Hello and welcome to another night where we look at the NPCs for this weeks adventure! Tonight we set out sights on the Pennywhistle company as they are in dire need of assistance after a fast attack from bandits, and a brash headed daughter giving chase. So sit back, enjoy the NPC art and let’s roll on with tonight’s content!
The Pennywhistle Company
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The Pennywhistle Company – Travelling Merchants and more
The Pennywhistle company specialises in getting the goods people want to the places they need it. Not a large company they specialise in boutique wares and the owner of the mercantile company, Ruthor, has a solid mind for business. His wife Eve is a half-elf who wanted a quiet life after being a member of the kings army. But having never quite fit nor finding acceptance for her heritage she fell in love with a travelling merchant who saw who she was besides her ears. While Eve is disciplined, strong and stoic Ruthor is emotional, empathetic and passionate. These traits were blended nearly perfectly in their daughter, Beau, who is both strong and emotional – a trait that sees her get the better over her father but clash with her mother.
The last piece in the puzzle is the oldest business partner and hired guardian of the caravan, Stephan. Stephan is the one who introduced Eve to Ruthor after Stephan overheard Eve’s desire to leave the army and knew that Ruthor needed an extra guard. What Stephan didn’t account for as the relationship that would blossom from there.
Despite being susceptible to anyone who plays to his empathy and humanity Ruthor is a tactical and keen business man with a keen eye for not only profit, but lucrative business investments.
He values the success that his business brings second only to his family and oldest friend. Due to this he will risk it all to protect them and see that they have the best care that his money can buy. This frivolous behaviour is one of the things that Eve and he don’t see eye to eye on.
Eve is swift and lethal with a blade or spear and knows how to repair just about anything with very limited resources. Assigned to the support core where she mended supply wagons and guarded them from attack she is used to defending and fighting near and with land vehicles. This makes her a perfect companion in the Pennywhistle Company.
Whilst business and bandits respond well to her discipline and cold stare her daughter does not. Eve and her daughter do not see eye to eye frequently but there is a mutual respect and adoration for each other that is undeniable.
Wild and strong Beau has her mothers knack for battle and her fathers high emotions. She learnt how to defend herself early on from her mother and has attempted to learn the tricks of the trade from her father. But the wilds call to her and she would rather be riding a horse through the plains and forest than sitting on a wagon.
Despite being reckless and undisciplined she can take care of herself and not only does she and her mother make a lethal combination but Stephan and her are a sight to behold when fighting side by side.
Stephan is the oldest friend of Ruthor and business partner of the Pennywhistle company. The closest thing to a confidant and uncle to Beau they have a strong bond and can be found sparring around the camp fire most nights. Stephan’s melee prowess is second only to Eve but he is just as calculating and tactical as Ruthor is in business but with battle.
Once a mercenary for hire he was hired many years ago and once the contract was over he joined the company as a partner so he could continue to travel whilst keeping his skills sharp.
Tonight I had a lot of fun when creating the NPC portraits. Utilising nigthtcafe.studio for Ruthor (and attempting to create one for Eve) I wanted something a bit more tailored for the NPCs tonight. So returning to trusty Artbreeder was the easiest step for me. With how the blend of a broader face of Ruthor and the fine elven features from Eve I am happy with the resemblance in Beau. Stephan gives me Jeremy Irons vibes and I am happy that it sparks memories of a few movies I enjoyed similar characters in.
Don’t forget that tonight is still the beginning of the week. Tomorrow we reveal the twists and turns of the woods so don’t forget to come back tomorrow. Thursday night I hope to have a few maps available (emphasis on few) for this weeks encounter and look forward to producing them. And lastly I hope that you spend a bit of time nurturing that creative spark or indulging in some Tabletop games this week and if it’s Dungeons and Dragons, don’t forget to roll it with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Hello and welcome to Tuesday night where we look at the people of Cherpa and become a bit more acquainted with them. This week we look at two halflings and the children they watch out for in this town as they try and keep the traditions afloat. So sit back, have a coffee and let’s roll on with it.
The People of Cherpa
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In Cherpa there is no real hierarchy or leader system in Cherpa nor is their regular guard. Everyone in the town is expected to be a member of the militia and called upon when in need. The people of Cherpa are generally known for being cheerful and happy and the halflings are the primary race in the town.
Short, strong and friendly are all words that would describe Gerald Plumton, one of the oldest halflings in Cherpa. Despite his age he is an extremely social and active member in the community and is charged with running the fairs and events for the people of Cherpa. Gerald is the one that is actively seeking help and offering a reward for anyone who can assist the town in finding the cherpa hens.
The halfling Doris Tender is the long time friend, sometimes more, of Gerald. Doris has been a successful handler of her cherpa hen partners for many years and is the only townsfolk to have more than one bird bonded with her. She owns the local general store that provides equipment and goods to travellers but is known for her charitable nature.
Casey is the older sister of Corey Murlay. They both moved here when their father went to war and mother became a chambermaid for a nobleman’s daughter in the city. They lived with their uncle for some time before he got sick and passed away but the townsfolk, particularly Doris and Gerald have looked after them like they were family.
Prone to bouts of cheekiness and trickery these children are as fun loving as the halflings they have spent most of their lives with.
Tonight we met some of the people of Cherpa. Tomorrow we will expand on the issue at hand, the missing birds, and look for answers. Don’t forget to come back for the rest of the week as we expand and create this adventure and lastly, don’t forget to roll it with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Tonight I wanted to look at two folk heroes that we can use in any game. Both were fundamentally just artwork I created* and their story, objectives and potential were inspired by the art. Both heroes are well known by their peers and enemies alike but chose to live a simply life instead of ruling or conquering – despite having the potential to do so. I think there is something truly noble in that and wanted the inspiration for today to really send a message that heroes are also born from nothing and don’t have to aspire to be the loudest or brightest in the room.
Randall was recruited into a mercenary company from a very young age. He learnt that to fight for his life and his meals whilst serving with his brothers when in the service to a king, a madman but powerful. As the renown of the company grew to greater heights so did his passion to improve his skill sets and so he searched for forgotten blades of Ikshar. These blades were forged by master smiths of their time and then blessed by the priests of a falling deity.
As such no ordinary warrior could wield them but Randall trained harder so that one day when he found them he would be worthy. When his boss, the company leader, brought him into the tent and provided him a map to the powerful blades Randall rushed off to find that they were guarded by a feeble old man. Seeing the pain and suffering that he was enduring Randall came to understand that the blades carried a curse. You would be unbeatable, unable to be bested by the blades of mortal men but… you would watch everyone and everything you lived or cared for die and wither away to nothing.
He swore and oath to ensure that no one would take these blades for greed or power. And the priest so convinced by his change of heart gave them to him. Over the next decade he did not grow old but he watched his family, the mercenary company slowly die one by one. He began to seek out death and eventually, he got his wish. He faked his own death and fled for a distant land to find peace where no one seeking the blades power could find them.
Randall now resides as a merchant selling bags, rope and other general goods to adventurers and who ever is in need. Content to live his life and to not take anything for granted. The blades curse still holds him tightly but he has only had to draw them once. To protect the village from an Orc slavers raid.
Not blessed by magical blades, a deity, spirit or Fae, Anne has spent her life sticking up for the small people. An orphan by any other name is still an orphan, however Anne rose above her sad start to become a guardian for all. Abandoned as her parents had no need for a seventh daughter she grew up with a woman who was just kind enough to feed and clothe her but not kind enough to love her. She learnt that a family isn’t just who you were born to, who you were raised by but who you chose to keep close and value above all else.
She started to look out for the other orphans and street urchins when she was little. In fact this trend continued well past her teens where she became more of a mother and leader figure to a rather well known street gang. This gang however didn’t rob, hustle or attack others but they carried messages and did odd jobs for the community. Something that Anne enforced with an iron fist. Soon Anne became well respected by the merchants and city folk in her district but others began to take note.
Now in each story there has to be some villain somewhere and ours lies with the city guard. Corrupt as they were numerous it was hard to sneeze in the city without the guard trying to extort money out of you. In fact the city guard tried that numerous times with Anne and her gang but she resisted heavily. When the Guard started to move in and try the same tricks with the people in her district they quickly found out why she rules the streets.
Several skirmishes and small fights later and the guard tried to take her out by force. The battle was bloody and the casualties many but Anne invoked the right of single combat with the captain of the guard. The stakes were high but Anne watched as the guard began to beat and riot through the shops even as she had invoked the right and her desire for justice was unquenchable. In a clutch moment, using the uneven terrain of the streets she lunged on the far better equipped captain and slew him. Her first kill.
The towns folk rallied to her and pushed back the guard. In fact that day the guard came to know that her little family of street gang members were not just urchins and messengers but they could in fact hold their own in a street fight. Their streets their rules.
The guard did not return to the district again and with Anne at the lead the other district soon stood up against the corruption. Anne’s name is still whispered when ever there is any unrest, the city folk believing that she will rally and rise up against any injustice and tyranny that threaten her extended family.
Thanks for dropping by tonight and reading about the ideas on these two folk heroes. Not all heroes wear capes, as the saying goes, and in this instance they also dont call themselves heroes. But they serve the people and fight for what’s right when they need to. So don’t forget this when you look to your next adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
The twentieth day of Dice-ember finally brings Aster Sepharin to us. So let’s look at our antagonist for this years Dice-ember and the imagery that inspires her. She is a young yet powerful mage who is driven to master her art not just for herself, but for a village that would rather she didn’t. But people do crazy things for the things and people that they believe they love.
Aster is young by magic user standards but she is dedicated and driven to her craft. Not necessarily evil or bad but her creations or, to be more exact, her inexperience with them leads to disaster. She is after all a passionate yet frustrated young lady that others don’t share her vision or drive. Yet despite her drive, talent and passion she still has room left in her life for generosity and despite the means to getting there her creation of constructs was meant to be the way forward into the new era for the townsfolk of Snowtown.
And that’s it for tonight. As we inch closer to the end of the year I wanted to say thanks for those who have joined me for this journey. Don’t forget to keep the spark of creativity alive this festive season and don’t forget to come back for the last few days of Dice-ember as we wrap up this adventure. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
The thirteenth day of Dice-ember brings more images to invoke the wonders of winter in the wilderness. The view from above Snowtown is stunning. Endless fields of white, smoke from chimneys above and the scattering of townsfolk moving about their lives. For the Party however it brings more questions than answers and the day ahead of them is one full of adventure.
The town of Snowtown situated amongst snow covered rocky outcrops gives it the appearance of a much larger village. However there isn’t many dwellings in the town and the blankets of snow flank most of the useable land nearby. The mountains around the town are host to bountiful trees and wildlife if there are people experienced enough to know where to look.
Through the rocky valleys and trees the Goliath come from a nearby village to Snowtown. Sturdy and tribal these are hardy people of the land who seek balance and peace with their neighbours.
A shorter one this week as images normally take some time to wrok out. A mix of Artbreeder and nightcafe.studio tonight as I try to find the mix between what can be created and used from AI (nightcafe) and what I need to tweak myself to get the things just right (artbreeder). Utilising both to get what I want and how I envision it may be the right way forward as the landscapes from Nightcafe are just great. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow night for more twists as the party look into the Quarry and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
The sixth day of Dice-ember I bring to you images to spark the creative embers that fuel this months adventure. Tonight we officially say welcome to Snowtown as we get a glimpse of some of the people, the village and beyond! So sit down with a hot coffee and enjoy what’s been created.
I should mention that I am looking at another art creation tool tonight, nightcafe.studio. I will give a bit more of my first impressions of it later in tonight’s blog but for now its producing some nice artwork (that is free and able to be used privately or commercially).
The town of Snowtown is set against the high peaks of the Gritch mountains which sees the town blanketed in snow year round. The walls of most building are double or triple bricked with thick insulation to keep them warm year round. Apart from the snow the second most common thing to see in the skies of Snowtown. Smoke rises from each chimney stack just as quickly as the wind that whips down from the mountains whisks it away. There is a single road into Snowtown, a relatively well maintained one due to the town being near some hard to find resources. This promotes trade and trade needs good roads so the trek into the town isn’t as gruelling as one would imagine.
Despite the well maintained road there are pockets where the village isn’t well maintained. Fresh faced villagers are in short supply in Snowtown and slowly the population of the town is aging. There are occasionally a wayward traveller will settle down in the town and re-spruce up an old building as their home but this is a rare occurrence. As such some buildings have fallen into disrepair despite the best attempts of the townsfolk.
Penny Cartwright settled with her family in Snowtown when she was a young lass. Now into adulthood she maintains the general store whilst her family travels the roads selling the wares of the village to further villages.
Penn always has a far off look in her eyes, as if not actually looking at customers when they talk to her. It’s almost as if she is dreaming of a different life past the snow, the trees and the road that leads out of the village and into the vast world beyond. But despite this longing for more she is bright and cheerful. She truly enjoys the people she talks to and loves to serve the townsfolk of Snowtown.
Stout and gruff is how the villagers would describe Daryll. He is short tempered, strong as an ox and has the manners of one. However he is the first to jump in to do what is right and help those in true need. Once a black smith forging the measly amounts of ore that could be found in the hills around Snowtown necessity saw him close his forge and move to support his then wife at the inn.
One morning he woke to find her gone with no trace or note, but other villagers had known that she left the town and the responsibility of the inn to Daryll. Lying to himself he believed that if he worked hard enough at the Inn she would come back. She never did but he hasn’t the heart or will power to leave the inn to someone else despite hating what it now represents for him.
Thoughts – Nightcafe
An interesting concept of taking text and converting it into images. So far the images that have been created seem to be nearly on-point however the limited ability to modify your existing creations to get them just right (like in artbreeder) is frustratingly odd.
I would prefer to be able to tweak images once purchased (more on that in a minute) so that they are fit for purpose. I tried to get an image of Daryll (as you can see under that gallery) to be just right and to fix the “broken hand appearance” that one of the images has. Alas it was not to be. Despite my best efforts in tweaking the image based on text input it was a throw-away result.
However, the other images are something I would consider a success. This leads me onto the next point. Cost.
Now each image costs .5 (or .25 if you want 4 images created from a string of text for options) of a token. You earn tokens by doing daily tasks but if you are like me and like to sit down and make a bunch of images at once… No amount of daily tasks will fuel the creative need I have or gaining followers (and likes) by sharing your art.
You can of course by more tokens to fuel your creative spark, and they aren’t super expensive however it appears to mainly be subscription based plans which I dam not a big fan of.
I will continue to create a few more images on here and see how we go.
Now that we have a bit more details of the town and people we can begin to get the ball rolling. Thanks for dropping in tonight but don’t forget that tonight it just the beginning of the week, sort of. So don’t forget to come back each day this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to another end of week writeup where we look towards the citadel known as The Shadows Throne. This week our party moves towards a hidden path into the shadows Throne, or the front door, and prepare to confront the being that has haunted them for almost a year now. So sit back, have a cup of coffee and lets catch up on what was created this week.
The party stared at the sheets of paper in front of them. The small droplets of blood that clung to the parchment left a trail as they slid to the ground. The letters, maps and notes that lay out infront of them revealed a side yo the Oni that they hadnโt seen. And one they wished they hadnโt.
Diagrams for a ritual in a large antechamber were revealed. A large altar or pedestal looked to be in a large bowl or recession in the chamber. The drawings indicated sacrifice of spirit folk, oni, humans and other races deemed lower than the oni.
The ritual looked to be one of creation. Binding bones, flesh and blood together to form a new body for something. The ritual pages finished here but there other pages that looked to be schematics for a fortress within a mountain. It mapped plans for guard rotations as well as the hidden path for escaping the citadel in case of emergencies.
Taking the plans, Gin and the surviving members of the plan they head back to the wall. The captain, Kyoko and the messenger for Kuang were all eagerly waiting for the party when they arrived.
After some time they started discussing what it could mean in hurried conversation before they turned to the party for advice.
The creature stirred from the warm granite and ash on the stone floor. Slowly the nerves in its muscles fired and it pushes its face from the ground and looked up at the creatures that served it. They stood around it in reverence, not wanting to be the first to approach the fallen figure that had, until this moment, lay crumpled on the ground.
โMaster. The humans. They have pushed us from the wall. I.. er.. some of the others feared you had fallen and ordered a retreat.โ A large, although cowardly, oni spoke as it shuffled forward towards the large humanoid figure. โWhat would you have us do? We may be able to rally the spirit folk and have them take back the ground we lost when the ice witch..โ his speech was cut short as the creatures hand shot forward and plunged into the chest of the oni. With a look of shock and horror the oni watched as its heart was pulled from its chest, all but one artery detached as the figure drank deep from the pulsing organ.
โI would have you shut upโ the creature said as it drank its fill from the warm blood. โI would have you all not have retreated from the wall. It was ours to take. Victory was within our grasp and you let it slip through our fingers.โ The creature said as it shuffled to kneel on the ground.
No creature dared speak or move for fear of suffering its wrath. Although it wasnโt the shadow itself it was a vessel for embodying its unholy form within this plane and its power was unfathomable to the mortal creatures that served it.
Finally a ogre like creature spoke. โMaster. The humans. They are come hereโฆโ The rest of the servants moved from the avatar.
It slowly looked up at all those who were gathered. โThe ritual must be done again. Before they get here. I will need to bolster this body and prepare to do what you can not. Kill a party of humans. Take the slaves, take the captives. Grab the weak and injured. Their bodies will renew my strength. Go nowโ The avatar if shadow barked and delighted in the creatures panicked scurry.
Liz and Jung travelled with a small army of Harimasu warriors as Kuang directed them towards the shattered mountain up ahead. Since Jung has appeared as a dragon Liz had begun to notice that her connection to her deity, Chauntea, had increased. Her Goddess had started to grant her more powerful blessings and miracles and she had the feeling she was being drawn towards the dark mountains.
What Liz hadnโt counted on was the aura that seemed to resonate from her causing creatures to shy from her and humans to flock to her. Her presence when General Kuang and the Harimasu warriors met the Toshio family guard, mercenaries and soldiers caused the majority of them to lay their arms down and surrender to the Harimasu force.
When travelling through the western pass and even past the wall towards the shattered peak ahead creatures, Oni and other dark servants of the Shadow retreat from her presence. That or maybe it was the fifteen foot dragon that floated or walked next to her at all times.
Jung, once called Siu, had increased in size since being with the humans. Whatโs more he had noticed that whilst being with Liz he was stronger, faster and seemed to radiate a light much like she did. As the two of them approached the front ranks of the soldiers โ a mix of Harimasu and the defected Toshio soldiers โ the full extent of the mountain came into view.
โWe believe that they are already in there. Or close to being so we believe.โ Takeo said as he appeared suddenly next to Liz in a flutter of feathers. โSome of the Wall guard have begun to siege the wall at the entrance to the mountain, well what remains of it.โ he continued as he looked across Jung and Liz. โI am glad that you have come. We could use your help. The men and women will rejoice in just seeing you, evidence of our ancestors being on our side as well as the light that radiates from you Liz is a direct affront to the Shadow.โ
Looking forwards towards the skirmishes ahead Liz reached out to Chauntea. With a prayer on her tongue she asked for the light to shine on Ryokughan.
NPCs –
Elizabeth โLizbetโ Scaulder
Liz appears at the frontline with the golden dragon form of Jung Harimasu as they prepare to assault the citadel known as The Shadows Throne. As a distraction or aiding the getting the party in it doesn’t matter as her presence alone rallies the troops.
Environment and running the adventure
Smoke and dust fill the sky as you gaze up at the entrance to the mountain. The flow of Oni and other servants of the Shadow are constant, scurrying backwards and forth across the rough stone. Deep within the mountain a red glow and the chants of an unholy ritual resonate through the cold stone as you stand and watch. As you look at the remnants of the crumbled faรงade of the citadel before you its not evident whether it was constructed after of before the rock fell, but you can tell that it was made by a master craftsmen.
The creatures that move through the area donโt pay you any attention but they seem to be directed by an unseen hand. As the pounding of air and chanting of magic continues the feeling of unease settled in your bones. This is not a place for mortals. This is not a place where the sunlight wants to tread for fear of being swallowed up by the shadow that has penetrated the stone.
Oni, Bakegamoto, Butatล, Oni Sentinels and bound river trolls guard the front entrance. The Butato provide ranged support from the walls and pepper the ground with arrows whilst Oni defend the gate, wall and operate the defence. The Bakegamoto act as shock troops and charge in to disrupt the party.
The trolls are interesting, they are chained a little way from the wall in a small trench. When those foolish or unaware walk near them the trolls attack with a ferocious hunger but they are chained to the trench. These chains however can be released by mechanisms that the Oni control (but the trolls attack Oni and humans alike).
The Oni sentinels are the best marksmen of the Oni. They are positioned in watch towers and are crack shots with a heavy crossbow. However there are not many of them. As the mountain fell many of those on watch were lost as the towers were crushed by the rock.
The hidden passage is along the wall towards the north of the entrance. This requires the party to cross a trench, dodge crossbow shots before entering into it. Having or memorising the notes from the Oni camp will enable them to find the entrance with no issue. Once in there is nothing within the passage way itself apart from some Giant rats and perhaps a starved Oni or Butatล.
Another week has come and gone and we find ourselves at the precipice of the end of the year of content. This week we revealed the intel gathered from the Oni camp, made our way to the citadel and hopefully saw our party make their ways in. Next week we confront the creature at the heart of the ritual which is a pretty big deal. So don’t forget to join me for for this coming week and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to our second-hook day of the week, Wednesday, where tonight we witness the herald of light joining the fray with an impressive ally. So let’s dive into Ryokughan and what’s happening at the foot of The Shadows Throne.
Herald of Light
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Liz and Jungย travelled with a small army of Harimasu warriors as Kuang directed them towards the shattered mountain up ahead. Since Jung has appeared as a dragon Liz had begun to notice that her connection to her deity, Chauntea, had increased. Her Goddess had started to grant her more powerful blessings and miracles and she had the feeling she was being drawn towards the dark mountains.
What Liz hadn’t counted on was the aura that seemed to resonate from her causing creatures to shy from her and humans to flock to her. Her presence when General Kuang and the Harimasu warriors met the Toshio family guard, mercenaries and soldiers caused the majority of them to lay their arms down and surrender to the Harimasu force.
When travelling through the western pass and even past the wall towards the shattered peak ahead creatures, Oni and other dark servants of the Shadow retreat from her presence. That or maybe it was the fifteen foot dragon that floated or walked next to her at all times.
Jung, once called Siu, had increased in size since being with the humans. What’s more he had noticed that whilst being with Liz he was stronger, faster and seemed to radiate a light much like she did. As the two of them approached the front ranks of the soldiers – a mix of Harimasu and the defected Toshio soldiers – the full extent of the mountain came into view.
“We believe that they are already in there. Or close to being so we believe.” Takeo said as he appeared suddenly next to Liz in a flutter of feathers. “Some of the Wall guard have begun to siege the wall at the entrance to the mountain, well what remains of it.” he continued as he looked across Jung and Liz. “I am glad that you have come. We could use your help. The men and women will rejoice in just seeing you, evidence of our ancestors being on our side as well as the light that radiates from you Liz is a direct affront to the Shadow.”
Looking forwards towards the skirmishes ahead Liz reached out to Chauntea. With a prayer on her tongue she asked for the light to shine on Ryokughan.
Thanks for another night where you have spent some time here on my blog. Don’t forget tomorrow we look at the extra things that make the RPG just that little bit more, more-some and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to a npc Tuesday where tonight we are looking at the creature summoned from blood, bone and shadow. Tonight the avatar of shadow stirs and begins to prepare to undergo a ritual to boost its power, but is it too late? Is the party and their allies too close to its lair? Let’s find out this week
Blood, bone and shadow
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The creature stirred from the warm granite and ash on the stone floor. Slowly the nerves in its muscles fired and it pushes its face from the ground and looked up at the creatures that served it. They stood around it in reverence, not wanting to be the first to approach the fallen figure that had, until this moment, lay crumpled on the ground.
“Master. The humans. They have pushed us from the wall. I.. er.. some of the others feared you had fallen and ordered a retreat.” A large, although cowardly, oni spoke as it shuffled forward towards the large humanoid figure. “What would you have us do? We may be able to rally the spirit folk and have them take back the ground we lost when the ice witch..” his speech was cut short as the creatures hand shot forward and plunged into the chest of the oni. With a look of shock and horror the oni watched as its heart was pulled from its chest, all but one artery detached as the figure drank deep from the pulsing organ.
“I would have you shut up” the creature said as it drank its fill from the warm blood. “I would have you all not have retreated from the wall. It was ours to take. Victory was within our grasp and you let it slip through our fingers.” The creature said as it shuffled to kneel on the ground.
No creature dared speak or move for fear of suffering its wrath. Although it wasn’t the shadow itself it was a vessel for embodying its unholy form within this plane and its power was unfathomable to the mortal creatures that served it.
Finally a ogre like creature spoke. “Master. The humans. They are come here…” The rest of the servants moved from the avatar.
It slowly looked up at all those who were gathered. “The ritual must be done again. Before they get here. I will need to bolster this body and prepare to do what you can not. Kill a party of humans. Take the slaves, take the captives. Grab the weak and injured. Their bodies will renew my strength. Go now” The avatar if shadow barked and delighted in the creatures panicked scurry.
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Thanks for dropping by tonight. A short one but it helps set the scene for us DMs as we move forward into the final push. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to get more info and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Welcome to the home stretch. This month are taking the fight to the Shadow while it’s weakened. This week we made the first move in this quest, we are searching for the intel of the Oni and their plans. This week we have a choice that leads the party into the camp of the Oni as the spies or as the saviours – but the initial choice is theirs.
With the retreat of the Oni and the cracking open of the mountains peak the party woke up feeling refreshed. After the defeat of the ice queen and defence of the wall against her magic the wall guard offered them the best room and comforts available to them. Four walls and a bed each.
In the morning the party emerged to find the wall quiet. The land beyond the wall was even more so with only the occasional movement at a forward base camp the shadows minions had on the ridge further towards The Shadows Throne. The oni and their slaves, the Butatล, were the only things that could be seen as left over from the battlefield. The Spirit folk and other creatures that had been fighting the party and the wall guard had disappeared which gave the wall guard a day of repairs to the wall.
โMessage from the General. Lord Toshio was found dead in his tent and his troops had surrendered. Apparently they have all claimed enchantment and enthrallment from the Yuki-onna and the warriors claim that Lord Toshio took his own life when he heard his wife had been killed.โ The messenger from the general recited to wall captain Hou and Kyoko. โThe General has begun to detain and question the Toshio troops but Lord Harimasu has pardoned them on condition that they return to their homelands and begin to broker peace between the two families again. The general is on his way here to make an attack on the mountain. He will be here in two days however he needs what ever intel we can provide him.โ
Kyoko frowned at this and asked for a map of the battlefield from what the scouts had been able to map out. โThis camp of Oni. How defended is it?โ
โWe estimate that it would be a few dozen Oni, their leaders and slaves at a minimum. A frontal attack would go poorly but if there is another way that we can get the intel without risking more lives or leaving the wall undefended then I am all ears.โ Captain Hou replied as he pointed towards the map, indicating where he would suspect the intel to be kept.
โSir, I volunteer to lead the operation to retrieve the intel.โ a voice said from the door. Wall Guardsmen Gin Seng stood there looking determined and fatigued. โIโve grown up training to fight these creatures, to defend this wall. If I can help finish the war then I want to be involvedโฆ Sir.โ he added with a moment hesitation.
โThis mission is too crucial to leave it to one person. But too difficult and risky for a large scale attack.โ Kyoko said as she nodded to Gin Seng.
โPerhaps these heroes from across the sea would be able to be of assistance once again?โ Kit Hou said as she smiled at the group. โThey seemed to have saved half of Ryokughan already from the Oni and the Shadows influence so whatโs one more mission?โ
General Hou frowned at his daughter. โWe put too much pressure on them. They have done enough. We can not rely on them forever and I fear that there may be worse things up in those hills which we just havenโt seen yet.โ
Kyoko smiled to the party. โItโs up to you. But we may need help distracting the main force if we were to send in a smaller group of wall guard to retrieve the intel. If you can help with either endeavour I would feel more confident in our success. The entire Oni force would know of you by now and surely they would want to have a chance at gaining the Shadows favour by attempting to best you in combat.โ
โSir, I volunteer to lead the operation to retrieve the intel.โ His voice echoed in his mind as he looked over the battlefield. In four hours the sun would begin to set and he would begin the mission.
As he looked across the soldiers clearing the battlefield of their dead and piling the enemy corpses onto a pile he called out. โPlace the spiritfolk in a separate pile. They dont burn their dead with the Oni. They think it an offence to the spirits who guide them.โ He said to Kit who, as punishment, was in charge of the bloody duty.
When the party and Kyoko looked his way he smiled sadly. โI spent some time with the spiritfolk when I was youngโฆ Some things you cant forget.โ He began. After a moment he explained further.
Gin was born the son of an alchemist, two infact. His parentโs were non-conventional to say the least. His mother was a human but his father was one of the Spiritfolk who fell in love with the human woman who kept foraging in his forest.
Intially it was professional completion amongst each other. Finding the best reagents or herbs before the other could. But before long it blossomed into more.
Their son looked completely human except for a light covering of fur across his torso. His fathers goat legs, horns and tail were not gifted to his son but his reflexes and inhuman strength was. In the village they lived in the villagers quickly accepted Gin and his parents union. Especially when the quality of potions, charms and lotions were as high as his parents. However, happiness โ like most things canโt remain for long.
Halfway through Ginโs tenth cycle an oni raiding party attacked his village. His parents locked him away and kept him hidden from the oni. But the Oni eventually found his parents. When they worked out that a human and spiritfolk were a could they made a sport out of their torture. It was ok display to the whole village yet Gin couldnโt see his parents in their last moments. But he could hear them.
The following month he pledged himself into the service or the Harimasu military and dedicated his life to hunting Oni.
โand Iโve been here ever since..โ he said with a touch if pride on his face.
โsir! We have movement!โ A guard shouted as they hurried towards the wall.
โHold! Itโs the spirit folk to send off their dead.โ Gin called out to his fellow guardsmen. โSee. Wait and watchโ
A few moments passed and gradually all types of Spiritfolk appeared around the pile of their dead. Then slowly they formed a circle and began to sing and dance around their fallen. โThey are celebrating the reunion of their parents, elders, children and friends and the spirit world. Where they believe they will hunt in the endless plains of their ancestors.โ He explained. โThis will last until sunset at which point they will take the bodies away and burn them amongst the rest of their kin.โ
Sure enough as the sun set the spiritfolk gathered their dead and singing out in joyous tones they carried them away from the battlefield and into the wilds beyond.
Moving forward as the sun set Gin and those who followed behind him looked anxiously at the oni camp. โWe will be there soon. Remember. If we get into trouble or the mission is at risk to fire a drift globe shaft into the air and aid will come.โ Gin said to the people standing nearby.
With agreement from those gathered he began to creep across the battlefield once more, signalling to stop periodically when something moved up ahead. Soon they were in the shadows of the tents. The setting sun and the shadows of the hills, mountain and nearby forest aided in their mission by creating pockets of shadow.
As the sun hit the edge of the mountain it plunged the camp into a mixture of amber glow from the setting sun and dark shadows. A few hundred feet away war horns trumpeted signalling that the second part of the plan had begun and that it was now or never to enter the camp.
The camp
As the oni and butatล left the camp in a hurry to meet the attackers head one. Slowly Gin and his entourage crept forward towards the main tent and waited for the oni captain to leave. As the captain stormed out with its armour buckled in tight a few slave Butatล followed in its wake. Taking this moment as the one to move Gin and his companions skulked forth once again and cut a hole in the canvas tent. Once the coast was deemed clear they entered silently.
None of those present realised the mistake that had been made until it was too late. A deep unholy growl rumbled forth from the shadows of the tent which threatened to bring the entire oni warband to the captains tent. A neat table lay in the centre of the room and contained a map, documents and scrolls. For their brutal use of weapons and mastery of war and savagery the oni were also expert tacticians.
As they stared at the multi limbed creature that confidently strode forth Gin prepared his drift globe shaft in a hand crossbow and prepared to state the words that would activate the arcane device. Looking between his compatriots and the creature he hoped that he didnโt need to call for aid and that they would be able to deal with this threat quickly and quietly.
NPCs –
Wall Guard Gin Seng
Gin heads straight to the Oni camp with the party or with a small group of warriors from the wall. He is determined but nervous at the mission ahead.
Wall Captain Hou
Managing the repairs and defence of the walls Captain Hou makes the necessary plans to ensure that the party and the other warriors joining them near the Oni’s camp are well supplied.
Kyoko Harimasu
Kyoko stays back at camp and works with Takeo to ensure that General Kuang arrives quickly so they can press the advantage.
Miss Hou
Assisting her father, Captain Hou, Kit spends most of her time near the wall coordinating the warriors to provide cover fire, fix walls and prepare if there is a counter attack.
Environment and running the adventure
Gin He has five drift glob shafts which are small drift globes that are crafted into arrow or crossbow arrow/bolt shafts so that when they are shot they activate the moment they start to slow from being launched. This causes the bolt to slowly fall to the ground whilst the drift globe emits a light (of pre-determined colour).
If the party go with Gin they are in the tent when the creature reveals itself. It’s not a hard fight but as it falls it calls out loudly (unless silenced in some manner – Player and DMs decision).
If they don’t the Party are with some other warriors fighting Oni, captains (a larger one in full plate with a large shield and battle axe) when they see several drift globes activate above the Oni Captains tent signalling Gin needs help.
The camp is built on an incline, rather sharply so. The tent are setup in a rather ingenuous way where they form a solid slab-foundation of wood, earth or even snow under the tents to level the tent.. to some degree.
The snowy hills pose an interesting mechanic for us. One way difficult terrain. Moving up the hill through the snow towards the camp is considered difficult terrain where as moving down isnโt. Patches of snow pose a further hindrance as fighting in these areas would impose disadvantage to dexterity checks and strength contests (not checks) due to the slippery mud and shin-to-knee deep snow.
The Bakegamoto is a large dog like creature with a pushed in snout, large bat like ears and at least two large tusks jutting from their bottom jaw. The males are generally endowed with larger tusks and are a mixture of faun with a ruddy brown light mane that sprouts from the neck.
Females are generally lighter in colour without the mane but their tusks are shorter and generally thinner and sharper than the males. Trained bakegamoto are extremely obedient, strong and powerful. Normally kept by Oni captains or chieftains as a sign of power and strength they defend their master completely and obey orders to the best of their ability.
The other creatures that fight the party are Oni, Oni Captain and Butatล.
Thanks once more for reading my end of week writeup. This week see’s the party taking the fight to the Oni, next week being the aftermath of the fight as well as the leadup to the second and last week of the month. This week may be a bit sketchy with the first few days being broken and different schedules my normal ones. I will endeavour to provide a regular flow of content as we make our first steps up into the mountains where the Shadow Calls home. So don’t forge to come back each day this approaching week and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 