A1-S1 — The Town Hires Adventurers

Premise

The town of Kridorfrost hires the party to descend to river level and inspect the lower pillars of the Bridge of Kridorfrost. The bridge stands roughly 200 feet above the Noyrus River. It is ancient, unknown in origin, and far more massive than any bridge serving a frontier village should be.

Town Request

The town does not yet ask the party to clear a dungeon. They ask for a dangerous inspection.

The bridge rises through the morning fog like a wall built for giants. Its black stone arches vanish beneath the roadway and descend into mist, spray, and shadow. Far below, the Noyrus River flashes silver between wet rocks. Town engineers have rigged ropes, pulleys, and a swaying platform to reach the lower pillars, but none of them are willing to go down again. Not after the last workers vanished.

Key NPCs

NPC	Role	What They Want
Master Engineer Volrik Hedd	Bridge engineer	Wants the lower pillars inspected before repair crews descend.
Bridge Warden Serah Vonn	Town authority	Wants the bridge safe, trade restored, and panic contained.
Worker Tovin Rusk	Survivor	Claims something moved below the pillars and that tools were stolen before the collapse.

Skill Checks — Investigation & Information Gathering

Before committing to the official rope descent, the party can spend time gathering intelligence in Kridorfrost. These checks determine what they learn about the sinkhole, the smugglers, and potential alternate routes. Clever players may avoid the town‑watched ropes entirely.

Objective	Suggested Check	DC	Success Result	Failure / Fumble
Gather rumours in the tavern	Diplomacy (Gather Information)	15	Learn that smugglers use the bridge at night; they have been seen carrying heavy sacks toward the western bank.	Locals grow suspicious; future social checks in town take a –2 penalty.
Press Worker Tovin Rusk	Intimidate or Sense Motive	14 or 12	He confesses he saw lantern light and heard chiselling below the pillars the night before the collapse — but was paid 10 gp by a “toll‑collector” to keep quiet.	He clams up permanently. If Intimidate fails by 5+, he reports the party to the bridge‑wardens.
Inspect the bridge foundations (surface level)	Perception	12	Spot fresh chisel marks and tiny obsidian fragments embedded in the mortar — not consistent with normal river erosion.	See nothing unusual; believe the collapse was natural.
Find the hidden smuggler’s trail	Survival or Perception	13	Discover a narrow, unguarded path descending the cliff face about 200 yards east of the bridge. This bypasses the town‑watched ropes and leads directly to the river shelf.	You miss the trail entirely. If Survival fails by 5+, you disturb loose rocks, alerting the bridge watch.
Analyse the structural damage	Knowledge (Engineering)	15	Realise the sinkhole was excavated from below, not caused by erosion or age. The stone was cut, not broken.	Assume it is ordinary wear‑and‑tear; no deeper insight gained.
Recall local folklore about cyclopean tunnels	Knowledge (History) or Knowledge (Local)	14	Remember old stories that the cyclopean builders of Koloran hollowed the river cliffs — there may be ancient service tunnels beneath the bridge.	Nothing useful comes to mind; the tales seem like children’s stories.

GM Tip — Information Economy: The party doesn’t need all these successes to proceed. Each success gives them an advantage: the hidden trail lets them bypass the official ropes (avoiding the town’s watchful eye), while the Knowledge (Engineering) check confirms the sinkhole is artificial — a key clue pointing toward the larger conspiracy. Reward creative approaches: a character with Climb or Acrobatics might scout the cliff edge for a better view, granting a +2 circumstance bonus to the Survival check to find the hidden trail.

Core Truth to Reveal: The hidden smuggler’s trail is how the raiders have been moving supplies without the town noticing. If the party takes the official ropes, they are watched. If they take the smuggler’s trail, they may spot a guard patrol rotation and gain a surprise round in Encounter 1.

Optional — Aid Another & Group Checks

If two or more characters collaborate on the same check (e.g., two characters searching for the hidden trail), the lead character gains a +2 circumstance bonus if the assistant succeeds on a DC 10 check in the same skill. For gathering rumours, the party may take 10 if they spend at least 2 hours in the tavern.

TODO: Prepare a short handout of rumours (3–5 bullet points) to give players who succeed on the Diplomacy check. Include red herrings (e.g., “the bridge is haunted”) alongside genuine clues.

The town of Kridorfrost is eager to see the bridge secured and the sinkhole investigated. Master Engineer Volrik Hedd has authorised the release of standard expedition supplies from the bridge's emergency stores. Additionally, after some grumbling and a pointed reminder about the value of a loaded firearm against whatever lurks below, he has agreed to supply Brakkus with a limited allotment of gunpowder and ammunition.

Quartermaster's Note: These supplies are drawn from the town's emergency reserve. Replacements will not be issued for lost or wasted items. Brakkus's powder is measured by the dram — use it wisely.

Standard Issue (Free of Charge)

Each character may draw the following items from the bridge's stores. The quartermaster will note each item against your name.

Item	Quantity	Notes
Hempen Rope (50 ft.)	1 coil	Worn but serviceable
Torches	3	Wrapped in oiled cloth
Lantern (hooded)	1	With 2 flasks of oil
Trail Rations	3 days	Hardtack, salt pork, dried fruit
Waterskin	1	Filled from the bridge well
Pitons & Hammer	4 pitons, 1 hammer	For securing ropes and anchor points
Grappling Hook	1	Four-pronged, iron
Healer's Kit (basic)	1 (shared)	Bandages, salves, and antiseptic; 10 uses

Special Requisition — Brakkus Embervein

After a pointed discussion with Tollmaster Kael about the value of a functioning gunslinger against organised raiders, the town has relented. Brakkus may draw the following from the Tollmaster's private lockbox (where confiscated smuggled goods are kept).

GM Note: The town is providing this ammunition reluctantly. If Brakkus wastes shots carelessly, future resupply may require payment, favours, or scavenging from fallen enemies. Track powder and shot carefully.

Item	Quantity	Notes
Black Powder (fine grade)	20 charges	Measured in pre-sealed paper cartridges for quick loading
Lead Bullets (calibrated)	30 rounds	Matched to Brakkus's pistol
Wadding & Patches	30 sheets	Oiled linen for consistent seal
Powder Horn	1	Carved horn with a measured spout; holds 10 charges
Cleaning Rod & Tools	1 set	Small brush, pick, and cloth patches for maintenance

Additional Requests

If the party wishes to purchase or requisition further supplies, they may petition Master Engineer Volrik Hedd or Tollmaster Kael directly. Available for purchase at market price (or at a 10% "expedition discount"):

Potion of Minor Healing — 10 gp each (3 available)
Sunrods — 2 gp each (6 available)
Tindertwigs — 1 gp per bundle of 5 (4 bundles available)
Extra Rations — 5 sp per day
Grappling Hook (spare) — 8 gp

Prices reflect Kridorfrost's isolated position — travellers' goods command a premium.

Carrying Capacity Reminder

Bulky or heavy items (rope, grappling hooks, lanterns) will slow movement if too many are carried. Consider distributing weight among the party. Brakkus's powder and shot are relatively light but must be kept dry — water exposure will ruin the charges.

Brakkus's Powder Note: The paper cartridges are waterproofed with beeswax, but prolonged immersion (e.g., falling into the river or a flooded chamber) will ruin them. Keep them in a dry pouch or oilcloth bag.