Month: May 2025

Race Around the Rook

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Now for the next Zine of the year I present, in single page zine format, Race Around the Rook. I still believe that these provide DMs a lot more freedom to tinker with it how they want and open up the adventures to be more free formed and flowing than the larger booklet zines.

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, Race Around the Rook, and that all your rolls are made with advantage.

Race Around the Rook

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Race Around the Rook – Created in WordPress.

The party stood at the docks, watching the ships prepare for the race, each with its own crew and eager spectators wagering on the favourites. Like other contenders, Gareth had hired adventurers—not just to aid his voyage, but to ensure its safety. Although attacking rivals was illegal, it remained common due to the immense stakes involved, prompting organizers to permit guards aboard vessels. Gareth’s crew had been recruited to protect the Surf Skimmer, a small but formidable craft, with the promise of solid payment and a generous bonus if they helped secure victory. With piracy and competition making the waters dangerous, strong defences were necessary.

Gareth kept a low profile, blending in among weaker contenders to avoid drawing attention. His true strength lay in his experience—he was a third-generation sailor who understood the sea like few others. As the race announcer spoke, Gareth reflected on his father’s past attempt, a promising endeavour that ended in disaster when pirates forced him onto the treacherous Rook. When the second crack of energy signalled the start, Gareth and his childhood friend Silvana acted swiftly, loosening the moorings and releasing the sails. The Surf Skimmer glided into the open waters with calculated precision.

Harnessing the wind with its unique sail design, the Surf Skimmer quickly gained ground, overtaking rival ships without the aid of magic. Gareth mused about the advantages of a wind charm—it could accelerate their speed, but controlling the craft would be impossible. He focused instead on the rhythm of the waves, knowing true victory would come from reading the ocean, rather than brute speed alone. Though they were not yet in first place, they had left most competitors behind, moving swiftly through the moonlit waters while enemy crews glared at their unexpected advance.

Their success did not go unnoticed. The second-place ship was visibly displeased to see them closing in, and dusk brought shifting winds that slowed the larger vessels while the Surf Skimmer pressed forward. A pirate ship had briefly attempted to intercept them, using ropes and nets to hinder their movement, but the party had quickly fought them off. Despite the setback, trained guards aboard the rival ship had been watching them closely, and their presence raised concerns about further conflict.

Trouble soon arrived when the Surf Skimmer jolted violently – spiked barrels had lodged into its hull, disrupting its movement. As the crew struggled to free the ship, a second barrel struck, further slowing its progress. Then the attack began. Flaming bolts rained down, embedding themselves in the deck, while arcane-infused arrows hissed through the air. Though the specially treated sails were resistant to fire, the ship itself was vulnerable. The first harpoon soon struck, pulling the Surf Skimmer closer to the massive form of the Sea Krait, followed by another as tension dragged them sideways. Gareth barked commands as mercenaries advanced, and the air crackled with magic—the fight for survival had begun

PDF adventure – Race Around the Rook

Race Around the RookDownload

Thanks for joining me today for another adventure. Please feel free to leave comments if you like what you see when you grab a copy of the PDF. Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it. Don’t forget to come back daily so you don’t miss a thing in the coming weeks adventures. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Naval Warfare

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Tonight we have a few extra rules to help flesh out the naval warfare for this weeks adventure. As the Surf Skimmer is a smaller and faster boat escaping would be another option but until they can free the hooked barrels, harpoons and repel boarders from the boat they wont be able to get away that easily.

So suit up as we have some extra rules with this week’s encounter!

Naval Warfare

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Naval Warfare – Created in WordPress.

Boarding Boats: The enemy sends small boats with mercenaries loaded within. It takes two rounds for a boat to reach the party’s ship. If PCs attack the boat, it has AC 14, 40 HP, and moves 30 ft. per round. If the boat is destroyed, enemies must swim (halved movement) if they have access to a harpoon rope or they disappear from combat.

Ship-to-Ship Combat: The larger ship has archers and spellcasters who fire long-range attacks. Each round, roll 1d4—on a 1, a volley of crossbow bolts bolt is fired, dealing 3d10 piercing damage on a hit to the ship and failing a dex save the party as well. The party take half damage on a successful save.

Wind & Weather: sudden strong winds cause disadvantage on ranged attacks beyond 30 feet. If the wind worsens, Dex saves may be required to keep footing.

Ship Damage & Stability: If the party’s ship loses 50% HP, movement speed drops by half. If it hits 10% HP, the ship is sinking—forcing the party to abandon ship or find repairs fast

Escape Conditions: The party can attempt evasive manoeuvres. If they succeed in three consecutive DC 15 Acrobatics or Survival checks, they gain enough distance to flee

Thanks for joining for this quick update for the week. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the end of week Zine and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Sea Krait

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Tonight we look at the mercenaries and general employ of the Sea Krait – the rival vessel that has set its course on destroying Gareth and the Surf Skimmer. While these adversaries are not overly dangerous by themselves when applied at distance that two ships on the ocean can produce.

So let’s get ship-shape for tonight’s encounter!

The Sea Krait

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Mercenary Mage – Created in Tetra-cube.
Sailor – Created in Tetra-cube.
Mercenary – Created in Tetra-cube.

The Sailors may just pepper the craft with bolts form the crossbows while mercenaries will fill the front line of defence and offence. Boarding boats after harpoons are launched and used the tether to pull the boats to the smaller vessel will be the likely scenario here as its a quick way to get across the ocean without expending energy in rowing.

The mages will fire spells off at the party quickly and easily and resort to non-offensive spells if the party board the larger vessel, the Sea Krait. But there is a lot of work that the party would have to do to get aboard their ship.

Thanks for dropping in tonight for a night of stat-blocks. While not entirely new these stat blocks felt like the right choice for this adventure as we want to have a larger volume of lower quality creatures rather than a few strong ones. Don’t forget that this isn’t the end yet as we have another day left at my tabletop and a Zine on Sunday so don’t forget to come back the next two days. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Battle for the Skimmer

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This week we have the party trying to protect not just Gareth but his ship in the Battle for the Skimmer. As the larger vessel pulls off more stunts to try and stop them; permanently, the party need to defend not only the ship but themselves as the battle rages on.

So strap in as tonight’s going to be a bumpy one in tonight’s map!

Battle for the Skimmer

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Battle for the Skimmer – Created in Inkarnate.

The distance between the ships will make a lot of the combat hard – that is before boarding lines and boats come out to play. The party then can take the fight to the bigger ship or remain on the deck of the shorter, smaller ship to fight from there if need be.

The ships are moving fast enough that only quick thinking or magic will prevent people from disappearing into open ocean behind the ships. So that’s a hazard the party will need to brave as they fight it out during the Battle for the Skimmer.

A simple one tonight with some small modifications to existing ships. Four textures were put into the waves, three colour variations and then something to add a bit more depth into the water that dulled some of the choppy wave parts.

The ships were luckily existing assets that I added more rope. Masts and sails to to get to where I wanted them to look. Barrels suit the narrative this week with them slowing down and impacting on the hull of the skimmer.

Thanks for joining for another map night this week. Don’t forget that we have a few more nights left this week so make sure to come back each day to see what I add to this adventure. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Sea Raiders

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The sea is a wild and dangerous place, and that’s not including Sea Raiders, pirates that prey above the waves and the monsters that live below. But while the party and Gareth may be looking above the waves but its below them that they really need to worry about.

So buckle in, keep your eyes peeled as we are the hunted tonight’s adventure!

Sea Raiders

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Sea Raiders – Created in WordPress.

The waves had settled and for the most part the day had been smooth sailing. They had just moved to into view of the larger sailing ship of the crew in second place and based on the movement on deck they were not pleased to see the Surf Skimmer on their tail.

At dusk the breeze had held up well but had changed direction over the last hour which had caused the other ships to slow down. But the unique sail design of the Skimmer let Gareth move his vessel within shouting distance to the other ship. With just two more days to go until the race would be over they had to put in a lot of effort into making sure they were on track. They had a brief encounter with a pirate vessel that had tried to stop them with ropes and netting. But the party had dealt with them quickly which was much to Gareth’s delight at hiring them for the voyage.

As they settled in just behind the other larger ship they lit some small lanterns around the ship to make sure that visibility wouldn’t be an issue. The amount of preparation and movement on deck had worried Gareth and the party had noticed several trained looking guards that had been scouting them out for quite some time. As they were about to tuck in the second last night of hard rations the first sign of trouble appeared.

The Surf Skimmer’s hull hit something on the side which caused the ship to pull slightly to that side. Rushing to investigate a large spiked buoyant barrel had lodged itself in the hull and was interfering with the ships ability to cut through the waves. A second thud came a few moments later and the Surf Skimmer slowed down noticeable as a barrel connected to a hook by rope was lodged into the Skimmer again. As they started trying to free themselves from the impediments that’s when the next wave of attacks came.

Bolts of fire and wood rained down on them. Many hissed into the waters around them but some found their mark cutting through the canvas sails and embedding the flaming projectiles into the deck. Luckily the canvas would not light, it was designed that way, but the wood was not so lucky. The air buzzed with arcane magic as darts of arrow rained down around them – flung by a duo of mages that stood at the back of the ship that they were now nearly alongside of.

It appears that a fight was upon them and the true test of their skill and Gareths trust in them was about to start.

Thanks for visiting tonight to stay up to date with what I am working on here. Don’t forget to come back the last few days of the weeks as we continue to expand this adventure further. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Gareth Seaspray

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Welcome back to another night of the wave born adventure we have this week, but tonight we let Gareth Seaspray do the talking. Born near the waves, raised upon them Gareth is possibly the best sailor and captain on this side of the coast.

So sit back, secure your bowline to the deck as we sail off into tonight’s adventure!

Gareth Seaspray

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Gareth Seaspray – Created in WordPress.

Gareth tied the length of rope to secure the sail to the rigging of the small ship and watched as the wind caught the extended sail. A small vessel crafted to glide across the waves and make the most out of the area of the sail that now pushed the vessel ahead of another ship was they continued on their path.

‘So that’s the secret to the Surf Skimmer. It’s extra sails capture the wind as they come in any direction and propel us faster forward than the others. No magic other than nature itself.’ he muttered as he sad down next to them and the helm to make sure he can still control the rudder if he needed it. ‘But if I had a wind charm I could control the wind to towards the sails to propel the Surf Skimmer even faster. But at that speed I wouldn’t be able to turn.’ he paused as he held a bag in his mouth to grab retrieve some hard tac.

‘That’s what the other captains will come to realise. That speed is not everything. They need to read and speak to the waves, need to understand what they are doing and what’s coming.’ Gareth stopped to chew. As he watched over the moonlit waves that they skimmed over moving much faster now that they were a day off the coast.

While they were not in first place they had passed the majority of the other ships – their crew, captains and hired guards looking on in disbelieve. They had received some threatening gestures and words as they had passed the others and apart from a warning shot being received they relied on their speed to get out of range from anyone overzealous in their hunger for the podium.

Thanks for stopping by tonight for a small update for this weeks adventure as I set some things in motion tonight. Don’t forget that we aren’t there yet with more updates to come over the next few days so don’t forget to come back to stay up to date. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Safeguard of the Skimmer

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A different one tonight but inspired by some old adventures – and the kids – but this week we look at the Safeguard of the Skimmer – a nautical themed adventure for this weeks one shot!

So get your sea legs ready, grab some coffee (or something stronger) as we set sail in tonight’s adventure!

A daring race finds vessels Racing around the Rook – a tall rock formation that juts out of the ocean – defying the gods, and creatures that try to drag it down into the abyss. But there is more to this race as the winner is entitled to riches – until someone else else claims the title in this yearly event.

However, as with all competition when wealth, fame and fortune is on the line not everyone plays fair. The party are hired to defend the vessel as its owner races to win for noble causes and they are beset by their fellow competitors in a most unsportsmanlike behaviour. Will they steer clear of the rocks or will something else breach their hull?

Safeguard of the Skimmer

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Safeguard of the Skimmer – Created in WordPress!?

The party looked at the vessels that were tied at the docks that bobbed lightly in the waves. Each one of them had a prospective crew or a solitary sailor that was waving to the crowds. Undoubtedly there was a great deal of coin that was being wagered for and against the crowd favourites.

Much like their employer, Gareth, other contenders had hired adventurers to come and aid in their voyage but also, to protect it. Despite being declared out of bounds, illegal and punishable many contenders find themselves at the point end of a sword or the hot end of a flaming spell as there is a lot of coin that passes between favourites. So in the last few years the organisers have allowed the hiring of guards to protect the vessel and its crew.

The party were such guards. Paid well for their timer onboard the Surf Skimmer but there was a large bonus, a monthly sum that would be payable to them if they were to help Gareth win. This was enough to even brave the waters, the competition and those that call the seas home. Piracy was rife and so the importance of having good guards was not lost on the contenders or those they hired.

As they looked around not many was paying attention to Gareth. This was good as it was part of his plan to not draw attention to himself, to look like he would be no threat until he was in open ocean – then his plan was to demonstrate what his ship and his skill could do. Gareth was a third generation captain and had been sailing these sea’s since he was a boy. But more than that his ship was one of a kind, small – hence the lack of crew but big enough to house himself and a few companions for the week or so the journey would take.

As the organiser took to the stand at the far end of the dock even his magically enhanced voice could not reach to where Gareth and the party were placed – last place. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve heard this before. My father raced in this a few years back and I watched from the crowds. He was the favourite to win that year and you can bet that Ma and us were very proud to be relate to Gareth Seaspray, my father that is. I inherited his name. Hopefully not his bad luck. He ran into some pirates and despite outrunning them he ran aground on the Rook itself. They never found his body.’ Gareth added.

As the gulls soared above them calling out for any morsel of food to be provided to them the Gareth and the other captains, and their crew, readies their ships. ‘Get ready for it.’ Gareth warned as he nodded to his childhood friend, Silvana, who was waiting to undo the mooring from the ship. The plan was to be at the back of the pack but not that too far behind so that he couldn’t catch up.

A crack of thunderous energy was sounded. ‘Thats the warning. On the next crack we g..’ he was about to finish his sentence when the second crack rang out. Silvana was quick on the mooring and Gareth released the sails to let them catch the breeze and they were off.

Thanks for dropping in tonight to see where this weeks adventure will take our players at the tabletop. Don’t forget that this is just the start of this adventure and there are many more nights to come yet. So don’t forget to come back daily to stay up to date with the adventure and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Vipers Smile

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Now for the next Zine of the year I present, in single page zine format, The Vipers Smile. I still believe that these provide DMs a lot more freedom to tinker with it how they want and open up the adventures to be more free formed and flowing than the larger booklet zines.

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 Vipers Smile, and that all your rolls are made with advantage.

The Vipers Smile

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The Vipers Smile – Created in WordPress!?

The party arrived in Imgard, weary from the road, lured by whispers of an opportunity suited to their talents. Whether slipping through merchant gates or braving the city’s seedy underbelly, they quickly grasped the harsh truth—coin dictated survival. Towering structures and golden-lit markets painted a scene of wealth and deception, where promises were as fleeting as the wind. Seeking discretion, they found themselves at the Wonky Mule, a tavern steeped in the scent of roasted meat and ale, where conversation swirled in a tangled mess of traders, mercenaries, and thieves.

Over two days, familiar faces emerged—an old storyteller spinning tales of lost glory, the battle-scarred bartender twins keeping order, and a finely dressed stranger sinking into a rigged card game among dubious company. Then, a cloaked figure stumbled near the party’s table, dropping a peculiar coin before vanishing upstairs. Recognizing the signal, the party followed into the shadows above, where secrecy reigned over promptness. Climbing the loudest stairs they had ever encountered, they soon found another of the strange coins beneath a door and knocked, stepping into a dimly lit room.

Within, the ragged figure before them shed his disguise, revealing himself as Lace, a Harper tracking the city’s disappearances. His grim tale unfolded: suspected abductors had been found dead, yet their likenesses continued appearing across Imgard and beyond. The Harpers, compromised by their notoriety, needed outsiders—neutral eyes that the infiltrators wouldn’t recognize. As the party left, a fleeting moment of unease gripped them when they locked eyes with a pale-faced figure descending the stairs, his passage eerily silent despite the groaning wood beneath their own steps.

Tracking the stranger through the dim-lit streets, the party watched as he slipped into a building. Listening in, they heard his hushed words—recruitment for fresh infiltrators, replacing those whose usefulness had expired. Yet, as his voice shifted, its masculine edge dissolving into something unnerving, the party peered through a window and barely contained their shock. His human face melted away, revealing the unmistakable serpentine features of a Yuan-ti. The realization struck hard—this infiltration ran deeper than they had feared. Before they could retreat, hulking figures stepped from the shadows, and the door creaked open. There would be no easy way out.

The Yuan-ti sought only blood, hoping to kill the party and assume their identities, but they had not accounted for their strength. The battle was swift, decisive, and left no witnesses. Within the room, a hidden compartment revealed parchment detailing infiltration efforts, key targets, and—most crucially—a scheduled gathering in the coming nights. With fresh intelligence and a semblance of a plan, the party disposed of the bodies and set their sights on Imgard Sanctum, where the city’s fallen heroes were honoured. But upon arrival, the guardians greeted them not in common tongue but with a hiss, allowing them entry. Beneath the glow of the fountain, they saw the unsettling reality—dozens of infiltrators moving with casual ease, their chatter masking coded exchanges. And when a group approached them, a wave of unease washed over the party, their instincts warning them that something was deeply wrong.

PDF adventure – The Vipers Smile

The Vipers SmileDownload

Thanks for joining me today for another adventure. Please feel free to leave comments if you like what you see when you grab a copy of the PDF. Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it. Don’t forget to come back daily so you don’t miss a thing in the coming weeks adventures. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Yuan-ti Scaleguard

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A small one tonight but introducing the Yuan-ti Scaleguard. These tougher more formidable humanoids have a thick layer of scale that covers most of their body. While not quite as corrupted as the Yuan-ti Malison they have similar abilities and can stretch their arms out like snakes to ensnare and constrict their targets.

So sit back, grab a coffee as we look deeper into this week’s encounter!

Yuan-ti Scaleguard

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Yuan-ti Infiltrators – Created in tetra-cube.

The Yuan-ti scaleguard are the bodyguard for the infiltrators and more powerful members of their kind. They have the ability to stretch out their arms to ensnare, strangle, constrict their prey. However using their bulk and ability to restrain targets they can also issue a powerful suggestion across them to ensure that they protect the more precious yuan-tis.

Able to spit poison at great distances they are not just limited to melee combat as they, like other yuan-ti work best from the shadows. Ambushing, deceiving and slipping their way into more advantageous situations by using their natural prowess.

Thanks for joining me tonight for a small update for this weeks adventure. Don’t forget tomorrow we will wrap this week up with a Zine so make sure to come back for that. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Yuan-ti Infiltrators

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Tonight we look at a relatively simple stat block for something that has the front and centre spotlight this week – the Yuan-ti infiltrators. While not overly strong there is nothing to stop us adding stronger companions

So consider grabbing some anti-venom when picking up the coffee as we get a bit toxic in tonight’s encounter!

Yuan-ti Infiltrators

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Yuan-ti Infiltrators – Created in tetra-cube.

The party had expected to see some infiltrators but having seen this many it was obvious how much of a bad shape the city if Imgard was in. Dozens of men and women gathered around the fountain under the light and the party were confident that the bulkier Yuan-ti body guards were amongst the trees and away from prying eyes.

The infiltrators moved around and spoke casually amongst each other asking about each other about family, business or even the weather. This didn’t take long to catch on as some kind of code but that’s when the party were approached by a group. As the questions came out and the party did their best to answer the unmistakeable sense of unease washed over them. Something wasn’t right here.

The Yuan-ti infiltrators are not overly direct and will try and attack as a group or use their snake-like charm to get the party into an unfavourable position with their latent magical power. The guards will step in quickly enough and they are definitely more accustomed to combat than the infiltrators – but that remains to be seen as of now.

Thanks for slithering in to get a glimpse of the Yuan-ti encounter this week. Hopefully tonight gives just enough to see where this adventure is going but not to much that you would forgo looking at the Zine. So don’t forget that we will have the zine come out this weekend for this adventure, maybe more, so make sure you come back each remaining day of this week. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe