Wrath of the River King was the first 4th Edition Open Design project from Kobold Press and is set mostly in the Summer Lands, Midgard’s version of the Feywild. I ran this adventure in 2009, starting it in the Feyshore Forest near Parsantium.
Here’s the tenth write up in which the PCs encountered Lady Sorreminx again and met the River King himself.
The adventurers return to the river road and emerge in front of the Sluice Gate to the River King’s Court. Strangely, Margarita has vanished, but Brave Ella has appeared – the elf ranger fell through a hole in a marshy part of the forest to find herself travelling down the river road at high speed. As Krivinn and Ella get their bearings, they are called upon to rescue Bolval and Sharden who are floundering around hopelessly in the water. Throwing them ropes, the paladin and ranger are able to stop the two dwarves drifting off towards the nasty-looking merrow lurking beneath the river’s surface.
Back together again, the party heads inside the magical castle where they persuade Rumpkin the porter (a talking bear) to let them into the Outer Courtyard, despite the protestations of Redcloak, the bear they first met in the Golden Knight tavern back in Riverbend.
Inside the courtyard, Krivinn and the others talk to His Excellency Silverwing, Margrave of Ravens, and Caias Gruffkin, satyr and Royal Vintner, and learn some useful information about the River King and the bad advice he’s been given by Jenny Greenteeth and Ambertan the Black Fey warlock. Knurlnap the Water Bearer tries to get the characters to carry his tea urn but they brush him aside and head towards the drawbridge to the Inner Courtyard. Here, Sharden impresses Gumphollow the frog major domo, convincing him to let the party across.
In the inner courtyard, the characters run into Lady Sorreminx and Sir Yngress the Red again. The beautiful eladrin lady grills Brave Ella on her reasons for setting aside her badge in exchange for the Birch Queen’s. Ella explains her mistake in entering the contest to become the Birch Queen’s consort and is forgiven. Lady Sorreminx allows the party to head down the stairs to the Great Rippling Hall.
The adventurers state their case to the River King Ulorian. Redcloak speaks out against them but Lady Sorreminx backs them up, telling of their bravery in battle with Tatzel and the Nain Rouge. The River King is impressed and officially withdraws his support from Lord Flax. This angers Jenny Greenteeth who is present, disguised as a beautiful eladrin. The furious hag challenges Sharden to a duel, pulling him towards her with her beckoning call.
Although the dwarf is unable to use his signature power Trumpet the Star’s Fall in the crowded throne room, he defeats Jenny with his prayers With the hag beaten, the characters head through one of the River King’s whirlpool portals to stop Lord Flax.
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Main image by Florian Stitz
Richard Green | Game Designer 