Sidequest: Conquered Mines

Yeti Lair made with Worldographer
Yeti Lair made with Worldographer

A follow-up to yesterday’s chuul lair sidequest.  Another example of experimenting with our sidequest format:

Background Info: A handful of yeti have overtaken a small mine.

Getting the PCs Involved:

  • A miner who escaped the yeti attack runs to the nearest town (about a day’s journey) shouting for help.
  • The PCs are hired as guards for a caravan of ore from the mine. They make their way to the mine, not knowing what has happened.

Encounters:

  • Outside the mine’s entrance are signs of a fight.  No bodies are left, but there are large tracks and drag marks. If the PCs didn’t approach via stealth, they were spotted, and the three yeti hidden in the snowy terrain attack.
  • If the PCs were stealthy, they may catch the one yeti lookout unawares. If he noticed them at the last minute he simply runs in to warn the others.
  • A side corridor leads to various vermin and burrowing creatures that have moved in.
  • The yeti have a “pet” bear or wolverine who sleeps in a small chamber before theirs. They use it as an alarm. If the yeti weren’t out front, they hear battle from this room. In two rounds they join the battle from behind, hoping for surprise.
  • The two chambers furthest back are a sleeping area and “food” storage. It is possible a miner or two survived, but still unconscious.

Follow-Up Adventure Ideas:

  • New miners may want to have regular guards ready for protection at the entrance and to sweep out any new sections.
  • What caused the cave-in and what is behind it?

Other Possible Creatures: Abominable Yeti (larger, extra powers); Duergar; Frost Giant, Ice Troll, Remorhaz