The Waters of Seeing

Near Goldleaf is a small pond filled with beautiful fish and water a person can see to the very bottom through.  Around the pond are trees and shrubbery which are always green and full of birds who sing with every sun rise, even in the middle of the winter.  The waters are warm and snow never covers the area, even in the deepest of winter.

Rumor has that a sprite lives here and loves the glorious colors of summer and spring and thus has cast a magic upon the pond and area to keep it so lovely and warm.  Many people will leave little gifts of food or items to gain the favor of this spite, if they can.

There is a sprite, who does care for the grove, but because the pool is magical.  The pool, if the water is drunk for three days straight with no other food or drink, allows the drinker to see the future.  The clip of the future is short and may not be clear to the person seeing it, but it is usually accurate.  It can be changed by those who see it by doing something different in their path of life.  The sprite makes sure only the worthy can sit at the bank and gain the magic of the future and has been known to chase people off that he or she doesn't like.

Brenda's Baubles

Brenda's Baubles is a small store, tucked away in the corner of Goldleaf.  This one story, barely three hundred square feet building is filled with all sorts of treasure.  Brenda's Baubles holds shelves and shelves of odds and ends such as maps, mining picks, sturdy backpacks, lamps and things such as these.  Brenda's owner, Thomas Cart, buys all the random things people want to get rid of and scavenges things from wrecked ships, abandoned houses, and nearby ruins that no one will go to.  There is a 50% chance that something from the equipment list of your roleplaying system will be here, 10% chance a magic item might be hiding amongst the junk.  Thomas gives good prices for items (around cost on the list) and will look for something if a person asks for it specifically.  Sometimes people have fun just looking through all the items in Thomas' store, because you never know what you will find.

Celesta the Dragon

Celesta is a platinum dragon, one of Fire Flash and Elemental Storm's children, and she loves the snow and the north.  She also loves a good song.  Thus she became a bard, when in human form, wandering the north singing the songs she loves.  She has a small home outside of Goldleaf, which is taken care of by a family of humans who don't know for sure, but suspect they are simply taking care of the house for a dragon and not some human bard who bequeaths it her daughter, and she bequeaths it to her daughter and so on.  Celesta pays them well so they don't ask many questions, though she would tell them the truth if they asked outright.  She loves this little family who she's known for generations and would frown greatly on anything happening to them.

Celesta doesn't mingle much with her own kind, but tries to return to Varanath once a decade when she and her siblings remember the mother they have never met and check in on their father, if he comes.  She may be willing to travel with a group for a while, but she will never stay for long and would never revel who she truly is unless it her life on the line.

Deephorn Outpost

This outpost, like many other outposts, is for protecting the House from raiders as well as from other Houses.  It has a huge gate with a barracks, a cook house, a stable and small forge.  There is also a small home for Captain Thorn and one for Nyssarea the mage.  A spring is not far off, which turns into a small stream which heads south/southwest.  Those who are not on duty usually go hunting or fishing to supplement supplies sent from Weatherworn.  There are a dozen guards, Captain Thorn, Nyssarea and five support staff.  Usually the outpost leaves travelers alone, but occasionally they do spot checks on people they feel are suspect.  Captain Thorn runs a tight ship, but isn't overbearing.  His men respect him and don't mind the fact they are out in the middle of no where for long periods of time.  People can buy some supplies here, or get some repairs on tack or armor, but they are not a whole sale selling establishment.  And there is no inn, but Captain Thorn does allow travelers to camp in a nearby field for safety's sake.

Nyssarea the Mage

Stationed on the outskirts of the Weatherworn House boundaries, Nyssarea helps protect her home by doing what she does best, casting magic.  Nyssarea knows how to use a sword, can drink like a dwarf and cast powerful magic that scared even her mentors.  She stands guard with a double handful of guards and Knights on the northern border of House Weatherworn.  She is in her third decade with lovely black hair she keeps braided and a pale complexion normal for those from the southern coast.  She loves her home, protects it with a fervor and revels in finding new magic.  She specializes in lightning, but she loves to learn any kind of magic.  She loves to hear about far off places, try new wines and food and will talk shop with anyone who will sit still long enough.

Candleholders of Listening

Though this magical ability could be placed upon any item, Sierra likes them on the most unlikely of sources.  Thus she has had most of the candle sconces in hallways and rooms enchanted with this ability.  The candle holders can be "turned on" by using a magical stone that corresponds with that candle holder.  Each one has to be turned on separately, and though they can be listened to simultaneously, it is easier to only have one at a time.  Sierra uses these items to listen in on private conversations and then report her findings back to her contact in the Empire.  These are average for cost, though Sierra's were expensive since she wanted fined candle holders, but anything can be enchanted as a "listening device".

The Trampling Elephant

The Trampling Elephant is a round, three story building with a large stables behind, along with a large open area for trading wagons.  On a main road for wagon traders, the building has sweeping columns and beautiful arches, painted in a bright white to attract attention.  Murals in both tile and paint decorate the whole of the building, with brightly colored attendants at the door and working the tavern.  The first floor has a tavern with very fine food from all over the Empire and from Tridon.  There is a bath off to one side, easily accessed by the two upper floors without having to go through the tavern.  There is no place for a stage but entertainers do grace the tavern on occasion.  The upper stories have rooms big enough for three people each, with one suite on the third floor.  Each room has a hearth, though they are magically enchanted so fire is not an issue.  The rooms are dressed in bright colors and magical music to soothe you to sleep is available on request.

Sierra of the Tampling Elephant

In a small corner of Notitia is an inn where merchants go to find guards, contracts and a little relaxation.  The owner, Sierra, wants to make sure everyone has a good time and enjoys their stay. She is in her mid-thirties, with dark, curly hair to match her dark complexion.  She is short for the southern continent, only five and a half feet tall, but full of smiles.  She greets everyone to her inn personally, shows them their room and takes their orders.  She does have a wait staff, but she likes to talk to all her clients personally.  In doing so she gets a sense of what they want and then can either offer to find that something or point them in the right direction.  Her clients love her attention and always return, once they have tasted her hospitality.

In truth, Sierra is actually part of the information gathering network for the Empire.  She is actually a friendly person and loves what she does, but she finds out information for her country by talking with all the merchants who come through her doors.  She runs a good ship, making quite a bit of money, and then makes extra money, and connections, by reporting her finds.  Beware what is said in her inn for nothing is a secret here.

Fairy Jewels Part II

The abilities of a Fairy Jewel can vary greatly, depending on how powerful the person makes them or can make them.  But here are a few ideas of abilities.

1) Normally, a magical Fairy Jewel, in game terms, gives a +1 to +6 to a main stat.  Purple gems are usually Intellect, blue Constitution, green Strength, red Dexterity, yellow Wisdom, and orange Charisma. They don't have to follow this rule, but mages and priests usually try to.

2) Magical Fairy Jewels can also give bonuses to non stat items, such as skills or the ability to see a far distance, or even float in the air.  These gems are usually clear.

3) These are not cheap items, since they enhance the character, usually starting at several thousand gold and working up from there.

4) As GM you can let any sort of enhancement be placed on a Fairy Jewel, but be cautious about giving your players too much power.

Fairy Jewels

Fairy Jewels are small gems which float in the air around the person who owns them.  They were common in the early years of the Empire and Tridon as decorations for wealthy women to accent their dress or costumes.  But a wizard thought about using such things to augment his and his companions powers and came up with a useful combination of decoration and ability.  Normal fairy jewels just sparkle and float around the person, but Magical Fairy Jewels can have one of many abilities.  The size and shape do not dictate what ability they have, but they usually stick a type of gem to dictate ability.

Tomorrow, I will go over abilities.

The Village of Windsong

Windsong is small farming village near the House of Tayke.  Specializing in a food called rice, it also catches fish to sell to Tayke.  The people here are quiet, contemplative and full of advice when asked.  The houses are different then the typical house, with swooping roofs and fanciful creatures carved into even the simplest of buildings.  Some food stuffs are for sale here, and there are people who can repair some gear, but little else can be found here.  The do have a small inn, (an old house they rent out to people passing through) and meals can be purchased from neighbors.

Kevin the Ruin Master

From his plush house in Stormvale Kevin dreams of adventure.  He has maps of lost cities, towns, castles, tunnels, and just about everything.  Maps of legend, maps of false leads, maps of ancient places most scholars have not heard of.  He has maps of everything.  He makes a business of copying the maps out for people and sending them on their way to adventure.  Depending on how he is treated depends on how accurate those maps might be.  He never claims the maps are accurate, (because some of them are not) but he may change a thing or two if he feels that his customers aren't treating him kindly.  And he is a mage of some power and has magical traps and other safe guards upon his building so it is harder for adventurers to retaliate if he does them wrong.  Maps cost quite a bit, usually starting at 500 gold.  His business sign is the Ruin Master and he is near the temple of Catiana in Stormvale.

Thane's Sorrow

On Willowstand Lake, on the western edge, is a village called Thane's Sorrow.  As a trade stop and fishing village, this village is soon going to have to be called a town.  There are several inns, general stores, a blacksmith, stables, specialty stores, two trading caravan outposts and a large dock of small fishing boats.  There are some people who farm, but most of those who farm live out of town, now.  Originally, Thane's Sorrow was founded by Joseph Thane and most of his extended family.  The farming was sound, the fishing great, and there were many resources for a fine living.  But Joseph's original reason for coming to the place to be rid of his family, not have them follow.  It was an open joke, and thus Thane's Sorrow stuck.  The village soon to be city pays homage to Sunvale and was quite loyal until the time of Shaniko.  Now, as the High King's Sword comes into play, the village is more about protecting itself then getting along with the Black Wizards.  They don't outright confront them, but are willing to tweak their noses if they can get away with it.  The mayor of Thane's Sorrow is Karl Lightfoot and he tries hard to help those who are fighting against the Black Wizards.  He also is always looking for people to help out the village since they do have the occasional issue with ogres, monstrous wildlife and magic that just can't be explained.

The Beast of Thane's Sorrow

Near the House of Sunvale there is a village on the Willowstand Lake.  In this village rumors run wild about the beast of Thane's Sorrow.  The beast is said to be ten feet tall with green skin and hair made of seaweed.  It moans in pain from the arrows that stick out of its body but can't kill it.  The creature's moans are said to drive insane any who hear it and that the smell alone of the creature could kill a full grown man.  Even the most hardened of hunters and adventures try their best to stay out of the creature's hunting area, not wanting to meet it.

The beast, who's name is Garron, is really an ogre who was unfortunate enough to have a little fey blood in his veins.  He's smarter then the average ogre, even the average human, and blessed with extremely long life.  He likes to hunt and make potions that might heal others.  He knows no one wants to talk to him, being as he's an ogre, but he wants to help others with his healing.  Knowing adventurers like to find treasure he purposefully leaves stashes of healing potions, curatives and healing herbs around the area he lives.  He hides when people come, because he does look like an ogre, but is always happy to help if he can.  He lives near a hot spring with special herbs used for high fevers and other hard to beat illnesses and so will listen to see if the village herbman is looking for curatives.  Surprisingly the herbman will then find a potion he might need if he tells the hot springs what is wrong.  He has no idea that Garron is there, but is always appreciative of the "spirits of the hot springs", leaving gifts of food, clothing and equipment in exchange.

Toran the Bard

Bards love to see the world, wander the cities, meet people.  Toran would not be your typical Bard.  Toran loves just staying in Goldleaf in the Stone Wall Inn and ply his trade to the locals.  He's not always up to date on the news, which bards usually are, but his voice sounds like the most beautiful birds of the world. His voice is so lovely the House Leaders have been known to come to the Stone Wall to hear him sing and tell tales.  He has traveled to Stormvale and Weatherworn, and farther, but he's never stayed away for long.  The owner of the Stone Wall, George Hardstone, gives Toran a room for free since he gets so much business because of Toran.  The real reason he stays so close is that he has a love he hopes will notice him, which she has, and his mother can not take care of herself and his younger siblings on her own, so he does so.  He holds a lot of knowledge of the area and would be a big help to any adventuring group in search of knowledge.

Bell of Notification

With so many coming and going through the doors of the Dandy Lion, Seth Vonderhorn wants to know who is coming through his door.  He found a mage who could enchant items and together they created a Bell of Notification.  The purpose of the bell is to let Seth know whether or not the person coming in may be trouble.  It allows him to know whether the person may be a little on the rough side or will be sweeter then his mother.  In game terms it lets Seth see their alignment aura for about 30 seconds so he can see if they are good or evil or somewhere in between.  Unless a person has a spell upon them to alert them to such intrusions, the person doesn't even notice.  This has allowed Seth to watch those who may be trouble and trust those who ask for something extra but are very good.

Thornside

Thornside, being a caravan route village, is set up to supply caravans and travelers.  There are two inns, a supply store, a farrier, a horse trader and a blacksmith.  And there is little else other then houses for the people who work and live there.  The inns always have heavy busy in the trading season, though the winter is slow, since it sits on the road between Merryweather and Greenthorne.  There is the Lucky Rock and the Dandy Lion, each having a tap room, ten rooms and stables.  Most people who clean the rooms or work at the stables, also have nearby farms and just use the coin they get for buying items they can make.  The supply store is a little expensive, but not overly so since the village is only a week out of either House.  The farrier, John Strongbear, works when ever he is needed, whether day or night and the blacksmith's forge is always going during the summers for those needed repairs.

Most of the local population is human or half-elf, though a few dwarves live nearby as they search for ore.  The village has had issues with wolves and ogres, but lately one of the ruins of a village long overgrown has been spawning tales of undead.

The Crazy Cat Lady of Thornside

Near the city of Merryweather is a small village called Thornside.  This small village is a stop over for caravans, with farmers nearby, and little else.  but Thornside does have one claim to fame.  Larinda, the medicine woman.  She has a small hut on the outskirts of the village that smells like herbs and spices and wood smoke all times of the year.  She also has lots of cats.  Last count she had close to fifty cats, all who adore Larinda.  Larinda is in her mid sixties, greying and losing most of her teeth.  She laughs at everything, which unsettles those looking for medical help, but she is a good healer.  She also knows every single cat that calls her place home.  She knows when they were born and if they were missing and does not take kindly to anyone messing with her cats, who she terms her "children".  She is willing to help anyone as long as they bring something in trade, such as food, work or trade good.  She'll not help ogres or half ogres, for her son was killed by one.  He was her only child that lived to adulthood so she will not help anyone with ogre blood even if they are dying on her doorstep and she could save them.

Researching for Your Game

Here are some things that I do to get ready to write up an adventure.

1) I always write an outline, just like I would for any school paper or story I might write.  This helps me figure out where I'm going or where I'd like to go.  In doing so, sometimes I get more ideas.

2) Flip through your game's "monster" books. Sometimes, just looking at the monsters or NPCs might help you come up with an idea.  My son loves to just read through them and figure out how to fit in the odd and unusual monsters into his campaign, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

3) Watch movies or read books of that genre.  Now, you don't want to send them on a Lord of Rings style adventure ever time you game, but what if you added in being rescued my giant eagles or something of the like which led to another aspect of another adventure?  Sometimes just watching movies or reading books will perk your imagination and get you going in the right direction.

4) Talk to your players.  What do they want to do?  Do they want to delve in a dungeon, trudge through the wilderness looking for ruins or do they want some intrigue in the city?  After all, its about you all having fun.  Sometimes just going with a one off dungeon delve is a great idea!

5) Read roleplaying forums.  There a tons of GMs out there waiting to share how they have dealt with stuff.  Maybe they'll get you on the right track.

Happy Gaming

Cloak of Warmth

Many travelers get stuck out in the wilderness in some pretty bad conditions.  A guide named Scout, was no exception.  Traveling all over the wilderness near the Tsalagi Mountains, Scout got stuck in some pretty awful snow storms.  So he and a mage friend came up with a cloak that could keep you warm in all sorts of weather.  This cloak appears to be normal size, with a hood.  Scout's cloaks were normally made of sturdy wool and lacked much decorations.  Later on his friend made cloaks of fine silk and with many decorations for this richer clients.  The cloak itself doesn't do much until the wearer speaks a key word (usually designated when made), then the fun begins.  The cloak does several things.  One, it keeps the wearer at a constant temperature of 65 degrees, regardless of the weather outside. Two, it turns into a small, one person tent that will keep out the weather.  It isn't comfortable, a person really can not spread out, but only curl up inside, but better then nothing.  Third, the cloak allows fire to be made inside and the smoke magically disappears without harming the person inside.  So if water needs to be melted or something needs to be cooked, a person could do so.  This cloaks are fairly common, especially near the Tsalagi Mountains, but it one is commissioned it will cost nearly 2000 gold.