Toolbox

Rules – Tales of Argosa RPG by Pickpocket Press
Oracle – The Bones dice & Deck of Signs by Pickpocket Press
Other Publications – The Lazy DM and Lazy DM Companion by Sly Flourish

I have suffered terribly from burn out with my solo gaming and blog for the past few months. It happens and when it does it seems I struggle to pick things up again.

I came across the 10 minute freewriting method, where you write non stop for 10 minutes. The idea is to let go of expectations and write whatever pops in to your head, you bypass the pressure of crafting perfect sentences and just focus on getting ideas out. It can help uncover hidden thoughts, spark creativity, and even generate material you hadn’t planned.. So it’s not necessarily to do with gaming, solo or otherwise, but as a way of getting over writers block and back into gaming, it seems like a useful tool.

Right, I am going to shut myself off from the rest of the world and just type and roll dice for 10 minutes and see where it takes the adventure and me.

Apologies for the simple sketchy art, I am trying to move away from using AI generated pictures and very loosely sketch my own. Work in progress.

An unexpected storm over Siltwater.

Date – Friday 13th Feb (game time)
Location – The lake of Siltwater

Siltwater, a freshwater lake of approximately 20 miles by 15 miles. The city of Vorngard, the companions destination, sits at the lakes northern edge.
Peran points towards the northeast, “Vorngard is some distance to the north, on the east shore, probably best if we stay close to the shoreline and keep a watch for Vorngard Longboats that patrol the lake, they will take anything they think of value”.

Question: Is everything as expected on the Siltwater Lake?
Consult the bones – No, Misfortune.
Deck of Signs – Wind, Howling, Eratic.

I interpret that as an unexpected powerful storm forces the riverboat the companions are travelling in off course and towards the western shore. of the lake.
I get Peran the Rouge who has watercraft skill to make a Dex(watercraft) roll to safely get the ship to the shore. He needs 18 or less on d20 and rolls 15, success.

Peran begins to steer the small riverboat towards the eastern shore but before they have gone far, a violent storm with high winds and heavy rain sweeps unexpectedly from the east, pushing the boat towards the west bank.

Peran tries to keep the boat on course to the eastern shore but he soon realises that its too dangerous and he has little option but to allow the storm to push them to the west. It takes all his skill to keep the boat from turning over. Hedrag, wrapped in his waterproof cloak, helps Peran steer the boat while Darwen and Morwen are occupied with keeping the horses calm.

Question. Can they get safely ashore?
Consult the bones, Great Success, Complication
Deck of Signs, Wandering, Deceiving, magic user.

I read this as the companions secure the boat on the shore but someone is waiting there for them.
1,2 = Alyndra, 3,4 = Sariel, 5 = Crussina the Elf Maiden, 6 = new NPC. d6 roll =1.

After what seems an eternity, Peran manages to get the small craft to the shore and, with some difficulty, they manage to get their horses and belongings off.
With the riverboat empty, Derowen, Hedrag and Peran pull it onto the shore, safe from being swept back out onto the lake, Morwen looks after the four horses.

With the boat secure the four companions mount their horses and begin to move towards a forested area in the hope of finding some shelter from the storm. The storm seems to intensify and Hedrag swears it is following them and forcing them in a particular direction.

“Well you wont need to worry about getting wet, how come you got the waterproof cloak anyway?” Peran grumbles.

“Stops my armour from going rusty” returns Hedrag.

“I think Hedrag is right, and I think this is no ordinary storm” Morwen has a worried expression on her face, “I sense magic at work here”

“That is powerful magic indeed, if you are right my sister?” Derown answers.

“Something or someone has created this storm, and its forcing us to go in this direction. I know it.” Morwen pulls her cloak tighter around herself and shivers as the damp bites into her.

As Morwen finishes her words, a flash of lightning directly overhead illuminates the area, quickly followed by a clap of thunder so loud it spooks their horses.

Each character must make a STR(Animal Lore) or Dex(Animal Lore) to avoid being thrown from their horse.
Derowen, Dex(Animal Lore) needs 14 or less on d20 rolls 8, Success
Hedrag needs 17 or less and rolls 1, Great Success.
Morwen needs 11 or less and rolls 9, Success
Peran needs 17 or less and rolls 16, Success.

Derowen, Morwen and Perran fight to keep control of their mounts, Hedrags horse seems to take the thunder and lightning in its stride. Scraps the dog moves slowly past the horses of the four companions and stops in front of Morwens horse, The one eyed dog seems tence and begins a low growl.
Out of the woods appears a lady on a snow white stallion, she hails the companions, and announces herself as Aylindra, an envoy of the Dragon Queen, sent to accompany the companions and help keep the mirror of dragons safe.

(Okay, that was 10 minutes typing, in the next post I will try for an hour of typing and dice rolls without stopping).