Author: thebrazenwolfe

The Whistling Rocks

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Tonight I bring to you an improved, new format One-shot adventure, The Whistling Rocks. This adventure has been covered before, some time ago now, but it still a favourite of mine when it comes to quick, easy One-shots that can fill a travelling gap for your party. If you want to have a look at the older format check out Whistling rocks in the Town of Starfall (quite a mouthful of a title).

This adventure can be used system agnostic but focuses on D&D so please feel free to adjust to what ever system and the creatures you are using in your adventure! However as always Kobold fight club can be used to quickly balance an encounter for Dungeons and Dragons and Tetra-cube provides the stat-blocks for the creatures found in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this Dice-embers adventure: The Whistling Rocks. There week is different where all the content is within the Zine and nearly none of it was revealed in the prior week! So if you want to run this adventure you will need to download the pdf!

The Whistling Rocks

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Starfall Farms – created in Nightcafe.

The Town of Starfall was a small farming town that was slowly growing to be something of a supply line hub between the southern and northern part of a growing empire. Conflict in the north had demanded more food to be produced and the town of Starfall was optimally placed to get the freshest food to the front lines. 

A great agricultural surge had seen the creation of a dozen more farms and the clearing of hundreds of trees from the Deepwood forest. 

However their expansion was frowned upon and something had gone amiss.  A request for arms had been given to a travelling merchant who had connections a town or two over. That was 2 days ago and they were expecting the supplies any day now.

Mid-morning the following day a cart, the same one of the merchants they had requested aid from, came into town with not weapons but adventurers, our Party. Will they uncover the cause of the trouble? Smooth over tensions with a local Elven population or tip the balance of power to a shift of outright conflict with the tree loving people.

PDF adventure – The Whistling Rocks

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Thanks for visiting for a surprise Zine night! Don’t forget to come back for more content over the next few days, perhaps a few more surprise Zines’ or adventure posts. Looking back at the old way I used to structure my adventures, and the lower quality control I had back then, I like to think I have improved in what I produce now. But do let me know if you have any feedback as that is how we all grow and level up in our own ways.

And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Adventure: Mischief and Merrymaking

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Tonight I bring to you the Dice-ember One-shot adventure: Mischief and Merrymaking, for your entertainment and as the only gift I can give the readers of this blog. This adventure can be used system agnostic but focuses on D&D so please feel free to adjust to what ever system and the creatures you are using in your adventure! However as always Kobold fight club can be used to quickly balance an encounter for Dungeons and Dragons and Tetra-cube provides the stat-blocks for the creatures found in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this Dice-embers adventure: Mischief and Merrymaking. There week is different where all the content is within the Zine and nearly none of it was revealed in the prior week! So if you want to run this adventure you will need to download the pdf!

Adventure: Mischief and Merrymaking

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Rimeglenn was a city that had been built at the edge of civilisation and typical to most frontier cities it had a rocky history with the neighbours. But with the establishment of the Rimeguard an era of safety and comfort had spread through the city.
However even the warrior-guard that called the city home could not protect it during the colder months. When the cold winds blew down from the forest; home to the ancient elven tribes, the season of mischief began and the guard, its people and all that called the walled city home had to endure weeks of theft, pranks and practical jokes.

A large bounty had been placed on the culprits responsible for the chaos that the season brought and every year, for the past seven years the bounty had increased to a sum that would fund a small kingdom for, well at least a few months.

But the trouble that plagued the city was not well known as the city benefited from trade and visitors to the city. If they knew about the troubles that happened during the depths of winter then it could put the cities livelihood at risk.

PDF adventure – Mischief and Merrymaking

mischief-and-merrymakingDownload

Thanks for joining me this festive season for the yearly Dice-ember adventure! This marks the second Dice-ember Zine that has been created (the first being the Snowmen of Snowtown). Thank you for sticking with me as I have changed the format and continued on this personal project to post every day of the year.

With a few more days left in this year I want to wish you advantage on all skill checks and saving throws this season so that you can enjoy the time you have with your loved ones. A final Merry Chirstmas, happy holidays and best wishes and may you not forget to set aside some time for relaxation and merriment.

And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Driven to Mischief

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Welcome to the Twenty-fourth night of Dice-ember and tonight we have a look at not only the reason Daryn’edril and Beth’andra are driven to mischief but we also reveal a nearly forgotten stat-block. As we look back on the last twenty-four days, and as I am preparing the one-shot Zine, I marvel at just how much there is in a few weeks worth of content. But more on that later, let’s not waste any more time in understanding the mind of the fey!

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

Driven to Mischief

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While originally put in as a bit of a “assistant” NPC for Rick, Alice quickly became a core NPC that helps drive the story later on. Because of this I was originally going to have her as using one of the bloody Knuckle Gang statblocks but I think she deserves a bit more than that. So introducing Alice Ironglove!

Alice Ironglove – created in tetra-cube.

Daryn’edril and Beth’andra are lesser members of the fey court in the feywilds. During the winter season, in their attempt to create excitement and entertainment for themselves they began to visit the elves of the Rimeteeth mountains. This delighted them for some time but the elves began to not react in the same manner and their senses and knowledge of the fey made them difficult to prank and trick.

However, as the mountains began to have other races move in they found that the same tricks, pranks and jokes that used to entertain them with the elves stopped having the same effect. It started with replacing a hunter’s arrows with twigs, which caused the twins much delight as the hunter failed to bring down its target, a deer.

Then slowly the pranks increased and they soon forgot about the elves of the forest, much to the elves delight. They realised that the humans, dwarves and other humanoid races of the now bustling city were much easier to fool than the elves and the chaos that their winter-time pranks brang delighted the fey pair more than the elves ever did.

As they progressed their pranks for swapping knives for spoons or hammers for rolling pins they realised that the people of this town relied on the guard and soon a new game was born. A game of cat and mouse began to delight the fey as they pushed their pranks and tricks further, using their magic they confused, befuddled and manipulated the people of the city until the guard wised up to their tricks. Then they would have to evade the ever angry and ever eager guard.

This game of chase was something that brought such joy that they forgot the melancholy of the feywilds during the winter months. The people eventually started to put their trinkets and valuables in chests with iron bindings which prevented their magic from affecting those few items and so they lost interest when people stopped caring that their turnips turned into carrots. With the change in the reaction of the people of Rimeglenn the fey returned to the feywilds and began to plan for the next year when they would increase the level of mischief and pranks that they would sew.

And that marks the last night of Dice-ember for the year, sort of. Come back tomorrow for the end of Dice-ember Zine. But that’s not quite the end of the year as I have plans for the last six or so days of the year. So don’t forget to come back daily and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Mischief Unmasked

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Welcome to the Twenty-Third night of Dice-ember where tonight we look at mischief unmasked! The true faces of the trickers who have plagued Rimeglenn for years and a hint at why they have; but more on that tomorrow. But for now we will get to see their true faces, perhaps their ‘true names’ and their statblocks!

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

Mischief Unmasked

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While their stat blocks are geared towards a CR5 encounter they don’t like taking life as that would put a quick stop to their fun. They will try and prevent the loss of life so they can continue their mischief and gain more amusement and joy from the people of Rimeglenn becoming increasingly confused as chaos grows in the city.

Daryn’edril Brimesquience – Created in Artbreeder.
Statblock created in tetra-cube.

The holder of the unidentical twins, Daryn’edril is a fierce defender of his sister however still has some latent magical abilities. Stronger and quicker he uses his spells to modify his appearance more than using his precious few magical abilities to hinder or affect his opponents. Armed with a powerful attack with his claw and trained to fight in closer combat he is dangerous and effective, if provoked to fight that is.

Beth’andra Brimesquience – Created in Artbreeder.
Statblock created in tetra-cube.

Now where Daryn’edril is more accustomed to physical tests Beth’andra is adept at manipulation and using her magical talents. Able to manipulate and control those around her she uses this to get the most out of any situation. However he primary focus is getting herself and her brother to safety before they get into trouble or injured.

A brief view of the NPCs, Daryn and Beth – or should I say Daryn’edril and Beth’andra. These two fey have caused a bit of trouble over the years and tomorrow we can get a glimpse as to why and what exactly drives them. But we need to get to tomorrow first, so don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more Dice-ember Christmas themed adventure. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

True Faces of Mischief

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Welcome to the Twenty-second night of Dice-ember where tonight we look at the true faces of mischief. Well, the actions that are taken to lead to that moment will be explored however, no faces will be revealed, tonight at least. But enough about that, let’s not worry about what will be revealed within the next three days.

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

True Faces of Mischief

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This weeks encounter is focused on the social interaction between two ‘children’, a dwarf, a human and the party. While it may come to blows there are a few things at play here that would determine if it leads to that or not.

The Basics

The children have advantage against spells and effects that would charm them. They have a +7 modifier to saving throws against spells (such as zone of truth etc.) and the same modifier applies for Charisma based skill checks (Persuasion, Deception, Performance, Intimidation).

Each one of them will say the same story without difference in what they are saying regardless if they are in the same room or not, but they aren’t infallible. When they speak an arcana or Charisma check (vs deception or performance check) will reveal that there is a charm-like effect being used whenever they speak. Creatures that have advantage against being charmed (or who can’t be charmed) have advantage on this check.

The Checks

So the children are not truthful, secrets out!, so when it’s a new lie then we can allow an insight vs deception/persuasion check. If the two children collaborate on the story then it’s effectively an “help action” and grant +3 to the roll. If the party succeeds on an insight check then the child who was beaten in the contest will become agitated.

The mini-game behind this is to ask a bunch of questions that force a persuasion or deception check. If an ability or spell is used that grants creatures immunity to charm or domination then the children immediately fail all checks.

The Children

Both children are creatures in disguise with a polymorph-like ability. Detecting magic will reveal that they are indeed altered by magic.

Both children have telepathy and can charm any creature of their choice as long as the creature can hear their voice. Both children will take damage like normal and won’t revert to their true selves unless willingly. Instead of dying or falling unconscious at 0 HP they will appear dead (advantage on deception check).

They have a hatred of Gnomes and Dwarves. Both creatures will cause them to have disadvantage on charisma checks when they are interacting with a dwarf or gnome.

Once the children have been found to be lying then they will revert to their true forms and will be able to use misty step at will and mirror image once per day as per the spell without any spell components or spell slots.

Some interactions captured, some more to go. Thanks for dropping by tonight for the twenty second Dice-ember night. Don’t forget to come back this weekend for the last components of this adventure. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Larituron’s Pit

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Tonight and I have created a zine that is a few weeks overdue – but I am catching up, Larituron’s Pit. This adventure can be used system agnostic but focuses on D&D so please feel free to adjust to what ever system and the creatures you are using in your adventure! However as always Kobold fight club can be used to quickly balance an encounter for Dungeons and Dragons and Tetra-cube provides the stat-blocks for the creatures found in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, Larituron’s Pit. There week is different where all the content is within the Zine and nearly none of it was revealed in the prior week! So if you want to run this adventure you will need to download the pdf!

Larituron’s Pit

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Lair of the Pit lord – Created in Nightcafe.

The party have just found the source of the raids on the Underdark settlements and cities and have found their way through the silken path to a large cavern.

A large central formation in the cavern looks to be made from calcified spun web that houses hundreds of innocent underdark residents who have been captured. But did the party get captured themselves? Will they free the captives or end their suffering and what happens when the ruler of this domain notices that her offerings have been taken? Those are the questions that we ask this adventure!

PDF adventure – Larituron’s Pit

lariturons-pitDownload

Thanks for joining me today for another Zine. This one had more content added to the Zine but like a few of my other ones I kept that in the Zine, not the blog. So you will just have to trust me on that and grab a copy of the Zine to check it out.

Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it.
I hope you don’t miss a thing so come back daily in the coming week. This is so you can experience the creation of the next adventure as it evolves and shapes out. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Snow Capped Icescape

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Welcome to the Twenty-first night of Dice-ember. Now that we have made it this far I don’t really have another encounter map, yet, and tonight I still wanted to give something to add to the adventure. So I tried to imagine what the snow capped icescape that is Rimeglenn would look like and it progressed from there. From the snow ridden city to the frigid barren lands outside the walls the cost of exile is great. But those who are exiled lose the ability to cower behind the city walls when the true monsters come knocking.

So as we wrap things up sit back for a chill night where we take a breath before tomorrow and the weekend. The quiet before the storm is here and I have a lot to do.

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

A Snow Capped Icescape

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While behind the walls may be stuffy and confined for some most find it a safe haven for what they need out of life. The walled city is well protected, well supported and it boasts some of the best military that this part of the land has to offer. But for those who break the law the harsh and cold reality quickly seeps in past their furs.

Rimeglenn Imagery – Created in Nightcafe.

The hills after exile are look much more intimidating and frightening instead of looking at them with the knowledge that the walls will protect you at night. Once exiled the criminals and unwanted of Rimeglenn find the landscape bountiful in Spring and summer, dwindling and frantic in Autumn and nearly impossible to survive in winter. Only those who are well prepared or used to it survive outside the walls during the coldest months.

Consequences of Exile from Rimeglenn – Created in Nightcafe.

And that’s the lot for tonight. A busy one in the real world for me and not needing a map for this weeks content so some art to help drive a thriving imagination. Don’t forget to come back the last few nights and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

An Unlikely Truth

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Welcome to the Twentieth night of Dice-ember and tonight we face an unlikely truth. With the offer of aid from Alice the party would be foolish to not take the eye witness account of someone who was watching the building for a day. Surely this evidence would even sway the guards that the Dwarf attacked earlier

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

An Unlikely Truth

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The party considered their options but something wasn’t adding up with the version of events the children were claiming. But if the Dwarven member of the bloody Knuckles gang, Alice, could prove that what they claimed was wrong then they would be removed as the suspects for the stolen reward from the vault. As they moved back through the Guards hall, with a small escort, they knocked on the door to Captain Sungrave.

“Enter.” she responded from beyond the door and the party pushed on the oaken door. On the other side of the door Captain Sungrave was scribbling notes amongst a pile of similar looking reports that had been scrawled. “I wasn’t expecting to see you for some time yet. Please sit where you can.” she gestured towards the chairs that were mostly bare. “What can I help you with? Remember something more?”

“Now let me get this straight. The Dwarf that attacked you and me claims that she has information that may help us uncover what happened to the gold that proves it wasn’t you. And it will only cost her being pardoned for the crimes of associating with known criminals, assault on the city’s guard and attempted theft?” Captain Sungrave asked as the party finished telling her what they knew so far. “It sounds like we will need to get Alice in here to confirm what she knows. I can’t promise her a full pardon until I know what she has to offer.”

Penelope looked at the party of adventurers and considered if there was an ulterior motive behind it. But no reason came to mind. Gesturing to one of the guards that had escorted them in, she requested that they retrieve Alice. She then gestured to the other guard and requested that they fetch the children. She needed to give them the opportunity to defend themselves. She sighed deeply, it was going to be a long night.

And that’s the end to tonight. A short set-up for what will be a bigger encounter from tomorrow and Friday. So don’t forget to come back the last five days of Dice-ember and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Faces of Mischief

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Welcome to the Nineteenth night of Dice-ember and tonight we gaze upon the face of mischief. Well the Faces of mischief to be exact. But semantics aside, tonight we get a rare glimpse of the causes of this dreaded season on this, the 19th night of the December adventure. But, are these the real faces of mischief and trickery in Rimeglenn or is this just another trick that is yet to fully unfold. I guess in six more nights all will be revealed.

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

The Faces of Mischief

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The two children were called Daryn and Beth. Their story had been checked out as the guards who were posted at the gates remembered seeing the children enter the city with the merchants and had seen them playing around the gates later that morning. In fact several people had seen the children in the city during the day as Captain Sungrave chased up their story

The only thing that she couldn’t verify is what had happened to the merchants who had come in. People remember seeing them with the children but she could not find the actual merchants. It was a puzzle that she didn’t think she had time enough to work out. The two children were currently staying at the Rusty Duck inn as there was nearly no place safer in Rimeglenn as the nobles and lord of the city slowly started to find out about the missing reward.

She had also made enquiries on behalf of the testimony for the adventurers that had helped her guard earlier today, but the Bloody knuckles had, unknowingly, confirmed that the adventurers side of the events were true also. So unless the Adventurers were in the employ of Rick, who was yet to talk, or there was something else at play here, a rogue agent that she hadn’t factored into yet then the children were lying – which seemed improbably with the accuracy of their statement and half the merchants district able to testify that they were seen that day.

Daryn – Created in Artbreeder.
Beth – Created in Artbreeder.

The party had spent most of the afternoon collaborating their story with the guard captain as well as each other and a few merchants who could remember them from the early morning. The only person they couldn’t find to testify on their behalf was their innkeep who could not be found anywhere.  They had just come from the armoury where they had to store their weapons and were being led out the building with an overly enthusiastic record keeper. 

As they passed the holding cells before being shown to the main hall out of the guards hall they spotted a familiar figure sitting, isolated from the others, Alice Ironglove. As they walked nearby they gestured to the party to come closer. 

“I’ve said my piece to the guard but you, you bunch sure as hell put up a good fight. The likes I’ve not had in years. Do yourself a favour and stay clear of those two yeah? Those kids, they’re something else. Something is not right. I scouted that building for the whole day preparing for our little rendezvous and I didn’t see them at all. They claim they saw you break in. I was there the whole time. But its my word, the disgraced daughter of the Ironglove clan against innocent children.” she practically spat out the word innocent as guards came towards her to make sure she was under control. “I can’t be in prison, I’ve got an oath to fulfil and my honour to regain. If you can guarantee my pardon without Exile… I’ll tell the captain what I saw – ya hear me?”

Alice Ironglove – Created in Artbreeder.

Now it’s not often I make a social encounter that relies nearly solely on soft skills such as persuasion or deception… but this week is a bit of a mixed bag of nuts. But to see where this goes you best make sure you don’t forget to come back each day of this remaining week as we wrap up this adventure! So don’t miss out on the last few days of Dice-ember and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Playing Pretend

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Welcome to the Eighteenth night of Dice-ember where this week we have two figures playing pretend and causing chaos. Will the party work out what’s happening or will they succumb this week to the agents at play in the city of Rimeglenn. Regardless of what happens we must sit by and idly wait until the full story can be told as we watch the season of mischief unfold before us.

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

Playing Pretend

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The party watched as half a dozen guard escorted them and the two children from the hidden vault as they moved back towards the guardhouse. Captain Sungrave, Penelope, moved ahead of them talking to the children as they looked startled and intimidated. No hint of malice, deception or malcontent on their faces as they whispered to the captain and moved through the city streets.

Several people; adventurers, civilians and military watched as they were escorted and the voices began to chatter amongst each other. They recognised some of the faces, fellow adventurers who were staying at the Rusty Duck or those they had run into nearby on Adventurers lane. A few of them started to march off away from the party when they saw them, casting back glances when they could.

The party came back to the guardhouse and were shown to a large room, the Captains quarters. Sitting down at the table she watched as two of her other guards walked with the children into another room while she sat down with the party. “Now, I don’t doubt your integrity but I do have to ask some questions. The children say that they say you come and use magic trinkets to open the vault door, not that they knew what it was. They were on the roof looking out for pixies or fairies or something.” she paused for a moment to take a drink from a flask. “But they are frightened, hungry and cold. So they could have imagined things.” she paused to sip again.

“So please reassure me and tell me what you know. Is there someone who would want to frame you? If it’s the bloody knuckles we will have the answer from them, plus they were just as shocked as I to see the vault empty. So, I implore you to dig deeper. Someone from your past? Something else you have noticed? Anything at all?” she said as she brought out a quill and paper. The footsteps of two guards entering the door sounded from the seats that the party stood at or sat in.

“Help me prove your innocence and write the children’s accusation off as a case of mistaken identity. One moment,” she paused as she looked up at the guards. “Did you find out where they live? Or their parents, guardians?” she asked one of the guards.

“No my Lady. They are refugees, their parents lost in a snowstorm and they came in with the last merchants this morning. They were waiting for their parents by the gate but decided to explore instead. We have a guard looking for them as we speak” the guard reported. Nodding Captain Sungrave looked back to the party. “Those children are a mystery for now. But we will need to make sure we follow the processes of the city to clear your names so you are treated fairly and justly.”

She dipped her quill in fresh ink as she finished scribbling out some notes. “So, where do we begin?”

And with that the final stage is set. It would be obvious by now for all of us what is going on here but the tough part is getting the party to play along with us. So don’t forget to come back each day this week to follow along the story as it unfolds.

As this is the second last week of the year we are nearing a close so I wanted to thank you, early, for sticking with me this year. It’s been a year of changed format, some experimentation that didn’t stick and some formats that I think worked well. So don’t forget that if you like something to let me know so I can continue to provide meaningful content to all of you. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe