Soryandum: Into Sunken Veldra, Ep2

This is a largely unedited solo adventure actual play report using Castles & Crusades plus Scarlet Heroes. For the introduction, click here.

First of all, I screwed up in Episode 1 with the Fray Die. In short, I treated the roll as in a regular game and didn’t apply it using the Scarlet Heroes damage table, as with every other roll in that episode. Duh! That said, I don‘t do retcons, so let’s move on.

Back To The Ruins…

“Come, Soryandum, we have been expecting you.”

Soryandum stands on a small island of muddy ground deep inside the ruins of Sunken Veldra. While he intended to explore the smaller of two surface ruins, just to the north-west, a robed stranger has appeared on the far side of a fallen obelisk that has obviously formed a bridge to the larger ruin. The words were loud in Soryandum’s ears but formed from a husky whisper, as if they were not spoken as much as projected into the wizard’s mind.

“Who are you?”

The robed figure raises its arm and from beneath the black cloth Soryandum can see a long clawed hand emerge. The gesture is a hand raised, clawed fingers vertical as if to communicate peace.

“I ask again, creature,” says Soryandum, “Who are you?”

“A servant of the Black Dragon,” comes the reply.

“How do you know of me?”

“For that knowledge, you will need to join us,” comes the whispered reply, a sibilant hiss noticeable.

“You’ll forgive me if I doubt your sincerity.”

The creature hisses with a laugh.

“Indeed. But you will come. Eventually. Farewell, wizard.”

Turning slowly, the robed figure walks slowly back towards the large ruin behind it.

Moving On…

I’m thinking that this might be intriguing but Soryandum is vulnerable. The smaller ruin is intriguing me too, so he heads over towards it.

Is this ruin inhabited? Likely odds. Roll 1d20, score 15 for Yes. Logic suggests more Lizardfolk, is this correct? Unknown odds, rolls 10: No, But. Rolls 1d6 for the But… 3 is “An error in an assumption some NPC is making.” Interesting. I feel I need more inspiration so I roll for an Oracular Adjective, 1d20 plus 1d20, “Desire”.

From episode 1, we established there were four NPC types in the ruins:

1. Lizardfolk
2. Charmed Slaves
3. Chieftain
4. Renegade Dragonmen

Roll 1d4, score 2. Ok, so Lizardfolk and a group of slaves. The desire could be to get free. What if one of the slaves isn’t charmed? Male or female? Roll d2, score 1 for male.

The ruin is huge, perhaps 50 feet across the front and roughly domed in the centre. Four columns once stood out in front, the toppled statues of forgotten heroes lying half-sunken in the muddy ground. One of the statues bears a statue, however: the visage of a proud human in robes with an orb in one hand. Was this some kind of temple or school? 

Before Soryandum can really ponder the question, a figure breaks from the large arched entryway and runs towards the wizard. He is clearly human but wearing rags. Within a few seconds some Lizardfolk emerge, armed and clearly in pursuit. 

How many Lizardfolk? C&C says encounters typically have 2-8 so I roll 2d4, scoring 5.

The Lizardfolk are armed with spears and running fast. As the human gets around 50 feet away, one of the Lizardmen moves to throw a spear…

Roll initiative, methinks. Soryandum 4, Lizardfolk 2, Slave 6.

The slave runs directly towards the wizard and begs for mercy, trying to hide behind him.

The wizard shouts, in the Ancient Tongue, for the Lizardfolk to, “Stop!” He then begins to cast the Alter Size spell – I am going to try and bluff them – weaving his hands in the intricate motions of spell casting while chanting the incantation. Slowly, Soryandum grow 10% larger. An impressive visage of magical power, I hope.

Roll for Lizardfolk reaction to the mage. Unfriendly NPC but +1 for the wizard’s Charisma. Rolls 2d6+1, scores 6: “Flat rejection”.

The Lizardfolk with the spear throws it at the slave – rolls 13 to hit, damage is 1 point. The blade of the spear strikes the human dead centre in his back and kills him outright. Great. The other four Lizardfolk fan out to form a semi-circle, around 30 feet away now, spear pointing at Soryandum. 

Roll initiative – Soryandum 10, Lizardfolk 4.

“You shall step aside!” Soryandum strides forward, large and imposing at around 6’ 3” (I decided he was 5’8” to begin), with his staff pointing forward and gesturing they set aside.

Do the Lizardfolk speak Ancient? Unknown, outcome: No, But. Rolling for the But, I get “An adjustment to the physical environment.”

As Soryandum shouts, the words echo around the natural ampitheatre in front of the ruin… and they morph, the syllables forming a language similar to that the wizard heard spoken in his earlier encounter with the Lizardfolk. The warriors react, cocking their heads and then looking around pensively. 

How do the Lizardfolk react? Unfriendly NPC but +1 Charisma, +1 for Alter Size, and +1 for the echoing translation – scores 11, “Grudging Agreement”.

The Lizardfolk lift their spears and open a space between them, inviting a passage through to the ruined building. Soryandum thanks them, has words again echoing around the area in their tongue, and strides confidently through towards the doorway.

Inside, a group of slaves is working… I roll d100 on the Immediate Desires table for some clue, scoring 32: “Curing a Sickness”. Three slaves are stood around an injured Lizardfolk warrior, one is kneeling and administering some kind of elixir while the others bind wounds. Has there been a recent fight? Maybe the escapee attacked the Lizardman to get free.

Soryandum walks into the ruined building. The columns are arched and vaulted, reaching up to a now empty sky rather than the ceiling. The crumbled remains of the dome that once graced this hall are impressive. The walls are covered in vines and the floor pierced by grasses and covered in mud. Towards the rear of the building is an annex which clearly once contained an impressive array of banners, now left in tatters. In the centre of the floor in this annex is a stairway spiralling downwards, a stone invitation to the depths. 

Turning to the slaves, as the spell wears off, Soryandum asks them in the Vulgate: “Do you know where the stairs lead?” The slaves looks his way and the one with the elixir stands as if to respond.

Do the slaves know what’s down there? Unknown odds: Yes, But… “An error in an assumption some NPC is making”. I need an adjective: “Promise”. Hmm. I decide to use the Dungeon Locations table, I decide this is a Temple, roll 1d20 for “Lecture Hall”.

“The stairs lead to the Great Hall below, Master,” says the slave, “But our Masters have made a promise to let you pass.”“To whom have they made this promise?”“The Black Dragon.”“The cult? Or are we actually talking about a dragon?”

Is it a real dragon? I like the idea, making it Likely Odds: No, But… “A twist to the relationship between people in the situation.”

“There are no living dragons, Master. I speak of the Black Dragon Order, who rule below,” says the slave.“Why do the Lizardfolk agree to such as I to enter their territory?”

I need some clues. Roll for a Motivation, “Wealth”.

“The Lizardfolk are allowed to gather the wealth of the Ancients in return for their protecting the Black Dragon’s territories.”“And who do they believe I am?”“You are the one their god, the Black Dragon, has prophesied will return.”

By now the Lizardfolk are back in the building, tending to their wounded comrade and generally looking on pensively. Turning to the most leader-looking Lizardman, Soryandum asks him to release the slave who has been talking into his care. Once again, the words echo around and are translated. 

How does the Lizardman react? NPC Stranger, +1 for Charisma, scores 8: “Qualified Consent”.

The words start as sibilant hisses but echo into clear words, spoken as if in the Vulgate: “The slave has value, mage. I require payment.”

I’ve got 21 gold pieces. Soryandum offers 10gp for the slave. This is a reasonable value, I suspect. I roll for reaction, +1 for the bribe, score 6 for a qualified refusal. Hmm. The Lizardman wants either more or something else. Stuff it, I’ll offer all 20gp. Roll again, +2 for larger offer, scores 6. Still refuses.

“What do you want?”

Is there an item that the Lizardfolk want? Unknown odds, No, But… “an adjustment to the physical environment.” 

“You want me to do something for you,” says Soryandum. The Lizardfolk nods.

Rolls Immediate Desire, “Aiding a friend.”

The Lizardfolk points at the wounded warrior. The creature is clearly in a bad way. “You want me to end his pain,” says Soryandum. The Lizardman nods.

Soryandum walks to the wounded creature. Kneeling, he draws his knife. Without hesitation, the wizard plunges the blade into the heart of the Lizardman, killing him instantly. Withdrawing the blade, he looks up at the Lizardfolk.

Is this acceptable? Unknown odds: Yes. Wow.

Getting to his feet, Soryandum bows solemnly to the Lizardfolk. They bow in return. Gesturing to the slave, the wizard turns and walks with purpose towards the stairway downwards…

More coming soon…