My first attempt at Shadowdark - Session 1

I've only been into this hobby for around a year now, after years of saying to friends "We should try DnD together at some point!" and never managing to gather everyone in one place at the same time, I decided to take the dive and try solo. I've tried a few different systems so far, but I keep seeing people mention Shadowdark. A quick glance at the artwork would tell a lover of doom and gloom such as myself that I'd love it, but with the abundance of systems experiencing popularity, I hadn't given it a go, until now!

For this session I'm using the Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set available over at the Arcane Library (for free!). I've also taken advantage of their specific solo rules "SoloDark" also available for free.

Before we get into it, let it be known that personally, I hate the idea of doing a lot of prep in order to play a game, I'd much rather just get into it and have fun, so that's what I did. I set up a quick scenario using a setting from the ever-reliable Solo RPG GME - Fantasy "feature descriptors" table and a random event from the "Something Happens!" table available as part of the Shadowdark quickstart set. The plan is to let the world develop from that point, so let's see what happens!

My character is "Zorthank the Weasel", a small, but tough Goblin Fighter who after scraping a living by as a street urchin during childhood, now resides in the woods earning a living by preying on any weary travellers who have the misfortune to come his way.

CHARACTER SHEET (As of the end of this session):

Session 1:

Location: Spring

Event: A wild-eyed man approaches with a holy book held high.

Zorthank is washing himself in the springs, he's been living in the woods for some time living off what he pillages from weary travellers.

A wild old man approaches, book aloft.

Is he chaotic aligned (d20)?

5 - No

Does he know of Zorthank (d20)?

20 - Yes (extreme)

"Repent repent! Zorthank the Weasel, known highwayman and brigand of these woods, repent your ways or be lost to damnation!"

Zorthank eyes him, and asks how he knows who is.

"You are well known to us followers of Terragnis, you have stolen from us, and it shall not happen again"

Does he intend on attacking Zorthank (d20)?

16 - Yes

"Repent repent! Before I end your wretched life!"

The acolyte storms down the muddy bank to the spring and attacks.

Enemy: ACOLYTE

AC 12, HP 4, ATK 1 mace +1 (1d6) 

or 1 spell +2, MV near, S +1, D -1, C

+0, I -1, W +2, Ch +0, AL L, LV 1

Zorthank DEX check (d20 + DEX): 22

Acolyte DEX check (d20 + DEX): 13

Zorthank goes first

Does Zorthank have his sword to hand (d20)?

15 - Yes

Zorthank strides up and out of the banks of the spring, rising his sword high and swiping at the Acolyte.

(d20 + STR) - 5 - Miss

The acolyte sidesteps the attack, and swings at his mace chanting "REPENT REPENT!"

(d20 + STR) -19 - Hit

Damage (1d6): 1

The mace smacks Zorthank in the side, he winces, luckily it is only a glancing blow.

Zorthank attempts to grab the Acolyte and pull him into the water.

Zorthank STR check (d20 + STR): 8

Acolyte STR check (d20 + STR): 16

But he's unable to and is tossed aside into the muddy bank by the Acolyte.

The acolyte continues to approach, crying "REPENT" he swings his mace down on Zorthank as he staggers up from the muddy banks.

(d20 + STR) - 16 - Hit

Damage (1d6) - 5

This time the mace connects flush against Zorthanks ribs, he lets out a cry and falls to his knees before scrambling back up.

Zorthank tries again to drag the Acloyte into the water, his short but muscled frame charges into the Acolyte.

Zorthank STR check (d20 + STR): 6

Acolyte STR check (d20 + STR): 20

Again to no avail, he's tossed aside and slips in the water as the Acolyte bears down on him, raising his mace again "I PRAY FOR YOUR SOUL"

(d20 + STR) - 14 - Hit

Damage (1d6) - 1

The mace cracks Zorthank across the skull as blood pours down into his eyes, he feels himself losing consciousness and attempts to scramble up a nearby gully, out of the spring and out of the way.

DC 12 - DEX check (d20 + DEX) - 11

Zorthank tries his best, but is unable, he loses his footing and tumbles back into the spring.

The acolyte looks down at Zorthank as he stumbles and swings at him from the edge of the water.

(d20 + STR) -19 - Hit

Damage (1d6) - 5

The mace comes crashing down on Zorthank, and split his skull open. His lifeless body floats in the spring as the water begins to turn red.

Death timer (1d4 + CON): 5 rolls till death

Roll 1: 20 (Finally a bit of luck!)

Zorthank awakes on the banks of the springs, the water lapping at his legs. His vision is blurred by blood streaming from a huge wound on his head.

Is the acolyte still here (d20)?

11 - Yes

He can hear the acolyte chanting nearby.

Is he within sight of the acolyte?

13 - Yes

Zorthank opens his eyes and can see the acolyte only a few footsteps away, hands clasped in prayer.

He decides he needs to put some distance between himself and his enemy, with a burst of energy he darts across the spring and tries to climb up the steep gully again.

DC 12 - DEX check (d20 + DEX) - 4

He slips before even grabbing the first rock, and falls back into the water.

The acolyte is surpised to see that Zorthank still alive, does he still want to attack (d20)?

1 - No (extreme)

"You...you were dead! How can this be? Who am I to argue with the will of Terragnis, I will take you back to our monastery and allow you the opportunity to recover. You must still have good to do in this world!"

The acolyte puts handcuffs on Zorthank after disarming him, and leads him away from the spring as they head to the monastery.

How long is the journey (d6)? - 3 hours.

Do they encounter anything on the journey (d6)? - 1 - Yes

Random Encounter:

Distance (d6) - 3 - Near

Activity (2d6) - 10 - Socializing

Reaction (2d6 + CHA) - 4 - Hostile

Encounter (d100) - 56 - 3 gricks shred dead giant rats and use the fur for nesting.

As the Acolyte leads Zorthank through the woods they see a number of dead rats on the ground, when all of a sudden 3 huge worms erupt from the earth and begin to shred their flesh with their snapping beaks. 

The acolyte stands back in shock, but Zorthank is prepared due to his keen goblin senses.

He tries to shoulder barge the Acolyte into the path of the gricks.

STR check vs Acolyte 

Zorthank STR check (d20 + STR, advantage) - 20

Acolyte STR check (d20 + STR) - 13

As the Acolyte stands there in shock, Zorthank, still handcuffed, shoulder barges the Acolyte and forces him among the writhing worms before turning to run.

Zorthank continues to flee, he can hear the screams of the Acolyte in the distance. He rues the loss of his sword but is thankful to still be alive.

Zorthank attempts to clamber up a nearby tree whilst still handcuffed, hoping to watch from a safe distance.

DC 15 - DEX check (d20 + DEX) - 21 - Success

He swiftly climbs the tree and sits from a branch and watches as his captor is torn to pieces by the gricks.

Do the gricks leave the area (d20)?

6 - No

The acolyte's corpse and possessions are strewn apart on the ground, the gricks continue to writhe about the earth, with seemingly no intent to leave any time soon.

Zorthank knowing he's in no fit state to fight remains sat in the tree, and decides to wait them out.

Does he encounter anything else whilst waiting (d20)?

3 - No

Have the gricks left yet (d20)?

13 - Yes

After a good hour of waiting in the tree, Zorthank watches as the gricks once again burrow under the earth, dragging the remains of the Acolyte with them. He listens to them tunneling into the distance.

Did the acolyte have any treasure (d20)?

11 - Yes

Zorthank tries to break free from his handcuffs.

DC 15 - DEX check (advantage, d20 + DEX) - 17 - Success

He manages to wriggle free, leaves them on the ground and approaches the possessions of the Acolyte that were left by the gricks.

He once again takes his sword and slips it through his belt, cursing the acolyte for leaving him in this position.

He takes the Acolyte's mace and puts into his pack, before searching through the other possessions.

What treasure does he have (d100)?

57 - Pair of silvered daggers (10 gp each)

He takes the daggers and puts them into his pack.

+2 XP

He also sees the Acolytes book left on the floor and decides to check its contents.

Does it state where the monastery is (d20)?

14 - Yes

Does it state anything about Zorthank (d20)?

19 -Yes

Amongst pages and pages of religious ramblings he comes across a map where the location of the Monastery is marked. He also finds notes about himself scrawled across several pages, it appears the inhabitants of the Monastery have been aware of him for some time.

He swears to take revenge, but the day is beginning to pass and he must rest before going any further.

He searches for firewood, food and shelter.

DC 12 - WIS check (d20 + WIS) - 18 - Success

Zorthank spends the evening gathering firewood, hunting game, and finding shelter. 

He approaches the shelter, carrying his gathered firewood and slain rabbit with him.

Is the shelter man-made (d20)?

8 - No

He finds a cave and hauls his firewood into it, determined to rest for the night.

Roll for cave encounter (d6) - 5 - No encounter

He thanks his god that the cave is uninhabited, and goes about starting the fire using a bow drill fashioned from the wood he has gathered since he doesn't have a flint and steel.

DC 12 - WIS check (d20 + WIS) - 6 - Fail

An hour passes struggling but he is yet to light a fire.

Roll for encounter (d6) - 2 - No encounter

He gets into his second hour of trying to light a fire...

DC12 - WIS check (d20 + WIS) - 7 - Fail

Another hour passes as the day begins to fade into darkness...

Roll for encounter (d6) - 5 - No encounter

The sun begins to go down and still he struggles with the bow, when the thought comes to him, he can tear some pages from the Acolyte's book and use this as ready-made tinder.

DC12 - WIS check (advantage, d20 + WIS) - 20 

Finally the flames catch and within minutes he has a roaring fire to camp by. He cooks his rabbit upon it and settles down for the night, his head still splitting with pain from the attack earlier.

LOCATION UNSAFE - Roll for encounter every 3 hours

3 hours of sleep pass...

Roll for encounter (d6) - 3 - No encounter

Zorthank is curled up in a ball in the dark, his hands between his legs for warmth as wind whistles through the cave.

3 more hours pass...

Roll for encounter (d6) - 4 - No encounter

The twilight of morning approaches, outside the cave the landscape is a dull grey netherworld.

2 more hours pass...

Roll for encounter (d6) - 2 - No encounter

Zorthank rises in the morning, the blood from his forehead has dried around his eyes making him look more demented than ever. He flicks through the Acolyte's book and notes its location, he wants to take revenge.

RECOVER TO FULL HEALTH

SESSION END

Well there we have it, my first ever session with Shadowdark. I really, really enjoyed that and ended up playing quite a bit longer than usual. The artwork's great, the books are really well laid out so I'm not spending ages trying to find specific rules, and the rules themselves are really easy to grasp for anyone who has any prior experience with TTRPGs. 

I think I can still squeeze out a good few more sessions out of these resources but if I enjoy my upcoming sessions as much as I did this, I'll be picking up the full version in no time. For anyone interested in giving Shadowdark a go, I'd highly recommend picking up the free starter kit linked earlier and getting stuck in!

BFRPG Session 7 - Using Solo RPG GME Fantasy & Vermis

CHARACTER SHEET:

Name: Bregwald of the Woods

Class: Cleric

Race: Human

Level: 1

HP: 5/7

AC: 15 (Leather Armor 13, +1 Shield, +1 DEX)

XP: 1354 (1500)

STR: 12 (0)

INT: 12 (0)

WIS: 16 (+2)

DEX: 15 (+1)

CON: 15 (+1)

CHA: 9 (0)

Saving Throws:

 •Death Ray or Poison: 11

 •Magic Wands: 12

 •Paralysis or Petrify: 14

 •Dragon Breath: 16

 •Spells: 15

Skills: Turn Undead

Languages: Common

Gold:50

Description: A stout, dark haired man with thick limbs like the trunk of an oak tree. Follower of Murgo (The relentless). Lives in a chapel in the Flutewood Forest praying to Murgo daily. Often places offerings at the several shrines of Murgo and loves to see the forest grow taller and thicker due to Murgos blessing. 

Equipment:

Mace

Leather Armor

Buckler

Backpack 

Tinderbox

Holy symbol (Clay figure of Murgo)

Torches (5) 

Rations (5)

Rope

Hatchet

Scroll of Detect Magic

Mummified Flesh

Session 7:

Bregwald and the knight step back from the pile of rubble, bones and corpses, they continue on down the corridor.

The two adventurers first check the door to the left.

Oracle: What kind of door is it?

Door Features (d20): 19 - Reinforced

They come to a thick, oaken door that is reinforced with bars of black metal. Rust has begun to devour the iron strips that run across it. Strange etchings are engraved into the wood.

The two using all of their strength decide to kick down the door.

STR Check (d20 advantage): 2 - Success

+25 XP

The door flies off the hinges and falls into the shadows of the adjoining chamber.

Oracle: What type of room is it?

Area Shape (d20): 16 - Custom Shape

Area Content (d100): 31 - Monster

What kind of monster?

Graveyard Monstrosities - Vermis (d12): 8 - Ghost mother (With Newborn)

Bregwald steps first into the chamber, it is uncomfortably still in there. In the centre is a decorated iron fence that runs its way around a white marble sarcophagus. Sculpted in the old marble is the likeness of a young woman holding her newborn child. They enter further into the chamber, the crying of a woman starts to echo around the old stone walls.

Appearing in the centre of the room, floating above the sarcophagus, is the shimmering mirage of a woman in a white dress. Holding a newborn baby in her arms, her cries grow louder.

Oracle: Is the ghost angered by our presence?

Yes/No (d6): 2 - Yes

The crying continues to grow louder, until it turns to screams, joined also now by the wailing of the infant.

Saving throw vs Spells (d20): 13 - Fail

Bregwald and the knight are struck with terror by the tortured shrieks of the undead, they turn and flee from the room.

Oracle: Does the ghost pursue them?

Yes/No: 5 - No

The two once again reach the corridor, the cacophonous cries of the undead subside. They agree not to enter the room again, lest they invoke the wrath of the ungodly presence they had just escaped.

They instead decide to try the door that had previously sat to the Mad Bones' right.

Oracle: What kind of door is it?

Door Features (d20): 9 - Damaged

An aged, withered, door lies before them, multiple slats have already crumbled and fallen to the ground. Bregwald peers between them to see what lies beyond before entering.

Oracle: What type of room is it?

Area Shape (d20): 15 - Custom Shape

Area Content (d100): 35 - Monster

What kind of monster?

Graveyard Monstrosities - Vermis (d12): 2 - Mad Bones

Beyond the door lies a room with three pillars that are supporting a vaulted ceiling. Stood in the center of the pillars is yet another looming skeleton holding a giant club. Lining the edge of the room are multiple stone caskets.

The two agree that if Bregwald can strike the skeleton as he had with the previous one, then it will surely fall, he only needs the opportunity.

Bregwald passes his torch to the knight and creeps into the chamber amongst the shadows.

DEX check (d20): 1 - Success

He makes his way into the chamber completely unnoticed by the Mad Bones and lies waiting in the shadows, ready for the knight to enter and distract it.

The knight bursts into the chamber, ready face the Mad Bones head on. Its bones begin to creak and the undead terror strides through the darkness of the crypt towards the knight, flailing its giant club around its head.

COMBAT:

Mad Bones HP (2d8): 10

Damage : 1d8

AC: 13

ATK Bonus: +2

Knight HP (1d8): 3

Damage: 1d8 (Broad sword)

AC: 15

ATK Bonus: +2

The flailing club grinds across the floor as it swings across and up towards the knight (d20 + 2 ATK bonus):

14 - Miss

But it narrowly misses, smashing the old door behind the knight into the corridor.

Bregwald seizes his opportunity and emerges from the shadows bringing his mighty mace hurtling towards the mad Bones (d20 +1 ATK bonus, +1 STR, +2 attack from behind):

13 - Hit

Damage (1d8 +1 STR): 3

A violent crash echoes around the chamber as the mace smashes into the giant skeleton, it drops to one knee.

As the skeleton drops, the knight swipes his sword at its giant skull (d20 +2 ATK bonus):

18 - Hit

Damage (1d8): 2 (Mad Bones only takes 1 due to resitance to edged weapons)

The blade slashes across the skull, cracking the jaw, but the Mad Bones seems largely unfazed and once again stands tall, looming over the knight.

The violent tower of bones stands above the knight and brings its club crashing down from a great height (d20 +2 ATK bonus):

5 - Miss

But once again misses, caving in part of the stone wall beside where the old doorway had previously stood.

As the skeleton lurches trying to lift its great club from the rubble, Bregwald launches himself at the blasphemous terror and brings his mace smashing at the back of its skull (d20 +1 ATK bonus, +1 STR, +2 attack from behind):

12 - Miss 

But now he misses, swinging into thin air, he decides to back away slowly, focusing his attention on one of the stone pillars that line the center of the chamber.

Fear starts to take control of the knight as he stands one on with the Mad Bones. Terror-stricken he swings with his sword (d20 +2 ATK bonus):

15 - Hit

Damage (1d8): 2 (Mad Bones only takes 1 due to resistance to edged weapons)

The sword swipes against the ribs of the Mad Bones this time, cracking one in the process, but doing little to stop the oncoming onslaught from the tower of bones.

The Mad Bones lets out an unhallowed hiss and with both hands its club roars down at the knight (d20 +2 ATK bonus):

18 - Hit

Damage (1d8): 7

The club thunders through the shadows and this time finds its mark. The knight hardly has time to cry out in terror as he is hammered violently down into the stone floor. His mangled corpse completely folds upon impact and is left embedded in the dark stone below.

Keen to avoid a similar fate Bregwald settles on a plan to end the skeleton once and for all. He swipes at the crumbling stone column beside him with his mace and tries to push it in the direction of the skeleton.

STR Check (d20): 10 - Success

+25 XP

The stone column begins to crumble and falls down onto the Mad Bones, which lets out one final hiss before both it and the bloody corpse of the knight are crushed beneath the rubble.

+100 XP

Bregwald weeps for his fallen ally, and prays to his god; once again thankful to be alive.

Add 10% extra XP as Bregwald is human.

165 total XP this session.

END OF SESSION.

BFRPG: Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Solo RPG GME - Fantasy: Solo RPG GME - Fantasy - DriveThruRPG

Vermis: Vermis I - lost dungeons and forbidden woods – www.hollow-press.net

BFRPG Session 6 - Using Solo RPG GME Fantasy & Vermis

CHARACTER SHEET:

Name: Bregwald of the Woods

Class: Cleric

Race: Human

Level: 1

HP: 5/7

AC: 15 (Leather Armor 13, +1 Shield, +1 DEX)

XP: 1189 (1500)

STR: 12 (0)

INT: 12 (0)

WIS: 16 (+2)

DEX: 15 (+1)

CON: 15 (+1)

CHA: 9 (0)

Saving Throws:

 •Death Ray or Poison: 11

 •Magic Wands: 12

 •Paralysis or Petrify: 14

 •Dragon Breath: 16

 •Spells: 15

Skills: Turn Undead

Languages: Common

Gold:50

Description: A stout, dark haired man with thick limbs like the trunk of an oak tree. Follower of Murgo (The relentless). Lives in a chapel in the Flutewood Forest praying to Murgo daily. Often places offerings at the several shrines of Murgo and loves to see the forest grow taller and thicker due to Murgos blessing. 

Equipment:

Mace

Leather Armor

Buckler

Backpack 

Tinderbox

Holy symbol (Clay figure of Murgo)

Torches (5) 

Rations (5)

Rope

Hatchet

Scroll of Detect Magic

Mummified Flesh

Session 6:

Bregwald packs the cut of mummified flesh into his pack, and turns to survey the rest of the crypt. His torch flickers over the crumbling, grey stone. He dreads to think what lies beyond the archway into which the giant skeleton had previously fled. 

He decides to search the chambers before leaving.

Oracle: What does he find?

Clue Dice Outcomes (d6): 1 - Roll on the Random Secret Discovery Table

Random Secret Discovery (d12): 2 - Friendly NPC

Bregwald continues to search the crypt but to no avail, he decides to avoid searching the archway on his own. Just as he's ready to leave the chamber, the door through which he had entered once again cracks open, a figure enters into the room.

Oracle: What is the NPC's personality like?

NPC Attitude (d12): 4 - Apathetic

NPC Motivation (d12): 4 - Fear

NPC Goals (d12): 9 - Glory

Oracle: What does the NPC talk about?

Verb (d100): 37 - Emphasize

Noun (d100): 18 - Spell

A wandering knight clad in a bascinet and dull chainmail pushes his way into the crypt with his head in his hands, he hardly notices Bregwald. He backs off to the walls and slumps to the ground, mumbling to himself.

Bregwald approaches the knight, who doesn't even look up, and continues to speak to himself. Bregwald asks him what is wrong.

"The mist...the mist...it's going to take us all. Please leave me, I can't bear to be out there for another second. The horror..."

Bregwald tries to convince the knight that sitting around waiting to die isn't an option, and that despite being free from the mist, the crypt certainly isn't a safe space to hide:

CHA check (d20): 7 - Success

+25 XP

The knight ceases his shaking, and stands up, pulling his broadsword from its sheath.

"Thankyou friend, I came to these woods hunting for glory, I don't intend on letting some fog stop me."

The two agree to search deeper into the crypts, hoping to split whatever treasures they may find, and at the very least rid the tomb of some of its hellish inhabitants.

Lead by Bregwald, they step under archway and into the shadows.

Oracle: Are there any doors leading from this chamber?

Yes/No (d6): 2 - Yes

How many? (d4): 2 doorways

Oracle: Is the Mad Bones inside this chamber?

Yes/No (d6): Yes, but...

It stands still in the shadows now, as it waits for our approach.

The torchlight reveals a long corridor, the walls are lined to the ceiling with corpses that lie upon stacked stone platforms. The air is thick with the smell of rot. 

Bregwald can see the faint outline of the looming skeleton standing at the end of the hallway, as if it's guarding the two doorways that lie either side of it. He raises his hand to signal to the knight following behind to stop, and surveys the room before going any further.

Bregwald surveys the corridor for anything of use:

WIS check (d20): 1 - Success

+25 XP

Bregwald notices hanging from the ceiling, above the head of the great skeleton, is a large chandelier made of wrought iron; its candles long extinguished.

He picks up a piece of the crumbling masonry lying about the crypt, and throws it at the chandelier:

DEX check (d20): 18 - Fail

He misses by a wide mark, the stone thuds against the ground beside the Mad Bones. The skeleton once again lets out an ear-piercing hiss, raises its mighty club, and charges the two adventurers who both stand ready, weapons drawn.

COMBAT:

Mad Bones HP (2d8): 9

Damage : 1d8 (Club)

AC: 13

ATK Bonus: +2

Knight HP (1d8): 3

Damage: 1d8 (Broad sword)

AC: 15

ATK Bonus: +2

Bregwald and the knight both press in around the skeleton in the narrow corridor.

Bregwald bring his mace crashing against one of the skeletons knees (d20 +1 STR, +1 ATK bonus):

6 - Miss

But the towering mass of bones avoids by turning away, facing towards the knight who swipes at it with his sword (d20 +2 ATK bonus):

13 - Hit

Damage (1d8): 4 (Mad Bones only takes 2 due to being resistant to edged weapons)

The knight's sword scrapes off the skeleton's femur, its giant bones creak as its club comes thundering down upon the knight (d20 + 2 ATK bonus):

7 - Miss

The knight rolls out of the way, the club crashes through a stack of corpses in the wall. A storm of rubble flies into the air as multiple wrecked cadavers tumble to the ground.

Whilst the skeleton is lifting its club from the rubble Bregwald swings his mace at it with all his might (d20 +1 STR, +1 ATK bonus):

19 - Hit

Damage (1d8 + 1 STR): 9

Bregwald's mace smashes through the ungodly fiend, it lets out one last piercing hiss, before the bones tumble in a mess on the ground.

+100 XP

Bregwald and the knight step back before the giant pile of bones and corpses, grateful to still be alive. 

Add 10% extra XP as Bregwald is human.

165 total XP this session.

END OF SESSION.

BFRPG: Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Solo RPG GME - Fantasy: Solo RPG GME - Fantasy - DriveThruRPG

Vermis: Vermis I - lost dungeons and forbidden woods – www.hollow-press.net

BFRPG Session 5 - Using Solo RPG GME Fantasy & Vermis

CHARACTER SHEET:

Name: Bregwald of the Woods

Class: Cleric

Race: Human

Level: 1

HP: 5/7

XP: 1024 (1500)

STR: 12 (0)

INT: 12 (0)

WIS: 16 (+2)

DEX: 15 (+1)

CON: 15 (+1)

CHA: 9 (0)

Saving Throws:

 •Death Ray or Poison: 11

 •Magic Wands: 12

 •Paralysis or Petrify: 14

 •Dragon Breath: 16

 •Spells: 15

Skills: Turn Undead

Languages: Common

Gold:50

Description: A stout, dark haired man with thick limbs like the trunk of an oak tree. Follower of Murgo (The relentless). Lives in a chapel in the Flutewood Forest praying to Murgo daily. Often places offerings at the several shrines of Murgo and loves to see the forest grow taller and thicker due to Murgos blessing. 

Equipment:

Mace

Leather Armor

Buckler

Backpack 

Tinderbox

Holy symbol (Clay figure of Murgo)

Torches (5) 

Rations (5)

Rope

Hatchet

Scroll of Detect Magic

Session 5:

Bregwald steps back from the gorge, and continues his search for an offering. Seeds, berries or even flesh can be a suitable offering to Murgo. The fog presses in around him until many of the trees seem to fade away into the thick smokiness.

Oracle: Do any apparitions appear out of the fog?

Yes/No (d6): 3 - Yes, but...(but not needed)

Oracle: What figure appears from the fog?

Phantom Parade - Vermis (d12): 8 - Woman Vomiting

The sound of someone retching intensifies out from the fog. Bregwald advances towards the sound until the mist pulls back to reveal a young woman, completely naked, her cadaverous body writhing on the floor. Her hands are clutching at the soft earth as she looks up at Bregwald, before retching again, purging the contents of her stomach all over herself and the ground beneath her.

Reaction (2d6): 12 - Very favourable

"Please help me...please end my suffering. I can help you..." the phantom's frail voice cuts through the still murk surrounding them.

Bregwald steps back, not knowing if this is real, scared and confused by the corpse-like figure before him. He turns and runs.

Oracle: Is Bregwald able to escape from the phantom just by running?

Yes/No (unlikely, d6 disadvantage): 2 - Yes

As Bregwald turns from the woman she begins to sob "Please don't leave me... please..." but her cries trail off into the distance as he flees, until eventually nothing can be heard other than the sound of his boots pressing against the forest floor.

+100 XP for surviving an apparition of the fog

Oracle: What does Bregwald come across as he flees?

Nature Descriptors (d20): 12 - Forgotten

Feature Descriptors (d20): 13 - Burial Site

After some time running, the woods open up into a small clearing. Bregwald steps into it and is able to make out the shadow of a building through the fog. He approaches to find a stone crypt, lichen and ivy crawl over the cracks in the long-forgotten masonry. A thick, wooden door is at the front, two decrepit statues of knights holding large swords stand at each side of it.

Oracle: Are there any creatures around the outside of the crypt?

Yes/No (d6): 6 - No and...

Random Event Generator (d20): 4 - Hidden trap activated

Trap Type Table (d12): 8 Cage trap

As Bregwald approaches the crypt, the ground gives way beneath him, revealing a rusty cage beneath the stony ground.

Saving throw vs Death Ray (d20 + DEX bonus): 8 - Fail

Bregwald tumbles down with a pile of rocks until he finds himself in an old rusted cage that was hidden beneath the stony walkway before the crypt.

10ft falling damage (1d6): 2

He hits the cold ground with a thud, the air is forced from his lungs as he wheezes, trying to gather himself.

-2 HP

Oracle: Are there enough rocks that have fallen into the cage for Bregwald to pile them up and climb out?

Yes/No: 2 - Yes

Bregwald stands up and dusts himself off, rubbing at his sore ribs. He piles up the stones that have tumbled into the cage with him, and uses them as a ramp. He claws at the earth above him, and drags himself back onto the ground.

+25 XP for escaping from trap

Oracle: Is the door to the crypt locked?

Yes/No: 5 - No

Bregwald thinks of how he could gather flesh from the crypt as an offering for Murgo, providing the corpses aren't already reduced to bones, or dust. He pulls a torch from his pack, lights it, and presses the door of the crypt open with his thick, fleshy hand.

Oracle: Are there any creatures waiting on the other side of the door?

Yes/No: 5 - No

Oracle: How many sarcophagi are in the room (d6)?  4

The torchlight reveals a dry, dusty chamber, as still and unnerving as the fog that remains outside. Four large stone sarcophagi stand at each corner, adorned with the likeness of knights in full armor, arms crossed across their chest.

Bregwald approaches the one to the left of the door, and begins to pull the cover over onto the floor.

Oracle: Does the sarcophagus contain an enemy?

Yes/No (d6): No but...

Something else enters into the chamber

Graveyard Monstrosities - Vermis (d12): 2 - Mad Bones

The sarcophagus cover crashes to the ground to reveal a preserved corpse within. Bregwald gets ready to cut off some of the mummified flesh when he hears the ominous rattling of giant bones.

A looming, 7ft skeleton stoops down through an archway at the back of the crypt, dragging a wooden club behind it. Bregwalds turns, his torchlight reveals the chilling presence emerging from the shadows.

Bregwald quickly pulls his effigy of Murgo from his pack, and holds it above his head praying to his god, he shouts cryptic enchantments that boom out around the crypt.

Turn Undead vs Skeleton: 16 - Success

The towering mass of bones hisses at him before turning and fleeing back into the shadows, once again stooping under the archway until eventually disappearing completely from sight.

+25 XP for turning undead

Bregwald thanks his god, and wipes the sweat from his brow. He uses his hatchet to hack away some flesh from the mummified corpse that stands rigid within the sarcophagus.

+100 XP for gathering an offering for Murgo

Add 10% extra XP as Bregwald is human.

275 total XP this session.

END OF SESSION.

BFRPG: Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Solo RPG GME - Fantasy: Solo RPG GME - Fantasy - DriveThruRPG

Vermis: Vermis I - lost dungeons and forbidden woods – www.hollow-press.net

BFRPG Session 4 - Using Solo RPG GME Fantasy & Vermis

CHARACTER SHEET:

Name: Bregwald of the Woods

Class: Cleric

Race: Human

Level: 1

HP: 7/7

XP: 749 (1500)

STR: 12 (0)

INT: 12 (0)

WIS: 16 (+2)

DEX: 15 (+1)

CON: 15 (+1)

CHA: 9 (0)

Saving Throws:

 •Death Ray or Poison: 11

 •Magic Wands: 12

 •Paralysis or Petrify: 14

 •Dragon Breath: 16

 •Spells: 15

Skills: Turn Undead

Languages: Common

Gold:50

Description: A stout, dark haired man with thick limbs like the trunk of an oak tree. Follower of Murgo (The relentless). Lives in a chapel in the Flutewood Forest praying to Murgo daily. Often places offerings at the several shrines of Murgo and loves to see the forest grow taller and thicker due to Murgos blessing. 

Equipment:

Mace

Leather Armor

Buckler

Backpack 

Tinderbox

Holy symbol (Clay figure of Murgo)

Torches (5) 

Rations (5)

Rope

Hatchet

Scroll of Detect Magic

Session 4:

Bregwald settles down for the night, climbing onto a thin stone slab covered with straw that he calls his bed. He pulls a coarse woolen blanket over himself, moonlight shines through cracks in the door of the chapel.

Oracle: Does he get through the night safely?

Yes/No (d6): Yes, but...

Throughout the night, Bregwald is haunted by visions of the forest burning until eventually, the vast, rocky landscape is grey and covered with ash. Countless charred remains of the different creatures of the Flutewoods litter the now barren crags and peaks.

He awakes as the sun is rising, concerned by his visions. He runs to the door, flinging it open, praying that the forest is unchanged.

Oracle: Is anything waiting for him outside?

Yes/No (d6): Yes, and...

Verb (d100): 76 - Improvise

Noun (d100): 64 - Scout

A hooded figure has been following Bregwald since he left the cave, watching the chapel throughout the night, hiding in the dense foliage of the forest. The figure is prone beneath a mass of thorny bushes and watches Bregwald intently as he steps out of the chapel.

Oracle: Is the figure human?

Yes/No (d6): 5 - Yes and...

They are part of the Oracle cult

Does Bregwald notice that the figure is there?

WIS check (d20): 20 - Fail

Bregwald steps out, glad at least to see that the forest has not been reduced to a barren waste as it had in his dream. He stretches his arms out and walks unknowingly towards the bush where the hooded scout is hiding.

Oracle: Does the hooded scout ambush Bregwald?

Yes/No (likely, d6 advantage): 4 - No but...

They do approach him without attacking

Bregwald staggers back as he hears a sudden rustling in the bush in front him; crawling out from the brambles is a looming, hooded figure. Strands of greasy, matted hair poke out from underneath the hood and cling to the coarse fabric of their cloak. Their face is hidden. 

Reaction (2d6): 11 - Favorable

A croaking, haughty voice comes from under the hood. "I have been watching you, hermit. I come with an offer, renounce your faith in Murgo, embrace that which cannot be stopped, all things must fall into decay come the end, so sayeth the Oracle..."

Bregwald shakes his head in disbelief, and asks if followers of the Oracle are responsible for desecrating the Shrines of Murgo.

Does he succeed in finding out?

CHA check (hard, d20 + 2): 14 - Fail

The hooded figure raises their head slightly to reveal a crooked, menacing grin. "All will become clear when you embrace the Oracle. You have one day to make your decision..."

Fog creeps in from the surrounding trees, and the hooded figure retreats into it before disappearing from sight completely.

+100 XP for significant event

Disturbed by the whole exchange, Bregwald retreats to the chapel, and prays to his Effigy of Murgo, asking for a sign.

WIS check (hard, d20 + 2): 19 - Fail

Despite his deepest pleas, he is shown nothing by Murgo. He leaves the chapel, worrying if his god has abandoned him.

He decides to go out and gather what he can from the forest in order to make an offering to Murgo, and once again plead for assistance.

Oracle: What is the weather like?

Weather (d6): 6 - Foggy

The fog that had earlier seemingly swallowed up the hooded figure now creeps in from all directions of the forest. Bregwald feels as if he can see all manner of ungodly creatures watching him in the murky distance.

Does he encounter anything whilst out searching for offerings?

Yes/No (d6, likely): 2 - Yes

Encounter Type (d12): 5 - Environmental hazard

Bregwald wanders through the thick fog, the woods are unnervingly still, the normally howling Flutewood trees stand tall and silent. He loses his footing as all of a sudden the ground seems crumble from under him. He sees now he has stepped over onto the edge of a rocky gorge, fast running water flows far below.

Is he able to recover and climb back up?

DEX check (d20): 12 - Success

+25 XP for recovering

He nimbly recovers his footing and clambers back up onto solid ground. A number of

loose rocks splash into the water far below.

Oracle: Does anything hear the splashing?

Yes/No (d6): 5 - No

Bregwald thanks his god for the narrow escape, and he continues his search for a suitable offering...

Add 10% extra XP as Bregwald is human.

137 total XP this session.

END OF SESSION.

BFRPG: Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Solo RPG GME - Fantasy: Solo RPG GME - Fantasy - DriveThruRPG

Vermis: Vermis I - lost dungeons and forbidden woods – www.hollow-press.net

BFRPG Session 3 - Using Solo RPG GME Fantasy & Vermis

CHARACTER SHEET:

Name: Bregwald of the Woods

Class: Cleric

Race: Human

Level: 1

HP: 7/7

XP: 612 (1500)

STR: 12 (0)

INT: 12 (0)

WIS: 16 (+2)

DEX: 15 (+1)

CON: 15 (+1)

CHA: 9 (0)

Saving Throws:

 •Death Ray or Poison: 11

 •Magic Wands: 12

 •Paralysis or Petrify: 14

 •Dragon Breath: 16

 •Spells: 15

Skills: Turn Undead

Languages: Common

Gold:50

Description: A stout, dark haired man with thick limbs like the trunk of an oak tree. Follower of Murgo (The relentless). Lives in a chapel in the Flutewood Forest praying to Murgo daily. Often places offerings at the several shrines of Murgo and loves to see the forest grow taller and thicker due to Murgos blessing. 

Equipment:

Mace

Leather Armor

Buckler

Backpack 

Tinderbox

Holy symbol (Clay figure of Murgo)

Torches (5) 

Rations (5)

Rope

Hatchet

Scroll of Detect Magic

Session 3:

Bregwald steps back from the effigy, wondering how it could relate to the desecrated shrines that now litter the forest.

He turns round to face the rest of the room.

Oracle: Is the forest doll still there?

Yes/No (d6): 2 - Yes

The shadow of the forest doll still lingers ominously at the other end of the chamber, its rattling breathing echoes around the stone walls.

Oracle: Are there any further exits from the room?

Yes/No (d6): 4 -No, but...

Verb (d100): 50 - Ally

Noun (d100): 60 - Thief

A thin, masked man wielding two daggers emerges from the shadow of the tunnel. His mask portrays a crooked, smiling face.  

"Heh heh...I certainly wasn't expecting company. You don't look like one of those damned Oracle cultists, tell you what, help me get rid of our friend here *he nods to the Forest Doll*, and I'll share whatever I find here with you"

Bregwald nods, and the two men approach the Forest Doll, its skeleton of sticks and vines rattling violently the closer they get.

COMBAT:

Forest Doll:

AC: 11

Atk Bonus: +1

HP (d8): 5

Damage: d6 (vines)

The masked thief runs at the Forest Doll shouting "I'll hold the damn thing still, you light it ablaze!"

The masked thief goes to wrestle the Forest Doll (d20 +1 atk bonus): 15 - Success.

Vines are flaring out from the Forest Doll's body, but the thief manages to sidestep them and wrap his hands around its body, holding it in place.

-4 AC to Forest Doll whilst wrestled.

Bregwald goes to plunge his torch into the twisted wooden mass that makes up the Forest Dolls body (d20 +1 atk bonus, +1 strength): 11 - Hit

Oracle: Does this kill the Forest Doll?

 Yes/No (likely, d6 advantage): 1 - Yes

+25 XP for killing the Forest Doll

The Forest Doll lets out an unholy scream that violently bounces off the stone walls of the cave around them. It goes up in a ferocious blaze as the thief pushes it away from him. The flaming corpse convulses on the floor, Bregwald covers his to ears to protect them from the unhallowed shrieking. Eventually  the screaming subsides and the corpse is reduced to nothing but a smouldering pile of ashes.

The masked thief looks up at Bregwald "Heh hehe...You certainly held up your end of the bargain, now I'll hold up mine, but we ought to be quick"

He wanders over to a stone sarcophagus that sits against the wall behind where the Forest Doll was stood, and starts to push the lid off.

Oracle: What kind of treasure is there?

Item discovery (d12): 4 - Scroll or book

What type of scroll (d100): 02 - Level 1 Cleric spell

What spell (d8): 3 - Detect magic

The huge stone lid drops to the ground to reveal a mummified corpse clutching a scroll, several gold rings around its fingers.

The masked thief shakes his head "How disappointing...I'd hoped for more", he snaps the fingers from the corpse's clutching hands, and empties the rings into a small pouch. "You can take that scroll, I have no use for it, farewell, hopefully we don't meet again...heh heh".

The thief runs off into the darkness of the tunnel from whence he came, his chuckles echoing down through into the chamber. Bregwald takes the scroll and stuffs it into his pack, before turning, ready to leave the cave himself.

+1 Scroll of Detect Magic

After crawling back through the tight tunnel, he once again finds himself at the foot of the waterfall. It is starting to get dark, he decides he better make his way back to the Chapel for the night.

Oracle: Does he encounter anything else on his way back through the woods?

Yes/No: 5 - No 

Oracle: Has the weather changed?

Yes/No: 6 - No and... (and not needed in this case)

He trudges his way through the woods, the soft ground begins to become an impassable bog due the endless rain. Mud covers his armour and slows his progress.

Does he get lost due to the difficult terrain:

WIS check (d20): 9 - Success

+25 XP for successfully getting back

Despite it being a battle through endless bog between the whistling trees of the Flutewood, Bregwald eventually finds his way back to his Chapel, and settles down for the night.

He cooks some vegetables in a pot over his fire, puts out his torch, and settles down for the night.

-1 RATION

-1 TORCH

Add 10% extra XP as Bregwald is human.

55 total XP this session.

END OF SESSION.

BFRPG: Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Solo RPG GME - Fantasy: Solo RPG GME - Fantasy - DriveThruRPG

Vermis: Vermis I - lost dungeons and forbidden woods – www.hollow-press.net

BFRPG Session 2 - Using Solo RPG GME Fantasy & Vermis

 CHARACTER SHEET:

Name: Bregwald of the Woods

Class: Cleric

Race: Human

Level: 1

HP: 7/7

XP: 577 (1500)

STR: 12 (0)

INT: 12 (0)

WIS: 16 (+2)

DEX: 15 (+1)

CON: 15 (+1)

CHA: 9 (0)

Saving Throws:

 •Death Ray or Poison: 11

 •Magic Wands: 12

 •Paralysis or Petrify: 14

 •Dragon Breath: 16

 •Spells: 15

Skills: Turn Undead

Languages: Common

Gold:50

Description: A stout, dark haired man with thick limbs like the trunk of an oak tree. Follower of Murgo (The relentless). Lives in a chapel in the Flutewood Forest praying to Murgo daily. Often places offerings at the several shrines of Murgo and loves to see the forest grow taller and thicker due to Murgos blessing. 

Equipment:

Mace

Leather Armor

Buckler

Backpack 

Tinderbox

Holy symbol (Clay figure of Murgo)

Torches (6) 

Rations (6)

Rope

Hatchet

Session 2:

Leaving the goblin's twisted corpse bobbing in the river, Bregwald turns back to the waterfall, determined to find an entrance.

He searches again for an entrance (Increasing chances to 1-3 on d6 due to searching before):

5 - Fail

After some time searching, he fails to find any way past the thunderous downfall of water.

Oracle: What happens in order to help him find his way in?

Random event generator (d20): 14 - Theft or loss of an item

Whilst scrambling around the rocks at the foot of the waterfall, some dried meat Bregwald had packed as rations fall out of his pack. He hears the sound of scuttling feet drawing closer and closer. Emerging from the shadows of a yet unseen hollow amongst the rocks, a Mole Goblin scurries out on all fours, sniffs at the ration, and gobbles it up with its extendable jaws. 

LOSE 1 RATION.

Oracle: Does the Mole Goblin attack Bregwald? 

Yes/No (d6): 3 - Yes but...

Bregwald is quicker and attacks first.

Immediately after devouring the dropped ration, the creature sniffs at the misty air, leans back on its two hind legs and lets out an ungodly shriek.

Bregwald immediately draws down on it, mace aloft, ready to strike.

COMBAT:

Mole Goblin HP (1d8 - 1): 2

Damage : 1d6

AC: 11

Damage: 1d6 (Jaws)

As Bregwald charges, he notices that its covered in wounds and bleeding; something further into the cave must have injured it.

Bregwald swings at the creature whilst it's still mid-shriek, aiming for its bloody face (d20 +1 atk bonus, +1 STR):

6 - Miss

But the creature smells him coming and jumps up onto a higher rock, before diving down at him, its extendable jaws gnashing at the air.

Mole Goblin Attack (d20 +1 atk bonus):

3 - Miss

Bregwald raises his shield, and deflects the creature back to the entrance of the hollow. He quickly chases it down, cutting off any routes of escape other than the tunnel from whence it came.

He violently takes another swing at the Mole Goblin(d20 +1 atk bonus, +1 STR):

15 - Hit

Damage (Mace, d8 + 1 STR): 

4 - Kills the Mole Goblin

The creature once again shrieks at Bregwald, but unphased he brings his bloody mace

crashing down, caving in the sharp teeth of its extendable jaws and killing it.

+10 XP for defeating the Mole Goblin

Bregwald stares down at the corpse; its face a bloody mess of broken teeth and bone. He wipes the sweat from his brow and kicks the corpse out of the way, thankful that it at least showed him a way in.

The tunnel is a tight fit, but he squeezes himself in, and begins to crawl down into the darkness.

Eventually he comes out into an open space, the air is damp, and the sound of dripping water on cold stone echoes around him

Oracle: Is the forest doll in this part of the cave (d6): 

2 - Yes

Long, raspy breaths can be heard coming from the gloom. Bregwald quickly pulls out a torch from his bag and lights it using his tinderbox. The breaths continue, and Bregwald turns to face the direction they're coming from. A shadowy figure of a small woman is stood unmoving in the darkness.

Oracle: How does the forest doll react (2d6): 

7 - Unfavorable

The breathing gets louder, as Bregwald nears he can see it is the forest doll from earlier; a figure looking like an old woman made from sticks and vines, held together by some kind of dark magic. As he nears it the sticks start to rattle violently. 

"You...are not welcome here..." The hissing voice seemed to echo from within Bregwalds own mind.

He takes a step back from the doll, and the rattling becomes less violent. He decides to search the rest of the damp chamber rather than risking a confrontation in the dark.

Oracle: Does Bregwald find a clue as to who's been desecrating the shrines?

Clue dice outcomes (d6): 6 - Major clue

Major clue pool (d6): 2 - Ancient prophecy

Doing his best to keep his distance from the forest doll (which is still lurking in the shadows, breathing deeply), Bregwald searches the outskirts of the chamber. The light from his torch reveals a large stone effigy of the decapitated head of Marko (The Oracle). At the base of it, is a large stone tablet, with the words "DEATH AND DECAY MUST RECLAIM THIS WORLD, SO SAYETH THE ORACLE" engraved into it.

He steps back, scratching his beard and wondering, who - or what, could possibly have created this other-wordly shrine, and could it be the same force desecrating the shrines near his chapel...

+500 XP for finding a major clue.

Add 10% extra XP as Bregwald is human.

561 total XP this session.

END OF SESSION.

BFRPG: Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Solo RPG GME - Fantasy: Solo RPG GME - Fantasy - DriveThruRPG

Vermis: Vermis I - lost dungeons and forbidden woods – www.hollow-press.net