D&D5e Compatible

The Fulgurbeast

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The Fulgurbeast, a creature seemingly born from lightning and sadism is a relentless hunter. Can the party overcome what stalks them and make it out alive despite it being a creature of the storm itself? Well there is really only one way to find out.

So let’s grab a coffee, sit down and roll into tonight’s encounter!

The Fulgurbeast

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Fulgurbeast – created in tetra-cube

The Fulgurbeast attacks with more cunning than the average human. Watching and reading its preys weaknesses, motions and attacks it learns how to guarantee the feast to come. As beasts born from chaos some are born with deformities but these never seem to slow down the creature. Extra appendages, mouths or even heads these only aid in the making each beast unique and a frightening foe to face on the battlefield.

Using its ability to create near-perfect images, sounds and even smells it lures prey away from one another and then attempts to execute the weakest, or most dangerous one. Grappling and dragging off using its surprising agility and strength it will attempt to create chaos and confusion amongst the members of the group its hunting in order to make them dysfunctional and easier to hunt down.

Alternative Stat-block

Fulgurbeast – Created in tetra-cube.

That’s all we have for tonight, something a bit fun and more than a bit lethal. Don’t forget to come back this weekend for more tabletop content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Krencham Fields

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This week we have an ambush, whether during a hasty retreat or a noble rescue but regardless of the when it happens in the Krencham Fields. These fields are long overgrown with the now wild crops of the previous farms that used to flourish in this area. Now these fields of high wheat, corn and other plants make it difficult to pinpoint where dangers are lurking.

So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s roll into tonight’s map.

Krencham Fields

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Krencham Fields – Created in Inkarnate

The raised road provides good visibility in the surrounding area but it is rather narrow. Trees have fallen or dropped limbs from the recent storm and so there are hazards scattered near the roads. The real hero of tis map is the 4 feet (1.2 meters) high crops that basically hide anything that is medium sized from view if its sneaking through them.

A few blended background textures tonight and some simple tree placement to follow the narrative of the map. Different shades of the background texture add a bit of depth and add to the appearance of a blended crop-grass field. Many, many wheat crops n the field, some craggy hill assets to hide the raised section of the road (still don’t know how to use the dig tool effectively so this works ok, for now.).

Other than that a simple map that with some small adjustments could be extended indefinitely if you want to turn it into a chase scene. Fitting for either rescuing the Orster’s or moving out of the area surrounding the town.

Thanks for coming to check the map tonight. Tomorrow we reveal the stat-block for the creature so don’t forget to come back for the last few days of this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Creature Approaching

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There are few things that can strike fear into players than the realisation that there is a creature approaching and that they don’t know what or where it is. This week we have a creature that excels at the hunt, employing illusions, misdirection and cunning that is rarely seen in the wilds.

But before we give too much away let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Creature Approaching

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Jane watched as the corn stalks moved and prepared her spell. Drawing her hand up the diamond on her bracelet caught the light from the sun as she drew energy from the weave. As the corn stalks stopped moving Harry gestured for her to prepare to release her spell as he took aim with his crossbow. The swift twang that resounded from the sleek drow-made device was met with a screech that sent a shiver down their spine. Jane released her spell – the chromatic orb bristling with thunderous energy as it slammed into the same spot that the crossbow bolt had lanced through the stalks.

The energy boomed loudly in the area, ‘Hopefully that alerted anyone nearby‘ Jane thought as she prepared another spell watching for any signs of life. The amount of energy she put into the spell was moderate – above what a new spell caster would be able to muster but as she saw three frantically moving tails in the corn she prepared a fireball. Retrieving the pre-prepared sulphur covered ball from a pouch within her sleeve she began the spell. Drawing in the heat from the surrounding area she pushed it inwards to the ball. Mixing in the magical power from the weave she added more power than what would be required to feel a party of orcs.

“Jane. Something is wrong with this one!” Harry called as he drew his longsword in conjunction with loading a bolt into the crossbow.

“I’ll take care of it with this spell Harry!” she called back as the spell finished. Looking towards the multiple sources of movement she launched the ball forward watching it race into the point of impact. The resounding explosion sent burning stalks of corn raining down along with clumps of dirt and rock. Taking a moment to breath and look for signs of life she walked forward and prepared to face what would come out of the corn – if it was still alive.

The creature watched as the human walked forward and waited. The image of the lifeless form amongst the corn stalks lay a dozen feet from the human but yet the creature bade its time. There were two creatures that could be its source of food today. As the human discovered the body it stumbled backwards shocked, the image that the creature had created was convincing enough and so it stalked forward. As it moved on its six legs, the vestigial mouth twitched and salivated in apprehension of its meal to come.

Throwing out a second illusion the creature caused the human who had hit it with the bolt to turn around, hearing something behind it. As the magic user also responded to the sound the creature slunk up on silent feet and grappled the woman, the vestigial mouth chewing instantly at the midsection of the woman opening up painful wounds. Wrapping its clawed paw around the human’s mouth it dragged it backwards into the tall crops causing the illusionary sound to be more frantic to ensure its escape with its prey. However the human lashed out with more magic causing a burst of sound.

The pain lashed through the creature’s body as it turned its claws inwards and slashed at the woman before retreating to lick its wounds to encourage its rapid healing. As the creature scurried away it watched as the human with the crossbow rushed to the mauled human witch. She was very weak now which increased the odds of the creature surviving. As its wounds knitted together, bones cracked back into place and bruising disappeared it prepared for its meal to come

Thanks for joining me for another night, a bit of a delay in posting this one tonight as a scheduled event means I wont post it immediately. Tomorrow we go into the map that we will be encountering the creature within but don’t worry, it won’t be an impossible task. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Orster Trading

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With the looming danger of the creature, or thing that was in the town of Krencham the party begin to head away from the town. However on their way out they run into the Orster Trading company run by Harry and Jane Orster – experienced merchants who look like they can handle themselves.

So let’s grab a coffee, sit back and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Orster Trading

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Harry Orster – Created in nightcafe.
Jane Orster – created in nightcafe.

The road out of Krencham after the storm; and revelation of what it may have left behind afterwards, was calm. Branches and leaves lay strewn about the road which was lined with trees that separated the raised surface from the fields of overgrown and long forgotten crops.

Up ahead a pair of humans rode towards them on horses that pulled carts behind them. Waving and signalling the party they, a man and woman, stopped alongside the party. “We didn’t think many people would be braving these roads after that storm last night. But here we are and well met.” the man said with a smile, his hand holding the handle of a rather ornate looking longsword, his other hand by the side of his horse and hidden from view. “I am Harry and this is my wife, Jane. Any news of the road up ahead that we should be aware of? The horses can cross over fallen trees, however the carts are not so lucky.”

After the party explained what happened the night before both of them exchanged a glance. “Well we haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary except a pack of dire wolves hunting up ahead. Luckily I was able to persuade them to hunt easier prey” Jane replied with a knowing smile.

After a few more pleasantries Harry and Jane excused themselves, Harry storing a hand-crossbow that he had concealed at first meeting once he had determined the party meant no harm. As they rode off towards Krencham and beyond the party couldn’t help but worry for them but they seemed formidable enough that they should be able to take care of themselves. As the party continued up the road the silence was oppressive. The birds seemed to be hiding away from the world and there wasn’t any game to be found.

Half a mile later a flock of crows broke the silence as they burst forth from the tall crops. A waft of wind brought forth the sticky-sweet smell of blood from the site where the crows had gathered. Approaching the site the party bore witness to a massacre. Seven dire wolves lay dead, well what appeared to be seven dire wolves at least. The bodies were ripped apart, severed and torn apart and the pieces strewn about. All the body cavities had been ripped open and the innards removed, or devoured.

As they considered what could have done this the crack of thunder could be heard from the direction of Krencham. From this distance they could see flashes of magic, an explosion signalling a fireball, a blast of lightning and even booms of thunder as a fierce battle raged on. But within a few heart wrenching moments the magic stopped and silence swept across the plains again.

The party had no doubt that Orster Trading had met something hostile on the road through Krencham. Victorious or defeated they knew not but whatever the case they had better put some distance between them and the site of the battle in case they are next on the menu.

Now that I look at the plot line I have for this week, with last Saturdays trigger driving some of it, it may be a fair bit darker than my normal adventures. However the show must go on and we have barely started this weeks adventure! So don’t forget to come back each day this week and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Ruins of Krencham

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This week we have the party caught in transit – passing from one city to another and, not quite making it all the way through as they take refuge in the ruins of Krencham. Will they make it out alive or will the storm filled night be too much for them.

So hunker down, grab a drink and let’s survive tonight’s adventure!

The travel between cities is fraught with danger, be it bandits, weather or hungry creatures that hunt the roads. But the roads less travelled, through abandoned buildings and towns can be safer or much, much more dangerous. The Town of Krencham has been abandoned for years now, the strange case of a township of farmers in a relatively safe part of the country disappearing overnight. Many of the buildings were left intact with a single door pushed off its hinges, out into the street.

Due to there being no bodies found the military did not investigate and deemed it a mystery. However after many years the road through Krencham has started to be used again by travellers but this time is different. After a violent storm has rocked the land the party takes refuge in the destroyed buildings. But the scene that they came out to the following day started to tie the pieces of the puzzle together.

Now the hunt is on and the party is the prey. Racing across abandoned farmlands, taking refuge in the crumbling buildings as an unknown creature stalks the edges of their sanity. Will they make it to their destination alive or will the same fate as the farmers of Krencham be theirs?

Krenchams Ruins

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Krencham’s Ruins – created in Nightcafe.

The storm raged on as the party raced down the road, the flash of lightning illuminating the distant outline of ruins. Racing towards the distant hope of shelter, roads, fences and buildings that they ran past looked like lifeless shells. The Town of Krencham had been destroyed years ago overnight as the source of its destruction – and the disappearance of its people. This town was just ahead and tonight it would be their saviour tonight as the storm turned more violent – evolving into a maelstrom in its own right.

The streets, from what they could see from the lightning strikes, were deserted, ruined but a clear path made through the debris. Looking quickly over the buildings that were mainly intact they spotted what appeared to be mostly intact, a church to Lathander. Pushing through the rotten door they found themselves in a dank room that had as many leaks as an ant hill had ants. 

Starting a small fire they huddled together and tried to get their clothes dry. The sounds of the storm outside sounded like an enraged animal, buildings shifted and crumbled, dust and bits of roof fell inwards upon them but it held strong. A few intense lightning strikes struck nearby and caused the ground to vibrate and for a moment the structure groaned and tilted.

The storm raged for hours and left an hour before dawn. The morning saw the party push through the semi-blocked door they had pushed through to find that parts of the ruins were a mess. Some buildings had crumbled further but bits of tree and churned earth were all around. Scouting the town they paused when they found something that they were not expecting. A tunnel had been dug along with the charred earth that indicated a lightning strike. Large swaths of dirt had been pushed outwards near one of the ruined buildings and claw and unknown tracks could be seen at points near and around the site. 

Within moments a shriek of pain could be heard in the distance – an animal in pain in the direction away from the tunnel. Through the forgotten crops that grew in the fields still a path of crushed stalks could be seen moving from the tunnel outwards. The storm last night may have hidden the emergence of some creature, but frighteningly just as likely it had masked their presence from the creature that was now hunting nearby.

Thanks for joining me tonight for another week of adventuring. Don’t forget that each day this week we will expand out current adventure so don’t forget to come back daily and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Steel Princess

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Tonight and I have created a new zine for the year. I hope you are finding the current format of this Zine useful as I am continue to investigate what I can create weekly. I do this while aiming to give the DM freedom and flexibility without railroading them and the Party. So without any further waiting I present, The Steel Princess, in the same format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books.

As always this adventure can be used system agnostic but focuses on D&D so please feel free to adjust to what ever system and the creatures you are using in your adventure! However 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 the creatures found in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, The Steel Princess, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

The Steel Princess

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Luistira City – Created in Nightcafe.

The party had been drawn to Luistira – the city of steel to replenish their arms and armour after a few intensive battles. The steel here at the beginning of the Ferrous highway was famous. Many of the best smiths worked here and several notable blades had been created in the several forges that were established here.

However it was not the shopping that kept the party here but a request for aid. 

The Iron Harvest was calling for people to escort its many wagons to the Kings Castle, a few days from Luistira, and they were asking for only the best. 
Either those with great repute would be hired or those who could test themselves and prove themselves worthy and it just so happened that the party was also heading in that direction.
“What makes you think you are ready to join the Iron Harvest Guard?” the guard, dressed more like a royal guard than a caravan mercenary, asked. 
“We have heard word of your party. Some good work but surely these tales of your exploits and endeavours have been exaggerated.” a second spoke, this time a female who was dressed as the part of a caravaner. 
“Now Sal, we can’t jump to conclusions.” the man spoke looking across his broad shoulder to where she sat in the back room at the inn.
“Easy captain. Let them speak. They have a reputation for getting the job done.” Sal continued leaning towards the party.

PDF adventure – The Steel Princess

the-steel-princessDownload

Thanks for joining me today for another Zine this year. As usual there is a lot more in the Zine than there was in the daily updates on this blog – so make sure to grab a copy of the PDF.

Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it.
I hope you don’t miss a thing so come back daily in the coming week and year. This is so you can experience the creation of the next adventure as it evolves and shapes out. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Creature Concept Night!

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Taking a break from creating cards, adventures, stories or the like tonight I have decided to make a Creature Concept Night! By using similar, nearly identical prompts I wanted to see what Nightcafe would create for me to inspire creatures and I wasn’t disappointed.

So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s look at what monstrosities have been created.

Creature Concept Night!

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The sound of the corn stalks scraping against scales was the only sound that alerted the party to the approach of the creature. Something dark, cunning and malicious had been following them for days now and they had decided to lay in wait, using themselves as bait for it. However, what they didn’t realise was that the creature was aware of the trap and was using its abilities to aid in its ambush.

As the creature threw its voice and perfectly mimicked the sound of scraping stalks against its scales to the other side of the camp. Watching the party move slowly to prepare for an attack the second parasitic mouth opened and waited for the feast to come as the creature, much stealthier than the party could have realised, stepped amongst the bed rolls, the camp fire and the discarded bags.

Creature Concept; Reptile with purple and Blue colouration – Created in Nightcafe.

The golden moon was a prophetic moon that the elves of the north woods had foretold for over a century now. As the golden light spilled across the field of wheat the earth slowly cracked open and upwards. Clumps of dirt, wood and plant fell to the side as a creature crawled forth to be amongst the light that it had forsaken years ago.

Breathing the earthy smell in the hulking, muscular creature rippled with power. For a creature from the elemental plane of earth being amongst the soil, the plants and tonight the yellow moon invigorated the creature. But it was not alone as others were also drawn to the yellow moonlight in this part of the lands in an attempt to draw in the energy of the moon as well.

Creature Concept; Green and Yellow colouration – Created in Nightcafe.

A small creative exercise for tonight, but don’t worry tomorrow we bring more content. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Giants Return

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This week the Giants return and with them they bring their enslaved henchmen to do the hard work. Looking to claim the fort back as theirs and rebuild it to its former glory the stone giants have set foot in the forest. It appears that not everything Jayke and Daruden said was lies, well not all of it any way.

So let’s grab a coffee, sit down and roll into tonight’s encounter!

The Giants Return

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Stone Giant – created in tetra-cube

The stone giant is a interesting one with a decent dexterity, monstrous strength and advantage on stealth checks in rocky terrain – its like they were built to live here in these mountains. However they are not as numerous as they once were and the party will need to think carefully on how to approach even one of these mighty foes.

Ogre – Created in tetra-cube.

However the giants aren’t alone in their quest to re-take the mountains, they brought their slaves with them. Now in most polite societies the concept of enforced help is not something that should be look at nightly – however giants would have no such hesitation in this practice. Survival of the strongest in their society and these ogres are not as strong as giants. However, they are strong enough to carry heavy loads and rebuild a fortress – so that’s something that we have to look out for.

Thanks for visiting again tonight. Don’t forget as the weekend rolls on closer we have more content to look out for, so don’t forget to come back for the last few days of this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Stonebridge Fort

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A simple map tonight with quite a few overlapping textures and some stamps that were blown up to be gigantic proportions – but what to expect for Stonebridge Fort. This massive, somewhat abandoned fort looms over the country side and dominates the landscape.

So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s roll into tonight’s map.

Stonebridge Fort

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Stonebridge Fort – Created in Inkarnate

The massive stone blocks and, surprisingly intact slabs of stone that make up the shingles for this roof are a testament to the size of the inhabitants. Blocks of stone easily 10ft in length and 5ft in height and depth make up some of the stairs leading to the large gate and door. The landscape itself is rocky and treacherous with beasts hunting around its edges to make a meal out of the lost or desperate.

About five layers of blended paint make up the background with some of spilling over to the foreground to blend in the stonework. The stairs and walls come from the same art pack with the roof and doorway coming from another which… gives it a bit of a disjointed appearance which I don’t overly hate – but not a super fan of. The stone under the walls had to be colour adjusted to get somewhat close – it will do but I would’ve preferred a closer colour match to the background.

As this is in the mountains away from people splashes of grass would appear amongst he rock – taking inspiration from rocky-mountainous hikes I have gone through where plant life finds a way to survive.

Thanks for coming to check the map tonight. It’s a rather big one this week and I think it will make for some interesting encounters. The weeks not over so don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more content and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Leading the Game

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This week we have the Blackwater crew leading the game, controlling the situation and inevitably manoeuvring the party to where they want them to be. But not all of it is bad as its a means to and end and success is measured in many ways. So what’s so bad with leading the game?.

So let’s sit down, look for the clues, analyse these rascals and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Leading the Game

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Jayke paused and looked deeply at the ground before mumbling something that the party didn’t quite catch to Daruden. Nodding and pointing further ahead through the forest they called back to the others. “Well I can see why the mayor wanted us to come along as well. Lucky for you we found the way that they went with the people and the rest of the wagon” Jayke said with a smile beckoning over the party.

The party had searched there already and were sure that there was nothing there. When they approached there were a few gold and silver pieces that head off into the forest away from the site where the wagon hung from the tree. However as plain as the coins sat amongst the grass and pine needles now when they looked before they had not seen them.

Following Jayke and Daruden they encountered similar occasions where the party would search the area or look for the path or clues to the next area but the expert scouting skills of Jayke and Daruden always revealed something that was nearly impossible to see, or, something that the party had missed. Over the course of the day they had travelled to the base of a mountain where the setting sun cast a large shadow and the calls of, something, echoed through the trees.

“That there be the source of these problems” Daruden said as they watched the flickering fire light. “Sounds like it’s coming from above us in the mountains above us. You know they say that there is a castle up there, made by giants.”

“Now Daru, no need to frighten these adventurers off. That curse is nonsense any way” Jayke replied, shooting Daruden a glare from across the room.

“My ancestors have told the tales of the giants in these mountains for generations. The curse is real just like the treasure behind those walls.” Daruden replied.

“Well I won’t blame them if they have a change of mind. They’ve been mighty brave to come with us this far into the forest and towards the mountain. Tomorrow we climb the cliffs and will see if the castle is real and find out what’s causing trouble for these nice people.” Jayke replied as he stood to head to his tent. Daruden grunting in response but clasped one of the adventurers on the shoulder.

“We won’t blame ye lad if you don’t follow us. Jayke has led us astray before but he hasn’t gotten us killed, yet.” he said before joining Jayke in turning in for the night.

Thanks for joining me for another night. Tomorrow we look at a map, or two, and the beginning of something more. So don’t forget to come back for the next, and last few days day and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe