Materials used: Dolmenwood core books, Black Streams Solo, Mythic GME 2e, Astonishing Random Tables, Emelda’s Song Adventure
Art from Dolmenwood Player’s Book
In the last episode, the party encountered their former member, Crewwin, on the road. The breggle offered to help distract the Malbleat forces, but Alfred did not trust him. In the end, Crewwin helped take Tilda and the other fallen knights into Lankshorn for a proper burial. Alfred and the others escaped into the forest to the east, only to be caught in an awful downpour. Emelda finally awoke from her trance, hungry and scared. Farnham convinced Alfred they should go to the south to the Jaunty Horn inn, to seek shelter from the weather.
Chaos factor 7
Expected Scene: Stay at the Jaunty Horn Inn to recover
Test the scene: 3 Altered Scene
Altered Scene table: 4 Increase an Activity
Hmmm, I’m leaning toward a search party of Malbleat’s showing up. Let’s roll on the Action tables:Observe, Success
Ok, I think that prompt is pushing me toward those expectations.
Autumn, Braghold the 16th, Chime.
Weather: Torrential Rain
Outside Jaunty Horn Inn
The rain pelted Alfred and his two charges as they sat upon their horses outside the stableyard behind the Jaunty Horn Inn. Emelda had rid herself of the Malbleat colors before leaving the forest, and now she shivered in the cold rain.
“We’ll be indoors in no time, lass, don’t worry.” Farnham said. But he also looked the worse for wear. His face sagged with exhaustion, hunger, and mistreatment.
Alfred’s numerous wounds pained him, each raindrop stung as it struck the cuts and bruises. The weather had forced various trade caravans to stop here for the day, and the stable hands were overwhelmed with patrons attempting to shelter in the inn. Finally, a man dressed in simple work-clothes approached them.
“By the saints, you folks look like a bunch of scrabeys! Sorry to keep you waiting in this weather!” he knuckled his forehead with a slight bow of his head.
Alfred wasn’t familiar with what a scrabey was, but he knew the party looked terrible. “Can you stable our horses? We’ll likely be staying a night, maybe two.” He passed a silver coin as a tip over to the stable hand. The coin disappeared under the man’s vest.
“Sure, mister, sure thing.” The man confidently took the reins to both horses, whispering comforting words to both as he navigated the stomping wagon teams in the yard.
The party walked to the door of the inn, the swinging sign depicting a noble breggle with a curled bugle swung over the door. Farnham motioned to it. “See, Lord Ramius.”
Alfred nodded, hoping Farnham was right. He pushed open the door, and was greeted with a low-beamed common room, crammed with round tables, most filled with traveling merchants. Hundreds of horseshoes covered the walls, and a six foot drinking horn dominated the space behind the bar. A stout, muscular woman in her late thirties pushed past the tables and greeted them at the door.
Her face was stern, but she welcomed them to the inn, waving her heavily bangled arms to indicate the common room. “Welcome to the Jaunty Horn, I’m Jesibelle Nag,” she said flatly. “We’re a little short on space, but most are just waiting out the weather. If you need rooms, we have ‘em.” She looked the party up and down, taking note of their worn appearance. “Two gold each per night, that’s for meals and lodging. If you can’t pay, you should head on out now.”
“We can pay,” Alfred stepped forward, fishing six gold from his pouch, then adding a seventh. “Do you have baths? We could really use a warming.”
Mythic, does the inn have a bathhouse? 86 no.
423 gp remaining
“No baths, but I can bring some hot water and cloths to your rooms. You want your meals brought there too?” Alfred nodded his head, and she led the three up a narrow flight of stairs to their simple, but comfortable lodgings nestled under the gabled roof.
Before retiring to his room, Farnham grabbed Alfred’s sleeve. “I know we want to move quickly, to get as far from Lord Malbleat as possible…but…Emelda and I…we…are not well. If we can rest here for two days, it will make a big difference.”
Alfred was hurt and exhausted as well, but it would be much harder to hide in a roadside inn than in a town or even a village.
Alfred Wis check to stay d6-1=3. Fail.
“I’m sorry, Farnham. We can stay tonight, but we will need to press on tomorrow. I hope you understand.” Farnham nodded wearily, sighed, and moved on to his room to get his much needed rest.
The innkeeper’s husband, Mollish, arrived with piping hot water, cloths, and a hot meal for each of them. Alfred asked if there was a healer nearby.
Mythic, is there a healer?80 No
“Sorry, lad, none closer than Lankshorn. Do you want me to send a courier for one?”
“No, no. That’s ok,” Alfred sighed. The other man patted him on the arm and began descending the stairs. Before Alfred could even close the door to his room, a commotion stirred from the common room.
The young knight, now errant, peeked over the railing to the common room below. There, a Malbleat knight stood, with a single soldier acting as his squire. Both of them were breggles and wore scowls on their faces. The temperature in the common room dropped, and it was eerily silent.
The knight kept his hand on the hilt of his sword as he addressed the crowd. “I am Knight Reg Addle, sworn to Lord Malbleat. Under his authority, I am here to search the premises for a traitorous knight, and the prisoners he absconded with.” He had golden eyes that seemed to flash in the light, and he spoke with an aristocratic air, like the crowd was beneath him.
The innkeeper, Jesibelle, had her hand on something below the bar, but answered loudly. “No Malbleat knights here, traitorous or no. They are generally not welcome.”
The crowd looked from her back to the knight, many with worried looks on their faces.
The soldier took a threatening step forward, spear held in a white knuckled grip. The knight scowled, but held out a restraining hand. “If that is the case, then my search of your rooms will be even quicker, and I’ll be on my way.”
“I won’t be allowing you to disturb my paying guests. They paid to rest, not to have some goat-faced hooligan barging in on their privacy.”
The knight growled at the audacity of her insult and drew a few inches of his blade. When several of the armed crowd stood, drawing their own weapons, he shoved the blade back into the hilt. “I see this inn is full of traitors. You can be rest assured Lord Malbleat will rectify this…abomination.” He gestured contemptuously to the inn, then spun on his heel and stalked outside. After a moment, the crowd resumed it’s murmured conversation.
Alfred slipped back into his room and hastily began shoveling his meal into his mouth. Just in case his rest was interrupted.
Mythic, is there any other trouble from the Malbleat knight, very unlikely? 11 Yes. Random Event
NPC Action. I assume the knight
Action: Waste, Attention
After finishing his meal, he began washing himself and tending to his wounds. There were shouts from outside and he peered out of his window over the stables. Knight Rheg and his lackey were poking their heads into the stalls, and shoving the stable hands around. They then proceeded to peer under all of the wagon canvas, leaving goods open to the pouring rain.
The innkeeper rushed out into the yard, accompanied by her husband and a dozen patrons, all armed. A golden mace gleamed in the meagre rainy light, Jesibelle gave it a flourish. Alfred could not quite make out the words that were exchanged, but the knight had his own weapon drawn and was gesturing with it wildly. The inn crowd took a step forward menacingly, and the knight scowled, sheathed his blade, and mounted his glossy black stallion. The horse reared in fury, pawing at the air with its rider’s ire, he then rushed through the crowd, who rapidly dispersed as he rode back toward Lankshorn.
Alfred was worried about the possibility of the knight’s return, perhaps with more force, but he collapsed into his comfy bed, hoping to get at least a little sleep.
No other commotion occurred, and Alfred awoke only to have supper, then retired back to his room. The next time he woke, it was the following day.
Rest and recover 1d3=2 HP. 6/16.
End of Scene
Chaos factor 6
Expected Scene: Travel East to Dreg
Test Scene: 6 Interrupt Scene
85 PC Positive
Action: Bargain, InnocentAutumn, Braghold the 17th, Hayme.
Weather: Cloudy, misty
The weather had cleared, and many of the guests of the inn were clearing out, but a few of the traveling merchants set up stalls alongside the road to recoup the cost of their lost trade. As Alfred, Emelda, and Farnham finished their breakfast in the common room, Jesibelle stopped by their table. She sat down, uninvited. She placed her palms flat on the table and gave each of them a stern look.
“Now, I don’t want to go sticking my nose in my guest’s business. But I feel like you raggedy bunch might be in some way related to that Malbleat ruckus we saw yesterday.” Alfred opened his mouth to argue, but the stern woman held up a hand to silence him. “Again, I don’t want to know. But…if you folks are heading east, I will be happy to say I heard you asking about Lord Ramius’ court to the west.”
Alfred blushed, surprised at this stranger’s offer of help. “Thank you, that would be grand. We enjoyed our stay here and hope to see the place again.”
Farnham and Emelda effused their own appreciation for the accommodation. Both were still slumped with weariness, but there was a little more color to their cheeks, and a brighter twinkle in their eyes.
They walked along the vendors set up along the edge of the inn’s property, and Alfred made a few purchases to make their travel more comfortable. He bought a stomping, shaggy horse for Farnham, more adept at pulling wagons that carrying a rider, but he was a gentle giant. He also bought a new set of clothes for each of them, along with some bandages for future wounds. Lastly, he bought extra saddlebags for Boy, in which he placed the tent and other camping gear he purchased.
Cost:
59 Gold. 364 remaining.
The three of them sat upon their mounts, wreathed in the mists of the morning, their new winter cloaks pulled tight against the chill. Farnham and Emelda looked much better out of their raggedy clothes, their new outfits alone gave them greater bearing.
Encounter: None
They urged their mounts down the Ditchway to the east, making good time with an uneventful trip until they reached the settlement of Dreg on the river. Without waiting, Alfred stabled the horses at the riverside stables and hired the Shantywood Ferry to take them across to Shantywood Isle.
Dreg Encounter: 4 Fishermen come to blows about who owns a recent catch
Just as he was paying the silver to the stable hand, a fight nearby broke out between a group of fishermen. Alfred told the others to wait there, and he hustled over to break up the conflict.
“Ho there! Break it up! There is no need for this violence!” Alfred shouted as he jogged over to the brawl.
Alfred Cha check d6+1=4 Success
XP 20 > 5819
The fishermen continued to grapple and trade blows, and the young knight interspersed himself between them, their fists ringing on his shield and armored body. The men groaned and shook their aching hands. After a short discussion, Alfred was able to talk them through dividing the catch, then hurried back over to the ferry.
“Good on you, lad. Well done.” Farnham patted him on the back as he boarded the ferry. Emelda beamed at him.
Mythic, is the breggle Grewigg working the ferry? 31 Yes.
“Alfred?” a familiar voice said.
Alfred turned to see the muscular Grewigg stepping away from her ferry pole. With the tussle of the fishermen, he had not noticed her. “Grewigg! How nice to see you.”
Much to his surprise, she gave him a warm, firm embrace. Things had been awkward between them after the hot tub incident, then she had proceeded to entertain a relationship of some nature with Hogrid.
“Enya has been concerned since Hogrid returned a few days ago without you. He said you had sworn to that scoundrel, Lord Malbleat?!” Though Dreg was technically part of the Malbleat holdings, there was little love for him here. Madame Shantywood ruled the town in all but name.
“I…I did. But it was a mistake,” Alfred mumbled.
“You forswore your vow?” Shock painted her face. She had not known Alfred long, but she had thought he cherished his honor.
“Yes,” Alfred suddenly held his chin up high. Though he had broken his oath, it was the honorable thing to do. “Hogrid was right, Lord Malbleat is not worthy of our vows. He had imprisoned my companions here, and was performing a foul ritual to raise his ancestor from the dead.”
“Necromancy?!” Grewigg was working the ferry poles, but still stopped in shock. Some of her fellow ferry workers gasped at her raised voice.
Alfred made a shushing motion with his hands. He wanted the tale to get out, but first he had to tell someone in authority. He supposed he would start with Madame Shantywood.
Alfred introduced Farnham, and Enya’s niece, Emelda. Grewigg and the others greeted them with compassion.
Mythic, is Hogrid still in Dreg? 47 yes
“Hogrid will be pleased you came back, though, you know him. He won’t show it.” Grewigg winked at Alfred. She and he both knew Hogrid was a hard nut to crack.
“Has he sworn to Lady Mulbrek yet?” Alfred hoped he had not.
“No, he is still waiting on a response from his missive to her.”
Alfred was relieved, then ashamed he was relieved. If they could not swear to Lady Mulbrek, perhaps they could seek out Baron Hogwarsh of nearby High Hankle. But getting there would mean passing through Lord Malbleat’s territory again.
He said as much aloud, and Farnham cleared his throat. “Lad, Baron Hogwarsh is a friend of Lord Malbleat. I do not think that would work out.”
Alfred nodded, a bit embarrassed at his lack of knowledge of the nobility.
The ferry arrived at Chateau Shantywood, and Alfred escorted Emelda to her aunt, Enya with haste.
Conversation: Energetic, Betray
Enya answered the door to her quarters, then gasped at seeing Alfred and Emelda. She embraced her niece tearfully, and in between sobs, thanked Alfred for bringing her back. Upon hearing her suspicions were correct, and that it was Lord Malbleat himself that had kidnapped Emelda, she was irate.
“That bastard! I’m going to the Madame right this moment, to tell her of his betrayal and foul actions. There will be hell to pay for this!” She embraced Alfred one more time, then hurried from the room to speak with Madame Shantywood.
“Well, I guess I’ll rent us all a room, and we can spend a few days recuperating.” Alfred said with a smile. The others embraced him with a three-way hug, and they laughed as they felt safe for the first time in weeks.
End of Scene
Chaos factor 5
Reward for Emelda’s return: 200 GP > 200 XP
Gold: 564
XP: 6019\9000I have an idea that perhaps Madame Shantywood will seek to form her own demense in and around Dreg. Likely this will lead to conflict, and she will need the support of Duke Brakenwold to pull it off. Perhaps this will be Alfred’s next chore, to become the first of the Shantywood Knights.