One-Shot: Ice Fang Raiders

One-Shot
System: DnD 5.5 (2024 rules edition; DND-OGL) with some minor tweaks.
Theme: Gothic horror, barbaric raiders, high fantasy
Conflict: Raid a fortified Citadel or defend it!
Level: 12
Number of player(s): 3 to 6 players
Alignment: Any
Starting equipment: Standard kit (Rare magical weapon (can be a Handcannon pistol or Deadeye Rifle), shield, (studded leather, half-plate, full plate armor, standard pack, 500 gp)
Character options: All species, all classes (custom steampunk classes available on demand) and backgrounds available in the Free rules/Player's Handbook 2024.
Attribute Scores: Standard array or Point Buy
Hit Points: Average fixed
Origin Feat: Take an Origin Feat or swap with a General Feat

World background information: Welcome to Morea - an introduction

The world in a nutshell

Morea is a mixed world with a variety of elements:

• Post-apocalyptic
• Low magic areas
• No Gods
400 years ago, a great calamity called the Scarring ravaged the world and killed most of its people. During this event the Gods themselves disappeared.
On one of the continents, a mighty Empire has risen from the ashes using science and technology to create great cities of steel, concrete and smoke.
Another great force in the world is the magical kingdom founded by the last of the Elves mixing their blood with humans. They try to re-establish magic as the leading force.
In the frozen wastes live the clans of the north. They hate magic with a passion and will kill any magic user on sight.






Introduction

We travel backwards through the strands of time itself to a simpler time when the world was just recovering from its wounds. A vicious clan of pirates, raiders and cutthroats live in the frozen wastes of Pol looking hungrily at the abundant lands to the south, The Scattered Islands of Therassia. The currents flow south through the Ice Floats, a straight partially frozen and hard to pass, the Elven armies have build an impenetrable fortress. The city of Almyras, a rich target but deadly to those unprepared. However, one of the great clanchiefs, Ulfgar, of the mainland has arrived claiming to have a way in...





At the citadel, the Ice Prince, Myreas Findael holds court suspecting imminent invasion by the hated savages of the North. His walls are high and the ships that patrol the Ice Floats some of the best in the world. An army of brave warriors, mages and holy men stand ready to repulse any attack!.. But he is troubled, for he had a vision from his Goddess the Frost Maiden herself warning him of a great Warlord who wields the fires of Doom has set his sight on the island. The next invasion will be different and the greatest threat they've ever faced. He calls for great heroes to travel north and bolster the armies!









Organisations

Royal Army of Therassia

Her Majesty's Army of the Kingdom of Therassia. They're made up of citizen levy's, professional soldiers and noble knights. They employ magic and use traditional weaponry and particulary hate technology.

The lower ranks are made up of peasants, slaves and low citizens. Poorly equipped their use on the battlefield is to form spearwalls and fulfil simple duties.

At it's core are the veteran knights serving as commanders and elite soldiers. Often fighting mounted on warhorses, griffons or exotic beasts they form the cavalry of the Royal forces, elite shocktroops and special forces.

Royal Navy of Therassia

Her Majesty's The Queen Navy. The maritime force of the Kingdom made up of regular ships with triangular sails or the magic powered waveriders. They also employ various sea monsters to fight for them. There are strict hierarchies onboard the ship and on shore. The nobility enjoys the positions of command while lowly peasants, serfs toil below decks and climb the rigging. Special classes of wizards are assigned to ships to use wind magic to power their vessels.

Officers hold noble titles and the captains are known as Knight-Captains, combining the martial and magical prowess of the Holy warrior of the kingdom.

Ice Fang Fort

The easternmost clan hold of the Confederacy of Vec, they live the closest to their mortal enemies the Kingdom of Therassia. Here the clan raises fierce warriors in the harsh conditions of the frozen island and the icy straight of the Ice Floats.

The chieftain gains power when they're backed by the noble families of the region. Usually the best raider, the strongest warrior and the warrior who gained the most wealth for the clan assumes the seat of chieftain. It usually goes to the noble family of Jormander.

Regular civilians are either hunters, trappers or fishers. A wealthy middle-class exists of fur, scrimshaw and ivory traders and merchants. Above them all are the warrior that raid the lands of plenty to the south and bring back treasure and thralls. At the top are the nobles who rule over all with their soldiers and martial strength.

Shadowstar Keep

The political center of the Confederacy of Vec and home to clan Vec, the oldest of the Northern Clans and the founders of the Confederacy. An ancient structure partially reclaimed from a Pre-Scarring building, a massive fortress of smooth stone with high walls and battlements.

It's people are shrewd and shaped by the Shadowlands living in perpetual darkness and constantly threatened from extraplanar creatures. Some of the denizens corrupted by the energies emanating from land turning them into dark creatures.

Witchhunters

The Witchhunters are specialized hunters in the Confederacy of Vec. They've trained specifically to combat spellcasters and have devised ways to disrupt or disable their spells. They also hunt magical monstrosities and serve as advisors to clans. Some of their members are scholars with encyclopedic knowledge of spells and how to counter them.

They operate as a loose organisation and don't have a single headquarters or leader. Organised in hunts and commanded by senior Witchhunters. There are some highly regarded Witchhunters who command great political influence through deeds.





Important NPCs

Warlord Ulfgar "Twice-Broken" Jorgund



The Warlord send from Shadowstar Keep to lead an incursion into the lands of the Elves of Therassia. He is a Human from the tundra and hails from the city of Shadowstar Keep. An impressive warrior, ruthless, strong, aggressive and brave with a passionate hatred for magic and the Therassians. His name is Twice-Broken because he twice in life he was mortally wounded by an Evil beast he hunted in the tundra.

He dresses in furs and has a half plate armor made from strange leather and metal plates. Wielding a jagged greataxe and a crude black powder pistol.

Myreas "The Ice Prince" Findael



Myreas, Prince of the Realm, Defender of the North, Commander of the Almyras Navy, Steward of the Citadel. He is a Half-Elf from the Royal House of Findael, a fourth son with no real claim to the throne he entered service with the Royal Navy. Send out to the Northern border he soon came into contact with the Confederacy of Vec and their raiding parties. An intelligent and charismatic commander he rallied the local forces and ousted the raiders pushing them back beyond the Ice Floats. He saw an opportunity to build a citadel in a strategic location to block the raiders from entry into the Scattered Islands.

He is a lanky, tall Half-Elf with a slim build. Wielding a magical rapier called Frost Maiden and strange magical ice and frost powers he earned the name Ice Prince.





Declare your Allegiance!

Pick the side of the attackers, The Ice Fang Clan, fierce warriors who call the polar region their home and raid their soft neighbours to the south. They see magic users as evil deviants and kill them on sight. Led by Warlord Ulfgar Twice-Broken, a visiting noble from the Shadowstar Keep.

Or pick the side of the defenders, The Citadel of Almyras, the fortress city of the Elven Kingdom of Therassia, guarding the peaceful lands of the Scattered Islands against the magic hated clans of the Confederacy of Vec. Led by a prince of the realm, Myreas Findael, The Ice Prince, Defender of the North and Founder of Almyras.

Acts

Act I: Introduction and voyage
Act II: The Ice Floats
Act III: Landfall
Act IV: Siege
Act V: The Summoning [section:Act_I_Introduction]

Act I: Introduction

We will have two sections for the aggressor party "The Raiders" and the defender party "The Heroes". It can be run on two tables at once with both parties clashing at the final scene and fighting each other for the victory. Otherwise a party of NPCs can be used to decide the encounter or you can make your own.

Scene 1.1: Introduction

The Raiders

Setting the scene: You stand in the Chieftain's hall in the Ice Fang Fort, a massive wood and stone structure dominating the skyline of the frozen island. The hearths have been lit and the fires cast their warm glow upon the stones of the floor. Seated as you are at the first table on the benches next to your comrades as feast of mutton, fish, roots and grilled vegetables with herbs are served to you by the low people of the clan. A mighty feast for the clan's mightiest raiders!

At the Chieftain's table sits the stranger from the Shadow Lands, the Warlord Ulfgar. An imposing figure of meat and muscle looking over the crowd with sharp blue eyes betraying a fierce wit and cunning intellect. A shiver goes down your spine as you look at him and you're not sure why.

The Chieftain rises to speak.





The Heroes

Setting the scene: You stand in the vast hall of the Citadel of the Ice Prince, the seat of Myreas Findael, Lord of Almyras and Prince of the Realm. It covers most of the island and projects force in its entirety. There are fortified docks with sleek Therassian ships with rotating sails that can be powered by magic. Archers, armoured soldiers and mages patrol the walls making the fortress nigh but impenetrable.

You walk onto the rich purple carpet leading into a circular room with light from the stained glass windows casting beautiful patterns on the marble floor. At the end stands a ornate wooden throne, its back branches of a tree woven into a pattern reaching over 3 meters high. On it sits the Ice Prince, a Half-Elven man of middle years with a serious expression holding his sheathed blade Frost Maiden on his lap.

He speaks.



Take a moment for the characters to introduce themselves and instruct them they have been together for a few years and know each other.

Roleplay prompts

The Raiders
• How did you join the Raiders?
• What was your most glorious kill?
• Did you name your weapon and how did you get it?
• What do you need from this raid?
The Heroes
• Did you travel from distance lands or are you a native?
• What is your character famous for?
• Do you fight for gold, glory or all that is good and righteous?
• Did you name your weapon and how did you get it?