RPG homebrew

2024 Campaign Adventure 11 & 12

thebrazenwolfe2 Comments

Good evening all and welcome to the Eleventh and Twelfth days of adventuring for my party. While I will endeavour to not give away the campaign, adventure or plot moving forward (in case my party read these updates!) I will attempt to write up each adventure this year continuing with my 2024 Campaign Adventure 11 & 12 – continuing on from the 2023 adventure.

This is a continuation from 2023 Campaign adventure 10 as the party continues on their first mission as members of the investigation of the strange creatures in these lands.

2024 Campaign Adventure 11 & 12

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Plot:

Noon

The party having rested from fighting the Snowcraft Guardians, the creatures with a sturdier and rougher exterior than the creatures seen before. As the party recovered from the encounter they pondered what the cavern below the frozen waterfall held for them. Approaching the edge of the cavern they discovered a work rope ladder that had become rigid with ice. Below a cavern was revealed studded with both Stalagmites and Stalactites – but the party knew something was up. There was a stairway that had been carved into the stone which descended deeper into the quarry cavern. Frozen ice and compacted snow surrounded the path where there were several standing torches that studded the edge of the path for the length of the stairs

Armaeth scouted up ahead and checked for loose, crumbling or rigged stalactites however she was not anticipating creatures to be lurking in the cavern ceiling. A moment later and several stalactites fell towards the party, several missing the mark and crashing into the ground but one connected with Tater, grievously wounding him. The stalactites were revealed to be creatures that took the form of the stone formations on the roof of the ceiling, Piercers, and hunted they prey but impaling them and hoping the drop killed them.

After a brief fight Tater was left to bandage and try and recover from his wound before they carefully headed deeper, but not before searching the stomach of the creatures and finding a mysterious pouch – one that was bigger on the inside than the outside. While not a bag of holding the Pouch of Holding acted in a similar manner but with a greater limit on how much could be kept within.

Now knowing what to look for Armaeth used a flaming torch to prod the rocks and revealed several more creatures that scuttled off without attacking the party. Eventually they found their way to the bottom of the stairs where a giant reptilian fossilised skull marked the end of the stairs and the beginning of the hall and chamber beyond.

The Discovery

Walking down the hall and promising themselves that they would try and take some teeth on the way out afterwards. All light disappeared as they went deeper into the cavern below and beyond, but testing the depth of the room beyond (by launching a crossbow beyond and listening for an impact) they found it was a rather large room.

Throwing torches into the room they created a few pinpoints of light that helped Groku – the only human in the party, and which produced the mediocre amount of light that enabled Tater and Kai to see better in the dark. What was revealed was a smooth icebound room with several pillars of ice that may have been stalagmites and stalactites that met in the middle for their formation. These were somewhat evenly spread across the room with piles of snow under them which would provide welcome grip as opposed to the smooth ice that was everywhere else.

In the centre of the room was an altar, something that was foreboding and dark – and the party had a good idea what it was. As they approached the altar, not being able to find out what was on there from across the room, they were approached by a hulking figure. Smooth slabs of ice had been sculpted or created to form an armour-like-carapace for the core. A large shield made from hard, jagged ice complimented the large sharpened great-club like appendage that was formed onto the man-figures body. The core however drew everyone’s attention.

Mark Kenderson lay definitely dead but woven within the construct made of ice. Grievous old wounds were cased in ice which formed a protective suit to the small amounts of broke, bruised and cut flesh beneath. The construct spoke to them “Leave now so the creator can complete her ritual” before, taking Tater advancing as a sign of aggression, it strode forwards and attacked.

The fight was intense and while Tater and Groku attempted to (and succeeded!) in keeping the construct busy Kai looked for the creator. After a few rounds of combat Tater was at deaths door while Kai had discovered Aster, the young enchantress lay dead, broken and bloodied as if killed by her own creation. Soon the unrelenting construct had beaten Groku unconscious and was about to end both Tater and Kai before one of Kai’s spells took hold and the construct fell silent.

Recovering and stabilising Groku they searched the room for answers and found a box that had a handful of gold and platinum pieces as well as bracers, a ring, a cruddy looking key and a belt. Searching Aster, and finding her journal that confirmed her to be Aster, they rested and experimented with the items they found – revealing them to be magical to some degree. After much experimentation they determined that the Ring that they gifted to Groku was able to push and pull metallic weapons from the user.

After resting they piled snow on top of Aster and Mark before leaving, carefully extracting nine teeth from the ancient reptilian fossilised skull and carefully avoiding the piercers in the cavern – of which they were successful. Carefully moving about the dwindling afternoon they made their way back to the Goliath’s hut and rested for the night.

Departure

Morning came with no additional sign of snowmen and the descent to Snowtown was only broken by the realisation that a large white and grey wolf was following them. When Tater approached the wolf it ran off but followed from a safe distance – even eating some of the rations that Kai left behind for it. The other thing that dawned on them as they walked back to the town was that the snowmen were gone and piles of snow, clothing and sticks remained where the constructs once stood.

Entering the town they were met with the sight of children playing and people celebrating in the afternoon sunlight. Going to the Snowtown Inn to see Daryll he called Penny to come and listen to the adventurers tale. The revelation of Marks death was not unexpected but his parents took it poorly (as can be expected). They were also offered lodging and meals for life in the Inn if they wanted and they ate and rested well that night.

In the morning they were gifted with a large collection of gold from the town, several healing potions and trade material as well as two potions that were sent by mistake – ones that produce a lot of light once exposed to air. Packing the wagon and hitching up the mules, draft horse and riding horse again they left to continue onto Fustmach.

Followers

The road to Fustmatch was relatively easy now that the weather had passed. They had been in Snowtown for around six days and nights and in the time the roads had hardned up and the party was able to make good time. Kai noticed that the wolf was still following them and so decided to embrace his inner wild Goblin. Strapping bits of meat to himself he lay down still in the middle of the road for about and hour before the wolf became curious and came to check on him. It snaffled the bits of meat that he had draped on himself before disappearing up the mountain once more.

As they continued to travel upwards they came across a mid-way point where they decided that staying put over night would be wise. Setting up camp they scouted the area around them and found a cave with fresh water, and fish. Catching a fish, gutting it and then cooking the meat Kai and the party ate well – but Kai decided to try the age old Goblin proverb, “You catch more wolves with a goblin covered in fish guts than you do dried meat and jerky.”

Into the first watch of the night Kai went a bit feral. He removed all his clothing and donned the fish guts and went in search of the large wolf that had been following them. Eventually finding the wolf he was so set on finding the creature that he did not notice the other eight wolves that had been following the smell of mule. When he finally realised the wolves were close by he had to quickly scramble up the hill – but it was steep and had little in the way of hand or foot holds. As he was naked, without weapons (or even the magical bracers that launch veins of metal from his finger tips) he was quickly dragged to the ground and attacked savagely. He beat into the wolves with bare fists but it wasn’t long until he was fighting for his life.

The screams and disturbance alerted the mules which woke Groku and soon Tater and Armaeth joined her in charging to the aid of a non unconscious Kai. After a quick battle, involving the large white wolf attacking one of the other little wolves, they stabilised Kai and defeated the others. Upon gaining consciousness Kai witnessed the following wolf take one of the slain wolves as its prize and Kai attempted to follow – his mind in a feral and manic state.

Giving up after he lost sight of the wolf he returned to sleep in a bed roll made of slit-open wolf by the fire and he lay like that until the morning. In the morning Tater forced Kai to have a bath (by deception) which led to Kai attempting to remove one of Taters fingers and then regaining more of his civilised senses. The half day of travel to Fustmach was an easy one but the party were relieved at the promise of not being on the backs of animals while moving up-hill.

Fustmach

The Town of Fustmach was largely made from stone and had more than the majority of buildings being predominantly dwarven. Most buildings however, had extensions or modifications in wood which was human in architecture. The people of Fustmach (with thick warm German/Bavarian accents) were welcoming and happy to help. They revealed that The Fat Sow was the best place to get food in the city apart from the feasts that the Mayor, an avid collector, hosts once a week at his hall up near the entrance to the mine.

Opposite that was the Fustmach Stables ran by Dinkleburg – a warm man with his wife Greta and son Hans – a towering strong but incredibly friendly man. Leaving the horses and wagon there they went to the Fat Sow following a lead that this may be the missing halfling – Fredrickson. It was not. The Halfling cook and owner, Jonh, was brutal, rough and a ‘Gordon Ramsey’ of the halfling cooking world where his wait staff were simply disenchanted with being there – a stark contrast to the rest of the village that were extremely welcoming and friendly.

After a heated discussion where Jonh was revealed to have been in a war with Goblins in his past and Kai insulting the proud mans food they were advised that the Mayor kept a stranglehold on who stayed in the village – but he would be likely to welcome the party. While Jonh organised a room for them to stay, on the sly, they were advised that his food hall was ‘all you can eat and drink’ for 1gp. Many of the locals seemed to be taking this seriously but they were tipping the establishment and wait-staff handsomely.

While waiting for Jonh they made their way to the Mayors house – a converted dwarven fort next to the mine. Talking to the guards they were revealed to be bored but friendly and not overly cautious of the party. Entering they found a feasting hall, converted from a dwarven barracks/room and the Mayor, a large jolly fellow, sitting down in a parlour room.

Talking to the Mayor he revealed some information about the dragon teeth – being not really his ideal item to collect but he offered 5gp a piece, he also provided some insight into the belt that Tater found revealing it to be made from phase spider silk and crafted by the elves of the Astral plane. He also revealed that they followed the dwarven mining customs and were trying to do it was the dwarves once did. Understanding that they knew best and wanting to honour the missing founders of Fustmach – the dwarves who once lived here.

Question’s about a halfling that visited didn’t reveal much – the Mayor, Tom, remembered him and expressed his disappointment that he left without as much as a goodbye or thank you. Afterwards the party were certain something was wrong with the town and much to Kai’s regret they believe that Jonh was innocent while the Mayor was behind the evil taint. Heading back to The Fat Sow they retired for the night with an invitation to the banquet tomorrow night at the Mayors hall.

Creatures (Both created in tetra-cube):

Lair and Legendary Actions:

The Frostkeeper Construct, Mark Kenderson was able to cause tremors in the cavern which caused the party to slip over many times if they failed a dexterity saving throw. He also was able to shield bash a single target, dealing a small amount of damage but sending them flying and prone when he connected. The theme of this fight was really area control and significant melee overwhelming dominance while he was extremely susceptible to things that affected wisdom saves and fire damage – if the party had realised.

Main NPCs:

Sidekicks

Armaeth
Groku

Thanks for joining me tonight for a hybrid of the continuation of my campaign as well as the seasonal adventure for my group, the final part of last-last years Dice-ember one-shot!. Don’t forget to come back again tomorrow for more content. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

2024 Campaign Adventure 10

thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

Good evening all and welcome to the Tenth day of adventuring for my party. While I will endeavour to not give away the campaign, adventure or plot moving forward (in case my party read these updates!) I will attempt to write up each adventure this year continuing with my 2024 campaign adventure 10 – continuing on from the 2023 adventure.

This is a continuation from 2023 Campaign adventure 9 as the party continues on their first mission as members of the investigation of the strange creatures in these lands.

2024 Campaign Adventure 10

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Plot:

Daybreak

The party started with a humble meal of cured pork, bacon, and bread as they geared up to face the cold outside of the Inn. As they bid farewell to Daryll at the Snowtown Inn, and its newly fixed door they head towards the witches hut again to see if their assumption was correct. Crunching through the snow the new day held promise of snow, funnily enough for Snowtown, but it was still sunny enough that the hoard of snowmen that waited in the shade of the trees for them to be foolish enough to enter the tree line.

However Kai began to cast Toll the Dead and as the snowmen began to drop as the party moved on the snowmen crept deeper into the wood outside of the range of the spell. Reaching the old witches hut they asked Armaeth to scout out the old Willow tree in the forest and to look for a path towards it where they didn’t have to wade through the snowmen. While the fairy was gone they confirmed, as best to their knowledge, that the willow wood they burnt and turned to charcoal yesterday was the same as the ones they found in the hut which they believed was used for rituals for creating snowmen.

When they waited long enough a shriek for help sounded from outside. Rushing out they saw that Armaeth was being chased by a giant snowy owl. Quickly thinking they dispatched it with a crossbow bolt and a well placed hand-axe. After retrieving what they could, the axe and a single bolt, they found out from Armaeth’s scouting that there was a way to the tree that had been cleared from the forest.

The Willow Tree, The Bear and the Fight

Walking to the tree wasn’t a difficult task but it was made more tiresome from the thick snow and increasing slope to the hill. Eventually making it to where a path was cleared to the Willow tree they investigated the area – looking for clues to Aster or the source of the snowmen. After much investigation, and Kai talking to the woods, Tater discovered large booted footprints, much larger than a normal humans, as well as large beast pawprints. Following these from the Willow tree, where it looked like several straight limbs were removed carefully, they found that the tracks lead upwards towards the Goliaths sacred hill, the hut and the quarry.

Walking in the path of the two monstrously large tracks that head up the path they eventually spotted the hut. Approaching it carefully, with a sanctuary spell ready to be cast, they were shocked to see a very obedient large polar bear sitting next to the hut with a small covering in snow. A booming voice called for Kirilla – the bear responded, and a nine foot Goliath exited the hut to talk to the party.

The Goliath discussed the odd occurrences that were happening and that their tribe was currently recovering from a heated encounter with the snow-abominations at the ancient Quarry. Asking if they could get assistance from the Large man, Gordak, he deferred to Felicia – the Chiefs daughter and his current hunt-leader. Felicia then appeared, as if summoned, to dissuade and reinforce that the party was not allowed in their village – as it was sacred to their kind.

Instead they brokered for two things – an escort and guide to the quarry (where they suspect they will find Astra and the source of the snowmen) and, more importantly, Tater won a brawl with the Goliath. After only two rounds of beating the Goliath – and dealing a few good blows himself, Tater was knocked unconscious by his towering foe. With some healing they sat down to a meagre stew that was made from venison the goliaths hunted as well as vegetables that Tater offering as a barter for the guide to the quarry.

The Quarry

Moving from here, and discussing landmarks and history of the area the party eventually came across the Ancient Snowtown Quarry. The goliaths let them wander in but stood watchful to see if they could best what a hunting party could manage. As Kai, Groku, Armaeth (hiding in Taters beard) and Tater stalked through the quarry around the trees, rocks and mounds of snow a ill-timed slip from Groku caused human sized constructs to rise from the snow and attack ferociously.

The battle was ferocious as four Snowcraft Guardians attacked the party. Tater managed to down them by sacrificing accuracy for power, but he was quickly surrounded by three of these constructs. Eventually their club like fists slammed and razor sharp ice-claws cut Tater until he was within an inch of his life. However Kai, who was heroically casting Toll the Dead from a ‘tactical’ range engaged in the melee and healed Tater – saving his life. But the battle was not over and Groku also suffered several wounds.

As the last guardian fell one of the now dying cores began to inch its way towards the cavern – the cave in below the cavern where a now-frozen waterfall had cut its way through the stone and snow and revealed a cavern below. After receiving a salute from the Goliaths the party collapsed from exhaustion and prepared for the next step in their adventure.

Creatures:

Terrain / Maps

The below have been created to be printed on an A4 sheet of paper. This creates a cheap and effective way to give depth and scale to players while not taking away from the tactical view of the game.

Snowtown Quarry – created in Inkarnate.
Snowtown Quarry Cavern – created in Inkarnate.
Snowtown Quarry, old tracks – Created in Inkarnate.
Snowy Trees and rocks – created in Inkarnate.

Main NPCs:

Gordak – Goliath Warrior
Felicia Stonefist

Sidekicks

Armaeth
Groku

Thanks for joining me tonight for a hybrid of the continuation of my campaign as well as the seasonal adventure for my group! (last-last years Dice-ember one-shot). Don’t forget to come back again tomorrow for more content. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

2024 Campaign Adventure 9

thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

Good evening all and welcome to the Ninth day of adventuring for my party. While I will endeavour to not give away the campaign, adventure or plot moving forward (in case my party read these updates!) I will attempt to write up each adventure this year continuing with my 2024 campaign adventure 9 – continuing on from the 2023 adventure.

This is a continuation from 2023 Campaign adventure 8 as the party continues on their first mission as members of the investigation of the strange creatures in these lands.

2024 Campaign Adventure 9

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Plot:

Dawn at Snowtown

The dawn started on a different note. Tater finally having fallen asleep with his armour off spent 30 minutes checking the armour and donning it after a long time of wearing it on the road. Kai having wrapped himself up in blankets and forming a little nest in the rented room in which to keep warm and to block out the light.

Downstairs breakfast of nearly-stale bread and salted pork greeted them as Snowtown was a little short on supplies. After a short discussion about where to begin the party, Tater, promised to help fix the door he destroyed last night and they decided to go investigate the old witches hut as it wasn’t that far away. Pushing forward they were warned to stay out of the forest that borders the Gritch mountains.

Leaving the Tavern they ran into an older woman who told them the history of the snowmen. They were left as an offering, a recognition of the bargain and agreement that the town had made with the Goliaths that lived to the North. The deal was for the people to not trespass, not hunt the creatures in the mountains and in doing so the Goliaths will barter with them and protect the valley from threats to it and thus Snowtown. Due to this the town has experienced a mostly peaceful existence.

Approaching the crest of the hill that lay east of the town the party saw the forest that they were warned about. Hundreds of snowmen stood under the tress in different forms, appearances and dresses. But approaching them the sheer volume of them causes Kai to bring Tater back to the non-shadowed area and towards the witches cabin.

The cabin itself was ruined. A large hole in the roof let the weather through that had appeared to ruin most of the insides. The door out front lay off its hinges and old herbs, plants and even an long-dead creatures hunt from hooks and ropes attached to the roof. Inside a table had bowls of materials, an open book and a small cauldron of highly dense coal. A bed to the right of the cabin had more herbs hanging from the roof but the rest of the room lay in ruin.

Investigating the room, Tater found the coal and realised it was charcoal – but much harder and denser. Kai with Armaeth’s help read the page the book was open to and understood it to be guiding the reader to binding a recently lost spirit to an object. Meant as a way to preserve someone from dying the spell was a very advanced one at that.

Reading further into the book the coal was identified as a means to bind a small ritual to, a spell to create. Taking this info (the small cauldron of charcoal and the book), and the stocktake of crushed quarts and gypsum (that Kai threw away) they began to move back home after Tater set fire to some Willow they found by the fire. Preparing it to try and create charcoal to compare it with the one found in the cauldron.

Avalanche

As they waded through the knee high snow they, Kai and Groku, noticed a rumbling. Looking towards the mountain they spotted to large figures standing at the crest of the ridge – goliaths. However the snow between them was moving at a quick pace and the surface of the snow was rolling towards them in little balls.

As the party tried to flee to the town to avoid the avalanche of snowballs it became evident something wasn’t right. Tater and Kai were knocked down from the snow, Armaeth flew high above it all and Groku braced and weathered the avalanche. But, the snowballs began to race towards them and started to encompass them with icy psuedopods.

The battle was intense with each member in the group, except Armaeth, being grappled, restrained and then smothered by dozens of animated snowballs. But eventually the numbers dwindled and a lucky sleep spell (that removed a few from play) they made their escape.

Upon reaching the town they found out that a familiar name now, Penny Cartwright, was the last to see the Goliaths and would be the best person to talk to regarding their actions. They also learnt about another girl who had gone missing, Aster, who had moved in from Warrendeep a year or so ago. When they got to Cartwrights they purchased the required iron to mend the tavern door and enquired about the book, the hut and Aster.

Aster had been in love with Mark Kenderson, a handsome hunter who had been missing the last two weeks (the same amount of time as Aster). The two had been brief lovers with Aster preaching to the town that she had a way to make their lives easier, saving them time and making them more gold from their sales. However Mark and his friends had tricked Aster and she had been left heart broken and enraged. Penny also told the party how Aster had bought a great many books, and some materials from her regarding the casting of magic.

It was later revealed as they went to investigate Aster’s house that Marks friends had been assaulted by Aster when they had antagonised her and threaten her to leave Mark alone. She had bludgeoned them with, later revealed, a pestle which had left them bruised a month later. Since then she had withdrew and no one knew where she or Mark were now.

Investigating the house they found a ripped up dress or skirt with a few lengths of fabric torn off it and a secret compartment in the bedroom floor boards that once held a journal or notebook. After that they returned back to the tavern to prepare for the coming days.

Main NPCs:

Daryll Sootbrow
Penny Cartright
Armaeth
Groku

Thanks for joining me tonight for a hybrid of the continuation of my campaign as well as the seasonal adventure for my group! (last years Dice-ember one-shot). Don’t forget to come back again tomorrow for more content. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

2023 Campaign Adventure 8

thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

Good evening all and welcome to a short Eighth day of adventuring for my party. While I will endeavour to not give away the campaign, adventure or plot moving forward (in case my party read these updates) I will attempt to write up each adventure this year continuing with my 2023 campaign adventure 8.

This is a continuation from 2023 Campaign adventure 7 as the party continues on their first mission as members of the investigation of the strange creatures in these lands.

2023 Campaign Adventure 8

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Plot:

Suncrest continued

The party continued to search through local area and particularly the farmstead as both Henry and ‘Lucky’ Barry could remember that there were additional treasures stored within. After some time and a joint effort, with the threat of imminent attacks from a hostile bandit force over, they discovered a hidden cellar with a chest within. Inside they found 20 gold pieces, a 6inch onyx statue of a deva and two smaller caved statues in marble and granite. (see Ruined Farmhouse – Created in Inkarnate for rest of map)

Ruined Farmstead Cellar – created in Inkarnate.

Deciding that they needed to rest they set up a grisly warning; the bandit captains head on spike, and set up a camp away from the bodies for the evening to recover and prepare for the journey tomorrow. The bandits that remained, Henrey and ‘Lucky’ Barry, decided that the grisly sight of their old bosses head on a spike wasn’t what they wanted to sleep near and set up camp within shouting distance of the party. However, they should have disposed of the bodies first.

Goodbye Henrey and ‘Lucky’ Barry.

Organising a watch order they prepared for the night. Tater took first watch and luckily despite his fatigue from the fight he was able to complete his watch without falling asleep without any issues. Tater then woke Kai and, with some prompting, and went to get some rest himself. Kai focused on his blade, Frost thorn, for some time and during this time he became aware of the sounds of the nocturnal predators that were closing in on the camps. Kai first heard the howling which was coming from the core of Suncrest. Soon Henrey and Barry had joined him and Kai decided to wake everyone except Tater, letting him rest with a cast of sanctuary over the sleeping Dwarf.

Soon the creatures revealed themselves, large canid-like creatures with enlarged lower jaws that suggested an incredible bite force. These creatures prowled around the party at the edge of the camp-fire light and despite Kais attempt to disperse some light to expand the viewing range of the humans in the party they realised they were in danger. Attempting to scare the creatures with torches one of the bandits, Barry, got to close and was pounced on by one of the creatures – its massive, powerful jaws nearly shearing his leg clean off.

Then it was joined by a second who in its bloodlust narrowly missed Barry. Soon the party engaged attempting to keep the creatures at bay while not fully committing to the fight. That was until the giant creature, a Large Hyenadon, attacked Henrey who was left stranded alone. Soon the Henrey was fleeing to the safety of the party only to be chased down and bitten clean in half by the jaws of the massive beast.

Barry fled, Tater cleaned up one smaller Hyendadon while working with Groku and Kai he separated legs from body on the other. With a powerful lunge and bite the now blinded (thanks to Armaeth) Giant Hyenadon had seized Taters thigh in his mouth and with a single bite had nearly silenced the warriors cries – but not before Tater had mortally wounded the creature with a strike that was empowered by the strength of his fathers forge.

With a running leap Kai felled the beast and ended its rampage but not before Barry had fled in fear and the scent of despair was heavy in the area. They decided to bury Henrey – someone they had promised to take away from his life of banditry and they burnt the remaining bodies in the field to try and dissuade the other predators on the road from tempting fate. This encounter was a stark reminder of how dangerous the roads in this land were and that no where is truly safe.

The Road out of Suncrest – to Fustmach!

The party then left Suncrest and the Farmstead two mouths fewer to feed and with a dampened mood. The snow had rolled in during the night and had thickened during the course of the day of travel. As they climbed the steep road towards Fustmach, and their mission, the wind carried a thicker blanket of snow that turned the upwards road to mush and prevented them from reaching the town by nightfall. But as lady Tymora, goddess of luck smiled upon them a second option appeared. Taking refuge from the storm in the town of Snowtown, down the road at the base of the mountains where the natural landscape created a barrier from hostile creatures and the Goliath huntsmen in the woods dealt with the rest.

Entering Snowtown at dusk the party noticed that a curious number of snowmen were around town. Each the size of a small human, perhaps a dwarf’s height and so numerous you’d swear that the city was filled with them. The party also noticed that all the doors were shut and windows had their shutters closed firmly with evidence of light beyond the meagre barricade. As they found their way to the inn, and a courtyard, Groku rushed to put the animals away in a stables as the innkeeper took a mighty long time trying to unstuck a broken latch on the door. However the party had bigger things to worry about than stuck latches as the snowmen attacked.

Suddenly and with a sickening jerky reaction the snowmen attacked the party after some of them had appeared nearby. Not able to tell the difference between the animated snowmen and the normal ones the party were left guessing until the creatures attacked. With a few bludgeoning blows taken Kai and Groku began to look worse for wear before Tater gave the innkeeper, and someone assisting him, a helping hand-err-axe which sheared the broken bolt. Rushing inside they barricaded the door and watched for signs of more of the snow creatures.

Closure

The innkeeper, and a few members of the town within, explained that they had been seeing these creatures appear during the night over the past few weeks, which felt like days according to some. At first they were worried to venture outdoors at all but they realised that they only appeared at night and disappeared when the sun rose. They also explained that the creatures never entered or attacked their houses or buildings and that there had been only a few casualties of the elderly or frail who were too slow to make it indoors after dusk.

After pledging to help the town the party brokered a room and got their first good night sleep in three nights, however the snowmen of snowtown watched, waited and gathered outside the inn only to disappear without a trace by the first morning light.

With the only leads being an old witches hut on the outskirts of the town and the lateness of the Goliath tribe’s visit from the north the party wondered what the next few days would bring.

Main NPCs:

Armaeth
Groku

Thanks for joining me tonight for a hybrid of the continuation of my campaign as well as the seasonal adventure for my group! (last years Dice-ember one-shot). Don’t forget to come back again for the last day of the year, tomorrow, and for continuing on this campaign with me. Don’t forget to celebrate and reflect on this past year and to look forward, make plans and commit to adventure in the next. And, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Crelion Manor Guest book

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Welcome to the end of the week where I had a bit of a lazy day and create the puzzle for this week, the Crelion Manor Guest book. This is the puzzle piece that needs to be worked through with the roleplay aspects in this adventure to help drive the party to the answer to the riddle.

Crelion Manor Guest book

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Throughout the manor, as the party moves through the halls the walls are decorated with portraits or landscape paintings of the manor on a large expansive field. The rolling hills of grass touched by sunlight gave the paintings of the Manor a wondrous appearance. Further down the halls portraits of Jane and Tom were hung on the wall, proudly sitting in chairs and looking fondly outwards.

The brass frame of the portraits was perfectly polished with not a spec of dust on it or the canvas itself. However on closer inspection Tom’s portrait seemed to have suffered some damage and his last name “Dottery” has been scrubbed off. Either by accident or deliberately its hard to tell.

Thoughts

The idea is to drop hints that Jane’s real name is Crelion, not Dottery. Upon saying her name, and her hearing, the visage that she portrays disappears and her true form is revealed. Upon being revealed the house starts to break apart and her body starts to wither and fade. I think by having it be a puzzle rather than pure combat encounter it can be a fun way to end the adventure.

Thanks for joining me tonight. Tomorrow I will aim to have the Zine out for last weeks adventure. This week I will look at Soulbound adventure so be on the lookout for that. So make sure to come back tomorrow and the other nights this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Waking Phantoms

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Welcome to Friday Fightnight, or maybe tonight should be called Fright-night as we deal with waking phantoms. Tonight is all about the creatures that the party see when they have their nightmares. Shadowy, real, nightmarish or common – it doesn’t matter what they are in statistics just how we describe them as the DM.

Waking Phantoms

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Tonight I am using Kobold Plus Fight club for a very specific reason. Looking for any creature(s) under CR1/2 (hard/ deadly) which each of the players will need to fight solo. It doesn’t matter what it is being from a could of goblins, kobolds to a single orc or gnoll as long as its enough to pose a threat to our level 2 characters.

This works across systems that have ways of balancing encounters as well. Soulbound you can have 2 warriors or a single warrior and a swarm of 3-4 minions appear in the dreams to haunt the players. Pathfinder would be similar as orcs and goblins but making sure that its balanced to be a hard or difficult encounter.

Remember that the creatures aren’t there to kill the party members. They are there to create exhaustion and prevent a full nights sleep. This is what pressures the players to solve the riddle and escape, but more on that tomorrow night.

As I mentioned earlier this week, (Haunting of the Inn) the party are attacked in their dreams. Each night when they go to rest they dream of a strange, or familiar place where they are attacked. This prevents them from fully resting as each time they try to get back to resting they simply can not. These creatures may morph from their allies or randomly appear in a door way but they need to be sudden and definitely out of place.

The maid that the bard was seducing may suddenly turn around and split into three goblins. Or the priest that the cleric was consulting may open a door and throw the party member in to be torn apart by zombies or skeletons. What ever the creature the difficulty doesn’t matter and death shouldn’t be the goal.

Thoughts

This weeks encounter should be a fun one. I have planned it to be non-deadly encounters with a deadly consequence. As we know in a few game systems without proper rest you don’t heal, can’t replenish limited powers (once per day abilities, spell slots, toughness or wounds, etc.). So that means for our party what I have planned is actually quite serious.

In D&D5e exhaustion caps out at 5 effectively. The final stage being 6 results in the creature dying. This means our party has exactly 4 days (day 5 they cant move) until they simply waste away into nothing. The 1st and 2nd day wont be a big stress but once they catch on what’s happening the last few days will be a frantic rush to escape. This will be fun.

Thanks for visiting tonight and looking at the encounters we have planned with the waking phantoms. This weekend we will ahve the finishing touches added to the adventure before we close off with, I hope, another Zine (adventure booklet!). So it’s been a big week and I am happy that you have decided to spend some time here with me.

Don’t forget that next week is the last week of the month week so I will have something a bit different planned and it should be good. And so I hope you don’t forget to come visit again and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Haunting of the Inn

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Welcome to Wednesday night’s update to our weekly adventure. Tonight we reveal what’s happening in Crelion Manor where we look at the haunting of the inn.

But why is the party of adventures the only people who stay in the inn and, why does Tom glare at them constantly? Let’s read on tonight and during the week more will be revealed!

Haunting of the Inn

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The rain continued well into the night and while the party sat by the warm roaring fire they wondered when the storm would let up. The manor seemed to be equipped for just about all their needs and when ever they asked Jane about something of interest she would be able to provide some advice or tool to assist. There was enough space for the adventurers to stay in a single room or in several and the beds were comfortable, much more so than the open road at least.

As the night continued onwards the party members retired for the night and eventually the manor was silent except for the howling wind and battering rain. One by one they drifted off to sleep and one by one they suffered a nightmare that when they woke they felt more exhausted than they had in the morning. When they complained about their sleep they began to realise that they all suffered the same nightmare. The same creatures had attacked them in their dreams and where they suffered wounds they hurt the next morning but without physical harm. The innkeeper Tom stood at the doorway to were they talking and, with a hint of sorrow to his frown filled face nodded towards the door once more.

Departure

As the party moved to the front door of Crelion Manor Tom looked both sad and gleeful at their choice to depart. After the haunting night they could not be blamed after all. The days sun barely pushed its away through the stormy louds above and the rain and wind made it difficult to walk. But they continued outwards and beyond.

‘See you real soon, take care!’ Jane called as she leant against her quiet husband at the front door. As the wind whipped at the capes Jane had provided them for fear of their health. It wasn’t long until the rustling of footsteps could be heard behind them but as with last time nothing could be seen. As the further they got from the manor the more frantic they became, desperate to reach the party. As they continued faster away from the hounding footsteps a crack was the last sound they heard as a branch from a tree fell down and hit them.

Soon they woke, the images and sounds of pursuit still haunting their waking thoughts. Sore but comfortable and warm, the sounds and smells of food cooking brought them back to the present. ‘Hello dears. Oh you’re lucky we found you when we did. Tom brought you back after you ran into the woods in the middle of the storm. Don’t you worry you are safe here with us.’ Jane said as she came in with plates filled with delicious smelling food. Cured meats, eggs and bread piled up high.

The book

As they looked at the food Tom appeared in the doorway and shook his head, sadness appeared in his eyes as he frowned at them and clutched his guest book tighter. But… was that a purposeful look at the book. Jane turned around at that moment. ‘Tom… Oh yes that’s right. They still need to sign the book with the duration of their stay, come in dear and give it to them. Make sure the ribbon is on the right page – we want to make sure the guest book is in good order now.’ Jane said with a broad smile as she walked out of the room.

Tom brought in the book with an inkwell as well and slipped the quill into the back of the book before handing it to them. As the party grabbed the heavy, large leather bound book he stared at them and then the book as he adjusted the feather in the last page. Tom then stood and left them to the book and the food.

As the party opened the guest book to the ribbon they noticed that there were hundreds of names in the ledger and each of them had a season and day of listed down in there. Turning to the last page, where the quill was jammed into the book they noticed a different list. Twelve names were on the page where eleven names ran down the page with a gap at the fifth line, each with a number next to their name. There was a blood smeared fingerprint on the page and the last name was separate and at the bottom of the page.

Thomas Dottery – 0

Thoughts

Alright the time to start the puzzle has begun! This week we have a list that is the key to working out the puzzle and a few horrifying encounters planned. Every night the party sleeps they are wracked with nightmares of being attacked, alone by some unknown creature. When they wake they feel more exhausted than before they went to bed and what’s more, each other member of the party has had the same dream. If they try and leave they get so far before they are attacked or otherwise injured and knocked out When they wake the yare back in the Crelion Manor with Tom standing nearby looking at them with sadness and frustration.

I designed this week to try and move away from the traditional format of my adventures being fetch or stop and look at a Learning one. Learn what the message on the last page is and then you can be free. That’s it.

Thanks for coming tonight and sharing this with me. As tomorrow is Maps and bonus content I hope to have the letter and a few maps organised as dream scapes are the maps of the week. So don’t forget to come back for them and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe