Solo Dolmenwood – A Knight’s Tale Chapter 4

Restoring the Shrine

Materials used: Dolmenwood core books, Black Streams Solo, Mythic GME 2e, The Swallowed Saint adventure

Alfred located the hidden shrine and reported back to Father Jymes Horsley. He spent the rest of the day haggling over the giant frog legs he had brought from the swamp. Before ending the day, he purchased a dagger to wear at his belt, when he needed a short blade.

Chaos factor 4

Expected scene: Accompany Father Jymes to restore shrine

Test the scene d10=1 vs 4 Altered Scene
6: Add an Object. I have the perfect thing for this!

Braghold Day 4, Moot.
Weather: Bracing Wind
Lost: Automatic No. Father Jymes knows the Marsh well, we are following the river, and Alfred has his “map” of the way to the shrine.
Forage: 4 None
Encounter: 1 Yes. 2 in 6 likely to be urban pilgrims lost on way to crystal caves=2. Yes, 4 pilgrims

Alfred and Father Jymes, along with his dog Clwyd, awoke the next morning, eager to restore the shrine of St Wort. The air outside was crisp, and a bracing wind blew in from Lake Longmere, dispelling some of the ever present stench of the bog. Alfred hitched up his cloak and pulled it tight against the cold. But the wind did not affect his smile. This shrine restoration would be another step toward him becoming a knight. He volunteered to push the small handcart with their supplies and Father Jymes nodded appreciatively.

They walked along the bank of Ransom Creek, through the marsh, and into the tangled woods of the Barrow-Clefts. As they neared the location of the shrine, they came upon a group of people washing themselves and filling their waterskins from the creek.

Surprise: 4,6 Neither side surprised
Distance: 60 feet
Reaction 2d6+2 Father Jymes=8 Wary
Character Appearance= Frail + Modern

The four men clutched at the cudgels at their belts when they saw Alfred and Father Jymes emerge from the trees. They wore clothes well suited for church, or Castle Brackenwold, but not the deep forests. Their finery was stained and torn from the tangled branches.

“P-P-peace, we mean no harm.” Father Jymes called out, his hands raised palms out in the Pluritine Church sign of peace. Clwyd’s rope lead was lashed about this waist, to keep him from wandering. Alfred set down the handles of the cart he was pushing and mimicked the gesture of Father Jymes.

Mythic Conversation Focus: 15 Question

“Well met, strangers.” One of the men called out. He was a little older than the others, his hair white and whispy on his head. “We are come from Castle Brackenwold in search of the Crystal Caves. My brother,” and he motioned to one of the frail men behind him, “is in need of the healing powers found therein. Perhaps you know the way?”

“Of course, my b-b-brothers.” Father Jymes’s tone shifted from friendly, to somewhat annoyed. “You can simply follow Ransom C-c-reek here to Fog Lake. There you w-w-will find the caves.”

The man must have noticed Father Jymes’s vicar accoutrements, for he bowed solemnly. “Thank you Father. May I make a small contribution to the Church, for the aid you have rendered?” Father Jymes nodded, and the man handed over 2 silver coins. He thanked them again, and he and the other men trudged northeast.

“Father Jymes, might I ask a question?” Alfred proposed after the men left. The two of them were now walking away from the creek toward where he had found the shrine.

“Of c-c-course lad.” The priest stammered.

“You seemed a little disappointed when the men mentioned the crystal caves.”

“That is not a question, lad.”

Alfred chuckled. “Why?”

Father Jymes kept looking straight ahead as he walked, “The crystals inside the cave do not offer any healing. These pilgrims,” he said the word with disdain, “would better spend their time praying to God, rather than these heretic beliefs.”

Mythic, does Father Jymes know that the leader of the Woodcutter camp uses Azoth, a drug made from the crystals? 56 vs 35 No.

“The crystals have also made stumbling blocks for many great men, and men of some import. There is a mystical drug that can be made from their substance, nasty stuff.” The priest seemed saddened in a way that Alfred could not understand. But he decided not to pursue the questioning further.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Soon they made it to the location of the shrine, and the vicar’s mood lifted at seeing in it person. He remarked that he must have passed within several yards of this many times over the years. A rare grin was spread over his face as he congratulated Alfred once again.

They spent the rest of the day, restacking and mortaring the stones of the shrine, scrubbing off the purple algae, and standing the yew statue back upright on its base. By the time evening had swept in, they were both sweaty and exhausted, but the shrine was whole and restored. Father Jymes knelt in prayer to St Wort, probably the first person to do so in many decades. When he arose from prayer, he fished a sealed parchment from his pack and handed it over to Alfred.

“Take this letter, lad. In it is my recommendation to Jollie Oistace Pollard that you continue your squire training in his household. You earned it.” Alfred clasped the letter in his hands like it was made of precious gold. In a sudden burst of emotion, he embraced the gray old priest.

“Thank you Father!” The old man awkwardly patted his plate mailed back and joked that he was crushing him.

They made up a camp there at the shrine and laid down for some rest before they trekked back to the Woodcutter’s Camp on the morrow.

Ok, normally here I would roll for a night encounter, but I have one in mind as a set piece already. It is also a lead into a great adventure I downloaded called The Swallowed Saint on itch.io. The entrance to this dungeon will be the Add an Object we rolled earlier as an Altered Scene. Originally, I had intended to have them go back to the village and then the hook for the adventure would begin, but this worked out perfectly!

Alfred awoke with a start in the dark of night. Clewyd was growling and barking madly. The fire had extinguished during their rest, and the hot coals cast a lurid glare of the statue of St Wort. Father Jymes was not in his bedroll, and Clewyd’s rope lead was cut short. Seeing Alfred awake, the dog dashed into the surrounding trees.

“Clewyd, wait!” Alfred called. He hurriedly fetched his gear and lit his lantern. The dog waited in the nearby brush, barking madly. Holding his shield in one hand and the lantern in the other, Alfred hurried after him as the dog dashed through the black woods.

Search d6: 3 Fail

Alfred had no idea what was leading the bloodhound on, but he hoped the dog was leading him to Father Jymes. After a few minutes of running haphazardly through the clinging undergrowth, Clewyd stood at a black gaping hole in the ground, barking continuously. Alfred approached cautiously and shined his light down in the hole.

“What is it boy, did Father Jymes fall in this well?” he asked. But as he shined his light into the hole, he realized it was not a hole at all, but a set of sunken stairs.

End of Scene
Chaos factor +1 =5
Close thread, restore shrine.
Open thread, find Father Jymes

Expected scene: Descend into this dungeon to find Father Jymes

Test the scene d10=9 vs 5 Expected Scene

Clewyd’s stats

The lantern light reflected off a sheer blue slime that seemed to coat many of the steps. Alfred tentatively stepped onto the first one and tried to scrape it clear with his boot.

Alfred Dex check d6+0=5 vs 4 Success!

It was slower going that he liked, but Alfred was able to traverse the stairs down into the depths of this strange place. Leafy carvings lined the walls and as he descended to the bottom, charred bits of skeletons were embedded into the stone as well. Alfred was careful to not touch anything as the steps ended with a swollen wooden door in front of him and a stone archway to his left. It looked like a tunnel also branched out to the east and west in front of the archway. Clewyd stood shivering beside him, oddly quiet now except for an occasional low growl.

“Father Jymes!” Alfred cautiously called out in a shouted whisper. His words echoed within the stone block hallways. The light cast from his lantern made the shadows seem to lurch in the corners.

Clewyd let out a sharp alarm bark that made Alfred jump. The lurching shadows resolved themselves into the shape of someone walking toward them. “Hello?” Alfred called out again. The dog began to maniacally bark, and Alfred knew it wasn’t Father Jymes. He hurriedly set down the lantern and drew his longsword. “I’m armed, stay back!” he yelled.

Four…human shaped beings…shambled into the light of his lantern. They were a mixture of swollen bodies, half rotten with skeletal remains showing underneath. What flesh that remained was crawling with snails and slugs. Glowing dimly inside each of their chests was a dim green flame that did not cast any light.

Alfred glanced back at the stairs, wondering if he should make his escape, but Clewyd’s hackles were up, barking and not looking ready to leave his master down here. Alfred could not abandon the bloodhound to face these creatures alone, so he steeled his nerves and got into a fighting stance.

Bog Corpses

As a reminder, we do not track HP of enemies, instead we track HD. This is a 2HD monster.

Initiative: Party 6, Enemies 4

Clewyd move and attack BC1 d20+1=2 Miss
Alfred move and attack BC1 d20+2=17 Hit. 1d8+1=7. 2 HD damage. BC1 killed.
BC2 attack Alfred d20+1=10 miss
BC3 and 4 cannot squeeze past BC2 to get to the defenders

There was a narrow passageway from the tunnel that the undead creatures emerged from, and they had to climb a short stair to where Alfred and the bloodhound stood. Alfred rushed to the foot of the short stair, with Clewyd standing beside him. The first bog corpse stepped into range and the dog lunged at it, teeth gnashing. It was mostly a feint though, and the dog did not come into contact with the corpse’s dead flesh. Alfred gave his first swing all he had, and the longsword sliced easily through the rotten neck of the nearest undead. Its head rolled lazily backward, and the body fell flopping to the ground. The next two corpses scrambled over the first, trying to get to the young man.

Initiative party 5, enemies 2

Clewyd attack BC2 d20+1=20 Hit. 1d6=1. No HD damage
Alfred attack BC2 d20+2=15 Hit. 1d8+1=4. 1 HD Damage. BC2 1 HD remaining
BC2 attack Alfred d20+1=1 Miss
BC3 & 4 Wait

Initiative party 5, enemies 4

Clewyd attack BC2 d20+1=3 Miss
Alfred attack BC2 d20+2=3 Miss
BC2 attack Alfred d20+1=20 Hit. 1d6=5. -1 HP. 7/8 Alfred.
Throttle damage 1d6=5. -1 HP. 6/8 Alfred
BC3&4 Wait

One of the bog corpses stumbled over its companion and grabbed at Alfred’s legs. He smashed it in the head with his shield, and it let go. Alfred tried to follow up with a killing blow, but Clewyd jumped in front of him, biting at the creature. It swung at the dog with its club like arm, then crawled to its feet. Before Alfred could get another swing in, it spun and wrapped its cold dead hands around his throat.

Initiative party 3, enemies 2

Clewyd attack BC2 d20+1= 2 miss
Alfred attack BC2 d20+2=19 1d8+1=2. 1 HD. BC2 killed
BC3 attack Alfred d20+1=18 1d6=2. -1 Hp, 5/8 Alfred
Throttle damage 1d6=6. -2 hp, 3/8 Alfred
BC4 Wait

Initiative party 1, enemies 6

BC3 attack Alfred d20+1=16 miss.
Throttle damage 1d6=5. -1 HP. 2/8 Alfred
BC4 Wait

Clewyd attack BC3 d20+1=20 Hit. 1d6=4. -1 HD
Alfred attack BC3 d20+2=16 Hit. 1d8=8. -1 HD for BC3 and -1 for BC4

Initiative party 5, enemies 6

BC4 attack Alfred d20+1=10 miss.
Clewyd attack BC3 d20+1=16 Hit. 1d6=3. 1 HD Damage killed

+260 XP > 1475 XP
+2 HP. In Black Streams Solo Heroes, after a battle, the PC can take 5 minutes to catch their breath and restore 2 HP. Alfred 4/8 HP.

The undead thing had its hands around Alfred’s throat, squeezing until darkness began to creep into his vision. He could dimly hear the bloodhound snarling and biting next to him, but it was no help. In desperation he blindly jabbed his sword forward and the pressure around his throat ceased. The bog corpse fell backward, his longsword jammed through its neck. Instinctively, he withdrew it as the body fell away. Before he could do aught else, the next undead creature slammed into him, wrapping its hands around his throat once again. He desperately needed air!

He could see Clewyd’s jaws clamped onto the thing’s arm, his whole weight hanging from his clenched jaws. That gave Alfred enough leverage to swipe his sword across the thing’s middle, severing the exposed spine. The corpse fell into a two piece heap. Before Alfred knew it, the next bog corpse was clambering forward, impaling itself on his extended sword. Clewyd had released the fallen corpse and now pulled this new foe down to the ground, savaging its throat until it ceased movement.

Alfred’s blood pounded in his ears and his vision swam with adrenaline and lack of air. He leaned heavily against the wall, his sword drooping by his side. The bloodhound sauntered over and gave his sword hand a lick. “Good boy, Clewyd. Good boy,” Alfred croaked through his painful throat. He sighed and sheathed his sword, then walked back and fetched his lantern. He walked to the swollen wooden door and gave it an experimental tug. It was stuck fast. Father Jymes would not be in there then. It occurred to Alfred there could be treasure within, but that would have to wait. First, he had to find his mentor.

He walked back toward the open stone archway, and now that he had more light, could see the opening was covered in the same blue slime that covered the stairs. He swiped his sword at it and the slime easily cut away. He wiped the residue on the corpse of one of the bog undead.

Inside the archway was a small alcove, with a wash basin full of stagnant water against one wall. The wall behind the basin was painted in a fresco of a smiling man with leaves surrounding his face. If it was someone of import, Alfred did not recognize him.

Mythic does he notice the indention in the forehead in the shape of a cross? 26 vs 50 yes.

He peered closer at the fresco, and noticed a hole in the mouth, positioned so that water could flow into the basin below. A cross shaped indention was also inset into the forehead of the face. Presumably, with something pressed into the spot, water would flow once again. Instead of pondering on it further, he took a swig from his waterskin to refresh himself.

Encounter d6= 5 None. We only get an encounter on a 1.

He cautiously crept forward down the tunnel where the bog corpses had approached from, with the bloodhound trotting slowly behind him, tongue lolling from his mouth. The tunnel opened up into a medium sized square room. A broken door stood in the wall opposite, and to his right, an eight foot tall hardwood idol with the same face as on the wall over the basin, stood proudly in front of an array of skulls, bones, marsh flowers, and glowing algae. All along the walls near the idol, the same bioluminescent algae bloomed. Alfred realized now this must be some ancient wood god religious temple or shrine. Blasphemy as far as his Pluritine beliefs went. He decided to not go any nearer the idol, and instead walked toward the broken door. As he neared it, he could see footprints where someone or something frequently walked. He thought likely from the bog corpses drifting mindlessly through this place.

Regardless, he cautiously walked through the broken door, revealing another chamber. This one held an eight foot sarcophagus in the floor. It was intricately carved with various forest scenes on the top, and the bottom depicted wilting, rotten death. Alfred feared more corpses lay within, so he avoided the crypt. Instead he moved toward a set of stone stairs leading further downward.

Encounter d6=1 Encouter! D4=4. Two Bog Corpses dragging a partially digested corpse to place in the sarcophagus.
Surprise: 5,5 Neither surprised

At the bottom of the stairs, he could see standing water of about three feet. He heard before he saw two bog corpses splashing through the water, both of them carrying a corpse between them. When they saw the light from his lantern, they dropped the corpse into the water and shuffled toward him with non-verbal groans. Clewyd began to bark, though it sounded vicious, the undead were undeterred. Alfred decided to stand his ground at the top of the steps and use the height advantage against these new foes.

Initiative party 5, enemies 2

Alfred attack d20+3 (extra 1 for height)=22 vs 11 Hit. 1d8=4. -1 HD. BC1 has 1 HD left
Clewyd attack d20+2=10 Miss

BC1 attack Alfred d20+1=20 Hit. 1d6=4. Sacrifice Shield to negate damage. (House rule to sacrifice shield to negate damage received)

BC2 attack Clewyd d20+1=19 Hit. 1d6=3. -1 HP. Clewyd 8/9 HP.
Throttle d6=6. -2 HP. Clewyd 6/9 HP

Alfred swiped his sword confidently at the newly appeared bog corpse and the blade bit deeply into the thing’s shoulder. It seemed unfazed by pain, and grappled at his legs. He swung his shield down to block its grasping hands, and one of the creatures wrenched it painfully from his arm and tossed it behind them into the water below. He heard a yelp beside him as the other corpse grabbed the bloodhound around the head and began to drag him forcefully to the water as well.

Initiative party 4, enemies 3

Alfred attack d20+3 (extra 1 for height)=16 Hit. D8=5. -1 HD. B1 killed
Clewyd attack d20+2=10 Miss.

B2 attack Clewyd d20+1=15 Hit. 1d6=4. -1 HP. Clewyd 5/9 HP
throttle d6=5. -1 HP. Clewyd 4/9 Hp.

Initiative party 1, enemies 4

B2 attack Clewyd d20+1=18 Hit. 1d6=4. -1 HP. Clewyd 3/9 HP
Throttle d6=5. -1 HP. Clewyd 2/9 HP.

Alfred attack d20+3=22 Hit. 1d8+1=5. -1 HD.
Clewyd attack d20+2=11 Hit! 1d6=6. -2 HD. Killed

+130 XP > 1605 XP.

Alfred +2 HP, 6/8 HP
Clewyd +2 HP, 4/9 HP.

Alfred skewered the bog corpse in front of him, then rushed down a step and swiped one of the arms from the other corpse as it slammed the bloodhound into the stone wall, its hands around the dog’s throat. The loss of one of his attacker’s hands allowed Clewyd to rip out the corpse’s throat, and it slid down the steps into the stagnant water. Alfred picked up his lantern and peered into the murky pool. His shield was nowhere to be seen. He could see an open door standing in the shallow water before him, but further into the room to his left, it deepened to unknown depths. And Alfred dared not test the depth without something to probe the water.

2 in 6 chance bog salamander is in the water=6 Not this time.

He waded through the short expanse of shallow water and peered through the open door. Inside was a very large chamber with several pillars spanning floor to ceiling. The three feet of water extended into this room as well. Each of the columns had water trickling down from the ceiling above. Embedded all over the columns were what looked like clutches of eggs of some type.

2 in 6 chance bog salamander=3 No.

Clewyd let out a quiet whine and his tail began to wag slowly. Alfred walked forward into the room, careful not to get too close to the eggs. He had no idea what might be in them, or how often they may hatch. He just wanted to find Father Jymes. He hugged the right wall, staying far from the columns. He passed several wall niches that were all plugged with muck. Water seeped from behind them slowly. Up ahead in the opposite wall, Alfred could see another open door.

He hurried from the columned room, the whines of Clewyd getting more persistent. When he entered the door, he rounded the corner into what was once a dining or feast hall. Broken chairs and tables littered the room. They all looked like a single touch would have them crumble, their shape only held together by the ancient lacquer. Floating in the shallow water of the room were six partially eaten corpses. Alfred immediately realized that one of them was Father Jymes, floating on his back, staring lifelessly at the ceiling.

“No!” he yelled out before he could stop himself. Clewyd let out another alarm bark, and three huge slithering forms rushed from one of the corners of the rooms. They had a translucent white skin and large bulbous eyes that glowed like a full moon. Alfred knew he could not defeat these reptilian beasts on his own and he tried to slam shut the door, but it was stuck!

End of Scene

Chaos factor +1=6

Close thread, find Father Jymes
Open thread, escape the temple.

Oh snap, even with the Black Stream Solo rules, this was a tough adventure! Alfred and Clewyd will not be able to defeat these things alone, they will need some help. So next scene will be Alfred desperately trying to flee. I had hoped we might find some of the treasure within, as it would have been enough to push him to level 2, but I did not think it would be in character for him to stop and loot things before finding his mentor.

See you next time!