Adventure Shorts #3: The Clearing

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A befriended farmer lord calls in the help of the heroes to do a small thing for him. He wants an old patch of forest and hill cleared so that he may build his new abode there. But once the heroes have a look, jets of fire spray from the trees nearly setting them ablaze.

What may occur next:

• The fire starters are man sized warrior beetles from a rather huge nest of flaming beetles that settled under the hill.
• The farmer lord wants the hill cleared so badly that he promises an uncommon prize for the job. He speaks of a lost magick sword of ice, which he wants to recover.
• The beetles are intelligent, and guard the old magick artefact, for it is an evil thing.

Flame Beetle

Flame beetles are unusually large insects, sometimes two foot long. Possibly they are from primeval times. Their rear bodies contain an oily liquid, and they can squirt and ignite this liquid to produce jets of flame up to ten yards. Normally these creatures hide in bramblewoods and they are not aggressive unless disturbed.

OSR: AC 4, HD 1+2, Dam 2d4, Move 120', Save: F1, #app 1d6+1

DD2: chitinous armour (armour 2), jet of flame from tail end 3 (weapon 3, burns), bite 3 (weapon 2)

Blade of Ice

This milky white, cold steel short sword was fashioned by the Northern elves against creatures with powers of fire. Most of these blades have splintered by now, but once every while one can be found in good state. It delivers double damage to any creature with a fiery breath weapon or flaming form. Some of these short swords are cursed and slowly turn the heart of the wielder cold, tempting him or her to kill or stab any who hurts them, either by deed or word.

Update: You can find all shorts of this series and more in Unpleasant Encounters at RPGNow.