TTRPG

Secrets Of The Spire

thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

This week the inside of the Ice spire reveals more than what was expected and the actual secrets of the Spire. However it’s been a hard road here and potentially the toughest fight is yet to come. So without any more time wasted let’s roll into tonight’s adventure!

Secrets Of The Spire

337WeSeOTSp

Inside the Ice Spire – Created in Nightcafe.

The blood of the Winter Wolves still cooling on the ice outside the party moved towards the spire. An archway that nearly glowed with a blue light was carved into the side of the ice and the party wasn’t quite ready to wait around to see if there were more members to the pack. Despite being tired and cold, the party were pleased to find that inside the spire there was no wind and it even felt a bit warmer than outside.

After a hundred feet or so the hallway they were moving down opened up into a large dome with jagged ice walls. In the centre of the otherwise smooth flat room was a platform made from ice and a statue rose from the middle. The statue looked like it had parts broken from it as cracks in the ice had worn away at the appendages of what it used to be.

But the bulk of the statue appeared to be male, some would consider him attractive. With the damage around his arms, torso and hairline it was impossible to see what he would have looked like and as they drew closer to the statue it looked like a few drops of water would occasionally drip from the ceiling and freeze into the cracks forming on its torso, acting like glue to hold it all together.

“I will have to ask you to stop there and turn away. The power of this tower is not for little folk like you.” a loud masculine voice rolled over them like thunder. “So turn around and flee like the vermin that are drawn to power like you are.” The owner of the voice revealed himself, a large frost giant that had an uncanny resemblance to the statue that Jardi had made offerings to at the top of the Platara Ridge. A giant great axe that thrummed with power rested on the ground in front of him as he sat against the wall, a giant winter wolf lay at his feet and licked his jaws at the party.

“Like I told that bitch Andrasa, I don’t bow to no man or woman. I will continue my sacred duty and watch over this cursed place. So you run along now lest I cut you apart with Fjedrisil and feed you to Platara.” he said calmly as he scratched behind the wolf’s ears.

Thoughts

So this adventures conclusion is the encounter with demi-gods of the Platara ranges. The Party will ultimately decide the outcome whether its a fight or not, but there will be some more important dialogue to come as we perhaps understand a bit more bout the spires purpose, or maybe not. This part of the adventure is not guaranteed to give information out to the party. They have to role play to get what they seek and I am ready for it.

Thanks for visiting tonight as we glimpse the final stage of the Platara ice fields. Don’t forget that we have a few more nights of content this week and this weekend we are looking forward to wrapping up another few Zines. Also as the end of the week is approaching don’t forget to set aside some time for your own tabletop and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Eyes in the ice

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

The party approach the Ice Spire unaware of eyes in the ice. As they march forwards the spire a group of eyes spy an easy meal and something ancient watches the humanoids wander towards the spire of ice. So to uncover a bit more about the lurkers let’s grab a coffee and roll into tonights update!

Eyes in the Ice

337TuEyITIc

Dozens of eyes watched from the frozen cliff above the glacier eager and sparkling with hunger. Saliva dripped from white lips and froze mid air to form jagged sharp pillars that mirrored the spire before them. As the people walked towards the frozen spike the other members of the pack moved forward and began to climb down. The hungry creatures are drawn to hunt around the spire of ice as they had for many generations. But this hunt was different to the others.

Normally they hunt the corrupted and the tainted that were drawn to the shard of ice that rose from the ground. This time they were hunting something different, something warm who’s flavours danced upon their tongue from the air that they inhaled. The leader looked across the pack of winter wolves and it was filled with a sense of duty and belonging. But they weren’t quite winter wolves; they too, like the spire were something more than what they seemed.

The winter wolves found purchase in the steep ice cliff, using their sharp durable claws to carve paw-holds into the ice, rock and snow. As they began to close in on the people they let out their mournful hunting howls. Their prey heard the calls to the hunt too late.

But a darker, more sinister presence began to creep forward on ethereal winds towards the same humanoids. The people were only just now realising they were the prey and were forming battle-ready lines. But despite the adrenaline they felt they also felt something cast its eye upon them, something deeper. From beyond the veil an ancient evil stirred and watched eagerly as the guardians faced off against would be aggressors to their cause. The other guardians in the spire awoke and began to prepare for their sacred duty. The evil had long awaited this moment when the naïve tribes people were not around or had forgotten their ancient oaths.

That mage, Andrasa had discovered the truth of the spire and had attempted to seal the secrets of the spire away so none would be tempted for its power or wealth. But her wisdom was long forgotten and those that had fought with the mage in the battle so long ago were no longer around. Soon the wait would be over but only if the puppets played their part.

Thanks for joining me for a change in pace for the NPCs night. Don’t forget to come back each day this week to follow along and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Ice Spire

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Towering above the The Platara ice fields lies the Ice Spire. This monolith pierces the sky and is considered both sacred and forbidden by the tribespeople that call the glacier and fields of ice home. Not much is known about the Ice Spire only that it holds great significance and great danger. In order to find out about the Ice Spire we best sit back grab a coffee and roll into this weeks adventure!

The Ice Spire

337MoTIcSp

The Ice Spire – Created in Nightcafe

Leaving the glacier was a relief and the snow storm had died down after leaving the cave but what greeted them chilled them more than the winds could. A monolith of ice rose high above them nearly piercing the sky like a frozen spear. The Ice spire was both terrible and beautiful and as they stared more into its frozen form a pulse like energy could be felt.

The source of curiosity from Andrasa’s map held untold promise of what could lie within its chilled walls. The script on the map around the spire itself didn’t reveal anything about its construction, purpose or history but suggested it held great power and importance. Andrasa had studied it, this was clear and from the information that Lucile had given them on not only this place but the well of souls and deep dark also held such power.

Each place was obviously significant and in the shadow of the Ice Spire the party could not but wonder what lay within its frozen walls. With the howls of winter wolves nearby driving home the point that they were far from both civilisation and safety they began to trudge through the glacial walls and passages towards the Ice spire. However, as they progressed forwards something ancient and predatorial watched them eagerly as they moved across the ice sheets. After so long the promise of warmth was close yet not close enough as the sun rose across the glacier causing the light to refract from the spire of ice.

Thanks for joining me tonight for the last week of the adventure centred in Platara. Need I say that you shouldn’t forget to come back each day as we move forward with this adventure. Tomorrow we may have a visitor drop by and introduce themselves to the Party and after that, well you’ll have to find out. Don’t forget to look for the little adventures in every day life and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Tower of Andrasa

thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

Tonight and I have created a zine for this weeks adventure. The Tower of Andrasa. This adventure can be used system agnostic as we explore other RPGs out there other than D&D. So please adjust to what ever 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 currently provides the stat-blocks for creatures in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, The Tower of Andrasa. If you like this format please let me know and I hope you enjoy.

The Tower of Andrasa

334SuTToOAn

Continuing on from the party finding the lost lore of Rastabar they eagerly return to Lucile Bendercliff. But while they think that the loose strings from their encounter on the streets outside of Rastabars Library, a separate interested party was close behind them.

While the airship was readied, the captain readied it for anything he had encountered before. With their trusted navigator already mapping the chart and consulting the map that Lucile was hastily sketching out, the party was nearly ready to go.

But would they get there too late?

The Tower of Andrasa – Created in Nightcafe

PDF adventure – The Tower of Andrasa

the-tower-of-andrasaDownload

Thanks for joining me tonight for another Zine. 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. 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

Glacial Hazards

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

After a relaxing but cold day with the family its safe to say not much was done on creating some overdue Zines. But the weather did inspire some Glacial hazards that may be encountered this week or even the next as the party delve through the glacier and onto the next part of the adventure. So while we warm up with a hot drink, coffee preferably, let’s sit down and roll into tonight’s adventure.

Glacial Hazards

336SaGlHa

You may remember back to last year where I had a series of adventures that took place out in the cold snow. This look at expanding some of the concepts from that adventure from over a year ago which goes to show that the reusability of D&D material is near limitless.

The first few things I want to explore are around the weather. Limited and reduced visibility; partial cover to all creatures and disadvantage on perception checks, Increased exhaustion rate and reduced speed; as exposure to the elements set in, and finally something more prevalent in a maze of walls of ice (such as a glacier), getting lost.

If you want to really spice up this adventure for the party I would consider implementing a snow storm as they go through the glacier, reducing visibility (cant see past 30 feet) and granting disadvantage on perception checks due to the sound and volume of snow. The ground becomes harder to walk on due to the wind tunnels the walls glacial walls produce as well as maybe the roughest one. Every few, maybe 3, roll a constitution saving throw vs 10+Hours exposed to the elements. If they fail they get a level of exhaustion. If they pass then they are fine until the next check. If they take shelter and can stay warm and dry then this will offset the DC increase and perhaps even extend the time between the checks. But once exhausted its hard thing to shake off over night.

The next few things are other ideas that can spice up the adventure.

Breaking Ice

A sudden twang as a crack in the ice forms. The sound of the breaking ice is the only warning before the creature falls into an expanding hole under the ice they were walking on.

DC14 Dexterity saving throw or they fall through the ice. A successful saving throw has them fall prone next to the hole. How deep the hole goes is really up to you. It could be a fall of five or ten feet or it could go indefinitely. How this takes you and the party is up to you and it can be versatile and exciting how it can be used.

Slip Risk

Walking let alone moving at speed on slick, smooth ice is never easy. But when fighting nightmarish cannibal undead it becomes a battle on its own.

The area around this slick part of ice is considered difficult terrain. But it doesn’t hamper the ability to traverse it but merely any creature moving at a normal pace must make a DC12 dexterity saving throw or fall prone. Once prone it takes a creature’s full movement to get back up safely, or if they roll a successful DC14 dexterity saving throw they can get up expending only half their movement.

Extreme Cold

More than just exhausted, the exposure to the elements was chilling to the bone and the party members’ fingers began to go numb and darken as the flesh froze.

Unless the creature is immune or resistant to cold damage, roll a DC12 Con save every time they take a rest or move through weather for more than two hours. If they fail they take 1d6 cold damage and their hit point maximum is reduced by that much. A long rest away from the cold will restore 1d6 hp to their maximum total which can’t exceed their normal total.

Thanks for exploring a frozen layout for this weeks Saturday musings. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for some more D&D content and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage.
The Brazen Wolfe

Frozen Predators

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

The Platara Glacier is home to some hardy fauna, and flora for that matter but a recent incursion of creatures, the Frost Walker, poses a new threat. This week the Party meet the Frost Walker as it prepares to feast on the stolen tribespeople. So let’s sit back and meet this undead menace!

Frozen Predators

336FrFrPr

The Frost walker is a new to the list of frozen predators that stalk the Platara Plains and glacier. These undead resemble gaunt undead with descending jaws. Much like Ghouls and ghasts but these creatures seem to permeate a frost that seeps through armour. Many of their kind have two long arms that end in vicious hooked claws and a secondary set of arms that are for gripping prey as they climb the icy cliffs.

Strong, fast and durable these creatures are excellent stalkers and silent. They grab prey and will drag them to their dens where they can let terror ‘soften the meat’.

Frost Walker – Created in tetra-cube.

Thanks for visiting tonight and sticking with the adventure this week. This weekend will finally be a quiet one at home so let’s see if I can push through a few Zines this weekend. So don’t forget to come back this weekend for more Tabletop Content and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage
The Brazen Wolfe

Platara Glacier

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Tonight’s we get a look at the Platara glacier as well as the encounter for this week. While not as terrifying as a Remorhaz this weeks encounter is still not pleasant and the mood should reflect that. So without talking it up too much let’s sit down, grab a coffee and look at tonight’s map!

Platara Glacier

336ThPlGl

Platara Glacier – created in Nightcafe.

The footprints lead into the glacier itself, in the distance the wind howling through the steep cliffs made from carved ice mixed with distant screams. Or was it the wind that was making it sound like someone in pain or scared?

Following the tracks deeper into the frozen hell scape the party came across a cave, nearly hidden in the endless walls of ice and sediment. The muffled sounds of activity could be heard from within but otherwise it was cold and quiet. That was until the sound of claws on ice from within the dark cave could be heard.

Platara Glacier Wanderer Cave – created in Inkarnate.

Thanks for joining me tonight for this weeks encounter map! Another cave, I know twice in a row, sort of, but this week is a bit different. We have a deeper ice cave, some new creatures and missing villagers to find. All in a days work for a DM! But don’t forget to still come back daily to continue this adventure with me as we explore the Platara plains, the glacier and eventually the spire together. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Echoes From The Glacier

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

As the party rest and feast after what feels like days of hard travel through ice they are interrupted by echoes from the glacier. Before they can react though the tribe leader has an announcement. So without any more reveals let’s roll into tonight’s adventure!

Echoes From The Glacier

336WeEcFTGl

The food that was piled upon the table consisted of meat from animals that lived in the frozen plains. However there were the occasional tough and fibrous vegetable that the tribe informed them grew near the mountain peaks. Goats, snow leopards and even seals were on the menu and everything was heavily salted.

According to the tribe the further north they travelled the land descended towards the sea where food was much more plentiful. However tribal law prevented them from staying there too long lest they consume all the food source. As the party were regaled with tales of a giant sea beast that the tribe had attempted to hunt once the tribal leader, Fenwick, stood suddenly.

The tent fell silent as all faces turned to him and he slowly turned to the east. “I fear,” he began as he closed his eyes and focused more, “I fear that the feast is now over. Something approaches across the ice towards us that threatens the safety of this tribe. Please ensure your belongings are packed and ready to move at a moment’s notice. We leave at dawn unless sooner for none shall rest tonight.” he spoke as he refocused his eyes towards his tribe’s people.

A shrill shriek resounded from outside and several warriors from the tribe rushed out. Following them the Party was greeted by the sight of the warriors searching around a watch tower where a series of foot prints and drag marks lead into the distance. It wasn’t long until the calls for lost loved ones echoed around the camp and as the first flecks of snow started to descend upon the plains the decision had to be made.

Abandon the lost tribesmen or follow the footprints before they were lost to the snow.

Thoughts

So this week is about the journey to the next step of the adventure. That is how do we get to the spire. I believe sometime the first place to start is to have a meaningful hook to propel them forward and the prospect of missing children or family members of a befriended people is a reliable way to get the party motivated.

Thanks for visiting tonight to get another glimpse at where this adventure is going this week. Don’t forget that I have more in store for you this week so make sure you come back daily. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Icewalker Tribe

thebrazenwolfeLeave a comment

Tonight we meet the Icewalker Tribe who live on the Platara icefields before the great glacier. What appears to be just a meeting will quickly shift, but that may be something for tomorrow night. So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s meet the tribe leader!

The Icewalker Tribe

336TuTIcTr

The Icewalker tribe was a collection of small animal-skin and fur huts that surrounded a large communal tent in the middle. As Hisha and Jardi approached, people rushed out to grab the different boxes, bags and sacks from them as they brought them into the tribe’s camp.

People milled about and spoke in a rushed language that included clicks, pops and a few words in common. Soon the party were walking amongst the hunts and word had spread of their arrival, and of their success on the Ridge.

“These outsiders killed the Remorhaz?” one man said as he stared at them in awe as several children begged them to tell stories of their adventures. Hisha greeted an older looking human man as he walked out to greet them all.

“Welcome to The Icewalker Tribes camp. We hear that you have kept our Icespeaker, Jardi, and our Matriarch, Hisha, safe. We thank you for helping strangers and welcome you as heroes. Please come out of the cold and rest your feet.” The man spoke with a warm fatherly tone. “I am Fenwick the elected tribe leader and I both welcome and bless you on behalf of the frost titan.”

Matriarch Hisha Sethcardi

Hisha Sethcardi – Created in Artbreeder

Hisha has never wanted to be more than one of the tribe but her being a Drow has granted her an extremely long life. Her elven nature also blessed her with the ability to not sleep as others and it has thwarted many attempted attacks and raids against her people, the icewalker tribe.

Her adopted daughter Jardi was declared Icespeaker, a sacred title amongst the people of the Platara ice plains and as such she was granted the title Matriarch. Despite never wanting to be a leader she is a natural born leader and people listen to her above everyone, everyone except Fenwick that is.

Tribe Leader Fenwick Helder

Fenwick Helder – Created in Artbreeder

Fenwick was not born from the tribe but was chosen by them. A hunter from a distant land he came to the Platara plains to hunt the beasts of the land, however he discovered something much more. A Giant winter wolf. Their battle was legendary and as the howls and blasts of ice met with adamantine spear the people of the tribes flocked towards the commotion as no one had stood up against the giant wolf.

The Giant Winter wolf was a minor deity of the plains, an ancient beast and to challenge it was to challenge the plains themselves. However Fenwick was strongly determined to survive. For a full night and day the beast and the hunter fought and eventually the beast disarmed the man. However instead of devouring the attacker the great beast imbued Fenwick with a blessing of the ice. Fenwick became a legend and was adopted into the Icewalker tribe as their leader, the favoured tribe of the great wolf.

Content with his place and of the wisdom imbued into him from the wolf, and the tribe, he acts as a conduit between the tribe and the ice itself. Shifting as quickly as an avalanche to avoid threats to the tribe and settling like snow in the good times.

Thanks for joining me for another night of NPCs. Don’t forget to come back each day this week to follow along and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Platara Ice Fields

thebrazenwolfe1 Comment

The Platara ice fields covers the entirety of the land beyond the Platara Ranges. These near-inhospitable lands hold a sparse variety of species adapted to the cold and its these creatures that the tribes of the ice fields survive from. These hardy people are a resilient and strong people, but they don’t dare enter the glacier where the ice spire can be found. But enough about that, lets sit back grab a coffee and roll into this weeks adventure!

Platara Ice Fields

336MoPlIcFi

Platara Ice Fields – Created in Nightcafe

The party had never been more pleased to see the end of the now rickety pulley system that brought them to the top of the ridge. Before them lay endless rocky mountains, fields of ice and in the distance, a glacier with a spire of ice jutting from it. Without any ceremony or delay the two tribe women that were with them started talking as they packed up their belongings, hauled them over their shoulder and headed towards a stone statue nearby.

The statue was of a large bearded man, a fur cloak covered his shoulders and he was depicted holding a giant axe. Placing a small parcel taken from their bags and placing it at the statue’s feet they began to head off towards the glacier. “If you want, you can come visit the tribe. They will be excited to meet someone who has killed a Remorhaz.” the younger Drow, Jardi, offered with a smile. Hisha smiled but rolled her eyes.

Following the two Drow women would take them in the direction of the spire for now, and the potential promise of a warm meal was nearly too promising. Without asking the question Hisha called back “If we hurry we can travel through the night and be there at Dawn. Or, we can camp out on the ice for the night and get there later. Either way it’s not a safe journey. But if you stay with us and listen we should get there in one piece.”

Thanks for joining me tonight for the second week of the adventure on the ice. So don’t forget to come back each day as we move forward with this adventure, and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe