Hello, and welcome to this week’s issue of LoreMasters - Your regular source of inspirations, ideas, and homebrew for your TTRPG games. In each issue, I'm going to be bringing you a veritable Heroes Feast of items, spells, podcasts, streams, Kickstarters, and STUFF, so if you like this, please subscribe and pass it on to your close friends and distant relatives.
As always, the main chunk of this newsletter is a homebrew for your game and if you have any questions, comments, or thoughts, come find me on the Twitters.
(Also, please check out my work on DMsGuild)
Dælus Songbird
The party was in full swing, with jester and acrobatics turning and spinning the aisles, servants with laden platters bringing meal after meal - roast pork, pickled apples, hotpots, and honeyed carrots. In the corner, a small trio of halflings picked out a lively tune. The hall hummed with joy and good times.
At the head, sat the king, fresh from his conquests, ale in one hand, the bloodied axe of the late Warlord Kril in the other, drinking the room. Sat here, safe in the heartlands of his empire, surrounded by his trusted allies, at peace at last.
“…but what a campaign your majesty! Now only the Telarc Empire stands in our way!”
“But,” the king replies with a smile, “they won’t stand for long. As we speak, my most loyal and stealthy of warriors sneak for the capital, the queen will die before the moon is full'.’
And all about him, the allies roar with laughter, their victory all but assured.
But look again dear reader, see the server pouring wine to the king’s advisor, see her ears pricked the words spoken, as nothing of her body betrays her, see her dance and smile and whirl around the party, the smile never reaching her eyes, see the uniform that isn’t entirely fitted, as if lifted off an unsuspected patsy but this very evening.
Watch now as she spins a flagon across the floor, tripping a dancer mid-flow, limbs tumbling. As he falls into the table, see her duck away, unnoticed in the din…
Dælus Songbird
Dælus Songbird is a spy, and a damned good one.
A foundling at the Telarc castle, she was raised by the housekeeper, until her knack (and joy) for telling lies and lurking in dark corners saw her sent to be tutored by The Darkened Fingers, the Queen’s loyal spymaster. Under their tutelage, she grew and blossomed, the ease with which she come became someone else surprising even the most experienced of her teachers.
Soon she was out in the world, hunting down those who would attack the Queen and Empire.
Plain to the point of forgettableness, Dælus always aims to be lost in a crowd, her soft grey eyes darting back and forth, dressed in sensible dark grey leathers, well kept but not to the point of shine. She travels light, ready at a moment’s notice to leave town. She is a person with every inch of fat burnt off, physical, mental and social.
Everything about her says, please don’t notice me, or if you do, don’t remember me.
Dælus Songbird - Super Spy!
5E will always be an odd fit for intrigue and spy games, but that isn’t to say there isn’t a place for a spy in your world.
Dælus isn’t built to inherently be an ally or an enemy, she is unlikely to get into combat with your party, much preferring to trick and run away. But a spy is a good ally to have, if you can make her yours, she will have a wealth of knowledge to impart, and can be coerced into acquiring you more, a good way to bring more lore or plot to your table.
When introducing a character like Dælus, I always try to have the party encounter them at least twice before they know who they are, maybe as a server at an inn, or an overly interested merchant, and on the third time a player will recognize them and the jig is up.
And from there, things will play out as they will!
If you find a place for Dælus at your table, please let me know!
Things To Check Out
This is the part of the newsletter where I bring you a few things to check out that inspired me and might inspire you.
The Free Cats of Loudwater
I’m always on the lookout for great new adventures for my table, and so that lead me to The Free Cats of Loudwater by Travis Fauber. The tale of being hired by two cats to rescue some children has a chance to move to twee quite easily, but this adventure keeps things on the deadlier side of things.
But for me, the thing I like the most (and the thing I intend to steal) is laying out the various routes to success at the start for the DM, the Assault Option, the Parley Option, and the Stealth Option. I love this thinking about the adventure having several paths to end, and helping the DM know what to do in each way.