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Morgan Ravenswing – The Imperial Highwayman
I am excited to share this week’s post. Since starting this endeavor, it has been my goal to share things that would help spark ideas with GMs and ultimately make the process of running their games easier.
This week’s plot hook is one that I stole from my dear friend Mike Capron’s Fantasy Hero campaign, all the way back in 1988. I have used this thread, or some version of it, in pretty much every campaign I have run as an adult. As always, this is system agnostic and could easily be dropped into the TTRPG of your choosing.
Act I
At some point early in my adventuring party’s career, I will have them meet a stranger. This generally occurs as a means to break up a period of overland travel. For instance, the group may literally be headed from their starting town to their first adventure when they cross paths with a lone traveler.
Sometimes this fellow is broken down by the side of the road and requests aid, sometimes he asks to camp with the party for the night, and sometimes he’s simply passing by. It does not matter how the traveler meets the party or how long he spends with them.
He will introduce himself as “Cedric Farnum”. The stranger should seem completely non-threatening and polite. He should appear a bit foppish but have a couple of telltale hints that there is something more to him. Perhaps he has striking eyes, his sword is of fine quality, or his boots are not quite as worn as one would expect for long-distance travel. If asked about any of these things, be sure to have a logical answer prepared for him.
Whatever the means of introduction, and whatever transpires while he is with the party, Cedric will not linger long. Even if he spends a night camping with the group, he will be up early, thank everyone for their hospitality, and head on his merry way.
Act II
The second part of this plot hook will involve waiting for a bit to let things breathe. 2-3 game sessions are generally sufficient. For instance, if your party had been on their way to an adventure when they met Cedric, perhaps wait until the party returns to civilization with their spoils.
Making their way through the bustling city, the party will spy a wanted poster. The poster reads:
WANTED
Dead or Alive
Morgan Ravenswing
The Imperial Highwayman
There is a hefty reward being offered for this individual. However, that is not what catches their eyes. There on the poster is the spitting image of the stranger they knew as “Cedric Farnum”. If you happen to have a player who is religious at taking notes, this reveal is a great way to reward them. In that case, I might just describe the person and let the player take the credit for the recognition.
If the party inquires with any locals about this Morgan Ravenswing fellow, they will receive all sorts of information. The most common tale will be that he and his band of cutthroats are notorious for ambushing travelers on their way to and from the city. Some of the townsfolk see him as a villain while others seem to view him as something of a local folk hero. Build what you want from there and don’t be afraid to ham it up.
Should the party mention to any local authorities that they believe they have met this fellow before, they will be very interested in the details. They will pester the adventurers with all sorts of questions regarding where this took place, as well as how large of a band Ravenswing had with him. Hearing that he was by himself and did nothing to accost the party will leave the officials somewhat uncertain regarding the validity of the claims.
Once again it’s best to sort of let this whole thread go cold. I’ve never had a party want to immediately pack up and search for this highwayman, though I suppose it could happen. Most often the party will move on to their next adventure and largely forget that this ever happened.
Over the course of the next adventure or two, it can be fun to drop in little reminders. Perhaps they see more wanted posters or perhaps they stumble upon a band of nobles in their skivvies, who claim to have been robbed by Ravenswing. However you go about it, I find that it’s a fun exercise. It reminds players that other events are happening in your world, outside of whatever they have been up to.
ACT III
Finally, we have arrived at the payoff. There are really only 2 keys to pulling this off. You want to make sure that since the initial meeting, you have brought up Morgan Ravenswing enough that everyone will immediately know who you are talking about. You will also need to have let things go cold enough that the party isn’t expecting to meet a highwayman around every corner. If you manage to nail both of these, you’ll have a memorable encounter on your hands.
As the party is returning from or heading to their next adventure, they cross a small bridge heading to a crossroads. Up ahead, a wagon blocks the road, surrounded by odd planks and debris. A figure stands atop the wagon, waiving frantically to the party.
“Hello. Hello, my friends.” the figure calls, once the party is within earshot.
By the time that they can hear the greeting, you may describe the figure as a tall, slender fellow, dressed in flamboyant, colorful attire. His clothing is a mixture of fine silks, velvets, and lace, adorned with intricate embroidery and shimmering jewels that catch the light with every move he makes.
His hat, adorned with an ostentatious plume of feathers, sits at a jaunty angle atop his head, giving him an air of casual elegance. He is, as surely your party will have guessed, Morgan Ravenswing, the Imperial Highwayman.
Perceptive characters will immediately be aware that they are surrounded. While the exact numbers are hidden within the woods, there are clearly quite a few other people out there. From those that can be seen, it’s clear that they are armed with bows. While they are not directly aiming at the party, they have arrows knocked.
By this stage in their careers, most parties will likely be itching for a fight. Ravenswing will attempt to reassure them that he merely wants to talk. At the same time, sufficiently describing the number of archers in the woods is likely to give even the most trigger-happy party members a moment of pause.
Where you take it from here is up to you but allow me to point out a few different options:
The Highway Robbery
My least favorite option. If the party is too big for their britches or it works best for your story, this could devolve into a fight. Ravenswing & his band will fight the characters if need be. A victorious party will be allowed to head back to town and collect a bounty. Should Morgan Ravenswing and his band win, they’ll not kill the party unless absolutely necessary. Instead, party members will be stripped down to only what is required to maintain their modesty. The highwayman will express his disappointment in the party and leave them, bound, and gagged, for someone else to find.
The Philanthropist
If the party can keep their cool long enough to hear Ravenswing out, things will get interesting. The party will be led deep into the forest, to the band’s secret hideaway.
The highwayman will apologize for the surprise but claim that it was necessary due to not knowing how the party would react. Once everyone is calm, he will explain that he has been following the party’s actions for some time and is reaching out to them for help.
In this scenario, Morgan Ravenswing is essentially a Robin Hood type character. He’s a philanthropist who has wrongly been labeled a criminal. Yes, he may occasionally bend or break some laws. However, he always does it with the best of intentions.
Having some knowledge of the “big bad evil guy” of the campaign, the highwayman and his gang have waylaid the party specifically to provide them with vital information and to lend their support in the future.
This is a very cinematic twist, that often leaves players squirming with excitement. Build on it from there.
The Dread Pirate Roberts
In a shameless riff on The Princess Bride, the highwayman reveals that he is not the only “Morgan Ravenswing” but rather that a number of different people have taken up the mantle over the years. As with the last option, he’s a bit of a philanthropist but for some reason must step down from the role.
Having watched the party for a while now, he believes that one of the party members would be the perfect candidate to take on the persona and continue carrying out good deeds across the empire.
Final Thoughts
I hope that you find something here that inspires you in some way for your game. If so, please drop me a note down below and let me know what you would do. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by.
If you would like to see more of my maps with plot hooks, you may find them here.
That’s all for now. Have a great week and don’t forget to daydream a bit if the week gets you down. We all share an amazing hobby, and those fantastic places can be a great escape! Good gaming.
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When the Cat’s Away…
This week I’m sharing this simple battlemap from a short game session for my group. It could serve in a number of possible scenarios but I will briefly explain how I used it for my game.
Battlemap with grid & labels. The Story
In the bustling city of Summerville, a wealthy merchant sought the aid of a capable party to retrieve a jeweled dagger he had recently agreed to purchase. The dagger belonged to a retired adventurer; a renowned rogue known as Alphonse “the Cat” Richter. With a bag of gold in hand for the purchase, the party embarked on a day’s journey to Richter’s modest cottage, eager to secure the prized treasure.
Unbeknownst to the party, a pack of four wererats had recently killed Richter. Led by a particularly cunning fellow named Gravik, they sought to recover the dagger for themselves. Having dispatched the rogue, they set about trying to locate the treasure with no luck.
With two of the band keeping watch, the wererats were aware of the party’s approach. Gravik remained in the cottage (location #1) in his human form, pretending to be Richter. The others each waited for signs of trouble (at locations #2, #3, & #4 respectively) and observed from a distance.
Gravik. Art used by permission.
© Thomas Denmark. All Rights Reserved.
thomasdenmark.comExpecting to meet a dashing and experienced rogue, the party was taken aback when “Richter” appeared unremarkable and disinterested. Claiming to no longer desire the merchant’s payment for the dagger, Gravik nervously sent the party away without even inviting them in.
Making their way back to the bridge, doubts began to arise within the party. Two of the adventures mentioned that “Richter” seemed a bit off. Another had noticed odd tracks leading around behind the cabin.
In the meantime, Gravik decided that if he couldn’t find the dagger, he might as well end up with the bag of gold from the merchant. Before the party could act on their suspicions, Gravik transformed into his hybrid form and ran out to attack. Seeing their leader spring into action, the rest of his band joined the fray. A ferocious battle ensued, and the party fought for their lives against the lycanthropes.
Battlemap without grid. The party emerged victorious from the encounter, though one of the characters suffered a concerning bite. Richter’s lifeless body was discovered beside a freshly dug burrow in the garden (location #5). A search of the flower beds to the south of the cabin (location #6) yielded the jeweled dagger, wrapped-up burlap bag.
With the mystery unraveled, the party headed back to Summerville to claim their fee from the merchant.
That is the tale that this simple map was for used for in my game. As is always the case, a number of other questions were raised. What would have happened if the party had decided to keep the dagger for themselves? Aside from being jeweled, what was so special about the dagger in the first place? Were Gravik and his band acting on their own or is there a larger pack lurking around the Summerville area? If so, will the party have a target on their back?
Closing
That’s all for this week. Still tinkering to try to find the right mix of sharing maps with just enough of a plot hook to spark ideas. Thanks for stopping by. If you would like to see some more of my maps with plot hooks you may find them here. Good gaming!
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50 Urban Encounters for Your Fantasy Campaign
Sooner or later, every adventuring party ends up returning to civilization. Continuing along with my series of random encounters, I am going to dive into the bustling streets of the city.
One of the biggest challenges to running towns or cities lies in being able to sell your players on the illusion that they are in a vibrant location with lots of activity and interesting people to meet. If one of the characters heads off to go shopping or another goes to visit the church, it can be helpful to have a little something ready for everyone else. This helps to keep everyone entertained but also fleshes out the city a bit.
These are all non-combat encounters (at least they start out that way) and most could be as mundane as can be. That said, I have tried to leave the door open for you to build on them as you see fit. You could easily use many of these as ways to introduce important new NPCs or plot threads within your campaign. These are merely intended to give you little hooks to work with.
That is enough out of me. When you find yourself in need of a little urban encounter, scroll through for something you like or roll a d100 and let the city unveil its secrets before you.
My starting town of Cross Tree. Made with Campaign Cartographer’s Isometric Cities of Schley symbol set. 1-2. Mysterious Art Piece: A skilled artist showcases their wares, included a painting that is the spitting image of one of the party members. The character has never met the artist, so how did the piece come to be made? Was it mere coincidence or is there something more at work?
3-4. Unusual Street Vendor: An eccentric merchant peddles curious trinkets and unique items from a mobile cart. While likely mundane baubles, these wares may hold hidden magical properties, secrets, or serve as conversation starters. Might they be a source of information for some items the party recently acquired?
5-6. Graffiti Artist: A graffiti artist captures the party’s attention as she puts the finishing touches on a vibrant mural. Perhaps the artwork conveys a hidden message that is recognized by one of the party members. Alternatively, what will the party do if the city watch attempts to apprehend the artist?
A talented bard captivates the crowd. Artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. 7-8. Lost Pet: A distressed citizen seeks help in finding their beloved pet that has gone missing. The individual would surely be in the party’s debt if they help to return the lost creature. Perhaps the hunt will reveal a hidden side of the city.
9-10. Accused!: A stranger points out the party to the city watch and accuses them of a minor crime. Yes, the band could likely fight their way out but would it be worth being branded as criminals? Why were they accused in the first place and could the party end up benefitting from the situation?
11-12. Urchins: A band of street urchins approaches the party, begging for handouts. The waifs will be thankful for any help that they receive and could become valuable assets to the party in the future.
13-14. Street Performer: A talented bard captivates the crowd with a mesmerizing display of music or storytelling. As the party passes by, he encourages them to join with him in song or dance. Allow characters who oblige temporary bonuses to performance-based skills.
15-16. Wanted!: After making the acquaintance of a helpful stranger earlier in the day, the party sees a wanted poster bearing the likeness of the individual. How will the party respond? Do they seek out the fellow and ask for his side of the story or immediately run to the authorities?
17-18. Street Brawl: A heated dispute between rival factions erupts into a chaotic street brawl. The party can choose to intervene, support a side, or find a diplomatic solution to ease tensions and prevent further violence.
19-20. Secretive Exchange: A party member witnesses two suspicious figures engage in a clandestine meeting, exchanging cryptic messages. Observing or interfering in their dealings might lead the party down a path of intrigue and espionage.
21-22. Fortune Teller’s Prophecy: A fortune teller with a decorated tent beckons the party to unveil their future through palm reading or reading tea leaves. The predictions can provide valuable hints or create new plot threads.
23-24. Mysterious Puzzles: Characters with an appropriate background identify a series of cryptic riddles etched on city walls. These seem to challenge passersby to solve the puzzle. Unraveling the enigma may grant access to hidden locations, secret societies, or reveal a long-forgotten treasure.
A wanted poster bearing the likeness of someone the party met. Artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. 25-26. Street Food Extravaganza: A vibrant street market lures the party with an array of tantalizing aromas and mouthwatering delicacies. Trying the exotic dishes may grant temporary benefits or lead to an unpleasant digestive issue. Perhaps the vendor hails from some exotic locale that the party wishes to know more about.
27-28. Crier’s Announcement: A town crier delivers an urgent message, revealing the arrival of a renowned figure. Paying attention to the announcement could open new opportunities for the party.
29-30. Busker Battle: Two competing street performers engage in a friendly rivalry, showcasing their talents in a captivating music or dance battle. The party members get dragged in to deciding on the winner. Taking sides or joining the performers might result in a memorable performance or unexpected rewards.
31-32. Fanatic: A follower of a fringe cult preaches what seems to be nonsense in the town square. However, as the party passes some of what the fanatic says starts to sound very familiar to the party. Do they shrug it off or attempt to question the individual further?
33-34. Lost Heirloom: A distraught citizen recounts the story of a stolen family heirloom and implores the party’s help in recovering it. The search could unravel a larger conspiracy or connect the party with influential individuals.
35-36. Drunken Celebration: The party witnesses another group of adventurers who are celebrating a successful campaign while quite inebriated. In their impaired state, is the group boisterous and looking for a fight? Perhaps they let slip a mention of some great treasure that they failed to recover?
37-38. Mysterious Street Merchant: A half-starved merchant sells bizarre and seemingly useless items. These seemingly worthless objects might hold hidden properties or serve as catalysts for unique quests and encounters. Is there some benefit if a party member takes pity on him?
39-40. Public Debate: Intellectuals or scholars engage in a spirited debate on a prominent topic that interests the party. Participating in the discussion may grant valuable knowledge or insight into ongoing events in the city. Alternately, it may show the party’s hand and allow nefarious individuals to know their stance.
41-42. Secret Meeting: A group of cloaked figures gathers in a secluded alleyway, exchanging hushed whispers and secretive glances. Eavesdropping or confronting them could reveal a conspiracy or lead the party into an unexpected alliance.
43-44. Wizard’s Apprentice: An aspiring young wizard performs tricks on the street. He is not terribly skilled but is clearly giving the performance his all. Assisting the apprentice may help to gain the favor of his patron, who may hold valuable information.
45-46. Fortune’s Wheel: A mysterious woman offers the party spin on her wheel of fortune for a nominal cost. The outcome of their spin may grant them a boon, bestow a temporary curse, or open a pathway to unexpected encounters.
47-48. Eloquent Orator: A charismatic orator captivates a crowd with a powerful speech, stirring emotions and raising awareness about a pressing issue. Choosing to support their cause or challenge their beliefs can shape the city’s future.
49-50. Ghostly Haunting: The party encounters a ghostly apparition or lingering spirit seeking closure or assistance. Helping the ghost find peace may unravel a dark secret, lead to hidden treasures, or unveil forgotten history within the city.
51-52. Cryptic Street Art: An enigmatic piece of street art appears overnight, featuring symbols or cryptic messages that seem to defy interpretation. Deciphering its meaning may lead the party to a hidden location, a secret society, or a mysterious individual.
53-54. Hidden Resistance Movement: The party stumbles upon a covert resistance movement working against an oppressive regime or corrupt organization. Earning their trust and joining their cause could lead to a city-wide revolution.
55-56. Dragon Chess Master: A skilled dragon chess player sets up a public board, challenging passersby to a game. Defeating the master could earn the party member a seat at an underground tournament, with a special prize.
57-58. Illusionist’s Performance: An illusionist stages a breathtaking performance in a public square, showcasing mind-bending tricks and optical illusions. Knowledgeable party members can see through his illusions but he is passing them off to the gullible as being legitimate. Citizens are spending their hard-earned money, will the party intervene?
59-60. Local Celebrity Encounter: The party encounters a well-known figure from the city’s social scene, such as a famous actor or renowned author. Engaging with them could lead to unexpected opportunities or potential complications. What if he is not all he is cracked up to be?
61-62. Wishing Well: While passing by an ordinary looking well, one of the party members hears a voice saying, “Drop a coin and make a wish.” Was this some trick played by local youths or is there some enchantment to the well?
63-64. Bizarre Street Vendor Competition: Two eccentric street vendors engage in a whimsical competition, each trying to outdo the other with peculiar and exotic goods. The party can choose to assist one of the vendors or find creative uses for their extraordinary merchandise.
The beggar. Artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. 65-66. Mysterious Midnight Procession: The party stumbles upon a solemn and mysterious midnight procession, led by robed figures carrying cryptic symbols or sacred relics. Following the procession may lead to an ancient ritual or a secret gathering of cultists.
67-68. The Haunted Alley: An infamous alleyway is rumored to be haunted by a vengeful spirit or ghostly apparition. Exploring the haunted alley could unveil a tragic past, provide clues to a murder mystery, or even grant an unexpected boon.
69-70. Secret Underground Gambling Den: The party accidentally discovers a hidden entrance leading to an underground gambling den. High-stakes games of chance unfold all around them but there are a lot of shady characters. Participating in the games could lead to fortune or ruin.
71-72. Conspiracy Theorist: A passionate conspiracy theorist pulls aside one of the characters and shares their theories about secret societies or government cover-ups. Engaging with them might reveal kernels of truth or inspire the party to investigate further. Alternatively, he may be a total nut.
73-74. Urban Oasis: Amidst the concrete jungle, a gardener has created a stunning oasis of vibrant flowers, herbs, and foliage. Assisting the gardener in maintaining the sanctuary could unlock benefits or provide a valuable source for ingredients.
75-76. The Enigmatic Beggar: A seemingly destitute beggar possesses an uncanny knowledge of the city’s secrets. In exchange for simple acts of kindness, he will gladly share his knowledge with the party. Building a relationship with the beggar may unlock vital information or unexpected assistance.
77-78. Execution: A large crowd has gathered in the town square to witness a series of public executions. As the prisoners are marched through the crowd, the party realizes that one of the condemned is someone they know!
79-80. Pickpocket: While walking through a crowded square, a youth bumps into one of the party members in an obvious attempt at pickpocketing. Catching them red-handed, how will the party react? Do they turn the would-be thief over to the authorities? Could the young fellow become a valuable asset?
81-82. Foreigner: One of the party member notices a foreigner who is clearly new to the city. The poor soul can’t speak the language and appears confused. Will the party lend a hand? Perhaps this individual is from somewhere of interest to the party.
83-84. Underground Market: A stranger mistakes a simple gesture from the party to be a secret password. As a result, the party gains access to a hidden underground market where illegal goods and contraband are traded. Navigating the market may reveal rare items or lead to encounters with dangerous criminals.
85-86. Rats!: Some of the party members witness rats scrabbling over the wares of a local food vendor. Do they keep this knowledge to themselves, risk upsetting the vendor, or possibly help with the issue?
87-88. Noblewoman: A noblewoman and her retinue barge their way through the busy street. It is clear to the party that she views the townsfolk as being beneath her because her retainers roughly shove them out of the way. Does the party let this stand or do they stand up for the regular folks?
89-90. Wedding Objection: A wedding procession makes it way through the busiest part of the city. All is well until a spurned suitor and his family arrive to object. Things could become violent. Will the party intervene? What if they personally know one of the individuals?
91-92. Sculptor’s Commission: A renowned sculptor approaches one of the party members and asks them to model for their latest masterpiece. Participating in the project might lead to unexpected connections or lead to unexpected fame.
The marketplace. Heart of the city. Artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. 93-94. Afflicted Outcast: In a quiet corner of the city, the party comes across a secluded figure shrouded in tattered rags, clearly afflicted by disease. He piteously calls for aid. Will the party keep a safe distance or offer to help the poor soul?
95-96. Follower: One of the group notices that the party is being followed. The follower isn’t particularly stealthy but is persistent. Is it someone with an evil agenda or perhaps the hireling f a foe? Alternatively, it could be a fan of the party or someone looking for help.
97-98. Citywide Celebration: The entire city is swept up in a grand celebration for a local holiday. Apparently it is customary for outsiders to put on a little performance for the citizens. This could take the form r a song, dance, or story. Will the party participate when they are put on the spot or disappoint the crowd?
99-100. Wagon Wheel: A local farmer, visiting the city with his produce is having trouble. One of his wagon wheels has come off in a busy intersection. The party could easily ignore this but if they help, a farmer could be a handy friend to have.
Conclusion:
That will wrap up my 50 urban encounters. Most of these are simply intended to give you something to toss out to the group while some of the party members are engaged in another activity. Little shorts like this have always been useful for me, to help make my cities feel alive. If you happen to be using my suggestion of providing a Who’s Who for your campaign, be sure to jot down the names of any new NPCs you end up creating.
Do you have any standby tips or tricks for when you are running your characters through populated areas? If so, drop a comment below. I would love to hear what you do. That is all for now.
If you would like some more random lists, you may find them here.
If you would like to access my maps with plot hooks, you may find them here.
Have a great week. Good gaming!
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The Haunted Shrine of Gaiporo
Hun Khi. Created using Campaign Cartographer’s Empire of the Sun style. In the ancient land of Hun Khi, somewhere to the southeast of Mt. Saga, lies the small lakeside village of Gaiporo. Serene and picturesque, this village thrives on the bounties of the nearby lake and the lush surrounding forests. However, a chilling presence lingers beyond the village’s borders, concealed within the depths of the misty forest.
Hidden away in the foothills, stands the Haunted Shrine of Gaiporo. For nearly seven decades, this sacred place has remained untouched, haunted by the spirits of the Toyagaru family. These ill-fated siblings met their untimely demise when a rival warlord’s agents infiltrated their home, slaying them in their sleep.
Tethered to this world by an unquenchable thirst for revenge, the ghostly apparitions of the brothers now haunt the shrine. These vengeful entities manifest themselves when any approach. In death their faces have taken on a bestial look and their eyes glow a crimson red.
Whispers of their spectral presence have long circulated among the villagers, filling their hearts with trepidation. Legends speak of the fabled Twin Blades of Toyagaru, two exquisite swords of immense power and mystical enchantment. It is said that any who can defeat the vengeful spirits or bring peace to their souls by exacting revenge upon the rival warlord’s family may claim these legendary weapons as their own.
Vengeful spirit of Hideo Toyagaru. Art by © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. Brave adventurers seeking glory and riches may find themselves drawn to the Haunted Shrine of Gaiporo, enticed by the lure of the twin blades. But beware, for the path to redemption is fraught with danger and the spirits of the Toyagaru brothers are not easily vanquished. To claim the fabled swords, heroes must navigate the misty forest, face spectral adversaries, and uncover the truth that lies hidden within the shadowed depths of the shrine.
Conclusion
The Twin Blades of Toyagaru. Art by © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. Thanks for stopping by. I am trying to find the sweet spot with these, where I provide an interesting idea to build an adventure around without going too deep. If you have a preference either way, please drop me a note in the comments.
In the meantime, you may find all of my maps with plot hooks here. Random lists may be found here.
That’s all for now. Have a great week!
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50 Random Maritime Encounters to Enhance Your Tabletop RPG Adventures
Ahoy mateys! Continuing along with my series of random lists I am going to add some maritime encounters. As with my post about 50 Wilderness Encounters, all of these could range from unexplained occurrences to hooks for you to base entire adventures off of.
When your party is traveling from one locale to another, waterborne travel is common. Rather than hand-waiving the journey, sometimes you want something interesting to happen. During these voyages you may find yourself wanting a non-combat encounter. I find that occasionally tossing in something like this will help to keep everyone engaged during long periods of travel. Whatever the case, roll a d100 and consult below, to find out whether there be stormy seas ahead.
Doodle made with Campaign Cartographer Mike Schley Overland Style. 1-2. Bioluminescent Delight: The water glows with ethereal light as the ship sails through a mesmerizing stretch of bioluminescent plankton, casting an otherworldly ambiance.
3-4. Celestial Navigator: The night sky reveals a constellation that guides the ship, providing a temporary bonus to navigation or granting insight into a hidden location.
5-6. Mysterious Fog Bank: The ship sails into a dense fog bank, concealing strange sounds and eerie shapes. It dissipates after a while, leaving the crew wondering what they witnessed.
7-8. Song of the Sirens: A hauntingly beautiful melody fills the air, captivating those aboard the ship. The source of the music remains elusive but stirs intense emotions.
9-10. Message in a Bottle: A weathered, sealed bottle bobs alongside the ship, containing a message from a distant traveler seeking aid or sharing a cryptic riddle.
A playful dolphin escort. Artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. 11-12. Dolphin Escort: A playful pod of dolphins joins the ship, gracefully leaping and swimming alongside, as if guiding the crew towards a significant discovery or impending danger.
13-14. Flotsam and Jetsam: The ship encounters a floating debris field, harboring remnants of a shipwreck, valuable items, or a survivor desperately in need of rescue.
15-16. Mermaid’s Lament: A mournful melody reaches the ship’s ears as a curious mermaid emerges from the water, sharing a tragic tale or offering a cryptic warning.
17-18. Roving Trading Vessel: An unusual ship, brimming with exotic wares and colorful characters, sails by. The crew has the opportunity to engage in trade or gather information.
19-20. Oceanic Mirage: The crew spots a mirage on the horizon, appearing as a shimmering island or a distant vessel. It fades away as they approach, leaving them questioning their senses.
21-22. Storm’s Symphony: The thunderous storm that brews overhead transforms into a mesmerizing symphony of lightning and thunder, evoking awe and granting temporary inspiration to those who witness it.
23-24. Whirlpool’s Secret: The ship sails near a powerful whirlpool, revealing a hidden underwater cave or ancient treasure chamber accessible only during certain tidal conditions.
25-26. Starlit Reflections: On a calm night, the stars above reflect perfectly on the undisturbed sea, creating a breathtaking celestial mirror that mesmerizes those who witness it.
27-28. Lost Mariner’s Journal: The crew discovers a waterlogged journal floating in the sea, chronicling the adventures of a long-lost sailor, and revealing valuable navigational insights or hidden knowledge.
29-30. Coral Reef Serenade: A choir of aquatic creatures harmonizes in a symphony of song and dance, performed around a vibrant coral reef. Witnessing this enchanting display grants a temporary bonus to charisma-based checks.
31-32. Ghostly Flotilla: A spectral armada appears on the horizon, manned by the shades of long-deceased sailors. They pass by the ship without interference, leaving the crew with a sense of awe and wonder.
33-34. Enchanted Breeze: A gentle breeze fills the sails, carrying with it melodious whispers that share tales of forgotten lands or distant legends, inspiring the crew’s creativity.
35-36. Lighthouse Beacon: A remote lighthouse emerges from the darkness, providing a guiding light for ships at sea. It serves as a welcoming haven or harbors a secret within its walls.
37-38. Kraken’s Lullaby: The ship sails through an area inhabited by a slumbering kraken, surrounded by a serene calmness that evokes a sense of tranquility and safety.
39-40. Triton’s Greeting: A regal triton emerges from the depths, offering guidance or challenging the crew to a riddle or contest, promising rewards for success.
41-42. Spectacular Migration: The ship witnesses a breathtaking migration of aquatic creatures, such as massive whales or graceful sea turtles, granting a temporary connection to nature for those who behold it.
43-44. Sunken Ship’s Bounty: The crew spots a partially submerged shipwreck, still holding valuable cargo or secrets waiting to be discovered with the aid of skilled divers.
45-46. Mystic Tides: The ship sails through a region where the tides take on a mystical quality, revealing submerged paths or hidden entrances to underwater realms.
47-48. Elusive Seafarer: A mysterious sailor, speaking in riddles and prophecies, boards the ship briefly, imparting cryptic knowledge before disappearing as mysteriously as they arrived.
49-50. Living Reef: A massive, sentient coral reef comes to life, interacting with the ship and its crew, sharing ancient wisdom, or granting a temporary blessing for respecting the sea’s harmony.
51-52. Mysterious Shipwreck: The ship stumbles upon a sunken vessel that defies explanation. It appears to be from a time long past or a civilization unknown, tempting the crew with the allure of lost treasures and untold stories.
53-54. Haunted Waters: The ship sails into an area haunted by vengeful spirits, causing unsettling phenomena such as flickering lights, disembodied voices, or objects moving on their own. The spirits may have a message to convey or require assistance to find peace.
55-56. Legendary Seafarer’s Rest: The crew discovers a hidden island where a legendary seafarer, believed to have perished long ago, resides in peaceful seclusion. They can offer valuable advice, teach new skills, or share tales of the sea.
57-58. Eerie Sea Silence: The ship enters a region where all sounds are absorbed, creating an unsettling silence that heightens the crew’s senses. It may hold hidden dangers or offer a respite from the usual clamor of the sea.
59-60. Leviathan’s Wake: A massive leviathan breaches near the ship, its sheer size and power awe-inspiring. The encounter may evoke fear, but it could also serve as a moment of reverence for the wonders of the natural world.
61-62. Treacherous Currents: The ship finds itself caught in powerful currents, requiring skilled navigation or clever tactics to escape their grasp. Success brings a sense of accomplishment and the admiration of the crew.
63-64. Mirage Island: A mirage of a lush, tropical island appears on the horizon, complete with palm trees, pristine beaches, and the promise of relaxation. However, it proves elusive, vanishing as the ship draws near.
65-66. Seafarer’s Graveyard: The ship comes across a desolate area littered with the wreckage of countless vessels. It serves as a chilling reminder of the sea’s unforgiving nature and may hold clues to the perils that lie ahead.
67-68. Lunar Tide: The moon’s gravitational pull creates an unusually high tide, revealing hidden caves, underwater passages, or submerged treasures that are normally inaccessible. The crew must act swiftly to explore before the tide recedes.
69-70. Whispers from the Deep: Faint, unintelligible whispers rise from the depths, hinting at ancient secrets or forgotten knowledge. Deciphering these mysterious voices may lead the crew to a hidden discovery.
71-72. Enchanted Seashells: The crew finds seashells imbued with magical properties, granting temporary enhancements or spellcasting abilities. These shells can be used in rituals, traded for favors, or kept as valuable souvenirs.
73-74. Lost Navigation Charts: A tattered and waterlogged set of navigation charts drifts alongside the ship. Although damaged, they provide hints to hidden routes, uncharted islands, or treacherous reefs.
75-76. Monstrous Migration: A migration of colossal sea creatures, such as giant sea serpents or immense octopuses, causes a temporary disruption in the ship’s course. The crew must navigate carefully to avoid colliding with these awe-inspiring beasts.
77-78. Singing Sandbar: The ship encounters a sandbar that emits melodic tones when struck or walked upon. This enchanting phenomenon grants temporary bonuses to performance-based skills or attracts the attention of curious creatures.
79-80. Sunken Temple: The ship comes across the ruins of an ancient temple submerged beneath the waves. Exploring this underwater marvel reveals forgotten relics, hidden chambers, or puzzles that guard ancient knowledge.
81-82. Poltergeist Seas: The crew finds themselves in a region where mischievous spirits play pranks, causing objects to move, disappear, or reappear in unexpected places. Overcoming these antics may lead to the spirits’ gratitude or further challenges.
83-84. Ghostly Navigator: A ghostly figure materializes on the ship, possessing vast knowledge of uncharted waters and navigation techniques. They offer to guide the crew to a specific location or reveal a hidden treasure before fading away.
85-86. Stormcaller’s Orchestra: The ship sails through a storm infused with a symphony of sounds—thunder, rain, and wind harmonize to create a captivating, almost musical experience. The crew may find inspiration or insights within this natural spectacle.
87-88. Enchanted Bioluminescence: The waters become alive with a radiant display of bioluminescent organisms, illuminating the ship’s path, and creating a mesmerizing scene. These enchanted lights may have magical properties or attract otherworldly creatures.
89-90. Navigational Riddle: The crew encounters a magical puzzle or riddle inscribed on an ancient stone marker. Solving the riddle reveals a hidden navigational route, a forgotten island, or a trove of valuable information.
91-92. Pirate’s Buried Treasure: Following a cryptic treasure map, the crew discovers a hidden cache of pirate loot buried on a remote island or at the ocean floor. Unearthing the treasure may attract the attention of other treasure seekers or supernatural guardians.
93-94. Siren’s Song: The ship becomes entranced by a hauntingly beautiful siren’s song, threatening to lure the crew to their doom. Overcoming the enchantment requires strong willpower or counteracting the song with a different melody.
95-96. Aerial Show: Majestic flying creatures, such as giant roc or shimmering dragons, engage in an aerial display above the ship. Observing these magnificent creatures may bestow temporary flight or inspire tales of mythical creatures.
97-98. Becalmed: The ship sails into an area where the wind mysteriously vanishes, leaving the vessel stranded in a state of calm. The crew must find creative solutions, such as rowing or utilizing magical means, to navigate and escape this stagnant situation. Time may become a pressing concern as supplies dwindle.
99-100. Calm Before the Storm: The sea turns eerily calm, an unnatural stillness that precedes a violent storm. The crew must prepare for the impending tempest or search for shelter to ride out the waves and winds.
Conclusion:
That is all for now. I hope these additions bring a bit of wonder to your party’s seafaring exploits. Thanks for stopping by. If you have any suggestions for other encounters, please leave a note in the comments.
If you would like to see my other random lists, you may find them here. My maps with plot hooks are collected here. Finally, I have a few general posts here. Have a great week!
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Consider Creating a Player’s Guide for Your Campaign World
When it comes to running tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some players enjoy diving deep into character creation and exploring complex rules and mechanics, while others prefer a faster, more streamlined experience. That is ok. There is no “right” way to enjoy the hobby, and it is all about finding what works best for you and your group. This post will not be for everyone. I am merely sharing something that works well for the groups that I run games for.
I personally enjoy digging into my games. I see character creation as part of the game and not some chore that must be suffered though. As a GM, working on my campaign world gives me a great deal of joy and is probably just as much fun to me as actively playing.
Creating My Player’s Guide
While not necessary, I will usually create a campaign map once my player’s guide is complete. As I did when I wrote my post about creating a Who’s Who for your campaign, I wanted to share something that I enjoy doing for my campaign settings. When I am in between games and decide that it is about time to start a new campaign, the first thing I will do is start jotting down some notes to create a player’s guide.
It all starts with my original inspiration. Perhaps a new book series or movie caught my attention or possibly I stumbled onto some old property from my youth that I wanted to build on (this was the case with the Land of the Lost influence in my Revisiting the Isle of Dread post.) By this point I will likely know what genre I am picturing and probably also know which game system I want to use.
Next, I will get down to more formally capturing my thoughts. This step usually takes place in a Word doc or spiral notebook. I will tell my players a bit about what to expect from the campaign. For instance, will this be an epic tale of saving the world or a lighthearted romp in a fanciful setting?
Mind you, this is far from complete. I am not proposing mapping out a full campaign here. There is no way I could know what kind of twists and turns will develop. I merely know what kind of game and what kind of setting I want to be playing in.
A polished up player’s guide that has evolved over a few campaigns. From there I start to think about the types of cultures that exist in the world. For example, if I want to include a region that is vaguely similar to ancient Greece or the Shire from The Hobbit, I note that. I will create a name for each region and jot down a few facts about it. Again, this is far from complete. I do not force anything but rather list the areas that come to me organically.
I do not go crazy with this but rather provide enough information to remind myself (and my players) “Hey, this place is similar to ancient Greece.” In the case of any unique locations that were purely created by me, I simply strive to give players enough of a feel for the location to allow their imagination to fill in the blanks.
Finally, if I am running with some new players I might also include some information about the various classes or professions that will be available in the campaign. This is largely dependent on the game system we are using and which selections I feel would be a good fit for the campaign.
With all of this information in hand, I will then polish it up a bit. I format things and drop in some pictures to help convey what I am going for. There is no need to go crazy here, though I find that making the player’s guide look sharp goes a long way toward early player buy in. Once everything is in order, I will distribute the document to my players. I ask them to skim through and give me feedback as to where they think they would like their character to come from, as well as what class/profession they would like to play.
The Players
I enjoy the process once my players get hold of the document. Again, if you are the type who prefers to roll up characters in 5 minutes and hit the dungeon, this probably is not going to appeal to you. However, for our games, this really starts to breathe life into the budding campaign.
Over the course of the next week or so, players will reach out to me with questions. Some may immediately relate to certain areas within the campaign world and decide that is where they want their characters to come from. Occasionally a player might not see a locale that calls to them. When this occurs, it is not a problem but rather an opportunity for us to discuss and possibly add something new to the document.
Natural questions develop about certain regions such as “What is the capital city of _____?” or “What deities are worshipped in _______?” I generally do not know the answers to these questions until they are asked but am able to create them once I know that they are of particular interest to my players. As I do, I jot them down and add them into the document. In this way I am not filling in an entire campaign setting from scratch but merely focusing on the parts that are important to my players.
An old player’s guide from my friend Mike’s game, dating back to ~1988. You may have noticed that I did not mention a section on races/ancestries for the game. That is largely because I tend to run games that are lower fantasy and human centric. When I do have nonhumans in my games they would generally be mentioned in the location description. Something like “Westberry Farthing” might be listed as the pastoral home to the Halflings or “Tindu Loren” could be home to the Forest Elves. On the off-chance that a player wants to play something like an anthropomorphic rabbit, they can always discuss with me and we will see whether or not it would make sense in the world.
Closing
That is really all there is to it. As with previous posts, this may all be common sense to you or you may see it as completely unnecessary. If that is the case, that is fine. This is simply a little tool that has been valuable in my home games and has given me a great deal of pleasure outside of our actual game sessions.
Beyond the value for the campaign at hand, I will often resurrect old player’s guides for other campaigns down the road. When reused like this I can often update them with new information, based on all of the adventures that have already taken place. This process saves me a great deal of time and also adds to the richness of the campaign world.
That is all for now. Do you do anything similar to this with your own games or do you have any tips or suggestions to add? Thanks for reading.
If you would like to see some other general posts, you may find them here.
If you would like to see some maps with plot hooks, you may find them here.
Have a great week!
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50 Overnight Encounters
Any band of adventurers worth their salt will take their time to set up a watch for the night. More often than not the night passes uneventfully and the journey slogs along. Sometimes you want something to shake your group up a bit, without resorting to a wandering monster.
All of these could range from unexplained occurrences to hooks for you to base entire adventures off of. It just depends on what you need for your game at the moment. I find that occasionally tossing in something like this will help to keep everyone engaged during long periods of travel.
These also work as good fillers, when I need something else to happen prior to the end of a session. Whatever the case, roll a d100 and consult below, to see what goes bump in the night.
1-2. Celestial Spectacle: The night sky comes alive with a breathtaking display of shooting stars or a rare planetary alignment.
3-4. Harmonious Melody: Enchanting music fills the air, seemingly emanating from an unseen source. The music is not loud enough to wake anyone up and will cease if any sleeping party members are awakened.
5-6. Glowing Fauna: Bioluminescent creatures emerge from the darkness, illuminating the surroundings with their ethereal glow.
7-8. Astral Projection: One of the sleeping characters experiences a vivid and prophetic dream, offering hints or warnings about their future endeavors.
9-10. Whispers in the Dark: Those on watch hear faint whispers or distant voices, carried on the night breeze. These hint at hidden secrets or long-lost knowledge.
11-12. Ghostly Encounter: A friendly or troubled spirit manifests during the night, seeking closure or offering guidance to the characters.
13-14. Lost Artifact: The characters on watch stumble upon a forgotten relic or artifact, partially buried in the ground, with unknown powers or a mysterious past.
15-16. Dream Realm: Sleeping characters find themselves in a shared dream, navigating a surreal landscape or confronting their deepest fears.
17-18. The Illuminated Path: Characters on watch notice a faint, glowing trail leading to a hidden location or an important discovery.
Standing watch. Art by: © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. 19-20. Time Warp: Sleeping characters experience a temporary time distortion, witnessing events from the past or glimpses into the future.
21-22. Shifting Shadows: The campsite becomes a gateway to a pocket dimension or a parallel reality, where familiar places are twisted and distorted.
23-24. Animal Messenger: An intelligent animal approaches the camp, bearing a message or a warning from a distant ally or foe.
25-26. Flickering Flames: The campfire dances and morphs into mesmerizing shapes, revealing cryptic symbols or visions to those who observe it.
27-28. Enchanted Sleep: Characters on watch drift off to sleep. When the party wakes, they find themselves in a different location, seemingly transported during their slumber.
29-30. Nature’s Blessing: A light rain starts out of nowhere. As it lets up, the characters wake up to find their wounds healed, their supplies replenished, and a sense of rejuvenation.
31-32. Moonlit Ritual: A secretive group performs a ritual under the moonlight, offering the characters on watch a chance to witness or interrupt their proceedings.
33-34. Nighttime Market: A mysterious bazaar materializes near the campsite, offering exotic goods, rare ingredients, or peculiar services.
35-36. The Invisible Hand: The characters wake up to find objects around the campsite rearranged or tidied up by an unseen helpful presence.
37-38. Luminescent Guardian: A gentle spirit of light takes on the role of protecting the characters during the night, guiding them away from harm.
39-40. The Shadow’s Beckoning: Shadows in the surrounding area come to life, swirling and forming shapes, hinting at hidden paths or secrets.
41-42. Portentous Clouds: Strange cloud formations gather above the campsite, revealing foreboding symbols or images that foreshadow future events.
43-44. The Whisperer: A mysterious figure emerges from the darkness, claiming to possess ancient knowledge and offering cryptic advice.
45-46. Trapped in a Dream: One of the characters becomes trapped in a vivid, lifelike dream, requiring the others to find a way to wake them.
47-48. Phantasmal Menagerie: A collection of spectral animals gathers around the campsite, observing the characters with curious, ethereal eyes.
49-50. Nighttime Companion: A loyal and intelligent creature approaches the characters, seeking companionship or offering assistance during their travels.
51-52. Veil of Illusion: The characters wake up to find themselves in an illusionary realm, where reality bends and shifts, requiring them to solve puzzles to escape.
53-54. Elemental Reverie: The elements around the campsite come to life, dancing and swirling in a mesmerizing display of elemental harmony.
55-56. Echoes of the Past: The characters witness ghostly echoes of historical events or significant moments that occurred in the area, gaining insights into its hidden history.
A cozy campfire as the party prepares to turn in for the night. Art by:© 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved.
57-58. Feywild Crossing: The campsite becomes a temporary gateway to the Feywild, where the characters encounter mischievous fey creatures and experience the whimsical nature of the plane.
59-60. Shadow Puppetry: Shadows cast by the campfire take on a life of their own, performing a silent and captivating shadow play that tells a mysterious story.
61-62. Whispering Trees: The trees surrounding the campsite whisper ancient secrets or foretell future events to those who listen closely, providing valuable information or warnings.
63-64. Elemental Balance: The characters are visited by an elemental spirit that offers them a unique and temporary boon related to one of the four elements—earth, air, fire, or water.
65-66. Vanishing Act: The campsite suddenly disappears, leaving the characters in an otherworldly realm or plane for a short time before reappearing in a different location.
67-68. Illusory Menace: Characters on watch are plagued by illusory creatures or illusions that mimic dangerous foes, testing their wits and abilities.
69-70. Spirit Guide: The characters encounter a wise spirit guide who provides guidance and cryptic advice, leading them to hidden treasures or revealing important information.
71-72. Ephemeral Guardians: Ethereal and translucent guardians appear around the campsite, protecting the characters from harm during the night.
73-74. Haunted Dreams: Sleeping characters share a collective dream haunted by the spirits of the past, requiring them to confront and resolve a forgotten tragedy.
75-76. Luminous Dew: The morning reveals that the campsite is covered in sparkling and magical dew, which can be collected and used for various enchanting purposes.
77-78. Aurora’s Embrace: The sky fills with vibrant auroras, and the characters are enveloped in their mesmerizing glow, temporarily granting them supernatural abilities or insights.
79-80. Time Loop: Characters on watch drift off to sleep. Then the night repeats itself, with the characters reliving the same events and encounters until they discover the cause and find a way to break the loop.
81-82. Feywild Market: A bustling Feywild market manifests near the campsite, offering strange and exotic goods, curious trinkets, and intriguing bargains.
83-84. Cursed Relic: Characters on watch stumble upon a cursed object that brings misfortune or strange effects until they find a way to cleanse or dispose of it.
85-86. Lunar Serenade: The moon’s radiant light fills the campsite, soothing and invigorating the characters, granting them temporary bonuses to their abilities.
Adventurer catching a few winks. Art by Diego Castro. Used with permission. All rights reserved. 87-88. Guiding Stars: A constellation forms in the night sky, providing guidance and navigation aid to the characters, helping them find their way or revealing hidden paths.
89-90. Feywild Poltergeist: A playful and mischievous fey creature infiltrates the campsite, pulling harmless pranks and challenges the characters to a game or contest.
91-92. Arcane Nexus: Characters on watch discover a site of potent magical energy, where spells behave unexpectedly, wild magic surges, and magical phenomena occur.
93-94. Shadow Gate: Characters on watch discover a hidden portal to a plane of darkness and gloom, where they must navigate treacherous shadows and confront shadow creatures.
95-96. Ethereal Visitors: Ethereal beings or spirits from another plane temporarily materialize at the campsite, seeking assistance, guidance, or redemption.
97-98. Starfall: A shower of shooting stars rains down upon the campsite, each carrying a mysterious and magical effect when collected or interacted with.
99-100. Night’s Blessing: The night bestows a temporary boon upon the characters, enhancing their abilities, granting them insight, or imbuing them with a sense of profound luck and fortune.
That is all for now. I hope these additions bring a bit of wonder to your party’s overnight experiences. Thanks for stopping by. If you have any suggestions for other encounters, please leave a note in the comments.
For maps & plot hooks, go here.
For my Idea Chest posts, go here.
For some random tables, go here.
Want to help me to compile a list of TTRPG conventions? Click here.
Finally, for a bit about me and some general stuff, this is the spot.
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The Shadowhaven Crypt
Real life responsibilities pulled me reluctantly away from tabletop role-playing games at some point in the late 1990s. It wasn’t until 2014 that I dusted myself off and started to participate in the hobby again. I wasn’t completely without an escape during this time. I started playing World of Warcraft about four months after launch and I played regularly until the end of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion.
While my WoW days are well behind me, something about working on my map for this week’s post kept bringing me back to the venerable video game that will be turning 20 next year. If you have fond memories of the Warcraft universe, enjoy this silly escape. If not, please allow me this indulgence and I’ll be back to regular posts soon enough.
The Shadowhaven Crypt
In Duskwood, hidden away just south of the Tranquil Gardens Cemetery lies the entrance to the Shadowhaven Crypt. Barnabas Shadowhaven was a wealthy Stormwind merchant who had retired to this region back in the days when it was still known as Brightwood. Whispers had circulated about Shadowhaven being involved in questionable practices. Some claimed that he dabbled in forbidden magics, while others believed he had dealings with unsavory entities from the shadowy realms. The exact nature of these rumors remained nebulous, but they were enough to create an air of suspicion and mistrust around him.
Tranquil Garden Cemetery. Such it was that there wasn’t a great deal of fanfare surrounding his passing. His estate in Grand Hamlet had been boarded up and razed some years later as the town expanded. By the time of Medivh’s passing and the change of the town’s name to Darkshire, Barnabas Shadowhaven was long since forgotten.
With the recall of the Stormwind army to other parts of the realm, the situation in Duskwood is turning grim. Their resources already stretched thin, the Night Watch has asked the party to investigate strange occurrences near the Shadowhaven Crypt and put to rest whatever dwells there.
Entrance – 1
The entrance to the crypt is marked by a massive, banded iron door embossed with the name Shadowhaven. Its aged surface bears signs of wear, hinting at the passage of time and the mysteries that lie beyond. While the door appears quite old and the surrounding area is overgrown, it pulls open easily.
Upon opening the door, the party will immediately be attacked by 3 Skeletal Warriors, and 2 Skeletal Ghouls. If defeated, these mobs will yield the following: 20 silver pieces, 10 wool cloth, 2 delicious cave mold, a brocade cloak, & 3 moonberry juice.
Oddly, a lit torch a placed in a sconce on either side of the entrance. Opposite the door, the hall leads south to a staircase going down.
Rickety Swing Bridge – 2
A rickety swing bridge spans a 10-foot chasm here. It stretches precariously between 4 wooden stakes. As the party steps onto the bridge, they can hear the distant rush of water echoing from about 30 feet below. The bridge sways with each step, testing their balance and nerve as they carefully make their way across the gap. While this looks dangerous, the party has nothing to fear here unless they do anything crazy.
Dining Room – 3
While certainly an odd thing to be found within a crypt, this large room appears to be a dining room. 2 Restless Spirits are busily setting the table when the party arrives. Upon entering the room, both will crossly scold the party and inform them that “supper is not ready yet!”
Duskwood. If the party closes the door and does not enter the room, the spirits will go back to their work. Otherwise, they will attack. If defeated, the spirits will drop the following: 12 silver pieces, 6 copper pieces, 4 Silk Cloth, 1 Healing Potion, & a bludgeoning cudgel.
The Larder – 4
This room is empty save for an assortment of crates and barrels. The contents of most of these has long since rotted away. However, a thorough search turns up some old herbs and spices, along with oil & vinegar in earthenware containers.
Bone Chamber – 5
Skeletal Raider This small room is littered with bones and a cage toward the eastern edge of the room. If the part simply crosses through the room and exits via the door on the other side, nothing will happen. However, if the party disturbs any of the piles of bones or tampers with the cage, a chill wind will blow through the room and 3 Skeletal Raiders will form from the bones and attack.
If defeated, the following loot may be recovered from the room: 28 silver pieces, 8 pieces of Silk Cloth, & a broken mirror.
Natural Cavern – 6
This cave’s irregular walls bear the marks of untamed nature. Within this chamber, a natural spring emerges from a hole in the western wall, creating a small tranquil pool in the center of the room. The soothing sound of water echoes as it spills over a small waterfall and flows out through the eastern wall, lending an atmosphere of serenity amidst the crypt’s mysterious ambience.
While this cavern may seem calm, a nest of 4 Black Widow Hatchlings has made a nest in the opposite corner. Once any characters venture to the center of the room, they will scurry from their nest and attack! A thorough search of the nest will yield the following items: 1 Widow Venom Sac, 2 pieces of Spider’s Silk, and a pair of inscribed leather spaulders.
Burial Chamber – 7
This small, dimly lit cavern holds a stone sarcophagus at its heart. The stone surface is etched with intricate carvings and the room exudes an aura of reverence.
In death, Barnabas Shadowhaven has become a Rotted One. He will rise from his final rest to attack the party as soon as they enter the chamber. Joining in the attack will be d12 Plague Rats who scurry from the walls.
Following the fight, surviving party members will discover a small chest within the sarcophagus. Contained withing are papers indicating that Shadowhaven had dabbled in necromancy prior to his death. Apparently he fancied the idea of becoming a lich but must have met his end prior to mastering the art. Also located within the chest are 32 silver pieces, a moss agate, a jade, and a cobalt ring.
Final Thoughts
I’ve kicked around the idea of a Warcraft themed campaign from time to time. My players tend to be folks with very little gaming experience (tabletop or otherwise), so it would allow me with a lore-rich setting to run a West Marches style campaign. Love it or hate it, I know I could do a session zero with a group of friends and play them the original World of Warcraft cinematic trailer to generate a great deal of excitement.
Thanks for stopping by. What experience if any have you had with World of Warcraft? Have you ever dabbled with the setting along with your ttrpgs? Have you played Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game or World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game. I’d be curious to hear about either, as they each were released while I was away from the hobby.
Over the years I’ve stumbled across some folks who have put quite a bit of work into some Warcraft resources for 5e. I’m thinking of going in another direction but if this sort of thing interests you, check out:
That’s all for this week. Thanks again & have a great week. If you’d like to see some other maps with plot hooks, here you go.
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The Beast of Zarechka – Part 3
This week I’m going to get to the bottom of things and expose the beast who has been terrorizing the village of Zarechka. With all of that aside I will wrap up by providing a number of suggestions and unanswered questions to hopefully spur ideas that you can use in your own games. For those of you who are just finding me, here are links to Part 1 & Part 2 respectively.
Up to this point the party’s investigations will point them toward the ruins of Kelthura. The remains of this ancient city are nestled at the foot of the mountains to the northeast. Little is known of the peoples who once lived there, though local legends claim that they were practitioners of dark magic. The ruins themselves are largely shunned by the locals and have gradually been swallowed up by the marsh over the years.
For the GM
It’s for good reason that all signs point toward the ruins of Kelthura. Unknown to the rest of the villagers, the young seamstress Anya Ivanova would sometimes visit the marshy area to gather mushrooms and enjoy the solitude. Six weeks ago, on a day when the foraging was particularly fruitful, she ventured deep enough into the marsh to actually come face to face with some of the Kelthurian structures that still stand.
Something compelled the young woman to continue exploring until she came to a crumbling wall covered with crude paintings. The scene on the wall seemed to portray a wizard dealing with what seemed to be a creature that was part man but yet part beast. She was inexplicably fascinated with the paintings and followed them until the came to a pedestal upon which rested a large ruby. Mesmerized by the beauty of the jewel, Anya snatched up the gemstone and took it back to her modest home.
There was no way for the young seamstress to know what calamity this simple act would unleash. You see, ages ago, the city of Kelthura was home to practitioners of dark magic. One such magic user had summoned into the world a terrible creature, bent on carnage. The wizard had bound the beast to his will and used it to put an end to his enemies. However, when the creature became too much too control, the thaumaturge performed a ritual that placed the beast in stasis, as long as the ruby was undisturbed. Removing the ruby had ended that and deep within the marsh, an unspeakable evil awoke.
While Anya arrived safely home to her cottage that day, the beast had been awakened. From that day forward its unsatiable hunger drove it to venture out from the ruins in order to feed.
Through the first couple of attacks, she remained completely unaware that the creature preying on villagers had anything to do with the ruins. However, on the terrible day that she finally came face to face with beast, she immediately recalled the crude paintings on the walls in Kelthura. With her dying act she attempted to scrawl out a message to warn whoever might find her body.
The Beast of Zarechka
I wanted the creature terrorizing Zarechka to be something different altogether. When I first sat down to write this I was picturing a werewolf as being the culprit. From there I went to a barghest and even something as simple as a giant wolf. Instead, I settled on a custom creature that combines wolf and humanoid features. As I often do in my home games, I wanted to maintain an air of mystery that would make the adventure more engaging and memorable.
Since my posts are designed to simply provide little plot hooks and ideas for my readers, I’ll leave to true nature of the beast up to you. I suggest that you try to keep your players on their toes. Our players are frequently well-versed all of the different monsters in the published game books. The meta knowledge can really detract from what should be a chilling encounter.
The Beast of Zarechka. Artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. The Beast of Zarechka is a terrifying creature that appears to be a hybrid of a wolf and a human. Standing 9 feet tall on its hind legs, the creature weighs nearly 400 pounds. Having olive colored skin, a well-muscled physique is visible from a frontal view. However, its back is covered from head to toe in jet black fur.
The monster has pointed ears and a mouth full of sharp, bestial teeth. Glowing red eyes seem to pierce through anyone who looks into them. Its hands are large and possess long, sharp claws, capable of tearing through flesh with ease. The creature’s legs are powerful and built like those of a great wolf. It moves with a grace and agility that belies its size and can seamlessly switch between sprinting on all fours and standing on two legs to fight or intimidate its prey.
Having spent an age in the ruins of Kelthura, the beast is still bound to the location. Whether this is due to some magical means or simply from a sense of familiarity, I will leave up to you. It ventures out to feed, ranging far enough to locate suitable prey but always returns to the ruins once sated. As such, it is likely that it will be in the marsh surrounding the ruins that the party will ultimately encounter the beast.
The Marsh
The villagers in Zarechka will gladly provide detailed directions to the marsh. As the party makes their way through the dense undergrowth, anyone with tracking or survival skills will pick up a trail. If the party investigated Dimitri Kozlov’s Farm, they would recognize these as being the same tracks. With the hind feet of a great wolf and occasional impressions of large, clawed human hands, they are indeed unique.
The ground beneath the party’s feet will gradually soften and the tracks will be easier to follow as they approach the marsh and the ruins of Kelthura. A broken stone bridge leads out into the stagnant water. Only a foot deep at the bank, the tracks clearly show that the beast passed through this way recently.
On the opposite bank, roughly 70’ away, the party will be able to make out some man-made structures. While crumbling and overgrown, these are the first signs of the ruins of Kelthura. If any of the party members set foot into the water, a piercing howl will ring out from across the way. Venturing forward, the party will find that the water is only 2’ deep, even at its deepest. Unfortunately, the water depth is not the problem. The same telltale mud that helped to direct the party here in the first place is also quite a hindrance. Consider this to be difficult terrain and movement speed will be halved.
After spending 1 full round in the water, characters will start to sink in the mud. At this point, to move through the mud, each party member must make a Strength check or Athletics check (whichever is higher). The DC will start at 12 for the lighter areas on the map and increase to 15 for the darker, more treacherous areas. If a party member fails this check, they become mired in the mud. They are restrained and unable to move until they are freed. A mired party member can be assisted by another party member who is not mired. The assisting character must use their action to make a successful Strength check or Athletics check against the same DC. If successful, they can pull their ally free from the mud.
As the party struggles through the treacherous mud, a chilling silence settles over the marsh. It’s at that point that the beast will attack. With a bestial howl, the beast rises from beneath the remnants of the bridge, on the small patch of dry land ahead.
As a lair action, I allow the beast to move through the water and mud while ignoring the penalties faced by the characters. In this manner I maintain some of the terror of the situation. Let’s face it, in real life (or even a movie) an encounter like this would be scary business. However, often in TTRPGs, the party can feel like a group of superheroes and a single foe is hardly intimidating. I opted for this as a way to ratchet up the tension. It allows this primal creature to move gracefully and attack where it will have the greatest impact. As with deciding upon the nature of the beast itself, choose its abilities based on what will best fit your game.
The Outcome
Assuming the party defeats the beast, they will surely want to return to Zarechka to claim their reward from mayor Russoff. However, there are quite a few other twists and turns that you could build on from here.
- The ruins of Kelthura themselves could certainly be expanded upon. What mysteries and treasures lie deeper within the ruins? Certainly, the grateful people of Zarechka would be more that happy to allow the party to use the village as their base of operations for further exploration.
- Will the party ever fi the ruby that Anya Ivanova discovered? If so, will they be able to puzzle out that the beast had been held in stasis for years? Are there other being held in a similar state?
- While it didn’t come into play for this adventure, one of the rumors mentioned that old man Igor believed the attacks were the result of a curse brought upon the village by a witch who had been banished years ago. Is she still out there and will all of the recent commotion bring her around?
Closing Thoughts
This one got away from me a bit. My intention has always been to focus on “bite-sized” source material and I don’t think a 3-parter fits well within that framework.
Depending on the system that you are running, this will require some work on your part (particularly in terms of the nature of the beast and the mechanics of the marsh battle). That said, please understand that I’m merely trying to provide snippets of ideas for you to build on. Remember, everything can be tailored to fit your party’s power level and preferences. Feel free to adapt and modify everything to suit your game and create an exciting and memorable encounter. Take what you want and leave the rest.
I appreciate you taking the time to stop by. If you’ve found any of this useful, please drop a note in the comments and if you’d like to see some of my other creations, I’ve listed them here. Thanks and have a great week!
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The Beast of Zarechka – Part 2
The week I’m going to continue the adventure. I had hoped to be able to knock this out in two posts but it looks like it’s going to be 3. If you missed part 1, you may find it here.
I will pick up were we left off last week with covering the remaining areas that the party may want to visit. As a result of their investigations, it is likely the adventurers will zero in on the ruins of Kelthura as a likely location to search for the beast.
Kelthura was an ancient city nestled at the foot of the mountains to the northeast. Little is known of the peoples who once lived there, though local legends claim that they were practitioners of dark magic. The ruins themselves are largely shunned by the locals and have gradually been swallowed up by the marsh over the years.
Location #3 Anya Ivanova’s Foraging Spot
If the party should inquire about Anya Ivanova, the villagers will be able to direct them to where her body was found. The most recent victim, her remains were recovered 3 days ago. She was found in the woods, a little over two miles from the village and across a small stream. Luckily she was known to often forage for mushrooms and herbs in the area or it may have taken much longer to find her.
Arriving on the scene, the party will note signs of a recent disturbance at the location (marked with a #3 on the map). The earth is upturned and a few broken twigs and crushed leaves are scattered around. The area is surrounded by tall trees, their branches creating a canopy overhead, filtering the sunlight, and casting the forest floor in a dappled light.
Off to the side of the clearing, the party spots a large, flat rock. As they approach, they see that it’s been defaced with a chilling message. Scrawled in a deep red color, clearly blood, are the letters “Kel…” before the message trails off. It is possible that villagers may provide the party with this clue without them venturing out to the location themselves. However, without any of the other clues, none of the villagers will be able to speculate as to what it means.
Location #4 The Berry Patch
The berry patch is where Valentyna Russoff caught a glimpse of the beast. Alongside Alexi’s farm, this area is well-maintained. Rows of trees and bushes are neatly arranged in the fertile soil. The air is thick with the sweet scent of ripe berries, and the sounds of buzzing bees and chirping birds can be heard all around.
As the party arrives on the scene they will notice a group of rough-looking men milling about in the patch. This is the group of outsiders who arrived in town last week. They brought with them the carcass of a giant wolf and attempted to claim the reward for killing the beast. When the mayor refused to pay, the group became disgruntled and unruly.
There is some room here to play this out at you like. It is certainly possible that this group of 5 ruffians won’t take kindly to the fact that the party has been “snooping” around town and possibly honing in on their quarry. If you need to kill some time, the outsiders could become belligerent and end up fighting the party right in the berry patch.
In the event that a fight does break out, the group will surrender as soon as the party starts to get the upper hand. This is just a group of random thugs and they will not be prepared to go toe to toe with an equipped adventuring party.
Whether there is an altercation or not, this encounter is here to give you the ability to pass extra information on to the party as needed. If you are short on time and need to keep things clipping along, these fellows could pass along the clues found at any of the other sites. This could be done as an apology for getting involved in a skirmish or in hope of getting a few coins from the thankful adventurers.
Back to the Village?
To keep this as simple as possible there are 3 main clues the party might uncover while they investigate sites related to the attacks. Any other these on their own aren’t going to be enough to tip the party off in any particular direction. However, should the party inquire about the clues with the villagers, a clear picture will start to form that it would be wise to head to the ruins of Kelthura.
Villagers will recognize the rune on the pendant as being similar to those found in the ruins of Kelthura. Artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. - The reddish mud found at location #1: Villagers with outdoorsy type occupations will be able to point out that mud resembling this is common in the marshy areas at the foot of the mountains to the northeast.
- The pendant with the strange rune found at location #2: Old-timers will recognize the rune as coming from an ancient people who resided in a city named “Kelthura”. The ruins of Kelthura are actually located roughly 5 miles to the northeast. What they won’t realize is the fact that the pendant had been around the beast’s neck. Lawrence managed to rip it off during the struggle.
- “Kel…”: The letters that Anya scrawled won’t mean much to anyone on their own. However, combined with either of the other two clues, the connection may be made that perhaps she was trying to write “Kelthura”. As someone who would often lose herself in her forest wanderings, Anya was known to sometimes venture to the ruins. Why she would choose to communicate the name of these ancient ruins would still be a bit of a mystery.
Armed with these bits of information it is likely that the party will want to know more about the ruins of Kelthura. If they conclude their investigations and are still not drawn to the ruins, I suggest having the beast make another attack on one of the outlying villagers. This will allow the adventurers to get to the scene while it is still fresh and find fresh tracks that will lead them to Kelthura.
To be continued!
That’s going to do it for me for this week. In my next post I’ll uncover the beast itself, describe the ruins of Kelthura, and provide a number of unanswered questions to hopefully spark ideas for your campaign.
In the meantime if you’d like to check out any other maps with plot hooks I’ve collected them here.
Hello future people! I’ve completed part 3 and you may find it here!
Thank you for reading and have a great week!
Talaraska
Digestible source material to help tabletop RPG GMs run their games.
Talaraska 
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