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# Bandits & Wilderness Encounters

## Old Salt Road Ambush

6 **bandits** and 1 **bandit captain** (CR 3 total). The bandits are mercenaries hired by the [[The Hand of Ruin|Hand of Ruin]] to stop anyone investigating the missing caravan.

### Setup
The ambush occurs at a narrow pass where the road cuts between two rocky hills. The bandits have overturned a merchant cart (from the missing caravan) as cover. Two bandits are hidden on each hill with light crossbows; the captain and two bandits block the road.

### Treasure
- 120 gp in assorted coins
- Captain's orders (sealed with the Hand of Ruin spiral): *"Intercept all traffic on the Old Salt Road for two weeks. Kill witnesses. Report to the mill."*
- A [[The Silent College|Silent College]] shipment manifest (partially burned) — identifies the missing cargo as "Council-Referred Artifacts, Reference Code: SC-7-Anchor." This is the first hint that the [[The Silent College|Silent College]] knows about the seals.

### DC 15 Investigation
The bandit captain's boots have red clay on the soles — the same clay found at the Old Mill outside Eastmarch. Leads the party toward [[Arc 1 - Heirs of Sundering#Hook 3: The Poisoned Well|Hook 3]].

## Thronewood Ambush

Used in [[Arc 2 - The Gilded War#Hook 8: Ambush at Thronewood|Arc 2, Hook 8]].

### Enemy Forces
- 12 **cultists** (spread in 3 squads of 4 along the convoy route)
- 2 **cult fanatics** (convoy escorts, mounted on warhorses)
- 1 **bone devil** (CR 9) summoned as heavy enforcer, bound to a ritual circle in the lead cart
- Bound **adult copper dragon** — [[Khalyraxis, the Verdant Wing]] (weakened, restrained in the rear cart by enchanted adamantine chains)

### Convoy Route
The convoy moves along the Old Thronewood Road, a forest path wide enough for two carts. The bone devil's ritual circle is in the lead cart — if the circle is broken (AC 13, 20 HP, DC 14 Arcana), the devil is banished back to the Nine Hells.

### Freeing Khalyraxis
- **Chains:** AC 19, 40 HP, DC 18 Thieves' Tools
- **Weakened Dragon:** While chained, she cannot act. Once freed, she uses her Slowing Gas breath weapon immediately (targeting enemies) and thanks the party.
- **If she takes damage:** The cultists are under orders to kill her if escape seems imminent. The bone devil will abandon other targets to attack her. Protect the dragon.

### Treasure
- [[Verdant Wing Token]] — from Khalyraxis
- Cult orders: *"Convoy 4 — Dragon Lord asset to Citadel of Sundering. Priority: Absolute. Do not allow asset to speak to anyone. Do not fail."* Signed by [[High Pontiff Vosseth]].
- Convoy pay chest: 2,400 gp

## Random Wilderness Encounters (d8)

Used during travel between major locations.

| d8 | Encounter | CR | Notes |
|----|-----------|-----|-------|
| 1 | 1d4+2 **cultists** + 1 **cult fanatic** | 3 | Hand of Ruin patrol; carries orders if searched |
| 2 | 2d4 **bandits** + 1 **bandit captain** | 3 | Standard road ambush |
| 3 | 1d4 **elementals** (random type) | 2-5 | Drawn by a nearby cracked seal |
| 4 | **Crown Concordat** patrol (6 guards + 1 knight) | 5 | Suspicious of travelers; DC 15 Persuasion to pass freely |
| 5 | **Iron Concord** mercenary group (4 veterans + 1 gladiator) | 7 | Neutral unless provoked; can be hired as temporary allies (500 gp/day) |
| 6 | Wandering druid (use **druid** stat block) | 2 | Verdant Circle Watcher; provides regional intel |
| 7 | 1 **young dragon** (random metallic or chromatic) | 6-9 | Curious or territorial; not necessarily hostile |
| 8 | Anomalous weather event — elemental storm, time loop, gravity flux | — | Environmental hazard; DC 15 Nature to navigate safely |