Month: Sep 2024

Manticores Galore

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This week we have manticores galore with Samsone being a juvenile manticore and the larger creature, you guessed it, being a adult one. But something much more than just a normal adult one as you’ll see shortly.

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

Manticores Galore

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The juvenile manticore known as Samsone isn’t much of a fighter. Big enough to not be identified as anything other than a young manticore but not big enough for people to want to ride it. When threatened it will use its speedy flying speed to try and get away and failing that a quick volley of its tail spikes will see its pursuers retreating.

Juvenile Manticore – created in Tetra-cube

Then we have the big monster for the week, the Alpha Manticore. Not just a large manticore, oh no this is the biggest, strongest and oldest of their kind. So much that its scarred hide has become more resilient than it has any right being. Able to intimidate most creatures with a fearful roar and a wide range of attacks and legendary actions that will keep any hunters guessing.

Its well honed senses, particularly hearing and smell, enable it to hunt its preferred prey, sheep, to its hearts content.

Alpha Manticore – created in Tetra-cube

Thanks for joining me tonight as we looked at two variants of the normal manticore. I can’t wait to send the alpha manticore at my party and watch them take a few steps back in a panic when it starts to fight more ferociously than what they were perhaps expecting. Don’t forget to come back this weekend as we continue this adventure and some other content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Farmer’s Barn

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Back to the maps this week and we have a rather quick one whipped up with the Farmer’s Barn. This week we have a, rather large something flying around above the barn that the party are currently in so, its likely that this will be where the encounter is!

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

Farmer’s Barn

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Farmer’s Barn – Created in Inkarnate.

Two ways in and out of the barn, one overtly being the front door and the other leads to where the windmill is. There is plenty of dry hay within the building perfect for being lit on fire which could cause problems depending on what the creature is that is outside the building. Outside the barn several tree’s that could provide a small amount of cover but be warned. The creature that hunts them is an expert predator.

Three dead sheep lie in the grass outside of the barn at the edge of some of the trees, the ground under them torn up from talon, tail or claw. What ever the cause of this those sheep could be a distraction or, lure something nasty towards them.

Not super complex this week with only three or four layers to the ground texture, one more to highlight the scratches in the ground. Simply highlighting with some transparency constructed the barn and the fence was exceedingly simple.

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

Samsone’s Escape

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Not all creatures that are pets are cute and cuddly and Samsone is definitely one of those as we explore the mystery of Samsone’s Escape. It is not odd or rare for nobles to have exotic pets but I am sure that this youngster is something that hasn’t been seen near the courts before. However despite what he may look like he is, apparently, quite sweet and surely couldn’t be the source of the missing sheep or people.

So let’s grab a coffee, put on some rather thick gloves and let’s go wrangle this kitty!

Samsone’s Escape

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The party had head towards the city after they had gathered as much information from the Blackmane’s estate as possible. They had not been travelling for more than an hour before they ran into a farmer herding his sheep away from the city.

“Hail travellers, spare me a moment if you would.” he called out as they approached. As they got near they noticed that several sheep had large injuries that resembled larger slashes and cuts than what they had seen at the Blackmane estate when investigating Samsone’s pen. “There is a beast out there that has a taste for sheep. They called me crazy when I claimed that my animals had started being taken by a monster but I’ve seen it. Large scaled wings, a long tail with a barb. I’ve heard the stories. It’s a wyvern for sure.” he said with conviction.

“They think me mad. No wyverns in these lands for years, centuries they had claimed. But look at my beauties. All of them had injuries to prove they been beset upon by a foul creature.” he continued. “So I’ve left. I’m taking my sheep left the old farm and I’m leaving. The guard wont save me, the kings men don’t believe me so it’s the only thing that’s left. The old mill will have to turn itself now.” he said as the sheep started to get away from him, slowly. “Farewell! and watch the skies!”

Samsone – created in Nightcafe.

Sure enough the party came across a Mill with a farm attached. As they walked past one of the doors to the barn moved despite there being no wind. Approaching the barn they heard the sound of foot steps on hay and something hard like horns, or claws, scratching at the wood of the door. As they drew near the scratching stopped and rushed movements could be heard as something scurried behind the door.

Entering it was pretty hard to miss the creature that was currently attempting to push itself between haybales to hide. A baby manticore with what appeared to be a sky blue collar was trying its best to hide from the party. A large bronze emblem of a “S” hung from the collar as it jumped from bale to bale to try and create distance between itself and the party.

Samsone was a baby Manticore. Despite being only a youngster it was the size of a large dog with powerful muscles, a scorpion like tail and large bat-like wings. Small horns sprouted from its forehead and a thick mane of hair was already proudly on display. However as they pondered what to do about the creature it looked suddenly alarmed, looked towards the roof and dove deeper into the barn.

Thats when the party heard wingbeats of something large passing above the barn. Large powerful wings carried an unknown creature nearby as it circled the farm and barn. A reverberating growl pressed down upon them and dust rained down upon the barn as the creature neared and expressed its displeasure, or hunger. Perhaps the farmer was right, perhaps it was a wyvern that had taken his sheep and that left the question. Why did Anzia Blackmane have a baby manticore as a pet. And of course, what was the creature above them.

Thanks for joining me for another twist night. Tonight we revealed Samsone but not quite the true villain of this weeks adventure. So if you want to follow along more don’t forget to come back each night and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Anzia Blackmane

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The true client this week isn’t Fergo Blackmane but his Daughter, Anzia Blackmane. An eccentric young woman who doesn’t quite dodge around questions but definitely makes getting useful information harder.

Let’s settle down, pull up a stool and let’s go to tea with the nobles daughter!

Anzia Blackmane

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Anzia Blackmane- Created in Nightcafe.

Requesting an audience with the royal family may have been easier than a simple meeting with the Blackmanes. Several guards stopped and asked questions about the need for their visit to the Blackmane manor and some even sent them in wrong directions until a maid appeared and invited them to tea with Anzia.

The caution wasn’t warranted of course but the trip to the sitting room was eye-opening. Weapons from dozens of cultures and people lined the hallway along with fine armours that varied from riding leathers to exquisite plate mail. Portraits line the walls of heroic figures hunting monstrous creatures and several trophys from such endeavours were mounted on walls or pedestals.

They stopped in front of a large set of double doors where the maid bowed and announced the party. Inside a young woman sat sipping on tea with a bunch of cups, saucers and pots displayed in front of her. “Do come in. I hope that you are making good progress in finding my Samsone, he is such a tricky fellow.” she said in a tone that didn’t match her looks. As she looked between the party members she sighed. “I did tell father that we had to get the best to retrieve Samsone. I believe that he is stolen but father insists that he simply got out. A good boy like that would never leave voluntarily not after all the care I have provided for him.” she paused to sip from her tea.

“No he must have been stolen. Please find my Samsone and return him to me. He is a rather large cat and has redish brown fur. You will recognise him the moment you see him I am sure of it.” she added after a brief hesitation. “Oh and do be careful, the servants have informed me that there is rumours of a large fearsome creature prowling the city. Be careful not let it hurt Samsone or we wont be able to uphold our end of the reward.”

Thanks for joining me tonight to meet Anzia Blackmane, descendent of a famous and decorated hero of the kingdom. A bit eccentric but obviously cares about her pet, Samsone. Don’t forget that we will expand the adventure each day this week, so make sure to come back daily and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Anzia’s Pen

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This week we investigate the the breakout at Anzia’s Pen, a noble’s daughter who’s pet broke out of the pen it was housed in. Except this pen was well made, sturdy and the wreckage left behind hints that something about this is off.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and let’s search for clues in tonight’s adventure!

Owning a pet is hard for children regardless if they are look after it themselves or have someone looking after the creatures on their behalf. But when this pet goes missing and rumours of a monster are flooding into the city the party is called in to be discrete in returning a nobles pet before someone makes a mistake.

In a race against time the party search for the missing pet of Anazia, the nobleman’s daughter, which smashed through a door to escape its pen. Can they find it before it gets itself into trouble. Meanwhile stock, pets and even a beggar are rumoured to have been taken by a monster that is roaming the streets. Could the two be connected? What type of pet can smash through a door like that and what roams the streets?

Anzia’s Pen

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Anzia’s Pen – Created in Nightcafe.

The left the nobleman’s house after taking a job to investigate a missing pet. It’s not that they were short on gold or starting out new but there was something about this that seemed too good to be true. And sure enough the nobleman was indeed offering one hundred gold pieces to find his daughters missing pet with the guarantee that no one else saw the pet, that it was done discretely and fast.

A servant walked in front of them showing them to where the pet was kept. They were on the outskirts of a small city, not walled and as protected as a major city but it had a few ramparts and towers watching out around the neighbouring lands. They were in a kingdom controlled province where the king and queens soldiers patrolled the lands and kept it safe so there wasn’t a standing army here.

A few guards waved at them as they past gate to the stables and were moved towards the side of a stone building, crafted from big slabs of granite and bound with a clay mortar that looked sturdy enough to weather what ever came this way. However when they saw where they were heading they slowed down in their pace. A large amount or rubble lay on the ground. Shards of cracked wood lay on the ground amongst some clay covered stone which had fallen from the building.

A large double door had its lock burst outwards with evidence of either axes or swords having smashed through the door. However as they moved closer, the servant stopping a dozen feet away from the door, they notices that the blade marks had come from the inside. What ever had broken this door had chopped and hacked at it from the inside outwards.

Inside a large mount of straw lay scattered around with a water trough, saddle for the horses and small sticks scattered about the room. What ever had been in here was long gone but it appeared to be a large cat of judging by the hair, the musty smell and claw marks on the wooden beams, the stone and the inside of the door. Either someone had tried to break their way out of the pen or the creature had itself.

What made matters worse was that they had missed out on a job to investigate rumours of a monster before accepting this one. A large creature had reportedly been seen attacking a beggar in the city. No one had found the body but there was enough blood to suggest a serial killer or something like a dragon, were wolf or something monstrous.

Several flocks had been attacked, mainly sheep had been taken but a guard dog had been mauled and left to die near where its flock had been taken. A reward had been put out and of course the local guild had monopolised the reward as quickly as possible. The nobleman who’s daughter, Aniza, had discovered her pet gone seemed to be concerned that their pet could be mistaken for the monster and killed. This had of course raised concerns and questions but the man had assured that the pet was innocent.

Regardless of the truth something was going on here and the pay was starting to look trivial compared to the amount of work required in the job.

Thanks for joining me again for another week of adventure with Aniza’s Pen. Well into the last third of adventures for this year and I wanted to go back to a ‘feels like my first adventure’ feel. But wait and see what twist we have this week. So to stay up to date and to find out more don’t forget to come back each night this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Thren of Sarkret Forest

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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 The Thren of Sarkret Forest, 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, The Thren of Sarkret Forest, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

The Thren of Sarkret Forest

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Sarkret Forest Entrance – Created in Nightcafe.

The party arrives in the beautiful yet eerily quiet elven city of Wellspring, known for its vibrant arts and bustling streets. However, they find the streets deserted and the elves fearful. They reach the Moonbow Herbalist & Alchemical Supplies shop, where a young elf named Tyreal greets them nervously. He explains that the head alchemist is unavailable and reveals that the city is plagued. Tyreal is attempting to create a cure but is missing a crucial ingredient, Thren Root. He asks the party for help in retrieving it, promising a reward from the king and queen.

PDF adventure – The Thren of Sarkret Forest

The Thren of Sarkret ForestDownload

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, Forgotten Guard

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So another Saturday has come and instead of following the trend of a Openlegend RPG character from the previous weeks I wanted a change. Tonight I wanted to go back an do a 30 minute challenge focusing on something randomly generated and expanding it to a one shot adventure within 30 minutes. Todays 30 minute challenge, Forgotten Guard is to looking at what a forgotten guard could entail using, mainly, my experience as a avid TTRPGer and DM.

The normal self-imposed restrictions are in place.

Rules of the challenge for me

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

Time started: 21:04 AEST

Overview: The party stumbles upon an ancient, overgrown temple deep within a mystical forest. Legends speak of a powerful artefact hidden within, guarded by the spirits of an ancient order of warriors known as the Forgotten Guard.

30 Minute Challenge, Forgotten Guard

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The party have heard rumours, tall tales of a temple within a dense, enchanted forest that holds unclaimed riches and an artefact of such power that a legion of knights thought it dangerous enough to seclude themselves away from the world to guard. The tales, mainly from drunken bards, go so far as to claim that the knights are still haunting the temple, forever cursed to guard the treasure that they swore their lives to defend.

It is all thought to be tall tales until the party are approached by one such bard, an older elf, while in the Half-moon tavern. Supposedly he had heard from a group of adventurers that they were chased out of the nearby forest by a host of spectral knights after the had discovered a vine and moss covered temple. Ancient and crumbling but still defended so keenly by these spectral soldiers.

The bard offers them a small sum of gold if they could accompany him to the temple in order to locate it. He wants to be the first to record the temple and tell the tale of the heroic adventurers who discovered what lay behind the phalanx of ghastly guardians. It’s riches would be split twenty – eighty with the bard claiming what they found most valuable but only after the party had the first sweep of what treasures lay within.

The trip to the temple was non-eventful and it was mid-afternoon by time they reached the forest where the bard had heard that the adventurers had ran from. He consulted a hand-drawn map (on the back of a napkin from the tavern) and moved them further along the road before pointing confidently deeper into the forest.

A few hours later and nearing dusk they came across the first evidence that they were nearing a building. Rocky pillars stretched through the trees, vines and other vegetation like ribs of a colossal creature. A discarded new shield with a large cut from a broad blade was discarded near the track they had travelled towards the temple a long with a pouch of what appeared to be spell components.

As they approached the rumours appeared to be true with several armoured spectres drifting from the building to create a barricade to the door. Behind them, resting against the door lay the skeletons of knights a rusty long sword, remains of a rotten shield and tarnished and pox-marked plate lay.

The confrontation was intense and vicious with the bard calling out to them with unhelpful suggestions. However the music that the bard played as she fumbled the lyrics to a song he was crafting on the fly gave pause to the knights who began to hesitate in their reckless attacks against the party. The last of the guards fell and the old temple doors lay closed and rotting.

As they pushed through the doors the skeletons from the fallen knights crumbled inwards causing the metal weapon, armour and bossing on the shield to clang loudly.

“Who disturbs the forgotten, who comes to claim which should not be” A voice rose from the ground at the end of the antechamber.

A voice from the back, the elven bard, strode forward “Sir Tamell…” he said with a shaky voice.

“It can not be. Ymrick?” An imposing figure manifested from the ground and stood in between the pews. “My friend, you have grown old.” the knight called back.

“It is not I who has grown old. Tamell, you must rest. You’re a shade of what you used to be and I can not bear to see you like this.” Ymrick, the elven bard, replied.

“I see you are not alone. Your companions have proven strong by besting my brothers. If their intentions are to take the artefact and use its power then I can not let them live, unless.” he said as he brought forth a spectral great sword. “Best me in fair combat and I will relinquish the artefact to you and consider my oath fulfilled.”

Objective

The party should aim to beat the knight or find another way to grab the wand on the alter behind the large spectral knight. If they beat him fairly in combat (all vs one is fine) then he will dissipate along with several other ghostly knights who came to watch.

If the party engage in non-honourable tactics then the knights on the sides of the room will open fire with spectral bolts from crossbows as they broke the code of honour.

Time finished: 21:32 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

Messenger of the Gesig horde

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The Messenger of the Gesig horde, the Notyrep used to be twisted creature with large fleshy bat-like wings that carried these hideous mixture of hyena, bat and vulture. Since the entire population of them was created in the Gesig horde these have likely never been seen, perhaps only ever heard of.

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

Messenger of the Gesig horde

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The Notyrep is a horrible abomination of fleshy muscle, tufts of fur and feathers that serve no purpose other than to hint at what the creature could be a composite of. Fast on foot it uses its clawed hand on its grip into the ground, wall or building as it rushed forward. While it may be fast on the ground its faster in the air using its large wings to propel it forward and it’s in the wait where its most lethal.

Using its jaws it tries to rip out chunks of its prey while its talons rake at them while flying past. Nimble and powerful it takes a little bit to take one out and it is adept at hunting those that try to avoid it with its keen sense of smell and sight.

Notyrep – created in Tetra-cube

A small update tonight as the other creatures would be rather mundane in comparison. Don’t forget to come back this weekend as we continue this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Karaol Night Market

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This week I wanted to have a epic fight scene in the Karaol night market however, I really dislike making maps in cities. Cities with the people, the stalls, buildings, animals and other flexible obstacles deserve something more than a static map and so I prefer to run these old school, theatre of the mind.

So sit back, grab a coffee, maybe some snacks from the night market and let’s stroll into tonight’s encounter!

Karaol Night Market

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Karaol Night Market – Created in Nightcafe.

The air is enriched with the scent of local spices and cooking delicacies which mingle with the aroma of the herbs and vegetables from nearby produce stalls. Bright lanterns shed warm light across the stalls which sway lightly in the cool evening breeze from woven died strings of a multitude of colours.

Deeper into the market the spices and food gives way to sellers proclaiming that their enchanted trinkets or magical potions will create a variety of magical protections, cures or blessings. However, only a few will actually work. A small group of buskers sing, dance and even play a lute as they weave a tapestry of sound and melody that enriches the chatter between merchants and customers.

The shadows in the alleyways and on rooftops speak of a darker aspect to the market as all kinds of people are drawn to the promise of coin, or clients who wish to partake in less reputable activities. However a darker set of shadows prey upon even those who prefer the dark alleys as the Prison of Gesig’s seals fray further closer to oblivion. As people slowly realise that something dark flies above them the panic sets in and stalls turn into shelters or places to hide, some are over turned in the panic to escape the maze of tents, sounds and smells.

The tents, people and wares give an interesting layer of complexity with this weeks encounter. Able to climb buildings, some tents and other structures such as barrels, crates tables and even a wagon markets inside cities offer a great variety of places to run through.

The fabric of tents if crashed into can stop a deadly fall, but they can also capture and ensnare weapons, claws or wings if not careful. Able to disarm, delay or even restrain a potential foe could prove invaluable if used correctly and at the right moment.

Thanks for joining me for another night where we drifted back towards theatre of the mind! Don’t forget to join me again tomorrow for the encounter for this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Karaol at Night

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A city like Karaol at night is a place to see. Bustling streets filled with people attending night markets, people enjoying (perhaps a bit too much) their libations and engaging in merriment and, of course, the screech of demons as they chase a failing artefact through the city streets towards the church of Selune. Ah what a place to spend a few days in.

So let’s grab a coffee, put on our finest tunics and let’s go for a night stroll!

Karaol at Night

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Karaol at Night – created in Nightcafe.

The party marvelled at how many people were just walking down the street despite the large demonic shapes that crawled, leapt of flew between the rooftops as they watched and chased the party through the streets. They had only discovered the location of the bag after hearing Naye, the stablemasters daughter shriek out in shock and fear as a demon started attacking the pile of bags and kit that they had taken from the horses the party had intended to take out.

A mix-up. The saddlebag from their horses had been mixed up with Fylaine’s quarry, the Prison of Gesig. However the church to Selune was on the other side of the city and despite Fylaine’s help in fighting off demons that were nearly spilling out freely they had lost her a few streets back when something bigger than a Quasit appeared and attacked them. It was not long until similar creatures were appearing and attacking them relentlessly.

Large bat-winged creatures with scaled heads, bulging muscles and an odour that invoked nausea jumped down from stalking them along the rooftops before stamping their hooved feed defiantly. The variety of demons that kept appearing really told a unfavourable picture of what lay within the prison itself. The demons were no match for the party and after a few strikes in less than a minute of heated combat the creatures were left dead on the floor. However it was a minute that they had been delayed and the seal weakened now with every moment after it was attacked by the creature in stables.

Rushing onwards the sounds of beating wings finally met with the patron’s of the taverns, bars and inns on the ground and a panic erupted with many people fleeing inside the buildings, many more however flooded the streets in their panic. This unfortunately accomplished two things. One it created a moment where the party could slip along with the horde of people fleeing down the street and, second, it created more prey for the demons that started to swoop down and snatch at the commoners, merchants and revellers of the night life in Karaol.

Thanks for joining me for yet another night. Don’t forget that I continue to expand this adventure further every night this week and we still have a few nights left. So don’t forget to come back each night and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe