Tonight it’s the build up for something I hope to run one day with my own party and The Bleak is where we start, continue and end this short adventure hook. Inspired by an image generated weeks ago in Nightcafe and since, its broiled in the back of my mind and with the DMG coming out in the imminent future – a player run keep could be cool no?
In an interesting turn of events the party are made the custodians of a lone citadel at the edge of the known civilised world known as The Bleak. Taking a job to deliver a message turned into something much larger, much more imposing than what they could have anticipated. But not all is lost and not all seems as wild outside the fortified walls of The Bleak.
But it’s never that simple, there is always something more, just a little bit that gives adventure its name.
The Bleak
441SaTheBleak
The job was a simple one, beyond simple. Deliver a letter to the warden of some old keep called ‘The Bleak’. When the party had asked about the keep from their employer, messenger’s from the king and queen, they were only too happy to tell them about the local area, the environment, natural resources and rumours around the local area. The pay, goods worth thousands of gold pieces – enough that you could retire on if you wanted and live a comfortable life for a number of years.
The one condition, don’t open the letter. The messenger demonstrated with a duplicate what would happen if they opened it – a pile of ash.
The trek was even easier. The horses were fine steeds gifted to them by the court, well fed and ready for the trek with enough feed to get them by for the week of travel. The roads were, relatively quiet with the first people to try and stop them disappearing quickly one they saw the horses. Game was plentiful, a run in with a pack of wolves was quickly dealt with and a large wyvern flew above them heading in the direction they were.
They should have consulted the seers. This wasn’t the first omen they had seen and anyone in the business knows that there is no amount of easy money that is, in fact, easy. As they climbed the mountain where the keep was positioned they could see through gaps in the rocky surface that beyond the mountains was a rough rocky and barren land. A few shafts of smoke were the only tell-tale sign that there was life out there and they remarked that the land behind them was a fertile paradise compared to what lay beyond.
But they had known this, the kings messenger had described the lands of the keep in great detail. The first few miles into the desert, the mountain range and then up to and including a village they had stayed at last night. It was a large land and there was no sign that this was at the detriment to the keeps success.
The Clause
The party reached the keep at sun down as it cast half the fortress in a glow that made it look like it was made from gold. The gates were closed and they could see a few people standing watch in towers, who, quickly scurried inside when they saw the party.
“Hold!” a voice called from the keep. “A few questions to make sure you’re the ones we’re expecting. It’s not often, if ever, we get visitors so well equipped so please excuse our apprehension.” the man who spoke was old, well mannered and had an air of nobility about him. Satisfied by the response the party heard an loud, audible crack of a ballista that must have been concealed as it undid the tension in its bow.
The man, Cornelius, was a wonderful host and once he had the letter in his possession a whisk of blue rose from the wax seal. He ushered them into the keep and organised for their steeds to go to the stables where they would be housed and well fed. He showed them to the hall where they happily waited for a a little amount of time to get just enough food to fill their bellies. When it was time to retire he showed them to the bed chambers, a large one designed for guards with many bunk beds or rooms that would fit in with inns of good renown.
In the morning they found Cornelius waiting for them with a broad grin. “I hope you’ve found that the keep is to your liking? That’s good as its yours to run now. The letter was proof that you had been chosen to inherit the governance of The Bleak and its lands. I will leave tomorrow morning to give me enough time to fill you in on what you may want to know and the servants and all but two guards will stay here with you. With owning this prestigious piece of land it grands you the titles of Lords and Ladies, so, what would you wish for breakfast my lords and ladies?” he asked with no hostility or malice was to be found in the old mans face.
Thanks for dropping by tonight for a quick length campaign hook. Something tells me that this wont be the last we see of The Bleak. 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
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 
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