...It came from the /osrg/: May 2020

Saturday, May 30, 2020

33 ideas for a Sword & Sorcery or Decadent City-State adventure (GB)

01. Escape from a city while it’s being sacked.
02. Steal sacred gems from a valley inhabited by the deranged ape-like descendants of an evil cult.
03. Return a newly awakened ancient horror to its confinement.
04. Survive a grueling dangerous trek across a blistering desert, possibly while attempting to elude an angry foe.
05. Kill the thing in the pool
06. Raid an ancient king's tomb, fight a giant snake
07. Raid the thieves’ guild chapter house
08. Escape from the haunted sewer the angry arch-priest has thrown into for banging his mistress.
09. Break into the wizard’s tower and steal something that’s supposedly impossible to steal.
10. Kill the thing from beyond that’s feasting on the degenerate residents of the lost city

11. A crimson meteorite lands on the outskirts of the city, the common folk see it as an ill omen

12. Hunt down the lair of the strange foreign necromancer in the old tunnels beneath the city.

13. A beautiful woman is captured by a secret cult for a blood sacrifice / cannibal feast
14. The party is lured into a wizard's mansion of magical mirrors
15. Evil shapeshifting snake men have infiltrated the party's stronghold in the guise of servants and guards

16. Re-establish contact with a forgotten race and free them from their otherworldly slave-lord
17. Locate and desecrate the cursed temple of the foul god which has caused too many plagues
18. Infiltrate the labyrinthine harem of the Twin Priests of the Twin Monstrosities and rob 'em blind
19. Escape the city with the Baron's daughter, whom the local vampire crime boss seeks for his bride
20. Cross into the realm of the lich-lord of Tarn and foil his invasion plot

21. Steal the treasure of the Temple of the Gargoyle.

22. An undead asshole is about to rise in a castle in the mountains; you don't have any real reason to care except you want to bang his pure twin sister and he's sapping her vitality to bring himself back to life, also you have nothing better to do this week.

23. Help fight off the siege of a city you just arrived in.

24. Spy on the decadent city state for the barbarian horde marching on it to sack it (optional: flip because you see a sacred goose or something, warn the populace and GOTO the previous item).

25. Thwart a clever thief that robbed a fat merchant before you could rob the fat merchant, both for revenge and because the thief has the loot now.

26. Defeat an evil creature/gang of bravos/malevolent mist sent at you by a cult consisting entirely of people you've previously fucked over; this would normally be trivial but you are extremely drunk.

27. Steal someone's entire house because you like the look of it, without getting caught.

28. Figure out a way to sneak into the Overlord's palace so you can nail his young nieces without getting caught and flayed alive.

29. Figure out why there's a terrible shortage of beef and wine, then kill everyone responsible.

30. Take a large sum of money to abduct a young princess from the remote monastery where she's being kept, then hand her over to your employer even though he's clearly her evil uncle who wants to force her into marriage for reasons both prurient and political.

31. Sneak into the foreign fortress where some hostages are kept, then cut their throats so they can't be used as bargaining chips; it's much less risky than trying to spring them, and also gives the city-state a pretext to invade.

32. Capture the pirate queen that's been raiding coast; optionally, fall in love with her and join in her plot to rob a major coastal city.

33. Destroy the undead cultist you accidentally resurrected before he gets his revenge on the mama-san of your favorite brothel.

~ZOZ

Friday, May 29, 2020

Mundane Treasure (GB)

~ZOZ

Zenonian Puzzle Box (GB)

~ZOZ

Jungle Shrine of Trillex (W)

~ZOZ

The Sentinel Statue (W)

~ZOZ

Lord Gossamer's True Dentures (I)

~ZOZ

Spell Shrieker (M)

~ZOZ

Needful Bones (D)

~ZOZ

Siege of the Dwarf Fortress (W)

~ZOZ

Giant Mussel (M)/(W)

~ZOZ

Mimic Coin (M)

~ZOZ

Living Instruments (I)

~ZOZ

Hornsman (M)

~ZOZ

The Golden Maiden (D)

~ZOZ

o.O Dungeon Map (GB)

~ZOZ

Drop Sloth (M)

~ZOZ

Custospacis, the Dream Sword (I)

"Custospacis is the name of this sword. The dreaming consciousness of a demi-god forged in steel. This demi-god was once a petty thief before he was conscripted into a battalion of his people. The enemy were great giants from a nearby land and the many times this thief turned soldier was nearly killed by an oversized foot or fist bred a hatred within him.

At some point he realised the folly of this war and gathered together a rebellion to tear down his own king and queen just so the war might end. It was unveiled that the monarchy of the time had been infected with the curse of vampirism and they had some vested interest in the giant country.

After the evil monarchy was shown the light of day our hero was disappointed to see the hostilities between his country and that of the giants showed no sign of stopping.

In time he became a legendary warrior in the eyes of many and he naturally became the new leader of his country. Eventually he even inspired many giants to side with him. Leading the way deep into giant country he finally unveiled that a dragon had up and replaced the original giant monarchs. When the great Serpent lie dead the war was finally over.

"This sword is a physical embodiment of the will that was needed to end an endless war. It is filled with anger and hatred, prone to impulsive reactions but there is a fundamental desire for conflict to end."

~ZOZ

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Creative uses of Common Items (G)

Tips and tricks for using commonly available mundane equipment to survive your next dungeon crawl.

1. Chalk: Sticks of chalk can be used to mark dungeon walls, floors and ceilings for navigation purposes and warnings. Have multiple colors. Crushed and powdered chalk can be used to blind opponents, detect invisible enemies and spread on the floor to show direction of travel and number of enemies that have walked through it. Powdered chalk can be sealed in paper packets for improved throwing range. Flour can be used as powdered chalk.

2. Candles: besides use as an illumination source, candles can be used to detect drafts from hidden passages. Wax can be used to seal scrolls and messages, seal door jambs, keyholes and chests to detect tampering. Wax can be used to plug the dispensing nozzles on gas traps. Softened wax can be used to fashion ear plugs. Candle soot from smoke can be used to blacken blades and armor.

3. Pitons: metal spikes that can be used for climbing, construct trip wires and head/neck level decapitation traps , wedge doors shut or open. Wooden tent pegs or wedges can also be used in softer surfaces.

4. Water skins can be used to pour water on floors to detect trap doors/secret passages. They can also be inflated to use as flotation devices or used as a very temporary air supply.

5. Small mirror: can be attached to a stick to peek around corners and over/under walls. Can be used for silent, passive signaling.

6. Cayenne pepper can be used not only to season a spicy stew but to throw off dogs and other animals/monsters that track by scent. Can be thrown in enemies eyes to blind them.

7. Marbles and caltrops are under appreciated method of area denial and slowing down pursuers or setting traps. Marbles can be used to detect grade on a sloping passage. Marbles can be used like ball bearings to roll heavy objects. Ball bearings are not likely to be available in most fantasy settings with medieval level technology.

8. Charcoal make rubbings of raised or recessed markings or writing, draw on walls. Blackening exposes skin for concealment.

9. Bells attach to trip wires for early warning alarm. Bells can be placed on hirelings or animal companions to detect when they move or stop moving (dead or unconscious).

10. Collapsible canvas or leather bucket can be used to gather water, douse fires, bucket above the door trick will sand, ashes, chalk, water will smother a torch or blind and confuse an opponent.

11. Lard, Grease or soap can be used to slick poles, climbing surfaces and floors. Can be used as lubricant to help large objects, including characters, squeeze through small holes, passages or openings.

12. Rope, twine, metal wire can be used to make trip wires, decapitation wires, tangle foots, bind captives. Metal wires have strength and rigidity good for fashioning lock picks.

13. Quick lime (Calcium oxide) will neutralize acidic attacks and stop acidic from destroying armor/items/weapons. May do damage do acidic creatures like Gelatinous Cubes.

14. A hollow reed or pipe can be used as a snorkel or to fire spit wads (distraction).

15. A small pot of tar can be used to trap a door handles and floors with sharp shards of broken glass, nails, broken pottery. Tar will burn well and produce thick, black concealing smoke.

16. Stout Leather or canvas bags can be used for hauling treasure, a quick blindfold for prisoners, Packed with coins, rocks or sand and tied shut a bag can make a potent weapon when dropped from on high or wielded as a field expedient flail.

17. A small block of clay can be used to make a crude mould to copy keys and other small objects using a metal ladle and soft metals like lead over a campfire. Most PCs armed with slings

should carry this equipment to replenish lead sling bullets.

18. Unstuffed scarecrow, readily available in any farming community. In the dim light of dungeons and at night it can be used to create a dummy of a sentry to draw enemies attention. Can be stuffed with straw, rags, bedding and clothing and dressed in the clothing and/or armor of slain foes. Or used to pad out bedrolls and lure monsters into an ambush just when they think they have the upper hand over a sleeping party.

19. A blanket/cloak and 2 spear or polearm shafts can be used to build a makeshift litter as a stretcher or travois for carrying casualties or loot.

20. Hammocks can be used as nets to catch game and fish, cover pit traps and entangle enemies you want to take alive. As a last resort they can be cut up for rope.

21.???

~ZOZ