Friday Encounter: Caravan Holdup

Here's an encounter to put a (hopefully) refreshing spin on a tried-and-true formula. How many times have you had an encounter where the PCs find a caravan overturned, massacred, and looted by orcs, with or without the orcs still present? It's a classic for a reason - it provides opportunities for combat, treasure, and intrigue all in one package, with further leads that the party can pursue if they wish. I suspect that's why this scenario gets used as frequently as it does. But what if the PCs came upon such a scene while the caravan was being robbed?

The Encounter

This encounter is best suited while the PCs are traveling on a road. Up ahead, they see a horse-drawn wagon laden with barrels, crates, and sacks, stopped in the middle of the path. Four orcs (or, alternatively, human bandits, or any other sort of enemy you wish to use - it works for any number of scenarios) are gathered in front of the path, blocking the cart from moving any further. A fifth orc - Hokluk, the leader of the band - is standing off to the side, holding a terrified-looking merchant, Henrik Stolt, up by his collar and pinning his back up against a tree. Hokluk's warband ambushed Henrik's caravan as it passed through, accosting the merchant and demanding he turn over the shipment in exchange for safe passage.

Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, this happened mere moments before the PCs arrived on the scene, and they manage to catch Hokluk in the middle of his "negotiations" with the caravan. At the sight of unfamiliar faces approaching, both take note. Henrik is relieved to know that his life may be saved by a stroke of fate - Hokluk suspects that he might be able to get even more out of the deal, now!

At the sight of the PCs, Hokluk draws a notched sword from his belt and holds it to Henrik's neck, threatening that if the PCs draw weapons, he will slit the man's throat without a moment's hesitation. He will, however, agree to let the merchant go if they hand over any valuables they might be carrying. Henrik pleads weakly for them to follow the orc's demands - he's too fearful for his life to want to risk more trouble. Of course, the PCs might have other ideas.

It is possible that the PCs will want to negotiate for Henrik's freedom. In this case, use your judgment. I can't anticipate what solutions your table might come up with. The orcs are motivated mainly by greed, and will accept anything they believe to be equal or greater than the value of a wealthy merchant's wares (about 1000 GP) to be enough to let Henrik and his merchandise go unmolested. If the PCs give less than that, they will still let him go, but will make off with his wagon and horse, intending to eat the beast and use the wealth for their own purposes. Alternatively, a DC 17 Persuasion check (or Deception, depending on the argument) might be effective at getting Hokluk to reconsider his warband's course of action. The PCs might, for example, be able to suggest alternative means to gain wealth, or they may be able to convince the orc to a duel in order to determine the merchant's fate.

If the PCs react with open hostilities, Hokluk slits Henrik's throat, killing him instantly. His four spear-orcs will charge the PCs, while he hangs back ready to take the place of any who are wounded or flee. At the same time, three more orcs that were hiding behind the cart clamor on top of it and fire on the PCs from above. The cart is a terrain feature with the Climbable, Concealing, Total Cover, High Ground, Impassible, and Ledge tags. The orcs will fight until half of them are slain or until Hokluk dies, after which they must all make a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw at the beginning of each of their turns or flee.

Further Developments

Naturally, where the PCs go next with this encounter depends heavily on the outcome of it. If Henrik survives the ordeal, he will thank the PCs and promise to reward them - but his ability to do that might be called into question! If he still has his cart, he will request the PCs accompany him to his destination, upon which he will pay each of them 200 GP once he sells off his wares.

If Henrik survived but the orcs stole his cart, he will lament its loss, but is thankful to be alive and insists not to worry too much about it. He will, however, be on his feet in the middle of hostile and unfamiliar territory, and requests the PCs follow him back home. In either case, Henrik may become an NPC contact you can reuse in later adventures, or as someone the PCs can choose to seek out on their own.

If Henrik was killed but the PCs managed to recover his cart, they will find a map guiding them to the town he intended to sell his wares at - which is surely still expecting the shipment. If they go there, they may be able to turn a profit for the goods - but it is also possible someone will recognize that someone who is not Henrik is driving his cart, and believe it is the PCs who robbed him! In any of these scenarios, you may wish to throw in additional encounters along the way while the PCs are escorting the merchant, his cart, or both.

Another way to build off this encounter is to look into why the orcs were so determined to rob the caravan in the first place. Is it truly a matter of mere greed - or does something even more ferocious threaten them, forcing them to gather tribute (or the funds necessary to protect themselves)?