#barrowmaze

[barrowdark]

Edro Spotlight: Quagmire (The Rushmoors)

If your players are heading toward the Barrowmaze, they’ll likely need a stop in Quagmire. It’s a town defined by survival, loyal bonds, and the constant threat of the marshes.

Key NPCs for your party to meet:

Hudson Lockwood: Master of the Kennels. Perfect if your party needs a specialized guide or a loyal companion.

Ruby Tumblestone: The Halfling barkeep of the Whiskey Business who knows every secret. If the party needs a hook for a Fen Raider camp, she’s the one to talk to.

David Quigley: A perfect bridge to a more mystical/dungeon-crawling side quest. He lives at the top of the ancient Quagtower, convinced his "Pappy" built it, while the militia uses the bottom floor to hide from the undead of the Barrowmaze.

Atmospheric Detail: Mention the "Hound Song" at dawn and the sight of ornate dog-sized arches in every building.

[barrowdark]

Everyone meet Gilbert, the self-proclaimed Prince of All Toads. 👑🐸

The party found him barely clinging to life in the back of a damp dungeon grotto. Apparently, "His Moist Eminence," is ruler of every toad along the fairy road Skipping-a-Derry, and we can call on him if we ever find ourselves in the NeverNever.

Is he a genuine Fae noble from the NeverNever? A very smart trickster? Or just a delusional common toad with a really high Charisma stat?

Honestly, the ambiguity is part of the charm.

[barrowdark]

🕯️Session Recap — Crosswick After Dark

Firaday, 3rd of Lleonwald 886

The day started with a dead dog and ended with a vanishing act.

Katrina was heading to the Brazen Strumpet when Helda Crosswick intercepted her in the street, tired eyes and a leather collar clutched in her basket. Buck was dead. No struggle. Just a clean puncture behind the ear and foam at the lips.

One of the Fenwick orphans had suffered the same disturbing dreams as Erasmus. A coiling shadow. Three green eyes.

At Crosswick House, the party uncovered signs of careful surveillance. Someone had tested Crosswick House's defenses. And passed.

The party split. One group took samples to Healer Greenleaf and Janderson Stacks (an expensive poison, professional work), while others brought Erasmus to Four Buttons at his Tower.

The sorcerer didn't mince words. The amulet Erasmus wore? Not protection. A beacon. The Brotherhood always knew where its people were. And now they were coming to silence him. Not because he was special, but because he knew too much.

The party faced a choice: keep him and fight, or let the Violet Eyes spirit him away forever.

They chose his safety over sentiment.

Erasmus said his goodbyes at Crosswick House. Gave his childhood book to the Fenwick boys. Then the teleportation took him, and he was gone.

Now the trap is set. The residents are safely at Saint Cuthbert's shrine. The Crosswick House sits empty and waiting.

Also: We met Periwinkle, a halfling paladin of the Wildmother! And had a street scuffle with The Mighty Oaf. Adventurers with a reputation for poaching finds and sacrificing hirelings. Bad blood. That's not over.

🗡️ Next session: The ambush.

[the-one-real-katyees]

I know that my brain is like a sponge filled with dirt warter. I need an outlet for a thought/ memory that I cannot let go of.

I was at the community meeting not too long ago and talked to a woman I do not very much like. I think she is noisy and a bit selfish. But that is not important for the story I want to share, moreover, she is a regular at the meetings and had the chance to play a game of Barrowmaze ran by a friend of mine.

He runs it "westmarches style" with different people hanging out and about in the hamlet, so many people swim in this soup. Barrowmaze is a favourite of many and my friend' is very good with new players's laid back and slow style is good with new players. Like new new players, people who have never seen or heard of roleplaying games. And the ylove it. The old style. The run for the treasures and gold, the darkness in the tunnels and crypts.

Beforementioned woman also had the chance to play in Barrowmaze and she tells me about that experience. Very disappointed, she was. She loves runes and such and her interest was peaked when she heard that some grave featured the chiseled signs. She was expecting them to be real runes and when the gm told her they are "fantasy runes" the game broke for her.

I was quite baffled about her expectations, cause to my understanding - Barrowmaze is set in a fictional world with fictional gods. You play adventurers who travel hours through a swamp only to run into the walking undead. I would never look for runes to be the futhark-viking symbols we have in real life.

And strangely I assumed that she would understand, that the game presented would be not real real, since she plays board games- who also struggle that they have to find ways to emulate out of game reality in abstract concepts.

well that was the story. I still don't like her, but I know she will still sit with me next time and talk about things in her life. In total disregard to my listening. :-)

[philosopherzeus]

Castles & Crusades Diary: Barrowmaze, Session 133 – The Finale, Part II

The Barrowmaze Campaign ended after nearly 4 years. Continuing from the previous session cliffhanger, another PC fought back the magic of an artifact, died, and was then immediately brought back as…

[philosopherzeus]

Castles & Crusades Diary: Barrowmaze, Session 132 – The Finale, Part I

After nearly 4 years the Barrowmaze Campaign arrived at the final showdown between the Keeper of the Tablet of Chaos and The Army of the Light. It was a heavy slog, there was a significant PC casua…

[philosopherzeus]

Castles & Crusades Diary: Barrowmaze, Session 131 – The Penultimate Session!

We just completed the penultimate session of the Barrowmaze Campaign – the Army of the Light battled the Undead Black Dragon Ossithrax Pejorative! There was quite a toll on the characters in …

[philosopherzeus]

Castles & Crusades Diary: Barrowmaze, Sessions 124-130

It’s been a while since my last game diary! Why? Well, at some point you can see the campaign is coming to an end and you begin to get excited for the new campaign that is coming up. A lot of…