Greyhame: Twenty Questions

I saw this post over at Coins and Scrolls, about 20 questions for his game, which was of course piggy-backing off of Jeff Rients' "20 quick questions for your campaign" posted several years ago. So naturally, I thought I'd give it a go for the Greyhame Mountain Dungeon game.


1. What is the deal with my cleric's religion?

You tell me--whom do you worship? What alignment are you?

2. Where can we go to buy standard equipment?

Page B12 of the D&D Basic Rulebook, or a handout that I have printed. If anything is locally of a different cost or unavailable, I'll tell you

3. Where can we go to get plate armor custom-fitted for this monster I just befriended?

That custom armor will cost twice or more the usual cost in gold, plus a week or more in labor at any smithy/armorer's shop. I'll adjust cost and time according to what seems reasonable.

4. Who is the mightiest wizard in the land?

Axxl the Mask or Morla of the Mists (an undecided contest between equals ...); but they're semi-local--there are probably more powerful wizards further afield--and there's almost certainly an Elf-Queen of tremendous power in the Dwimmerholt forest to the east, but good luck finding her

5. Who is the greatest warrior in the land?

Locally, Morholt, usurper and current overlord of Brakeridge and the surround; he has a castle full of mercenaries loyal to him, and is seeking a love potion wherewith to overwhelm the resistance of the former lord's widow to marrying him.

6. Who is the richest person in the land?

Dusty Tam, a merchant-lord in the northern freetown of Bardastead. His epithet used to be "the Dusty" because he was always on the road, making money trading north and south along the trade road, but now that he's old, fat, and rich, obviously his "dust" is now gold-dust. He lends credit to several of the lords around here, probably including Morholt, definitely including Vialar, the king.

7. Where can we go to get some magical healing?

Normally I'd say, "To your friendly party-cleric, otherwise nowhere," but around Greyhame, folks have the advantage that Lailith, a Lawful Good cleric of high level, has recently set up a shrine in town. She is a player character; she represents what PCs are ultimately capable of at higher levels, and is also a personality with her own motives in allowing/disallowing magical healing on her part.

8. Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath?

Again, Lailith at her shrine--according to her own prices (e.g. raise dead she's willing to do for 300 gp, whereas I'd charge 5000 gp at any other shrine as referee ...); as for alignment change, each character would have to take that up according to their particular alignment and the nearest competent figurehead of such, which I would have to write up ...

9. Is there a magic guild my MU belongs to or that I can join to get more spells?

No, sorry. MUs are jealous of their spells, books, lore, and powers. You might manage to apprentice yourself to a higher level fellow for the price of demeaning tasks ...

10. Where can I find an alchemist, sage, or expert NPC?

Axxl the Mask and Morla of the Mists double as alchemists/sages as well. Other experts can be hired in larger towns, north or south a few days' travel.

11. Where can I hire mercenaries?

2-7 are available for hire every session, plus 2-5 war dogs for sale. These are at local taverns, caravanserais, fighting pits, etc. In Brakeridge, they congregate at John's Place

12. Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed, or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law?

Back in highschool, in the Carolinian Empire, I would have characters secure their carried weapons with "peace bonds" that prevented their being drawn. But the Carolinian Empire is far to the west. As for magic--don't be a dick. Egregious charm person spells will probably elicit a bad reaction from townsfolk, but the occasional sorcery is not illegal

13. Which way to the nearest tavern?

Every town has one. The Black Dragon's Meed is rumored the best new tavern in Brakeridge.

14. What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous?

First, the Orcs in the Glimmervaults.
Second, the Goblin King and the Lord of Werewolves under the Howling Tower
Third, Morholt, current lord over the local area, ruling oppressively from Oakridge Castle.
Fourth, Vialar the Cruel, supposed king over all these lands.

15. Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?

Not at the moment. Besides, wars are more fun when you're higher level (and you're instigating them).

16. How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?

Not in these parts; mostly, one goes into dungeons for glory and gold. In some parts of the world, though, the Mourners do hold gladiatorial games ...

17. Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?

Sure! The Evil cult might be one. There's probably a thieves' guild. Maybe even assassins. Probably other secret societies--but they're secret. Ask around (discretely!)

18. What is there to eat around here?

5 gold buys you 7 days of rations. I've never yet met an adventurer ostentatious enough to spend gold on anything fancier food-wise

19. Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?

The Red and the Black Crowns of the Getae
The White Crown of the Brondings
The Sword-That-Was-Broken
The secret treasuries of the Brondings behind the Brokenbrand Falls
Tales also tell of old shrines to Chaos deep in the Glimmervaults, filled both with undeath and treasure

20. Where is the nearest dragon, or other monster with H type treasure?

There may be a dragon down in the depths of the Glimmervaults; also, there's old rumor of some kind of ancient king interred with his excessive wealth high on the mountain behind the Brokenbrand Falls, but who awoke from death into undeath (not the Bronding kings, but an older king, perhaps from before even Thidrek's time and the wars of the Getae)