I want to try something for my D&D campaign, which I recently changed from a West Marches into a Braunstein. I’m going to compile the SEEN posts every month into a post and then report on them. Given that we’re in a bit of a slow period, this might go nowhere. Or maybe it will. I don’t know. To start I’m going to only post the news and rumors that happened the previous month, so that you as an outsider won’t have up-to-date information.
For those just tuning in, the following are called SEEN posts. SEEN stands for “Serious Events, Evidence, and Narratives” and are a creation of DM Serious. Before, during, or after any action has been taken, the players write a post and send it to a separate account ran by the DM, who then obscurs the poster to make the source of the information unclear and shares it in a news feed that’s public to everyone in the game. The DM also writes up his own SEEN posts, which further adds to the intrigue.
The truth of these rumors is determined up front using a system called GOSS, which was originally created by Doomstone Crom.1 GOSS uses a dice roll to determine the transparency of the SEEN post. Is it truthful? Is it accurate? Only way to know is to play and find out!
Here’s a handy little index to take you to the section you wish to reference, if you’re using the substack site:
- Good Rumors
- Skirmish with the Crokek’toek
- Gossip at a Tavern
- Missing Persons in the Mega City
- This is Not Our Way
- The Chwingas in the Chardalyn Mines
- News of a Lost Tower
- A Shambling Mass of Limbs and Light
- Takeaways
Good Rumors
Date: 6.2.1300 | Tags: Kingdom of Etterland
There are rumors floating around that a large force of demons which had been attacking people in the Etterland empire were completely crushed by the Etterland fleet and an unknown supporting force. The Etterland fleet suffered no casualties and saved its people from annihilation.
Skirmish with the Crokek’toek
Date: 6.2.1300 | Tags: Adventurer, Kingdom of Etterland
The forces of the Kingdom of Etterland were assisted by the men of the Order of the Purifying Light, a group foreign to these lands who have taken it upon themselves to destroy all demons and devils. There was an attack by a fearsome Crokek’toek and its forces, who were holding refugees in the area of danger. The attack was led by the forces of Etterland and assisted by the Order, whose primary goal was to use their airships to remove the refugees from the area. This was done successfully and the beast and its minions were dealt with accordingly.
— Asmongion, the scribe of the Order of the Purifying Light.
Gossip at a Tavern
Date: 6.6.1300 | Tags: Villains, Kingdom of Etterland
<A small town near 130.013>
In a small town well east of Cayth, a tavernkeeper finished his small talk with a patron who is headed back home. Arhen, the tavernkeep, was a weathered and well seasoned middle aged human, solidly built with scars marking his depth of experience. Only a couple more customers were left this late, and as he cleaned up the most recent table his mind was on his bed; until the door swung open.
“Arhen! Fill me up a dragon’s-honey mead, you need to hear this story!” The half-elf boy stood puffed up in the doorway with a mixture of pride and excitement, and Arhen quietly sighed before replying: “You better not have done something to cause worry to your mother Linheld.” while walking over to the bar to prepare the drink. “Oh don’t you let her rub off on you, I know you got up to your fair share of trouble when you were a real ranger.” Linheld remarked as he strutted over to the bar; “But this story is from that kooky old gnome who lives out east of here!” he added as he sat down.
Arhen placed down the mead while shooting Linheld an unimpressed look. “His name is Roondar, and though his age may dull his wit, you could still stand to learn from his desire to avoid trouble.”
“Yeah, yeah, but get this. I was out at work chopping a tree when I saw this crazy monster off in the distance. It was like a giant hog, and I mean huge, but it had tentacles all over its snout and is was using them to carry a whole deer with it. So I tried to follow it, but I lost the trail around Roondar’s place.” Linheld took a break to lift his mug and one of the patrons interjected: “Still looking forward to the day when the story will have a better ending than ‘I lost the trail’.”
“Oh shut up, you never have anything interesting to say, and the real meat of the story is this.” Linheld paused as if for a non existent dramatic effect.
“While I was there Roondar popped up and started ranting at me about ‘all you city folk keep invading my privacy’, you know being his crazy old self, but then he said something interesting. He talked about how he has to keep moving forest to forest because all these civilizations keep popping up, and he said that just in the last few days he found a new castle even further to the east, where the hills in the south meet the grasslands. He said it musta shown up practically overnight.”
Linheld took another swig of his mead and Arhen, now a little invested cut in: “Maybe you should stop antagonizing Roondar, you know he is near the end of his life and it sounds as if he doesn’t need anymore stress on his elderly mind.”
“I wasn’t antagonizing him! He was already worked up when I got there! I think there is probably something really interesting if he is all bothered about it!.. Maybe it could be a danger to the forest and our town, you should look into it as part of the town guard. And you are a ranger, you have so much experience with this sort of business! Let’s go check it out together, you know it would be a great break from this boring job!”
Arhen reluctantly allowed a bit of curiosity to slip in. “You need to learn to mind your own business, and you definitely don’t need to come on the expedition with me, but I will talk with Roondar and look into the situation just in case. For now you should go back home and spend some time with your mother, I am sure she is worried sick by the fact that you are still not home.”
Linheld rolled his eyes and mumbled: “Man you used to be so much cooler.” before downing his mug, dropping some coin on the counter, and making his way to the door. Arhen returned to cleaning while discussing the news with the remaining patron who opened with:
“Always something going on with that kid.”
“Yeah, but this does seem interesting seeing as he claims to have heard it from Roondar.”
“They are both off in their own way.”
Missing Persons in the Mega City
Date: 6.20.1300 | Tags: Esmire Empire
Posters have started to crop up en masse in the great city of Diley, all missing persons notices. They feature fairly detailed sketches of the victims, followed by instructions to send any new or relevant information to the city guard. Some even offer meager rewards with added guidance to contact specific individuals.
The people on the notices range in age from teenage to the elderly, which at first glance suggests there’s not really any kind of pattern. At the various taverns and inns about the city the rumor mill is abuzz with all sorts of crazy ideas. Some blame cultists for all these disappearances, while others suggest that The Black Network might be involved. A few of the older taverngoers put forth the idea that the Touisaires have returned to enact their revenge, but the idea was laughed off as utterly ridiculous.
One thing is for certain: everyone has started watching their back.
This is Not Our Way
Date: 6.20.1300 | Tags: Esmire Empire
<a notice plastered on all official buildings some time in the night>
To Whom It May Concern,
Rumors abound that The Black Network has been involved in the disappearances that plague the city. We may be a syndicate of questionable morals and ethics, but we are not brigands, and such kidnappings are beneath us. To even think that we would orchestrate something so base is quite frankly an insult.
This isn’t the first time we’ve been fingered for something so outrageous, and judging by the looks of things it won’t be the last. I’m of course referring to the conspiracy to assassinate Lady Slavet. While we had no love for her stewardship of Diley, the animosity between us was quite useful to our aims. Personally, I would have given her the throne to ensure our tolerable status quo.
No, whatever is happening to these poor souls of Diley is not of our making. I would recommend to any who read this to consider that there are far darker forces at work in the deep and secret places of our fair city, and that these forces have been simmering for a great deal of time.
Perhaps stalwart adventurers, or even the wielder of Excalibur himself, will deign to look into these filthy rumors and put them rest.
X. (followed by a drawing of a goldfish)
The Chwingas in the Chardalyn Mines
Date: 6.22.1300 | Tags: The Free Peoples
<A newsletter handed out in Dol Ehren>
It’s been said among the more superstitious types that Chwingas are an omen, although none of them can agree if said omen is for good or for ill. I’d like to think that their arrival marks a time of magical wonder and intrigue, leading to amazing discoveries and furthering our enlightenment as a people. On the other side of the coin, I believe their absence to be a sign of ill tidings, much like that southern idiom about the canary in the coal mines. Chwingas, good. No Chwingas, bad.
Free Peoples of the north, the Chwingas are gone. I’ve looked everywhere for them. All I’ve found are caches of pilfered trinkets and silverware. The spell Detect magic has yielded no information. It’s as if these creatures never existed. What this means for us, I cannot say. All we can do is put our faith in the monks of the Caelid Fastness. Their leader has kept us safe this past year and has given us renewed vigor against the cursed Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Vigilance for us all!
Elvie.
News of a Lost Tower
Date: 6.24.1300 | Tags: Adventurer
(A letter sent to all of Iulia’s former companions)
Greetings, my friends. I ask forgiveness for my actions in Fawold, but I also bear news of an odd exploration. I have adventured through the swamps in forests around me and found, mostly buried in the ground, a desolated tower. As I went inside to search the place, I discovered inside the remains of a long-lost bedroom where some wizard may once have dwelt. At the end of the room I found a trapdoor held shut by firm chains that may last for some years longer. Skeletal and ghostly hands both reached out from below in an attempt to open it and escape, yet the chains held steady.
This could be the remains of a lost society, or the dungeon of a ruthless wizard, or many other things, but I would only write to you if this was a case of worthy inquiry and exploration, which this might perhaps be. I give you my thanks for all the journeys we have had together, and farewell.
Sincerely, Iulia
A Shambling Mass of Limbs and Light
Date: 6.24.1300 | Tags: The Free Peoples
<The Free Ten>
The festive air of The Hearty Danish was doused in an instant when a young man burst into the establishment screaming, “I seen ‘em! I seen the dead!” All eyes immediately turned to the panicked lad, and he promptly fainted. It took a great deal of time getting the youth to a place where he could elaborate on his claim, and when he did, the already somber mood dropped even more.
The trouble started when the young man left Meirn to get back home to Dol Ehren. About halfway back he spied a large crowd of humanoid shapes traveling together in some kind of pack. Every now and then there would be a crackle and beam of blue light that pierced the sky, followed by shrieks and wails. Curiosity got the better of the lad and he moved closer until he could get a better look. These “creatures” were stripped down, and their heads pulsated with bright blue light.
An unfortunately timed sneeze overtook the young man and the horde turned on him in unison. It was at that point the story ended, leaving the tavern as silent as a crypt for what felt like hours.
The old-timers drank heavily.
Takeaways
As the DM I know which of the above SEEN are from me and which are not. In June there was a decent mix of player and DM SEEN, but the players should be doing more. Doesn’t help that I was an inactive DM in June, which broke some campaign momentum. Still! For this campaign to be a living one it needs to be active even if I am not. Furthermore, in regards to SEEN there needs to be a higher spread between truth and obfuscation.
To that last point we can blame my use of GOSS, which was internal and slapdash. I opted to decide how truthful I wanted the SEEN posts to be and more often than not I just had the players give me something that was “mostly true.” Wasn’t nearly as fun for me as the DM. Learning!
My goal for July will be not only to get an increase in player SEEN, but better and more varied player SEEN. I will have the players use GOSS and let the quirky dice results spark inspiration. It’s my hope that all of us in this campaign will explore the kinds of posts we can write and come up with fun and interesting things in the future.
TLDR:
- Players need to take more actions and post more SEEN. Needs more variety.
- I need to relinquish control of GOSS and have players use it before they write their posts.
