Tabletop

The Outcome of Magical Backlash

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When looking at heroic, epic adventure the consideration of what happens as a result of the deeds done and spells unleashed is rarely considered. The outcome of magical backlash is rarely good and nor do I see it explored that often but tonight, while working on the zine for this weekend, I had some spare time to myself. So tonight we have a thought provoker that ties in with tomorrows Zine (Manaeva’s End).

So while we wait for tomorrows zine and I gear up for 900 nights of blogging straight, let’s sit back, grab a coffee and let’s check it out!

The Outcome of Magical Backlash

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Magical Backlash – Created in Nightcafe.

The air around Contoro shimmered as if the saviours of the city, and the land for that matter, still battled the dracolich with spell and steel. The scarring of the sky was just one side affect that the residents still had to deal with but at least this one wasn’t as bad as the others.

Occasionally the echo of the spells that were cast here would appear again, great phantasmal images, sounds and even smells of fire balls, bolts of lightning and torrential acid rain would appear randomly over the city. Only once in recent memory had one of these spells taken a more physical manifest where the image of a bolt of lightning not only looked, sounded and smelt like one but it tore a hole in a wagon that passed down a street.

Other echoes of the battle appeared frequently within the city but many of them were harmless, unless the pavement suddenly turned to lava, a wall disintegrated into sand or the like. The spells and raw arcane and divine power that was slung in this city was so intense that the position in the material plane was still linked in with the weave that lay on top of it. The worst part of the city was where the body of the Dracolich had crashed into the city itself. The body had been disposed of but as the create died, its phylactery broken, shattered and disposed of separately across planes, still had such a strong taint that it was nearly unliveable.

However the poor of the city had taken to creating a series of houses and shanty’s that moved closer to the area the dragon fell. The outcome of magical backlash was felt most keenly here with a sickness spreading through those that lived close to the tainted land. Born sickly with the inability to respond to magical healing, or spells these people live a half-life; constantly sickly, weak and frail as the magical poisoning pulls their bodies apart. But despite the best efforts of the city and its rules more people end up living closer to the dragons taint and so these issues, the outcome of magical backlash, continue to rise and a new magical menace haunts the streets.

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

Deep Cavern

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Tonight the deep cavern under Lithia calls to us as we explore the calling lights from beyond the halls. A few large boulders lay in the cavern but this large open area has a waterway running through the centre and down into the passage way the party was following. Perhaps the waters lead somewhere and perhaps not.

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

Deep Cavern

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Deep Cavern under Lithia – Created in Inkarnate

Several boulders lay in the cavern to provide cover, block line of sight as well as to, generally, make the map a bit more interesting. The river that runs through the cavern has a sharp rocky edge that makes getting in and out a bit more difficult if rushing through the water. Gems glow faintly in the walls but, cease glowing when touched. This gives the cavern an other-wordily feel that, with the gloom, makes everything feel a bit more foreign.

A large rocky outcrop sits in the middle of the cavern which rises 30 or so feet into the air, but the edges are sharp and cut at exposed skin when pressed against.

A fun one tonight; the main reason I went with a cavern theme for this adventure actually, with us exploring multiple overlapping textures, foreground and background texture and the night filter over the top make up the general stone floor. The walls, rock formation in the middle and even river bed are made of different art assets with an attempt to blend them together and the different gems add a bit more to the room.

Gems provide a source of faint light and then attempting to provide a light source (above the night filter) per gem provides a more realistic view of what overlapping sources of light would accomplish. A single torch wont reveal much where multiple may.

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

The Aberration Caverns

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The further the party explore down the watery path the deeper they go under and into the mountains until they reach what can only be described as the Aberration Caverns. Now not too dissimilar to last years adventure where the party encountered a monster in Larituron’s Pit this week we explore darker caves than many would dare. The promise and seeming trail of treasure leads them onwards and deeper into the mountains. But not everything that glitters is gold.

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

The Aberration Caverns

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As the party followed the water that cut through the rock and trickled deeper into the mountain. The party had been lucky discovering this waterway as within the first few feet of entering the sink hole they were met with a scattering of gold pieces and gems laying in the shallows of the waterway. Following onwards more gold, gems and even small trinkets caved out of semi-precious stone was found in the water ways. The light from the torches flickered and uncovered more treasure scattered along the tunnel as they delved deeper.

Aberration Caverns – Created in nightcafe.

It wasn’t until they had met a few crossroads that they discovered the first of the bodies. Fresher than what one would expect investigating where remains of an ancient war these were of humans, elves, dwarves and a gnome. An adventuring party. Many showed signs of being killed by poisoning and apart from a few smaller punctures there was no evidence that they were met with anything other than, potentially, a venomous giant spider or the like.

However the gold, gemstones and even wondrous magical items that they had in their possession indicated that this path led deeper into riches. Even as they wondered what could be deeper in the cavern several gemstones started to emit a glowing light from the walls. Several signs carved into walls from the adventurers before them indicated that there was something at the end of this tunnel and some indicated treasure and a great danger.

A faint glow could now be seen deeper at the end of the pathway which cast glittering lights long the rough stone walls at the end of the passage. But as the lights danced across the walls, and ceiling of the passage the party did not see the faint spiderwebs that covered the ground, clung to their clothes and hair and as they moved through the passage the snapping of the webs created a vibration that rippled through the passageway undetected.

Thanks for visiting tonight to look at the next steps of this adventure where we explore some of my favourite creatures to turn into big baddies to fight. But before I give away the final parts of this adventure don’t forget to come back tomorrow where we will expand the adventure further and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Temporary Party Members

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This week we don’t have specific NPCs but we have several Temporary Party members that we could utilise – well the concept of them any way. Hirelings and members of the Order of Scouts will provide the party with a temporary boost in numbers to help get the adventures to where they need to go.

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

Temporary Party Members

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‘Scouts’ – Created in Nightcafe.

All parties know that there is only so long that you can work in isolation from experts of the land. The Order of Scouts manages to keep a tab on the best in the business when it comes to finding the right path, knowing the wilderness and the creatures that call them home.

At times when voyaging into unknown lands the Order of Scouts are called upon by adventurers to ensure that they party can make it to their destination on time, mostly safe. Not much for fighting these experts in the field will choose the paths less taken, avoid roads and prefer to avoid fighting if at all possible. However they are all trained with weapons so they can be safe and ensure their clients make it to where they need to go.

Although young in comparison to some of the other organisations across the continents the order of scouts is spreading across more and more lands and making a name for themselves as both attracting talent and completing their missions.

We don’t really have key NPCs tonight as such but we have the option of several different ones. Having a hireling for one adventure can be a great way to bolster the party, or, providing some depth to the narrative of the adventure. Don’t forget that we are expanding the rest of the adventures each day this week, so don’t forget to come back daily to check what the progress is! And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Sinking Feeling

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Another travelling adventure this week but this one has a bit more treasure involved, however the party won’t ever be able to get rid of that sinking feeling. Join me as we quest beneath the surface and explore a sinkhole that opened up before the adventurers.

So grab a coffee, maybe some spelunking equipment and lets climb through tonight’s adventure!

The ancient ruins in the Khaina mountains belong to the people that used to live in the fort of Lithia. Once the aberrations that attacked the fort and hunted down the people that fled from the doomed fort the buildings fell into ruin. However as time made its mark the tunnels where the aberrations attacked through in conjunction with the river that raged through the ravine left something to be discovered years later.

A Yawning portal into the subterranean layers awaits, untold riches left behind from the fall of Lithia and the battles that raged ahead has left this place a veritable wonder-cove for would-be treasure seekers. However the caverns beyond the sinkholes hold something much darker than just the spoils of conquest.

A Sinking Feeling

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A sinkhole re-discovered – created in Nightcafe.

The trek through the Khaina ravine was not as gruelling as one would imagine for the site of the largest coordinated attack from aberrations. The water rushed to their left as they made their way along the bottom of one of the twin mountains that gave the ravine its name. Sporadically there were ruins of the buildings that had called this pass home; cut stone stacked and bound by mortar, a rotting frame barely holding onto the plant growth that had taken over the roof of what was once a structure and the like.

As they moved deeper through what would have been the supporting buildings that housed and provided supplies to the fort that lay further through the ravine. The sunlight glinted of something in a patch of thick vegetation closer to the edge of the mountain. A golden hilt of a sword lay embedded in the ground and as the wind caught the branches of the trees that had overtaken the ruins the sunlight hit the hilt at the right angle.

Moving towards the hilt the vegetation underfoot became thicker with more roots and vines covering the ground underneath making each step more precarious than it needed to be. As they neared the hilt the vegetation shifted underfoot for a moment before, with the sound of cracking and snapping the ground gave way and the adventurers scrambled to stop themselves from falling. Those that were too slow found themselves suspended in a strangely light drenched sinkhole where a branch of the river trickled slower deeper into what appeared to be caverns that had been eroded by the water.

Plants lined the walls and the evidence of sunken masonry was everywhere. To their left was what appeared to be a cellar to the building that they saw above. Several old skeletons littered the floor beyond where the water had either washed them here, or, had not washed them further into the depths of the yawning cavern beyond.

As they marvelled at how this sinkhole, and the other entrances that danced with sunlight from above was not visible the party had a sinking feeling that there was more to this hole and cavern than what initially met the eye.

A fun one this week for not only the map potential but also the possibility of a good score of loot. Don’t forget that each day this week we will expand the adventure further 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

The Storm over Krencham

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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, The Storm over Krencham, 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, The Storm over Krencham, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

The Storm over Krencham

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Krencham – Created in Nightcafe.

As the world around them went silent the party became aware of a presence near the road. They had not gotten as far as they wanted to before the creature had apparently caught up to them. 

As the wind caught hold of the crops that had gone wild in the forgotten fields the party caught the occasional chirping-purr sound. Occasionally a flash of blue, red or green would appear between the browning stalks of the crops before it would disappear nearly faster than it was seen.

PDF adventure – The Storm over Krencham

the-storm-over-krenchamDownload

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

The Battle for Lithia

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Tonight I wanted to explore something different – constructing a historic scene in the battle for Lithia – a mountainous pass where a people established a fortified position to defend from the warlike races on the other side of the pass.

So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s check it out!

The Battle for Lithia

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The Battle for Lithia – Created in Nightcafe.

The water swelled in the ravine as it was powered by dark magic and the callings of the druids alike. Urged to flow in different directions at the same time it became a living force by itself fighting against itself and the confines of the ravine itself. As the bodies began to roll down from the hills, peppered with arrows the raging river turned from clear to murky and blood stained.

The roars of the raging waters was overtaken by the warcries and cries of pain and desperation from the defenders and the host of attackers. Swarms of ettercaps, driders and other aberrations rushed across the sides of the mountains and rushed at the attackers. The defenders slung arrows and bolts at the onrushing fiends which pulled a few from the walls and into the rocks below. However the aberrations were without number and as they rushed onwards towards the settlement. As they reached the walls they made a mockery of the battlements and climbed it like they meant nothing.

Once the creatures breached the top of the walls they swarmed across the defenders and the volume of arrows dwindled as man, dwarf and elf picked up sword and axe. Soon the defenders numbers joined the attackers in the dead on the walls. However there was hope as red cloaks darted between the creatures of darkness, their blades flashing like lightning across the dark carapace of the creatures they were fighting.

As the attackers surged over the heroic people defending the tides lost ground. The further they were pushed back to the waters and the boats that were waiting to ferry who ever made it out of the ravine.

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

Korvak’s Camp

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Tonight we take a look at Korvak’s camp both in the daytime and at night time. This isn’t the most defensive structure (or series of structures) but I’d imagine having a wyvern in the camp adds to its defensive capabilities. But more on that tomorrow night.

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

Korvak’s Camp

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Korvak’s Camp Daytime – Created in Inkarnate

Both the night and the day time versions of Korvak’s camp feature unstable walls, trees (perhaps with traps in them) as well as tents and a barricade wall. The ground raises relatively steeply upwards and only by carefully approaching can you avoid the gaze of those on watch. However that’s not the biggest worry as a trained Wyvern watches from the trees as well, the colour of its scales blending in with the stones, bark and plants to hide it effectively.

A large tent houses Korvak, or so it would appear to, while a cage in the middle of the compound houses Prince Keldard. During the night several braziers are places near potential walkways with some, for some reason or another, left open without light. A paranoid person would be suspicious of this.

Korvak’s Camp Night – Created in Inkarnate.

A simple one tonight with overlapping assets to create the craggy-rocky formations around the camp. Tree’s produced wood for the barricade which is evident from the stumps around the encampment. Not too many layers for texture apart from the rocks as I wanted it to be a simple one tonight – but overlapping light sources from braziers and the camp fire give it a bit more of an impact.

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

Fortuitous Scout

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This week we have an encounter with a Fortuitous Scout, however the scout seems to know too much and know things that the party are suspicious about. However as they travel with the knowledgeable scout they reveal their true nature and why they volunteered to save the kings son.

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

Fortuitous Scout

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As the party were called before the aged king and queen they looked about as distraught as one could imagine. As the party approached many of the guards that they saw on the streets were present and they nodded with respect at the adventures.

“Friends, guests to this kingdom. I wish I could just welcome you and thank you for your service in defending my people but unfortunately instead of being able to thank you I stand here asking to be in your debt again.” he paused looking anxiously towards one of the doors out of the hall. “I was hoping Cassana would be here but unfortunately she has been stricken with grief and does not want to see anyone at the moment.”

“What my husband was saying was that we have heard how you bested the wyvern in the streets. No easy doing. We hope that you are willing to bet your steel against the same beasts again and try and return out son. We hope and pray to Tyr that he is safe and will be returned in one peace. But…” she paused to catch a sob. “I realise that this may be an impossible request. Our scouts have found where the warlord Korvak and his men are camped, a day or two ride away. We have organised them to be ready to go and infiltrate the camp and return my son, or his body so we can grieve.”

Cassana disguised as a scout – Created in nightcafe.

“Just over this next ridge is where the scouts said the camp was.” Sana said as she crept up a hilly outcropping. It had been a few hours since the scouts had left her in charge to escort the party to the warlords camp while they scouted ahead to make sure that they were unable to leave, yet. During these hours Sana had acted and spoken differently with the party than when she was around the scouts.

Dressed in thick but light mail she moved nimbly across the rocks but she didn’t show any prowess in scouting. She missed obvious signs, notes and messages left by the scouts and was marvelled by everything that the party would have expected the scouting force to be aware of. Yet despite this she kept up pace and moved at a nearly fervent pace.

As they reached the top of the hill and hunkered down next to the rocky outcroppings she looked into the camp. A large Wyvern wore chains the held him to the ground, but otherwise he looked obedient and well trained. Men walked around the camp, some of them familiar from the scouting party – who had pulled a miracle and infiltrated the camp. Then in the middle of the camp a cage was there and Keldard sat there, beaten but alive.

“He is alive,” Sana pointed at where he was kept. “It looks like they have some kind of shackles on him. I wonder why he hasn’t used his magic though.” she pondered. “Well, we need a plan if we are to rescue my brother from all of that.” she said before looking worried back at the party. “Well the cats out of the bag then…” she smiled before sliding her hand over her face where it distorted and shifted to reveal the face of Cassana, the crowned heir of the kingdom except her hair had been cut short compared to when they saw her in the streets.

“I could not let my brother suffer and I was the one that recommended that you be put forth as the rescue team. I saw how you fought and knew I needed that strength to help me. It’s strange though, the scouts didn’t mention that they would infiltrate the camp – just that they would stop them from leaving. And Kel has similar magical abilities – he should be be able to break out. Unless he was betrayed and they have used Obsidian to bind his magic.” she murmured. “Something doesn’t feel right – the scouts wouldn’t go against the orders of their king like this.”

Thanks for visiting tonight to look at the next steps of this adventure. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow where we expand the adventure further and, as always , don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Cassana and Keldard

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Last week we explored the urchin and the innkeeper and this week we are focusing on two people who are not the at all similar, Cassana and Keldard. Born into royalty, the king and queen in fact, Keldard and Cassana have had a life of luxury and preparation. But could the celebration of their birthday be what brings that training to use?

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

Cassana and Keldard

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Cassana – Created in nightcafe.

The crowds waved to Cassana and Keldard and as she waved back and passed out gold pieces to the guardsmen around her she watched as the guard dispensed a gold piece to each and every citizen who came to celebrate. As the crowd thanked the royal siblings and accepted the gold pieces both Cassana and Keldard smiled and thanked their people for coming out.

“And to think you insisted on wearing our mail.” Keldard murmured towards his sister as he smiled and personally handed a gold coin to a young boy. “Do you ever think that we are over cautious? Its been sixteen years and we have never never been attacked by our people.” he continued

“I don’t worry about our people, I worry about those who are not ours” Cassana replied and she continued to hand out gold pieces. It was a small gesture but for some of these people this gold went straight back into the city and its businesses. For others it meant much more.. “I know I should feel safe with the blessings you have been bestowed but there…” Cassana was interrupted as Keldard raised his hand and a glimmering wall of magic intercepted a large chunk of stone. The shield grasped the stone before placing it down on the ground away from any of the citizens, guards or themselves.

Keldard – Created in Nightcafe.

A heartbeat later and panic set upon the crowd as they fled for cover. A wyvern beat its massive wings as the effort of suspending it was enormous. The creature had dove into the city and launched the boulder hoping to surprise the siblings. But Keldard had been blessed to be not just safe but to be a bastion for the people.

“You were saying Cass?” Kel said as the effort of stopping the boulder hit him causing him to breath heavily. “It looks as though you are right once again.” he smiled at his big sister as he drew a long sword from his hip, the blade tingling in the air. But before him, or his sister could rush to intercept the Wyvern a group of adventurers, foreigners to the city rushed forward.

“Well this day got heaps more interesting!” Kel laughed as he gave chase to the adventurers, his magically enhanced reflexes and senses meant he overtook them in moments before he joined the fray.

“Kel wait!” Cassana called as she tried to catch up, but the guards rushed between her and the fight as they went to protect the heir to the throne. However as she was pulled back into the relative safety of an alleyway she watched with horror as a second wyvern swooped down, grabbed her brother and took flight with him. The first Wyvern lay in a bloodied patch of gore as the adventurers and her brother had dealt with it quickly but as she watched her brother be taken away she noticed that the second Wyvern had a rider and the colours of Korvak, a vicious warlord who had claimed a neighbouring territory to Thelmor.

She needed to save her brother and as she watched hope fly out of her city she noticed the adventurers were trying to save the prince even now. Perhaps there was a chance if she could enlist their help.

Now we have an exciting one this week. A kidnapping, magically empowered dam… err prince in distress and the party at the centre of the rescue plan. Don’t forget to come back daily as we expand this adventure and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe