RPG NPC Portrait

Lord of the Pit

thebrazenwolfe3 Comments

Bit of a different one tonight, as I tried to find or create (using AI etc.) something to represent the Lord of the Pit. In the end I had a bit of fun modifying an image in Photoshop to get something that felt just right (as I couldn’t find anything specific that met the brief). So enjoy the writeup and let me know what you think of the image below!

Lord of the Pit

344TuLoOTPi


Lord of the Pit – Created in photoshop using source image stock as source material and inspiration. Blending and painting over the images using airbrush, clone and smudge tools.

The warmth that the prisoners generated set the cavern below her like a thousand fires. Their energy, the life force that they were generating was what her master needed and why she drove the driders and other abominations onwards to get more captives for the pit.

But as she looked downwards several bright spots of light were coming from one of the tunnels that led from the pit. Her mouth salivated with the power these creatures had but she hesitated. Even with the raids on Duraegis up above the pit she hadn’t seen anyone with this vitality. Nothing had even come close to these creatures that had wandered into her nest. This made her both excited and anxious at what this means. Had these creatures foolishly wandered this close to the Deep Dark or had they come here deliberately and if so, why?

Nothing had escaped the silken prison and the energy that was syphoned into the Pit itself, well that had attracted all manners of foul creatures that her pets had taken care of. But some of the last hunters that had gone out had not returned and some of those who had returned were gravely injured. In fact taking a quick count of those driders that remained she was shocked to realise how many were left. Unfortunately the bindings she had placed on the minds of these creatures, some with greater difficulty, meant that they were unable to inform her of what had happened. But she had more pressing matters to deal with normally.

Maybe these creatures were powerful for a reason and maybe they had sought this place out instead of just stumbling towards it. With the potential threats and opportunities arising in her mind she began to plan, and while she waited high in the ceiling above the cavern of silk the hung motionless.

The inky-black pit, the deep dark, continued to feast as the prisoners were drained of their life force one by one. The driders and Ettercaps feasted on the bodies of the newly dead and tossed what remained deeper into the cavern, for the young to feast so that they could continue their plan, her benefactors’ plan that was.

Thanks for dropping by tonight and for continuing to follow along with the blog. Don’t forget that we still have a few days left of this week as we continue along with this adventure. Tomorrow we will cover the plot hook, a twist (sort of…) so make sure to not forget to come back for that and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Families of Ravencreek

thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

Now tonight I think I have realised how much I have bitten off with this this weeks project when I started to construct two of the families of Ravencreek. The Elarnao line and the Bucklewheat lineages can trace their family roots back to the first people to call Ravencreek home which, unfortunately, resulted in One of their demise at the hands of our horseman. So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s meet some of the family.

The Families of Ravencreek

342TuSwFo

The Elarnao Family

Arlorn Ponte – Created in Artbreeder

Descendent from the original elven family Arlorn is a hunter who spends most of his time in the woods. Trained in his ancestral ways of hunting and gathering he honours each animal that he kills and only takes what is needed for the family and villagers who need it.

Mae Elarnao – Created in Artbreeder

Mae works in one of the stores in Ravencreek with her brother Jake. They primarily sell supplies to travellers but also assist in their parents inn, the Lonely Pine when times are busy.

Jake Elarnao – Created in Artbreeder

Jake handles the delivery from the family store and is a strong and fast lad despite his appearance.

Quick to help and assist some may say he trusts to easily and talks to freely but he fails to see the bad in people which has gotten him into trouble on the odd occasion

The Descendants from the Elarnao family all have a strong elven bloodline. They age very slowly and are normally closely tied to the land and the animals of this place. They pass down the stories of their ancestors and the trials that they went through when Dokalvar attempted to tear what they had put together with the humans. They practise the traditions of old and some are still trained as warriors.

The Bucklewheat Family

Kindred Bucklewheat – Created in Artbreeder

Mother at a young age of 18, Kindred continued to work on the farm and has a way with animals. Now being in her late 40s her daughter rose quickly to become the town’s mayor and was celebrated for her bond to the new ways of working and her ties to tradition.

The death of her daughter weighs heavily on her and she is wracked with grief and anger and the recent events.

Elenore Bucklewheat – Created in Artbreeder

Elenore was the youngest mayor to be elected in Ravencreek. She had the strongest connection to the land and animals in a human that any in the town had seen and her dedication to the traditions of old and her plans to support the town quickly drew the favour of not just the elders and all those who met her.

However she is the first, and currently, only victim of the horseman that attacked during the first night of the week of celebration and her death shocked the community.

Thomson Bucklewheat – Created in Artbreeder

Tom is the brother of Kindred and thus uncle to Elenore. Despite his sadness and grief over the loss of his niece he continues to try and seek answers despite his age (if half-elves can really call themselves getting old in their 50s).

A farmer and one who has a strong connection to the land Tom is not an unpleasant person to work with but he generally has few words for strangers.

The Bucklewheat family are farmers and tend to the land and the animals. They have a strong bond to most of the village as their family has always provided food to the community since the founding of Ravencreek. Although they are slowly dwindling in numbers their bloodline had hope with Elenore recently becoming engaged but her untimely death stopped those wishes. It’s up to her ageing uncle and her more elven great uncle now to continue on the ancient line of farmers in Ravencreek

A big night of updates for a big week ahead. It’s been a while since I have had soo many NPCs in one post and I think its a testament to what is going on in the background. Don’t forget to come back each day this week as we continue to expand this adventure and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Morali O’Lorun

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

As we look at what this week brings us we start with the prisoner, Morali O’Lorun. The young priestess of Lloth has considerable influence and to kill someone blessed by Lloth could displease the goddess… or please her, she is a complicated being. To get a glimpse into this priestess and help set the scene and mood for the next few days let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s update!

Morali O’Lorun

342TuSwFo

Morali O’Lorun


Morali O’Lorun – Created in Artbreeder

The O’Lorun family has been rising in power for only a short amount of time, in Drow years that is. Originally a lesser family they rose to power when one of their daughters was chosen to be blessed by Lloth and the now-matriarch used her power and influence to raise her daughters up. Morali O’Lorun is a prodigy being blessed by Lloth as well as being a cunning business woman.

However despite her own strengths her mother is ruthless in business and Morali could never hold a candle to the flame of her mothers ambition. Her connection to Lolth and own ambition has led her down the path of futile turf wars with the Melarn family. Now her mission failed she has a difficult choice to make. Try to complete her mothers orders or make a play to take control of the family decades earlier than she had imagined. If she can only stay alive for the next few days in the custody of the drow she tried to kill..

That ends tonight’s short update. Most of the Drow portraits may start ending up looking the same as the ‘stock’ is, limited in Artbreeder. However with enough tweaking anything is possible! Tomorrow the true adventure for the week begins so don’t forget to come back as we expand upon this weeks adventure. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Merchants of Kalehgrul

thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

This week we meet the merchants of Kalehgrul, a little settlement village who specialise in spider silk. More merchant than farmer the Melarn family have provided fine spider silk for generations to the point that they have quite the bond with the arachnids. But more on that in a little bit. So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s update!

The Merchants of Kalehgrul

341TuSwFo

As the party got used to their surroundings they found some materials and soon those that couldn’t see in the dark could view their surroundings. Dozens of giant spiders moved across the cavern they were in and created vast net-like webs that were big enough to catch the giant bats the flew through the skies. Above them mushrooms and long plant-like tendrils shed a soft glow that confirmed they were far from a source of light.

The spiders moved calmly even when the party drew near and merle scurried out of the way instead of viewing the party as a snack. Content to feast upon the bats that they caught in their webs. As they moved around a squeak could be heard in short rhythmic patterns coming from a passage up ahead. As they approached the passage they were greeted by a Rothe, a large bull like creature, that was pulling a wagon with three drow onboard.

After a few moments of speaking quickly in drow and brandishing crossbows the male urged his two female companions to lower and he spoke in common. “Easy, we don’t want no trouble. I am Izzrysn and these are my daughters and we are merchants. I must ask though, what are you doing in this cavern?”

Izzrysn Melarn

Izzrysn Melarn – Created in Artbreeder

The drow named Izzrysn runs the merchant business for his family. Well versed in many languages he sees business opportunities instead of threats when something changes in his sphere. However despite his obvious business knowledge and intelligence he often finds himself being overruled by the female of his family – like most drow males.

Umnel Melarn

Umnel Melarn – Created in Artbreeder

Umnel is the younger sister of Qistra and tends to the spiders of the Melarn family. Whilst not blessed to be chosen by Lloth she is still able to understand and handle these creatures with ease. This helps the family collect their silk for their business but has one a few occasions protected the family when her abilities can come into use.

Qistra Melarn

Qistra Melarn – Created in Artbreeder

When business is poor Qistra, the oldest daughter of the head of the Melarn family, gets involved. She is rash and impulsive but will still listen to her mother, sister and father. She oversees production of the spider silk and inspects it for quality. Whilst her father has a business understanding and her sister can tend to the cluster of spiders she has a fine eye for quality when it comes to silk.

Whilst the party try and understand why they are here and what brought them to the underdark having some, somewhat understanding, people to help them make sense of what happened will help make plans to remedy the situation. However despite this they are still an unknown distance from home, without many supplies and in an unfamiliar land. So don’t forget to come back each day this week as we continue to expand upon this adventure and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Approaching Thrall Keep

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

The shadow of the Thrall Keep covering Finchford City, the dangers of the woods and then the hike up to the ruins is what lies in wait when the party being approaching thrall keep. This Thursday night brings a few inspirational points to help guide the encounter and adventure. Instead of maps that can restrict imagination let it flow this week. So sit back, grab a coffee and enjoy the inspiration flow below!

Approaching Thrall Keep

320ThApThKe

Approaching Thrall Keep

The decision to approach the keep is one that the party will need to make. To trigger this though the party would need a reason to begin.

“A rumbling came through the floor. At first the party thought it was the dragging of a stool for a bar fight but even the combatants ceased their hostility and waited. Listening. Moving outside Marie was close in front of the party when the great beating of wings could be heard and the silhouette of a large dragon appeared in front of the moonlit clouds. A dragon, as Marie has claimed, had appeared to take up residence in the ruins. However the party felt something was odd in the way it moved, the movements felt disjointed as if the creature wasn’t well. It flew with too infrequent wing beats to keep its large frame aloft.

Yes, something wasn’t right.

Marie bit her thumb and frowned “That’s no dragon,” she muttered under her breath as the other inhabitants of Finchford appeared in the street and began to flee in panic. “Something’s not right here..” she said as she turned to the party“

Thrall keep view from the behind the pillars – Created in nightcafe

The Forest

Now the approach to the keep lies under a heavily wooded path that leads up towards the keep. I find this is a great spot for an ambush of either diggers pretending to be bandits or creatures of the woods.

Perhaps an encounter with a friendly denizen of the forest who accuses the party of being part of the others who travel the path. Giving clues to what lies at the end of the journey as well as what is going on.

Finchford Woods – created in nightcafe

The Keep

Now I believe the keep should have high parts and lows. Places to hide and sneak through the entire ruins if desired as well as open places for combat. Broken walls could expose higher levels to climb into for an advantage. Uneven ground could give a disadvantage to people fighting across the ruins and even discarded tools and weapons could be hazards.

However the people that current work here, they are the ones to watch out for and the party would need to have a solid plan in dealing with them before engaging the group.

Thrall Keep under moon – created in nightcafe

Thanks for joining me tonight. A shorter one this week as I wanted to focus on preparation for a tournament tonight. But this weekend I will look to include some new and old maps in the end of week Zine. So don’t forget to come back fro the last few days and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Flight from the Bloodhunt

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Thursday night brings with it is here and its brought with it a encounter map and a regional map featuring Farlock as the party attempt to take flight from the bloodhunt! A nice simple one this week with versatility being the name of the first map this week. So sit back, grab a coffee and enjoy the maps below!

Flight from the Bloodhunt

319ThFlFrTBl

Encounter on the Road

Either set up as an ambush for the encroaching enemies or if the party doesn’t escape quickly enough attacks on a guaranteed occurrence. This hilly ambush site next to some trees and bushes for cover makes quick work for the attackers in an early advantage. Remnants of a camp from the fleeing villagers of Farlock can be seen but it’s really the simplistic nature of the map that is its strength.

Road out of Farlock – created in Inkarnate

Players Map of the Rift Villages

Now the map the party gets shows a few towns nearby. Yarnwerth on the way out of the area, Mulbek and Filtburra being nearby. Trees line the roads and they are well worn from years of travel, but beware of what lies in the forest and in the grass next to the road as there are a few beasties to this week’s encounter.

This map is to be provided to the players, but the DM can ‘upgrade it’ with a simple overlay of the in-game effects of the raiding parties that are launching their attack on the area.

Villages around the Rift – Created in Inkarnate

DMs Copy

This shows the buildings being ripped apart and burnt. Walls crumbled and all the towns butchered. However the keep, the destination that the party should travel to (we hope) remains strong. A final bastion of civilization while the bloodhunt is on.

The attacks come from the right and top of the map. Farlock and Mulbek being first. If the party head towards Mulbek after a day they are attacked by the raiders coming from Mulbek down. But a party with keen eyes would see the smoke and should be able to escape.

Villages around the Rift – DM copy – created in Inkarnate

Thanks for joining me tonight. As highlighted and hinted at the start of the week we have both a chase and a few combat scenes in this weeks adventure. So come back tomorrow night to find out more! And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Hildebek Town

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Well another Thursday night is here and its brought with it a regional map featuring Hildebek Town! Tonight I was inspired by the community on Inkarnate to try out the regional Map style and I had a fair bit of fun working in the near-Isometric map. The one thing I would want is a way to get hills, cliffs and the like more easily accessible. But I will have to dig deeper. So sit back, grab a coffee and enjoy the map below.!

Hildebek Town

318ThHiToMa

Hildebek town is quite small having under a hundred people living there. Two inns populate this town and a variety of shops and merchants that call this place home. Built around the watchtower that used to be a military the tower and walls were mostly repaired. The ruins and rubble from the previous buildings were replaced by houses and people began to move here as a town between two major cities.

Hildebek Town map – created in Inkarnate

Thanks for joining me for a rather short one tonight. I wanted to keep it brief to enable flexibility and to not build much into this map as I plan to use it in the near future. In fact with D&D occurring for me fortnightly now I plan to use this map in the near future for my own party. However whether I throw a devil at them and a sleeping sickness is another question that I will have to wait and answer later.

Tomorrow night the statistics of the devil is revealed and I hope its a worthy adversary for the party. However feel free to adjust the encounter to fit your party. So make sure you come back tomorrow and I hope that you will enjoy this weeks adventure. Lastly, make sure you set aside some time for your own tabletop as the weekend approaches quickly. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Dresmandae’s Tower Map

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Thursday night is here and tonight I bring the Dresmandae’s Tower Map! The Tower itself is simple, but how its used may be a bit difficult. But, more on that tomorrow for the encounter! So let’s roll onto tonight’s map, the four stories of the varied tower and into tonight’s adventure!

Dresmandae’s Tower Map

317ThDrToMa

The tower of Dresmandae is a bit of a tricky one. Each level of the tower can be flipped horizontally or vertically to have something similar but different. The first floor will stay the same, a open space initial with perhaps bookcases and a chair within. A room on the right, dark due to no windows or candles but able to be filled with beds, tables or what ever we deem fit. A central staircase leading up with a few more rooms and a window in the back open area.

The second level, the top right, is more segmented rooms. Perhaps once rooms for study but now they are for.. different purposes. Something we will check tomorrow night.

The third, bottom left, is the circular room is one of danger. Each circular pillar (coloured in black) has traps within. Moving about this floor to investigate it isn’t safe. Those astute enough will realise its also a mirror image.

The fourth, bottom right is the end scene. This is where the party uncover one of the NPCs, Drake, and learn more about this tower and its purpose. If they can reach there in time. This floor is also completely dark, so I hope your party brought torches as in absence of all light, not even dark vision can pierce this veil.

Dresmandae’s Tower – created in Inkarnate

Thoughts

I hope the tower of Dresmandae is well received as it is a bit of fun. The complicated part comes with how we encounter the rooms and the NPCs on the various floors. However I believe the parties will work it out swiftly and we will be fine.

Thanks for joining me to admire the view from the tower’s different levels. A bit of a mixture of a puzzle and dungeon style encounter this week is brewing. In fact tomorrow night we fill in the missing pieces so don’t forget to come back to investigate what lies in wait. As the weekend approaches again I want to remind you to set aside some time for your tabletop. Continuation and persistence is what this hobby is vulnerable for, so maximise your output! And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Play Room of the Depraved

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Welcome to another Thursday night where I want to quickly reveal the play room of the depraved. This week we have an adventure that revolves around finding out the source of the ongoing corruption and depravity before confronting it, two instigators of temptation. Did I mention they are in here two? Well, its sure to be a thrilling adventure. So to reveal what we have planned, let’s roll into tonight’s adventure!

Play Room of the Depraved

316ThPlRoOTDe

A nice simple room, windows blocked out by wall coverings either side of a large plush couch. Food and alcohol on the centre table define what this room is for and elude to the parties that went on in here. The room has a heady musk of narcotics and a dank smell to it that is intoxicating to the senses.

“Throne Room” – Small – created in Inkarnate
Throne room full sizedDownload

Tempters of Brightkeep

The two tempters of Brightkeep are influencers amongst the lords and ladies of the city. They bring with them unending parties, celebrations and exotic temptations that have swayed even the most devout and rigid.

Their true forms are yet to be revealed, but they seem to take great delight and pleasure in watching the city devolve into depravity.

Temptress of Brightkeep – created in nightcafe
Tempter of Brightkeep – created in Artbreeder

Thoughts

The tempters of Brightkeep are, ready for the reveal, a succubus and an incubus. I think its succubi and incubi but its quite a late night. However, regardless of proper pronouns for these two they are the instigators of temptation and depravity within Brightkeep and we have them in our sights now.

But, even with them being known for what they are and identified as such – will we be able to deal with them?

Thanks for joining me for a glimpse at two more NPCs, the antagonists, in this weeks adventure. Tomorrow night we look at the Statblocks before this weekend we wrap up another adventure. Don’t forget to come back for the last few days as they promise to be full of fun! Also don’t forget to come back this weekend for the end of week writeup and inspiration for your own tabletop. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Boglet the wandering merchant

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Tonight we expand upon our Soulbound adventure this week with the Binding meeting a new face, Boglet the wandering merchant. Boglet is a hobgrot who decided that life in the war clans was not all it was cracked up to be. So away from the bullying orruks he has struck out on his own for wealth and his own brand of glory. But to uncover his full story we will have to read on. So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s roll into tonight’s adventure!

Boglet the wandering merchant

308TuSBBo

Boglet – Created in Nightcave.studio

Sneaky hobgrot!

The party continue in their march towards the gathering storm clouds up ahead, taking a few moments to rest every hour or so in order to maintain their rapid pace. However despite this no tell-tale bolts of lightning strike which would herald the deliverance of Stormcast Eternals to the battlefield. Instead the plume of dust rises from a singular point to meet the thunderhead above. It was on one such break that the party encountered something, or someone more precisely, quite odd.

“Psst. Hey. You. Over here” a voice said in a low tone from a large stump not far away. “yeah you.” the voice said again as they looked towards the stump. Approaching slowly, cautiously with weapons drawn they hovered above the stump.

“hello?” Gwen managed to get out as she stood behind her more forward companions.

“Greetings and salutations!” a cheerful and lisp-filled voice called out as a pale yellow bodied creature jumped out of the hollow and onto the edge of the log. “Welcome to Boglets Shop!”. It was a hobgrot – the party were familiar with them from the encounter yesterday. The hobgrot looked around at the party, read their expressions of either hatred, shock or disgust and dove back into the stump with a shriek.

Well that was its plan. Kathe reached forward with god infused strength and grabbed the hobgrots ankle. “Nooo. Let Boglet go! I ain’t doing nothin’ wrong. I don’t know anything to do with the Beast-skewer Killbow or the leader on Corpse-Rippa Vulcha.” he babbled as he tried to snatch at falling trinkets that came from the folds of his robe.

“What are you doing here?” Ymran said as he lowered his cold gaze to the hobgrot. His talents for getting information already coming into play.

Not all Hobgrots

“This is Boglet’s shop. I said this. I sell things. You give me something shiny I get you something useful. You have something shiny to sell I have some Aqua in vials.” he spluttered as the Idoneths gaze washed over him.

“Let him down Kathe, he tells the truth” the Idoneth said as he sat down on a nearby log. “What can you tell me about This killbow and Vulcha?”

The hobgrot’s eyes sparkled as he was lowered to the stump, clambering to be upright again. “Oh, I know nothing much. Something shiny or valuable may jog my memory though…” he said, the glint of mischief and greed present in his eyes.

Thoughts

I am quite happy with the decision to include a hobgrot as a merchant in this weeks adventure. The books themselves talk about them being cunning and greedy merchants when encountered, or they are bullied into being in the war clans march. So when I need a way to give information, provide the inevitable mcguffin then what better than a greedy, sneaky merchant of goods and information.

I want to thank you once again for joining me on this Soulbound adventure. I am quite passionate about efficiencies in my work and home life and being able to merge my love for RPGs and Warhammer is just, joy. So if you would like to start a Soulbound group then I am happy to provide some more GM content in the future focused on Soulbound.

Tomorrow I expand this adventure further with the information that Boglet can be persuaded or paid to let go of. So don’t forget to come back for that and the future nights as we evolve this adventure. So as always, I hope to grant you the rerolls you need to succeed and hope that you return to adventure and excitement,
The Brazen Wolfe