Poll #479 - What adventures should appear in Broadsword #26: Guide to Wandering Mystics?

Hey friends!

I just put the finishing touches on the manuscript for Broadsword #25: Guide to Hunting Werebeasts. It was a BLAST to write, and I can't wait to share it will all of you.

Next up, by popular vote, is the Broadsword Guide to Wandering Mystics, inspired heavily by the Romani people of the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Wandering mystics are individuals or groups with profound spiritual insight and a deep connection to the unseen forces of the world. They travel from place to place, sharing their knowledge, offering guidance, and preserving ancient rituals that maintain the delicate balance between the physical and spiritual realms. Their journeys are driven by a sense of purpose—whether it’s to seek out areas of supernatural imbalance, uncover forgotten truths, or share their wisdom with those in need.

Below are some potential adventure hooks to appear in that book. Pick three you like best. I will then make them in order of popularity until there's no further room in the book.

1. The Curse of the Shattered Mirror

A group of wandering mystics has become afflicted with terrible misfortune after discovering a shattered mirror in an abandoned shrine. The artifact appears to house the soul of a vengeful spirit, and its influence is spreading to nearby villages. The adventurers are tasked with helping the mystics piece together the mirror’s story, recover its lost fragments, and either cleanse the spirit or destroy its vessel before it causes widespread devastation.

2. The Threads of Destiny

A famed mystic known for weaving tapestries that depict future events has vanished, leaving her work incomplete. As the unfinished threads begin to unravel, chaotic disruptions ripple across the region. The mystics who trained under her call on the adventurers to find her, protect her loom from those who would abuse it, and decide whether the tapestry of destiny should be completed—or destroyed.

3. The Phantom Caravan

Travelers along a treacherous mountain pass report being lured off the road by a caravan of ghostly wanderers, only to vanish without a trace. A group of mystics believes the caravan is trapped in a supernatural time loop, bound by an ancient betrayal. The adventurers must help the mystics uncover the caravan’s tragic past and find a way to free the souls within, all while navigating spectral dangers and time-twisting traps.

4. The Whispering Prophet

A shadowy figure calling themselves the Whispering Prophet spreads dark rumors about the wandering mystics, blaming them for a series of recent disasters. As mobs begin turning against the mystics, the adventurers are called to investigate the Prophet’s motives. What truths might their dire warnings hold, and what price must be paid to silence them?

5. The Curse of the Mullo

A village is being terrorized by a mullo—a restless, undead spirit drawn by unfinished business and fueled by anger. The wandering mystics, sensing the spirit’s torment, ask the adventurers for help in uncovering its tragic past. Together, they must perform the necessary rites to lay the spirit to rest, while dealing with mistrustful villagers and the mullo’s escalating attacks.

6. The Zmeu’s Bride

A wandering mystic has been kidnapped by a Zmeu, a powerful draconic being seeking to use her divination abilities to secure its conquest of a distant land. The adventurers are tasked with infiltrating the Zmeu’s lair, rescuing the captive mystic, and preventing the beast from gaining forbidden knowledge. Along the way, they’ll face riddles, fiery traps, and the wrath of the dragonlord.

7. The Vodnik’s Bargain

A Vodnik, a malevolent water spirit, has cursed a local river, making it undrinkable and threatening the region’s survival. The mystics suspect that the Vodnik is lashing out over a broken ancient agreement. The adventurers must work with the mystics to uncover the nature of the bargain, negotiate with the spirit, and cleanse the river—all while fending off hostile minions and the villagers’ growing desperation.

8. The Festival of Eternal Fire

A sacred fire at a mystic-led festival has begun burning out of control, threatening to destroy the surrounding area. The mystics believe the fire spirit that blessed their rituals has been angered by an act of desecration. The adventurers must find the source of the offense, calm the spirit, and prevent the festival from becoming a deadly inferno—all before the fire consumes everything.

9. The Ala’s Hunger

A raging Ala (storm demon) has unleashed torrential rains and violent winds across a fertile valley, destroying crops and endangering the lives of its inhabitants. The mystics believe the Ala’s fury stems from a broken pact between the land and its ancient guardians. The adventurers must retrieve lost relics, restore the balance of the pact, and face the Ala in its stormy domain to save the valley.

10. The Drekavac’s Wail

An abandoned village is haunted by the cries of a Drekavac, a wailing spirit born from sorrow and abandonment. The mystics, sensing the spirit’s anguish, enlist the adventurers to uncover its tragic origins and lay it to rest. As they delve deeper, the adventurers must gather rare herbs for a purification ritual, survive the Drekavac’s maddening wails, and confront the reasons behind the village’s fall.

11. The Shadow Court

A clandestine group of mystics, known as the Shadow Court, claims to protect the balance of fate through any means necessary—even human sacrifice. The adventurers are drawn into the Court’s dark schemes and must decide whether to expose their deeds or dismantle their organization entirely. However, the Shadow Court’s actions reveal uncomfortable truths about fate, forcing the party to question the cost of their interference.

12. The Spirit of Endless Roads

Travelers in the region have been disappearing, their paths swallowed by a labyrinthine force known as the Spirit of Endless Roads. The wandering mystics believe the Spirit punishes those who defy fate, trapping them in an endless journey. The adventurers must face the Spirit’s trials, uncover ancient truths, and make a choice: confront the Spirit to secure freedom or accept its demands and embrace their destined path.