Old School Essentials Solo #4
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 geared up for revenge against the troglodytes and then nearly died in the attempt.
This session did not develop the map further than last time.
In Town
The party planned to go back into the dungeon to further investigate the troglodytes, and hopefully find some treasure after the deaths of the eight reptilians. Yaïma decided to sit this one out after her own near death experience.
In her place, the party sought out hired hands. The party offered a standard fee of 1 gold piece per day and a half-share of any treasure recovered. The party was able to keep quiet Yaïma's convalescence, so their reputation was unaffected.
Getting little interest from their initial offer, the party finally found two retainers at a rate of 2.5 gold pieces per day and 60% shares. This added Parex the Fighter and Gobrei the Halfling to their ranks.
Adventure Session
The party entered the dungeon, passed through Radwen's Domain, and reached the passage toward the troglodyte territory without incident [see streamlining in the Referee Notes].
Artuna, with her infravision, scouted ahead through the dark, smelly curving passage toward the site of the last battle. From the right-hand passage at the Y-intersection she could hear the reptilian speech of troglodytes in the chamber ahead.
Artuna returned to the group with her intel. The group decided on a plan of attack: Artuna would lead the group to the troglodyte's antechamber in the dark. Then, she would light and launch Dark Rain's flask of oil into the room, creating enough fire light to fight by.
The party slowly and quietly made their way to the chamber, each holding on to the member in front of them. Artuna lit the flask and launched it at a troglodyte, setting the reptilian ablaze! She then moved into the chamber, next to the entry way. The other party members broke out their shortbows and shot arrows at the troglodytes. Due to the poor light, none hit their targets.
In addition to the burning troglodyte, there were three others. One rushed at Artuna, while the other two closed the distance to the group members in the passage (Brother Haris and Parex in front, due to their chain mail armor). Each was hit by the troglodyte's claw: Artuna and Parex were bloodied, while Brother Haris dropped to the stone floor. The burning troglodyte shrieked as it died in a flaming heap.
The party members redoubled their attack. Artuna missed her target. Parex and Gobrei pushed forward out of the entry way, drawing their short swords. Parex was nauseated by the troglodyte's stench, unable to hit his mark. Gobrei just nicked the troglodyte that felled Brother Haris. Dark Rain was blocked from attacking, for the moment.
Artuna was killed. The nausea began to set in for Gobrei. Dark Rain pushed past his retainers to avenge Artuna.
The party and the troglodytes traded blows, resulting in the death of one troglodyte, until finally Dark Rain and Parex fell. Gobrei attempted to flee, making it almost to the columned corridor before being killed as well.
Yaïma lived.
Referee Notes
I stream-lined the dungeon entry process:
From the surface to Level 2 is about 300'. From the entrance to Level 2 to Radwen's Domain is about 150'. Since it's well-covered, I will count that as three dungeon turns. The wandering monster check will happen somewhere around the slope between levels.
From Radwen's Domain to the troglodyte curve is about 450'. That's about two and a half turns, so I'll put the wandering monster check somewhere in the columned corridor.
R.I.P. to the entire party, except Yaïma.
