Love Me Tinder

Adventure Briefing

A crown alchemist named Mako Creel hires the characters through a handwritten letter (see reference) bearing an official seal. He wants some stolen potions returned. Characters are expected to return the goods directly. An address is enclosed. The bandits who robbed Creel are in fact a classic group of would be do-gooders, led by Hode, a charismatic dragonborn.

Level Range: 6-7
Tags: Fire, Test of Character, Thieves Monsters: Bandit Captain, Black Pudding, Fire Elemental, Gladiator, Hobgoblin Captain*, Nothic, Priest, Scout, Shield Guardian, Spirit Naga*, Spy, Ultroloth* (* = stats only)
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The Classless Kin

The Bandits. Known locally as the Classless Kin, they are a loosely organized group led by a red dragonborn and Robin Hood like figure named Hode (see reference). The Kin target corrupt interests and redistribute what they take. Recently, they have carried out three notable acts:

The Classless Kin
Assign the genders and presentation of the Kin based on how love potions would affect the characters.

Shortcake. Halfling, Bandit Captain. Very tall and round.
Monk Duck. Goblin, Priest. Loves animals of all kinds.
Dee Lalley. Aarakokra, Bard (Hobgoblin Captain). Sexy.
Scathelock. Tiefling, Spy. Hot-headed and tempestuous.
Midge. Human, Gladiator. A meat shield of a person.

Little Cabin in the Woods

Creel has never been here and does not know what this place is actually used for. He always uses a middle man. Giving this location was careless and potentially incriminating. The bandit’s hideout is in the woods about eight miles away from here. They check this place in passing for easy pickings.

Read Aloud. The marked spot is hard to find even with the directions. The waterway winds through the woods and fades more than once. A small cabin sits above a short dock near a partially sunken raft. Crates are scattered about.

Survival.

Insight.

Clues to the Hideout
Any number of clues could lead the characters to the hideout. Hungry Rats. Using speak with animals, characters may learn that a friendly goblin (Monk Duck) has been visiting to feed the vermin. The rats would be happy to visit their friend. Illicit Creature Smuggler. A nothic escaped from a creature smuggler and is lurking. It used Weird Insight on a bandit and knows where they live. It is cautious and not instantly hostile. Molting Bandit. Dee Lalley, the aarakocra bandit, has been molting. On the last visit they left feathers all over without meaning to. The feathers can be found in the upper branches.

Can’t Help Falling in Love

The Kin use the woodland hideout as a staging ground. It is close enough to the river, but far enough into the woods to stay hidden.

Read Aloud. The trees open into a small clearing ringed by a low wooden palisade, centered around a massive stump.

The bandits are sorting through their haul when the characters arrive. They are on edge and cannot be surprised. Creel’s goods are contained in three medium sized crates (see reference). Encounter: Stuck on You. The situation should escalate quickly. Believing they are being attacked, the Kin grab bottles from Creel’s shipment and each drink an Enhanced Philter of Love, thinking it is a Potion of Speed. Their effect is instant as they become charmed by the PCs. Assign pairings in a way that fits. Bandits will put themselves in danger and stay far too close.

Monk Duck.

quick dry sovereign glue

Universal solvent

Monster Moment.

Black Puddings

Suspicious Minds

Travel to Creel’s shop takes four days by forest or two days by river. Any bandits who are still alive and charmed will follow. Hode’s Response. Hode tracks the group with a duo of goblin Scouts. His reaction depends entirely on how the characters treat the Kin. If treated fairly, Hode confronts the characters while at camp. If poorly, Hode stalks them until they return to Creel.

Perception.

passive stealth

Encounter: Camp. (if fairly) Hode arrives during a long rest. A wall of fire rises around the campsite. The fire does not spread or harm anyone unless desired. Hode speaks behind the fire, wanting to know why his people are acting strangely and who hired the PCs. Hode is open to listening and is surprised if they haven’t heard of him. If attacked, he flees using invisibility.

Devil in Disguise

If characters return with the goods, Creel gauges their intent. If he suspects they have tampered with the shipment, or understand the truth, he decides silencing them is cleaner than explanation. Encounter: The Shark. Mako waits for a chance and activates his Shield Guardian, which fights in melee. Creel attacks from cover. Use Spirit Naga stats without Rejuvenation and as a medium sized humanoid. Theme attacks as potions and grenades. Encounter. Hode. (if poorly) If Hode’s crew is still alive, he will try to free them here. If not, Hode waits until everyone is inside, seals the building with Arcane Locks, and sets it all on fire.

Smoke.

Fire.

2d6

Explosions.

4d6

Reference Page

Rewards

Pay. Payment was negotiated through the middleman. A fair rate for this job is 250 gp per character plus select alchemical items. Creel’s Shop. Most supplies should be damaged or destroyed depending on the finale. Even if the characters side with Creel, they are unlikely to loot freely. Creel has the ingredients and supplies to make most uncommon potions. Rare potions are in the delivered crates. Universal Solvent is in Creel’s possession. Hode and the Classless Kin. If Hode survives and deems the characters worthy, or if he is defeated and looted, the characters may gain the following: an Oathbow and a Wand of Secrets. If characters side with the Classless Kin publicly, they gain Renown among common folk and others sympathetic to their cause. Local authorities regard them with suspicion or infamy.

Creel’s Crates

20x Enhanced Philter of Love (labeled as Potions of Speed), 1d6x Oil of Slipperiness, 1d10x Potion of Healing, 1d4x Potion of Healing (Greater), 1x Potion of Invisibility, 2x Potion of Mind Reading (labeled as Potion of Resistance), 1d8x Potion of Poison (labeled as antidotes), and 4x Vials of Troll’s Blood

Enhanced Philter of Love

Potion, rare The next time you see a creature within 10 minutes after drinking this philter, you are charmed by that creature and have the Charmed condition for 1 week. This rose-hued, effervescent liquid is illegal and is labeled as a potion of speed.

Quick Dry Sovereign Glue

Wondrous Item, legendary This viscous, milky-white substance can form a permanent adhesive bond between any two objects. It must be stored in a jar or flask that has been coated inside with oil of slipperiness. When found, a container contains 1d6 + 1 ounces. One ounce of the glue can cover a 1-foot square surface. The glue sets at the end of 1 round. Once it has done so, the bond it creates can be broken only by the application of universal solvent or oil of etherealness, or with a wish spell.

Universal Solvent

Wondrous Item, legendary This tube holds milky liquid with a strong alcohol smell. You can use an action to pour the contents of the tube onto a surface within reach. The liquid instantly dissolves up to 1 square foot of adhesive it touches, including sovereign glue.

Creel’s Letter

You are contracted to recover alchemical goods stolen from me. The theft occurred along a local river trade route. Return the recovered materials intact. Discretion is expected. The thieves responsible have been targeting high value shipments and are using fire to strike quickly then escape. Another robbery occurred recently at an associate’s riverside cabin. The thieves have stolen from him before. I recommend you begin there. Directions are enclosed. The materials taken from me are unstable and dangerous. They are prone to violent reactions if mishandled. Do not attempt to consume or experiment with any of the substances under any circumstances.

~ Mako Creel

GM Note: The information in the letter regarding volatility is intentionally false. The goods are actually illicit love potions.

NPCs

Hode
CG, Male, Red Dragonborn Folk Hero Hode is a charismatic man who leads with a combination of conviction and spectacle. He believes the wealthy exploit the desperate and sees himself as the correction. Fire bends to his music, rising in disciplined displays of flame. He is calm in negotiation and fiercely protective of the Classless Kin. Hode uses an Ultroloth’s stats, but is a medium sized dragonborn. He summons a fire elemental to fight beside him. Roleplaying Hode
Personality Trait. “Cool under pressure and love to show off.”
Ideal. “Accountability. Leaders should fear those they serve.”
Bond. “It’s important to make sure everyone gets a chance.”
Flaw. “Pride in my cause leads to heavy collateral damage.” Additional Classless Kin

Hog Ears. Goblin, Scout. Land specialist.
Charlie Copper Cod. Goblin, Scout. Water specialist.

Mako Creel “The Shark”
N/E, Male, Human Alchemist Once an Educator within the Odelian Order, Creel earned the title “The Shark” for the way he dissected problems. He was later exiled from his home country for undisclosed reasons. Mako relocated and recently secured his crown license. Creel is intelligent but not wise, and that flaw will undo him. He sustains a legit store front while quietly doing questionable dealings on the side. He is in too deep to step away now. Mako Creel has a Shield Guardian that is never far away. Roleplaying Mako Creel
Personality Trait. “I’m smarter than you think I am.”
Ideal. “Reputation. It’s best to be seen as good and loyal.”
Bond. “Me, myself, and I.”
Flaw. “I very rarely give a thought to the future.”

GM Advice

This adventure brings up questions of being informed, morals, and tests the character’s ability to make choices. The lovesick NPCs may become sacrificial pawns or could become lifelong allies. Much of that comes down to how much violence occurs. This adventure works best when players continue to realize the situation was never as simple as it first appeared. There are a number of open ended quest lines available from here, such as the creature smuggler or finding a link between Creel’s vials of troll blood and the small village troll attack.