adventure

Silver Bucket Inn

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Tonight’s a fun one where I got back to experimenting with the watercolour maps when I created the Silver bucket Inn maps. A complete night time and day time one to reflect the light sources on the streets and interior as, well you know me, I love night time encounters.

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

Silver Bucket Inn

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Silver Bucket Inn – Day – Created in Inkarnate.

Tables litter the room making some parts feel really cramped. A large bar bench and stools provides the ample room for people to just sit and drink while having a casual meal. Chauntea’s favour can see with the amount of grass and trees present in the village and things being more natural feel to it. A quaint kitchen with a more-modern gnomish invented stove for a halflings passion to cook delicious meals.

Shelving for plenty of vegetable access as well as stairs under ground for a larder that is a bit more protected from the heat – where dairy and meats can keep a bit longer. Before you reach the kitchen and behind the bar is the stairs up to the second story where the bedrooms would be located – one having a balcony to the outside world.

Silver Bucket Inn – Night – Created in Inkarnate.

Night time shows where the light would be concentrated – lanterns hung from the posts and some key spaces provide limited light as well as the soft glow from the stove itself.

Four terrain paints for tonight to create the scene with blending of stone, dirt, grass and even wood to make sure that it looks as natural as possible. Many stamps were used (especially the walls of the Inn as well as the kitchen where each vegetable, plate and utensil is a unique item). The roofs look more natural than the non-water colour ones which I appreciate, a small win for this art style which I am liking.

Thanks for joining me for a quick-ish 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

Silencing Spooks

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The hand is revealed as the party begin in silencing spooks, specifically the spectral creature that has appeared in front of them. But there is more to what meets the eye here as the creatures are not just mindless undead creatures – they are messengers to a war that is ongoing and yet to begin.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and try to avoid the tavern brawl!

Silencing Spooks

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The party watched as the creature drifted in space, casting its faceless vision across the party they could feel it coiling like a snake. The purple moth eaten robes it wore was only broken by the thinnest circlet of silver that wrapped around the brow of the faceless head.

As it rushed forward the movement causing the robes to whip about in the air as it darted above the ground. Its speed and aggression surprising the party as all they could do was avoid being torn to shreds in its opening enraged attack. But the creatures presence and its touch had a different effect, silence.

The noises of the world drifted away from them the crash of furniture, the scrape of weapons on scabbards and even the cries of battle became muffled as if the battle was under water. A second effect crept over them and as their blades and spells tore shreds from the creature a numbness swept over those with connections external to the material plane. A severed connection to their deities and their patrons.

As their weapons and spells connected to the creature another voice, another presence entered their mind. One that was darker and hungrier. “Strip down their walls, pull down their offerings of false worship, bring destruction and undeath across the lands”. The voice, the call to fight for a higher power was withered yet commanding and it came with the vision, a momentary flicker, of a sunken face sitting in a throne of bones dressed in a purple robe.

The creature fell after a few dozen heartbeats and as the form disappeared the clink of the silver circlet hitting the wooden floor of the tavern was the first indication that the oppressive silence was lifting. A moment passed where the party spoke amongst themselves of what they believed had happened but their moment was interrupted with the crack of thunder.

Outside a large thunderhead had formed. As lightning arced amongst the clouds the party could see a dark silhouette of a towering, broad shouldered man at the heart of the cloud and if not all for the same image being seen from all present it may have been mistaken as just a shape in the cloud. When a bolt of lightning lashed out and struck the bell tower of Chauntea; a small slither of golden light thrumming into existence as the bolt hit, the party knew that they were in the middle of something much greater.

The next flash of lightning revealed more of the purple-robed spectres as they descended towards the village. A battleground of the gods, nothing more than a gesture in their divine minds but a fight for life and death for those caught between the deities throwing fists.

Thanks for joining me for a rather big one tonight. Not really inspired by any one thing or another tonight but rather the complex relations between a few different deities in a greater contest of might at a divine level. Don’t forget that the adventure still continues here for the next few days and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Clouded Astral Plane

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Tonight’s a pretty easy one but there is nothing easy about exploring the clouded astral plane. Whole not all astral planes will be clouded and fraught with danger this one just so happens to be!

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

Clouded Astral Plane

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The Clouded Astral Plane – Created in Inkarnate.

The large chunks of debris from what appears to be an imploded mountain scatter the skies in this area that is blanketed by thick clouds. This is the perfect place for predators to be lurking amongst the clouds or the rocks themselves. While movement is always tricky in the astral plane fighting is even worse as the mental fatigue of righting yourself and moving a physical form in a place that defies physics proves challenging.

Only two layers for the background today with a mixture of texture, brightness and opacity for the clouds gives it a bit more depth. Rocks give us something more than just clouds to interact with an can add to a layer of depth and complexity when it comes to a battle – but they look good and that’s why they are there.

A filter over the top to bring in some more depth and change the tone a little bit in the warmer direction brings the rest of it home.

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

Astral Acquiescence

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While the queen and her guard give in to their, astral acquiescence, the people that were hired to protect them must sally forth quickly to ensure that they are not too late. There are many ways to cross into another plane of existence but to get to a specific place required a bit more knack.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and drift into the Astral plane!

Astral Acquiescence

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The party watched the witch, Freja, as she cast her divination ritual in an attempt to locate where the queen had go. Luckily they had found a means to getting to the astral plane amongst the belongings of Roderick including scrolls, rings and even, reluctantly, the bags of holding her used while adventuring in his youth.

“Now when you’re in there to return back to this plane you need to find a puddle, it may take some time to locate one at all but a puddle that matches the same colour of the one you enter in. Something that’s a different colour, even slightly so may take you to somewhere you don’t want to be. Remember that limbo, the nine hells and even the demi-planes between all have links to the astral plane. Don’t just jump into the first puddle you see.” Roderick recited it like he had said it many times before. In fact he had recited the same information, to them, many times since Freja had arrived and had began the several rituals to locate the queen.

“There are many creatures that are in those plans. Plane-walkers, the creatures that drift between planes for o one but the astral plane houses warring creatures that don’t look kindly upon those who enter into their territory .” he said as he walked off to check on Freja.

The moment had come for the party to cross over via their chosen method. Freja stood before them and commenced a rhythmic chanting as she manipulated the weave around them. Small fetishes, statues made from bone and semi-precious stones glowed as she channelled the magic she harnessed into them to stabilise a point.

She gave the signal for the party to create the portal and Roderick stepped forward. “Freja said that she can get you to close enough to the queen but not her exact location. You’ll have to locate her but be aware, she has been in there for a while now and there may be predators coming to investigate what’s lingered so far from the material plane. Once you have her get moving – after a few hours you should find something like a puddle, a portal back to this plane. If you find the wrong one then keep searching. You’ll get there.” he added as he handed them a bag. “Supplies in case it takes a while. For yourself and the queen.”

And with that the party stepped away from the knight and his witch and prepared to enter the astral plane.

Thanks for joining me for another night of adventure. I find adventures like this where its not, super heavily scripted or controlled hard to write for as any DM can tell you a Party of adventurers will do what they please, when they please and they rarely allow you to stick to your planned adventure. Regardless don’t forget that the adventure still continues here for the next few days and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

30 Minute Challenge, Raiders Ravine

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So another Saturday has come and something that, after years writing adventures weekly on the blog and for my own Tabletop (which I don’t publish) it shouldn’t be surprising that I hit a creative block on occasion. That’s why I started the 30 minute challenges with tonight I focus once again on something randomly generated and expanding it to a one shot adventure within 30 minutes. Todays 30 minute challenge, Raiders Ravine is to looking the party find when they investigate a series of missing ships and disposed passengers.

As normal I have a few self-imposed restrictions are in place to keep it interesting for me.

Rules of the challenge for me

  • Single word or theme (an image tonight)
  • 30 minute timer
  • Must be a playable adventure
  • Must have at least one driver (Antagonist/protagonist)
  • Must be D&D or RPG centric and attempt to be of the fantasy variety.

Time started: 20:36 AEST

Overview: 

In the Crimson Fjord, an unprecedented number of ships had gone missing. Unlike past incidents involving pirates, storms, or even a white dragon, this time was different. Survivors—passengers, crew, merchants, and guards—were found on the shore, dazed and certain they had been robbed. They all recounted hearing a soft song and seeing a rainbow of colours before waking up in rowboats.

The city, frustrated by the losses, called for adventurers to investigate, claiming a sea monster was to blame. The adventurers set sail with an old, experienced captain. On the second day, after encountering whales, a mist appeared, accompanied by a hypnotic song and shimmering colours. It was a spell, and soon sleek vessels attempted to board their ship. The adventurers fought them off and chased them to a hidden fjord filled with pirate ships and stolen vessels. Now, they had to decide whether to confront the pirates or escape.

30 Minute Challenge, Raiders Ravine

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Raiders Ravine – created in nightcafe.

There had never been a time in the Crimson Fjords history where as many ships had gone missing. There had certainly been times where pirates, storms or even a large aggressive white dragon had taken it upon themselves to destroy the ships leaving or entering the port but lately it had been different.

The passengers, crew, merchants and even guards had all appeared on the shoreline dazed, confused and positive that they had been robbed. Their ships all disappeared and their stories all the same. That they had heard a soft song coming across the waves and then a rainbow of colour before being jostled awake by the waves rocking their row-boats against the shore of the Crimson Fjord.

The city had grown tired of this, let alone the dozens of merchants who had lost merchandise aboard the lost ships. What was more infuriating was that when the it didn’t matter if it was merchants, passenger or military ships they all disappeared with the survivors, of which there were nearly no casualties or missing people sure that they were all innocent and something was hunting them.

The call had gone out for adventurers to investigate with, certain detailed omitted from the report. The city claimed that a sea monster was terrorising the ships, as it was the likely explanation, and that the adventurers would leave on a small ship and investigate what they were dealing with. Not finish the beast off but to merely investigate.

The party had agreed as it appeared that nearly the entire cities worth of merchants had chipped into the reward for the quest. The water in the fjord was calm and soon the chilly sea breeze was carrying the salty sea air to the party as they sailed outwards. Their captain appeared to be too old to care but they had been assured that they were in great company. The old salty sea-dog of a captain drank liquor strong enough to knock a dwarf over but managed to handle the craft like an extension of his own two arms.

On the second day they had seen a pod of large black and white whales that had rubbed against their ship, testing it before heading off to hunt for less wooden prey. However, not an hour after the last signs of the large creatures had head off did a mist appear on the sea spreading out from the land towards them. A mournful song came wafting across the water and the mist began to shimmer with a myriad of colours.

It was a spell. An attempt to put the party under hypnosis, and for some it did albeit temporary, but soon several rough looking sleek vessels had approached the ship and the occupants had attempted to board. After a few moments it was clear that the hired adventurers were not a group to be trifled with and the crafts retreated through the fog towards land.

Giving chase the party came across a second Fjord, a large inlet gave way to sea-side stone buildings and fortifications that swarmed with pirates who started to sound the alarm the moment the adventurers ship was spotted. Within the fjord dozens of ships sat moored sporting colours from just as many different merchant, a naval and mercenary companies. The party had found the source of the missing ships, now they had to either deal with the problem of fight escape.

Objective

The objective with this example is really two choices. The party can attempt to fight through the pirates (either subtly or directly) or they can return to the port city of the Crimson Fjord and provide information, being chased by pirates the entire way of course.

Time finished: 20:56 AEST


Thanks for dropping by tonight for a quick adventure writeup. Let me know if you’d like to see more of these style quick-writeups in the future. 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

The Walking Forest Shrine

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This week has two main encounters but only really one map, the Walking Forest Shrine, as the other one should be easy enough to describe. Although the map is coming tonight the description that ties in this this part, well that will be something a bit more and will come in the next few days.

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

The Walking Forest Shrine

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The Walking Forest Shrine – Created in Inkarnate.

Dozens of ways to approach the series of raised stone blocks and steps before reaching the statue. The statue rests on a small stone ziggurat that is twenty feet tall with nine bundles wrapped in cloth on specially crafted sections. A large bat-winged creature sits at the centre of the raise platform with large emeralds for eyes which catch and reflect the light from the braziers that burn nearby.

The trees that surround the platform are large, ancient and twisted. Several types of trees call this forest home and it makes for a relatively sheltered approach towards the statue, if the trees can be trusted that is.

About five layers were used for the background today with a two new jungle-grass tones, a moss-green for highlights, two different shades of dirt blended in different ratios to give a worn effect. Three types of trees adds a depth to the map that I can appreciate as a forest typically wont consist of just one tree species.

The ziggurat is several wall sections combined and scaled down together to give variety of shape and purpose. The statue is purposefully larger for a reason, to be revealed later and other than that its the same technique with other asset stamps with colour modification, size and position tweaking a well as a night time filter to be put over the top.

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

Walking Trees

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Tonight we see the next part in this adventure where the party now have to deal with Walking Trees. However its more than just some Brothers Grimm fairy tale come to life, this week evokes imagery that drew me into the world of RPGs to begin with.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and walk down the lane of nostalgia!

Walking Trees

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The party were walking from the hermit, Garets, cottage when the sound of screaming reached their ears. Synthia was there in an instant as she looked around frantically. “Have you seen a little girl, about seven?” she asked the party immediately before the sound of shouts and screams came from the forest. Rushing towards the noise the party paused as they ran past buildings at the sight before them.

Large creatures made from trees were walking slowly back to the forest. One of them had a girl in a brown and green dress entangled in its vine-like fingers as it carried her towards the woods. Several villagers rushed at the creature with wood axe, scythe, spears and even a old sword in hand as they milled about the foot of one such creature. Six creatures towered above the villagers as they swatted at them, sending them flying or crunching into the dirt.

The brave militia quickly started to shrink backwards despite calling for aid to save the girl. “Millie!” Synthia called out as she raced forward towards the girl that was captured. The creatures moved surprisingly fast despite their large size and the way their feet, the trunk and roots of a tree, bonded with the soil when ever they stepped.

The party rushed forwards after Synthia but she had a head start and her fear and rage drove her faster. But before she could reach the little girl one of the towering tree creatures reached down and ensnared her in its grasp. As she was lifted screaming and flailing the creature followed the other into the treeline and deeper into the forest.

The party rushed forward but the trees themselves started to move, their trunks and roots shifting to allow the trees to move to form a wall of dense wood that was several trees which were each several feet deep. However the animated trees on this side of the barricade turned their attention to the buildings of the village and started to stride towards it.

“The trees walk once more! The winged ones approach and call the nine to the door, their home, where they will break free and rule the forest again!” called Garet as he hobbled towards the edge of the small field which separated the village and the trees. As he called out the trees stopped and looked towards the old man, pausing for a moment. Then with a sickening lurching motion the trees began to move towards the old man, the ground shuddering with each thunderous step as they moved to reach the hermit-come-lore keeper.

“They collect the tithe that was promised to them. The nine have been selected and now the deal has been brokered. Free from their binding the trees march for the elves once more, but this time for war. Sick of servitude their new masters, the winged ones, have promised their freedom!” called Garet as he brandished his oaken walking stick at the trees.

Thanks for joining me for another night of adventure expansion. Following on with this adventure there is one more part to come, a big one really, that will tie in the final piece in this puzzle. So don’t forget to come back over the next few days and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe