Pop Culture Parties – HyperboreanComics

Pop Culture Party – Wakers of the Dreaming God

A D&D Adaptation of the characters from Conan the Destroyer (1984)

Wakers of the Dreaming God (Conan the Destroyer)

(l-r) Malak (Half-Elf/ Rogue/Thief); Bombaata (Goliath/Paladin/Oathbreaker); Zula (Human/Monk/Way of the Kensei); Conan (Human/Barbarian/Path of the Juggernaut); Akiro (Gnome/Wizard/Abjuration School).

IN THE REALMS

“It is written in the Scrolls of Skelos, that a woman born with a certain mark, must make a journey…there’s a key she must find, a key only she can touch…in a castle, guarded by a Wizard.”

Phi (Queen) Taramis of Semphar has charged her paladin, Bombaata, and two famous thieves to go on a quest. Conan and Malak must protect Princess Jenya, the prophecied girl with the mark, on her journey. As their quest begins, they recruit Akiro, a gnomish wizard, and Zula, an outlander monk.

As the party makes its way from wizard’s tower to ancient temple to forest glade, they find their camaraderie grows stronger – all save for Bombaata. For there is something the goliath hides, something his Queen desires him to do, that bodes ill. After the finding of the Jewel of Ahrimanes, and the battle in the hall of mirrors, and the delve into the Horned God’s dungeon – there is a surprise waiting.

Queen Taramis means to awaken Dagoth, the Dreaming God, using the treasures found by the Wakers. And Bombaata knows Conan must be not be allowed to interfere with the final stages – the sacrifice of Jenya and the rise not of a god, but of an Obyrith – the most evil and ancient of demons!

The Wakers of Dagoth will be forced, in their final moments – to confront Bombaata, Taramis, her armies…and the demon himself!

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

My third try at Conan (if you don’t count Kalidor), and it won’t be my last. There’s still the TV show and the Jason Momoa reboot after all!

Conan the Destroyer is…well…I mean…it’s not as bad as Red Sonja. But after the amazingness that was John Milius’ Conan the Barbarian…it leaves much to be desired.

For one, Arnold has bulked up – no longer as swift and agile as he was, but more cartoonish. And that theme runs through everything. They also let him talk. If you watch Barbarian, Conan has just a few lines – though he still manages to move the story forward. In Destroyer, Conan is making deals, making jokes, getting drunk, doing all sorts of things that Arnold is not quite capable of selling.

Here I’ve drawn him as bulky as I can, and with a little smirk. Since I drew him last time with his iconic sword, this time I used the double-bladed axe that he wields only for a few moments.

With Barbarian I chose to draw everyone as human. Here, I thought I would stretch a little. Malak as a half-elf makes a certain amount of sense when you see his ears. Wilt Chamberlain’s Bombaata is so huge that he stoops through most of the movie – a neat chance to draw a Goliath for the first time. And since I have already drawn Akiro as a human, the chance to draw him as a gnome was intriguing.

Choosing against making Olivia D’Abo’s Jenna a PC was a decision after re-watching the movie. I think she makes much more sense as an NPC here. She has some good character moments in the film, but she has no specific skills and mainly serves to get captured, lead the group about, and get rescued. And she is only 16. The Dungeon-master probably uses her in the same way – and to introduce the complication in any fight of having to protect her.

This actually casts some of the moments when she clashes with Conan fun to imagine. In one scene, she demands (and no doubt the DM wishes) that the group row to Thoth-Amon’s castle immediately. Conan’s player instead demands an extended rest. The DM retaliates by having Thoth-Amon kidnap the girl in the night (all the party having failed to set a watch, anyway).

Living beings as macguffins is nothing new to fantasy RPGs (or videogames, where the dreaded bodyguard missions makes you curse the game’s AI). Otherwise this movie translates really well into a campaign. The player of Bombaata should be in on his secret of course, but the rest of the party need not be. Keeping a secret from the rest of the group, when played well, can spark for some amazing reveals.

Background is courtesy of klyaksun and Getty Images.

The Pop Culture Party Series follows a similar line to my Motley Crew series. Only while that nerdly rotogravure imagined sci-fi motley crews in Firefly’s ‘Verse, this will imagine various casts of adventure media as D&D characters.

Pop Culture Party – The Striking Dragons

A D&D Adaptation of the Dragonstrike video

(L-r) Deathmark (Shifter-Wizard-School of Transmutation), Dare (Human-Fighter-Champion), Greenthorne (Elf-Ranger-Hunter Conclave), Arakeela (Human-Rogue-Thief).

IN THE REALMS

“Feeling brave tonight? How brave? Brave enough to do battle with hideous monsters? Brave enough to sneak around dank castles in the dark and chance being the next victim…of a dragonstrike?!”

Lord Halvor II of the Dalelands was only a minor potentate, with little wisdom and few other resources to draw upon – or so he thought.

The night the Sunstone rose above the evil wizard Taraptus’ nearby castle and robbed the land of daylight Halvor found his heroes.

Dare is a loyal knight and fighter, possessed of great brawn and not much brain. Arakeela just happened to be in Halvor’s castle at the time, picking the pockets of his guests. That was the night that Deathmark the wizard stumbled, wounded, into the revels.

What happened next happened quickly. Undead warriors sent by Taraptus broke into the castle to try to recapture the wizard. Dare and Arakeela leapt into action – joined by Greenthorne, a newly arrived elven ranger from Cormanthyr.

The four of them convinced Lord Halvor to let them brave the dangers of Taraptus’ castle to seek out the evil wizard and break his curse upon the Dalelands.

Adventures have started with less…and after searching the castle, slaying a fire elemental, and defeating the dark wizard…there is the small matter of an imminent Illithid invasion.

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

Dragonstrike was a board game that came with a 30 minute video to explain roleplaying…an amazing 30 minute video that is as captivating today as it was back then.

Just…bring a beer and a sense of humour.

None of the characters had names in the original video, but some accompanying literature contained great names like Dare and Deathmark!

Classes are set so subclasses might be the only interesting exercise. Dare Is a Champion, or possibly a Banneret Fighter. Arakeela is a Thief and Greenthorne a Hunter Ranger. All standards.

Deathmark is interesting because during an exchange with the elf, he reveals that he was once transformed into a coyote as part of his wizard’s training and it is this coyote whose skin he wears. This might imply a druid or a druid multiclass but I think the School of Transmutation fits just as well. I made him a Longtooth Shifter just for good measure.

Turning this into an adventure isn’t hard…it is D&D for beginners after all! So what tips can we learn about source material?

Keep it simple: evil wizard, endangered kingdom, clever finale. Don’t stress.

That’s one of the reasons I set it in the Dales, even though I’m not really that fond of them. I need to remember sometimes that basic isn’t bad.

Pop Culture Party – Vizini’s Circus

A D&D Adaptation of Princess Bride (1987)

(l-r) Inigo Montell (human/fighter/battle master); Vizini (gnome/rogue/mastermind); Fezzik (firbolg/bard/college of valour).

IN THE REALMS

“You’re trying to kidnap what I’ve rightfully stolen.”

The politics were supposedly complex, but it came down to the fact that the Sembian city-state of Saerloon thought it would like to start a war with its neighbour, Selgaunt, while remaining outwardly blameless. Enter Vizini.

The clever Lantanese gnome had all the wits required, he just needed a few adventurers. He found the Firbolg bard, Fezzik, friendless and hopeless in remote Tuern. But it wasn’t the inspiring magic of Fezzik’s clever rhymes he cared for, only his mammoth strength. Next, the gnome found a drunken Amnish fighter in the city of Athkatla. Vizini’s knowledge of poisons was enough to cajole Inigo Montell into his service.

Now the party, under the ruse of being travelling circus performers, must find their way to the Sea of Fallen Stars, braving many dangers. Once there, it is a simple matter of crossing the pirate-infested Dragonmere, braving the bay of the Shrieking Eels, making it through the Thieves’ Forest and the Pit of Despair, and finding and kidnaping the beautiful bride of Saerloon’s Prince – while framing Selgaunt.

But Vizini’s evil plans depend on the loyalty of the kind-hearted firbolg and the noble Amnian – and should a sharper wit and a better soul come along…

The result might be, to Vizini, inconceivable.

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

Princess Bride is one of the classics of the fantasy genre, so I had to get around to it one of these days – but I hope you’ll find I took a slightly interesting twist.

Fezzik as a bard AND as a firbolg might raise some eyebrows. I didn’t think barbarian fit because he shows no evidence of rage. Fighter might have worked, but I don’t think takes enough advantage of his sweet-hearted nature. A bard, working his magic through rhymes, a maxxed out strength score, and the tavern-brawler feat for improvised weapons (namely his boulders) fits quite well I think. And while a goliath might work better than a firbolg, I just think visually the latter fits perfectly.

Inigo could have been a rogue/swashbuckler, or even a paladin or warlock (as this thread suggests) bound to his father’s sword. But I think Fighter works just as well, with the Battle Master path giving him access to feints and clever swordwork.

Vizini choices are all fairly logical. I’ve used Mastermind and Inquisitive a lot in this series, enough that I should probably play one one of these days!

The idea of an evil party is not a new one. But the idea of an evil PC leading some more morally ambiguous members is not one I’ve played or heard about. I think it could be a really neat angle for a campaign – especially if the player of the evil PC (in this case Vezzini/Vizini) is in on the hook and committed to eventually becoming more and more of a villain. The opportunity to introduce the ambiguous PCs to more and more questionable situations and create inter-party tension sounds really interesting!

Pop Culture Party – Seekers of the Black Fortress

A D&D Adaptation of Krull (1983)

The Seekers of the Black Fortress (Krull)

l-r: Colwyn (Half-elf/Fighter/Eldritch Knight); Kegan (Half-orc/Rogue /Thief); Torquil (Half-orc/Rogue/Scout); Rell (Goliath/Ranger/Hunter Conclave); Ergo the Magnificent (Human/Druid/Circle of the Moon).

IN THE REALMS

“A girl of ancient name that shall become queen, that she shall choose a king, and that together they shall rule their land, and that their son shall rule the world.”

The Western Heartlands of Faerun is in crisis. The return of a Netherese citadel, known now as the Black Fortress, from the Shadowfell has shattered the balance of power. Shadovar “slayers” have issued forth and spread terror and war across Faerun – all at the behest of the ancient Shadow Dragon that even Elminster fears. Men know it simply as “the beast.”

But hope springs eternal. Colwyn Obarskyr, the half-elf prince of Cormyr, has ridden through fire and shadow to reach the elven stronghold of Evereska. There, an elven princess with the ancient name of Lyssa, waits to welcome him as her new husband. The marriage alliance is meant to weld the strength of elves and men together and lead a new resurgence against the Beast – fulfilling the prophecy and freeing the Realms.

Before the marriage could take place, however, Shadovar stormed the castle, slaying all they found. But Colwyn has escaped…and sworn to rescue his bride from the Black Fortress. To do so he’ll need allies.

The boastful druid known as Ergo the Magnificent (“short in stature, tall in power, narrow of purpose, and wide of vision”) was the first to join his quest. Kegan and Torquil, two half-orc bandits, will also lend their axes (in return for a pardon). And Rell, a Goliath ranger, has also chosen to haunt their steps in his quest for revenge against the Beast.

On the advice of Elminster, Colwyn retrieves the ancient weapon known as the Glaive as the first part of their adventure. Then to the swamps to seek advice from the Emerald Seer, and to Kegan’s home village – with dire battles awaiting at each. Finally, the band of adventurers struggle to reach the “Widow of the Web” to gain the last piece of their puzzle – how to find their foe!

To finally reach the Black Fortress, they’ll need to capture steeds from a herd of Nightmares – and brave the Shadowfell itself!

If they fail, the whole Realms may fall…and Lyssa will be slain. But if they succeed, the Beast will be banished, the people will be freed, and their child will be King!

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

Krull is surprisingly relevant in the zeitgeist of the early 80s for such a terrible movie – but it also has undeniable charm. The appearance of early roles for Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane makes it an interesting bit of pop culture trivia – but I think it is mainly the coolness of the Glaive that makes such a lasting impact.

Early scripts of what was once called The Dragons of Krull, inspired me to change out the weird-ass reptilian Beast for a Shadow Dragon. And the mobile nature of the Black Fortress from the movie made me think of the Netherese citadels – in particular the Shadow Enclave that played a role in the Second Sundering.

Things began to fall into place after that. There is nothing in the Forgotten Realms that would fit the idea of a marriage that would result in ruling the “world” as in Krull. But Cormyr is one of the most powerful nations in Faerun, and Evereska is said to be the same for Elven cities outside Evermeet. And both have had conflicts with the City of Shadow during and around the Return of the Archwizards series.

The glaive returning to Colwyn’s hands could be chalked up to the power of the weapon itself, but that plus his fire powers from the end made me think Eldritch knight.

Bunch of pretty cool character designs from Krull

Kegan and Torquil have this awesome dual-axe thing going on. These might be the first half-orcs I’ve drawn.

The cyclops in Krull were tricked into giving up an eye for the ability to see the future – but only of their own death. I liked the idea of a Goliath PC who had sacrificed his eye in a manner reminiscent of Odin and the Well of Mimir. Maybe this would translate to the Lucky feat?

Ergo isn’t described as a druid in the source material, but I’ve rarely seen anyone who fits the class better. Through the course of the film he transforms into a duck and a tiger!

There are a lot of other characters muddying up this film: Torquil’s bandits; the Old Man; the little kid. These all make more sense as NPCs as they rarely have a major role to play.

This campaign would be an interesting take on D&D’s “multiverse” concept. That is, according to the book series mentioned above, the conflict with the City of Shadow happened a certain way – and certainly there was no mention of any King of Faerun! If you don’t want to create really intricate continuity, then you can ignore the events of those books and instead create your own campaign for countering the Shadovar. Keep the set-up, ditch the canon resolution.

Having one PC as the “chosen one” is always a bit weird – and one of the main differences between fantasy movies and fantasy RPGs. The DM would have to be sure that all the other players got their moments to shine in a team effort. Having recently played a game with mixed ages – I might recommend this as a nice way to let a younger player feel like the star.

Pop Culture Party – The Warriors Three

A D&D Adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Warriors Three

(l-r: Hogun the Grim (Human/Fighter/Champion); Volstagg the Valiant (Dwarf/Bard/College of Valour); Fandral the Dashing (Half-Elf/Rogue/Swashbuckler)

IN THE REALMS

King Rault the Wise was beset by many foes and countless challenges. The Northmen’s alliance with the Ffolk was still tenuous, the Giants of the Jotunhammer mountains threatened, and the northern seas full of pirates. His crown prince was an able champion, but arrogant and wilful. He needed to learn humility, and he needed friends.

The dwarf Volstagg the Valiant of the Ironmaster Hearth is a creature of tremendous appetites and tremendous boasts. But when the chips are down, this skald Bard’s experience and spirit can be channelled into no end of support for his friends.

The half-elf Fandral the Dashing is descended from Ffolk, Northmen, and Elves alike. This Rogue swashbuckles his way across the Moonshaes leaving maidens and men alike swooning and satisfied. But when his sword flashes, his foes quake with fear.

Hogun the Grim is a far-faring fighter from Kozakura who has adopted the Northland isles as his own. No smiles pass his lips, but his steadfast will provides the silent and steely core of the party.

Sometimes with the Crown Prince, sometimes without him, the Warriors Three roam about the Realms to dispatch evil creatures, carry out their King’s will, and drink oceans of mead along the way.

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

There are few things better than Thor. And when Thor is done by Jack Kirby, you’re in good shape. And when Kirby is doing Tales of Asgard as a back-up story – featuring Thor and his three best pals – you just can’t beat it.

Jack “The King” Kirby drawing Thor and the Warriors Three

I used cues for their looks from various comic iterations and the films. I seem to be setting a lot of things in the Moonshaes, which means maybe I should DM a campaign there at some point.

Volstagg the Valiant could be any number of classes, but I thought bard fit his role as the comedic backbone of the team. Making him a dwarf was partly inspired by Jay and Miles Xplain the X-Men, where Miles Stokes described a dwarf pc he once had in a D&D game that was based on Volstagg. I gave him a sword, which he often has in the comic, and the hammer of the War Thor – which is just too cool a design.

Making Fandral the Dashing a half-elf made a certain amount of sense, but I really just wanted to draw more half-elves. A Swashbuckler Rogue is a no-brainer.

Hogun the Grimm was always my favourite of the Warriors Three, mainly for his role in Tom DeFalco’s Thor #400 where he has beef with Seth the Serpent-God. I did enjoy the MCU’s version of Hogun as well. Probably a Champion Fighter.

The campaign here is pretty classic – you have a patron King and a whole world to explore. I think some of the interesting aspects of running this would be having Thor, Balder, Sif, and other Asgardians come in as guest PCs – especially with the attitude of the Thor PC being that he is the star of his own series and the regular PCs are *his* sidekicks. Your heroes can even be a sort of Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern, operating on the periphery of someone else’s adventure. Each session can start with explaining the great deeds and adventures of the Prince, and then connecting those to the adventure your players are about to undertake.

As long as your players still feel like heroes, I think it would be really great!

Thanks to Shuttershock artist Vladislav Kudoyarov for the background.

The Pop Culture Party Series follows a similar line to my Motley Crew series. Only while that nerdly rotogravure imagined sci-fi motley crews in Firefly’s ‘Verse, this will imagine various casts of adventure media as D&D characters.

Pop Culture Party – Caledfwlch

A D&D Adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Excalibur team

(l-r) Meggan (Elf/Druid/Circle of the Moon), Cat o’the Shadows (Human/Rogue/Phantom), Rayche Summerisle (Human/Warlock/Fiend Patron, Pact of the Talisman), Captain Braddock (Half-elf/Paladin/Oath of the Watchers), Vagner (Tiefling/Bard/College of Swords)

(l-r) **Ro Maks** (Goliath/Fighter/Rune Knight), **Sherise Shiar** (Human/Cleric/Light Domain) **Ferron** (Elf/ Wizard/Abjuration School), **Kylun** (Shifter/Ranger/Horizon Walker Conclave).

IN THE REALMS

In an age long past, the eladrin wizard Necrom tried to seize power by projecting an ancient tower across all the many planes and spheres, anchoring and drawing upon the magical powers of the Weave. At the last moment, his apprentices rebelled when they saw their master’s evil purpose and defeated him. But the apprentices suspected that Necrom had become a lich and would return again one day.

One of the apprentices, the eladrin Marlyn waited for long years, manipulating events in the Realms from the feywild to anticipate his old master’s return. The key to his gambit was an adventuring party known as Caledfwlch, which he caused to be formed upon the Moonshaes.

Captain Braddock is Marlyn’s half-elven paladin, drawing power from the Tower-That Crosses-Planes to fuel his might. His elvish lover Meggan Puceanu gains her druidic power from the earth itself. They are joined by outlanders: Vagner, a tiefling bard; Cat o’the Shadows, a Phantom Rogue; and Rayche Summerisle, a Warlock who is bound to the mystical Phoenix. This party have many adventures across the planes, against many foes, all in preparation for their coming battle.

As the lich Necrom draws near, other adventurers join the crusade that Marlyn had not anticipated. Sherise Shiar, a Cleric of Mystra from far-off Halruua, foresaw the threat to the Weave that the lich represented. Ferron, a young and arrogant wizard, is a descendant of one of Necrom’s elvish apprentices and has sworn to seize the Pact of the Phoenix and destroy Necrom with it. Ro Maks is a Goliath Rune Knight with a Giant’s Might to bend towards protecting his home islands. The shifter ranger Kylun and his mystical swords might stand the best chance of hurting his hated foe, the lich who slew his wife.

Now this growing party must adventure across the Moonshaes and the Sword Coast to counter Necrom’s efforts, gather up magical artifacts, and face down the lich’s minions, including his own Phoenixpact Warlock. In the climax of their adventure the heroes of Caledfwlch must ultimately destroy the Tower-That-Crosses-Planes itself to lay this ancient evil to rest, and save both the Weave and the Realms entire. But to do so, they’ll have to shake off the manipulations of the archfey Marlyn…and chart their own destiny.

SOURCE MATERIAL

You guys, have you read Excalibur #42-50? It’s off the freaking hook.

And while written and drawn by Alan Davis, it draws upon and completes stories from the first forty-one issues by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis (and some filler issues by others that leave a lot to be desired). I’ve heard it called “Fanfic”, but that belies the fact that Alan Davis had a lot to do with the early issues and was just carrying on where he and Chris had left off. You should check out Jay and Miles Xplain the Xmen’s podcast about it here.

Alan Davis’ art is amazing – especially when drawing hair

Captain Britain (Brian Braddock) is probably the most changed from Davis’ version, but he has had his share of amazing costumes to draw from.

Meggan is a shapeshifter and draws her power from the earth. I’ve rarely seen a better fit for Druid.

Rachel Summers, here Rache Summerisle, is a Warlock with a homebrew patron, but given the Phoenix it probably works similarly to a Fiend with some of the fiery effects. Rachel originally bonded with the Phoenix by touching a Shiar orb, so that will work for the talisman. Her more recent costumes are pretty easy to turn into fantasy armour.

I was originally going to do just the core cast, but then I realized how perfectly Kylun and Ferron translated to D&D. Cerise was a bit of a stretch – I considered making her a Gith (since she’s an alien) – but the gems on her forehead reminded me of Dwalimor Omen in the Forgotten Realms comic from the 80s – one of my favourites. In the end it was nice to draw someone in full armour again – and to draw armour with very little connection to real world historical plate. A cleric of light is a good fit for her powers of solid light.

Micromax is one of the few goliaths I have drawn, and the Rune Knight path for Fighters (along with the Unarmed Fighting Style) includes powers that allow growth.

I think this campaign must start off pretty tight, with just the core players and their patron, the archfey Marlyn. Only once they are higher level can the DM start to introduce guest players and their PCs, perhaps each with their own revelation about how the master narrative fits together, the threat of Necrom, and the naked manipulations of Marlyn.

You could run the adventure with multiple groups and different sessions, bringing them together only for the climactic battles, but perhaps also mixing and matching the PCs for each session.

Pop Culture Party – Operation Nine-Nine

(l-r) Yake (Human/Rogue/Inquisitive), Rosadia (Human/Fighter/Champion), Jaffor (Human/Barbarian/Path of the Ancestral Guardian), Ka’lar (Elf/Warlock/Pact of the Talisman, Archfey Patron).

IN THE REALMS

Sharpen your swords and string your bows, the beasts have gone away!

The City Watch of Waterdeep acts as police in the City of Splendours, meting out justice and keeping the peace.

But when the life of the famed Skyfire Bard of the Yawning Portal was threatened, the Watch Captains knew that they would have to investigate undercover. They chose a number of their top Constables to abandon their uniforms and badges and infiltrate the world of adventurers in taverns and dungeons across the city.

Jaffor is the Armor (Sergeant) of the operation, a gentle-natured barbarian capable of rage-fuelled feats of strength when necessary. The spirits of his ancestors aid him to protect his own daughters and the children of Waterdeep.

Rosadia’s catchphrase is “What kind of woman doesn’t own an axe?” That’s probably all one needs to know about this deadly Champion Fighter.

Yake was the sometimes childish Inquisitive Rogue, quick with a quip but capable of astounding feats of mental agility – putting together the barest of clues to come to a stunning conclusion. But when he ran afoul of the Xanathar, he perished in the line of duty.

His colleagues are not entirely sure about his replacement, Pact of the Blade Warlock, Ka’lar (“17th of his name, sworn knight of the Queen’s Crown, the Daybreaker”). Is he a Watchman gone too far into his undercover role…or was the Watchman the act?

The life of an adventurer is not for the faint of heart, and the intrigue between bards pales in comparison to the dangers of the Chrysalis Orb, the Prophecy of Dorgon, and the Summoning of Balacastro. But this corps of constables never gives up and gains strength from the rallying cry of their operation number:

Nine-nine!

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

I have nothing against the usual “you meet in a tavern” group of adventurers and the interactions that can come from disparate characters meeting can always be fun. But I also always like the idea of a party of adventurers that are drawn together in an atypical way. I’ve played groups that are all Graduate students at the University of Waterdeep, a traveling band, or agents of a trading company. This also makes it easy to sub in new characters without having to sacrifice the verisimilitude of a party learning to trust a new member.

Playing members of the Waterdhavian City Watch seems like another interesting idea. Combine that with the Brooklyn 99 episodes Skyfire Cycle and Return to Skyfire, and I think you’ve got the makings of a campaign.

Captain Holt, Boyle, Amy, and Scully & Hitchcock could be back-up NPCs or guest PCs in uniform. I think Boyle might be a gnome, and Scully and Hitchcock halflings. Gina might be a sorceror, at odds with Amy’s wizard. Is Captain Holt actually a warforged (Robot Captain, Meep Morp)?!

Pop Culture Party – The Three Tenors

(l-r)Pavarod (Dwarf/Bard), Dominigo (Gnome/Bard), Carrerus (Halfling/Bard)

IN THE REALMS

The halfling bard Carrerus of Amn survived the Death Curse after his adventures in Chult. Sobered by the experience, and wishing to raise gold for others who were suffering, he sought out two other famous bards. Dominigo, a Gnome of Lantan agreed to a tour right away. There was only one choice for the third member of their party: the Falstaffian dwarf Pavarod of Sembia.

Together, the Three Tenors have toured throughout the Dalelands, the Sword Coast, and the Shining South. They have raised thousands of gold pieces to alleviate the suffering of others, enchanted audiences with their music, and braved many dangers of the road and street and stage.

But perhaps the greatest challenge to this party of bards comes from within: Pavarod has been accepting side payments secretly and donating none of it to charity. When their epic journey reaches its crescendo…will the trio find their harmony, or fall into discord?

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

Prompted at least partly by our bagpipe-wielding bard, our party playing through Tomb of Annihilation decided that we were a traveling band as well as adventurers. Ever since, I’ve wanted to play through this conceit again. The PCs need not be bards (though they should all have training in the Performance skill), but the conceit of the group not just being murder-hobos, but also traveling minstrels has legs.

That, plus this cartoon of the Three Tenors by Daniela Fernandes-Smith, inspired me to draw this particular Pop Culture Party.

I think you could play a party of all bards through Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, or any number of different roleplay/skill challenge campaigns with some success. Bards are so versatile – but you may want to stay away from knock-down, drag-out encounters! Definitely something your DM has to be on board with.

Pop Culture Party – The Seekers of the Talisman

(l-r) Red Sonja (Human-Paladin-Oath of Vengeance); Kalidor (Human-Fighter-Battle Master); Falkon (Human-Rogue-Mastermind); Tarn (Human-Monk-Way of the Open Hand).

IN THE REALMS

“If danger is a trade, I’ll learn it myself.”

When Thay’s evil Zulkir, Gedren, and her army ravaged the Rashemeni countryside, they crossed the wrong woman.

The only survivor of an innocent farmstead was red-haired Sonja, left for dead but saved through the grace of Selune. The salvation bestowed by the goddess was contingent on a life of chastity, but the powers she imbued her paladin with were more than enough to set Red Sonja on the road to revenge.

Years later, Gedren embarked on a new military adventure, this time to steal an immensely powerful magic Talisman from the Witches of Rashemen and use it to conquer the nation of Thesk. This drew the attention of the Impilturan fighter Lord Kalidor, who began to shadow Sonja’s steps. The two found Gedren’s swath of destruction easy to follow, including the Theskan city of the Shou Prince Tarn (an open-fist monk) and his devoted, if bumbling consigliere Falkon (a Mastermind rogue).

With these two survivors, the party begins to venture into the country of the Red Wizards, where Gedren plans to use the Talisman as a tool in her mad quest of destruction and power.

Woe to the forces of evil as they face Red Sonja: the she-devil with a sword.

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

Like many of the source movies for my Pop Culture Party series, Red Sonja is not a good movie.

But it was one of the early sword & sorcery movies I watched (on Betamax!), and I always enjoyed the Marvel comics adaptation, where some of the dialogue really shines without wooden actors to labour through it.

Marvel Comics’ adaptation of Red Sonja (the film)

Red Sonja might have also worked as a Warlock, but an Oath of Vengeance Paladin really does fit perfectly. It is a bit weird to find out that the Forgotten Realms don’t really have one clear warrior goddess. Selune works in a pinch, but I’d love an Amazon goddess to work with.

Kalidor, a Conan-clone, is pretty purely a fighter – I think a Battle Master by how clever he is. He figures out how to use a rope bridge like a bow-string to vibrate the bad guys off it, and has some fun acrobatic fights in the finale.

The Red Sonja cast…with some pretty great costumes

Prince Tarn, played by Ernie Reyes Jr, who was the son of the film’s stunt coordinator, is obviously a Monk, studying the Way of the Open Hand. I’ve never played a game with an underaged character, but I have played with a mix of levels and feel like it could work.

Falkon was probably the hardest to pin down. He doesn’t do a lot and he’s not that effective in combat. But the fact that he works best when working with others, his belt of daggers, and his position close to the young Prince Tarn made me think he fits best as a Mastermind Rogue – but creatively played. I suspect this character has the lucky feat and not great stats.

Making Gedren a Thayan might give any prospective DM lots of adventures to choose from for padding out the campaign. Just check out DM’s Guild for any Red Wizards adventures.

Pop Culture Party – Adventurers into Fear

Adventurers into Fear (Adventures into Fear)

(l-r) Korrek (Human/Fighter/Eldritch Knight), Gwennivere Kale (Human/Wizard/Evocation School), Hereward (Aarakocra/Rogue/Inquisitive) and the Illithing (Custom Lineage/Druid/Circle of the Land).

IN THE REALMS

Whatever knows fear, burns at the Illithing’s touch

“Beyond the pristine façade of the Temple of Mystra, a sinister conspiracy threatens the future of Cormyr. Profane acts within the temple hearken to a mounting threat in the Vast Swamp. Adventurers must cross into the Plane of Shadow to unlock the truth about this growing darkness in time to thwart an attack against Cormyr and the goddess of magic herself.”

Dakimh the Enchanter knew the threats in the Vast Swamp, but it was the efforts of the demon Thog and his allies to merge the Plane of Shadow with the Material Plane that drew the champions to Cormyr to strike at the heart of the plot. Korrek, an Illuskan warrior prince joined alongside Gwennivere Kale, Dakimh’s apprentice. From lands unknown came Hereward, a cynical Aarakocra whose dour outlook belied his quick wit.

And the most queer member of the party, the Illithing, came from the swamp itself. Dakimh was able to relate to the party that long ago an Illithid fled into the mire’s depths, frightened beyond reason of things beyond comprehension. There it drank an arcane potion of unknown provenance and should have died – but the magics of the swamp instead transformed it. Now it’s psionic abilities are but part of it’s powers – for all that know fear burn at the Illithing’s druidic magic.

Now it is into the swamps to track down Thog and solve the mystery of the black dragons, Shadar-kai, lizardfolk…and a plot to disrupt the weave of magic itself!

SOURCE MATERIAL & CAMPAIGN IDEAS

You guys, have you read Steven Gerber’s Howard the Duck comics?! They are crazy! And not just because they share continuity with a comic called “Giant Size Man Thing”.

All the D&D conversions were fairly straight forward, but I was quite pleased when I realized that Man-Thing was, in fact, an Illithid turned swamp monster, and then further pleased when I realized that he could be called the Illithing. He is a Circle of the Land Druid (Swamp). A Nature domain cleric might work better, considering he doesn’t really make any use of the druid’s transformational abilities.

Korrek is an Eldritch Knight Fighter. Hereward (Howard, of course) is an Inquisitive Rogue. Kale is an Abjuration Wizard.

In looking for a swamp in the Forgotten Realms to match Man-Thing’s Florida Everglades, I found out about Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave, an adventure set in the Vast Swamp. It sounded fairly similar to the Adventure into Fear storyline that brought Korrek, Kale, Howard, and Man-Thing together. If given a chance, I’ll always set a Pop Culture Party in a familiar campaign.

The Adventurers into Fear with no background

What’s up with Jennifer Kale’s outfit though?