsters make one or two successful attacks, that helps with this feeling. Let the characters act first, starting with the player on your left and going clockwise. Ask each player what they want to do, and encourage them to describe their actions so everyone can imagine what the scene looks like.

After all the players have acted, any undefeated living icicles attack. Each monster that still has hit points moves to a different character and makes an attack using their claws.

Roll a d20 and add the attack modifier (+2) to the roll. If the total equals or exceeds the Armor Class of the character being attacked, the attack hits. Roll 1d6, and tell the player to subtract that damage from their hit points. If the attack misses, nothing happens. Either way, describe the attack. Do the claws rend open a wound or rake harmlessly off armor?

Continue taking turns until all the living icicles are defeated. You can describe the living icicles shattering or melting as they're defeated. Or perhaps the living icicles flee when they're defeated. Just make it clear to the players that the living icicles can't be chased and caught, perhaps by having them flow into narrow cracks in the mountainside where the characters can't follow.

After the Characters Succeed

Once the living icicles are defeated, ask the players what they want to do next. If they need help, suggest that they search the area.

Moving the Adventure Forward

The baby dragon tries to run into the cave. When the characters are ready, proceed to Encounter 3: A Dangerous Lair.

Reaching the Lair

The characters must overcome three challenges to safely reach the hatching cavern of the silver dragon's lair. Each challenge can be overcome in a variety of ways, using skills, equipment, or attacks.

The challenge descriptions suggest potential ways characters can overcome each challenge. However, if the players come up with other ways that might work, let them make a d20 roll that somehow connects to their idea. Imagination often leads to an even more creative story!

Taking Turns

Let the characters act first, starting with the player on your left and going clockwise. Ask each player what they want to do.

After all the players have acted, any undefeated egg snatchers attack. Each monster that still has hit points moves to a different character and makes an attack with their bite.

Roll a d20 and add the attack modifier (+4) to the roll. If the total equals or exceeds the Armor Class of the character being attacked, the attack hits. Roll 1d6 and add the damage modifier (+2). Tell the player to subtract that damage from their hit points. If the attack misses, nothing happens. Either way, describe the attack. Perhaps a bite clamps around an ankle, or maybe the egg snatcher breaks a tooth on a piece of armor.

Describe the egg snatchers falling to the ground as they are defeated, or fleeing into the darkness too fast for the characters to follow.

After the Characters Succeed

Once the eggs snatchers are defeated, the baby dragon crawls into the nest, settles among the broken eggshells, and falls asleep.

Moving the Adventure Forward

Before the characters can do anything else, the mother dragon returns! Read the following:

The characters have some explaining to do! Proceed to the Conclusion.

The Dragon

Here are some characteristics of the silver dragon you can use to roleplay her:

• Hysvearorn is an adult silver dragon. Her full name translates to "Soaring Silver."
• She tells the characters to call her Rorn, since it's easier for nondragons to say than her full name.
• If the characters explain what happened, the dragon quickly calms down and thanks them for rescuing her baby.
• Rorn is friendly when not angered, and she likes people. In peaceful times, she likes to spend her time sharing stories with folks.
• If the characters ask about the name "Nytha" that the baby dragon said, Rorn explains that it means "Mama" in the Draconic language.
• Rorn says dragons call their young "wyrmlings," not babies.

Rorn can also share details of what happened to her eggs:

• Rorn recently made her lair here to prepare for the hatching of her wyrmlings. She drove away the dangerous ice trolls who lived here.
• As her eggs were getting close to hatching, the ice trolls attacked Rorn and stole one of her eggs. Rorn chased the egg thieves and has been gone from the lair for several hours.
• The ice trolls took the egg into a tunnel in another mountain, but Rorn couldn't fit into the tunnel. She doesn't know where it might lead.

The rescued wyrmling tells its mother what happened to it, which Rorn can also share with the characters:

• The wyrmling hatched while Rorn was chasing the egg thieves. Finding itself alone, it wandered from the lair and into the forest.
• The characters found the wyrmling and took good care of it on the way home.

The Reward

After the two other baby dragons hatch, Rorn speaks to the characters. Read the following:

Let the characters react to Rorn's offer. No matter how the characters respond to Rorn's requests, she is kind and polite to them if they are kind and polite to her.

Return to Pinebrook

At the conclusion of the conversation, Rorn shows the characters a secret passage that leads from the mountain, which ends the characters' adventure... for now!