adventure

Behind the Walls

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Following on from a few weeks again where I introduced the concept of The Bleak I wanted to provide a bit of an expansion to that with Behind the Walls. As there are many adventures that can come from owning a keep of your own, let alone one that you didn’t intend on owning in the first place, this adventure concept is a bit of a discovery of what could happen to the unlucky or unaware.

But enough of that, the title speaks enough and were wont get further that that if we don’t get a roll on into tonight’s adventure.

It had been a few weeks since the new owners of The Bleak had taken over the keep and they had come into a steady rhythm of what owning the keep meant. That would be true if it wasn’t for the noises along and inside the walls of the keep. For several nights the adventurers-come-custodians had woken with the sensation of being watched and they had caught the sound of scratching on stone from within the walls.

However they had not seen any sign of anything but mice and rats moving along the, mostly, stone walls. That was until they found a scrap of cloth caught in a rack between two slabs of stone, a whistle of wind through the crack and the discovery of a narrow passage beyond the hidden door. What other secrets did the Bleak have and who, or what else knew about them?

Behind the Walls

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Behind the Walls – created in nightcafe.

Waking up in the middle of the night was never a good sign for anyone let alone seasoned adventurers who were used to being on alert while travelling in the wilds. Looking around the room there was nothing to be alarmed about. The windows and their shutters were secure, the door was closed and despite a small sway from the lantern that was burning low on a suspended rope from the ceiling all was quiet.

The scamper of claws on stone was the only sound other than a soft howl of wind from outside the window. They had seen a few mice and rats since their stay at the keep, their keep The Bleak, but the cats that called the fortified building home kept them under control and hunted them without mercy or hesitation.

The others in the keep had reported it as well. Being woken in the middle of the night with a feeling of being watched, the feeling of movement in the room with nothing being present or the sound of mice and rats claws on stope would interrupt their sleep. The keepers of the building had brushed it off stating that “you’ll get used to it” and reporting that they hadn’t found anything nor had anything bad happened in the years that they had been here

Claws on Stone

The first sign that it was something to be concerned about came in the form of a shifting stone. Woken from the noise again the adventurer followed the sound of scampering feet and claws. They hadn’t seen rats or mice for weeks and the fattened cats had indicated that they were doing a good job of keeping the rodents population down.

However with no mice or rats to be seen the muffled sound of claws scampering on stone concerned them. Following the noise it suddenly disappeared near one of the outer walls in the courtyard. That’s when a splash of colour drew their attention. A strip of blue fabric was caught in the crack of two slabs of aged yet sturdy stone. Examining the fabric the crack emitted a faint whistling sound as air rushed from the other side of the stone wall.

Their heart sunk as they examined the crack further, a passageway lay beyond the crack and after a few moments of searching their suspicions were confirmed. A secret door lay within the courtyard leading into the keep itself and the strip of blue, dirty fabric had been caught within the seam of where the door had closed. Someone or something had been using this tunnel to get further into The Bleak and judging by the gloom and darkness beyond the the tunnel wove under the main building.

What ever was behind the walls needed to be found out and it was a job for the whole party, no lone adventurer should venture into the secret passage that was a secret to not just the new custodians of the keep but the existing ones as well.


Thanks for dropping by tonight for an expansion to The Bleak adventure campaign. With the concept of having a Bastion rooted in the new Dungeon Masters Guide the premise of a owned building providing an avenue of adventure is a bit more than homebrew now, something that generates adventure and not just a place to hold the dozen +1 longswords that a party would collect over a series of adventures. Don’t forget that tomorrow is ZINE night so make sure you come back for that and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Jostaire Woods

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Inspired by the cartoon style of the images created housing the minotaur from last nights, Horns at Dawn, this weeks map featuring the Jostaire Woods is in glorious watercolour. That cartoony style is just something that I dig so much. Anyway, moving on!

So sit back, grab a coffee, and let’s explore tonight’s Map!

Jostaire Woods

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Jostiare Woods – Created in Inkarnate.

Another map with plenty of trees and bushes that give a lot of cover for, again, lots of enemies and the party. This is dialled up to 11 with the logs and bushes that are prolific in the forest. However the elevated hills give a vantage point for either ally of foe as they try get the upper hand against each other.

Only four layers used for the background this week and with the already blended look from the watercolour texture paint it gave a good blended appearance. The art assets are a mix of sizes between 50% 100% to give variation where there normally may not be any. But a simple map with some opacity and the hills blend together very nicely with this art style.

Thanks for joining me for another map making night. The art style this week takes me back to early days before high resolution art packs with map making software. But this map means nothing without an enemy to be facing off against and despite the reveal last night tomorrow night we reveal more with the Fightnight. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow for this last piece of the puzzle and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Horns at Dawn

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Now you may be wondering where one would hire a shock-troop force of minotaur’s to raise their horns at dawn, pun intended, but where there is gold there is a way. This week on the way back to Jostaire with the cleric Clarice along side them they are confronted by the blaring of horns and then actual horns of the real threat appears.

So let’s grab a coffee, fasten our belts because its fight or flight and there’s enough caffeine in that brew to knock a cow off its hooves! Or so we hope…

Horns at Dawn

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Horns at Dawn – Created in Nightcafe.

The departure from Narrowbreath was a cake walk in comparison to the amount of waylays and wannabe assassins that they had encountered on the trip to the city and as they rose from their small camp before dawn they looked around to ensure that nothing had got past their watch.

Indeed all seemed well, everyone was accounted for and the various processes they had put in place to alert them to anyone foolish enough to attempt something during the night were all accounted for. As they packed up their tents, the fire and strapped on their armour once more the sound of a distant horn drew their attention. A long and mournful noise of a hunting or warhorn could be heard in the distance signalling the start of something.

‘I guess that there is some hunting going on further towards Jostaire for there to be horns at dawn and this close to the city.’ Clarice said as she strapped her bracer down to her forearm. ‘It’s not uncommon for nobles of either Jostaire or Narrowbreath to come this way for hunting in the woods, there is a good supply of game that the morning lord helps light the way to find.’ she added with a silent gesture to her patron deity.

As they started moving the horns sounded off again with the distant sound of hooves as the party stopped to listen. Something about the mournful cry of the instrument and the direction of travel didn’t bode well as it the light of dawn started to push through the forest. Then the horns sounded again as they decided to move on again and this time it was loud enough that they expected it to be right next to them.

A jagged branch caught their attention as it swayed in the wind. As the branch moved the dawn light revealed it to be smooth and polished at points with ridges that ringed the branch as it moved towards a pointed tip. It was a few moments too late that the party realised that it was a horn of a large creature.

As the horned creature pushed through the trees and bushes as it flexed its massively broad and armoured shoulders. A Minotaur. It reared its head backwards and bellowed out a mournful horn-like bellow which was shortly echoes behind it as several more appeared all wearing similar scrappy armour and wielding hefty giant axes and swords.

The same mark appeared on all their clothing and shields, a clan symbol of some such. It was safe to say that it wasn’t some random jolly walk that had drawn the minotaur’s towards the party or their quarry, Clarice, they were here for a reason.

Thanks for joining me tonight for another twist to continue to expand and wrap up this adventure. But there is more to come so don’t forget to come back each night this week to follow the progress of this adventure. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Mascalar Valley Clearing

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A short and easy one tonight with a pile of barrels that are prepared to do an unknown, yet anticipated large amount of damage in the Mascalar valley clearing. That is if the Party can’t stop it or buy enough time for the scouts to do so. But its not just a simple encounter as there are dozens of places to hide this week for both the party and the enemies.

So sit back, grab a coffee, and let’s explore tonight’s Map!

Mascalar Valley Clearing

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Mascalar Valley Clearing – Created in Inkarnate.

The trees give a good amount of cover for those sneaking towards or hiding near the barrels. There are bushes growing in several places, their seed originally deposited by mammal or bird none are quite sure. But they provide a mid-height wall where one can hide behind. Depending on the approach there is cover from multiple directions which can be used by the party or their allies, or against them. Perhaps both at the same time.

Three layers for the bottom were used in grass alone with different sizes, hues and brightness levels to get the effect I am mostly happy with. The dirt consists of two darker layers and a lighter layer to try and indicate that there is traffic in certain areas around the barrels and clearing. The barrels were hard to get looking stacked but, it will do.

Flooding the area with trees and bushes to compliment the grasses was the aim here as it gives some level of tactic and for only a few assets it gives depth without feeling too flooded with detail that will detract from the combat and the party.

Thanks for joining me for another map making night. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to finish off the week strong with the encounter stat-blocks and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Artifice and Arson

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Tonight the blend of artifice and arson come together in a foul concoction as a group are found within the valley hauling barrels into place. Will the party be able to stop them in time just as the gentle creatures make their passage through the valley?

So let’s grab a coffee, our fire fighting buckets and make haste to protect the valley!

Artifice and Arson

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Clearing of Preparation – Created in Nightcafe.

As the party rushed along the barely functional path behind the scouts that that returned with news of a hostile force moving equipment into the valley. Racing ahead with the small amount of light a tiny driftglobe tied to the the belt of one of the scouts they made quick progress despite the unsafe conditions of their flight.

Eventually the scout stopped and a clicking from a nearby shrub drew their attention to where some scouts were waiting. Approaching they ducked just in time to witness a dozen men carrying barrels of material into a large, stacked and ordered pile.

“That should be the lot now.” one of the men said as they placed the barrel down. “Now just like the last one, once the signal is given move as far away from the barrels as possible as you wont have much time before this place is a smoking, burnt hole.”

“Yeah. Those black-cloaks don’t do much fighting but they sure know a thing or two about blowing stuff up.” another replied with a murmur of agreement.

Jovi looked towards the party. “We may be able to work out how to stop what they are doing. But we will need a distraction. That’s where you lot come in. We aren’t much fighters and if we can stop those barrels from…”he paused. “doing whatever they are going to do. Then we need you to help us out. Can you give us enough time, or simply take them out so we don’t have to worry about them?”

Before the party could respond a bright vial was produced from the cloak of one of the men. The glass vial seemed to glow like fire as he pulled out a stopper and lay it on its side above the barrels. “Alright. We have a few minutes before that drops out and hits the barrel. You know the drill. Get out of here!” the larger man called out.

“I guess that’s our queue.” Jovi said as he and the scouts moved forward, blending into the shadows.

Thanks for joining me tonight as I continue to grow this adventure. Don’t forget that the next few days I will add more onto this adventure, so make sure you come back each night this week to stay up to date. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Magnifico Vault

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A cave adventure tonight with fun use of shadow and light when exploring the Magnifico Vault. Trying to get the blend between natural rock and made stone wasn’t the hardest thing wit this quick map tonight – trying to get scale of the rocky cave walls was more difficult and, I think, the overlapping cave walls did that.

So sit back, grab a coffee, and let’s explore tonight’s Map!

Magnifico Vault

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Magnifico Vault – Created in Inkarnate.

The cave entrance would appear to be like any other cave. The stone was remarkably flat compared to other caves that the party would have gone to especially when leading to the statues. Well in this case the platforms where the statues were found. A truly astute dwarf of stone mason may make out the worked stone around the statues and how it leads up to the wall itself.

But the wall is not as the party would remember with a gaping hole beyond. A cavern that has been worked to be smooth by an expert mason or via magic awaits them. One cavern wall is slabs of stone mortared together and forming a man-made wall to the ceiling, the other side is rough stone encroaching into the worked area. A large statue in the front end is an imposing figure looking at a large glowing sigil in the stone.

In the centre of the circular magical stone slab lay a intend that looked like a helmet would be resting in the stone itself – but its missing.

Several rock layers were used to get it looking… ok. Some parts are a bit rougher than I would like but a lot of that was only revealed post flattening of the image to a single layer. Three or four layers were used to get the flooring to the right texture and the rest is pretty easy. I love using light as a way of emphasising parts of maps and hinting at something more than meets the first glance.

Thanks for joining me for another map making night. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to finish off the week strong with the encounter stat-blocks and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Switch and Lift

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The party are dismayed to find that the vault is not all its made out to be as they realise they have been the victim of a switch and lift. The vault lay open before them, dozens of tiny golems attack ferociously and somewhere nearby someone has the key to calming the creations.

So let’s grab a coffee, put on our runners as we may need to get out in a hurry!

Switch and Lift

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The party looked at the wall in the cave where they found the statues and looked at something new, a gaping hole in the wall. Something similar to acid had eaten away at the craggy stone wall that lay behind where the silver statues had been when they were last here. Movement could be heard beyond and the sound of steel leaving scabbard came from Captain Claud.

“We are not alone it seems and it’s as I fear. Someone else bet us here.” he said as he moved to stand next to the party. “Be prepared for traps, guardians, large bears. Magnifico was known for many things but one of them was not kindness for those who snooped amongst his belongings.” Almost on queue the sound of something walking towards them from the opening in the wall. A kind of heavy footstep and scrape.

Slowly the figure of a three foot statue stumbled forward, the stone features on its face an expression of joy as it moved with animated life. “Gods, its one of his golems.” Claud murmured as he stepped backwards. “Don’t provoke…” he began a moment before the creatures eyeless face looked at him and skittered with unnatural speed at the party. Blade like stone appendages extended from the clublike firsts of the creation as it rushed forward to attack.

The golems were nearly endless, there had to be something, a failsafe of some kind that would stop them from attacking. Whoever had got here earlier must have it and they would be surely directing the constructs. However despite the feeling of being watched the only thing they managed to catch a glimpse of was a shadow at the edge of their vision before another golem rushed at them.

The creatures were not overly strong but they were well made, durable and relentless. After the second dozen of the constructs had rushed at them they began to realise that perhaps, there were too many for the party to be able to deal with. Pushing inside the room where they rushed from they could see a similar melted hole that had been cut into the roof, an exit point with sloughs of melted stone, rock and dirt piled down underneath. But the sheer number of golems in the room standing motionless, surging under the hole and gradually creating a ladder of each other bodies and the ones that were heading towards them still was impressive.

A wave of movement told them that danger was behind as Captain Claud launched several alchemist fire vials behind them, sealing them between the golems and the sticky fire. “I am sorry about this but I can’t have anyone else getting those golems. If we can’t control them then I will have to bury you with them until I can get a mage to come and pacify them. I wish it didn’t have to come to this, truly, but I’ve got no choice.” he said with little to no sincerity.

As he darted away the golems surged onwards towards them, however something else happened. A rope was flung down from the hole in the ceiling and a woman’s voice rang out. “Quickly! Climb while the captain has gone. You don’t have long before they send people to investigate this hole.” a shadow of black leather could be seen at the entrance to the hole in the roof, and a way out of the trouble they are in.

Thanks for joining me tonight to look at the next part of this adventure ark. Don’t forget to come back the remaining days this week as we continue to grow this adventure and conclude it, on Friday. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Fester Chasm Cliffs

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Tonight’s a big one – a lot of little images went into it and for the most part, I am happy with how the Fester Chasm Cliffs turned out. It’s a rather large encounter map but this week we are running away from a blue dragon – well maybe just moving to a better place where we aren’t just easy target practice for the creature.

So sit back, grab a coffee, and let’s explore tonight’s Map!

Fester Chasm Cliffs

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Fester Chasm Cliffs – Created in Inkarnate.

A much wider part of the Fester plains looms ahead where a dragon will have better visibility on you, but also you on it. Not able to fly over the chasm walls and blast breath weapons down into the plain below the open field may prove to be better than the more narrow and sight-obstructed winding path through the plains.

A small stream provides some welcome water and happens to be where the party camped on the way past here last, their camp fire still intact but evidence of it being used since is everywhere. Some grass is here if the party dare to rest and allow their animals to eat and drink but, its not advised if there is indeed a dragon around.

So many rocks. Many of the rocky cliffs are comprised of anywhere between three and more than twenty segments of rocky cliffs. A campfire, some hills and about seven texture paints for the background made up this map which was, a bit more time intensive than I first wanted it to be. But I think I am mostly happy with the effect with the many layers to the Fester Chasm.

Thanks for joining me for another map making night. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to finish off the week strong with the encounter stat-blocks and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Bandits and Beating Wings

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The party make good progress to return with the the goods from their supply run but they are stopped by would-be bandits and beating wings. A big week for a near-end of year adventure this week!

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and try to avoid more than just the head and desert insects!

Bandits and Beating Wings

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Bandits and Beating Wings – Created in Nightcafe.

The heat was tinged with the promise of a different type of storm as thunderheads could be seen above the rocky spine that lined the Fester Chasm. They had been warned to keep an eye out for bandits from the Ochre Company, the three warriors they had met in the tavern and they had been given good advice. The evidence was everywhere in the sand.

Hoof and foot prints, led around the rocky walls of the chasm that they were walking through and even people could be seen attempting to hide. When the convoy stopped and the armed guard of the convoy rocked up and formed a wall between the potential bandits and the convoy.

“Well, I guess the game is up. I don’t suppose your lining up to surrender peacefully now, Ay are ya?” a large tanned man declared, nervously, as he eyed the party and the guard. “I’ll warn you – we have a wyvern. Yeah, you heard me. A wyvern. We caught it and it follows our orders now. If you don’t back off we’ll summon it!”

A few seconds later and the other men on the side of the road emerged and started to taunt the party and their crew. “Yeah, you heard him. Drop ya weapons and on ya knees dogs.” “Better do as he says or we’ll feed ya to ol’ bitey!” another called.

“They are bluffing… obviously…” one of the mercenaries said, hesitantly though.

“What’s your choice!” roared the would-be warlord.

A voice in the Fester Plains roared back. The reverberating bellow bouncing off the stone cliffs to make it sound even more menacing. A pause shuddered through all those assembled.

“Good one boss. That’s right our Wyverns coming to get ya! Surrender now!” screamed out a younger gap-toothed woman who brandished a large curved sword.

“Shut it!” the leader hissed, terror crossing his face as another roar burst forward, closer now.

The beats of wings echoed through the rocky walls now and the unease grew in the animals first, then the would-be bandits. The bandits broke first trying to run away from the sound of beating wings. “There are no wyverns in these parts.” another mercenary said. “But that sounds bigger. Meaner.” she added.

Blue scaled wings were the first things that the party saw soaring through the wind currents created by the Fester Chasm. A adult blue dragon, young or otherwise it was hard to tell from this distance, had come to investigate who would declare themselves rulers of these lands and, it was here to challenge that rule.

The Horses were the first to start the process of fleeing as they tore forward, the party and their guard able to barely get onboard the wagons as they raced passed. The sound of screaming, terrified men and women could be heard as they thundered past the men and women that just tried to rob them at wyvern point. Now they fled from something much worse.

Thanks for joining me for a big step in challenge this week. I don’t tend to do high challenge rating adventures on here due to the complexity and the nuance between each DM and their table. But tonight with this adventure I felt it fitting to up the ante on a traditional fetch quest to be more life-and-death. Don’t forget that we will continue to expand the adventure each remaining night this week so don’t forget to come back each day. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Bleak

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Tonight it’s the build up for something I hope to run one day with my own party and The Bleak is where we start, continue and end this short adventure hook. Inspired by an image generated weeks ago in Nightcafe and since, its broiled in the back of my mind and with the DMG coming out in the imminent future – a player run keep could be cool no?

In an interesting turn of events the party are made the custodians of a lone citadel at the edge of the known civilised world known as The Bleak. Taking a job to deliver a message turned into something much larger, much more imposing than what they could have anticipated. But not all is lost and not all seems as wild outside the fortified walls of The Bleak.

But it’s never that simple, there is always something more, just a little bit that gives adventure its name.

The Bleak

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The Bleak – created in nightcafe.

The job was a simple one, beyond simple. Deliver a letter to the warden of some old keep called ‘The Bleak’. When the party had asked about the keep from their employer, messenger’s from the king and queen, they were only too happy to tell them about the local area, the environment, natural resources and rumours around the local area. The pay, goods worth thousands of gold pieces – enough that you could retire on if you wanted and live a comfortable life for a number of years.

The one condition, don’t open the letter. The messenger demonstrated with a duplicate what would happen if they opened it – a pile of ash.

The trek was even easier. The horses were fine steeds gifted to them by the court, well fed and ready for the trek with enough feed to get them by for the week of travel. The roads were, relatively quiet with the first people to try and stop them disappearing quickly one they saw the horses. Game was plentiful, a run in with a pack of wolves was quickly dealt with and a large wyvern flew above them heading in the direction they were.

They should have consulted the seers. This wasn’t the first omen they had seen and anyone in the business knows that there is no amount of easy money that is, in fact, easy. As they climbed the mountain where the keep was positioned they could see through gaps in the rocky surface that beyond the mountains was a rough rocky and barren land. A few shafts of smoke were the only tell-tale sign that there was life out there and they remarked that the land behind them was a fertile paradise compared to what lay beyond.

But they had known this, the kings messenger had described the lands of the keep in great detail. The first few miles into the desert, the mountain range and then up to and including a village they had stayed at last night. It was a large land and there was no sign that this was at the detriment to the keeps success.

The Clause

The party reached the keep at sun down as it cast half the fortress in a glow that made it look like it was made from gold. The gates were closed and they could see a few people standing watch in towers, who, quickly scurried inside when they saw the party.

“Hold!” a voice called from the keep. “A few questions to make sure you’re the ones we’re expecting. It’s not often, if ever, we get visitors so well equipped so please excuse our apprehension.” the man who spoke was old, well mannered and had an air of nobility about him. Satisfied by the response the party heard an loud, audible crack of a ballista that must have been concealed as it undid the tension in its bow.

The man, Cornelius, was a wonderful host and once he had the letter in his possession a whisk of blue rose from the wax seal. He ushered them into the keep and organised for their steeds to go to the stables where they would be housed and well fed. He showed them to the hall where they happily waited for a a little amount of time to get just enough food to fill their bellies. When it was time to retire he showed them to the bed chambers, a large one designed for guards with many bunk beds or rooms that would fit in with inns of good renown.

In the morning they found Cornelius waiting for them with a broad grin. “I hope you’ve found that the keep is to your liking? That’s good as its yours to run now. The letter was proof that you had been chosen to inherit the governance of The Bleak and its lands. I will leave tomorrow morning to give me enough time to fill you in on what you may want to know and the servants and all but two guards will stay here with you. With owning this prestigious piece of land it grands you the titles of Lords and Ladies, so, what would you wish for breakfast my lords and ladies?” he asked with no hostility or malice was to be found in the old mans face.


Thanks for dropping by tonight for a quick length campaign hook. Something tells me that this wont be the last we see of The Bleak. Don’t forget that tomorrow is ZINE night so make sure you come back for that and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe