Post by curufin on Dec 12, 2018 18:38:37 GMT
When I am working on my D&D campaign, I find that I am constantly inspired by everything around me. Whether it be pictures from the crafting group, modules I have read, things other people are working on here, or an old great helm I made years and years ago.
I was moving some stuff around at my place and I relocated a great helm that I made on a shelf. As I did it, I noticed that some of the leather lining was starting to come loose. I tugged a little at the leather that was stating to hang down (I really couldn't help myself), and I made it worse. That was about when it struck me. I should put a map or riddle or something on the inside lining of a found helmet that leads to the rest of the armor. So I started play around with the clues and the wording of those clues. Here is what I came up with:
I used a piece of leather for a more authentic feel when I pass it to the players. My fiance (who likes to do calligraphy wrote it out freehand.
Here is the Riddle if the pictures are hard to read:
Once there was light,
Now darkness grows.
Where the armor hides,
The king only knows.
Where he reigns,
The folk rest on high.
Ten platinum in hand,
Or the trip be nigh.
Now on the path,
Seek the golden goose,
Though it might seem strange,
No eggs will she produce.
With a ruby so red,
From the cellar below.
It holds the key,
That the dregs will not show.
A figure alone,
Standing so bold.
Lifeless and lifelike,
His veins run cold.
Surrounded by death,
It is all he surveys.
With the tip of his sword,
He points the way.
At the ancient house,
A home to the dead.
Above the door,
It shall be read.
With a turn of the key,
If it doesn’t break.
A shiny new suit,
You can finally take.
The player's (maybe next session) will find a masterwork mithral great helm at the Flooded Fort of Fadenhiem. The leather lining inside hte helm will be loose. Checking further will reveal writing on the writing on the leather and perforation that would allow the leather to be ripped cleanly from the helm. The ripped leather is as above; a riddle and 4 maker's marks).
The riddle is much more of a marketing ploy than a treasure map. A ploy created by 4 friends to sell more of their wares. The friends are Valerie Wynn, an elven vineyard owner and wine maker; Melbalorne Cresent, a human locksmith; Shadern Ironvein, a dwarven armorer; and Devon Senoj, a human tanner and leather worker.
We play in the World of Greyhawk so many of the clues come directly from places and things from that world. Here is the break down for the riddle:
Once there was light,
Now darkness grows.
Where the armor hides,
[The armor is the treasure. It is Mithral Scalemail]
The king only knows.
[ The king is a statue of a king]
Where he reigns,
The folk rest on high.
['folk rest on high' refers to the city of Highfolk]
Ten platinum in hand,
[To get the right bottle you pay with 10pp (more below)]
Or the trip be nigh.
Now on the path,
[In Highfolk]
Seek the golden goose,
[The Golden Goose is a well known tavern]
Though it might seem strange,
No eggs will she produce.
With a ruby so red,
['ruby so red' refers to Celenien Ruby Red Nectarwine costing 100gp per bottle]
From the cellar below.
[ paying with 10pp gets you a special dusty bottle from the cellar. Only 6 bottles left]
It holds the key,
That the dregs will not show.
[the key cant be seen thru the dark red wine or the sediment at the bottom]
A figure alone,
[Only statue in the graveyard]
Standing so bold.
[Statue standing on a plinth]
Lifeless and lifelike,
His veins run cold.
Surrounded by death,
[Graveyard]
It is all he surveys.
With the tip of his sword,
He points the way.
[His sword point the direction of the small mausoleum]
At the ancient house,
A home to the dead.
[Mausoleum]
Above the door,
It shall be read.
[the 4 maker's marks are above the door]
With a turn of the key,
[ there are 6 bottles with keys left]
If it doesn’t break.
[there is a 1 in 6 chance the key is the right one]
A shiny new suit,
You can finally take.
Of course it wont be quite that easy. I'm adding one or two little hickups. One will be that the king statue will be smashed:
The statue was destroyed a few years back with a troublesome fighter named Bisquayne destroyed it after purchasing 10 bottles and having 10 keys break in the lock. Bisquayne will make another appearance a few years down the road.
I was moving some stuff around at my place and I relocated a great helm that I made on a shelf. As I did it, I noticed that some of the leather lining was starting to come loose. I tugged a little at the leather that was stating to hang down (I really couldn't help myself), and I made it worse. That was about when it struck me. I should put a map or riddle or something on the inside lining of a found helmet that leads to the rest of the armor. So I started play around with the clues and the wording of those clues. Here is what I came up with:
I used a piece of leather for a more authentic feel when I pass it to the players. My fiance (who likes to do calligraphy wrote it out freehand.
Here is the Riddle if the pictures are hard to read:
Once there was light,
Now darkness grows.
Where the armor hides,
The king only knows.
Where he reigns,
The folk rest on high.
Ten platinum in hand,
Or the trip be nigh.
Now on the path,
Seek the golden goose,
Though it might seem strange,
No eggs will she produce.
With a ruby so red,
From the cellar below.
It holds the key,
That the dregs will not show.
A figure alone,
Standing so bold.
Lifeless and lifelike,
His veins run cold.
Surrounded by death,
It is all he surveys.
With the tip of his sword,
He points the way.
At the ancient house,
A home to the dead.
Above the door,
It shall be read.
With a turn of the key,
If it doesn’t break.
A shiny new suit,
You can finally take.
The player's (maybe next session) will find a masterwork mithral great helm at the Flooded Fort of Fadenhiem. The leather lining inside hte helm will be loose. Checking further will reveal writing on the writing on the leather and perforation that would allow the leather to be ripped cleanly from the helm. The ripped leather is as above; a riddle and 4 maker's marks).
The riddle is much more of a marketing ploy than a treasure map. A ploy created by 4 friends to sell more of their wares. The friends are Valerie Wynn, an elven vineyard owner and wine maker; Melbalorne Cresent, a human locksmith; Shadern Ironvein, a dwarven armorer; and Devon Senoj, a human tanner and leather worker.
We play in the World of Greyhawk so many of the clues come directly from places and things from that world. Here is the break down for the riddle:
Once there was light,
Now darkness grows.
Where the armor hides,
[The armor is the treasure. It is Mithral Scalemail]
The king only knows.
[ The king is a statue of a king]
Where he reigns,
The folk rest on high.
['folk rest on high' refers to the city of Highfolk]
Ten platinum in hand,
[To get the right bottle you pay with 10pp (more below)]
Or the trip be nigh.
Now on the path,
[In Highfolk]
Seek the golden goose,
[The Golden Goose is a well known tavern]
Though it might seem strange,
No eggs will she produce.
With a ruby so red,
['ruby so red' refers to Celenien Ruby Red Nectarwine costing 100gp per bottle]
From the cellar below.
[ paying with 10pp gets you a special dusty bottle from the cellar. Only 6 bottles left]
It holds the key,
That the dregs will not show.
[the key cant be seen thru the dark red wine or the sediment at the bottom]
A figure alone,
[Only statue in the graveyard]
Standing so bold.
[Statue standing on a plinth]
Lifeless and lifelike,
His veins run cold.
Surrounded by death,
[Graveyard]
It is all he surveys.
With the tip of his sword,
He points the way.
[His sword point the direction of the small mausoleum]
At the ancient house,
A home to the dead.
[Mausoleum]
Above the door,
It shall be read.
[the 4 maker's marks are above the door]
With a turn of the key,
[ there are 6 bottles with keys left]
If it doesn’t break.
[there is a 1 in 6 chance the key is the right one]
A shiny new suit,
You can finally take.
Of course it wont be quite that easy. I'm adding one or two little hickups. One will be that the king statue will be smashed:
The statue was destroyed a few years back with a troublesome fighter named Bisquayne destroyed it after purchasing 10 bottles and having 10 keys break in the lock. Bisquayne will make another appearance a few years down the road.