SoloDark Pt. 6: Death Comes at Midnight (2024)

This is the 6th post for my solo Shadowdark game running The Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands. I’m testing using footnotes for smaller Oracle rolls, mechanics, and comments and then using italics for the larger stuff. I’m hoping this makes things flow a little better. Please let me know if you have thoughts on this.

You can find the first post here, and the prior post here, and if you want to see more in the way of notes, you can find my public Notion Notebook here.

I would LOVE questions and insights so please leave those in the comments if you have any.

Previously

The group defeated several of Firean’s bandits that had come looking for them and then almost immediately died to the traps around the demon’s door. After recovering from that horrible experience they took the rest of the day to tend to their wounds before questioning Carow, the bandit they had captured. After learning what they could from him they sent him on his way, with a warning that he chose to ignore. Rather than leave the area, Carow returned to his allies with the intent to tell them about the group but an invisible Strika put an end to his life, and the lives of two other bandits, before he could reveal them.

Preparing for War

Black smoke lingered in the air around the three charred bodies as the allies of the now-dead bandits rushed down the stairs to find the charred room with no sign of the attacker. Strika, a wraith in the dying light, had vanished like a wisp of smoke before any of Firean’s company laid eyes on him. But he knew this act would certainly prompt retaliation. While Munnin remained in the skies to monitor the bandit’s movements, Strika made his way back to his allies on the second floor of the donjon. He warned them that Firean almost certainly knew they were a threat and would eventually come for them. If they were to survive the coming confrontation they would need to prepare.

While Shiori, Gol’shruk, and Quibel prepared their defenses on the second floor, Strika once again became invisible and spent a full hour searching the donjon’s ground floor for anything that might aid their fight against Firean and her bandits. After an hour of nothing he had almost given up when he came upon a curious, rudimentary trap in front of the stairs leading deeper into the donjon. Someone had placed two vials of oil (treated to explode when exposed to air) under a fallen door lying across the entrance to the staircase. The group had yet to that part of the donjon so Strika carefully gathered up the two vials and made a note that whatever was down there was fond of traps.

Strika spent an hour exploring so I rolled 5 random encounter checks and never triggered on.

Oracle: Does Strika find anything that will help the group? Yes
Does he find the goblin’s trap? Yes … I was aware this trap was here just from briefly perusing the adventure as the group was exploring it a few chapters ago. Since they did find something, it felt right to roll and see if they found this trap rather than trying to randomly generate something.

When Strika returned to the group upstairs they finished their preparations. Quibel poured caltrops at the top of the landing just outside the door leading to the second floor, Gol’shruck moved what remained of large a half-rotten a few inches in front of the door, and Strika precariously balanced one of the oil vials he had found on top of the door. Now if the bandits decided to charge them they would have to deal with caltrops and fire with a door mostly blocked by the table. With their preparations made, for now, all they could do was wait. As the dark of night fell across the land the group set up watch and hoped they would see the morning.

Death Comes at Midnight

Oracle: Does Fierna lead an assault on the group? Yes
(w/ d.Adv) Is she attempting to be stealthy? Yes
Does the group see her? NO! This is interesting because they are specifically keeping watch, and Shiori has Munnin out there as well.

I thought it over and it seems like she must be moving under the cover of an overcast moonless night. It’s practically impossible to see more than a few feet in front of you which is why even though the group is keeping watch, the bandits get into the donjon without being spotted. They didn’t know exactly where the group was since Strika got lucky in killing Carow and getting out unnoticed, so I rolled a d6 to find out how long it took her to search the donjon and got a 4, that meant 2 random encounter checks, one of which came up a fight with a dire rat. I didn’t roll for the fight since a group of 7 well-armed bandits would slaughter the rat…but it did mean they might make some noise.

Oracle: Does Strika hear the bandits dispatching the rat downstairs?1 Yes..but it isn’t much noise so it doesn’t wake everyone up. Strika has just enough time to wake everyone up before the bandits arrive. They are awake and ready for combat, but will not get a surprise round of any kind.

Oracle: Do the bandits miss the trap set up for them? Yes
Does Firean take the lead? No2

Alright you lot, we’re headed up that tower to show those good-for-nothing adventurers that we mean business. They think they come into our house, kill us, and just leave. Tonight I will drown my blade in their blood! - Firean the Bandit Queen

The group had barely risen and grabbed their weapons when they heard creaking from the stairs. Strika and Gol’shruk slipped into position in the center of the room while Quibel and Shiori hung back near one of the side rooms. They held their breath, waiting for their enemy's arrival, hoping they would live to see the morning. There was a sharp yelp of pain, something thudded against the door forcing it open just far enough for the vial to fall before slamming into the table. Once more, fire and screams promised approaching death and the next few moments were a whirlwind of steel, fang, fire, and blood.3

Fang4 lept through the gap in the door turning his teeth on Gol’shruk who barely managed to pull his shield in front of him and fend off the beast. Bareilly and Firean shove the others aside and barrel into the door, snapping what was left of the old table blocking their way and allowing the rest access to the room. Two bandits lept towards Gol’shruk who found himself pressed on all sides and barely able to hold them off before Cullen5 dealt a viscous two-handed blow, sundering Gol’shruk’s shield. With Gol’shruks defense severely reduced, Cullen slipped back and quaffed a potion before suddenly vanishing.

As desperation began to creep in the group finally found their momentum and threw all they had against their foes. The muscles in Gul’shruk’s back and arms tensed and swelled as Quibel muttered an incantation sending the half-orc warrior into a rage. With his strength increased he threw himself at Firean screaming prayers to Saint Tarragnis as he hefted his great axe high above his head and brought it down upon the Bandit Queen with all his might. Firean raised her weapon to intercept the blow but it did no good. Gul’shruk’s weapon shattered the blade of her sword, tore through her plate mail, and buried itself several inches into her sternum. In one might blow, Gol’shruk had laid low the bandit queen6. Yet the fight was not over.

LADY OF LIGHT PROTECT US! I WILL PROTECT MY FRIENDS!! I WILL SLAY THIS EVIL!!!
SAINT TERRAGNIS…GUIDE MY BLADE!!!!

As Firean’s body collapsed to the ground, Gol’shruk wrenched the axe free of Firean’s body and retreated to the side room, vacating the space surrounding Strika who stepped forward and unleashed yet another torrent of flame catching everyone still in the room. As he retreated Shiori’s eyes blackened and Fang yelped with pain before slumping to the ground unmoving. Only moments after it had begun Bareli was the only bandit left standing in the room. Knowing she could not stand against the group, Bareli fled down the stairs. Once again, Strika and an enraged Gol’shruk gave chase…leaving Shiori and Quibel alone with an invisible assailant.

Down on the first floor of the donjon, Bareli raced for an exit in a desperate attempt to survive the fall of Firean’s bandits, but it was not to be. Strika and Gol’shruk landed several well-aimed blows from spear and magic, knocking the orc woman unconscious. Gol’shruk was in the process of trying her up when he heard a noise that stopped his blood and sent him sprinting for the stairs leading to the upper level of the donjon.

Shiori screamed as an invisible blade punctured her side7. A previously invisible Cullen pulled his blade from the wound and she watched as blood began to pour down her side. Determined to kill the witch that had slain his beloved Fang, Cullen quickly drank a healing potion and moved back in to finish her off.

Blinded by pain Shiori lost the spell she was attempting to cast and was instead forced to focus on defense. Shiori desperately struggled to fight him off before she was finally able to hypnotize him just long enough for Quibel and Shiori to end his life. Just a few moments later Gol’shruk bound into the room offering profuse apologies for leaving Shiori alone.

Rather than make a moral check I made one separately for the different enemies remaining. Cullen got disadvantage because his dog just died and it says he is unpredictable and violent. Bareli got advantage becauise it says she is self-centered and wants easy luxury. Predictably, Bareli fled and Cullen remained.

Oracle: Does Gol’shruk stay to protect Shiori when Bareli leaves? No
(w/ d.Adv) Does Firean survive that blow? Yes but…her armor was ruined and worthless.

I think this is a reasonable chance to increase the bond between Shiori and Gol’shruk. For now, the way I’m going to do this is by rolling a d10 and if I roll at or above their current score it will increase. Gol’shruk rolled a 2 and Shiori rolled a 1. This won’t decrease their score, they are adventurers and know the risks of combat after all, but Gul’shruk is too worried about beating himself up and Shiori is in too much pain to improve their relationship.

That combat was white-knuckle intense despite only being 3 rounds total. I’m pretty sure that the critical hit from Gol’shruk is the only reason everyone didn’t die. Even with all their prep, the characters didn’t have time to try and surprise the bandits given that they missed seeing them when they entered the building. Firean had AC 15, HP 19, and could cast Cure Wounds so it was more than a little worried for them. They got incredibly lucky and these characters really, REALLY need to get past first level.

Rest and Recovery

Grateful to be alive the group turned their thoughts to getting their recovering from their wounds and preparing to return to Dulwich with their prisoners. While searching the bodies for anything of value they were shocked to find that Firean had survived Gol’shruk’s attack and they were hoping she would make the journey back to the city alive so they could collect her bounty. They found a scroll of cure wounds on Firean and a small assortment of gold on Bareli.

Before retiring to rest for the night they securely bound both Firean and Bareli and put set up a rotating guard duty. They would be damned if they lost the bounties on the two women after all this work. Despite their best efforts to rest for the remainder of the night Gol’shruk and Shiori both woke exhausted. Gol’shruk refused to let any else stand guard and Shiori’s bandaged wound kept her from getting a good rest.8

Knowing it would take more than a few hours to march two unwilling bandits through the forest and back to Dulwich, made quick work of the few things they needed to accomplish before leaving. Shiori buried the bones of Einar and his family in the forest outside the keep fulfilling the promise she made to the spirit several days ago. Strika and Quibel returned to the bandit’s tower and freed Reithic as promised. The dwarven merchant was shocked to see them back, doubly so when he learned that they were the reason the bandit tower had been empty since the prior night. He was happy to help the group cart the two bandits back for trial.

They also decided to free the goblin in the bandit's prison cell. They couldn’t help but pity the poor creature, who had been beaten so badly it could hardly speak, they simply couldn’t bring themselves to kill it. While Reithic opposed their decision he wouldn’t kill the goblin against his savior's wishes. For now, the group decided against spending the time to search through the bandit's watchtower. Both the bandits, and Einar had warned them about goblins, and worse, in the lower levels of the donjon and the group couldn’t afford to be caught unaware in their present state. They planned to make the journey to Dulwich and return to the Shadowed Keep after they had fully recovered.

That was a hell of a combat. When the bandit group won initiative I was worried it might be a TPK and was pretty sure someone was going to die, and then Gol’shruk showed Firean the power of Saint Terragnis, or a least the power of a critical hit. The group is about to take a few days in Dulwich to claim their rewards, do some carousing, almost certainly level up, and then return to the keep. Hopefully, they’ll have some more hit points to their names when that happens. So far it’s seemed like every fight is a knife edge away from death, and while that’s exciting, good lord is it stressful.