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The Hidden Shrine

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Tonight and I have created a zine for this weeks adventure. The Hidden Shrine. This adventure can be used system agnostic as we explore other RPGs out there other than D&D. So please adjust to what ever 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 currently provides the stat-blocks for creatures in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, The Hidden Shrine. If you like this format please let me know and I hope you enjoy.

The Hidden Shrine

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The City of Hark – created in nightcafe.

Rumours have flitted around the city of Hark for many years of magic, sorcery and wealth hoarded by some of the noble families of the city. Some had been investigated but nothing had ever come from such rumours. 

Some investigators quickly rose through the ranks and were granted manors and a life of privilege of which they hadn’t been entitled to before as a result of their investigation. This only spurred the rumours on more. 

However, the city of Hark is a mercantile city where religion, wealth and politics blend into a miasma of discord and discontent. The Party find themselves in a busy chaotic city where your station seems to be judged by the size of your purse.

PDF adventure – The Hidden Shrine

the-hidden-shrineDownload

Thanks for joining me tonight for another Zine. This one had more content added to the Zine but… not so much that I could reveal in the blog update. So you will just have to trust me on that and grab a copy of the Zine. 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

The dark below

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The village streets lay quiet and empty with the silence only occasionally broken by frantic footsteps. The doors and windows were boarded shut but many had been tipped though, a futile effort for the residents of Duraegis.

A sudden scurry of movement saw two residents, drow, dash from a hiding place towards a doorway but they were not careful enough. A large mass of chitinous legs smashed down upon one drow while the spear plunged through the second. The cries of agony lasted a minute as the drider savoured its prey.

“Why are the drider attacking us?” Asked an unfortunate witness to the murder of the two drow to their parents.

“Something foul is happening in the pit. These manic and feral drider appear more often.” The older drow spoke back trying to reassure. “But don’t fear, the priests of Lolth will come and banish them back to the pit soon enough, you’ll see.”

The driders continued their hunt as their victims were dragged to the pit’s edge and thrown into its depths. No one came back from the pit, its deep dark was matched only by the chitin of the drider who patrolled the city’s streets.

If the priestesses or mages council did not arrive soon there would be no people of Duraegis to save.

Thanks for dropping by for a sneak peak of the dark below Duraegis. This is the next step in the conclusion of this years zines. So don’t forget to come back next week to see the adventure for yourself. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,

The Brazen Wolfe

Guardian of the Well

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Now leading into the weekend, in which I have another Age of Sigmar Tournament to go to, I have something that we can raise for this weeks encounter, a guardian of the well as it were. With a vested interest in keeping the well working, well malfunctioning in its current stage this guardian is also keeping the true purpose of the well barely holding on. But the darker forces at play work against the guardian and perhaps, so do the party… But enough on that, let’s sit down grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Guardian of the Well

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The Guardian of the well is a vampire who wishes to have an army to keep the swamps clean from the living, well most of the living. this one will be swampy themed, dressed in sodden mossy clothes, looks as if it drowned once or twice just to come back to life. Using the canopy and dense trees of the swamp the creature flitters between trees and ruins to strike at the party. since the water is stagnant it gets to use its full powers as well and use them it shall.

However, it simply wants to keep the well of souls as it is, churning out undead and malfunctioning. But we will see more of that in the Zine.

Vampire created in tetra-cube.

In addition to the normal minions of the Dark Prince giant frogs (zombie or otherwise, zombie in this case) would be also a good fit for the vampire to summon. These creatures would listen to the vampire in the same ay as the other minions summoned by children of the knight ability (same number as wolves).

Zombie Frog – created in tetra-cube.

In addition to the above two stat blocks all the other zombies from last weeks encounter (A variety of undead) would also be fitting. Such as, once again, the humble zombie.

Created in tetra-cube

As with the last few adventures there is a bit more to add to the final product of this. So you will have to hang out for the final Zines for this adventure. So don’t forget to come back this weekend for more D&D content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Heart of the Ruins

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The time has come to visit the heart of the ruins. How the party interact with the map is up to them but this little map has a bit of everything. Boggy water, plants and vines that could snare your feet as you travel through. Rocky terrain and oh, I don’t know… I giant glowing orb of power? So let’s roll up our pants legs and dive in to tonight’s map!

Heart of the Ruins

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The well of Souls – Created in Inkarnate

The areas around the building provide a good vantage point and a good place to hide from the undead that will be swarming around the well of souls (the big glowy thing). However the ground is unstable with rotting vegetation, vines, leaves and debris from the ruins themselves so whoever treads across them best be packing an ankle brace.

The trees are twisted with large thick roots that piece into the soil. small creatures can hide within them (undead or alive) and they are easy enough to climb as well. The bushes along the way are thorny but don’t impede movement as such – but if unlucky they may nick a coin purse or bag.

The area in the centre dips inwards towards the well. The level where the well is is five feet lower than where the edge up the top is. This makes it harder to see down into the pit and the well itself, but that doesn’t seem to stop anything.

The orb, the power source in the well, emits a force field that disintegrates what touches it – however it fails. The more undead (or attacks from magical items, spells or effects) that hit the shield the more the power wanes. But it’s impossible to tell whether the shield was to keep things away from the core OR to keep the magic from the core contained. Regardless it looks like it’s been here for centuries and the magic is both waning and flaring.

I enjoyed this swampy map tonight. I think the multiple layers of dirt, stone, grass and water help give it a swampy feel. The rubble was fun to work with but, not super convincing – I will have to look at how to improve that in the future. But that’s enough out of me on that tonight. So don’t forget to come back this weekend for more content and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

To the Well of Souls

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Tonight we get a glimpse of the action before it happens as the party are driven to the well of souls. This will be the scene leading up to the final encounter in these swamps, well for not any way. So let’s sit back, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!

To the Well of Souls

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The party didn’t have much time between the undead starting to move towards the city and when the first of them realised that there was easier prey nearby. As the first of the undead started to move towards the party a strange thrumming started to come from the centre of the ruins.

Fighting back the undead that came towards them they made their way towards the centre of the ruins where they were met by a confusing sight. A paved depression led towards a hole that pulsed with green energy. Undead shambled towards the hole before pausing at the edge. As they watched one of the undead screamed; as much as rotting lungs could allow, and threw itself in the hole. A sudden thrum of power pulsed through the air that made the undead twitch.

Slowly more undead started to throw themselves into the hole and as they did more creatures appeared from the swamps. A skeleton of a giant sloth that was missing an arm near one of the ruins suddenly reanimated after a lizardfolk zombie had launched itself into the pit before the skeleton joined the rotting humanoid a few moments later. With passing moments the undead were throwing themselves into the put and with each pulse of energy, each thrum of the bodies connecting with something below more undead started to show up and something was beginning to feel off.

The party knew two things to be true. The undead must not complete their task, whatever it was as it triggered the creation of more undead. And the second more horrifying fact was that they had found the well of souls.

Now this one is up to the players what they do. Fight back the undead, blow them up with magic or let them continue to vaporise themselves. The same with the crescendo from the ice spire the end result is kinda the same, some differences but it progresses the story. But this is where the parties choices can affect it. Whether they do something now or they don’t their presence has set in motion a chain of events.

So to see what I have in store for the rest of this week don’t forget to come back the last few days this week and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Voice that Echoes

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Now after this week you may find a pattern in how I structure these remaining, 9 weeks and the pattern continues with the voice that echoes. This weeks NPC update touches on one of my favourite techniques which is giving a voice or a view of the situation and scenario to the bad-guy (or thing). So let’s not wait for them to come to us. So sit down with a coffee and roll into tonight’s update!

The Voice that Echoes

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The same creatures from the frozen lands appeared at the edge of the creatures growing conscious as they regained their power. The swamp had slowly eroded the physical barriers to the well of souls and as the waters and roots from the trees were exposed to the powerful energies from the well they were corrupted.

The undead were growing in number and those that the creature was able to influence were drawn to the well to expedite the task that time had started. But a new plan was forming in the cunning creature’s mind. Something that would bring its century of planning ever closer to becoming a reality.

Breathing deeply, if it could do such a thing, the creature marvelled at how much simpler it could be if the minions that it had could complete the task. But the mechanisms of fate were turning and the adventures, and the influential girl were so close and temptation was taking over. All it would take was a nudge.

Reaching its consciousness out it grabbed the attention of all the undead near the ruins. Fish, reptiles, beasts, humans and all other dead creatures responded to the mental nudge and as one they followed the direction. A great upheaval of dead flesh or mouldy bones moved across the swamp and towards the central thrumming of the well.

Now the creature prepared the final nudge. Reaching out to the humans it attempted a single compulsion. To eradicate the undead and its source.

Vikira muffled a shriek as not ten feet from the party a pile of bones moved. Slowly the skeleton pulled itself from the grasses, mud and rocks and with a sickening shuffle it shambled towards the ruins. Pointing Vikira looked across the swamp as dozens upon dozens of undead rose and shuffled towards the ruins.

“I think we found the source…” she whispered to the party as a strong thrum shook the loamy soil again. “There is no way that the town, Ferklend, would survive if all these undead attacked at once. And once they are done there they will seek out other towns and settlements nearby. We need to put an end to this.” she said as he face paled at the sheer volume of undead

She was right, of course, and the energy that they were feeling was surely one thing. The Well of souls. Andrasa’s next point of interest. A place of great power and potential wealth. But this place felt wrong as if the power was corrupted. They felt the need to finish what Andrasa’ had surely started and attempt to stop the chaotic undead energies that were flowing from the well. Only then will the people of this land be safe.

The final pieces are coming together. Join me for the other days of the week to see what else is revealed as the party find the well of souls and, unknowingly, act as puppets in a grand scheme. Maybe, we’ll see. As with all D&D adventures parties tend to have their own agenda, but we will have a plan for that. Don’t forget to dial back in this week for more content and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Carrion Swamp Ruins

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This week finds the party trekking through the swamp trying to find the source the the undead attacks before its too late. Eventually, after some delays, they find their way to the Carrion Swamp Ruins. But let’s stop there before I get carried away. So sit back grab a coffee and let’s roll into this weeks adventure!

The Carrion Swamp Ruins

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The Carrion Swamp Ruins – Created in Nightcafe

Recovering from their encounter with some of the natives of the swamps the party push through some dense brush to reveal pillars and walls of stone. An age ago the scale and size of these buildings would have been a sight to have seen however whatever calamity befell here left the city in ruins.

Vikira stood nearby. Her clothes mostly ruined rags and the confidence she had earlier now gone she gazed upon the city that her parents had wasted their fortune in finding. Everywhere she looked it appeared as if the jungled was trying to erase history itself as vines, trees and stagnant water covered as far as her eyes could see. But that wasn’t what her eyes were locked on.

Up ahead the figures of undead were shambling across the clearing and some even pulling themselves out of the swampy water in their search for… whatever undead search for. A strange hum could be felt pulsing through the loamy soil and occasionally the thrum would build into a pulse that caused ripples to form in the waters service. Something nearby, in the city, was thrumming with power.

The party looked onwards, fatigued as the trek through the swamp had taken longer than anticipated. Several undead, large swamp creatures, lizardfolk and some ancient humans that were skeletons now, shuffled forwards and towards the centre of the ruins. There was no doubt that that is where they would find the source of the undead.

Now that we are in the final stages of this part of the adventure we have… skipped forward a little bit. But don’t worry as this will be covered, you will just have to download the Zine when it comes out. So don’t forget to come back each day this week for more content and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Variety of Undead

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This weeks Friday Fight-night brings forth with it a variety of undead. Last week we had something a bit different where as this week we have something more familiar, but varied. Zombies are great. Yup, as a DM I find the zombie template a great thing to add something more to something that was already interesting to deal with. But what if these things are not something typically dealt with? Well that’s something that I can get behind. So let’s sit back grab a relaxing brew and ease into another weekend.

A Variety of Undead

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Undead reptiles. The crocodile features in a few horror movies and as well as the zombie. What about zombie crocodiles? these tough creatures are even worse not that they are undead as they are a bit more difficult to kill.

The above images were created in tetracube

Reanimated snakes as well as the true denizens of the Carrion swamps, the lizardfolk are also a pest that the party will have to deal with. While not tough they can provide a threat to the party if they are not prepared to deal with these large snakes and even more ferocious humanoids.

The above images were created in tetracube

And lastly who can forget the classic Zombie. The bread and butter of many a dungeon or undead encounter. Sprinkle these amongst the other varied undead and you could have a flavour-filled adventure waiting the party.

Created in tetra-cube

Another week down and, weirdly, we only have two handfuls remaining until we roll into Dice-ember. So don’t forget to come back this weekend for more D&D content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Ferklends’ Palisade

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So this week we find the party arriving at Ferklend, finding out that there is trouble in town and that they are the possibly the heralds who will both doom and save the swamp. This tale really starts by the party being greeted by Ferklends’ Palisade and then it flows on from there. So to get a glimpse at what we are working with let’s sit down, grab a coffee and look at tonight’s map!

Ferklends’ Palisade

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Ferklends’ Palisade – Created in Inkarnate

The palisade is new, for reasons uncovered in a few tales spoken in yesterday’s update. But the forest and swamp beyond that is as ancient as they come. Some of the trees have been cut down to repair the few houses in the town and to build the wall and defences. A crudely dug moat that spans at its widest ten feet lays around the wall that slows down aggressors, to some degree.

A few parts of the wall open and close to allow people through before being braced back shut again. a few platforms have been constructed against the wall to give it strength and to provide a place to stand and watch the the outside of the walls. However, along the wall the faces the swamp there are several more of these platforms as the attacks from the undead has grown in frequency and number.

A quick map today that I believe gives off the grungy, swampy vibe that I was hoping for. Don’t forget to come back this weekend for more content and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

From the Swamp they come

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Another week and another twisty-Wednesday where tonight we get a snapshot of this weeks hook which starts an encounter and from the swamp they come. As mentioned already the Carrion Swamp is filled with living residents, deadly plants and an unforgiving, oppressive heat. But that’s not all that lives in the swamp. So before I give too much away let’s roll into tonight’s adventure!

From the Swamp they come

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The room where the party had managed to bargain to stay in was a store room for the general store. The tavern had been refusing visitors after the last people to stay in Ferklend had burned down the previous tavern. But the merchant they were staying with seemed nice enough and had spare room until the stock from a delivery arrived in the coming days which would fill the room again.

While they were in the town the first thing that came to view was the large wooden walls and barricades that enclosed the town. The guards only let the party through because they recognised Carmine and Jon but warned the party against staying too long. The town itself was mainly houses, a single store that backed onto a similarly protected dock and pier, a tavern and a central hall that looked more barracks than council building.

The guards of the town were hardy, tough and unkind to say the least. But the people inside the city were just the same. Talking to a few, those willing to spend some time talking to the adventurers, it turns out the town is very old, or it was. Based on ruins that they repaired and modified to suit. However over the past few years the volume of undead has increased and they had to rebuild due to damage, fire and the like. The barricades were also recent as one of their own, a man called Rike, accidently set fire to them in his attempt to escape a particularly fast undead crocodile.

The same story was told by all the villagers. The undead attacks were getting more frequent with a sudden increase in volume happening about a week and a half ago. And the other thing that was clear was, most of them didn’t like the man called Rike.

At this point the voice carried over the crowd. The voice was strong and determined, spurred onwards by hope and desperation. Approaching the source of the voice a man was revealed to be standing on the steps to the town hall. “The undead are coming in a wave that none have seen before. This one the walls won’t hold. We must flee now. Flee! We are doomed if we stay as the salvation of Ferklend has not appeared. It’s all there in the ruins outside of the town in the swamp. Why can’t you see? The heralds of the end appear, the undead arise and only the power of the heralds can push back the undead tide…”

“Where are these heralds huh?” Called one rather butch looking woman who carried a basket of root vegetables. “Get out of here Rike. No one wants to hear your garbage any more!” she called, many others echoed her thoughts.

Rike looked around helplessly before his eyes fell upon the adventurers. “Warriors from afar, wielders of magic and steel. Just as the ruins foretold,” he began as his knees wobbled. “I was right.. The ruins .. Oh gods.. That means…” an unholy roar came from the south. Those gathered around Rike looked to the party and then to the south, where the swamp lay. “It’s too late to run…” Rike said as he crumbled to his knees, despair taking over. “The ruins foretold and the well is open…”

Thoughts

A bit of a fun one tonight. A fight at the gates, on the ramparts and outside of them if (when) they fall this week. But this is just part 1 as part 2 see’s the party venture forth to the well of souls. If they survive what I have planned that is.

Thanks for visiting tonight and looking over my little twist for this week. I do love an undead siege, for me its very thematic and I love the images it gives. But this one will be a bit different as it takes place in a swamp and the type of undead could be very different to what we are used to. So don’t forget to come back the last few days this week and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe