Coming down the road that leads into Jastrey is a group of ogres who might appear familiar to several adventurers. Upon getting close enough, the lead ogre point to you, "You! You help! Adventurers help get bread!"
These are the same group of ogres who came into town last season seeking adventurers to help them get eggs (which turned out to be dragons eggs); this time, they come seeking adventurers to help them get bread. The ogres, mostly through ignorance, aren't very forthcoming with details surrounding the nature or location of the bread. The ogres will not attack the adventurers unless provoked.
The ogres, upon convincing the heroes to assist them, will lead the heroes some distance away, to the foot of a massive beanstalk. Upon climbing to the top they are within view of a massive castle. Anyone familiar with "Jack and the beanstalk" should see where this is going. Once within the castle and finding their way to the dining room the giant will engage the PCs. The PCs do not actually have to defeat the giant to succeed in this encounter, but doing so makes the task of retrieving the bread easier.
The Scale:
Due to the size difference between the players and the giant, all players (and ogres) are affected by PLOT FIELD SHRINK*; this obviously cannot be countered or otherwise ignored.
*Suggested by Thad: "Shrink causes players to hold their elbows against their sides and their knees together."
The Bread:
The Bread is immense as to be of giant proportions; it is therefore also rather heavy. It takes EIGHT players to move the bread, each person with Strength counts as two people (the ogres count as two people).
The Dining Room:
Due to proportions, all players (and ogres) are granted a 3-COUNT, SELF, SNEAK, to represent managing to hide from the giant.
The Giant:
If too many players stealth (discretion of giant/narrator: 5+, half party, etc), or if the party attempts to use abilities to grant stealth to the bread or people carrying it, the giant performs the following: "FEE FIE FOE FUM, I SMELL THE BLOOD OF SOME THIEVING SCUM", SELF, FIELD SEEK. Note: This is not an incant, it's for flavor; also the giant's seek does not have to be used when someone first stealths, it effectively breaks all currently stealthed targets.
Optional Possible Reward:
At the discretion of ownership, anyone who successfully retrieves the bread may have some, which grants SELF, STRENGTH 1 until the player rests.
Version History:
Version 1.1
5 x Savages (ogres), 1 x Giant/Savage (epic/scale for party)
*Brian requests permission to reprise the role of Ogre Chieftan.
EGGS, BREAD, BACON?
An entertaining and intresting challange! The rules invovling using the 'shrink' option gave the encounter an intresting twist.
BREAD, BREAD, BREAD!
In all seriousness though, I found the shorter, silly adventures like this and the goblin hide and go thieve one to be a ton of fun to monster for, and very new-player-monstering-friendly. As a new player, this was easier to get into and feel comfortable just having fun with the mod, compared to playing an NPC/monster with specific skills/abilities/plot role that required explaining and/or felt more high-pressure to act out properly. I realize that longer mods are always going to need more serious/advanced NPCs and monsters, but it was nice to have something like this thrown in too. It (Along with the golbin hide and go thieve one) changed my opinion from being really nervous about monstering in general, to just genuinely having a good time doing it. Just two cents from a newbie. I really do hope bacon is next! lol
I'm glad that you enjoyed hungry Ogres and Hide and Go Thieve; it looked like you were having a good time, and while we all love a story, sometimes a little fun and games is good to loosen up and unwind ^_^
I was glad that a few players recalled the ogres from their previous edible adventure; I'd like to thank Danny for allowing me to continue with them after his original idea, and Thad for suggesting the "Shrink" mechanic.