I've only recently just started Grimm, only played one session so far (but that will soon change). Checking the forums several times a day, I've noticed that the view count per thread most certainly doesn't match up with the replies. To put it simple, I want to start a thread where players and narrators alike post mini-stories, or episode if you will, that they enjoyed. Basically...create our own resources for the game for narrators in need to be able to grab a quick idea or two for an adventure and for viewers to gawk at our imaginary power!  It doesn't have to be long, or so specific you're discussing the die results, but just a walkthrough of what went down for your party for others to see how to put some of the resources provided in the book to use. It'd be great to see new faces and people providing input rather than the same like 7 that "infest" these forums . I'll provide an example to get things started:

Scouring through the book for something that I could use for my new-born players to experience, I finally found the Castle of Snakes (pg 143). But after reading through it, it seemed to dry and boring and I wanted to add a twist to each room. When the players entered the gatehouse and set eyes on the tunic that was straight across the room, they also happen to notice 7 small, kid-sized pedestals around the room. Atop each of these pedestals lies a clenched, stone fist (it seemed more sensical to me that the bulk of damage they dealt was because of the stone impact rather than just being adult sized hands). While at the bottom of the pedestals, there was a matching stone foot. When the players entered the room and showed interest in the tunic, the hands immediately became animated. After a few rounds, they weren't too successful and knew they weren't going to get  to the tunic, so they sent out the bully to grab their attention while the rest looked for an alternative -- the stone feet. The feet weaken the fists when they are too close, providing a bonus to scrap when defending with a foot and decreased the fists defense trait (I used scamper since they got a +2 stature advantage with it) when attacking with a foot. With this advantage the kids successfully got to the tunic and onto the second tower.

In the second tower, the kids immediately noticed the damp and mildew-y smell coming from the loft on the second floor. There were puddles leading up the staircase and a thick line of salt lining the edges of the room. The players chose to investigate the salt and noticed that there were flies littered throughout as well as what looks like a slight pulse. The kids decided it was in their best interest to poke the line of salt, and in doing so, they evoked a distasteful reaction from the loft...so they decided it was in their even better interest to violent beat the salt (a humorous scene I must add). And with that, 7 razor-teethed from came leaping down the stairs and over the loft to greet them, but they seemed weary and weakened. Leaving the dreamer behind to continue whaling on the salt, the bully proceeded to attack the frogs, receiving a +1 attack and defense bonus due to their weakened state. With the defeat of each frog, blue ooze came gushing out from different points in the salt. When all were defeated, an ordinary frog came leaping out of the razor-frogs mouth and followed the kids through the rest of the castle as a token of their appreciation for lifting their curse. But before they could proceed to the larger tower, they had to cross a dilapidated bridge with a scamper test of 2nd grade or fall to their death. And of course...the oafish bully couldn't even manage that, but before he knew it the 7 frogs whipped their tongues out, catching him and swinging him back onto the bridge. 

In the last and final tower, a spiral staircase wound up around the outer walls with 7 different platforms at even intervals up the stairs. To show the dirty, ill-maintained condition of the place...I described it as being covered in hay. Little did I know that it would play a big factor... As the players ascended the stairs, a stone goblin rose out of the stone steps at each level to block their path. Providing a long battle because of their high protection, the players shattered the first goblin and wanted to find another way around them. So they ran down the stairs and stuffed their pockets with hay. When the 2nd goblin appeared, they led him down to the 1st platform and blocked off his path using the hay. Since the goblins were bound to the stone flooring, I decided I liked their train of thought (using simple flavor text to their advantage) and allowed this tactic to work. They worked their way up to the top, reaching the shoes. As they grabbed them, the platforms began to collapse, starting with the first and working upwards. They ran to the stairs and got to the bottom to realize the snake princess was already their waiting, so the kids went ahead and handed her the clothes. Revealing herself as a witch, she tried to transfer the curse, but the frogs leapt in the way and took the curse for the kids. The witch and frogs (now snakes) quickly retreated, revealing a newly constructed bridge between the 2 towers with a troll guarding the way. Promising to bring back the head of a witch or be hunted by trolls forever and ever, they leave the castle and find the Nut Cracker (who the kids are working with) dragging off the witch's body - a perfect opportunity to retrieve a witch head. And with that the kids successfully conquered the Castle of Snakes.

This is an excellent idea. I probably should have done this myself, but I'm a huge procrastinator. I recently narrated a game, and I'll post the journal when I feel like it. :P

 Haha cool cool. By no means do I expect the posts to be of that length. I just happen to be very specific and can't help it . Even if it's just an idea that hasn't been played out. I hope to see this thread fill up!

I lve so many of your ideas, Laughmask. maybe you will consider writing some adventure modules for Grimm? Fleshing out some of the lands with your ideas would be pretty helpful.

**sorry in advance for any grammar issues, it's late**

This is a quick photoshop I did of an area that I had in mind located in the Great and Aweful Forest. Called the Croaking Bog, it was named for the thunderous croaking that could be heard throughout the forest. In the center of this small outcropping of the GaAF, lies the a civilization of Poison Dart Frogs which is just as appropriately called the Croaking Kingdom. These frogs aren't your typical poison dart frogs, they aren't poisonous to touch, rather...they're named for their use of blow guns and poison darts. The poison is acquired from their fertile Banecap Mushroom farms, which are poisonous to touch and require a delicate hand to extract their venom. The frogs are known for their Bullfrog Rodeos and are expert matadores. They are quite savage, not so much so in their interaction with outsiders and children, but more in their general lifestyle. Ruled by a great king, Lord Kilwaku, a fat pac-man toad (Image), he is both feared and revered for his aggressive approach towards matters. Sending out his toadies (pardon the pun), they sedate and retrieve any opposition that may be posing a problem, and if they can't find a middle ground (which almost entirely favors Lord Kilwaku interest) he simply eats them whole, no questions asked.

The Croaking Kingdom boasts a great many "attractions" that are unique to the bog and can't be found anywhere else - mainly because they're illegal. Such as their infamous, annual dragonfly race. Soaring throughout the Croaking Bog, this race is attended by all the frog kingdoms of the Grimm Lands. Each kingdom has a matadore that mounts a giant dragonfly and embarks on this life threatening race. Theres only 2 rules: stay on the "track" and make sure no one else is alive to finish the race before or after you. The winner is rewarded with his choice of lady-frog presented by the losing kingdoms. This could be an opportunity for the kids to partake in, just switch out the reward to something the kids propose. 

Another contest that can also be witnessed can be broken down into 2 phases. 1) Find your ammunition. 2) Crush the hell out of it. The frogs will be seen digging about in a designated scavenging area in an attempt to find the biggest, fattest, and juiciest bug. Next, they proceed to the squishing range where they grab a hardened mushroom and mash it as swiftly and powerfully as they can, sending the guts spray out into the field to be measured. The frogs judge 2 winners based on the width of the spray as well as the distance. 

I'm thinking about centering my next adventure around this place, where the kids need to get a poison from their secret mushrooms to kill a witch. The reason for such a specific poison is because the witch is a potion connoisseur, specifically taking a liking to poisons. Because of this, she has hardened her body to be immune to all but one poison - the Banecap poison which she is unable to grow because of the necessary environment and maintenance (only the frogs know). Keeping a princess locked away (...for some reason it feels OK to be so unoriginal in this game...you know: evil witch + damsel in distress + rewards = adventure) the witch has challenged the citizens of the Checkerboard Kingdom to bring her a poison that will end her life once and for all, and in doing so will free the princess. Should she survive the poison though, she kidnaps the challengers to brew in some distasteful potion - providing a whole new adventure: The Escape From...THE WITCH! (it's late and I'm focusing on the frogs, give me a break).

LOL, very original LM! I think it is a fun idea. What prompted it? Thanks for the pic of the toad and forest. I like both. I may use this idea in my own campaign. Perhaps if the kiddies win they get the toad princess, but if they kiss her she turns into a girl (great way to introduce a new player)

Anything with frogs is great. I think there should be other creatures in the Swamp, though. Living peat mounds, Charybdis-style quicksand monsters, will o' the wisps...a lot of choices here.

GameBearOR said:

Ooooooh I like this. I might actually use it this way to introduce some of my new players. Either that or you could have someone in past adventures subtly mention some missing princess that was last heard of in the GaAF, if the players catch on they can return her. I'm not sure what prompted this, I was drawing a map for my version of the checkerboard kingdoms and when I got to a patch of the Great and Aweful Forest, I wanted to add something different. First that came to my mind in a forest/jungle setting was a poison dart frog. 

I got to thinking another challenge the kids could partake in might be an actual bullfrog fighting match. It could be a 2 step process in involving bullfrog riding - a series of Muscle or Scamper tests - followed by the actual bullfrog fighting spectacle itself. During this event, the objective is NOT to kill the bullfrog (they're much too sacred for that), but simply to sedate it with an arsenal of mushrooms. Along with the hoppers ability (page 144), the bullfrog has 2 major abilities:

1) Elastic Tongue: The Bullfrog may make a ranged scrap test with a range of a cricket's hop. This ability also allows players to interpose paralytic mushrooms between themselves and the tongue. On a successful scrap defense roll, the player successfully sticks the mushroom on the tongue so that the bullfrog eats it as the tongue retracts back into its mouth. This results in a -1 to all trait tests next round.

2) Bounding Charge: This ability allows the bullfrog to make a leaping charge at a player. The kid must make a successful scamper check or be pummeled. If the kid has a shield or shield-like item, they may use scrap to try and successfully block, but the item will be shattered. This ability has it benefits too because on a successful scamper test it allows the kids to drop sleep inducing (not an immediate effect though) spore sacks in their place for the bullfrog to burst open. It also leaves the bullfrog exhausted, causing a -1 to all trait tests next round. 

The bullfrog will eventually collapse as a result of the mushrooms and spores, and the children will be declared victors after it has been exposed to a number of spores/mushrooms as there are children participating. If the players kill the bullfrog (which should be very hard to do in the first place), Lord Kilwaku will give them that night to run for their life. As if the GaAF wasn't bad enough at night, at the first sign of sunlight, the frogs will chase them throughout the forest in an attempt to bring them back as food for Kilwaku.

The Gremlin said:

I agree, these could be added to your Monster Manuel thread. Maybe with the quicksand monster idea, should the player happen to get swallowed up, they fall through a long, rough tunnel until they finally plummet into a pile of bones and skulls, where some very hungry scarabs/beetles/spiders lie waiting down their for the quicksand's unfortunate victims. After defeating them, the players proceed through a dimly lit corridor, all the while kicking up sand with every step until the hall opens up into a fantastically decorated room. The walls are covered in murals made purely out of colored sand, depicting adventures and activities that are common to the real world. A bit eerie, the players may start to get uncomfortable and investigate the room, realizing there's no doors, at least not any obvious ones. With further investigation, a crude and scattered trail of sand leads to one of the images on the wall - an hourglass - and seems to slip underneath the wall. Requiring a Muscle test to open (or maybe an Imagination test to believe it's a secret door and a knob will appear), the hourglass door leads into a dark room with a starry ceiling creating a night sky. The room is lit by the illusionary ( <- is that even a word??) moon that casts its faint light through a few clouds. In the center of the room is a giant, hourglass-shaped throne encircled by a row of beds with even more rows that keep expanding outwards. Each bed contains a child, sleeping soundly...but they all have small piles of sand on their eyes. It seems as though the kids have stumbled across the secret lair of the Sand Man. At the head of each bed is a small fountain filled with water, when the players look into them they are able to view an unmistakable nightmare. If they continue looking into the different fountains eventually the Sand Man will appear in the nightmare, see the kids staring in, and come running at them in a furious rage and leap out of the fountain. 

When the Sand Man isn't out in the dream land of the Real World in search of unsuspecting children, he's inside the nightmares of his captives, torturing them with Imaginings that would drive even an adult to madness.

The Sandman's Throne room.

wow, i hadnt even considered the Sandman as a possible encounter in Grimm. But i guess he IS a legend, huh? He could have the "Mister Sandman" song playing in the distance, so faint you are not even sure you are hearing it...

How I sort of envisioned the sand monster, I'm curious to see what you think Gremlin.

And a typical denizen of the Croaking Kingdom.

I like the Sandman.

Personally, I think the frogs should be a bit less humanoid. They should still be bipedal, but should be able to to all fours and jump around if need be. We don't want a grippli ripoff.

The sand monster is great but reminds me a lot of Mr Ooogi-Boogi Man  LOL.

 I'm trying to think of something more to do with the Old Lady Not Living In A Shoe. I know she's in the book, but it seems rather dry to me. For the kids to walk up, be seated, maybe make a seek check to look at the farm full of shoes with feet in them, make a scamper check to avoid getting their own feet lobbed off, then they run... I've noticed that a lot of the content in the book is great to get you started, but it really comes to life with a twist from the narrator. Has anyone got any ideas what more you could do with this because I know my players would love the twist to this old nursery rhyme.

The shoes didn't grow into whole houses, but a passing witch took pity on the little old woman (or, more likely, saw a chance for some fun)and animated them. After the children escape, the shoes will pursue them. Though they aren't too dangerous (all they can do is kick you), there are quite a few of them, and they are excellent at drawing attention to the kids.