Hex 22

22. Burnt Forest

This hex, and several to the south (not labeled or shown on the map) burned in a fairly recent forest fire (2 years ago). Burnt tree trunks rise like blackened fingers reaching up toward the sky. The ground in these hexes is becoming overgrown with knee to waist-high saplings and grasses, flowers and brush. Still, there is little cover available in these hexes. Among the debris all throughout this area are hundreds of small creatures known as Ash Dwellers (see new creatures).

Ash Dwellers: AC 9; MV 120’; HD ¼; hp 2; THAC0 20; #AT 1; D 1; SA nil; SZ S; Int Animal; AL N; XP 32

There are a total of 142 Ash Dwellers in this area. To determine the number of Ash Dwellers in the vicinity of the PCs at any given time, roll 4 random dice and add the total.

See the monster description for what will provoke the Ash Dwellers. Typically, they will ignore other creatures unless threatened.

Also in this hex is a goblin deadfall trap. Among the burned out trunks of a copse of trees is a hidden tripwire which causes two logs to swing down, one from ahead, one from behind, slamming into any dwarf sized or larger creature(s) in the immediate vicinity. Tripwire tripper saves vs dragon breath at -5 to avoid the trap, those close by save vs dragon breath with no penalty to avoid the trap. Those hit by the trap are crushed between the two huge logs for 4d6 hp damage (1/2 of which is CON damage in DRRPG). Those who fail their save by only one take half damage. Those who fail their save with a roll of “1” are crushed by the logs and trapped between them, stabbed by a broken off branch. Carefully searching the area around the tripwire reveals the lower part of a deer leg, a (probably) human hand with a silver ring on it (engraved with the name Earis on the inside, grape leaves twined on the outside with three purple amethyst “grapes” set in it – worth 200 gp).