writing

30 Minute Writing Challenge – Hard edition

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Tonight, while heavily preoccupied with the family as well as Monster Hunter Wilds, I wanted to take it slower but, instead, I chose to work on the 30 Minute Writing Challenge – Hard edition. Now that’s not a great title but hear me out.

These challenges usually involve a random prompt, song, scene or piece of inspiration (such as art in this case) which I use to fuel my adventure. Tonight however AI did AI things and gave me something way off topic. However, I can rise to this challenge and see what I can work out.

Now with all these challenges I have 30 minutes to create a plot, a convincing NPC, a turn or twist and lastly some form of climax to the adventure. This week is a very different AI art that will, hopefully, inspire me to write something useful in 30 minutes.

Some caveats:

  • I can only write past 30 minutes to correct grammatical or spelling errors – I’m only human
  • I am not aloud to write content past 30 minutes, or the challenge is failed
  • I need to incorporate the random inspiration; this week is a weird image
  • That’s it… pretty simple

Time Start: 9:11pm AEDT
Time Finish: 9:39pm AEDT.

So sit back, grab some popcorn and wait to see me fall on my face in tonight’s 30 minute writing challenge!.

30 Minute Writing Challenge – Hard edition

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Co-pilots thought of what a ‘group of adventurers in life or death situation’ would look like…

The party had not been through the Kace jungle before and they found the dense vegetation, weird fauna and flora more than off putting. This jungle had not been touched by humans from the outside world before, to their knowledge, and the wildlife was evident of this.

The prey animals were not fearful of the people walking through and several striped mammals chewed on some fermenting beans as they past by. Their weird jaws seemed to bisect their heads completely enabling them to scoop great sloughs of rotting bean bods into their mouths before cracking it open with large tusk like molars.

However it quickly became apparent that their employer, the Scholar simply named ‘Moth’ was not cut out for traveling through the jungle. ‘Dearest friends,’ he wheezed, ‘can we have that break now?’ he pleaded. The party had agreed to rest at midday after a few hours of travel and when the sun would be at its hottest. However, Moth was struggling to keep up with a few more hours to go. The nagging and pleading had increased over the last hour and the deeper in the jungle they went the harder it would be to avoid larger predators with the noise that the man made.

Reluctantly they agreed to have a short break, to let the scholar rest up and to give their cartographer enough time to update the map. The break however did not see Moth slow down in his speech or questions. ‘You lot came with high expectations I must let you know. And so far you are exceeding them. “Ruthless, efficient and able to get the job done” that’s what they said you were and look at how far we have come.’ he paused to marvel at the jungle around them. ‘To think I am the first known scholar to set foot inside this forest to study and begin to map it out. Fascinating stuff really. If we keep on this course we will reach the mountains we were able to see from outside the forest looking inwards…’ he continued.

The party were still on high alert despite the constant distraction and a good thing they were. ‘The colours on the plumage were just daz…’ Moth began before a gloved covered hand pressed over his mouth. ‘Trouble’ is all that was said as they all prepared for what was to come.

The fight was quick and brutal with large feline like predators with an extra set of legs had lunged from the brush. Despite being large and powerful it was no match for the party who dispatched it swiftly and cleanly – much to Moth’s delight. As they were assisting the scholar in turning the beast over onto its side they notice that it had a large painted handprint on its shoulder. A marking of a clan no doubt.

‘If there are clans nearby, maybe they can help our next part of the journey.’ Moth offered to the group. However, with a sinking feeling in the party realised that either they had either just killed the tribes lost hunting beast or, they were being hunted with the beast being the first to appear.

The signal to continue received loud and clear the party packed up after this short break and left the dead animal behind. As they moved through the forest after that incident they looked for traces of the clans folk nearby but whether a good or ill omen they were unable to find any sign either way.

Deeper they went, making for the mountains and finally they found a clue of what they were dealing with. Although it was not what they were hoping for. Skeletons of people were tied to trees by their ankles and suspended above the ground. A large spear plunged into the wood beyond which would have effectively pinned the victims to the bark.

For the first time since they left the city of Grenor they had quiet from Moth who looked at the symbolic display with open horror. ‘I think we’ve had quite enough of this forest now. Much more of the research can be done from inside the academy. ‘ He said trough rapid breathes.

Yet, it was too late for them to leave. The party watched as half a dozen warriors and their large cat like beasts all arrived as if on queue. Surrounded the party waited until a smaller man, with a face filled with hurt and rage approached them, speaking in broken common language.

‘You are trespassing on Honuki lands. You must leave now after paying tribute or join the wall of warning where we put the rest of those who defile our land.’ he said as he gestured at the tied and impaled skeletons on the trees.

‘However,’ he added with a renewed look of hurt. ‘You took one of our tribe from us, so we demand you leave one behind. Pick or we will take all.’

Thanks for reading tonight’s 30 minute adventure. Despite the bright and cheerful image I was able to find something that could be drawn out into the adventure above. Don’t forget that tomorrow night we wrap up this weeks adventure with a Zine and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Ned Tafelo

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The aid to Lord and Lady Straken, Ned Tafelo, is an ambitious and clever man. Able to make friends easily with his knowledge and the tricks he has learned over a number of years practicing magic in the court. However, there is a point where ones ambitions overgrows their station and a hunger sets in for more than what they were entitled to.

So get your anti-fey charms out for we will be needing them in tonight’s encounter!

Ned Tafelo

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The party watched the recognition of what had happened appear on the face of Lady Straken as her daughter sobbed into the arms of her husband, who looked deridingly different to normal. ‘Don,’ he voice reached out questioning as his eyes rose to meet hers, the faintest glimmer of recognition in his eyes. ‘Is that really you my husband?’ she asked as her tears came unbidden to her eyes.

‘It’s him mother, come over here, you must not be able to see clearly from across the room. It truly is father.’ Kendral urged. As Lady Straken stood from her seat the family advisor, Ned Tafelo, stood and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

‘My lady, that can not be our Don. He looks to wild. This is surely a poor attempt to claim the reward that I put out for any information that would lead to his return.’ Ned slid a glance at the men who lined the walls of the hall, those who had failed him.

Ned Tafelo – Created in Tetra-cube.

‘He lies mother. These people, these adventurers told me that they had questioned Ned’s men and that they were caught destroying the missing person posters I had been putting out. They told me you had ordered my return to the house where it was not the case and they kept me confined to my room until they freed me with father with them. He claims to have no memory of us, just of the nightmares that he gets when he tries to remember. A curse they believe it to be, one that came from our advisor, Ned.’ she declared pointing towards the man.

Ned practically snarled. ‘Guards, throw these would be assassins out. Protect Lady Straken as Kendral has shown her true colours as a snake that wishes harm on the family and its business. I will not have what I…’ he paused realising his mistake before trying to quickly cover it up. ‘What this family has created for some knave that these swindlers wish to use against the family. Seize them dead or alive!’

Thug – Created in tetra-cube.

As the men rushed forward with swords drawn the look of horror in Lady Straken’s eyes was all encompassing until, Ned uttered some words and a arcane symbol appeared before her eyes. She stared blankly ahead before bursting into tears. ‘My own daughter. She has admitted to murdering her father and plotting to kill me next.!’ she cried out.

As the spell took affect over Lady Straken though something changed in Joe. ‘Susanna!’ he cried out as he ripped off his shirt, roaring in terror and determination. ‘I am well, Ned has put a curse on me, a phantasm that has hunted and haunted me. This cursed tunic, this tunic of torment has had me in its grips for too long but I cast it aside! Guards to me!’ he bellowed as doors opened and house guards entered looking confused, and relieved, as they charged to meet Neds men in the hall.

The old memory wipe trick. When used with a cursed shirt that strips memory and a near-permanent phantasm that haunts the target, its a very tricky thing to unravel. Thanks for joining me for another night but don’t forget that the week is not over yet. So make sure you don’t forget to come back the last two days of the week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Cold Cuckooed

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Tonight we get to the grim discovery of this adventure where the man known as Joe Smith was Cold Cuckooed. What does that mean? Well we’ll get to that in this adventure but let’s get ready to set that scene.

So put on some quiet shoes as we sneak up on tonight’s adventure!

Cold Cuckooed

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Kendral Straken – Created in WordPress!?

The party had found them again. The two individuals who had been seen ripping images down of Joe had been spotted again and this time they weren’t getting away. As they strode forward through the crowd the party stopped as they started to call out to a girl standing in front of another notice board.

‘Mistress Straken,’ one of them began as they walked towards the young woman. ‘We finally found you. Your mother asked us to come and find you to make sure that you were safe. With your father missing it is not wise for you to be without escort lest someone really did kidnap your father.’ the man continued.

‘Ah Kesper,’ she replied, the look of annoyance on her face. ‘I had to put out the posters to make sure people were aware that father was missing.’ she insisted.

‘Kendral, your father will show up. We will take those missing posters and put them up for you, but you must return to the manor now.’ the other offered with what appeared to be kindness.

‘Thank you Yjarl, Kesper. I have asked permission of most taverns and a few guilds to place these up in the area.’ she said as she handed over the small bag of tacks and the posters. As Yjarl walked with the girl, Kendral, Kesper waited until they were out of sight before depositing the stack of paper into an open fire before walking off.

The party had a bad feeling about this but they knew that at least one person would be excited to see Joe and hopefully in seeing Kendral that they would get the answers they need that even Joe had forgotten about himself.

They had found that the young woman had returned to a large manor that was swarming with guards who would not let anyone near under order of the lady of the manor. They had found out that the lord, Donnovan Straken, had been missing for a few days now. The primary suspect was a group of thugs who were wanting a large ransom, so far the letter had come but no demands had been made.

However the party now suspected that their Joe Smith back at the Penitent Larder was Donnovan and that the girl was the key behind it. As they had waited for an opportunity to get inside the same man they saw burning the missing persons posters walked nearby and was caught bragging to one of the maids ‘Yeah, the lady’s advisor had asked me to to a special errand. You know I’m pretty important you see, report directly to the lady and her aid. Between you and me there will be some big changes soon and we may have a new lord.’

The maid of course giggled before being called to continue her work. The party maybe had a way in.

The man winced but still resisted the party’s questioning. ‘Do your worst, he will do much worse to me if I tell you so I don’t fear you righteous folk’ Kesper spat at their feet.

That wraps up tonight’s update for this weeks adventure. The next two nights will fill in the final pieces of the puzzle with a confrontation with guards and then the reveal of who’s behind it all on Friday. So don’t forget to come back each remaining day this week to stay up to date with the tabletop and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Joe Smith

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Tonight the party try to probe deeper the identify of this mystery man with only the name, Joe Smith, to go by. However they struggle to find a name and only by a description do they get some hints at what’s going on as they continue to search for a cure for the curse.

So join me in welcoming Joe Smith to the scene tonight as the party try to unravel another mystery in tonight’s adventure!

Joe Smith

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‘Joe Smith’ – Created in WordPress!?

The party watched the man as he nervously ate, his eyes darting around the room as if he could be attacked at any moment. As the last of the porridge was gobbled up he continued with the conversation that they were having.

‘Look. All I can remember is that my name is Joe Smith and that when ever I take off this ruddy shirt I get attacked by a demon. Horns, big hog-like nose and tusks and claws would slice through dragon scale. I have tried to find help since discovering my plight but no one can or will help me.’ he finished, his voice betraying his frustration.

The party had tried to detect any curse that was on the man but had failed, the only thing that could be found is a faint trace of magic but they had been unable to determine what kind. They had even tried to remove the curse on his clothes but the same thing happened. As the shirt raised from his body he was attacked, without anyone else sensing or seeing the demon, which left him bruised, bloodied and his shirt more torn than before.

So they left the man in the care of Goya who nodded to them strongly as they went out to find the identity of the man. As they moved about the markets of Nevarl they found no sign of a Joe Smith. Try as they might no market stall, merchant or craftsman had heard of Joe – not even the smiths themselves! – and the more they pried the more they began to think that he simply didn’t exist.

However they happened to witness a group of guardsmen ripping off some sketches from a notice board and throwing them in a fire. As the paper burned the party witnessed the parchment unravel and very briefly, Joe’s face appeared on a man that we much better dressed. Just as swiftly as the image had presented itself to them the paper turned to ash and was lost.

Those collecting and burning the parchment had already left but they were the parties only lead. To burn these sketches was an expensive exercise as the cost to create them without magic was quite high. Whoever was searching for Joe was either exceedingly rich, or Joe was worth a lot of money.

Thanks for joining me another night for more tabletop update for this weeks adventure. Don’t forget that the next few nights really spice up this adventure with the twist tomorrow night, map on Thursday and encounter on Friday. So don’t forget to come back the remaining days of this week to follow along this adventure. And finally, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Tunic of Torment

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Tonight we find a meet a man with a weird curse, a tunic of torment of some kind. But there is more than the story of a ratty old cursed tunic and a man down on his luck this week. There is something more, deeper and more disturbing.

So grab your wards, etch some sigils as there’s something foul in tonight’s adventure!

The party rush to the aid of a man who stumbled into the tavern. Dressed in ratty clothes and covered in mud and worse he begs for help as he is being chased by a demon. As the party investigate the plot thickens when the man is later found to be screaming in pain. He is cursed to wear his tatty clothes or the demon appears and starts to kill him.

A tunic of torment, a mystery and, apparently, a strange cure is all that is required for the party to seize the day here. But rarely are these things that simple.

Tunic of Torment

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Tunic of Torment – Created in Wordpres!?

The party sad down in the Penitent’s Larder, a tavern very different to its name sake that was loud, boisterous and had enough gambling to sate anyone’s vices. Luckily the tavern keeper, Goya, was a large goliath and she took no quarter when enforcing the rules of her tavern.

As she stood behind the bar and cleaned some large carving knives she chatted happily to the party of adventurers who had booked our a room for a night, or two. As they shared with her the tales of their adventures she happily joined into their conversation, enquiring about details that betrayed the image of the tavernkeeper.

As Goya was explaining the only way to sneak up upon a black dragon before she stopped mid sentence and looked towards the front of the building. The party listened and looked towards where Goya was watching. Slowly the room fell silent as the sound of shouting could be heard.

‘Help!’ is all they heard first, so faintly that they thought it was a trick of their mind, except for the rest of the patrons reacting to it. ‘Help me! It’s going to get me!’ the voice called out again, this time closer and louder as the party stood regretting handing over their weapons to Goya before sitting down for the meal and drink.

The door to the Penitent’s Larder burst open as a man stumbled in. His tunic was torn with large holes in it with large bruises revealed underneath. The front of his tunic was covered in mud and vomit and he shivered as the cold wind outside snatched at him.

‘Help me.’ he said as he fell to the ground, the door closing behind him slowly. His back had several claw marks raked across his back. As he lay there shivering a loud crash could be heard from outside the building. Rushing outside and leaving them an in the care of Goya the party found several barrels rolling down the rough road after being tipped off a wagon.

Try as they might they could not find what had caused the barrels to fall except for a set of foot prints that could’ve been from anyone. Returning back to the Penitent’s Larder they found it largely empty, the savaged man ruining the mood for several of the patrons it seems. A sudden scream from the back room broke the silence and rushing towards the sound they saw Goya nursing a broken lip.

‘The man lashed out when I went to change his shirt with something cleaner.’ she added looking at their faces. The man in question was bleeding from several new cuts that had appeared on his arm and chest, staining the shirt.

‘No, no, no. You mustn’t take it off. The demon gets angry when it comes off and it hurts me.’ the man said.

‘I saw no demon, just the wounds appearing. It cut through fabric and skin easily.’ Goya said as she looked critically around the room and the party. The very real wounds continued to bleed for a few more minutes before sealing but despite the party and Goyas best attempts, they were not linked to any demon lurking around.

Thanks for dropping by for another week of adventure. This week we have a strange one starting us off so don’t forget that each day this week I will continue to expand this adventure further. So don’t forget to come back for the rest of this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Storm Born

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Now for the next Zine of the year I present, in single page zine format, Storm Born. I still believe that these provide DMs a lot more freedom to tinker with it how they want and open up the adventures to be more free formed and flowing than the larger booklet zines.

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, Storm Born, and that all your rolls are made with advantage.

Storm Born

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Storm Born – Created in WordPress!?

A fierce storm drove the party into the village of Askir, offering them shelter from the biting cold and rain. The village’s tavern, Jotund’s Boot, provided warmth, food, and spiced ale. Despite the welcoming atmosphere, a palpable tension filled the air, asvillagers cast anxious glances toward the windows.

The party soon learned that Askir was under siege by a mysterious wolf-like creature that struck without warning, leaving only lifeless bodies in its wake. Attempts to trap or kill the beast had failed, and hope among the villagers had dwindled. However, a survivor had returned with vital information about the creature’s lair.

As morning broke, the storm’s fury had temporarily subsided. The village elder, a weary and desperate man, summoned the party, pleading for their help to stop the creature and save the village. The elder revealed that the survivor had mentioned a landslide and a cave to the east in the valley wall, where the creature might be hiding. The adventurers, feeling the weight of the village’s hope upon them, agreed to take on the perilous mission.

As the party rushed back to Jotund’s Boot, a young teen intercepted them with urgent news that Welk Tanner had woken up. The party hurried to the leatherworking hut, where they found Welk breathing shallowly but awake, his face marked by the encounter. He recounted his harrowing experience of being hunted by a creature that moved like a wolf but was much larger and spoke in a human voice, taunting him and calling him by name. Welk described how the creature’s attacks left him dizzy, possibly from poison, and how he ultimately managed to stab it in the eye with a splintered bone before fleeing.

Welk’s story left the party with more questions than answers, revealing that the creature was intelligent, malicious, and personally tied to the villagers. The village elder, recognizing the importance of Welk’s information, cautioned the party to tread carefully, knowing the creature was not what it seemed. Despite the elder’s advice, the party knew they needed to act swiftly, even though they would ideally seek more information. Determined to protect Askir and uncover the truth, they prepared for the dangerous journey ahead, feeling the weight of unease settle over them as they left Welk’s hut.

The morning brought a brief lull in the storm but also another gruesome discovery: Welk Tanner’s body, nearly cut in half, was found despite the healer’s claim of not hearing anything during the night. The room was in chaos, the window shattered, and gore covered the healer’s tunic. With the village in panic, the elder had the healer locked away until the party could find and kill the beast. As the party ventured into the woods, a sense of dread followed them, and they soon arrived at a cave reeking of blood and death, its entrance adorned with ice like fangs.

Inside the cave, the party discovered a scene of horror: bones and broken bodies littered the ground, and an oppressive energy radiated from a twisted altar covered in glowing runes. As they approached, a hulking, twisted wolf-like creature emerged from the shadows, followed by the village elder. The elder revealed his true intentions, explaining how he had orchestrated the events to lure fresh victims to the village. His sinister plan was now clear, and the party realized they had to confront not only the creature but the malevolent elder wielding dark magic.

PDF adventure – Storm Born

Storm BornDownload

Thanks for joining me today for another adventure. Please feel free to leave comments if you like what you see when you grab a copy of the PDF. Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it. Don’t forget to come back daily so you don’t miss a thing in the coming weeks adventures. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Olethros Wolf

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Tonight we meet the Olethros Wolf – the havoc wolf. A creature summoned by Elder Arthus and kept under his control for years. Hailing from a chaotic dimension this creature is loyal to itself and its master and won’t let anything get in its way.

So buckle up as tonight may be one tough one to crack into with tonight’s adventure!

The Olethros Wolf

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As the creature stalked into the magic lit cave its elongated legs drew the attention of the party first. Easily longer than a man is tall this creature was a huge, mostly balding and chaotically monstrous wolf. It twitched its head towards the man, Elder Arthus, before prowling back to shield the man with its bulk and presence.

The Olethros Wolf – Created in Tetra-cube.

The man watched the party as he spat out a series of foul syllables causing both it and the wolf’s form to blur. ‘The interesting thing about the Olethros wolf. When its bound to a master it forms a magical channel where I share its power and it shares mine. A wondrous creature really. A shame that you have been chosen by it to be its next meal.’ the man promised the party with near genuine regret.

Elder Arthus – Created in tetra-cube.

As the mage and wolf worked as a complete team and their experience of working, hunting together for years was evident in how they moved, attacked and defended each other.

Thanks for visiting again tonight for another small update to fill in the missing components for this weeks adventure. Don’t forget to come back again this weekend for the end of week Zine and hopefully some more Wilderfeast content as well. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Den of Lies

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Tonight we find the party moving towards the Den of Lies, or that’s what they will quickly find it to be. As they make the most of the break in the storm the party rush to uncover the truth of the beast after another person went missing during the night. But it’s not quite what they expect.

So grab your torches and pitchforks as we race into tonight’s adventure!

Den of Lies

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The morning brought a gap in the storm and another body. Welk Tanner was found nearly cut in half as the first of dawns light poked through the window to the outside world. Despite being locked in side with the village healer, as a precaution against the beast, the healer claimed to not have heard or seen anything until the morning.

The window was smashed, the wood torn from around its frame and the room was a mess. There was even gore on the older mans tunic from how violent the attack on Welk was. When the village woke up to the screams of alarm and panic the elder had the healer locked away until the party could confirm the story by finding and killing the beast at its lair.

As they left there was a overwhelming sense of dread, a presence amongst the village and the woods as they walked in the direction of where they were planning to go. Moving further from the village the world became quite apart from the sound of their feet breaking partially frozen twigs.

Soon enough they came face to face with a cave, if that’s what it could be called. The party could smell it from dozens of feet away, the smell of blood and death. The ice hadn’t melted which clung to the mouth of the cave like frozen stalagmites and stalactites creating a frozen maw that gaped at them.

The party exchanged tense glances as they approached the cave entrance. The cold air seemed to grow thicker with every step, carrying with it a sense of evil that was almost thick enough to touch. As they drew deeper into the cave, the sounds of the forest faded away, replaced by an eerie silence that pressed in on their ears, broken only by water drops and the wind howling outside.

They stopped finding a trail of blood leading from the mouth of the cave and at its end, a pile of broken bodies and bones. The walls of the cave were riddled with ice like an infection, and the floor was littered with bones and skin, both human and animal. The stench of death was overwhelming, and the adventurers had to steel themselves against the urge to retch.

As they reached the end of the cave their heart sank. Nothing. There was no creature here lurking in the dark which pointed the rod of blame towards the kind healer, the one who gave no sense of evil about them. The flickering light of their torches cast shadows on the wall but revealed something amongst the dancing light. On the wall had been placed a twisted altar of bone, pelts and rope, covered in runes that glowed with a sickly blue light. As they watched the light pulse the air grew thicker with an oppressive energy, and the party could feel the weight of malevolent magic pressing down on them.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the chamber, and the adventurers turned to see a massive, hulking figure emerge from the shadows. It was the creature they had been hunting. The large twisted wolf that had limbs far longer than a normal canine stalked closer, the whispers and rumours did it no justice but now it stood before them in all its terrible glory. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its white patchy fur was matted with blood.

But it was the second figure that emerged next to it, standing beside the creature that truly chilled their blood. The village elder, his eyes filled not with a evil but with a hunger that made it all the more worse. He raised raised his hands and pale blue light spread from the altar, up the wall and around the cave. Spilling like illuminate ink across the carvings in the wall revealing a web of ancient magic.

‘You must give an old man credit,’ the elder spoke calmly as he stroked the large not-wolf. ‘You have played right into my hands. An old man, a likely culprit and a village in need of saving. How we grew hungry when no one came by despite the storm I summoned.’ he said as he looked around the room, the light shimmering around him like a cloak of magic. ‘I had to use some of the flock to feed the village. But that’s over now with what you bring. Fresh meat, people expecting you somewhere and all evidence pointing you to the creature in the mountain. More adventurers, guards and clerics to come and purge an evil that waits so very hungrily for them.’

Thanks for joining me tonight for the reveal of the villain of this story, not a creature but two. Don’t forget that tomorrow we will be looking at the map for this encounter and I have a good one planned. But also don’t forget to come back Friday and the weekend as well for more tabletop content and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Welk Tanner

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This week is more gritty and dark than normal and with Welk Tanner having survived the creatures in the storm there is hope. The party must gather what information that they can from the old leather worker before they venture out, for the hunt.

So don’t forget to grab your coffee, a pen and paper as we pay the survivor a visit in tonight’s adventure!

Welk Tanner

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Welk Tanner – Created in WordPress!?

The party were interrupted as they rushed back to Jotund’s boot by a young teen running towards them. The boy shielded his eyes from the rain, sleet and hail that had started once more. ‘Adventurers!’ he called trying to be heard over the roar of the storm. ‘Welk Tanner has woken up. The Elder has called for you to visit him before he rests again.’ the boy said.

As the party hurried to the leatherworking hut of the village the smell overpowered the smell that the storm brought with it. Ignoring the stench the party passed a healer of the village as they were shown inside. Welk lay breathing shallowly but awake. His rugged face bore the marks of a fight and the flight from the creature and its lair. His eyes were wide with lingering fear as his lips moved wordlessly, muttering nonsense to no one. The party gathered around his bedside, eager to hear what he had to say as they took in the wounds he had suffered.

Welk focused on the party as they introduced themselves and prompted his attention onto them. Welk’s voice was hoarse as he began to recount his encounter. ‘I was out hunting,’ he started, ‘the storm had let up for a bit, so I thought I’d take the chance to get some food and pelts for the village. The forest was eerily quiet, like even the animals knew something wasn’t right. And then…I felt it. I wasn’t the hunter anymore, I was the prey.’

He shivered as he continued, his eyes darting to the windows as if expecting the creature to materialize. ‘It moved like a wolf, but it was much larger, with eyes that glowed like the embers of hell. And the worst part…’ he paused swallowing down his obvious fear. ‘It spoke. In a human voice, it taunted me, called me by name, said things that no one would know.’

The party exchanged worried glances, their minds racing trying to pull apart the story with the possibilities of what the creature could be. A creature that could speak and knew intimate details about its victims was no ordinary beast. Welk’s voice grew more urgent as he described the attacks. ‘It came at me with claws as sharp as my hinting knives. I tried to fight back, but it was too fast. The more it attacked, the dizzier I got, like there was something in its claws, maybe poison, maybe it was the cold as the storm was back. As the sleet and rain pelted down my arms grew numb and everything became heavy.’

Welk’s voice faltered for a moment as he relived the terror of that night. ‘The storm hit again, and I lost consciousness as the creature stalked closer again. It’s limbs were too long but everything was blurry. When I came to, I heard the sound of bones crunching. The creature was feasting on the deer I had been hunting. It had piled the carcass on top of me, as if to mark me for later.’ he paused as he shook with fear from reliving the experience. ‘I guess I wanted to live and that feeling took over, and I grabbed a splintered bone from the pile and stabbed it in the eye as it reached for the next part from the pile. It howled in pain, and I ran. I didn’t stop running until I was back here.’

The party asked some follow up questions and he tried his best to answer but he had little more. As the party turned to leave he called out once more. ‘Wait! It’s eyes.’ he paused as he stared out the window. ‘I saw its eyes. They were not of a beast but human, intelligent eyes. The eyes of something that could think, feel and knew exactly what it was doing.’

His story left the party with more questions but also with some answers. The creature was obviously intelligent, malicious, and seemed to have a personal tie to the villagers. They knew they had to act fast, but charging blindly into the creature’s lair could lead to disaster. The village elder spoke up, from outside the door as they passed him, his voice grim but resolute. ‘Welk’s information gives us a chance, but we must tread carefully. This creature is not what it seems, and we cannot underestimate it. But I need not explain that to you I suppose’

The party nodded in agreement. They would ideally need more time to seek out more information, perhaps even seek out old tomes or speak to sages who might know more about such creatures. But with the day beginning its slow descent into night their journey was just beginning and it would be dangerous to leave now. The path ahead would be dangerous but they were determined to protect Askir and uncover the truth.

As they left Welk’s hut a sense of unease settled over them. The storm outside was nothing compared to the storm brewing within the village.

Thank you for joining tonight for the next part in this adventure. Don’t forget that over the next few nights I will expand this adventure further, uncovering the villain of this story and a few truths. So don’t forget to come back each remaining day this week and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Village of Askir

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This week the party find themselves in the Village of Askir. The party have entered a town during the middle of a storm and that’s when things start to escalate quickly.

This can be a quick side quest or something much bigger depending on what you need the adventure to be for.

So grab a coat, saddle up and let’s push through the storm as we march into tonight’s adventure!

The Village of Askir is a place in the middle of no where and off the path to where people need to go. However, the flickering lights and promise of shelter when lost makes it a place that people find themselves staying for days. As a storm hits the party find the warm stew, roof and fire a welcome relief from the rain outside.

However the village quickly reveals that they are the target for creatures that attack swiftly, take no prisoners and leave no trace. The attempts to trap or kill the creature that is attacking the villagers have all failed to date. So when a survivor turns up with a location the party are quickly called upon to help.

But the creature is not what it seems and the party are doing exactly what the true villain wants them to do.

The Village of Askir

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The Village of Askir – Created in WordPress!?

The storm rolled in from the north, an foreboding wall of dark clouds swallowing the horizon and bringing with it biting ice-laced winds. Thunder rumbled overhead as sheets of rain battered the earth, turning the narrow dirt road into a muddy quagmire. The party trudged through the downpour, cloaks pulled tightly around their shoulders to fend off the relentless assault of the storm. As they stumbled through the muck their eyes narrowed against the rain as they caught sight of flickering lights in the distance.

Askir, a small, secluded village nestled in the heart of the valley, offered a beacon of hope amidst the storm. The welcoming glow of lanterns spilled from the windows of the village’s tavern, promising warmth and shelter from the biting cold. As the adventurers approached, the wind carried the distant sound of the crackling of a roaring fire. With a weary sigh, the party pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped into the welcoming embrace of the warm room beyond.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of hearty stew and spiced ale. The fire crackled merrily in the hearth, casting a warm, golden light across the room. The tavern’s patrons looked up from their conversations, eyes widening in curiosity at the sight of the newcomers. The owner, a rotund man with a cheerful smile, bustled over to greet them, his voice booming above the din.

‘Welcome to Askir and Jotund’s Boot! You lot look like you’ve seen better days. Well at least drier days. Come, warm yourselves by the fire and take a load off those feet as Jotund get’s you some food and ale.’

The party settled around a sturdy wooden table near the hearth, shedding their rain-soaked cloaks and relishing the heat of the fire. As they sipped their drinks and began to relax, they couldn’t help but notice the undercurrent of tension that seemed to permeate the other patrons of Jotund’s Boot. Whispers of unease flitted through the air, and the villagers cast furtive glances towards the windows, as if expecting the storm, or something else, to burst through at any moment.

It wasn’t long before the party learned the truth. Askir was under siege by a creature that came during the night. Swift and merciless, it struck without warning, leaving no trace of its presence save for the lifeless bodies of its victims. Every attempt to trap or kill the beast had ended in failure, and the villagers’ hope had all but dwindled to nothing. But tonight, amidst the storm, a survivor had returned, ragged and bloodied, muttering a vital piece of information, the location of the creature’s lair.

As the morning came through the storm had held back its deluge long enough for false hope to set in once again. But the clouds above flashed with thunder and the chill in the air was enough to freeze the breath of those who dared to walk outside.

Word spread quickly through the village, and soon, the party was summoned by the village elder. A tired and thin man with eyes that held the weight of countless sleepless nights. He implored the adventurers to take up the mantle of defenders and hunters so that his village may survive to see the change in season and the end of this storm.

‘Please,’ he pleaded, his voice trembling with exhaustion. ‘The gods have blessed us with your appearance at the same time as Torvath’s survival and message. The poor bastard has not yet wakened after sharing the news of the landslide and cave to the east in the valley wall.’ He paused to wet his lips from a flask that held a rich coloured wine. ‘The creature must be stopped before it claims more of my village. We have nothing left to lose and very little to give.’

Thanks for visiting tonight for a dark and stormy adventure this week. Don’t forget that this week we will be expanding the adventure each night as we work towards the end of week zine. So don’t forget to come back each day this week for the rest of this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe