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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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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 Ivanovawould 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 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!
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.
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!
Darkness looms over the quiet village of Zarechka and rumors of a fearsome beast spread through the countryside. For weeks now, the villagers have lived in terror as a malevolent creature strikes without warning, leaving behind only death and destruction in its wake.
The mayor has put out a call for brave adventurers to come forth and hunt down the beast. But as the party begins their investigation, they soon discover that there may be more to this mystery than meets the eye. Will they uncover the truth behind the terror, or fall prey to the same fate as those who came before them?
This week I’m back with another plot-hook to get your creative juice flowing. As always, I’ll try to keep this as system agnostic as possible. Rather than provide a complete adventure, I’ll set the stage and let you fill in the blanks in the manner that would best suit your table. This week’s will be a three-parter. I’ll set the stage today and then follow up with the rest.
Zarechka
Zarechka is a small village nestled at the foot of a range of forested hills, in a remote corner of Borea. The village is situated near a small river, which provides water for the villagers’ crops and animals.
Houses in the village are made of wood and stone, with thatched roofs and small gardens. The villagers are mostly farmers and craftsmen, and they lead simple lives, working hard to make a living in the rugged wilderness that surrounds them.
Despite its peaceful and welcoming appearance, Zarechka has been terrorized by a series of brutal assaults over the past month. The attacks have been gruesome and concentrated on those outside of the village, including farmers, travelers, and livestock. The villagers have heard haunting howls and strange noises emanating from the nearby forest at night and are certain that a savage beast is responsible.
The village’s mayor, Jacob Russoff, has grown desperate for a solution and has turned to the party for help. Upon arriving in Zarechka, they will feel the palpable tension and fear that grips the village. Folk look at them with a mixture of hope and desperation, praying that they are the ones who will put an end to the reign of terror that has befallen their town.
I’ve included a basic map for the village of Zarechka. Feel free to use it or simply swap in a village from your existing campaign. In terms of the availability of good and services, keep in mind that Zarechka is located in a remote area, so characters will not have access to everything that they might expect to find in a large city.
The Attacks
The attacks started nearly a month ago with the brutal killing of a farmer named Dimitri Kozlov, who lived in a remote cabin near the edge of the forest. Since then, there have been similar attacks with livestock being taken and people being killed. Villagers have also heard haunting howls and strange noises emanating from the forest at night. Despite their efforts to defend themselves, the attacks have become more frequent in recent weeks, and the villagers are now living in constant fear.
The party will surely want to ask the mayor for any information that he can provide regarding the attacks. It is also likely that they will spend some time gathering information from the villagers. Anyone within the village or outlying area will be able to also tell the party will be able to tell the party about the other two victims.
The second victim was a shepherd named Lawrence Talbot, who was found dead in the early morning hours by his fellow shepherds. A young woman named Anya Ivanova was the third. She was a local seamstress who was found dead in the woods, after venturing out to forage for herbs and mushrooms.
Below are a number additional rumors that the party is likely to uncover. (A “T” will indicate that there is at least some truth to the rumor while an “F” will indicate that it is entirely false.)
(T) The mayor’s daughter claims to have seen the creature in the forest while she was out picking berries. Valentyna Russoff actually did catch a glimpse of the creature in broad daylight and should be able to provide a basic description. She would also be able to direct the party to the location of the berry patch.
(F) Old man Igor believes the attacks are the result of a curse brought upon the village by a witch who was banished many years ago.
(T) A group of outsiders passing through town claim to have killed the beast and are looking for a reward for their services. This group arrived in the village last week, with the carcass of a large wolf. They demanded a reward for slaying “the beast”. However, the mayor did not believe that their claim was true and refused to pay. The group left the village, clearly upset and vowing their revenge for having been wronged.
(T) A farmer named Alexei saw the beast dragging off one of his cows in the middle of the night. Alexi’s farm is not far from where Valentyna Russoff saw the beast. Unfortunately, he saw it at night and from the back, so while he can describe it, his description would be similar to that of a great bear.
(F) A visiting scholar from the city believes the attacks are the result of a rogue experiment conducted by a mad scientist who lives in the area.
(T) A blacksmith named Mikhail claims to have found large, clawed footprints near the scene of one of the attacks. Mikhail made a bronze cast of the tracks, and they seem to resemble those of an incredibly large wolf.
(F) A young woman named Katerina believes the attacks are the result of a vengeful spirit seeking revenge for an old injustice.
(F) A hunter named Sergei claims to have seen the beast with his own eyes while he was out tracking a bear. If asked, he will provide the description of an owlbear.
(F) A traveling merchant believes the attacks are the result of a group of bandits who are using the cover of the beast to mask their activities.
(T) A farmer named Vlad claims to have heard the beast howling in the woods at night, and the howls were unlike anything he had ever heard before. Vlad is well-acquainted with the sound of wolves, and he can assure the party that this was no wolf.
These rumors are a little homage to B2 The Keep on the Borderlands and something that I come back to in many of my adventures. Use them at your discretion and according to what need from the adventure. If you’re tight on time and just using this as a one-shot, you might eliminate the false rumors altogether. On the other hand, if you’re needing to kill time while you work on other parts of your campaign, some red herrings might keep your party tied up for a while.
I’m going to be fleshing out some of the areas that the party is likely to want to explore. I will not be adding information for any of the false leads that they may receive from the villagers. That bit I’ll leave up to you. For instance, there was a witch who was banished years ago, and a mad scientist does reside in the area. However, since neither of them has anything to do with the beast of Zarechka, I will not be discussing them here.
The Investigation
After having had a chance to speak with mayor Russoff and other villagers, there are 4 main locations that the party is likely to want to investigate. I’ve marked these as #1- #4 on the local area map and will describe them.
Location #1 Dimitri Kozlov’s Farm
Dimitri’s farm lies just over a mile north of Zarechka. Arriving on the scene, the party will find that the fields have not been tended to in quite some time and the animals have already been removed by other villagers.
The farmer was taken from inside his cabin, which sits at the edge of the forest. The door has been shattered and the splintered wood around the latch suggests that whatever broke in was large and powerful. The door is slightly ajar, creaking back and forth in the breeze.
The cabin is in a state of disarray, with furniture overturned and personal belongings strewn about. Blood stains the walls and floor, and scattered furniture indicates that something grisly occurred here. There is no body or any form of substantial remains, aside from the splatters of blood. Villagers will be able to confirm that the scene remains exactly as it was originally found.
A keen eye will notice reddish mud or clay tracks on the floor. Rangers or characters with appropriate nature skills will recognize these as resembling those of a great wolf, but only for the hind feet. They will also note that they have not seen this reddish mud anywhere else in the area. As they inspect the scene further, they will also spot large human handprints alongside the wolf tracks. Something terrible has happened here.
As this was the first attack and occurred nearly a month ago, tracking the beast outside of the cabin will be fruitless. The key clues here will be the types of tracks, as well as the reddish mud. Once they are back in Zarechka, the villagers may be able to provide some insight into the mud. I will cover that in part 2.
Location # 2 Lawrence Talbot’s Shepherd Post
This field, situated at the foot of a gentle slope, can be found about two miles north of the village. The grass here is lush and green, and the occasional wildflower can be seen swaying in the breeze. The air is filled with the gentle sound of bleating sheep and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
It is in this idyllic setting that Lawrence Talbot tended his flock before his grisly demise. Though his remains have long since been removed, the rocks at the foot of the hills still bear stains of his blood. A sense of unease lingers in the air, as if some dark force still haunts this peaceful field.
Other shepherds in the area will be able to point the party to where Lawrence’s remains were found. Aside from the blood on the rocks, nothing else is immediately evident. However, a thorough search of the area will turn up a broken leather thong on which rests a pendant engraved with a strange rune. Villagers back in Zarechka may be able to shed some light on the nature of the rune but I will cover that in part 2 next week.
I’ve dropped a few Easter eggs into this one and I took inspiration for this adventure from the story of the Beast of Gévaudan. If you’d rather listen to something than read, I’d suggest checking out the Stuff You Missed In History Class episode.
Finally, if you’d just 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 good gaming!
This week I am picking up where I left off with The Chapel of St. Sigmund & the Grotto of Mareen. The followers of the Cult of Mareen have grown increasingly concerned about the encroachment of the Graun Empire on their way of life. With the rise of the church of Aunul, the traditional worship of traditional deities like Mareen has been deemed unacceptable by the empire and its religious advisors.
Having encountered followers of Mareen in their travels, my party was tasked with recovering an ancient relic. A few years ago, the church of Aunul raided a seaside shrine to Mareen and stole a sacred golden trident that was said to have been blessed by the queen of the seas herself.
The Trident of Mareen has since been kept in the nearby town of Marion, at the Archive of St. Sigmund. Established by the church of Aunul, the archive is a museum and library that houses relics and documents related to the faith of Aunul. The archive serves as a museum and library devoted to the faith of Aunul. While the party’s contact was unsure of the trident’s exact location, they seemed fairly certain that it was being held on the 2nd floor of the building.
The party is offered a handsome sum of gold if they are able to retrieve the trident from the archive and return it to the cult of Mareen.
The Archive of St. Sigmund
The Archive of St. Sigmund is a two-story wooden building located on the outskirts of the seaside city of Marion. The structure is adorned with intricately carved wooden panels and boasts a large set of double doors at the public entrance on the south side of the building. The building is also equipped with a set of double doors on the north side, which appears to be used primarily for bringing in large items and collections.
The Archive’s façade is punctuated by numerous windows of varying sizes and shapes that allow natural light to flood the interior during the day. The windows are fitted with shutters and sturdy iron bars to prevent unauthorized entry from the outside. A large, weathered sign hangs over the main entrance, with the words “Archive of St. Sigmund” inscribed in ornate script.
The Golden Trident of Mareen
In order to recover the trident, the party will first need to locate it. While it’s not an armed camp by any means, it would not be wise for the party to storm the Archive of St. Sigmund by force. I would paint a picture to the party that the best chance of success would involve coming up with a plan to steal back the trident with as little commotion as possible. A wise party will not want to make an enemy of the church of Aunul if it can be avoided.
A subtle approach will be necessary to locate and retrieve the golden trident. Perhaps a stealthy infiltration under the cover of night, or even a cunning ruse to distract or deceive the guards would be a more suitable plan. The party will need to proceed with caution and avoid unnecessary violence if they wish to avoid attention and successfully complete their mission.
Upon close inspection of the building, the party will notice that the northernmost window on the east side of the building (leading into location #4) seems to have a rotted frame. With some effort, it may be possible to remove the bars and gain access to the building. However, caution must be taken, as any loud noises or damage to the window could alert the guards.
Entrance
The entrance to the Archive of St. Sigmund is guarded by two Inquisitors of Aunul around the clock. The pair is swapped out following 4-hour shifts. They spend the majority of their shift posted at the front entrance, though every so often one will circle the building.
Guests are permitted to visit the archive without appointment during daylight hours. The party would be able to learn this fact from other townspeople without raising any alarm. When entering during regular business hours, visitors would be greeted by an acolyte in the cozy entranceway. This cleric would ask visitors what business they have at the archive and ask them to sign-in for their visit. Visitors would then be ushered up the stairs directly opposite the entrance, in order to view the library and exhibit rooms.
During a daytime visit like this, there will be other visitors and staff members milling about. The party will need to be cautious about attracting attention. People will be keeping an eye on the exhibits and the staff will be watching to make sure that nothing is damaged or stolen.
Office
The office is neatly organized, with a sturdy wooden desk in the center of the room and a simple chair behind it. An inkwell and quill adorn the desk. Shelves on the walls display scrolls, tomes, and various knick-knacks. The room is tidy, and the air is filled with the faint scent of aged paper and ink.
If the party spends any time reading through the documents here, they will find that it consists mostly of boring information regarding items comings and goings of objects from the archive.
The Laboratory
The laboratory is a cluttered room with various scientific equipment and specimens, including alchemical items. There are shelves filled with jars of preserved creatures and a large dissecting table.
The Storage Room
This is clearly a storage area. Items not on display in the exhibit space, as well as those being shipped off to other parts of the empire are stored here. The space is filled with bookshelves, crates, and boxes of various sizes.
The party should have been advised by their contact with the Cult of Mareen that the trident is believed to be hidden on the 2nd floor of the building. If they do not heed this advice, they could easily waste a great deal of time rummaging through items in this area.
While there would not be any magical items stored in this room, there certainly are a number of interesting objects. Feel free to allow the party to find some useful items as you see fit.
Research Room
This appears to be a research room. Oil lamps hang from the ceiling of this spacious room. The walls are lined with bookshelves and two large tables are pushed together in the center of this room. Tomes on the shelves are largely contain information on religious history and folklore. The wooden tables in the center of the room are cluttered with parchment scrolls, inkwells, and quills. The chairs are sturdy and comfortable.
If any amount of time is spent digging through the parchment on the tables, a handwritten note will be discovered mentioning that followers of St. Sigmund’s believe uneven numbers to be unlucky. It seems to hint at a hidden significance of odd numbers in the religious practices of the order.
The Library
The library is filled with shelves of old books that stretch up to the ceiling. The shelves are made of dark, polished wood, and the books themselves are covered in leather bindings, many of which are worn and faded with age. There are several wooden chairs placed throughout the library, each one sturdy and well-worn from years of use.
Do what works for your game but whenever my players happen to have access to a library like this I like to make it worth their while. Obviously it would be impossible for me to rattle off the name of every title present in the library, let along what they contain. However, if I have a player asks about something specific I’ll often consider it and at least come up with a percentile chance that they will find what they are looking for.
For instance, if they party happened to be planning future travel to the country of Kosantia, a player might inquire whether there are any books about Kosantia present. I might decide that the party finds one such book and if they take it along, I’d be willing to allow for some reasonable bonuses to skill or knowledge-based checks pertaining to the area.
The Exhibit Room
The exhibit room is a spacious chamber filled with various artifacts from the church’s history. The room has several display cases arranged around the room and along the walls, containing items such as ancient manuscripts, ceremonial armor, and textiles.
In the southwestern corner of the room is a stone statue of St. Sigmund himself, standing at a height of 7 feet. Holding a great mace in its hands, the statue is finely crafted and appears to radiate a sense of power and authority.
On the eastern wall, hangs a large painting of St. Sigmund, surrounded by a golden frame adorned with 5 golden roses. The space for the sixth rose is noticeably empty. Players who searched the Research Room (area #4) may recall that followers of St. Sigmund believe odd numbers to be unlucky or they may simply decide to look for the missing rose on their own. At any rate, if the party spends any time actually looking for the missing rose, they should be able to easily find it within d4 rounds.
Placing the rose into the empty slot on the picture frame will cause the eastern wall to shift, revealing the secret room beyond.
Secret Room
The small secret room is cramped, with a low ceiling and dusty walls. The air inside is musty and stale. The room is empty except for a small table and a cot containing a mummified body. The Trident of Mareen rests on top of the body. The body appears to be ancient and is wrapped in tattered, brown linen bandages. It is impossible to tell the gender or race of the person from the remains. What, or rather who, the body is will be a secret that I’ll leave up to the GM. The identity and reason for the remains to be here could be completely inconsequential or it could be another plot hook altogether.
One round after the party enters the secret room, they will hear a loud, grinding sound coming from the exhibit room. The statue of St. Sigmund in the Exhibit room is actually a living statue and will move to attack once the secret room has been breached!
Wrap-Up
Since I’m merely trying to spark ideas, I’ll leave the rest up to you.
Will the fight with the statue draw the inquisitor’s attention?
Could even more reinforcements arrive?
What’s up with the mummified body in the secret room?
Does the Trident of Mareen have any magical properties?
Did the Cult of Mareen have any ulterior motives in hiring the party to retrieve it?
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Thank you for stopping by. Please take a minute to say hello and if you’d like to read some more, here are some convenient links
All of my posts detailing the locations in Cross Tree are located here.
For a list of all of my adventure hooks with maps, click here.
Over the past year or so, have been seeing people mention solo role-playing game experiences. Up until very recently I have ignored the topic entirely. As someone who was born an only child and is a bit of an introvert by nature, TTRPGs have always been the one part of my life where I have specifically craved social interaction.
Ironsworn by Shawn Tomkin will likely be my starting point.
To be honest, I have not even experimented with virtual tabletop gaming. It just doesn’t seem appealing to me. I think VTTs are wonderful. I am sure they have brought many more people to the hobby and provided access to games for many who would not be able to partake. It is just that to me, gaming is all about having a bunch of people over, sitting down and rolling dice.
Even my decision to write this blog was largely out of the desire to interact with people and share. The process of reading someone’s comments or posting my own thoughts on someone else’s post is enjoyable to me. It is just very pleasant to interact with a community like this.
All of that aside, I have been unable to escape the topic of solo games. This post is my white flag of surrender. I am going to dip a toe in and see what it is all about.
My History With “Solo Games”
Encyclopedia Brown.
I have written previously about how I came to discover role-playing games. While I have never actually played a solo TTRPG, I guess you could say that my first experience with some type of solo game would have been with the Encyclopedia Brown books by Donald J. Sobol.
These children’s mysteries focused on a boy detective in a contemporary setting, solving local crimes. Hints would be provided throughout the book and then the reader would attempt to solve the mystery by the end of the book. These were a bit juvenile for me by the time I discovered them, but the concept was very interesting.
Dungeon of Dread.
My first genre specific solo game book came in 1982 with Dungeon of Dread by Rose Estes. Released by TSR Hobbies, this was part of their new “Endless Quest” line of paperbacks. To my recollection, the Endless Quest line was preceded by and similar to the Choose Your Own Adventure books by Bantam Books.
Written in the second person, these stories followed a pattern of providing the reader with options as to how to continue after a number of pages. Each option would direct the reader to flip to a specific page within the book, where the story would continue. This process would continue until you ultimately arrive a one of numerous endings to the story.
Sorcery!
The following year, while browsing a downtown bookstore, I landed a copy of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. This first book in the famed “Fighting Fantasy” series, this built on the “choose a path” idea by adding actual die rolls, which further simulated playing a TTRPG. From there I recall exploring the Steve Jackson’s Sorcery!series, which built on the Fighting Fantasy series by allowing players to take on the role of either warrior or a wizard.
By the time I was done with these, I was in my mid-teens and my interest in these types of books was waning. It was another 10 years or so before the grind of real life pulled me away from RPGs altogether but in terms of any type of solo gameplay, that was it for me.
Current State of Things
It has been about 10 years now since I have made my way back to the TTRPG hobby. Since that time, I have tinkered with a number of new systems, as well as more old ones than I would have expected. As I mentioned previously, I have been aware of actual solo games being “a thing” for a few years now. However, in the past couple months I have really started to take the idea seriously.
In my ignorance I had assumed that these solo games would not amount to much more than more of what I had experienced in the 80s. However, with the more I read, it becomes clear that it is possible to weave creative tales with these systems. I have decided to investigate a bit deeper and see what I can learn.
I am most likely to start with Ironswornby Shawn Tomkin. It seems to be the title that crosses my path more frequently than any other. In addition, the few interactions I have had with people who have played the system have been very positive. However, the purpose of this post was to reach out to the folks I interact with the most on here and see what you might be able to suggest.
Have you played any solo TTRPGs? If so, which ones and what were your experiences? Do you have any suggestions to share with someone who is just starting to explore this part of the hobby? I am really starting from square one here, so I would appreciate any input that you might be able to provide.
That is all for now. I hope you have a great week. Good gaming!
Talaraska 