A Plague of Ancients Epic
From the introduction:
To fight the despair brought on by the Everlasting Rime, an eccentric dwarf sponsors a fishing tournament she calls the “Great Knucklehead Rally.” The event draws the curious, the hopeful, and the cynical alike. And it also draws unexpected guests who’ll test the attendees’ mettle.
A 3-hour Epic adventure optimized for 2nd-level characters.
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The Great Knucklehead Rally is in full swing. People from across Ten-Towns and Icewind Dale wander through clusters of festively colored tents and makeshift food stalls. A band plays somewhere among the tents, filling the crisp arctic air with warbling notes.
Dozens of torches and lanterns light the area, staving off the now-perpetual darkness hanging above the dale. These lights reveal the rally-goers are weary, yet determined to forget their hardship for just a few hours.
As you take in the scene, a female dwarf with fiery hair climbs atop a wooden platform. She raises her hands, and the band falls silent.
“Good people of Ten-Towns and Icewind Dale, welcome to the Great Knucklehead Rally! I’m Kreena Copperknight, and I wanted to share the bounty of my long and successful adventuring career with you all.
“We of the Copperknight clan have a saying: ‘the hardest substances yield the best treasures!’ With that thought in mind, I invite you all to forget these troubling times for a few hours. Let us instead drink, eat, and compete as only the bravest and strongest of Icewind Dale can! There are three events to mark the day, so find my husbands and take your best shot at winning.
“My brave Therdoc is overseeing the main event, the Knucklehead Rally, where you can test your luck and angling skills. My ingenious Javon is the judge for the ice sculpture contest, testing both your artistic spirit and your crafting ability. My charming Bramali is looking to crown the best thespian at the rally in a dramatic reading contest. Now, grab a tankard, enjoy some food, and let the games begin!”
“Also, make sure you take the time to greet each other. Friendship is as good as kinship in a land of strangers, and you never know how one kind word might make all the difference in someone’s life. Now, grab a tankard, enjoy some food, and let the games begin!”