TTRPG

The Bramblewall Races

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Tonight and I have created a zine, the fourth of the new year. It’s a little late as I wasn’t well for a few weekends there but I hope that you are finding the now normal format of this Zine useful. So without any further waiting I present, The Bramblewall Races, in the same format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs.

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 Bramblewall Races, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

The Bramblewall Races

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Bramblewall was a village that survived in the treetops of the Redfall forest. The tall trees towered above the landscape and the people, the many villages that called this forest home, had defended their way of life for hundreds of years. 

The party could see the forest from half a day’s travel away and even then the sheer size of the trees was something that simply could not be prepared for. Towering above the spires, towers and keeps of many (if not most) of the cities they had visited, the trees here were something entirely different. 

The village of Bramblewall itself was towards the west of the Redfall forest and the job was dependent on the elders of the village giving them the approval to continue. If they were not successful in getting the job at least the Bramblwall races were there. 

A face paced treetop race where the contestants rode upon flying mounts, usually giant birds, to be crowned the Bramblewall champion. This event itself would be fascinating to see let alone the prospect of the market.

The road to Bramblewall was easy to find as merchants, caravans and wagons of all shapes and sizes were heading along the road on their way to riches and success. The races brought people but the merchants brought the other things the visitors needed. Foods, goods, wares and even items targeting adventurers and mercenaries. The Bramblewall race markets were nearly an event in itself. 

As theAs the party walk through the market and ask for directions they are pointed towards a hut at the base of a tree. The hut matched the ones that littered the treetops and branches hundreds of feet in the canopy with the key difference being its location on the floor of the forest.

Bramblewall Forest – Created in Nightcafe.

PDF adventure – The Bramblewall Races

the-bramblewall-racesDownload

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

2024 Campaign Adventure 9

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

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

2024 Campaign Adventure 9

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Plot:

Dawn at Snowtown

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Avalanche

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Main NPCs:

Daryll Sootbrow
Penny Cartright
Armaeth
Groku

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

The Famished

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Welcome to another Friday night where tonight we have something a bit different when the party prepare to face off against the famished horde and the sated one. A bit confusing, but tonight we can see just what I mean by just two separate encounters.

So let’s not wait any longer, grab a coffee to sate that thirst, sit down and roll into tonight’s adventure!

The Famished

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The Famished – Created in Tetra-cube.

As the party stepped towards the shell of the Fatty Pheasant a faint pulse of energy could be felt. Sensing where it came from, the origin of the fire was found in the shape of a humanoid where the fire did not scorch the stones. The magical presence was strong and unholy here and the longer they stayed the more they began to detect. Faint motes of magical energy hung about the charred ruins of the building, littered through the wreckage that was piled out front ready to be cleaned up.

The party moved to investigate these points of magical energy and soon after the source was revealed. Nearly translucent flame-like creatures seemed to float nearly invisible amongst the wreckage grabbing bits of burnt something before consuming them. Each time they consumed a scrap they moved more sluggishly before moving more frantically as they searched for the next morsel. As the party got close enough though the creatures seemed to look at them, moving slowly towards them and the humans in the street as if drawn to them. The creatures slowly increased as more and more appeared, slowly turning into a swarm-like group as they moved towards the party. Hunger now their evident driver and the party their next meal.

The Sated one – created in Tetra-cube.

As the last of the hungry motes fled, injured and dying, they fled through the skies like an invisible wind current was blowing them in a single direction. Giving chase as the only lead in what had caused the fire the party arrived at the church to Ilmater. The creatures were fleeing down towards the back of the church. Rounding the corner the only thing they could see here was a shrine out back where a lone priest stood in prayer.

As the party approached they could feel a strong presence as they approached the shrine. The man was deep in prayer to Ilmater praying for strength and to spare those who are injured, in pain or dying. As the party approached something touched at the edge of their conscious. An old, hungry presence could be felt near by but there was no visible threat and even the creatures from before had disappeared. Turning around the man smiled. “Welcome, how can the church of Ilmater help you today?”

And that is where we leave it tonight. The cusp of the reveal of this weeks antagonist and leaving something to the imagination. Don’t forget to come back this weekend as we plan to get some Zines out and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Investigating the Blaze

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The party having been enlisted to help with investigating the blaze show up at one of the taverns, the Fatty Pheasant as it was said that it was the first one to burn. Furthermore it. unlike the other burnt taverns had witnesses – well reportedly one significant one. The second stop here is an important place for a few reasons.

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

Investigating the Blaze

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The Fatty Pheasant – Created in Inkarnate.

With some maps there is a clear story to be told and with what we can produce and a clear outcome. With this there are two things. There is the residual magic from the fire from the person (or thing) that started the blaze. There is also an area on the path out front the ruined building where there isn’t scorched fire.

There is an opportunity to have another encounter with the party – something other than investigating the scene. More will be revealed tomorrow but the source of the fire isn’t alone in its hunt for satiation.

The map is, like all of mine, made from different texture brushes overlapping to create the feel that I am going with. Being a well established town having stone roads makes sense and with the heat of the blaze, the foot traffic and clean up crews have moved most of the debris out. This causes dirt and soot to be moved, most of the burnt tables, chairs and such are piled up out the front between it and another building.

A fountain / water trough sits in the middle of the road for horses and other accesses to water. The wooden tavern lays in ruins, a few overlapping layers here with some shadow and soot painted over the normally rich-wood. Over all it makes for a pretty convincing scene.

Thanks for joining me for another map night where we have a bit of skill checks and an encounter. Don’t forget to come back the last few days to follow along with what I have planned and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Unholy Arson

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Now with the past few days of content you can only imagine where we are going with this unholy arson. The source of the blaze revealed tonight but not the why, or actually even the who. There is more than one way to raise a building to the ground we prove in this weeks adventure that fire is by far the favourite option for arsonists.

Before it really gets too hot in here let’s grab a coffee, iced if you prefer, sit down and roll into tonight’s adventure.

Unholy Arson

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The Fatty Pheasant – Created in Nightcafe.

Although the fire at the Gilded Lily had been a mystery without witnesses or cause, the newest fire that lapped at the wooden beams of the Fatty Pheasant was different. As they pulled people from the burning building the guards and fire wardens asked who did it. Many did not respond in their panic and talked nonsense. But a few mentioned watching the bouncer, Gareth, approach a passer by before the front of the tavern, and Gareth, was enveloped in flames.

It was not hard to find Gareth, a mixture of burnt skin, flesh and leather amongst the injured. He was badly injured but he was alive, somehow. The guard hurried him off and quickly sent out a request for healers, for trackers and for anyone who could assist them in their investigation. The burly form of Gareth Fletcher was carried by no less than six guards as they protected the burnt man from any and all dangers. As the only one who may be able to identify who or what caused this they needed to protect him with their lives.

As they hurried him away on a large stretcher, a middle-aged man watched from a nearby building. His hands trembling from the realisation of what he had done in the moments of clarity and freedom of his own mind and actions. But no quicker than the clarity had washed over him it disappeared. A cold slimy feeling moving along his spine and worming its way through his brain which froze the memory of the fire, the heat and the look of pain and disbelief on the minds of the man out front of the Tavern.

Pulling up his hood he walked from the shadow, limping slightly from an old wound as he moved towards the bridge that took him over the river to where the next target was. One that was not yet full of panic and fear to taint the taste of the feast that awaited him. Despite the rational man trying to claw back control of his own mind and body eventually the chilling pressure was too much and it wasn’t until the next morning that he woke up. His hands covered in soot, blisters and blood as he looked around at what the morning brought him. 

Even in his dazed state he could not remember what had happened from the night before. He remembers taverns and fire, that would explain the heat in his hands, the blisters and soot. But he could not tell where he had come from, how he had got here and how he had escaped the fire. Looking over the city of Hawks Creek he noticed three plumes of smoke. “Not again,” he muttered, trembling. “I hope no one was hurt. Someone’s got to stop this arsonist.” he said as he stood up on tired limbs and moved to the nearest plume of smoke to help search for survivors, the dead and to clear the wreckage. After all, as a cleric of Ilmater the pain in his palms was nothing to the suffering to what those poor unfortunates were going through.

A mid-point twist with the culprit revealed as… not really being the culprit, maybe? As something sinister stalks the taverns, inns and eateries of Hawks Creek there is a call for aid to help stop the arson. But we will cover a bit more of that tomorrow and the last days of this week. So don’t forget to come back each day and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Bartenders and Bouncers

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Keeping with tradition of long hair and tattoos the bartenders and bounces of Hawks Creek, and the various inns and taverns within, are of a variety of appearances, backgrounds and ethnicities. Tonight we meet Skarldeg, Tildra and Gateth from a few Inns as the party are drawn deeper into the issues of Hawks Creek.

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

Bartenders and Bouncers

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Skarldeg Bronzetooth – Created in Artbreeder.

As the frothy ale spilled into the tankard he grabbed some spices from a nearby small pouch. Sprinkling in the ‘additionals’ Skarldeg passed the ale over to the patron who smiled broadly and took it over to his table. The Rusty Pitchfork wasn’t as fancy as some of the other establishments in Hawks Creek but the half-potion-half-ale’s that he served made it a regular for many locals and visitors to the city.

Noticing Tilly sitting by herself at the window and gazing sadly out in the direction of her home, Skarldeg sighed. Now Skarldeg was by no means the best business man but he was also far from being the worst. Grabbing a wine, the only one he had – a fine vintage by his own taste buds but he was not known for being a wine aficionado – he looked over the various pouches he had until he found what he was looking for. The powder from the root of a certain lily, one that helped ease the mind and its tension. Sprinkling in just the right amount he placed it on a wooden board and turned around to talk to his cooks through an opening in the wall. 

Moments later he was grabbing food from the kitchen, and his cooks quickly bustled to meet his requests. Satisfied about the combination of meats and vegetables he then carried over the plate of twice cooked mutton, mushrooms and creamed root vegetables to Tilly.

Tildra Hillcrest – created in Artbreeder.

Tilly stared out the window in the direction of the still smouldering corpse of her dream. The fires of the Gilded Lily had been put out but the Inn and Tavern was not saveable. She had worked for over a decade to get it to where it was, a place of fine food and finer wines. “May I interrupt?” Skarldeg spoke from close by – but not to close. Tilly wiped away a tear that had snuck out unbidden and smiled up at her rival. Skarldeg wasn’t just a businessman he was also a trained apothecary. Blending his love of drinking and fine foods with his skilled knowledge of plants and minerals.

“You must be wondering what I am doing here still, huh? The famous Tildra Hillcrest taking pity from the mighty warrior and medicine man turned tavern-keep.” Tilly said with a smile. She knew that Skarldeg had a kind soul and she noticed the steaming food and goblet of wine. “You’re not trying to finish a job are you and fully take out the competition are you?” her question was met with a boom of laughter from the half-orc.

“Alas I am not smart enough for that. Just the daily special and my Lily-wine for someone who is down on their luck. I thought you may want something to temper the mind tonight is all.” he grinned as he slid into the chair opposite her. “Besides, it’s the ale that’s poisoned, not the wine” he said as he leaned back. Several patrons nearby spat out their drinks and looked mortified at the half-orc before he laughed again. Skarldeg had a rough beginning in the city but his personality and that booming laugh had won over the locals. Several at which laughed at his joke can toasted the burly tavern keep.

“Please. Enjoy. It’s not as good as what you serve but it will keep you fighting fit and help. But it’s better when its warm.” he urged her as he grabbed a mushroom from her plate and chewed on it thoughtfully. Tilly sat and ate the meal which was twice the serving size of her place, well what was her place. As she sipped on the wine she had to fight to hide the look on her face as the tang of the red wine slapped her like a physical blow. But the underlying botanical flavour; the lily powder, gave it a sweetness that she could feel soothed and calmed her. “You’re right. It’s not the same as what I used to serve. But it’s not bad, Skarl.” she said as the half-orc reached behind him to another table and grabbed a loaf of bread from a vacated plate.

“But its better than what the Gilded Lily will make from here on out.” she added with a sigh and returned her gaze to the window.

“Tilly, you remember when I first created the Rusted Pitchfork? That was the third business that I had tried to create here. The first was a store produce – but the markets were too fierce of competition. I then turned it into an alchemical supply shop, but after the sabotage and blackmail when I refused to reveal what was in my healing potions I had to close shop. But before I created this I could be found under every table at closing call, passed out. It took me a while to get to where I am now and I had some crushing lows.” he said, but as she looked at him funnily he winced. “Look, I am not good at this. I don’t mean to gloat but what I am trying to say is that you’ll be right. You’ll rebuild and bounce back. And the person who burnt down your place better hope the guard finds them before I do.” he said with a deadly serious look. “Stay as long as you please. I always have room for friends down on their luck.”

Gareth Fletcher – created in Nightcafe.

Outside of the Fatty Pheasant Gareth stood in the chilling evening. As the hired guard for the establishment he was paid well to keep an alert eye on the patrons, both current, prior and potential. As he scanned the street and smiled at those who walked towards the door he took note of any weapons, concealed or apparent and reminded them of the policy of the tavern – weapons at the front door.

Most if not all smiled and did as requested but the occasional noble born scoffed and refused before being barred from entry. They all complied in the end. Gareth was nearly seven foot with muscles to spare and a stare that had stopped hungry wolves in their tracks when he had been a guard for the barges.

Looking over at one of the windows he noticed a human walking slowly toward the window before stopping a few feet away. The bustle within and at the front door made him snap back to the task at hand as he was summoned to ask a noblewoman; it was always a noble, to leave quietly. After escorting her and her henchmen to the door, giving them their weapons before giving them a kinder farewell than what they deserved, he noticed the owner, Karl, was pointing at the figure near the windows.

Sighing he approached the cloaked human. “S’cuse me, you can’t just stare in the window. If you want to eat or drink, come to the door and we’ll find space.” he said as she walked closer. The human didn’t respond and just continued to stare. “Hey buddy, I said…” he began to repeat as he grabbed the man’s shoulder and turned him to look at him. Gareth was greeted by pale white eyes before the flash of magic illuminated the wooden building, his dark leather armour and the man’s lifeless face.

Now don’t worry about Gareth – he is sturdier than a minotaur. But this week we have some absolute cracker NPCs to meet and work with in working out what is happening in Hawks Creek. But we will be continuing the adventure each day this week, so don’t forget to come back daily as we expand the content of this adventure. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Hawks Creeks Finest

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Welcome to yet another week at my tabletop where we are passing through a little city and experiencing the Hawks Creek’s Finest Inn’s. While not directly inspired by certain TV shows showcasing the best places to eat, drink and stay at for the little crossover city of Hawks Creek the many inns and taverns boast a wide selection of food and rooms to rent. However, this isn’t a happy montage of eating, drinking and sleeping – oh no..

So to roll into another action packed adventure let’s grab a coffee, sit down and explore tonight’s adventure!

Boasting dozens of inns, taverns and mead halls the city of Hawks Creek is known as one of the best cities to stop over in on your travels. With each inn or tavern boasting a variety of local foods and drinks and a variety of sleeping quarters the city has really been put on the map.

Although this fame doesn’t come without its own challenges and after a few nightmarish nights the party are left questioned and questioning what ever drew them to this city in the first place. But they can not be to blame as there is a darker power at play here, one that not even the city guard could be prepared for.

But hope is not lost as the city caters for all manner of guests. Merchants and their caravan of goods, nobility and their guards and adventurers are drawn to the city on the promise of a great feed and a comfortable bed. The only problem with all this foot traffic is locating the source of crime is an impossible task.

The Hawks Creeks Finest

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The Gilded Lily – Created in Nightcafe.

The party had spent several weeks travelling the roads and wilderness on various odd-jobs and quests. Sleeping under the stars is something many in the profession cherish and actively seek out but after a week of unseasonably wet and rough weather the city of Hawks Creek is a welcome sight to behold. Sitting next to a creek, well river, that is fed from a melting glacier the water is crisp, clean and delicious with many people using its fine waters to craft beer and other alcohol.

The now extinct volcano has resulted in fields that are fertile, lush and provide many riches within its lava tubes for those who dare to seek riches deeper in the mountain. However the true riches lie in the produce and animals that call this land home, or are cultivated by the agricultural people of the city. And whatever they can’t grow or catch themselves is also sources from this river.

Hawks river connects with the sea and is deep enough to allow barges to bring produce not normally found in these lands up to the city. This has resulted in a paradise of mercantile and food which attracts people from all across the land to visit and stay a few days. Due to this popularity the Inns and eating and drinking establishments of the city are so numerous that the city nearly survives alone by the tourism that their food, alcohol and trade brings them.

However, while the party was greeted warmly; like old friends really, and recommended they stay at the Gilded Lily they are met with a blackened husk of a building. The city is littered with gawkers and people confused and shocked at the state of the finest inn in the city. The party overheard that only a single life was lost, an old gnome who passed out from drinking too much lily-wine, but the cause was yet to be found. With no cause, no witnesses (who weren’t drunk on the fine libations of the establishment) and no suspect the guards were left to investigate the fire and draw up nothing.

After finding another inn, the Hopping Hawk, they quickly found a room and were greeted by some of the best food and drink that they had yet to taste. Yet the patrons of the tavern still spoke of the Gilded Lily. Some say that it was a disgruntled employee who had finally had enough and set the kitchen ablaze. Others pondered that there was a rival Inn or Tavern who wanted to clip the wings of the tavern and watch it fall into the flames. And others wondered if it was the rumoured City Drunk, a dwarf so vile and ill-mannered that he had set the blaze himself after being denied entry.

All stories were compelling but none were favoured above others and many hushed arguments and bets were made about the cause of the blaze, and if they would see it happen again.

Alright a fun one this week! Less of a murder mystery and more of a – well you’ll have to see kind of adventure this week certainly starts in the pan and dangling next to the fire. While we have many ways and options to progress this adventure along it’s a great opportunity for me to look at a favourite approach of mine. “All roads link to Rome.” If you’re curious about what this is I can promise that if you search for it you will find it here on the blog.

But don’t dally too long as we are planning another busy week. So don’t forget to come back each day this week as we continue to expand upon this adventure. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Kobold Lairs

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Tonight was meant to be two Zines but they are taking much longer and requiring more than I had hoped. So tonight I will touch on Kobold Lairs, what I include in them, how I use them and what can be expected from these low level humanoids.

So grab a coffee, sit back and let’s look at Kobolds!

Kobold Lairs

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The walls of the cavern passageways are crudely chiselled away, not neatly dug like a dwarf’s halls or other humanoids races. The passage floor was rough and uneven and at points the cut rock and dirt was sharp enough to slice through boot or pierce the skin. Not a problem for the scaled foot of a kobold but for humans, elves and other surface dwelling races it was a hazardous process.

The trek was not without other hazards though. Traps were laid out at an infuriatingly random nature where the trap itself was decided by rolling the dice. Pit fall traps littered the halls but not in a way where you couldn’t avoid them if you knew what to look for. Ceilings with trapdoors would randomly open with scorpions, spiders or snakes falling out of them and unto the people underneath, dart or arrow traps would shoot forth from what appeared to be normal cracks in the wall. But these were the easy ones, the worst where the rooms or pits with creatures within. Slimes, gelatinous cubes, or even a giant ant. Many different traps awaited those who sought out the kobolds lair.

But after he traps died down, and more random ones were found, the smell of the nest would waft from the passage. A mixture of dog and musky-reptilian would hit the adventurers exploring the cave and the sound of yipping and chattering in draconic could be heard. But the closer you get to the nest the more likely you are to be ambushed. Not just clever with concealing traps the Kobolds are clever with concealing themselves. Hidden ledges enable a lookout to watch for intruders so they can drop down onto creatures, or humanoids who invade.

Not strong in single numbers the Kobolds are quick to sound the alarm to warn the others and to seek aid. Although they appear cowardly they are distant half-cousins of dragons and so their cunning should not be ignored. The first thing with the kobolds lair defences is the traps, then its its guards. But these guards are not like the guards for a city, oh no. These have the keys to the cages that release captured beasts that have been teased and starved so they are hungry enough to attack just about anything.

These animals are generally medium or large and range from wolves and bears to giant frogs and giant insects; such as centipedes and scorpions. These creatures double as a source of food when time gets rough but they are never far from these animals when they want to get more.

The kobolds sleep in communal piles, nests if you will. These enable them to stay warm and conserve energy. It also makes them difficult to sneak up on take take out one by one. Having said that they are a fantastic target for an area of affect spell that would incinerate, enhance or enthral several of them at once. While not true dragons, or members of the family at all, they do have a fondness for gold and treasure. This may be due to their anticipation of a giving it as a bargaining chip to stronger humanoids (or a dragon) to spare their lives or, as payment for protection from something bigger with more teeth, scales and wings.

What ever the situation with these little creatures the kobold is a worthy adversary, cunning and tricky while being smart enough to know when they can not win but frightened enough to fight frantically in the hope of saving their own skin by luck.

Thanks for visiting tonight. A small update tonight one one of my favourite low-level encounters and a creature that doesn’t get enough love. The kobold should be in every Dungeon masters bestiary and should frequent many encounters of different levels. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the zines coming and for the new adventure starting next week! So see you then and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Beyond the Yipping

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Tonight we look beyond the yipping and maddening chatter of the kobolds in their cave-lair and to what lies beyond. But tonight we will have a look at just a glimpse of what may wait for some of our adventurers as we continue and endeavour to have multi-level Zines.

So while we wait for tomorrows update let’s sit back with a coffee and roll into tonight’s content.

Beyond the Yipping

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The yipping, yelps and half-roars from the kobolds caused the cave and cavern to reverberate with a constant Din. The smell and sounds of caged, dying and dead animals mixed with the fresh blood from kobolds and the Avermeet guard alike. But the kobolds were not perturbed and threw themselves at the party in an uncharacteristic aggressive manner. But beyond the yipping, stabbing and snarling there was something more behind the eyes of the humanoids.

A fear. A deep fear of the consequence if they did not stop the invasion of the adventurers and guard. As the last of the kobold guards entered the cavern two of them began to chop at a pillar that was supporting the roof of the passage they came out. Beyond the yipping and clash of metal and spells there was a distant, softer sound. The musk of fear and desperation was heavy and the madness in the eyes of the kobolds pushed them to desperate acts.

Rushing over to the cages they let out the most vicious of creatures. This did not end well for the kobolds though as they turned upon their capturers and tormentors. Clawing, biting, slashing and stinging kobold and adventurer alike. But still the kobolds moved from cage to cage and freed creatures as they retreated towards the passage leading from the chamber.

A move like this could be seen as two things, a parent protecting their offspring or – a servant protecting their king. What ever the answer was beyond the attacking kobolds and vicious animals lay the answer, in the passageway from the cavern and into what ever truth lay beyond the yipping.

Thanks for visiting tonight and for sharing a glimpse at, really, the two paths the adventure takes. Being set up for a scale of levels this adventure could finish with the kobolds, or could finish with something worse. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow as we look at what lays in wait for us and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Poachers Revealed

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Tonight we look at the poachers revealed as… Kobolds. Yes the strange reptilian folk that worship dragons are expert trap makers and hunters of critters. These make the perfect tunnel dwelling folk for our adventure this week where they hunt the animals within the forest for… something that will be revealed in the final Zine.

So instead of reading about it here let’s grab a coffee, sit down and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Poachers Revealed

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Stat-blocks created in Tetra-cube

The first signs of trouble were the skittering sounds of legs hitting the floor of the cave. Scorpions rushed out with various spikes and wooden shields strapped onto their pincers as they charged towards the party. The claws darted forward trying to grab the prey that entered their burrow and the sting waved dangerously above its body waiting for the right moment to lash out. This was just the first encounter with animals that would have been taken from the Avermeet as giant frogs jumped up from pit’s along the path in an attempt to swallow the adventurers whole.

As the cave went on more animals were found, some in various states of being butchered and some left roaming the caves like guards. Giant spiders crawling down from the ceilings and even a trapdoor that released giant wasps were encountered as the party explored the cave system. Eventually the animals died down as the once frequent passages to the surface became rarer and they started to see more familiar traps. Spike pits, swinging blades and even a snare that rose into the roof where, you guessed it, more spikes awaited the hapless fool who triggered the trap.

But the signs of life changed as they went further and deeper. Eventually tools of the trade, spears, knives, ropes, snares and even cages were found and the form of a lone kobold was spotted further up ahead watching the passage as if on guard.

Kobold – created in Tetra-cube.
Kobold Drakesworn – created in Tetra-cube

Although a single guard could be seen the sound of dozens more of the diminutive folk could be heard beyond in a larger chamber. The flickering of light and the smell of roasting meat could be heard from further down the passage and something more. A sharp musk hang around here like the kobolds had been marking their territory – or something worse had been.

Thanks for joining me tonight we we revealed the kobolds and their pets. Kobolds are great little creatures that I really enjoy throwing at the party as despite their comic relief in the right hand, and situation they are just as deadly as a roving band of orcs. But don’t think that these are all that awaits us, oh no. So to ensure you don’t miss out on this Zine don’t forget to come back the last two days this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe