Harrowing Tales of Adventure

[gvaughn1]

Arthur gazed cautiously at the looming structure in the foreground. He felt an array of emotions as he stood in front of the massive ramparts of Buffalo Castle! He thought it would feel different this time... after all, he had already survived the horrors of the castle once. By now he was seasoned at this game.

So why was he gripping his massive Claymore so tightly that his knuckles were white? It shouldn't be this way. He attributed it to a keen awareness that death is cold, emotionless and unmoved by mercy. His thoughts drifted back to his recent foray into the dark and to the series of close calls he had... the swinging pendulum that sliced into his back, leaving a deep, garish scar and coming within a hair of ending his life... the kraken that gripped him so tight he could feel his bones splintering...

Arthur shuddered and caught himself. This would not do! "Steel yourself, man!" He took one final deep breath, strode towards the front door of the castle and forcefully flung the door open. And he was greeted by a lonely, dark hallway. He took a few steps in and then quickly noticed the gaping hole in the floor. Circumventing the chasm, he entered an elegantly tiled chamber with a pool of glistening water. He remembered fondly of his refreshing drink the other day that renewed his spirit and filled him with vim and vigor! (+2 to CON). He daren't drink again... the gods don't look kindly on the greedy.

He made his way down several labyrinthine passages before opening a door to a small room and getting ambushed by an orc. It wasn't a fair fight, however, the pig-man falling to Arthur's blade in a sheen of bright red. A quick rifling of the orc's purse revealed 50 coppers. "Fawkin' beggar!"

Arthur made his way northwards in the maze before coming to a stop in front of a very strange portal. The door in front of him was green with grass! And at a close inspection, Arthur detected the scent of a pleasant pasture. Perplexed, he opened the door and walked in to the most intense experience of his young life. He was no longer underground, but rather in a grassy plains in the bright sunshine. He took a deep breath and soaked in the sun. Arthur was just getting ready to sit down and rest when the ground started shaking and a loud, low rumbling was heard. The sound got louder and louder until suddenly he was confronted by a Thundering Herd of Buffalo! Releshing the chance for a fight, the dangerous blade was unsheathed. And Arthur strode into the stampeding herd and took the fight to the beasts. He was gored several times, but felled bull after bull until a mass of them lay dead at his feet. One, two... ten!

After leaving the illusionistic outdoor room, Arthur tore his way through more dungeon denizens. He gutted another orc, skewered an ogre, pulped a snake and crushed a spider! He was feeling himself!

He then came across a plain, empty room with an odd slit in the wall. Hesitantly, Arthur investigated it. It was just about the right size to slide his sword blade into. Well, he thought, you only live once! He slid the Claymore into the slot, waited a few seconds and pulled it out. He was amazed to see the blade mildly glowing with a soft white light. As he left the room, Arthur sensed his sword speaking to him! He somehow knew that his blade was now a "slayer of vampires, exterminator of bats!" (His sword insta-kills vampires and bats now).

By now, Arthur was eager to get out of this dark hole and get back to civilization. He clutched his newly magical sword hungrily, intent on keeping it to himself. But as he turned a corner on the way to the front portal, he stumbled into a small chamber and was confronted by the looming figure of a troll. Arthur took a quick, shallow breath and slowly backed away, expecting to be mauled by the beast. But the troll only smirked and gazed at him intently. The troll said "tell me a tale, human. Entertain me and this will be yours." Arthur noticed the large ruby in the troll's hand. Arthur thought for a second and then proceeded to spin a yarn about a heroic troll who slew dragons and married a fair maiden. At the end, he looked at the troll expectantly and said "well? How'd I do?" The troll got up slowly, straightened up to his full height of 10' and laughed wickedly. He roared at Arthur and told him "I hope you can use that blade better than you can tell a story!" With that, the fight was on - to the death. Arthur rained down blow after blow while the troll grasped, gored and clawed! He tore the horns of Arthur's helm and ripped off his armor straps! Arthur was bleeding and bruised, battered and bullied. Finally, the long sword sliced into the troll's guts, spilling them on the floor. Arthur grabbed the ruby, found his way to the front door and started his long journey back to town.

What a day!

[zanshin]

What a story!

Exalt!

[gufnork]

Excellent. I had a warrior once that somehow managed to obtain a cursed ruby worth 1000gp. Hope it's not the same one. It doubled the MR of all monsters I fought from then on. I could give it away or sell it as I remember but looking back at his character sheet I notice he still has it. I've a feeling I simply rolled up another character and forgot about him. I should feel guilty about that really I suppose ;D

[gvaughn1]

Dec 1, 2012 5:28:18 GMT -5 gufnork said:

Excellent. I had a warrior once that somehow managed to obtain a cursed ruby worth 1000gp. Hope it's not the same one. It doubled the MR of all monsters I fought from then on. I could give it away or sell it as I remember but looking back at his character sheet I notice he still has it. I've a feeling I simply rolled up another character and forgot about him. I should feel guilty about that really I suppose ;D

Nope, just a good old fashioned 300gp ruby. :-)

By the way, here are Arthur's stats:
ST 18
IQ 11
LK 14
CN 15 (was 13 until the drink from magical pool)
DX 12
CH 11
ADDS +8
He carries a magical hand-and-a-half sword that instantly destroys vampires and bats.

As a caveat, I use the following house rules:
* For humans I roll 4d6, drop the lowest and assign as desired
* For non-humans decide on race first and then roll 3d6 in order
* Humans start off with an extra 100 GP
* I can discard a PC if his total combined 6 attributes are < 72 after racial adjustments
* Dwarfs are as written in the 5.5 rules except they get STR x 3/2 instead of x2 (I feel x2 on both STR and CON is just too over powered, I like a bit of balance)
* Everyone gets warm clothes and a backpack for free to start (thanks Dan for that idea)

[zanshin]

Those seem like sensible solo house rules. Great stuff.

[gufnork]

I usually use 4d6 drop the lowest too but the dice roller I recently downloaded for my Android is giving me loads of DARO's and TARO's so I'm sticking with that for the moment.

[gvaughn1]

Arthur woke up with a start, his head pounding, in a strange bed in a strange town. He sat up, looked around and realized that this is the same shithole that he's been staying at for the past few weeks. "Just a little more booty," thought Arthur, "and I'm done with this adventuring life." Another thousand gold sovereigns and he'd be set up like a prince... if he didn't wind up dead first. He got up, surveyed his surroundings and got his gear. He hefted the large sword in his hands, impressed with its balance and power. This had been his father's sword in the troll wars. So far, it had served Arthur well. He slowly strapped on his breastplate, donned his helm and hoisted his pack over his shoulders. But what really caught his eye were the three small vials of Hellfire Juice! That alchemist had promised Arthur that one coat on his blade would spell doom for any beast or man struck by it. "Let's hope so...."

***********************************
After a journey of several hours on foot, Arthur found himself once more at Buffalo Castle. This time, he felt more confident. Maybe it was due to his rousing success a couple weeks earlier when he gutted that troll bastard. He approached the same door as before (creature of habit?) and slowly opened it. He walked a few steps into the dim hall when suddenly the floor opened up below his feet and he slammed into a deep pit, knocking the wind out of him! "Hell's Bells, you dumb arse!!" He couldn't believe he forgot about that false floor... he got up to attempt his ascent up the walls when he suddenly noticed an odd crease in the wall. He investigated closer and realized it was hiding a small handle. Arthur gently pulled the handle and with a loud scraping noise a small door swung open. He couldn't believe it. What the hell was beyond that space? He peered into the blackened hole and then crept in. He crawled for what seemed like an eternity, with claustrophobic thoughts intrudinng upon him. Just as he was starting to work himself into a panic, he emerged into a small room. And what a surprise! The room was covered with gold coins! After scooping up all forty golds, Arthur turned around and was confronted by the apparent guardian of the room - an eerie, floating jellyfish! The warrior laughed as he chopped it to pieces with alacrity.

Arthur managed to find his way out of the pit and resolved to explore every corner of this underworld maze. He ran into a giant serpent and dispatched it quickly. Of more concern was the swarm of giant rats. Arthur hated rats! And they bit him - a lot! Finally, he managed to kill the last of them.

At one point, Arthur had a most unusual experience. He wandered down a long hallway and came to an isolated door, made of rich mahogany inlaid with gold filigree. Curiously, he opened the door and peered in. And to his utter shock, he saw a beautiful maiden in a state of deep slumber in a richly appointed sleeping chamber. What was she doing here? Should he help her? He ventured quietly into the room and looked around. She was certainly in a deep sleep. He saw a wardrobe and stealthily opened the drawer. To his surprise, he saw a diamond-studded bracelet within. This thing would fetch 500 sovereigns. Should he take it? He finally grabbed it and slid it into his belt pouch, somewhat guiltily. "She's probably a witch or a demon anyway," he convinced himself. She still didn't move. Unsure what to do next, Arthur tip-toed out the door and shut it behind him.

Some time later, Arthur was confronted by an ogre in an abandoned supply room. Arthur despised these massive hill folk. His father always told him how these d**n things were inbred brutes. After battering it with severe blows, Arthur loomed over the badly wounded ogre. The savage hillbilly looked into the warrior's eyes, searching for sympathy. All he found was coldness. The Claymore came down in a high arc, slicing flesh and bone. It was done. Arthur pocketed 80 coppers and went about his way.

This palace was full of odd and enchanted items. At one point, Arthur tried to pluck emeralds off a tree and was attacked by that old elm with a vengeance! He was bruised from head to toe after the severe caning he took, but eventually the tree branches gave way to the sharp steel. And the emeralds were fake. Arthur grunted and kept moving...

Arthur rested outside a sturdy door at one point, regaining his strength. He was really tired. Sleep seemed to be taking him when a noise roused him. From beyond the door, he heard whistling. He got up, readied himself, and quickly forced the door open in an attempt to gain surprise. Before him, he saw a long, lean brigand huddled over some sacks of coins! The brigand noticed him and said "Take one step closer and I'll cut your throat!" Arthur, who had already decided he wanted whatever was in those sacks, took two steps forward, raised his sword above his head and brought it crashing down on the villain's skull. Arthur is a strong man, and the force of the blow penetrated helm, bone and soft matter - ending the fight before it began. He hefted the sacks into his knapsack, pleased with this haul of what looked to be at least 500 gold coins!

By now, Arthur was ready to leave. He made his way towards the outer door. On the way back he noticed a door that had eluded him before. Arthur couldn't resist and quitely opened it. What he saw was quite surprising. It was row after row of metal lock boxes built into the wall. This was apparently some kind of vault! A sign said "Choose Wisely, For Every Man Chooses But Once."

Arthur chose Box 16, after his father's regiment number. He slid the metal box out and found a black wand with a skull on one end! He unrolled a tightly wrapped parchment that read "Wand of Death. Will kill anything. Guaranteed. Use as Directed. Discard after Single Use." For the first time in days, Arthur grinned broadly."

His day done, Arthur marched back to town. He secreted himself into his room at the inn and counted his bounty. He amassed nearly 1,500 gold in jewels, gems and coins! And he had this wand to play with... but with one use, he better choose wisely. As for his ideas of early retirement, that would have to wait. This was starting to get fun!

********************************************

The next day, Arthur went to the armory and bought himself a suit of fine platemail. And he found a local swordmaster to train him in two-weapon fighting. As much as he loved using his father's deadly blade, he imagined the damage he could do with two smaller swords.

On the way back from his training one day, Arthur was approached by a frenzied farmer. This man was obviously distressed and had heard of Arthur's growing prowess. He bowed deeply and begged for assistance. "My son has been taken by evil priests! They aim to sacrifice him to the dark gods that haunt our dreams! They have taken him to the Temple of Issoth!" The working man then offered his life savings of 100 golds in humble payment for the deed.

Arthur mulled it over. "Keep your gold. I'll do it to make things right."

"Besides," he thought, "How hard can this Temple of Issoth be? Monks aren't too savvy with a sword. I'll be home by supper."

NOTE: Arthur has gained 2nd level. He used it to raise his LUCK from 14 to 18, which upped his combat adds to +12.

[gufnork]

Nice job. He seems to be doing very well now. I'm really enjoying these stories too. I would exalt you but this proboards app doesn't let me so I'll try to remember to do it later

[gvaughn1]

*Spoilers Follow for Temple of Issoth (although not many of them!)

Arthur was feeling good about himself. Over these past couple weeks, he'd really mastered his two weapon fighting skill. Additionally, he'd become quite a crack shot with his massive Cranequin crossbow. But his good feelings started to turn when he entered the Dead Lands surrounding the Temple of Issoth. Not a living thing was noted, not even a bird. Arthur started feeling antsy about this assignment.

Finally, he noticed the temple from afar, a simple square structure with no surrounding walls or moats. He cautiously approached, using some boulders and refuse piles for shelter. He decided to check around the building for less obvious entrances than using the front door. To his amazement, Arthur found a concealed outline of a door. He gripped it, felt it, pushed it, and did everything else he could think of but it wouldn't open. "Gods, here goes nothing."

With that, he walked around the building and went straight in through the front door with his Cranequin cranked, entering a large chamber. He immediately noticed gruesome tapestries covering all the walls, along with a large table. But before he could get his bearings, three patrolling guards came around the corner. Arthur immediately pointed his crossbow and shot at one of the guards. The quarrel flew true and straight, piercing the guard's neck in a spray of crimson!

Next, the guards surrounded Arthur and attacked him with fury. But his new two-weapon fighting proved too much for the guards and they quickly lay dead at Arthur's feet.

After rifling the guards for 14 gold sovereigns, he felt compelled to take a closer look at the tapestries. They bore scenes of mayhem and carnage, pretty disturbing stuff. Worst yet were the depictions of Issoth, seething masses of tentacles, beaks and eyes. Arthur found himself drawing closer and closer to the images when suddenly he felt translucent tentacles emerge from the wall and wrap around his neck. He took immediate damage even as he was telling himself "this isn't real! It's my imagination..."

He summoned all his internal strength to dispel the immaterial tentacles, but yet he felt the grip getting tighter and tighter. Finally, he realized his career was going to end here and now. His throat got tighter, he took his last breath, and he stopped thrashing as the last of the oxygen flowed out of his lungs.

***********************************************

Back in town, the farmer's wife asked him "When will Arthur be back? What's to become of our son?"

"Don't worry dear. He said he'll be back by supper. You'll see your boy soon."


**OK, nothing like getting killed in the FIRST ROOM of an adventure. That's what happens when you (a) take the chance of investigating some alien tapestries, (b) miss an IQ save, and (c) miss ANOTHER IQ save. My IQ wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great (11). It could have gone either way.

I'm feeling somewhat invested in Arthur and I just sat down with my dice and my coffee ready for an hour of adventuring, so I was very tempted to take a mulligan on that 2nd save roll and keep going. But then how could I ever feel truly accomplished knowing I'd cheated in the process? Oh well.

Dan, I'll try this again when I have a bit stronger PC. So far, I loved the writeups and the atmosphere.

[danhem]

Very nice write-ups Gvaughn, both for Buffalo Castle and Temple of Issoth. I look forward to reading more.

Regarding your two failed Saving Rolls, are you using 5th or 7th edition rules? If you are using 7th did you remember to add your level (2) to either of your failed rolls? Even if you are using 5th edition rules, it makes a good house rule. You could also use the Burning Luck house rule where you permanently reduce your Luck by a number that you can add to your Saving Roll. I talk about this House Rule at my blog here: danhemsgamingblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/burning-luck.html. Urobi described a similar rule, Pushing Your Luck, here: trollbridge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=characters&action=display&thread=1498. JongJuBu also described this and a number of other good solo house rules here: www.jongjungbu.com/solo-adventures-2/solo-safely-houserules.

I generally try to not get too attached to any of my solo delvers. They always get killed eventually.

[gufnork]

Any more Harrowing Tales of Adventure gvaughn? I feel a little guilty harassing others since I've put absolutely nothing up myself but I still miss reading yours. You still playing?