I SURVIVED

[OSR Challenge] Gesundheit

Gesundheit: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure. [With apologies to Asshat Paladin; I should have waited to read his latest adventure. It got stuck in my head and all I could think about was summoning.]

Get Ready:

• The adventurers stumble upon a dark ritual being performed deep in a friendly stronghold. They have no time to summon help; they must deal with this on their own, or die trying.

[OSR Challenge] A New Skeleton For The Closet

A New Skeleton For The Closet: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers find a secret door hidden inside a closet in the Hold Lord’s bedchamber. Opening the secret door brings the party more than it bargained.

[OSR Challenge] Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Potential Copyright Violation

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Potential Copyright Violation: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers, seeking to relieve the stronghold of a priceless piece of art, break into the Hold Lord’s private study. Inside they find something quite unexpected.

[OSR Challenge] Midnight In The Garden Of Neutral And Chaotic Evil

Midnight In The Garden Of Neutral And Chaotic Evil: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• Rumors of fantastic treasure draw the adventurers to a dwarven druid’s small keep; even better: the druid has not been seen for weeks. Now is their chance.

[OSR Challenge] Keep A-Knockin’ But You Can’t Come In

Keep A-Knockin’ But You Can’t Come In: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure. (This short adventure is designed to follow the short adventure entitled “Knock, Knock ... The Sky Is Falling” and assumes the adventurers move forward with their exploration of the stronghold.)

Get Ready:

• The young adventurers have been bloodied, but their resolve remains. The smell of treasure promise of exploration drives them forward.

[OSR Challenge] Knock, Knock...The Sky Is Falling

Knock, Knock...The Sky Is Falling: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• Sometimes just getting in is the hardest part for a group of young adventurers. And sometimes a stalactite is just a stalactite...except when it's not.

[OSR Challenge] Dank As A Ditch

Dank As A Ditch: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure. (With apologies to Theodore Roethke and his ‘Root Cellar.’)

Get Ready:

• Something is wrong in the stronghold’s storage room; dwarves go to the cellar and do not come out. The adventurers boldly volunteer to root out whatever is down there...for a price, of course.

[OSR Challenge] Bridge Over Troubled Water

Bridge Over Troubled Water: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• Fleeing from a powerful dwarven sorceress, the adventurers cross the breezeway joining the two halves of the sorceress’ stronghold over a deep chasm. They do not count upon her skills with elemental creatures, however.

[OSR Challenge] Walk Into My Parlor

Walk Into My Parlor: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The marauding goblins are gone and the forest outside is quiet. The quiet does not mean safety, for another danger has been living in a lonely tower with a chimney to the outside.

[OSR Challenge] Please Pass The AACKKK

Please Pass The AACKKK: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• Some people never learn the truth of the adage, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Intrigued by wisps of smoke found randomly throughout the stronghold, the adventurers seek out the source.

[OSR Challenge] 99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall

99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers enter a room to find large casks and enormous metallic urns and tubs, all connected with various kinds of metallic pipes. It’s time for some refreshment!

[OSR Challenge] Mount The Terrace...And Hearken What The Frightful Sounds Convey

Mount The Terrace...And Hearken What The Frightful Sounds Convey: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• Hearing rumors of a great treasure, the adventurers travel to the Garduum Hold. What they find is a terrace over a beautiful garden, an odd riddle, and a dangerous secret.

[OSR Challenge] Be Our Guest ... Feed Our Chest

Be Our Guest...Feed Our Chest: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• An enemy Hold Lord invites the adventurers to parley under a flag of truce. The adventurers are invited to stay overnight, not knowing that they are intended to be the meal of honor.

[OSR Challenge] There's A Bugbear In My Kitchenette!

There’s A Bugbear In My Kitchenette!: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure. (With apologies and a hat tip to Jeffrey over at There’s A Bugbear In My Kitchen!
Get Ready:

• While the adventurers are resting from the road in a friendly stronghold, a horde of bugbears attack. The Hold Lord, his retinue, and the adventurers are forced to fall back and set up defense in the King’s private sub-kitchen.

[OSR Challenge] To Dim The Glowing Battle-Forge Once More

To Dim The Glowing Battle-Forge Once More: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers stumble upon what appears, at first glance, to be a standard stronghold workroom, complete with forge. Instead they find a forgotten High Temple of Moradin.

[OSR Challenge] Dancing Queen

Dancing Queen: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• In the ballroom of a deserted stronghold, the adventurers find more than they bargained for when they disturb an undead queen and her troupe of suitors.

[OSR Challenge] Out, Out, Brief Candle

Out, Out, Brief Candle: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• An unintentional night at the theater proves dangerous when new residents of an abandoned stronghold challenge and threaten the adventurers.

[OSR Challenge] The Hoofs Of The Goaded Steed

The Hoofs Of The Goaded Steed: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• OOooo, look! A barn!

Who's Who: Glordias Silveranvil [OSR Challenge NPC]

Wheresoever may lie the conscience of the King? Does he even have one? That is for you to decide (or your DM at any rate).

Read on and learn more about the errant knave, Glordias Silveranvil, from the OSR Challenge: Short Adventure, "A Mote It Is To Trouble The Mind's Eye."

Who's Who: Belim Bolvir [OSR Challenge NPC]

Ahh! The dreaded Writer's Block is broken and the Gelatinous Cube of Stumbling has been vanquished. (I hope.)

Of course, it took some effort, and I freely admit that my recent effort is a derivative work. But hey, when the best is there free for use, why not take advantage of it?

And so, I give you the portentous figure, Belim Bolvir, from the OSR Challenge: Short Adventure, "A Mote It Is To Trouble The Mind's Eye."

[OSR Challenge] A Mote It Is To Trouble The Mind's Eye

A Mote It Is To Trouble The Mind's Eye: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers are summoned by a Dwarven prince who seeks their help in avenging his father's death. As they investigate, it's quickly revealed that there's something rotten about the whole thing.

Writer's Block!

Late Monday afternoon, I must have somehow been required to roll a save vs. Writer's Block.

I rolled a 1.

That great big gelatinous cube of stumbling landed squarely on my head, squashing me to the floor. And it's slowly digesting me. Crap.

Be back soon, I hope. I want to finish the September OSR Challenge!

[OSR Challenge] Judge A Book By Its Cover

Judge A Book By Its Cover: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers stumble into an ancient library deep within a deserted stronghold. An unseen danger threatens all those who enter . . . a danger which the adventurers may misjudge.

The Bestiary: Gloom Mold [OSR Challenge Creature]

In the words of the immortal Egon Spengler, “I collect spores, molds, and fungus.” Here’s a little something that I cooked up for the OSR Challenge: Short Adventures. The adventure related to this critter will be coming a little later today.

I give you: Gloom Mold

Who's Who: Jebwyn Laughingshadow [OSR Challenge NPC]

Still trying to get caught up. [SIGH] Well, I have another gnome for you today. It wasn't intentional, it just worked out this way. His background is a little lengthy, and I didn't get in everything I wanted to about this Thieves' Guild Guild-lord, but I figured it was a background, not a novella. Without adding further length, then, I give you the life-summary of the gnome named Jebwyn Laughingshadow from the OSR Challenge: Short Adventure, "8 Ball, Corner Pocket."

[OSR Challenge] 8 Ball, Corner Pocket

8 Ball, Corner Pocket: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers meet the lord of the local Dwarven stronghold. In gratitude for their assistance, he invites them to play a game of billiards . . . with a difference.

[OSR Challenge] Flour in the Attic

Flour in the Attic: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers are hired by the mayor of a town to infiltrate a deserted Dwarven stronghold to destroy a lich's phylactery. The lich has stashed his phylactery in the attic of the stronghold and is wreaking havoc in the town.

I'm Clean! I'm Clean!

Despite the fact that the link is a shameless plug for an online dating site, there seems to be a lot of "self-rating" going on in the gaming blogosphere the past couple days.

I couldn't resist.

And I'm clean. Well, kind of.

Created by OnePlusYou - Free Dating Site

Apparently I'm "G-Rated" despite the presence, according to the test, of one incident of the use of the word "pissed."

I honestly can't remember using the word "pissed" before, but apparently it's in here somewhere.

[searching....]

Ah. There it is. Dang it, it's not me at all! It's the title to a blog entry from someone else's blog that showed up today in my blogroll. Of course, now I've used the word "pissed" three times on my own. Thanks to this post by Tim over at Gothridge Manor, my stainless reputation is a bit sullied.

Crap.

Who's Who: Ranzemadge Lickspoon [OSR Challenge NPC]

Man.... Trying to get caught up on a Challenge is miserable. It's my own fault, however, for waiting until DAY 2 to actually decide to participate and get started. I'm getting closer, though.

At least in my own head.

At any rate, here's a little look into the background of the NPC "star" of today's offering, the gnome named Ranzemadge Lickspoon, from the OSR Challenge: Short Adventure, "Gnome is Where the Hearth Is."

[OSR Challenge] Gnome is Where the Hearth Is

Gnome is Where the Hearth Is: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers are hired by the Head Cook of a near-deserted stronghold to help rid their hearthroom of a troublesome pest. A fire elemental has developed a taste for the cook's Gnomish cuisine and has decided to take up residence.

Who's Who: Gilifra Gravelfoot [OSR Challenge NPC]

I suppose you could call this part 2 of today's NPC posting: the other half of the stone-crossed dwarven lovers, Gilifra Gravelfoot, from the OSR Challenge: Short Adventure, Stony Limits.

Who's Who: Rumer Bloodspike [OSR Challenge NPC]

Another NPC posting from my OSR Challenge posts. Yes, as I've said before, I actually stat them out before condensing the information for the OSR Challenge. Hopefully you, my readers, can get some use out of my work.

Today I give you: Rumer Bloodspike from the OSR Challenge: Short Adventure, Stony Limits.

[OSR Challenge] Stony Limits

Stony Limits: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers, as guests of the stronghold, are put in the middle of what appears to be an attack on the stronghold. They witness an apparent kidnaping of a Dwarven maiden–the daughter of their host--from the veranda outside her bedchamber by a small group of Duergar.

Who's Who: Daran Stonehand [OSR Challenge NPC]

I think I'm going to start posting some of the NPCs from my OSR Challenge posts as well. After all, I actually stat them out before condensing the information for the OSR Challenge. For one thing, why should I waste all that work? For another thing, I know that as a DM I sometimes appreciate a fully-statted NPC to use, even if the rest of the encounter/adventure is left to my imagination.

Hopefully I'm not off-base on this, and these can be of use to y'all out there.

So, without further ado: Daran Stonehand from the OSR Challenge: Short Adventure, Strange Bedfellows

[OSR Challenge] Strange Bedfellows

Strange Bedfellows: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• The adventurers stumble into the bedchamber of a sorcerer and his "friend."

[OSR Challenge] Everything Goes to the Toilet

Everything Goes to the Toilet: A Get Ready, Get Set, Go! 3.5 Edition adventure set in a Dwarven Stronghold, but easily dropped into any stronghold or similar structure.

Get Ready:

• While searching for an item with a magical aura, the adventurers come in direct conflict with the stronghold's "waste disposal unit."

Please Exc-ooze Me -- The Bestiary: Baby Black Pudding [OSR Challenge Creature]

OK, so.... Since the OSR Challenge short adventures are to be short on detail, and becaue I wanted to include this little guy, I'm listing the stats here, in a separate post. I understand that this may not quite meet the spirit of the OSR Challenge, but I just couldn't get this idea out of my head.

A baby ooze.

Taking the Plunge

I think I'll be taking the plunge into the OSR Challenge this month: A September fo Short Adventures.

The goal is to post a short adventure to the blog every day in September, save Thursdays. In my case, any stats that I use will be geared toward 3.x edition; also, I'm changing the "no Thursday" rule to "no Sunday" rule. At any rate, I should have 26 blog posts of adventures at the end of the month.

Of course, I'm already behind. Sigh....

Some of the participants are doing stand-alone adventures while others are doing a series linked together. I think I'll be looking at an eponymous topic, a seemingly deserted Dwarven Stronghold. Instead of a step-by-step walkthrough, however, I'm using this handy random room generator to make it a bit easier on me and to set up adventures for each of twenty-five different rooms in the Stronghold itself, or ANY of your choice. The list of rooms I rolled is below the fold. Obviously, there's going to need to be some editorial license with those.

Feel free to join in the fun by going here for the basic guidelines.