NIGHTWICK ABBEY: The Purple Eater of People (& Froglings), Session 1

Art by Chris Huth (and actually roughly matches our party)

Last week I finally got to put down my DM's cap, pick up my player's d20, and delve down deep into Miranda's Nightwick Abbey (I have been a Patreon of this fantastic setting and look forward to its eventual publication. If you, dear readers, are interested in joining these delves there is an opportunity!)

CHARACTER GENERATION

Our party of three rolled-up fresh BX characters in just a few minutes using the Forge (my first time). My scores: STR 11 (+0) INT 08 (-1) WIS 08 (-1) DEX 14 (+1) CON 11 (+0) CHA 12 (+0)

While I could have rolled a new character based on the total bonus being less than +1, I was pretty happy with the DEX score and it was the prime requisite to get me a frogling, so I went with it. Additional equipment (leather armor, shortsword, handaxe, chalk, rope + grappling hook- ooo!) and background (craftsman) was rolled on random tables. Rumors also provided to the party: The strange vines around Nightwick Abbey are known to be a form of pipeweed for some.

And so Bürp Lillyfoot, 1st level Frogling, awoke in Nightwick village after a night in the Medusa's Head Tavern with two traveling companions Blossom, 1st level Rogue, and Dirangus (sp?), 1st level Fighter.

SO IT BEGINS...

SHOCKTOBER the 14th in the year of our Lord 13--

The Bishop of Litchgate has allowed those with St. Gax in their hearts (assumed, often unverified) to return treasure and items lost in Nightwick Abbey to the bosom of The Church.

Overhearing the party's conversation on the matter, three woodsmen approached with an offer to escort them to the abbey for a small fee of 1 GP per month. One shy, one silent, and one brash-- hired on the spot. No doubt they were down on their luck honest village folk.

The next day, the 15th, the party set off toward the Abbey. An easy walk with little interruption. Upon arriving at the site of The Abbey, the PCs beheld two towers that were not so much ruined as in a state of fungal-like "growth". Bürp was able to employ a fine leaping ability to hop up to the second floor of each tower and the spongy swollen wooden interiors. The left tower was chosen for delving. 

Dornik smoothly popped open the trap door (earning 10 sp from Bürp in the process) and Blossom threw one torch down. With nothing dangerous illuminated, Bürp made the easy leap 25 feet down. The humans picked their way carefully down a rickety ladder. The party now faced another common threat... another stuck door!

Bürp attached the grappling hook to the pull ring and one heave-hoe later the PCs were exploring the next room. Easy decisions were made to avoid the screaming to the west and head east. Once through the 3rd door, our party turned north coming to a "T" section. West was a series of 6 doors and east were 4 similar doors. Blossom the rogue listen carefully at a couple, but only heard chanting and bleating through another one. Dirangus marshaled the hirelings into a better formation right when Blossom decides to peek into the room.

(Record scratch)...A congregation of deerfolk turned their accursed eyes on Blossom. With a yell, they ran to attack! Dirangus and Bürp bottlenecked the group at the door. Fighter and frogling fought bravely avoiding multiple attacks by the maligned creatures. Blossom and the hirelings (now suspiciously absent Doniyk) hailed down stones and arrows from afar. But as the first deerfolk fell, more stepped in to take their place. So the party decided to retreat in full. Bürp and Blossom set the pace, but Dirangus fell behind to the deefolk axes. Back south and to the east the party flew.

As the party bolted through the door on the way to freedom, they were brought up short by Doniyk (the hireling who went missing earlier) and two large butchers. A short fight ensued as heavy axes fell the hirelings Tylo and Dietol. Then, poor Bürp was savagely sliced in two (8 dmg vs 5 hp). In this frenzy of shredded meat, a blood-spattered Blossom was able to escape!

... AND SO IT ENDS

Bloody good fun and a memorable time! I certainly would have outfitted Bürp a little differently, but I figure for a first session it would be better to get to the play than to agonize over equipment. Now with a feel for the dungeon itself, I think it will be easier to decide what to take and ensure more diversified armament. Speaking of which, my new character's scores: 

MAYFLY 1st level MU
Spells: Light, Protection from Evil, Read Magic
STR 07 (-1) INT 15 (+1) WIS 08 (-1) DEX 16 (+2) CON 16 (+2) CHA 08 (-1)