Apr 2024 – Brazen Wolfe Tabletop

Smuggling K

30/04/202409/06/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Manaeva needs help and while the cure does exist there is something wrong with the person who is to be known simply as Smuggling K. Now when all is said and done the intentions could be very noble but how they are done, and what they are done with is something that is not to be encouraged. But before I confuse everyone let’s take a step back.

So grab a coffee, sit back and let’s roll into tonight’s adventure!

Smuggling K

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The streets were dark as Kass slunk along the streets that were barely illuminated by her low burning lantern. The scarf around her head barely hid her features but she was counting on the darkness of the night and the part of the village that she was striding through to get the job done. It had been a while since she had been this nervous but this shipment to Manaeva was the largest she had attempted and it was the riskiest.

Despite this she was confident that the adventurers she had been recommended would get the job done. Outsiders with no ties to her, the city or the harpers had practically guaranteed them being untraceable. As the form of the wagon loomed in front of her she whistled once to let the guard watching know that she was here and once he had turned around she climbed into the back of the wagon.

It had been a while since her first job and the nerves and pang of remorse had long disappeared. She didn’t even regret lying about being a member of the harpers or about the contents of these cloth wrapped crates. Some of them, the ones that were open to inspection would pass as ‘viable cures’ but the ones hidden deeper and in false bottoms to the crates were definitely not. It was these vials that were the real product being sold, that and a few other surprises scattered through the deeper boxes. Hopefully the adventurers would be able to drop them off and head out without a problem. But there was always a chance for it to go wrong.

After checking the contents of several crates and satisfied that the real contents were hidden correctly she slipped back out and left a pouch of gold coins just inside the wagon. A bribe for the guard to keep his mouth shut and to not delve too deeply into where he wasn’t paid to.

Thanks for joining me tonight to meet Smuggling K. Although all isn’t what it seems and a fair share of lies has been told to get the party to do what she needs them to do she is still a business woman and a damn good one. But this is just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more nights to come this week. So don’t forget to come back each day this week and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Supply Run

29/04/202408/06/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

This week we have the party caught in transit – passing from one city to another and, not quite making it all the way through as they take refuge in the ruins of Krencham. Will they make it out alive or will the storm filled night be too much for them.

So hunker down, grab a drink and let’s survive tonight’s adventure!

The long war-torn lands of Manaeva are rife with conflict and sickness which was a result of the magical backlash of the spell that ended the great war. Those who scrape out a living in the haunted city have to make do with what they are able to find or salvage and are a stubborn and hardy folk. Or, like many of the residents of the city, they are too poor and desperate to be anywhere else.

But the people of this land are not helpless as there are organisations that wish to send them aid. Wagons filled with food, medicinal supplies and materials in which to rebuild their life – it just needs someone to transport them into the city and past the guards who do not appreciate the interference of the city.

A dark plot is afoot in this city and the cart of goods that the party are escorting into Manaeva is at the centre of it. Will they work it out in time or will their aid attempt end in disaster for all involved.

The Supply Run

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Supplies for Manaeva – created in **Nightcafe**.

Dozens of cloth wrapped crates were piled into the bag of the wagon in front of the party as K. handed them a few pouches of gold. “Now that’s half of what we owe you and a bit extra to cover any costs getting the medicinal supplies to Manaeva. My contact Honest James will be expecting you and will be able to give you the other half of the payment.” The woman known only as ‘K.’ smiled and despite the scarf wrapping around most of her head her face was visible, at least while addressing the party.

The party had come to Scute, a backwater down as they had heard of a business deal here that was nearly impossible to ignore, a large sum of gold for escorting a wagon into Manaeva. It was only after learning about Manaeva that the realisation of why the pay for a simple one or two days escorting a caravan of goods would pay so well.

Manaeva was the site of one of the largest magic-dominated battles that had happened in known history and the shattered lands absorbed a lot of residual magic. This magic has cursed many of the people that live on this land with a sickness which, until recently, didn’t have a cure. And that is where the party comes into it. The job is to muggle a wagon of this cure into the city, get it past the guards and distribute it to give the people a fighting chance. Or so K. said.

The current ruling power doesn’t want the people to be cured and has refused any help from outsiders. However the people need help and K. a member of the harpers is dedicated to helping these unfortunate people.

Thanks for joining me tonight for another night of adventure. Don’t forget to come back daily this week to stay up to date with the adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Shadow of Oscowl

28/04/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Tonight and I have created a new zine for the year. I hope you are finding the current format of this Zine useful as I am continue to investigate what I can create weekly. I do this while aiming to give the DM freedom and flexibility without railroading them and the Party. So without any further waiting I present, The Shadow of Oscowl, in the same format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books.

As always this adventure can be used system agnostic but focuses on D&D so please feel free to adjust to what ever system and the creatures you are using in your adventure! However as always Kobold fight club can be used to quickly balance an encounter for Dungeons and Dragons and Tetra-cube provides the stat-blocks for the creatures found in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, The Shadow of Oscowl, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

The Shadow of Oscowl

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Walking the streets of Oscowl the party keeps an eye out for people they know, suspicious characters or people that they recognise from the night that Ikob was killed.

After an hour or two they find themselves looking down a busy street of merchants with their wares on tables, mats or stalls. Barrels of produce lined the walkway and the merchants called to not just the party but everyone, proclaiming their goods superior quality as they tried to make more sales.

PDF adventure – The Shadows of Oscowl

the-shadow-of-oscowl Download

Thanks for joining me today for another Zine this year. As usual there is a lot more in the Zine than there was in the daily updates on this blog – so make sure to grab a copy of the PDF.

Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it.
I hope you don’t miss a thing so come back daily in the coming week and year. This is so you can experience the creation of the next adventure as it evolves and shapes out. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Other than D&D…

27/04/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

I spent a little bit of today creating something that I hadn’t thought I would get around to in a while, going back to an RPG other than D&D… But here we are and I spent half the day today looking into OpenLegends RPG once again and looking at how I would capture things simply as if I was to teach this great system to others.

So sit back, grab a coffee and investigate OpenLegends RPG!

Other than D&D…

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Daruden braced as the orcs grand hammer slammed down on his shield knowing full well that he would be unable to dodge the attack in time. The orc (rolling with advantage 1, 1d20+1d10(1d10 advantage*): 25) was able to get past the Dwarven warriors guard (15). As the hammer met the steel shield Daruden felt his knees buckle under the pressure from the orc’s assault and stood shakily to his feet after suffering 10 points of damage.

Raising his battle axe high he aimed to disembowel the foul creature so he could make a clear path for his wounded allies to travel past to the relative safety of the cliffs behind the orc that had ambushed them. Calling out a mighty battle cry he attacked (rolling advantage 3, 1d20+2d6(+3d6 advantage*): 24! with an exploding d6!) and connected meatily with the midsection of the orc (guard 13). As he connected he stepped forward and pushed with his trained strength and pushed the orc 10 feet backwards in addition to dealing 11 points of damage. “Go now! I’ll deal with this beast and join you!” he called as he waded with shaking legs forward. He was not sure how much longer he could face off against his foe considering the state he was in.

All he hoped was that his luck would turn

Daruden NPC Card – Created in Canva from art generated in Nightcafe.

As Tiluas Wellspring carried the unconscious Farnably up the mountain he looked back at his stalwart companion. Daruden was in danger as if they didn’t get height advantage soon the orcs would be upon them. Concentrating he cast Sylphs Blessing (Resistance – Forceful: Power level 3 – 1d20+1d10(+2d10* Advantage):17 vs DC 16). Tiluas watched as a flurry of wind wrapped around his ally causing blows to be turned aside as well as debris buffeting attacks which would, hopefully, soften or deflect blows them entirely.

Not for the first time on this cursed quest he thanked the Ring of Telekinesis that he had received from his teacher as a graduation gift from the College of the Arcane.

Ring of Telekinesis Card – Created in Canva from art generated in Nightcafe.

Exploring what can be done to keep track of the many, many option that OpenLegend RPG has to offer when creating characters, or NPCs, as well as what magic Items could look like when simplified yet still useful and desirable was an interesting endeavour today. There are still some tweaks I would make with the card concept but as a rough draft I believe they will prove to be beneficial.

While I think having a preferred and safe game system is always enjoyable to fall back to exploring what’s out there, and going back to an old favourite like OLRPG can make for truly enjoyable adventures. Something to consider if your group is wanting something to spice things up a bit.

Now that’s all that we have time for tonight, but its not all that we have for this weekend. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more Tabletop content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Fulgurbeast

26/04/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

The Fulgurbeast, a creature seemingly born from lightning and sadism is a relentless hunter. Can the party overcome what stalks them and make it out alive despite it being a creature of the storm itself? Well there is really only one way to find out.

So let’s grab a coffee, sit down and roll into tonight’s encounter!

The Fulgurbeast

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The Fulgurbeast attacks with more cunning than the average human. Watching and reading its preys weaknesses, motions and attacks it learns how to guarantee the feast to come. As beasts born from chaos some are born with deformities but these never seem to slow down the creature. Extra appendages, mouths or even heads these only aid in the making each beast unique and a frightening foe to face on the battlefield.

Using its ability to create near-perfect images, sounds and even smells it lures prey away from one another and then attempts to execute the weakest, or most dangerous one. Grappling and dragging off using its surprising agility and strength it will attempt to create chaos and confusion amongst the members of the group its hunting in order to make them dysfunctional and easier to hunt down.

Alternative Stat-block

That’s all we have for tonight, something a bit fun and more than a bit lethal. Don’t forget to come back this weekend for more tabletop content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Krencham Fields

25/04/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

This week we have an ambush, whether during a hasty retreat or a noble rescue but regardless of the when it happens in the Krencham Fields. These fields are long overgrown with the now wild crops of the previous farms that used to flourish in this area. Now these fields of high wheat, corn and other plants make it difficult to pinpoint where dangers are lurking.

So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s roll into tonight’s map.

Krencham Fields

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The raised road provides good visibility in the surrounding area but it is rather narrow. Trees have fallen or dropped limbs from the recent storm and so there are hazards scattered near the roads. The real hero of tis map is the 4 feet (1.2 meters) high crops that basically hide anything that is medium sized from view if its sneaking through them.

A few blended background textures tonight and some simple tree placement to follow the narrative of the map. Different shades of the background texture add a bit of depth and add to the appearance of a blended crop-grass field. Many, many wheat crops n the field, some craggy hill assets to hide the raised section of the road (still don’t know how to use the dig tool effectively so this works ok, for now.).

Other than that a simple map that with some small adjustments could be extended indefinitely if you want to turn it into a chase scene. Fitting for either rescuing the Orster’s or moving out of the area surrounding the town.

Thanks for coming to check the map tonight. Tomorrow we reveal the stat-block for the creature so don’t forget to come back for the last few days of this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Creature Approaching

24/04/202402/06/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

There are few things that can strike fear into players than the realisation that there is a creature approaching and that they don’t know what or where it is. This week we have a creature that excels at the hunt, employing illusions, misdirection and cunning that is rarely seen in the wilds.

But before we give too much away let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Creature Approaching

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Jane watched as the corn stalks moved and prepared her spell. Drawing her hand up the diamond on her bracelet caught the light from the sun as she drew energy from the weave. As the corn stalks stopped moving Harry gestured for her to prepare to release her spell as he took aim with his crossbow. The swift twang that resounded from the sleek drow-made device was met with a screech that sent a shiver down their spine. Jane released her spell – the chromatic orb bristling with thunderous energy as it slammed into the same spot that the crossbow bolt had lanced through the stalks.

The energy boomed loudly in the area, ‘Hopefully that alerted anyone nearby‘ Jane thought as she prepared another spell watching for any signs of life. The amount of energy she put into the spell was moderate – above what a new spell caster would be able to muster but as she saw three frantically moving tails in the corn she prepared a fireball. Retrieving the pre-prepared sulphur covered ball from a pouch within her sleeve she began the spell. Drawing in the heat from the surrounding area she pushed it inwards to the ball. Mixing in the magical power from the weave she added more power than what would be required to feel a party of orcs.

“Jane. Something is wrong with this one!” Harry called as he drew his longsword in conjunction with loading a bolt into the crossbow.

“I’ll take care of it with this spell Harry!” she called back as the spell finished. Looking towards the multiple sources of movement she launched the ball forward watching it race into the point of impact. The resounding explosion sent burning stalks of corn raining down along with clumps of dirt and rock. Taking a moment to breath and look for signs of life she walked forward and prepared to face what would come out of the corn – if it was still alive.

The creature watched as the human walked forward and waited. The image of the lifeless form amongst the corn stalks lay a dozen feet from the human but yet the creature bade its time. There were two creatures that could be its source of food today. As the human discovered the body it stumbled backwards shocked, the image that the creature had created was convincing enough and so it stalked forward. As it moved on its six legs, the vestigial mouth twitched and salivated in apprehension of its meal to come.

Throwing out a second illusion the creature caused the human who had hit it with the bolt to turn around, hearing something behind it. As the magic user also responded to the sound the creature slunk up on silent feet and grappled the woman, the vestigial mouth chewing instantly at the midsection of the woman opening up painful wounds. Wrapping its clawed paw around the human’s mouth it dragged it backwards into the tall crops causing the illusionary sound to be more frantic to ensure its escape with its prey. However the human lashed out with more magic causing a burst of sound.

The pain lashed through the creature’s body as it turned its claws inwards and slashed at the woman before retreating to lick its wounds to encourage its rapid healing. As the creature scurried away it watched as the human with the crossbow rushed to the mauled human witch. She was very weak now which increased the odds of the creature surviving. As its wounds knitted together, bones cracked back into place and bruising disappeared it prepared for its meal to come

Thanks for joining me for another night, a bit of a delay in posting this one tonight as a scheduled event means I wont post it immediately. Tomorrow we go into the map that we will be encountering the creature within but don’t worry, it won’t be an impossible task. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Orster Trading

23/04/202402/06/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

With the looming danger of the creature, or thing that was in the town of Krencham the party begin to head away from the town. However on their way out they run into the Orster Trading company run by Harry and Jane Orster – experienced merchants who look like they can handle themselves.

So let’s grab a coffee, sit back and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Orster Trading

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The road out of Krencham after the storm; and revelation of what it may have left behind afterwards, was calm. Branches and leaves lay strewn about the road which was lined with trees that separated the raised surface from the fields of overgrown and long forgotten crops.

Up ahead a pair of humans rode towards them on horses that pulled carts behind them. Waving and signalling the party they, a man and woman, stopped alongside the party. “We didn’t think many people would be braving these roads after that storm last night. But here we are and well met.” the man said with a smile, his hand holding the handle of a rather ornate looking longsword, his other hand by the side of his horse and hidden from view. “I am Harry and this is my wife, Jane. Any news of the road up ahead that we should be aware of? The horses can cross over fallen trees, however the carts are not so lucky.”

After the party explained what happened the night before both of them exchanged a glance. “Well we haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary except a pack of dire wolves hunting up ahead. Luckily I was able to persuade them to hunt easier prey” Jane replied with a knowing smile.

After a few more pleasantries Harry and Jane excused themselves, Harry storing a hand-crossbow that he had concealed at first meeting once he had determined the party meant no harm. As they rode off towards Krencham and beyond the party couldn’t help but worry for them but they seemed formidable enough that they should be able to take care of themselves. As the party continued up the road the silence was oppressive. The birds seemed to be hiding away from the world and there wasn’t any game to be found.

Half a mile later a flock of crows broke the silence as they burst forth from the tall crops. A waft of wind brought forth the sticky-sweet smell of blood from the site where the crows had gathered. Approaching the site the party bore witness to a massacre. Seven dire wolves lay dead, well what appeared to be seven dire wolves at least. The bodies were ripped apart, severed and torn apart and the pieces strewn about. All the body cavities had been ripped open and the innards removed, or devoured.

As they considered what could have done this the crack of thunder could be heard from the direction of Krencham. From this distance they could see flashes of magic, an explosion signalling a fireball, a blast of lightning and even booms of thunder as a fierce battle raged on. But within a few heart wrenching moments the magic stopped and silence swept across the plains again.

The party had no doubt that Orster Trading had met something hostile on the road through Krencham. Victorious or defeated they knew not but whatever the case they had better put some distance between them and the site of the battle in case they are next on the menu.

Now that I look at the plot line I have for this week, with last Saturdays trigger driving some of it, it may be a fair bit darker than my normal adventures. However the show must go on and we have barely started this weeks adventure! So don’t forget to come back each day this week and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Ruins of Krencham

22/04/202402/06/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

So hunker down, grab a drink and let’s survive tonight’s adventure!

The travel between cities is fraught with danger, be it bandits, weather or hungry creatures that hunt the roads. But the roads less travelled, through abandoned buildings and towns can be safer or much, much more dangerous. The Town of Krencham has been abandoned for years now, the strange case of a township of farmers in a relatively safe part of the country disappearing overnight. Many of the buildings were left intact with a single door pushed off its hinges, out into the street.

Due to there being no bodies found the military did not investigate and deemed it a mystery. However after many years the road through Krencham has started to be used again by travellers but this time is different. After a violent storm has rocked the land the party takes refuge in the destroyed buildings. But the scene that they came out to the following day started to tie the pieces of the puzzle together.

Now the hunt is on and the party is the prey. Racing across abandoned farmlands, taking refuge in the crumbling buildings as an unknown creature stalks the edges of their sanity. Will they make it to their destination alive or will the same fate as the farmers of Krencham be theirs?

Krenchams Ruins

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The storm raged on as the party raced down the road, the flash of lightning illuminating the distant outline of ruins. Racing towards the distant hope of shelter, roads, fences and buildings that they ran past looked like lifeless shells. The Town of Krencham had been destroyed years ago overnight as the source of its destruction – and the disappearance of its people. This town was just ahead and tonight it would be their saviour tonight as the storm turned more violent – evolving into a maelstrom in its own right.

The streets, from what they could see from the lightning strikes, were deserted, ruined but a clear path made through the debris. Looking quickly over the buildings that were mainly intact they spotted what appeared to be mostly intact, a church to Lathander. Pushing through the rotten door they found themselves in a dank room that had as many leaks as an ant hill had ants.

Starting a small fire they huddled together and tried to get their clothes dry. The sounds of the storm outside sounded like an enraged animal, buildings shifted and crumbled, dust and bits of roof fell inwards upon them but it held strong. A few intense lightning strikes struck nearby and caused the ground to vibrate and for a moment the structure groaned and tilted.

The storm raged for hours and left an hour before dawn. The morning saw the party push through the semi-blocked door they had pushed through to find that parts of the ruins were a mess. Some buildings had crumbled further but bits of tree and churned earth were all around. Scouting the town they paused when they found something that they were not expecting. A tunnel had been dug along with the charred earth that indicated a lightning strike. Large swaths of dirt had been pushed outwards near one of the ruined buildings and claw and unknown tracks could be seen at points near and around the site.

Within moments a shriek of pain could be heard in the distance – an animal in pain in the direction away from the tunnel. Through the forgotten crops that grew in the fields still a path of crushed stalks could be seen moving from the tunnel outwards. The storm last night may have hidden the emergence of some creature, but frighteningly just as likely it had masked their presence from the creature that was now hunting nearby.

Thanks for joining me tonight for another week of adventuring. Don’t forget that each day this week we will expand out current adventure so don’t forget to come back daily and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Steel Princess

21/04/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Tonight and I have created a new zine for the year. I hope you are finding the current format of this Zine useful as I am continue to investigate what I can create weekly. I do this while aiming to give the DM freedom and flexibility without railroading them and the Party. So without any further waiting I present, The Steel Princess, in the same format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, The Steel Princess, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

The Steel Princess

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The party had been drawn to Luistira – the city of steel to replenish their arms and armour after a few intensive battles. The steel here at the beginning of the Ferrous highway was famous. Many of the best smiths worked here and several notable blades had been created in the several forges that were established here.

However it was not the shopping that kept the party here but a request for aid.

The Iron Harvest was calling for people to escort its many wagons to the Kings Castle, a few days from Luistira, and they were asking for only the best.
Either those with great repute would be hired or those who could test themselves and prove themselves worthy and it just so happened that the party was also heading in that direction.
“What makes you think you are ready to join the Iron Harvest Guard?” the guard, dressed more like a royal guard than a caravan mercenary, asked.
“We have heard word of your party. Some good work but surely these tales of your exploits and endeavours have been exaggerated.” a second spoke, this time a female who was dressed as the part of a caravaner.
“Now Sal, we can’t jump to conclusions.” the man spoke looking across his broad shoulder to where she sat in the back room at the inn.
“Easy captain. Let them speak. They have a reputation for getting the job done.” Sal continued leaning towards the party.

PDF adventure – The Steel Princess

the-steel-princess Download

Thanks for joining me today for another Zine this year. As usual there is a lot more in the Zine than there was in the daily updates on this blog – so make sure to grab a copy of the PDF.

Brazen Wolfe Tabletop

A place for sharing my ideas on tabletop, game design and dungeon mastery

Month: Apr 2024

Smuggling K

Smuggling K

The Supply Run

The Supply Run

The Shadow of Oscowl