Race Of The Ice-Breakers

Pinned to the Notice Board

An elegant yet block script adorns a parchment bearing two simple illustrations, advertising:

Sign Ups Now Open For The Race Of The Ice-Breakers

[Acting as an artistic underline is an ink sketch of a distant set of cliffs atop a horizon of water with a break in the middle]

Soon we commemorate those who braved the frozen seas to gather food and supplies during the great freeze many years ago to save many more from hunger and cold.

Just like their trials, the race between shores separated by a sea of ice is not for the meek or timid, but to the team victorious the spoils are well worth the tolls.

[Separating the page is a large ink sketch of a special oar, where the paddle has a blade attached to one side]

Which of you will rise to the challenge and claim the grand prize?

Visit the harbor master to sign up today!

Ways To Approach

Races are fantastic events in TTRPG games—not just because of the race itself but because it's never just about the race; it's a whole-day affair. This is another way to set up a festival or fair with a different focus on the occasion, where everything builds up to this race.

This poster, in particular, also helps with a little bit of world-building—in case you needed an excuse to have a boating race—and it introduces a new and fun type of oar; Notice the rivets that attach a metal part to the end of the oar? That's for breaking the ice! 

Whether you're just having the party compete for the prize or throwing them into the deep end with a full-on conspiracy happening behind the scenes, this is a wonderful set up that can be used in a variety of ways. I'd probably meet somewhere in the middle between those two where a team is attempting to rig the race somehow.