Bandit Hideout

Description: A shabby but well-defended hideout nestled among the brambles of the Sablewood.

Tone & Feel: Claustrophobic yet well-appointed, dark yet comfortable

Tier: 1

Type: Exploration

Difficulty: 12

Potential Adversaries:

Jagged Knife Bandits (Bandit, Shadow, Hexer, Sniper, Lieutenant, Lackey, Kneebreaker)

Features

Thorn Fence - Passive

The hideout is blocked by a wall of brambles as tall as a human. This wall can be passed in a few ways:

• Leap over (Agility 12).
• Carefully pick your way through (Finesse 12).
• Fly over with a flight feature.
• Cut your way through by dealing 10+ damage in one attack (roll to hit only to see if there are consequences on a result with fear) or by making two attacks (regardless of damage.

How would the bandits notice the brambles have been disturbed? How did the wall get there - do they have a druid or ranger among their number?

Patrols - Passive

The bandits post a constant watch, mostly directed outside the camp. Entrance will require stealth (Finesse 12), deception (Presence 12), or special knowledge (Instinct or Knowledge 12).

Fight Your Way Through - Passive

If the party decides to fight their way through but you want to abstract the battle to save time, call for a Group Action, asking each member of the party how they contribute to the fight, with one PC making the main roll for the group. On a success with Fear, each PC must mark Stress and 1 HP or 1 armor slot. On a failure, each PC must mark 2 Stress and some combination of 2 HP and/or armor slots.

What defenses do the bandits have to bring to bear? Does anyone notice the combat or is it over before other bandits take notice?

Alarm - Reaction

On a failure or success with fear, some of the bandits grow suspicious and more actively patrol. Attempts to pass through the hideout through stealth have disadvantage for the rest of the scene or until the actively patrolling bandits are defeated or distracted by something else.

On the Hunt - Action

Spend a Fear to have a pack of 1d4+2 hungry Strix-Wolves infiltrate the hideout, desperate for food.

Do the PCs avoid the animals? Do they try to use them as a distraction or backup? Do the PCs have food on them that would draw the animals’ attention?

A shabby but well-defended hideout nestled among the brambles of the Sablewood.