Tonight we look at the small Relics traders shop, a place where many adventurers have sold their relics sourced from the three hellscapes that surround the town of Khumric. But there lies a darker secret in the storage room of this suspicious shop which the party will find out soon enough.
So check your coin purses, ensure you have the right allotment of coin as we hit the shop in tonight’s adventure!
The rooms around the shop are small enough to be cosy yet big enough that a few people can more comfortably. That is until you find the basement that is meant to store additional goods for trade. A disguised wall enables a passage that was dug under the neighbouring building and a section of the wall.
In the tunnels, tired and delusional adventurers are found. But they are not feeling themselves and lash out at not only their captives but also the party who have come to rescue them.
A simple one tonight with overlapping tiles, a blend of five texture paints (with nearly two variants per texture) and a few art stamps. Getting the building proportions still seems to be my biggest problem with sizing being difficult as well as making it feel natural. The tunnel was a lot easier and was otherwise run of the mill for what I normally like doing, minus closing mushrooms or crystals.
Thanks for joining for a quick map night tonight with the content for this week nearly wrapping up. Don’t forget that we have a few more nights left of this week so make sure you come back each night this week for more content. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Tonight the party reveals the deep corruption that has spread throughout Khumric. Not surprising considering its main source of income is the acquisition and trade of relics at sites that once housed very ancient and very evil entities.
So grab our quills, ink and notebooks as we take a lesson from history in tonight’s adventure!
Deep Corruption
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Confrontation – Created in WordPress!?
It wasn’t long after leaving the delver guild hall that they realised that something was wrong. A man was arguing with one of the guards from the gate towards the Windhollow peaks and it didn’t look pretty.
‘I’m telling you. They have not left via the gate, nor have they received permission to leave via that rout by order of the guard. The further risk to life is and always will not be tolerated as per Khumric’s creed.’ the guard aggressively spoke.
‘And I’m telling ye’ you idiot that they already left. I want to know which of them went past on their way out’ the bulky dwarf used a sharp jab of his index finger to punctuate his sentences. As tempers started to flare the pair were broken apart. Taking this opportunity to suss out what was going on the party approached the gate guard and asked some questions. Recognising them as outsiders and from entering through the gates earlier today he was less hostile but still, anger boiled beneath the surface.
‘The idiot guilder over there, that is someone who’s part of an adventuring guild, says hes’ lads went through my gate earlier and he wanted to know who did. You see we record who leaves to those tainted places and who has come back – an insurance policy so we can let loved ones know who is lost to the delves.’ he itched his nose as he spoke. ‘With the current issue going on and the reports from all three delves we decided to close off this morning to obey the creed, the towns rules to prevent a calamity like what happened centuries ago. Eulric helps by keeping in contact with those outside of the walls and let’s us know who’s strayed from the path. But this lot.’ he thumbed at the dwarf who broiled at the gesture. ‘Say that they lost men last week and that some more lads went out looking for them. But the records don’t have them leaving through the gates either then or now.’
After taking a look at the records; the guild master must have had a word with the guards about their involvement in the investigation, the party spoke to the dwarf guilder. However, as far as the old dwarf was concerned his lads had left last week by request of a messenger to reinforce a group that ran into trouble and then again today, to reinforce his other lost men. The only clue – it was supposedly the same man that requested aid this morning was the one that requested it last week. The party at least had a lead.
Finding the man amongst a sea of people was nearly impossible, but as luck would have it sometimes when you go searching for signs of trouble, trouble finds you. They were asking one of the merchants who was selling relics, much like the ones they saw embedded in Eulric, when they heard a voice from behind them.
‘Ah, there you are. I’ve been looking for you lot ever since I saw you in the meeting square.’ the party turned around to see the man that had asked for help earlier this morning. ‘I was unable to get the help needed and heard that you were experienced adventurers, not these relic hunters…’ he paused looking around as a familiar tingle of magic resonated from somewhere on him. ‘I can tell that you’re not convinced but I can say that you’re the only ones I can trust for this. I know a way out of the city past those annoying guards, if you can come with me now it’s not too late to save them and become like the heroes of old hey?’
For whatever reason the party knew that he their best lead to the missing party from before, and now the missing rescue team. As they followed him along the wall they came to a shop that looked like it specialised in relics, much like every other stall or market place in the town. As they approached the door a dizzying wave of magical energy came from the room so thickly that it could nearly be tasted. As they pushed forward through the magical haze they found hundreds of relics, round embossed disks of various metals on tables, in walls and in little boxes for sale.
Many of them resonated with something foul and as they move deeper they noticed a strange exchange between the man leading them along and the owner. The sound of a shutting door behind them told them what they needed. If they were to get out of this alive they would likely find in their fight for life the source of the missing rescuers.
Thanks for dropping by tonight for another expansion for this weeks adventure. Don’t forget that we still have a few more days to add to and expand this adventure. So don’t forget to come back each night this week to stay up to date with how it evolves. And lastly , as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Eulric Darkstone is the head of the delvers guild in Khumric and likely equally the most cursed and most revered human in the land. Cursed and marked as a sacrifice for the town to forever prosper he had relics from the three chaotic landmarks melded into his flesh in a ritual to bind him to the land and its people. And up until now it’s worked, that is until the party walk into his office.
So sit down, grab your hooded cloaks and get ready to sneak about in tonight’s adventure!
The Delvers Guild
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Eulric Darkstone – Created in WordPress!?
Although they had seen many different people from many different backgrounds and species the person in front of them stood out as potentially the most memorable, ever. Large runic scars covered all exposed skin and hinted that they ran deeper than what the loose tunic showed. With a great deal of symmetry the tattoo-like scars ended in key points where a silver, gold or bronze circular relic was embedded into the flesh of the man and had been for some time.
The head of the Delvers guild was Eulric Darkstone, a man who was the last living descendant of the original heroes that defeated the three evils around Khumric. As he listened to reports of the members of the guild submitting their reports the party could feel the magical energies from the relics that were embedded in his flesh activating.
When he spoke there is a faint metallic whine to his voice that unnerved the parties. ‘There is nothing in the crypts with this power, nor at the demongate. The wyrms are large, yes, and we haven’t seen their species for quite some years now but they are not the cause either.’ as he spoke the magic from the runes receded. He had shoulder length silver hair and when he looked to the party he frowned. ‘I did not sense any of you enter this town.’ he murmured as he moved forward. ‘For someone who’s body was sacrificed to ensure the prosperity of this town, imbued with the malevolent energies that make up this land, I can every living thing in these lands. Yet I could not sense you.’ he mused.
While the other members of the guild looked puzzled and some outright concerned he smiled and a faint pulse from somewhere on his back signified the activation of a rune. ‘That’s it. They are concealed. The evil is not in the Windhollow peaks nor the crypts of the Marsh of Despair or even at the Demongate. No, its within Khumric and living amongst us, likely concealed by some ancient power.’ the other members of the guild instantly started scribing on parchment taking down notes as he addressed them and the next move.
As they ran off to deliver the message to the several boards around the town he looked back toward them. ‘If I may be so bold, now that I have said what everyone needed to hear. The source of the trouble will likely be tied to the energies of this place like I am. But like I, it, they, whoever or whatever it is may not be able to sense you. Can I ask you to also investigate, look for oddities in the town. Evil rarely stays dormant for long and you are our best chance of getting out of this without further loss of life.’ the man sat down, still hulking above the desk between them and waited for their response.
Thanks for joining me for another night at my tabletop. Don’t forget that there is still a few more nights left this week where I will be expanding this adventure further. So don’t forget to come back each night this week to stay up to date and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Tonight the party arrive just in time to bear witness to Khumric’s Calamity after a century of relative peace the three landmarks that once housed ancient evils have claimed scores of adventurers. There is something dark brewing in this land and the party has come at just the right time to either leave, or try and stop the destruction of the town.
So buckle up, oil your blades and let’s get going in tonight’s adventure!
The town of Khumric is often thought of poorly. It’s on the edge of the Marsh of Despair and caught between the Windhollow peaks and the Demongate. So to say that the people think that the people of this town are rougher and harder than others would be an understatement.
Yet despite the historical names of the landmarks around Khumric it hasn’t seen hordes of undead, demons of the flying monsters that called the shattered peaks of Windhollow home in a century. Yet something foul has once again stirred and the bustling town-come-city that sprung up from a centuries of conflict and nightmare fuel has had its new identify questioned.
What they need is heroes, like the ones of old, to quell the madness that threatens to bubble out of history and threaten their hard fought peace. But is it too much to ask for too late in the century long game that an ancient evil has been playing?
Khumric’s Calamity
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Khumric – Created in WordPress!?
The party entered Khumric and had to hold back their shock. The journey here along the Marsh of Despair held little hope for what they would find when they got to the rumoured City of Dungeons. A hub for adventurers delving into the forgotten places in three of the most dangerous places to have existed not but a century ago.
Now those areas lay relatively dormant with frequent expeditions to the known castles, crypts and caverns clearing out threats before they can hope to overwhelm the populace of Khumric that lay between them all. As they moved through the brightly lit gates and past the walls that told tales of battles from long ago they were greeted by a metropolis of tents and a cacophony of colour and sound.
Khumric was once hailed as the worst place to live, the best place to work in by many guilds and now it seemed like they were going through some kind of rebirth. The party passed many tents with people hawking their wares – many were selling trinkets from the dungeons near by – and from people offering services to adventurers like themselves.
There was an Inn on every street, nearly every street corner that had little or no vacancy and parties of adventurers were everywhere. The main form of work here was exploring the near endless crypt in the Marsh of Despair, the massive and dangerous keep in the Demongate or the caverns that wove through the Windhollow peaks. Each one of them had at one point vast treasure hordes stockpiled by some warlord, warlock or wyrm over the last few centuries and the adventurers who sought their fame and fortune found a new horde every week.
However at the centre of the town was a large billboard with dozens of job adverts. A robust man with a greying moustache that matched some of the grey colouration of his leather apron was currently hammering in the latest job advert. However, when the people crowded around the paper a whisper roses from the group as people backed away gesturing to their companions.
‘We’re leaving.’ was frequently heard as groups reunited after reading the parchment. The party, curious, wandered closer and read.
‘No parties have returned from the Demongate since last week. Please be advised that the Delvers Guild is not recommending exploration of the keep while they identify the cause.’
The sound of another tack hammering into the board interrupted their trance.
‘No parties have returned from the Marsh since five days from now. Please be advised that the Delvers Guild is not recommending exploration of the Crypt while we retrieve the bodies.’
The party heard another tack, whack, whack, whack, as it nailed another scrap of parchment to the board.
‘The Wandering minstrel has a sudden vacancy in its rooms as its previous tenants have not returned from their delves. Please see Wanda at reception to enquire about rooms.’ The party was half expecting a notice about the Windhollow but was glad it wasn’t more bad news. As they turned to consider their next move a man, a warrior of some kind, pushed through on his charger into the middle of the square.
‘Wyrm discovered at Windhollow. It’s currently hunting all the parties that have been exploring the caverns. I am seeking able bodies adventurers to help retrieve the dead and survivors!’ he called. Several groups approached the messenger noting the deep wounds on himself and the horse – which appeared to have some form of healing magic cast upon it to keep it upright. The party may need to talk to the Delvers guild to get to the bottom of this.
Thanks for dropping by for another week of adventure. This week starts of big, big in fact that you could likely run an event with many parties trying to solve the same issue from different angles. But for us and our party this is just the beginning. So don’t forget to come back each day this week for the rest of this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Now for the next Zine of the year I present, in single page zine format, The Displaced Lord. I still believe that these provide DMs a lot more freedom to tinker with it how they want and open up the adventures to be more free formed and flowing than the larger booklet zines.
There is references to the blog nights which are D&D centric (regarding Friday night’s Stat-blocks) but this adventure can be used system agnostic more so than my regular Zines. As always Kobold fight club can be used to quickly balance an encounter for Dungeons and Dragons and Tetra-cube provides the stat-blocks for many of my D&D creatures.
So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, The Displaced Lord, and that all your rolls are made with advantage.
The Displaced Lord
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The adventurers had journeyed to Nevarl and had found themselves in the Penitent’s Larder, a lively and boisterous tavern that belied its name. The tavern keeper, Goya, a formidable goliath, enforced the rules with an iron fist. As she stood behind the bar, cleaning large carving knives, she chatted amiably with the party, who had booked a room for a night or two. Their conversation was filled with tales of their adventures, and Goya eagerly joined in, asking questions that revealed her keen interest in their exploits.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as a faint cry for help reached their ears. The room fell silent, and the adventurers turned their attention to the door. A man burst in, his tunic torn and covered in mud and vomit, with claw marks raking his back. He collapsed, pleading for help. The party rushed outside to investigate, finding only barrels rolling down the road and indistinct footprints. Returning to the now-empty tavern, they discovered Goya nursing a broken lip and the man bleeding from new cuts. He warned them of a demon that grew angry when his shirt was removed, but despite their best efforts, the party found no evidence of a lurking demon.
The party watched the nervous man, who introduced himself as Joe Smith, anxiously eat his meal. He explained that every time he removed his shirt, he was attacked by an unseen demon with horns, a hog-like nose, tusks, and claws capable of slicing through dragon scales. Despite their efforts, the party couldn’t detect any curse or determine the source of the faint magic surrounding him. Each attempt to remove the shirt resulted in Joe being attacked, leaving him bruised and bloodied.
Determined to uncover Joe’s identity, the party left him in Goya’s care and searched the markets of Nevarl. They found no record of Joe Smith, raising doubts about his existence. However, they observed a strange interaction between a well dressed young woman putting up pieces of parchment on a notice board before her house guardsmen tore them down and burned them, one briefly revealing Joe’s face on a well-dressed man. With no other leads, the party realized that finding Joe’s true identity required pursuing the wealthy or influential individuals behind the expensive sketches.
The party stood at the entrance of a narrow, cobblestone street that wound through the bustling Nevarl markets. Tall buildings of stone and timber lined the street, their upper stories jutting out and adorned with signs and clothes. One sign read ‘Draodir,’ a famous dwarven tavern known for its strong spirits and ale. Barrels and crates were scattered along the sides, and warm lanterns cast an inviting light, despite the lurking figures.
The air carried the scent of baked goods, likely from a nearby shop. In the distance, the street led to an archway with the towering spires of a grand castle beyond. With Joe in tow, the party was determined to reach the manor where his family waited, reunite him with his daughter, and hopefully break the curse affecting his mind.
The party managed to sneak in through the servants quarters into the manor. They avoided the sounds of people while in the house and headed deeper into the manor. There are guards posted outside of a large room but they manage to prevent a near disaster where a maid of the manor recognised Joe as Donnovan. Confirming their suspicions the maid led them to the hall where Lady Straken and her daughter, Kendral Straken were waiting.
Thanks for joining me today for another adventure. Please feel free to leave comments if you like what you see when you grab a copy of the PDF. Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it. Don’t forget to come back daily so you don’t miss a thing in the coming weeks adventures. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Tonight, while heavily preoccupied with the family as well as Monster Hunter Wilds, I wanted to take it slower but, instead, I chose to work on the 30 Minute Writing Challenge – Hard edition. Now that’s not a great title but hear me out.
These challenges usually involve a random prompt, song, scene or piece of inspiration (such as art in this case) which I use to fuel my adventure. Tonight however AI did AI things and gave me something way off topic. However, I can rise to this challenge and see what I can work out.
Now with all these challenges I have 30 minutes to create a plot, a convincing NPC, a turn or twist and lastly some form of climax to the adventure. This week is a very different AI art that will, hopefully, inspire me to write something useful in 30 minutes.
Some caveats:
I can only write past 30 minutes to correct grammatical or spelling errors – I’m only human
I am not aloud to write content past 30 minutes, or the challenge is failed
I need to incorporate the random inspiration; this week is a weird image
That’s it… pretty simple
Time Start: 9:11pm AEDT Time Finish: 9:39pm AEDT.
So sit back, grab some popcorn and wait to see me fall on my face in tonight’s 30 minute writing challenge!.
30 Minute Writing Challenge – Hard edition
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Co-pilots thought of what a ‘group of adventurers in life or death situation’ would look like…
The party had not been through the Kace jungle before and they found the dense vegetation, weird fauna and flora more than off putting. This jungle had not been touched by humans from the outside world before, to their knowledge, and the wildlife was evident of this.
The prey animals were not fearful of the people walking through and several striped mammals chewed on some fermenting beans as they past by. Their weird jaws seemed to bisect their heads completely enabling them to scoop great sloughs of rotting bean bods into their mouths before cracking it open with large tusk like molars.
However it quickly became apparent that their employer, the Scholar simply named ‘Moth’ was not cut out for traveling through the jungle. ‘Dearest friends,’ he wheezed, ‘can we have that break now?’ he pleaded. The party had agreed to rest at midday after a few hours of travel and when the sun would be at its hottest. However, Moth was struggling to keep up with a few more hours to go. The nagging and pleading had increased over the last hour and the deeper in the jungle they went the harder it would be to avoid larger predators with the noise that the man made.
Reluctantly they agreed to have a short break, to let the scholar rest up and to give their cartographer enough time to update the map. The break however did not see Moth slow down in his speech or questions. ‘You lot came with high expectations I must let you know. And so far you are exceeding them. “Ruthless, efficient and able to get the job done” that’s what they said you were and look at how far we have come.’ he paused to marvel at the jungle around them. ‘To think I am the first known scholar to set foot inside this forest to study and begin to map it out. Fascinating stuff really. If we keep on this course we will reach the mountains we were able to see from outside the forest looking inwards…’ he continued.
The party were still on high alert despite the constant distraction and a good thing they were. ‘The colours on the plumage were just daz…’ Moth began before a gloved covered hand pressed over his mouth. ‘Trouble’ is all that was said as they all prepared for what was to come.
The fight was quick and brutal with large feline like predators with an extra set of legs had lunged from the brush. Despite being large and powerful it was no match for the party who dispatched it swiftly and cleanly – much to Moth’s delight. As they were assisting the scholar in turning the beast over onto its side they notice that it had a large painted handprint on its shoulder. A marking of a clan no doubt.
‘If there are clans nearby, maybe they can help our next part of the journey.’ Moth offered to the group. However, with a sinking feeling in the party realised that either they had either just killed the tribes lost hunting beast or, they were being hunted with the beast being the first to appear.
The signal to continue received loud and clear the party packed up after this short break and left the dead animal behind. As they moved through the forest after that incident they looked for traces of the clans folk nearby but whether a good or ill omen they were unable to find any sign either way.
Deeper they went, making for the mountains and finally they found a clue of what they were dealing with. Although it was not what they were hoping for. Skeletons of people were tied to trees by their ankles and suspended above the ground. A large spear plunged into the wood beyond which would have effectively pinned the victims to the bark.
For the first time since they left the city of Grenor they had quiet from Moth who looked at the symbolic display with open horror. ‘I think we’ve had quite enough of this forest now. Much more of the research can be done from inside the academy. ‘ He said trough rapid breathes.
Yet, it was too late for them to leave. The party watched as half a dozen warriors and their large cat like beasts all arrived as if on queue. Surrounded the party waited until a smaller man, with a face filled with hurt and rage approached them, speaking in broken common language.
‘You are trespassing on Honuki lands. You must leave now after paying tribute or join the wall of warning where we put the rest of those who defile our land.’ he said as he gestured at the tied and impaled skeletons on the trees.
‘However,’ he added with a renewed look of hurt. ‘You took one of our tribe from us, so we demand you leave one behind. Pick or we will take all.’
Thanks for reading tonight’s 30 minute adventure. Despite the bright and cheerful image I was able to find something that could be drawn out into the adventure above. Don’t forget that tomorrow night we wrap up this weeks adventure with a Zine and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
The aid to Lord and Lady Straken, Ned Tafelo, is an ambitious and clever man. Able to make friends easily with his knowledge and the tricks he has learned over a number of years practicing magic in the court. However, there is a point where ones ambitions overgrows their station and a hunger sets in for more than what they were entitled to.
So get your anti-fey charms out for we will be needing them in tonight’s encounter!
Ned Tafelo
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The party watched the recognition of what had happened appear on the face of Lady Straken as her daughter sobbed into the arms of her husband, who looked deridingly different to normal. ‘Don,’ he voice reached out questioning as his eyes rose to meet hers, the faintest glimmer of recognition in his eyes. ‘Is that really you my husband?’ she asked as her tears came unbidden to her eyes.
‘It’s him mother, come over here, you must not be able to see clearly from across the room. It truly is father.’ Kendral urged. As Lady Straken stood from her seat the family advisor, Ned Tafelo, stood and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
‘My lady, that can not be our Don. He looks to wild. This is surely a poor attempt to claim the reward that I put out for any information that would lead to his return.’ Ned slid a glance at the men who lined the walls of the hall, those who had failed him.
‘He lies mother. These people, these adventurers told me that they had questioned Ned’s men and that they were caught destroying the missing person posters I had been putting out. They told me you had ordered my return to the house where it was not the case and they kept me confined to my room until they freed me with father with them. He claims to have no memory of us, just of the nightmares that he gets when he tries to remember. A curse they believe it to be, one that came from our advisor, Ned.’ she declared pointing towards the man.
Ned practically snarled. ‘Guards, throw these would be assassins out. Protect Lady Straken as Kendral has shown her true colours as a snake that wishes harm on the family and its business. I will not have what I…’ he paused realising his mistake before trying to quickly cover it up. ‘What this family has created for some knave that these swindlers wish to use against the family. Seize them dead or alive!’
As the men rushed forward with swords drawn the look of horror in Lady Straken’s eyes was all encompassing until, Ned uttered some words and a arcane symbol appeared before her eyes. She stared blankly ahead before bursting into tears. ‘My own daughter. She has admitted to murdering her father and plotting to kill me next.!’ she cried out.
As the spell took affect over Lady Straken though something changed in Joe. ‘Susanna!’ he cried out as he ripped off his shirt, roaring in terror and determination. ‘I am well, Ned has put a curse on me, a phantasm that has hunted and haunted me. This cursed tunic, this tunic of torment has had me in its grips for too long but I cast it aside! Guards to me!’ he bellowed as doors opened and house guards entered looking confused, and relieved, as they charged to meet Neds men in the hall.
The old memory wipe trick. When used with a cursed shirt that strips memory and a near-permanent phantasm that haunts the target, its a very tricky thing to unravel. Thanks for joining me for another night but don’t forget that the week is not over yet. So make sure you don’t forget to come back the last two days of the week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Tonight we have another theatre of the mind encounter where the Nevarl market’s streets house an ambush for the party as they move Joe to meet his daughter. This however makes for a tight enclosed area to fight in with barrels of goods, patrons of taverns and shops and even the opportunist pick pocket or several of them could hinder the parties plans.
So gear up, grab a guide perhaps… for we take to the street in tonight’s adventure!
The party find themselves standing at the entrance of a narrow, cobblestone street, the kind that knits the many shops, craftsmen and stalls throughout the Nevarl markets. The buildings on either side are tall and constructed from sturdy stone and timber which is a blend between the several races that predominantly call the city of Nevarl home. The upper stories of the buildings jut out over the street, creating a secondary layer where signs, advertisements or simply clothes could be seen hung for all to see.
Wooden signs hang above the doors, one of which reads ‘Draodir’ in a dwarvern tavern that was famous for its exceptionally strong spirits and ale which they mixed together into a broiling mix that many rarely could stomach of finish.
Barrels and crates are stacked haphazardly along the sides of the street, some filled with goods, others empty, a reflection of the bustling trade that takes place here. The street is lit by warm, glowing lanterns hanging from the buildings and strung across the street on ropes, creating an inviting light that was deceptive considering the figures that lurked up ahead and behind.
The air is filled with the faint scent of baked goods, likely coming from a large barrel filled with day old bread near the entrance to a store renown for its freshness.
In the distance, the street narrows further and leads to an archway, beyond which the towering spires of a grand castle can be seen, their silhouettes stark against the bright blue sky. The party knew that on the way to that castle was their destination, with Joe behind them they were taking him to see his daughter and hopefully, to break the curse that had addled his mind.
Thanks for joining tonight something to slow down for tonight with a guide or prompt for potential theatre of mind instigated encounter for this week. Don’t forget that tomorrow we look into the stat blocks for this weeks adventure, and inevitable encounter. So don’t forget to come back for that and this weekends content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Tonight we get to the grim discovery of this adventure where the man known as Joe Smith was Cold Cuckooed. What does that mean? Well we’ll get to that in this adventure but let’s get ready to set that scene.
So put on some quiet shoes as we sneak up on tonight’s adventure!
Cold Cuckooed
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Kendral Straken – Created in WordPress!?
The party had found them again. The two individuals who had been seen ripping images down of Joe had been spotted again and this time they weren’t getting away. As they strode forward through the crowd the party stopped as they started to call out to a girl standing in front of another notice board.
‘Mistress Straken,’ one of them began as they walked towards the young woman. ‘We finally found you. Your mother asked us to come and find you to make sure that you were safe. With your father missing it is not wise for you to be without escort lest someone really did kidnap your father.’ the man continued.
‘Ah Kesper,’ she replied, the look of annoyance on her face. ‘I had to put out the posters to make sure people were aware that father was missing.’ she insisted.
‘Kendral, your father will show up. We will take those missing posters and put them up for you, but you must return to the manor now.’ the other offered with what appeared to be kindness.
‘Thank you Yjarl, Kesper. I have asked permission of most taverns and a few guilds to place these up in the area.’ she said as she handed over the small bag of tacks and the posters. As Yjarl walked with the girl, Kendral, Kesper waited until they were out of sight before depositing the stack of paper into an open fire before walking off.
The party had a bad feeling about this but they knew that at least one person would be excited to see Joe and hopefully in seeing Kendral that they would get the answers they need that even Joe had forgotten about himself.
They had found that the young woman had returned to a large manor that was swarming with guards who would not let anyone near under order of the lady of the manor. They had found out that the lord, Donnovan Straken, had been missing for a few days now. The primary suspect was a group of thugs who were wanting a large ransom, so far the letter had come but no demands had been made.
However the party now suspected that their Joe Smith back at the Penitent Larder was Donnovan and that the girl was the key behind it. As they had waited for an opportunity to get inside the same man they saw burning the missing persons posters walked nearby and was caught bragging to one of the maids ‘Yeah, the lady’s advisor had asked me to to a special errand. You know I’m pretty important you see, report directly to the lady and her aid. Between you and me there will be some big changes soon and we may have a new lord.’
The maid of course giggled before being called to continue her work. The party maybe had a way in.
The man winced but still resisted the party’s questioning. ‘Do your worst, he will do much worse to me if I tell you so I don’t fear you righteous folk’ Kesper spat at their feet.
That wraps up tonight’s update for this weeks adventure. The next two nights will fill in the final pieces of the puzzle with a confrontation with guards and then the reveal of who’s behind it all on Friday. So don’t forget to come back each remaining day this week to stay up to date with the tabletop and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Tonight the party try to probe deeper the identify of this mystery man with only the name, Joe Smith, to go by. However they struggle to find a name and only by a description do they get some hints at what’s going on as they continue to search for a cure for the curse.
So join me in welcoming Joe Smith to the scene tonight as the party try to unravel another mystery in tonight’s adventure!
Joe Smith
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‘Joe Smith’ – Created in WordPress!?
The party watched the man as he nervously ate, his eyes darting around the room as if he could be attacked at any moment. As the last of the porridge was gobbled up he continued with the conversation that they were having.
‘Look. All I can remember is that my name is Joe Smith and that when ever I take off this ruddy shirt I get attacked by a demon. Horns, big hog-like nose and tusks and claws would slice through dragon scale. I have tried to find help since discovering my plight but no one can or will help me.’ he finished, his voice betraying his frustration.
The party had tried to detect any curse that was on the man but had failed, the only thing that could be found is a faint trace of magic but they had been unable to determine what kind. They had even tried to remove the curse on his clothes but the same thing happened. As the shirt raised from his body he was attacked, without anyone else sensing or seeing the demon, which left him bruised, bloodied and his shirt more torn than before.
So they left the man in the care of Goya who nodded to them strongly as they went out to find the identity of the man. As they moved about the markets of Nevarl they found no sign of a Joe Smith. Try as they might no market stall, merchant or craftsman had heard of Joe – not even the smiths themselves! – and the more they pried the more they began to think that he simply didn’t exist.
However they happened to witness a group of guardsmen ripping off some sketches from a notice board and throwing them in a fire. As the paper burned the party witnessed the parchment unravel and very briefly, Joe’s face appeared on a man that we much better dressed. Just as swiftly as the image had presented itself to them the paper turned to ash and was lost.
Those collecting and burning the parchment had already left but they were the parties only lead. To burn these sketches was an expensive exercise as the cost to create them without magic was quite high. Whoever was searching for Joe was either exceedingly rich, or Joe was worth a lot of money.
Thanks for joining me another night for more tabletop update for this weeks adventure. Don’t forget that the next few nights really spice up this adventure with the twist tomorrow night, map on Thursday and encounter on Friday. So don’t forget to come back the remaining days of this week to follow along this adventure. And finally, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage, The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 