02-Tuesday – Who/What

Tuesdays we will be focusing on the who, NPCs, bad guys, people or things that drive the adventure and story.

Surprise NPCs

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Welcome to a slightly different NPC Tuesday where we look at surprise NPCs. Tonight I didn’t want to create a new NPC or look at expanding upon an existing one but I wanted to look at the process I follow.

 

Surprise NPCs

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Tonight I wanted to explore something that we may realise we do that’s natural for some of us who have been in the game for a while. Creating NPCs is an artform. Whether we take the time and effort to carefully sculpt a NPC to fit our campaign or we just need to answer the question our players throw at us “Hi, my name is Togrim the Terrible. Who are you?”

To aid in the brief discussion I have created a flow diagram that I asked myself when thinking about the different NPCs that I have created before (created in Canva)

As we can see we have a few questions here to answer and the rest are kind of obvious but I will explain below.

  • Quest – Is this for a quest. Is this the princess coming to the Tavern to find the roughest looking group around to ask them to kidnap her?
    • Side – Is it a side quest? See “Can you get me floof mellons from a nearby field. I will pay you handsomely for each one you can bring back?”
    • Core – Main story line quest. The princess changing her mind or the parameters around her kidnap.
  • Actor – is this someone on the streets / road / in the building. Are they someone you need to add in that doesn’t immediately result in a quest.
    • Agent – A spy, thief, butler, someone working for someone.
    • Distraction – a pickpocket, crying maiden, innkeeper – someone who serves no immediate purpose other than to distract from the main quest at hand.
    • Vendor – someone who sells something to the party whether its potions, lotions, axes, mittens, information or.. errhm.. something more non-pg friendly.
      • Stocked – are they in stock? Do we need a side quest to get that item in?

There are some common themes across the trees. These are things that will pop-up constantly the more you go through your NPC and jot down notes.

  • Dangerous – Are they dangerous..
    • Yes? Does the party know this? How to they react?
    • No? What do they do?
  • Help/Hinder? Are they friend of foe? Gere to help the party or here to set them back?
  • Motivation? – what motivates them? If they aren’t pushing the core plot along then what do they want with the party?
  • Permanency? Are they permanent? Once this interaction is done do they disappear, or die? OR do they stick around and reappear later?
  • Vulnerability* (only called out once) – Do they have a weakness. Are they vulnerable to silver. OR do they only want to save their family and that’s why they are working with the Kings hunter to bring back his daughter?
  • And of course, Appearance – This includes the name but how do you describe this person/creature/thing? Are they a human, bat, lizardfolk or talking spoon. Descriptions including how we Role play NPCs can cement them into permanency for our party.

Although not an exhaustive list I will use this for the next few months and see if I can tweak it. Most of us follow something similar and occasionally do it automatically when our party asks the dreaded questions “what’s your name” or “who are you?”.

Another night down and I have a new printout at my desk. Thanks for joining me tonight and hopefully this can be useful for you in impromptu NPC creation. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow as we cover off another end of campaign writeup and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Servants doubt

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Welcome to Tuesday night where we look at NPCs for the party to interact with. This week we have a npc experiencing what I would call servants doubt as they witness the end drawing near.

Servants doubt

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The diminutive creature watches as the party squared off against the ogre and a silent smile crossed its face. This could be it, the moment its freedom was bought.

Since it had watched its friends, comrades and children fight for the Shadow and fall for it. Since it has watched the same once revered master feast on their broken bodies and imbue itself with their dying life force. Enough was enough.

As the ogre strode forwards towards the party the shrieks from those still in cages got louder. Some wailed for saving, some cheered for the party but others cheered for blood. The ogre roared in approval at the terror and lust for blood as it brought its whip and cracked it over the head of the party as it waited for the first move.

Thoughts.

This week in servants doubt we meet an old Butatล who has finally found a way out. This small creature will do just about anything to be spared and will likely ramble in Broken common about what it knows, and the way to the ritual chamber as its one of its primary duties. As the citadel is meant to be a confusing rabbit warren having a way out and direct path, maybe, to the shadow is maybe something that the party would capitalise on.

A glimpse of the bigger picture for this weeks session. As we finalise the adventure and as it looks more and more promising that the Shadow will fall. So don’t forget to come back this week as we investigate whats coming. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Blood, bone and shadow

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Welcome to a npc Tuesday where tonight we are looking at the creature summoned from blood, bone and shadow. Tonight the avatar of shadow stirs and begins to prepare to undergo a ritual to boost its power, but is it too late? Is the party and their allies too close to its lair? Let’s find out this week

Blood, bone and shadow

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The creature stirred from the warm granite and ash on the stone floor. Slowly the nerves in its muscles fired and it pushes its face from the ground and looked up at the creatures that served it. They stood around it in reverence, not wanting to be the first to approach the fallen figure that had, until this moment, lay crumpled on the ground.

“Master. The humans. They have pushed us from the wall. I.. er.. some of the others feared you had fallen and ordered a retreat.” A large, although cowardly, oni spoke as it shuffled forward towards the large humanoid figure. “What would you have us do? We may be able to rally the spirit folk and have them take back the ground we lost when the ice witch..” his speech was cut short as the creatures hand shot forward and plunged into the chest of the oni. With a look of shock and horror the oni watched as its heart was pulled from its chest, all but one artery detached as the figure drank deep from the pulsing organ.

“I would have you shut up” the creature said as it drank its fill from the warm blood. “I would have you all not have retreated from the wall. It was ours to take. Victory was within our grasp and you let it slip through our fingers.” The creature said as it shuffled to kneel on the ground.

No creature dared speak or move for fear of suffering its wrath. Although it wasn’t the shadow itself it was a vessel for embodying its unholy form within this plane and its power was unfathomable to the mortal creatures that served it.

Finally a ogre like creature spoke. “Master. The humans. They are come here…” The rest of the servants moved from the avatar.

It slowly looked up at all those who were gathered. “The ritual must be done again. Before they get here. I will need to bolster this body and prepare to do what you can not. Kill a party of humans. Take the slaves, take the captives. Grab the weak and injured. Their bodies will renew my strength. Go now” The avatar if shadow barked and delighted in the creatures panicked scurry.

ย 

Thanks for dropping by tonight. A short one but it helps set the scene for us DMs as we move forward into the final push. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to get more info and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Rejoicing Spiritfolk

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Tuesday is here and that means that means looking at expanding or creating a NPCs.ย Tonight’s writeup is about rejoicing spiritfolk as explained by someone who we haven’t had much to do with, yet, as we get to know them a bit more.

Rejoicing Spiritfolk

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“Sir, I volunteer to lead the operation to retrieve the intel.” His voice echoed in his mind as he looked over the battlefield. In four hours the sun would begin to set and he would begin the mission.

As he looked across the soldiers clearing the battlefield of their dead and piling the enemy corpses onto a pile he called out. “Place the spiritfolk in a separate pile. They dont burn their dead with the Oni. They think it an offence to the spirits who guide them.” He said to Kit who, as punishment, was in charge of the bloody duty.

When the party and Kyoko looked his way he smiled sadly. “I spent some time with the spiritfolk when I was young… Some things you cant forget.” He began. After a moment he explained further.

Gin was born the son of an alchemist, two infact. His parent’s were non-conventional to say the least. His mother was a human but his father was one of the Spiritfolk who fell in love with the human woman who kept foraging in his forest.

Intially it was professional completion amongst each other. Finding the best reagents or herbs before the other could. But before long it blossomed into more.

Their son looked completely human except for a light covering of fur across his torso. His fathers goat legs, horns and tail were not gifted to his son but his reflexes and inhuman strength was. In the village they lived in the villagers quickly accepted Gin and his parents union. Especially when the quality of potions, charms and lotions were as high as his parents. However, happiness – like most things can’t remain for long.

Halfway through Gin’s tenth cycle an oni raiding party attacked his village. His parents locked him away and kept him hidden from the oni. But the Oni eventually found his parents. When they worked out that a human and spiritfolk were a could they made a sport out of their torture. It was ok display to the whole village yet Gin couldn’t see his parents in their last moments. But he could hear them.

The following month he pledged himself into the service or the Harimasu military and dedicated his life to hunting Oni.

“and I’ve been here ever since..” he said with a touch if pride on his face.

“sir! We have movement!” A guard shouted as they hurried towards the wall.

“Hold! It’s the spirit folk to send off their dead.” Gin called out to his fellow guardsmen. “See. Wait and watch”

A few moments passed and gradually all types of Spiritfolk appeared around the pile of their dead. Then slowly they formed a circle and began to sing and dance around their fallen. “They are celebrating the reunion of their parents, elders, children and friends and the spirit world. Where they believe they will hunt in the endless plains of their ancestors.” He explained. “This will last until sunset at which point they will take the bodies away and burn them amongst the rest of their kin.”

Sure enough as the sun set the spiritfolk gathered their dead and singing out in joyous tones they carried them away from the battlefield and into the wilds beyond.

The month as begun and soon it will be over. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow night for a bit of a twist in this weeks adventure as all best laid out plans tend to have hiccups. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Shadows Throne

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Welcome to the bonus week Tuesday where tonight I wanted to have another go at Artbreeder and have some fun creating weird stuff. One such outcome was the image of the mountains known as The Shadows Throne. Oh and a super creepy image of The Shadow itself. Enjoy!

The Shadows Throne

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Created in Artbreeder

It’s hard to find images of a mountain that recently had a great swath of its peak crack and fall to the ground below. Let alone one that is glowing red. This image however after toying around with a few cross breeds and manipulation of what else was out there came up a winner in what could constitute the image I was going for. So I give to you, The Shadows Throne.

This image should hopefully bring thoughts of a grand conflict to the foremind of our players as they gaze upon its shattered and discoloured peaks. That is in fact the reason I create images for these campaigns to help the players and the DM get into the world. Sink in and really feel what it would be like for their characters. Immersion is a big thing for me and I hope the next image does just that too

The Shadows Avatar

Created in Artbreeder

Now apart from maybe the occasional slipup The Shadow does not have a gender. Blending a previously used image used to create Mugrave’s imagery as well as a dark shadowy image I give you. The Shadows Avatar.

This is hopefully enough to give the players a shiver down their spine and create that atmosphere where we don’t quite know what’s going to happen. But we are all there for the ride regardless.

The Shadow is more-or-less a minor deity and to simply walk upon this world is not an option. But to have a mortal body be a vessel for your power, that’s something we can get behind.

As we get closer to the end of the month I find myself looking at where I can add, tweak, correct or change content. Tonight I wanted to add something to help describe some events or narrative description that could come as a result of the defeat of Yukri. Also, with those afflicted, who weren’t slain, recovering from their madness they have some more details to reveal… But that can wait for another night so don’t forget to come back for that. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Call of the Dragon

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Welcome to another Tuesday where we don’t look at adding new NPCs but look at fleshing out and adding more to an existing one. This week we look at Kit Hou and her answer to the call of the dragon which led her to choose between her mission and her father.

Call of the Dragon

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Created in artbreeder

As Kit sat down at the table with her hands crossed in front of her face she met the uneasy stare that her father was giving her. “So before you begin I want to explain why first…” she said as she accepted a hot cup of tea. “I had a vision…”

“A vision of your death?” her father, Captain Hou interrupted bluntly. His displeasure mixed with concern evident on his face and in his voice.

“No. If you’d let me continue, I had a vision of a golden dragon asking me to find out why there was a demon at the wall. It asked me to have faith and stay on the outside of the wall and watch the enemy as they went by with their attack. And I did.” she stopped to blow on her tea before sipping it slowly.

“They were studding the wall with these.” she aid as she reached into a torn pocket and deposited what appeared to be a shard of obsidian like material that had been carved into a thin stud. “I wasn’t sure at first but I watched them firing arrows towards the wall and us. I almost gave up when suddenly an arrow hit one of the fragments and this cloud of shadow sped across the ground and attacked all who stood above where the arrow hit. The next wave of attackers did the same thing. Ran up, those that got to the wall embedded another shard and then they would launch a few volleys of arrows. Each time the Shadow demon, the Wrath Wraith, would appear.”

She paused for a moment and let it sink in. “I though that if the creature just did as it was told and attacked where the shard was broken then we may be able to use it as a weapon. So I tried it out and it worked. The wrath wraith appeared and attacked the oni when they appeared over the ridge. They must have worked it out because I was retrieving one of the shards when they attacked. Lucky these adventurers appeared in time and saved me as during the commotion the shard I had scavenged broke in my pocket.” she paused to sip from her tea.

“I grabbed a few more shards on the way here so we can analyse them but if the wrath wraith is dead then there is no ability to summon it again.” she added. “But I think I did what the dragon ancestor had asked as I could see the glow of the ancestors on these adventurers. I decided that my task was complete so I didn’t need to stay out there any more.”

As if to punctuate the closure of her story the room dropped in temperature suddenly and a horrible scream broke through the night air outside. Racing up the steps the party looked over the edge of the wall to see walls of ice littering the battlefield. As they trace the direction the walls seemed to point in the Yuki-onna, Yukir Toshio and a huge Onikage stalked away from the battlefield.

The first flakes of snow began to drift down from the darkened clouds.

Well another night has come and gone and we are now half-way through the weekly content. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the plot twist and secondary hook night and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Wall Guard

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Welcome to Tuesday night NPC special where we look at the wall guard. It’s been a few weeks(?) some time any way since I played around with artbreeder and there is an influx of new pictures to modify. So be sure to check it out! Tonight we look at Wall Captain Hou, an image of his daughter (for reasons yet to be disclosed..) and the wall guard that spoke to the party lastly before they descended. I may create a few more of them for later on but that wont be for tonight. So sit back, enjoy and feel free to use these portraits in your own campaign!

The Wall Guard

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The more I look at the portraits created in artbreeder the more I forget that I used to never use this tool. Being able to describe someone and have a face to put to the name and description to show to a party member is awesome.

However… Captain Hou definitely looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger…

Wall Captain Hou
Captain Hou’s Daughter
Wall Guard Gin Seng

Thanks for joining me tonight for a few portraits. Don’t forget that tomorrow night is plot twist night where I hope to shock the RPG world with a revelation!! But its probably already obvious to my awesome readers so it wont be any surprise. Regardless don’t forget to come back for it and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Dragons Tears Items

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As we move closer to the end of the campaign I don’t foresee having many more NPCs of note joining us for every weeks encounters. So for tonight I wanted to release the Dragons Tears Items that I worked on a template for last week with some slight tweaks. So enjoy!

Dragons Tears Items

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Dragons Tears Items – Melee

Made at D&D Beyond
Made at D&D Beyond

Dragons Tears Item – Ranged Weapon

Made at D&D Beyond

Dragons Tears Item – Wondrous Item (amulet)

Made at D&D Beyond

Thoughts.

Tweaking the bonus to hit and damage to be all the time was just to make the weapon feel more versatile outside of this specific campaign. Having the damage be activated rather than all the time and only when shedding light means that there is a decision to be made. Stealth or no stealth. The non-optional beacon effect of the light them a target for the minions of the shadow, undead, fiends or creatures in general and that could be enough of a deterrent to not use it all the time.

The ranged weapon didn’t get much tweaking. I know how strong guiding bolt is but granting permanent damage boost on a ranged weapon felt too strong. The three times a day (resetting on dawn) is thematic as well as should make the use of the ability something they save, or risk being caught without an ace up their sleeve.

The wondrous item wasn’t changed too much if at all as the provision of darkvision, the light effect AND the advantage on being charmed should be powerful enough.

Thanks for joining me once again when we look towards Ryokughan. Tonight we looked at some magic items that were gifted by the Harimasu family to defeat the Shadow. Well that’s the hope at least. Tomorrow we look at further advancements as the party travel towards the wall so it aims to be a good one. Don’t forget to come back each night this week to stay up to date on the content here and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Jungย Harimasu

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Tonight I have a little something that has been a few months in the making. Yes the return of Siu, no Jungย Harimasu but not quite focusing on what he is doing back but the why and the how. So sit back, have a cup of coffee and welcome him back to the storyline.

Jungย Harimasu

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As the blade from the freshly killed hulking goliath of a man cracked through his rib-cage Siu felt the warmth from within his body fade. As he watched Choi’s lifeblood seep out of a deep gash on his chest the doors that were barricaded behind them splintered open and the freshly dead soldiers rushed out.

“Please let Kyoko be safe” he muttered under his breath as he felt darkness close in upon himself. But that wasn’t the end. As he felt his consciousness recede he felt his body grow lighter until he was floating as if on a pillow of light. With a slow realisation he opened his eyes and looked around at the marbled walls and jade statues that were familiar as if a distant memory.

“Welcome home Jung” a deep voice rumbled, one that he would not forget so readily. Around him on several raised benches stood his ancestors with heads bowed in respect. “We have been watching you and what you have endured in your endeavours to redeem yourself.” The great dragon rumbled.

“Great Huangdi.” he began as he struggled to raise from the floor. His body weak and his coordination felt off as he realised his lithe dragon-form had disappeared and was replaced with his matted, hairy bestial form. “Before I meet my judgment I have a single request.” he asked as he managed to get his too-long legs under him. “Can you tell me of Kyoko and the adventurers? Are they safe? Did they get out?”

Huangdi smiled and lowered his head to Jung, stretching out a great claw and lifting the head of his servant. “Only because of the actions of their ancestors.” he said. Jungย nodded and let out the breath he didn’t realise he was holding.

“Then with that knowledge I accept the fate that the ancestors and you deem fit for me.” he said before adding after a moment. “But I am confused why I was brought back. My actions as you said were my own and served my purpose. But why have I returned to my families halls?”.

“Because little one,” the dragon replied, “your actions may have been born from selfish need and want but along the way, in your journey to prove yourself and save your own soul you realised something. What we do in our life isn’t for our betterment but for those who follow us. You looked out for your cousins descendant. You put her life ahead of your own and even were willing to sacrifice yourself so that your Kin could continue to live.” The great golden dragon rumbled, a near-purr like sound coming from his great throat.

Jungย nodded as he listened before speaking. “But its as you said. My actions..” he began before another voice cut through the crowed.

“Jung, Enough.” the voice brought upon a tremor of a murmur from those gathered in the temple. “You never learn to you.” Turning slowly Jungย looked upon the stern and angular face of his cousin, much older than what he was when they were young men but wouldn’t forget his face. “You need to listen, Jung.”

After a moment Jungย frowned. “you said my name… but that’s been made forbidden by Lord Huangdi. Cousin please don’t lest you face further anguish on my behalf.”

But Siu, his cousin, just smiled and looked towards the great dragon. “If your cousin can forgive you and see what you have done for your family then you should also be able to see your worth Jung” the great dragon added as he exhaled a puff of smoke that began to coil and drift around Jung. “Your punishment has been decided. Your external form will reflect what you truly are within”

As the smoke touched his brown fur it began to shrink and change. As it fell to the ground it smouldered, turning into golden powder as it fell. Fine, hard and light scales spread across his body and he felt his bestial body shifting and growing longer. Within a matter of moments his fur had disappeared completely and a layer of golden scales had appeared.

As the process finished Jung shook the sensation of vertigo from his head and looked down upon the body of an ancestral dragon. “Welcome home Jung, guardian of the Harimasu Lotus.” Huangdi said. “Welcome home Jung” echoes his ancestors that stood above him but their voices were lost as he gazed into the eyes of his cousin. “Welcome home brother. Thank you for looking after my kin.”

In the palace…

behind the forgotten walls of the lotus pond tiny buds pushed through the watery veil and as the first rays of moonlight touched their budding petals they began to shine.

Thanks for joining me tonight. For a while now I was wondering what the best time to bring Siu back would be and the troubles at the Heavens reach castle provided me that opportunity. Although not something that the party would see it is something that Jung, not Siu, would be able to tell them about. Don’t forget that this week we look to wrap up the month and we still have some exciting content to provide. So I will hope to see you back then if you don’t forget to come back and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Lรณmipilu

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Tuesday night is here and with it brings another weekly NPC night. Now tonight I want to introduce you more to the Lรณmipilu. The creature is not always seen as vicious or violent but there are few who survive an encounter with them, they are after all demonic…

The Lรณmipilu

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The creature stalked the maze like halls that it had constructed with but a thought the moment it created a rift to its lair. Melding and knitting shadow and reality together to create something of its own was childs play and these foolish mortals were stepping into a realm that they had no hope of contending with the power it had here.

But as the light flooded from the previous room and the tendrils of shadow struggled to knit the opening back together the Lรณmipilu felt a trickle of fear for the first time in centuries. Soon the creatures moved into the dark interior of the dimension it had created, a little pocket of shadow and the Lรณmipilu’s fear quickly began to disappear. Soon a plan began to form in the mind of the creature as he released its hands from the old man and summoned forth dense shackles that bound his mouth and limbs so he could not speak or move.

Stalking one of the many halls the creature climbed higher into the dimension it had created and watched a the party one by one drifted further apart from each other as the dimension they found themselves in constantly folded out before them forcing them to loop around until they were back in the starting room that they entered. The creature smiled and watched the creatures looked baffled at what had happened. In fact the creature was so amused by the wonderment of the adventurers that it giggled. It knew these halls better than any and that the only path forward as the least obvious, all others led to confusion and death.

The creature lay on its stomach and watched the adventurers move around and start discussing their predicament – each one of them not aware that those they were talking to were not what they seemed to be.

Thanks for drifting into my little rift of fun. Don’t forget that this week is the final week for September and we are quickly approaching the end of the year. I will also look to post a writeup of the games I had the weekend and perhaps even do a writeup of something new. So don’t forget to come back every night and, always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe