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Harper's Tale: A DnD 5e Adventure Path for heroes 1st thru 10th level

Created by Matt Corley

Harper's Tale is an epic story of sacrifice, perseverance, and redemption. The heroes will investigate, battle, and learn the true origins of the threat to their home. The adventure is based on an outline my daughter, Harper, and I wrote after coming home from the hospital after her first round of chemotherapy treatment for leukemia. All net proceeds from the crowdfunding campaign (including this BackerKit) will be donated to benefit Friends of Kids with Cancer to help others like Harper who are battling cancer. Joining Harper and I are an elite team of creators including: Jeff Stevens, Ben McFarland, Brian Suskind, Hannah Rose, Ashley Warren, Kienna Shaw, Bill Barnett, MT Black, Donathin Frye, Anna Landin, Gwendy B, Anna Meyer, Dyson Logos, Jessica Ross, and others! Kobold Press and Petersen Games also pitched in to us bring this to life. What is Harper's Tale? Harper’s Tale is a forest-based adventure path of 10 connected adventures culminating in the party, now 10th level, confronting the source of the plague within their home land. The adventure is intended for players as young as 10, but I promise players of all ages will find plenty to keep them engaged with the story. The adventure path starts in the village of Grove as the heroes come to a seemingly deserted village. Through exploration and investigation, they learn that a mysterious illness has taken over the town, leaving only two young women, Rose and Grace, to care for the populace. Their investigations take them under the town, and, in learning the source of the illness, they find themselves drawn into a much bigger plot by a mysterious force they know little about. What is clear is that the forest they call home is in danger, and the entity behind the illness of Grove has only just begun its foul machinations as evidenced by a sudden outbreak of madness in a neighboring town. A second outbreak is staved off by the heroes—surely they are best described as such after saving not one but two villages—and they find themselves traveling to see the arch-druid of the forest, Deng. The journey is arduous, but the clever adventurers comport themselves well, and learn much in their audience with the ancient druid, including the ingredients for fashioning a cure for the otherworldly contagion and, more importantly, the appropriate rites for harvesting the key components. Harvesting the cure is a greater challenge than the adventurers anticipated as they must deal with a cold war between the hidden powers of the forest in addition to gathering the ingredients in the dark recesses of the primordial wood. The adventure culminates in a confrontation with the creature whose machinations have been behind the debilitating disease wracking the forest. The heroes have learned much of their enemy, but have they learned all there is to know? How will they react when confronted with the source of so much pain and sorrow? Can it be defeated? Redeemed? Or will it win the day? There’s only one way to find out.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Sun Apr 26 '20 Announcement
about 4 years ago – Sun, Apr 26, 2020 at 11:01:09 AM

Tree Stump

First things first the Harper's Tale PDF should be released to backers in the next week. Part of the rush is that I'll be submitting it for consideration for ENnie award nominations.

And now for something completely different that has nothing to do with Harper's Tale. As many of you know I also write horror fiction and 5e games. I have a KS going on now that explores Chicago in the late 1800s with an emphasis on HH Holmes and investigative gameplay using a variation of DnD 5e rules that I wrote with MT Black. We have a little over 2 days to fund, and if you're interested in that kind of thing or know folks who are I'd appreciate any support you're able to give.

The Devil's City: horror fiction and 5e gaming conjoined can be found here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/37222410/the-devils-city-for-5e/

Thank you all and stay safe out there!

Matt

Sat Apr 4 '20 Announcement
about 4 years ago – Sat, Apr 04, 2020 at 06:22:28 AM

We've finished editing and art direction and Craig's chugging along with layout. We're still on schedule :)

I wanted to share the note from Friends of Kids with all of you.

On behalf of everyone at Friends of Kids with Cancer, especially the families we serve, thank you to everyone who helped bring this remarkable project come to life. Harper and Matt have given Friends this ultimate gift by pouring their love and talent into this story to benefit the kids and families we serve for years to come.  There is no greater complement to our organization than when a family gives back, especially in such a special way.  Friends is a local organization providing Educational, Emotional and Recreational support to children with cancer and their families.  Harper’s Tale will create countless memories and smiles for these amazing kids and families.  Thank you for this truly meaningful gift to help kids with cancer… be kids!

 - Brandy Bimslager, Executive Director, Friends of Kids with Cancer

Be safe, be careful, and take care of yourselves in these challenging times.

Thanks,

Matt, Harper, and team

Tue Mar 17 '20 Announcement
about 4 years ago – Tue, Mar 17, 2020 at 01:18:48 PM

First and foremost the girls and I are doing great, and we hope all of you are too! Please take care of yourself and your loved ones during these difficult times.

Now to the book.

Final edits were turned over to me last night. I have one encounter to work on before they will be completed. The book is expected to come in around 62,000 words. That combined with the maps, illustrations, and pre-gens will get us to ~140 pages. Which is right where we wanted to be.

There are no changes to the schedule I released 2 weeks ago. Craig (my layout guru) and I are going to knock this out as soon as we can so that it's in your hands and to the kids ASAP.

Thank you for the support and patience!

Matt, Harper, and Team

Thu Mar 5 '20 Announcement
about 4 years ago – Thu, Mar 05, 2020 at 01:31:45 PM

 

Harper and her bestie Teri (who is a walking, talking, and amazing miracle of a person)

Book Updates

  • Backer funded content is done!
  • 80% of editing is done
  • 90% of writing is done
  • We're ahead of schedule by a week
  • A friend (thanks Nick!) referred me to another printer and I’ll be able to save quite a bit on the books we’re printing for Friends of Kids. This means an extra thousand dollars or so in cash to them!

General Updates

The girls and I will be at GenCon and selling Harper’s Tale. I’m not sure who I’m going to beg for table space but I’m confident I’ll find some and when I do I’ll let you know. All proceeds from the books sold at GenCon will be donated directly to Friends of Kids. There’s a limited quantity, and I’m sure Harp will sign yours if you see her.

Next Steps

  • Art direction by March 15th
  • Layout by April 30th
  • PDF release May 1st
  • POD release May 15th
  • Friends of Kids with Cancer print run June 1st
  • Delivery to Friends of Kids June 30th

Thank you!

Matt, Harper, and the team

Fri Feb 14 '20 Announcement
about 4 years ago – Fri, Feb 14, 2020 at 12:48:59 PM

Who You Gonna Call?

All hands on deck and moving full speed ahead to bring Harper's Tale to you on time. Without further ado I'd like to introduce to you Harper's Heroes!

Harper's Heroes

Their character sheets (they're all 1st level) can be found here, and they're ready for you to use now.

Thanks and Happy Valentines Day!

Matt, Harper, and the team