D&D5e Compatible

Rastabar Floating Island

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This week sees out party sailing through the open… skies and towards the Rastabar Floating Islands. This encounter should be difficult enough to challenge the experienced players but rewarding for those who think out side of the box. So enough talking lets look at the island map!

Rastabar Floating Island

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The cloud cover is really what sells this encounter map. Partial cover or full when taking the uneven ground it will even cause an element of risk if fighting near the edge of the island as well as the fall could be deadly. However this is depending on how the party plan and deal with what they find in the skies.

Trees give cover and shelter whilst the ruins give something to explore that also hinders movement. There is a bit of everything for any party here and clever use of spells, magic items and abilities will see the day won.

Rastabar Floating Islands- created in Inkarnate.

Thanks for joining me tonight. A nice quick map that is relatively simple but despite its lack of complexity it contains many layered images and objects. This can really ad depth to a map which the players and DM can enjoy. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Cliffs of Rastabar’s Clouds

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Tonight finds the party drifting through the cliffs of Rastabar’s Clouds as the rumours are proven to be true. But what else lurks in the shadows of the cliffs as they make their way through the floating islands of Rastabar. So to find out we best sit back, grab a coffee and let’s roll into tonight’s adventure.

The Cliffs of Rastabar’s Clouds

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The call to brace and to man the sails came too late and suddenly for the party to do anything but stare as a wall of rock and dirt loomed in front of them on the other side of the cloud. Luckily the crew of the ship were well trained and knew just what to do. Springing to action the men and women onboard raced to the ropes and Halyard and with a speed and efficiency that only comes from practice the sails flared and caught the breeze.

The ship bucked suddenly and swerved away from the rocks that jutted through the cloud. As they moved alongside the rock, the edge of one of the boom’s scratched the surface of the rock causing loosened rocks and dirt to shower the deck. As they looked up, a momentary clearing in the clouds revealed the floating island of rock and dirt. Vines and plants grew in the soil and rocks which housed different fruiting and flowering plants.

A flock of birds flew off into the clouds away from the ship as it passed. The passengers on the ship marvelled at the colours and slowly as the crew and captain called the orders they started to drift through a few islands composed of floating stone and earth. However their destination loomed ahead and as they looked upon it the rumours appeared to be true. There was land that was in the clouds near Rastabar.

But looking at this land and the glint of sunlight from polished stone columns and ruins on the large floating island it was clear. They weren’t the first people to discover this marvel and perhaps there was something dangerous in the clouds.

Thanks for joining me tonight. This is just the first part of this weeks adventure and there is more to come. So don’t forget to come back daily as we continue to explore the clouds above Rastabar. If this gives you inspiration for your own adventure please let me know! The whole aim of this endeavour of mine is to provide inspiration to other DMs out there. So don’t forget to look at what you can do to spice up your own adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Those That Dare to Fly

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As we lift off into another adventure this week we meeting those that dare to fly above the deserts and barren landscape near Rastabar city. These people are a rag-tag bunch who are t here for the sight seeing, there to work the ship or for their own purposes. Regardless of what brings them onboard the party has their work cut out for them this week. So grab a coffee, sit down and let’s meet some NPCs.

Those That Dare to Fly

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Jessica Windhart

Jessica Windhart created in Artbreeder

An astute student of one of the colleges in Rastabar, Jess is quick to learn and the ships gave her the means to escape her dreary life on solid ground. An cartographer by trade but her true passion lies with the study of the stars, a passion that has saved the ship more than once when it was lost in the wild winds above the desert.

Jess hopes that she can earn enough money from mapping the lands and acting like a navigator on the ship to retire to a life studying the stars and documenting the course they follow on the evening’s backdrop.

Alex Portand

Alex Portand – created in Artbreeder

The captain of the ship and probably the grumpiest person alive aboard it Alex is not fond of, well, just about everything. He hates being called anything other than captain and if it wasn’t for the amount of gold that the benefactor of this endeavour was paying he would much rather be shipping water or goods from Rastabar city to a port for trade. The few times he has opened up about the ship he captains he mentions that he inherited it from his previous captain who sought to retire.

That was also the day that he gave up on his life in a far away city and followed the wind to trade and the promise of wealth.

The Rubhek Brothers

James Rubhek

James is young and impulsive and flirtatious all of the time. A well paying customer to see the sites of the desert as well as what’s in the clouds his money helped get this investigation on the way and off the ground, so to speak.

When he isn’t drinking, dancing and flirting he fancies himself a swordsman as well as a canny business man. It’s not easy getting as wealthy as he is but he leaves some of the operations and dealings to his little brother.

Colin Rubhek

The younger Rubhek brother, Colin, is cautious and seems to be cleaning up or chasing after his brother a lot of the time. He appears to care more about the appearance and reputation of his brother and their family name than his own enjoyment in life.

But when he isn’t watching over his brother like a hawk he can be found staring over the balcony of the ship and the endless sea of sand dunes with a peaceful look upon his face and a slight smile hidden behind his beard.

Thanks for joining me for another NPC Tuesday. There was a opportunity to really go ham with the NPCs this week and I restrained myself. But this week you can have just about as many NPCs as you want but keep in mind that the expectation is that you would have a backstory for all of them. So more fun means more work for us sadly. Don’t forget to come back daily this week as we expand upon this sky-high adventure. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Venture Through The Clouds

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Now that things are settling down, well a little bit, and d&d is coming to front and centre again which a venture through the clouds. This week is back to a mid-level adventure away from my throwback to a low level
(first level) adventure that could be created. This week is a bit high-fantasy but the elements of it can be used in any campaign ready for something a bit more. So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into this weeks adventure!

A Venture Through The Clouds

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The sight of the vessel was something to behold. A magic imbued ship that had large billowing sails designed to capture the breezes. But what made the ship out of the ordinary is where it was docked. The Ship Sand-cutter was moored, as it was, on the outer wall of the city Rastabar which was a dry and land-locked place. The endless hard ground gave way into sand dunes about an hour from the city’s walls. The deep wells in the city provided some water for animals and agriculture but otherwise it was a dry place.

This is what the party had been hired for. A large unmoving cloudbank had appeared due east from Rastabar and rumour from people who had ventured close to it was that there was something in the clouds. Something that looked like a tower. The city council organised a group of adventurers to investigate and with a well liked merchant’s flying ship they would soon confirm the rumours.

Thoughts

Now a bit of a tease with this one tonight as we have a long way to go for the rest of the adventure. It’s open ended and can go a few ways but I have something specific planned for this one.

Thanks for joining me for the start of the 32nd week of this years adventures. Don’t forget to come back daily as I work through the components of another adventure. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Denizens of Trenchold Woods

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Welcome to another Friday night where tonight we are looking at the Denizens of Trenchold Woods. These are good creatures for level 1 or level 2 parties to encounter and can make for a fun and enriching adventure despite being cliche. But you can scale this to a larger encounter by adding more creatures or looking at higher CR creatures (such as trolls or hobgoblins) to be the aggressor in this weeks adventure. So sit back as tonight we investigate stat-blocks!

Denizens of Trenchold Woods

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‘The wild ones‘

A collection of creatures for random encounters that can be used either on the way to the cave, on the side of the road or even in the cave. Some of these you can set up as the main battle, like the ogre, who is a tough combatant (if you start adventures at level 2 for example).

The Goblins, orcs and such are all easy enough for a level 1 party of 4 to deal with but don’t forget that weight of numbers is also a great way to challenge a party.

All sources from tetra-cube.

Humans

The humans are easy, cultist, bandits or other low level encounters can pose as a main threat or as a twist along the way.

All sources from tetra-cube.

Thanks for visiting tonight more low level stat blocks for the adventure. Come back tomorrow to get a look at the tournament progress, day 1 results and hopefully a picture of the army that I mentioned last week. Don’t forget to come back this weekend as we produce the end of the weeks writeup. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage
The Brazen Wolfe

Trenchold Caves

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Like most of my adventures where I have multiple options or plots that are available I try to have a single point where they link up. I call this the “all roads lead to Rome” approach but really “all roads lead to Trenchold caves” is maybe more appropriate. Regardless of what I call it many DMs do this and it makes those early encounters feel less scripted, more free flowing and natural. However it also helps the DM funnel their efforts into a single map or encounter that they have planned. So enough talking lets get to some spelunking! So let’s sit back, grab a coffee and delve in!

Trenchold Caves

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Now Trenchold caves can be the house for bandits, goblins, ogres, orcs or just about anything you want to throw at the level 1 party. A secluded cave means that they have to use some non-combat skills to get there such as survival, nature and investigation. But it also opens us up to some random encounters OR the chance to use spells and abilities that we may not get much use out of (like Speak with Animals).

The cave isn’t that big but it has an area that is only 5ft wide. It could be blocked by a boulder that gives another skill check OR a mechanical barrier that could be a variety of skill checks or problem solving. Simple maps can lead to the most rich encounters.

Trenchold Caves – created in Inkarnate.

Thanks for joining me tonight. A short and quick one tonight to show that you don’t need hours if you use the right tools to create a rewarding map. Don’t forget to come back the next few nights to see my tournament results and updates, maybe a cheeky army family photo and more. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Trouble Brewing in Trenchold

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Tonight finds us at the crossroads of this weeks adventure where we have a decision to make. Where is trouble brewing in Trenchold. Now this weeks a mixed back of random, going back to my original format, so we have a few twists jotted down below which are the common ones I have used in early games. So let’s sit back, grab a coffee and let’s roll into tonight’s adventure.

Trouble Brewing in Trenchold

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Untrustworthy

As the party walked towards the destination that their guide had provided them, a sudden noise from within the trees and rocks made them stop. Voices, and quite a few of them. Relieved that it was just humans, probably fellow travellers or those in search of the same thing that they were, they began to approach the noise. That’s when they heard it.

“Are you sure that’s what the boss said? That an easy target would just waltz into these woods? Are they stupid or something? Everyone knows that this is our turf and that no one gets through without being robbed.”

“Shut it! That’s what the boss said. Now no more talking, I heards something. The scouts will be here shortly and then we can make our move.”

The party stopped and looked around and sure enough there were a few people making their way towards them. They had three options now and not much time to make it. Flee, hide or fight.

No Place like home

Following the tracks from the road they found themselves heading towards a cave. However before they could set foot inside the yawning portal a rank stench wafted over them as the wind changed direction. Bodies, the same kind of humanoids that the footprints belonged to which they had been tracking. They glanced up towards the mouth of the cave just in time to see another body of one of these humanoids being thrown out from the cave mouth by something large and obviously strong.

This had complicated things. Perhaps the creatures plaguing Trenchold were not the vicious murders that they had come to believe. Either they were coerced or had been forced from their home and were robbing and stealing under threat of death. The bodies attested to a larger foe that didn’t hesitate to kill the smaller humanoids. Something had to be done or the attacks would not stop.

Thanks for joining me for tonight’s twists. Both options are something that is seen often – a betrayal from someone who gave the party information and a change in circumstance that perhaps paints the villains in a different light. Now don’t forget to come back for the last days of this week as we wrap up this weeks adventure. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Trencholds Finest

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This week we are returning to the basic adventure for something a bit easier as I complete the final parts of my
Warhammer army in preparation for the tournament this weekend. So this weeks NPCs are some of Trencholds Finest establishment owners. Whether you are staying at the Frisky Mare or the Dour Mule these two will be ready to serve you ale and food. So grab a coffee, sit down and let’s meet some NPCs.

Trencholds Finest

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Taliah Winestring

Taliah Winestring created in Artbreeder

Going by Tilly to her friends Taliah Winestring is a long standing owner of the Frisky Mare. Despite the name giving her unwanted attention she is quick of wit and even quicker with a fry-pan and wash cloth and those who are being inappropriate in her inn learn about it in a harsh way.

However despite being the innkeeper and head server of libations and food she is also somewhat of an information broker. For the right price or asked in the right way she has information on just about every rumour and a lead for almost everyone. But there are some people she just will never help or even serve. Tavern owners have to have their standards and Taliah is quick to judge peoples character even if she isn’t getting the full picture.

Jake Whemswood

Jake Whemswood – created in Artbreeder

The owner of the Dour Mule Jake is a clever man. While his tavern isn’t upbeat or doing anything new it has some of the best food and the best rooms for people to stay in. Despite this not many people know about the Dour Mule and Jake does his best to promote it in odd ways.

Normally the first person to be out and about on any given morning he procures the best ingredients and brokers the best price on ale. He passes those savings onto those who visit his tavern and due to his prices and the quality of his food he is never in want of more customers. Sometimes he has to turn customers away but he does so in a manner that they want to come back and try to get a table with him at a different time.

Another week on the tabletop and this week we are looking at innkeepers. Most adventures start in an inn, or visiting them in some way and the humble innkeeper is a resourceful folk. If you want to follow along the rest of this easy adventure don’t forget to come back the next few days. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

All roads lead from home

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With the next 2 day tournament around the corner I wanted to go back to the early days of Brazen Wolfe Tabletop where I produced multiple Plots per week and selected one to be the directive for the week. So this week I wanted to also go back to an early part in every parties adventure and to level one where all roads lead from home. So let’s sit down, grab a hot coffee and read about this weeks possibilities!

All roads lead from home

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The Cliche

The number of those who went missing on the roads climbed every day and the people of Trenchold grew more desperate for supplies and goods from the outside world. Trenchold was a large village that had been a beacon for adventure and people wanting to start new once upon a time. This was due to it being the furthest village to the east that was currently known of and that brought adventure, the unknown and danger to the lives of those who lived here. However this eventually changed as more settlements breached the wild-lands further east of Trenchold.

However those villagers had fallen silent and even the ones closer to the main pinnacle of society hadn’t been heard of in some time now. Occasionally a merchant wagon or a patrol would arrive and they would describe the nightmares they had come through. However, even those few survivors had stopped.

So when a wagon arrived in Trenchold bearing a group of adventurers the people began to whisper. Were these people the beacon of hope they had been asking for or were they the ones who had plunged them into darkness?

The Wildcard

Trenchold was an established village in the edges of civilisation. This had led it to be a beacon for adventure and excitement which for adventurers meant fame and riches. News had spread that there was a merchant offering a hefty sum of gold and silver for anyone who could brave the nearest mountain rangers and bring back a single Tufflewerker. What this was, no body knew but the reward of fifty gold pieces for an alive specimen was more than what most people could ask for.

However the Tufflewerker was not what it was lead to be and to hunt one and bring its corpse back was to invite death to dinner. The thought of capturing such a creature alive? Pure madness. But the volume of those willing to try for months worth of labour was enough to send group after group into the dense treeline.

The Classic

The first signs that there was danger came from the bells. A great tolling could be heard from two of the five guard towers that surrounded the village of Trenchold. Rushing out of the Frisky Mare the party were greeted with flaming arrows raining down upon some of the buildings closest to the gates as the villagers panicked and ran for shelter. The guards, few as there were, rushed towards the gate but little figures rushed past them and into the village true.

A group of goblins were attacking, each of them frantically setting fire to what ever buildings would take light. Some of them were carrying swords and other weapons but they didn’t seem to put up much of fight and turned tail and ran as soon as real competition met them. The bell tower to the south of them began to sound, all the guards were busy over this side of the village but a short sprint down two of the streets would get the party where the tower was tolling. It sounded like they would have to make a choice – Flee like the peasants or stand and fight for the defence of the village.

Thoughts

Now each of these three can be seen as fundamental ways to start any adventure. A mystery, a hunt and a defence style adventure. I believe each style of adventure can lend itself well to any party as long as people are willing to follow the plot along and see where it goes.

Thanks for joining me again for the start of another week. Don’t forget to come back daily as I work on my tournament prep for this weekend. It should be a big weekend and I will endeavour to have something on here for both days still. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Elemental Lineage

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Tonight and I have created a zine for this weeks adventure. Elemental Lineage. This adventure can be used system agnostic as we explore other RPGs out there other than D&D. So please adjust to what ever 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 currently provides the stat-blocks for creatures in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, Elemental Lineage. If you like this format please let me know and I hope you enjoy.

Elemental Lineage

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A young Fire Genasi woman stands in the middle of the street and stares towards the volcano. “Worshippers of the false idol see your ruin. The time for this land to be cleaned by the fires of rebirth is upon us. He rises. He rises. He rises. The effort of your devout and faithful is in vain for He rises once again.”

As she finishes saying this a rumbling happens and an audible crack resonates from the mountain. A large jet of water erupts from the lake at the top of the crater with a great plume of steam. 

PDF adventure – Elemental Lineage

elemental-lineageDownload

Thanks for joining me tonight for another Zine. 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. 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