The PCs come across a fully equipped, riderless horse on the side of the road. The animal attempts to get the players to follow it. If they do, they are led back to an old well with a collapsed side wall.
Inside the well is the rider. He stopped to get a drink, the retaining wall gave way, and he fell inside. That was a few days ago, and the nights have been bitterly cold. His hands and submerged feet are severely frostbitten. A character must climb down the well with a successful DC 13 Athletics check to avoid dislodging loose stones onto the trapped man, which could easily prove fatal in his condition. Sir Edmont is severely weakened and virtually helpless when found.
Sir Edmont will reward the players with his horse and armor for rescuing him. If they can treat his frostbite and save his fingers and toes (DC 13 Medicine check or appropriate healing magic), he will grant them an additional reward of several hundred gold pieces upon returning to safety.
If the PCs murder or accidentally kill Sir Edmont, they will be easily identified if they try to keep or sell his horse and heraldic gear. However, returning his body to his family for an honorable burial will still net them a reward of several hundred gold pieces.
1. Environmental & Sensory Details
The Horse’s Behavior: Mention how the warhorse communicates—nervous pacing, distinct whinnying, nudging a player's shoulder, or trotting ahead and looking back to ensure they follow.
The Well Environment: Describe the faint groans echoing up the shaft, the chill mist rising from the dark water, or loose mortar crumbling underfoot near the edge.
2. Complications & Skill Challenges
Time Pressure / Hypothermia: Each hour Sir Edmont remains exposed to the elements could increase the difficulty of the medical check or cause permanent injury.
Extraction Hazard: Hauling an armored man out without a proper harness or block-and-tackle might require a cooperative Strength check, risking a tumble if the rope frays against jagged wellstones.
Lurking Scavengers: A pack of hungry wolves, wild dogs, or giant rats lurking in the underbrush, drawn by the scent of the trapped horse and its weakened master.
3. Campaign & Story Hooks
Who is Sir Edmont?
A Courier: He carries an urgent royal dispatch or sealed letter that must reach a nearby keep before sundown.
A Family Feud / Political Angle: His distinctive crest on the horse's barding could either earn the party safe harbor with a noble house or draw unwanted attention from their rivals on the road.
The Heraldry Clue: Emphasize that the horse's gear bears a specific crest or signet ring, giving the players an immediate lead on where his estate lies.
Article originally posted, Sept 17, 2019
Updated artwork and additional material, Aug 14th, 2026
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