You arrive in the village of Cam, a small, backwater mudhole sandwiched between three swamps and a long dead forest. It isn’t your first choice, but you are confident that, if nothing else, people won’t give you a second glance as you walk through the gates covered in horseshit and what you hope is someone else’s blood.
However, you are more right than you think. No one is looking at you at all. In fact, you don’t see a soul in the town.
As you wander through the streets, you see the signs of life, but not a person in sight. Then, you hear it–a clamor–coming from the the edge of the westernmost swamp. Rounding the corner of a house of ill repute, you finally catch a glimpse of the townsfolk.
Walking towards them, you pick up on bits of the conversation. A woman, found dead and half-eaten, lies at the edge of the swamp. Any other time, this wouldn’t mean anything to you, but this time it’s different. Shes beautiful, or what’s left of her is. Clad in a beautiful blue gown, a crown–though now crumpled–lays near her porcelain face. She is striking, and it is obvious immediately that she isn’t from this town.
Over the murmur of the crowd, a voice can be heard.
“As the new king of this sad lot, I see that it falls to me to be the hand of the law. Citizens of Cam, your king requests the aid of those of stout body and sharp wit to assist the kingdom in finding out who is responsible for the death of this poor young woman. I promise 50 gold pieces for any information of value, and a full 500 gold for the capture of the nefarious soul responsible.”
500 gold will go a long way to making sure you never have to eat trail rations again, and really, how hard could it be to track down a killer out here in the middle of nowhere?
The king seems a little startled at your sudden declaration. He eyes you up and down, and then clears his throat.
“Ahem. Yes. It seems we have some volunteers, but they seem to be from another kingdom. Surely, one of the fine folk of Cam would readily take up the call?”
No one steps forward. The king seems a little apprehensive, and an insight roll tells you that he seems worried, but you can’t be sure about what.
“Uhh, I see. Very well, then, adventurer. What is your name?”
Before we get too much further into this, I’m gonna stop it. Lemmy isn’t really cut out for long term play, and I have to get to work on my campaign for next week. Peb, Ferro, it’s been a pleasure. May all your twenties be nat.
Aww, us silent readers were just getting into the story. I want to know how it ends.
Now we have this whole concept we ourselves need to figure out how it goes, I can’t do that on my own.
I do know a guy who’s very much into LARP, maybe I should brainstorm this with him and invite the weird, bearded, 40yo Warhammer-guy to see if he can add a character.
How much is a rulebook nowadays?
Do I have time this weekend?
I’ll spoil it for you. The new “King” is a wanna-be evil wizard who is stealing magical artifacts from all over the land, all while trying to establish his own kingdom. He thinks that he can point suspicion elsewhere if he hires someone to look into the murder that he caused, all while setting up his own fiefdom in Cam, but then some out of town adventurers with actual muscle come in and fuck everything up. What follows is the evil wizard trying to frame the heroes for murder while also taking them out without drawing attention to himself. I think at some point there will be a heist, likely before the final battle, where the heroes steal the wizard’s artifacts and then use all of his ill-gotten gains against him.
That’s what I thought of when I was writing that. Knowing TTRPG players, that would all go out the window during session 1 when they decide to befriend the wizard and help him rule.
![Lady of the Lake [Drawerofdrawings]](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/308cbfbf-0349-4e4c-bbb4-409a2f23cf39.jpeg){kind=link}
Ooooo this is a great starting point for a ttrpg quest.
You arrive in the village of Cam, a small, backwater mudhole sandwiched between three swamps and a long dead forest. It isn’t your first choice, but you are confident that, if nothing else, people won’t give you a second glance as you walk through the gates covered in horseshit and what you hope is someone else’s blood.
However, you are more right than you think. No one is looking at you at all. In fact, you don’t see a soul in the town.
As you wander through the streets, you see the signs of life, but not a person in sight. Then, you hear it–a clamor–coming from the the edge of the westernmost swamp. Rounding the corner of a house of ill repute, you finally catch a glimpse of the townsfolk.
Walking towards them, you pick up on bits of the conversation. A woman, found dead and half-eaten, lies at the edge of the swamp. Any other time, this wouldn’t mean anything to you, but this time it’s different. Shes beautiful, or what’s left of her is. Clad in a beautiful blue gown, a crown–though now crumpled–lays near her porcelain face. She is striking, and it is obvious immediately that she isn’t from this town.
Over the murmur of the crowd, a voice can be heard.
“As the new king of this sad lot, I see that it falls to me to be the hand of the law. Citizens of Cam, your king requests the aid of those of stout body and sharp wit to assist the kingdom in finding out who is responsible for the death of this poor young woman. I promise 50 gold pieces for any information of value, and a full 500 gold for the capture of the nefarious soul responsible.”
500 gold will go a long way to making sure you never have to eat trail rations again, and really, how hard could it be to track down a killer out here in the middle of nowhere?
Player 1: “Well, about that trail rations you…”
Player 2: “I start by casting Fireball!”
GM: “What? Why? What or who do you target?”
Player 2: “Dunno, but I wanted to play a meme character so badly. Can’t I just cast it… in the general direction of the swamp?”
GM look with a stone cold face, grabs their dice: Go on, if you’re sure…
I approach this new king and declare that I shall find this killer.
The king seems a little startled at your sudden declaration. He eyes you up and down, and then clears his throat.
“Ahem. Yes. It seems we have some volunteers, but they seem to be from another kingdom. Surely, one of the fine folk of Cam would readily take up the call?”
No one steps forward. The king seems a little apprehensive, and an insight roll tells you that he seems worried, but you can’t be sure about what.
“Uhh, I see. Very well, then, adventurer. What is your name?”
I am Peb the Girl. A cleric of minor renown. These are my traveling companions:
I am Ferro, a Druid from the once great wilderness outside of your town.
Before we get too much further into this, I’m gonna stop it. Lemmy isn’t really cut out for long term play, and I have to get to work on my campaign for next week. Peb, Ferro, it’s been a pleasure. May all your twenties be nat.
Impressive adulting. Well done.
Aww, us silent readers were just getting into the story. I want to know how it ends.
Now we have this whole concept we ourselves need to figure out how it goes, I can’t do that on my own.
I do know a guy who’s very much into LARP, maybe I should brainstorm this with him and invite the weird, bearded, 40yo Warhammer-guy to see if he can add a character.
How much is a rulebook nowadays? Do I have time this weekend?
Sorry what were we doing?
I’ll spoil it for you. The new “King” is a wanna-be evil wizard who is stealing magical artifacts from all over the land, all while trying to establish his own kingdom. He thinks that he can point suspicion elsewhere if he hires someone to look into the murder that he caused, all while setting up his own fiefdom in Cam, but then some out of town adventurers with actual muscle come in and fuck everything up. What follows is the evil wizard trying to frame the heroes for murder while also taking them out without drawing attention to himself. I think at some point there will be a heist, likely before the final battle, where the heroes steal the wizard’s artifacts and then use all of his ill-gotten gains against him.
That’s what I thought of when I was writing that. Knowing TTRPG players, that would all go out the window during session 1 when they decide to befriend the wizard and help him rule.