I would like to use the Ravengro Posting Poles in the Haunting of Harrowstone. To help create the small town atmosphere, and maybe to foreshadow events. Here are three suggestions, misspelled words and all. My plan is to make each posting a lot of short notices, of large and small subjects. Something for the PCs so sift through, ignore or explore. Kind of like a message board. Did anybody else use the Posting Poles for info or handouts? Ideas for text or events?
No 1: Wedding
Hear ye, hear ye
This coming oathday will see the marriage binding in LIFE AND DEATH
of Shanan Pena and Cailynn Graen
under Pharasma and the TOWNE of RAVENGRO
Council Woman Mirta Straelock oficiator
No 2: Market
Hear ye, hear ye
Fireday market of autumn greens
Come one, come all
Events and special wonders:
* Selling of a Droverson cow. Sure to produse milk of fine Quality
* GRAB-THE-PIG and win money and old treasure
And: The BEST PUMPKIN CONTEST, with judges Hearthmount and Muricar
of the Towne Council presiding
No 3: Death of livestock
Hear ye, hear ye
The Good family of the Weaver farm
has lost one (1) horse to gruesome death
in the north pasture
Neighbours be adviced
Details to be found at the sheriff’s
Donations to be left at temple
and blessings of Pharasma upon the kindness of your heart
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I used posting poles for letting the player gain more trust points with the first module. Effectively, it also worked to carry some tidbits for the players to pick up that something was amiss in town as the Splatter-man haunt with the name had already begun three letters in. I also made the Spring-Heeled Jack a roaming baddy that is troubling the town during this time.
Some of the events were borrowed from other users on the forum. I kindly beg their forgiveness for using the events.
- Old News: The corpses of a three sheep belonging to Councilman Gharen Muricar were discovered over the last few months by ranch hands the following mornings. The sheep’s bodies were left on the farm, mostly intact except the skin was peeled off and removed sometime during each night. Attempts to find what was causing these slayings have turned up no luck. – Benjar Caellar (This news is over a month old)
- News about the Professor’s Death: mentions that when the body was found at the Harrowstone site, being crushed by fallen debris from the roof. (This news is 16 Days old)
- Not so Old News: "Work of a cultist? The Blood that has been spilled over the West entrance near the Eversleep path of the Restlands has more bad news since its discovery two days ago. It’s confirmed now that the animal slayed was the same missing familiar of young Mavris Galesri, a student at the Unfurling Scroll. Benjar has asked that the site remained untouched until future notice." (This news is 6 days old, letter “V”)
- Newer: Desecration of town hall! Overnight, seemingly the work of what might be a cultist has struck again at town hall’s west wall. Sheriff Benjar Caellar has been quoted that there are similarities to another more recent case he’s been working on, but has declined to divulge any further at this time. Benjar has asked that the site not be cleaned up until further notice. (This news is 3 days old, letter “E”).
- The Wealday Parchment: Written by Councilman Gharen Muricar, it most speaks of farm labor rights and other small topics they discussed on the first Oathday of the month. Though the last paragraph is his upset statements over Benjar insistence on leaving the desecrations of public property up until now. The Council plans to see their removal.
- Event One: This time Gibs heads to through town, steals a chicken from the closest farm and desecrates the Temple of Pharasma, splattering the blood and leaving a “S” now on the building as he continues to spell out the name. It’s quickly discovered that morning and ends up on the posting poles before breakfast. It was discovered by Father Grimburrow, who alerted Sheriff Cellar within the hour.
- The Wealday Parchment: Talks only about the fact that there are suspicious new characters in town, supposedly hanging around and seen taking a few trips to the Harrowstone. Father Grimburrow confirmed they were old friends of the Lorrimor’s and declined to speak anymore on the matter.
- The Wealday Parchment: Councilmen Hearthmount is rallying a petition between the other members of the Council for Ravengro to remove the bloodstains from the local areas and have put pressure on Sheriff Benjan Caeller. This coming after public outcries to the councilmen’s home. Also on the Posting Poles: Mildred Floren, over at the bakery, is looking for some day laborers. PCs can earn (2 sp for the day) Trust +1 as the pcs prove they aren’t vagrants.
- The Wealday Parchment: This one talks about the news from yesterday. How Mirtra Straelock’s home was broken into. Also a new job was posted: Taren Cowl's pet bunny, Bungo, has gone missing. Have you seen her? (+1 Trust for catching) DC-15 perception or tracking to find. (-1 trust if harmed by pc) Another job: “There is a Barn Raising in 4 days. Barlow Farm.” (+2 Trust if the pcs help).
On Moonday the 27th, Gibs or whoever the splatter man possessed, was going to use Old River to continue the ritual.
- The Wealday Parchment: (If the dog had died) Heartbreaking news posted today as towns beloved mascot, Old River, was found dead. Councilman Gharen Muricar is asking for donations to erect a statue in the dog’s honor. Donations of all kinds would be appreciated. +1 Trust Point if the PCs give 100 gold or more. (if not, the parchment only announces) An estate sale for Ms. Burbager in 3 days. There is also news about a new job: Zokar the Innkeeper is looking for some day laborers. Pcs will get 1 gp for the day. Trust +1 as the pcs prove they aren’t vagrants. Another job lists: Farmer Pendergast needs his hay brought in from the fields. (He hurt his back) +2 trust, 4 SP, STR check 20.
- The Wealday Parchment: Few different articles this week: Philberson wedding was a week ago. “For Sale: 1 wheelbarrow, 2 spades, 1 pitchfork, Plow with harness, 2 Scythe, misc handtools. Barlow farm”. Another job reads: Farmer Flurgenhurgen - 25 gp reward for the death of the wolf or wolves killing his goats. (+3 trust, there is a pack of 3 wolves).
Of course, even though I planned all this out on paper, the PCs worked a bit too ambitiously and were able to complete the dungeon in little over a week in-game.
Thanks for sharing these. I like the fact that the PCs are news. Makes perfect sense. Your postings have more of a journalist-feel to them than mine. I will give this some thought.
Nice touch to show underlying conflicts in town via the postings.
And it is absolutely possible my PCs will fly through town as well, not pausing to look at all the nice messages ... :) Ah well.
Well, I wish to have a blizzard for Ascanor lodge in book 3, so I'm going to start book 1 in late fall, and let the weather be steadily worse as time goes by. Seems appropriate to have some gathering darkness.
I am planning to start HoH in mid-February so that the money grubbing 1st levels don't skip over to Ravengro and glomp their inheritences without suffering for it. Best case scenario is a 3 week round trip, 19 days if they come back on unencumbered light horses. Gibbs will be halfway done writing letters if they go this route.
Worst case scenario is that they get lost en route and slowly starve to death... well, not accounting for the nasty monsters...
Well, I wish to have a blizzard for Ascanor lodge in book 3, so I'm going to start book 1 in late fall, and let the weather be steadily worse as time goes by. Seems appropriate to have some gathering darkness.
A last gasp early spring blizzard can unexpectedly jump on Ascanor. ;)