I have not been doing this calendar in the way it was meant to be played. I keep forgetting for long stretches at a time. Still, we’re only done with the first quarter of the year. Perhaps after this entry I can do a better job at playing daily even if I don’t post to the blog daily. It will probably help the story resonate better for me.

Story

19 Feb

I continue into the swamp, keeping my eyes open for webs or other creatures that will say I have arrived at Silkrend.

I am unable to find my path and lose a day (eat 1 ration)

Eventually I find myself tangled in spider silk.

I push my way forward, careful not to get stuck on the stickier strands.

I find a skeleton, someone who was not as careful as I. It has a lockbox in its hand.

I patiently pick the lock and find 3 GP inside.

A rotting scent grows quite strong as I continue into the swamp.

The stench overwhelms me. I vomit violently (-1 HP)

I get stuck in the mud. Getting myself leaves my muscles quite sore. (-1 HP)

20 Feb

I finally arrive at Silkrend, but I am attacked by spiders.

In the first round, I attack and kill the spider. (+1 GP)

In the second round, I kill that spider as well (+1 GP)

In the third round, I am oncea gain victorious (+1 GP)

A fourth spider comes up against me and I slay that one (+1 GP)

I defeat the final spider (+1 GP; +1 minion)

I was hoping for a better welcome from the Venom King. Hopefully these were just guards doing their job.

21/22 Feb

Entering the cave I see egg sacs and food sacks lined with webbing. They are twitching and I decide to investigate.

I cut through the first layer and then rip the spider silk.

I try to coax the creature out. It bites at me and is unready to emerge (-1 HP)

The second time I try, I get it out. I get a skulldrake out. (can use energy for +1 Stealth/+1 Survivalist)

23 Feb

I reach Silkrend, a city within the underdark. Bioluminescent fungi provide light.

I visit The Webbed Wonder, an inn and take a rest (-5 GP)

Afterward as I walk through the city an arachnid spy approaches me. He tells me that the Silk Lord may eat me as easily as he may offer me help now that the Dark Lord has fallen.

I go to the Venom Pits where venom is a weapon and a sacrament. I hope to get favor by partaking in the sacraments. I do so without any ill effects (Favor +1)

Likewise I go to the Silken Catacombs to pay respects to the dead. (+1 Favor)

Then I visit the Brood Chambers. While here I care for an heir of the Venom King (+1 Favor)

Finally, I visit the Web Market and purchase a gift to offer the king. (-3 GP; +1 Favor)

24 Feb

Having done all I wished to do before requesting an audience with the king I finally approach his chambers. There the guards tighten their weapons and view me with suspicion.

I offer them gold to let me through. (-3 GP) and they let me in.

25 Feb

Finally I to meet the king.

After a preamble he asks me to choose whether he will eat the goblin or human.

I choose to spare the goblin. (-1 Favor; + 1 minion)

26 Feb

He chooses to kill me because the only rival for his power (the overlord) is now dead. (Also, by losing favor from sparing the goblin, I didn’t have enough favor for him to let me go)

1/25 HP

Round 1: I hit him with my weapon. He takes 8 damage.

Round 2: I miss. He attacks and I am able to minimize the damage with his sabers. (-1 HP, -1 minion)

Round 3: I hit him with my weapon. He takes 7 damage.

Round 4: I miss. He bites into me. (-2 HP)

Round 5: I hit him again. He takes 9 damage.

Round 6: I miss. He hits me with his sabers again. (-2 HP, -1 minion)

Round 7: I miss. He misses me, too.

Round 8: I miss. I take damage. (-1 HP)

Round 9: I hit and Lord Phegor scurries up to the ceiling. He says he will let me go, but things will go badly if we meet again.

+6 gold, +1 Notoriety

27 Feb

Before leaving, I take my chances to stay at the inn again and rest. (-5 GP)

I have 2 choices - go back through the swamp or go along the coast. I choose to go along the coast.

The lack of trees expose me to the sun and I have to stop often. (-3 meal rations)

I hear a strange splashing along the shoreline.

I spot a sand tick and quickly dispatch it. I harvest its carapace. (+2 bonedust)

28 Feb / 1 March

As I arrive back at the citadel I end up at the edges of the enemy encampment. I choose to try and poison their rations. The next morning the soldiers are weak and easy to dispatch (+4 GP)

2 March

The castle lies in ruins. I explore to see if there’s anything worth salvaging.

I first head to the hidden vault. All has already been looted.

Then I walk and hear a bunch of muffled voices. Goblins and orcs are trapped beneath a collapsed section of the hallway. I try to rescue them. I exhaust myself attempting to free them. They remain in agony.

I look in the high mage’s alchemy lab. (+1 cryptweed, mooonmoss, and nightshade)

3 March

I go to the throne room where the Overlord fought the enemies. Something is wrong here - the heroes have either desecrated the body or stolen it.

First I examine the blood spattered on the floor. I determine that the heroes didn’t just take him in one direction, they cut him into pieces and took him in different directions.

Then I search for clues. I find paper telling me where each hero was instructed to take a piece of the body.

I hear someone breathing and interrogate them. (nat 20!) He confirms where I’ve already surmised - the heroes are scattering his body.

4 March

I enter the ritual room. I find the High Mage where I left him during the fight. I find medicinal herbs nearby. (+1 blightroot, cryptweed) I find a small, locked chest.

I try to pick the lock. (nat 20!) Inside I find slivers of the Soul Crystal.

5 March

The Soul Crystal pulses and I feel drawn to put it on the ritual table where the High Mage prepared the spell earlier. I place it there and an image of the Overlord appears. He tells me that if I bring together his body parts and treasure that he can give me his power and I can become the new Overlord.

6 March

I grab one relic to use: I choose the Helm of Abyssal Echoes (+1 INT, +1 DEF)

I have to make a plan about what to do next to rebuild the castle and take revenge. I also gather the last 3 slivers of the soul crystal.

7 / 8 March

I find some henchmen on the grounds. I Address them to persuade them to my side. Some of them join my call (+1 minion)

I search the tower once more. I find my way in and find 2 orcs pinned by a fallen support beam. I try to save them. I falter and they are crushed.

I dig through the rubble. I find a small chest (+1 health potion, +2 meal rations, +3 GP)

9 March

Night falls and we make camp in the ruins. An older goblin comes towards me. He says that if I can defeat Hogtar and Gendrak the horde will join me.

Round 1 Hogtar: I attack and deal 2 damage. I raise my shield and only take a little damage (-1 HP)

Round 2 Hogtar: I attack again and defeat him.

Round 1 Gendrak: I attack and deal 2 damage. I raise my shield and only take a little damage (-1 HP)

Round 2 Gendrak: I attack again and defeat him.

+1 Notoriety and +2 Minions

10 March

I hear something going on the middle of camp and I hear some enemy soldiers being tortured by goblins. I decided to take them as slaves:

They beg for relief from the torture and will do anything I ask.

11 March

After a night of rest, it is time to gather supplies to rebuild the castle.

First I go to rally the camp to get them excited about helping rebuild. I am able to invigorate them. (+2 minions)

We then go to gather wood. Need 10 logs:

1. The tree fall onto me. (-1 HP, +1 log)
2. I fell a large tree (+2 logs)
3. I fell another large tree (+2 logs)
4. I mess up the tree, but am able to get a piece. (+1 log)
5. Another tree falls on me (-1 HP, +1 log)
6. Another tree falls on me (-1 HP, +1 log)
7. I mess up the tree, but am able to get a piece. (+1 log)
8. I do a good job (+2 logs)

Then I scavenge for stone, need 10:

1. I get a big piece (+2 slab)
2. As I bring a piece it breaks (+1 slab)
3. As I bring a piece it breaks (+1 slab)
4. As I bring it back, it falls on my foot (-1 HP, +1 slab)
5. I get a big piece (+2 slab)
6. As I bring it back, it falls on my foot (-1 HP, +1 slab)
7. As I bring it back, it falls on my foot (-1 HP, +1 slab)
8. I get a big piece (+2 slab)

Finally, we hunt for iron scraps, need 10:

1. Big Piece (+2 scrap)
2. Small chunk (+1 scrap)
3. Big Piece (+2 scrap)
4. Small chunk (+1 scrap)
5. Small chunk (+1 scrap)
6. Big Piece (+2 scrap)
7. Big Piece (+2 scrap)

12 March

Now that we have all the pieces, I need to convince the others to work with me.

I know a little about constructions. (+2 bonus to begin repairs)

Need 30 repair points.

1. Get hurt (-1 HP)
2. Awesome work. (+5 repair points)
3. Awesome work. (+5 repair points)
4. Awesome work. (+5 repair points)
5. Awesome work. (+5 repair points)
6. Awesome work. (+5 repair points)
7. Awesome work. (+5 repair points)

Orc challenges me to play cards. I lose, but in a way that gains me his trust. (-3GP, +1 minion)

13 March

I go upstairs and find an elder goblin with some animals. She says if I do her a favor I get to keep one. I wonder whether I should show compassion or being to be ruthless because I want to be the next dark lord. I decide I will simply take one without doing her any favors. (+1 Notoriety)

14 / 15 March

I decide to grab a Watchhopper.

Tomorrow I will leave so today I rest.

Before I rest, I craft a health potion.

16 March

I have to go to Saltwind. Do I take the harder route where I can hide from bandits or the easier route where I might have to fight? I’m pretty strong now, I will choose the easier route and risk fights.

I have a long, but uneventful journey. (-1 meal ration; +1 mooonmoss, +1 wolfsbane)

17 March

I see a beautiful pegasus flying by. I try to attack it in the air. I hit it dead center in the wing and it falls to the ground. (+2 damage rolls on 18 March)

18 March

We begin to fight.

Round 1: I attack the pegasus and damage it. It is stunned. (+2 GP)

Round 2: It is once again stunned. (+2 GP)

Round 3: I miss and it attacks me. I take a big hit. (-2 HP)

19 March

It collapses on the ground from its wounds. I decide I will turn it into a nightmare. (+1 Notoriety) I clip its wings. I now have a Nightmare as a follower.

20 March

As I arrive a group of men surround me. They were yoked under my master and wish to stay free.

I try to strike fear into them. They hesitate, clearly shaken by my words.

Soldier 1: I kill them with one blow (+1 GP)

Soldier 2: I miss the attack on the second soldier. I am able to block the blow and take only a small hit. (-1 HP)

Solider 3: I kill with one blow (+1 GP)

21 / 22 March

I defeated the militia and try to get answers from the surviving soldiers, but they do not speak. I decide to torture them into speaking. They break before I even have to get my hands dirty.

I gain the information I need and as he begs for his life I strike him down. (+1 Notoriety)

23 March

I sneak into Saltwind to try and find the prison to free any allies.

I stick to the shadows (+2 bonus to rest of rolls this day)

Some guards notice something weird about me and tell me I need to get home. I try to slip away. I trip and they are alerted to my presence.

There is no information that anyone I know is in the city. I continue on to the prison.

I keep to the shadows and find the prison. There are two soldiers outside.

24 March

I try to bribe the guards. They call out in alert and I must fight them.

Soldier 1: I attack the first one and then he tries to hit me back. (-1 HP)

Soldier 2: I hit him and kill him in one blow (+1 GP)

25 March

I enter the prison and investigate the first room. I find nothing. A guard enters and I take some damage while fighting him off (-1 HP)

I find another area and try to sneak past the guards. The guard hears me and attacks.

Round 1: I kill him in one shot.

The next area has 2 petty criminals. I break the lock and one criminal joins me. (+1 minion)

I investigate the kitchen. I find a chest with expensive cooking knives (+4 GP)

I then make my way to the final hallway towards the main cells.

26 March

There are many in here who used to serve the Dark Overlord.

I try and intimidate them into joining. They are scared and they agree to join me. (+7 Saltwind recruits)

I open the cells and they join me.

27 March

We sweep through the town, taking control.

Six guards surround me.

Guard 1: I hit them and kill them in one shot.

Guard 2: I hit them. They take damage. They try and hit me I block well. (-1 HP, -1 Saltwind recruit)

Guard 3: I fail to hit them. They try and hit me and score a good hit. (-1 HP, -1 Saltwind recruit)

Guard 4: They restrain me, but I still minimize the damage. (-1 HP, -1 Saltwind recruit)

Guard 5: I hit and kill them in one blow.

Guard 6: I’m restrained and take more damage. (-2 HP, -1 Saltwind recruit)

We subdue the city. It is ours.

28 / 29 March

I gather my forces to deal with the remaining villagers.

Villager 1: I spare their life to see if I earn their loyalty. They choose death instead.

Villager 2: I torture (+1 Notoriety). They die.

Villager 3: I just kill them (+2 to rolls for convincing them to join me)

Villager 4: I spare their life. (crit fail) They would rather die.

Villager 5: I spare their life. They would rather die.

Stats, Etc

• HP: 4/13
• Soul Crystal Power Level: 6
• Minions: 10
• Loyal to the Overlord
• Notoriety: 7
• Henchmen
  • Velvetfang
• Pets:
  • Skulldrake
  • Watchhopper
  • Nightmare
• Silkrend Favor: 3; Sabotage: 0
• Defeated Hogtar and Gendrak
• Prisoners
• Under suspicion in Saltwind
• Saltwind Recruits: 3

Bonuses

Items

• 20 GP
• Tome of Forbidden Rites (+1 CON/+1 attack)
• combat tonic x2
• warding ointment
• wolfsbane x 2
• bonedust x 3
• cryptweed x2
• blightroot
• mooonmoss
• Elixir of Speed
• Elixir of Charm
• Antidote
• Hex Cleanse
• Dragon’s fire
• meal rations x 2
• Sliver of Soul Crystal x 3
• Health potion x 1

• Solo-TTRPG