TTRPG

The Stained Cup

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There are few magical items that are as sought after in criminal organisations as the Stained Cup. This artefact is fiendishly good at bringing about the goals of would be crime-bosses and lords of the underground movements within cities. Able to bend the will of any who take a sip after the owner of the goblet this quickly can create an army of willing martyrs or thugs to do ones bidding. So it’s easy to see who so many people are after it this week.

So let’s grab a coffee, just not from this cup though, and roll into tonight’s adventure!

The Stained Cup

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The Stained Cup – Created in Nightcafe.

As Alistare got back to the barracks he unstrapped the pauldrons that they wore when on patrol and went to the mess hall. Passing one of the cells he could see one of the officers asking some questions of an elf that had been caught last night trying to sneak into the barracks, likely also after the Stained Cup, he thought to himself as he went to go grab a drink and some food.

The hall was nearly empty apart from some of the members of his patrol as they ate and spoked in hushed tones. There had a been a series of attempted break-ins and robberies as word got out that they had taken custody of the Stained Cup. Alistare had been informed by the high cleric of Tyr that the artefact was magical in nature and that they would be sending over member of their order to collect it to be destroyed, if possible, or stored away where it wont see the light of day again.

Frankly Alistare could not wait until it was taken and buried somewhere deep. From what he had heard it had the power to enslave an entire city to be under the control over its owner. He shuddered at the thought of one of the crime bosses in the city, these Kings and Queens of the slums, who would have the power, influence and man-power to overthrow the nobility.

“Alistare, there you are,” a voice said from his left. Turning he was greeted by the bright eyes of Sylvana, one of the other captains. “The church sent over their priest and they picked up the package that you had organised.” she smiled as she sat next to him and clanked his cup against hers.

Alistare sighed with relief. “Praise Tyr. It’s been nothing but trouble since it got here. Glad to see the last of it.” he raised his cup and finished it off. After the news that his little problem was gone he could relax a bit more. After he was done he went to the front of the guard barracks where he saw the high cleric standing there with one of his clergy.

“Welcome Brother Pyrius. I bet you are pleased to have the package in your custody.” Alistare asked smiling.

“I will be Captain. Myself and Brother Mikale are here to retrieve it…” Pyrius replied with a smile.

“Retrieve it. I was told it was picked up this morning.” Alistare replied, his brain whirring. As he watched the face of the priest his heart dropped into his stomach. “If you did not recover it earlier today then.. who did…” he asked more to himself as he watched the high cleric quickly converse with the other member of his order before they both left in haste. It looked like Alistare had some questions to ask and a cup to find.

Thanks for joining me tonight for another addition to this weeks adventure. Don’t forget that we still have some nights remaining for this weeks adventure. So don’t forget to come back each day this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Guardian and Guttersnipe

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This week we have a trinket that the party need to get for their old colleague, Mims, and the guardian and guttersnipe standing in their way. One will prevent the party from getting the item because it is wrong to do so and the other wants to prevent the party because they want to be the one that acquires the item.

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

Guardian and Guttersnipe

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Alistare Guzo – Created in Nightcafe.

Alistare strode through the streets and nodded politely at those he passed. He had worked his way up the guards from being a merchants boy and had made a reputation for himself as being a hard worker who looked out for the people as well as the crown. He waved off a lady as she offered him a loaf of bread and smiled politely as he refused the offering. It wasn’t that he considered it a bribery or that he wasn’t hungry it was that he wanted to earn his way in life and receiving something for free normally meant someone went without.

As he turned down the final street he caught sight of his fellow guards of the quarter on their own patrol. Meeting up with them he caught the end of the last of the conversation. “So I caught him red handed, this mud covered urchin trying to slip past me into the locked room. You’ve never seen someone squeal as loudly a this lad when he realised he was sprung. Of course he had an excuse but he opened up once we fed him. Poor bastards are starved when they join the crews in the city.” the guardsman, Harlo, smiled as Alistare appeared.

“Alistare, captain, I was just telling the lads that we had someone try and break into the storage room. Slip in when we were moving some more seized goods in. You’ll never guess what he was after though.” Harlo began.

“The Stained cup.” Alistare finished for him.

“Yeah. You sure you don’t have magic in your blood boss?” Harlo smiled and the other guard chuckled in response as they moved through the streets towards the barracks.

“Very sure. I just came from the Pale Rose Inn where I heard that there was a new group in town who may be trying to make a move on it. You’d best believe that the original owner won’t be too pleased if its taken before she can get it back.” Alistare replied.

Peter Horngrave – Created in Nightcafe.

Peter wasn’t one for honest means of work and this one was about as dishonourable as they come. As the guards moved on talking about the news they had received he stumbled upright and in a half-performance-half-real stumble he drunkenly moved down the road so he could overheard the last part of the news the guards were bringing him.

He had been employed to get to The Stained Cup for his boss before anyone else and had foolishly agreed to do it. But the urchins he had persuaded to get it for him had failed and through threats of bribery they had sewn misinformation about who he was working for. So he had to get the item himself before the owner, that blasted merchant who owed a great deal of money to the wrong people and now a new group. He signed as he leaned against a wall, half-pretending reeling from a hangover as he overheard the last bits of the guards before they would become aware of him trailing them.

“… So we’re going to move the item.” was all he managed to glean as they were talking softly and they turned down the final street towards the barracks. “So they are moving it eh?” he asked himself as he leant upwards reaching for his water skin. “I guess that gives me what I need…”

Thanks for visiting tonight to meet Alistare and Peter, our Guardian and Guttersnipe for this weeks adventure. Don’t forget that we will be expanding this adventure daily as we continue towards the weekend. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Honour Bound

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This week the party find themselves Honour bound to an oath they gave out long ago. A pledge of loyalty and assistance that has come around to haunt them in their new-found fame. But will they go ahead with the request or will they break their oath and weather the consequences.

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

There is very little that can hold the sway over people quite as much as being Honour Bound to another. But not all pleas for assistance are righteous and pure of intention and so the bargaining begins. Where does honour and a committal of aid finish and betrayal of oath begin.

The party need to weigh up the consequences of an oath sworn long ago, theft and even murder so that they can balance the books and still wind up ahead.

Honour Bound

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The Keeper – created in Nightcafe.

The party pushed though the doors at the Red Robin Tavern, a place they had visited several times before they started to really start setting out on adventurers. They had just entered when a a familiar voice carried out from across the room.

A man danced on the table, ale in hand and surrounded by a chorus of applause and laughter. A bard summoned a catchy jig on a nearby lute which caused the familiar, and drunk, man to dance harder until he fell off the table to another round of applause and laughter.

“I’m all good,” the man said as he pulled himself up. Mims was his name, well his nickname at least as his real name was Mike and he had gotten the a few of the party out of trouble earl in their careers. As he dusted himself off and sculled the last of his ale he looked up at the group, stared for a moment before a large toothy, and drunk, smile spread across his face.

“My friends!” he called as he walked over. “What brings you back to the Red Robin. I thought you’d be off wrestling dragons and saving princesses and he normal stuff that you heroes of legend do. Please sit,” he pointed to a table where one man was already unconscious with his hand still on a goblet of red wine. “Barman, a round for my friends!” he called.

After a few moments of laughter and discussing the old antics they used to get up to, and the times that Mims had saved the day came up more than once in the stories. Mims looked thoughtful for a moment. “Say, you’re not here for work are ye?” after the reply he grinned. “Well my prayers have been answered. You see I need a favour. I have a job. I don’t have the coin to flash at the adventurers guild for registration and I need help rather urgently. I think you’ve come back here just at the right time, as I need help you appear and I know you can pull off what I need.”

“I helped you when you needed it the most, you made me an oath that one day you would repay the favour and todays the day. Old Mims really needs this job to go well.” he said nervously. “So what say you? Can you help an old friend, like we used to back in the good days?”

Thanks for joining me for another night at my tabletop as I set up a bit of a tricky week. As usual I plan to grow this adventure into something much larger with a few twists and turns as the party try to fulfil their oath and stay out of trouble themselves. Don’t forget to come back daily to stay up to date with the adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Shemet Forest Ablaze

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This week I continued with the creating a shortened Zine, something that fits on a single A4 sheet of paper with just enough information to set the scene, plot and hook with some NPCs sprinkled through that it could be used in any system.

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

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

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, Shemet Forest Ablaze, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

Shemet Forest Ablaze

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Shemet Forest Ablaze – Created in Nightcafe.

The party had not exactly chosen the path through Shemet forest as their first path however the roads that they had intended to travel across had become inoperable with a bridge collapsing that linked the two parts of the road together.
The more direct path to their destination was over the mountains, and despite not being recommended for commoners and merchants for an adventuring party it was more than suitable.
By the end of the first day into their travel they had made good progress and had found a place to set up camp.

The adventurers raced towards the mountain peak as their efforts to prevent the elementals in hindering their advancement to their dark master were rewarded with a clear path towards the peak. The thunderous dark voice resonated down the mountain. A roar of rage or excitement came down from the mountain peak which immediately caused several of the small elementals that had been harassing the party ceased feebly attacking them and starting to create more fires in the trees, bushes and fallen vegetation. As they scrambled up the rocky path a surge of air raced towards the peak as a maelstrom of fire gathered at the peak. A cry of pain and despair rang out as the heat got intense. After a few moments of hugging the cold stone of a rocky overhang the torrent of fire simply ceased.

A dark voice boomed out once more “It is no use hiding. I will find you and burn you to a crisp like the dogs you are!” It took a few moments for the party to realise that the elementals in the forest had disappeared, Fires still raged and the smoke that was billowing into the sky was causing gusts of hot wind and ash to rain upon the party. The sound of crashing timber came from above them as a tree thundered down the slope. They would have to make it to the top to stop the mage from burning the forest down around them and so the last dash up to the peak was all that was between them and the source of the elemental fire.

PDF adventure – Shemet Forest Ablaze

Shemet Forest AblazeDownload

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

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

Husk Zombies

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Tonight we have a bit of a spin on the zombie. Husk Zombies are frail and unstable as the chaotic arcane energy that bore life to them. These creatures are hard to control but easy to kill if met with magic that disrupts the flow of their own arcane energy.

So tonight there is no time to sit back as we need to run to avoid being eaten!

Husk Zombies

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Husk Zombies Rising – Created in Nightcafe.

The first signs that something was wrong came when a body was pulled from the rubble of the inn. Its broken form tinged with a rainbow tapestry just beneath its skin as the evidence of magic shone through the cold flesh. As they watched and another one was dug from more rubble the body started to twitch and convulse as a pulsating light ran through the humans veins and along its muscles.

The once-humans shaking stirred with their rescuers praising what ever deity had chosen to grant them the miracle of these people being alive. However the praises turned quickly to screams as the freshly risen dead attacked those around them. As the first few were quickly dealt with by the city guard more began to dig themselves out of the rubble.

Husk Zombie – Created in tetra-cube.

At first it was just those unfortunately crushed under the sudden collapse of the inn and temple but then a dishevelled, husk like zombie pulled itself from the walls of the temple. Its ancient form was dry and flaking dust as it moved slowly towards those alive around it. Not fresh and meaty like the freshly risen, these zombies were husks, empty apart from the chaotic rainbow of colours that bore their withered lifeless forms.

As the husks engaged they were cut down quickly as their bodies were more frail than the freshly departed, however they were all still dangerous and as they were re-released to the void beyond a cloud of magical energy was released from the dry, empty vessels.

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

Destruction in Desmodus

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The level of destruction in Desmodus has seen chaos spread through the city like a roaring fire. But something else stirs in the soot, dust and splinters of the Market Quarter.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee as we tred carefully into tonight’s encounter!

Destruction in Desmodus

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Zombies are an age old favourite for a reason. Sturdy, steady and they can just about appear anywhere. Especially from the ruins of a temple that collapsed from powerful arcane energy.

Although they aren’t the only thing on the menu for an encounter this week they may be the most numerous of creatures and in a packed environment with many innocents nearby targeted and specific spells may be best to deal with them all.

Zombie – created in Tetra-cube

Thanks for dropping by for a short night tonight. This weekend we will expand the adventure a bit kore and even have a zine from the vault make an appearance. So don’t forget to come back this weekend and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Desmodus Market Quarter

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Following on from last night the destruction of half an inn and a small temple in the Desmodus Market Quarter we have a map of the scene. Well something that will do at least. While Guard Captain Katiana searches for the culprits there may be something else at play here.

So without waiting any longer let’s sit back, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s map!

Desmodus Market Quarter

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Desmodus Market Quarter – Created in Inkarnate

The destruction isn’t total but it isn’t an easy sight to see. The temple lays in nearly complete ruins with some of the more dangerous walls, and debris having been hauled away already. The streets are more dusty than normal due to the cleaners already being here, for some of the rubble at least. However the danger of this environment is most of the rubble is brittle and will break if not carefully walked upon which could injure those who fall through the initial layer of brittle wood or stone to be stabbed, lacerated or caught in a secondary layer beneath the first. A dangerous place to be engaging in any form of combat.

A few different tones of the same textures were used tonight to gain a bit of depth across the map. roads were created with a transparent dirt texture and then, to make my life easier, a lot of “roof” tiles were added to give the district its shape. The ruins are some great tiles (art assets) that look good when blended together and chaotically put in a rough shape – I think it turned out ok with some room for improvement.

Thanks for joining me tonight with another map created. Don’t forget that as I continue this week I gear up for another Zine at the end of the week. So don’t forget to come back daily to stay on top of what’s happening here and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Desmodus at Dawn

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There are not many sights that would warm the city guard in the city than the sight of Desmodus at Dawn. That is unless part of your city has crumbled away in the middle of the night. As adding the players perspective would make this weeks adventure perhaps too easy I will continue from the lens of Katiana.

So let’s wake up, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Desmodus at Dawn

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As the first rays of dawn struck through the curtails Katiana looked up from the paperwork on the small desk she had in her room and sighed. As she reached over and snuffed the candles she was using to read the reports of what they had found out about the musicians during the day. She stretched her back causing a few pops to echo out as she moved towards the window to view Desmodus at Dawn.

After a moment to get her eyes to adjust to the light before she gazed upon the tapestry of rooftops. The reds, browns, greens and greys of the tiles and wood. The flags of the city whipped about in the breeze and the sounds of the city coming alive rose to greet her. However as she looked across the city that she had spent most of her life in she noticed something concerning.

Grabbing her jacket she moved towards the door, hauling on her boots as she hopped out of the door. Moving through the city quickly head towards the merchants quarter. As she neared the quarter the first cries of alarm could be heard. A group of guards were hurrying in that district and she rushed to join them. “Katiana, there has been another incident.” one of the guards said as they saw her, another captain from another part of the city watch.

“I didn’t see the tower of Selune so I had to come investigate.” she replied.

“The tower collapsed onto the Mullberry Inn.” the captain answered her question. Katiana followed along and started to help where she could. It wasn’t until she reached the site of the fallen tower that she began to understand. The Inn was ruined with splintered timber littering the road. As she stepped around the material she found her foot passing through the material as if it had been feasted on by insects.

The stone of the tower was much the same as the inn. Half of it was frail and brittle and although the building was destroyed the loss of human life seemed to be minimal. “Well the music stopped and slowly we felt the building rumbling. We ran out to the streets, all of us, in time to see the temple collapse onto the inn. I don’t think the group of bards that were playing made it out though.” one of the people on the streets murmured as she recounted the night before.

Thanks for joining me tonight to for a short continuation of the journey this week. Don’t forget that we will expand the adventure each day this week as we move onwards this week. Don’t forge to come back each day this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Kat and Mouse

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With the destruction of what remained of old temple within Desmodus City the city guard captain, Katiana, has made it clear that she will hunt down those responsible. This game of Kat and Mouse, if you will, will only end in one way in her books. Her finding the bards and dispensing justice in how she sees fit.

So let’s crack down, suit up and march into tonight’s adventure!

Kat and Mouse

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Katiana Mirthwood – Created in Nightcafe.

Kat stormed down through the guard hall as she left one of the apprehended revellers to leave the room she had been questioning them in. She had expected finding the band to be difficult giving the nature of the reports that she had heard, but not this difficult. As she marched towards the benches where several other witnesses stood she stopped abruptly in front of one of her lieutenants who was hurriedly searching through a ring of keys.

“Sal, I wanted those rooms cleaned out for when we catch them. What’s taking you so long?” she snarled at the man. He had been caught dancing amongst the crowd despite knowing that the temple was out of bounds for good reason.

“Sorry Captain, I brought in the other witnesses like you requested and organised them on the bench. That took me most of the morning so I am getting around to clearing out the cells now.” he replied, flustered, knowing that his excuse of ‘wasn’t in control of his own body’ wasn’t working any more.

“You have until tomorrow morning, or we start arresting people, which ever comes sooner.” she murmured as she strode to get the next witness in line. A half-elven man sat in front of her in a smart but worn tunic.

Jayce Stonecliff – Created in Nightcafe.

“You, if you could come with me please I have some questions to ask.” she began, her usual direct and blunt nature tempered a bit as he smiled at her.

“No worries, anything I can do to help protect this city” he replied as he stood.

As she walked off with the man following her he looked through the notes that had been jotted down about him. “Jayce Stonecliff. You’re a local?” she asked noting that it wasn’t listed down or not.

“No, unfortunately, I am originally from Entied but have been in Desmodus for a few weeks now. Glad to be out of the city after what happened a few weeks back, lost a few friends in the collapse of the keep.” he smiled weakly.

“Well hopefully you can help with stopping that from happening here.” she said as she opened a door to a lightly furnished cell and followed after him. “Now you said that you were in the area when you heard the commotion. What else can you tell me about it?” she began.

“Well I heard the music, the vibrations were shaking the ground so I wanted to make sure that we weren’t going to have the same trouble as what happened in Entied. But when I got close the music was waning and I saw a group of children running out from the back of the temple and towards the merchants district. I thought nothing of it until the crowd came rushing out and the ruins started to fall.” he replied as he sat down on a stool and looked up at Kat.

She wrote down his reply and took a moment too long before realising what he said. “Wait you said you saw children. Can you describe them?” she probed.

“Well they all had carried bags or something as they moved away. I assumed that they were up to no good. One of them carried something long and wrapped in cloth…” he mused.

“Like a lute?” Kat asked taking more notes. “Could these children have been gnomes or halflings?” she asked again a spur of thought taking her deeper.

“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. That would make sense. Wait you don’t think that they were the musicians?” he asked a look of shock on his face.

“Hmmm,” she replied as she tapped the feathered end of the quill on her lip. “Thanks for the information Mr Stonecliff,” she began.

“Jayce. Jayce will do.” he smiled back at her.

“Ok, yes. Mr Jayce. If I need to verify anything more where can I find you? To help with the case of course.” she added hurriedly.

“I am staying the Mullberry Inn at the moment. I was hoping to find a place to stay more permanently but I am afraid that Desmodus may end up like Entied so I was thinking about leaving.”

“No don’t!” she snapped. “I mean don’t leave in case we need help identifying people. We will be in touch.” she added as she opened the cell door and he strode out in front of him. “Thanks for your assistance Jayce. I believe we may have a way forward in protecting this city now.”

“No worries Captain Katiana.” he replied as he walked off. It wasn’t until he was out the door and onto the streets that Kat wondered if she had actually given the rakish young man her name.

A charming man, a driven captain and a game of Kat and Mouse at foot this week. We will continue to twist and develop this tale as we move on this week so don’t forget to come back daily to stay up to date. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Desmodus City

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Desmodus City is a grand and steeped in history as the centrepiece of a large kingdom. However when something threatens its safety the city guard, the dark shields, will rush to defend it at all costs. But what threatens them the most this time is something that brings the people of the city joy and comfort – music.

So grab a coffee and let’s dance into tonight’s adventure!

While the city still reels from the disturbing news of a neighbouring city being destroyed overnight the city becomes host to a travelling bard troupe whose music delights and enthrals the general public. But while their appearance delights most of the people of Desmodus the band of bards isn’t keen on following rules.

While the bards bring music to the ruins of a temple at the outskirts of the city the guards become suspicious of the power of this music and the way that the general public of the city react to them.

Desmodus City

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Desmodus ruins – created in Nightcafe.

The guards swarm through the crowd trying to find the bards responsible for breaking the rules of not entering the ruined temple grounds. While the commoners, merchants, mercenaries and a few embarrassed guards dance to the music that is magically enhanced through the broken stone walls surrounding the temple. Rubble litters the ground and as the music thrums through the air small chunks of debris fall amongst the party goers – but the rubble falls to the ground, missing those dancing to the music as the magic resonates from the band.

The music starts to fade and the guards, the Desmodus knights, know that they are too late as the bards disappear from their stone stage. The revellers slowly stop dancing and cheering as the music fades and slowly, and joyously, they march from the temple grounds and follow the directions of the guards. As the guards start to question them they all report the same thing, they were not aware where they were going only that their bodies moved to the music and they felt such contentment that they had not felt in a long time.

However as the last of the attendants of the party left the ruins and only a few guards scouted the ruins chunks of the temple started to shift. Slowly the tall pillars, the platforms and some walls started to give way and the guards had to cease their search as the temple started to collapse onto itself.

By the morning the ruined temple was a pile of rock and debris and not a single wall stood. The stone was brittle and crumbled when touched which concerned the head of the watch. The same report had come in from the investigations of Entied, the neighbouring city, where the ruins of what remained of the city crumbled like dust when touched.

A call went out to the bards to hand themselves in and cease their performances until given approval to do so and failing to do so would be seen as treason. A second call went out to people who could capture the guards, turn them into the authorities and in doing so, they would be generously rewarded by the city guard and the mayor.

Thanks for joining me for another night at my tabletop. This week I plan to grow this into something of a mystery driven adventure with a twist. So don’t forget to come back daily to stay up to date with the adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe