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Sample file LF Credits Authors: Layout and Typesetting: Joseph D. Carriker and Rhiannon Louve Kieran Y anner Developers: COverActiSt: Anthony Pryor Steve Ellis Editor: Interior Actists: Michael Johnstone John Bridges, David Day, Cris Keefe and Kieran Yanner Managing Editor: Front SBackCoverDesign: Andrew Bates Matt Milberger and Kieran Yanner Art Director: CaKtogKaphV: Richard Thomas David Day Sample file Check out upcoming Sword and Sorcery Studio products online at http://www.swordsorcery.com Distributed for Sword and Sorcery Studio by White Wolf Publishing, Inc. This printing of Hornsaw: Forest of Blood is published in accordance with the Open Game License. See the Open Game License Appendix of this book for more information. Hornsaw: Forest of Blood, Scarred Lands, the Scarred Lands logo, Sword and Sorcery, Sword and Sorcery Studio, the Sword and Sorcery logo, Creature Collection, Creature Collection 2: Dark Menagerie, Relics & Rituals, and Relics & Rituals 2: Lost Lore are trademarks of White Wolf #8 w 0 R 0 6 Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. SORCERY e I a The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. ‘Id20 System” and the “d20 System” logo are Trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast and are used according to the terms of the d20 System License version 1.0. A copy of this License can be found at www.wizards.com. Dungeons & Dragons@ and Wizards of the Coast@ are Registered Trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, and are used with Permission. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES HORNSAW: FORESTOF BLOOD Introduction 3 Chapter One: History of the Hornsaw 4 ChapterTwo:The Land 30 Chapter Three: The People 50 Chapter Four: Secrets of the Forest 86 Chapter Five: Adventures in the Hornsaw 98 Appendix: Monsters of the Forest 114 Sample file 1 NTRO D U CTI ON Once, long ago, elves, humans, and dwarves lived side-by-side in the idyllic paradise of the Broadreach Forest. As so often happens in the sad world of Scarn, however, violence marred the forest’s beauty and war disrupted its peace. Brought to bay and defeated, the titaness Mormo was tom asunder; her flesh and blood rained down upon the Broadreach, transforming it into the place of hor- ror known today as the Hornsaw Forest. Darkness fell upon this land as the titanspawn spread throughout the wood, seeking the sundered pieces of the fallen Serpent Queen. Hags, ratmen, asaatthi, gorgons, and other even more terrifying creatures lurk in the Hornsaw’s shadows alongside beasts twisted and transformed by Mormo’s touch such as the Hornsaw unicorns. Above the forest, on a lone plateau, spreads Glivid-Autel, city of wicked necromancers, and to the south looms the growing power of Calastia. Yet all is not lost in the Hornsaw, for a tiny flame of hope now flickers. After over a century of dormancy, merged with their beloved forest, the elves have returned, bringing with them the possi- bility of restoration and redemption. In this forest, where the forces of light and the darkness struggle, the basic conflicts of the Scarred Lands are literally embodied. The elves’ task ap- pears almost impossible, for Mormo’s spawn are powerful and determined. Darkness, however, neverSample file pervades completely, and evil never abides without flaw. The elves and their wood dwarf allies fight on, knowing that if they fail, the ancient Broadreach is lost forever. This, then, comprises the world that your char- acters will experience when they visit the Hornsaw. Bold adventurers can influence this fearsomestruggle for good or ill. Hornsaw: Forest of Blood provides all you will need to visit this dangerous place, as well as numerous opportunities to help your players create Broadreach-based characters. The Broadreach elves, the wood dwarves, the Hornsaw sentinels, and the Liliandeli archers all receive full descriptions here, along with new magic and equipment to make a Hornsaw-based campaign unique and exciting. Joinour authors, Joseph and Rhiannon, and the rest of us at Sword and Sorcery Studio, as we explore this legendary place, where good and evil wage their eternal struggle and horror lurks in the shadows. Enter Hornsaw: Forest of Blood ... and beware the Blood Crone. Anthony Pryor, Developer Sword and Sorcery Studio Sample file CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY OF HORNSAW lived as an old man for the length of at least three 4human lifetimes. How could any human envy As remembered by Sema, druid of Clan Oak. this?How could any human envy the centuries of Much pain have I seen in my life and much despair that I have weathered? sorrow. So many humans envy us elves for our My fellow druids and I protected the long lives. They fear death and the judgment of Broadreach as best we could. We welcomed refu- their gods. They itch for more time to learn, gees from the carnage and horror of the various accomplish, love, and experience. So many hu- battles. We surrounded our forest with protective mans feel that one hundred years is far too little magics while our dwarven and human allies built time to spend in living. fortifications and destroyed the few titanspawn I do not know what it is like to understand who breached our defenses. Throughout the course that one will live only for one hundred years and of the war, the Broadreach Forest provided a then die; I cannot judge the envy and fear that haven for all good and neutral beings loyal to humans feel. I do know, however, that I myself Denev and the gods. Even evil people were aided have lived too long. My first human lifespan was and succored so long as their loyalty remained as perfect as anyone could wish; I learned, accom- true to our cause. plished, loved, and experienced much, and my Very few of our people ventured forth to heart was afire with hope and passion for the battle for the gods. Denev did not ask us to do so, future. I miss my youth. My connection to the and we saw ourselves as fulfilling anequally worth- earth grants that my body remains as strong as while purpose during the war. Orphans flocked to ever it was, but my aging heart is weak and sad. I our borders. Crippled and magically diseased sol- look forward to death. Whatever it brings, at least diers came here for healing and then returned to it will only be my own death and not the death of the fray. The elderly and infirm came to work in everyone and everything that I love. our cities to produce weapons and food for the divine races, while those unable to fight but still The Divjne War able to run transported these supplies to countless I think that I was 385 years old when the armies all throughout the several decades spanned Divine War broke out. I still have trouble reckon- by the war. ing the change in the calendars. In any event, I The Broadreach was always a paradise, and in was already an elder -already a respected leader the years of horror during the war it seemed among the druids of the Broadreach Forest. I do doubly so; even with the crowding and the hospi- not look like an old man, but I have neverthelessSample tal stink file of the sick and injured, at least we were .