A Dog's Dinner
A Dog's Dinner
Thrilling. Acquisition. Quaint Cottage.
Young Lindamill has lost her pet dog! This is no ordinary pooch predicament, however, as the hapless hound has a habit of teleporting when it gets scared. Could the dog's eagerness to escape suggest there is more to this young owner than first meets the eye?
Starting the Adventure
"The once easy-to-follow path through the forest begins to meander and fork the further in you travel. You track the road as best you can but, after an hour or so, you begin to feel as though you are treading familiar ground. Suddenly, your concentration is shattered by an ear-piercing shriek nearby, followed by shouts and yells. Leaving the path behind, you sprint in the direction of the scream, and find two sobbing figures outside a small cottage."
The party find a worried grandmother calling for a dog. She explains that her granddaughter's beloved pet has accidentally run away. The animal was a gift from the girl's late father, and it means a great deal to them both. In truth, the two women are Green Hags who were hoping to enjoy the Blink Dog in a stew later this evening. If the party aren't too careful, they might also be invited into the hags' hut for a bite...
Suggested Story
Set the scene, have the party meet Gertruda and Lindamill near their hut, then continue:
Barking up the Wrong Tree
A wistful Gertruda explains that her granddaughter has lost her dog. Lindamill offers the party her late father's gold in return for her precious Poochykins.
Dog tracks lead to an old cherry tree; Poochykins is at the top. The party must find a way to get the dog down, while avoiding the Swarm of Insects and Giant Wasp queen who are nesting in a knothole.
Just as he is rescued, Poochykins teleports to the bottom of the tree and runs into the forest.
A Dire Situation
Poochykins is found near a den of two snarling, territorial Dire Wolves who see him as a threat.
The Dire Wolves attack Poochykins when the party arrive. He teleports away when the fighting starts, but returns to the scene shortly after. Now that he trusts the party, he will follow them back.
Dog Eat Dog
Back at the hags' hut, the door is open, and a sad scene is visible. The hags have created an illusion of their disguised selves wounded and crying for help. The hags will trap and ambush the party from behind the door when they enter the hut, hoping to cook them with the Blink Dog.
As well as using their claws in the fight, the hags will try to shove players into their hot cauldron.
Once the hags are defeated, restrained or scared off, the party will have access to their loot.
Important Characters
Gertruda Sludgewit
Green Hag, Female, 825 (Green Hag)
Gertruda is wearing the illusory disguise of a worried grandmother. She is manipulative and self-centred.
"A forlorn grimace burdens this grandmother's face. She has wrapped a shabby blanket around her shoulders to shield her from the elements."
Lindamill Wriggletoe
Green Hag, Female, 748 (Green Hag)
Lindamill is wearing the illusory disguise of a sobbing 10-year-old girl. Her favourite meal is Blink Dog legs.
"Tears pour down Lindamill's face and land on her grey jumper. She is crying inconsolably and cradling her dog's chewed blanket."
Poochykins
Blink Dog, Male, 6 (Blink Dog)
This dog was held by the hags for two hours until, to their horror, it teleported away and escaped them.
"A melancholy dog with amber markings. Its slobbery tongue frequently licks its wet nose."
Quick Stats
| Name | AC | HP | Initiative | Key Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | 22 | +3 | Teleports up to 40 ft | |
14 | 22 | +2 | Knocks targets prone | |
12 | 22 | +2 | Poisonous sting | |
17 | 82 | +1 | Can turn invisible | |
11 | 19 | +1 | Condition immunity |
Key Locations
The Hags' Hut
"This quaint cottage is made from chunky, stone bricks. Ivy crawls up the slender chimney flue, which lets out a gentle stream of white smoke."
When the party first meet the hags, the hut will look cosy and inviting because of illusory magic. The interior of the hut features a bloody dining table, a fireplace with a bubbling cauldron, hanging bones, wicker baskets and a chest.
Large Cherry Tree
"Clearly centuries old, this sturdy tree towers boastfully above its kin. The tree's wide branches and gaping knotholes house chirping birds and fluffy squirrels, who send fluttering, pink blossom drifting to the floor below."
The tree sits at around 40 ft tall, and provides fruit to the animals and insects that inhabit its branches. A hidden wasps' nest will surprise anyone who climbs the tree.
Dire Wolf Den
"Eventually, the forest opens to reveal a grassy clearing. An upturned tree over a shallow trench has created the perfect den for a pair of Dire Wolves."
The Dire Wolves will emerge from their trench, growling, and circle Poochykins until the party step in. As soon as the party arrive, the Dire Wolves will lunge at Poochykins, but the Dire Wolves will quickly turn their attention to the party.
Secrets and Clues
If the party refuse to help, they still meet the Blink Dog in the forest; the hags later try to steal it back.
The hags disguise themselves as the cottage's former residents, whom they ate many years ago.
The Blink Dog's owner was taking him for a walk, but was attacked and eaten by the hags.
The hags don't eat every passer-by, they trick them into tragic bargains for entertainment, too.
Gertruda prefers Dire Wolf meat to Blink Dog or humanoid meat, but it's more dangerous to gather.
The Dire Wolves' den used to belong to a group of badgers who lost a fight for the territory.
Quest Rewards
A chest made from old wood sits in the hags' hut, holding 246gp and 91sp that they have pilfered from their victims. A canvas sack hooked to Lindamill's belt is a tattered Bag of Tricks; Gertruda keeps 4pp hidden in her shoe, unbeknownst to Lindamill.
Level Changes
Easier
Lindamill could be the only hag who lives in the hut; Poochykins may help the party fight her.
Harder
An additional hag could turn the group into a coven and give them extra spells. You could also swap the Dire Wolves for Giant Scorpions.