Cliff Lede Magic Nights 2018 was a captivating event that showcased the enchanting world of fine wines and live music. Held at the Cliff Lede Vineyards in Napa Valley, California, this event brought together wine enthusiasts, musicians, and artists for an unforgettable experience. The event kicked off with a grand opening ceremony, where guests were welcomed with a glass of the finest Cliff Lede wines. The vineyard, with its picturesque landscapes, provided the perfect backdrop for the evening's festivities. The event was designed to celebrate the magic that happens when the worlds of wine and music collide. Throughout the evening, guests were treated to live performances by renowned musicians and bands.
Below is a table that describes what each of the ingredients look like to the players upon initial inspection, what they're actually called and commonly used for, what skills or tools might be used to identify them, what visual effect occurs if one if thrown into the cauldron, and lastly what kind of potion or other creation results from the process. Remember, the players might not know what sort of concoction they just created! Not all results are equally useful, and some deduction and some luck might be required to get the most desirable results. You can set whatever DCs you like for the checks. Common plants such as parsley would obviously be much easier to identify than exotic pink crystals, but depending on player backgrounds might easily be able to spot mechanical lubricant on sight. Ideally the whole shelf can't be identified by just one person, multiple party members will have to work together.
Nature, alchemy supplies, herbalism kit The cauldron s contents become viscous until stirred more, and leaves a dark brown reside at the bottom, while a red liquid floats to the top. Snapdragon, a common garden flower used for decoration, dye, and poultices Medicine, Nature, weaver s tools The contents start to boil, then simmer down into a smoking orange liquid that smells like burnt toast.
Throughout the evening, guests were treated to live performances by renowned musicians and bands. The lineup included a mix of genres, from jazz and blues to rock and classical music. The artists took the stage and mesmerized the audience with their exceptional talent and captivating performances.
The Bubbling Cauldron: A small non-combat encounter for players that like to experiment.
This little encounter is one you can use to fill all sorts of dungeon rooms or hideouts, anywhere you might expect a cauldron to be brewing. It's not game-changing, but it's a nice change of pace from whatever else is going on, can turn a fairly empty looting experience into a fun little game, and gives players an excellent chance to flex weird skill, tool, or language proficiencies.
The centrepiece of this encounter is a cauldron, simmering on the coals. A cocktail of scents arise from the broth within, clearly this is some kind of potion in the making! It only needs one more ingredient in order to be complete. *When I ran this, an NPC who was rescued nearby made this obvious, but you could just let the players fiddle with it and find out the hard way.
On a shelf nearby are an array of alchemical ingredients, but unfortunately none of them are labelled. It will require some sleuthing to figure out what's what.
Aha, but what's this? The would-be alchemist has a heap of notes nearby. They would be helpful, but alas they're all in infuriatingly vague shorthand, and also not written in Common. *It was Giant when I ran it, but you can choose any kind of language, best a niche language that a player knows so they can show off this once. Even the author of the notes doesn't know what every ingredient on the shelf is or what it does. In fact, the author of the notes only knows what three of these ingredients even do!
Below is a table that describes what each of the ingredients look like to the players upon initial inspection, what they're actually called and commonly used for, what skills or tools might be used to identify them, what visual effect occurs if one if thrown into the cauldron, and lastly what kind of potion or other creation results from the process. Remember, the players might not know what sort of concoction they just created! Not all results are equally useful, and some deduction and some luck might be required to get the most desirable results. You can set whatever DCs you like for the checks. Common plants such as parsley would obviously be much easier to identify than exotic pink crystals, but depending on player backgrounds might easily be able to spot mechanical lubricant on sight. Ideally the whole shelf can't be identified by just one person, multiple party members will have to work together.
| Description | Ingredient | How to Identify | Effect | Potion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cluster of red-brown roots | Garrison Root, a highly nutritious underdark plant used for disinfectants and bandages. | Nature, alchemy supplies, herbalism kit | The cauldron’s contents become viscous until stirred more, and leaves a dark brown reside at the bottom, while a red liquid floats to the top. | Potion of Greater Healing |
| Powdered salt-like pink crystals | Psion salt, a reside that appears in some underground lakes near psionic creatures | Arcana, alchemy supplies | The crystals fizzle in the mixture, which forms a heart-shaped bubble of pink liquid that rises to the top. The scent is heady an intoxicating. | Philter of Love |
| Bundle of dried herbs with stalks | Parsley, a common herb used in all sorts of cooking. | Cook’s Utensils | After a few minutes of stirring, the contents settle down and form a cloudy broth. It smells herby, in a good way. | Parsley Soup |
| Jar of acrid slime | Ankheg Acid, a caustic enzyme produced by Ankhegs to aid digestion and spray at foes. | Nature | The contents turn green and begin to spit and sizzle violently, creating an acrid scent. | Acid |
| Dark brown oily substance | Mechanical Lubricant, an oil used by dwarves to grease chains and gears. | History, alchemy supplies, tinker’s tools | The contents steam up into a cloud of smoke that floats away and leaves a black oil behind. | Oil of Slipperiness |
| Red flower in a pot. | Snapdragon, a common garden flower used for decoration, dye, and poultices | Medicine, Nature, weaver’s tools | The contents start to boil, then simmer down into a smoking orange liquid that smells like burnt toast. | Potion of Fire Breath |
Adding any one ingredient to the cauldron will cause the described effect to occur, and leave enough of the relevant potion behind for one dose. The area is littered in empty containers one could use to scoop up the potion and take it with you.
Putting more than one ingredient into the cauldron risks the whole mixture exploding! For each ingredient more than one that gets thrown into the cauldron, roll a dice. If all the rolls are an even number, nothing happens, and the mixture turns into a random potion of a type linked to one of the ingredients used. If there's any odd numbers, it explodes! The mixture heaves and billows out into a cloud of searing smoke. The contents of the cauldron are destroyed, leaving nothing but black char, while each creature within 15ft of the cauldron must make a DC 13 Dexterity Saving throw. On a failed save they take 2d6 fire damage, plus an extra 1d6 damage for each additional ingredient after the second (e.g. if two ingredients were thrown into the cauldron the damage is 2d6, if four ingredients were thrown in then the damage is 4d6 etc). On a successful saving throw, the creature takes half as much damage.
I love this little encounter, it's a nice bit of downtime you can fit in anywhere. You can encourage your players to be a bit experimental, perfect for those tinkerers and artificers. When I ran it, my players were poking around in a Fomorian's cozy little hut, but I could see this easily working in a Hag's den, wizard tower, goblin cave, and so much more. And of course there's plenty of creativity to be had with coming up with your own ingredients for different effects. What would be needed to turn the broth into a potion of Growth, or Animal Friendship?
I came up with this and ran it over a year ago, but this is so easy to slot in anywhere and get some loot in an interesting way that I figured that someone could use it and I shouldn't just keep it to myself since I'm not likely to use it again any time soon. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
Aha, but what's this? The would-be alchemist has a heap of notes nearby. They would be helpful, but alas they're all in infuriatingly vague shorthand, and also not written in Common. *It was Giant when I ran it, but you can choose any kind of language, best a niche language that a player knows so they can show off this once. Even the author of the notes doesn't know what every ingredient on the shelf is or what it does. In fact, the author of the notes only knows what three of these ingredients even do!
As guests enjoyed the music, they were also able to savor the exquisite flavors of Cliff Lede wines. The vineyard's renowned winemakers were present to provide insights into each wine and guide guests through a tasting journey. From crisp whites to full-bodied reds, the wines showcased the vineyard's commitment to quality and craftsmanship. In addition to the music and wine, the event also featured live art demonstrations and exhibitions. Local artists showcased their talent and creativity through various forms of art, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. The combination of music, wine, and art created a truly immersive experience for all attendees. Cliff Lede Magic Nights 2018 was a resounding success, leaving guests with unforgettable memories and a deeper appreciation for the world of wine and music. The event showcased the vineyard's dedication to creating exceptional wines and offering unique experiences to its visitors. Overall, Cliff Lede Magic Nights 2018 was a magical celebration of the arts, bringing together wine, music, and art in a stunning setting. This event will be remembered as a highlight of the Napa Valley cultural calendar, and attendees eagerly anticipate the next installment of this extraordinary event..
Reviews for "Step into a World of Fantasy at Cliff Lede's Magic Nights 2018"
- Emily - 2/5 rating - I was really disappointed with the Cliff lede magic nights 2018 performance. The magic tricks were predictable and didn't really wow me. The magician seemed to lack charisma and it made the whole show feel lackluster. I expected more from a show called "Magic Nights" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
- Mike - 1/5 rating - I regret spending my money on Cliff lede magic nights 2018. The entire show was a complete letdown. The tricks were poorly executed and the magician's patter was cheesy and unoriginal. I felt like I was watching a low-budget magic show from the 80s. Save your money and skip this one.
- Sarah - 2/5 rating - I attended the Cliff lede magic nights 2018 show with high hopes but was left feeling underwhelmed. The magician's performance lacked the wow factor and his tricks were easily explainable. I expected to be amazed and entertained, but instead, I found myself just waiting for it to be over. The overall production value was also lacking, which added to the disappointment. I wouldn't recommend this show.