Encounters down the Westron and Fiaraven Rivers:

Length of the Journey:

If PCs travel day and night, never leaving the boat, they can reach their destination in about 17 days. However, they will be exhausted and dysfunctional by that time. By extending the journey to day-travel only, and camping each night on shore, they can avoid that problem, but the journey will take about 28 days.

(NOTE: the PCs for whom this adventure was written had picked up a magical boat that sailed itself. They had no crew to hire or to worry about - only themselves.They were about 8th level)

Season/Weather: the PCs leave Greenvale in mid-Harvest (Sept) and will arrive in mid-Plenty (Oct). Because they are traveling south, they will notice very little major change in daily temperatures. Weather is cool in the evenings and nights, but warm and pleasant in the afternoons. On the river there is frequent morning fog, and rain is fairly regular. On any given day there is a 1 in 3 chance of some rain. Any rainy day has a 1 in 3 chance of a severe thunderstorm. Those days are overcast. On days without rain, there is a 50/50 chance of the day being moderately to severely overcast.

Encounters: While in the boat and moving there is a one in 8 chance per day of encounter. While encamped there is a 1 in 8 chance per 4 hours. While on the river, encounters will have to be selected by hand for general suitability.

The River: The Westron is a generally fast-flowing and not too twisty river. It is fairly deep, and only moderately wide. Shallow rapids occur with moderate frequency (1 or 2 per day) but are generally navigable on the boat. About every other day the PCs will be forced to get out and portage (extra encounter check) around a waterfall or other obstacle. The trees grow right down to the river’s edge, overhanging the water in most places. The banks are high, but not especially steep except near falls. Undergrowth is dense, and finding a clearing to camp in is not easy. The lower Westron, after passing Tallow’s River, is a bit more twisting, as the land gradually flattens out.

The Fiaraven river is wider, slower and more twisty. It forms frequent oxbows, almost doubling back on itself. The journey becomes much slower at this point. Frequent portages may seem faster, but the animals are so hard to load and unload that it is not a good trade-off.

Avenvole: it will take the PCs about six days of travel (4 if pushing) to pass along the Avenvole border on the Fiaraven. Each day the PCs will be joined by a different set of observers. They are never stopped or questioned, but they are watched. The first day is a long, slender boat manned by six elves, two who have horns and bows, the others oarsmen. The next day a gryphon-rider high in the sky paces them. Later another boat arrives, much larger and accompanied by two of the small boats. If PC’s hail them, they are greeted in a friendly way, but the watchers do not stop to talk. There are no daytime encounters, but night-time remains the same. If PCs try to camp on the Avenvole side of the river, the watchers will stop them and tell them it is ‘too dangerous’ for them to do so. On the last night before they leave the Avenvole area, a small group of young elves who have been watching the party that day from their boats will join the PCs and camp with them, asking where they are going and why. They are friendly and curious, but seem both very lighthearted, singing and teasing, and somewhat naive, having no understanding of why treasure or danger should interest the party.

Spotting the Were-folk

From other notes and my vague recollections, on the last day of the river journey, just before they reach the Temple of Talaia, the PCs were supposed to see and be involved in some sort of squabble between the two were-folk factions. This was a lead in to being able to help settle the leadership dispute. Unfortunately, this section of my notes is missing. I really can't piece it together after all this time (over 5 years since I wrote/ran this adventure).

Emerald Forest (eastern shore of the Fieraven river)

2. Bloodhawk or Ki-Rin

3. Dryad, SPRITE or Brownie

4. Treant or Odd Find

5. Antlion, giant

6. Mantrap

7. Bugbear

8. Cat, wild

9. DEER, herd or bear

10. Beetle, any

11. Ogre/werewolf

12. MAMMAL, SMALL

13. Spider, large/WILD BOAR

14. Leprechaun

15. Sundew, giant

16. Nixie or pseudodragon

17. Druid or Priest of Safreth

18. Were bear or were boar

19. DM SPECIAL

20. DM SPECIAL

Bregor’s Hills (through which the Westron river flows)

2. DM special

3. Worg or wolf

4. Treant or faery folk

5. Hornet, giant or Odd Find

6. Dragon, copper

7. bandit

8. gnoll

9. Dog, wild

10. lycanthrope

11. Spider, any

12. ogre

13. Orcs or hobgoblins

14. Basilisk

15. Men, hunting party or bandits

16. Beetle, stag or owlbear

17. Goblins/kobolds

18. Aerial encounter

19. Basilisk, greater

20. Gorgon

Beor Hills (along the Fieraven River north of Avenvole)

2. DM Special

3. Were-Riders (NPC group 15)

4. Bat, giant or odd find

5. Giant-kin, cyclops

6. Lizard, giant

7. Young Dragon or Sage’s Servants

8. Bugbear or centipede

9. Herd animal

10. Wolf

11. Spider, large

12. Ogre

13. Giant, hill

14. Goblins

15. Hangman Tree

16. Trapper, Forest

17. Cave Fisher

18. Zombie 18. Zombie

19. Eagle, giant

20. Toad, poisonous

Azun Forest (the forests that surround Mirabor)

2. treant

3. Dm Special

4. Hangman Tree or odd find

5. Goblin or odd find

6. Phase spider

7. Gorgon, mated pair

8. Bear

9. Wolf

10. Were Riders

11. Spider, giant or large

12. Orc

13. Boar, wild

14. Cat, wild

15. Trapper, forest

16. Stirge

17. Dryad or were rider

18. Giant, hill

19. Ogres, w flind

20. Dm Special