Campaign Chronicles

As Dungeon Masters, we want our players to feel like the world their characters operate comes across as "lived in", like they are part of something larger than just the campaign they are participating in. This can be accomplished via "tavern talk" where they hear about the exploits of various NPCs in your setting or in a modern setting by what they see or hear on television or the radio. Commercials and news stories that are playing in the background can add depth to a world and even provide an opportunity to drop in little Easter Eggs , referencing bits of pop culture pulled from a variety of sources. On Earth-218 , these ads and stories could include: • This evening's news is brought to you by our sponsor, U2 Moving Crew, We Move in Mysterious Ways. • This evening's news is brought to you by our sponsor, Chonky 's, Home of the Big Chungus! If you're hungry, Chonky's has what you need! • We will return to the "New Adventures of Mermaid Ma...

I thought I would share a couple of ideas that I have been bouncing around for awhile. I don't think there is enough "meat" on any of these to justify an entire post so just sort of tossing them together to get them off my chest. All three of these fit best in a more modern setting or adventure.  Vampire Sleeping Bag • has pouches of grave dirt sewn into the lining for sleeping "on native soil" during the day - - - - - - - - - - Vespa 150 TAP The so-called "Bazooka Scooter" was a French light mobile artillery platform designed to be parachuted behind enemy lines. It would then be used to seek out and destroy tanks. The M20 Recoilless Rifle it was armed with was meant to be deployed on a World War I-era tripod although it could, theoretically at least, be used while mounted in its carry position on the scooter. It would be deployed in pairs and saw service in Algeria and Indochina (i.e., Korea and Vietnam). Crew:  1       Passengers:  1    ...

The Republic of Saradia Splits from Saudi Arabia (1935 Gregorian calendar) 06 Aug 1290 On Earth -218, General Hassan ibn Chohallah seizes control of the eastern third of Saudi Arabia and secedes from the rest of the kingdom following the discovery of vast untapped oil reserves. He names his new country the Republic of Saradia. Well placed bribes and other "gifts" made to neighboring powers lead to support on the international stage. Progressive policies of religious and gender-based equality, as well as deals made with both Germany and Tokyo create an influx of military advances in the years leading up to World War II. Despite being relatively small, Saradia soon boasts the most technologically superior army and air force in the Mideast. It's current ruler (2012) is King Mohammed ibn Abdullah ibn Ali. He is also the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Saradia's military forces. While relatively small, the Army amd Air Force boast advanced technology. The natio...

I am a Year-Round Shorts Guy. I hate wearing pants. When the mercury in the thermometer starts to travel upwards of 50°F, I start to sweat. If I am not working or attending a more "formal" event like a wedding, I will be in shorts. But this week, the low temperatures were between -25° and -29°F and that was beyond my ability to tolerate for more than just a few minutes at a time. I walked to the gas station across the street last night and there was an older gentleman who saw me and asked specifically if I always wear shorts and I told him pretty much what I just told you. He simply smiled and nodded in seeming agreement, paid for his purchase and left. That got me to thinking and that thinking led to this. "It's not the cold, it's the wind/damp." - common quote from a Year-Round Shorts Guy  Year-Round Shorts Guy is an Acquired Template that can be added to any Humanoid, referred to hereafter as the base creature. The base creature is unchanged but gains th...

09 Hiddumont 348 AC (1351 DR) Knives decides hunting Goblins is a job for tomorrow. Knives glances around the tavern to see if there are any attractive ladies without the burden of male companions. He tries to strike up a conversation with a few different women but each time, he is met with polite indifference. One of the women snootily tells the thief-acrobat that she wouldn't sully herself to lay with a human before taking her drink and walking away. Upon hearing there are goblins near and causing trouble, Grotto becomes very agitated. "They must all die and suffer. We must exterminate this vermin. Hanseath will be overjoyed that I spill the blood of these animals. Let us hunt these Goblins!" Grotto says to Knives. The scarred dwarf leaves the tavern to seek out his companions to tell them what he has learned. Kysek and Onforithalas attend the Planting. After the planting, he asks, “A dragon war? This cannot be a small thing? But I am sure there must be smaller thing...

I have been seeing a lot of Cookie Monster the Barbarian memes in my Facebook feed over the last week or so. This gave me the idea to stat out the character.  This turned out to be a far more complicated build than I anticipated, I ended up modifying and combining two different versions of the Muppet race, researching Cookie Monster, and because the only spellcasting Muppet I can think of is the Amazing Mumford , changing the Bard class for a Non-spellcasting version. Sidney "Cookie" Monster (a.k.a. Alistair Cookie) : male Muppet Barbarian 3/Bard variant 2 CR: 5     Small Humanoid (Muppet) HD: 3d12+6 plus 2d6+4 (40 Hp) Init: +1     Spd: 40'     AC: 16 (Scale Mail, Light Wooden Shield, +1 Dex), t: 11, ff: 16 (never flat-footed); (-5 ACP, 30% ASF) Attacks*: (BAB +4/Grap +6) ; +7 Greataxe: 1d10+3 (20/×3, used two-handed) or +6 Bite: 1d4 nonlethal      * additional +2 hit/damage during Rage SA...

09 Hiddumont 348 AC Knives and Grotto head to the tavern. They try a couple different places but finally find one that doesn't seem to mind catering to non-elves. It is near one of the city gates and seems to be mostly patronized by traders and caravaneers. Knives drinks, but cautiously enough to keep his wits about him. Grotto does the same. They both make small talk with other patrons but Knives tries to lead the conversation towards local troubles. It takes some time but it is eventually revealed, if the rumors are true, that hill giants and hobgoblins have been spotted in the northern reaches of the forest while goblins and ogres have been seen to the west. King Lorac's officers continue to claim that there is nothing to worry about, although patrols in both directions seem to be increasing.  Kysek concludes with Cedron and Arthur, “Do as you will; but take great care and give it much thought. I need to get everyone together right now. I believe I may have found our purpose...

Note: This adventure was based on "The Kingdom of Ghouls" from Dungeon Magazine 70 . Instead of fighting to defeat the ghouls, the player, who had himself been transformed into a member of the undead, was tasked with bringing the area under his control. 4th - 12th Day of the Month of Fireseek 591 CY calendar (1371 DR) Jamaros stood atop a balcony overlooking Kilenor. The stench of rotting flesh hung heavy in the air as he surveyed his newly conquered domain. He allowed his thoughts to drift back over the last few days and the victories he had achieved. After forcing his way into the Ashen outpost , the mighty Nordheimer sacked the stronghold, seizing control of the Marquis' forces. With his defeated rival's troops added to his own, he marched on the Coastal Outpost. Rather than resisting, Marquis Zun capitulated and allowed his guards to be absorbed into Jamaros' army. The newly expanded army then captured the Great Tombs and the Eastern Outpost. The Jotunbrund ...

Hmmmm.... kinda has a point there, unless the Ring is capable of granting sentience. The bigger danger is that chickens are fast and agile so an invisible one that escaped would be racing straight to Sauron. A Chicken Armed with the One Ring CR: ⅙     Tiny Animal     HD: ¼d8 (1hp) Init: +2     Spd: 20'     AC: 14 (+2 Dex, +2 size), t: 12, ff: 12 Attacks: (BAB +0; Grap -13) ; +4 Peck: 1d2-5 (20/×2) SA: SQ: Low-Light Vision Align: CE     Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2 Str: 1, Dex: 15, Con: 10, Int: 2, Wis: 10, Cha: 6 Skills: Listen +5, Spot +7 Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesse (b) Gear: The One Ring This is a chicken has eyes that gleam with a feral madness that is unsettling, even for a stalwart adventurer. It slips a golden ring over its claws and around its ankle before vanishing from view. Background: Instead of bringing the Ring all of the way home, Bilbo dropp...

While enduring his trials during the Test of High Sorcery , Ra’ziir found himself faced with a mighty red dragon known as Death-Maw. The dragon demanded that Ra’ziir address him with 100 different titles. Unexpectedly, my player stepped up and provided a list. It was way too much to include in the Trial but the complete, Unabridged Version appears below. The Bladesinger scoffs at the request ever so slightly. “And lo, oh Unnamed Terror Who Slumbers in Gold, should I meet your request would you then ALSO honor me with thy actual name?” The Elf smiles at the gargantuan reptile. “Think on it while I sate your whimsy…” Ra’ziir gestures as if addressing a large crowd… “Behold! Before me towers: The Crimson Terror, Ember King, Lord of Scorched Skies, Inferno Sovereign, Scalding Wyrm, Flameheart the Mighty, The Blazing Reign, Sovereign of Ashes, The Infernal Overlord, Flame’s Wrath, Dragon of the Burning Dawn, The Red Fury, Firelord of the East, Scorched Monarch, Tyrant of the Blaze, The ...

8th Day of Hiddumont, 348 AC Hours pass and Ra'ziir awakes, surrounded by a silvery mist. Slowly, the fog begins to dissipate. He steels himself, preparing for the final trial in your Test of High Sorcery. The fog whooshes away suddenly, revealing a truly bizarre place - floating islands of uneven black rock littered with broken bones and blasted rock hang in the air. Some remain still, others slowly tumble end over end. Putrid green clouds separate these "earthbergs". Flashes of lightning and the peal of thunder fills the air. Sixty feet or so ahead, so twisted and broken humanoid floats with his arms spread wide. It wears mage robes, and though they are vaguely humanoid, their jiggling flesh has turned slick and purple. The mutated mage’s right arm has transformed into a long, writhing green tendril, and one of their eyes bulges so far out of its socket that it looks like it could pop at any moment. The aberration moans, and their voice fills the air with the sound of m...