I have a thing that's quite eye-opening for adventure writers. But first, here's an adventure that's pretty long, but kind of fun, for your enjoyment.
The Missing Alchemist
Synopsis: The small town of Oakdale has recently been plagued by a string of burglaries. The local alchemist, a reclusive gnome named Fizzwick, has gone missing and is believed to be the culprit. The town council has offered a reward for anyone who can bring Fizzwick to justice and recover the stolen goods. It is not clear what Fizzwick's motivations are for committing the burglaries or why he has become obsessed with creating this potion. It is up to the players to uncover the truth and decide how to deal with Fizzwick.
Setting: Oakdale is a small town located in a densely wooded area. The town is surrounded by a thick forest, which is rumored to be home to all sorts of dangerous creatures.
Adventure Hook: The players are passing through Oakdale when they hear about the reward being offered for the capture of Fizzwick. Alternatively, the players could be hired by the town council to investigate the burglaries and find Fizzwick.
Act 1: Investigating the Burglaries
The players can start by speaking with the town council and asking around town to gather information about the burglaries and Fizzwick. They may also want to visit the homes and businesses that have been burglarized to look for clues.
Some potential leads the players could discover include:
1. Fizzwick was seen acting strangely and had been talking to himself in the days leading up to his disappearance.
2. Fizzwick was known to be experimenting with strange alchemical substances, and some believe he may have accidentally stumbled upon something dangerous.
3. One of the stolen items was a rare and valuable alchemical ingredient that could be used to create a powerful potion.
Here are a few ideas for urban encounters that the players might encounter while investigating the burglaries and searching for Fizzwick in the town of Oakdale:
1. The players overhear a rumor about Fizzwick being seen in a certain part of town and decide to investigate. When they arrive, they find a group of shady-looking characters loitering in the area. The group may be willing to talk to the players if they approach peacefully, or they may try to intimidate or attack the players if they feel threatened.
2. The players meet a worried shopkeeper who has had some valuable items stolen from their store. The shopkeeper may have some information about the burglaries and may be willing to share it with the players in exchange for their help recovering the stolen goods.
3. The players encounter a group of townspeople who are gossiping about Fizzwick and the burglaries. The townspeople may have heard various rumors and may be able to provide the players with some helpful information, but they may also be spreading misinformation or exaggerating the facts.
4. The players come across a group of adventurers who are also looking for Fizzwick and the stolen goods. The other adventurers may be willing to work together with the players or they may compete with them for the reward.
5. The players encounter a group of kids playing in the streets who seem to know more about Fizzwick and the burglaries than they should. The kids may have witnessed something suspicious and be willing to share what they know with the players in exchange for a small reward.
Act 2: Tracking Fizzwick
Based on the information they've gathered, the players may decide to track down Fizzwick and try to find out what he's up to. They could follow his tracks through the forest, searching for clues and fighting off any dangers they encounter along the way.
Here are a few examples of clues that the players might find while tracking Fizzwick through the forest surrounding the town of Oakdale:
1. Footprints: The players may be able to find Fizzwick's footprints and follow them to his camp. They may also find other tracks that suggest the presence of other creatures or people in the area.
2. Disturbances in the environment: Fizzwick may have left behind evidence of his passage through the forest, such as broken branches, trampled underbrush, or campfire remains. The players may be able to use these clues to determine the direction Fizzwick was heading and how long ago he passed through the area.
3. Personal belongings: Fizzwick may have dropped or left behind items such as a water bottle, a map, or a piece of equipment. These items could provide valuable clues about his destination or his state of mind.
4. Encounters with other creatures or people: The players may come across other creatures or people in the forest who have encountered Fizzwick or have information about him. These encounters could provide valuable clues about his whereabouts or his intentions.
5. Mysterious symbols or markings: The players may find symbols or markings in the forest that appear to be related to Fizzwick or his alchemical experiments. These clues could provide insight into his motivations and plans.
There are many dangers that the players could encounter while tracking Fizzwick through the forest surrounding the town of Oakdale. Here are a few examples:
1. Wild animals: The forest is home to all sorts of dangerous creatures, including wolves, bears, and giant spiders. The players may have to fight off these creatures or use stealth and cunning to avoid them.
2. Bandits: The forest may be home to a group of bandits who have set up camp in the area. The bandits may be hostile to the players and try to rob them or capture them for ransom.
3. Natural hazards: The forest may be full of natural hazards such as treacherous cliffs, quicksand, and venomous plants. The players will have to navigate these hazards carefully to avoid getting injured or lost.
4. Creatures from folklore: Depending on the setting and theme of the adventure, the forest may be home to mythical creatures such as dryads, satyrs, or even dragons. The players may have to use all of their skills and resources to defeat these powerful foes.
5. Other dangers: The DM can use their creativity to come up with additional dangers that fit the tone and theme of the adventure. Some possibilities could include environmental hazards like lightning storms or flash floods, or encounters with mysterious strangers who may be friend or foe.
Overall, the players will need to use their wits, skills, and resources to navigate the dangers of the forest and track down Fizzwick.
If the players are able to find Fizzwick's camp, they may discover that he has become obsessed with creating a powerful potion and has been stealing ingredients from the town to complete it. Some possible options could include:
1. A potion of invincibility or super strength, which would give Fizzwick an immense advantage in any confrontation.
2. A potion that grants immortality or eternal youth, which Fizzwick may be seeking for personal reasons.
3. A potion that allows him to control the minds of others, giving him the power to bend others to his will.
He may be willing to negotiate with the players or try to flee if confronted.
Act 3: Confronting Fizzwick
Some possible options could include:
1. Fleeing: If Fizzwick feels outnumbered or outmatched, he may try to flee and escape into the forest. The players will have to decide whether to pursue him or let him go.
2. Using alchemy: Fizzwick is an alchemist, so he may have access to a variety of alchemical substances that he could use in combat. For example, he could throw flasks of acid or alchemist's fire at the players, or he could use a potion to heal himself or enhance his physical abilities.
3. Using traps: Fizzwick may have set up traps in his camp to defend against intruders. These could include pit traps, bear traps, or other types of mechanical or magical traps.
4. Surrendering: If Fizzwick is overwhelmed or realizes that he is outmatched, he may choose to surrender and try to negotiate with the players. He may be willing to reveal information about his motivations or the location of the stolen goods in exchange for leniency.
If the players are able to capture Fizzwick, they can bring him back to Oakdale to face justice. The DM could choose to include a wide variety of treasures, such as coins, jewelry, magical items, or rare and valuable alchemical ingredients. The DM could also include clues or hints about the location of additional treasures that the players could find if they choose to further explore the forest or the town.
The End
So what's eye-opening about that? As the tag for this blog post might have foreshadowed, this entire adventure was written by an AI. This all took me less than 10 minutes at https://chat.openai.com/chat. I have given the above virtually no editing, just asking some follow-up questions (like what dangers the players might find in the forest). And it's not really a bad adventure. All by AI.
