Dolmenwood: Side Adventure

As I've said way too many times before - adulting is hard! One of the players could not meet up this weekend for our bi-weekly face-to-face game. Rather than skip or play without him, I did what our missing player has done when running games: a short 1 off for the other players using different characters but in the same game.

I generated 5 characters via the excellent Dolmenwood character generator, so that there would be a bit of a selection for the 3 layers, and one for me as an NPC. The quick backstory: Lord Bluewater, a Fey Count from outside the Frozen Prince's demesne, had sent in a few to recover the Gem of Yindra, a magical gem that can grant a minor wish once a month. Getting into the frozen lands was as simple as walking across the barrier, getting out would require using the wish as that was a barrier to keep the Prince in. While not in the main adventure this is based on, I decided to extend the Dolmenwood limits even to the land of the Fey. 

Our story starts with the 4 characters hiding at the edge of the woods, watching as characters from Dolmenwood head to the Princess' castle. The troll, Grimmlegridge, is tromping to the pile of corpses for a snack, while the Goblin Griddlegrim escorts the adventures, after they've eaten his magic mushrooms, into the tower. Not knowing how long the troll will feed, the party splits up with the Grimmelkin Topper moving off to distract the troll with the two Woodgrue and the Mossling going to the pile to search for the jewel. Unfortunately for the cat-Fey, the deep snow slows him down more than it slows down the troll, yet he manages to get to the forest fast enough. With the snowy chase on, we find the jewel in the 1st few minutes oddly enough. Meanwhile, a glamor on the troll makes him think he has done what needs to be done and he turns about, leaving the hiding Topper watching him lumber off. Though the glamor is short-lived as he scratches his head, but, upon seeing the pile of bodies, he heads that way to get to his snack. 

Our party moves back to where they came. However, the snowy forest is a bit confusing as they are not sure they are heading in the correct direction. Hearing something heavy come towards them in the woods, they prepare for battle when a large brown bear approaches. Before they can strike, he suddenly asks if they have berries. He's been lost in the woods as well and is getting hungry. Introducing himself as Gunther, Topper feeds him the last of his rations and Gunther seems quite content to munch on the dry food. He mentions that they should be careful - there are harpies in these woods. But he would be happy to go along with the group, esepcially if they can help find berries. 

Moving along, still not quite sure where they are going, the go deeper into the woods. Soon they hear the warbling of song. All but Gunther actually make their saving throws, but Gunther, being a bear, is not easily stopped as he tries to approach the harpies. Fortunately, the 2 Woodgrues play a song, and the harpies both were suddenly filled with laughter, and unable to continue singing. That is also when the party noticed they were eating. While playing their pipes, Topper searched under the tree to find an armlet made of pellucidum with some words engraved on it. They decided it was time to leave, and while the two Woodgrue rode Gunther and played their songs, the harpies did not quite fall out of the tree from laughing so much.

a tree full of harpies

They found a good cave to sleep in that night. Even with a fire and their cloaks, it was a hard sleep, and they were restless all night. From a mechanical viewpoint, this would have meant not renewing spells or healing, but as neither were an issue, it just means they slept poorly. They managed to forage enough to last the evening at least.

They next day they were pretty sure they were coming up on the edge of the Frost Prince's kingdom when they came upon 4 bedraggled humans. Holding scythes and wearing ragged farmers clothes, it was obvious they were somehow lost in the frozen lands. As they could see the scintillating lights of the border, the group took the humans, and bear, and went to the border. Gunther bumped his nose against the barrier, then Mabmungle made the wish with the crystal as they all linked arms and walked through barrier to the eternal spring of Lord Bluewater's domain.

As the farmers warmed up, and Gunther found some berries, they got ready for the next part of the journey. From here they knew where to go. Even though the Fey lands can twist and turn and not be the same day to day for mortals, for the Fey who live here it is home and they know where to go. They hike all day and set up a good camp. During the 2nd watch, they hear 5 people coming up to them. There is a fairly quick battle where they kill the 5 thieves. And yes - Gunther did manage to get a bear hug in. As the thieves were all 1st level as well, it did not take much to kill them. What was interesting was all the thieves were mortal humans, so it was a wonder as to why they were here in the Fey lands. They also all had a tattoo of a snake eating its tail, so appeared to all be from the same gang.

heading in different directions

After that, the farmers, along with the Woodgrue I was playing, headed off to a nearby fairy circle to get back to the mundane world while the rest of the party went to Lord Bluewater's castle. Where they passed over the gem and were rewarded with a minor magical weapon or armor of choice. Just in case we play them again.

It was a pretty decent game I think, low stakes. We took advantage of some of the kindred things based on the character sheets.  And everyone gained 250 XP I think.

Characters we met

Bilibom Mulchwump, Mossling Fighter

Danklob Woodfuffle, Woodgrue Bard

Madmungle Persnickle, Woodgrue Thief

Toppsy Flippancy, Grimalkin Hunter

Gunther, talking brown bear

Lord Bluewater, Prince of the Eternal Spring 

5 dead mortal human thieves

4 confused farmers

2 harpies eating a mortal