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  VILLAGE BACKDROP: ASHFORD 
  Once	a	prosperous	village,	Ashford	now	stands	as	a	decayed	shadow	of	its	former	self.	A	year	ago,	it	was	a	busy	place;	its	streets	and	
  gardens	echoing	with	the	sounds	of	life,	love	and	commerce.	Then	the	stranger	came	and	death	followed	upon	his	heels.	Plague	had	come	
  to	Ashford.	In	his	wake,	he	left	the	hacking	coughs	and	pain-filled	moans	of	the	dying	and	the	wails	of	the	survivors	mourning	their	dead.	
  Over	half	the	population	died,	and	many	of	the	survivors	packed	and	fled.		
  	
  A	few	folk	yet	dwell	in	Ashford	among	the	abandoned,	deserted	homes	of	their	friends	and	neighbours,	but	it	is	now	a	quiet,	mournful	
  place.	Weeds	choke	its	abandoned	gardens	and	untilled	fields.	Wolves,	foxes	and	other	less	natural	predators	gnaw	at	the	weathered	
  bones	filling	the	village’s	open	plague	pit.	The	surviving	villagers	are	distrustful	of	strangers,	shunning	them	whenever	possible,	and	few	
  find	welcome,	cheer	or	solace	in	Ashford.	
  	
  C R E D I T S  
  Design:	Creighton	Broadhurst	
  Development:	Creighton	Broadhurst	
  Art	 Dave	 Allsop,	 and	 William	 McAusland.	 Some	 artwork	
  copyright	William	McAusland,	used	with	permission.	
  Cartography:	Erik	Frankhouse	and	Simon	Butler		
  C O N T E N T S  
  Ashford	At	a	Glance	......................................................................	2	
  Notable	Locations	........................................................................	4	
  Life	in	Ashford	..............................................................................	6	
  Support	Raging	Swan	Press	..........................................................	7	
  OGL	V1.0A	....................................................................................	7	
  	
  ©Raging	Swan	Press	2016.	
  	
  The	moral	right	of	Creighton	Broadhurst	to	be	identified	as	the	
  author	 of	 this	 work	 has	 been	 asserted	 in	 accordance	 with	 the	
  Copyright	Designs	and	Patents	Act	1988.		
  	
  All	 rights	 reserved.	 No	 part	 of	 this	 publication	 may	 be	
  reproduced,	stored	in	a	retrieval	system	or	transmitted,	in	any	
  form	or	by	any	means,	without	the	prior	permission	in	writing	of	
  Raging	Swan	Press	or	as	expressly	permitted	by	law.	
  	
  S Y S T E M  N E U T R A L  E D I T I O N  
  Welcome	 to	 this	 Raging	 Swan	 Press	 System	 Neutral	 Edition	
  Village	 Backdrop.	 Herein	 you’ll	 find	 evocative,	 inspiring	 text	
  designed	 to	 help	 you—the	 busy	 GM—run	 better,	 quicker	 and	
  easier	games.		
  	
  This	 book	 is	 compatible	 with	 most	 fantasy	 roleplaying	
  games.	 It’s	 impossible	 to	 create	 a	 truly	 system	 neutral	 book,	
  though,	and	some	generic	game	terms—wizard,	fighter,	human,	
  elf	 and	 so	 on—lurk	 within.	 These	 generic	 terms	 are	 easily	
  modified	to	the	GM’s	system	of	choice.		
  	
  One	special	note	about	the	NPCs	in	this	supplement.	While	
  some	are	wizards,	fighters,	clerics	and	so	on,	others	are	simply	
  normal	folk.	Because	different	game	systems	handle	normal	folk	
  differently	we’ve	made	no	attempt	to	note	their	“class”	leaving	
  them	simply	as	“female	human”	and	so	on.				
  	
  If	you	enjoyed	this	book,	please	consider	leaving	a	review.	
  	
  If	you	didn’t	enjoy	this	book,	did	you	know	Raging	Swan	Press	
  offers	a	money	back	guarantee?	
  	
  	
  
  2	
  A S H F O R D  A T  A  G L A N C E  
  Once	 a	 prosperous	 village,	 Ashford	 now	 stands	 as	 a	 decayed	
  shadow	 of	 its	 former	 self.	 A	 year	 ago,	 it	 was	 a	 busy	 place;	 its	
  streets	 and	 gardens	 echoing	 with	 the	 sounds	 of	 life,	 love	 and	
  commerce.	Then	the	stranger	came	and	death	followed	upon	his	
  heels.	 The	 stranger—a	 well-travelled	 bard—stayed	 at	 the	 Jolly	
  Farmer	and	regaled	the	assembled	guests	with	many	tales	and	
  songs	as	he	walked	among	them.	The	next	morning,	he	awoke	
  with	 a	 high	 fever	 and	 coughed	 up	 blood	 over	 his	 bed-partner,	
  one	of	the	tavern	wenches.	Plague	had	come	to	Ashford.		
  	
  Within	a	week	the	bard	was	dead	and	the	serving	wench	lay	
  dying.	Within	a	month,	the	sound	of	hacking	coughs,	the	pain-
  filled	moans	of	the	dying	and	the	wails	of	the	survivors	mourning	
  their	dead	echoed	through	the	village.	Before	the	winter	snows	
  began	to	fall,	over	half	the	population	was	dead,	and	many	of	
  the	survivors	had	fled.		
  	
  A	 few	 folk	 yet	 dwell	 in	 Ashford	 among	 the	 abandoned,	
  deserted	homes	of	their	friends	and	neighbours,	but	it	is	now	a	
  quiet,	 mournful	 place.	 Weeds	 choke	 abandoned	 gardens	 and	
  untilled	 fields	 while	 wolves,	 foxes	 and	 other	 less	 natural	
  predators	gnaw	at	the	weathered	bones	filling	the	village’s	open	
  plague	 pits.	 The	 surviving	 villagers	 are	 distrustful	 of	 strangers,	
  shunning	them	whenever	possible,	and	few	find	welcome,	cheer	
  or	solace	in	Ashford.	
  D E M O G R A P H I C S  
  Ruler	Baron	Aelfgar	Stannard		
  Government	Overlord	(anarchy)	
  Population	75	(68	humans,	4	half-elves,	3	half-orcs)	
  Alignments	Neutral	
  Languages	Common,	Elven,	Orc		
  Resources	&	Industry	Farming,	fishing	
  Lingering	Plague	Every	day	a	traveller	spends	in	Ashford,	there	is	
  a	 5%	 chance	 he	 is	 exposed	 to	 plague.	 This	 chance	 rises	 to	
  20%	 if	 the	 character	 explores	 any	 abandoned	 building	
  containing	the	corpses	of	plague	victims.		
  N O T A B L E  F O L K  
  Most	 of	 the	 population	 are	 nothing	 more	 than	 hardworking	
  peasants.	A	few,	however,	are	of	interest	to	adventurers:	
  Ailred	Lewin	(location	4;	LN	female	human)	Landlady	of	The	Jolly	
  Farmer,	 she	 is	 never	 seen	 without	 a	 vinegar-soaked	 mask	
  about	her	face.	
  Baron	 Aelfgar	 Stannard	 (location	 1;	 LN	 male	 human	 fighter	 2)	
  Ashford’s	liege	lord,	Aelfgar	has	not	been	seen	in	the	village	
  since	the	plague	struck.	
  Dunn	 Frewin	 (location	 6;	 CE	 male	 ghoul	 cleric	 2)	 Once	 one	 of	
  Ashford’s	 priests,	 Dunn	 has	 returned	 from	 the	 grave	 to	
  revenge	himself	upon	Waldere.	
  Janaela	 Fisfelond	 (location	 5;	 N	 female	 half-elf	 wizard	 5)	
  Consumed	with	her	magical	research—and	with	no	empathy	
  for	the	villagers—Janaela	rarely	emerges	from	her	tower.	
  Praen	 Alston	 (location	 2;	 N	 male	 human)	 The	 village	 miller,	
  Praen	 hates	 Waldere—blaming	 him	 for	 his	 family’s	 painful	
  death—and	stymies	him	whenever	possible	
  Waldere	Elvery	(location	3;	LN	male	human	cleric	3)	Radicalised	
  by	Ashford’s	horrific	fate,	Waldere	is	a	raging	alcoholic.	
  N O T A B L E  L O C A T I O N S  
  Most	of	the	village	comprises	peasant	homes.	A	few	locations,	
  however,	are	of	interest	to	adventurers:	
  1. Ashford	 Manor:	 Abandoned	 by	 its	 lord,	 Ashford	 Manor	 is	
  thought	 unoccupied	 by	 the	 villagers.	 Unbeknownst	 to	 them,	
  three	plague	survivors	lurk	within.	
  2. Mill:	Although	the	mill’s	wheel	still	turns,	Praen	Alston	spends	
  most	of	his	time	protecting,	his	young	daughter.	
  3. The	 Wailing	 Hall:	 The	 village	 church	 is	 rarely	 visited	 now,	
  except	 by	 a	 few	 fanatical	 worshippers	 who	 are	 led	 in	 their	
  devotions	by	Waldere	Elvery.	
  4. The	Jolly	Farmer:	Little	cheer	is	to	be	found	here.	Guests	are	
  served	in	their	rooms	and	almost	no	villagers	now	drink	here.	
  5. The	 Burning	 Tower:	 Home	 to	 the	 enchantress	 Janaela	
  Fisfelond,	the	tower	stands	amid	the	shattered	ruins	of	a	castle	
  thrown	down	after	its	lord	rebelled	against	his	liege.	
  6. Plague	 Pits:	 While	 the	 plague	 savaged	 Ashford,	 the	 villagers	
  dug	two	plague	pits	and	dumped	the	dead	within.	Feral	dogs,	
  woodland	 predators	 and	 Dunn	 Frewin	 have	 uncovered	 these	
  grizzly	reminders	of	Ashford’s	fate.	
  	
  B U B O N I C  P L A G U E  
  The	 typical	 sign	 of	 infection	 with	 bubonic	 plague	 are	 a	
  painful,	swollen,	and	very	tender	lymph	node,	which	occur	2-
  10	days	after	infection.	The	swollen	gland	is	called	a	“bubo”	
  and	such	swellings	can	appear	in	the	groin,	armpit,	or	on	the	
  neck.	 (Generally,	 most	 folk	 developed	 these	 swellings	 in	
  their	groin	 because	 this	was	the	closest	 lymph	 node	to	 the	
  bite	point	of	the	fleas	that	carried	the	disease).	High	fever,	
  chills,	 or	 extreme	 exhaustion	 can	 also	 manifest	 themselves	
  at	 this	 time.	 Other	 symptoms	 include	 red	 spots	 that	 turn	
  black	as	the	disease	progresses,	heavy	breathing,	vomiting	of	
  blood,	aching	limbs,	gangrenous	extremities	and	(of	course)	
  unbearable	 pain.	 Often,	 victims	 slip	 into	 a	 coma	 (often)	
  before	death	takes	them.	
  	
  The	appearance	of	 the	 plague	 is	often	accompanied	 by	
  hysteria	 and	 panic	 or—sometimes—sullen	 resignation	 to	
  one’s	fate	or	bizarre	religious	practices	designed	to	protect	
  the	faithful	from	a	gruesome	death.	
  
  3	
  V I L L A G E  L O R E  
  A	 PC	 may	 know	 something	 about	 Ashford,	 its	 history	 and	
  surrounds.	Determine	how	knowledgeable	the	PCs	are	and	then	
  impart	some	(or	all)	of	the	information	below:	
  § 
  Ashford	 was	 a	 prosperous	 village	 until	 last	 year	 when	 the	
  plague	struck.	Now	most	travellers	avoid	the	village.	
  § 
  A	handful	of	folk	still	live	in	the	village.	The	few	travellers	to	
  visit	Ashford	have	spoken	of	quiet,	distrustful	folk	and	strange	
  religious	practises.	
  § 
  At	 the	 height	 of	 the	 plague,	 terrible	 deeds	 were	 wrought.	
  Some	families	were	burnt	alive	in	their	homes	in	a	desperate	
  attempt	to	halt	the	contagion’s	progress.	
  V I L L A G E R S  
  Appearance	 Of	 sullen	 countenance,	 most	 villagers	 have	 long,	
  dark	brown	or	black	hair	and	either	brown	or	grey	eyes.	
  	
  Dress	The	villagers	wear	old,	muddy	clothes.	Most	wear	thick	
  fur	cloaks,	believing	such	garments	ward	off	the	plague.	
  	
  Nomenclature	male	Ahlred,	Ceol,	Daela,	Gyric,	Praen;	female	
  Bebbe,	Hild,	Oshild,	Saeith;	family	Burch,	Eanith,	Isgar,	Sirett.	
  W H I S P E R S  &  R U M O U R S  
  While	 in	 Ashford,	 a	 PC	 may	 hear	 one	 or	 more	 rumours	
  pertaining	to	the	village	and	its	surroundings.	The	PC	can	learn	
  this	 information	 in	 a	 number	 of	 ways:	 perhaps	 by	 overhearing	
  two	locals	gossiping,	chatting	with	regulars	over	a	few	drinks	at	
  the	local	tavern	and	so	on.	Use	the	table	below,	to	determine	
  which	rumours	the	PC	learns.		
  D6	
  RUMOUR	
  1	
  Janaela	 Fisfelond	 (a	 local	 wizard)	 slew	 several	 villagers	
  with	her	magic	when	they	tried	to	break	into	her	tower.	
  2*	
  The	village	was	cursed	by	a	witch!	
  3	
  The	 local	 priest,	 Waldere	 Elvery,	 survived	 the	 plague	 –	
  although	most	of	his	congregation	died.	He	is	a	drunk.	
  4	
  The	 old	 burnt-out	 Eanith	 home	 is	 haunted	 by	 the	
  vengeful	spirits	of	those	that	died	within.		
  5	
  Something	unnatural	has	been	disturbing	the	plague	pits.	
  6*	
  A	necromancer	lich	desires	some	ancient	treasure	buried	
  deep	 beneath	 the	 village.	 He	 sent	 the	 plague	 to	 kill	
  everyone,	so	he	could	search	for	it	undisturbed.	
  *False	rumour	
  	
   
  
  4	
  N O T A B L E  L O C A T I O N S  
  1 :  A S H F O R D  M A N O R   
  When	 the	 plague	 came	 to	 Ashford,	 its	 lordling	 (Baron	 Aelfgar	
  Stannard	[LN	male	human	fighter	2])	panicked.	Having	lived	here	
  for	only	a	decade	or	so,	he	felt	no	compulsion	to	stay	and	help	
  his	people.	Packing	up	his	wealth	and	jewels	he	fled	along	with	
  his	 family,	 men-at-arms	 and	 trusted	 family	 servants	 to	 a	
  secluded	hunting	lodge.	He	has	not	returned,	and	none	of	the	
  villagers	have	bothered	to	learn	his	fate.	
  	
  Ashford	 Manor	 thus	 stands	 abandoned	 and	 has	 remained	
  unlooted	simply	because	the	villagers	assume	Stannard	will	one	
  day	return.	Unbeknownst	to	them,	three	villagers	who	escaped	
  their	 burning	 homes	 (and	 subsequently	 survived	 the	 plague)	
  skulk	in	the	manor.		
  2 :  M I L L  
  The	 mill	 wheel	 stills	 turns,	 but	 little	 grain	 is	 ground	 here	
  anymore.	 The	 miller,	 Praen	 Alston	 (N	 female	 human),	 lost	 his	
  wife	and	all	but	one	of	his	children	to	the	pestilence.	He	dwells	
  here	with	his	young	daughter	Saeith	(N	male	human)	because	he	
  has	nowhere	else	to	go.	Saeith	is	only	ten-years-old,	but	worries	
  about	 the	 anger	 consuming	 her	 father.	 He	 blames	 Waldere	
  Elvery	 (Area	 3)	 for	 his	 loved	 ones’	 deaths,	 and	 doesn’t	
  understand	 why	 anyone	 would	 still	 believe	 that	 misguided	
  charlatan.	He	stirs	up	trouble	for	the	priest	whenever	he	gets	the	
  chance.	Praen	is	out	of	his	depth	bringing	up	a	young	daughter	
  and	worries	about	everything.	He	is	overprotective	of	Saeith;	she	
  is	not	allowed	to	meet	strangers	and	is	rarely	seen	playing	with	
  other	children.	She	loves	swimming,	though,	and	often	plays	in	
  the	river.		
  3 :  T H E  W A I L I N G  H A L L  
  Once	known	as	the	Chapel	of	Song,	this	church	was	at	the	centre	
  of	 the	 villagers’	 attempts	 to	 save	 themselves	 from	 the	 plague.	
  Here,	 at	 Waldere	 Elvery’s	 (LN	 male	 human	 cleric	 [Darlen]	 3)	
  urging,	the	populace	gathered	daily	to	sing	praises	to	Darlen	so	
  that	 he	 might	 cast	 out	 the	 plague.	 The	 effects	 of	 this	 were	
  predictable	and	plague	swept	through	the	congregation,	killing	
  over	 half.	 The	 survivors	 of	 this	 insane	 practise	 renamed	 the	
  church	for	the	laments	of	those	who	mourned	their	dead	within.	
  	
  Before	 the	 plague,	 the	 church	 had	 two	 priests.	 One,	 Dunn	
  Frewin,	died	of	the	plague.	Ignoring	his	last	request	to	be	buried	
  in	the	church,	Waldere	cast	Dunn’s	body	into	one	of	the	plague	
  pits.	 This	 betrayal	 will	 cost	 Waldere	 dearly;	 Dunn	 Frewin	 has	
  returned	as	a	ghoul	(Area	6).	
  	
  Most	no	longer	visit	the	church,	but	Waldere	yet	holds	sway	
  over	a	small,	but	fanatical,	congregation.	The	dozen	members,	
  led	by	an	inebriated	Waldere,	parade	daily	through	the	village	
  singing	hymns	to	ward	away	the	plague.		
   
  A B A N D O N E D  H O U S E S  
  Many	of	Ashford’s	buildings	stand	empty	and	abandoned,	their	
  owners	 having	 either	 died	 of	 plague	 or	 fled	 the	 village.	 Some	
  homes	 yet	 contain	 the	 decomposing	 corpses	 of	 the	 plague’s	
  victims.	 The	 surviving	 villagers	 do	 not	 enter	 these	 buildings	
  believing	certain	death	lingers	within.	Common	belief	holds	the	
  spirits	of	many	of	the	dead	yet	live	in	their	homes	and	infect	or	
  drive	mad	any	venturing	into	their	“tomb.”	
  	
  An	 aura	 of	 neglect	 and	 decay	 hangs	 over	 these	 homes.	
  Weeds	 choke	 the	 gardens	 and	 yards;	 no	 smoke	 issues	 from	
  their	chimneys.	Feral	dogs	use	some	of	the	buildings	as	shelters,	
  but	the	apathetic	villagers	have	not	bothered	to	root	them	out.		
  D10	
  FEATURE	
  1	
  A	bloody	blanket	lies	twisted	on	the	floor.	The	bloody	is	
  dried	and	from	the	pattern	of	the	stain	looks	like	it	was	
  coughed	up.	
  2	
  The	 remains	 of	 a	 meal—a	 plate	 holding	 some	 mouldy	
  bread	and	hard	cheese—stands	next	to	a	fallen	pewter	
  cup.		
  3	
  The	door	to	this	room	has	been	crudely	nailed	shut	from	
  the	outside.	Within,	lies	the	rotting	corpse	of	a	villager—
  abandoned	in	her	final	days	by	her	family.	
  4	
  A	 terrible	 smell	 of	 rot	 pervades	 the	 house;	 clearly	
  someone	died	here.	The	stench	gets	stronger	as	the	PCs	
  get	closer	to	the	body.		
  5	
  The	 building’s	windows	are	all	boarded	over…from	the	
  outside.	Inside,	gloom	fills	the	house	and	dust	sifts	down	
  through	the	thin	cracks	of	sunlight	piercing	the	interior.	
  6	
  Much	of	the	furniture	lies	scattered	about	out	of	place.	
  Either	 someone	 was	 enraged	 and	 took	 out	 his	
  frustrations	 on	 the	 furniture	 or	 someone	 has	 searched	
  everywhere	for	loot.		
  7	
  Dust	and	grime	covers	most	surfaces	in	the	house.	Faint	
  footsteps	 lead	 toward	 a	 back	 room.	 A	 PC	 skilled	 in	
  tracking	 can	 tell	 the	 person	 making	 the	 tracks	 was	
  shuffling	slowly.		
  8	
  The	rotting	corpses	of	three	rats	lie	on	the	ground	near	
  the	body	of	one	of	the	house’s	occupant.	The	body	lies	
  with	one	arm	stretched;	many	small	 bite	marks	on	the	
  arm	are	evident.	
  9	
  A	 man	 hangs	 from	 a	 makeshift	 noose	 thrown	 over	 a	
  rafter.	 Clearly	 dead,	 his	 neck	 is	 broken	 and	 insects	
  swarm	over	his	decomposing	corpse.	In	a	nearby	room,	
  the	party	find	his	family’s	rotting	bodies	laid	out	in	state	
  together,	under	a	blanket.	
  10	
  A	body—wrapped	 in	 sack	cloth—lies	 in	state	on	a	long	
  table.	 Burnt	 down	 candles	 surround	 the	 suppurating	
  corpse	and	 its	 bloody,	 grimy	wrappings.	A	 nearby	chair	
  has	 been	pushed	back	from	the	table;	a	blanket	lies	at	
  its	feet.	
  	
  
  5	
  4 :  T H E  J O L L Y  F A R M E R  
  Ashford’s	 inn	 was	 once	 a	 happy	 place.	 Although	 the	 landlady,	
  Ailred	Lewin	(LN	female	human)	still	accepts	paying	customers	
  she	 has	 closed	 the	 common	 room	 and	 serves	 guests	 (meagre	
  and	 bland)	 food	 and	 drink	 in	 their	 rooms.	 Whenever	 meeting	
  newcomers,	she	wears	a	rudimentary	mask	over	her	face	soaked	
  in	vinegar	for	protection.	
  5 :  T H E  B U R N I N G  T O W E R  
  The	 so-called	 Burning	 Tower	 is	 the	 only	 intact	 portion	 of	 the	
  castle	that	once	protected	Ashford.	The	demesne	of	a	rebellious	
  lord	the	castle	was	sacked	two	decades	ago.	The	villagers	carried	
  off	much	of	the	stone	to	use	in	rebuilding	their	own	homes	and	
  the	 castle’s	 shattered	 ruin	 remained	 uninhabited	 until	 the	
  wizardess	Janaela	Fisfelond	(N	female	half-elf	wizard	5)	claimed	
  it	as	her	own.	A	skilled	but	aloof	practiser	of	magic,	when	the	
  plague	 ravaged	 Ashford,	 Janaela	 simply	 locked	 herself	 in	 her	
  tower	and	made	no	effort	to	aid	her	neighbours.	As	they	died	by	
  the	score,	and	their	moans	and	hacking	coughs	echoed	through	
  the	village,	Janaela	became	wholly	obsessed	with	her	research	
  and	paid	their	suffering	no	mind.		
  	
  At	 the	 plague’s	 height,	 a	 few	 villagers	 tried	 to	 storm	 the	
  tower	 –	 convinced	 her	 research	 had	 brought	 the	 pestilence	 to	
  Ashford;	she	incinerated	them	with	a	fireball	before	returning	to	
  her	work.	Their	blackened	bones	still	lie	nearby	amid	the	tangled	
  weeds	choking	the	castle’s	ruined	courtyard.	
  6 :  P L A G U E  P I T S  
  At	 first,	 the	 plague’s	 victims	 were	 buried	 like	 normal	 in	 the	
  church	 graveyard,	 but	 as	 death	 swept	 through	 the	 village,	 it	
  became	impossible	to	honour	the	dead	in	the	proper	way.		
  	
  Two	 burial	 pits	 were	 dug	 and	 filled	 with	 plague-ridden	
  corpses	 but	 were	 not	 properly	 filled	 in.	 Feral	 dogs	 and	 other	
  predators	promptly	dug	up	the	graves	and	no	one	as	yet	has	the	
  inclination,	courage	or	strength	to	re-bury	them.	Thus,	the	long	
  grass	and	incongruous	wild	flowers	growing	about	the	pits	hide	
  the	plague’s	grizzly	flotsam.	
  	
  Dunn	Frewin:	One	of	Ashford’s	priests,	Dunn	Frewin	(now	CE	
  male	 ghoul	 cleric	 2)	 died	 of	 the	 plague	 and	 was	 betrayed	 in	
  death	by	his	friend	and	colleague	Waldere	(see	Area	3).	He	has	
  risen	 as	 a	 ghoul	 and	 now	 lurks	 in	 the	 southernmost	 pit,	 in	 a	
  cramped	 burrow	 among	 the	 suppurating	 corpses	 of	 his	 dead	
  congregation.	 As	 yet,	 he	 does	 not	 trouble	 the	 villagers	 or	 his	
  former	 friend;	 plenty	 of	 meat	 yet	 remains	 to	 be	 had	 from	 the	
  plague’s	 decomposing	 victims	 before	 he	 dines	 on	 Waldere’s	
  succulent,	warm	flesh.	
   
   
  4
  5
  6
  B U R N T  O U T  H O M E S  
  At	 the	 height	 of	 the	 plague,	 as	 hysteria	 gripped	 the	 populace	
  and	 the	 pestilence	 raged	 through	 the	 village,	 hotheads	
  desperate	 to	contain	 the	contagion	 took	to	burning	 down	 the	
  homes	of	the	infected	with	their	 inhabitants	within).	 Although	
  this	practise	only	lasted	a	week,	it	has	left	an	indelible	scar	on	
  the	 village.	 Although	 most	 of	 the	 perpetrators	 subsequently	
  died	 of	 plague,	 several	 murders	 resulted	 from	 this	 practice	 as	
  the	relatives	of	those	burnt	alive	exacted	their	bloody	revenge.	
  D10	
  FEATURE	
  1	
  The	 building’s	 blackened	 chimney	 rises	 from	 the	
  surrounding	 piles	 of	 scorched	 and	 burnt	 wood.	 Debris	
  chokes	the	fireplace.	
  2	
  Bizarrely	 one	 section	 of	 soot-stained	 wall	 survived	 the	
  fire	 relatively	 undamaged.	 Someone	 has	 written	
  graffiti—the	names	of	the	people	who	died	here—in	the	
  soot.	
  3	
  Part	of	a	bed’s	wooden	headboard	sticks	out	of	a	pile	of	
  burnt	and	scorched	debris.		
  4	
  The	 fire	 that	 destroyed	 this	 building	 was	 clearly	
  powerful.	 The	 building’s	 stone	 foundation	 stones	 are	
  scorched,	 and	 several	 cracked	 in	 the	 intense	 heat.	
  Similarly,	the	branches	of	a	tree	nearest	to	the	building	
  are	blackened	and	burnt.		
  5	
  Pieces	of	partially	melted	iron	lie	amid	the	ruins.	One	is	
  reminiscent	 of	 a	 cauldron	 or	 pot,	 while	 others	 nearby	
  might	 have	 once	 been	 utensils	 of	 some	 sort.	 All	 are	
  worthless	except	as	scrap	metal.	
  6	
  Birds	 now	 nest	 amid	 the	 scorched	 rafters	 of	 this	 once	
  fine	home.	The	rafters	rang	over	the	ruin	like	blackened	
  bones	reaching	up	into	the	sky.	If	disturbed,	the	birds	fly	
  up	out	of	the	building	into	the	air;	perhaps	their	sudden	
  appearance	 could	 alert	 nearby	 raiders	 to	 the	 PCs’	
  presence.	
  7	
  Three	crude	grave	markers	of	blackened	wooden	planks	
  stick	out	of	the	muddy	earth	behind	the	house.	Bunches	
  of	dying	flowers	lie	upon	each	grave	suggesting	at	least	
  one	person	cares	about	the	people	who	once	lived	here.	
  8	
  Rubble	and	the	scorched	remains	of	two	wooden	beams	
  partially	 cover	 a	 hole	 in	 the	 ground.	 Investigation	
  reveals,	 the	 hole	 leads	 down	 to	 a	 root	 cellar.	 The	
  wooden	 stairs	 leading	 downward	 were	 badly	 damaged	
  in	 the	fire	and	collapse	 if	any	meaningful	 weight	is	put	
  on	them.	
  9	
  Attempts	have	been	made	to	salvage	useable	materials	
  from	 this	 ruin.	 Near	 what	 was	 once	 the	 front	 door,	
  someone	has	dumped	a	pile	of	wood	that	survived	the	
  fire	in	relatively	good	condition;	another	pile	of	scorched	
  and	burnt	offcuts	lies	nearby.	
  10	
  The	 soot-wreathed	 bones	 of	 one	 of	 the	 building’s	
  unfortunate	 residents	 lies	 pinned	 beneath	 an	 unstable	
  pile	of	debris.	Trying	to	reach	the	skeleton	is	dangerous;	
  the	pile	could	shift	or	collapse	if	disturbed.	
  	
  
  6	
  L I F E  I N  A S H F O R D  
  Life	 in	 Ashford	 bears	 little	 resemblance	 to	 that	 of	 the	 more	
  prosperous	(and	plague	free)	neighbouring	villages.	Ashford—with	its	
  mass	 graves	 and	 decaying	 buildings—has	 more	 in	 common	 with	 a	
  ghost	town	than	a	vibrant	country	village.	
  T R A D E  &  I N D U S T R Y  
  Trade	 and	 industry	 have	 virtually	 ceased.	 Few	 people	 travel	 to	
  Ashford	and	those	that	do	rarely	stay	long.	The	villagers	do	enough	to	
  keep	 body	 and	 soul	 together,	 mainly	 by	 tending	 their	 gardens	 and	
  scattered	plots	in	the	fields	surrounding	the	village,	but	little	else.	
  L A W  &  O R D E R  
  With	the	(rapid)	departure	of	Baron	Stannard,	law	and	order	broke	
  down	 in	 Ashford.	 Luckily,	 most	 of	 the	 villagers	 are	 too	 apathetic	 to	
  commit	any	serious	crime.	Waldere	Elvery	sees	himself	as	the	moral	
  guardian	 of	 the	 village	 and	 his	 congregation	 is	 the	 only	 organised	
  group	left	in	Ashford.	Thus,	issues	of	law	and	order	now	fall	to	him.	
  However,	 even	 Waldere—backed	 up	 by	 his	 flock—will	 be	 no	 match	
  for	Dunn	Frewin	whe	the	ghoul	finally	emerges	from	his	plague	pit-
  home	to	wreak	his	terrible	revenge	on	his	former	friend.	
  E V E N T S  
  While	the	PCs	are	in	Ashford,	one	or	more	of	the	below	events	may	
  occur.	Choose	or	determine	randomly:	
  D6	
  EVENT	
  1	
  A	villager	suddenly	starts	to	cough	and	hacks	up	a	great	
  globule	 of	 phlegm.	 Other	 nearby	 villagers	 draw	 away,	
  fear	etched	on	their	faces.	
  2	
  A	 sudden	 wailing	 from	 one	 of	 the	 houses	 shatters	 the	
  quiet.	(A	villager	has	just	discovered	the	signs	of	plague	
  upon	 her	 body	 and	 realises	 the	 terrible	 fate	 awaiting	
  her).	 Moments	 later,	 her	 husband	 and	 three	 children	
  emerge	 from	 the	 house	 with	 looks	 of	 sheer	 terror	 on	
  their	faces.	
  3	
  Two	feral	dogs	bark	at	the	party	from	an	overgrown	field.	
  One	holds	a	human	leg	bone	in	its	mouth.	If	approached,	
  they	run	off	to	enjoy	their	grizzly	feast	in	private.	
  4	
  Two	villagers	are	loudly	talking	about	“the	hungry	man.”	
  Apparently,	he	was	seen	again	last	night	gnawing	on	the	
  bones	of	the	dead.	
  5	
  With	 a	 wet	 thump,	 an	 abandoned	 building’s	 roof	
  collapses.	Few	villagers	pay	any	attention	to	the	collapse.		
  6	
  Waldere	 Elvery	 and	 his	 deranged	 congregation	 parade	
  through	 the	 village,	 singing.	 If	 they	 see	 the	 PCs,	 they	
  march	 toward	 them	 as	 their	 singing	 grows	 ever	 louder	
  and	more	frenzied.	
  	
   
  
  7	
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  System	Reference	Document:	©2000,	Wizards	of	the	Coast,	Inc.	Authors:	Jonathan	Tweet,	
  Monte	Cook,	Skip	Williams,	based	on	material	by	E.	Gary	Gygax	and	Dave	Arneson.	
  	
  Village	Backdrop:	Ashford.	©Raging	Swan	Press	2016;	Author:	Creighton	Broadhurst.	
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  R A G I N G S W A N . C O M  
   EVERYTHING  
       is better with  
  tentacles 
  
  	
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  TITLE 
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SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Raging Swan - Gloamhold/Raging Swan Gloamhold/Raging Swan Town, Village Backdrops/Raging Swan Village Backdrop Ashford sne.pdf