writing

Supply Run

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It should come to no ones surprise that sometimes in life a supply run is required to get through to the next week. Whether you’re running to get rations for the next few weeks, ammunition for the defence of a keep or fresh water to supply the rest of your caravan the supply run hook is something that happens often.

So let’s saddle up, grab a coffee and go in search of a lengthy supply list!

The supplies are running low, dangerously slow and in a last ditch attempt a small band head out to find food, arrows and other key supplies to keep their operation continuing. However, as with any quest where both a small fortune of gold and an actual fortune of supplies is on the line it tends to catch the eye of those looking for a meal ticket.

Although not all is lost as the party stride onwards through the dusty plains of the Fester Plateau; a vast stretch of flat terrain amongst the rocky mountains. With the experience these adventurers brought there is surely nothing that would pose a problem for them, surely…

Supply Run

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Chasm of Fester – Created in Nightcafe.

Try as they might the party could not prevent the hooves of their horses from kicking up a dust storm that rolled through the winding chasm before them. The Chasm of Fester is what the locals called this place, a sight of an unholy battle between good and evil that corrupted and destroyed the natural beauty of these plains.

Now only the strongest or smartest survived in these parts and the lands reflected this fact. Rocks jutted from the dirt dominated plain at the bottom of the large chasm. Sporadic coarse grass clung between the rocks as they found the only source of moisture in this land. Locals moved their herds through the chasm and all of them had hawks or other birds that would shriek when something approached.

As the party moved through the locals cautiously allowed them to approach but their hands never strayed too far from their bows or blades. After a few minutes of talking their posture relaxed and they provided direction to the party, highlighting where the city that they were heading towards was. But they also warned them of the roving bands of savage humanoids as well as rumours of a large wyvern flying over the chasm.

Parting with the herders they moved onwards keeping an eye to the ground for dust clouds and another to the sky, looking for shadows in the harsh sun. The only respite from the sun came from the walls of the chasm as the sun moved onwards it created a great shadow the plunged half of the plains in cooling shade. But they could not rest for long as they had a quest, a mission, they needed to reach the City of Orchreweld to get supplies of food and water as well as sundries, such as ammunition.

If there was a large wyvern in the area then having additional arrows may be needed sooner than anticipated.

Thanks for visiting tonight for the first in what I hope to be a series which can integrate with the campaign hook, The Bleak. But this can be used with any adventure as its not uncommon for supplies to be damaged, expended or lost on an adventure and in these cases requesting members of the convoy, party or keep may be what is needed. Don’t forget that tomorrow night I will expand this with, hopefully, some colourful NPCs for the party to meet with. Oh, and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Welcomed Breather

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It’s not often that I feel the need to take a welcomed breather from the daily updates on the blog but this weekend has thrown a spanner in the work. But instead of focusing on creating a ‘half-done’ zine for my Plentura’s Storm Chasers zine I wanted to take a slower approach tonight.

So time to sit down, grab a coffee and perhaps even snuggle in deeper as we get some more cosy vibes from tonight!

A Welcomed Breather

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Time to Rest – created in Nightcafe.

Brazen sat down on his cushioned stool and stirred his coffee absentmindedly which a casual flick of his wrist. The spoon moved to mirror his movements as it blended the boiling water with the coffee grinds to create a rich, deep and nutty concoction. As he look around his workshop with various maps, notes, and scrawling’s of research material he chucked to himself.

“Anyone would think that it’s all the ravings of a madman,” he side to himself as it stared at a scrap of parchment that listed out various gods and their relationships amongst each other. “I suppose they are.” he said bemused with himself. His cat, Cleo, curled around his legs thankful that he wasn’t shoulders deep into another adventure or book. Picking up the old cat she purred and lounged on his similar-colour shirt, smoky-grey as it was not often that they got to spend these quiet moments together.

Determining that the brew was ready he placed Cleo back onto the ground, much to her protest, as he reached over to the vessel he was stirring moments ago. Gabbing a siv he poured the brew from the pot into his cup, watching as the finer grains of bean were stripped from the brown liquid as he filled up the mug beneath. Satisfied he had enough he placed the pot back onto the small wood stove.

Blowing on the hot beverage he had a tentative sip which revealed two things. One, it had been too long since he had a good coffee and two, this one was particularly too hot. Placing the mug aside to cool he looked over his notes again to ponder the next steps, the plans left half completed and those yet to be started at all. It was going to be a busy few months ahead as time careened towards the natural conclusion of the year and he had still so much to do.

But that can wait for another day, today was a day of rest. The first in, well quite a while if he was being honest with himself. Those plans left unstarted could wait for a few more days and those left half-complete aren’t going any where. Besides his coffee was much to hot to be useful in the completion of any of his plans, maybe tomorrow.

Thanks for continuing to support this blog, it means a lot of me. I’ve recently hit (according to the stats!) 1017 nights posting in a row with a handful of them being shorter snippets, like tonight, but with 46 Zines completed last year and, so far, 35 completed this year (another 6 in the works). If there’s something that you’d like to see more of feel free to let me know!
Don’t forget to come back next week as we continue on the road to, 48 zines for this week and a larger one for Dice-ember – My Holiday themed zine. Oh, and always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Bleak

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Tonight it’s the build up for something I hope to run one day with my own party and The Bleak is where we start, continue and end this short adventure hook. Inspired by an image generated weeks ago in Nightcafe and since, its broiled in the back of my mind and with the DMG coming out in the imminent future – a player run keep could be cool no?

In an interesting turn of events the party are made the custodians of a lone citadel at the edge of the known civilised world known as The Bleak. Taking a job to deliver a message turned into something much larger, much more imposing than what they could have anticipated. But not all is lost and not all seems as wild outside the fortified walls of The Bleak.

But it’s never that simple, there is always something more, just a little bit that gives adventure its name.

The Bleak

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The Bleak – created in nightcafe.

The job was a simple one, beyond simple. Deliver a letter to the warden of some old keep called ‘The Bleak’. When the party had asked about the keep from their employer, messenger’s from the king and queen, they were only too happy to tell them about the local area, the environment, natural resources and rumours around the local area. The pay, goods worth thousands of gold pieces – enough that you could retire on if you wanted and live a comfortable life for a number of years.

The one condition, don’t open the letter. The messenger demonstrated with a duplicate what would happen if they opened it – a pile of ash.

The trek was even easier. The horses were fine steeds gifted to them by the court, well fed and ready for the trek with enough feed to get them by for the week of travel. The roads were, relatively quiet with the first people to try and stop them disappearing quickly one they saw the horses. Game was plentiful, a run in with a pack of wolves was quickly dealt with and a large wyvern flew above them heading in the direction they were.

They should have consulted the seers. This wasn’t the first omen they had seen and anyone in the business knows that there is no amount of easy money that is, in fact, easy. As they climbed the mountain where the keep was positioned they could see through gaps in the rocky surface that beyond the mountains was a rough rocky and barren land. A few shafts of smoke were the only tell-tale sign that there was life out there and they remarked that the land behind them was a fertile paradise compared to what lay beyond.

But they had known this, the kings messenger had described the lands of the keep in great detail. The first few miles into the desert, the mountain range and then up to and including a village they had stayed at last night. It was a large land and there was no sign that this was at the detriment to the keeps success.

The Clause

The party reached the keep at sun down as it cast half the fortress in a glow that made it look like it was made from gold. The gates were closed and they could see a few people standing watch in towers, who, quickly scurried inside when they saw the party.

“Hold!” a voice called from the keep. “A few questions to make sure you’re the ones we’re expecting. It’s not often, if ever, we get visitors so well equipped so please excuse our apprehension.” the man who spoke was old, well mannered and had an air of nobility about him. Satisfied by the response the party heard an loud, audible crack of a ballista that must have been concealed as it undid the tension in its bow.

The man, Cornelius, was a wonderful host and once he had the letter in his possession a whisk of blue rose from the wax seal. He ushered them into the keep and organised for their steeds to go to the stables where they would be housed and well fed. He showed them to the hall where they happily waited for a a little amount of time to get just enough food to fill their bellies. When it was time to retire he showed them to the bed chambers, a large one designed for guards with many bunk beds or rooms that would fit in with inns of good renown.

In the morning they found Cornelius waiting for them with a broad grin. “I hope you’ve found that the keep is to your liking? That’s good as its yours to run now. The letter was proof that you had been chosen to inherit the governance of The Bleak and its lands. I will leave tomorrow morning to give me enough time to fill you in on what you may want to know and the servants and all but two guards will stay here with you. With owning this prestigious piece of land it grands you the titles of Lords and Ladies, so, what would you wish for breakfast my lords and ladies?” he asked with no hostility or malice was to be found in the old mans face.


Thanks for dropping by tonight for a quick length campaign hook. Something tells me that this wont be the last we see of The Bleak. Don’t forget that tomorrow is ZINE night so make sure you come back for that and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Velsharoon Spectre

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This week we have an interesting one where a deity of necromancy created a spectre in their image, the Velsharoon Spectre. As the clash of deities, gods, is the focus of this week it shouldn’t come to anyone surprise that this creature is target built to be as much as a problem to everyone involved – especially those that can cast spells or commune with a deity.

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

Velsharoon Spectre

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The Velsharoon Spectre is commonly seen dressed in mottled purple robes, is faceless but sees without eyes and has a single, thin silver circlet around its head. However when this undead creature is gathered in large numbers they has the ability to sever the connection between deities and their worshippers.

Individually however these creatures train the sound around them, dampening before completely deafening anyone who dares to remain to close to them. That is if they can avoid it. Fast, vicious and drawn to creatures with the ability to invoke magic these creatures are a force to be reckoned with as they are more deadly to spell casters – taking their second most precious resource, their spell slots. The only thing more precious to casters, and well, generally all adventurers is their hit points.

Velsharoon Spectre – created in Tetra-cube

Thanks for joining me tonight as we look at an empowered but ultimately reskinned creature, the Velsharoon Spectre. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Zine when it comes out this weekend and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Silver Bucket Inn

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Tonight’s a fun one where I got back to experimenting with the watercolour maps when I created the Silver bucket Inn maps. A complete night time and day time one to reflect the light sources on the streets and interior as, well you know me, I love night time encounters.

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

Silver Bucket Inn

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Silver Bucket Inn – Day – Created in Inkarnate.

Tables litter the room making some parts feel really cramped. A large bar bench and stools provides the ample room for people to just sit and drink while having a casual meal. Chauntea’s favour can see with the amount of grass and trees present in the village and things being more natural feel to it. A quaint kitchen with a more-modern gnomish invented stove for a halflings passion to cook delicious meals.

Shelving for plenty of vegetable access as well as stairs under ground for a larder that is a bit more protected from the heat – where dairy and meats can keep a bit longer. Before you reach the kitchen and behind the bar is the stairs up to the second story where the bedrooms would be located – one having a balcony to the outside world.

Silver Bucket Inn – Night – Created in Inkarnate.

Night time shows where the light would be concentrated – lanterns hung from the posts and some key spaces provide limited light as well as the soft glow from the stove itself.

Four terrain paints for tonight to create the scene with blending of stone, dirt, grass and even wood to make sure that it looks as natural as possible. Many stamps were used (especially the walls of the Inn as well as the kitchen where each vegetable, plate and utensil is a unique item). The roofs look more natural than the non-water colour ones which I appreciate, a small win for this art style which I am liking.

Thanks for joining me for a quick-ish map making night. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to finish off the week strong with the encounter stat-blocks and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Silencing Spooks

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The hand is revealed as the party begin in silencing spooks, specifically the spectral creature that has appeared in front of them. But there is more to what meets the eye here as the creatures are not just mindless undead creatures – they are messengers to a war that is ongoing and yet to begin.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and try to avoid the tavern brawl!

Silencing Spooks

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The party watched as the creature drifted in space, casting its faceless vision across the party they could feel it coiling like a snake. The purple moth eaten robes it wore was only broken by the thinnest circlet of silver that wrapped around the brow of the faceless head.

As it rushed forward the movement causing the robes to whip about in the air as it darted above the ground. Its speed and aggression surprising the party as all they could do was avoid being torn to shreds in its opening enraged attack. But the creatures presence and its touch had a different effect, silence.

The noises of the world drifted away from them the crash of furniture, the scrape of weapons on scabbards and even the cries of battle became muffled as if the battle was under water. A second effect crept over them and as their blades and spells tore shreds from the creature a numbness swept over those with connections external to the material plane. A severed connection to their deities and their patrons.

As their weapons and spells connected to the creature another voice, another presence entered their mind. One that was darker and hungrier. “Strip down their walls, pull down their offerings of false worship, bring destruction and undeath across the lands”. The voice, the call to fight for a higher power was withered yet commanding and it came with the vision, a momentary flicker, of a sunken face sitting in a throne of bones dressed in a purple robe.

The creature fell after a few dozen heartbeats and as the form disappeared the clink of the silver circlet hitting the wooden floor of the tavern was the first indication that the oppressive silence was lifting. A moment passed where the party spoke amongst themselves of what they believed had happened but their moment was interrupted with the crack of thunder.

Outside a large thunderhead had formed. As lightning arced amongst the clouds the party could see a dark silhouette of a towering, broad shouldered man at the heart of the cloud and if not all for the same image being seen from all present it may have been mistaken as just a shape in the cloud. When a bolt of lightning lashed out and struck the bell tower of Chauntea; a small slither of golden light thrumming into existence as the bolt hit, the party knew that they were in the middle of something much greater.

The next flash of lightning revealed more of the purple-robed spectres as they descended towards the village. A battleground of the gods, nothing more than a gesture in their divine minds but a fight for life and death for those caught between the deities throwing fists.

Thanks for joining me for a rather big one tonight. Not really inspired by any one thing or another tonight but rather the complex relations between a few different deities in a greater contest of might at a divine level. Don’t forget that the adventure still continues here for the next few days and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Master of Rumours

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Tonight we look at the age old trope of Inn Keepers being the master of rumours, the holders of half-truths and the foreman of furphy’s. Harry Hastebee is just a regular inn keeper but he brings with him the knowledge, rumours and stories that many travellers, patrons and even some competitors have ownership of.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee (or something stronger) and let’s listen to a tall yarn from the inn keeper!

Master of Rumours

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Harry Hastebee – Created in Nightcafe.

Quick on his feet Harry bounced towards the door to open it up ceasing two annoyances of the party’s at once. The stifling heat from the kitchen roasting non-stop and the persistent banging from someone wanting to come in. “Hold up hold up, what do ye want?” Harry asked as he ushered the person inside.

“Thank the gods that you let me in. I’ve been chased by a spirit down the streets who was after my very soul!” cried the man before he broke down into tears in front of Harry.

“Come now friend. A hot meal and a strong drink will calm your nerves. Tell me what happened” Harry said as he led the man to a table. “Tell me your name while I fetch you a plate. We don’t have much prepared but what we do have is cheap and good. Two silver pieces and I’ll fetch ye what you need.” he said as he bounced off. The man, in a state of shock fished out the coins as he sucked on the tankard of ale.

“The names Adam, Adam tanner.” he said as he paused to drink from the tankard more deeply. “I was coming back from the market with a cart laden with cloths and leathers, you see I work at the tannery and we didn’t sell through everything, as usual. But I was passing by one of the streets near the Church to Chauntea and I saw someone standing over a pile of clothes. So I called out to see if I could help them and then I realised they had no face. They then floated up off the ground and chased me. I swear the pile of clothes was a body!” he shrieked before drinking again.

Harry looked over at the party and walked closer leaving Adam to his drink. “You best be leaving soon if you don’t want to be caught up in this friends. It’s the third story I’ve heard of this spook on the streets. I pick pocket playing tricks I bet. But its not a good sign with the clerics having no connection to Chauntea. It’s right odd really. Normally lady luck, Tymora, looked after this place and I have a way with luck – like most halflings I guess. But lately, I don’t know. It feels like there’s something dampening that connection.” he shrugged.

“Probably just superstition to be honest but I don’t like it, and you lot don’t have to stay put…” he stopped as his face when pale. As the party turned around to see what had made the cheerful man freeze they saw a faceless figure drifting through the chairs and tables in the dining space as it moved towards them, steadily and with purpose. A shriek brought them back to reality as Adam had looked up and seen the spectre.

“Well, I guess its not a pickpocket after all.” Harry said as he grabbed a skillet from the bench top. “This place is for paying guests only!”

Thanks for visiting tonight as we explore a bit more of the people involved in this story as well as piece together the rest of the adventure. Don’t forget that each day this week we will continue to expand and build this adventure, so don’t forget to come back daily and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Silent Treatment

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When your significant other, or just anyone in your life for that matter, gives you the silent treatment you know something has really gone wrong for you. But what happens when its your deity and where that treatment has spread across the whole village you live in and for everyone within its boundaries.

So let’s slow down, grab a coffee maybe some flowers and try to make amends with higher powers!

Quiet is a word that none would have expected to describe Chauntea let alone the devout followers within Sunleaf Village. However, a silence has washed over the village and the clerics have had to save their remaining blessings, healings and divine spells as they are unable to replenish them each night as their pleas to their goddess have fallen on deaf ears.

Although that’s what they think. Darker powers are at play and a spectral figure has been seen amongst the thatched and tiled roofs of Sunleaf village. What they need is not just help, nor the divine intervention that they are hoping for but the kind of miracles that come with strangers looking to stay the night in the village on their way through.

Silent Treatment

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Sunleaf Village – Created in Nightcafe.

As the party encouraged their horses to plod along the last few minutes to the inn they gazed at the village at night. Neat and tidy houses of farmers greeted them amongst the dark silhouette of the village in its entirety. A large steeple, likely a church to a deity that looked over the village could be seen towering above the houses and in the distance warehouses for storing farm produce.

Sunleaf village was, as the houses and buildings indicated, a farming village that provided a significant amount of produce for the capital. Its beasts were regarded as being some of the best in the land when it came to its draft horses, oxen and sheep.

As the party saw their destination, the Silver bucket, they led their horses to the adjoined stables and ensured that their horses were secured with feed and water. As they entered the cosy inn they were greeted by a smiling halfling with halfmoon glasses. “Good evening travellers. I’m sorry we’ve just finished with much of the hot meals but we still have food available. Rooms are 1 gold piece a head but it includes meals and we’ve got a stable hand that can see to any beasts needs if you’ve got them in the stable.” the man said as he leaned across the desk at them.

“The names Harry, Harry Hastebee. What brings you to Sunleaf viallge?” Harry asked as he placed a plate of warm roast vegetables and some mutton in gravy in front of them. “I best warn ye though. Try not to get hurt unless you’ve got your own healer. The clerics of Chauntea’s church have run dry.” he said as he poured the party a drink of wine of ale, all locally made.

“They say the goddess has gone mute, or gone deaf to our pleas. One of them, I can’t keep up with what they are saying. Any way, look after yourself and try not to go outdoors too late – rumour is that there’s something spooking the village folk in the city at the moment.” Harry continued as he moved about the room. “Lucky we have a songstress in the church, some of her magic isn’t given by the gods so we aren’t defenceless, but its not looking good. The parent church in the capital said they would send some clerics to come and help but they are yet to arrive. Strange and scary times I tell ya.”

Harry excused himself as another visitor walked in, a young man who was carrying a box of vegetables with him. “If you lot need anything I’ll be in the larder. Give a holler and I’ll be with you in a moment. Young Jason just brought some fresh vegetables for tomorrow and I best look after him first.” Harry called out as he led the way for the man, Jason, into the kitchens.

Thanks for visiting tonight for another quiet week of adventure. Don’t forget that each day this week we will expand this adventure further with tomorrow exploring what’s going on a bit more and meeting some notable NPCs. So don’t forget to come back each day this week until its conclusion on the weekend and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

A Guild Masters Guilt

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

I think its still working well so without any further waiting I present A Guild Masters Guilt, in the short format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books whether you run Pathfinder, Open Legends RPG, D&D or any other RPG System.

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

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, A Guild Masters Guilt, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

A Guild Masters Guilt

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Silver Sparrows Messenger Guild – Created in Nightcafe.

As well known adventurers the party had been given rooms at guilds whenever they asked and it happened that the Silver Sparrows had organised for them to rest. The Guild master, Bastion Sparrow had a reputation for clean, organised business endeavours that had benefited many up and coming adventurers with work. The adventurers sat amongst the employees of the messenger guild as they sat and feasted in the large hall that was made available to the message runners, their guards and distinguished guests, like the party.
A bell rang which caused the room to look up at the ledge where the guild master normally addressed his people and this time they were not disappointed. Bastion stood, smiled faintly before clearing his voice that caused the last chatters to die out.

With the change in guild masters from Bastion to Kilt the offer that was extended to the party was quickly removed. Advised that they were unable to stay in the Silver Sparrows guild hall for the night they were advised that a comfortable room had been organised for them at The Crispy Basilisk, an Inn thats reputation for strong drink was almost as well known as its reputation for pickpockets, thugs and thieves. As they sat down and considered their options a disturbance near the door interrupted them.

“Bastion, well well fancy that. We’re just on the way to the Sparrows Hall to be welcomed back by Kilt. So much for you kicking us out you stupid bastard. Looks like the new guild leader recognises the need for muscle and not just manners.” a large bald man sneered as he pushed past the old guildmaster. Bastion caught himself on a bench and after apologising to the patrons sitting there he walked to the bar spotting the party on the way. After retrieving a tankard of strong ale he sat next to the party and apologised.

“I would’ve hoped that the new guild master would continue with common sense but it seems that they do not want to keep adventurers on friendly terms. I am terribly sorry that you were kicked out of the room you had occupied. I am not sure if Kilt was the right decision here, perhaps I should have fought harder…” he began.

PDF adventure – A Guild Masters Guilt

A Guild Masters GuiltDownload

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

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

The Enthralled Menace

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The enthralled menace this week is the enthralled berbalang, a horrid creature that creeps across the astral plane looking for secrets for its masters. Its masters find themselves having a useful tool in their arsenal as the berbalang is highly intelligent, malicious and a cunning fighter.

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

The Enthralled Menace

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The enthralled berbalang will hide amongst what ever it can and will use its spectral duplicate form to watch and gather information before making attacks. However there is always a master that waits and controls these creatures to their fullest so they will fight in more intelligent ways using their cunning and knowledge to their fullest.

Enthralled Berbalang – created in Tetra-cube

Thanks for joining me tonight as we meet the berbalang. Although not a new creature having them in service to something more powerful bodes poorly for our adventurers. So don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Zine when it comes out and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe