The Dervish Bazaar
Mythic GME + Frostgrave Se01.0
Hello hello hello welcome back to another installment of Ink n Bones: Roguelike Fiction. This one is going to be a bit longer than our last few installments so hang tight. The biggest favor you could offer our small endeavor is to give us a share.
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Announcements
I’ve been working behind the scenes ove the past few weeks contemplating how I might enhance this experience for you all. That said I am excited to showcase this weeks installment
My audio buffs there will be more content on the way. I do have a huge ask if any of you lovely subscribers know an audio editor please send them my way. I love creating audio content but audio editing is a large time sink. The schedule will most likely change to release multiple episodes at once. Until then stay tuned.
Last week
If you missed last week’s installment you can always check it out below.
Apprentice Itaz while out looking for herbs stumbled upon the Jeppua Howler Ja'meed, and his Halfling companion Eratha the Mender. Eratha suffering from sickness.
This week
We are going to dive into the first of the many ruins found in the Ost Canyons on the Fudime continent. After returning with fewer herbs than expected and two new strays in tow. It takes little convincing of Master Yrkoon for him to agree to their joining the ranks.
Especially after the Howler offers a gift in form of information and allies. Ja'meed spoke of a long forgotten bazaar and trading outpost hidden somewhere just along the edge of the canyon. Once known for its master Artisans, Tinkerers, and Dust Weavers. Over run by some spell gone awry, now home to Dervish Vipers and the like. This week we round out our warband and run head long into the Dervish Bazaar.
New Contacts
The heat of the sun bounced off the canyon walls the blueish hues illuminating the shadowy crag in ghost light. The Howeler said we were to meet his contacts here, under Ghostlight Pass. I gave him another once over. Jameed was a small man with thick reddish fur and beard. His hardened tail slapped the stone impatiently.
“Anxious, friend?” I asked him.
“Aye, the pass is no place after dark. If the myths be true.” He pulled out a bit of spice and packed his pipe. He patted about for his flint.
Itaz offering his own said, “Howl for us then? Not a story I know.”
Jameed snorted a bit and took in a long huff of his pipe. The sweet sting of spice in the air, he stared off into the distance.
“Ghostlight Pass, where to start,eh?” He paused and looked at me.
“Please, I don’t know either.” I said as I motioned for him to continue.
“Truth is no one really knows. The pass is, a place between places, a bridge… or more accurately a phantom river. With current that ebbs and flows.” He took another puff on his pipe. The light making shadows that seemed to dance as he spoke.
“While no one is certain why or how, we know here; when the sun sets the light in the pass never fades. The Tribes of Ost call this place sacred, they come here for guidance, counsel. The tribes say when you are lost the pass will show you the way. Yet those who enter with out blessing are never seen again.” Jameed said gravely, the smoke dissipating abruptly.
“You believe that? That here we can pierce beyond the Grey Veil?” I asked him
Itaz piped up, “Aren’t you worried about whether we have the proper blessing?”
Ja'meed opened his mouth to answer when we heard the whistle.
“Thats the signal. Rasaalm and his lot are here. Right on time too.” the Howler nodded at the sky turning the warm ochre of sunset.
I stood phantom pain shooting down my left arm. Funny that… pain that distends beyond you. Even now I can almosy feel the breeze on my nonexistent finger tips. I have to shake my head clear of the fog. Rasaalm came around the bend with two other men. Both of them wore dark hoods and and mask covering their faces, each stood nearly seven foot tall. Rasaalm on the other hand was rather lithe shorter man with large drooping ears.
“You didn't mention he was a Hasemen.” I say to Ja'meed.
“Problem?”
“For him probably…”
“A blade for hire he is. Your coin is what he cares for.” a hint of irritation in his voice. I brush it off and turn my attention to negotiations.
Rasaalm approaches arms wide, “Dost-Friend, Howler! You fair well.”
Ja’meed returns the greeting,”I fair as well as the sands. This is the Magi I wrote you about, Rasaalm, Master Yr and his apprentice Itaz. Master Yr, Rasaalm and the Mutes.”
Rasaalm gave a bow the Mutes giving nods of their own.
“Right then, I hear you want a go at the Bazaar.” Rasaalm said with a grin.
Dervish Bazaar
The Bazaar was derelict, a shadow of its former glory. Stalls, and tents strewn about. One large tent half standing still. The remnants of weapons, textiles, and exotic goods long forgotten in the sands. The once vibrant colors now chased away by time.
I turn to Rasaalm. Who only puts a finger over his mouth. We were to follow his lead. Not something I liked but better to put them in the frontlines. They were still souls unknown to me. The Mutes took off together walking boldy through the ruined arch way. The rest of us made our way along the wall.
“We came here for riches. Where is he taking us?” Itaz asked in a hushed tone.
“He’s survived more runs into this place than any soul on the sands. Shut up and follow him.” Ja'meed snapped.
I liked this grumpy Howler. He was going to be good for the human. He still had so much to unlearn from the Empire. The past few months he’d been under my tutelage had been turbulent yet productive. A fast study he was, today would be a good test for him.
I turned to look for Rasaalm and didnt see him when I heard it. That unmistakable hiss of sand. I peered over the wall back to were the Mutes went. In front of them two large Dervish Vipers. Then the whistle from above us.
Running along the top of the wall Rasaalm. No wonder he’d survived the Bazaar so many times. He kept to the outskirts. But not like I could climb up there. I tried to grasp for a spell as Itaz bumped into me.
“Get a hold of your self, boy!” I snapped
He looked at me and then back to the Mutes engaged in combat. He pulled the Hexalock we’d been working on and fired. The flash of Deep Powder stung my eyes but his aim was true.
Hexfire tore through the two Dervish Vipers, killing one out right. One of the Mutes signaled his thanks as his axe bit into the other.
I pushed Itaz forward, Ja'meed close on our heels. The cacophony of the Hexalock announcing our presence in full. We could see another two rear their ugly heads, as if born from the filth.
I searched frantically for Rasaalm running along the walls trying to keep pace.
“As long as we keep our distance we should be fine right, Howler.” I ask
A massive gob of near liquid sand slams into the side of Ja'meed knocking him off his feet.
“Th….t…that…answe…er y-ya question?” He groaned between pained breaths.
Itaz tried to gather a spell only to lose it as another gob of liquefied sand came flying his way. Ducking out of the way just in time.
“Up!” I said grabbing the back of Ja'meed’s tunic and yanking him to his feet. I urged us forward. A massive pile of discarded, weapons, and crates before us. It looked promising as long as we could hold off these damned Vipers. I looked around again I could only see one Mute. Another five Dervish Vipers springing from the sands. The Bazaar was becoming a bit too crowded for my liking.
A whistle from the far side of the Bazaar. One of the Mutes found something, across the way what I assumed to be his brother stood toe to toe with three of the five Vipers. His axe a whirling instrument of death. He cleaved another clean in half as another took a bite out of his leg.
The second whistle came as we rounded the bend. Rasaalm was bent over a chest filling his bag with what he could. As a viper started to come up on his flank.
I pulled my own pistol and fired, glad it was smaller than the one the Mutes were dealing with. One shot leaving it a scattered mess of viscera. We had what we needed now to get out of here.
“Go, Hasmen!” I shouted. He leaped to the top of the wall and made for the exit.
The Howler was wounded, Itaz was having trouble with his Spells and the Mutes. One was nowhere to be seen but gave the signal, the other was being swarmed by Dervish Vipers. We didn’t have much for options.
“Itaz, Ja'meed?” I got their attention as I reloaded my pistol. “This might be tough. I can’t gaunrantee I can get everyone out.”
I took another pop shot missing but keeping a few of the smaller ones at bay.
“On my signal make a break for it, Aye?”
They nodded and this time the magic came to me without a hitch. I cocked my pistol and fired the Deep Powder heeding my command sparked with thunderous force.
The Stalls and tents before us went flying across the bazaar clearing a path. Taking the Vipers baring down on us with them.
“Go!”
Itaz and Ja'meed made for the exit as I pulled up the rear. I whistled out the retreat call. The Mute surrounded by the Vipers was having a rough go of it. So I took aim, the hexfire still at my command and I fired.
Next week
That is where we will leave it this week. As always a fun one to write up and even more fun to play. Our band made it out with treasure, but not unscathed. We will go over the end game loop in our Bones and Mechanics. But next week we’ll have a narrative vignette of the aftermath.
Bones and Mechanics
First things first let’s discuss where this scenario came from. This is based on the Writhing Fumes Scenario out of the Perilous Dark Frostgrave supplement. Putting on our DM hats for a second, there is a ton of pressure to create these sprawling worlds from scratch. Which I have found is not what great storytellers or DM's do.
The old addage goes: “good artist copy great artist steal.”
This has been my framework when developing this scenario. As my first play through of the game I didn’t want to stray too far from the overall scenario mechanics. However, the monsters have been reskinned with minor ability and cosmetic changes. While that’s what it is on the surface what springs from it is the story above. Something new and different than the base story given. Reskinning your games especially in solo is not cheating remember that.
Let’s talk rules
A few things to note about playing solo. Frostgrave normally is a PvP or Co-op Game. While the scenarios I ’ll be running and eventually creating are all tuned for solo. Games of Frostgrave can run 90 minutes plus. That said these choices were made to speed things up.
Insta Death: All Fight,and Shoot rolls resulting in 20 count as auto kills. For PC's this is an auto unconscious roll.
Critical Hits: All Fight,and Shoot rolls resulting in 19 count as crits. Meaning auto-hit and +5 damage.
Smaller Warband:We only have 6 soldiers available for any scenario.(this does not mean we can’t have a bigger warband just for our delves)
Round Limit: After the 7th round roll a d20 10+ the game goes on.
Fewer Monsters: We half the number of monsters rounded up.
Scour the Ruins: If we have to flee or end a scenario with no treasure we may make this out of game move allowing us to still try our luck on the outskirts of our delve.
A huge shout out to the Frostgrave Facebook Community for these house rules options. They really helped with making the game smoother to play.
Normally I take some time out to go over the Bones themselves but I want to get to the juicy stuff this week. So here is a quick break down of some highlights from each round instead of all the Bones laid out.
Rd1 Yrkoon spell fail
Rd2 Yrkoon Spell fail
Itaz Hexalock wounds two
Rd3 Itaz spell fail
Rasaalm treasure secured
Mute 1 crit
Rd4 Yrkoon Spell fail
Mute 1 treasure secured
Mute 2 falls
Rd5 Creature turn
Grenade
Rd6 Grenade
Bard nearly dies
Rd7 end
Now we can talk about the really juicy stuff the aftermath.
We had one member of our party fall so let’s first check in and see if our Mute survived.
D20»2 that is a no. One of our Mutes dies in this delve. Which is going to make for some interesting aftermath.
We cast our Out of Game Spell Absorb Knowledge.
D20»8» Vault. So no extra experience for us.
Total up our Experience Points XP
Door 10
Constructs 0
Treasure 40
Warband 100
Spells failed 20
Spells succeeded 40
Dervish Vipers 70
280 xp
Count our treasure
For our purpose our treasure is more valuable than normal so we are rolling twice for each treasure.
Treasure 1»2d20»6,12
Grimoire of Combat Awareness
Scroll of Call Storm
Treasure 2»2d20» 2,15
60 gold crowns
D20×10 gc» 16» 160 gold crowns
220gc total.
125gc vault.
And now we need to make a decision about Master Yrkoon. We have gained 280xp which counts for two levels and can do a few things. Increase a stat, learn a new spell, or improve a known spell. This can affect how the narrative shapes up. So make sure to get your vote in. The poll will be closing Tuesday.
The poll gives a few narrative thoughts for each for you to consider. You can also give narrative suggestions for your vote in the comments below.
We will go over spending treasure next week as we get ready for our next delve and deal with the aftermath. While we know Ost to be dangerous losing members is still a loss and it begs the question if Rasaalm is affected by it? Or are blades a dime a dozen? We’ll find out next week!
As always thank you, thank you, thank you. A special thank you to Brother Hanan,for the amazing portrait of Yrkoon. Brother Hanan is an amazing Talespire creator. you might recognize some of his work from the Dimension 20 stream. Please go check him out.
Fellowship
When I find things I enjoy or think you would get a kick out of I drop them below. Recently came across some amazing channels and happy to say the illustrious Director Peoplz of the Peoplz and Dragons Youtube channel is back in action. Make sure you check out everyone else below as well.