TTRPG

The Brink of Loneliness

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The city of Felmore stands on the brink of loneliness as an imminent attack from the forgotten ones hordes is on the horizon. The Red Lord, having been restored to nearly full power, is now the beacon of hope for the people. However, the Forgotten Deity is determined to extinguish this light. In a sinister move, the Forgotten One has called those who have fallen beyond hope into deep isolation due to the imagined banishment curse. These unfortunate souls, little more than husks, are driven by a twisted belief that the defenders of Felmore are the source of their torment and that by defeating them they will be able to find peace.

So rally the defences, stand by the wall and by the gate for we march into tonight’s adventure!

The Brink of Loneliness

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As night falls over Felmore, a palpable tension grips the city as the once-bustling streets are now busy for a different reason. The streets once filled with stalls and hawkers are lined with hastily constructed barricades, and the cityfolk have taken up arms alongside the soldiers and the party. The Red Lord stands at the steps of his temple and his booming voice rallies the defenders to bolster their spirit.

The city walls loom tall and foreboding in the moonlight, casting long shadows over the assembled defenders who stand vigilant over the battlements and beyond. A chill wind sweeps through the streets, carrying with it an eerie whisper of despair – foul mutterings trying to twist and taint the minds of those who defended the city. But the Red Lords booming voice bolsters the mind and spirits of those in the city and his hymns and songs of joy and hope can be heard from all parts of the city. Yet, despite the presence of the Red Lord the distant sound of shuffling feet grows louder, and the party knew that the time has come. The Forgotten One’s cursed army is approaching.

Despite the preparation they had managed to get done over two days the early arrivals of the Forgotten One’s army had rattled the defenders. Their old friends, neighbours and at times family members had stumbled into the barricades and attacked any who tried to help them. By the third morning there was a large force held back by several of the skeletal-ram headed creatures that the party had encountered at the Meldwel Forest.

The air is heavy with anticipation as everyone prepares for the fight to come as the rising of the light seems to signal the creatures and those lost to the curse the creatures carried rushed towards the city. The first orders to let loose fell on deaf ears but by the second call arrows started to fly through the air towards the rushing horde.

The first sign of the attack is a low, mournful wail that echoes through the night. From the darkness, figures emerge – pale, gaunt, and lifeless. Their eyes are hollow and exhausted with their movements plagued by bouts of anguished cries. These are the husks of those who have succumbed to the banishment curse, imagined by the people of Felmore but inflicted by the creatures of the Forgotten One. Both creature and man surge forth, driven by the Forgotten One to serve as instruments of terror.

As the battle rages the party rush to the main gate that they rally towards, the entry point that is closest to the Red Lords church. As they throw themselves against the gate they brace while the defenders ready another deadly payload for the husks that throw themselves at the gate. As the banging stops the party are called to the temple as the Red Lords voice booms out encouraging the defenders and renouncing those that attack the city.

But another voice sings out and catches the parties ear, Elara singing a hymn and it carries down to the party. They look up in time to see a glowing red barrier surround the Red lord and herself, both the Red Lords Candle and her own holy symbol radiating power as the barrier forms moments before one of the curse bearers, the Isolation Wraiths. Rushing to the Red Lords side they witness the city guards fall to their knees and call out in despair as the wraiths power takes hold.

The fight is quick and brutal but the party defend the cleric and her deity with minimal casualties from those who stood with them. As the party’s resources get dangerously low a screeching call that seems to drain the colour form the world resonates from the field beyond the city. The Wraiths and remaining husks turn and rush off to their masters call leaving the party and defenders to look after their injured, the fallen and despatch the mend the battlements.

Thanks for visiting another night. Don’t forget that tomorrow we will continue this adventure further so make sure to come back for another section of the adventure. We only have another four days to go so make sure you don’t forget to come back daily so you don’t miss a thing and, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Back to Felmore

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The journey back to Felmore is filled with a mix of motions, primarily anticipation and hope. The Red Lord, now rejuvenated and full of purpose, walks with the party, the glow of his restored power radiating hope and warmth. The path is no longer fraught with danger, but a sense of urgency propels them forward as the travellers they pass flock to follow in the Red Lords wake.

Yet a feeling of worry sneaks in between the feeling of warmth and hope from the Red Lord as the unmistakable influence of the Forsaken One can be seen on some of those that muster around them.

So sit back as the party has a small break, some moments of celebration and a warm welcome for a change!

Back to Felmore

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The road back to Felmore was busier than they had expected. As the party made their way down the roads and passed travellers by, several stopped to stare at them. They couldn’t be blamed as the party was walking with a living and breathing deity. Despite the Red Lord walking in his shorter human form people still stopped, pointed and followed him as they moved down the road. Soon a small horde of people were following the party and their companion singing the hymns of his church and calling out that he had returned.

Patrols still searching for the party stopped and gawked as they saw the man that they were with, some just moments before trying to arrest them. As they camped a small village sprung up around them and they, along with the Red Lord, was brought food, drink and any form of comfort that they may need. As the night went on the songs of merriment associated with the Red Lord grew more numerous but, all was not merriment and celebration.

There were travellers on the road who marched forward away from the city with the same sullen expression that they recognised from being influenced by the creatures of the Forgotten Deity. Some managed to break from their stupor and others continued without recognising that there were people trying to assist them.

By midday on the following day the party began their true approach to the bustling gates of Felmore, the city rising before them with its high stone walls standing tall and sturdy. The sight of the Red Lord, accompanied by the party, brought gasps of surprise and awe from the guards and hurried celebration and shouts of alarm to ripple down the streets. By time they arrived at the Red Lord’s Church word of their arrival had spread quickly, and a large crowd had gathered to witness the return of their beloved deity.

However the next words from the Red Lords mouth changed the atmosphere instantly.

‘People of Felmore, my followers and those who walk the path of second chances and joy. I have returned but not without the assistance of true believers. With me before you stand those who have risked everything to restore hope and mercy to our land. Despite being accused of a murder that was not true, despite being hunted by those who called themselves true believers in our teachings and despite the risk to themselves and their lives they fought to free me. The accusations against them were false, a dark plot orchestrated by one who sought to bring despair and isolation upon us. One that has been forgotten for far too long’ he paused, his voice echoing down the streets with diving power.

‘The forgotten one returns and seeks to plunge the world into isolation and despair. A waking banishment where family, friends and neighbours are stripped from you. There but unable to be seen, touched or heard. I ask you all to stand with your brothers and sisters, your family and friends, your neighbour and the strangers amongst you. Stand together to fight back against the darkness that threatens to take everything from you. Just as these heroes stood firm I ask you to do the same.’

Thanks for joining me tonight for the homecoming that no one really wanted. Tomorrow we start the final push to the end of the Dice-ember adventure and the end of the year. So don’t forget to come back each day leading up to December 25th where, the Red Lord Willing, I’ll have something wrapped up in a little bow for us all. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Isolation at Meldwel’s Edge

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The party has successfully rescued the Red Lord from the crypt and begun their journey back through the Meldwel Forest. However, the reprieve is short-lived as they are greeted with crushing isolation at Meldwel’s edge as the Forgotten One has dispatched troops from its army to reclaim its prisoner.

So group together, stand firm and let’s stand fast against tonight’s adventure!

Isolation at Meldwel’s Edge

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Isoloation Wraiths – Created with Copilot

As the party makes their way back through the dense, ancient forest, they nearly forget that they are being hunted. The jovial trickster spirits, the fey that see the Red Lord as their patron deity skip merrily around his feet engaging in acts of pure mirth and joviality. The Red Lord smiles at the creatures and occasionally bursts into laughter which is short lived. The party notice the giant man trying several times to activate his latent magical powers but each time only a fraction leaks out. Small flurries of snow, a handful of berries and fruits growing magically on a nearby tree and a small cup of water turning into steaming mead.

Through the forest he continues and his sullen mood improves only once they see the edge of the forest where the road to Felmore can be seen. The joyful laughter of the trickster spirits fades and they slow their frolicking as the group nears the forests edge. Soon the sound of jovial laughter, pranks and mirth stop all together as the party comes to a stop at the forests edge.

A chill runs down the spines of the party as a gust of cold air comes from behind them carrying a distant raspy voice that they don’t quite catch. Worried about being ambushed in the forest Elara makes a break for the forests edge where sunlight can be seen dancing on the grass in the plains beyond. The party give chase not wanting to be separated and to leave the feeling of being hunted behind in the forest they cant help but instinctively grip their weapons tighter.

As the party bursts out of the forest the sun hits their skin and warms their bodies and mind. The feeling of dread and of danger vanishes nearly instantly as the suns rays dances over their skin and a warm breeze catches at their hair and clothes. Except, when they turn around their party members are not with them, just three shades with long goat-like horns sprouting from their skeleton like head. The shades drift closer to them, floating above the ground and as they spread forward the light and colour of the sun soaked plain starts to bleed to grey.

The air becomes thick and suffocating as a deep sense of dread washes over them as they see movement in the grass around them and their fear of more unseen assailants takes over. The shades start to slash at the air in a display of their combat prowess even dodging phantom attacks that came their way but their faces never left the isolated party member.

Then, a burst of heat and red light erupts from near by and Elara’s voice can be heard breaking through the gloom. ‘Fight back the isolation, you are not alone so fight for yourself and for your allies!’ she calls. A warm hand touches the back each party member as a giant figure strides through the grass. A wavering outline of the Red Lord moving towards the shades who were dispatching the last of the jovial spirits from the forest who had leapt to the defence of the party and their lord.

Slowly the outline, as if an after image or illusion created by a mage appeared of each other the parties allies. Each one of them coated in a faint red warmth as they stared down the three shades before them. The battle begins in a surreal haze. The creatures of the Forgotten One use their powers to try and isolate each of the party members once more, trying to strip away you recently recovered sense one another. The party can only truly perceive the enemy, their forms like shadows in the darkness, their voices a constant whisper of hopelessness.

The battle is chaotic and disorienting. The creatures move like phantoms, their attacks swift and relentless and cruel. The plains and twisting shadows of the forest around them seems to warp and twist as the creatures flex their powers to their full extent. However the party start to push back and deliver staggering blows to the creatures and after the first of the creatures fall the parties senses start to return and once more they can fully see their allies. Seizing the moment they rally together and bring the final wraiths crashing to the ground to dissipate in in the suns rays.


Thanks for coming back tonight to check how we are going with this weeks adventure. A few more days remain as we move towards wrapping this up next week! So don’t forget to come back daily for this seasonal adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Rescue of the Red Lord

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Tonight we witness the rescue of the Red Lord, although that is not quite accurate. The party do in fact rescue the red lord and find a treasure trove of magical items that pulse with latent energy, yet they all remain untouched. Without much to go on they must find a way to free the Red Lord from his magical bindings and restore his strength as there is no man alive that could carry such a giant figure.

So tonight let’s grab ourselves our favourite seasonal beverage and let’s roll into tonight’s adventure!

Rescue of the Red Lord

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As the guardian that had been corrupted or coerced by the Forgotten One lay behind them, defeated in the game that they spun to catch the exhausted party, the party stood before the entrance to the final chamber. After having successfully navigated the trials and defeated the guardian constructs they could not but feel a wave of apprehension as there had been corruption in this little challenge they had been set by the guardians of the crypt. But they had no doubt that before them lay something of the Red Lord, perhaps a clue to where he next lay.

The candle flickered weakly but still brighter than when they they had found it in the Blank Citadel but its dwindling life had brought a sullen mood to Elara and the party as it appears that they were no closer to fixing their reputation or freeing the Red Lord. As the heavy stone door swings open, the air grows colder, and a foreboding cold floods forward from the room beyond them. The chamber before them was vast, easily the size of a audience chamber for the rich or royal and its walls lined with crumbling gold inlay. Items, armour and weapons lay on the dozens of shelves, tables and stands around the room and more than one shone with from the magic that they held within them

The floor is strewn with treasures and the remains of what would have been a magnificent treasure horde, but the parties breath catches in their throat as the clank of a series of chains in the middle of the room draws their eyes eyes to the centre of the room. There, suspended on black oily chains and kneeling prone on the floor is a giant-sized man dressed in a tattered red cloak.

It is the Red Lord.

His breath is weak and without the occasional rattle of the chain in response to his infrequent breathing one would be forgiven for thinking it a statue of a giant. Easily as tall as a frost giant kneeling at fifteen feet tall, twenty one feet when standing the deity barely registered their presence as it struggled to remain suspended by the chains attached to the roof.

As the party decide what to do they gain more understanding of what lays around them the candle flickers brightly for a moment, illuminating the tears on Elara’s face. ‘My lord…’ she whispers as she slowly, and shakily, steps forward towards her deity. As the party join the cleric in her approach, the Red Lord’s eyes flicker open, and his unsteady gaze meets them. Lifting his head higher with visible effort he looks at the party with a mixture of hope and desperation. His voice, though weak, carries a tone of someone who has been alone for an eon.

‘You… have come. I feared all hope was lost. The Forgotten’s power was more than I thought it would be. It appears that hope has lost and that the world believes in cruel justice more than mercy and forgiveness. The magic it binds me here and without my strength, I am unable to break free myself.’ his voice carries the warmth of an open hearth and a meal with friends. As he speaks the flame on the Sacred candle burns brighter revealing the sparkle of several weapons in the room.

It took a few moments and some quick thinking to find ways for them to break through the magical chains that sapped his strength but the chains gave eventually and the Red Lord caught himself as his full weight landed on his knees. As soon as the manacles crumbled into dust around his wrists the Red Candle flared brighter and the party knew what to do.

As the Red Candle is brought closer to the Red Lord, its flame burns brighter casting a warm, comforting light throughout the chamber. The moment Elara placed the candle in the Red Lords massive hand a surge of energy courses through his body. The Red Lord’s eyes snapped open, and the room fills with a radiant glow as the Red Candle’s magic intertwines with the Red Lord’s essence. His strength returns, and he slowly rises to his feet, towering over the party his eyes focusing with a renewed sense of purpose. A god amongst men, a singular force of hope against the force that made the world think he had died.

‘You have done well, my friends. The Forgotten’s grasp on me is broken, but I fear that we have not the time to celebrate and so we must not linger. There is still much to be done as we have a world to convince that I have returned. Though I fear something was taken from me as I was stripped from my powers by the Forgotten’s plot.’ a moment of sadness and longing crossed his eyes. ‘But, isolation and loneliness is not something I can abide and so we must fight regardless of the forces against us.’

With the Red Lord now restored, the party turn to leave the chamber, the red lord calling forth some of his remaining magic to reduce in size to one quarter his size. The path they took to reach this place was cleared as they went through it once but they are sure that they were lucky when they passed through once, it wasn’t easy to get this far but there would be traps, dangers and opponents waiting for them on the way back. The Forgotten One would not let the Red Lord escape unharmed and so surely the deity would have laid more traps for them.

After a tense journey through the crypt, the party finally emerge into the light of dawn break. The Red Lord stands tall, his presence a beacon of hope. The forest around the party seems to come alive as the trickster spirits celebrating the parties victory with joyous laughter and playful antics as they prance around the feet of the Red Lord who returns to his normal size and stretches as he breathes in deep.

However the party still has a way to go yet. The Red Lord isn’t back to his full strength and they still have some ways to go before they can not only clear their name but restore order to things. The Forgotten One would not let its plan be so readily dashed and they would surely try to silence the Red Lord while he was vulnerable. But first, a stop by Felmore to the church of the found deity and the revelation of Brother Colin and his betrayal was long overdue.


Thanks for joining me for a big night as we have finished part 2 of the 3 part adventure. That means we have another week of adventures as we continue on from the rescue of the Red Lord, the return of his candle and the path forward to restoring order to this world. So don’t forget to come back daily to remain up to date and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Crypts Trials

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The Crypts Trials haunt the party this week as they move forward into what they hope will be the final hurdle in their quest to save the Red Lord and their clear their names. However the ancient trials and tests within the crypt are not all that waits and there is something darker and more malicious within this Crypt.

So grab a notepad and pen, sit down and get ready for the Crypts Trials!

The Crypts Trials

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The Crypts Trails – created in Copilot and Nightcafe.

The party lands upon the bottom of the flight of stairs after descending sixty or so feet. The entrance behind them reveals the canopy of trees and the night sky beyond but before them is old chiselled stone that has not lasted the test of time. The air is cold, damp and earthy with the only light comes from their own light sources and the Red candle that flickers in Elara’s hands. As the party delve deeper into the crypt it begins to feel that it is more a maze of corridors and chambers rather than structured and ordered space.

As they continue the rooms and corridors they encounter seemed designed to trick, delay, and confuse any who dare enter as they are nearly all identical even down to the same piles or rubbish and bones within the rooms and against the walls. However after noticing something odd about one of the rooms they discover a cleverly disguised adjoined corridor

After but a few moments travelling down the new corridor the first chamber they enter is a large, circular room with a high ceiling. In the centre of the room stands a pedestal in which rests a glowing crystal. The walls are adorned with murals depicting scenes of ancient battles and forgotten heroes, all crumbling to ruins and to be forgotten soon. As the party approaches the pedestal, a low hum fills the air, and a voice echoes through the chamber.

‘To proceed, you must answer the riddle that guards this chamber and this is third of three such rooms. Only the worthy may pass and only those who pass are worthy.’ a voice comes from the room itself as the crystal in the middle of the room starts to levitate and thrum with arcane magic.

After a few heart beats the voice speaks again ‘I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?’.

The party listen to the words and as they sit their in silence the soft drip of water in some corner of the room echoes out. Inspired with the answer the party gives their response to which a section of the wall grinds away revealing another passageway deeper into the crypt.

As the party step through the end of this corridor they are greeted by a series of walls. After a few minutes the realisation of what this chamber represents hits hard, this chamber is a labyrinthine corridor filled with mirrors and illusions. The walls seem to shift and move as the party navigate through the maze which makes standard tricks for overcoming a labyrinth less useful, but not useless. After a few moments they find that they reach the centre of the labyrinth where an identical crystal from the one earlier sits on a similar pedestal.

‘Only those who see through deception shall find the true path. Navigate the path laid before you and reach the door on the other side.’ the voice calls out once the party approach it. The party hear from somewhere deeper in the room the sound of metal grating as a something in the maze shifts. Whether something opens or something closes it is nearly impossible to tell.

Reaching the exit of the maze they recount the guardian creatures that had begun to stalk them which forced them to move faster through the maze. Luckily the walls ceased changing but the threat of the creatures cornering and attacking them urged them onwards. However this caused them to miss obvious queues and get lost as they made simple mistakes. As they burst through the last parts of the maze and closed the door behind them a loud grumbling echoes out from behind them as tremors could be felt through the ground. Looking in the room behind them they managed to watch the last of the walls that made up the maze shift into the floor to be swallowed back up by the room that created it.

Ahead of them the third chamber is a vast hall filled with statues of ancient warriors. Nearly each statue holds a weapon with more scattered on the floor around them. The floor is inscribed with a large, intricate pattern where the party can see a depiction of a battle from some long forgotten time. At the far end of the hall is a corridor that is barred off with a large statue standing firmly in the middle of passage. Suddenly a voice from their left makes them jump as another crystal glows into life.

‘The key to the gate ahead lies within the pattern. Match the weapons to their correct owners, the corresponding places where they would have stood on their last march, and the way shall be revealed’. The party move forward to look at the statues. after a moment they place the dropped weapons in the hands of the statues in which the weapons which was closest to them. As they place the last weapon an image of a full moon glows in the centre of the pattern and a few statues have their eyes glow.

After some trial and error and watching the moon imagery in the centre of the moon wane from full to near new, or the dark of the moon, they worked out the pattern. With a satisfying click the gate in front of them receded into the wall revealing the corridor before them. As they approached the final statue, a much newer and pristine stone its eyes burned alive and a cold voice resonated out.

‘You have made it this far Guardians of the light but here you shall remain. But to make this interesting so your final moments to let you know that you have truly failed. A riddle that will haunt you for the rest of your isolation and fuel your despair.’ it paused for a moment its massive arms moving to grip onto the stone handles of weapons at its back.

‘My life can be measured in hours, I only serve to be devoured. Slim, I am quick. Fat, I am slow. Wind is my foe.’ it said, slowly and menacingly with a hissing like rhythm. As it waited for the parties response.


Thanks for coming tonight and for continuing with this journey with me. Don’t forget that I publish content for this adventure daily leading up to Christmas so don’t forget to come back daily and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Guardian of the Meldwel Crypt

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As the party stand before the ancient tree, its massive roots twisting and burrowing into the earth, the party fails to notice a crucial element, the guardian of the Meldwel crypt. The air around the party feels dense and ancient as if the earth itself is trying to block the parties progression. The entrance is dark and foreboding, the stone archway covered in moss and root and beyond it, a staircase with no end in sight. But as they wait and take a collective breath of potentially their last fresh-ish air a figure looms out of the fog and soil and reaches out towards them!

So grab your thermos of seasonal beverage, an ice cold beer here, and let’s dodge, duck, dip, dive and… dodge into tonight’s adventure!

Guardian of the Meldwel Crypt

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The ancient tree of Meldwel Forest stands tall and imposing as the party approaches its exposed twisted roots that dig into the soil around some aged stone ruins. As the party approaches the once hidden entrance beneath the roots of the oldest tree the fog that has settled on the ground air grows colder as they descend into a small bowl like recession at the base of the tree. A thick earthy smell wafts up from below the dense wall of fog as they walk towards the open archway that leads to a steep staircase down into the bowels of the tree.

Suddenly the candle that Elara carries ignites in a bright spark of yellow flame that creates the fog to glow as if a lantern was lit. But their shock of the candles ignition was short lived as a massive hand of twisted roots and rubble crashed through their midst and snatches Elara up. The fog swirls as a giant creature made from twisted roots, soil and rubble rises out of the fog and ground causing bits of debris to rain down on the party.

A booming voice like a landslide calls out from the creature ‘Halt, trespassers. You shall not pass into this sacred crypt. I am the Guardian of this place and I have defended it for centuries. You may try to trick me like the others did but your fake talismans and artefacts of the Red Lord will not deceive me, your tricks will not work again!’

As the creature calls out it holds Elara and the candle aloft, the flame burning brightly still as the rapid movements from the crypt guardian threaten to extinguish the frail flame. As the party prepare for battle a wall of thick roots carrying chunks of rock from the ruins forms a barrier at the entrance to the tunnel beneath the tree

‘Others came before you, with lies and deceit. They sought to plunder the secrets of this crypt for their own gain. I was tricked once, but I shall not be fooled again.’ It roars as the battle rages on as the party clash with blade, hammer and magic bite into roots, soil and spill rubble across the battlefield. At some stage Elara goes flying and she crashes hard into the soil as the party rush to finish the spirit.

The Guardian starts to crumble as the final attack leaves it reeling. It falls as the roots that bound it to the tree lay cut and dismembered causing the soil and rubble it had bound in its form to fall to the ground inert and lifeless. The party to approach the stone archway as the roots disappear into the soil once more. looking down into the depths the initial first steps are cast in a red-yellow glow from the candle that Elara holds; which seems to grow stronger with each step, revealing the dark and mysterious passageway beyond.

The air grows colder as the party step into the crypt, the darkness pressing in around them trying to push back against the light from the red candle. The narrow passageway is lined with ancient carvings and flickering torchlight, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. The scent of damp earth and ancient decay fills the air and assaults the nostrils of the party as they make their way deeper into the crypt.

Thanks for joining me tonight for a shorter one than the previous nights but something that was building up for while leaving the mountains and the Blank Citadel. Don’t forget that we have just passed the halfway part for this adventure and that there is only ten more nights left before the final conclusion. So don’t forget to come back each night this week to stay up to date with this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Tricksters of Meldwel

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The Tricksters of Meldwel forest couldn’t even take away from the view when the sun rises over the Darkstone Mountains, casting long shadows and a golden glow across the rugged terrain towards their destination. The party has survived numerous trials and now sets their sights on the Meldwel Forest, a dense and ancient woodland that lies to the northeast. Within this forest, hidden beneath the ancient trees, is the crypt that holds further secrets to the Red Lord’s fate.

So grab a coffee, or festive drink, and keen your senses as we explore tonight’s adventure!

Tricksters of Meldwel

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As dawn breaks, the party stands on the precipice of the Darkstone Mountains, the chill of the night slowly giving way to the warmth of the morning sun. The Blank Citadel had made the time feel like mere moments between Dusk and Dawn however as they witnessed the rising sun there could be no doubt that time passed differently beyond the portal. The path ahead leads back down into the valley several paths trek over the mountains towards the Meldwel Forest, a place of ancient magic and hidden dangers.

The trees of Meldwel rise tall and imposing, their branches intertwining to form a thick canopy that casts deep shadows on the forest floor below. The journey to the forest was surprisingly quiet with only a few goats daring to walk near where the party travelled with their cleric companion. The air grows cooler as they descend into the valley, the shadows lengthening as the party approach the edge of the forest with a trickling river moving towards the canopy of leaves and branches.

The scent of pine, blossoming trees and earth fills the air and the sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves create a serene yet eerie atmosphere. The parties footsteps crunch softly on the forest floor as they enter the Meldwel Forest in full, the path winding between towering trees and dense undergrowth.

As the party delve deeper into the forest the air grows thicker and more dense as a curtain of mist appears over the trees. The party stop to have a short rest while they wait for the mist to clear but it instead thickens until a dense layer covers the ground and rises in wafts to about chest height. The bird song and afternoon rays of sun give the forest an otherworldly presence as they continue deeper heading in the direction that Elara can feel the faintest of surges of the Red Lords connection to her and the Red Candle, which remains the same nearly inert flame as before.

The shadows seem to dance and shift, playing tricks on the senses of the parties eyes. Bird song mingling with the trickle of water near by starts to sound like soft flits of laughter, light and airy as it echoes through the trees and the fog that has refused to yield to the sun. Soon the party begins to catch glimpses of small, glowing orbs moving through the fog, fireflies they hope, and as the sun drifts lower they start seeing figures flitting between the branches.

The forest grows darker and more foreboding as they venture deeper, the once steady sounds of wildlife giving way to an uncanny silence. Suddenly, a chorus of laughter erupts around the party, and tiny, glowing orbs launch out from the trees towards the party causing them to to duck and dive and slip into the mid that was hidden by the cloud of fog. The party rise covered in mud prepared to fight but a chorus of laughter greets them as the trickster of Meldwel Forest, appear in short bursts before disappearing from sight. These are beings of mischief and mirth who have followed the Red Lord for as long as history can retell and they delight in spreading joy and chaos in equal measure.

Finally after a series of escalating pranks the trickster spirits appear before the party, their eyes twinkling with mischief and the tears of their delight at the parties expense. They giggle and whisper among themselves, their voices like the jingling of bells.

‘Well, well, well, what do we have here? Travelers in the forest, hmm? Seeking secrets best left hidden, hmm? Tell us, do you bring mischief, merriment or perhaps,’ the creature paused its eyes turning cruel for a moment betraying its fey heritage, ‘trouble?’

The party attempt to convince the creatures of their intentions. After a while and a game of riddles and tests that the creatures set as they goad the party deeper into the forest. Eventually the party manage to succeed in convincing the trickster spirits , their demeanour changing immediately from cruel and mischief to gleeful and friendly. ‘Very well, brave travellers, we see your hearts are true and you seek not to take our source of joy and merriment from us. The Red Lord has been kind to us, and we shall aid you in return. The place you seek is a crypt that lies deep within the forest, hidden beneath the roots of the oldest tree. Follow our guidance, and you will find it.’

The trickster spirits lead the way, their glowing forms illuminating the dark forest as they guide the party through the maze of trees and undergrowth. After dusk has come and gone the party arrive at a massive, ancient tree whose roots twist and burrow deep into the earth.

Beneath the roots, the party find a hidden entrance covered in moss and ivy. The trickster spirits gather around, their orbs of light casting eerie shadows on the ancient stone doorway.

‘Here lies the entrance to the crypt where once the forces the Red Lord and the Forgotten one battled along side their deities. Be wary, for within you will face trials that test your courage and resolve. But fear not, for we believe in your strength. May the Red Lord’s light guide you’

With the entrance to the crypt revealed, the party prepares to descend into its depths.

Thanks for joining me tonight for the next piece in the puzzle for this adventure. Tomorrow we will likely have an action packed day so don’t forget to come back for that and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Gatekeeper of the Citadel

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The gatekeeper of the Citadel bears witness to all the items believed to be too cursed for even the gods to deal with but yet he understands what’s at stake when he is deceived into guarding the Sacred Red Candle – until the party arrive that is.

So sit back, grab a blanket as its a bit cold in tonights adventure!

The Gatekeeper of the Citadel

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Their journey has been arduous and the party pushes forward with exhausted bodies as they put more distance behind them and the body of Brother Colin. After hours of climbing the steep path they are so close to their destination, the legendary Blank Citadel. The sky begins to darken as the sun begins its descent behind the horizon. As it sets the Darkstone Mountain pass doesn’t look so hostile and unwelcoming as a golden glow washes across the landscape.

As the path they travelled flattens out the sun begins to sink below the horizon, its dying light casts long shadows across the jagged peaks of the Darkstone Mountains. As the temperature drops, and a biting chill settles in clouds of the parties breath swirl around them as travel across the landing looking for the location described by the hidden temple guardians. Ahead, the path stops, and the party find themselves standing before a sheer cliff face covered in ancient ice. Elara walks up to the ice and places a tired and bruised hand against the surface. Nodding she confirms what they all suspected, this is the entrance to the Blank Citadel.

As they look around a blinding flash of light hits them in the eyes from a pillar that is covered in bushes. The party recall the cryptic message about the setting sun and the entrance to the Blank Citadel and examine the pillar and beam of light. Sure enough at the top of the shoulder high pillar is a clear multifaceted gem placed which is sending a refracted beam of light onto the wall opposite it. After a few moments of pondering it is clear that the gem must be rotated just right so that the suns setting light can reveal the hidden entrance.

With a concerted effort, the gemstone turns, refracting the sunlight into a focused beam that strikes the ice wall. The ice begins to melt and crack, revealing a hidden doorway etched with ancient runes. The entrance to the Blank Citadel stands before those before it, foreboding, ancient and cold and yet it beckons the party inside.

As the party step into the Blank Citadel, the air grows colder, and an eerie silence envelops you. The walls are lined with ancient inscriptions and artifacts with a warning to not touch or linger too long on the cursed items forsaken by the gods. A breath of frigid air washes out from the chasm and along with it a foreboding presence whispering of a time and a think long forgotten. The path leads to a grand chamber, its centrepiece a pedestal upon which rests a candle of vibrant red – the Sacred Red Candle.

As Elara walks towards the candle transfixed on the artefact of her deity that stands on the pedestal before her a dark toned creature with inhumanly long arms and legs watches the party closely and the cleric, Elara, most intently, its eyes filled with a deep sense of regret.

‘Welcome, travellers. I am the Oracle, guardian of this sacred place. Long have I watched over the cursed items that have been sent to me and now this, the sacred Red Candle,’ it took a deep breath to steady itself as if not used to talking, ‘ensuring it none of them fall into the wrong hands. But I fear I have been deceived as the Red Candle is not unholy nor cursed nor a threat to any who know what it is.’ it paused as is moved closer to the party and Elara its long arms unfurling more like an arachnid than humanoid. ‘The one who came before you… his intentions were dark and twisted and when he left the candle and declared the oath be fulfilled I felt the authority of a god in his command and obeyed. But he was no god.’

‘The Sacred Red Candle was meant to be a beacon of mercy and hope, but it has been tainted by deceit. I entrust it to you now, for I sense your hearts are true and do reek of vengeance less than the one that brought it here. But be warned, the candle will only burn for those who are true to its teachings. The path ahead is fraught with peril and darkness is closing in as that which was forgotten comes front of mind for the first time in an existing.’

The Oracle gestures towards the candle, its flame barely flickering as the party contemplate their next steps. With the candle found and still alight, barely so, then the Red Lord must be alive. Elara’s elation could be seen as she tentatively walked forward to pluck the candle from the pedestal, the Oracle watching intently.

The oracle spoke breaking the tense moment with is pained voice ‘The Red Lord is held within a place of darkness, where despair and isolation are his sole companions. Seek the ruined fortress within the Meldwel forest to the east of the Darkstone Mountains, beyond the reach of mortal light. There, you will find the answers you seek and the means to restore the Red Lord.’

Thanks for visiting tonight for something a bit different to my normal Friday plans. But don’t fret as there is more planned for this adventure as we continue on with day 14 tomorrow! So don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more Dice-ember and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Darkstone Mountain Pass

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The Darkstone Mountain pass is a hazardous place to travel through let alone rest or do combat in. So tonight we cover that combat scene in a bit more depth, explaining the terrain, some of the hazards and what we can expect from a map in the cliffs of these mountains.

So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s explore tonight’s map!

Darkstone Mountain Pass

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Darkstone Mountain Pass – Created in inkarnate.

Setting the scene for the Darkstone Mountain Pass encounter this week we have the clearing in the Darkstone Mountain pass where Elara and the party connect as well as Brother Colin revealing his true colours. There is more to come tomorrow but the map takes centre stage today.

Along with a rather large, roughly 40 feet by 75 feet, area to fight in, there are many areas that the party or their aggressor can attack from or move to. This makes the combat dynamic and feel more engaging than a 1v5+ fight.

Recap

The tension in the air was palpable as Brother Colin, his speech delivered and his eyes burning with malevolent intent, stood before the party and Elara. The once calm clearing now seemed to hum with dark energy, and the ground beneath their feet felt unstable, as if it too was ready to give way to the chaos about to unfold.

With a flick of his wrist, Brother Colin summoned a sphere of dark energy that crackled with malevolent power. He hurled it towards Elara, who barely managed to conjure a shimmering veil of red fire that deflected the worst of the attack. The party sprang into action, weapons drawn and spells at the ready.

The party moved quickly to surround Brother Colin, hoping to cut off his escape and overwhelm him with their numbers. Their weapons clashed against his shadowy defences, and bursts of magic illuminated the dark clearing as the magic itself seemed to fizzle before coming into contact with the corrupted cleric. The sound of metal on metal and the hiss of arcane and divine energy filled the air as the first moments of the intense battle erupted.

The party, already weary from their encounter with the patrol, moved to protect Elara who, positioned at the rear, chanted prayers to the Red Lord, her holy symbol of a red candle glowing brightly. Her divine magic flowed through the party, mending their wounds and bolstering their resolve just as quickly as their foe ripped it away with the shadowy reflection of the divine magic that Elara produced. She called upon the Red Lord’s mercy to shield her allies from harm, creating protective barriers that shimmered in the cold air as hammers of dark energy wailed on them, trying to beat them into the earth.

As the magic clashed and the party, and Colin, were thrown into the wall of the cliff, rocks began to tumble down pelting the party and the cleric alike. But despite this nuisance the dark magic still flowed and lashed out hoping to drag the party into the true isolation that only death can bring.

Brother Colin fought with a fierce determination, his spells weaving dark tendrils that sought to entangle and immobilize his foes as needles of magic tried to pierce their flesh. He conjured shadowy minions to distract and harass the party, forcing them to split their attention between him and the spectral assailants. His voice echoed with a cruel taunt, ‘You cannot hope to defeat me. I do not wield the weak power of forgiveness and mercy but that of the determination to bring you the truth. Power is absolute, isolation and despair comes to all those that idolise mercy and comradery.’

As the battle raged on the rocky terrain grew more lethal as the combatants’ spells and attacks churned the earth and weakened the small clearing ledge that they battled on. Loose gravel and earth coupled with narrow paths required careful footing where any misstep could send them tumbling down the steep cliffs to their likely demise below.

Brother Colin’s dark magic began to falter under the relentless assault. He attempted to retreat, weaving through the rocky terrain, but the party pressed forward with determination to prevent him from hunting them down again, this interference from the corrupted man would be hist last. A well-placed attack caught him in the shoulder, and he staggered back, the protective magic he weaved slipping from his control.

In a last-ditch effort, Brother Colin summoned a massive wave of dark energy, intending to obliterate everything in its path. Elara stepped forward, her voice rising in a fervent prayer. ‘Red Lord, grant us your mercy and protect us from this darkness.’ A brilliant light erupted from her holy symbol, clashing with the dark wave and neutralizing most of it’s destructive power but in return it tossed Elara backwards against the cliff.

Seizing the opportunity, the party launched their final assault. The final attack struck true, shattering Brother Colin’s defences and delivering a fatal wound. As he fell to his knees, his shadowy form began to dissipate, and a shard of a mirror spilled out of his cloak, reflecting the otherworldly realm of the hidden temple.

Environmental Hazards:

  1. Loose Gravel and Rocks:
    • Hazard: The ground is littered with loose gravel and small rocks that can cause characters to lose their footing.
    • Checks: Characters moving quickly or engaging in combat must make Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks (DC 13) to avoid slipping and falling prone.
  2. Steep Cliffs and Drop-offs:
    • Hazard: The clearing is bordered by steep cliffs and drop-offs, posing a significant fall hazard.
    • Checks: If a character is pushed or falls near the edge, they must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 15) to catch themselves or a nearby ledge. Failure results in falling 20 feet, taking 2d6 bludgeoning damage.
  3. Rockslides:
    • Hazard: The unstable terrain can trigger small rockslides.
    • Checks: During the battle, there is a 1-in-6 chance each round that a rockslide occurs. Characters in the affected area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 14) to avoid taking 2d4 bludgeoning damage and becoming restrained by the debris. Explosions or collisions with the wall of the hill above the party may also trigger these rock slides.
  4. Narrow Pathways:
    • Hazard: Some areas of the clearing are connected by narrow pathways along the cliffside.
    • Checks: Characters moving along these pathways must make Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks (DC 12) to maintain their balance. Failure results in falling prone and potentially slipping off the edge (see Steep Cliffs hazard).
  5. Thin Air:
    • Hazard: The high altitude and thin air make physical exertion more difficult.
    • Checks: Characters engaging in strenuous activity (e.g., running, fighting) must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 13) every 10 minutes or gain one level of exhaustion. This is more relevant if they decide to retreat and a chase occurs or if they wish to create substantial distance for themselves from whatever else Brother Colin may be working with

Combat Aftermath

With Brother Colin defeated, the clearing fell silent, save for the laboured breathing of the party and the faint whisper of the wind. Elara knelt beside the fallen cleric, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and resolve. She retrieved the shard of the mirror, wondering if it held the key to the next step in their journey as she retold the stories she remembered from the early days of her initiation.

‘We must hurry,’ Elara said, her voice steady despite her energy. ‘I can feel the Red Lords presence growing closer, but it is still so faint as if there is a cloud surrounding it that his light can’t pierce.’

Thanks for visiting tonight for another map night with a bit of an expansion from combat scene from last night. But tomorrow we are back on track to powering through to the last half of this years seasonal adventure. So don’t forget to come back each day to stay on top of what’s happening here, and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Elara and the Forgotten

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As the party draw closer to the Blank Citadel they meet a cleric and a mad man. Elara and the forgotten gods servant are tonight’s focus with the party trying to save the young priestess as she can still sense the Red Lords light.

So sit down, grab your candles and let’s prepare to fend off the darkness in tonight’s adventure!

Elara and the Forgotten

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Elara describing the Forgotten – Created with Copilot.

After the battle with the patrol the party continues their journey north, deeper into the Darkstone Mountains. A harsh and unforgiving terrain greets them where the Blank Citadel lies hidden among the jagged rocks and towering peaks and if the cryptic messages are to be believed its location wont be revealed easily. The path grows more treacherous and untravelled with each step, but despite the dangers they have their names to clear and, gods willing, a deity to find and save.

The deeper parts of the Darkstone Mountains are a maze of narrow passes, steep cliffs, and winding trails. The air is crisp and thin with a constant chill that bites at their skin, note and throats. The sky above is often overcast, casting long shadows that make it difficult to see dangers in the path until its too late as pockets of deep shadows conceal cracks, debris and even potential foes.

The party had been moving cautiously through the winding mountain paths, their eyes scanning the rocky terrain and bushes that grew out of the mountain face for any signs of dangers. The memory of the patrol’s ambush was still fresh in their minds and every twist, every sound along the path seemed to echo with potential threats. As they navigated a particularly narrow ledge, one of the party members noticed a figure trailing them from a distance.

At first, they thought it was another enemy, but as the figure drew closer, they recognized her as one of the clerics from the ambush; a follower of the Red Lord. She was one of the few that they hadn’t subdued as she had hesitated during the attack and her devout nature to the Red Lords teachings of mercy and second chances had been noticeable, and now she seemed to be following them with a purpose.

The party decided to confront the cleric in a small, sheltered clearing where they could speak without fear of immediate attack or of falling over the edge of the path and into the deeper parts of the mountains. The cleric, a woman named Elara, approached them cautiously, her eyes filled with uncertainty mixed with a firey determination.

‘I… I don’t mean you any harm. I couldn’t bring myself to believe that you were responsible for the disappearance of the Red Lord as your reputation didn’t match the image that you were being painted with.’ she said finally after a series of questions.

‘There’s something deeply wrong about all of this. I could still faintly sense the Red Lord while in Felmore but now with each step deeper into the mountains the feeling and connection grows. If he was dead and his Red candle truly snuffed out forever then no one would be able to sense the lord. Many have given into their despair and their fear and strayed from the path that our lord has shown us. That is why they cannot hear him.’ she added before pausing, looking doubtful of her next actions.

‘I was ordered to join the search as I was a hunter before finding my calling and I have a strong affinity with divination magic. But despite my order being received I never believed in the intent and planned to resolve this matter peacefully with mercy.’ she said as she made the sign of the Red Lord. ‘I needed to see for myself, the people you truly were and I now doubting that anything that Brother Colin had said, all the words he had used to paint a perfect picture of the monsters you were… they are all false aren’t they?’ she asked with a look of loss and hopelessness.

As the party debated her intentions, the air grew tense. Elara’s sincerity seemed genuine, but if it was true then someone who followed the missing lord would surely be able to assist them in the near future.

Without warning, a shadowy figure emerged from the bend behind them. A dark, tattered once-red cloak looked frayed and as if the colour was seeping out of it. It was Brother Colin, his eyes burning with malevolent intent. He had followed Elara, suspecting her betrayal but reliant on her ability to sense the party, and now he sought to silence her and deal with the party once and for all.

‘You could have just stayed in the cells and let justice determine your fait. But I wasn’t surprised to see you escaped despite the words of comfort and hope that my agents had whispered your way. Never mind I have you and this traitorous fool now. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice your hesitation to believe your superiors words. Do you still hear the weak fools voice calling you to spread mercy? I can’t have you ruining the Forgotten One’s plans, this ends now!’ he called.

With a flick of his wrist, Brother Colin summoned dark energy, launching a vicious attack at Elara which she barely survived as a shimmering veils of red fire moved to protect her form the worst of it. The party, recognizing the threat to themselves and their only connection to the lost lord, sprang into action to defend her.

As Brother Colin falls, a shard of mirror spills out of his cloak reflecting another world, a familiar one, the hidden temple. Elara provides them with more information about the Blank Citadel, a place of myth where the deities used to lock away all that was best left forgotten and buried. She highlighted the danger that lay within its sealed doors and asked them if they had a plan, how they would breach what was meant to be impenetrable.

She also remembered, barely, a story that she was once told when she joined the clergy of the Red Lord that he had once tried to extend the candle of mercy, his Red Candle, to the Forgotten deity who had been shunned from the world. They were a mess of madness and chaos and survived of the energy of fear, loneliness and hopelessness that came from extreme isolation. They didn’t have a clergy of a sort but creatures that weren’t too long by themselves, in isolation, always would reach out to the Forgotten One. They were sustained by such negative emotions that when the Red Lord showed Mercy, kindness and understanding it hurt them more than any immortal weapon could.

As the Red Lord grew to power and those who felt isolation and banishment so profoundly were given second chances, invited to feasts and shown compassion the Forgotten One’s power started to wane and they all but ceased existing, or so the story went.


Thanks for joining me for another twist in this December’s seasonal adventure. It would have been seen coming from a long way away but Brother Colin revealing himself as a traitor, a servant of the Forgotten One, has been in the cards for a while. But there is yet more to come and even more deadlier foes to face. So don’t forget to comeback each day this week to stay up to date and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe