Month: Jan 2024

Avermeet Caves

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The investigation continues into the poachers and as the party have been charged with doing so they find themselves in the Avermeet Caves. This winding cave system spreads through much of the Avermeet itself and beyond into the mountains and hills to the East. However there is something within these stony walls that draws the attention of the party into these tunnels.

But instead of focusing on what we need to do here we can instead read below about this encounter. So let’s grab a coffee, sit down and roll into tonight’s adventure.

Avermeet Caves

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Although the captain of the guard, Kirili had been convinced of their innocence and their story backed up by the lords request for outside aid the chargers weren’t fully dropped. With no witness to the elk being captured by the party or something else little could be done to dissuade the advisers’ accusations into the party having captured the creature themselves.

The one saving grace was the chance to redeem themselves, find the true source of the trap, its owners and then bring them to justice. So the party found themselves returning to the clearing where they had stumbled across the elk with Kirili and some other Avermeet Guard to assist. Investigating the clearing there were now additional tracks, animals if they weren’t mistaken which appeared to move about the clearing to where the party believed the trap was set up.

Investigating further the tracks led towards the bushes at the base of the rocky outcrop that they had been watching before the guard appeared. Pushing through the brush they came to a small game path that led next to the stone face. As they walked along the path while following the same tracks the tracks began to disappear before completely vanishing. Retracing their steps they felt a light gust of a breeze as they passed a rather large bush.

Pushing it aside they were astonished to find that the bush was concealing the entrance to a cave.

Avermeet Caves – Created in Nightcafe.

The cave itself descended twenty or so feet with a series of worn down ledges. The smell of animals leavings and blood permeated from further below and soon it was evident this is where the poaching was coming from. Cages hung from the ceiling with bound animals within. Drag marks moved deeper into the cave and the sound of creatures deeper within echoed faintly into this enclosed area. Kirili looked around wide-eyed at the animals within the cave, most of them, listless and in various stages of being unwell.

The answer to the source of the poaching lay before them, the way to clear their name and with Kirili and the other Avermeet guard here. But as they moved around the cave the first of their obstacles revealed itself. A crude trap sprung forward and nearly impaled the party, missing by a matter of inches before damaging the shield of one the guards. The racket down further in the cave quietened down as the guard pulled his now damaged shield from the device. 

Whoever had captured these animals had laid traps as a deterrent and it was only a matter of time until they found the adventurers and guards snooping around.

As we wrap up this weeks adventure I now have the joy of creating one of my favourite types of maps, cave maps. So don’t forget to come back daily for the last few days of content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Avermeet Guard

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Avermeet forest and its water ways are protected by the Avermeet Guard. The elite warriors who uphold the laws around the forest and its animals but don’t confuse these warriors for any old park rangers. Skilled and trained by elves, druids and even some fey these warriors are skilled beyond belief – just a little short on numbers to be covering the entire forest.

So to meet some of the guard let’s grab a coffee, sit down and roll into tonight’s adventure!

The Avermeet Guard

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Kirili Draemelle – Created in Artbreeder.

As Kirili walked back to the village with the suspected poachers in tow she watched how they walked and listened to them. Admittedly they did not appear to be poachers and some of their story rang true. But the orders were clear, bring anyone in who is trespassing and then the head of the forest can question them.

Kirili noticed more traps and tracks along the way, a snare here, a pit there and evidence of cages being moved and dragged. The poaching had been going on for months now and certain species of animals were favoured above others. She just hoped that they could stop it soon before the damage to the population was irreversible.

Bareth Stoneleaf – created in Nightcafe.

Bareth strode behind the prisoners and watched her captain, Kirili, engaging in talks with them and grimaced. As far as she was convinced these poachers were going to be executed. They were basically caught red handed and were trying to deflect blame. She had to do something about it so that the reputation of Kirili and the Avermeet guard would not be tarnished as soft.

When they next stopped she grabbed one of the messenger hawks that they travelled with and quickly scrawled out a note to her uncle, the advisor to the lord.

“Prisoners in tow, poachers. They appear to have some sway with the captain. Be alert“

As she tied the message to the hawk and let it fly off a suspicious glance was sent her way from Kirili which she returned with a smile as she fetched some rations and gave it to the prisoners with a false smile. “Eat up now, we will sort out this mess once we get back to the village” she explained to them. Stealth and misdirection was one of the arts that the Fey taught the guard and she had always been a dutiful student.

Soon she would see these poachers behind bars or swinging from ropes and she would be rewarded. For really, only those who are focused in the cause of protecting the woods should be granted the name of the Avermeet guard.

Thanks for joining me tonight as we looked at two NPCs and a bit of the turmoil that sets up the primary plot this week. There is a bit of a gap between the start of the adventure and the twist, which comes tomorrow, but to find out what that is you’ll have to come back tomorrow. So don’t forget to come back for the rest of the content as we expanding content of the adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Avermeet

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Welcome to another week at my tabletop where this week we investigate the allegations of poachers in the Avermeet. The Avermeet is a series of forests, lakes and a marsh make up a large portion of this land where the wildlife is diverse and largely protected. However this week we find out that there is more to what meets the eye and the party find themselves, “surprisingly” in the middle of the controversy once more.

So to kick off in what looks to be another fun-packed adventure let’s grab a coffee, sit down and explore tonight’s adventure!

Being requested to investigate strange occurrences is something normal for adventurers but rarely is it to investigate the disappearance of wild creatures. The Avermeet is a forest that holds lakes, marshes and a variety of trees that have given birth to a wide variety of animal life. But there is something strange happening in the forest.

All animal life in the Avermeet is considered protected. From the poisonous giant toads and water rats to the giant wasps and everything in between the forest and its waterways are considered protected. So why are animals disappearing with traps, tracks and trails appearing throughout the woods. Poachers are to blame and any entering the woods best have a valid reason for doing so.

But try telling that to the adventurers who were asked to travel to the village on the edge of the forest to help them in investigating the problem. Can the adventurers find out what or who is to blame and clear their name or will they be held accountable for the animals that have gone missing.

The Avermeet

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Avermeet Forest – Created in Nightcafe.

The party looked at their map as they stood by the largest lake in the Avermeet. Reaching Calewan to find out how they could help the custodians of this forest was going to take some time but the most direct road and approach would be through the Avermeet itself. As they confirmed on the map that they were heading in the right direction they noticed something odd on the banks of the river.

Large drag marks dug into the river with imprints that looked to be clawed fingerprints dragging away from the water as if something was hauled out involuntarily. Looking deeper into the water the wind created waves on the surface of the lake which was otherwise still. As they watched the waves they noticed that just below the waterline was a large structure. From this distance they couldn’t see it too well but after investigating it appeared to be a large trap for catching animals.

Knowing that the hunting and killing of animals in the Avermeet was a crime they had an idea of what they would be doing. As they moved along the forest trail the image of the vibrant and bustling forest abundant in life seemed far from what they were walking through. The forest itself was quiet as if the animals did not want to be found. Birds were the most predominant creature and even they flew off at the sight of the party. Moving away from the lake they heard a baleful cry coming from a clearing nearby a rocky formation.

Approaching carefully they saw that there was a large elk that was captured by several snares in the clearing. The creature was obviously tired and had long given up trying to fight the ropes and wire that bound it in place but it watched nervously into the brushes towards the rocks. As the party approached the creature they followed its gaze towards the bush as they began to investigate the bindings.

A trick of the light caused glowing eyes to appear amongst the bushes which, when looking a second time turned out to be pale yellow flowers. However the feeling of being watched could not be shaken. “Halt, do not try and flee as you are surrounded.” a voice called out from behind them as guards dressed in a green coat and mail stepped forwards. “We have caught you in the act so we suggest you drop your weapons, foci or the like and kneel. Comply and we will show you mercy, do not and you will be riddled with far more arrows and bolts than you would be able to count.” the guard said as she stepped forward.

The party heard a rustling in the bushes where they were just looking before the guards brandished blades and spears at them. The sounds of several bows being drawn made the threat of a barrage of shafts to be a very real risk indeed.

Something that I haven’t done before is getting harder to find and so this employs a few tricks in trying to keep the same base quest fresh and exciting for the party. As with all my one shots being able to be employed in any campaign or between adventures is key. So this week we explore something that could be changed slightly to be a new adventure mid-journey.

But enough waffling on. Don’t forget that each day this week we expand the adventure further and delve deeper into what lies in wait. Don’t forget to come back each day to stay up to date and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Aerial Race

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Tonight was meant to be the Zine for the week but I wanted to flesh out a bit of the rules from last nights encounter by looking at the Aerial Race itself. Now there are no formal rules for Aerial combat but there is a few guides out there for DMs who want to run an adventure or campaign that features it, or an aerial race for that matter.

So to get into it let’s look at what we have to work with. So grab a coffee, sit back and let’s roll into tonight expanded content.

Aerial Race

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The wind around both Honeysuckle and Jesper’s wings caused them to falter in the air. The cross breeze that flew between the trees towards the north, where the trunks were sparser and the wind stronger, created a perfect place to allow your mount to rest as they let the reverse current carry them through the trees. That was when the direction of the wind was coming from the south. But as hammered from the west it pushed several riders and their mounts dangerously close to the great trunks and limbs of the trees.

Twig had to hall on the harness to encourage Honeysuckle to power through which she did. Having more mass than the normal giant birds made it easier to muscle through the difficult conditions. Jesper and Alkerion however lagged behind as the fairer giant hummingbird was much lighter. They spent more energy trying to move away from the trees and branches than pushing through the westerly wind.

But Alkerion was a talented and veteran rider and the way he handled his animals was a marvel. The wind didn’t slow them down as much as Twig had hoped and as they turned around the final tree of the northern part of the forest, and a marker for their track they were several bird-lengths ahead of the competition. Here the westerly wind aided them in zipping down the eastern side of the forest and recovering some stamina after the gruelling northerly push.

Animal handling is the name of the game this week with certain actions requiring a check to be able to pull off and encourage or control the creature into doing what is needed. This could be to avoid branches, to stop from attacking a fellow racer or to push it on when it starts to falter.

At several points the creature will also need to make Strength or Dexterity checks to avoid the wind or currents that could push them off course. This can be seen in conjunction with the animal handling check up above.

The second last is the shill checks that the players will need to make in addition to animal handling. There may be feats of athletics, acrobatics, the social skills (Persuasion, Deception, Intimidation) to convince other riders, Perception or investigation to spot issues approaching them or with their own harness/saddle or even the other skills (Survival, Nature, History etc.). Each of these skills could be used to try and gleam a further understanding from a situation or gain an upper hand when plausible.

But the last is the most important. The core rules of flying is that if a creature that is flying has its speed drop to 0 then they fall. The exception is if they have the hover trait which enables them to, well hover. There may be traps along the way, or nets or ropes wielded by other riders or ground hostile’s which may aim to impede the mount’s speed. If they are successful it’s a very long way to fall and there won’t be long to react. Attacking the ropes or nets with a slashing weapon (swords) may be able to free them (see net rules as per the weapon) but it may be too little too late.

This highlights the biggest risk for the players, really, and something we need to use sparingly as DMs if they are lower levels or unprepared. But don’t pull your strikes as it’s an easy way to lose the respect of your players.

Thanks for visiting tonight, with this being the final piece of the rules around this weeks Zine I will have it written up this week before the next one comes out. But there will be a bit of a delay and so I hope you can forgive me for that. Don’t forget that tomorrow the wheel comes around full circle once more and we are looking at a new week of adventure! So see you then and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Tree Top View

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Tonight we have a quick look from a different perspective, a tree top view. This is one of the options we have to the encounters this week, one for higher level parties that is. But with some scaling it could be a fun encounter for lower levels too – something for us to consider.

As it’s a bit of a shorter on tonight I don’t want to spend too much time talking about it, so let’s sit down with a mug of coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure.

Tree Top View

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The racers flew past the village’s main roost where the party stood and watched. The Race Riggers had been dealt with but there was an uneasy feeling in the air as the job felt too easy. As they watched the Giant bat flying just ahead of some of the birds a shadow passed in front of the setting sun. Several shadows in fact.

Having to squint as they looked up at the sky they noticed three large shapes descending towards the village as they dived through the canopy. As the shapes got closer the large forms of giant owls were visible and each one of them bore a rider, an armed rider. The cries of fear came from the spectators and an alarm gong rang somewhere in the village. But it was the last lap for Twig and Alkerion, if one of them retreated to the safety of the roost then the other could win.

Four large birds, back up birds in case the main racer grew tired, stood in the roost saddled and ready. As the first of the chasing riders stood in the saddle and launched an arrow the situation became clear. Either the riders would have to flee and hide from the pursuers or the pursuers would have to be dealt with. There were many ladders and bridges leading to other lookouts along the course where they may have a passing moment to apprehend the attackers. Or, if they were brave enough the party had four mounts with custom built saddles ready next to them.

As they decided their next move the first of the riders landed in the roost and an armed guard appeared on the walkway with large longbows. “Those attackers came out of nowhere. Their mounts aren’t sanctioned, they aren’t safe to race with. Those owls will rip other birds, or Twig and her bat apart.” One of the racers, an elven maiden, called out as she unbound her legs from the saddle. “I need to go to the elder to alert him. If we don’t do something quickly one or both of them will die. Those idiots want to finish the race. They should start to care more about their lives instead of some blasted title.”

Taking to the sky on an unfamiliar mount is a daunting prospect, but it is something that could also be thrilling at the same time. Don’t forget that tomorrow is the end of week write-up and zine so don’t forget to come back for that. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Goons, Bats and Birds

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Tonight we look at the Goons, Bats and Birds that make up this weeks potential encounters. As the party have a bit more power in the decision making of this weeks encounters then there is a bit more uncertainty in what they will encounter – mostly. Goons, bats and birds are definitely there but as friend or foe?

We won’t find out what we may be encountering this week just sitting around so let’s grab a coffee, sit down roll into tonight’s encounter.

Goons, Bats and Birds

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Race Rigger Goon – created in Tetra-cube.

Jack walked between the tents and watched the group of adventurers as they walked between the stallholders. The adventurers were taking in the sights of the market tent city but there was something more. Jack watched the way they watched the people at the market, scanning across the crowd as they spoke to vendors. Despite their potential for profit and their usefulness the risk of having these adventurers offside was a risk.

Shouting to be heard above the din of the crowd “Statues! Get statues of your favourite racers!” Jack quickly sounded the retreat for his fellow agents amongst the crowd, but he noticed that one of them was already being followed by the adventurers. He hoped that they would keep quiet about their activities and not jeopardise their plans.

Giant Hummingbird- created in Tetra-cube.

Alkerion brushed down Jesper’s feathers, a job that normally Twig did and did well. He had heard from a few merchants now that they had seen a gnome flying a bat late at night along the same course that the racers flew. He suspected Twig but it had not been confirmed yet for some reason he felt like he couldn’t trust her any more. “It’s alright Jesper. We will get to the bottom of this.” he said as he stroked the bird.

He remembered the stories his father told them of the war for the woods, an ancient battle where his people had fought off against a rival band of elves that flew on the backs of the giant mammals. Since then Bats had b been hunted and were the main, and only source of meat for the people who lived in Bramblewall. But it seems that the one that Twig had raised as a pup did not fly off as they had hoped. “If she races that animal then the tradition of these races will be in jeopardy.” he muttered to himself as he considered the unthinkable.

What to do about the gnome called Twig.

Giant Bat – created in Tetra-cube.

No matter what else was going on in the village Twig focused on getting the helmet just right for Honeysuckle. It had to cope with the erratic movements of the giant bat’s flight but also, more to the point, it had to be able to block out the full extent of the sun – shade or otherwise. If she could fly at even half speed during the day she would be able to make up the distance at night and even take the lead with only a few hours of rest. That’s what she had been training Honeysuckle for.

Tomorrow was the big race and those men from the tent city below couldn’t stop her. Although she must admit that she was a bit rattled from their offer and their unspoken threat. She was lost in her thought’s when she was interrupted with a knocking at the door.

This week has a few options for the party to encounter one or more of our main NPCs as well as the potential for combat. Don’t forget that the adventure isn’t completed just yet – we still have a few days left. So don’t forget to come back the remaining days this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Bramblewall Tent Village

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The party start their investigations, small spoiler, at the Bramblewall Tent village where they hope to catch these Race Riggers in the act. The Bramblewall Tent village only appears during the races and its where the folk less inclined to height watch the races and buy the goods that are sold from many tents. Tonight’s map isn’t so much an indicative map of what exactly is where but can be used to describe the general layout (as I dislike city map making- event tent city apparently).

But let’s not get lost in the crowd at the market and simple move onwards to find the source of the trouble as well as the best bargains.

Bramblewall Tent Village

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Bramblewall Tent Village – Created in Inkarnate.

Without village guards as such the merchants of this village either employ their own bodyguards and/or bouncers or they fall on the benevolence of the people that offer protection services to the tents without guards just about everything can be found in these tents which makes them both dangerous and wondrous. Many merchants have inflated prices – but they know how to haggle and will do so for those with a keen eye and wit.

Most of the people here a fair, honest working traders – but the party are seeking those who are not. It wont take them long to see the brown coated fellows and ladies moving from tent to tent but what will they do to get the information they need and afterwards, what to do with such information?

The trees provide a basis for a few smaller huts hat grace the sides of these wooden giants and they care connected by rope bridges (mostly ladders suspended horizontally by rope). So those afraid of heights or clumsy be aware or the dangers ascending to the village above.

Thanks for joining me tonight for another map night. Not quite happy with this one but I think its just my trepidation with making villages and towns. But regardless whether its this or something else that makes it into the Zine this weekend we will just have to wait and see. Don’t forget to come back the last few days of this week and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Racing Riggers

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The Racing riggers are a generalised term for the underbelly of the treetop racing yearly event that happens in Bramblewall. This group of loan sharks, thugs and brokers organises the betting system and, with either bribery or malpractice, will ensure that the racers who will make them the most gold, win or loose. But not everyone is within their grasp and tonight we get a glimpse at how far they are willing to go to ensure that the little gnome called Twig, does not shake the tree too hard.

But so we can get to that we need to grab a coffee, sit down and read through tonight’s adventure!

The Racing Riggers

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Alkerion – Created in Artbreeder.

Alkerion strode through the beginnings of the racers market and marvelled at the goods and the people it brought to the village. Being the winner two years in a row Alkerion was a bit of a celebrity and many people called out to him to come and try their products or browse their wares. But he wasn’t interested in free samples – he showed off his presence to ensure that the market would be a success. He had always been focused on doing what was best for Bramblewall and keeping up the traditions. He hand picked potential elven stars of the race to come and fly birds from his roosts as they provided the best show for the viewers and brought more commerce into the tree top village.

But he could not abide the ruffians and the race riggers that had also called these events their home, their hunting grounds. They preyed on the weak and set back the good honest folk who were here to spend their coin and time enjoying what his village had to offer. Sure they had offered him wealth and riches but Alkerion only took what was required to keep the birds fed and his stable thatched.

He continued down amongst the tents and stalls and smiled, spoke and greeted the guests to the village, his village. The one his ancestors had built and the one he intended would remain a beacon for the elven customs for centuries to come.

Across the way between the walls of two fabric tents a man stood and watched the ‘prince of Bramblewall’ stride about the tents. He smiled at the prospect that this year he may be swayed when he revealed what was changing about his beloved sport. But perhaps he did not need to do much as the odds were always in Alkerions favour.

Jack Wilder – created in Artbreeder.

But that wasn’t the reason he watched the elf, no he would roll out that bait in just a little while. As soon as the elf was gone from view he moved forward and his associates began to move. As they approached stalls and tents they started their game. Talking about the odds of the races, how the last years races made a merchant richer than their sales ever could and how just with a little help from a friendly local that merchant walked away and was able to buy a mansion.

Most people showed them on but a few asked for more information. Jack knew that this is the moment he and his associates waited for and they reeled them in. Promises of assistance and even lending of money if they were short for making it big on the bets that were sure to employ all tactics to drum up the hunger for gambling.

Jack knew that this year would be ripe for the plucking but he still had that gnome to deal with. His boss had said that she couldn’t be bought, but Jack thought he knew better. A way to crumble to hearts of stone in one play.

The final pieces make a move to what will inevitably become the parties primary objective this adventure. Finding and stopping the threat of the Race Riggers. But more on that as the days go on. So don’t forget to come back each remaining night this week for more content and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Just Twig

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The forest treetop town of Bramblewall is home to many races but most common is the forest gnomes and elves, and tonight we meet Twig, just Twig. Twig is a bit of an odd name for a forest gnome, let alone a person but she was anything but ordinary when she was found in Bramblewall.

Twig has big dreams to change the rules of the village, the rules that keep the little folk down and those of renown and prestige on top. But can the little gnome change how things are done in the village? Only time can tell.

Just Twig

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Twig – Created in Nightcafe.

As Alkerion rounded the bend again Twig took down the lap time and calculated how many laps he, and his bird Jesper, would be able to complete with a full day’s flight. The only issue is that Twig knew that Jesper would need to rest after each flight due to the bird’s lower stamina. Landing and drinking deeply from a bucket of nectar Jesper panted as it recovered. Luckily Twig had something to show Alkerion.

“Alkerion! I think you should have a look at something.” she called out as she ran over with the data on her parchment.

“Did I get faster? How many laps per day do you think we can make?” Alkerion asked as she brushed bugs out of Jespers feathers and from his coat.

“Well yes. Overall faster but Jesper needs to rest for longer to get his energy from the nectar.” she began.

“Good, I will get Jesper ready to go at once to see if I can improve the time. How many laps per day was it?” Alkerion asked as he checked the saddle and harness again.

“26, but Jesper needs to rest more to feed for longer. So 24 or 25 at most is the safe number.” Twig said. “I have a solution though, a lightweight pack that enables Jesper to feed as he flies” she hurriedly spoke as she ran over with the contraption made from insect chitin.

“No, we’ve been over this poor Twig. Jesper will be fine. We just need to work on his stamina and all will be well. He feeds plenty when we stop. Any more and I will lose too much time.” Alkerion began waving off Twig and the contraption. “Stick to what you are paid to do, record my times, keep an eye on the competition. That is all you are good for so stick to it now little Twiggy.” Alkerion said as he mounted the giant bird. Jesper looked longingly at the bucket of nectar that lay half eaten as he still continued to pant.

“It’s Twig, just Twig.” she said back to Alkerion who flew off without registering her reply. Twig hated how he called her Twiggy. She was made for more than just this and she was going to prove it. She reset the device as the elf racer took off and watched as the numbers increased with the passing seconds and minutes. “Jesper deserves better.” she muttered as she walked off holding her invention.

The party knocked on the door at the cabin at the base of one of the trees. Looking up above the building ladders and stairs were built into the side of the tree and wound its way up into the treetop village above. A few moments of movement in the building passed before a man with a walking cane appeared. “I’ve been expecting you, come in please.” the kind old elf smiled and hobbled towards some seating made from smoothed out roots of the tree.

“Now I can’t thank you enough. As you can assume I am Julaor, not a very traditional elven name I am afraid but it is what it is.” he said with a smile as he offered some steaming cups towards them. “Fern-leaf Tea any one?”

After the party had sat down in the old elves hut he procured a large book from the table and opened it to a page. “I am the custodian of the races, a tradition that used to be a rite of passage for the young elves of this village. But over time it has evolved and changed and much like the great redwoods we live on we must adapt and grow over time. Each year I find the similar names on the roster and I ensure that they abide by the code with the mounts that they enter.” he said as he flicked deeper into the book.

“And the past few years, with the coming of the hubbub outside,” he gestured to the tent city of the Treetop Races market that was forming, “I find more people profiteering out of something that was a traditional ceremony. Now there are no laws against it but when it endangers the life of the riders that is something that I can’t abide by. This year though there is something unusual. We have new racers, not all too unusual admittedly, but new breeds of mounts have been added. We have a creature that I have been informed is herbivorous that meets the criterion and we also have our first mammal. Now I suspect that this will create chaos and a new market in which people can exploit. What I have requested aid in is protecting the riders, all of them, from outside influence and where you deem it necessary to step in further then I can give you the authority as Roost Wardens to manage the safety of the mounts and racers in this race.” he finished as he produced a wooden box.

“I can pay you this now, and then double again when the job is done if you are found to be up to the task. If you find the source of corruption I want it removed. But quietly. It can’t be found out that the village is orchestrating this, it needs to look like it was done by another’s hand. ” Julaor said as he looked at each of the adventurers before him.

A shorter one tonight, and that’s not a height joke due to the gnome at the centre of our adventure. This week the focus won’t be so much on the NPCs involved but the interactions on the players and the story. There are a few paths and ways out of this where we will investigate what is going on and how to overcome the obstacles. But for that to really take place you’ll have to find out what lies in wait for the party. So don’t forget to come back each day this week for the expanding content of the adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Treetop Racers

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Welcome to a wonderful part of the land where the giants stand tall and the treetop racers are kings and queens. The giants in question are ancient protected trees where the village of Bramblewall sits nestled amongst the tree tops and clouds. The treetop racers are the group of people who dare to tame and raise the giant birds of the forest and who take part in racing them in a set course.

This sport is the highlight of not only the village but travellers from all around gather for this yearly event where the markets that spring up around this bring a wide variety of goods both magical and mundane. But the gambling also has made people as rich as kings over the course of the multi-course race. This alone brings in the most notorious of brokers and loan sharks to the village where the stakes are as high as the race course.

The air up in the treetops of Bramblewall is clear and fresh. The sounds of the bird life is both beautiful and a shock as the giant avians call the roof of many houses their nests. However an underdog of the racing world has appeared with a new complication. For it’s not just birds that call the treetops home and there is one who wants to turn this world upside down.

With so many people with skin and gold in the race any upsets could make or break entire organisations. Will the race be a fair test of feathers and flight or will the hopes of the treetop racers come crashing down amongst a cascade of broken branches and leaves.

For the party coming to the city was an opportunity for coin and for shopping, but they may leave with more if they bet on the right employer.

Treetop Racers

404MoTrRa

Bramblewall Village – Created in Nightcafe.

The sounds of evening bird song rang out across the canopy and brought the day to an end across the houses. The people of Bramblewall had planned this race for over a year and the Treetop racers were already removing the saddles up their companions after a day of test flights through the course. Twig, a forest gnome of no real renown watched the last of the racers feed their giant bird mounts and disappear inside for the night.

This was her signal to prepare her own fine steed. As she scurried back inside her treetop house the prospect of falling hundreds of feet no longer worried her as the bridges wobbled from her passage. She had been watching the racers and timing them and their laps – it had been her job for many years after all. She had studied the rules and guides around the race for years. One hundred loops of the forest over four days and nights. Mounts must fly and live in the trees, must not breathe fire and must not be carnivorous. Most people had giant birds that fed from fruit, seeds or nectar from some of the giant flower species that grew from giant creeper vines amongst the trees.

But she had found a loophole. Not all herbivorous creatures in the forest who lived in trees were birds. She entered her treehouse and quickly gathered her things. A pair of riding goggles that had cost her a pretty bag of coin, riding leathers and furs as well as a sack full of fruit. Moving to the trapdoor; something that only her treehouse had, she lifted the hatch and entered a balcony area under her house that was surrounded by thatching, vines and thick foliage. There her mount and racing companion waited patiently. A giant fruit bat.

Larger than some of the birds that took place in the race her small stature made her weight manageable for the creature. She knew that during the daylight her bat, Honeysuckle, would be slower than the other avian mounts. But she had an advantage that they did not, she could fly at night. Feeding the giant bat the bag of fruit she readied the custom saddle and harness that would enable her to stay bound to the bat during the flight. Due to the small amount of weight it would be carrying it wouldn’t have to stop for much during the daylight and she calculated, a guess really, that during the night Honeysuckle would be faster than most of the daylight flying birds.

Having sated the bats hunger she climbed onto its back, giving it a good scratch and talking to it. She had found the bat injured as a pup, abandoned on the forest floor and had raised it openly first. But now she trained with it in secret as she knew how the others would react. But this was her year. She would no longer tally results and count the laps of Alkerion, the elven rider who flew on Jesper, a magnificent giant hummingbird. Jesper was easily the biggest giant hummingbird that had been seen, a mixture of selective breeding and elven magic allegedly – but all of it was legal according to the rule book. But The stamina of Honeysuckle would easily leave Jesper far behind in the rankings.

With a final pat Twig urged the bat to take flight and within seconds she was soaring through the evening along the course – the special gemstone in the goggles enabled her to see the forest in a grey light, colours stripped from the world around her but she was able to see the trail markers.

Within an hour she had completed two laps of the course and was half way through the next. She was timing herself on a small gnomish trinket and she couldn’t suppress her smile. She was at least half again as fast as many of the other riders. This would be a piece of cake as long as Honeysuckle’s stamina held up she had a strong chance to be the next winner of the Treetop Race.

However, on a lower treehouse in the main centre of Bramblewall a human watched the bat complete its laps. Looking up with a similar tinted pair of goggles the middle aged man took similar notes on the speed of the bat.

“Uh, King sir? I came as you requested and looked into the ruling as you wanted.” a stammering voice said from behind. King knew that his associate was there and was approaching, he prided himself on knowing what went on in this city when it came to the races. “It doesn’t specify that the racer has to be a bird, but I don’t know why that matters. There isn’t another creature as fast as the birds that fly here that won’t eat them or the riders.” the boy said.

“Interesting that you say that. Not another animal that doesn’t fly as fast as the birds.” King said slowly. “Make sure that I have no plans or other engagements tomorrow at lunch, I have a potential client to go talk to.” he said as he watched the bat complete the third lap in the same time it would take half the birds to complete two at most. “Interesting indeed.”

Now this week we have something a bit different. Racing on giant birds in a giant forest with giant odds stacked against a plucky young gnome and her bat. This week is shaping up to be massive, so don’t forget to come back each day as we expand upon the adventure. And finally, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe