The Beard is Mightier
@amightybeard.bsky.social
I play D&D with some friends.
Regardless, this is a solid foundation. But, what story would you tell with this skeleton of a session? If you run a session on it, definitely speak up and let me know what happened.
🧵 End.
🧵 End.
a group of people are sitting in front of a castle and one of them is saying i got a good feeling about this
ALT: a group of people are sitting in front of a castle and one of them is saying i got a good feeling about this
media.tenor.com
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Regardless, this is a solid foundation. But, what story would you tell with this skeleton of a session? If you run a session on it, definitely speak up and let me know what happened.
🧵 End.
🧵 End.
Actually, what if the wolves do use the moss to communicate telepathically between themselves. Now, the idea of a stablekeeper trying to figure out what is taking out their livestock --- in silence --- is a much more interesting storyline.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Actually, what if the wolves do use the moss to communicate telepathically between themselves. Now, the idea of a stablekeeper trying to figure out what is taking out their livestock --- in silence --- is a much more interesting storyline.
Or, maybe they are the protectors of the moss? What if the moss is sacred to them? It allows for thier ability to communicate with one another without alerting their prey with howls? Or maybe they're those crazy druids that prance around as animals all day, because of course they do.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Or, maybe they are the protectors of the moss? What if the moss is sacred to them? It allows for thier ability to communicate with one another without alerting their prey with howls? Or maybe they're those crazy druids that prance around as animals all day, because of course they do.
Back to the wolves. Why are they there? There should be some tension. They are obscured, but are watching. Always watching. But, not immediately hostile. Maybe they want food? Maybe one of them was hurt by the geyser and a good Cure Wounds would suffice?
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Back to the wolves. Why are they there? There should be some tension. They are obscured, but are watching. Always watching. But, not immediately hostile. Maybe they want food? Maybe one of them was hurt by the geyser and a good Cure Wounds would suffice?
You know who would really like limited telepathy? That group of rogues at the gambling table playing with a mark.
"Message" in 5e doesn't require the parties to know one another. But those who did it together know who is on the other side. So, less Mind Control and more "I hear voices in my head".
"Message" in 5e doesn't require the parties to know one another. But those who did it together know who is on the other side. So, less Mind Control and more "I hear voices in my head".
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
You know who would really like limited telepathy? That group of rogues at the gambling table playing with a mark.
"Message" in 5e doesn't require the parties to know one another. But those who did it together know who is on the other side. So, less Mind Control and more "I hear voices in my head".
"Message" in 5e doesn't require the parties to know one another. But those who did it together know who is on the other side. So, less Mind Control and more "I hear voices in my head".
Bad uses: have a bit of this moss as a salve in your hand and shake the hand of a rival. Then, you can pester them and freak them out enough that people start to think they're crazy. Start the rumor that the mayor is crazy and needs to be voted out and boom, you got yourself a political coup.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Bad uses: have a bit of this moss as a salve in your hand and shake the hand of a rival. Then, you can pester them and freak them out enough that people start to think they're crazy. Start the rumor that the mayor is crazy and needs to be voted out and boom, you got yourself a political coup.
So, good uses of this: a logger up the mountain sends their son or nephew into town a few miles away with a wagon load of timber to sell in the market. They sell out and need more supplies so, that message can be relayed.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
So, good uses of this: a logger up the mountain sends their son or nephew into town a few miles away with a wagon load of timber to sell in the market. They sell out and need more supplies so, that message can be relayed.
Mind control, though? Let's check out this herbalist's alignment and personality.
Envious/Covetous/Greedy (4) and Chaotic (3). Using a potion that allows you to manipulate rivals or gain power seems a likely scenario for someone who is covetous/greedy. OR maybe they want to corner the market?
Envious/Covetous/Greedy (4) and Chaotic (3). Using a potion that allows you to manipulate rivals or gain power seems a likely scenario for someone who is covetous/greedy. OR maybe they want to corner the market?
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Mind control, though? Let's check out this herbalist's alignment and personality.
Envious/Covetous/Greedy (4) and Chaotic (3). Using a potion that allows you to manipulate rivals or gain power seems a likely scenario for someone who is covetous/greedy. OR maybe they want to corner the market?
Envious/Covetous/Greedy (4) and Chaotic (3). Using a potion that allows you to manipulate rivals or gain power seems a likely scenario for someone who is covetous/greedy. OR maybe they want to corner the market?
The Ability table suggests the moss has Telepathy/Mind Control (4). Woah. That took a turn, but... that's turning the ol' brain machine. Telepathy could be cool. Could be the equivalent of sending stones, but in salve or potion form. That way, people could still communicate while far apart.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
The Ability table suggests the moss has Telepathy/Mind Control (4). Woah. That took a turn, but... that's turning the ol' brain machine. Telepathy could be cool. Could be the equivalent of sending stones, but in salve or potion form. That way, people could still communicate while far apart.
Herbalist seems interesting. Let's roll for Flora/Fauna. Results: Useful Plant/Herb/Root (9) and Copper-Tinged Moss (8). Seems standard: herbalist needs herbs. But, copper-tinged? Fly Geyser had some interesting coloring. Maybe the moss grows on it? But, what does it do?
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Herbalist seems interesting. Let's roll for Flora/Fauna. Results: Useful Plant/Herb/Root (9) and Copper-Tinged Moss (8). Seems standard: herbalist needs herbs. But, copper-tinged? Fly Geyser had some interesting coloring. Maybe the moss grows on it? But, what does it do?
Rolling for NPC Occupation, we get a Tradesperson (7) and Stablekeeper/Herbalist (9). If it's a stablekeeper, maybe their flock went missing and last seen up here. Or maybe a wolf pack has attacked their livestock and need to be dealt with.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Rolling for NPC Occupation, we get a Tradesperson (7) and Stablekeeper/Herbalist (9). If it's a stablekeeper, maybe their flock went missing and last seen up here. Or maybe a wolf pack has attacked their livestock and need to be dealt with.
But, why are they here to begin with? Going into a treacherous region would likely turn away most adventurers. Could have just stumbled in via hex crawl. But, I like an opportunity for an NPC quest giver. Who would send a group of adventurers here and why?
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
But, why are they here to begin with? Going into a treacherous region would likely turn away most adventurers. Could have just stumbled in via hex crawl. But, I like an opportunity for an NPC quest giver. Who would send a group of adventurers here and why?
Geysers make me think Yellowstone, though. And Yellowstone Dogs = Wolves. And I like that idea. BUT, they are curious and hopeful? Wrong place at the wrong time? Need to get out, too?
I like that beautiful monument that is Fly Geyser. Maybe it's not always active?
I like that beautiful monument that is Fly Geyser. Maybe it's not always active?
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Geysers make me think Yellowstone, though. And Yellowstone Dogs = Wolves. And I like that idea. BUT, they are curious and hopeful? Wrong place at the wrong time? Need to get out, too?
I like that beautiful monument that is Fly Geyser. Maybe it's not always active?
I like that beautiful monument that is Fly Geyser. Maybe it's not always active?
I did some looking at geysers across the world, and it looks like a majority are near or in mountains. In the US, the obvious muse would be Yellowstone. But, there are plenty of others, including this guy: Fly Geyser in Nevada. Those colors are amazing.
Now, the dogs.
Now, the dogs.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
I did some looking at geysers across the world, and it looks like a majority are near or in mountains. In the US, the obvious muse would be Yellowstone. But, there are plenty of others, including this guy: Fly Geyser in Nevada. Those colors are amazing.
Now, the dogs.
Now, the dogs.
Interesting - potentially friendly dogs, you say?
You know, I'm leaning towards this being a geyser. A volcano is just daunting and avoidable. A geyser, again, could be caused by an earthquake. Could just appear. I like that idea better. "Broken/Brittle" could be ash, dirt, and dust.
You know, I'm leaning towards this being a geyser. A volcano is just daunting and avoidable. A geyser, again, could be caused by an earthquake. Could just appear. I like that idea better. "Broken/Brittle" could be ash, dirt, and dust.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Interesting - potentially friendly dogs, you say?
You know, I'm leaning towards this being a geyser. A volcano is just daunting and avoidable. A geyser, again, could be caused by an earthquake. Could just appear. I like that idea better. "Broken/Brittle" could be ash, dirt, and dust.
You know, I'm leaning towards this being a geyser. A volcano is just daunting and avoidable. A geyser, again, could be caused by an earthquake. Could just appear. I like that idea better. "Broken/Brittle" could be ash, dirt, and dust.
For the Storm, we rolled Broken/Brittle (6) for Adjective and In Plain Sight (9) for Visibility. For the Dogs, they are Traveling (7), Curious/Hopeful (11), obscured (3), and in total, there are 4 of them (3, d6+2).
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
For the Storm, we rolled Broken/Brittle (6) for Adjective and In Plain Sight (9) for Visibility. For the Dogs, they are Traveling (7), Curious/Hopeful (11), obscured (3), and in total, there are 4 of them (3, d6+2).
Seems like they would notice this from a distance, though. Let's verify and roll for Adjective and Visibility.
For the dogs? I'm still not sure, but let's roll on activity, disposition, number appearing, as well as visibility. Maybe they're waiting on the outside for some prey to run out?
For the dogs? I'm still not sure, but let's roll on activity, disposition, number appearing, as well as visibility. Maybe they're waiting on the outside for some prey to run out?
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Seems like they would notice this from a distance, though. Let's verify and roll for Adjective and Visibility.
For the dogs? I'm still not sure, but let's roll on activity, disposition, number appearing, as well as visibility. Maybe they're waiting on the outside for some prey to run out?
For the dogs? I'm still not sure, but let's roll on activity, disposition, number appearing, as well as visibility. Maybe they're waiting on the outside for some prey to run out?
So, we got a dog and a meteorological storm. Nice.
A meteorological storm could mean anything. But, a volcano spits out ash, Geysers spit out hot water and steam. I think both would be viable. Also, we don't have to go super realistic. Maybe the geyser does both.
A meteorological storm could mean anything. But, a volcano spits out ash, Geysers spit out hot water and steam. I think both would be viable. Also, we don't have to go super realistic. Maybe the geyser does both.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
So, we got a dog and a meteorological storm. Nice.
A meteorological storm could mean anything. But, a volcano spits out ash, Geysers spit out hot water and steam. I think both would be viable. Also, we don't have to go super realistic. Maybe the geyser does both.
A meteorological storm could mean anything. But, a volcano spits out ash, Geysers spit out hot water and steam. I think both would be viable. Also, we don't have to go super realistic. Maybe the geyser does both.
Let's pause on that and roll another Discover and Danger. Our Discovery results were a Creature (8), a Beast (5), and Earthbound (6), like a dog/fox/wolf. Our Danger results were another Hazard (3), Meteorological (8), and a Blizzard/Thunderstorm/Sandstorm (7).
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Let's pause on that and roll another Discover and Danger. Our Discovery results were a Creature (8), a Beast (5), and Earthbound (6), like a dog/fox/wolf. Our Danger results were another Hazard (3), Meteorological (8), and a Blizzard/Thunderstorm/Sandstorm (7).
If we lean towards volcanic, then the striking landscape could be a mountain. If we lean towards geysers, there could be a fun skill challenge there. Maybe, Tectonic could mean they feel rumbling in the ground before it blasts.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
If we lean towards volcanic, then the striking landscape could be a mountain. If we lean towards geysers, there could be a fun skill challenge there. Maybe, Tectonic could mean they feel rumbling in the ground before it blasts.
6 dice: Our Discovery results were Natural Feature (3), Landmark (7), and Striking Landscape (4). A bit vague, but let's see what our danger is before pressing forward. Our Danger results were Hazard (3), Natural (7), and Tectonic/Volcanic (2). Okay, that seems like they could be related.
December 14, 2024 at 5:08 PM
6 dice: Our Discovery results were Natural Feature (3), Landmark (7), and Striking Landscape (4). A bit vague, but let's see what our danger is before pressing forward. Our Danger results were Hazard (3), Natural (7), and Tectonic/Volcanic (2). Okay, that seems like they could be related.