OpenLegendRPG

The Crystal Seer

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This week I decided to take it a bit slower and to look at the direction I wanted to take with the blog. In doing so I came up with a small adventure which isn’t really a surprise now. But what I wanted to do tonight was look at creating a shortened Zine, something that fits on a single A4 sheet of paper with just enough information to set the scene, plot and hook with some NPCs sprinkled through that it could be used in any system.

I think it worked out well so without any further waiting I present, The Crystal Seer, in the short format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books whether you run pathfinder, Open Legends RPG, D&D or any other RPG System.

There is references to the blog nights which are D&D centric (regarding Friday night’s Stat-blocks) but this adventure can be used system agnostic more so than my regular Zines. As always Kobold fight club can be used to quickly balance an encounter for Dungeons and Dragons and Tetra-cube provides the stat-blocks for many of my D&D creatures.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, The Crytsal Seer, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

The Crystal Seer

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The Seers Crystal Ball – Created in Nightcafe.

Rumours have reached the party of a powerful seer who uses dice to foretell the future. He is also known to never get a fortune wrong. The party approaches the seer to see if there is truth to these rumours or if there is something darker at play.

PDF adventure – The Crystal Seer

The Crystal SeerDownload

Thanks for joining me today for another Zine this year. This is a condensed version of the Zine, but I hope the format works and is good to look at! Please feel free to leave comments if this format is appealing – so make sure to grab a copy of the PDF.

Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it.
I hope you don’t miss a thing so come back daily in the coming week and year. This is so you can experience the creation of the next adventure as it evolves and shapes out. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Beyond 900

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Tonight I look forward after spending a week thinking about what 900 nights in a row meant for me and I consider what is beyond 900. 1000 is the next easiest number but I also want to look at what I bring to the blog and where I go from here.

Beyond 900

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Most adventures begin in an Inn, enclosed within four walls with a source of food, water and riches. Many adventures I daresay end in the same way; being walled in with riches within reach and at least enough food and drink to last a few days. Most of my fondest memories of TTRPGs is being the game or dungeon master and they all involve watching those key moments of success or realisation where the party has just accomplished some great goal or caught onto the grander plot of what is going on.

These moments, the penny-drop, lightbulb and Eureka moments are what makes the game for me and really its thanks to the party’s that I play with. So the next few hundred nights may see a shift to what the party may want to see more of as I do use a lot of my content (but thinly change the who’s, what’s and where’s). The party has expressed interest in trying out another gaming system so we can stop and see what that looks like and how that will play out with what I produce here.

But until that time I will continue to provide the content in the current form with, attempted to be, weekly zines that contain nearly everything needed to run the game. That is except the secret, key ingredient; the dungeon masters themselves. Each one of us who are called to this role and noble calling put our own spin on things, we tell the tale differently and that is what makes it truly great.

So I will look at how I can shift it up a bit, make it more fluid, maybe a bit simpler and who knows, maybe even try to get a better product out there!

Thanks for visiting tonight. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow night for more content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Simple Rundown Courtyard

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Tonight we have a simple rundown courtyard where I employ a few techniques I have learnt over the year and a few more the give greater depth. However, if it happens to tie in with an adventure that I may have in the works than that suits even more!

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

Simple Rundown Courtyard

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Courtyard – Created in Inkarnate

Entering from either the lounge, top floor oval room, or the front door path (under the roof top of the map) into the courtyard. The fountain is not well maintained but it is functional with a few potted plants around it. Beyond that is an archway with a room beyond with a stairway up to the left and right.

This side of the courtyard holds a nobles bed room, vanity, tables, a sword, book case and finishing off with a suit of armour. However between bookcase and armour is a secret door that enables the noble within to have a way of escaping what ever is happening to the small manor and courtyard. I didn’t mention that the balcony has stairs that enable people to climb down to defend the courtyard, or if nimble enough climb up to the balcony in a hurry.

Overlapping textures are a norm these days with even textures painted over the top of art assets (the roofs). This enables the balcony over the roof that is to the top of the map. Line tools were used this week to show the flow of movement and highlight the secret doors so it was more obvious. Otherwise a rather simple map with a few rooms, two layers and a few options of different art assets try to give the flow of the map a consistent and cosy feel.

Thanks for visiting tonight and continuing to stay with me with this weeks content. If you find yourself using any of these maps in your own game (downloadable via the link) let me know! Don’t forget to come back tomorrow and this weekend as we continue on and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Hardest Twist

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Tonight being the night where I look at twists and turns and I wanted to talk about the hardest twist, the one twist I haven’t been able to pull off, yet. Intrigued? I hope so!

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!

The Hardest Twist

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As the party walked into the courtyard they spotted dozens of guards watching them from the sides of the cluttered space. The information they had gained from their own investigation as well as from the seer had lead them here as the source of evil in the land. As if by some unspoken order the guards drew their weapons and slowly advanced on the party.

“You’re not welcome here, what do you wish with the Lady in Violet?” one of the guards spoke. He was the leader or at least walked like he was in command of the men around him. “We are aware of your kind. You think you can push around those with the birth right to rule? Those who dare to shake the dirt from the roots and watch a new plant grow?” the guard nodded, agreeing to the man as they encircled the party.

“Perhaps we can’t let you leave. You reek of violence. Size them! The Gemmed fist will discern their intent!”

Watching from nearby – Created in nightcafe.

The party is generally the hero of the story; those who seek to do right for and by everyone and so when something smells fishy its not frequent that their intuition is wrong. However, there are cases where they are not the biggest player in the room and having them realise this to late is one of the hardest twists that I am yet to masterfully pull off.

You don’t want to deceive the players where something is not right, but you also don’t want them to see through the plot hooks, the smoke and mirrors so that the surprise is ruined for them. After all a there are countless enemies that would be cunning enough to manipulate adventurers, typical heroes, to do their evil bidding.

The challenge is this balance, deception without malicious intent and the ways that you can mask, guide and steer the party in the direction that you need them to go in. Most of the players I have had are experienced enough that they can sense or see through the smoke and mirrors that I have in place for the parties enjoyment of the session. However, as I focus on how I can up my game plan in the future it’s not an impossible task.

Thanks for joining me tonight! Another day into my quieter week and I find myself slipping back into thinking of an adventure rather than just concepts – so watch this space as there may be something else brewing in the laboratory. Don’t forget to come back each day this week as I ponder, scribble and jot down notes and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Master of Dice

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All adventures have something in common whether it be the fight between good and evil, the tavern scene, a overly-flirty bard or simply that they all have a master of dice. This week while I take some time to look at what 900 nights, 901 now!, of posting means for myself and the blog I wanted to take it a bit slower for a week. So tonight I look at the orchestrator of adventure and the true one responsible for any and all TPKs the Master of dice.

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

Master of Dice

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Master of dice – Created in Nightcafe.

The man looked at the party as they entered the shop as he rolled several objects on the table and scribbled down some notes. “Be with you in a minute” he called as he continued to roll and hastily jot down information on scraps of paper.

Looking up the man smiled at them “Sorry about that, finishing up a job for another client. Now I assume you are here like all the others that you wish for me to divine something?” he asked as he placed the paper into a pouch and then into a drawer. “I can promise you that you won’t find another as accurate as me so the fee that I require is well worth it.”

The man smiled at them practically oozing with confidence. “I can see you hesitate, perhaps an example?” with dextrous hands he plucked out several items from the table, dice, and retrieved a small scrap of paper and a fine quill that was gilded with gold. As soon as the first of the dice hit the table he began scratching at the paper, drawing lines, scribbles and jotting down words. Grabbing a few of the dice he had just rolled off the table he rolled them once more and scribbled for another few seconds.

Seemingly satisfied he placed down the quill and turned the paper to face the party. A sketch that could’ve been a human with shoulder length hair was standing next to a tree along with “silver” and “Jasper” written clearly next to the image. “This will occur soon. Perhaps the next minute, the next hour or within the day but no more. What ever the dice reveal to me happens and it is rare when it is not something obvious.” he said.

As the party stared at the paper a small bell chimed signalling the door being opened. A hooded figure entered, “Excuse me, Master Varsuise, I can see you are already with clients but it’s urgent.” The young woman walked forward lowering her hood as she reached the desk. “The lords son has gone missing again, sadly on my watch this time. I was teaching him archery near the forest and I went to retrieve the arrow he shot wide. Upon my return he was gone and would not show himself despite my calling.” she paused looking at the party.

Master Varsuise smiled. “Jasper is missing again?” he asked.

“Yes, but the master must not know. I can pay you a silver piece today if you are able to help – but I can’t afford more. Please can you assist me?” The woman spoke quietly, shame evident in her voice. As she looked up at the party, her eyes pleading, the resemblance of the young woman and the sketch Master Varsuise had given them was immediately evident.

“One silver coin will be more than fine, we were expecting you – weren’t we?” he asked the party with a knowing smile. “A once off discount as you may have helped with business today.”

Thanks for joining me for a bit of a fun one with some parallels to how I learnt to DM all those years ago. Reference tables and rolling dice was so tantalising that I made it my most significant hobby to this day. But enough on my reflections. Don’t forget to come back to check in on what else I come up on a ‘week off’ and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Searching for the right Shape

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Tonight and I have created a new zine for the year. I hope you are finding the current format of this Zine useful as I am continue to investigate what I can create weekly. I do this while aiming to give the DM freedom and flexibility without railroading them and the Party. So without any further waiting I present, Searching for the right Shape, in the same format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books.

As always this adventure can be used system agnostic but focuses on D&D so please feel free to adjust to what ever system and the creatures you are using in your adventure! However as always Kobold fight club can be used to quickly balance an encounter for Dungeons and Dragons and Tetra-cube provides the stat-blocks for the creatures found in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, Searching for the right Shape, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

Searching for the right Shape

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Corneth – Created in Nightcafe.

The party had been sitting down for a meal when they were approached by someone who obviously rarely attended these places. “Excuse me for the interruption but I am hoping you are the right people I am seeking out.” he mumbled looking worried before asking them to confirm if they were indeed the people who had completed a quest that they had in the past. 

After the confirmation, assuming it is given, the man looks incredibly relieved. “Praise Tyr. If you can, will you come with me? I have been sent to find you and only you will do. My employer needs people with your reputation and discreteness.” he bumbled. “We can reward you very handsomely indeed. I will return for you on the morrow if you are willing to help. Please think on it as my employer’s generosity knows now bounds.”

PDF adventure – Searching for the right Shape

searching-for-the-right-shapeDownload

Thanks for joining me today for another Zine this year. As usual there is a lot more in the Zine than there was in the daily updates on this blog – so make sure to grab a copy of the PDF.

Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it.
I hope you don’t miss a thing so come back daily in the coming week and year. This is so you can experience the creation of the next adventure as it evolves and shapes out. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Shemet Forest Peak

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Shemet Forest Peak is the focal point of the adventure for the night and this week it features a harsh, hot climb to the peak where we have a final encounter!

So instead of me waffling on here let’s sit back, grab a coffee and roll into map!

Shemet Forest Peak

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Shemet Forest Peak – Created in Inkarnate

Trying to highlight the intense heat of this encounter has made the forest come alive with reds and yellows. The contrast with the green grass makes the peak of the mountain feel more like a psychedelic episode rather than an intense battle with a powerful mage and elemental. Rocks and steep paths lead up to the peak and embers litter the trees creating hazards that the adventurers must watch out for.

A few overlapping textures were used (primarily on the rocks) which includes changing the colour of the base texture and applying it with a transparent layer. However the true daunting activity with this map build was the vast amount of assets used from trees, rocks, rocky hills, embers and light sources to try and make the area feel vividly terrifying.

Thanks for tonight to stay up to date with this weeks adventure. If you find yourself using any of these maps in your own game (downloadable via the link) let me know! Don’t forget to come back tomorrow and this weekend as we continue on this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Corltarlen’s Plan

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As the adventurers rush towards the mage that commands the elementals that threatened to close the noose around them they didn’t realise it was all part of Corltarlen’s Plan. A elemental of any power will only take being in servitude to a mage for so long and that time has come for Tolkar.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Corltarlen’s Plan

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As the party rushed up the hill the wind changed direction and the flaming creatures that had been attacking them constantly suddenly seemed to give up in blocking their passage. The dark chanting changed pace from the mountain ahead of them as it gained in urgency and power. Lightning flashed overhead as the booming voice continued as flashes of fire and lightning roared on the peak of the mountain – the source of the arcane spell.

As they raced over the rocks, bushes and branches the elemental creatures around them started to dim, vibrate before extinguishing. The air became a flurry of embers that rose and travelled towards a vortex that was forming at the peak of the mountain. As the chanting rose so did the number of elementals that disintegrated into embers to join the vortex and in their path the trees, bushes and shrubs caught on fire casting everything in a orange glow.

Turned Tolkar – Created in nightcafe.

It dawned on the party as soon as they saw the cause of the magic, a wizard surrounded by flames as motes of elemental magic poured into an effigy which had taken humanoid shape. Half burning wood and half flames the elemental towered over the man who was bathed in fire.

“You are too late now, my ritual is complete and I am the most powerful mage alive!” he howled, his eyes burning with rage and magic. “Corltarlen, deal with them and feast on their magic as per your bargain.” the mage commanded, but the elemental form just sneered.

“For a smart man, Tolkar, you do not understand the cost of power. I will do as you wish to sate my hunger but it will only last me so long now that I have taken this form.” he said as he gazed hungrily across at the mage.

“Yes, yes. More magic items and more magic essence from practitioners of the arcane. I know.” Tolkar replied as he missed the intent of the creature that was once bound to his will.

A good solid slog of a fight this week has been set up and the culmination of scheming from a entity that loathes servitude. We will expand upon this adventure further in the following nights so don’t forget to come back the next few days. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Tolkar Embermane

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Although a revered wizard once Tolkar Embermane fell into ill repute when he came across a dark tome on elemental binding. Obsessed with the spells within he quickly attempted the first first of the many rituals he would carry out in the City of Poltrow. The first attempt saw half the city burn down as the elementals broke out of the weak bindings he had prepared and dozens lost their lives. The second was less forgiving but more successful as he prepared stronger bindings and summoned a stronger elemental to be bound to his will.

It took most of the city guard to take down the elemental that he summoned but even then, he still escaped the mages guild. But since that day he has sought out magical artefacts and items as part of the pact he made with the elementals,

But that’s… a very long introduction. So let’s grab a coffee, sit back and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Tolkar Embermane

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Tolkar Embermane – Created in Nightcafe.

As the party ran through the forest Tolkar watched them from above. He could see through the eyes of all of his minions, the pact-bound elementals as they rushed to do his bidding. The magical items on the adventurers down below were enough to offer to his elemental friends so that they would be able to grow and enhance his own magical prowess.

As his elementals rush forward, skittering from tree to tree and closing the net the could practically taste victory on the smoky wind. Yet as he watched the fires rage and spread he also noticed the adventures, his target, start moving towards him, a gap in the fire allowed them to escape his net and rush onwards.

Calling to the original elemental he had bound, Corltarlen, he watched as the lumbering beast of fire and smoke pushed his way across the rocks and shrubs. “What are they doing? They are letting them escape!” he roared at the elemental. He had forgotten when he had become so hot tempered and quick to anger but even as his outburst ended he could feel a pang of guilt. “Stop them.” he muttered as he turned around.

Corltarlen smiled wickedly, a being without physical form had no limitations of flesh to restrict how they formed. Yet Corltarlen watched as his minions, his elemental servants, did his bidding. Weaving through the trees to direct the adventurers towards Tolkar for they were the only one who could end the hold over Corltarlen the mage had. Directing a few of the creatures that had disappointed him the most to create a feeble barrier in between the adventurers and the mage he watched with glee as they were cut down and the kindling fire was avoided.

Sending a few more to look like the attempt was made to halter the advance he could feel the rage brewing within the mage. The powerful elemental could feel the mages hold on sanity slipping further away and the temptation to attempt the more powerful spells in the dark tome increased. This is the moment he waited for, the final binding where Corltarlen would finally be free of the idiotic mage.

A different one this week as it provides context to the bad guy this week. But this wont be the only time we meet Tolkar or Corltarlen as we expand the adventure daily this week. So don’t forget to come back to check what the progress is and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Warm Welcome

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This week the party experience a warm welcome as they find themselves trapped between a forest fire and the things that created it. But surely that wont get them hot and bothered as they fight, think and strive to get out of this situation they find themselves in .

So grab a coffee, some fireproof armour let’s delve through tonight’s adventure!

The dangers of travelling through woods are normally thought of in terms of the creatures that call the woods home. The fire is spreading at an unnatural pace and it moves quicker than the party can keep up with. As the party try and navigate through the forest as the fire spreads through the trees, bushes and grass a dark voice calls through the woods. The fire moves through the woods as if alive as it attempts to surround and close in on the adventurers while a sound like laughter crackles from the burning leaves.

Can the party find a way out of the inferno or will they have to fight their way out as a dark menace appears to urge the fires onwards and towards the adventurers.

A Warm Welcome

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Shemet Forest – created in Nightcafe.

The party had just started to eat their evening meal after hiking through the Shemet forest. The woods provided ample food, shelter and materials for building a camp and it was largely free from overly-hostile monsters. As they settled into their camp which overlooked a valley and basked in the warmth their camp fire provided them a light flickered faintly from across the valley. ‘Another campfire‘ is what it appeared to be in the direction that they intended to cross to after resting.

But as they watched the light several other fires slowly came to life across the mountains side and as the wind changed direction towards them the smell of smoke gave hint to what came towards them. Suddenly the air was filled with embers as they raced and scattered through the valley and towards them at an unnatural pace. A dark voice carried across the wind, an arcane taint stung like acrid smoke as spot fires spawned everywhere.

As the party raced across the wooded path fires roared through the trees around them. As the fire chewed through the wood the sound of burning leaves, sizzling bark and the fire as it created a wind current for itself sounded like the chittering laughter of foul creatures. The embers raced through the trees carried upon these winds as if alive and where ever they landed new fires were born. The fire was born from dark magic and it acted as voracious as was the nature of such things.

As they raced through the woods with the possessions they were able to grab in their haste to leave their camp they watched as a fire sprung up in front of them as a tree fell down upon the path they raced down. Scanning the area their only way forward was a quickly closing gap down hill towards the bottom of the valley in the direction that the fire first started.

Movement out of the corner of their eye drew their attention to a tree they had passed as a small creature made of fire crawled along the darkening bark, laughing manically as the tree quickly burst into flame. The source of dark magic was uncovered – elementals. But their dark master was somewhere across the valley and their purpose was unknown. It was clear that what ever they attempted to do to escape would only save them for a moment of they were the target of the magician who had summoned these creatures.

Their best bet of survival was to find who ever was controlling the elementals and to silence them.

A mixture of a chase, a “locate” and large final battle this week as the party try and escape the Shemet forest before they are burnt to a crisp. Don’t forget that we will expand this adventure each day this week so don’t forget to come back daily to stay up to date. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe