project-image

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:

Wed Sep 11 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Wed, Sep 11, 2019 at 06:29:29 AM

Harper and Luca

What a crazy week with lots of ups and downs, but ended on a great note with Harper's birthday! These two warriors are going through the same things, and this young man has helped Harper so much, has been there every step of the way supporting her, helping her understand what's going on, and that she'll get through it just like his is. I really can't say enough good things about him and his family.

Harper's Heroes

Harper's Heroes is our highest tier. In it you will design a character for those playing the game to use in the adventure. These characters, aka pre-gens, will have their own section at the end of the book. You will work with me and Harper on the mechanics of it (it'll be very easy I promise and we can do it all for you if you'd like), and one of our amazing artists on the illustration. You will of course the charater, and provide whatever background you'd like on the character and why you chose this tier. Pre-gens make it so that the game can be played immediately and with little prep work. You'll just need the book, some dice, pencils, and the kids.

Afterwards, you can use the illustration however you like for personal use too! They will be suitable for printing, framing, and giving as a gift (that's what I'll be doing with mine). Below, is an example of the art you can expect. If you've already pledged and would like to upgrade you should be able to do that through the IndieGoGo landing page. There are only 8 spots available, and 2 have been taken, so be sure to grab them now.

Thank you!

Matt, Harper, and team

Tue Sep 10 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Tue, Sep 10, 2019 at 06:35:47 AM

Today's post is and isn't about Harper's Tale. I'm not going to talk about the book much at all, but I am going to share what Harp and other kiddos (and to be perfectly honest adults too) with cancer are battling through every day. I will start by saying that her labs are looking great, no fevers, she's feeling good today, and napping about 20 feet from me.

Yesterday morning Harp was struggling to find enough energy to get to school. She can be grumpy in the morning just like all of us (don't even talk to me before my coffee) but this was different. Her mom took her to the clinic where her port was accessed and she had labs. Labs were great, Harp was champ, and after about 4 hours at Children's Harper was home and sleeping.

When Harper woke up from her nap she was in a lot of pain, particularly in her back. Kiddos being treated for cancer sometimes have pain, it can be from different sources, and it can be debilitating. This has happened once before, about 6 weeks ago, but this was worse. Her meds didn't work and her mom got her back in the car for another trip to hospital around 430pm where she was accessed again and in the ER.

Long story short she did not get admitted (which is great), and she's home with me right now resting. Everyone that cared for her was amazing, her labs are still good, they ruled out any issues with her transfusions, and leukemia. And she got to her mom's house last night about midnight. It was a long day for Harper.

I'm sharing this because Friends of Kids with Cancer's motto is, helping kids be kids. This book and the funds it raises will do just that. Harper and I (and everyone involved) are blown away by your support. Let's keep it going and see how close we can get to funding on her birthday.

-Matt

Mon Sep 9 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Mon, Sep 09, 2019 at 09:33:44 AM

Grace Caring for a Neighbor

Welcome to Grove

Welcom to Grove is the first adventure in the AP and is here for all to see, play, and share. I shared this a few days ago, but I kind of hid it in another post. Here it is in all it's glory!!

I also added a new Angel level tier. For $350 you can design (create the art for) one of 8 pre-generated PCs for the players and GMs to use quickly and easiely in Harper's Tale. Each backer will also get a high-res character illustration for personal use too.

Thanks!!!!

Matt, Harper, and the team

Sun Sep 8 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Sun, Sep 08, 2019 at 02:39:36 PM

I don't have much to add today other than to express our gratitude for your support. As I type this we're within sight of $7,000 (of our $12,000 goal). Next week is a very busy week for all us. We're also starting to get a bit more notice in the gaming world! The second and third week are notoriously slow so we'll need your help getting the word out more than ever. I have a few surprises up my sleeve to keep our momentum. Here's some of what we've got this week...

Jay, Worlds In Conflict, has a great write-up of the campaign and the first adventure here. His kind words made my morning when I saw them.

Nerdarchy will be posting an interview/spotlight of Harper's Tale tomorrow (Monday Sept 9th) with a few more details on the game and their thoughts on the project.

I'll be on Morrus' Unofficial Tabletop Podcast Thursday, Sept 12th.

Harper and all of us with be at Art for the Heart Thursday too, which is an event held by Friends of Kids with Cancer, in which they auction off art that the kiddos have created as a fundraiser. I actually haven't seen Harp's yet and I can't wait!!

The above piece btw was created by the daughter of one of writers. She's quite talented, isn't she??

We have a few more tricks this week that I'll reveal later too :)

 

Sat Sep 7 '19 Announcement
over 4 years ago – Sat, Sep 07, 2019 at 06:12:31 AM

We’re going to start this update with a few quick questions. What do you want to see with the updates? News about Harp? The creators? The project? Friends of Kids with Cancer? My random musings? Just let me know what you all would like in the comments (please leave comments) and I’ll make it happen. Until then it’ll likely be a combination of the above.

Back to your regularly scheduled update.

I woke up to amazing news! We’re over 50% funded. This is a huge milestone and to achieve it this early is an amazing indicator that we’re on the right track. We’re not there yet, but we will be. I know it’s listed as a stretch goal, but the goal of the team is to raise $18,000 so that all the kids get premium, color, hardbacks and a donation of $6,000.

Thank you all for the support, we absolutely would not be here without you. Please keep on promoting and sharing the project. Feel free to reach out to us here at any time or to me directly on Twitter @matthewdcorley if there’s anything we can do for you!

Are you ready for your first reward? Please find a link to the first adventure in adventure path, Welcome to the Grove. This adventure is meant for 1st level heroes and begins them on their journey into the forest. This is a playable draft, but things will likely change some prior to publication (art and layout especially).

Download Welcome to the Grove HERE

I will release this to the public at large when we hit $12,000 but for now this is just for you! Please feel free to provide any comments, thoughts, and feedback to the adventure in the comments section.

Team Harper