The Ballad of Clangor
The Ballad of Clangor Β· p.1
Open source p.1The Ballad of Clangor
A Journey for Gloam
Writing, art & layout by Noble Gnoll
Once upon a time a bell-smith made six beautiful bells. She gave one to each of the neighbouring settlements in hopes of warding off the Gloam, and for a spell the villages lived in peace. As the years passed the clanging of the bells faded and the Gloam now returns to the realm.
Lift the gloam by restoring the bells, play the ballad of Clangor and return prosperity to this fair land.
Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.
You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.
When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
1. Sainte Clemens
A bustling orchard community and small market where vendors and farmers sell their wares.
Someone has stolen the clapper of Ste. Clemens and the bell is beside himself with embarrassment, hopefully it hasn't left the town.
2. The Hamlet of Marten
A sleepy town in the north known for its hospitality and quaint tavern, The Straw Ox.
The weathered bell tower looms in the distance. Marten or at lease he thinks that's his name can't remember the tune of his song. The bell isn't the only one with a hazy memory in the hamlet.
3. Old Bale Village
A once prosperous trade-post now abandoned and overtaken by all manor of foul beasts.
Beasts stalk the corridors of the old Bale bell-tower. No one has laid eyes on the her in years. An ominous shadow can be seen taking flight from the belfry each night.
4. Shorewvitch
A log driving outpost and watermill situated beside the 'Elvers Run' river.
The ornately carved tower stands as a testament to its bell's beauty. Unfortunately this once adorned bell is cracked! Who will fix the bell and restore his esteem.
5. Stepney Fields
A small farming community bordering an ancient forest. Citizens are wary of travellers and what lurks in the woods.
The bell of Stepney has fallen into a magickal slumber. Folks insist the old crone who lives in the woods is to blame.
6. Bowburg
An old cemetery surrounds the bell-tower. The undertaker and his sons live nearby.
The bell of Bow has become depressed and no longer rings true. She enjoyed gossiping with the pigeons but now all the birds have left, where could they be?
Song for your Troubles
Restored bells will share a song with a single character. These songs take-up an inventory slot and can be used once between rests.
Litany of Blooms ~ a small patch of flowers or a tree burst into bloom, you and your allies gain 1 resolve each.
Gusting Aria ~ a whirl of wind blows from behind, increase your speed by 2 until your next wound.
Elegy of the Fallen ~ earthy aromas surround you, you can talk to the dead and they can speak back; for an hour.
Elver's Minuet ~ gentle fog rises from the ground, you and your allies can travel unseen while outdoors. Effect lasts until you enter a structure or begin a combat.
Lyric of the Fields ~ the dappled sun warms your skin. When you fail on a push, draw an additional card.
Oath of the Restful ~ calm washes over you and an ally, recover one wound and choose an ally to recover one as well.
Hark, who goes there?
When travelling between two points the referee draws on the roadside encounter table below.
Roadside Encounters
| Card | Encounter |
|---|---|
| I | Winkle the Toad, see NPC |
| II | Bell-smith's Apprentice |
| III | The grave of the bell-smith |
| IV | Group of drunken highway-men |
| V | Old crone returning home |
| VI | Opportunity to complete a goal |
| VII | Troops headed to Bale Village |
| VIII | Knight, cursed with a wolf head |
| IX | Gaggle of gossiping geese |
| X | Weather changes suddenly |
| XI | Giant grizzly, arrow pierced |
| XII | Man running from 3 dogs |
| XIII | Ole' Greybird, see NPC |
| XIV | Wandering eel merchant |
| XV | One-horned white goat |
| XVI | The oldest player's foe appears |
| XVII | Giant, plucking stars from sky |
| XVIII | Gloam spreads, gain a resolve |
| XIX | Travelling caravan troupe |
| XX | Party is lost, GM choose location |
| XXI | Slithering sleepy Lindworm |
Ole' Greybird
Gentleman Vagrant
A wandering folk-singer who knows a thing or two about the old bell towers.
Winkle
Country Bumpkin
A fool of a toad with a penchant for carousing and a heart of gold.
Completing the Quest
Upon restoring the last bell, you hear The Ballad of Clangor play across the realm. The townsfolk stop and listen as the clangorous sounds welcome a new year of prosperity for the villages.
No extracted maps for this adventure β the map is in the source book: Open source p.1