One Shot in the Dark was created by Jon of The Tale of the Manticore podcast. You can find it on DriveThruRPG. Jon can be found on twitter, @manticoretale, and on the podcast blog. You can find Tale of the Manticore, a dark fantasy old-school rpg podcast on Podbean.
At The Arrow & Quill
A willowy man in a stained apron eyed the four companions closely as they approached. It was not every day that a human, a halfling, an elf and a dwarf walked into his bar. Even rarer that they did it together. The elfkin and mountain-folk seldom traveled this far south, and never together.
“What’ll it be folks?” Asim asked, giving them his most winsome smile.
“Lookin’ fer work,” replied the dwarf.
“Adventurers, no?”
“Not exceptionally difficult to come to that conclusion, I believe,” the tall male elf said.
Asim remained impassive, though others in his employ would have bristled at the imperious tone of the elf. “Indeed not, master elf,” he responded calmly, “as it happens, we have a bit of a problem in Bricewold Forest.”
“What manner of problem?” the human woman, her face half hidden beneath the hood of her gray traveling cloak, asked.
“Disappearances, mostly. Villagers, both here and among our neighbors, have been vanishing quite regularly.”
“Sounds like a job for us,” the halfling female said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Any idea where they’ve gone?”
“Yes, actually. There’s a cavern not far from here. We know goblins call it home, but local legends speak of something darker within.”
“Darker how?” the dwarf rumbled.
“Ancient crypts filled with dead that walk, some say. Others that a demon dwells deep within the earth,” the bartender replied, twirling his long, pointy beard around his index finger.
“How much we talkin’?” the dwarf asked.
“What do you say to fifty gold coin?”
“Each?” asked the halfling.
“Each. I didn’t catch your names.”
“You can call me Charis,” the halfling replied.
“This surly dwarf here is Belig,” she said, slapping the dwarf on his armored shoulder.
She nodded toward the tall elf and said, “Galadhri Silvermote is our company’s resident wizard. And finally, the lady in the cloak is Morrigan Whitetree, late of the Temple of Pelor.”
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Asim said with a smile. “You’re welcome to rest here for the day if you’d like.”
“We’d rather get to work,” Charis said, her hand caressing the pommel of one of her daggers. “Which way is this cave?”
“Follow the road south of town. You’ll find a large opening in the ground not fifty paces to the right of the road. There’s a ladder stored in an old utility shed. The village used to mine for iron down in the cavern. Before the goblins anyway.”
“Thank you for your help, good barkeep,” Morrigan said, bowing slightly to the man before turning to leave.
Asim watched them go, a predatory smile on his face.
The Party
Belig Stronghammer. Belig is a level 1 male dwarf warrior hailing from the mountain far to the north. He wields a powerful warhammer, forged by his ancestor with whom he shares a name. Belig appears gruff and unfriendly to many, but to those he calls friends he is…less gruff and slightly friendlier.
Hit Dice: 1d8
Health Points: 8/8
Morrigan Whitetree. Morrigan is a level 1 human female cleric late of the Temple of Pelor, god of healing and life. She wields a silver-headed mace blessed by the archpriest of her order. Morrigan is reserved, quiet and wise.
Hit Dice: 1d6
Health Points: 6/6
Spells Available: Heal
Galadhri Silvermote. Galadhri is a level 1 elf magic-user from the Silvermote forest. He wields a staff. Galadhri is often perceived as haughty by those who do not know him.
Hit Dice: 1d4
Health Points: 4
Spells Available: Blast
Charis of Lyton. Charis is a level 1 halfling female thief. She comes from the small halfling village of Lyton in the central plains region of the continent. She is fast, stealthy and incredibly intelligent. In fact, most say the only things sharper than her wits are the twin daggers she wields.
Hit Dice: 1d4
Health Points: 4
content warning
By and large, this actual play of One Shot in the Dark is no more graphic than any of my other actual plays. However, there will be scenes of the grim and the grotesque. I will post a content warning indicator on posts containing these kinds of imagery.
If you haven't already, check out the Creator Interview and Game Introduction here. Check back next week for the first entry in my One Shot in the Dark actual play mini-series.
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