While we’re on this discussion of Skills I suppose I should let you know how exactly these are used. When you encounter a monster that you must fight it, will list that monsters Skill and Stamina. You’ll do the page flicky thing or roll 2D6 adding that total to the monsters Skill. You’ll then roll again and add that to your own Skill. The higher result inflicts wins, inflicting two damage. If you tie, nobody takes damage. You can use your Luck after a successful or failed attack. If you succeed and use your luck you roll 2D6. If this result is equal to or under your current Luck value then you inflict an extra point of damage, but if it is over your current Luck you inflict one less. If you were the one initially taking damage you can use the luck in the same way to suffer one less damage or if you fail your Luck check suffer one additional. Sometimes the book will simply call for a Luck check as well as using your luck in this way. Also, every time you use your luck you lose a point and so as you push your luck it becomes more and more likely that you will fail. Finally one other note is that sometimes an encounter will give you the option to run for it and Escape. Escaping will get you away from a fight but you will automatically suffer two damage as a parting blow from the enemy.
I almost forgot one of the most important parts! A name! A good suitable fantasy name for what seems simply to be an adventuring fighter type of character. I think I’ll call him Dresden. Yes, it’s a rip from the Jim Butcher novels, but it also sounds suitably D&D like. So, with the basics covered and the character created let’s begin!
There is no pretext as to why my adventurer is choosing to go into Firetop Mountain so let’s assume rumors of a great treasure because I know that’s kind of the goal anyway. Previous to heading up to the mountain though I spent a few days in a local village a few miles away gathering rumors and information. It would be too foolhardy to just waltz right in. Many of the rumors revolve around the great wealth of treasure that the Warlock has accumulated. There are many stories of adventurers heading to the mountain but few ever return although those that do are of two kinds. Some return with treasure in hand having fought bravely and some return with naught but the scars of a valiant but fruitless endeavor. The Warlock is rumored to have his powers granted to him by either a magically enchanted deck of cards (I’m thinking the deck of many things) or a pair of black magical silk gloves. Naturally there are many monsters in the labyrinth of caves in the mountain and somewhere amongst these beasts are two keys which are used to unlock the Warlocks treasure chest in the deepest part of the dungeon. My final recommendation from the townsfolk is to keep a good map as without it I will surely be lost within the mountain forever.
It seems that to me I spent some “special” time with some of the ladies in town as when I go to leave many of the townsfolk turn out and some of the womenfolk shed tears, though I can’t seem to decide if it’s because they’ll miss me or they just know I’m leaving on a trip from which I’m destined to not return. To reach the mountain I’ll have to cross at a ferry, where, I apparently haggle the boatman down to a single gold piece for the trip. I’m guessing this is the only gold piece I have after carousing in the town since the character creation never mentioned me having any money. There were Goblins guarding the area outside the caves but since there was no combat I assume they were either away, perhaps raiding a village or distracted from perhaps too much drinking the night before my arrival.
As I continue down the corridor I come across a number of doors to the west of me. I place my ear up to each before moving on making note of what I’ve heard. At the first door I hear snoring. Perhaps the guards sleeping quarters. I fear going in may cause him to wake and he may consequently yell for the other so I continue. The second door I hear nothing which is unsettling on its own so I move on. At the third door I hear what has to be the worst singing I’ve ever heard. I choose to move on rather than subject my poor ears to more. Eventually I reach another junction with a branch west and east. I figure the first junction was dead to the east so I go west again and encounter yet another door down that hallway. This door however contains a different noise. I hear a person being yelled at and screaming in pain while they are clearly being beaten. My bleeding heart forces me to open the door at which point I take in the surroundings. A table with a chair behind it and a small chest on top is in the center of the room. Huddled in the corner on the floor is a disheveled and weak looking orc. Above him stands an orc chieftain who is berating and beating him for being a bad servant. I could care less if an orc kills another orc, but still perhaps I could get some useful information from the servant so I rush the chieftain hoping the servant will ally himself with me. Alas, I am to be disappointed. Not only does the chieftain turn his rage on me, the servant, perhaps trying to return to his master’s good graces also rushes me, I am attacked!
After some rest and a meal I move on back down beyond the junction going east this time. I pass another corridor to the north which would lead further into the mountain and eventually come to a door. Listening at it I hear the sounds of pots and pans and other noises that might be those of a kitchen in use. Given the noise there is obviously someone inside at work and if it is a kitchen it is very likely that they have knives. Also, it could be more than one so I just to backtrack to the north passage. Heading that direction I come to a door on the right. Behind it I hear pleading and requests for help. I try the door but it is locked so I kick it down. I am greeted by a foul stench which nearly forces me to wretch my recent meal and I see a filthy prison cell occupied by a ravening old man with scraggly grey hair and a beard wearing naught but rags.
·
Be respectful of the ferry man
·
The keys to the boathouse are guarded by a man
and his dog
·
At the portcullis the lever on the right will
open the way
I continue northward up the corridor where I come upon another door where I hear nothing. A little more emboldened from my thus far successful exploits I try the handle but the door is locked. I was willing to open a door but I don’t want to kick it down so I continue on. I come to another door but this time the door is made of heavy steel. From beyond I can hear the agonized screams of someone being tortured and the sadistic laughs of the person’s tormentors. I burst through the door where two goblins turn from their duty. A naked dwarf hangs naked by his hands from a hook in the ceiling covered in cuts and blood he is clearly in bad shape. The goblins rush me and I once again forced into combat. The goblins are no match for my skill however and both go down easily. Sadly, by the time I am able to get to the dwarf he has perished from his wounds. Discouraged I search the room and find a block of cheese, probably the goblins lunch and take it with me. (I wonder as it wasn’t a “provision” if this will be useful later for something else.)
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