eotenheim: session summary
I ran a one shot of ODnD for a beer launch event at my local game shop (check them out theyre cool)
Two of three players were playing an RPG for the very first time. It was awesome.
I used the dungeon stocking from Delving Deeper. The result is Eotenheim.
the players: Gunk (fighter 1), Biggles Boggles (dwarf), and Puss (M.U. 1)
Everybody did portraits unprompted. It made me so happy.
entering the dungeon
On the brow of solemn eotenheim becks bubble, conifers drip, rain crashes ever down.
The sinkhole breaches a square chamber, built too large for eordwerod, flooded to the breast with clear rainwater.
explosions
The dwarf cracks his muscles pulling one of the doors against water weight; within minutes, roaring, the water drains into the bowels of the temple.
They move on. A huge door of beaten copper, locked, marked with an unfamiliar rune. All around, the hieroglyphs of a people that worshipped clouds, rain.
There is a tunnel entrance cut into the wall, 15' up. The smell of rainwater is replaced by rot. They climb each other to get in.
Giant rats, feasting on a wolf! Their eyes glow like dark stars in torchlight. They throw down oil, torches; the explosion nearly costs them their life.
Blackened with soot, hurting bad, they find a collar on the wolf. It's in dwarvish.
The next room is occupied by 3 more wolves, Dwarf-collared as well. They are easily distracted by roasted rat.
the dwarf hovel
The dwarf notices something here. A latch of dwarvish make. He pulls it -- the whole wall spins! they are in a rough hewn cave. While other rooms are 30' high, in this one they must stoop.
They find a beautiful copper sword. It is proportioned like a dagger but the length of a broadsword. It too bears the runes of the cloud-people.
They find a panel of copper etched with what looks like a map.
They find a big copper key, marked with the same rune as the big copper door.
They rest here1.
ghosts and whirlwinds
The big copper door swings open. Stairs lead down. It's very windy.
Three round chambers, each filled by a giant alabaster bust embedded to the bridge of the nose. Each bears a circlet with another rune.
They realise the big copper panel is a map. It shows some secret rooms!
The fighter tries to explore the round rooms but sees a violent whirlwind coming his way. At the same time, a ghost apparates out of the nearest bust. A booming 10' tall prince yells at them to RUNNNN
the funeral boat
They find a pumice basin in the shape of a storm cloud. When they pour water in, a doorway appears! It leads down to a room of packed earth. There's 4 shrouded skeletons, 10' tall.
More importantly, there's GOLD, and a spellbook! it contains the spells speak with animals and wizard mark.
The giant ghost appears again. It is furious. He declares that he is going to inform the "other trespasser" of their presence, and he will surely destroy them.
They ask about the other trespasser. The ghost is stiff lipped and storms off, turning into mist.
the giant wolf
As it turns out the giant ghost informed the "other trespasser". Chetthe, dark sorcerer, kidnapper of the princess. He sends his giant wolf to investigate.
It thunders down an adjoining corridor. The wizard of the party casts her new spell and commands it to stop. Caught off guard, it does so. After some discussion it agrees to take them to its master.
They are waylaid by 4 giant centipedes wriggling through from the ceiling. With the aid of the dire wolf they chop off their heads. The wolf greedily snaps them up.
Chetthe appears, having heard commotion.
The finale
Chetthe is looking for the mausoleum of the giant king. Royal blood spilt on it summons the wise king's ghost, who will answer three questions.
He spies their copper map and is clearly desperate to have it. He offers them employment and, being stuck between a sorceror and his giant wolf, they agree.
Secretly, they make an educated guess: the king's mausoleum must be opened by a similar water-basin as to the longboat. They plan to open the way and then suck out all the water with only Chetthe inside, sealing him in forever.
In a tense struggle, they manage to overbear the wolf, throwing it down into the chamber after Chetthe. They hold onto the princess in her wicker cage. The fighter sucks up the water and Chetthe is sealed away forever!
epilogue
The princess is alive, but unfortunately forever stuck as a doe. As reward for returning her, they become her interpreters(using speak with animals) and bodyguards, and they all live happily ever after
Referee's corner
The delving deeper stocking rules have got me really excited. I love rolling up maps and treasure and monsters and making it all work. Eotenheim has already been expanded with a 3rd floor.
I think the game went really well. The newbies enjoyed it immensely and want to play more. Woohoo!
the party was on 1hp and since as it was a beginner oneshot I let them regen 1D6 hp with 30mins of rest↩