Quest Line · Original Adventure · Powered by the Apocalypse
Dungeon World · One-shot
A spectral wolf prowls the streets of Redhollow, speaking with the voice of Marten Grayle, a merchant who died three weeks ago. It knocks on doors demanding repayment of debts owed to Marten—debts both financial and moral. The players must uncover why Marten's spirit has taken this form, what debts remain unpaid, and how to lay the restless dead to rest before the wolf's demands turn violent.
Players should create characters with ties to Redhollow, a modest trading town surrounded by pine forests. At least one character should have known Marten Grayle in life, even tangentially. Content warnings: Grief, financial hardship, mild body horror (spectral wolf), themes of guilt and obligation. The adventure involves investigating a death and negotiating with the bereaved and indebted.
Choose the variation that best fits your group:
Hook 1 — The First Knock: The wolf appears at a PC's door at midnight, speaking in Marten's raspy voice: "You owe me, and I have come to collect." Even if the PC owes nothing, the wolf insists they help settle the accounts of others, or it will consider them complicit in theft.
Hook 2 — Hired Help: Marten's widow, Elena Grayle, seeks the party's aid. The town guard won't act against a "mere animal," but three families have been terrorized by the speaking wolf. She offers payment and information about her late husband's business dealings.
Hook 3 — Witness to Terror: The party witnesses the wolf cornering old Hodge the baker, demanding "the two years you stole." Hodge is paralyzed with fear, and the wolf's eyes begin to glow with ethereal fire. Intervening is dangerous, but watching feels wrong.
Redhollow is gripped by supernatural dread. The wolf has visited seven households over four nights, always after dark, always demanding debts. It speaks in Marten Grayle's distinctive voice—a merchant known for meticulous recordkeeping and stubborn pride who died from a fall down his shop stairs three weeks past.
The party can investigate several locations:
The Grayle Home: Elena Grayle, Marten's widow, is exhausted and grieving. She explains Marten was fair but unforgiving about debts. His ledger is missing from his study—she assumed it was buried with him, but now she's not certain. She reluctantly admits Marten had become obsessed with a single entry before his death: "The debt that started it all."
The Marketplace: Townsfolk whisper about who the wolf has visited. Baker Hodge owed two years of back payments for flour supplies. The Fenwick family owed money for their daughter's wedding finery. Tam the carpenter owed for lumber. All legitimate debts, but Marten had verbally forgiven them on his deathbed—or so they claim. Spout Lore (10+) reveals that Marten had no witnesses when he supposedly forgave these debts.
The Cemetery: Marten's grave shows signs of disturbance—not dug up, but the earth is scraped and scratched. A Discern Realities check (10+) reveals wolf tracks leading away toward the forest, and back toward town. On a 12+, the character notices a scrap of leather partially buried: a page torn from a ledger, listing a single name: "Corvin Reed—EVERYTHING."
The party must choose how to proceed:
Option A — Track the Wolf: Following the tracks into the pine forest leads to a hollow beneath ancient roots. The wolf rests here during daylight, incorporeal and sleeping. Approaching requires a Defy Danger with DEX (10+) to avoid waking it. Inside the hollow is Marten's ledger, water-damaged but readable. The final pages detail Marten's debts to Corvin Reed, a traveling merchant who lent Marten his initial stake twenty years ago. Marten never repaid him, and Corvin disappeared. The final entry reads: "I built everything on borrowed coin. The foundation is a lie."
Option B — Confront the Debtors: Visiting Hodge, the Fenwicks, or Tam reveals they're terrified but defiant. Marten did forgive their debts in private conversations, though they have no proof. Parley (10+) convinces them to pool resources and offer the wolf something symbolic—their debt in coin, paid to charity in Marten's name. On a 7-9, they agree but want the party to present it to the wolf themselves.
Option C — Research Corvin Reed: Spout Lore or asking around (7-9) reveals Corvin Reed was a merchant who worked this route decades ago. On 10+, someone remembers Corvin had a daughter, Brynn, who still lives in a cottage north of town. Visiting Brynn reveals the truth: Marten and Corvin were partners, but Marten claimed sole ownership of their successful venture after Corvin took ill. Corvin died penniless and bitter. Brynn never pursued legal action but kept her father's copy of their partnership contract.
The Wolf Attacks: At some point during investigation, the wolf manifests—a translucent white beast the size of a pony, eyes burning with cold blue fire. It confronts the party:
The Debt Wolf — Spectral beast, incorporeal
The wolf doesn't immediately attack. It demands the party help settle "the accounts." Parley (10+) can get it talking about what it truly wants: acknowledgment of Marten's original sin.
The climax occurs when the party gathers the key parties: Elena Grayle, the debtors, Brynn Reed, and the wolf itself. This can happen at Marten's grave, at the Grayle home, or at the hollow in the forest.
Ending 1 — Restitution: If the party presents Brynn with payment equal to what Marten owed (gathered from his estate, from the party, or from grateful townsfolk), and Elena publicly acknowledges Marten's wrongdoing, the wolf howls once and dissolves. Marten's voice whispers: "Thank you. I can rest now." This requires convincing Elena to part with significant wealth and pride. Parley (10+) succeeds; on 7-9, she agrees but the wolf demands one additional debt be repaid first.
Ending 2 — Forgiveness: If Brynn can be convinced to forgive the debt—truly, not just in words—the wolf releases a long, mournful breath and fades. This is difficult; Brynn has nursed this grievance for twenty years. The party must help her see that letting go frees her father's spirit and her own heart. Parley (10+) with honest, heartfelt roleplaying achieves this. On a miss, she refuses, and the wolf grows more agitated.
Ending 3 — The Ledger Burns: If the party destroys or symbolically "balances" the ledger—perhaps by having each debtor sign that their debts are forgiven, and adding Corvin's name with "PAID IN FULL" written by Elena—the wolf accepts this symbolic closure. Marten's voice speaks through it one last time, apologizing to Brynn, before it fades into silver mist.
Ending 4 — Violence: If the party tries to destroy the wolf through force alone, it becomes fully corporeal and fights desperately. Defeating it this way (reducing it to 0 HP through damage) causes it to explode in a burst of freezing wind, dealing d6 damage to everyone nearby. Marten's spirit is not freed—it will reform in d4 nights, angrier and more powerful. This is a failure state, though it may lead to a follow-up adventure.
Elena Grayle: Marten's widow, mid-40s, dignified but exhausted. Wants to protect her late husband's reputation and her own financial security. Fears admitting Marten's failings but loves truth more than pride.
Brynn Reed: Corvin Reed's daughter, early 50s, lives alone, bitter but not cruel. Wants acknowledgment of the injustice done to her father. Would accept genuine restitution or heartfelt apology over gold.
Hodge: Elderly baker, kind and frightened. Represents the "honest debtors" whom Marten forgave before death. Wants to be believed and left in peace.
The Debt Wolf: Marten's guilt and obsession given form. Not truly Marten's ghost, but a manifestation of his unresolved shame. Wants the foundational debt—to Corvin Reed—acknowledged and settled.
Tam the Carpenter: Young, honest tradesperson with a family. Owes money for lumber but was verbally forgiven. Willing to pay anyway if it ends the haunting.
XP: Award end-of-session XP per Dungeon World standard. Bonus XP if the party resolved the situation without destroying the wolf through violence, or if they helped Brynn find peace.
Treasure: Elena offers 3d6×10 coins for resolving the matter. Marten's ledger itself might be valuable to collectors (worth 50 coins) or useful for leverage in town.
Story Rewards: The party earns gratitude from multiple townsfolk, making Redhollow a safe haven. Brynn may become a contact for historical knowledge. If the wolf was laid to rest peacefully, the party gains a supernatural boon: once per character, they may call on Marten's spirit for knowledge about debts, contracts, or business dealings in the region.
Advanced Move Inspiration: Characters who played a key role in the final resolution might take custom moves related to mediation, spirit communication, or understanding supernatural manifestations of guilt.
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