Point a Day #3 - Holy Hillock
Yet again I'm making a pointcrawl point every day. This one is from The Wilderness Alphabet by James Pacek, expounded on with my own brain.
I want to clarify my method a bit: Hidden information in this isn't necessarily obfuscated, but simply is not available at a glance. While landmark info is something you can see passing by, hidden requires the party to go out of their way to engage with it. The risk isn't necessarily of springing a trap, but choosing to stop and engage. This is as to not give a lore-dump as soon as the players walk nearby, if they're trying to go somewhere different.
Also, I'll try to include some mechanical goodies at the bottom; a magic item, stat line, etc. The stats are tuned to OSE (D&D Basic/Expert) notation specifically, as I feel it gives information that's a bit more complete and direct than some others.
Key
Landmark
- A hill, standing out from the landscape, but not too tall, stands with tattered banners surrounding on all sides. They portray a variety of different gruesome imagery
- two medium-sized campsites of tents and can be seen on the horizon.
Hidden
- While the area surrounding the hilltop is war-torn, ravaged and decimated, the peak of the hill is unspoilt, save for a few downed logs arranged around the ashes of campfire.
Secret
- The hilltop is considered holy ground for the goblinoids living in the surrounding area. In two days time, the warring Blood Claw and the Death Eagle tribes are meeting to discuss a truce. This truce must be avoided at all costs.
Goblin Automaton
A kind of construct used by Goblins for war. Visually it consists of a goblin-sized creature made of hay, pieces of leather, fur and is topped by a cow skull. Powered by an enchanted blackened cow heart located in the lower abdomen, which explodes on removal.
AC: 7[12]
HD: 2**
ATK: 1x fist(d8)
MV: 60' (20')
ST: As F2
ML: 12
XP: 30
NA: 1d2 per war band
Blast The heart within acts as a grenade when removed from the body (not on death) Deals 3d6 damage in 20' radius to all creatures. Missile (5’–10’ / 11’–30’ / 31’–50’)