OD&D Hex: Lair, Elves, Forest - Lord Viridian's Demesne
A hard-hearted elf-lord holds court in the wood. Lord Viridian once ruled most of Oxia and lusts for it back, but the centuries have winnowed his subjects to just 141 elves and his three lieutenants Aura, Leveret, and Nivalis. His revanchism is stoked by his sword, which shows him visions of elves fading from the world.
Many mortal lifespans of exile have led the bronze-clad elves to adopt the forest as home. Over time, they forgot how to build their great works, and only remember the ornamentationβloggias, colonnades, gazebos. Their overwhelming ennui leaves them with little patience for new craft, preferring to endlessly shine and sharpen what they already have. Saplings grow in a fine forge at the edge of the settlement.
The best an uninvited visitor can hope for is cool disinterest; willful and repeat trespassers will never leave the woods again. Those proven elf-friend will be showered with gifts and bacchanalia.
Warriors wear scale and cuirasses, and all bear forward-curving swords. 83 spearmen with round shields. 58 archers with barbed arrows and bows of horn. The elves launch vicious ambushes before fading into the trees. There are no children or noncombatants here, for the elves have neither in many centuries.
1-4 patrols of 2d6 each may be out at any time, with a 66% chance of returning. Every month or so, Lord Viridian is moved to hunt with a party of 4d6 plus a lieutenant. Any elves encountered within 24 miles are from here.
Lord Viridian bears the chaotic sword +3 called Biting Wind (intelligence 7, ego 7, detect evil/good, detect invisible) and a wand of fear. He has a drawn appearance and a cruel demeanor. He has prepared Charm Person, Color Spray, Comprehend Languages, Read Magic, Sixth Sense, Protection from Missiles, Locate Object, Fireball, Fly.
Nivalis (ftr 3/mu 3), one of the oldest and maddest of the elves, wears a ring of deception given to him by Viridian as revenge for an affront neither would remember. He believes it grants him true sight. He has prepared Sleep, Read Magic, Read Languages, Phantasm.
Aura (ftr 2/mu 3) is the youngest of the elves and was born too late to remember their glory. She has only known the woods. She is much better disposed toward outsiders as they never served her. She has prepared Charm Person (2), Read Languages, Sixth Sense.
Leveret (ftr 3/mu 4) is the likeliest successor to Viridian should he die. They are calm and level-headed, and are willing to wait out their mortal usurpers. Leveret carries a lesser magical sword (+1). They have prepared Protection From Evil (2) Read Magic, Detect Magic, Phantasm, Continual Light.
The elves have 6000gp among them, the last dregs of a fallen kingdom's treasury. A gem-studded coronet sits atop Lord Viridian's head, worth 1350gp or double to an aficionado.