fiction

Tusicka Ignate

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Tonight we meet the one of the Portent Quartet – Tusicka Ignate, the divination mage who commands fire as she tries to unravel the reason for the oracles failed divination and the solution lies with a group of outsiders… The Party… Not that anyone could have predicted that.

So sit around the brazier, inhale the sweet perfume of the incense as we scry through tonight’s adventure!

Tusicka Ignate

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Tusicka Ignate – Created in WordPress!?

The night drew to the close with the city guard being called to instil order again, however it was the four diviners, the portent Quartet, who when walking amongst the gathered crowed instilled the calm across the masses. The party found a inn to stay in shortly after and due to the uncertainty within the city after the failed great divination they got a god price too.

It was morning when they descended the stairs to the ground floor of the Wondering Minstrel Inn where a woman in a red cloak was describing them in great detail to the innkeeper. As they made a noise on the stairs both her and the innkeeper looked at them with mixed expressions. While the innkeeper looked at them as if they were the carriers of a terrible plague the woman in a red cloak had the opposite; as if they held the promise of a cure.

‘Ah, just the people I was searching for. Innkeeper would you bring these fine people breakfast and what ever else they desire to eat or drink as I will be buying them a meal.’ she said as she pointed towards one of the few tables in the Inn. As they sat down the woman revealed herself to be Tusicka Ignate, the current Diviner of Fire and the one who was assisting the High Oracle last night in the ritual. She wore a small cloak that draped around her shoulders and a near dark charcoal colour tunic that looked quite ordinary. Her auburn hair seemed to glow as the light from a nearby window caught the edges of her hair. She was not exactly young but she had a youthful appearance that concealed her age well.

As they were brough forward plates of food and drink at their request and a purse filled with coins handed to them she looked at each of their faces in great detail. ‘Divination is a funny thing. There are a lot of influences when divining the future which is contrary to the belief of the majority of people in this city.’ she paused to sip on a mug of hot tea. ‘But there are generally a few things that stand out. Peoples faces, an article or shape of clothing and a place is generally enough to tie together the dancing flame with a prophecy.’

‘In this case when I searched for an answer I saw your faces down the the little perfect imperfections as well as exactly what you are wearing now. I saw the Innkeeper, the tavern and this very meal. Things being so perfectly predicted is reserved by prophecies given by the gods, not something conjured from a brazier.’ she paused again to sip from her tea.

‘So the question I have is. Why would my divination reveal you to me and in such detail if you were not either to blame for the current predicament or the ones to unravel what is going on.’ she waited and watched their faces for a moment with an amused smile. ‘Naturally I believe you are the ones to help unravel what is going on.’ she looked towards the innkeeper who was pretending to be busy and doing a lousy job of concealing her eaves dropping. With a few quietly whispered syllables Tusicka formed a glowing orb of energy around them that disappeared after a few heart beats.

‘I have shrouded what I am about to say so no ears, eyes or otherwise can hear what I am about to reveal to you. There is a foul plot afoot and I believe someone in the temple is stopping the oracles divination, interfering with the flow of magic so that our divinations are wrong. When I saw your faces this morning it confirmed that the temple is no longer the locus of power that it was, or should be. No, I conjured the ritual that led me to you quite a way away from the temple.’ she paused to look over at the Innkeeper who was still busy listening.

‘Magic is a fascinating thing. For everyone it is freely given as part of their lives. Intervention from serious harm, a dash of luck when gambling or simply finding one who matches your soul. Everything we do in life has an element of magic with it. But when you give yourself to the temple the world, the planes stop interfering with your life. You become wholly accountable for your own luck. I believe us meeting is a mix, my own interference with my luck and the natural luck of you being in the right place at the right time. I hope you can help me locate the truth at the temple as it seems not even the quartet or the Oracle herself is able to bend luck to our will until the interference is dealt with.’

A tall ask from the diviner of fire in tonight’s update for this weeks adventure. Don’t forget to come back daily to stay up to date with the adventure as it unfolds daily at my tabletop. We still have much to unravel and discover as we move forward towards the weekend so don’t forget to stay tuned for that. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Not in the Stars

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Just like almost everything in life sometime we things wrong, sometimes its just not in the Stars. Tonight kicks off another adventure for this week where we cover just that – where the stars were not aligned for a teeny-tiny event… If only it were that simple.

So grab your astrolabe and quadrants as we sit back and stargaze in tonight’s adventure!

The high oracle rarely got things wrong and the divinations that came from she and the council of four were as reliable as the sun setting and the moon rising. However, when they get a prediction wrong things start to go pear shaped for the High Oracle and Portent Quartet.

The party find Lumos, a city in turmoil as divinations start to go wrong when the city is run on knowing the outcome of choice at all times. Will the party divine the truth or will their success be not in the stars?

Not in the Stars

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Not in the Stars – Created in WordPress!?

The party had come to Lumos , the city of prophets during the holiest month where the the council of clerics and mages gathered and gave a profound portent at dusk. These divinations were taken as spoken from the gods themselves and in the hundreds of years that the city had lived by the High Oracle and the Portent Quartet it had prospered.

As they walked down the streets to the ziggurat at the cities centre the atmosphere was charged with a mixture of emotions. Many bore excitement however there was a gnawing and overwhelming sense of apprehension. ‘They were wrong about the rain last week. My crops have started dying thanks to their failed divination’ one man complained to another as they were bartering over the price of seed.

‘I lost everything when I listened to their advice. “Under Tymora’s star” my ass. I lost my home thanks to them when I should have won at the tables.’ another bedraggled man complained as he stood in line to get rations from the church of Ilmater.

Similar stories of bad luck, could be heard throughout the crowds as they moved towards the tall, multileveled building at the city centre and every instance of bad luck was blamed on a failed divination. The party followed the path towards the ziggurat and gathered amongst the crowds kneeling before the steps leading on high to the temple at the pinnacle.

They didn’t wait amongst the chatter for long before the crowd fell silent nearly as one. Looking up a woman dressed in white and gold with four dressed in colours representing the elements of Air, Fire, Earth and Water stood on either side of them.

‘People of Lumos.’ she started, her voice magically amplified to carry across the city. As she spoke the clouds moved away from the centre of the sky above them exposing the full moon.

‘We stand before you your humble servants and we come here to complete the sacred ritual for this year.’ The man representing air walked forward as he raised his hands the clouds were pushed further away from the moon for as far as the eye could see.

‘We bring you the light that the gods bequeath us so that we can open our minds and our hearts.’ the woman representing fire said as she raised her hands to the ground and all the torches, fires and lights went out simultaneously within the city except for a faint brazier at their feet.

‘We sooth your aches and pains.’ the man representing water said as a cloud of mist descended down the steps and washed over those gathered underneath cooling their skin and magically healing aches and pains.

‘And as we offer ourselves to the gods to judge on behalf of this most holy of cities we ask them for guidance in how to live our life for the next cycle.’ the woman representing earth said as she reached outwards and the section of the ziggurat that they stood on lifted into the sky and floated higher.

Those gathered started a rhythmic chant almost instantaneously and the party found that the words sprung to their mind where they were unknown until this very moment. For several minutes the oracle and the quartet of diviners floated above the crowd while they chanted. Then suddenly the platform descended and the stones knitted together to form the steps into the temple itself.

‘The High Oracle will now speak!’ called the quartet together as the woman looked exhaustedly across them, her energy depleted in the short encounter.

‘The…’ she paused for a moment as her booming voice shook. ‘the stars are not aligned…’ she said as she shuffled away from the crowd and into the temple. The quartet stood astonished as the flames returned to the city slowly, the mist evaporated and the clouds started to flow across the sky and full moon as normal.

The fear, panic and calls for mercy that echoed out at that moment would stick in the minds of the party for years to come.

Thanks for joining me for the start of another big week. Don’t forget that I will continue to evolve and expand this adventure each day this week leading up to the reveal this weekend. So don’t forget to come back each day this week to stay up to date with how this adventure will unfold. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Resident of the Messota River

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Tonight we meet the resident of the Messota river which is causing so much trouble. Pushed out of its natural habitat and having to build its new residence must be hard – but now its got to defend its new home from invaders!

So carb load and protein up as we have a big arm wrestle in tonight’s encounter!

Resident of the Messota River

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The resident of the Messota river is the humble scorch-venom Octopus which is a giant species of octopi. However when they get to full maturity they will construct dams in which to nest within and they will fiercely protect not only their new home but also the food source for their developing spawn.

The oldest of the beasts could give a giant a run for its money and coupled with its cunning and the venom that it injects with its beak that burns like lightning running through its preys fangs its quite formidable. Using its sharp beak and dextrous tentacles it will destroy nets with its poison cutting through the fibres. It also employs its poison carefully into wood with its crushing beak to construct the lakes that it births its spawn in.

Scorch-venom Octopus – Created in tetra-cube.

While it may be a dangerous creature to tangle with many a resident of the Messota river, or the communities that live along it never will see one due to its ability to camouflage as well as its ability to spray a curtain of ink and disappear before the water clears again.

Thanks for stopping in tonight to meet the many armed resident of the Messota river this week. Don’t forget to come back over the weekend for more tabletop content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Messota River

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Tonight we cover the encounter at the Messota River, well more of a lake now that something has created a dam that has blocked the river and created a lake filled with strong eddies. But the creature is smarter than they give it credit for and while they think they may have the upper hand, they are very quicky falling into its trap.

So sit back, maybe grab a coat for we run the risk of getting wet with tonight’s map!

Messota River

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Messota River – Created in Inkarnate.

The heavily forested area was evidently not used to having this much rapid water rushing at its hilly soil and great chunks of soft soil and rocks had already been claimed by the water. The rough shoreline led to shallow water that quickly deepened as the lake grew out form where they stood.

Some plants and trees could be seen standing strong but there was evidence that many trees, old or young, had been lifted from the soil by the rain… or something else.

A relaxing one tonight using the ability to create a foreground and background this week. The layered water textures is probably the highlight of this week with some of the water painting over the art assets like logs, trees and even plants to give a partially submerged look. The grassy areas are pretty simple but effective in giving a feeling of how forested this area normally would be.

Thanks for dropping by tonight for more content at my tabletop. Don’t forget that we still have another night left for content and that, like always, we will continue to refine the adventure even until the night that the Zine is uploaded. So don’t forget to come back each night this week to keep up to date and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Largest Catch

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A close encounter with possibly the largest catch that Sil or anyone from Starbrook village had seen leaves the party in a desperate race to regain control of the line or risk being dragged in. But the other end of the tug of war lies something that they weren’t expecting…

So grab your harpoons and nets for tonight we go toe to toe with a leviathan in tonight’s adventure!

The Largest Catch

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The Largest Catch – Created in WordPress!?

The party eventually found the source of the stemmed water. A ramshackle but functional dam had been created in the middle of the stream causing the wet season river to well up and flood a well established pool into something even more. A small hake had been falling behind the dam and several trees that had once been at the rivers edge now had several feet of water encroaching up their trunks.

As the party looked over the waters surface they noticed a bunch of leaves moving across the waters surface. Not thinking much of it as the volume of water backed up behind this dam consisting of mud, trees and rocks was quite active as the currents swirled behind it. But soon they saw the leaves and connected branches were occasionally moving against the current as if something was caught on the other end.

Sil pointed at it a few heart beats after they had noticed. ‘There’s a fish or something big trapped in that branch. Its got to be the creature that attacked me!’ before waiting for a reply she was climbing up the more solid parts of the dam where they formed a natural blockade where a large rocky outcrop rose out of the soil.

Within moments the party were following her up the rocks and dirt and they watched as she hurled a silken rope with a large weighted hook at one end at the branches. It struck true and as she hauled on it the rope went tight. within moments she was being pulled towards the water and if it wasn’t for her throwing herself around a tree at the now-lakes edge she would have been dragged into the water.

‘I don’t remember it being this strong!’ she called out as the party reached her. The rope had managed to wrap itself around her wrist and as it pulled her arm became tangled and stuck between rope and the trunk of the tree. As the party added their strength to this side of the tug of war they could feel the power of the creature on the other end. Not only was it pulling against them but against the current to and only after a few minutes of heaving on the rope did it start to tire and they started gaining more ground again.

Suddenly the tension was lost and the party fell back into the wet soil with Sil. They hauled in the branch expecting an exhausted monstrous fish on the other end but instead the lower parts of the branch had been stripped clean of its bark and branches and saw like markings could be found long it all. As they examined the branch the waters surface broke as two eyes watched them from the surface as the creature crept closer.

Thanks for visiting tonight for the reveal of what waits for the party at the waters edge this week. Don’t forget to come back again tomorrow and Friday for the last bits of this weeks content and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Sil Kilnen

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Tonight we follow Sui Kilnen as she leads us towards the spot on hte river where she encountered the creature that was damaging their nets and rods. However, somethings off about the river, somethings changing and it’s a sign that things are getting worse.

So get ready for a swift change in the situation as we rush upstream to find what’s causing the problem in tonight’s adventure!

Sil Kilnen

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Sil Kilnen – Created in WordPress!?

Sil Kilnen had not fully recovered but it was with heavy persuasion that she forced herself out of the healers quarters to be able to take the party to where the attack happened. She was human, at least mostly as her ears were slightly pointed and the way she moved through the fallen logs, bushes and around the trees spoke volumes of her affinity for the wilds.

As she jumped down from a log she slumped over as she landed and clutched at her midsection where she had been injured. ‘It’ll be fine. We just need to go a bit slower’. she insisted. Her brown curly hair was lined with golden highlights that was lost in the gloomy wet weather that they were having. Before long those curls were tied up into a tight bun to keep the water from dragging them across her face and shoulders.

As she moved onwards it became evident why she wore baggy pants as the parties legs started to become the forests leaches favourite food. Yet the creatures couldn’t get a hold onto Sil as she moved swiftly across the forest floor towards the river.

As they approached the river though she stopped and pointed to where the river bank was. ‘Something isn’t right. The water line there, the shore was here when I was last here.’ she said as she pointed near a weed cover log. ‘Its receded despite the rain continuing and the wet season in full form.’ she thought as she moved closer to the river bank, a sturdy sharp filleting knight in hand.

She showed the party where she had been, and where the thought the creature had come from. Strangely the water had receded so much that the deep part of the river where Sil has believed the creature to have been waiting was a pool and the river trickled into it. Walking through the shallow river they could see several broken rods and parts of silken nets caught in the plants, branches and logs that were pressed against the side of the pool.

While she examined the remains the party looked around and noticed that water was still trickling downstream, but at a much reduced rate. As Sil followed their gaze she sighed and started walking. ‘We aren’t going to find it here. Let’s find out what’s blocking the water and we then we can continue the search.’

Thanks for joining me tonight to get to know a bit more about Sil Kilnen. Don’t forget to come back for the last few days of the week to stay up to date with what’s happening at my tabletop. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Rising Tides

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Like the rising tides tonight finds us starting a new adventure again with the coming of Monday. As with last week I am continuing on the adventure from the prompt the weekend before with this weeks adventure starting with The One that Got Away.

So pack your tackle, maybe a picnic or some spears as we go fishing in tonight’s adventure!

The fisherfolk of Starbrook were renown for their ability to land the biggest fishes using their traditional rods and nets. But when their nets come back empty and destroyed, their rods break and their bellies go empty for weeks at end there is a problem.

Something large and dark stirs within the water and the rising tides of the wet season are meant to bring a flurry of fish. But when a fisherfolk is attacked at the waters edge while bringing in the only full net they’ve had in weeks they call for help. Will the party land this catch or will they be left empty handed in the village of Starbrook?

Rising Tides

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Rising Tides – created in WordPress!?

The rain hadn’t really stopped since they had crossed through the Messota valley. The large tall tree’s shed water like teardrops as it cascaded down upon them. A traveller that they had shared a camp with had told them that the wet season was approaching and that where they were going, Starbrook, normally had the best fish for sale.

However, as the party entered the village after crossing a rapidly flowing river via a small bridge made from stone and wood they found themselves in a busy village filled with people haggling over fish. While there were a lot of fish around the party would never have described them as the best fish, nor was there quite as many as what they would have led to believe.

Making their way to the merchants hall they found who they were looking for, Rei, a middle aged man who instantly walked up to meet them. ‘Welcome, am I right to assume that you are here for the job?’ he asked in a rushed whisper. ‘We don’t have a moment to lose if that’s the case. Follow me!’

The party were led through a hallways with silken curtains until they were shown into a room. The room wasn’t overly spacious but there was a bed, a few small tables and a chair in the room that looked relatively comfortable. In the bed sat a woman who had a healer wrapping a bandage around her midsection.

‘Sil was fishing last week when something snatched at her net. Like the other fisherfolk that had fished the Messota river the past few weeks she had also reinforced her net to make it stronger as we had been losing a lot of fish to the sharp rocks or predators. However, when she reeled it in she was attacked.’ the man showed the party to the woman’s side.

‘He’s right. I wasn’t the only one to be attacked but I was the only one that’s had this much fuss put over them.’ Sil argued.

‘None of them were this badly injured. The others had their rods snapped or their nets torn.’ Rei raised his voice but caught himself. ‘It’s escalating. What ever it is, this creature is no longer just targeting the fish its targeting our people.’

The two exchanged a tough gaze before Rei turned to the party. ‘We have enough fish to keep some of the traders happy. But the wet season has started and this ability to state our trade agreements wont last much longer. We need that beast hunted, are you the right people for the job?’

Thanks for joining me for the start of another week. Don’t forget that I will continue to expand this adventure each day this week in the lead up for the zine this weekend. So don’t forget to come back each day to stay up to date and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Skittering Brain

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This week we have horrible rat-like brain creatures that are related to the intellect devourer – the skittering brain. These creatures are not as powerful as the intellect devourer but they are still something to be fearful of as with enough time entire communities can fall under their spell.

So grab your foil hats as we have a battle of the wits in tonight’s encounter!

The Skittering Brain

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The creatures attacked with psychic thought and claws as they tried to dominate the entire party to turn them into willing slaves. While not being able to take over the mind of creatures like intellect devourers they will dominate, twist and warp through pain as they change the memories and thoughts of their victims.

Red Formica – created in tetra-cube.

What frightens people the most is the ability for these creatures to be able to convince you through pain that they are the your very best friends, closest companions or more. While you’re under their charm they feed of your latent thoughts, fears and worries – normally creating sources of fear so that they can feed on it.

This not only sustains the horrible creatures but also removes the sense of fear from the victims which creates a sense of safety with the phantom that the creatures impose into their victims psyche.

Thanks for stopping in tonight to get to know the critter in the pantry this week. Don’t forget to come back over the weekend for more tabletop content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Hooting Owl Tavern

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Tonight we have the Hooting Owl Tavern being the battleground for this weeks encounter map. A worn out and tired kitchen and joined dining area make up most of the map with some eluded prospect for combat to spill into the levels above and below.

So sit back and enjoy the Hooting Owl Tavern in tonight’s map!

The Hooting Owl Tavern

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The Hooting Owl Tavern – Created in Inkarnate.

The creatures scuttled across the ground with surprising speed as each one of them looked for an opportunity to feed. As they moved about the table legs the ruckus caused one of the tavern patrons to come to investigate ‘Glenda, we heard some noise…’ was all he got out before he was best upon by the creature, falling down to twitch in the hallway. Now that the door was open the other creatures rushed out to prey upon others in their feeding frenzy.

A more detailed one this week with three levels to potentially play with. A mapped middle layer but room for the second top and pantry (Basement) to be explored.

Only three texture packs were used this week for a simple look to the flooring. On top though a wide range of various art assets were used to create the kitchen, bar and the surrounding area to give it depth and a field of combat instead of something static and boxed in.

Thanks for joining tonight for the second last week of planned content for this adventure. Don’t forget we still have more nights to come so make sure you come back daily to stay up to date with what’s happening at my tabletop. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

No Food for Thought

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A change of pace brings us with something a bit more nightmarish this week with tonight’s adventure update being no food for thought. As the party investigate the pantry they find something not what they were bargaining for…

So grab some pots, pans and a ladle or two as we cool up a storm in tonight’s adventure!

No Food for Thought

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Rueben and the intellect devourers – Created in WordPress!?

As the door swung open a sigh of relief came from Glenda. ‘Oh its just Rueb. Rueben is my assistant who has been good enough to go into the pantry down stairs to get ingredients and try and find those rats.’ Glenda smiled but the party could tell something was wrong. The man was decomposing and despite the man moving around normally there was a stiffness in how they walked.

‘Sorry Glenda. I have not caught those rats.’ the man said as he glanced lightly over at Talley. ‘I am very close, though to catching a big one.’ he spoke in a soft voice. As he finished speaking a clump of hair fell from his head to the floor, drifting slowly until it landed at his feet.

‘The poor lad isn’t well and can’t stay on his feet for too long. But he’s getting there. I let him stay here where its warm and safe and he works hard.’ she added. Behind him in the pantry something moved, a thud on the stairs and the sound of something skittering in the dark beyond.

‘These folks are just helping me with young Talley here then they will be down there to get rid of the rats for us…’ Glenda began.

‘No, I’ve got this. You don’t need them. Let me handle this.’ he snapped at the dwarf. A pressure emanated from the man before Glenda’s face relaxed.

‘You’re right Rueb. You’ve got this. I don’t need them.’ she said with her eyes unfocused.

‘Miss Glenda. My friends are in there. I’ve heard them. The man is keeping them down there!’ Talley erupted. The sudden burst of noise caused Glenda to stumble before looking between the girl and the man. ‘Is this true. Are those poor children down there Rueben?’

As if on silent command the skittering erupted from down below as the stairs shook as several grutesque legged brains scuttled up the stairs. ‘The others grow tired of hiding. There is no escaping now fools.’

Thanks for coming back for another night. Don’t forget that the next few nights I will expand this adventure to add more content to this adventure. So don’t forget to come back to my tabletop for the rest of the week to stay up to date on what’s happening. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe