Commencing with playing Broken Cask and the events at the Banner and Badger. Following on from the Broken Cask Intro.
Broken Cask solo - intro | start | finish
Disclosure - I'm a DriveThru RPG affiliate
Getting Started with Broken Cask
broken cask start | starting the game | tavern notes
Continuing on from the Game Intro.
The Broken Cask has nice easy loops to follow for gameplay. Events have distinct results for success/failure and Actions have a gold cost. Compared to my regular RPG actual plays, it's a lot less mentally taxing. There are less decisions to make and things to keep track of.
It's then up to you how you want to interpret them, whether to write a journal and big story, or have a fairly straight forward record. Or just to record any changes to your tavern.
For me what was disappointing was a flavour thing. I was more in the mood for managing something in a grittier WFRP (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) style, and the default flavour is more the high fantasy of Dungeons and Dragons 5e.
It was a little humdrum, until I came to write up the notes (in this blog post). Then it all clicked into place and the Banner and Badger came alive in my mind.
Now I've got ideas for the next part of using some of my own tables, and maybe using the Banner and Badger as a base for a little solo RPG trying out some ideas from recent podcasts.
The Broken Cask is one of those games that provides a base, and then it's up to you what you want to make of it.
Events at the Banner and Badger
broken cask start | starting the game | tavern notes
The Establishment
The Banner and Badger is an old building, converted into a meadhall and a hive of activity. It's a bustling establishment of a town on a road up a holy mountain, Mount Banner. Trestle tables and handcarts are outside, with traders plying their wares and drinking the proceeds inside. One sells boards with various scoring systems, and darts, daggers, axes and other implements to throw at them. One offers "golem rides" up the mountain on an battered animated statue.
The proprietor is new, having taken it over from a cousin. Takanos is a tall elf often found in the kitchen, giving out a distinctive high-pitched laugh. Galkos Gardener has been here longer than anyone can remember, a satyr found lazing in the garden, tending to beehives and sometimes serving people at the bar. Verth is the mastermind behind "Banner's Brew", the wild honey mead of the place, and a hard worker who always keeps several strange pets with her as she brews, chats and drinks. Then there's Rex, the meadhall's current badger mascot, who is always seeking attention from Galkos.
Session 1 (GP: 16, Prestige: 0.0)
It's late autumn and raining, but the fire is crackling merrily in the Banner and Badger. Takanos is making money selling "Blessed Honey" to pilgrims and there are rumours of an local girl, an adventurer involved with strange folk.
- A Wayward Youth has a long conversation with Galkos. Soon after she starts spending lots of time and money at the meadhall, looking for possible adventure. (L1 hero added - Dora)
- A Trader's Stand is finished being built, part of Takanos's grand plans for the meadhall.
- A dwarf offloads some building supplies for cheap, and in a couple of weeks the upstairs rooms have been upgraded to Fine Guest Rooms
- Galkos tries collecting honey but gets in an argument with the bees. Many leave in next few weeks (GP: 4)
- Dora goes questing, defeating corrupt guards in Zenko City
- A Guest visits, a trader of bees and honey who Takanos takes on in a challenge and loses.
- A Bard is Crying over rejection by Dora, but Verth cheers them up
Session 2 (GP: 2 , Prestige 0.1)
Winter and Spring pass uneventfully at the Banner and Badger, and it's been fairly quiet. Fog is dampening the early Summer, Takanos is grumpy and it's tense at work. But there's a new regular, Usila the Humble, a half-elf priest who visits Banner Mountain. A consortium called Roadside Rests has made a pitiful bid to buy out Takanos.
- Townsfolk Guests are entertained by Verth.
- Galkos spends days Adding Compost to the garden, avoiding the tension in the meadhall.
- Dora goes questing to the woods, battling a tree giant. Returns with a fine clump of manticore dung, delighting Galkos.
- Another Wayward Youth visits, but gets on well with Takanos. Mood of the place improves as Arthur announces intention to stay at the meadhall and seek adventure (L1 hero added - Arthur)
Session 3 (GP: 7 , Prestige 0.2)
A few weeks pass and it's late Summer, sunny, quiet and peaceful. Some gnomes apologise for digging into the cellar, and Roadside Rests are slowly increasing bids to buy out Takanos. Atmosphere much improved at the inn
- A Hieromonk Guest arrives, but is not impressed by Verth's manner, moving quickly on
- Arthur goes on his first Quest, stealing contents of a footlocker from a tribe of kobolds
- Another Guest arrives, a rich merchant of the Roadside Rests consortium. Is impressed by Galkos and the establishment (GP: 24)
- Takanos uses good reviews to Influence opinion, as the Banner and Badger becomes a Local Favourite (Prestige: 1.2)
- There's a Special Delivery of Banner Brew requested, and Takanos manages it all, sending it downstream in a special boat.
- Building continues with cosier furnishings and more rooms planned
- Verth is left mostly on own, Stocking up Cellar quite contentedly
- Dora ventures out once more, battling and slaying worshippers of a fell god in Frogmourn Castle.
- The dwarf from last autumn is back, Selling more supplies to fulfil an Upgrade to a more respected drinkery.
- A big event arrives, a Job Faire. Vreth manages to hire someone for free, and just in time as a third Staff room is added. Ubba the Dwarf minstrel is welcomed in a group dinner.
- Ubba sets about Arranging the Common Room, showing a deep understanding of aesthetics
- Takanos takes on the task of cooking an Auroch's Tongue, but the event goes disastrously and they run out of money. Takanos is left considering the latest offer from the Roadside Rests consortium... (GP: 0)
- Verth, Galkos and Dora level up.
Tavern Notes
broken cask start | starting the game | tavern notes
The Banner and Badger Meadhall
Gold - 0, Prestige - 1.3 (local favourite), Average Drinkery, Trader's Stand, Fine Guest Rooms, 3 Staff Rooms with Cosier Furnishings
A brownstone mead hall with a large central fireplace, a trading house frequented by merchants and traders. Signature drink is "Banner Brew", wild honey mead steeped in overripe cherries. Best thing to eat is Bangers and Mash, and the main entertainment is throwing games, usually darts.
Near a spiritual centre, offering golem rides up and down the holy mountain. In the cellar there is a bottomless pit, but no-one talks about it. A pesky badger has taken a liking to the gardener. Lore has it there's always been a badger as mascot in the different iterations of the pub here.
Staff of the Banner and Badger
- Takanos Suborn (innkeeper), an elf with a magical badger pelt and an annoying high-pitched laugh. Escaped an eldritch cult (Can always roll for cooking tasks instead of staff). Body +1, Heart +3, Mind +2
- Galkos Gardener (staff), satyr who sleeps in all kinds of places nearby. Body +2, Heart +0, Mind +0, Morale 1
- Verth the Drunken (staff), human brewer who collects exotic pets. Body +1, Heart -1, Mind +2, Morale 1
- Ubba (staff), dwarf minstrel and empath. Body -1, Heart +2, Mind 0
Others of the Banner and Badger
- Various traders
- Rex, a pesky badger mascot who seeks out Galkos
- Dora, a young human scout, level 2 Hero, wayward, heartbreaker
- Usila the Humble, a half-elf priest who visits Banner Mountain. Level 1 Regular
- Arthur, young human rogue, level 1 Hero, mischievous
Finishing Up
Less to think about than most actual plays of RPGs.
Looking forward to trying out own tables and having more of a feel for the Banner and Badger.
