They Met in a Tavern 33: Into the Cold Desert

Who's looking out into the cold, arid geography from the Temple of the Pass?

• Chris: Thorn, dwarf Wizard
• Dan: Kiara, elf Ras Godai
• Rick: Bjorr, 1/2 orc Paladin
• Seana: Zanegar, 1/2 orc Sea Wolf
• Dave: Darkmist, elf Thief
• Michael: Lubach, 1/2 orc Basilisk Warrior
• Bob: Opchel, human Thief

Michael has joined on and off to one-shots in the past, so is familiar with my flavor of chaos. Bob was a first timer at my table, and to Shadowdark, and picked a PC off the pile.

The party looked out over the rocky outcrops, scrub, and sand. The cold, arid wind blew sand into their faces. The basilisk warrior wondered what the problem was.

Before departing, water skins were filled, and Sigwald was questioned regarding possible old streambeds. Sigwald pointed northwest, as he'd found some while exploring.

Off they went.

Riding northwesterly, the party left the Badlands behind, entering more distinctly open desert. Cresting a rise into the sand, they found a basin filled with sand fused into shattered green glass. They cautiously investigated. Darkmist had heard of a similar glass before, and understood it to be created from great heat and energies. He wrapped some up for later study or trade. In the meantime, Zanegar became nauseous, and appeared to be suffering a slight sunburn. Better move on.

shiny!

As the party traveled on, they were ambushed by a serpent-folk patrol from their foxholes (snakeholes?). A couple of PCs took arrow damage before the party was able to identify the threat. Some strong initiative rolls, and a Nat20 spell roll by Thorn, and the survivors of the initial clash were webbed.  Most serpent-folk refused to surrender to the "monkeys" although two were swayed... They were protecting their territories from the trespassing monkeys, who had become more numerous recently. Although they weren't familiar with any lost cities, they were sure it was also part of their territory.

These two serpent-folk were secured, while the party recovered some supplies and a "nice sword." Zanegar, recovering from her nausea, was gifted it.

The surviving serpent-folk were employed to guide the party away from other patrols and hazards. This worked fairly well until a pair of hazards found them, slaying Opchel's horse Buttercup, and nearly Opchel, himself.

D66 Badlands Hex Features, and Randomness Thoughts

So, in respect of Prismatic's Blogwagon topic, I suppose I should actually write a bit more on process and methods, rather than just spamming them with random tables. Not that there isn't another random table residing directly below... 

I'm a middling GM and writer, at best. Most of my scenarios and creativity are pretty bog-standard as far as RPG content goes. I crib from better creators wherever possible, and chink up the cracks in material content with my ideas where necessary.

So, I'm not going to come up with any groundbreaking theory or mechanics, just what works for me, and maybe help a dear reader or two.

First of all, for any session or scenario, there is little need to build out bespoke random table contents. With fifty years of publications and web content, there's likely a random table that fits your needs. 

Even the infamous ones...

Plenty of TTRPG books include monsters encountered by terrain type. Sort by HD or whatever criteria, and accost your players' PCs at your leisure.

And, the tables don't have to be fancy. Even for a campaign-level setting, there will be the things encountered more regularly, and a few rarities that may only hit the die rolls a few times. Call them the residents vs the exotics, perhaps. The tribes of orcs vs the one dragon. Grade on a curve - 2d6, 3d6, etc. Again, smarter people than me have expounded on this.

"But what if I want to random some stuff up, Mr. Leicester?" I hear you say. Well then, go for it... with the only real caveat of, "make them make sense."

Looking at my last blog entry, there is The Randomness of the die rolls, with the list of qualities or attributes for each creature. Then, the "heavy lifting" of creating some logic for making that particular arrangement fit into your setting. Particularly for a sandbox-type scenario, where the exploration and encounters themselves inform the larger play (we'll also be delving into this based on our last campaign session...)

And it might not work. Sometimes the dice aren't always right. Regardless, making something out of a bunch of random rolls, be it filling a dungeon, or creating a critter, is still good practice, and an opportunity to keep the brain flexible. 

And I'm sure that I have at least one failed experiment that showed up elsewhere...

D66 Lost Cities

First of all, Prismatic Wasteland's current Blogwagon topic is "Randomness" - which means I'm posting sumthin' random...

According to the randomly assigned posting window, I have until the 12th, so there will be a couple more posts to follow this...

Secondly of all, during our Sunday night game, I posited the question of,  "Why do you seek the lost city of X" to my players. Drom, the dwarf desert rider (currently MIA) has his personal quest, so I wanted to poll the rest of the party on what they may hope to find. I'll post their answers in my game report, later.

Anyway, the question came up of "How do we know if we found the correct Lost City?" After all, the lands of the Cold Desert could just be lousy with them.

source

"Damnit, Bjorr! This is the THIRD lost city we've found, and STILL not the one we're looking for!"

Anyway, have four d66 columns of fun, with names, reasons for abandonment, current occupants, and reasons to visit!

Download to Discover What Was Lost

source

D66 Items Found in the Sewers

So, I'm working on a funnel adventure for Shadowdark. Might as well post up part of the work in progress. The most important part of said adventure - the D66 random items to find while slogging through the slop...

source

I mean, these are 0-level rat-stickers and clog-clearers. There have to be some perks of the job...

No. No, there are really no perks to these jobs... 

source

Anyhow, without further ado, a lovely list of valuable and useful items floating among the other floaters...

They Met at a Tavern 24: When the DM Mentions Something in Passing, Part II...

Better get this written down before I forget details of the chaos...

The Miscreants:

• Wayne: Pharan, human Sea Wolf
• Chris: Roult, human Basilisk Warrior
• Dan: Kiara, elf Ras Godai
• Seana: Zanegar, 1/2 orc Sea Wolf
• Callista: Erol, elf Priest
• Mike: Merrick, human Bard
• Mark (first timer): Irir, elf Thief

First of all, bumped a couple of the Repeat Offenders to 3rd level, since they keep showing up.

The returning crew from last week was heading back to Bettiholm, when they chanced upon a couple of adventurers (Merrick and Irir). The pair looked shady, so were welcomed to join the crew. The group then caught up with a small caravan carrying a mixed selection of supplied and curiosities for delivery to town. Some haggling went on, but the party was unsuccessful. 

The caravan parked outside of town at the caravanserai, and the party headed in to catch up with gem dealer Delmar. Perhaps to find a more reputable broker, since they suspected that Kashmi Rasam had double-crossed his buyer, and they didn't care to be associated with that. In the meantime, they had to dodge "Chicken Day" where the mayor was handing out food donations to the downtrodden of the city. Of which there were plenty. It's a good thing that the caravan included chickens among its cargos.

Somewhere in this, the DM produced a rough map of town and pointed out some features that the party had visited, as well as other landmarks:

Cat not included 

The Sealed Tower (upper RH corner) drew them like moths to flame... Well, it was sealed by multiple methods after Bad Things Happened, of course. Perhaps it's associated with the city's curse and loss of significance. What would have instigated it (question to players) - diabolic dealings and summoning. Always a classic. 

The party ventured to meet the mayor (Fabio Hegewald) as he was washing his hands after a day of handing out foodstuffs and (eeww!) touching the citizens. The mayor and advisor indicated that the sealing occurred after a priest of Terragnis had violated his vows and called up demons in a gamble for power. Can we get into the tower? No, its been sealed, although there might be alternate paths. Have other adventurers explored it? Yes, and they never returned (dramatic music). 

Well, ok - let's get some rest, resupply, and look at things in the morning (i.e. no carousing). Of course, they were met at their inn by representatives of House Zulad, the Dissatisfied Customer from the prior relic sale. Of course, they wouldn't have known of the double-cross, but their reputation was now suspect. And yes, we caught Rasam on his way out of town with a number of items, including the inner workings of the Orb. Of course, it wouldn't do to just kill him, as he has knowledge and talent (big reveal)...

D66 MORE Side-Effects of Reincarnation

Nope, couldn't let a dead dog lie...

Came up with more ideas at supper, and one list became two. This one has fewer positive side effects, more on the negative or 'color' side of the tally. Because there are prices to be paid for coming back from the Other Side. It shouldn't be a blessing.

source

So have D66 More Side-Effects of Reincarnation. Beware of lightning.

(If both tables are used, for each effect: 50/50 for Table 1 or 2, then roll effect.)

D66 Side Effects of Reincarnation...

So, your colleague got themselves dead. Not a problem, you've got the coin to donate for a resurrection. Problem is, there's no local temple with a priest powerful enough to raise the dead.

But what about that necromancer? You know, the odd lady with the unsettling stare and jars of preserved body parts? I'm sure she can do the job.

Oh, certainly! She says, eyes scanning your deceased comrade. Just like those god-fearing clerics do it, just without the pesky religious bits. She accepts the payment. Oh, yes, just like the clerics! She shoos you off and retreats with your friend's body into a chamber filled with stinking reagents, clinking glassware, and half-formed summoning circles.

source

Well, a week later, ol' Jimbo is back on his feet. Over a drink he recounts, with shaking hands, what he saw in the afterlife... 

***

Hey Sven, you notice anything different about Jimbo? 

Well, he's completely bald now. 

No, I meant the circling buzzards.

OH...

***

I originally started with the idea of a revenant-type reincarnated PC, with a touch of undeath about them. Then, of course it expanded into a D66 table for side effects of necromancy.

But nah. Anyone who's been pulled back across the veil is going to be Changed By The Experience...

D66 Side Effects of Reincarnation

D66 Winter Carousing Happenings, Part II

As a follow-up to my last D66 Winter Carousings list, I recognized that Solstice/Generic Midwinter Holiday/New Years is a field ripe for harvest (bad analogy) and ginned up a second D66 list, complete with more frigid happenings, mishaps, and boons.

Hey, watch where you're driving!

So put on some thick socks, warm that mulled wine, and beware snowdrifts speaking Finnish:

Download me here!

Secret Santicorn 2025: Part II: D66 Winter Carousing Happenings

My second gift as a member of the OSR Discord Santicorn 2025 Reserves(tm). 

energycrow666 - Carousing tables themed around winter and/or its attendant festivals, such as solstice, yule, and the new year.

by Arthur Rackham

Oh no. Don't make me do another D66 list. Please no... 😜

Inspired this morning under the influence of two cups of coffee and a bowl of Chocolate Honey Bunches of Oats.

Party on!

Note: Realized I totally forgot a krampus encounter, as well as a Yule Cat. There are just too many winter traditions and hazards... 

And, from The Resurrectionists, a bit more history of Christmastime Chaos:

Update: Bonus Part II of the table can be found here....

Secret Santicorn 2025: Downtime Happenings...

I was tardy in signing up for the OSR Discord's annual "Secret Santicorn" writing prompt exchange. But I let the organizer know that I'd be happy to pick up an orphan "gift" if need be. And so I was called off the bench.

Hello _ !
Your gift is for Houndmoon, who asked for:
“Set of useful downtime activities & the locations and characters they’re attached to.”

I can do this. In the tune of D66, of course...

Ooo! Downtime. Whee. Another Carousing Table! Can I roll a Suspicious Rash? Sketchy Business Venture? Notice from a Noble?

Nah, give me Something Better. I want a Cool Trick. Preferably from a Mysterious Stranger! Let's get us some Downtime Boons!

How does one come upon a Boon? Not by Gift or Grift but by Reputation. The PC must have Done a Thing that Caught Someone's Attention. Perhaps the fighter doing in the beast in the Arena, the cleric dispelling some Infernal Being, the mage Touching the Arcane, the thief Stealing the Thing. This Deed draws the Attention of a Mentor or Benefactor. Someone not affiliated with the current adventure, but who may become a Part of the World as the story continues. But most importantly, someone who thinks the PC worthy of a New Ability. 

They will contact the PC, perhaps directly, by messenger, or even subterfuge. After all, not all of these mentors are affiliated with Proper Channels or the Orthodoxy. In some cases, gaining this knowledge may even have the potential to Mark the PC as a Heretic or Iconoclast. So Beware. Many Gifts come with a Cost. Not to mention, now that the PC has been Found Worthy of a Boon, the Patron will likely want them to Run an Errand, Return the Favor, or Complete a Deed...

"The Noble Patron"

YET ANOTHER Collection of D66 Tables

That's right, folks - I finally crossed the magical threshold of twelve more D66 tables... Which meant I had to make up Number 13 and paste them all together with my third-grade collage skills.

We've got multiple hex curiosities, caravan cargos, magical weapons/armor, and other miscellany for use, abuse, and inspiration...

GET IT HERE!

UPDATE: I just bundled together all of three of the D66 table collections for purchase. That's 39 tables of randomness right there, folks!

D66 Magical Armors

Well, radio silence. The writing is being sluggish, as Transcription Project '25 rapidly becomes Transcription Project '26. I think that, with the end of the campaign, I've had less urgency to write. Not to mention those Real Life(tm) elements that dominate one's attention and energies. 

Anyhoo... Thought that I'd ginned up a dozen D66 tables for the third compilation, but found that I'd only come up with eleven. So - here's Number Twelve. 

Armor!

source

Like a few other entries, a magic item with simply a bonus is boring. So all of our armors have a little (or lot) something extra. Plus a few are cursed, because that's fun.

Download the Defense!

source

Now I can get to that 13th bonus table for the third collection. Any suggestions?

Ok, now that The Plague has passed, we can get back to brewery games this Sunday... More to come.

D66 Beers on the Wall ....

Well, been offline for a bit. Out visiting the relatives on the Plains, you know...

I always have the intention to get some writing done while I'm back at the homestead, but the time gets filled with sorting things to dispose of, and family history to keep (like records of those no-nonsense fellows, above).  

As well as hanging at the local watering holes. Like your PCs may do between bouts of killing monsters and taking their stuff. And, in our campaign, the halfling Fulvus was on a quest to find interesting ale formulations, and made a habit of talking with local taverns and alewives, with the hope of taking back a "secret recipe" to his own alehouse.

So, what might he have found in his travels? And - perhaps one or more of those "Secret recipes" may have included a bit of a side effect, whether intentional or not. So what's on tap at the tavern, and did your PC get a bit more than they bargained for? ...

Have a Drink

Speaking of which, setting up a game at a new brewery location tonight as part of their Sunday game night.  (Cancelled due to the appearance of plague at Leicester HQ)

D66 Double Feature: Magic Weapons and Shields

Hiedy ho, neighbor!

Time to post up something not play report-affiliated. Not that everyone doesn't find my reports of hapless gamerunning as totally gripping reads.

Posted up 10-ish magic weapons a bit ago, so of course we need to expand that list to d66. And while we're at it, why not d66 magic shields to go along with them. 

Each has a standard bonus, plus one additional quality. Some may be one-time use, some daily, some permanent. All in the name of not just another boring +1 sword in the loot pile. Hopefully they can liven up a treasure find and the resulting play. I know that Slick's level-draining scimitar has made several monsters very sad. 

source

So have a pair of lists to mix and match into your adventures:

Magic Weapons Here

Magic Shields Here

Anyway, on to finalize, perhaps, some details for this weekend's final !?! session of our little campaign that began around three years ago... 

Expect shenanigans, and hopefully a few surprises...

source

D66 Goods That Caravan is Hauling (x2!)

So, as things go in a campaign, the players occasionally encounter a caravan.

Not that Caravan...

...that caravan.

And, of course, we have the running gag of "something that fell off the wagon" recovered by either the PCs or the local Halfling Mafia. So what did they find?

So here are two D66 lists of potential cargo to pick and choose from, with items both mundane and exotic. 

List the First

List the Second

OK, maybe that Caravan...

D66 Reasons Why The Party Had to Leave Town Quickly

A common question I ask at the beginning of one-shots to get people into role-playing their characters is, "How did you get into trouble in the last town?" Because adventurers are always on their best behavior within city limits...

Or sometimes not

Anyhow, sometimes there is a need to rapidly vacate the premises, due to shenanigans, a misunderstanding, or elements easily pinned onto itinerant adventurers. Here are a few:

DOWNLOAD me here

And per my prior entry on creating - yes, I am on task, as it were, transcribing notes from scribbled-upon maps to editable and expandable form. The pile was thicker than I thought, but progress is being made, and little adventures will begin to trickle out soon...

D10 Magic Weapons Found On That Corpse

Months ago during the campaign, the party came upon the remains of a squad of soldiers who had perished in combat with a Chaos raiding party. The combat was fresh, and it appeared that the foes had all perished in a hard-fought, desperate struggle. And I knew that the deceased commander of the troops should have a magic weapon, but something more than just another +1 sword. 

So I whipped up a quick list with a little help from Chaotic Shiny:

1. +2 short sword (1d6+2), casts a glamour 1/day (2d6 rounds)
2. +2 short sword (1d6+2), wind blast 1/day (raises dust to blind opponents, extinguish torches, etc.)
3. +1 trident (1d6+1), lighting bolt 1/day (2d6 dmg, 150', save for half)
4. +1 battle axe (1d8+1), flame 3/day (+1d6 fire damage)
5. +2 hand axe (1d6+2), bearer may recover as full night's rest on four hours of sleep.
6. +1 longsword (1d8+1), petrify 1/day (save to avoid)
7. +1 trident (1d6+1), shoot 60' jet of water 3/day (knock opponent prone, extinguish light, etc.)
8. +1 spear (1d6+1), +1d6 acid damage, degrades armor by 1 point (save to avoid damage)
9. +1 rapier (1d6+1), fly 1/day (1d6 turns)
10. +1 scimitar (1d8+1), drains level on 1st attack

Slick rolled the d10 to see what he found, and got his nasty black scimitar.

Plus a bonus item they didn't find: 

    +1 javelin (1d4+1), raises 10'x100' earthen wall where it lands (1 use)

Only 25 more for the inevitable D66 list....

D66 Overly-Specific Very Minor Demons, and an Incantation Bowl!

Some time ago, I was searching Wikimedia Commons for demon imagery for filler art for a blog post or adventure writeup, and I came across this charming fellow:

source

Alleborith, a minor demon, whose sole power is to cause people to choke on fish bones. Never say that you have no talents.

So behold! From the abyssal plains and muttered curses of adventurers arise D66 aggravating demons to torment in the most specific of ways!

DOWNLOAD US HERE!!!

AND! Behold more! My own personal incantation bowl, useful for protection of the home from demons and other malevolent forces... 

Lilith is having a bad hair day...

D66 Times Three... A Collection of Hexcrawl Curiosities

Got on a writing bender on Sunday. Bit of a heat wave here, plus trying to get some house stuff taken care of, so made some focused writing time between other tasks. Started with one table, but knew that I'd eventually drag a couple more out of the brain. So why not now? It's something I need to do. Just sit, focus, and drag some creativity out of myself. 

So have three... count 'em, THREE D66 lists of random, perhaps interesting things, to find during one's hexcrawling of the edge of the map.

Meteorite, or frozen fireball? Your call.

Download me here

Download me here 2

Download me here 3

That's 108 random things to stumble upon, for those keeping track at home.

The D66 Table Test Dungeon: The Bowl of Gunnfried for Shadowdark

So I have written a number of D66 tables as a creative exercise. A few were themed on dungeon contents, and the final of these included, “things to get, things stopping you, and dungeon decorations.” So, since a couple of friends had put these tables to use, I figured that I should roll the dice and put it to the test, myself. 

"Bowl, roper, incense burners/braziers."

OK then. Let's do this. 

Grab a Dyson map. This one will do...

source

Hmm. Ok, why not put a boss monster in the first room? ...

So here it is - The Bowl of Gunnfried - crafted up for Shadowdarky delvings. Estimated in the 3rd+ level of challenge, as long as there are a few magic weapons in the mix. Knowing PCs, they'll just dogpile every challenge....

This is the first time I've written specifically for the Shadowdark format - critter stats, etc. so critique is welcome.

source