Old School Essentials Solo #3
This post is part of a series of solo adventures in a randomly generated dungeon. Find the first session here. Spoiler alert from here on!
In the previous session, the party pressed further into level two of the dungeon. They avoided an encounter with gnolls and neanderthals, but lost two members to troglodytes. A sympathetic elf guided them out of the dungeon.
The map from this session:
(The dice under the troglodyte label indicates that one group out of the lair-population has been rolled.)
In Town
Back in town, Yaïma and Dark Rain sold the equipment they looted from the hooded figure they killed in the dungeon. For the plate mail and mace they earned 65 gold pieces. They took the acolyte's symbol to the local church, where it was identified as belonging to a chaotic cult; they received a 25 gold piece reward for it.
Yaïma spent a portion of her share upgrading from chain mail armor to plate mail armor. Dark Rain spent his share on equipment he couldn't afford before: a crowbar, grappling hook, hand mirror, stakes & mallet, and a flask of oil.
They also recruited two more party members. To quest for revenge against the troglodytes, they found Feog's sister Artuna (also a dwarf). To defeat the chaos cult, they found Brother Haris, a cleric from the local temple.
Adventure Session
The party snuck through the first floor of the dungeon, following the path from the previous session. Once on the second floor, Radwen met them on the way to his domain. They rested there for twenty minutes, telling the elf of their plan for revenge on the troglodytes. He wished them well and sent them on their way.
The party reached the curving passage without incident. They sent Yaïma ahead to sneak through the dark for reconnaissance. She quickly came to a door with a lock.
She went back to get Dark Rain and the others. In torch-light, the thief inspected the lock, finding it quite rusty. He determined the door could easily be knocked open, rather than picked; however, this would eliminate any element of surprise the party had.
Dark Rain and then Yaïma listened at the door, neither hearing anything on the other side. Yaïma shouldered the door, breaking it open. On the other side, the party found a Y-intersection, empty and dark. The right-hand path stank of troglodyte.
They followed the right-hand path into a 30' x 50' chamber. In the center of the stone floor were the bodies of Feog and Elomi, as well as the two wounded (now dead) troglodytes.
Artuna gasped and nearly rushed into the room, but at the last moment she noticed the four troglodytes lying in wait, camouflaged against the walls. The party drew their weapons as the troglodytes stepped forward from their hiding places.
Yaïma began to chant while Dark Rain and Artuna shot arrows at the troglodytes. Both arrows missed their targets. Yaïma's magic filled the room, sending all six into a slumber.
The party took up positions at four of the sleeping troglodytes. Dark Rain quietly directed Brother Haris to take the short sword from Elomi's possessions, but he refused to touch the deceased or their belongings. Instead he would have to attempt to coup de grace the troglodyte with his mace.
Dark Rain, Yaïma, and Artuna were able to slit the throats of three of the troglodyte targets, while Brother Haris brought his bludgeon down on a fourth, bloodying it.
The wounded troglodyte and the two uninjured ones woke up, shrieking. The injured clawed at Haris, ineffectively. The other two scrambled to their feet and moved toward Yaïma.
Brother Haris hit his target again, glancing off the scaly hide. Yaïma swung her sword but missed, as did Artuna and Dark Rain.
One of the troglodytes struck Yaïma with its claws. She fell to the floor, possibly dead.
Artuna struck back at the troglodyte that dropped the elf, slashing it with her battle axe.
The remaining party members and troglodytes traded blows and parries for another minute. Finally the troglodytes were dead and the party members severely wounded [Haris: ¾, Artuna: 2/4, Dark Rain: 1/3].
The party carried the bodies of their companions slowly through the dungeon (with Brother Haris carrying the dying Yaïma). Exhausted, they reached Radwen's domain. He was more than a little disgusted by the remains, but tried to remain sympathetic to the plight of the adventuring party. In the safety of Radwen's home, they were able to revive Yaïma.
Radwen guided the party to the surface. They returned to town and rested for two full days at Brother Haris' temple.
Referee Notes
I was annoyed by the slugfest with the troglodytes and decided to give Yaïma a death save since she was only brought to 0 and they recovered her body immediately. I will admit, I probably wouldn't have for Brother Haris or Artuna!
I don't know, I think I like DCC a bit better when it comes to death.