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Animated Snowballs

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The ninth day of dice-ember brings us animated snowballs. These constructs are fast when on a roll and can be lethal as larger group as they attempt to grapple, restrain and smother creatures. They are also such tiny creatures so how hard can defeating them actually be?

Animated Snowballs

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The Animated Snowball’s tactics are quite simple. Using their psuedopod-like arms they grapple (the reason they were constructed) and aim to bring down and smother their target. Weight of numbers and luck is what they have on their side (as well as being nearly impossible to detect in the snow or amongst an avalanche.)

These creatures will target a party member in groups of 3 or 4. Hoping to grapple and restrain a target and begin to suffocate them. Now suffocation isn’t a super great tactic but it does play mind-games with the player when you tell them that their character is now being suffocated and can not breathe.

Created in tetra-cube

Encounter

I would think that 2-3 per party member would be enough for a difficult encounter at low levels. This is mainly because of the ability to deal with multiple targets per round at lower levels is generally limited to magic or feats such as cleave. The spell slots of low level characters limits the AOE potential whilst cleave requires a non-grappled character to kill a snowball.

Attacking during an avalanche means that these may be able to stealth all the way up to the party. This makes for a nice surprise round where perhaps panic and confusion can come into play.

That’s all for tonight!. Don’t forget to come back this weekend for more content where we look more into the Snowman and Snowball and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Avalanche and Snowtown

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The eighty day of Dice-ember where we look at evocative Avalanche and Snowtown. Tonight is looking at where the battlefield will be and instead of setting up a rigid battle map I wanted to run this weeks encounter in the theatre of the mind. So sit back, sip on a coffee and let’s roll on.

Avalanche and Snowtown

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The elevated edge of Snowtown gives a good view over the city. As more snow clouds appear above the area the buildings get darker as the smoke from chimneys starts to mingle with the blanketing snow.

Created in nightcafe.studio

The edge of the thick forest is creepy enough let alone at night or when the sun is hiding behind thick clouds. With the appearance of snowman amongst the branches this makes for a pretty tense encounter.

Created in nightcafe.studio

Thanks for joining me tonight for a short update to help with the battlefield in our mind. Don’t forget to tune back in tomorrow tonight for the revelation of the Snowball stat block as we flesh out this adventure. This weekend I will be looking at more setting expanding entries like last weekend so don’t forget to join me again for that. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Rolling Ambush

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The Seventh day of Dice-ember brings us to the party as they return from a dark discovery at the nearby woods. As they are returning back they are surprised by a Rolling Ambush that takes them off guard and threatens to bury them under the snow.

Rolling Ambush

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The party start to head back towards the town making sure to keep an eye on the snowmen within the trees. As they started the trek back to Snowtown with more questions than answers they started to feel a vibration in the ground. After a few minutes the tremor ceased and nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary around Snowtown or Mount Gritch. Entering the town the towns people looked concerned over the tremors and were murmuring and pointing towards the mountain.

Again the tremors returned and this time there was movement from the ridge up above. Soon a cascade of snow was hurtling down the hill but as it hit the trees of the forest it died down and only a few little drifts of snow slid towards the town. But as the party watched the drifts of snow little balls of snow sped across these slowing sheets and hurtled towards the town at a faster pace.

The balls swerved to avoid obstacles and quickly crashed over the low walls of the town and hurtled into the clearing where the party were standing. The balls didn’t stop and quickly hurtled towards the party. It was only then that they could see glowing orb like eyes passing across the snowball and as they collided with people little arm like pseudopods shot forth and wrapped around the person.

Shockingly strong they gathered upon the party and townsfolk, pseudopods of ice wrapping around limbs and pulling people to the frozen ground. Blade quickly severed the arm like appendages but it was too late for some of the elderly or frail.

The balls were quickly turned into puddles of ice and a single glowing chunk of coal that sizzled before being extinguished under heel. The snow ball like creatures seemed to be exceedingly fragile but strong and numerous. The party once again turned their sights towards the ridge in the Gritch mountains where the tremors sent a sheet of ice their way. Wondering what else they would have to face this day and into the night.

Another day in Snowtown where the frozen constructs plague our party. Tonight the snowballs come to town and they bring a crushing embrace that smothers people with festive cheer. Well, at least the smothering part. Don’t forget to come back the next few nights as we look at maps and creature stat blocks and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Welcome to Snowtown

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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).

Welcome to Snowtown

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Snowtown: Created in nightcafe.studio

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.

Nightfall in Snowtown: Created in nightcafe.studio

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.

The People

Penny Cartwright: created in nightcafe.studio

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.

Daryll Sootbrow: Created in nightcafe.studio

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

Investigating Snowtown

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The fifth day of Dice-ember brings us to the party investigating Snowtown. Tonight the party investigate the town during the daylight hours and uncover something quite disturbing. So sit back, make yourself a hot coffee and enjoy the festivities!

Investigating Snowtown

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As the party levered the door open and crept out the bright morning suns rays reflected off a fresh blanket of white snow. Gone were the creatures from last night and only the occasional pile of snow, twigs and stones remained in near piles around the town. Moving from door to door the townsfolk crept outwards as the party began investigating Snowtown in full.

There was no sign at all. No foot prints, tracks or traces of the frosty reception they received the previous night. Where wild or malicious creatures would attempt to get to their prey through doors or windows these creatures did not. There was no sign of forced entry, attempted or otherwise on any of the buildings nor fresh scratch marks on doors or windows. As the smoke rose from the chimney stacks in each house, a sign of how cold it was outside and inside the buildings of this town, the party were left looking east to the woods.

The pine woods were dense and dark. Even the brightening sky seemed to be unable to penetrate these woods that grew at the top of a hill and while the town was coming alive once more the party set off to investigate the woods whilst breakfast was being readied. The trek to the woods was difficult but the thick cold clothing that the villagers provided them kept the chill at bay. The trek uphill through shin deep snow made the trek more difficult but all was peaceful on the hill.

The Forest

As they came closer to the forest the darkness, branches and leaves made the forest seem alive and whilst above the snow covered fields the birds sang and welcomed the dawn the forest remained silent. As the party came closer to the forest the shapes between the trees started to take form.

Dozens! Scores even of snowmen were standing in the shadows of the trees, unmoving but focused on the town. As the party came closer to the treeline the stone eyes seemed to stare into their souls and the crushing silence hit the party like any true strike could. After a few moments of staring and investigating the snowmen they noticed that amongst the compressed snow bodies fragments of cloth could be found. Similar clothing to what they were wearing now.

Looking from construct to construct they edged closer. As soon as the party left the sunlight and drifted into the shadow each and every head from the snowmen swivelled in their direction. Suddenly inanimate constructs of snow moved like lethal predators and moved towards the party at a frantic pace. Stumbling backwards into the sun and down the hill as fast as the snow would let them they retreated. But as they glanced behind them the snowmen had ceased moving and were once again frozen in place amongst the trunks.

Setting the scene for this weeks components we find ourselves with spooky, sudden-moving constructs in the shadows of nearby trees. A slightly horror inspired adventure for this years Dice-ember but one that I promise will be rewarding. So don’t forget to come back each day this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Notes on the Snowman

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Another night has come around and tonight we are looking at Albazhar’s notes on the Snowman. That’s right the mad-scientist mage is back this Dice-ember and he is bringing with him more study and notes on the curiosities we find our selves surrounded by. So without any further waiting let’s get on with tonight’s write-up so sit back, grab a drink and read on!

Notes on the Snowman

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“The Snowman are crude, unintelligent and fragile. However as I watch them move around the frozen environment from where they are constructed in I find myself remembering the first constructs I made. They were vastly superior but there is a boyish charm to these automations that I brings back fond memories” The mage put his quill down and watched the creature moving through the snow covered field.

As it moved by rolling its lower orb-like torso component it was looking around. It was searching the white, greens and browns for something. As its head rotated the cruel mockery of a smile was revealed, little stones dotted its mouth like cruel teeth. Albazhar grinned as he took further notes on the Snowman.

“It’s body is constructed of compacted snow and twigs to bind them together. When it stands still its almost indistinguishable from other snowmen that children and adults create in the colder months. Its several large snowballs can move independently and as such it can be frighteningly fast and nimble.” The mage clicked its fingers and one of his own creations, a flesh golem, dragged a goblin servant, who protested with high pitched squeals, towards the portal that led to the pocket dimension.

Hunting

As soon as the green flesh of the goblin hit the white snow the head of the snowman swivelled in the direction of the creature. Slowly it began to roll towards the goblin. The goblin had scurried behind a log and was currently crawling towards a tree to climb. The snowman slowly edged in the general direction of the creature silently. It paused occasionally for minutes to look like an inanimate object.

Albazhar took notes, his hand a blur with his owlbear quill as he watched the moment the snowman came within sixty feet. Instantly the head stopped swivelling and faced the goblins position. Its constructed hands moved forward, one large club like branch and one that had talon like twigs that stretched out towards its prey. The goblin squealed and raced towards the tree that was twenty feet away. The Snowman shocked the mage as it moved with such pace that it bet the goblin to the tree. The moment before it ripped the screaming humanoid apart the mage snapped his fingers and a wall of fire appeared between the snowman and the goblin.

The snowman paused before hastily moving in the opposite direction of the fire, its head swivelling as it searched for prey away from the fire. “Interesting. The creation of this automation looks to have given it some degree of limited blindsight. It dreads fire, which is no surprise based on its construction of ice that melts and twigs that burn. However it is surprisingly fast and vicious. Perhaps I can improve upon this creation with a new model.” he jotted down his notes next to the arcane glyphs and phrases in the book.

“More research to be done.” the mage clicked his fingers to get the flesh golems attention. “Retrieve the goblin for me. I need it for another set of tests”.

I am glad that Albazhar has returned. A long lasting wizard and figurehead of general wrong-ness in my adventures he has returned for Dice-ember again. Don’t forget to come back this week as we expand upon the adventure. Also, as usual, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Catalyst

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Hello and once again good evening all; welcome to the the third post of Dice-ember and tonight we have a look at our antagonist for this month. Tonight we look at the Animators Journal Catalyst – the triggering event that sets things into motion.

So sit back, grab a drink and read on!

Catalyst

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I was weeping the moment I closed the door behind me. This wasn’t the first time I have been ignored or scorned by the stupid residents of the sleepy town of Snowtown but this time it hurt more. But they will listen. My craft takes what is most abundant in this stupid area and makes it useful. I have the power to make their very hills alive with creatures they can control. With servants and things that can help them toil the fields, hunt game and even expand their village. But they laugh. Oh perhaps the little wooden figures I have shown them aren’t as impressive but my dolls are still useful.

These villages don’t have the vision that they need to survive in this world. What’s to make matters worse is that Mark Kenderson rejected my affections. After I proclaim my attractions to him in private and he seemingly was interested; Well that’s why the journal entry is missing from yesterday… He calls me a harlot and gets me thrown from the town square.

I need this. I can’t live poor any more. These villages, these stupid residents of Snowtown will need me. Mark my words the moment someone realises the gold mine they are living around and ignoring they will be attacked. They will come running and begging for me to aid them. Oh Journal, then I can save them.

Perhaps they just need a real demonstration. I will ready the Twigmen for tomorrow and go make a proper demonstration. Maybe after that they will listen to me.

Another night, another Dice-ember post. Tonight we looked into a page from the Animators Journal and the catalyst of this months adventure. Tomorrow we will bring back an old friend to give more insight into the situation, one that visited this time last year, and from there on we grow and shape this adventure. So don’t forget to come back each day of Dice-ember and I will see you tomorrow night… Oh and don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Animated Snowman

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Hello and good evening all. Welcome to the the second post of Dice-ember where we look at the Animated Snowman. This month is shaping up to be quite a chill one indeed and while my country warms up for Christmas the other half of the world is getting colder.

So sit back, grab a drink and read on!

Animated Snowman

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The Animated Snowman are slow unless they are on a roll. About as fast as a halfling or dwarf when they are hungry and sprinting.

The creatures themselves are ferocious and bloodthirsty when near the living and as long as they can sense the warmth in them they will hunt them down. However, they wont move through doors for some reason.

When the creatures stand still they look as if they were cheerfully created by children. However when warm blooded creatures draw near their evil disposition is revealed.

Created in tetra-cube

Thanks for joining me tonight for the second night of Dice-ember. Don’t forget to come back every night this month for Dice-ember as the Animated Snowman aren’t the only things causing havoc in Snowtown town… See you tomorrow night and don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Snowtown Town

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Hello and good evening all. Welcome to the the first night of Dice-ember! Tonight we look at one of the maps that I will refer to as Snow Town for the time being. Snowtown Town is where our party will find themselves looking into the nightmares of the night where snow constructs stalk

 

Snowtown Town

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Snowtowns Town Map

Created in Inkarnate

Now to set the scene yesterdays dice-ember post…

Dice-ember

The town up ahead looked peaceful in the distance with its slate roofs covered in fresh snow. The sun was high in the sky and the party was glad to be heading towards a town. Judging by their current pace, via back of a farmers wagon, they would make it there just before nightfall.

“A the town of Snowtown. A cosy little place” the man up front said as he urged his horses to go further up a hill. As they moved higher up into the hills towards Snowtown the weather changed with their progress. Soon snow started to fall and the weather outside made it necessary to put the canvas roof over the wagon for the party members to stay somewhat dry.

Night fall

The snow crunched underfoot as the party strolled into the town. The eerie quiet of the town only broken by the caw of a night bird or the squeal of a rusty sign. As they wondered around the city centre a shadow moved towards them. Raising the torch high the person, covered in snow shuffled towards them like a white ghost. It wasn’t until the figure was within ten feet that its true nature was revealed.

A creature made from snow, pitch black eyes and rotten fruit or vegetable was hanging from its nose. As it reached out towards them with shattered ticks and bones for arms a rock smashed through its head, sending the body tumbling to the ground. “Run!” a voice called from a building as the party ran towards the building.

Racing towards the building they dashed through the snow, through the door and slammed it closed behind them. “Don’t let those things touch you. They drain the warmth from you and you soon join them in their frozen march.” the old man said with a shaky voice. “They wont come towards the houses but don’t want anyone on the streets after dark”.

The party made to check the door when they heard the thudding of something heavy on the snow outside. “Shh. That’s the other thing. There is something else. It begs to be let into your house. It appears as a jolly, kindly man and those who let it within their homes are found dead.”

The party huddled around the fire as the creatures outside continued their frozen march.

Thanks for joining me tonight for the first night of Dice-ember! Tomorrow we look at the visitors we have seen in Snowtown town and what they could potentially mean for our party. So don’t forget to come back for this and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Reign of Shadow

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Good evening all and welcome to the alternative ending if the party was unable to defeat the Shadow in its keep or, if they decided to not go over the seas with Kyoko. We also will look at the plot for Dice-ember!.

 

Reign of Shadow

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The grass crunched under Kyoko’s feet as she dashed across the street towards the broken crates and boxes opposite her. Throwing herself against the wall of the building she looked around to make sure that no Oni’s or Spiritfolk or beasts had spotted her. Satisfied that she was in the clear she crouched low and hurried down the street, sticking to the shadows as much as possible in case another of the Shadows minions were watching without dark vision.

Moving into one of the buildings she paused to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Using a broken drift globe shaft to light the way she moved about the dark room. Eventually she found the mat and crate she was looking for she lifted it on well oiled hinges and quickly moved down the revealed steps. Carefully closing the hatch behind her she moved into the carefully dug tunnels and moved silently towards the outskirts of the city.

Refuge under the wall

After ten minutes of walking to came to a door that was reinforced by iron. Taking the broken shaft from the light producing trinket she put it through a hole in the door and waited. Slowly the handle turned and on the other side a stout man greeted her with a broad grin.

“We thought you were lost to us Kyoko. When the others returned without you we feared the worst.” the man said.

“Jokrum. You worry too much. We had to split up as we had a hunting party of Oni discover us. They followed me but lost the others.” She responded as she worked through the door and into the refugee town.

The town it self was constructed in some of the emergency bunkers under the walls. The walls were mainly controlled by the Oni now but with all the stone and soil above them they never noticed the Harimasu people living under the wall. Walking along the tunnel she greeted and handed out the raided supplies to the people she cared for. Her father, and his troops were elsewhere defending the last bastion of the people of Ryokughan. She, however, was captured by the Shadows servants and rescued by the people of this bunker. These survivors were either too old, young or sick to make the trek to join her father and they needed her.

For now they were surviving and it was because of her that they were able to survive for so long. So until help arrived they were to wait here, in the gloomy depths under the wall and wait.

Dice-ember

The snow crunched underfoot as the party strolled into the town. The eerie quiet of the town only broken by the caw of a night bird or the squeal of a rusty sign. As they wondered around the city centre a shadow moved towards them. Raising the torch high the person, covered in snow shuffled towards them like a white ghost. It wasn’t until the figure was within ten feet that its true nature was revealed.

A creature made from snow, pitch black eyes and rotten fruit vegetable was hanging from its nose. As it reached out towards them with shattered ticks and bones for arms a rock smashed through its head, sending the body tumbling to the ground. “Run!” a voice called from a building as the party ran towards the building.

Racing towards the building they dashed through the snow, through the door and slammed it closed behind them. “Don’t let those things touch you. They drain the warmth from you and you soon join them in their frozen march.” the old man said with a shaky voice. “They wont come towards the houses but don’t want anyone on the streets after dark”.

The party made to check the door when they heard the thudding of something heavy on the snow outside. “Shh. Thats the other thing. There is something else. It begs to be let into your house. It appears as a jolly, kindly man and those who let it within their homes are found dead.”

The party huddled around the fire as the creatures outside continued their frozen march.

Thanks for joining me tonight. Tomorrow night we will look at a potential alternative ending for the campaign, if they fail, and prepare ourselves for dice-ember!. Don’t forget to come back for this and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe