Silvar, Rokav and Ash have defeated the Hellcat, and located Graggar's body.
Silvar's Cure heals her 3 points from the cat's swipe. The party gain extra 100 XP for discovering Graggar’s fate - and claiming his inventory. Level up! This only provides an extra Hit Dice in World of Dungeons,
They make a cairn for Graggar in the rocky ground, burying him with his sword, knife, helmet and 4 gold coins. They take the necklace, provisions and equipment. When the rocks are placed, they share stories of his prowess, and marvel at how he came so far and had so many possessions when he started out tied to a tree with nothing. Rokav leaves Silvar alone with her brother and searches the ruins. Ash licks Silvar’s hand, then joins his master.
Ash Assist Rokav (+2) 3+6+2 = success, +1. I allow this because Silvar is clearly better.
Rokav Discern Realities (WIS) = 2+3+1 = fail. Oh well it’s not about the money!
The group confer and decide to continue with the quest.
In the afternoon, the trail takes them into untracked lands, the forest seems to open and close around them. It seems to be taking them approximately North East through easy paths and forage areas. They are able to easily pick up rations and water for all, and travel uneventfully at a good pace North East into 2116 (travelling from the left-most yellow circle into the middle circle). As the afternoon wears on, they will have an Encounter and an Event … Toxic Roots - Kalimi will steer the group away, although Ash is not a graze animal. The encounter will need to be “special” in order to get through Kalimi’s protection (normal animals or humanoids will be ushered away by her Maze powers). Well, I rolled a website with D&D forest encounters and got Fire Beetle, perfect!
Fire Beetle x6: HD1/HP2, Armour 2, Flame jet (d4+1 +pierce). Small, Burrowing. XP 70.
Ash Aid Rokav (+2) 5+1+2 = partial.
Ash tugs at Rokav’s trousers with his teeth. Rokav drops to 1 knee and draws his sling. The path made by Kalimi is clear ahead and behind. Everyone hushes in order to Listen for danger ...
Rokav Discern Realities (WIS) 6+1+1 = partial
Rokav touches the ground and feels the vibrations, getting stronger and stronger. “Back!” he shouts as the ground opens with a geyser-like jet of flame, and antennae poke through, questing for targets. The group have time to grab their hand weapons as the beetles emerge …
~~ Note at this point I revised a load of house rules. I didn't note what exactly, unfortunately! ~~
Ash Aid Rokav 6+5+2 = Crit, +1 to Rokav and Ash can attack if Rokav hits.
Rokav Melee 6+5+1+1 = Crit! Ash can re-roll.
Rokav does 6! Killing 1 beetle. Ash does 3 wounding a beetle.
Silvar Melee 1+1+1 = fail, her foot plunges through the earth, immobilising her.
Ash Aid Rokav 2+6+2 = success +1 to Rokav, and not in danger.
Rokav Melee 6+4+1 = success, another beetle dead.
Silvar Melee 1+6+1 = partial, she chops up a beetle but can’t avoid its jet of fire (3)
Golden opportunity: the beetle on Silvar starts crawling up the back of her leg.
Silvar Defy Danger (STR) 1+1+1 = fail, the bug is at the back of her neck.
Rokav will ignore his beetle to assist Silvar. A jet of flame from behind incinerates his rope.
Ash Melee 1+6+0 partial, unfortunately fails to kill his bug and takes 5 (at zero!)
Rokav unawares tries to stab Silvar’s attacker.
Rokav Melee 3+6+1 = success. Dagger fails to penetrate the beetle's armour! The pickax attack from his off-hand will force a Defy Danger on Silvar as he's swinging right at her - but it’s better than the alternative! It only does 1 damage …
Silvar Defy Danger DEX = Snake Eyes! fail …
She takes 2d6 (lowest). And rolls 5 & 6! That 5 from Rokav (KO) plus another 5! from the beetle.
100% Dead.
Silvar's head erupts in flames and she was lucky to be unconscious when the fire caught. Rokav enraged kills the beetles on Silvar and Ash (Crit!) but his ax gets stuck in the ground on the final swing. Fighting with just the knife he takes a horrible burn on his arm (5) as he finishes the final beetle.
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So here are the new healing rules I started using: resting for 1 hour heals 1 HP per 1 HD spent.
There is no healer and there are no bandages to speed things up.
1 hour later, Ash wakes up on 2 HP and Rokav gains 2, Ash is out of HD..
If Silvar was alive, she could provide +1HP/hour (Heal) and 2x1d6 Cures per hour.
It’s now night, and we need to ask - does Kalimi abandon Rokav and Ash (unknown) = Yes!
Not even a but!
The night draws in, and Rokav spots the forest return to normal, the mazy paths are gone …
Rokav and Ash consume a ration and the waterskin, build a low fire pit and a shelter of branches for them and the fire, and settle in. Rokav takes the first 4-hour watch. He can sit and “rest” or patrol, get firewood etc. He decides to “rest” which gives a penalty to his check if anything happens.
.
As they have a fire, and Kalimi has gone, that’s 2 encounter checks, Rokav = no. They both heal up as a 4 hour rest. Rokav switches with Ash, encounter = no. They made it to morning, both heal up 4 points of HD and/or HP. They take another 2 hour break and Rokav uses 1 more HD to heal, and an hour with his pickax to bury Silvar. As per custom he buries her with her shield and hand axe, and anoints her with Holy Water. He collects all other equipment, then speaks over the grave:
“I care not for the spirits in this forest, Silvar my friend, but these flame creatures were the death of you and the future of our tribe. I will see this quest through!” Ash howls agreement.
Does Kalimi hear of this … Unknown = No.
Is there some trace of the Mazy Path for Rokav to follow? Very Likely = Yes.
Survival 2+3+0 = weak success
Rokav studies the land and figures where the path initially went. He tells Ash to forage for himself and they move North. No events occur in the morning, and in the afternoon he looks for forage. While searching, he finds that there is fire damage evident in the woods further north (we rolled 1 for the Feature, so no encounter here but this will be the Fire Wizard). He forages water, berries, edible plants and a large squirrel - enough for 2 days. He finds a spot for his traps and a campsite for the night’s rest-and-watch. Luckily, the night is quiet.
Both restore 4 points of “hits” which puts Ash at 100% and Rokav at full health and 4/2 HD. Forage will likely be harder in the fire-blasted woods, and will only get harder the longer they stay in the area. The traps are poor pickings (-1 for 2nd forage, weak success = 1 ration). They must search for water but can ignore food, so they will both auto succeed, and Rokav only has weak success so there is no extra found. The skin is filled, and that’s it.
Encounter roll while they search for water = yes.
Kalimi Patrol? Unknown = No, but … a creature who reports to her.
Rokav and Ash scare up a group of wood pigeons who fly away to the south.
They move North into 2114 (the red hex!).
The fire damage is extensive and the smell of smoke is strong. There is a haze in the air, although visibility is generally better. A crumbling watch-tower, stone blackened, roof missing can be spotted a few hundred yards away across a field of stumps and charred earth.
Fire Wizard: Lv2/HP9, CON +1. Fire Spell (2d6+2) or Staff (1d6). 2xQuicksilver. XP 800
Spirit 1 Speed/Fire - saved - a damage spell.
Spirit 2 Animal/Fire - already used on creating “fire birds” (ritual). He will re-summon in battle.
Fire Birds x6: HP1, Armour 0, Fly-by burn/claw (1+pierce per bird). Small, Fly, Alert. XP 10
As Rokav and Ash approach the tower (both roll success) Rokav sneaking through the remaining trees and Ash alert for danger, they spot the Fire Birds roosting in and around the tower, small smoke plumes seem to rise from where they have landed. There is no way there is enough cover to get to the tower unnoticed from the air, so Rokav orders Ash to hide, while he finds a good spot to fire his Sling.
Rokav Volley (DEX) 6+3+2 = hit, auto kill, it evaporates, the others fly up and start circling.
Rokav Volley (DEX) 2+6+2 = hit, auto kill, they now are circling overhead.
Rokav Volley (DEX) 1+4+5 = partial, take -1d6 damage (1+2-3 = zero).
The 4 fire birds fly back to the tower, and a figure can be seen on the exposed roof.
Rokav and Ash are still in their good cover, a fair distance from the tower. What do they do?
1 = retreat, 2 = charge/evade, 3-4 missile, 5 parley, 6 wait and see. Wait and see.
(Note here that Kalimi has been alerted and could aid or interfere!)
“What do you want here, wolf-man?”
“Your fire creatures slew two dear friends of mine!”
“Ah yes the minions are hard to control now, but practice makes perfect!”
“Bastard” whispers Rokav, “this is going nowhere. Stay down Ash!”
Rokav Volley (DEX) 4+3+2 = partial, he decides to stay in cover and inflict -d6 (2+2-3=1)
The Wizard is cut by chips of stone and moves out of sight, and the 4 firebirds swoop in.
Rokav Volley (DEX) 1+1+2 = fail, the birds dive-bomb!
Rokav Defy Danger (DEX) = crit, Ash leaps up and snaps his jaw on one of the birds.
(Golden opportunity, Wizard is being ignored - he casts his fireball and a large ground burst sends tree roots and earth flying, leaving Ash and Rokav in a large empty crater).
Rokav and Ash decide to split up, and charge/evade. Half way to the tower … another fireball!
Rokav is the target: Defy Danger DEX = fail! 2d6+2 (-1) damage = 9
Any of the birds caught? 1d6-3 = 2! Only 1 firebird remains! The Hermit screeches his ire!
That remaining bird is on Ash: Defy Danger (DEX) 5+1+1 partial, take the damage or stop! Ash has to keep running with his master, so takes 1 point.
They make it to the lee of the tower. There is a frail looking door that Rokav boots open and they get under cover - they hear a bird squawking outside. On this level the stones are blackened and it smells of soot. There are a few boxes and barrels here, and a sleeping mat. There is a stone spiral staircase heading up. Rokav decides they will rush up in case the wizard is preparing more spells.
On the next floor, they find the “study”.There are drawings on the walls “cave painting” style - of animals with smoke, flames, red eyes and so on. There are scrawls of gibberish, words in demonic languages or elemental runes. There are bird and dog-sized cages made of wood and twine. Another set of spiral stairs leads up. Daylight can be seen shining in from above.
The roof is exposed and the Wizard is there with his Bird, waiting staff raised in ambush.
As there is nowhere else to go, Rokav and Ash can assume the Wizard will be waiting. Essentially they can try scaling the tower but unlikely to work, given the time required and the fact the Wizard has a bird scout and 360 degree view. Rokav has armour and Athletics so he will go first. We’ll say the Athletics lets him run up the stairs safely and speedily.
Rokav Defy Danger (DEX) 4+6+2 = Crit! He ducks under the swinging staff, rolls away from the bird, and comes to his feet drawing both weapons. His success is so astounding that Rokav or Ash can take +1 forward.
We’ll say that the 2 “pets” are assumed to be duelling each other while the masters fight!
Rokav Melee (STR) 2+4+1+1 = Partial, Rokav does 4 and takes (3-1) = 2. Wizard on 4HP.
Rokav Melee (STR) 2+1+1 = Fail. Rokav blacks out, on -1 = KO as he has 2 HD currently.
Ash could save the day!
Ash Melee (STR) 2+5 = Partial. Ash does (6-1=5!) which puts the Wizard down to -1!
In return Ash takes combined d6+1 pierce = 3! He’s only gone and done it! 1HP left. The Fire Spirit is now free of the Wizard’s control and leaves the poor bird which collapses ...
Rokav and Ash spend 2 HD and restore 2 HP in an hour’s rest. Rokav also claims his kill XP, and a 100XP story bonus.
Rokav wakes with a wet sensation on his face. Blood? No, Ash is licking him. The Fire Wizard is nearby, his throat torn out while unconscious. A small bird hops to its feet, flaps its wings and flies away.
Rokav wearily climbs down the stairs and secures the door with a heavy barrel of water behind it. Then they rest another 4 hours, until early afternoon, which restores them 1 HP each. They can spend 1 hour of this searching the tower and securing the door.
I decide that there must be a good supply of water and rations here, d6+1 = 6 days of each. There are 2 empty vials which might be useful (taken) and a Staff which is discarded.
Treasure! Some of the goblins and bandits probably fell foul of the Wizard, or offered him tribute. There will be a few coins, a few gems/jewelry and many “trade goods”. 6d6x10 Silver value of stuff, and a max of half can be coins or gems. 230s.
10x Bandages (20) 3x Rope, Backpack, Waterskin (10) 2x Grapple Hook (10)
Sword (30) Bow (30) Javelin (30), Shield (10), 2x Oil (40) = 180. 25s gem and 25s left. There are also various poor quality hides and furs that Rokav leaves behind, as too bulky.
No encounter in the afternoon, they rest another 4 hours to restore another 1 HP.
There is a night time encounter! 1d8=3 so it comes near the end of Rokav’s shift.
Creature unable to open doors, or unwilling to assault tower? 1-4 yes 5-6 no. Yes.
They consume a ration each and water, and overnight (8h) this heals 3 HP/HD.
They rest another 24h. In the afternoon a group of Jaguars roam past, growling at the tower.
At night, a deep mist covers the moon, even seeping into the tower, persisting until morning. They light a fire to keep the cold and wet at bay, but otherwise the rest is uneventful. (24 hours rest restores 2HP/HD each 8 hours, plus 1 HP for food and rations, for a total of +7. Ash is at 100% HP/HD, Rokav is at 100% HP and zero HD, and bored). He looks out into the mist, feeling drained but otherwise fighting fit. He has avenged the deaths of Graggar and Silvar, and while the fight was caused by the Wizard, his mis-timed blow contributed to her demise. He cannot return to his tribe for many reasons. But the hunter has supplies, treasure, and is in a lush unexplored forest with Ash by his side. The Forest of Ghosts is not so terrible, he thinks. With a wry smile, he scratches Ash’s ears, and waits for the noon sun to burn away the mist.
THE END
Of Silvar and Rokav’s story.
BUT
"Graggar stories" continues in the next post!
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