Welcome to Tuesday where we look at one of the characters for this weeks adventure which looks to bring in another element into play. Keeping it to a rule of three that I try and abide to this completes the triad of influence I have in plan for this months adventure, and the current setting of the campaign as we reach the midway part for the yearly adventure!
So let me introduce you to Sai Tsugen, the faceless man.
Sai Tsugen
222TuSaTs
As the party left the room where Kyoko sat and headed towards the stable where the fallen mare lay Takeo rushed ahead to make sure that the area was secure and Liz strode next to Siu who hung back with the others, his presence still flickering in and out of peoples perception.
As the party reached the stables they were stopped at the door by several men dressed in Reds and greys.
“You five seem to be out of place here,” a older and serious Ryokughan man said as he stepped in front of the door – his hand moving inside of the sleeve of his robe. “I’ll ask you politely to step away as my lady does not want any disturbances to befall these animals.”
The man waits for the party to introduce themselves before turning to Liz “you don’t seem to be with these four, who are tasked by Lady Kyoko to visit these stables. What business do you have?” The man asked as the other Red and grey dressed men walked purposefully around the building.
“I am here to examine the horses to make sure they are in good health” said Liz, careful to not reveal too much to ensure that the man could be trusted.
Sighing and smiling a toothy grin the man withdrew his hand from the robe “Apologies lords and ladies, I had to make sure I could trust you. Please, allow me to get the door for you.” he said as he moved towards the door, a mixture between a stride and a waddle – the movement almost purposeful to the trained eye. “A mystery it is, the shaman couldn’t tell what was the matter and we were asked to quickly seal up the area and not allow anyone other than those entrusted to enter. I don’t even quite know myself what is going on as I have come at the change of the shift and been told to show the authorised people into the building.” the man said, a small change in his tone as he spoke almost undetectable.
Knocking on the door and stepping to the side a small wooden panel was opened and Takeo’s eyes were revealed. Moments later the door was unlocked and the door opened – Takeo walking deeper into the stables “come in, towards the back” he called in a carefully measured voice so that only those by the door could hear.
Moving through the red robed man closed the door behind them, or so it sounded like it, and carefully walked in behind them. Moments later the sick mare was revealed, her hide was normally brown with patches of white was now a dark grey, the hair slowly falling out in great patches as the body of it lay unmoving.
“I can’t detect any poisons, curses, wounds, cuts, bruising. Nothing.” Takeo said as he looked down at the mare, crouching down. “there is a build up and a large amount of mucus near the mouth as if the horse spat up as it collapsed but that is all I have found that is odd. Strange..” he said as he turned his head towards the party, his eyes following a moment later “Liz, maybe your divine magic can identify what is going on here…” he stopped as his eyes met the man in the red and grey robe.
“what is he doing in here. None of the hands were meant to enter the room.” he said standing abruptly. Just as quickly as he stood he started to shake, his legs wobbling as his shivering hands reached up to his neck and plucked a tiny fluff covered spike from his neck. His eyes lost focus as they moved between the party and the man at the back of the room then to Liz as he fell to the ground.
Liz shrieked and dashed forwards, a prayer already on her lips as she met his side and a golden glow covered his body, a greenish tinge flowing from a minute puncture wound on his neck flowing through to his limbs. The glow spread down and focused on the puncture which seemed to stop the tinge and slowly it receded.
“Interesting..” they heard on the wind as the door behind them slammed shut – whirling around the man in grey and red had gone, disturbed hay the only evidence that he had been there at all.
Thanks for joining me tonight for the introduction of another antagonist of our adventure, one that will drive our party towards the tipping point that I have planned for June. So don’t forget to come back this week, let alone the rest of the month so you can follow along as we reveal what we have planned for the month of June and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to Monday where we look at the plot for the coming week, leading into a month long Adventure. This week I want to continue on from the bonus flow on content from last week and flesh out the adventure between here and another major city in Ryokughan.
Blood Debt
222MoBD
As the morning sun rose the party stretched and were thankful for the warm, comfortable mattresses that were underneath them and the filling meals they received at the house that they were granted rooms to rest in. Kyoko’s families reputation and the tales of the parties bravery and prowess spreading during their quest up the mountain were resulting in the adventurers from across the sea becoming well known, idols to some and for others the targets for scrutiny and ill intended gossip.
The reception back into the city of Shuimu was a mixture of relief, amazement of the tales that they and Takeo told, keeping Shiku, the scroll and the state of the monastery a secret, and unknown to them, the revelation of the kappa cave and the remains of travellers before them were creating concerns and alarm bells of what damning items could’ve been found amongst those remains. Kyoko, Liz and Siu, who was sometimes visible and other times appeared out of no where – a result of Liz’s prayers and charms no doubt, were excited to be filled in when the party returned.
When the party finally found a moment of peace and quiet with Kyoko they revealed the cure for the Shadow Bruises first.
“Interesting, Lotus flowers hold a mystical connection to our ancestors and the dragons that bonded with our families. Some families the dragons took upon other forms but their spiritual essence was always the same and they all had some connection to the lotus leaf. The Harimasu lotus’s have not bloomed since before I can remember,” Kyoko said before wincing, Siu looked ashamed before drifting to the corner of the room towards a small statue of their ancestral guardian Huangdi. “There is but one place where we can receive the waters of the Lotus flower within any amount of reasonable time and it is with the Toshi family, I believe you received some horses from them as a way to return to the city quickly. Although this bothers me that I am in some form of debt to them I do have someone looking after the horses to ensure that nothing foul goes a foot whilst they are in our care. The value of the horses is negligible but to be in debt to another family, small or large, can cause strife within our tight knit communities and that is something we must avoid. What was the second thing you had to show me?” Kyoko asked as she reached for the scroll which revealed the plot on the Harimasu family.
“Ah, this is interesting and potentially damning evidence if we can seek an audience with the head of the family. As long as everything goes fine in our visit there we should be able to request some of the water from their lotus pond – a strange and audacious request but something we can probably navigate around.” She continued as a knock on the door came urgently, rolling up the scroll and placing it by her side she allowed the visitor to enter.
“Lady Harimasu. Urgent news,” it was the one of the men she had requested guard the horses, “One of the Toshio mares has fallen ill suddenly, and died. Our shamans did not make it in time but they have yet to detect any poison or foul intentions on the beast.” the man said bowing to Kyoko. “Forgive us please lady, we did our best but we have failed you.”
“Nonsense – you are not to blame for this. Ensure that no one else finds out about this and we will investigate the mare. You did your best and that is all we can ask of you and your men. Thank you for the news although I wish it was more pleasant tidings” Waving her hand she dismissed the man with mercy before waiting for the door to close. “This is bad timing, a coincidence I think not however. Can you take Siu, Takeo and Lady Liz to check on the mare to ensure that there as no foul play. I don’t trust the shamans as they hire themselves out to the deepest pockets these days. It does not add up, the omens are not good and as it stands we are both in debt to the Toshio family and hold damning evidence of their people committing open hostility against our own. This could have gone a lot better.” Kyoko concluded as she sighed and poured herself a small cup of a strong distilled alcohol.
“please be discrete if you can. The less people that know about this incident the better.” Kyoko said as she started to fetch some parchment, ink and a quill.
Thanks for joining me tonight for the revelation of the beginning of this months adventure, and this weeks session! Don’t forget to come back the next few nights to keep up to date with the developments of this weeks adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Hi all and welcome to a bit of a mixed up weekend. Tonight I wanted to briefly talk about something that I discovered in my DM journey, pacing.
Now when I remember back to my early dungeons and dragon days, let alone when I started dungeon mastering, the adventures we had back then were akin to one shots. Quick, to the action and simple – the story was over after one or two sessions. So when I started to DM in campaigns with bigger stories every Adventure was as action packed as I always had them. Every week a new bad guy, a new dungeon or problem to fix which was normally at 100%.
This was fundamentally bad for the game and despite my party of action-JRPG-hack and slash video game playing group loving the sessions the pace was way off. It wasn’t until I introduced a friend, who loved graphic novel and story driven games, to dungeon mastering that I understood pace.
Two to three sessions with no combat and very in little dice rolling made for a slow and tedious Adventure and I was there for it. Enjoying just being a player for the first time in years, about 10 of them, I was fine to throw my gnome fighter who loved tinkering into every session possible including the impossibility dry political intrigue plots that had almost entirely too much reliance on the players (not characters) ability to navigate political intrigue which would put some jrpgs to shame. This taught me the need for pace and having periods of lower action as my friend did it very well (the lower action part.. not pacing..)
The Eureka moment came for me when I started to look at world building and theory around story plot – trying to flesh out my approach where I had these imaginary pins on the board for key moments in the campaign story arc where the party initially discover the villains of the sorry (first 5 sessions) they work towards trying to find and defeat the villains while uncovering information to the world which would be critical in defeating their supposed BBEG (10-15 sessions) and then realising that their efforts accelerated the breaking of the divine seal (keeping the all-father of undeath bound to a magically created second moon) which saw the plot accelerate mid campaign to a new peak, revealing that the quest had grown and was far from over.
Having waves where your party is frantically fighting for their life or helping a farmer find his lost sheep gives players the time to appreciate the peaks and troughs but also doesn’t burn out US as Dungeon Masters if we keep going at 95% all the time.
Now, giving it our all, all the time is a good thing. But to bring the big guns, keep the pedal to the metal, to have the party on the edge of their seats every session is detrimental to the game. To look at a favourite quote of mine and tweak it slightly.
And when everyone’s super… no one will be.
Syndrome – the incredibles
To adjust it to.
When everything is awesome… Nothing is
Some dude
We can begin to understand that those peaks we work our party towards. Slaying the red dragon, confronting their old peer and mentor, Botherson, or to save a prince from their evil father’s plot and sacrificial altar isn’t that special if we do it every week. Let the troughs create your peaks naturally and when they do come watch your parties faces as they savour and relish that moment and bask in the knowledge that you gave them that feeling of wonderment and enjoyment.
Thanks for joining me tonight, don’t forget to come back this week for anyone month long Adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
Tonight we follow the parties quest to uncover the cure of the Shadow like bruises that have appeared on many of the passengers of the Dancing Drake. To uncover the cause of it will take much more time, perhaps, but to find a cure the answer may lie with the ancient order of monks known as the Shuimu’s tail who reside within the mountains that lay nearby Shuimu know as Shuimu’s ridge.
So I will continue using this format which I believe is easier for me to collate material and display it – but of you find that its not the easiest way to read it please do let me know!
As with last time Pages 1, 2 and 3 are content pages, the description, flow, random tables, etc. and such that you’ve previously seen. Page 4 contains all NPCs and portraits to help the DM describe them and a bit about them to help play them out. Page 5 will be stat blocks and map(s) – all that D&D encounter goodness that you want.
Now I will assume you have read the entire post (a shocking 9717 words long! I maybe could make a novel out of this by the end of it…) and say thanks in advance for reading this – I have expanded, added and adjusted a few things to make sure the adventure flow better.
All Maps were made in Inkarnate using their Pro license. Except the boat – thats hand drawn (may look to make that in Inkarnate one day)
Don’t forget to come back next week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Part 1 – The Touched – 218MoTT
As the ship sailed down the widening River the last signs of the marsh retreated into the wild under a chorus off toad-kin singing songs of praise, protection in and victories to be come.
“It’s nice isn’t it. To be nearly home and be with the first glimmer of hope we’ve had in quite some time” Kyoko began, breathing deeply and looking out across the water and slowly approaching fields be and farmland. “I bet you were be staying to worry weren’t you Takeo” she said turning to the tawny hawk next to her. After a ruffle of feathers Takeo Mei stood next to her.
“When my birds returned without delivering a message I worried, when Jade Point was under siege I also worried. But now I am glad to see that you have made some stalwart companions to usher you home, I knew that they were a good omen, but I don’t remember the Priestess being amongst them earlier.. ” he frowned looking towards the Lizbet as he could sense a strange energy about her.
“She is something else. Single handed turned the Toad-kin into allies. They call her a fallen Star” Kyoko said as she sipped from a cup and watched her. Takeo nodded to Kyoko before walking towards Lizbet and the party of adventurers he met weeks ago.
“I could sense something about you from across the ship. You have a light about you Miss Priestess, one that the darkness and shadow will try and snuff out” Takeo said, nodding to the party as he stopped to stand amongst them, tilting his head listening to a sound that only he could hear.
“Well they have tried already, luckily for me I have had these adventurers, heroes if you will, protect me and shepherd me from harm for now. Even Siu has taken to following a few feet behind me to ensure that I am safe.” she said as the golden scaled beast moved forward making Takeo startle if only for a moment.
“No, I can’t. I won’t. She is the light that will protect us.” he muttered under his breath as he shook his head – the whispers getting louder with each passing moment. His legs walked on their own carrying him next to the railing, around the back of the gathering where the adventurers stood with the person made entirely of blinding light. “No, don’t please. Its a price I cant afford” the man continued as he felt the change happen – suddenly people stopped moving aside, no one looked at him and even the astute and watchful gaze of the man talking to the priestess and the party frowned as if something was missing.
As more people bumped into him he cursed the card game that had won him the stone that was now in his possession, again, a pain on his neck forming as the stone took its mark on him. He couldn’t live like this again, not in the shadow, not without the warmth of others and so with a shuddering sob he drew his long knife, a memento from his father – a fisherman – and drove the point into his chest. He shuddered as the stone fell from his hand and clacked against the railing of the ship and then over the side as he felt his body go cold. All of a sudden people were screaming, the man who appeared to have been watching him before the shadow enacted its price was there in the space he drew his last breath. “The shadow…” he managed to whisper to the man as he felt his eyes close.
Takeo knelt next to the man he remembered seeing, hearing talking to himself as if a mad man then nothing – as if his existence had been wiped from the world. When the body hit the ground he remembered what had been witnessed and heard and as he heard the words “The Shadow” he searched the man for marks – a large, deep bruise had formed on his neck where it met his left shoulder as if a large round object had been forced onto him for some while.
“Kyoko, we need to restrict the priestess and her companions at once. There is darkness afloat these waters”
Areas and places of note
The Boat – Confined to the lower decks where there is the ability to limit the access to both the passengers and the crew the party are able to defend the location of choosing to keep those afflicted with the Shadow Bruise from killing Lizbet.
Environment and running the adventure
The Boat – See Map
Notable NPC interactions.
Koyko Harimasu – After the appearance of the first shadow bruised Kyoko assisted the party of adventurers in finding a place that could be secured and easily defensible before returning to the deck to work with the crew and Takeo in looking for more of the Bruised.
Elizabeth “Lizbet” Scaulder – Liz is worried about the attacks, especially the nature of them as they appear out of no where but generally only as they are killed. Her concern is two fold, concern for her safety and the safety of those around her as well as the concern for those afflicted by the curse that gave them this shadow-like quality and if they would be able to be cured from the curse.
Siu – Siu spends his time defending and sticking as close to Liz and Kyoko as possible trying to defend them both – when Kyoko goes back above deck to talk to the crew and the other passengers Siu sticks close to Liz.
Takeo – Takeo, after uncovering the initial attacker and talking to the party about the next best steps goes to see his master, where upon finding his clan hall empty returns back to the ship just in time for it to dock.
Missing wisdom – Empty Halls –218WeEH
The large tawny hawk flew into the open window in the plain looking barn before settling down on a crate as it ruffled its feathers and shifted its form, muscles bones and feathers shifting, growing, stretching and receding until Takeo sat on the crate – a few drops of water still hanging to his hair from the light shower of rain that had greeted him as he flew into the town.
“I hate it when it rains” he sighed shifting his cloak around. The transformation from hawk to man after flying in rain always left him with water under his clothes when they appeared again. Standing and treading down the hall, a familiar path from his training as a child which his feet remembered. Each floorboard was different, only a few of them weren’t floating on top of nails that would squeal when stepped on and for those who remembered the path you could pass through these halls silently.
Passing a door, one belonging to another lotus member who was initiated a month later than he, he saw it was empty, but the external facing window was left open which was expected – their order was given all kinds of orders and had to deal with all situations imaginable.
Approaching the archway at the end of the hall he took off his shoes and placed them next to his masters shoes, as he had since a boy, and slowly stepped past the threshold and into the chamber beneath. A shadowed figure knelt in front of a fire so the feature’s of the face and front of the body were cloaked by shadow and darkness. Coming to rest, standing twenty steps away he knelt down and waited for his master to acknowledge him.
Minutes seemed to go by and Takeo got tired of waiting for protocol “master, I bring tidings from lady Kyoko. Her ships passengers, crew and refugees from Jade Point, have become afflicted with Shadow Bruises. What’s more, they disappear from all sight and senses, well seemingly so at least. Occasionally a person who is acutely aware of their presence can detect them.”
“They have started to attack the guest of princess Kyoko, targeting her it seems but there is resistance in the host. I believe they are being cursed by a stone as black as shadow and directed, forced even to make attempts on the life of the guest.” Takeo looked at his master, unmoving and unyielding. “Master do you know of what I talk about” he said moving forward to get closer. Something wasn’t right, the figure wasn’t moving but seemed to be unnaturally still. “Forgive me master” he muttered before approaching the figure and pulling back the hood. As he did several stray feathers wafted down and what was a very convincing decoy was revealed to be feathers and fabric under the robes of his master.
Frowning his senses went on full alert, a creak from the hallway, the rattle of a window, something somewhere was not right. Pushing his body through the the mental preparation to transform into his raven he darted down the hall, his dirk drawn and ready as he seemed to hit every squealing floorboard on his flight down the hall. The transformation process was physically and mentally draining and normally the Lotus agents couldn’t transform so quickly again after reverting to their human form, and his mind was rejecting the ancient magic.
As he stopped near the crate where he came into the building by he looked around, willing his heart to be silent and his body to take the form of the Raven.
Silence. The building was silent, not a sign of life, or more important death anywhere. His mind settled and his body started the shift, looking around the room as his eyes shifted and changed he didn’t see a single thing out of order, like nothing had changed or been here. As he turned and flew out the window he started to piece together what his next steps would be. Without his masters seemingly endless Knowledge there may be no one but the monks who secluded themselves from the world of men long ago.
Encounter
Boat – In this encounter lets assume that our party of 4 have all reached level 5, I think that would be fitting for being this far in the adventure-year (but after this part of the adventure I would expect a level up to bring them to level 6 in time for their arrival in Shuimu.
The first encounter, on deck should be like a script, if the party roll a successful Charisma Saving throw vs Stealth check OR Insight vs Stealth will reveal the creature to the one who made the check – but otherwise they don’t see the first shadow bruised until they hit the deck dead.
Takeo and Kyoko will take the party, Liz and Siu downstairs and into one of the sealed crews quarters to discuss the situation. The end goal here is that Takeo will reveal that he doesn’t have all the information and that he will need to talk to his masters further to get more information – he will then leave after that.
Kyoko will ask the Party to pick a place to defend Liz for now, a lockable or sealable space would be good. The closed off quarters are good options (one with two bed is where Liz would be staying currently), the crews quarters with hammocks may be also suitable or even the sealed in holding cell in the centre of the floor. On their way there they would get attacked by one of the Shadow Touched (see above encounter mechanics) who would try and attack Liz (depending on how the Party are moving) if they decide to stay in Liz’s chambers then the attack happens there.
If the Party move around, or change watch, or, every 6 hours another attack will happen until they have been attacked four times in total where the fifth has two shadow touched attacking at once – which is unusual for them
Welcome to Friday also known as fight night where this week I wanted to put in a little encounter to occur during the days downtime before the next part of the adventure carries on. It should be no surprise that I love night time encounters but tonight’s one can be run during any time of the day – but night seems more thematic.
Freshly Risen
221FrFrRi
As the last of the suns rays disappeared from high above the mountains the farmers returned from their rice paddies and soon the few small huts had glowing golden warmth scattered from the windows.
“It sure is getting cold, unusual for this time of year” the middle aged woman said to her husband and daughter as they set the table – the other farmers were coming around for dinner tonight to celebrate the coming harvest. “I’d say its going to be an early season the way the wind blows from the hills up north”
“We should leave a bigger offering at the family shrine tomorrow, to ward of the spirits,” her husband said as he set down the last plate as a few of the farmers from the other houses walked through the front door. “They say when the wind blows cold from the hills that the spirits are restless.” he continued before he had a scornful glance get shot his way from his wife – but it was too late.
“What do you mean father?” the girl asked as she grabbed a pitcher of water and set it on the table with some clay cups.
The wife sighed as she retrieved a pot and set it down on a woven mat in the middle of the table. “Yes, we’d also like to know as we haven’t heard of a lot of the folklores from Shuimu” said one of the new farmers at the table.
The father sat back in his chair with a grin as he stood and grabbed a shield from the wall. “This was my ancestors shield, Many centuries ago he fought in a great battle in those hills where a dragon and the people of Shuimu fought some of the creatures of The Shadow – an army with Demons and all manner of creatures from the shadow lands – beyond the great mountains far to the north.” he began, taking a swig of rice win as he continued his tail. “My ancestor fought valiantly but unfortunately died in battle, so did many of our men and women from this land as they protected it from the cursed ones. There wasn’t time to bury them properly so they burried them amongst the hills each with a dragon scale placed upon them as they were covered by the soil.” He paused again looking amongst the faces of those around the table, “the following year a spring formed and the plants that grew from that spring were soo bountiful that the farms we work today were formed back then. When the cold wind blows from the hills they say that The Shadow is planning its revenge, that the demons and spirits that fought in that war walk the ground again when the wind is cold.” He said taking another drink from his cup.
“all superstition” said his wife shaking her head at the enthusiastic man across from her. “No spirit or demon will walk amongst those hills, but in the morning we can visit the ancestor’s shrine. Husband, wasn’t Cristine and her husband meant to come as well?” She asked looking out the window towards the third hut.
“yeah, I am sure they will be here soon. Old Hugh can’t ignore a feast.” Her husband said as he helped himself to the stew.
Meanwhile…
Just up the road the tangy and sickly sweet smells of meat was wafting from the farmers hut, the door lay open with two sets of legs laying out of it. Both sets of legs twitched and moved as the horrid creature on top chewed and clawed at the one underneath who was weakly trying to fight and push back at the rotating body on top. A few feet away a much stiller body of a man lay, the creature on top slowly getting up being drawn to the sound of merriment and warmth from the house further down the farms. Pushing past the now both dead creatures in the doorway it joined a mass of other shambling, shuffling dead creatures who mocked and imitated the living.
As the cold wind blew down from the hills the slow stench of death and rot from unnaturally preserved bodies began to mix with the hearty warm smells of stew, wine and cracking wood in a hearth.
Tonight the shadow touched dead followed the wind to add more creatures to their growing ranks.
Nice simple encounter, dead marching from the farms. Party has to stop the dead, foggy morning or clear night a preference. If you want to create it into a mini adventure/session then there would be a creature raising them from the grave, I’d beef up a ghast to CR5 (+1 additional proficiency bonus) and add appropriate amount or hp. Have a shadow taint affect on its bite too for good measure.
Thanks for joining me tonight and looking at tonights encounter inspired by an image in my old copy of Oriental Adventures (3e) DnD suppliment. Don’t forget to come back this weekend for more content, I may mix around the days and have the final write-up come out tomorrow instead of Sunday as I have a full on social calendar this weekend so don’t get too alarmed if the normal schedule os mixed around some! And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to Thursday where we look at Maps, Extras and odd bits that enhance out game. Today I wanted to put out a bit of the geography of the are we find ourselves in, well this month, and I had a quick toy around in Inkarnate. So a very short one tonight but hopefully it still provides some value and additional context.
City of Shuimu
221ThCoS
So I wanted to try and capture the point where the jungle and forests from the marshes transform not the farm land where Shuimu gets some of its food reserves from. Farms to the north east of the city feed the town with vegetables and rice. To the east lies Shuimu’s ridge with the nearly forgotten monastery lying amongst the ridges.
To the north lies Ryokughan proper where we will visit deeper into the country and find what lies in wait for our adventurers.
To the south is two long but thin rivers that connect into a wider river filled with trade vessels, and pirates making it less desirable to travel when coming from Faerun. The western river leads to a large but mostly lifeless lake – due to the salt water coming from the sea and cold waters coming from the mountains a almost shimmering wave of water is always present at the mouth to the lake that many locals believe is supernatural in nature.
Made with Inkarnate.com, original can be found here – Shuimu
A smaller upload tonight, but it did take some time to get the multiple layers of grass and water (and just the right amount of trees.) so the image itself took a bit of time tonight. As I explore Ikarnate I hope to be able to come back to a few of these maps and spice them up a bit but as I learn the system I will continue to post what I work on so we can get an understanding of the world in which our parties walk through. Once again don’t forget that this weekend is the end of month write up where we wrap up May and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to Wednesday where we traditionally look at twists, changes and secondary story hooks that drive enjoyment and engagement for our players. Tonight I want to revisit a very special NPC that we looked at a few weeks back to tie her into the in next little while of our in adventure.
Layered Deception
221WeLaDe
As the caravan moved further down the road away from Shuimu she rolled shoulder as the weight from the unfamiliar armour bit into her shoulder – and she couldn’t help but grin.
The distant plume of dust, and the presence in her mind told her that the horses, particularly the one she handed over to the party of adventures, were moving away from her and back towards the large port city.
“Karyn,” the voice of lady Toshio sang out from the carriage. As she jogged to catch up with the ladies carriage and the open windows. “I don’t see why I had to give horses to those peasants” Lady Toshio said, her eyes narrowing as she questioned the warrior. “my father said you can be trusted but I fail to understand why” the irritable lady asked.
“It’s best to have rivals in your debt for little things, rather than having them owe you more.” The warrior replied as she picked at something from under her nail with a small knife. “They look petty to squabble and reject small things but are looked upon more favourably for larger things. Besides I have a feeling that we will see them again soon and I’d rather be on home soil rather than on the road from a neutral city”
Sighing the lady picked at some dried fruits from a silver platter and poured herself some mild wine. “It makes sense but I dislike helping the Harimasu’s.” She muttered after a moment when she realised the warrior was watching her.
“Oh I don’t think we have helped them all that much, just laying seeds that will soon take root.” The warrior, Karyn, replied as she walked away from the carriage ending the conversation with her allies daughter. She liked this form the most out of her humanoid from, other than her own skin that is, and she had maneuvered herself to be in a position of influence where she was able to tip the scales in her favour. Looking up at the blue sky she smiled and began to whistle, a haunting and cold tune that carried in the wind. The other warriors, merchants and dignities that travelled in the caravan shuddered as they heard the tune – visions of things moving in outside the candlelight and skittering amongst trees filler their minds and somewhere in the procession a matching tune or victory started, soon drowning out her whistles. This made her grin grow wider as they travelled further into Ryokughan.
This was going to be fun…
Well thats all we have for tonight, thanks for spending some time with me here amongst my thoughts and plots. Don’t forget to come back each night as we explore more of the orient with dozens of new, unique creatures yet to be encountered and many more sights and places to see. Also don’t forget that this weekend is the end of month write up where we wrap up May and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to Tuesday where tonight I wanted to do a short glimpse in a window within Shuimu. Confusing? Well let’s roll on and get a closer look.
Duplicity
221TuDu
Kyoko sat next to Siu, she thought so atleast as it was difficult to make out his presence at times as the curse took hold of him. Liz sat on Kyoko’s other side and she breathed in deeply as she lit some incense as she began a prayer for the success and safe returns of the adventures.
A few minutes passed as they listened to Liz’s prayer, “They will be fine” Kyoko said after the prayer was finished chanting, “Takeo is guiding them and the monks are a peaceful people” Kyoko reassured both Siu and Liz. The heady incense caused Kyoko’s nose to itch and a pressure to build behind her eyes. Standing she moved to the nearby window in the room they were staying in and went to open it but paused, a vibrant green flying insect was caught in a web that seemed to shimmer as if gold. A red spider crawled out from a hidden nook within the window frame and scurried across the Silk towards its prey that was in the web.
Fascinated and reeling from the overwhelming incense Kyoko stared as the spider approached the insect cautiously – its legs moving expertly to grip the web at key parts as it pulled its way towards the source of the vibrations, its food. Approaching from behind it went to move in for the kill, is fangs poised and clicking as it went to drive them into the abdomen of the fly. With unnatural reflexes the insect buzzed its vibrant wings and flew off the web, the golden threads intact as it looped around, long previously hidden legs outstretched as it grappled the back of the spider as its abdomen throbbed and stretched, revealing a previously concealed stinger. Jab, jab, jab! Went the stinger as it plunged towards the arachnid that was desperately trying to shake the insect off, but it was for naught. Within moments the long legged wasp was feasting on the still twitching corpse of the spider.
“are you ok Kyoko?” Siu asked, concern on his face.
“yes, I was just watching a wasp deceive a spider and shift from being prey to predator in mere moments” Kyoko replied as she opened the window before returning to her seat.
“Deceit is normal practice in the world, like the spider we had been fooled by the shadow. Your mind is likely seeing a likeness to our current situation” Liz responded as she poured some tea for the three of them.
“perhaps. Yes I am sure you are right” Kyoko replied despite not being fully convinced.
Thanks for joining me tonight, for perhaps just worries revealed in a web, or omens of things to come. So don’t forget to come back the rest of the week as we wrap up this months writing and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Hi all and welcome to the start of the end of the Month. Tonight I wanted to cover a ‘scene’ that the party encounter as they descend down from the mountains and b-line towards Kyoko with the cure for their problem, well, half of it at least.
Behind Warm Words
221MoBWW
As the path from the mountain finally intersects with the road towards Shuimu and in the other direction, further into Ryokughan they take a moment to stretch and rest, having travelled from dawn after their night with the Golden beast – which turned out to be a guardian of the last Monks of Shuimu’s tail, they were exhausted but content that they had finished their task and would soon see an end to this shadow bruise curse.
Up ahead a large convoy of wagons with several mounted warriors moved down the road in the direction from Shuimu. The warriors moved with confidence and purpose, watchful of the surrounding travellers and even more wary of the adventurers as they sat and ate from their supplies. “Hold” a voice sounded from one of the caravans, a particularly looking lavish looking one made from a rich red-brown wood with ornate brass detailing and spokes on its six wheels. The caravan came to a halt in front of the adventurers and several warriors dismounted and moved to stand next to the door as it opened revealing a young lady dressed in emerald green.
“My, my what do we have here. Four foreigners and their guide?” The voice was kind but devoid of all warmth. “And their guide is none other than Takeo, my, would you be on an errand for lady Harimasu?” the lady moved to sit more in the light from the sun, her long dark hair was separated into two long plats that went across both shoulders and into her lap. “What ever would you be doing here, and from the looks of it you’ve run into some trouble,” the lady exclaimed but the shock never reaching her eyes.
“Lady Toshio, we ran into some beasts along the forest path but my companions managed to fend them off and defeat them. We also lost our horses to a beast in the mountains but will make good time back to Shiumu as we are expected back shortly.” Takeo said, a glance of warning going to the party members. “I thank you for your concern though we shall be fine” he added bowing to Lady Toshio.
“Nonsense, lady Harimasu is the daughter of my fathers childhood friend, I can not face my father if I was not to provide her servants with aid in their moment of need.” She commanded, a touch of mirth touching the corner of her mouth as she spoke the word servants. Clicking the gestured to three warriors. ‘You two, you shall give your horses to our friends here, you can continue on foot back to my fathers castle.” the warriors bowed and retrieved the horses walking over to Takeo and the adventurers “give my regards to lady Harimasu, when she visits us next you can return the horses then” she said as the warriors bowed to the party and moved to be next to lady Toshio.
“Lady Toshio, this is not necessary..” Takeo began
“Nonsense, give lady Harimasu my regards” she said as she closed the door, a hand coming up briefly to wave to the party signalling that there was no arguing the point.
The caravan then lurched on with a moments hesitation before a dozen less opulent caravans rolled on by with twice as many mounted warriors passed on by. After they were almost out of sight Takeo spoke up, breaking the silence. “That was Lady Toshio, as devious and cunning as she is cold. We would do well to make sure that these horses get back to her safely and soon as to not give her or her father a reason to spur or hold a grudge against Lady Harimasu – Kyoko.”
Mounting the horses the party and Takeo set off with speed to return to Kyoko to ensure that what transpired here, the cure and the damning scroll case were discussed as a matter of urgency.
Thanks for joining me tonight, I realised that I had left out what happened to the horses when Shiku’s ape form attacked – so I may go back and correct that this week whilst I work on additional content. Don’t forget to come back this week and especially this weekend for the month write-up and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to another end of week writeup where we follow our adventurers into the last week of our May adventure. This week we move further up into the mountains near Shuimu and explore the monastery with Shiku as our guide, but also our predator for she is both blessed and cursed with the form of a golden ape that lives within her until the sun sets.
So instead of talking through the whole plot let’s roll on as we investigate what these mountains hold for our players.
Apostle of the Golden peaks
Leaving the cave with their wounds and aches being cooled and soothed by the cold chilled water of the waterfall fed pools – carrying their gear and whatever salvageable loot they began to swim to the far shore of the small pool. The sound of snapping branches and the rustling of bushes indicating life was returning to the forest near by but giving them pause as they floated in the water looking about the fire-fly lit grove of trees that surrounded the rocky pool.
Movement up ahead and the bloop as a small stone hit the waters surface near the party revealed Takeo, still cradling his arm up, nestled in the branches of a nearby tree his face covered in micro-scratches and sweat. As soon as he noticed the party had seen him he gestured for them to be quiet as another crash nearby indicated that something large was moving through the trees, not just the deer and pigs that lived in these forested parts. The creature that was moving was large enough that it was breaking branches in its movement as it searched for something, the worried look on Takeo’s face told the party all that they needed to know – it was searching for him.
Looking up ahead towards their campsite they noticed that the belongings they had left near the fire were scattered around the small clearing and several branches, bushes and even a tree were broken, squashed, shattered and uprooted as what ever was nearby had apparently searched through their belongings in some haste.
The snapping of twigs and branches started to come back closer towards the pool where the party drifted near the edge. A large creature was near by, it’s heavy footfalls and heavy breathing – sniffing out something, could be heard as the party waited, hands on weapons. Suddenly the creature became silent as the sound of rumbling groaning earth and creaking wood reverberated through the stones and still clearing which shook as a sudden large vibration and whoosh of leaves came from within twenty feet of the party. A moment of silence was greeted by the parting of clouds above and the appearance of a nearly full luminous moon which flooded the forest with its last light as dawn approached from the horizon.
A ground quaking howl of rage split the near tranquil silence as a trunk of a tree the size of a battering ram erupted forth from the location of the creature as it flew through the air, exploding against the tree where Takeo was hiding causing the splintered to flutter through the air like autumn leaves. A violent howl of rage or satisfaction was bellowed from the creature as it strode forward on two powerful legs, a cascade of golden fur covered its head, shoulders and back, illuminated by the moonlight.
The creature stepped over the fire revealing it to be a giant ape, larger than anything the party had encountered before of its kind, golden with a long tail curling around what appeared to be a silver blade as it moved towards the tree that it had just shattered. The creature stopped before the tree, sniffing loudly as it searched for its prey and victim before turning around and staring directly at the party as the dawns first light touched its face – the brief moment of recognition of the party members, of Takeo who had somehow made it to another tree closer to the pool (without anyone noticing) and the rising of the sun crossed its eyes. A deep sorrow immediately paling the rage and white hot anger that filled its eyes as it dropped a sharp splinter of wood onto the path before dropping to all fours as it fled up the path, further into the mountains.
Takeo slowly dropped to the ground, his body bruised and battered. “I am not sure what that was, legends have it that these mountains are guarded by a golden beast that has long both terrorised and protected the monastery. I believe we met the beast and soon we will meet the monastery. It is not far ahead, in the direction the beast fled and I fear we are running out of time. Another night in these woods will be suicide.”
getting out of the water and piling some of the splintered, broken green wood onto the fire they were greeted with a smoke filled but warming light that allowed them time to rest, dry off and prepare for the mornings hike ahead – up the mountain in the shadow of the golden beast.
The path leading up to the mountains where Takeo had scouted what remained of the monastery wound around the mountain like the tail of a giant serpent and it climbed ever upwards. Despite their exhaustion from the night before it wasn’t long until the party were looking at the worn but sturdy looking buildings that seemingly was carved from the mountain itself, flowing with great curves and lines that blended with the landscape around it.
Walking forward the shallow wall’s gate lay open, one side obviously repaired but damaged too far to be closed fully.
“You should not be here” a voice called from somewhere near the gate, “it’s not safe in these mountains, not any more” the voice, a females voice, called again.
“We seek the monks that call these halls and mountains home.” Takeo replied, his eyes narrowing at the rafters of the roof that covered the gate. “I believe that these sages, people of wisdom and greater understanding are the only people who can help us unravel the mysteries of the Shadow bruise curse.” he continued as he drew a small thin throwing blade.
“The monks are gone, only the golden beast calls these halls home at night and I during the day, to repair the damage done during the night before, to honour those who once called this place home.” The voice called back but from lower down as a lady with silver hair that shimmered with gold in the sunlight walked between the doors and stood blocking the path into the monastery. “You wont find what you are looking for here, I suggest you leave before it’s too late.
Takeo bowed deeply and turned around as if to go before spinning on his heel and flicking the throwing blade towards the woman. In the blink of an eye a large blue tinged chain flicked out from the sleeve of the woman and slapped the blade into the ground beneath it, the woman movements were so fluid and graceful that the chain moved as if it were an extension of her arm rather than something gripped and wielded in her hand.
“I thought you said all the monks were gone” Takeo said bowing as a sign of forgiveness, revealing the emptiness of his palms.
“they are, I am all that remains, she who protects the history of the monks and tries to protect fool adventurers from getting killer by the golden beast. If you seek the monks wisdom for a cure then you are on a fools errand. The great library has been sealed for years, it also happens to be where the beast has created its den and it is not safe to be as it will hunt down all that trespass into its lair..” she continued. “To seek the wisdom of the monks is to spar with death itself and that is not something I want to be responsible for. So leave now before it’s too late.”
Sighing Shiku withdrew the hook ended chain and recoiled it into her sleeve, “It seems like there is no dissuading you,” she said stepping aside and watching the party led by the injured Takeo, “but heed my warning the beast will return, it does so without fail, and when the last rays of sunlight touch the top of the mountain you better pray that you are off this mountain for when it finds that you have invaded its lair you won’t have a place to hide on these mountains where it wont hunt you.”
“Thank you…” Takeo stopped bowing before the monk and retrieving his throwing knife in a single motion, he still favouring his injured arm.
“Shiku, as you have discovered I am one of the Shuimu’s tail order, the last of the monks here in fact. My brothers and sisters died on this mountain protecting it from a force that we let in to learn some of our kept lore and then they used it against us. I am all that remains and I keep this place safe and well kept in the hope that one day I can atone for my sins.”
Takeo frowned but continued into the plaza beyond the gate. Several small buildings lined a courtyard where bails of straw bound together by cored stood on posts in different poses were lined up – martial arts dummies Takeo smiled as he recognised the training tools from his own youth. As the party stopped to take in the the tiled buildings, caked in vines, branches, roots and grasses that made the entire monastery appear as though it was sculpted from the earth by some giant, or dragon.
“This courtyard used to be filled with monks from my order training, sparring and teaching the ways of our guardian and first teacher, Shuimu. It was a sight to beheld…” Shiku said as her voice trailed off. “This way please, if you insist on ending your life this day then you best all be quick readers.” Shiku walked forward at a painfully slow yet graceful pace that had the adventurers stopping ever now again to prevent themselves from walking into the back of the monk. The party passed a single large building where the front of it wore a scar-like void in place of its door, splintered wood, shattered bricks and broken tiles edged the void like a wound that refused to heal. “The orders sleeping quarters, where we were attacked by the betrayers and where we lost most of our apprentices and novices in the first few moments of the battle. I have not deemed myself worthy to repair the resting place of my family yet and it remains a constant reminder of the lessons I am yet to learn. This way please” she said after a moment of silence as the party was finished staring at the hole, a perfect circle that was twenty feet wide that bore into the centre of the building.
Stopping in front of a building – the large double doors lay in fragments on the steps leading up into the hall beyond – the party stared at what was both the most rundown and the most revered building in the monastery. Shiku turned to the party, her hands buried in her sleeves “Welcome to the Five Tailed library, resting place of the knowledge of generations of monks. Before you enter, I must ask you one question. Answer wisely as if your life depends on it,” she asked staring directly at the face of the adventurers. “what do you seek this knowledge for? What do you believe gives you more right to walk these hallowed halls where dozens have died in the attempt and many have died that night after breaching the halls for their own selfish reasons?”
Nodding, satisfied by the adventurers response Shiku walked the steps and beckoned for them to follow. “The knowledge you seek shall be contained in some of our ancient tomes, I shall bring out the ones I am aware of that mention the Shadow, but unfortunately I don’t know of which tome or scroll contains the answers you are after.” Shiku went off after showing the party to a table in the centre of the library, a few minutes passed and she returned with dozens of books and scrolls. “These are but a few of the many I need to bring forth,” she paused looking at the volume. “I may be able to buy you some time tonight, I shall be able to keep the beast at bay for at least a while so that you may find more time to cure this curse – in doing so it would be a blow against the Shadow and that is a something that I wish and so too does the beast.” She bowed before moving off to return once more with twice as many books and scrolls.
It was quite some time where Takeo and the adventurers were reading the books and scrolls, each of them watching the sun disappear slowly as the day went on until, the suns last rays still touching the peak of the mountain that they could see from the front steps of the Library. A few heart pounding moments passed before where they were waiting for the flash of golden fur, for the massive ape like beast to walk through the doors and into the library but it didn’t come. Sitting down at the table they began to read the last book whilst eating and drinking a meagre meal from their rations when one of the party stood up abruptly “golden fur touched by both dusk and dawn, once plucked by the emissaries of wind and fire can banish the shadow that wounds as if a bruise when drunk as a draught with the water cupped in the lotus flower.” Staring at each other for a moment, their relief and exhaustion after reading for several hours straight and having found the passage that they believe would cure not only the refugees but for Siu – their moment of elation was ended quickly…
Initially it sounded like distant thunder except the water in the cups they had on the table rippled as if a heart beat. Strong, consistent and powerful like that of a drum beating against the very walls of the mountain. Boom, boom, boom, the pounding continued causing dust to fall down upon the adventurers as they looked around the room waiting for some golden nightmare to appear as the last of the suns rays disappeared from the building, plunging the room into shadows. The only light now produced by the lanterns hung about the room by the monk as she departed on her mission to keep the beast at bay. The drumming stopped for long enough for the party to have a glimmer of relief before the silence was shattered by an explosive roar – one of pain, hatred and pure fury as the pounding began quicker. The vibrations now able to be felt through the ground before the crack of stone and rumble of a mountain crying could be heard. A few tense moments later a large crash of stone on stone could be heard from outside and the vibrations stopped.
Leaving the library slowly and cautiously the party crept forward with the scroll that mentioned the cure in hand. Where the outer wall met the gatehouse a large boulder now lay, the dust settling slowly revealed large chains tied around it and a path of destruction down from high in the mountain behind where the monastery was built. Slowly the party noticed a shift in the space around the boulder and their hearts sank into the pit of their stomach as what appeared to be rubble moments before pushed itself up, shaking its rippling golden fur, sending the dust and debris from its massive form shedding the illusion of rubble as a giant golden ape sat up, a tuft of silver hair tinged with gold was shrinking slowly and turning golden as the beast looked up at them, remorse, sadness and fear in its eyes as the silver hair slowly turned golden.
“Hide… quickly… it’s too late to run” Shikus voice came from the ape creature before the last of the silver hair disappeared as the last rays of sun disappeared from the peak of the mountain and the ape closed its eyes.
A moment of silence, perhaps two where the heart beats of the party were the only noise in the monastery before the apes eyes flew open. Gone was the kind caring eyes of the monk they had med earlier that day and they were replaced by fury, hatred and violence. – the tips of now-golden hair from its head glowing for a few moments as they reflected the setting of the sun and the beginning of night.
Suddenly the beast roared, a force so powerful that the party could feel it in the ground beneath their feet as it lunged at them – chains in casing its wrists now only visible as it tried to claw its way towards them the party – the boulder embedded in the wall shifting forward from the power of the beast.
“Run and hide!” shouted Takeo as he sprinted, faster than anyone could have expected from a wounded man – the party moments behind him as the sound of unfettered rage and straining steel rang from behind them.
Areas of note
The Mountains, Shuimu’s ridge – A tall set of mountains to the north of Shuimu, known as Shuimu’s ridge, are the source of many folk tales and stories surrounding nightmarish creatures, strange yet benevolent creatures that take more pleasure in assisting people rather than harming them. Somewhere within the mountains lies a monastery where the monks and sages that call its walls home are both masters in martial arts as well as extraordinary scholars who may know the cure for the Shadow Bruises that are appearing on the crew and passengers of the Dancing Drake.
Shuimu’s tails monastery – Set apart from the rest of the villages and towns in the region this monastery used to be a thriving hub of wisdom and martial arts training. The legends, and apparently they are true, is that the Monastery is guarded by a ferocious golden beast who can only be calmed by a monk of the order – one trained by Shuimu or the masters of the ancients dragons craft. The monastery now lies in a slow decline after an attack left the monastery with only one monk left.
NPCs
Takeo
Takeo spends his time assisting the party in searching through the tablets, books and scrolls looking for the answers they seek to cure the shadow bruise curse. When night falls he will constantly be fleeing and finding places to hide, taking a blow from the ape and using the momentum to hide and distract the beast if necessary – his arm is still injured so he realises he cant do much so he does what he can to spare the party in a moment of need.
Shiku – The Guardian of the five tails
Shiku is all that remains of the monastery order known as the Shuimu’s Tails, a order of monks who trained in martial arts under the instruction of the ancestral dragon, Shuimu. These monks are trailed to use spears, whips and Kawanaga and the Kusari-gama – striking swiftly, accurately and with the force of a dragon swiping with its tails.
Able to commune with nature, particularly those aligned with the water spirits that roam the land
Night time is a simple filter over the top then some added light affects. Below the gatehouse closest to where the tall peak would be is the boulder that crashed into the wall – the chains still attached to the boulder where the golden, giant ape would’ve been tied to.
Forest at night – The forest itself isn’t that difficult to navigate, thick hedges of bushes, game paths and trees fill the steep incline down – for those running blindly they may have issues with tripping down the mountain and/or injuring themselves blindly. Luckily, or not depending on your view point, hundreds if not thousands of little luminescent insects fly around the forest, flittering from one source to the next – however they seem to be attracted to heat and have a fondness of blood so you cant stay still for too long or you may become a beacon of sorts.
The shattered wall is all that remains from the apes attack. The missing boulder, likely thrown in a fit of rage by the golden ape, somewhere down the mountain below. Either the victorious emergence of the party or a more sombre appearance from the adventurers after a nightmarish night.
Ah yes, now I’ve said it before I do like the chase mechanics. There is something special about running from or chasing down something as opposed to just chopping it to little pieces.
In this case the parry is our quarry as well give them 60ft head start and the goal is to hide or lose the ape, simple enough right? The cost of failure is that the beast will immediately start combat on their initiative and, this is something that we as dungeon masters need to describe in great detail the power and strength behind this beast, the Party should not want to fight it and we should describe it as a force of nature that no one should ever seek to fight.
Initiative
Have the beast be initiative 11, mid way but a chance of not being last. Have each party member roll for initiative as normal and then we follow a simple set of rules.
Chase limitations (to be explained)
Firstly our players are only allowed one action and one move. This means that their bonus actions and reactions are not permitted during the chase so we can keep the tempo going forward and to add to that sense of dread of being caught.
Secondly the party members get to ‘dash’ three times plus an additional time for each point in their constitution modifier (a constitution score of 14 means they get to dash 5 times for free during the chase scene!) Each time they dash after that they need to make an endurance check, DC10 Con check where if they fail they gain a level of exhaustion. If they reach Exhaustion 5 then they fall unconscious.
Complications
Now, I will add some additional ones this weekend in the final writeup (cant lay all my cards on the table at once) but a chase scene through the streets of a city would have various complications, city guard standing in the way, a cart, barrels, children chasing balls into the middle of the street. At night, in a temple (or out side of it – more on that later) particularly one where you may not know what is between buildings, in them or around them you may find that you run into dead ends or create issues for people following you. An example may be that a character may use a branch, root or vine to climb onto a roof – but the complication in doing so is that the thing they used to climb up breaks and so anyone who was trying to follow them cant follow the same path.
Area
D20 result
Complication
All
1-5
The Golden beast has thrown something, large, a bail of hay, a tree, a boulder, a wagon, stone or wood work – it blocks the path for anyone who follows the person who rolled the complication
Temple
6-10
The player’s mode of escape or movement (ladder, steps, lose boards, vine, root etc.) breaks, the DC to climb, jump or follow them is increased by 5. (or made impossible without help)
Forest
6-10
As the party complete their action, the rustling of bushes announces the arrival of something large, a large black bear with a long droopy nose appears and it takes a moment before the party member realises what happens. (the next person to move into this area will have to try and avoid the bear or it will attack defensively)
Temple
11-14
Having almost escaped the beast the PC accidently knocks over a lantern, a few heart beats later and a fire has started catching onto some nearby straw and timber that is used for the sparring dummies and repairs – the next character to come this way will need to make a DC14 dexterity check to avoid taking 1d6 fire damage. The sudden light also attracts the beast and any subsequent stealth checks within 20ft of the fire are made with disadvantage.
Forest
11-14
The party slips, causing a pile of loose debris, leaves, logs and rocks to start to fall – the ground becomes difficult terrain and any person moving within a 10ft radius of the player who made the small land slide will need to make a DC14 dexterity check or fall prone and slip 10ft down the mountain (to the south of the mountain)
Both
15-18
The beast jumps landing in the space the party member just was – the way is effectively blocked
Both
19-20
Everything is fine. A noise elsewhere distracts the beast for a moment and they are safe – for now.
The area
We have a map of the temple grounds but not he buildings, the buildings would be simple (and I don’t really want to go in an design little rooms for them all. Sorry!) so I would have them have one or two rooms where the players can hide – the more people that hide there the easier it will be for the beast to find them – splitting up when hiding in buildings is key. But if they can make it out the gate then there is nothing stopping the party from hiding and running through the woods where there is potentially countless places to hide – and for this I will create one or two more maps this weekend to capture this ability to leave the temple and travel on foot out of there.
If the beast loses the party it will keep looking, but it will give the party between 10 minutes 60 minutes of rest before it comes close to finding them again (roll 1d6 and add a 0 to the result to get the amount of minutes). For every 10 minutes rested in hiding they gain 1 ‘dash’ left and for every 20 minutes rested they can remove 1 level of exhaustion from the chase.
There is one part in the temple where the beast is extremely hesitant to enter or go near – the building without the door (where Shiku’s brothers and sisters were slain) – if the party successfully hide or go in here they automatically count as hiding for 60 minutes. If they are discovered in there then the beast will go in there and attack, but will have disadvantage on all rolls – it will also not use its movement or attacks in any way that will damage the area and will cause half damage in its attacks in its effort to respect the resting place of its human side’s kin.
~The Forest~
This part of the forest at night is home to a particular insect that likes to take a sip of blood from people, not enough to deal any damage but they gather in swarms and glow during their flight – this means that any warm blooded creature in the woods can quickly become a beacon if they stay in one place for too long.
To hide
If the player is out of sight from the beast at the end of a round they can attempt to roll a stealth check to hide. For us as the DM we would have the beast focused on finding a single person (if they are playing distraction) or if no one has opted to do that heroic move then it would have disadvantage as it tries to track all players (intruders) at once. If all the party members are successfully hidden at the beginning of the round then the chase is over and they get 1d6*10 minutes of rest before the beast comes back to their location for another search.
If they are found again then the chase begins a new – give the beast initiative 1 and the party starts within 30 feet of the beast for terms of spacing. Then go through it again.
Ultimate victory is where the party remains hidden for 3 hours in total (at which point the beast bellows and storms off into the forest / back to the temple if they made it out) or if the beast becomes exhausted (rank 5) in its effort to pursue the party.
Combat
In combat it’s a ruthless combatant that will try and knock all party members unconscious, but not kill. Shiku wont let it kill them. If they are all knocked unconscious they are tier 4 exhausted and on 1 HP outside the temple. Pick 1d6 items on each player and they are broken beyond use (magical items included) as they would have suffered enough damage to break during the fight.
If the beast throws a party member pick a random direction (rolling a d8 for North, North east, east, South East and so on) and the PC moves that direction 60ft. That PC can now attempt to begin the chase again and go hide if they choose too. Remember the aim is to get the party members to get out of combat.
Aftermath
If they do beat the beast in combat it will shapeshift into Shiku, mostly naked with modesty hidden (I am a gentleman after all..) and will appear dead – dawns first light will awaken her however and her body wont burn if set alight (part of Shuimu’s gift to her monks).
In human form Shiku is able to understand what the scroll talks bout and cuts off a piece of her fringe – where the silver shifts to gold. In ape form – if the party are able to take a few strands of hair (somehow) then the golden hair remains golden and it glows as if struck by dawn light. Both strands of hair when mixed with the correct lotus leaf mixture this should cure the shadow bruise – Shiku explains in the morning whether she shifts back to human form or is calm as dawn touches her ape form (and speaks) or appears shaken and disorientated but alive (after the shift back from her ape stopped her from dying), that the colour of her hair, and the golden ape itself are blessings from Shuimu – as Shiku was one of her first students blessed with immortality in exchange for the oath to protect the dragons ways and her students. The hair is, in itself born from pure light – the essence of an ancestral dragon spirit and that light, the essence of the dragon spirit is what would cure the shadow bruise.
After the cure is procured the trip back to Shuimu begins with good news, and a bad omen in the form of documents that speak of a plot against the Harimasu family. Dark skies loom on the horizon and the party best be ready for the storm.
Well that’s it for tonight – including a new map of the forest at night – where we run from the golden beast. This following week I will add a bit more content on the descent from the mountain and the discussion with Kyoko so don’t forget to come back for that.
Don’t forget to come back each day this next week and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 