One-shot

Arkensol Arena

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Welcome back to another Map night but this week we have an actual map with the Arkensol Arena! This thing is probably the largest map I have tried in a while and for good reason. 40 squares (200feet) in diameter makes it a very large map and even the longest ranged weapons will struggle. But that’s something that we can investigate later.

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

Arkensol Arena

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Arkensol Arena – Created in Inkarnate

Various walls, barricades, crates and platforms make up this magically sealed arena. Towering walls sink into the ground where a sandy battlefield with battlements, trees and other obstacles make it easy to hide, but harder to stay hidden as the hunters become the prey.

A lot easier this week as there isn’t soo many overlapping layers and only a few asset packs involved. This means that is quick to get out and created without spending hours working on the map.

Not much of a description tonight as we have one more night left in which to explore. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow as we wrap up this adventure and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Monster is Revealed

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This week we have the party searching through the corridors and passageways under the arena until, at last the monster is revealed. But its not what they think it is. A frantic chase, a dark room and then darkness. A voice gloats from nearby as all is laid bare.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and try and catch a monster.

The Monster is Revealed

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The passageways looked the same. Chutes heading towards the arena above them and people moving about completing their business. The crates, boxes, weapon and armour racks as well as a few areas that looked reserved for the warriors were stationed near some of the chutes. As they moved through trying to find the same tracks that they saw near the cage they struggled to identify anything other than the occasional damage to the stonework on the edges of the corners.

Suddenly there was a cluster of people around the chutes “It’s no use. We will have to tell Seb that this entrance is not operational for now until we can work out why the platform won’t rise.” a man said from near as a female dwarf tinkered with a large metal cog that appeared pitted and deformed.

“If I get my hands on the idiot that dropped acid on the mechanism I will have Seb put them in the ring” she said as she threw her tools behind her. As the people around the chute moved backwards the same damage from the creature they were following could be seen at the edge of the stone work below the jammed chute’s platform.

As the party descended down the chute the grunt of the other members of the group could be heard from above as well as the discussions from the arena workers. When the party reached the bottom of the chute they could tell it was a small storage area where discarded sets of armour, boxes, crates and the like were set up against the walls. Several crates and boxes lay broken, splintered and smashed as their quarry had pushed past them in a hurry. The same scrape marks could be seen along some of the walls and a trail of pox marks could be seen on the ground as they followed deeper.

The passageway led for a few hundred feet until the sound of rushing water could be heard beyond an archway. As they stepped through the droning of the water rushing against steps, the bump of a boat and the hum of activity nearby assailed them. As they looked around the room dockhands moved to boats before both boat and worker disappeared in a spray of water. No one panicked or noticed the sudden disappearance but they moved past and around the party in their ongoing efforts to move stones, chunks of wood and discarded armour and gear into the boats.

The overwhelming sense of disorientation, of people disappearing, reappearing and the droning noise caused the party to fall down, barely aware of their surroundings until a pair of very real creatures stepped in front of their vision.

“So the famous adventuring party made it all the way here, how lucky am I.” a smooth yet oily voice spoke. “I am terribly sorry how we are meeting but you see I can’t have you interfering with my plans. For too long the people of this forsaken city have allowed the atrocities for too long. But no longer. It’s time for nature to win, for the animals to defeat the oppressive warriors and system.” the man said, bending down next to the party as a large, armoured creature crawled up next to him.

“You will be the ones to die. Sorry it had to be you but the warriors that Seb picks are the best. No creature could survive that party. But you lot? Not a chance.” he said before chanting an incantation before the world went black.

Thanks for joining me for the next part of this adventure. As we look forward to what lies ahead of the party as they wake, presumably from this spell they have a creature to face with some hints behind what lies there and, sadly, they are at the disadvantage. But more on that tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back the last few days of this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Seb Bastenwort

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The Arena master Seb Bastenwort who is not just smart but insidiously clever. An entrepreneur and arena master responsible for setting up the stage, the story and the headline acts at the arena.

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

Seb Bastenwort

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Seb Bastenwort – Created in nightcafe.

Heading through the tunnels beneath the arena Seb, as he was now known as, walked at a fast pace compared to the humans. “This whole place, the mechanisms, the cells, the arena itself is all designed to hold creatures and the heroes for the show. It’s a marvel, an absolute marvel.” Seb rattled on as he pointed at different mechanisms, cages and chains.

“Todays show was something that I didn’t even want to know about. So I had my chief handler organise a surprise asset for the main event.” He scratched his well maintained beard. “But that’s where it went wrong. I can find my handler and we’ve lost the creature. I wish I could tell you what it was but I wanted it to be a surprise for me as well.”

He stopped moving at one of the cages and stood there expectantly. “Well this is it. The cage where it’s meant to be but isn’t.” He pointed at the broken chain, the ajar door and the various bits of scrap, food and mess that lay around the cage.

One thing was clear. Something large was once in here and it was loose. The party would have their work cut out for them in tracking down this creature but also, finding out how it escaped.

Thanks for joining me tonight for this update to our adventure. Don’t forget to come back as we continue to ramp up this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

It’s Escaped

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There are few words that people fear more than it’s escaped, especially when its coming from the gladiatorial ring master. This week we investigate what that looks like and what the party are tasked to do in such a situation.

So order the arena special, grab a drink and a seat and let’s hunt down tonight’s adventure!

The Arena in Arkensol is famous for its magically enhanced ring, its warriors and the creatures that it brings to fight on the field. However when the party is approached by the beastmaster and offered a last minute job there is something more happening under the barriers and bulwarks of the arena. A creature has broken loose and this poses a risk to the arena’s business as it was the big ticket holder this week. However, that’s not all as the party discovered that it didn’t escape – it was freed.

Knowing what they were fighting would be easy but in this case nothing is what it seems. Will they be able to find the creature and make things right or will they find out that the rot in the arena runs deeper than the sand covered floor above them.

It’s Escaped

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The party watched from the sidelines of the arena keen to see what the fuss was about. It had been a few days since they were last adventuring and they had been told that the arena was a great place to see experienced fighters facing off against exotic creatures.

As they sat down and ordered wine, mead, beer and various food they kept an eye out for the creatures and warriors that would be performing today. These competitions hired only the best hunters and healers so that no one ended up too injured and the creatures were spared wherever possible so they could fight another day. As they watched the warriors be led out to the field they heard the ringmaster announce them all, their strengths and fighting style loudly for all to hear.

The crowd cheered for their favourites, booed for their least favourite and soon the excitement and rowdiness was nearly thick enough to be cut with a dagger. Sitting near one of the doors that led to the bowels of the arena they heard the door click open. A gnome was talking hurriedly with two assistants. “What do you mean it’s escaped? It’s one bloody cage each and they are due out any moment.” he snapped at the assistants that hurried alongside him. “How can you even lose those creatures? They are impossible to not notice”

After scanning the crowd the gnome locked eyes with the party and a flash of recognition lit up his face. “You there. I am looking for some adventurers of some renown in getting something done urgently. I have been given the description of you and your party and I was hoping that I could borrow you for a little excursion.” the gnome continued as he reached inside his jacket. “I pay very well…” he said as he produced a solid gold trade bar that was worth hundreds if not thousands of gold in the market.

Thanks for joining me tonight for the start to another week of adventuring. We will expand this adventure every day this week and unravel more of the mystery, the people and the creature each day. So don’t forget to come back daily and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Different Initiative

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As I continue to look at other game systems, experiment with one I have had on the side for years I find myself annoyed at the Initiative system and find myself looking for a different initiative system. Tonight I want to explore a just few of them and maybe see if I can spice not only my game up but others out there.

So put that d20 down, sit back and let’s explore how else we can roll initiative.

A Different Initiative

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So before we get too deep in let me explain he issue I have with Initiative. You can run it how ever you want but the issues still remain. The setup can take too long, horde based encounters either feel overwhelming or underwhelming – rarely an in between and the only way that bosses feel challenging is making them legendary creatures (having legendary actions) and setting the initiative to where you want them to be.

I’ve been asking players to roll initiative for a long time but it doesn’t seem to improve with the new additions of D&D and other games seem to have different, maybe better systems. So that’s the purpose of tonight – a few different ways to run it.

Pack of Cards

Every person draws a card, including the DM and the lowest number goes first. A player wins ties and Ace counts as 1. Each turn the party pick out a new card and we re-establish initiative during the event – this makes it a bit more interesting and dynamic as the fight can take un expected turns – however it can nearly guarantee that the readied actions will have a chance of being wasted.

For the Tank or front-line characters it means they can go and establish that line early – which is part of their job IF they draw well enough and for characters who have really specialised in initiative (or who depend on it) – they get either a re-draw or get to trade their card with another (including the DM.)

The DM can have either one card or more but it depends on the situation. It could be that when a player goes after them goes an enemy to create a back and forth flow to the game that may feel better.

OR

The other use is assign a Suite-Face card to each player and take them, shuffle them in with other cards that represent one or more creatures. Place them face down and when its time for combat flip over the top card and then turn over the first card to determine who is next to act. This can be useful as it varies initiative each turn. For players who have bonuses for Initiative (class feature or a feat) they can add a second card that represents their bonus to initiative.

Player to the left

Simple system really. The player to the left of the DM goes first and then they pass it to their left. The DM has NPCs and monsters/creatures activate when it gets back to them – they are the start of the round. IF the party is surprise then the DM acts immediately then goes at the end of everyone else’s turn.

However this creates a scenario where the DM, Me, will still run out of creatures and a well placed fireball will just obliterate the encounter you had planned.

Dex Score

Just order initiative based on Dex Score. Those who are fast will go first and those who have lower dexterity scores will go last. Means less dice rolling and trying to pencil in where people go so it can speed it up. But this may begin to feel stagnant and wont address some of the issues I have.

Action economy

Give actions a weight.

Movement goes first – same as reactions – they break the order and happen fluidly – but must be declared early. Like on a card, or note. It relies on the intent behind the action. “I intend to run over to the log, crouch behind it (sliding really cool like though) and then firing from my light crossbow at the orc watchmen.” – The DM can then understand the intent of the table and then interject the actions of the hostiles.

Ranged Attacking may weigh more than movement but less than a melee attack so it goes next followed by melee attacks and lastly by Magic. As spells require materials, somatic and verbal components (most of the time two of the list) they take longer. Cantrips though may just be as counted as a ranged attack.

This puts more emphasis on the narrative of battle rather than effort of keeping track of initiative.

A few of these will need to be investigated more but that’s something that can happen over a few games. Tomorrow we have not only a Zine but also Easter! If I can summon the energy I will have multiple Zines out tomorrow. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

In the Buildings and Through the Streets

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A different approach this week as we focus mainly on what the party do which may result in the main encounter happening in the buildings and through the streets of the city. As we don’t know where the party will encounter the assassin it lends this weeks encounter to a theatre of the mind setting as opposed to one that is locked to a single map.

So jump start your imagination as this week will look over what we should consider on the streets and in the buildings. So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s roll into it.

In the Buildings and Through the Streets

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Streets

Streets are easy. They can either be cluttered or not. Cluttered streets have boxes, crates, barrels, wagons or stalls in the way that block line of sight. The other thing to consider is that you can have living things that block line of sight too – such as Horses, cows or people. An assassin may strike in broad daylight when they are getting desperate as a way of blending in with the crowd and in our case this may be the case.

Launching a bolt or arrow or poison coated needle from a higher vantage point may be a perfect way to attack, so we need to consider multiple levels. Is it just rooftop and ground level or is there multiple floors and roofs, windows or balconies to attack from. Is there cover, sheets, clothing, stalls, pot plants or a billboard to hide our assassin or does the shape of the roof enable them to be hidden?

The other consideration with streets, particularly packed ones is a stranger coming out from the pack and using knives, daggers or short blades to quickly cut, stab and even utilise poison to silence their target before blending in with the crowd.

Vacant streets are very much the same but with less places to hide. So ranged assassination will likely be the preferred method and from a greater distance away. However appearing around a street corner, using doorways or even the sewer system can be effective means to handle the situation.

Buildings

Buildings are either lived in (or occupied) or vacant again. Most of the time they are cluttered or have multiple ways in, out and places to hide. This gives the assassin an easier time of ambushing the target. However the inverse can also be true. If the party can lure the assassin into the building, or, enter the building then kite around it to surprise the assailant it can be an easy and sure-fire way for the party to ambush the assassin.

A shorter one tonight but some thoughts to help flesh out the encounter that takes place in the theatre of the mind this week. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow as we wrap up this weeks adventure and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Target Confirmed

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This weeks is all about the party being wrapped up in an assassination attempt but it isn’t until a few days later when they have the target confirmed. But is it too late, can they rely on the watchers keeping an eye out and will they realise too late that they are the bait?

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and keep our heads down.

Target Confirmed

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The twang of wire was the only indicator that something was wrong as a bolt whistled past the party and buried itself into a barrel of apples next to them. A crash and groan of pain followed and following the screams of people they found one of the watchers pulling themselves from the ruins of a stall. Untangling the fabric of the shade cloth that was suspended above the wooden frame they looked to the party.

“I spotted them. They nearly hit you with the bolt but I hit them first.” she paused, catching her breath. “However I didn’t expect them to rush at me and knock me off the vantage point and down here. They took off north from here” she pointed to emphasise her point as she touched a wound on her ribs. “I need to clean up here. The other watcher is taking pursuit but we have confirmed that they are after you. So be careful as in our experience when the target is confirmed and the assassin knows that we are aware they either raise the ante or they will change tactics completely. I will catch up in a moment.”

Taking off and allowing the watcher to make amends with the shop owner and tend to her injury the party head north. If the assassin was aware that they were close then they may feel cornered and be irrational. People were pointing and muttering about a chase happening on the rooftops as they passed. Quickly asking bystanders they were able to trace the steps of the suspect and the watcher to an abandoned church.

Drawing their weapons they entered the door and began searching. It didn’t take them long to hone into a tower at the back of the building – the only part of the church that had roof access. Climbing the stairs they heard a rattle in the room at the top of the tower, one that was level with the roof judging by one of the windows. Pushing through the door the first adventurer was pushed against the wall by an unseen assailant – a large thin dagger pressed against their throat. After a split second the figure withdrew the dagger and stepped back – slumping against the wall.

“Thank god it’s you.” the figure spoke. He was young and dressed like the other watcher but clutching his stomach. “I followed the assassin in here. I can’t believe I chased him like a rookie. Next thing I know I get a few swift hits in the stomach and he dashes out the window. I thought you were him coming back to finish me.” he said as he stood up slowly. “I’ve got to follow him.” he said before pushing past the party and climbing onto the roof.

As the party stood there in the silence the sound of something dripping could be heard from deeper in the room. Following it they found a pool of dark blood and a young man that had been stashed in the rafters of the roof, stripped down to his undergarments. “This isn’t good. That’s John” came the familiar voice of the female watcher from before. “and it looks like our assassin has their hands on a watchers outfit now.”

Thanks for joining me tonight for another expansion of this weeks adventure. Tomorrow we will look at expanding if further before we wrap it up at the end of the week. Don’t forget to come back each day this week to stay on top of the adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Rudy Tasslewor

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All bars, taverns and Inns need people to not only provide information, jobs or rumours but to also serve food and drinks to the patrons. Rudy Tasslewor is one such person and this week he plays a pivotal role in what I hope will be a great adventure.

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

Rudy Tasslewor

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Rudy Tasslewor – Created in nightcafe.

Gathering around the bar the owners of the Tavern and Rudy, the barman who was unluckily the person who Ikob took drinks from all waited as the guards and the city’s watchers looked around the room. Questioning the party, several of the watchers; elite guards and spies, tried to find out what happened leading up to the death of the noble.

“So you say that you ordered the drinks and Lord Ikob Thunderdash received them instead of you. It could be something else as we have, so far, no motivation for anyone wanting to kill adventurers of little fame such as yourselves. But we will investigate the body and see if there was another source.” The Watchers were all masked and showed nearly nothing that could be tied back to who they were. However the watcher that was asking the questions was a female and sounded middle aged and local.

“Anything over there, watcher?” one of the guards called from across the room – the reply was a shake of the head. Rudy, the barman smiled weakly at the party as he walked over.

“I am sorry you got caught up in all of this. The only time I didn’t have eyes on the drink was when the old blind man needed help getting back to his table. But it wasn’t for that long and I had no idea.” He stopped and paused as he saw the look on the party’s face.

The guard approached and shook their heads as they stopped next to the party. “Well we can’t rule out it was an inside job. Ikob was a well known noble for the wrong reasons but he was nobility, after all. Even if the drinks weren’t meant for him there is no way to prove otherwise. But I would recommend that you stay safe and keep a low profile over the next few days until you leave town. Don’t go anywhere at night as the city streets aren’t patrolled as much.” the older guardsman said as he scratched his neck.

“You may also have a watcher or two posted to follow you to see if they can catch the assassin. But don’t bring attention to them. The quicker they can do their work the quicker you will be safe.”

A small update tonight which leads into the next few nights of content. So don’t forget to come back as we continue to ramp up this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Hook, Line and Sinker

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Welcome to another night at my tabletop where tonight we find our parties drawn in hook, line and sinker into another adventure. But this time its different. An rude and arrogant noble, a drink mix-up which leads to an assassination and all from the party ordering another round of drinks.

So grab a table, avoid the drinks tonight but let’s feast upon tonight’s adventure!

A relaxing stint on soft beds amongst civilisation is what the party had come to Oscowl for but quickly they realised that it may be too much to ask for. As the party sit in their tavern and watch as the barman brings over their drinks a series of events not only quickly draws attention to them but to everyone else in the tavern. An assassin nearly killed them and killed a notable nobleman and mage who frequented the tavern.

With the death of a noble bringing more scrutiny and as tension increases can the party find the would be assassin before another dies or will the true target of the murderer be revealed.

Hook, Line and Sinker

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Ikob Thunderdash – Created in Nightcafe.

The crescendo of the bard’s song ended with a scattered cheer and applause as the party sat, fed and content at one of the booths that they had haunted for a few days. After many adventures they had come to Oscowl – a hub city where work was everywhere and so were places to spend hard earnt gold. For this band of adventurers the promise of a comfortable bed and a place to spend some of their hard earned gold was what brought them and the food and drink of the Mutter-butter tavern & Inn was what was keeping them here.

As they went over their plans for tomorrow they signalled one of the workers near the bar for another round of drinks. The friendly half-elf acknowledged their order before a booming “How dare you!” shot through the room. The party looked towards the source of the outrage and found that Ikob Thunderdash, a noble with a non-insignificant amount of magical prowess was pushing a man away from his table where not one, or two but three scantily clad ladies were sitting with him.

“I have warned you once to not encroach upon my business” Ikob called out as he stood menacingly upright. The man in front of him looked confused and terrified as he shuffled backwards, raising his hands and apologising.

“I am sorry. I didn’t know it was your table, I…” he began before being pushed backwards. The man looked left and right as he stumbled – his milky eyes scanned for where his table was as he stumbled backwards. The young half-elf barman appeared and caught the man. “Sorry about that. Easy now old friend, I’ll show you to your table.” he said.

“Fetch me another drink at this moment and I’ll forgive this establishment for its lack of respect for the nobles of this city!” Ikob called to the swoons of his companions and the mutterings of the other patrons. The barman nodded and agreed but focused on getting the old blind man back to his own table. Ikob muttered a few impolite comments to the delight of his companions.

A few moments later the barman was walking back to the parties table carrying a tray of drinks to them. However as the barman got near the table a few incantations saw the tray of drinks drift over to where Ikob sat. “Ah I knew you wouldn’t be getting drinks to someone other than me first” he said as he laughed and started drinking from one of the goblets. As the barman stomped away to get another tray of drinks to the party Ikob suddenly coughed, stood up holding his throat before writhing and screaming in pain. The table knocked over, the girls he was with screamed and within moments he lay on the floor, blood pooling from his eyes, ears and mouth.

The Tavern was quiet for a moment before the first screams and cries erupted. The party looked at the spilled drinks, the dead noble and the other people within the tavern. Something tells them that they won’t be having any more quiet days in this city any more.

Thanks for joining me tonight for the first of a change in pace this week. Instead of a big adventure defending princesses, infiltrating cultists or seeking out Dryads this week there is an assassin on the loose. So don’t forget to come back daily to follow along with the new content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Lethal Combo

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Now tonight we answer the question of how dozens of guards were slaughtered without anyone knowing, the answer? A lethal combo. Tonight we get introduced to the Hobgoblin Shade – a hobgoblin trained in magic who uses it to sew chaos on the battlefield and for certain, specific tasks – such as supporting their warlord in combat.

So let’s check the corners of the room and maybe play at the tabletop with a few extra lights tonight. But first let’s sit back, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s content.

A Lethal Combo

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Hobgoblin Shade – Created in tetra-cube.

A Shade by many names is something that generally means stealth, deception or the dead. The Hobgoblin shade embodies all three things with their magical prowess and ability to strike out of the shadows. But if there is no shadows and no way of stealthily executing their warlords plans the Hobgoblin Shade supports the battlefield by sewing subtle misdirection and complete silence into the plan.

These elite agents are not the strongest of fighters but they are lethal nevertheless and parties should, and do, fear the Hobgoblin Shade when they are rumoured to be embedded in a warlords army.

That’s it for this week. A short update with a new stat-block to bring to the hobgoblin arsenal. A few years back I made Hobgoblins, Oni, the main attack force of a big-bag and this week we have them front and centre again. But that’s not all for this weekend as we wrap it up with a Zine tomorrow which you wont want to miss. So don’t forget to come back for that tomorrow and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe