Tales of Argosa RPG kickstarter update.

Pickpocket Press have just released the final version of Tales of Argosa in PDF format for backers of the project. This final version includes new or additional artwork, all b&w but great artwork non the less. There are also a few rules tweaks though I don’t think they affect my current game.

This final version is only available to backers though I think there is still time to order via the pre-order store but do not quote me on that.

Strong Start.

Companions encounter something unusual outside Northgard.
Crystal flowers have bloomed overnight. Rumours and gossip about what the flowers imply are being spread by a small crowd that has gathered to see them.
Characters may have a run in with either city guard or Anointed disciple & warriors.

Character Review.

The characters managed to find and retrieve the Mirror of Dragons, which is a major magic item, so I am awarding each character 3xp for their part in the find.

Derowen has a trinket box containing a leaf of golden wart inside. She has 16 hp and has 13xp

Morwen has killed 1 warrior for which I award 2xp she now has 15xp. She is down to 9hp

Pedran lost 7hp and is now at 12hp and is carrying the Mirror of Dragons. He killed a warrior with the help of Scraps the dog so I only award him 1xp taking him up to 15xp

Hedrag has only got 3xp for his part in finding the mirror and now has 15xp. He is down to 10hp.

Everyone except Darowen has lost hit points and needs a long rest or some restorative magic or potions to heal.

Sologamers tip. Remember to keep track of xp on your character sheets. I forgot and had to go back over my posts until I found the one in which the characters levelled up, thankfully I had made a note of their xp in that post.  Also another mistake I made when the characters levelled up to 2nd level was they are allowed do add +1 to an attribute of their choice and I forgot to do that. I will sort that issue out when they reach level three.

NPC’s

Theobald the merchant.
Crusina the elf maiden.

Possible monster encounters.

SKORN #4d6 AC 11 HD 2 Club 1d6+1 Nat 19
Skull Strike: Stunned (Luck (Con) save resists) S15
D10 C13 I7 P12 W8 Ch8 L5 Partial dark vision
( Near Blind instead of Blind ). Reac 2-3 Enraged 4-5
Enraged 6-8 Hungry 9-10 Careful 11-12 Interested.

GOBLIN #4d6 AC 11 HD 1d4 hp Bite 1d6 Nat 19
Frenzy: bonus Bite attack S7 D14 C10 I9 P11 W8
Ch8 L3. Adv on stealth related checks. Near Blind
in sunlight. Reac 2-6 Hostile 7-8 Unkind 9-10 Withdrawn 10-12 Interested.

The old wooden cabin.

Fearing retribution from the anointed for their part in the rescue of Lelas mother and more importantly, the fact they have the mirror of dragons which is wanted by the Stargazer himself, the companions leave Northgate, 

Having paused only to pay their debts, collect their belongings and horses, they quietly leave the city, passing through the city gates without trouble from the city guards.

They have not travelled far from Northguard when they spy a familiar covered wagon which is stationary, standing beside it are the merchant Theobald and his companion, the elf maiden, Crusina. A small crowd has gathered near them, all looking at a rare phenomenon that has occurred where crystal flowers have bloomed overnight, emitting a soft glow that illuminates the surroundings, the crystal petals are the shape of dragon scales.

Theobald hails the companions, “glad meeting my good friends, leaving Northgate so soon?”

Derowen replies “glad meeting, yes, it is time for us to continue on our quest.Why the gathering?”

Crusina points to the crystal flowers, “It is said such flowers possess magical properties. bringing good fortune to those that discover them. the townspeople are whispering about the flowers being a sign of impending change the realm. Perhaps it is so.”

Morwen goes to the crystal flowers, she reaches down to touch one and it seems to break off its stem and jump on to her hand glowing ever brighter. She carefully places it in her pack.

Theobald turns to the others, “we are travelling to Harwoods Reach, the logging outpost, its only a two hour journey but the sky has darkened, I expect more snow and we may not get there before nightfall. we would be glad of your company if you travel that direction.”

The companions agree that it is not out of there way and there is safety in numbers. An overnight rest at the outpost will give them a chance to heal some wounds.

The party get on their way, all happy to leave Northgard. They pick up the rough wagon path which leads to Harwood outpost, although partially obscured by ice and snow, Theobald has travelled it so often he finds it easy to follow. Hedrag and Pedran ride their mounts either side of the wagon horse team while the two sisters are at the rear of the wagon, few words are spoken between any of them on the journey.

Question. Does it snow during the short journey? 50/50. d100 = 73 Yes.
Question. Is there an encounter during the short journey. unlikely  -20%. d100 = 83- 20, 63%, yes, but…
Random Encounter roll gets me a Wild Boar (non-aggressive), Distance = Far

About half-way to the outpost it begins to snow, lightly at first but turning heavier as they progress their journey. Darowen spots a wild boar within her longbow range. She gets her bow and cocks an arrow but in the time it takes her to do that the boar has seen the party and scurries off. She lets loose an arrow at the fleeing Boar any way but misses badly. leaving Derowen cursing under her breath, one lost arrow and no roast hog this evening.

With the snow getting heavier and the daylight all but gone,  Theobald suggests they pause their journey for today, having travelled this route so many times he is able to lead them to a small wooden cabin sometimes used by hunters and trappers, in this snow he thinks it unlikely that it will be occupied.

Question. Is there anyone or anything, in the cabin? Unlikely -20%. d100 roll = 08. No, and…

The snow around the cabin is quite deep. There are no discernible tracks leading to or from the cabin, the door is unlocked, Derowen is the first to look inside and confirms that there is no one inside.

There is dry firewood by the entrance and behind the cabin is a lean to shelter just big enough to take the horses offering them some protection from the snow and cold.

Once the party have taken care of the horses, with Scraps the dog and Derowens owl guarding and watching over them, the party go inside. Theobald and Hedrag bring in wood for a fire. Crusina brings in dried beans & vegetables for a simple stew while the other three look around the cabin and sort out bunks for night.

Derowen, Morwen and Peran each make a Perc check. Derown rolls 8, a success. Morwen rolls 2 a Great Success. Perran rolls 12 also a Success.

Looking around Derowen and Peran find little of any use to them, a rusty axe blade, 12 small fish hooks of which Peran pockets 4 that he feels would be of use to him (he has a fishing rod), a blue woollen scar, and a pair of old worn out shoes.

Morwen notices a loose floorboard beneath which is a small hollow containing a stained cloth sack. Inside the sack is an iron pot and lid. The pot itself contains a spool of fine copper wire (used for snares), a copper/iron ring (Ring of Warmth), and a small pouch (contains 7 small quartz (5 sp each), 4 sp, and 19 cp. Iron is a deterrent to Faerie-folk and often used to hide copper items.

Morwen shows the quartz to Theobal and asks their value. Theo gives them a long look over, “not much, maybe a few silvers each. Better just to leave them where they found the girl, if someone took the trouble to hide them here they may take the trouble to retrieve them.”

Crusina agrees, “If the snow stops our tracks will be visible to anyone who comes here, if they come to collect what the hid they can easily follow us, we want no trouble from trappers or bandits.”

Morwen makes an int(arcane lore) check to see if the ring is magical, she needs 19 or less on d20 and rolls 11.
Question. Is the ring magical? Likely +20%. d100 roll – 72 + 20 =92. Yes, and… (+1 intervention point).

Morwen slips the iron covered ring on to her finger, she not only knows it is magical, she also knows it to be a ring of warmth. (gives wearer resistance to cold damage.) She takes the ring off her finger and puts it back in the sack which she place back under the floor, vowing to retrieve it next time she passes this way, if its still there.

They pass the rest of the night quietly, eating and sleeping well, (each injured character recovers 2hp), and in the morning they set out on their way to Harwoods Reach.

to be continued.