The Soloist
Hero
Starting character
Moriak (Leader): Wizard level 1, sage background, human, 21 years old. From Ravencliff, and third child of a sea merchant family.
Creating the Party
In the walled city of Ravencliff (map location #6), Ervona, the wizardess, asks Moriak to search for five ancient jade amulets in a known humanoid lair of the Brown Hills (#2). The humanoids attacked a caravan that was transporting the amulets a week ago. Moriak hires Ysandra, the young rogue, which he met previously when she tried to steal his pouch!
Ysandra: Rogue level 1, thief background, human, 17 years old. From Ravencliff’s outer city, known as Copper City. The sixth child of nine.
For muscle, Ysandra recommends Torvin, a barbarian who arrived in town last week. He has not caused trouble and behaved well as a bodyguard of the merchant she was doing some ‘research on’. He spotted her a few times despite her best efforts to remain in the shadows. After a meeting at the Ever-burning Torch Inn, Moriak hires him.
Torvin: Barbarian level 1, soldier background, human, 18 years old. From the barbarian community that lives on the northern plains, also known as the Violet Fields. No siblings.
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Adventure #1 (an 11-room dungeon, 2 traps, 2 secret rooms): Three days later, the companions arrive at the humanoid lair safely (map location #2). In the first rooms of the dungeon, they encounter goblins. The next rooms are filled with stolen caravan goods. Then hobgoblins, attracted by the ruckus arrive. The characters narrowly survive and decide to retreat to Ravencliff with two of the five jade amulets they found in a secret room. They reach level two. Ervona is impressed by her apprentice.
Treasure: 25 gold each.
The companions return to the humanoid lair for a second foray. The dungeon is strangely quiet. All the rooms are empty and the caravan goods are gone. The characters go down one level and soon face hobgoblins again. The party prevails and then decides to hide in the secret room they found on the first level while they take a 1-hour short rest. They return to the level 2 of the dungeon. A few rooms later, they find a large Bugbear with two hobgoblin guards in a room without an escape route.
Cornered, the Bugbear leader refuses to surrender the last three amulets. He shouts ‘Attack!’ Four hidden goblins with short bows come out from behind the room’s columns. A brawl erupts. Torvin rages against the hobgoblins. The goblins go down with a Sleep spell. Ysandra backstabs the hobgoblins. The Bugbear leader, also injured, is the last standing and ferocious. All three adventurers are weak. Moriak, the wizard, not afraid of getting close, finishes the Bugbear with a well-placed Burning Hands.
The three companions search the Bugbear’s room and find the three jade amulets they were looking for in a trapped chest. Ysandra disables it. They also find gold and two magical items. They spend the rest of the day and night in the secret room.
The party returns to Ravencliff safely. Ervona, the wizardess, rejoices at finally having the set of five jade amulets. Moriak cannot determine their significance, value or use. Ervona offers no information.
Treasure: Bracers +2AC for Torvin. Potion of Healing. 50 gold each.
