the willow island On a small swampy island in the middle of a river, the local rat warlord Kayzer forged an alliance with the mysterious cult of the Rat-WithHorns - a sinister creature from a distant perilous world of grim adventures. Thanks to the support of foul magic, Kayzer managed to subjugate the nearby rat gangs and started conquering the island. The only force that still resists him is the small fishing village of Hillford. In order to prevent the villagers from getting support from the mainland, the priests of the Rat summoned a great catfish from the depths, which would sink any ship attempting to approach the island. Who will help the people of Hillford? Maybe brave mice that somehow got through the blockade? And if they are not eager to help, maybe they will be tempted by the legends of the ancient treasures hidden somewhere on the island? Factions and their objectives The village of Hillford (Elmer the Elder, devoted residents) Defeat Kayzer's army Drive away the catfish and restore the connection to the mainland Kayzer and his army of rats (support of the Rat cult) Conquer the entire Willow Island Establish cooperation with the cat Baltazar Cult of the Rat-With-Horns (powerful magic, control over the catfish) Discover the location of the portal to the immaterium Summon an avatar of the Rat-With-Horns Axorius the Kingfisher (elemental magic, hidden). Reclaim his abode Chase the crows off the island The Coven of Crows (dark spells, loose alliance with Kayzer) Learn the secrets of kingfisher magic Find out what the Rat Cult is really looking for The Willow Island is an independent production by Boodzik and is not affiliated with Losing Games. It is published under the Mausritter Third Party Licence. Mausritter is copyright Losing Games. Icons used: www.Game-Icons.net. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) The illustration: public domain Overgrown entrance to the ancient mole city. Destroyed by a powerful earthquake a long time ago. Underground corridors hide unimaginable treasures. A tall withered tree on a hill - the nest of the Coven of Crows, warded by magical alarms. Kayzer's army camp. Tent camp surrounded by a wooden palisade. Kayzer is always accompanied by the priest of the Rat-With-Horns. Mouse prisoners are kept in cramped wooden cages. The ruins of the mouse castle. Haunted by the spirits of the nobleman and his team, who do their penance for eating a human ruler alive. Near the castle, a camp of partisan commandos. They are waging a guerilla fight against the army of rats. Random encounters (d6) Hillford. A mouse fishing village terrorized by a large catfish. Bravely resists the rat forces, but the defenders' morale is weakening. Protected by a wooden palisade. One of the mice is actually the Kayzer’s agent. A fey burial mound. At its top, a broken stone circle. It will summon the fey from a magical realm if repaired. An ancient temple inside. The entrance is hidden under a stone slab on the altar in the center of the circle. Deep in the dungeon, a magical portal that the priests of the Rat are trying to find. Nest of Axorius the Kingfisher. A cave in a slope on the river bank. Occupied by rats that chased the owner away and imprisoned the salamanders that served him. The temple of the Rat-With-Horns cult, hidden among the riverside marshes. Bloody sacrifices to obtain gifts from a dark deity. Patrolled by cult acolytes drugged with magical fumes. 1. d4 + 1 rats patrolling the area. They are looking for an escaped prisoner. 2. A priest of the Rat-With-Horns is looking for ingredients to prepare a spell. He is protected by d3 rat soldiers who are terribly bored. 3. Mouse guerillas (d3) taking care of a wounded comrade 4. d4 rats chasing a terrified salamander. 5. Mouse prisoners (d6 + 3) forced to fell trees in the forest. Guarded by k4 + 2 rats. Every now and then the guards bully one of the prisoners. 6. A crow witch performs a dark ritual. d4 restless spirits gather in the area. Rumors (d6) 1. Kayzer's rats are actively looking for something near the old fey burial mound (T) 2. Some mice escaped to the forest to fight as guerillas (T) 3. The rat priests somehow control the great catfish (T) 4. The rat priests are in conflict with the Coven of Crows (T/F) 5. There is an ancient mole kingdom under the island, whose inhabitants will help to defeat Kayzer (T/F) 6. The Kingfisher and his salamanders have left the island and will not come back (F)