Monster Stat block

Of Cats and Children

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Now almost any parent can testify that kids love cats; there is just something about them and so this Friday fight-night is of cats and children. But there are some children that prefer canids and this adventure could work with either, well mostly. But for the sake of the first encounter, one that we saw yesterday, tonight we continue that line of adventure to the next stage.

So the adventure of cats and children starts off with the party being stalked by large cats, then we add some children to the mix, afterwards we move into something… bit more brothers Grimm. So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s roll into tonight’s encounter!

Of Cats and Children

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Crag Cat – created in Tetra-cube.

As the final stout crag cat lay breathing its last breaths on the ground before them the party could not help but wonder what had driven these creatures to madness. They looked over the creatures for any sign of infection or disease but there was no sign of them. No bite marks, no bruising, no sign of worms or parasites and nothing that would indicate what drove them to attack beyond the point of reason.

These creatures were normally smart enough to know when to retreat to lick one’s wounds to survive another day, but these few did not. Despite their mortal wound they attacked relentlessly and without regard for their own safety or that of their pack. As they finished searching and inspecting the bodies the party stood and turned their attention to something else – the cave.

They weren’t but a few feet from the cave entrance when something small moved, whimpered and pushed further into the darkness beyond. Curious, the party approached cautiously and the sound of whimpering turned to audible panic and crying.

“Please, please no. Please don’t hurt me…” a voice said from the darkness behind a rocky protrusion from the wall. It took only a few moments for the owner of the voice, a young child, to rush outwards and embrace the closest party member, sobbing.

“I was so scared. She took me. My parents fell asleep at the table and when I tried to wake them this lady grabbed me. All I remember was this smell of fish and sour milk before I woke up here, in the darkness. There was a creature that would walk around the cave and it would come and feed me from its pot. But I didn’t want to eat at first but I was so hungry. It’s gone for now but I’m scared. What if it comes back. It carried a Morrowstone with it on a large walking stick wherever it went, that’s the only time I could see. The last time it left I pretended I was asleep and then followed it to the edge of the cave and then those animals were there. They stalked the outside of the cave but never came in. But I was too afraid to leave. Then you showed up.” the child babbled.

“Please help me, I just want to go home.”

And that’s it tonight. A shorter one but a hint at what’s to come. There isn’t a huge amount of a write up this week as the other tier adventures take place elsewhere and with other things – so you’ll just have to come back to find out. So on that note, 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

The Risen, Remorseful and Repugnant

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This week finds the party encountering The Risen, Remorseful and Repugnant, or a few of them depending on which way the adventure goes. This week finds the party coming onboard to help Brother Tobias who is not convinced that the death of the high priest, Richard Spiritbane, was the true will of Kelemvor.

Depending on the level of the party it changes how the adventure goes, or so I hope to achieve this effect for the Zine. Skeletons and another visitor with the reskinned mage, the Necromancer, complete some of the adventure and depending on the level of the party and the challenge that you want there will be others too.

But tonight is a glimpse at what will be as there is not enough time in the week to get everything into these updates so these few creatures are staples for many encounters, and as such are for this one too.

The Risen, Remorseful and Repugnant

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Skeleton – Created in tetra-cube.
Zombie – Created in tetra-cube.

Through the darkness and chill a creaking noise could be heard from the alcove around the corner. As the party drew near and the hung magical lanterns flickered in their attempt to banish the dark, the shadows played tricks on the row of burial tombs. As the party turned the corner and looked deeper into the darkness, the large statue in front of them stood imposing yet still, its stone eyes staring down at them as if judging and welcoming in the same glance.

The first sounds of feet on stone other than theirs came with the thud of something heavy in the chamber behind them. Then it echoed in the chamber guarded by the statue of Kelemvor and the sound of scratching on feet and creaking could be heard coming from both rooms, and getting closer. Backing out of the doorway the flickering lantern light revealed two skeletons as they ambled out of the rooms. A shriek of pain echoed down the stairs and into the chamber causing the skeletons to look up before charging at the party.

A few minutes later on the descent up the stairs the tangy smell of blood wafted down and guards stood at the entrance of the stairs, vigilant for intruders coming into the crypts. But as the party approached they realised too late that the guards shields hung loosely at the wrist and that the spears rested against the walls or stairs and were not held firmly by the guards. Turning around great tears in their armour, tunics and flesh revealed oozing intestines and the lightless eyes of the undead.

Priest – Created in Tetra-cube.
Mage (Necromancer) – Created in tetra-cube.

The priests of Kelemvor rallied and charged upon the interlopers. Slinging spells, prayers and swinging maces they crashed upon those the church had deemed enemies. The hum of magic bristled through the air as the battle raged on, blow for blow, spell for spell and blood for more blood. Soon the priests fervour dwindled as they looked upon their enemy, their prayers no longer being answered by their god and a fouler feeling wafted into the hall.

A dark and powerful force like the smell of baking rotten flesh washed over the combatants and at once they turned towards the hulking form of a brutish creature leading the way for a pack of newly made undead. Somewhere in the room a voice laughed, calling out and mocking the priests for their betrayal, the head of one of their own was thrown at their feet, recognition registering on their face as slowly the warrior priests understood what was happening here.

Calling out for Kelemvor’s blessing they rallied around their wounded brethren and prepared for the battle that they had trained for. The purging of undead, the opposition of corruption and the perseverance of the natural cycle of life.

This week has come and gone too fast and with tonight’s’ update there is not much left to hide, only a bit left to reveal. So don’t forget to come back this weekend as we wrap up this adventure. More Stat blocks, some maps and images will greet those who remember to come back for the zine and spend another evening at the tabletop with me. But also, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Driven to Mischief

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Welcome to the Twenty-fourth night of Dice-ember and tonight we have a look at not only the reason Daryn’edril and Beth’andra are driven to mischief but we also reveal a nearly forgotten stat-block. As we look back on the last twenty-four days, and as I am preparing the one-shot Zine, I marvel at just how much there is in a few weeks worth of content. But more on that later, let’s not waste any more time in understanding the mind of the fey!

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

Driven to Mischief

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While originally put in as a bit of a “assistant” NPC for Rick, Alice quickly became a core NPC that helps drive the story later on. Because of this I was originally going to have her as using one of the bloody Knuckle Gang statblocks but I think she deserves a bit more than that. So introducing Alice Ironglove!

Alice Ironglove – created in tetra-cube.

Daryn’edril and Beth’andra are lesser members of the fey court in the feywilds. During the winter season, in their attempt to create excitement and entertainment for themselves they began to visit the elves of the Rimeteeth mountains. This delighted them for some time but the elves began to not react in the same manner and their senses and knowledge of the fey made them difficult to prank and trick.

However, as the mountains began to have other races move in they found that the same tricks, pranks and jokes that used to entertain them with the elves stopped having the same effect. It started with replacing a hunter’s arrows with twigs, which caused the twins much delight as the hunter failed to bring down its target, a deer.

Then slowly the pranks increased and they soon forgot about the elves of the forest, much to the elves delight. They realised that the humans, dwarves and other humanoid races of the now bustling city were much easier to fool than the elves and the chaos that their winter-time pranks brang delighted the fey pair more than the elves ever did.

As they progressed their pranks for swapping knives for spoons or hammers for rolling pins they realised that the people of this town relied on the guard and soon a new game was born. A game of cat and mouse began to delight the fey as they pushed their pranks and tricks further, using their magic they confused, befuddled and manipulated the people of the city until the guard wised up to their tricks. Then they would have to evade the ever angry and ever eager guard.

This game of chase was something that brought such joy that they forgot the melancholy of the feywilds during the winter months. The people eventually started to put their trinkets and valuables in chests with iron bindings which prevented their magic from affecting those few items and so they lost interest when people stopped caring that their turnips turned into carrots. With the change in the reaction of the people of Rimeglenn the fey returned to the feywilds and began to plan for the next year when they would increase the level of mischief and pranks that they would sew.

And that marks the last night of Dice-ember for the year, sort of. Come back tomorrow for the end of Dice-ember Zine. But that’s not quite the end of the year as I have plans for the last six or so days of the year. So don’t forget to come back daily and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Mischief Unmasked

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Welcome to the Twenty-Third night of Dice-ember where tonight we look at mischief unmasked! The true faces of the trickers who have plagued Rimeglenn for years and a hint at why they have; but more on that tomorrow. But for now we will get to see their true faces, perhaps their ‘true names’ and their statblocks!

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

Mischief Unmasked

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While their stat blocks are geared towards a CR5 encounter they don’t like taking life as that would put a quick stop to their fun. They will try and prevent the loss of life so they can continue their mischief and gain more amusement and joy from the people of Rimeglenn becoming increasingly confused as chaos grows in the city.

Daryn’edril Brimesquience – Created in Artbreeder.
Statblock created in tetra-cube.

The holder of the unidentical twins, Daryn’edril is a fierce defender of his sister however still has some latent magical abilities. Stronger and quicker he uses his spells to modify his appearance more than using his precious few magical abilities to hinder or affect his opponents. Armed with a powerful attack with his claw and trained to fight in closer combat he is dangerous and effective, if provoked to fight that is.

Beth’andra Brimesquience – Created in Artbreeder.
Statblock created in tetra-cube.

Now where Daryn’edril is more accustomed to physical tests Beth’andra is adept at manipulation and using her magical talents. Able to manipulate and control those around her she uses this to get the most out of any situation. However he primary focus is getting herself and her brother to safety before they get into trouble or injured.

A brief view of the NPCs, Daryn and Beth – or should I say Daryn’edril and Beth’andra. These two fey have caused a bit of trouble over the years and tomorrow we can get a glimpse as to why and what exactly drives them. But we need to get to tomorrow first, so don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more Dice-ember Christmas themed adventure. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Contest of Wills in Rimeglenn

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Welcome to the Fifteenth night of Dice-ember and tonight we are looking at a contest of wills in Rimeglenn. With the sudden show of force from the Bloody Knuckles as they ambush the party for ‘questions’ the Rimeguard are quick to respond. Could this create an opening for the party to escape or will the party think of some other way to get past the sheer volume of Bloody Knuckles men and women out there.

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

Contest of Wills in Rimeglenn

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Bloody Knuckles Member – Created in Tetra-cube.
Rimeguard – Created in Tetra-cube.

The members of the Bloody Knuckles aren’t anything special but there are a lot of them and most of them are working for Wal. This zealot bunch don’t care for kindness or mercy they are here to get paid and have a bit of fun while they do so.

The Rimeguard however protects the city for the good of the people. They are a hardy bunch, well equipped and used to thinking on the fly. These people will defend those in need and have always kept an eye on the bloody knuckles – yet never had anything to pin on them so they could take them down. Perhaps a map showing their plans and a confession from a cowardly member would suffice.

As the party navigates through the encounter they may need to try and reach the guard or avoid them lest they believe they are a member of the knuckles. The knuckles may try to delay the guard by taunting and even attacking them so the party can keep being interrogated by Peter and a select few.

If out on the streets the way may be blocked from fighting or bickering Knuckles and Rimeguard, but that may be the best way out – or the worst way. This gives the party a few options to how they want the encounter to go.

Thanks for stopping by tonight to have a look at these two new statblocks. Next week we will reveal some more, and the final pieces if I can get away with revealing a bit too much… so make sure to keep an eye out for that. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for some more reveals to this weeks component of the adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Bloody Knuckles

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Welcome to the Eight night of Dice-ember and we get to meet the Bloody Knuckles tonight! This gang has set their sights on the treasure trove that is being offered as a reward for any who can capture the mischievous thieves who plague the city yearly. But, something tells me something will go wrong with their plan and they will turn their focus elsewhere.

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

The Bloody Knuckles

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Wal – Created in tetra-cube

Wal is the oldest member, second only to Rick, of the Bloody Knuckles. But he is definitely the biggest coward when his life is on the line. Due to this he surrounds himself with the meanest lunatics from the gang who are willing to throw their life away.

Pete – Created in tetra-cube

The newest leader of the Bloody Knuckles to climb the ranks Peter is something special. The stature of a knight coupled with the strength of one Peter is Ricks body guard and the second in command. People respect Pete as he isn’t outright vicious and has shown some kindness before. But he wont hold back when he or his gang is threatened and fights without remorse and without holding back.

Rick – Created in tetra-cube

The Gentleman known as Fierce knuckles was born as Rick Hardy. Rick was born to a noble family who fell out of favour when one of their endeavours failed. As a youth who had everything taken from him he sought for a way to never experience the poverty that his family went through in those early days.

Now Rick runs the Bloody Knuckles gang and aspires to set himself and his gang to a position equal to nobility, without being under the control and influence of the lord of Rimeglenn.

Thanks for meeting the Bloody Knuckles tonight and for dropping by for the Eighth night of Dice-ember as we continue to expand and grow this adventure. As we look forward to the next few weeks don’t forget to come back each day for more content and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Agents of Mischief

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Welcome to the first night of Dice-ember, the December One-shot that I do here every year, and tonight I wanted to touch on the Agents of Mischief. Next week we will kick off the involvement from the adventurers, our party’s, and how they will be involved but this week I wanted to set the scene a bit.

So sit back, grab a seasonal beverage and let’s roll into the holiday season!

The Agents of Mischief

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Emerali woke up with a start. She wondered if it was her parents that woke her up but her mother snored a few metres away and she could see the shape of her dad outlined in the light that was coming through the window and from the candles that burned slowly nearby. Taking a spare candle she lit it and attached it to the holder that enabled her to walk without getting her hands covered in hot wax.

Her father had spent most of an hour putting their precious things away in a chest that he had the key for since they had been targeted by the thieves this year. When they woke up yesterday morning they had found that each one of them had a single shoe taken and replaced by these little wooden toy people. Her Parents were furious but when they reported it the same thing had happened to the other people at the Rimeguard headquarters.

Walking to the kitchen and living space of the house she looked for the source of the noise. It was probably their cat hunting a mouse or looking for more food. But when she looked around she saw the cat was standing on the table looking intently at the chairs. As she approached she heard the scritch-scratching of something climbing the wooden chairs and so she stopped and waited. If it was a mouse or a rat she would try and keep it as a pet. Her parents never let her keep them but she found their twitchy noses just the best.

But what emerged from the other side of the chair was not a pink twitchy nose. A tiny wooden hand slowly emerged then several more before in a single movement the tiny wooden people pulled themselves up onto the chairs back and stood up balancing perfectly on the back of the chair. Emerali stood for a moment before she screamed. The toys were cursed, she was expecting a cute mouse or rat but instead she was not ready for the creepy toys that she had found this morning instead of her shoe.

As soon as Emerali screamed the toys went stiff as a board and fell back onto the ground. Her parents appeared moments after and found her staring at the toys but no matter how much she pleaded with them they wouldn’t believe her that they were moving and climbing the chair. Emerali was eventually coaxed back into bed and she had a fitful sleep filled with dreams of toys climbing up her legs.

And that’s the lot for tonight. Thanks for dropping by to follow along with this weeks content. Don’t forget that each day for the next few weeks is another day that we expand and grow this one-shot. So don’t forget to come back daily and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Velmore Angelbane

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This week let me introduce you to a special guest. Velmore Angelbane – the forgotten duke of hell. Lost a long time ago to the material plane there are few that remember his name or the the legions he commanded when he declared war with the angel. But let’s not spoil any more. So sit back, read on and let’s investigate what happens!

Velmore Angelbane

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Velmore is a forgotten Duke of hell who dared to confront the material plane to bring his hell to earth. However Andrasa and her band of heroes stopped him and banished him in a place that no one could find. Well nearly no one.

Velmore is kitted out with some strong spells and abilities that should be a challenge for any party. However, let’s address the elephant-shaped dust pile in the room. Disintegrate. Now Velmore isn’t stupid and will likely save this for the perfect situation. Removing a barrier, destroying a magical item/artefact or something that will end him. OR, removing the biggest threat. As such he would be unlikely to use it against a party member immediately but will calculate for a few rounds before revealing this trump card.

Where possible He will start with having used ‘Summon Fiends’ to have bodyguards, the lore that I have produced this week also suggests this as well. He uses these as body doubles (up to twice a round really). I would have the Summon Lemures look like Velmore but static and obviously just hollow shells – nothing but a puppet without the strings attached. That is until he swaps places with them.

Velmore Angelbane – Created in tetra-cube.

The Lemures.

Now these creatures will stand still and look like Velmore – but if the party gets close to them they will attempt to grapple them. That’s it really – they are body doubles for Velmore.

Lemure – Created in tetra-cube.

And that’s it. The last boss and the last minions for this adventure. Thanks for joining me for this wild ride and I appreciate all who have followed along. Don’t forget to come back for the next few days for more content and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Flying True colours

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This week we find out that two of those with the adventurers are finally flying their true colours, and one is merely doing as they are told. Maybe. If the party don’t willingly engage the creature beyond the Deep Dark then we have two methods to bring the story to a conclusion. So sit back, read on and lets investigate what happens!

Flying True colours

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The first “IF” is easy. The party decide to confront the creature beyond the veil and both Viktira and Lucile have theories on how to get beyond the portal, the deep dark. If they do then there is no confrontation but there are some concerns shed by Morali and the Melarn sisters who try and talk them out of it.

The second option(s) are less evident.

The party wake up after a very restful rest feeling revitalised to realise that Alex is sitting there sharpening his short sword and waiting for them to wake up. Viktira, Morali, Qistra and Umnel are bound and gagged nearby but Lucile is nowhere to be seen. Alex explains that this was the only way that Lucile had worked out a way to stop the creature from coming through the portal.

But Viktira protests and either when she is ungagged, or she wriggles free she explains that she had heard a voice guiding her here since the swamp. Telling her to do things that led to the collapse of the well of souls as well as to her capture and ‘safe delivery’ to this place. She had realised too late what it was and through force of will, during the parties battle with the fiend something triggered and she realised what it was. The fiend wanted her to come through the portal, to be a host for the creature and to set it free.

She felt the same presence from Lucile as she bound her and walked towards the deep dark. She believes Lucile is being used by the creature and that she will free it willingly or otherwise.

The alternative is that the party interrupt the above and Lucile is used as a channel for the creature beyond the veil. The deep dark’s seal will break in less than a lunar cycle at which point the creature will be free. The creature is actually bluffing here (a successful insight vs deception contest will reveal this). It is currently weakening the bonds and will be out within a few minutes now that it has a vessel nearby that is under its full influence.

Lucile carries several magical items on her and a few of them are for her protection, spells stored in items that will provide her a sanctuary. If the ruse is seen through the creature will use the items to create a transparent force field and a powerful sanctuary effect. People would need to pass a wisdom saving throw to break the compulsion to not attack the forcefield or Lucile and then they would need to get through it (Leomunds tiny hut).

She will then start channelling a ritual and the creature will start to manifest within the centre of the ritual – but only partially – this is where the party need to defeat a weakened creature as it is split between planes.

Alex Portand – Created in Tetra-cube.

This is where we leave this week – the verge of the finale of this years content (except for the “Dice-ember” Christmas adventure.) Don’t forget to come back this weekend for more content, zine or two caught up on and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Larituron – Lord of the Pit

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Larituron – lord of the pit has finally been revealed and she may be a bit too strong… But we must soldier on and count on our parties, also being quite strong by this point, and their abilities and ideas to get them through this adventure. So don’t take my word for it and check out the stat blocks below!

Larituron – Lord of the Pit

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The fiend known as Larituron is the mistress of the deep dark. She serves the creature that the mage Andrasa bound using three points and has grown to some considerable strength since escaping the purge of the mage and the heroes that aided her in the final conflict that bound her master. Working diligently to build up her own strength and to siphon energy to her master she has claimed the deep dark, and some of its denizens, her own.

She fights in hit-and-run tactics (comical for a creature as big as this) and looks like a huge, fiendish drider. Thick chitinous plates cover her body and she uses her sharp legs to impale prey if they get too close.

She has called the cavern where she lives in home for centuries and knows how to read its latent magical properties as well as use what she has constructed here to her advantage.

Larituron – Created in Tetra-cube.

Phantasm Spiders

Now while the last ones were illusionary these ones are more physical manifestation of Larituron’s on magic. As each spider dies they disappear however, they can’t be ignored like the previous ones.

Phantasm Spider – Created in Tetra-cube.

Thanks for dropping by tonight and checking out our big-baddie, well the second in command. This weekend will hopefully see a continuation of catch up on some of the lost adventures and maybe some work on the final one, but that maybe done behind the scenes. Don’t forget to come back and check out the blog daily and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe