Author: thebrazenwolfe

Frosty Reception

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Welcome to Monday night for another week in the Kunagi ranges. Last week we encountered some of the creatures that call the plains home and in their desperate flight they had found wounded, dying or aggressive creatures in their return to the village that calls this area home.

Ice Shard

228MoIcSh

As the party walk back into the village they are see many of the people that call this place home are busy repairing doors, windows and shutters that look as if they were torn open or broken into forcefully but despite the party offering help they receive a brief, fake, smile and their help is refused.

As the party move through the village they see that the inn seems to have received the worst of the attacks that happened the night before as the owner, Hugh, and a few other villagers were busy rebuilding a wall. Upon seeing the party he moved towards them looking nervous.

“You cant be here, the spirit-folk somehow knew that I had spoken to you and I woke up to one of the inns walls being ripped down.” He paused as he nodded to Jason “when this is over please do come back, but I can’t lose the inn, not after all it has cost me.” As clasped Jason on his should and nodded a sorrowful nod to the party, Kyoko, Hana and Kuang he looked at the wall as it was put back into place and stood there with his hands on his hips.

Following his gaze the party noticed that the wood itself looked like something large, wide and sharp had bit into the wood on one corner of the wall and ripped it out with very little effort – no evidence of blade, club or other known weapon seems to have caused the damage. Moving up towards the wall while Jason took the princess, her cousin and the general to get more supplies for crossing through the ranges the party noticed that large shards of extremely hard ice were imbedded into the wood along the mark where the wall had suffered the blow that tore it from its housing. Taking a shard of it the shard of ice seemed to permeate cold through the holders hands and only several layers of cloth, or two bags could stop the chill from numbing the flesh. Whilst holding and examining the ice Ester appeared behind them “It wont melt. We tried everything the first time we found it -in our well – we call it forever frost, or permafrost for those who found that the name sounded too much like an attempt at poetry. Don’t hold it for too long as it will bond to your flesh and start to freeze your insides. Shen found that out when we had to cut off his frozen finger before it spread to his hand.”

Jason arrived not too long after and after Ester did and after some some quick goodbyes they jumped into the back of the wagon and were heading off – towards the Kunagi ranges whilst the weather was still on their favour.

This week is about preparation, the party should be warned about how dangerous the ranges are, the trials and trepidations that they will be expected to face. It is also a time for us to be preparing for the other pieces in play to be moving and the cause of the hardships of the village to make another play. Sound aloof? Well it has to be as that’s next weeks reveal but this week we should try and build up and weave some mystery in it for the party.

Not a big one tonight but I found that when I was planning this week that Wednesday and even tomorrow would be larger days. Thanks for dropping in and looking at the setup, a small mysterious shard of ice that doesn’t seem to melt so don’t forget to join me for the rest of the week to uncover more of the mysteries of the ranges, and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Ranges shrouded in fog

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Welcome to the end of the week where this week we visit the attacked and desolated (desecrated even!) town before the Kunagi ranges. This week we find the party unwelcomed into a town where there is no hostility present, just a overwhelming sense of dread and misfortune that seems to permeate through the walls of the buildings and into the very core of the people that call the shell of a village home. But enough cheery thoughts, lets roll on with the adventure!

The Inn of no Vacancies

Moving forward was slower going since the attack from the Onikage and undead wolves but they were finally seeing less and less snow settling on the ground as they progressed further east and towards the Kugani Ranges.

“About half a day ahead we should reach a village, they are not part of any family but they usually have an Inn to stay at and are normally friendly to strangers and those who need help” Kuang announced as he finished drinking from his water skin. “And I hope they have some supplies for us as that river was a quite some distance back”.

The ground descended slowly which made the the walk some what easier and soon they found a well worn path that head off towards two peaks at either side of the ranges that created a valley between them, a highway for travel that was frequented by merchants and the like so finding a ride through should be easy. Not more than a mile after joining the road they heard the sound of approaching horses and a wagon approached them heading towards the ranges.

After some discussion the party and Kyoko, Kuang and Hana jumped on and for the first time in what felt like days they were able to rest up and relax as they marvelled at the views of nature. Still descending towards the valley the grass was green and littered with specs of snow with infrequent trees dotting the landscape. Strange elk-like creatures walked through the lands here but the long fox-like tail that trailed behind them spoke of something more mystical than the mundane elks that the party would encounter back in Faerun. Pointing out something odd one of the parties noticed a few deep furrows in the land, like something had dug up a large patch of grass, earth and dirt in a straight line heading in the direction that they were going. Kuang nor the merchant Jason Keening, who happened to also be from Faerun, knew what had caused them or could even make a wild guess.

As the sun began its descent and the afternoon was well on its way the horses of the wagon slowed down as Jason urged them to slow with repeated ‘woo’s’. “You, uh, lot. You better see this.” he called back towards the party and as they climbed out of the comfortable wagon – much to the protest of their bodies – The village up ahead looked as if it had been through a war, or an attack of some sort. Continuing on their way but having the party ready for combat they saw that the people were not lost and were walking around fine but they shied away from the visitors and even the children did not run out to greet them.

“Normally this village is happy to see my wagon, excited even. I don’t understand what could be the cause of this but these are good people.” Jason said as he moved his wagon over to the inn. A few houses either side of the road looked like they were in the midst of repair and there was a chill to the town that was unlike the meadows a few hours before.

Walking into the inn a nervous and skittish man stood up abruptly from behind a desk “Welcome to the Will’o’wisp inn” he said before a long pause, “We don’t have much room at the moment so I would suggest travelling until the next Village on the other side of the valley” the man said to the party, his posture and demeanour changing as Jason walked in.

After a few moments of talking to Jason quietly and the exchange between Jason and the inn-keep ‘yeah, not good Jason, were’ empty here but I cant take you. I cant risk it‘ were overheard Jason clasped him on the shoulder and walked to the party.

“Well we can get some supplies here but that’s about all we can do unfortunately. As you heard the man, they don’t have rooms for us” Jason smiled but his heart wasn’t in it before he walked back to his wagon to fetch a few supplies to go about his business.

NPCs

Kyoko Harimasu

Kyoko puts on a brave face but the loss of her crew, the afflicted and Siu have taken a toll on the normally bright young lady. She seems to agree with most suggestions without any deeper thought’s of the consequences of such action’s. Her change in demeanour is quite obvious to those around her and to those who have known her for some time.

Captain Kuang Ping

Kuang is always alert and seems to only confide and trust Kyoko of late, even shying away from discussing plans or thoughts with the party. Despite being grateful of those who protected and aided in the protection of Kyoko he has started to become suspicious at the number of omens and bad luck that seems to follow them around.

Sasha (Hana Toshio-Harimasu)

Quiet but helpful Hana cooks and makes sure everyone is comfortable. She spends most of her time with Kyoko and is constantly writing in what ever she can get her hands on so she can communicate with her cousin or the party.

Ester Yukimono

One of the Villagers who was willing to talk to the party as they approached her store that sells predominantly hand-crafts and some minor blessed talismans that her aunt creates.

After the party show interest in her wares, or not, she reveals that these are the last of the talismans her aunt would be making as the villagers wont let her make any more. She specialises in warding talismans that keep the spirits and fey-folk away but according to the deal made with the Toshio Yuki-onna spirit all such wards and talismans were banned in the village until further notice to avoid the queens wrath. She explains that her house was the first one to be destroyed by the wind, but she seems a bit uncertain about this

Hugh Grohw

Hugh is not native to Ryokughan and came over on a trading vessel chasing his then love of his life. Older and more jaded now he doesn’t chase beauties any more and instead runs the local inn at the village before the Kugani Ranges take hold and travellers decide to run the gauntlet between the towering peaks.

Nervous and more cowardly than the average mouse Hugh is susceptible to intimidation, persuasion by force or any form of deception – probably how he found himself running an inn at the edge of civilisation – but he fears the safety of others more than his own. He believes that to die with blood on your hands by any means will leave a debt upon his soul and in doing so he wont be able to pass on, cursed to wander the world as a vengeful spirit who prays on those braver than he was in life.

Jason Keening

A seasoned merchant in Ryokughan, Jason travels across the main roads within the central area of the continent taking wares from one city to the next bringing back his profits to get items from port cities to take them inland for resale.

Well versed in the land and handy with a sword and bow he doesn’t shy away from conflict but is highly superstitious and based on what he has seen and gone through no one can blame him. Although able to defend himself he would rather barter for a peaceful approach and keeps a bunch of oddities and trinkets behind his seat at the wagon for the fey and spirits that would request a trade – his life or something of value.

Jason revealed more about his past, about how he had lost his father early in his life, a mercenary fighting for gold and glory whilst his mother had worked hard to give him the opportunities in life and now he was selling wares on a distant land so that he could provide a comfortable life for his mother who lived in Shuimu.

Environment and running the adventure

The small village on the road through to the ranges is dwarfed by the Kunagi ranges to the east and the valley between the mountains is long enough that it takes the fastest of horses a day to travel through. Snow-capped, cold and desolate the ranges themselves are home to wandering spirits and creature’s that would love nothing more than to catch a party unaware.

Rumours from the villagers would speak of a shadow that has come over the mountains, a creeping entity of malice that seems to bode all that travel ill in their journeys but no one has seen, heard or experienced anything other than the normal creatures and spirits of the lands.

The road heads due east and to the south east of the village there is the campsite for this weeks adventure, well part of it – but more on that tomorrow – and further south is one of the only fresh water sources for days travel, except for the well that froze solid mysteriously a few weeks back.

Investigation

If the party ask around town they would eventually find someone who would explain that the Yuki-onna betrothed to the Toshio family visited a few weeks back and after commanding them to swear allegiance to them and allow passage to spirts and fey-folk, which was refused, one night they woke up to the sound of their homes and businesses being torn apart by a roaring wind, the cold set in freezing their well and stopping the hot spring that kept the town warm and well supplied with water. The day after the queen returned and this time made the same request, noting that freak storms were seen on the horizon but she may be able to spare the village from another visitation. This time they accepted and removed the wards that kept out malicious spirits and fey-folk. From that night onwards, about a week ago, each night they would wake up to find their doors open and food stuffs, or items, missing and two nights ago some visitors to the inn were taken in the middle of the night – their screams woke up the town as they were dragged into the dark. The villagers are terrified at what the Toshio Yuki-onna will do to them next time and, more importantly, don’t want the violence to escalate. So in order to make sure it doesn’t happen they are stopping all visitors from staying in the village for their own safety.

The villagers don’t know where they go, or what they are doing but every night they are visited and each morning something else is missing with tracks covered in the snow.

If the party investigate the houses or buildings that were damaged during the storm they will find one house who is much less repaired than the others which appears to have deep cuts or abrasions in the side of the house like swords or daggers or axes cut in perfectly straight lines to damage part of the roof and wall.

On Watch

Saying goodnight to the party Kuang went to his own tent while Kyoko and Hana went to separate tent leaving the party and Jason to organise watch rotation for the night – just in case the night and light from the fire brings the creatures that hunt in the dark.

It wasn’t until after the moon reached the cusp of its travels across the night sky that the first signs of something amiss appeared. A vibration through the ground that the person on watch noticed first before waking the others. Gathering around the firelight heartbeats turned into the vibrations continued and gradually increased as the moonlight shone across the plains catching movement across the plains like a drift of snow moving in a straight direction – but the light from the fire, distance and how the moonlight trickled through clouds above made it difficult to see what was going on. Soon though the ground began to shake with such ferocity that lose stones, the utensils used to cook dinner and even the doors on the wagon began to shake and bounce in place as the vibrations turned from a little tremor to a thunderous cacophony.

As the party went back to back around the fire a gust of wind rushed past them all but extinguishing the fire as dozens if not hundreds of white shapes darted towards them from the darkness from the direction of the village. Thundering hooves, broad antlers and glowing white coats meshed together to form a wave of flesh as the crashes around the party, forming a wide berth around the tents as if it was a boulder in the path of a raging river. The tall fox-tailed elks madly rushed around the camp, pushing each other to avoid the camp but also driven by fear or madness to stampede past the party in a blur of white fur, broad antlers and the thunderous explosion of noise that their hooves on chilled soil created.

After a minute the last of the stragglers ran past and into the distance, the plain flattened in a straight path that was easily sixty feet white and went on for as far as the moonlight and the parties vision could see. Looking in the direction they came from the party could see them continuing to stampede into the distance until the moonlight no longer revealed the beasts in their frantic pace to get to where they were going, or away from where they were leaving.

The rest of the night went fine with the party and those on watch who had a quieter duty, albeit more alert and potentially spooked, and by the mornings first rays of light the full devastation of land was revealed. Several dead or dying Elk were found scattered across the hills, gored and crushed by their own kin as they stampeded which Jason, Kuang and Kyoko aided in their passing to end their suffering where possible. Looking in the direction they had come from it was plain to see that the source of their stampede lay back towards the village some way and the party would need to make a decision to investigate or move on and through the pass.

It’s a relatively easy part of the adventure, build up the tension for the party with the increasing temp of the vibrations, then the cacophony of sound, then the faint movement at the edge of vision before the wave of white furred flesh breaks around them – the creatures themselves are not malicious by any meaning of the word but they are affected by the charms to some degree and treat the tents and camp as if to enter it or go near the charms would be a worse fate than potential goring or crushing.

Potential Encounters

Glimmer Stag

The glimmer stag is an elk like creature from the Kunagi Ranges which typically has white or light grey fur, large antlers for the males and shorter sharper ones for the females and a long bushy fox like tail.
Herbivorous by nature but territorial by temperament these creatures are not any when it comes to fighting especially when feeling threatened, cornered or in the mating in season.
They attack with a goring charge and stamping hooves which bruise and lacerate their targets.

Voltrix

Appearing something like a serpentine, winged and scaled vulture, the Voltrix is a flying scavenger the size of a large dog with a beaked reptilian head, bat like wings ending in gripping hook like claws which they use to grip and cut into their food, cutting and ripping open skin and middle to expose softer tissues like organs and fat.

Whilst not aggressive they generally are encountered when they are feasting with their heads buried into a carcass or corpse. This brings us to their nature, they are quick to startle and have a habit to leap and scratch in their desperate attempt to escape from what ever has startled them, this can leave the person with nasty infections or worse due to the lack of hygiene that these reptilian birds display.

After the stampede the party may find wounded or lost Glimmer stags who are frightened and alone who may attack the party out of fear. They would start with 2d6 less hp but are ferocious despite being wounded. However if they can they will retreat and rush on past the party of there is an opening.

The Voltrix is likely to be found if there is a dead Glimmer Stag or something else in the parties journey. Its gorging on organs sees its head buried in the body which when startled it will wrench out before launching itself at the nearest creatures before flying off. Its not a solitary creature but will fight other Voltrix’s for food which can lead to several of the creature feeding in the one corpse which can be a bit of a surprise for the party when several startle and lash out in fear.

Aftermath

It’s up to you, or the dice rolls whether or not we have an encounter this week – but the intent of the week is to have the party questioning what happened to the village and also, to start thinking about what that means for them and their trek through the pass – because it wont be a piece of cake.

Well thanks for joining me in the week that is building up anticipation and tension for this weeks adventure, well it’s an adventure that spans the length of a month but really that is yet to be seen. Don’t forget to come back each day this week to stay up to date with the adventure and the next steps forward, we are back to a 3 week cycle and the 4th being our end of month wrap-up so make sure you don’t miss a beat and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Creating atmosphere – setting the mood and building tension

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Good evening and welcome to a bit of a casual weekend write-up around setting the mood and building tension.

Now a disclaimer, my memory isn’t super great so I may have covered some of this before and I will definitely touch on it again as I learn more, develop more techniques and explore what it means to facilitate a TTRPG adventure.

This week we have the slow build of the approach of a herd of spooked Glimmer Stags, a kind of elk with fox-like tails. The idea behind this is to play on the sensations that we would feel during the lead up which perhaps could be a slight rumble of sound that could be distant thunder, to the vibrations, a flock of birds hurrying away from the approaching creatures and past the party. Anything that we can see from film or read about in literature for stampedes could help this week. But how do we do that for a RPG?

Sound. Mimicking the sound, animals calls, drumming your fingers on the table or even having sound clips playing could all help set the auditory atmosphere of the scene for the party to help describe whats happening or whats not happening quite yet.

Describing the other sensations like feel, touch, temperature or visual queues can also be help develop the atmosphere. For me trying to describe the vast lack of visual queues or the build-up of these can be challenging as as humans we either see something or we don’t and when we have characters that have darkvision in our groups they normally can see everything. But having a bright light or the sense of movement without defined vision can to start paint the picture.

With any atmospheric building it needs to be described as either a stark contrast that triggers a feeling of foreboding, uneasiness or uncertainty or gradually build from a flicker of recognition to the realisation that something is different or wrong. Some rpg podcasts out there do this very well and generally the horror variety of rpgs really highlight both tempos of atmospheric development.

For me in prefer gradual addition of atmosphere. Starting with normal then adding more, like a sprinkle of salt to emphasise flavour, then another and so forth until its more salt than soup. This enables me to use audio cues as well as play with describing the other senses being influenced as well. Focus on one sense then throw in another to emphasise the build up to the crescendo of the piece.

Background music, only if timed well, during the description or during the planning of it can help us with planning the encounter. We need to feel the build-up to as these weavers of story so we can convince ourselves of whats happening. We are our toughest critics and the first people who we need to get on side for this adventure to be a hit so sell it to yourself first.

Well, thats all I have for tonight to touch a bit more on setting the atmosphere for our rpgs. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the end of week write-up and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,

The Brazen Wolfe

Wounded and Cornered

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Welcome to Friday where we look at our weekly fightnight content that contains the combat encounter or potential combat scenarios that we need to plan for. This week is one of the latter where potentially we have one or several scenarios my where combat may be inevitable, maybe. A bit too ambiguous? well dear reader read on!

Wounded and Cornered

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The glimmer stag is an elk like creature from the Kunagi Ranges which typically has white or light grey fur, large antlers for the males and shorter sharper ones for the females and a long bushy fox like tail.

Herbivorous by nature but territorial by temperament these creatures are not any when it comes to fighting especially when feeling threatened, cornered or in the mating in season.

They attack with a goring charge and stamping hooves which bruise and lacerate their targets.

Appearing something like a serpentine, winged and scaled vulture, the Voltrix is a flying scavenger the size of a large dog with a beaked reptilian head, bat like wings ending in gripping hook like claws which they use to grip and cut into their food, cutting and ripping open skin and middle to expose softer tissues like organs and fat.

Whilst not aggressive they generally are encountered when they are feasting with their heads buried into a carcass or corpse. This brings us to their nature, they are quick to startle and have a habit to leap and scratch in their desperate attempt to escape from what ever has startled them, this can leave the person with nasty infections or worse due to the lack of hygiene that these reptilian birds display.

After the stampede the party may find wounded or lost Glimmer stags who are frightened and alone who may attack the party out of fear. They would start with 2d6 less hp but are ferocious despite being wounded. However if they can they will retreat and rush on past the party of there is an opening.

The Voltrix is likely to be found if there is a dead Glimmer Stag or something else in the parties journey. Its gorging on organs sees its head buried in the body which when startled it will wrench out before launching itself at the nearest creatures before flying off. Its not a solitary creature but will fight other Voltrix’s for food which can lead to several of the creature feeding in the one corpse which can be a bit of a surprise for the party when several startle and lash out in fear.

Thanks for joining me tonight and for looking at two creatures that we may or may not see tonight. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Kugani Ranges

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Welcome to Thursday where I wanted to get my view and vision of this wonder of nature that is a natural funnel for any would be invaders to or from the Harimasu and Toshio lands. As I prepare for another week of my Warhammer League I had another toy around on Inkarnate and produced what I am quite happy with. Perhaps a bit too heavy handed on the snow colouration in the plains but otherwise I am happy with how it turned out.

Kugani Ranges

227ThKuRa

The small village on the road through to the ranges is dwarfed by the Kunagi ranges to the east and the valley between the mountains is long enough that it takes the fastest of horses a day to travel through. Snowcapped, cold and desolate the ranges themselves are home to wandering spirits and creature’s that would love nothing more than to catch a party unaware.

Rumours from the villagers would speak of a shadow that has come over the mountains, a creeping entity of malice that seems to bode all that travel ill in their journeys but no one has seen, heard or experienced anything other than the normal creatures and spirits of the lands.

The road heads due east and to the south east of the village there is the campsite for this weeks adventure, well part of it – but more on that tomorrow – and further south is one of the only fresh water sources for days travel, except for the well that froze solid mysteriously a few weeks back.

Scale is hard and this week was no exception. Originally having larger trees gave the map a vibrant and life-filled feeling to the slightly cold and chilled landscape but the scale as off, giant trees that dwarfed the village and even the mountains. Shrinking the trees to be half the scale of the mountains and the about the same scale of the village meant that it felt better, more realistic however having smaller trees didn’t look as ‘pretty‘ but the price to pay for not looking odd was worth it in the end, I feel.

Thanks for joining me tonight to look at the map I created and get some bearings to this weeks adventure. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for some encounter goodness and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Firelight

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Welcome to Wednesday where this week we are looking at what has happened in the Kugani Ranges recently as well, more importantly, what happens when the sun goes down. Without too much waffle and giving things away let’s kick it off.

Flight by Firelight

227WeFlFi

The plains were just as beautiful on sunset as they weren’t hours earlier and as the sun turned the sky the colours of autumn the party set up tents that they adorned with a charm that supposedly would keep spirits and the fey away from them. Sitting down to a meal cooked over the coals the party made small talk with Jason who had joined them to camp out on the plans as the town had shunned him just as they did the party.

Jason revealed more about his past, about how he had lost his father early in his life, a mercenary fighting for gold and glory whilst his mother had worked hard to give him the opportunities in life and now he was selling wares on a distant land so that he could provide a comfortable life for his mother who lived in Shuimu.

Saying goodnight to the party Kuang went to his own tent while Kyoko and Hana went to separate tent leaving the party and Jason to organise watch rotation for the night – just in case the night and light from the fire brings the creatures that hunt in the dark.

It wasn’t until after the moon reached the cusp of its travels across the night sky that the first signs of something amiss appeared. A vibration through the ground that the person on watch noticed first before waking the others. Gathering around the firelight heartbeats turned into the vibrations continued and gradually increased as the moonlight shone across the plains catching movement across the plains like a drift of snow moving in a straight direction – but the light from the fire, distance and how the moonlight trickled through clouds above made it difficult to see what was going on. Soon though the ground began to shake with such ferocity that lose stones, the utensils used to cook dinner and even the doors on the wagon began to shake and bounce in place as the vibrations turned from a little tremor to a thunderous cacophony.

As the party went back to back around the fire a gust of wind rushed past them all but extinguishing the fire as dozens if not hundreds of white shapes darted towards them from the darkness from the direction of the village. Thundering hooves, broad antlers and glowing white coats meshed together to form a wave of flesh as the crashes around the party, forming a wide berth around the tents as if it was a boulder in the path of a raging river. The tall fox-tailed elks madly rushed around the camp, pushing each other to avoid the camp but also driven by fear or madness to stampede past the party in a blur of white fur, broad antlers and the thunderous explosion of noise that their hooves on chilled soil created.

After a minute the last of the stragglers ran past and into the distance, the plain flattened in a straight path that was easily sixty feet white and went on for as far as the moonlight and the parties vision could see. Looking in the direction they came from the party could see them continuing to stampede into the distance until the moonlight no longer revealed the beasts in their frantic pace to get to where they were going, or away from where they were leaving.

The rest of the night went fine with the party and those on watch who had a quieter duty, albeit more alert and potentially spooked, and by the mornings first rays of light the full devastation of land was revealed. Several dead or dying Elk were found scattered across the hills, gored and crushed by their own kin as they stampeded which Jason, Kuang and Kyoko aided in their passing to end their suffering where possible. Looking in the direction they had come from it was plain to see that the source of their stampede lay back towards the village some way and the party would need to make a decision to investigate or move on and through the pass.

It’s a relatively easy part of the adventure, build up the tension for the party with the increasing temp of the vibrations, then the cacophony of sound, then the faint movement at the edge of vision before the wave of white furred flesh breaks around them – the creatures themselves are not malicious by any meaning of the word but they are affected by the charms to some degree and treat the tents and camp as if to enter it or go near the charms would be a worse fate than potential goring or crushing.

Thanks for joining me tonight for a small snapshot of what I want to try and stress upon the importance of building up the mood and the tension of the situation. This weekend I will touch upon it a bit more so don’t forget to join me each night this week as we explore more of these lands, and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Those that bowed

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Hello and welcome to Tuesday night, and tonight we will look at the NPCs that are present in our quaint village near the Kugani Ranges. Following on from last night we investigate who remain in the village, what motivates them and why do they reach out to the party so openly.

Merchants and Mice

227TuMeMi

Ester Yukimono

One of the Villagers who was willing to talk to the party as they approached her store that sells predominantly hand-crafts and some minor blessed talismans that her aunt creates.

After the party show interest in her wares, or not, she reveals that these are the last of the talismans her aunt would be making as the villagers wont let her make any more. She specialises in warding talismans that keep the spirits and fey-folk away but according to the deal made with the Toshio Yuki-onna spirit all such wards and talismans were banned in the village until further notice to avoid the queens wrath. She explains that her house was the first one to be destroyed by the wind, but she seems a bit uncertain about this

Jason Keening

A seasoned merchant in Ryokughan, Jason travels across the main roads within the central area of the continent taking wares from one city to the next bringing back his profits to get items from port cities to take them inland for resale.

Well versed in the land and handy with a sword and bow he doesn’t shy away from conflict but is highly superstitious and based on what he has seen and gone through no one can blame him. Although able to defend himself he would rather barter for a peaceful approach and keeps a bunch of oddities and trinkets behind his seat at the wagon for the fey and spirits that would request a trade – his life or something of value.

Hugh Grohw

Hugh is not native to Ryokughan and came over on a trading vessel chasing his then love of his life. Older and more jaded now he doesn’t chase beauties any more and instead runs the local inn at the village before the Kugani Ranges take hold and travellers decide to run the gauntlet between the towering peaks.

Nervous and more cowardly than the average mouse Hugh is susceptible to intimidation, persuasion by force or any form of deception – probably how he found himself running an inn at the edge of civilisation – but he fears the safety of others more than his own. He believes that to die with blood on your hands by any means will leave a debt upon his soul and in doing so he wont be able to pass on, cursed to wander the world as a vengeful spirit who prays on those braver than he was in life.

Thanks for joining tonight to look at three NPCs for this weeks encounter and perhaps for some more in the future. Don’t forget to join me tomorrow night for more content – twists and turns that change our perspective on the situation and perhaps illuminate a bit of this mystery that covers the Kugani Ranges. Thursday we will look at additional content and that leaves us with Friday where I need to work out what we can encounter in something that, as planned, won’t full of combat.

I want to try something a bit different this week and put off the naming of the village to my readers. If you have a name for this village, the one at the end of civilisation before the famous Kugani Ranges then leave a comment and I will select the best name and add it into our adventure. So don’t forget to think of some great name and at the end of the month I select one, and, as always don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Desecration

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Welcome to Monday night for a week where I want to change the pace a little bit. Last few weeks we have seen the party crossing the country to get places and hopping from one adventure to the next. This month I want to have a single bigger adventure broken into three sections for our weekly sessions.

Let’s see if I can resist throwing were-polar bears at the party as we start our frosted trek through the Kugani Ranges.

The Wake of Royalty

227MoWaRo

Moving forward was slower going since the attack from the Onikage and undead wolves but they were finally seeing less and less snow settling on the ground as they progressed further east and towards the Kugani Ranges.

“About half a day ahead we should reach a village, they are not part of any family but they usually have an Inn to stay at and are normally friendly to strangers and those who need help” Kuang announced as he finished drinking from his water skin. “And I hope they have some supplies for us as that river was a quite some distance back”.

The ground descended slowly which made the the walk some what easier and soon they found a well worn path that head off towards two peaks at either side of the ranges that created a valley between them, a highway for travel that was frequented by merchants and the like so finding a ride through should be easy. Not more than a mile after joining the road they heard the sound of approaching horses and a wagon approached them heading towards the ranges.

After some discussion the party and Kyoko, Kuang and Hana jumped on and for the first time in what felt like days they were able to rest up and relax as they marvelled at the views of nature. Still descending towards the valley the grass was green and littered with specs of snow with infrequent trees dotting the landscape. Strange elk-like creatures walked through the lands here but the long fox-like tail that trailed behind them spoke of something more mystical than the mundane elks that the party would encounter back in Faerun. Pointing out something odd one of the parties noticed a few deep furrows in the land, like something had dug up a large patch of grass, earth and dirt in a straight line heading in the direction that they were going. Kuang nor the merchant Jason Keening, who happened to also be from Faerun, knew what had caused them or could even make a wild guess.

As the sun began its descent and the afternoon was well on its way the horses of the wagon slowed down as Jason urged them to slow with repeated ‘woo’s’. “You, uh, lot. You better see this.” he called back towards the party and as they climbed out of the comfortable wagon – much to the protest of their bodies – The village up ahead looked as if it had been through a war, or an attack of some sort. Continuing on their way but having the party ready for combat they saw that the people were not lost and were walking around fine but they shied away from the visitors and even the children did not run out to greet them.

“Normally this village is happy to see my wagon, excited even. I don’t understand what could be the cause of this but these are good people.” Jason said as he moved his wagon over to the inn. A few houses either side of the road looked like they were in the midst of repair and there was a chill to the town that was unlike the meadows a few hours before.

Walking into the inn a nervous and skittish man stood up abruptly from behind a desk “Welcome to the Will’o’wisp inn” he said before a long pause, “We don’t have much room at the moment so I would suggest travelling until the next Village on the other side of the valley” the man said to the party, his posture and demeanour changing as Jason walked in.

After a few moments of talking to Jason quietly and the exchange between Jason and the inn-keep ‘yeah, not good Jason, were’ empty here but I cant take you. I cant risk it‘ were overheard Jason clasped him on the shoulder and walked to the party.

“Well we can get some supplies here but that’s about all we can do unfortunately. As you heard the man, they don’t have rooms for us” Jason smiled but his heart wasn’t in it before he walked back to his wagon to fetch a few supplies to go about his business.

It’s been a while since I have done this format, and I am not quite sure when I stopped doing it, but the party can press the point here and make promises to fix what ever the inn and town is being plagued with – which the end result is the same – or they can continue on after picking up some supplies.

If the party ask around town they would eventually find someone who would explain that the Yuki-onna betrothed to the Toshio family visited a few weeks back and after commanding them to swear allegiance to them and allow passage to spirts and fey-folk, which was refused, one night they woke up to the sound of their homes and businesses being torn apart by a roaring wind, the cold set in freezing their well and stopping the hot spring that kept the town warm and well supplied with water. The day after the queen returned and this time made the same request, noting that freak storms were seen on the horizon but she may be able to spare the village from another visitation. This time they accepted and removed the wards that kept out malicious spirits and fey-folk. From that night onwards, about a week ago, each night they would wake up to find their doors open and food stuffs, or items, missing and two nights ago some visitors to the inn were taken in the middle of the night – their screams woke up the town as they were dragged into the dark. The villagers are terrified at what the Toshio Yuki-onna will do to them next time and, more importantly, don’t want the violence to escalate. So in order to make sure it doesn’t happen they are stopping all visitors from staying in the village for their own safety.

The villagers don’t know where they go, or what they are doing but every night they are visited and each morning something else is missing with tracks covered in the snow.

If the party investigate the houses or buildings that were damaged during the storm they will find one house who is much less repaired than the others which appears to have deep cuts or abrasions in the side of the house like swords or daggers or axes cut in perfectly straight lines to damage part of the roof and wall.

Well that’s what we have for us tonight and more to go this week as we continue on this part of the journey. Thanks for dropping by and thanks to my new readers for taking your time the last few days to come and read the musings that I lay bare for everyone to read, it honestly means a lot. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow night to learn a bit more about Jason and maybe a few of the villagers, and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Mount Tapaku

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Tonight we continue north into the Toshio family’s fort at the base of a mountain called Mount Tapaku, home to the Toshio families Lotus pool and where Kyoko’s cousin, Hana, resides with her husband Teng Tashio. But the journey there is dangerous and there are greater plots at foot with the sudden death of one of the mares that the Toshio heiress, Yhin, had leant them spurred them into action to take the long trek into the northern mountain pass to return the horses and, seek the last ingredient for the cure to the Shadow Bruise curse. But the journey will leave them weary, battered and wondering if the ordeal was worth the effort, surely the halls of a fellow prominent family must be safer than the wilds where spirits and creatures are drawn towards the warmth of life.

As with last time Pages 1, 2 and 3 are content pages, the description, flow, random tables, etc. and such that you’ve previously seen.
Page 4 contains all NPCs and portraits to help the DM describe them and a bit about them to help play them out.
Page 5 will be stat blocks and map(s) – all that D&D encounter goodness that you want.

Now I will assume you have read the entire post which has had some bits modified over the months content (and some bits added) then I will applaud and thank you for sitting down and reading through a mere 16386 words long!). I really do appreciate the time you take to read through these end of month adventures.

All Maps were made in Inkarnate using their Pro license.

Don’t forget to come back next week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Part 1 – Ill Intentions – 222MoBD

The night that they return from Shuimu Ridge they are greeted by a cosy room and warm food. Not long after they have started to relax the door to the room bursts open and Kyoko is standing behind a few City guard.

The guard clears his throat nervously as he looks back at what would appear to be his captain standing next to Kyoko, “we are in need of your assistance, we need heroes. A man was found exhausted and injured coming down from the mountains nearby, a hour away or so, it appears as though his village was attacked by the risen dead and he alone escaped. If we don’t do something now the undead will get to the city where the noise and amount of life will be too much for them to ignore and we will have a many casualties outside the city and within. Please go and investigate the claims and if there are any risen there, dispose of them.”

Kyoko smiles to the party after the guard has finished his plea. “I know that asking this of you so soon after you have returned from another mission for my people is to much, but these are good innocent people and the guard are not equipped to deal with this. If you can help please lend us your aid”

As the morning sun rose the party stretched and were thankful for the warm, comfortable mattresses that were underneath them and the filling meals they received at the house that they were granted rooms to rest in. Kyoko’s families reputation and the tales of the parties bravery and prowess spreading during their quest up the mountain, and the night before, were resulting in the adventurers from across the sea becoming well known, idols to some and for others the targets for scrutiny and ill intended gossip.

The reception back into the city of Shuimu was a mixture of relief, amazement of the tales that they and Takeo told, keeping Shiku, the scroll and the state of the monastery a secret, and unknown to them, the revelation of the kappa cave and the remains of travellers before them were creating concerns and alarm bells of what damning items could’ve been found amongst those remains. Kyoko, Liz and Siu, who was sometimes visible and other times appeared out of no where – a result of Liz’s prayers and charms no doubt, were excited to be filled in when the party returned.

When the party finally found a moment of peace and quiet with Kyoko they revealed the cure for the Shadow Bruises first.

“Interesting, Lotus flowers hold a mystical connection to our ancestors and the dragons that bonded with our families. Some families the dragons took upon other forms but their spiritual essence was always the same and they all had some connection to the lotus leaf. The Harimasu lotus’s have not bloomed since before I can remember,” Kyoko said before wincing, Siu looked ashamed before drifting to the corner of the room towards a small statue of their ancestral guardian Huangdi. “There is but one place where we can receive the waters of the Lotus flower within any amount of reasonable time and it is with the Toshi family, I believe you received some horses from them as a way to return to the city quickly. Although this bothers me that I am in some form of debt to them I do have someone looking after the horses to ensure that nothing foul goes a foot whilst they are in our care. The value of the horses is negligible but to be in debt to another family, small or large, can cause strife within our tight knit communities and that is something we must avoid. What was the second thing you had to show me?” Kyoko asked as she reached for the scroll which revealed the plot on the Harimasu family.

“Ah, this is interesting and potentially damning evidence if we can seek an audience with the head of the family. As long as everything goes fine in our visit there we should be able to request some of the water from their lotus pond – a strange and audacious request but something we can probably navigate around.” She continued as a knock on the door came urgently, rolling up the scroll and placing it by her side she allowed the visitor to enter.

“Lady Harimasu. Urgent news,” it was the one of the men she had requested guard the horses, “One of the Toshio mares has fallen ill suddenly, and died. Our shamans did not make it in time but they have yet to detect any poison or foul intentions on the beast.” the man said bowing to Kyoko. “Forgive us please lady, we did our best but we have failed you.”

“Nonsense – you are not to blame for this. Ensure that no one else finds out about this and we will investigate the mare. You did your best and that is all we can ask of you and your men. Thank you for the news although I wish it was more pleasant tidings” Waving her hand she dismissed the man with mercy before waiting for the door to close. “This is bad timing, a coincidence I think not however. Can you take Siu, Takeo and Lady Liz to check on the mare to ensure that there as no foul play. I don’t trust the shamans as they hire themselves out to the deepest pockets these days. It does not add up, the omens are not good and as it stands we are both in debt to the Toshio family and hold damning evidence of their people committing open hostility against our own. This could have gone a lot better.” Kyoko concluded as she sighed and poured herself a small cup of a strong distilled alcohol.

“please be discrete if you can. The less people that know about this incident the better.” Kyoko said as she started to fetch some parchment, ink and a quill.

As the party left the room where Kyoko sat and headed towards the stable where the fallen mare lay Takeo rushed ahead to make sure that the area was secure and Liz strode next to Siu who hung back with the others, his presence still flickering in and out of peoples perception.

As the party reached the stables they were stopped at the door by several men dressed in Reds and greys.

“You five seem to be out of place here,” a older and serious Ryokughan man said as he stepped in front of the door – his hand moving inside of the sleeve of his robe. “I’ll ask you politely to step away as my lady does not want any disturbances to befall these animals.”

The man waits for the party to introduce themselves before turning to Liz “you don’t seem to be with these four, who are tasked by Lady Kyoko to visit these stables. What business do you have?” The man asked as the other Red and grey dressed men walked purposefully around the building.

“I am here to examine the horses to make sure they are in good health” said Liz, careful to not reveal too much to ensure that the man could be trusted.

Sighing and smiling a toothy grin the man withdrew his hand from the robe “Apologies lords and ladies, I had to make sure I could trust you. Please, allow me to get the door for you.” he said as he moved towards the door, a mixture between a stride and a waddle – the movement almost purposeful to the trained eye. “A mystery it is, the shaman couldn’t tell what was the matter and we were asked to quickly seal up the area and not allow anyone other than those entrusted to enter. I don’t even quite know myself what is going on as I have come at the change of the shift and been told to show the authorised people into the building.” the man said, a small change in his tone as he spoke almost undetectable.

Knocking on the door and stepping to the side a small wooden panel was opened and Takeo’s eyes were revealed. Moments later the door was unlocked and the door opened – Takeo walking deeper into the stables “come in, towards the back” he called in a carefully measured voice so that only those by the door could hear.

Moving through the red robed man closed the door behind them, or so it sounded like it, and carefully walked in behind them. Moments later the sick mare was revealed, her hide was normally brown with patches of white was now a dark grey, the hair slowly falling out in great patches as the body of it lay unmoving.

“I can’t detect any poisons, curses, wounds, cuts, bruising. Nothing.” Takeo said as he looked down at the mare, crouching down. “there is a build up and a large amount of mucus near the mouth as if the horse spat up as it collapsed but that is all I have found that is odd. Strange..” he said as he turned his head towards the party, his eyes following a moment later “Liz, maybe your divine magic can identify what is going on here…” he stopped as his eyes met the man in the red and grey robe.

“What is he doing in here. None of the hands were meant to enter the room.” he said standing abruptly. Just as quickly as he stood he started to shake, his legs wobbling as his shivering hands reached up to his neck and plucked a tiny fluff covered spike from his neck. His eyes lost focus as they moved between the party and the man at the back of the room then to Liz as he fell to the ground.

Liz shrieked and dashed forwards, a prayer already on her lips as she met his side and a golden glow covered his body, a greenish tinge flowing from a minute puncture wound on his neck flowing through to his limbs. The glow spread down and focused on the puncture which seemed to stop the tinge and slowly it receded.

“Interesting..” they heard on the wind as the door behind them slammed shut – whirling around the man in grey and red had gone, disturbed hay the only evidence that he had been there at all.

Just moments after the door closed behind the party tore off behind them, Takeo coming through and attempting to mention something but his words “Locust clan” were lost to the wind that the party left as they dashed out the door in pursuit of the man in red and grey.

It took a moment to see where the man had gone and only the flash of coloured cloth and the wide birth as if a beast had just punched past them into the road behind. It didn’t take them long to cross the distance to where they saw the man disappear and their experience of tracking beasts through the snow in Bracken hollow or being on the look out for shadow stitched in Daye came through where a boot print could be seen in a small path of wet soil on the side of the road led them further down the streets of Shuimu.

The chase, the quarry moving deeper into the streets whilst the party seemed to be gaining, footsteps, a wisp of cloth, or people helping them by pointing in a direction led them to a plaza where several merchants were bickering over some oxen-like beasts had stopped in the middle of the street and their cart had effectively blocked off the road – standing there looking for a way around the beasts and shouting at the merchant and beast alike was the man in Red and Grey.

Noticing the party had appeared behind him, or hearing their approach one may never know, the man whirled around and movement appeared from the sleeves of his robe as three miniscule darts flung forth – clattering harmlessly off the parties weapons and armour.

“I see you are much more aware and prepared now, but I fear that my patron will be disappointed if I do not return to their side again.” The man smiled, a genuine smile that lacked any malice that one may expect from someone who uses poisoned darts so easily.

“I will say that it has been some time that I have been corned like this but I do not believe that it will end favourably for you. I will grant you the opportunity to retreat now and grant you a boon. You may know my name and the name of my patron and you get to keep your memories and life. Or you can attack me and find out how far our power levels differ.” the man smiled, pausing for but a moment as the party looked amongst themselves. “To make it easier for you I will throw in one for free – I go by Sai Tsugen, my real name was lost many years ago when I was taken in by my clan. Now that was easy enough, I suggest you back off before things get serious.”

A few moments later, words being spoken in hushed tones amongst the party he smiled. “It looks like you need some persuading – then let me open up the dialogue”. A flurry of hand gestured combined with martial arts and the man in front of them started to emit a strong buzzing noise and in heart beats insects flew to him from the plants, beasts of burden and buildings around him. Jumping forward, covering ten feet in an instant he landed in a crouching stance – his arms spreading out wide as the insects followed his lead and spread out as if a wave had crashed upon the ground. The insect crashed against the party, those not swift enough to avoid them were covered in biting and stinging insects – wasps, bees, flies and locusts climbed on the party as they flew through the air while a tide of spiders, centipedes and crawling insects rushed across the ground at frantic pace to do the bidding of Sai. Another snap motion and his hand extended towards the ground where the crawling insects gathered and as if by an telepathy command they crawled over his body, and gathered into a shifting crawling mass before four heaving masses of insects stepped forward from the centralised blob – the man appeared to have disappeared into mass of insects himself.

A the attacks flew forth from the party their blades, bolts and magic sent hundreds of crawling, biting, stinging insects to the ground from their allies and from the four identical masses in front of them but as they swung, stabbed, shot and spelled their way through the bugs they would suffer a brutal biting counter attack and even the stoutest of them could start to feel the affect of one if not many of the insects poison affecting their coordination and concentration. Attacking more frantically, or targeted – who is to say, suddenly one of the shifting blobs stumbled backwards, a splattering of blood lining the ground as Sai’s form was briefly revealed.

“You found me it seems, well done. It seems out power levels are not as different as I was first to assume. But there is something you need to remember about the clans in Ryokughan – we always have another trick up our sleeve as our mission is our reason for being.” As the man finished talking the remaining insectoid body doubles mirrored the movement of the first and suddenly insects burst outwards, biting the people and animals alike in the plaza sending them running through the clearing. “I will keep my word and give you the name of my patron, there may not be many of my kind that keep their word and show honour but I am a man of my word.” a voice said from amongst the blinding haze of insects. “My patrons name is Karyn. You will meet her soon I am sure but whether you remember my generosity or not depends on your fortitude to my clans poisons.” and with that the insects slowly faded from the plaza – some still insisting to bite and sting the party as their heads throbbed painfully from the poisons that had been injected into them through mandible, fang or stinger. Looking around for Sai the party were unable to see him any where, a robe, red and grey was discarded at their feat with a small dagger that was a single main blade with two offshoots that came out to the sides to form a bladed guard, each mirroring the insectoid handle and pommel giving the blade the look of locust with a blade coming from where its wings would unfurl from.

Areas and places of note

The Plaza – has a central fountain where buskers are busy singing songs and dancing for the enjoyment of those around. Stalls have set up shop here, out of the way and at the back of a building where they weren’t getting into trouble with the houses and stores that also share the space with a tavern, currently blocked by two feuding (or chatting but we can’t understand them) bovine who have blocked the only way out of the plaza.

The stores sell weapons, meats and vegetables – all the things that people may want where as the stores near by consist of a tailor and general supplies merchant who may have some oddities inside.

Environment and running the adventure

The Plaza– see map.

People moving through the zone may give partial cover or make movement hard as people run for cover to get away from the combatants, this with stalls, fountains and other miscellaneous items that are strewn about the plaza. For attacking or shooting around people provide the target with +2ac and if moving across loose scattered items (or running over stalls / tables) then I’d have a dexterity check (DC12) or falling prone/off the stalls.

Notable NPC interactions.

Koyko Harimasu – While the party go to investigate the mare, and subsequently investigate the would-be assassin Kyoko organises the next stage in their journey – heading north into the colder lands of Toshio territory.

Elizabeth “Lizbet” Scaulder – Liz goes with the party to look for magical reasons for the mare to have died and then stays back to ensure that Takeo is healed as the poisons surge through his body.

Siu – Siu stays with Liz and Takeo to ensure that no one else sees the state of the mare, or can interfere in Liz healing Takeo.

Takeo – Takeo realises that the man has snuck into the room before he is attacked with poison darts that quickly take him out, luckily for Takeo Liz is with them and quickly beseeches Chauntea to rid his body of the poisons.

Sai Tsugen – Locust Clan operative – Sai is the antagonist of this part of the adventure and sees to the party being taken away from the mare as he speeds off to send his report containing what was seen regarding Liz back to her employer, Karyn.

Glacial Ridge – 223MoGlRi

After the party returned from their confrontation with Sai, their heads burning and buzzing from the poisons that the swarms of insects had graciously gifted them, returned to check on Takeo finding that the door was open and Kyoko was talking in hushed tones with Liz and Takeo. Noticing that the party were approaching she ushered them inside the door where Takeo quickly closed the door behind them.

“You fools, you could have died fighting one of the Locust clan – many have and many will continue to do so if they keep under estimating them.” Takeo berated them the moment the door was closed behind them. “Anything and everything that man, if it even was a man, has said is likely a lie. They can change their voices, their faces with a moments thought and..” Takeo was interrupted by a whinny from across the room. Next to Kyoko stood a mare, the one that was most definitely dead the last time the party saw it.

“There has been a development. Sometime during Liz healing Takeo the mare convulsed, wretched violently and stood up. There is something unnatural here so word of the mare’s death and sudden miraculous healing is not to leave the room” Kyoko began, tightening a muzzle around the mares mouth. “It’s also different – this beast is not the same we walked in with, this one is feral, vicious and there is a cunning in it that has me concerned” Kyoko said staring at the beasts eyes as it shook its head and relieved itself into the straw.

“Before something else foul happens to us or the horse” Liz commented as she began casting a prayer of healing over the party – the last of the affects from the poison slowly disappearing.

“I agree, I have made preparations for us to return the horses to a minor Toshi house, a cousin of mine married into the family and their husband has been perhaps the most welcoming to us in many years.” Kyoko said as she stepped away from the horse – making sure it was secured tightly to the building. “We will return for the horses and then leave to head north.

The road was well made, smooth but worn and relatively flat. Either side of the road lay distance mountains and forests that made up Shuimu’s ridge and to the east, opposite the ridge, lay farmland, rolling hills and snow capped grey mountains in this distance. “Beyond those is what we call the Shadowlands. It takes a long time to cross those mountains and those who complete that feat are rewarded with the regret that they did for beyond those ice capped teeth lie a foul waste land where beasts, demons and spirits hunt for humans to feed their monstrous brood, or, to corrupt and bolster their forces. They are the thralls and the armies of The Shadow and those mountains, and a great wall to the south of them are all that keep the endless tide of darkness from corrupting these lands” Kyoko said as she rode up next to the party.

The mare had caused little trouble as they made their way up the road towards their destination, a few days at worst they had been told but the Mare was showing some signs of ailments with some hair falling out in small clumps despite it eating, drinking and walking well – the exception being that it was dead at the start of the morning.

As the party continued on, the nights got colder and the days seemed to become gloomier. Kyoko’s men and the party started having to take more watch shifts at night as strange things walking in the hills and rocky outcrops of this unwelcoming part of the land. “This place is normally rife with deer and other passive creatures, but it looks as if even this far to the south east the shadows tendrils have crept in some how. We will see my cousin and her husband, the lord of these lands by tomorrow and we should be able to request the rest of the cure for these men and women who are afflicted by the shadows curse.” Kyoko said as she handed food towards the multiple wagons and caravans that contained those afflicted by the shadow bruise curse. Amazed that although she couldn’t detect many of them that the food still disappeared without her noticing it was gone from her hands – such was the curse.

“We will set up camp at the base of the next ridge, its most protected from the elements, easily defensible as well as only half a days travel to our destination. If we continue on we will arrive after dusk and will have to be prepared for fights in quite hostile and unforgiveable areas amongst the rocks and winding passes as we climb to the top of the ridge.” A woman, one of Kyoko’s guards, called out as she rode up and down those who travelled with the princess. “Check your gear now, there isn’t room for error or mistakes in the coming days travel so you best be prepared.

Moving through the tents, caravans and bedrolls – hastily put down and then abandoned just as quickly as people huddled near the fires to shake off the chill that seemed to be rolling down the ridge above them.

“Look alive, I don’t like how the chill settles on the grass while the sun still pokes her head above the horizon” the Captain, Kuang Ping, muttered as he placed hot soup in the hands of the handful of troops he had with him to protect Kyoko.

Reaching the bubbling pot in front of a gathering of refugees from Jade point he turned around and started to place bowls of the hearty meal in their hands. The people stared at him in shock as he jiggled the bowl around in front of them. “You going to take it so I can continue to monitor the perimeter or not?” he asked a tired, gruff man who had the appearance of a sailor.

“How can… ” the man began looking at his fellow shadow bruised, “Is the curse lifted?” he asked a tinge of excitement touching his voice as he grasped the hand of Kuang.

Smiling down at the man and those who clambered around him he shook his head, his smile unable to mask the sadness in his voice as he spoke “The Shadows taint has not yet left your body, but you are not cursed.” the man said as he sat down in front of the gathering of men and women. “When I was a child I wandered the Forest of screams, not its actual name but when the moon was dark and the wind pushed through those twisted branches,” he stopped a warm smile appearing on his face, “My brother used to tell me that there was nothing in those woods, he was strong, one of the last blessed by the lotus in my clan before the harrowing…” his smile dropped. “One night one of our dogs, my mothers prized bitch, ran into the woods at night. She was ready to pup you see and tried to find a place that she could get away from the other dogs. I couldn’t handle seeing my mother that distressed and so I chased after he dog into the woods. It wasn’t long until I became lost, but I was not alone in those twisted branches for like I chased after something that gave my mother joy my brother did also – and he chased after me into those woods.” a crowed gathered, people who could not see the shadow bruised and those travelling with him and the adventurers and, Kuang paused as his eyes met those of Siu, the ancestors emissary, after a nod of reverence towards the golden scaled creature he continued. “My brother was so fast, I did not even see the Oni and the Gaki before they were on me,” Kuang stood up and drew his sword as he began to spar with the fire – his movements like if a snake and the wind had created a being of war, “he drew his sword, this sword, and defended me for hours. Constantly in motion; striking, fading, feinting before decapitating another horrid creature as we constantly moved out of the woods. He was a being of fury, or righteousness but a beacon of light.”

The old mans voice wavered as he stared at the fire dancing along his polished silver of the blade, the reflection of the moon on one side and the flickering flames on the other. “As he pushed me out of the woods he drove his blade through the throat of the most monstrous Gaki I have ever seen but not before one of its limbs pierced him in his side causing him to lose his grip on the blade as he was thrashed around. I did what any brother would do, I rushed forward and ripped the blade out before cutting my brother free, wrenching the limb out as the beast thrashed and wailed. I stood and attempted to lift my brother up but the beast wasn’t done with us yet. I received another one of its barbed limb through my thigh, severing it and pulling it through I moved myself and my brother to a safe distance, bandaged our wounds with my robe and we made as much haste to the safety of the walls of our keep, supporting each other until we made it through the gate.” Kuang sheathed his blade and sat with his back facing the fire a dance of light and shadow. “The wound carried some taint of the shadowlands. I was wracked in pain but I refused to leave my brothers side,” he scoffed with a smile, “they set my bed next to his so I could be next to him as he fought for his life.”

“He did not make it.” Kuang said looking up towards the gathered audience to his tale. “Before he did he imparted some wisdom to me which I want to share with you now. Do not dwell on what can not be changed. Every power in the land has both a light and a shadow, a yin and yang, and only when there is balance and understanding of such can true power be realised.” Kuang stopped and swallowed. “you see, the power of the lotus that he had received was balance. He could see both sides and in some way that night, the taint of the Gaki that courses through my veins is also a power. After my brother died I could see spirits, benign and malicious, light and shadow and I thought it a curse. But after joining her ladies guard I can tell you now – that the curse has a light to its shadow. Being able to see the taint in others, to see the dark has saved my life and hers more times than I care to count. Don’t view your curse as one, but look for the light to its shadow. You are unseen, unremarkable, unnoticed whilst you bear that taint. That’s a blessing. Imagine what you could do with the power to be a presence in the crowd, maybe you just need to make use of the curse for it to no longer be one.” he said as he stood, looking towards a few men who were meant to be on patrol with a frown.

“Captain,” a timid voice, a young boy who survived Jade Point but was lucky to be untainted. “What happened to the dog?”

Kuang grinned. “The bitch had nine puppies, she had returned home at the first howl of wind through those cursed branches.

Encounter

Frosted Ridge – See map.

The icy cold wind blustered through the pines causing the fresh slow to scatter amongst the bed rolls and tents. The gathered soldiers huddles around the fires and walked between the tree trunks alert for any changes or creatures that were lurking amongst the flurries.

The ridge that they had camped next to provided a tall barrier to defend their flank reducing the amount of areas of possible ambush or attack that they had to be alert to but despite this the captain and a few heroes of some repute kept a wary eye on the steep craggy rock face – experience trumping expectation in this instance.

Despite the vigilance the snow and icy wind blowing from the east brought more snow as the night went on, dusting the trees and dulling the mood. The howling of the wind coming down from the rocks above masked the sound of yipping and the crunch of snow from above them as the creatures that the Shadow commanded moved towards the light, and their quarry.

To start off the encounter I want to have the seed planted hatch. The encounter itself is a fight amongst the trees where the Nat spirit folk attack the travellers and Kyoko’s escort below the ridge. A few thrown boulders would be the First known signs of the attack before fast moving little Nats’ would dash into combat and a few bigger in ones in would wade through and smash trees and wade into the humans swinging weapons both natural and crafted.

To start the encounter the sick horse would scream, buck and break the bindings it had on before throwing itself into the first. The smell of burnt horse hair wafts through the clearing while it screams in pain. The horse stands and runs out, instead of hair its covered in a wart-like scaled hide now that is blotchy and the colour of fresh bruises. It hisses, revealing a tongue that’s been ripped in two as its head and skull cracks as its face distorts before their eyes as its transformation continues. After its done clawed feet, a snake like tongue and sharp fangs greet the petrified onlookers as it darts off down the road away from the convoy.

For this week let’s assume that our party were level 6. Several smaller creatures and a few bigger ones shouldn’t be an issue. Have the creatures attack the camps and NPC’s to give the party less attacks coming their way. After some time, during the first three or so rounds of combat have the elder appear and attack the caravans before, obviously begrudgingly, attacking the party and Kyoko.

After the encounter:

The corrupted horse has fled off to who knows where, one or two of the three caravans are broken and only the Captain and two of his soldiers remain. Only five Shadow bruised remain including Siu and Choi. Those that remain aren’t badly injured and most of them picked up some weapon to defend themselves with and did well.

Upon death the elder Nat mutters strange words as it dies, which the captain translates. “All I wanted was my den back and the shadow to leave me out of his war with the wall..”

The milling bodies and withered husks that shifted around the rocks, roots and rotting logs did not phase the hunched creature who stared into the encroaching darkness, its unblinking orbs of inky blackness darting from noise and burst of light in the distance.

As the sun fell and the dark moon begun take its place in the sky the creatures began to move out from the twisted trees, caves and shadowy alcoves to gather under a tall twisted rock. The creature who watched this unfolding snapped harshly at a young excited creature with long arms as it bumped into his side. Growling it unfurled it’s large limbs which it preferred to lay on and began to stride towards the gathering rock, as tonight in the pale luminous moonlight they would receive instructions.

The bouncing, snapping throng formed a single breathing entity as the same manic energy buzzed around the gaki and half-breeds gathered, largest and eldest of their kind stood closest to the pillar of stone and dirt. A figure in white drifted above them, ascending the rock as if climbing into the skies itself as a Oni wearing the skin of a human stood beside it.

“Tonight,” the voice boomed from the humanoid – causing the entire congregation of beasts to still and silence, “tonight you make good your oaths to the shadow. Tonight you storm the walls from the inside, you smash their defences and, some of you may impress our Lord enough to strike a blow that the mortals won’t soon forget.” The human said causing some of the gathered to roar.

The creature below sat on its limbs again, this was hardly worth the effort of getting up from its cave. Shaking its head in disbelief as the throng of creatures rushed towards the east it wondered how long until it was told to move.

“you’ve lived for quite some time old one,” a soft cold voice spoke in its mind. “Head to the west instead, gather the stragglers as I have a more important job for you.

The creature looked around to find the source of the voice and finding nothing it decided to ignore the command.

As it stood to leave back to the dark and damp hole it lived in a cold presence shot up its side. “You are not so old to ignore me young one. This comes from the shadow as its interests are threatened. Succeed and be rewarded, ignore the call and be punished. My lord awaits your decision”

The presence drifted off, and the creature still looked towards where it’s home was. The wrath of the shadow is not something it wished for. Shaking its head it turned towards the west as dozens of smaller creatures started to skip, jump and yip around it like young excitable pups.

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Magnus

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Looking down at the streets from her London apartment Mag felt the near audible thrum of magic as the first stage of her geas took hold causing her body to shake from the strain that her body had finally realised it was under. ‘Twelve hours of channelling magic from the black will do that to you‘ she thought to herself as she looked over the ritual that the book was still open to, the Grimoire, the only thing her mentor had left to her to ensure that she was ready to face the world as a fully fledged, well what ever they would label her as. She was the first of her kind, one to pull apart the veil of the schools of magic, she was none of them and all of them at once and her mortal vessel was struggling to contain it once she had jammed that door open. But the book hadn’t taught her how to deal with the world and after the witch hunts that had happened in Salem nearly thirty years ago it was only a matter of time until the ripples of that resurfaced in England and her ruse would be up.

This is why the ritual was so important, it took the power away from her physical form and bound it elsewhere creating something, more. But there was a price with the binding of her sorcerous power to her astral self, her soul as all religions call it but she knew it was merely an anchor for power, to access the black, to pull down what she needs for her craft, well what she needed. After the second part of the Grand Geas she will lose her connection to the black, to her astral self and she will be as mundane as these so called scientific breakthroughs that were happening. Her reverie was broken as she felt a familiar presence rushing towards her hide out, not quite human but not exactly inhuman at the same time. A few moments later the door behind her burst open before closing forcefully a heartbeat later, the heavy breathing – a mimicry of what the creature was sculpted to represent but it had worked until now it seems.

Even before the creature spoke she knew it to be her creation, her finest work she might add – well second finest after she completed the second part of this spell with the last of the buzzing energy that coursed within her body now. ‘Mistress’ a voice sounded from behind from the creature. ‘I have failed you, I was discovered whilst getting the last of the materials you requested by four gentlemen who have some craft.’ the six foot tall creature thudded its way into the middle of the room, careful not to disturb any of the outlines on the ground. ‘I lost them as I travelled across the harbour but I believe we are not safe and must leave now’ the creature said as it stood behind her.

‘Don’t you get tired of running Jack?’ Mag asked as she looked down at the four figures who buzzed with an inner light, it was as Jack said – they had some craft indeed. ‘With the final parts of my spell we won’t have to run any more but you need to trust me in this. No more running, well not next time any way.’ she said turning around to the flesh golem that was easily six inches taller than her.

‘But mistress, they intend to kill you.’ Jack stated, logic battling with the bindings that were sewn into his flesh. ‘It’s my job to keep you safe and ensure that you survive, that is why you created me.’ he continued as he buzzed with energy, a biproduct of being so close to Mag.

‘I need time Jack, I will be altering your bindings, creating a new one so you wont be alone for the next few hundred years. Unfortunately this is the only way. This cycle of being born, learning, living for a few years before being discovered again and then behind hunted down has got to end and this will ensure it will. Go buy me some time until I can complete this second ritual and when its done you will know what needs to be done.’ she said as she lay a small delicate palm against the massive bicep of her golem.

‘As you wish mistress. Shall I kill them?’ he asked indicating the four men a few hundred metres from where they were looking out from the loft of a warehouse had Mags owned.

‘Distract them for long enough, you will know when the spell is over. Then head towards the cemetery to the north. You wont be alone for long and you will have everything you need brought to you for the next time we meet.’ Mag muttered as a sliver of doubt came into her mind. ‘When we..’ she began to say but turning around she only saw the door close softly as her creation was already charging towards the intruders. ‘Well that will be a surprise to him them..’ she said. Using a portion of her power she began to pull apart the threads of her geas before muttering archaic words that left a the taste of burning fat and soot in her mouth as her eyes shone golden, a nasty side affect of her drawing from the black, something that she was now building into the geas – a condition of her resurrection and a break in this endless cycle of death and power. As the final clauses were added to the geas she turned to the circle that was scrawled on the ground, it was time. Grabbing the Grimoire, a few letters, money and three talismans she had crafted she stuffed them inside a leather bag and placed it just outside of the circle to her right. She didn’t need her book any more, now that she was breaking the cycle of one Magnus being the mentor for the next in a never ending cycle of magic and death. No this spell was different, a common summoning, one that many would balk at due to the taxation of energy but she didn’t need to care for that, not since she had the connection to the black established.

Turning around to see Jack hammer into one of the men, sending him flying into a pile of crates was reassuring, knowing that the golem was at least listening to her command and distracting, not killing these men, a pang of regret shot through her with the lie to her companion, she needed them to believe they had caught her, and that they had succeeded but she needed Jack to believe that she would be safe. Turning back to the circle in front of her she closed her eyes and began the chant to cement the spectral bonds into the wards around her, creating a barrier that many novices forget to do in their rush to summon forth a demon. Reaching up with her astral self she grabbed at the inky darkness of the black and plucked a strand of raw weave, the magical stuff that was used in all spells and by all living creatures without them realising, before feeding the power into the centre of the circle causing a boom of energy to pulse through the room, causing the windows behind her to explode outwards sending slivers of glass down to where the men and Jack were fighting. Pushing the tendril of weave deeper she pushed through her bargain, freedom for a price, release at a contract. Closing her eyes and ignoring the sounds of battle outside she felt the time window of her geas closing which would see Jack compelled to retreat as fast and as directly as he could away from this area, and the beginning of her end.

A presence moved through the dark, the tendril of energy and the contract, the promise of freedom was tempting to many but the raw amount of energy present caused the week mindless demons to retreat away from it, the scent of power was too strong for them – but Magnus wasn’t fishing for a weakling – she had a particular specimen in mind and it was drawing close. The moment the creature hovered next to the energy Magnus’s geas took effect, the crunching of wood and the sound of stones hitting pavement was signal enough that Jack had pushed himself through a building. Inwardly sighing she wished that Golems didn’t take their orders soo seriously – something she would need the next Magnus to fix next time. Suddenly the energy that threaded through the circle connected with something, it didn’t take a witch as powerful as Magnus to know what was on the other end but she had expected this overwhelming presence and opened the circle, pulling forward the creature of evil.

The room for a second was bathed in heat as the circled permitted a single creature to come forth and true to its nature it lashed forward at Magnus, as expected. The chains that had been sewn into the circle around the demon crashed down and wrapped around the flaming sword, wings, tail and torso of the demon, well demoness to be exact, forcing her down to her knees so that she was the same height as Mag.

‘I would like to say that your appearance was shocking, and that I was surprised that you would attempt to attack your summoner but evidently I would be lying. So I want to cut to the contract on offer’ Magnus stated as she stared at the naked creature in front of her. The creature grinned wickedly as her forked tongue tasted the air.

‘You are different to the others who have attempted to summon me before, many are not prepared for what they bring out of the abyss but you are different. Go ahead make your bargain and let me get to rejecting it so I can return back’ the demon snarled with a sadistic grin.

‘For three hundred years you will be fed a constant source of energy, the same amount as you are getting now. You are permitted to kill and dispose of the body of any who wish to kill you or my creation harm, Jack – a flesh golem, and if they possess magic you can harvest it and add it to the amount you are storing for those three hundred years. But, you can not murder in blood lust or hate and you are to avoid detection. If you are detected or my grand geas detects that you have broken these agreed terms your connection to the power will be cut for a dozen years and the energy you have received up until that date will be taken from you until those years are up’ Magnus said, taking in a breath as he control on the weave was dwindling, she could feel three of the four men just outside her warehouse, the wards she had placed on it keeping them out for now.

‘Thats it? What type of deal is that. Why would I agree to being your lapdog for one hundred years for a trickle of energy?’ the demon hissed, straining against the chains.

‘I am not done yet. As soon as you agree to this contract my powers will be sealed, you will be placed under my geas as part of the contract and the geas will let you know what to do. Apart from going against it you are free to do what you wish, live how you wish except for the other contractual obligations,’ she stated looking over the demon, the Erinyes as they are categorised as, ‘I will die tonight, so you will have no master as such and just the, very loose I might add, interpretation of the rules. I have seen glimpses of the future and the nations of this world will war with each other. I know what you are Erinyes, if you believe that these wars may threaten yourself, my creation Jack or the geas then you are free to engage in these wars. The one condition is..’ she paused as she watched the battle lust of the warrior demon rise, the promise of three hundred years of war to indulge in was nearly enough to get her to agree to the contract already. ‘the one condition is that at one hundred years you will have a new master, but for 16 years you do not have to take orders from them but you are to protect and provide for them until those 16 years are up at which point it is up to them about what you are to do but until you are given orders you are more or less free to do as you please within the geas’

The Erinyes considered the deal flicking her eyes across the chains, the seal, and the door. A wicked grin spread across her face. ‘You’re going to die. I can sense it. Those men down stairs are here to kill you. So why bother summoning me in the first place?’ the Erinyes said, as the hostility died down in the creature the chains relaxed and she was able to stand, Magnus stood but was still a good two feet shorter than the creature.

‘I am summoning you for your future master, not for me, well, technically they will be me.’ she corrected, careful to not lie or add anything else into the contract.

‘What happens if this new master dies within those sixteen years?’ the Erinyes asked, curiosity as opposed to hostility and violent evident on her face. ‘If this master was to die in those sixteen years then I wont have a master at the end of those years. And what happens to me?’

‘Very observant,’ Magnus said with a smile, ‘You get another one hundred years of freedom upon death of your master, after of which you are then summoned to look after your next master for sixteen years and so forth. This contract spreads into eternity or until the geas is broken at which point you will return to where you came from with the energy you have collected since the binding’. The Erinyes considered for a moment and was about to speak before Magnus interrupted, ‘oh, and you are not to harm your master, even if they deserve it. If you do you forfeit one tenth of your stored energy to them.’

The demoness looked taken back and was thinking of the contract and going through it in her mind likely looking for a loophole. Just then the air shimmered and strained voices rang from down stairs as the three men broke through the wards on the warehouse. ‘Time is up Erin,’ Magnus smiled the name fitting, ‘What’s it going to be?’

‘Done.’ The demoness said after a few moments hesitation, the sound of footsteps on coming up the stairs was enough to hurry her along. ‘I will defeat these men for you master..’ she began as the binding was complete and the chains snapped down into the seal below her.

‘no, take the bag, take one talisman and place it on yourself when you are with my golem, Jack, give him one and the rest of the content is for your next master when they turn sixteen. now go! The geas will show you the way’ she commanded and the demoness nodded before she took off beating her great leathered wings and flying through the shattered window and into the moonlit night.

Magnus sat down on the floor and crossed her legs in the circle – the geas fully taking over now she felt all her wards, her spells and her connection to the black and her astral self be severed. Powerless, shivering and alone she felt fear and worry for the first and last time in her life as she heard footsteps crossing the floor over to stand next to her.

‘Thought you could keep runnin’ huh love?’ one of the men said.

‘The order’s been after you for some time now. Never would have believed that there was some immortal necromancer in London if it wasn’t for that flesh golem and the scent of your foul magic in the streets’ another man said, this one had some bite behind his words. Looking up Mag noticed that he was holding a limp arm, from the ward or Jack she was not sure.

‘Well boys, it was a good run I guess’ she said as she went to stand. As the shot of a hand pistol rang out through the warehouse and down across the cobble streets Magnus fell to the floor, the third man holding a smoking pistol in his hand.

‘You boys talk to much, grab the body and lets take it back to the order. If rumours are true there will be another one of her in one hundred years we have much to prepare before then and the order wants the next one alive.’ he man said as he cleaned the barrel of his pistol.

As the three men moved to haul the body away, unknown to them the Great Geas began to activate sending messages to Magnus’s creations, triggering wards, spells, and machinations that only she had known in life. Jack looked back towards the warehouse, finally aware of the plan, aware of his next orders and even from this distance he could see the giant fireball that was triggered by the geas to detonate upon her death. Jack looked to the shadow that was descending towards him and could feel the presence of the demon in his bindings. As she landed a few paces away she opened the bag and retrieved a golden amulet, the talisman that had been crafted for her, and put it over her shoulders – causing her wings, tail, horns and scaled skin to shimmer and shift into being a pale pink of a human.

‘It seems our old master had some power indeed.’ she said handing a silver chain to Jack who pulled it around his thick neck – his transformation was far more drastic as his stiches, scars and mismatched body parts fused into a uniform and nearly symmetrical appearance making him look more human than what he had in dozens of years.

‘She is still our master, you will see her again when she returns’ Jack said as she wiped away a human tear from his eye, finally the rise and fall of his chest pumped oxygen through his body as his heart started to beat with power of the geas.

Thanks for joining me tonight for a bit of a creative write-up – something a bit special for my 160th day in a row posting and my 315th post.

I have had this story rocking around in my head for some time and I wanted to get the first little bit of it jotted down. Hopefully with some more time I will refine it a bit further and see where I can take it!

Don’t forget to come back again tomorrow for more Brazen Wolfe Tabletop content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe