RPG Campaign Tour: Day 12 - What Do People Do for Entertainment?

The quest for adventure in the #RPGCampaignTour was short lived, as our tour guide users are already asking, "What do people do for entertainment around here."  

There's only one major event that brings everyone from the four corners... and even beyond the Big River Valley:  The Fair-Town Queen's Joust

Every June, Fair-Town is completely true to form, with the Renaissance Fair influences in full effect.  Vendors crowding the streets, crafts and entertainers... People pour out of their little pocket communities safely hidden in the forests and hills and a grand time is had by all...

And that week ends in a two-day jousting tournament, for fame, for domars, and usually for a unique item of the Queen's choosing.

The Queen of the Joust.... definitely not of Fair-Town

In it's previous year, the pageantry of the joust remained, but the new gladiator combat arena drew a lot of the less civilized guests. 

Any lifeform is allowed.  Any mount is allowed, so long as it (a) does not fly (b) fits on their side of the jousting pitch (b) does not impede either participant using their standard issue lance.  

If you are looking for a time when all races, groups, and creeds get together, the Queen's Joust is the place to be.  

There is already talk, eight months out, if Lathar Bracken and his trusty Staggon mount No-Name can win a third joust in a row, after dealing with a murderer's row last time involving a stone golem, his ex-girlfriend, and his then-fiancée, currently his pregnant wife.  

There may be other criminal or immoral activities that occur under the banner of the Queen's Joust, but the reader is always advised to avoid traveling alone, and always keep that companion nearby.  

Next: #13 - Where Can We Get a Drink and Bite to Eat?

(Kickstarter) War Pigs: A GMless TTRPG of Chaos and Goblins by Caroline from Side Quest #ZineQuest

Over the last years, February has meant the glut of small and smaller press books on crowdfunding in celebration of #Zinquest.  I'll admit I've been distracted by the #RPGCampaignToolChallenge , but in my review of the first eleven days of the camapign, there's not much on Kickstarter that interests me, or even gets to motivated something cool.

Luckily War Pig: A GM-less TTRPG of Chaos and Goblins has stopped that pattern.  

WAR PIGS is a chaotic, two-stat GMless TTRPG about goblins navigating through elvish enemy lines to get back to their own army base. It's based on Honey Heist, Nine Goblins, and a whole lot of goblin jokes.
U are goblins in an army of goblins. U ride into battle on your greatest weapon... WAR PIGS.

RPG Campaign Tour: Day 11 - Where Would We Go to Find "Adventure"?

We're already at Day 11 of the #RPGCampaignTour Challenge  for my Gamma World campaign "This Is Not a Test" and the questions start gearing towards true heroism... or full-fledged murder hoboism

Riverbend, Ascension Hall, home of the Restorationists.  Ask for Justinian. 

For a secret society bent on bringing back the old ways via its technology, the Restorationists are almost transparent to the citizens of Riverbend.  Their current focus has been hiring groups for discovery and research within the lands across the Big River.  

Justinian

Dr Sonny Helianthus has developed a healthy and respectful relationship with the leader of the Restorationists, and has been offered better perks than his human counterparts, so the society is not biased towards plants or animals.   Of course, they don't know just how many mini-tactical nukes were detonated under Sonny's watch.

Day #12 - What do people do for entertainment around here?

The Cold Wars 2026 Review Collection

Another Cold Wars, another goose egg for the Stout Gnomes.   We all had different reasons, but none of us ventured down to Lancaster for Cold Wars 2026.   Actual reports are as sparse as the attendance.  Let's be honest, it wasn't promising when you take the tournaments out of the Lampeter room, and you swap them with the bloody dealer's hall.  

But I'm always one to review reports, and here's the ones I've found thus far.  It's a work in progress, so I'll add the other ones as they appear. 

 
Bill's Wargame World - Thursday

Bill's Wargame World - Friday
Bill's Wargame World - Saturday

Le Coq Fou

One of My Men Became Restless - Saturday

The Wachtmeister's Patrol - Friday

The Wachtmeister's Patrol - Saturday

Still prepping for a big weekend at Historicon in July, events should be posted shortly.  

RPG Campaign Tour: Day 10 - What's the First Thing We Should Do?

 Day 10 of the #RPGCampaignTour Challenge finally kicks off utilizing the tour guide format in my Gamma World campaign "This Is Not a Test" with "What's the first thing we should do?"

Except I didn't dive down into places to eat, or sights to see....

I relegated this question, and others, to the players in the Gamma World campaign in the last half of our session, and got some replies that were way too practical.

"Figure out your place in the world."

"Invest in a sword... or running shoes."

"Find Friends for Cannon Fodder."

Which brings up Slitheran Wurmtail, aka "Squiggles,"  the only character in any of my campaigns who jokingly created his own entourage.

My friend Steve is notorious for unique characters who push, but never break boundaries in game.  I should not have shown any surprise when he announced he wanted to play a mutant earthworm, for displaying any such reaction is a sign of weakness he gleefully feeds off of. 

Squiggles is a five year old earthworm, middle aged, we figured out.   Born and raised by himself in Riverbend, he's been a permanent fixture at Farmer Yulius' farm outside of town.  He befriended Sonny Helianthus, a mutant sunflower living at the farm, and they quickly became part of the De Facto Explorers.  

Squiggles has been true and steadfast member of the Explorers, although he does have one particular fault.  When the group is at the Fair-Town Queen's Joust, Squiggles is hiding in the shadows and burrows with other mutant worms, "getting their freak on).  

After two wild, multi-day soirees with his wormkind, Squiggles has twice found himself... pregnant.  

Research was done on many things about earthworm reproduction, and since it was Gamma World, we turned much of it on its ear.   Squiggles has became a "Manchi" to over 100 baby worms these past two seasons.  Many did not survive the first month, being eaten by animals, birds, livestock, or simply perishing in the chaos of early life.    There are but a handful of the first litter of worms, ranging from bar managers to mobsters, to the militia members, Speedy and Poppy, who are currently travelling with the De Facto Explorers, into the desolate lands beyond KIA Academy.  

The second wave of offspring were much larger, but they sense to be a little more resilient.... Squiggles has also introduced many of that generation the mystical sounds and sensation of something he picked up in his travels.  Something called... bongos. 

So if you do wander through Riverbend, head upriver, past Aspiration Hall, and soon you can here the drumming of tiny worms, staving off the predators that have killed so many of their kin.

.... and have we mentioned that Squiggles is pregnant once again?

Next: Day 11 - Where Would We Go to Find Adventure?

(Gamma World) Not a Test #103 - Meet the Neighbors

The De Facto Explorers have decided to forge the wilderness across the Big River to investigate a new region full with the possibility of Treasures of the Ancients... in the Petrified Woods.

================= 

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does.   Looking for trouble in all the right places. The two-time champion of the Fair-Town Queen's Joust.  Recently married Thunnelda Haycock.

Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.  Apparently addicted to his newly uncovered yellow powder found at "The Pool House"

Sonny Helianthus: a nearly 10' tall sentient sunflower artifact examiner with four arms, and trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable,  but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades. 

Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble in all the wrong places,  and finding it often.   He  has been subject to genetic testing and developed super-human strength, a more human body, and a thick coat of shaggy white hair.  Recently gave birth to a pile of baby worms. 

Luna of the Restorationists:  Recent recruit of the Restorationists, who had uncovered artifacts across the River.  

================================================================

Realizing that something was quite prevalent in the petrified wood, Pete moved back on the trail, and advised the others to spread out and slowly search within the woods for the artifacts.  Lathar took the right flank, Luna the left, while Sonny stood at the crossroads with Squiggles.  The worm certainly did not want any part in these shenanigans.  Something was off. 

Lathar saw some sort of odd material strung up across some trees.  He was about to shout over to Pete, but the weasel's poor attempt at whistling filled the woods.  

Pete had caught two large rabbit-humanoids, more than six feet tall apiece, had lumbered over to hide behind on a fallen petrified tree.  One of them had held a obvious rifle, but Pete couldn't ascertain what type it was.  The attentions of the rabbits... obvious Hoopers, was beyond Pete's position.  He was safe for now. 

Lathar heard the heed of the whistle, but moved closer to the items,  There was some odd material of the Ancients, ripped in parts, with splashes of yellow.  Lathar could not make out what the material was, or what it had once been used for. 

"Whistle!"  A female voice emitted out of the woods.  She was out of view of the others, and by the time Pete finally got back to check on the Hoopers... one of them was missing. 

"Whistle!!!"   the repeated again, and for one final time. 

Squiggles dashed to the left flank hoping everything was alright. 

The worm barged in upon a peculiar sight.  

Luna was there, perfectly intact, standing beside much a large humanoid rabbit, holding a sword at Squiggles.  

Squiggles threw his hands in the air, "Whoah!" 

Luna just looks at the worm, "Squiggles!  Look what I found!"

Squiggles:  A big rabbit.  

Luna:  You know, I think they like to be called Hoppers.

Hopper:  You know... you could ask, I'm right here....

Davor the Hooper

Davor of the Hoppers explained his tribe lived in burrows in the petrified wood.  Squiggles, back up by Luna, expressed their desire just to explore.

Squiggles: I thought you were in danger? 

Luna:  No, I found a cache of artifacts, pointing to a circle of artifacts.

Squiggles:  Sonny!!!!

The sunflower moved over to the human, the worm, and the Hopper.  The Hopper was caught off guard by the size of the plant. 

Luna moved to show her find:  A circle of cloth, metal, and the inner workings of living metal, most of the parts crushed and woven amongst the other junk. 

Sonny:  Is this your doing? 

Davor the Hopper: Yes, we wanted  a well-marked spot for our offal pit when we're on patrol around the Stonewoods.

The four compared notes, amazed that they were all speaking the same language,  Davor the Hopper finally called over his partner Muir-Ray... Pete sneakily followed the second Hopper over to the action.   Sonny expressed a need to search for "tech', a term the Hoppers did not comprehend, confusing it for a missing friend.

The two Hoppers confided with each other, popping their heads up, "Would you like to see our burrow?"

Sonny called for Lathar, and they were all led through the woods to a burrow hole, certainly large enough for Hoppers, but forcing Sonny to crouch.  

Muir-Ray:  We're happy you're not hostile.  Many humans are.

Sonny:  Well, for starters, I a plant.  Second, my fellow explorers are more than paranoid enough to let me be curious.

Inside the multiple warrens, there were 40 or so of the hoppers.  Warriors wield crude melee weapons, save a few with rifles, with a plethora of women and children. 

The Warren of the Petrified Wood

Inside the third chamber the Hoppers were quite excited, as they flanked their obvious tribal leader Dahlorz.  

The eldest Hopper, with white fluffy fur akin to Squiggles, sat on the ground, sword in hand.

"What is this???"

Davor:  "We found them, great chief."

Sonny:  "Hi, I'm Sonny!" 

The Hoppers seemed to primitive technology, outside the few guns, unsure by many terms in Sonny's words.  Even the older and wiser Dahlorz found him frustrating, so she was relieved when Sneaky Pete asked questions.

Pete: "Is there any particular concentration of this odd junk that you're collecting from?"

Dahloz's Voice, inside the weasel's head, "Interesting.  The plant must be an advanced lifeform.  Or it has no soul... I will speak with you instead."

The rest of the folks in the warren were confused as the two stared at each other.

The weasel was calm for once, offering his (non-curry) food, and sharing information, moving around the burrow as they spoke telepathically.

Finally, Dahloz, spoke aloud, "Perhaps, we may have finally found allies to help us open..... the door!"

Her left paw swung open to show a nearby passageway. No one could tell what was down the passageway.  

Next:  #104 - The Door 

RPG Campaign Tour: Day 9 - Who's in Charge Here?

Day 9 of the #RPGCampaignTour Challenge brings up a question that is answered haphazardly in my Gamma World campaign "This Is Not a Test", namely "Who's in charge here?"

Riverbend - The PCs hometown?  There's some sort of council of elders who handles things.  Justinian of the Restorationists is on it.  Loman Strait, the incompetent militia leader, is allegedly on it too.  But with all the planning  some of the characters have done, and complaining by others, none of the De Facto Explorers have shown up for a meeting, or have actual power in town.  This might need to be rectified once the group returns from their big quest for the winter.

Loman Strait, Militia Captain

Fair-Town -   There is most certainly a Queen in Fair-Town, but most decision come down to the eight member Town Council, ranging from local farmers, captains of the town guard, community leaders, and even a two-time Queen's Joust champion.  That's right De Facto Explorer member Lathar Bracken, a resident of Riverbend, won the seat on the council by winning the last joust.  He's only showed up for one session, becoming the tie-breaking vote on a number of decision, most notably recognizing the Kirothian people and putting the leader of the Kirothians (and his ex-girlfriend) Elona on the council as well.

Brom Halloway, militia captain

K.I.A. Academy -  KIA is a huge complex, taking up a lot of land, but few truly recognize that above the base level are at least 14 levels... and 8 sublevels beneath.  Even high ranking officials know little about what occurs above level 10, but it's assume a committee with people sharing titles like chancellor, provost, and directors share the responsibility of operations within and beyond the literal white tower and the top of KIA's main building. 

Next: Day 10 - "What's the First Thing We Should Do?"