Sep 2024 – Brazen Wolfe Tabletop

The Queens Palanquin

30/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Once a year on the queens birthday she opens the doors to the castle to receive gifts from her nobles and well wishers alike. However she never keeps them and instead she uses the gifts to bolster the coffers of the kingdom so that she can alleviate taxes for her people and provide support to them. She is a popular queen because of this but not everyone agrees with her methods.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee watch the procession of well-wishers!

Queen Maribeth has always been beloved by her people and its not just the way that she rules the kingdom or her beauty but by how she supports them out of the kingdoms coffers. She never asks for taxes or tithes but instead uses what she receives from other kingdoms, nobles and well wishers on her birthday to fund the coffers for the next year.

However, not everyone thinks well of the queen and her methods in funding the kingdom. With her life in peril and the party hired to protect her will they rise to the occasion and protect a beloved monarch or will they fail and be held accountable for more than just failing a job, but failing a kingdom.

The Queens Palanquin

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Queen Maribeth glanced over at the extra guards on the stairs to her palanquin and sighed. Her guard had received intel that this year there will be an attempt on her life, but none can say where, when or how just that it will happen. Despite her men warning her Maribeth still decided to go ahead with the normal festivities and opened the doors to her castle once again to receive donations and gifts from nobles vying for power, visiting royalty and dignitaries who come to pay respects and any well wisher who wants to give her a gift.

As for the majority of her reign she looked forward not just to this day but using the gifts, small or large, to support her people, the common folk, merchants and labourers of the Kiptaken kingdom instead of taking taxes she uses her own funds. A large portion of her funds comes from the sale or trading of gifts that are given to her and rarely does she keep anything.

As she looked and thanked the latest well wishers, nobles from her own kingdom who’s people would benefit from their generosity she smiled and allowed the mercenaries acting as her personal guards to allow them to approach her. Taking the hand woven bag that was filled with gems and jewels from their mines she thanked them for their generosity and handed it to her chief guard to confirm there to be nothing dangerous about the gifts.

This had been the norm for the day and it slowed the process down as each item was investigated before put into an open chest near by. The chest itself was enchanted to hold hundreds of times more space than what would normally fit. Her wizards had explained to her that it was much like a bag of holding, a traditional magical item that was sought after those who pursued adventuring.

“The bag itself was a gift from one of our vassals.” the lord said proudly. “Hand woven from across the sea using local materials. I believe its made from Lamia hair if I am not mistaken.” he said with a bow. Maribeth smiled and thanked the man, the mercenaries had already assessed no weapons were concealed on any of her well wishers so far and she the thanked them again as her head guard placed the bag in the chest.

“I am sure that it will continue to make your vassal proud as it assists the kingdom. I think you again Sir Roderick for your families continual support.” she said with a smile at the man and his wife. “Do come for a visit once this month has quietened d…” she was cut off as a sound like ripping fabric burst forth from the chest. Within a moment there was an explosion of energy and magic as a shimmering rift of green energy opened up before the queen and her procession of gift givers.

A force so powerful that the chest imploded sending the entire contents so far tumbling into the shimmering green curtain before it snatched at the resplendent palanquin and a heartbeat later, the queen. As the force took hold The queen, her guard, half the throne and the chest of gifts were snatched up and pulled through the shimmering curtain of energy before it disappeared showing a scene of destruction.

The panic that ensued as guards launched at Sir Roderick and his family to restrain them as the party, the mercenaries who were hired to protect the queen looked over the scene of the crime. An astral portal had materialised and ripped the queen through its shimmering curtain, taking her and her head guard into the beyond.

Their job had failed as without proper guidance or knowledge of the plane the queen would never find her way out. The party would find themselves held accountable for the loss of the kingdoms ruler and, likely, never find work in this land again as they would be known as the guards who failed the Queen.

Thanks for visiting tonight for another week of adventure. Tomorrow I will introduce the queen and a few other people in more details so you wont want to forget to come back tomorrow. Don’t forget that each day this week we will expand this adventure until its conclusion on the weekend and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Sins of the Subconscious

29/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

This week I continued with the creating a shortened Zine, something that fits on a single A4 sheet of paper with just enough information to set the scene, plot and hook with some NPCs sprinkled through that it could be used in any system.

I think its still working well so without any further waiting I present Sins of the Subconscious, in the short format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books whether you run Pathfinder, Open Legends RPG, D&D or any other RPG System.

There is references to the blog nights which are D&D centric (regarding Friday night’s Stat-blocks) but this adventure can be used system agnostic more so than my regular Zines. 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 many of my D&D creatures.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, Sins of the Subconscious, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

Sins of the Subconscious

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Church of Kelemvor – Created in Nightcafe.

The party had been travelling to a large city and were a few hours past the last village that they had seen for hours when the storm hit. Violent winds, rain and even hail struck at them and they were forced to seek shelter, an abandoned cottage nearby with a dried up well. Taking turns to watch as there had been signs of a large creature about they waited out the storm. However when the person on watch turned to wake up the next person to take watch a creature darted at them from outside, slamming open its door in its haste and dug a mouthful of fangs into the adventurer.

The party roused and attacked the beast hoping to kill it but they only managed to scare it off. However the damage was already done and the party member fell unconscious.

The nearest place they could take their ally was the village a few hours back and since no magic or potions seemed to be healing the wound they would need powerful magic, the magic of the gods.

The party made it to the village and into the church where they were disappointed to be rejected for healing, the doctrine of this clergy to Kelemvor forbade the prevention of a natural death. However room and protection from the storm was available and they were fed, the wounds were cleaned and they sat into a long night.

PDF adventure – Sins of the Subconscious

Sins of the Subconscious Download

Thanks for joining me today for another Zine this year. This is a condensed version of the Zine, but I hope the format works and is good to look at! Please feel free to leave comments if this format is appealing – 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

30 Minute Challenge, Raiders Ravine

28/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

So another Saturday has come and something that, after years writing adventures weekly on the blog and for my own Tabletop (which I don’t publish) it shouldn’t be surprising that I hit a creative block on occasion. That’s why I started the 30 minute challenges with tonight I focus once again on something randomly generated and expanding it to a one shot adventure within 30 minutes. Todays 30 minute challenge, Raiders Ravine is to looking the party find when they investigate a series of missing ships and disposed passengers.

As normal I have a few self-imposed restrictions are in place to keep it interesting for me.

Rules of the challenge for me

Single word or theme (an image tonight)
30 minute timer
Must be a playable adventure
Must have at least one driver (Antagonist/protagonist)
Must be D&D or RPG centric and attempt to be of the fantasy variety.

Time started: 20:36 AEST

Overview:

In the Crimson Fjord, an unprecedented number of ships had gone missing. Unlike past incidents involving pirates, storms, or even a white dragon, this time was different. Survivors—passengers, crew, merchants, and guards—were found on the shore, dazed and certain they had been robbed. They all recounted hearing a soft song and seeing a rainbow of colours before waking up in rowboats.

The city, frustrated by the losses, called for adventurers to investigate, claiming a sea monster was to blame. The adventurers set sail with an old, experienced captain. On the second day, after encountering whales, a mist appeared, accompanied by a hypnotic song and shimmering colours. It was a spell, and soon sleek vessels attempted to board their ship. The adventurers fought them off and chased them to a hidden fjord filled with pirate ships and stolen vessels. Now, they had to decide whether to confront the pirates or escape.

30 Minute Challenge, Raiders Ravine

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There had never been a time in the Crimson Fjords history where as many ships had gone missing. There had certainly been times where pirates, storms or even a large aggressive white dragon had taken it upon themselves to destroy the ships leaving or entering the port but lately it had been different.

The passengers, crew, merchants and even guards had all appeared on the shoreline dazed, confused and positive that they had been robbed. Their ships all disappeared and their stories all the same. That they had heard a soft song coming across the waves and then a rainbow of colour before being jostled awake by the waves rocking their row-boats against the shore of the Crimson Fjord.

The city had grown tired of this, let alone the dozens of merchants who had lost merchandise aboard the lost ships. What was more infuriating was that when the it didn’t matter if it was merchants, passenger or military ships they all disappeared with the survivors, of which there were nearly no casualties or missing people sure that they were all innocent and something was hunting them.

The call had gone out for adventurers to investigate with, certain detailed omitted from the report. The city claimed that a sea monster was terrorising the ships, as it was the likely explanation, and that the adventurers would leave on a small ship and investigate what they were dealing with. Not finish the beast off but to merely investigate.

The party had agreed as it appeared that nearly the entire cities worth of merchants had chipped into the reward for the quest. The water in the fjord was calm and soon the chilly sea breeze was carrying the salty sea air to the party as they sailed outwards. Their captain appeared to be too old to care but they had been assured that they were in great company. The old salty sea-dog of a captain drank liquor strong enough to knock a dwarf over but managed to handle the craft like an extension of his own two arms.

On the second day they had seen a pod of large black and white whales that had rubbed against their ship, testing it before heading off to hunt for less wooden prey. However, not an hour after the last signs of the large creatures had head off did a mist appear on the sea spreading out from the land towards them. A mournful song came wafting across the water and the mist began to shimmer with a myriad of colours.

It was a spell. An attempt to put the party under hypnosis, and for some it did albeit temporary, but soon several rough looking sleek vessels had approached the ship and the occupants had attempted to board. After a few moments it was clear that the hired adventurers were not a group to be trifled with and the crafts retreated through the fog towards land.

Giving chase the party came across a second Fjord, a large inlet gave way to sea-side stone buildings and fortifications that swarmed with pirates who started to sound the alarm the moment the adventurers ship was spotted. Within the fjord dozens of ships sat moored sporting colours from just as many different merchant, a naval and mercenary companies. The party had found the source of the missing ships, now they had to either deal with the problem of fight escape.

Objective

The objective with this example is really two choices. The party can attempt to fight through the pirates (either subtly or directly) or they can return to the port city of the Crimson Fjord and provide information, being chased by pirates the entire way of course.

Time finished: 20:56 AEST

Thanks for dropping by tonight for a quick adventure writeup. Let me know if you’d like to see more of these style quick-writeups in the future. Don’t forget that tomorrow is ZINE night so make sure you come back for that and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Dark Priest

27/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

The dark priest has been imbued by magic and power by its deity in order to fulfill the great task that has been set for it. In this case the breaking of a seal and the release of an evil upon the lands. However the price is rarely worth the power.

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

The Dark Priest

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The path of the moving trees was difficult to follow, but not impossible despite the forest itself seemed reluctant to let the parties thought. However the source of animation seemed to have moved on, or simply had its eye cast on another location.

Garet had handed them a scroll with exceedingly poor handwriting indicating that there was rumoured to be a shrine deeper in the forest to one of the “winged ones” that he had mentioned before. The party now followed the directions and a rough map to where they believed this shrine was located and they believed that they were on the right path.

As they pushed further into the forest as the sun fully disappeared and the moon pushed forward, its radiant glow illuminating the path for them. Soon the sound of a lone voice chanting and branches cracking came from head and a red glow appeared between trees contrasting against the white of the full moon. They could see it now, a large winged creature atop a tall statue bathed in red light.

From their position they could see four bound human figures wrapped in cloth at the base of a small ziggurat and a man chanted at the base of statue. Green eyes glowed on the statue as it stared at a moving bundle of cloth that called out for help, Synthia, as energy pulsated around the area turning the trees half red and half blue as the moon and unholy magic battled to claim the area.

The dark priest is a dangerous foe able to punish those to try to interrupt its duty with powerful magical backlash. Many of its spells require no concentration just a thought to summon into existence before it can continue to focus on the task at hand, summoning demons.

However the dark priest is not alone and its power over the forest shrine has given it some measurable power over the trees themselves. Those foolish enough to believe that the dark priest works alone will find branches slamming into their back before they know it, the animated trees unable to be distinguished from other trees in the forest.

Thanks for joining me tonight as we unravel a fun little encounter. I know that night time encounters are perhaps a little over-done but I just enjoy how they look and how well light can clash during the night. Don’t forget to come back over the weekend as we continue this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Walking Forest Shrine

26/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

This week has two main encounters but only really one map, the Walking Forest Shrine, as the other one should be easy enough to describe. Although the map is coming tonight the description that ties in this this part, well that will be something a bit more and will come in the next few days.

So sit back, grab a coffee, and let’s explore tonight’s Map!

The Walking Forest Shrine

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Dozens of ways to approach the series of raised stone blocks and steps before reaching the statue. The statue rests on a small stone ziggurat that is twenty feet tall with nine bundles wrapped in cloth on specially crafted sections. A large bat-winged creature sits at the centre of the raise platform with large emeralds for eyes which catch and reflect the light from the braziers that burn nearby.

The trees that surround the platform are large, ancient and twisted. Several types of trees call this forest home and it makes for a relatively sheltered approach towards the statue, if the trees can be trusted that is.

About five layers were used for the background today with a two new jungle-grass tones, a moss-green for highlights, two different shades of dirt blended in different ratios to give a worn effect. Three types of trees adds a depth to the map that I can appreciate as a forest typically wont consist of just one tree species.

The ziggurat is several wall sections combined and scaled down together to give variety of shape and purpose. The statue is purposefully larger for a reason, to be revealed later and other than that its the same technique with other asset stamps with colour modification, size and position tweaking a well as a night time filter to be put over the top.

Thanks for joining me for another map making night. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to finish off the week strong and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Walking Trees

25/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Tonight we see the next part in this adventure where the party now have to deal with Walking Trees. However its more than just some Brothers Grimm fairy tale come to life, this week evokes imagery that drew me into the world of RPGs to begin with.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and walk down the lane of nostalgia!

Walking Trees

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The party were walking from the hermit, Garets, cottage when the sound of screaming reached their ears. Synthia was there in an instant as she looked around frantically. “Have you seen a little girl, about seven?” she asked the party immediately before the sound of shouts and screams came from the forest. Rushing towards the noise the party paused as they ran past buildings at the sight before them.

Large creatures made from trees were walking slowly back to the forest. One of them had a girl in a brown and green dress entangled in its vine-like fingers as it carried her towards the woods. Several villagers rushed at the creature with wood axe, scythe, spears and even a old sword in hand as they milled about the foot of one such creature. Six creatures towered above the villagers as they swatted at them, sending them flying or crunching into the dirt.

The brave militia quickly started to shrink backwards despite calling for aid to save the girl. “Millie!” Synthia called out as she raced forward towards the girl that was captured. The creatures moved surprisingly fast despite their large size and the way their feet, the trunk and roots of a tree, bonded with the soil when ever they stepped.

The party rushed forwards after Synthia but she had a head start and her fear and rage drove her faster. But before she could reach the little girl one of the towering tree creatures reached down and ensnared her in its grasp. As she was lifted screaming and flailing the creature followed the other into the treeline and deeper into the forest.

The party rushed forward but the trees themselves started to move, their trunks and roots shifting to allow the trees to move to form a wall of dense wood that was several trees which were each several feet deep. However the animated trees on this side of the barricade turned their attention to the buildings of the village and started to stride towards it.

“The trees walk once more! The winged ones approach and call the nine to the door, their home, where they will break free and rule the forest again!” called Garet as he hobbled towards the edge of the small field which separated the village and the trees. As he called out the trees stopped and looked towards the old man, pausing for a moment. Then with a sickening lurching motion the trees began to move towards the old man, the ground shuddering with each thunderous step as they moved to reach the hermit-come-lore keeper.

“They collect the tithe that was promised to them. The nine have been selected and now the deal has been brokered. Free from their binding the trees march for the elves once more, but this time for war. Sick of servitude their new masters, the winged ones, have promised their freedom!” called Garet as he brandished his oaken walking stick at the trees.

Thanks for joining me for another night of adventure expansion. Following on with this adventure there is one more part to come, a big one really, that will tie in the final piece in this puzzle. So don’t forget to come back over the next few days and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Folk Lore and Falsehoods

24/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

There is sometimes no real difference between folk lore and falsehoods when it comes to stories about the local happenings or non-happenings. Tonight we look into such allegations of a mad hermit who is responsible for keeping the lore of the village. But when his mind is failing and the next generation is not ready to inherit the task there can only be trouble.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and let’s listen to some old-timey stories!

Folk Lore and Falsehoods

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Garet shuffled across the dirt floor the hearth where a pot of water boiled. Using a worn wooden ladle he scooped out some water and poured it into a cup which had a sprinkling of leaves in it. Shuffling back, most of the boiling water ending up on the dirt, he handed the cup to the first in line for his hospitality.

“More tea…?” he asked looking to the others. The first cup looked to contain half an earth worm, a few pine needles and what appeared to be dog or cat hair; potentially even human beard hair. When the others gestured that they needed no tea he scooped out his own serving, sprinkling his own few leaves into it and sat down, gingerly, on a pile of furs near the hearth to stay warm. His thin frame looked tiny in comparison to the cloak of furs he held around his shoulders.

After sipping from the obviously too hot tea he smiled, nodded once as if satisfied with the brew before looking to the party. “The woods have ears did you know that?” he began. “When the elves first left the woods and headed south past the human lands they encountered the first settlers of this village. Back then the woods were said to come alive at the beck and call of the elves to build their houses and fight their enemies.” he paused to sip his scalding tea.

“But when the winged ones left the trees stopped. A Pity as I always wanted to talk to a tree.” he mused to himself.

Synthia Mullpeck – Created in Artbreeder.

Synthia walked into the room hastily putting down a basket that had dozens of root vegetables assorted in near piles. “Sorry Garet there was word that some hot shot adventurers had come to the village so I tried to find them.” she began before turning around and noticing the party. “Oh, I guess I found them. Hi I’m Synthia. I am Garet’s apprentice come household help.” she added with more than a bit of disdain.

“I am here to learn all I can from Garet so that he can retire while he still has some of his memories. I have started to try and write them down in books but,” she paused looking at the man who was scooping out the other half of the worm, “Some how I don’t think I’ll fill a book of actual history. All his stories he tells don’t make sense or are impossible.” she added with frustration.

“Synthia, dear girl. Did I tell you about the spell at the heart of the forest? The one that called the winged ones home and silenced the trees?” he added chewing still. “They say that nine are needed to bring back the trees but I don’t think we could find nine more winged ones. They all disappeared. Did I tell you about the time that a winged deer flew over my hut? It started to eat the thatching on my roof!” he continued looking visibly excited.

“See, wild stories.” Synthia added looking at them knowingly. “I do have some of the ones that made sense in this book if you want to take it and look over it. If there’s any questions I’m from Remale, the village one over. I will be here for a few more hours then leaving before dusk.”

Thanks for joining me tonight get to know Garet and Synthia. Taken from a few inspirations this week I hope to capture the essence of “all stories are based on a fact”. So don’t forget to come back daily this week so you can see how this adventure expands and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Whispers in the Roots

23/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

This week we delve into the party being hired to investigate the reported whispers in the roots of Parsh Forest as the tensions of local villages and towns runs high. Something dark is mustering within the trees and the party are here to save the day, well night.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and torches and let’s investigate tonight’s adventure!

Something dark dwells within the Parsh Forest as reports of people going missing, cloaked figures disappearing in plain sight and hulking figures walking between the trunks of trees, watching those who dare travel through the roads. The local guard and militia are too scared to go into the forest due to the reports.

A call for aid has been issued for anyone brave enough to unravel what’s happening within the forest and to put a stop to it. But, there is more than mere sightings of strange creatures to contend with as the adventurers, nay heroes will soon discover.

Whispers in the Roots

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The Parsh forest is a place that has fed and sustained the surrounding villagers for decades. However, lately only dark rumours and missing people have been coming out of the forest. As the party sat and listened to the rumours of the forest and what the villagers have seen at night the wilder the stories became.

“I saw it, I swears it. A creature with two heads as tall as a tree walked across the road in front of me. The horse screamed and before I could stop er’ she bolted past the creature and all the way here.” one merchant said between drawing on is pipe and filling the area with the pungent smoke. “I’ll tells you this for free. The forest is cursed. I’m planning on leaving, packing up shop and heading in the other direction.”

“My daughter went missing.” a woman broke her silence watching the man with disdain. “Gone. Her blue ribbon that she tied her hair up with was found snagged on a tree branch a few feet into the woods but that was the only sign the local hunters could find.” she said, emotion broiling just beneath the surface before she hurried herself away.

Seven children had been taken and one unlucky hunter hadn’t returned after searching the forest for his sister. The parents, grandparents or carers of the children had approached the party and described the children that had gone missing. No commonalities except they all lived in the forests near the woods. Boys, girls, young and older had all gone missing with the hunters having not found anything within the forest.

That was until the party asked the hunters who were getting more drunk as the night and conversations went on. “Go into the forest? You mad? You’ll die in there. That’s why I never,” one paused to hiccup, “I never went in. I just told them I did.” he blurted out. The other hunters near by gestured him to be quiet and shushed him but it was too late. All of them revealed that they were too scared to go deep into the forest for fear of their own lives.

There was one person that wasn’t present tonight, an old hermit who was rumoured to have elven blood in his veins. Older than many parents of those present he had kept a history of the forest and the villages but in his growing age his stories became more jumbled and the truth harder to separate from folk tales.

The whispers in the roots of Parsh forest call the party to action this week much like I call you back each night. Thanks for visiting tonight but don’t forget that this is just the beginning of the adventures ahead. Tomorrow I will be introducing the hermit and you wont want to forget what he has to tell the party. And finally, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Ember Games

22/09/2024thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

I think its still working well so without any further waiting I present The Ember Games, in the short format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books whether you run Pathfinder, Open Legends RPG, D&D or any other RPG System.

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

The Ember Games

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The party had made their way to Mylos for the ember games, a multi-day contest where the noble houses of Mylos pit their best warriors against each other at the hopes of receiving the prize at the end of the vault, an unlimited wish.

At the Inn that they were staying at for the night, the Dusky Mule, the party entered in a game of chance with and by a stroke of luck they won prime seats to the Ember Games, near the front of the arena. The following day the chorus of celebration coming from the Arena reached their lodgings and they made their way to the arena for a full day of competition.

PDF adventure – The Ember Games

The Ember Games Download

2024 Campaign Adventure 15

21/09/202421/09/2024thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

Good evening all and welcome to the fifteenth day of adventuring for my party. While I will endeavour to not give away the campaign, adventure or plot moving forward (in case my party read these updates!) I will attempt to write up each adventure this year continuing with my 2024 Campaign Adventure 15 – continuing on from the 2023 adventure.

This is a continuation from Campaign adventure 14 as the party continues on their first mission as members of the investigation of the strange creatures in these lands.

2024 Campaign Adventure 15

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Plot:

Prisoners

The cages surrounding the party had several dead bodies laying within of various more monstrous or considered to be uncivil humanoids. Several gnolls watched the party nervously in a separate cage, a few kobolds a lone Goblin and three orcs, a small family including a youngling huddled together. A single goblin was suspicious of Kai and his party and offered a blessing to Grummish to Kai, the one eye’d god being a common deity for the green skin races of this world.

After a quick conversation the party believed that the creatures within the cage were captured by Mayor Tom and some of his men. The Orc family recounted how they were simply passing by the village with their clan when they were attacked and captured by the Fustmach soldiers. Once captured they were taken into a cage within the mines and there they were knocked out, eventually waking up in the cages below. Every week more of their kind were taken to the surface and they never returned.

Convinced of their innocence Kai picked the locks to the cage and set the captives free. Tater and Groku escorted the captives to the surface through the lift system they descended through. Armaeth began to search the refuse pile while the captives raised to the surface and uncovered something familiar. The same sigil that they had received from Gwen when they joined the cause; Fredrickson’s sigil.

However, one of the Gnolls thought that they deserved more room on the escape platform and tried to shove off the other races, but quick thinking saw Tater save the Kobold and goblin. However the gnoll fell to his death, splattering like a pancake beneath the cage.

Kai fearing the worst summoned a cushion of vines through the entangle spell to try and provide a slower descent if another creature was to fall. But while Tater and Groku convinced the rattled and shaken villagers of Fustmach to let the monstrous humanoids, the prisoners of Mayor Tom, flee the city without attacking them and, due to the gnolls savagery, it was best if they hid indoors for a period of time.

The lost one

While Tater and Groku handled with the release of the captives another creature caught Kais attention. Hiding both him and Armaeth hid and watched as a large, juvenile of the large bat they fought less than forty eight hours ago crept towards the corpse of the gnoll. However the stunted limbs and white fur labelled this as an albino, likely rejected by its family – but due to failed rolls it was not evident.

Kai’s wild goblin instincts kicked in and he, once more, stripped off with his one arm and slathered himself in gnoll guts and gore. The bat however was hungry and started to attempt to eat Kai, its fangs unable to piece the bracers that had melded with the goblins flesh. Kai sprung and failed to grapple the infant bat and it fled to hide amongst the brambles he had created earlier.

But Tater and Groku were on their way down and the light from the torches, as Groku definitely needed light in a place this dark. The bat startled by the light and blindly fled into Kai’s range. Tater took this as a threat to the goblin who was unresponsive to his warning cries and shot a bolt from his crossbow. Kai threw himself in the path of the missile and in his grapple of the bat managed to protect it from the crossbow bolt. Armaeth then flew up and exchanged frustrated words with Tater and Groku who understood that Kai was just trying to tame another wild creature.

After feeding the bat and calming both it, and the now-less-feral goblin down they discussed what was best for the bat. Returning it to its parents was the best plan and so they set forth deeper into the cavern, through the maze of stalagmites and their mirrored stalactites. Finding another creature, a larger juvenile bat they followed it into a passageway, a bore mark from something much larger much longer ago and they went deeper into the cave.

That was until Tater revealed that they hadn’t killed the mother bat, that it was assumed it died of its wounds and they had not seen it actually become deceased. Soon the path of the cave expanded and they could sense large tremors as the young bat they were following climbed the wall into a larger space beyond the passage. As Kai released the albino runt they watched with horror as the parent, a massive injured bat, rejected its young in front of them. As Kai darted forward a second presence, another adult bat was located as it watched the runt struggle to move on the ground.

As Kai reached the runt the large bat, much larger than the other one they had fought, watched him scoop up the young and waited for him to attack it, its partner or the other young. As the Goblin carried the rejected offspring the large bat retreated. But now the party had another, much more voracious mouth to feed and a long, long process of trying to domesticate a wild, feral creature. Perhaps the half-feral goblin was the best fit for the job.

Unexpected message

Entering into the village once more they retraced their steps back to The Fat Sow where John, the halfling establishment owner told Kai firmly that the bat was not to stay in in the inn and that he was to try the stables. After a brief and fruitless deception the party took the bat to the stables and ran into Dinkleberg, Greta and Hans who thanked them for saving Hans, and them, from the monsters and from Tom, who was the most monstrous of all.

After a brief discussion including a lecture about monstrous humanoids being just a person as any human or dwarf they left Batrick, the albino bat, with them to be healed and fed with some milk. In the mean time the bat would roost in the wagon until they could work out what to do with it. They then returned to The Fat Sow, ate, drank and rested before there was going to be a town meeting the next morning.

With sun rise they explored the town a bit more, Kai sending a raven to Gwen in Warrensdeep to provide an update on the mission progress. Once they returned to the inn they partook in the meeting and suggested that there may be others who are as guilty as Tom and that it couldn’t be him alone. After another lecture they went their separate ways, Kai on his inquisition to find the co-conspirators of mayor Tom while Tater went and used the Local Smiths forge to re-forge his fathers axe, which he broke, into a halberd. In exchange Tater was to work the forge and help with the other blacksmithing requests of Fustmach.

In Kais exploration he checked on Batrick and satisfied that it was doing as well as could be expected he continued his exploration. Deciding with Tater, Armaeth and Groku that they would keep vigil over Mayor Toms house that night to try and trap any other collaborators in the cannibalistic processes. However before he could prepare for this further Kai discovered a raven waiting for him at the wagon.

The raven had a message tied to its leg and as Kai took it and read he uncovered something shocking.

You found my message. I am safe but do not trust the order. There is a corruption within that needs to be cut out. Be in touch in the future, watch for the ravens.

Fredrickson appeared to not be dead but was in hiding.

Main NPCs:

Sidekicks

Thanks for joining me tonight for a hybrid of the continuation of my campaign as well as the seasonal adventure for my group, the final part of last-last years Dice-ember one-shot!. Don’t forget to come back again tomorrow for more content. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Brazen Wolfe Tabletop

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

Month: Sep 2024

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