Cross-City Race

This adventure is meant to be a 'side quest', a break from more typical adventures and dungeon delving. It begins with the characters arriving in a city that's about to host an annual foot-race which whips up the town’s interest like little else. The race is held every year on the same day. The goal is to take a letter from the southern gate to the northern watchtower as quickly as possible, by whatever means necessary. "Cross-City Race" is an adventure designed for characters of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level.

The crowds cheer as the contestants line up just inside the southern gate, sizing each other up. With a great deal of gravitas, the captain of the watch passes before each contestant, bows, and presents them with a small scroll bound up with red ribbon–the message to be delivered at the end of the race. With this accomplished, he paces to the side of the starting line and raises a bright red handkerchief and waves it furiously like a flag to signal the guards. In a moment there is a loud ‘CLANG!’ right behind the runners as the portcullis drops. The race has begun!