For anyone curious about the process I use when designing stuff...
Sitting here this morning, drinking coffee and surfing twitter. One of the many humans I follow on Twitter, a certain Madame Hyvemynd posted a little something of her life in Japan.
"Japan: Where gangs of old people wander through the neighborhood on
winter nights, banging two blocks of wood together, as a way to remind
residents to be careful with their oil/gas heaters and not burn their
houses down."
Normally I not nearly focused enough in the mornings to give serious thought to anything. (Welcome to the life of a coffee zombie) However that one sentence sparked an interesting thought. Not having anything resembling mental discipline this early, I answered her with...
"There is background for a ttrpg town there..."
Almost immediately, my non-caffeinated lump of mildew laden gray matter spit out this...
"I'm thinking the old witch in town, on the eve of the full moon. Wanders
the streets clacking two pieces of wood together, as a reminder to
residents to lock their doors and shutters. Because a Night Hag wanders
to town on the night of the full moon."
It didn't take long for that idea to romping off on it's own, opening up ancient story ideas I have filed away in the kludge of unrealized hooks and adventures that occupies the library dwarf living in my cranium. So know I ask you to picture and short, harried looking individual. Scurrying around a room, piled high with old books, small scraps of paper, and general untidiness. This is the great library of ideas and snippets that is my brain. In bursts an anemic looking clown that begins riffling thru all the stacks of paper, and starts stuffing random pieces of paper in it's mouth. The dwarf looks startled at first, then calmly picks up a trash can and catchers mitt, sedately waiting for the inevitable avalanche of the recently created wild idea that just wandered in...
The Ravensvale Coven
At the foot of Bushka mountain, in the region of Kharkusch, lies the small village of Ravensvale. If the PCs stop for resupply and rest, they might notice a few strange things about the town. First, there are no male children in the village. Yes, there are few older men, but none of them is under the age of 15. Second, all the children in the village wear masks depicting goblin faces. They never take them off. The PCs can ask anyone in town why all the children wear masks, and the locals will only point towards a small hut at the edge of town.
Approaching the small hut, the PCs will notice a wisp of smoke rising from the chimney and the pleasant scent of heavily spiced rabbit stew wafting from the disheveled dwelling. Should the PCs knock, a short, very plump old woman that calls herself Corrina will invite them in for tea. Corrina is actually the Faerie Queen Titania in disguise. During the course of their visit, Corrina will tell them of the Crazy Old Hag Dorothy Doorknobs, that lives on the mountain. The Old hag commands an army of goblins. The Hag has the Goblins watching all the villages in the area, looking for unattended children. If the children are spotted by the goblins, Dorothy will visit that child's house and spirit them away in the night. All the parents in the village hide their children from the goblins by giving them masks of Goblin faces to wear until they reach puberty.
So far, that's all the fluff I've come up with. What is actually going on is...
Dorothy Doorknobs is Baba Yaga. She lives in a cave, high up on the mountain. Baba Yaga has imprisoned the Erlking (The Goblin King) and is using his power to turn children into Goblins for her army. Before she managed to imprison him however, he managed to curse Baba Yaga. She can longer go out of her cave as Baba Yaga, she must forever appear as Dorothy Doorknobs, a crazy old crone that will do nothing but scream obscenities and throw doorknobs at anyone caught on the mountain. This adventrure is just starting to coalesce in my head space. I know there will be a variety of Hags to battle, maybe a Wytchfire, and lots of Fae to deal with. The PCs will be asked by Corrina to free the Erlking and free the village of the murderous Goblins.
Here's to hoping it inspires some ideas of your own. So until next time...
Happy Gaming!
Friday, December 28, 2018
Thursday, December 6, 2018
The Curse and the Legend.
"Where is your mistress, little man?' The armored man asked the boy. "She is in her hut by the corrals sir."
"Take me to her please." It was almost comedic, the sight of a six foot six inch man following a boy that barely came up to his waist. The duo set off at a brisk walk towards the old woman's home.
Many of the tavern denizens could only stare at the pair of tall strangely dressed women as they took seats across from one another in the dimly lit common room. "Why are we here?" asked the the rougher looking of the two sisters. "Because Liam is looking for the monster that slew his sister and father. Quit asking May." Missy replied in obvious annoyance. "You've asked me that question every day, sometimes twice a day for three weeks now." the half-elven sisters continued their conversation in low tones, until a leather clad, slightly built elf plopped down at the end of the table. "Find us any decent work Ferix?" May asked of the new arrival. "Nothing that won't require judicious use of steel and brawn." The elf responded. "I'm always up for a good fight" Missy's sister broke in, "May we're supposed to be searching for the lich, not running off and getting in fights at every turn" Missy has always struggled to keep her sister's wilder urges in check, when they were not at home in their mountain village. "Liam is dad's oldest friend. We BOTH promised dad we would help him."
May leaned in close to the table and asked in hushed tones "Have you guys seen Paladras?" "Not since we got to town, he tied off his horse and disappeared." Ferix looked around nervously "Typical, half dragons are sneaky." The three companions continued talking while they waited for their friend to return.
The armored warrior almost had to crawl through the tiny door to the witch's hut. Once inside, he stood up to his full height. The witch looked impressed. "If anyone can destroy the evil in the valley, it must be you." she mused. "How did you know my sister's name?" Liam eyed the old woman warily. As he did anyone that wielded the mysterious powers. Yes, his god answered his prayers, but he still did not fully trust arcane practitioners.
"It is a gift given to me by virtue of my bloodline." The witch could sense the large man's distrust. "I am distantly related to the monster." She had never confided in anyone, but felt that this warrior of the heavens could actually defeat the evil that has terrorized her homeland for so long. "You may want to sit Liam, this is quite a long tale." The witch sat down next to her fireplace and gestured to a chair opposite.
"This tale comes from my Grandmother's grandmother. The original Lord of the Valley, Jean Marc D'Amberville, had a prosperous life in the valley. He and his kin have spread out and thrived. He and his wife had five children.
As the Fates are fickle, Jean Marc's happiness did not last. His wife died suddenly making him distraught and bitter towards the world. Jean Marc, being not happy with the Fates, started studying the Arcane arts to master the Fates and prevent and further trauma to his family.
Jean Marc spent many years studying the Arcane arts. He called on many supernatural entities to aid him. Some of them were only appearing to assist him, some were genuinely interested in helping. During his time of studying, Jean Marc met Androgoras. She was beautiful, talented in the arcane arts, and willing to assist Jean Marc. It did no take long for Androgoras to fall in love with Jean Marc, if she had only known.
What Androgoras did not know, is that Jean Marc was being courted by dark powers. What Jean Marc did not know, is that Androgoras was a Sphinx. It was only after Androgoras revealed her true nature that the Dark powers promised Jean Marc limitless power, if he would sacrifice the powerful being that loved him.
Jean Marc was so blinded by visions of power, he didn't hesitate to betray Androgoras. Jean Marc subdued her and dragged her to a cave at the head of the valley. There he performed the dark rites and rituals meant to allow the dark powers to bestow the infernal gifts upon him. He was not prepared for the events that followed.
With her dying breath, Androgoras cursed Jean Marc. Not only did the curse afflict Jean Marc, it afflicted all the D'Amberville children, save the youngest child of his youngest daughter, my grandmother's grandmother. Thus she did leave a way for her love to be returned to the light of truth.
The tainted blood will be redeemed, by true blood that is yet unseen.
My grandmother's grandmother was told that couplet by the maid that smuggled her out of the valley, just before the curse took her. The maid worked for the youngest of the D'Amberville daughters, Ophelia. A darkness of 500 years descended on the valley, and it is still there to this day. It was at that time, the Bloodroses started taking over the valley. Now they are everywhere. These roses seek out and drink blood.
So many adventurers have forayed into the valley over the years, none have returned.
As promised Champion, I will name the monster that murdered your sister. Elizabeth, the oldest of Jean Marc's daughters, was cursed to roam the eternal night of Bloodrose Valley as a Vampire. It was she that murdered your sister."
The old woman poked idly at the small fire in her hearth and awaited a word from the stunned knight sitting across the room from her.
"Take me to her please." It was almost comedic, the sight of a six foot six inch man following a boy that barely came up to his waist. The duo set off at a brisk walk towards the old woman's home.
Many of the tavern denizens could only stare at the pair of tall strangely dressed women as they took seats across from one another in the dimly lit common room. "Why are we here?" asked the the rougher looking of the two sisters. "Because Liam is looking for the monster that slew his sister and father. Quit asking May." Missy replied in obvious annoyance. "You've asked me that question every day, sometimes twice a day for three weeks now." the half-elven sisters continued their conversation in low tones, until a leather clad, slightly built elf plopped down at the end of the table. "Find us any decent work Ferix?" May asked of the new arrival. "Nothing that won't require judicious use of steel and brawn." The elf responded. "I'm always up for a good fight" Missy's sister broke in, "May we're supposed to be searching for the lich, not running off and getting in fights at every turn" Missy has always struggled to keep her sister's wilder urges in check, when they were not at home in their mountain village. "Liam is dad's oldest friend. We BOTH promised dad we would help him."
May leaned in close to the table and asked in hushed tones "Have you guys seen Paladras?" "Not since we got to town, he tied off his horse and disappeared." Ferix looked around nervously "Typical, half dragons are sneaky." The three companions continued talking while they waited for their friend to return.
The armored warrior almost had to crawl through the tiny door to the witch's hut. Once inside, he stood up to his full height. The witch looked impressed. "If anyone can destroy the evil in the valley, it must be you." she mused. "How did you know my sister's name?" Liam eyed the old woman warily. As he did anyone that wielded the mysterious powers. Yes, his god answered his prayers, but he still did not fully trust arcane practitioners.
"It is a gift given to me by virtue of my bloodline." The witch could sense the large man's distrust. "I am distantly related to the monster." She had never confided in anyone, but felt that this warrior of the heavens could actually defeat the evil that has terrorized her homeland for so long. "You may want to sit Liam, this is quite a long tale." The witch sat down next to her fireplace and gestured to a chair opposite.
"This tale comes from my Grandmother's grandmother. The original Lord of the Valley, Jean Marc D'Amberville, had a prosperous life in the valley. He and his kin have spread out and thrived. He and his wife had five children.
As the Fates are fickle, Jean Marc's happiness did not last. His wife died suddenly making him distraught and bitter towards the world. Jean Marc, being not happy with the Fates, started studying the Arcane arts to master the Fates and prevent and further trauma to his family.
Jean Marc spent many years studying the Arcane arts. He called on many supernatural entities to aid him. Some of them were only appearing to assist him, some were genuinely interested in helping. During his time of studying, Jean Marc met Androgoras. She was beautiful, talented in the arcane arts, and willing to assist Jean Marc. It did no take long for Androgoras to fall in love with Jean Marc, if she had only known.
What Androgoras did not know, is that Jean Marc was being courted by dark powers. What Jean Marc did not know, is that Androgoras was a Sphinx. It was only after Androgoras revealed her true nature that the Dark powers promised Jean Marc limitless power, if he would sacrifice the powerful being that loved him.
Jean Marc was so blinded by visions of power, he didn't hesitate to betray Androgoras. Jean Marc subdued her and dragged her to a cave at the head of the valley. There he performed the dark rites and rituals meant to allow the dark powers to bestow the infernal gifts upon him. He was not prepared for the events that followed.
With her dying breath, Androgoras cursed Jean Marc. Not only did the curse afflict Jean Marc, it afflicted all the D'Amberville children, save the youngest child of his youngest daughter, my grandmother's grandmother. Thus she did leave a way for her love to be returned to the light of truth.
The tainted blood will be redeemed, by true blood that is yet unseen.
My grandmother's grandmother was told that couplet by the maid that smuggled her out of the valley, just before the curse took her. The maid worked for the youngest of the D'Amberville daughters, Ophelia. A darkness of 500 years descended on the valley, and it is still there to this day. It was at that time, the Bloodroses started taking over the valley. Now they are everywhere. These roses seek out and drink blood.
So many adventurers have forayed into the valley over the years, none have returned.
As promised Champion, I will name the monster that murdered your sister. Elizabeth, the oldest of Jean Marc's daughters, was cursed to roam the eternal night of Bloodrose Valley as a Vampire. It was she that murdered your sister."
The old woman poked idly at the small fire in her hearth and awaited a word from the stunned knight sitting across the room from her.
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