Old School Essentials Solo #1
Inspired by this series on the Smoldering Wizard blog, I decided to try blogging a solo game of OSE.
I rolled up four characters (3d6 down the line): Feog the dwarf, Yaïma the elf, Elomi the halfling, and Dark Rain the thief.
The map from this session:
Adventure Session
The party descended down the stairs into the dungeon (I have not developed an above ground setting yet). At the foot of the stairs was a room, 30' by 30'. Each wall had a door in the center: The door on the northern wall did not have a lock; the southern door had a lock, but Dark Rain said it looked simple; the western door had a lock that looked more complex.
Elomi listened at the northern door, Feog and Dark Rain at the western, and Yaïma at the southern. None heard anything. The group decided to go through the southern door. Since the door had a lock, they thought that it could contain treasure; however, since the lock was simpler than the other, it would make for a better starting point.
Dark Rain quickly opened the lock. He pushed open the door to find a parallel passage on the other side.
From the darkness further down the passage, a solitary gnome approached. The gnome seemed unsure about the intrusion by Dark Rain, but when Feog entered the passage, the gnome seemed more relaxed, although a bit disinterested.
Feog addressed the gnome, “Hail, sir. Do you live here?”
The gnome responded, “My burrow is deeper below the earth.”
Feog said, “I see. Then we will continue on our way. Is there any danger ahead?”
The gnome shouted, “No more questions!”
Feog responded, “Okay...”
The gnome passed the party, frowning at them. The party continued slowly down the passage. They arrived at an intersection with a side passage branching off to the left. Furthermore, a group of four cloaked figures, illuminated by lantern-light, approached from ahead. The figures passed the party, with a nod.
The party continued straight. They soon found the door the hooded figures had come through—guarded by another hooded figure!
As soon as the guard saw the group, he pounded on the door and then hefted his mace.
Dark Rain said to his party, “I think we took the wrong path.”
Feog replied, “Yes, run down the side passage!”
The guard ran towards Dark Rain, brandishing the mace.
The group ran down the passage, with the guard 20 feet behind them. Feog the dwarf fell to the back of the group. They turned a corner to the left; The guard followed them. The passage turned left again and descended to the next floor below.
The slope ended at a door. It didn't have a lock, but when Yaïma pulled it, the door was stuck—the group was trapped!
Feog quickly took out his battle axe. The guard swung his mace, but the dwarf dodged the blow. The dwarf counterattacked, but his battle ax bounced off the armor under the guard's tunic!
Elomi joined Feog and swung her short sword at the guard, but she missed. While the dwarf and the halfling kept the guard busy, the elf worked to unstick the door.
Dark Rain joined in and stabbed the guard with his short sword, mortally wounding him! The guard fell to the ground, bleeding out.
Yaïma unstuck the door and opened it just as reinforcements arrived around the corner. The group of adventurers quickly passed through the door and closed it behind them. Elomi took an iron spike and a small hammer from her backpack and drove the spike under the door to keep it closed.
On this side of the door, the passage turned a half angle to the left. Although tired of running and fighting, the group continued forward, concerned by the sound of the guards banging on the door. In the passage, the thief's torch went out, plunging him and the halfling into darkness; the elf and the dwarf, however, could see in the dark. Dark Rain lit another torch.
At the end of the hallway, they came to a circular chamber with no clear exit. They began to search the walls for a secret door, when they heard a crash. The door was broken down and guards could be heard shouting in the passage. Dark Rain extinguished his torch and the group took up sniping positions at the entrance.
Dark Rain, Elomi, and Feog shot arrows at the guards. Dark Rain the thief hit the first guard and killed him, causing the rest to flee! The fallen guard held no treasure, but Dark Rain took his mace and (un)holy symbol and Yaïma carried off his plate mail.
The group continued searching for secret doors. Yaïma found one hidden in the western part of the wall. They entered the quiet passage on the other side. Weary, the group decided to rest in the dark, with Yaïma and Feog on guard.
Referee Notes
It was a little odd going from indifferent to immediately hostile with the cloaked figures (Acolytes). I guess I should have modified the reaction roll for the door guard! Oh well, it provided action.