The Region Around Drigbolton The Weird That Befell Drigbolton

Necrotic Gnome

1 The Hamlet of Drigbolton (p9). A backwater settlement

barely worth placement on maps of the region. The hamlet
consists of a cluster of cottages among small divisions of
3 pasture. A wooden, cone-roofed church stands on a hill at
the north of the hamlet and a water mill sits by the river at
11 the east. Many of the buildings in the hamlet are bedecked
10 with colourful flags.
T he Cart
Way
2 The Crater on Bolton Moor (p18). Here,
9 amid the windswept ridges and tumbled
cairns of the desolate moor, lies the core of the
4 fallen star Wermuth, brooding in the crater
5 (250 yards across) gouged from the earth by

Clewyd’s Piss
its impact. Surrounding the star, filling and
overflowing the crater, and splashed in ran-
dom gobs around the perimeter, is a morass
8 of phosphorescent, rose-pink jelly. Animals of
7 various kinds lounge around, slurping up the
jelly. Local people may also be present, collect-
ing it in buckets.

1 3 The Oath House (p22). Nestled in a valley in the

chalk downs stands the small, two-chimneyed man-
Hex scale: 2 or known locally as the Oath House. The manor is
6 miles some centuries old but maintained in a good state
r eek 6 of repair, with rows of tidily clipped hedges and
nC
spi neat garden borders surrounding it. The spiralstar
Cu
Old Road to Midge- concrescence star-organ has crashed here, damaging
warrow, ghost town the house and wrapping it in amber extrusions.

4 Nob’s Spinney (p38). A small stretch of woodland to the north 9 Crossroads (p47). At the site of an ill-looking tree, the Cart Way
and west of Drigbolton. Near its north-eastern bowers, the star- splits. One road heads uphill and to the east where a bone-white
fragment named (in the obscure lore of stellar anatomy) the greater cliff face can be seen. The other continues downhill and southward,
warp-dome crashed. The briars have grown here in response to the along the outer eaves of Dolmenwood. A grey milestone, dappled
warp-dome’s presence, forming a dense shield around it. with old blood and bird shit, stands hip-high near the base of the
tree, precisely beneath a rotting noose suspended from its thickest
5 Bolton Bog (p40). Stagnant pools, tangled reed-beds, sluggish bough. The weathered etchings on the stone indicate that Drigbol-
rivulets, and sodden pathways dominate this seldom-trod region. ton lies about two miles down the southern road.
Crumbled remains of walls and old cottages, straggling stands of
trees, and hints of old roadways indicate that the area was once in- 10 Chalk Cliffs (p47). The road here winds along a ridge of land,
habited. Half-submerged in the bog, propped against the remnants hugging the face of a tall line of chalk cliffs which loom above the
of an old barn, lies a part of the fallen star, the psychometric lobe. moorlands to the south. The folk of the region have, over many
centuries, carved notices, warnings, psalms, icons, shrines, and
6 Shrine to St. Craven (p44). On the largely abandoned road south idols into the chalk.
out of Drigbolton, just past the worryingly decrepit stone bridge
over Cuspin Creek, stands a lonely wayside shrine dedicated to the 11 Clooney Caves (p47). A wide incision in the side of a hill exposes
patron saint of infant martyrdom, incontinence, and idle hands. a chalk-face in which a large cave is found. A fire pit at the cave’s
The image of the saint is now smeared with pink star-jelly and the mouth indicates that it is sometimes used for shelter by travellers
wood-tiled roof bedecked with gaudy strips of rainbow-hued cloth. along the road. Three deep clefts at the rear of the cave lead into a
network of winding caves. A toothless human skull, marked in red
7 The Pike Pond (p44). A favoured haunt of the men of Drigbolton, with a crucifix, has been placed at the mouth of each cleft.
this small lake is unusually rich with plump fish. Anyone with
an ounce of skill as an angler can make a hearty catch. Its name Random Happenings. Roll 1d20 and 1d8, interpret the d20 as:
reflects the fact that this abundance makes it a perfect home for
▶ 1–8 = Encounter. d20 = entry on the encounter table. d8 =
predatory pike, which swim here in great numbers.
which encounter table to consult: > number of days since PCs’
Dobbin’s Mere (p45). A rough trail follows the eastern bank of arrival = “mundane” encounter (day p50, night p52). Other-
8 wise, “weird” (day p54, night p56).
Cuspin Creek north-east out of Drigbolton and, after roughly two
miles, reaches the wide, shallow, reed-choked lake known to the ▶ 9–11 = Environmental effect (p48). d8 = nature of the event.
locals as Dobbin’s Mere. Close to the northern edge of the lake
▶ 12–15 = Star-metal cache (p59). d8 = nature of the cache.
stands an antlered statue of great antiquity. This area is shunned by
the folk of Drigbolton, who regard the lake as accursed. ▶ 16+ = No event.
The Hamlet of Drigbolton The Weird That Befell Drigbolton
Necrotic Gnome

(The numbers alongside the villagers’ names

may be used for random selection: d24.)
Cottages (p12)

A Home of Lubbins the Woodcutter (1) and

his son, Junior (2).
Goat F
Pasture K B Home of Headman Unwick (3), his wife,
I Gorgelle (4), and their adult daughter,
Ponsefine (5).
H
J C Home of Miglin the Goatkeeper (6) and his
E teenage granddaughter, Bea (7).
C G
Village A
Well D Home of Griya the Crone (8).
B iss
’sP E Home of Salt the Ploughman (9) and his
yd
lew pregnant wife Wegley (10).
C
M
F Home of Breag the Blacksmith (11), his
L wife Murnie (12), and their 3 young sons.

D G Home of Yarrow the Baker (13) and his

idiot brother Higg (14).

H Home of Sir Thomish the Knight (15) and

his wife Branwena (16).

I The Church of St Gretchen (p14). A 30’ × 30’, single-story, win- Happenings in Drigbolton (p16)
dowless structure of rough-hewn cedar boards with a conical roof. First day: Villagers gather at midnight to gaze giddily at the heavens.
Religious types may notice the lack of a church graveyard.
Second day: Some villagers seemingly stay up all night, returning
Inside is an open, carpeted area facing a harshly illuminated altar bleary-eyed to their beds at dawn.
with a carnelian likeness of St Gretchen— patron saint of goatherds
and victims of battle. Jar after jar of wobbly, pink star-jelly now Third day: Phantasmagoric visions of giant, ivy-crowned chickens
litter the floor in front of the idol. roam the village at night. They emanate from the dreams of Higg (G).
Fourth day: Sir Thomish (H) stumbles upon the psychometric lobe
The elderly Pastor Gwyne (17) lives in the church. (area 5) and returns to the village stricken with babbling madness.
J The Communal Barn (p14). A large, one-roomed, wooden hall Fifth day: The dead in the repast rooms rise from their resting places
used for several purposes: shelter for the village goats during the and wander the night, aiding in the search for star-metal.
cold months; the storage of grain and hay for the goats during said
period; and now, under the sway of the manna-fever which sweeps Sixth day: The deceased Hearth-Lairds of the Oath House (area 3H)
the village, nightly dances. make their way to the village after dark to kidnap everyone present
and press them into forced servitude.
Pourplish the Apprentice Goatherd (18), lodges in the rafters.
Seventh day: The howlings of wolf-stags (area 8) are heard at night,
K The Village Green (p14). Lounging spot for jelly-drinking locals. filling any locals who have held onto a shred of sanity with dread.

L The Mill (p15). Home of Pagwash the Miller (19), his wife Milly Effects of Consuming Star-Jelly (p10)
(20), and their infant daughter. First day: A giddy desire to gaze up into the sky at night.
M The King Deer (Tavern) (p15). A small, cosy place, with stools Second day: A 50% chance of rising at night to wander through the
enough for fifteen. Behind the bar, the horns of prize goats are wild woodlands in search of star-metal to take to the crater (area 1).
displayed on dated wooden plaques.
Third day: The dreams of those who remain asleep (50% chance) en-
Frey the Landlady (21), her second husband Limber (22), and croach upon the objective world in the form of phantasms which may
Frey’s two adult sons from her former marriage, Wiggyl (23) and be observed by any who are abroad.
Brag (24) live here and run the tavern.
Fourth day: Eyes glaze over with drifting, iridescent hues.
Lodgings: Two private chambers on the upper floor are for rent Fifth day: The flesh of the thighs and forearms begins to squirm and
(4sp per night), as are places in a shared room on the ground floor vibrate. In the evening, long, metallic-violet hairs emerge.
(15cp per night). Animals can be stabled and fed in the communal
barn (1sp per night). Sixth day: Rainbow-hued, feathery appendages sprout from the back.
Seventh day: Awake at midnight, transformed into rainbow-feathered
Vittles: Meals (porridge with goat curds, goat-meat pasty, forest
angelic beings, drift off toward the core of Wermuth singing beautiful,
greens and mushrooms, etc—all laced with star-jelly): 1d6sp. Mug
wistful songs.
of crabber: 8cp. Shot of einkorn moonshine: 2sp.
The Oath House The Weird That Befell Drigbolton
Necrotic Gnome

A Entry (p25). Steps to porch, solid black doors.

B Gardens (p26). Spiralstar concrescence and statues.

C Hall (p29). Sombre and sparsely furnished.

B
D Study (p29). Books on more mundane topics.

E Dining Room (p29). Local map showing crash sites.

F Kitchen (p30). Animated meat monstrosity.

G Pantry (p31). Godfried Whelm, trapdoor to P.

H Oath Hall (p32). Hearth Laird, animated portraits.

F
I Store (p33). Carpet conceals trapdoor down to O. H
I G
J Hall (p33). Animated walls and glass-shard mice.
E
K Master Bedroom (p33). Animated clothes & bed.

L Library (p35). Animated stuffed animals. C

M Star-Gazing Chamber (p36). Charts marking star.

D
N Guest Rooms (p36). Clean but unused.

O Secret Workshop (p36). Summoning ritual, tomes.

P Cellar (p37). Ale, wine, brandy, fermentation.

Ground Floor
The extent of the extrusions of the spiralstar
concrescence is indicated by the orange ares of the
K map.

O P
J

Cellars

Spiralstar Extrusions (p24)

Glistening, amber, crystalline extrusions from the star-organ in B,
N
crackling and keening in the breeze.
• Non-living matter in contact with the extrusions is endowed
with a form of artificial life, becoming animate, aware, and
L M possibly intelligent. (Return to normal after 24 hours.)
N • Living matter comes under a time-nullifying effect similar to
the temporal stasis spell. (Return to normal after 24 hours.)
• Fire disrupts the extrusions, causing them to crackle, blacken,
and evaporate.
• Magical items which contact the extrusions are not in any way
Upper Floor affected.