Gen Con 2025 Trinket Trading: Into the Woods 5: Perch Over Ruin

 Into the Woods 5: Perch Over Ruin

A path winds through danger-filled, dense, and cold woods of the far north to end at a circular excavation against the base of a tall cliff. Here, now and in the past, various tribes of ogres and trolls gather to throw sacrifices into the bone-walled pit as offerings to their sky dragon god, who watches from the heights above.

 

Irob, 34, Ogre Mage, leads a small troop of a dozen ogres, trolls, and other worshipers of the dragon god. He is tall and has a commanding presence. His bald head has a tattoo of a streak of lightning. Irob has misty gray eyes that show surprising intelligence. He wears a tattered purple robe and carries a large staff made of an oak tree trunk. His favorite item is a necklace made of the bones of his family that perished. 

 

Irob’s tribe has made a temporary camp here to say some prayers, show some devotion, and prepare for an upcoming battle against several groups of orcs. Each day for the past week, the group has visited local fields and killed livestock, and a few farmers to eat and then send them into the pit. Irob plans to spend a few more days before they make their surprise attack on the Orcs. The dragon god showed her pleasure by blessing Irob’s staff, and she would cast a protection spell on the group before they left.

 

Irob is best friends with his second-in-command, Euk, a 30-year-old Ogre. The two of them drink ale and gnaw on bones till the wee hours of the night. Irob has chosen Xewog, 24, as his mate, and they camp in an area apart from the rest of the tribe. Xewog is only involved with Irob because she wants pretty trinkets from him. The tribe is impressed by Irob’s spells and fears his temper.

Gen Con 2025 Trinket Trading: Into the Woods 4: Evil’s Lasting Mark

 Into the Woods 4: Evil’s Lasting Mark

A path ends at a stone platform above a tall rune-covered obelisk that taps the magicks of a ley line below. The site has been used for both good and evil deeds and is contested by the eternal foes. In recent years, when the Holy Light destroyed the Necromancer at the obelisk, his fleeing soul vaporized a swath of the woods and left a permanent, long, shadowy scar across the forest floor. Years later, the soil remains lifeless and avoided by local flora and fauna.

 

Rozura, 42, a Half-Orc who is the leader of the Red Sword Horde. She is slim, muscular, and very strong. Her skin is the color of granite, and she wears her short black hair in a buzz cut. Every member of her tribe has a tattoo of a red sword on the left arm. Rozura’s tattoo is a circle of swords with a larger, red sword at its center. She has black eyes and a crooked smile. Her right arm has a scar near the elbow from when a Human nearly killed her. Rozura’s weapon of choice is a long sword dyed red. Her favorite item is a small statue of the god of evil. Every day, she prays for guidance with her band.

 

Rozura built the tribe from the ground up shortly after she came upon the obelisk. Ten years ago, a trapped demon inside the obelisk began to prompt her to bring more people to worship him. She has followed the demon’s advice, and the group has flourished. The demon has guided Rozura to this location and instructed her to use the scarred shadow to build an altar. He also wants the tribe’s wizard, Arad, 65, Half-Orc, to tap into the ley lines to set up a ritual. The ritual will break the demon from the obelisk and bring him to life.

 

Rozura’s tribe has camped just outside a nearby town, Minia, until recently. The town wasn’t friendly to her group. When the demon provided her with a new place to move to, Rozura jumped at the chance. Ruzara has the respect of the tribe, but no one likes her, except Ubari, 30, Half-Orc. On good days, the two of them will spar and then share some grog. Someday, Ruzura hopes to get married and have children. She doesn’t deem any of the current group as worthy of her favor. 

Gen Con 2025 Trinket Trading: Into the Woods 3: Fearful Encircling

Into the Woods 3: Fearful Encircling

A forest path skirts around the ruins of a recently burned-out hunting lodge. The builders' actions and very presence awakened the dormant Fairy Circle underneath. The ruins and concentric circles of wild growth are now the playground of dark Fae. What is the fate of the hunters once living within? Best left unsaid.

Charpassa Galloavae, 100, Drow is an explorer who felt the call of the Fairy Circle. She is short but mighty. Her natural curiosity has helped her explore the area and send the hunters packing for another location. She has obsidian skin with purple teeth and silver hair. Charpassa wears leather armor dyed a dark brown, allowing her to move through the woods with ease. Her weapons of choice are a pair of intelligent, magical short swords named Bric and Brac. Her favorite item is a book of traps written and illustrated by Keloavid Aleneld, a Drow adventurer.

 

Charpassa usually explores mountains and caves, but when she sensed the Fairy Circle, she exited the cave system she was exploring and moved quickly toward this location. Upon her arrival, the hunters began to throw stones at her and called her names. That very evening, she came with a torch, forced the hunters to leave, and burned the lodge to the ground. That happened several months ago, and she has returned with a few Drow to awaken the circle to its true potential.

 

Charpassa makes camp as she travels. She doesn’t have a home base. Her family is long gone, and she doesn’t care to socialize. Charpassa has one friend, Xuononia Zaufek, 95, Drow. The two of them leave letters that travel from Fairy Town to Fairy Town. In the letters, the two discuss herbs, animals, and interesting plants.

Gen Con 2025 Trinket Trading: Into the Woods 2: Treebound Crossroads

 Into the Woods 2: Treebound Crossroads

One unique feature of the land is its location at a crossroads deep in the woods, 

where some forest creatures have made their pathways. Here, where a path winds

through a ravine, a fallen tree has created a game trail above. Foes may lie in wait 

in the shadows underneath or conceal themselves by lying flat on the trunk above.

 

 

Wartarm,37, Goblin, is a crafty fellow who runs a gang of Goblin thieves called  

The Bane. He is tall, has a sloped forehead, and yellowed, pointy teeth. He has 

yellow-orange skin and a broad nose. His red eyes dart around nervously, and 

he has a scar on his left arm. Wartarm has long black hair that he has tied in a 

bun with some thin vines. He wears dark leather armor, but pieces have fallen 

into disrepair. His weapons of choice are a pair of daggers that detect nearby 

Hobgoblins. His favorite item is an old, broken music box. The box no longer plays 

a complete song, but he likes the sounds it makes.

 

The Bane have a run-down campsite just beyond the southeast corner of 

the map. Wartarm has a few of his gang out hunting for food every day. He also 

has a scout set up on either end of the north-south road. The scouts will notify 

him when travelers are coming along that road. He then sets up an ambush with 

himself and one other goblin, who will pounce down on the folk who dare to cross 

into their territory. The rest of his gang emerged from their hiding spot along the 

main road and swarmed their prey. This setup has worked well for the gang the 

last three times. Wartarm is beginning to wonder if they should move before the  

King’s Guard hunts them down.

 

Wartarm has a family back at the campsite. His wife, Gir, 32, a Goblin, takes 

care of their two children, Lousehead, 7, and Quek, 3. They live in the largest

tent and have a variety of spoils from their successful thieving runs. Wartarm 

hangs around with his second-in-command, Oafknuckle, a 30-year-old Goblin.

The two enjoy talking over strategies and drinking ale when they can get it.

 

(c) 2014 and 2025 Heleen and Andrew Durston

 

Gen Con 2025 Trinket Trading: Into the Woods 1: Entryways

Into the Woods 1: Entryways

Everywhere forests grow, there are the borders between the woods and the lands beyond. Typically, road builders take the path of least resistance and follow the border to their destination. But sometimes, a trail must go into the depths of the greenery. The lone stone wall, perhaps a remnant of an old structure or the foundations of a new dwelling, marks such an intersection. 

Sylvana ( ‘Syl’) Willowsinger, 143, Wood Elf, is a woodcarver who owns The Ordinary Wolf, located in a nearby town. He is tall, lean, and has a stoic demeanor. He has leaf-green eyes and silver hair, which is dyed green at the tips. Syl can be charming, and his smile lights up the room. He wears black trousers and a yellow tunic. He carries an oaken staff that he made years ago. His favorite item is a special knife, made for carving, that his uncle gifted him many years ago. 

 

Syl works from Wednesday through Saturday. He has carved everything in his shop and delights in making toy figures for children. Many parents receive a christening gift of a carved figure of their newborn. The business has performed well enough that Syl is considering taking on an apprentice. He hopes to expand his business this way and bring the joy of wood carving to a new generation.

Every Sunday, Syl travels into the forest to this location. The remnants of his family's house are among the rubble here. When Syl was 12, a forest fire burned the cottage to the ground, taking his parents and uncle’s lives. His grandparents took him in, but he still misses his family. Syl brings his lunch and talks to his loved ones, bringing them up to date on all that has happened during the week. During the afternoon, Syl attends the local Unity Church and spends the time praying for his lost family. 

 

(c) 2014 and 2025 Heleen and Andrew Durston

 

Gen Con 2025 Trinket Trading adventures begin.

Hello Everyone. In a week Heleen and I are headed on our annual trip to Gen Con 2025. This year we're giving trinket trading a try. Look for attendees bearing these or other emblems:

 

Heleen and I are bringing a set of mini-maps, trimmed and sleeved, reproducing a series of maps that I called "Into the Woods" and drew in 2014. 

 

On the back is our URL and in the week leading up to the event (beginning tomorrow), we'll will post all 8 of the maps *AND* Heleen has developed a brand new NPC associated with the site. Hope you enjoy them and look forward to trading with you at Gen Con.

 

A Forgotten Realms Gazetteer - Luiren Volume 2 - available now!

 Our 2nd volume of our Forgotten Realms Gazetteer of the halfling realm of Luiren is now available via the DMsGuid here -- https://www.dmsguild.com/product/497835/A-Forgotten-Realms-Gazetteer-Luiren-Vol-2?fbclid=IwY2xjawF7OFxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSDlcwbTf2A56eY18XJZiDDTdPdCKqqqukmXq4FpUZZkRz5TNZOUXl0HPg_aem_Sd-r6V6lkz8en-ZcYpIq2w

It includes the "capital" Beluir of the halfing region, surrounding areas and features some nifty artwork. Check it out.