Swords & Stitchery - Old Time Sewing & Table Top Rpg Blog

Monday, April 6, 2026

d100 Random Wilderness Swords & Sorcery Encounters table for Castles & Crusades Campaigns

Creating a d100 encounter table for Castles & Crusades requires a mix of gritty realism, ancient mystery, and the "weird" elements typical of the Swords & Sorcery genre. In this style, magic is often dangerous or corruptive, and the environment is as much an enemy as the monsters.

Below is a table designed for wilderness travel, ruins, or borderlands. This blog entry picks right up from

d100 Random Swords & Sorcery Encounters table for Castles & Crusades Campaigns

d100 Swords & Sorcery Encounters

d100	Encounter	Details
01-05	The Desperate Remnant	$1d10+2$ survivors of a sacked caravan. They are dehydrated and paranoid; one carries a cursed idol they refuse to discard.
06-10	Vulture Cultists	$2d4$ cultists (CL 1) performing a sky burial. They view any interruption as a sacrilege requiring a fresh sacrifice.
11-15	The Monolith of Whispers	A single black stone pillar. Anyone touching it must make a Charisma Save or suffer a temporary -2 penalty to Wisdom but gain a cryptic prophecy.
16-20	Slavers of the Waste	$1d6$ Slavers (CL 2) leading $2d6$ captives in chains. They are looking for "stronger stock" and eye the party's gear.
21-25	Ghost-Lights	$1d4$ Will-o’-Wisps (CL 4) bobbing over a marsh or graveyard. They lead toward a half-buried silver chest (trapped).
26-30	The Fallen Sky-Ship	The wreckage of a bronze-plated vessel. $1d6$ Iron Cobras (CL 2) still guard the "pilot’s" glass-encased remains.
31-35	Escaped Pit Fighter	A lone, scarred warrior (Fighter level 4) fleeing a local warlord. He offers his blade for a week in exchange for food and anonymity.
36-40	Giant Scorpion Nest	$1d3$ Giant Scorpions (CL 3) burst from the sand/dirt. One is a rare albino variant whose venom is worth 500gp to an alchemist.
41-45	The Drunken Sorcerer	An eccentric Magic-User (Level 5) attempting to "re-bottle" an Air Elemental. He is highly unpredictable and smells of lotus wine.
46-50	Ancient Toll Bridge	A Troll (CL 6) demanding "tribute of beauty" (gems or art) rather than gold. It speaks an archaic, polite dialect of Common.
51-55	Mirage of the Oasis	A magical shimmer. Intelligence Save to realize it’s an illusion hiding a pit of $1d8$ Giant Centipedes (CL 1).
56-60	The Crimson Cloud	A localized red mist. Creatures inside must make a Constitution Save or become enraged, attacking the nearest living thing for $1d4$ rounds.
61-65	Ruined Shrine of the Serpent	A crumbling altar. $1d4$ Giant Snakes (CL 2) nest here. Searching the altar reveals a hidden compartment with $2d10$ gold "scales."
66-70	Exiled Noble	A disgraced aristocrat riding a dying horse. He offers a "Deed to a Keep" for a fresh mount; the deed is real, but the keep is currently occupied by Orcs.
71-75	Stygian Bats	$2d6$ Large Bats (CL 1) that attack only at twilight. Their bite causes a fever (1 damage/hour until a Constitution Save is passed).
72-80	The Bone-Picker	An old woman (Hag in disguise, CL 5) gathering teeth from a battlefield. She offers to "read the marrow" of the players for a price.
81-85	Mercenary Patrol	$2d6$ heavy infantry (CL 1) searching for a deserter. They are bored, well-armed, and looking for a reason to "confiscate" goods.
86-90	The Thirsty Blade	A discarded bronze shortsword stuck in a skull. It is a $+1$ weapon, but on a natural 1, it drains $1d4$ HP from the wielder to "feed."
91-95	Apex Predator	A Manticore (CL 5) or Chimera (CL 7) stalking the party from a distance, waiting for them to set up camp.
96-00	The Rift Opening	A tear in reality. $1d4$ Dretches (CL 2) emerge. Closing the rift requires a Wisdom/Spellcasting check or a sacrifice of blood.

Tips for Running these in Castles & Crusades:

Attribute Checks: Use the SIEGE Engine for the environmental hazards. If a player is trying to navigate the "Crimson Cloud," a Wisdom check (Prime vs. Non-Prime) is perfect for maintaining mental fortitude.
Encumbrance Matters: In Swords & Sorcery, resources are scarce. If the party finds the "Fallen Sky-Ship," emphasize the weight of the bronze plates. Is it worth slowing down the party for the metal's value?
Morale: Don't forget to check Morale for the Slavers or Mercenaries. In this genre, NPCs usually value their lives over a few gold pieces and will flee if the party's Fighter cuts down their leader in one round.

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Egghead (Vincent Price) As an NPC from The 1960's Batman classic TV For Cepheus Engine's Superpowered rpg

Bringing the "Prince of Panache" into the Cepheus Engine (or similar 2D6-based OGL systems) requires balancing his high-camp theatricality with his legitimate genius. In the 1966 series, Vincent Price played Egghead as a "self-styled smartest man in the world" who spoke in egg-based puns and relied on chemistry and gadgets rather than brute force.

Here is the profile for Egghead, tailored for a Superpowered supplement or a high-tech espionage campaign.

Egghead (Vincent Price)

Archetype: Mastermind / Gadgeteer

Motivation: Intellectual Superiority (and wealth to fund his lifestyle)

Characteristic	Score	Modifier
STR	5	-1
DEX	7	0
END	6	0
INT	12	+2
EDU	13	+2
SOC	10	+1

Skills

Chemistry: 4
Deception: 3
Electronics: 2
Explosives: 2
Leadership: 2
Persuasion: 2
Science (Biology): 3

Superpowers & Gadgets

Egghead doesn't have innate superpowers; his "powers" are derived from his Gadgeteering and his vast egg-themed arsenal. In Cepheus Engine terms, these function as specialized gear:

Egg-Shell Bombs (Area Attack):
- Fear Gas Egg: Targets must make an END check or be paralyzed by terror for 1D6 rounds.
- Laughing Gas Egg: Targets are incapacitated by uncontrollable laughter.
- Thermite Egg: Deals 3D6 damage to a small radius (perfect for melting vault doors).
The "Egg-Vactor": A customized escape vehicle or hidden elevator system (+1 to Stealth/Escape rolls in his lair).
Master Mind (Talent): Egghead can spend a round "analyzing" an opponent. On a successful INT check, he grants all allies a +1 DM to hit that specific target as he exposes their "shell-shocking" weaknesses.

Combat & Tactics

Egghead is a "Glass Cannon." He will never engage in a fair fistfight. If cornered, he uses his Deception skill to monologue, stalling for time while his henchmen (the "Good Eggs") get into position.

Defensive Strategy: He relies on Cover and Smoke Eggs to obscure vision.
Signature Move: The "Egg-Zit." He tosses a flash-bang egg and vanishes through a trapdoor while shouting an egg-pun at the top of his lungs.

Roleplaying Notes

"Egg-zactly! You've fallen right into my yolk, Batman!"

To play Egghead authentically, the Referee should:

The Voice: Use a sophisticated, slightly nasal, melodramatic tone.
The Puns: Every sentence must contain an egg-related word (egg-cellent, egg-stravagant, egg-spire).
The Ego: He believes he is the only person in the room with a functional brain. He finds "heroes" to be tedious bores with limited vocabularies.

Weaknesses

Hubris: Egghead often explains his entire plan because he assumes the heroes aren't smart enough to stop it anyway.
Physical Frailty: He has low STR and END. If a hero actually manages to land a punch, the fight is usually over.

Adventure Hook: The Ovoid Heist

Egghead has stolen a prehistoric "Thunderbird" egg from the City Museum. He claims he can use the ancient proteins to create a "Super-Egg" gas that will lower the IQ of the entire city to that of a soft-boiled egg, leaving him as the only genius left to rule.

DC's Claw The Unconquered As a Sword & Sorcery NPC for Sword of Cepheus 2nd edition

Adapting a character like Claw the Unconquered—the cursed, demon-handed barbarian of DC Comics fame—requires balancing his immense physical prowess with the unpredictable nature of his magical affliction.

In Sword of Cepheus 2nd Edition, Claw fits the Barbarian or Gladiator career paths perfectly. Below are the mechanical details to bring him into your campaign.

Claw the Unconquered

Characteristics

STR: 12 (+2)
DEX: 10 (+1)
END: 11 (+1)
INT: 07 (0)
EDU: 05 (-1)
SOC: 04 (-1)

Skills

Athletics 2
Combat (Sling) 1
Combat (Sword) 3
Combat (Unarmed) 2
Recon 1
Survival 2
Tactics 1

Traits

Hard to Kill: When reduced to 0 END, Claw may make an END check (10+) to stay conscious and keep fighting for $1D6$ rounds.
Fearless: +2 DM to all Resolve checks against supernatural terror.

The Demon Hand (Special Ability)

Claw’s right hand is replaced by a clawed, red-skinned demonic appendage. While it grants him great power, it is a constant source of peril.

Feature	Effect
Demonic Strength	When attacking with the hand (Unarmed), Claw deals $2D6 + 4$ damage. It counts as a magical weapon for overcoming resistances.
The Uncontrollable Hunger	If Claw rolls a natural 2 on any Combat check, the hand goes into a frenzy. He must attack the nearest living creature (friend or foe) on his next turn.
Cursed Visage	Claw suffers a -2 DM on all Social Standing or Influence checks when his hand is visible.

Equipment

Broadsword: $3D6$ damage.
Leather Armor: Protection 2 (Claw rarely wears heavy plate, relying on his instincts).
The Gauntlet: A heavy, enchanted metal glove used to bind and hide the Demon Hand. Removing it is a Minor Action but marks him as a sorcerous threat to onlookers.

Implementation Tips

Career Path: If building him from "Level 0," start with Barbarian for two terms to get his survival skills, then one term in Gladiator to reflect his time in the pits of Pytharia.
Stamina: With his high STR and END, Claw functions as a "tank" in Sword of Cepheus. He should lead the charge, but the GM should use the The Uncontrollable Hunger to create tension during long dungeon crawls.

Saturday, April 4, 2026

OSR Adventure Commentary- Dark Tower By Paul (now Jennell) Jaquays 1979. Levels 7-11 Adapted To Castles & Crusades rpg campaign

Dark Tower (1979) by Paul (now Jennell) Jaquays is widely considered one of the "holy grails" of old-school dungeon design. Originally published by Judges Guild for AD&D, it earned a legendary reputation for its complex verticality, non-linear exploration, and faction-based gameplay.

For Castles & Crusades (C&C) players, the module is a natural fit because C&C is designed to be mechanically compatible with early editions. Here is a breakdown of the module and its specific presence in the C&C ecosystem.

1. The Core Narrative

The adventure centers on a centuries-old "Cold War" between two gods: Mitra (the god of Law/Sun) and Set (the god of Evil/Serpents).

The Setting: The village of Mitra’s Fist sits atop a buried mountain pass. Unbeknownst to most, two massive towers—one white (Mitra) and one black (Set)—were buried during a divine cataclysm and now exist entirely underground.
The Hook: The villagers are cursed with immortality but live in a state of stagnant decay, secretly ruled by a cult of Set.
The Goal: Players must navigate the social web of the village, delve into the four levels of the dungeon, and eventually infiltrate the towers to break the stalemate or claim the relics within.

2. Why it’s Famous: "Jaquaying the Dungeon"

The term "Jaquaying" (coined by The Alexandrian) refers to the design techniques pioneered in this module:

Non-Linearity: There are multiple entrances to the dungeon and numerous "loops" and secret paths between levels.
Verticality: You don't just go "down"; you climb up into buried towers from the bottom of the dungeon or rappel down shafts that skip levels entirely.
Faction Play: The dungeon isn't a static collection of monsters. The followers of Set and the remnants of Mitra’s clergy are in active conflict. Players can pick sides, play them against each other, or try to kill everyone.

3. Castles & Crusades Specifics

While the original 1979 printing was for AD&D, Goodman Games released a dedicated Castles & Crusades conversion in the mid-2000s.

Feature	Details
System	Specifically tuned for the Siege Engine (C&C).
Character Level	Designed for a party of 6–10 characters of Levels 7–11. It is high-lethality.
Format	Usually found as a 72-page book (though modern reprints by Goodman Games often bundle it as a massive multi-volume "Reincarnated" set for 5E/DCC).
Conversion Ease	Because C&C uses the same "six stats" and similar AC/Save math as the original, the 1979 version is playable with minimal adjustment, though the official C&C PDF simplifies the stat blocks.

4. Key Elements to Watch For

If you are running this in Castles & Crusades, keep an eye on these specific highlights:

Avvakris the Merchant: The primary antagonist. He is a high-level Priest of Set with a complex family dynamic and a terrifying half-serpent son.
The Lich Pnessutt: An ancient, powerful undead who resides in the depths and serves as a "boss" tier encounter.
The Relics: Items like the Eye of Set or the Staff of Mitra are powerful enough to shift the balance of a campaign world, not just a single dungeon.

Pro-Tip for GMs: Use the "Side View" map religiously. Because the towers are nested inside the dungeon levels, players often get confused about where they are vertically. Drawing a cross-section for them (or yourself) is essential to keep the geometry straight.

Since my group prefers high-stakes diplomacy over simple door-kicking, Dark Tower becomes a tense "Cold War" thriller. In this module, the environment is a powder keg, and the players are the match.

Here is how to frame the negotiations between the two factions using Castles & Crusades mechanics.

1. The Factions: Goals & Leverage

Faction	Primary Leader	Motivation	Negotiation Leverage
The Chosen of Set	Avvakris (High Priest/Merchant)	Complete the corruption of the village and fully awaken the Black Tower.	They have the numbers, the wealth, and control of the village’s food/water.
The Remnants of Mitra	The White Druids (hidden)	Purge the evil and restore the sun's light to the "Fist."	They have ancient knowledge of the towers' secret paths and the location of the relics.

2. The Village of Mitra’s Fist

This is where the negotiation begins. The village is ostensibly "lawful," but the Cult of Set has infiltrated every level of government.

The Hook: Avvakris will likely try to hire the players first. He wants them to "clear out" the pesky "heretics" (Mitra’s followers) in the dungeon.
The Twist: If the players find the secret shrine of Mitra first, the Druids will beg for help, offering divine boons or knowledge of the Staff of Mitra—the only thing that can truly banish Set’s influence.

3. Key Players for Negotiation

Avvakris: He is a master manipulator. In C&C, he will likely use high Charisma (Prime) checks to win over the party. He doesn't want to fight; he wants to own the party's services.
Habbakuk: A prisoner who can be rescued. He serves as the moral compass and a bridge to the Mitra faction.
The "Grey" Elements: There are several monsters and minor NPCs who hate both sides. A clever party can recruit these outliers to create a "Third Way" or to provide a distraction while they play the two main factions against each other.

4. Running the Diplomacy in C&C

The Siege Engine makes these social encounters dynamic. Use Charisma as the primary attribute for these interactions:

The Double Agent Play: If a player wants to pretend to join Set while secretly helping Mitra, have them roll a Charisma (Deception) check against Avvakris’s Challenge Class (CC).
- Note: Since Avvakris is high-level (roughly Level 10), his CC will be high (10 + his level = 20), making it a difficult feat for lower-level PCs.
The Peace Treaty: If the players try to broker a literal truce (unlikely but possible), they would need to prove that a third threat (like the Lich Pnessutt) is a bigger danger to both than they are to each other.

5. Moral Complexity

Jaquays designed the "Good" faction (Mitra) to be somewhat weakened, dogmatic, and desperate, while the "Evil" faction (Set) is charismatic, organized, and wealthy.

The Dilemma: Helping Mitra is "right," but it is the harder path. Working for Set is easy and profitable, but it involves committing (or ignoring) atrocities.

GM Tip: Award XP not just for monsters killed, but for Information Secured and Alliances Formed. If they successfully trick Avvakris into revealing the location of the Eye of Set without a fight, give them the equivalent XP of defeating his personal guard.