Dwindle Example Play

For the example play, we will jump in and follow 1 round of action. Our players are as follows:

Grom has the domains: Dragonborn, Barbarian, Wolf-Friend, Wolf Totem, and Dice Games. 

Hawn has the domains: Elf, Necromancer, Dancer, Bone-Affinity, Ingz a Skull Familiar  

Jard has the domains: Halfling, thief, toolbelt, poisons, and jeweler.

Our merry band find themselves invited to a fancy party. They are hunting for someone that has been grotesquely carving up animals in the local forest. It might be part of a ritual, or it could be linked to the sadistic killer of East Docks.

Grom is trying to mingle to gain some information. Hawn has snuck upstairs to find information on the mysterious hostess, and Jard has climbed out a window to search for clues outside.

Grom: I want to Coax the man in the peacock hat to give me some information. 

GM: Great, but you are out of your element, you’ll have disadvantage.

Grom: Can I use Preparation to gain Advantage?

GM: What do you have in mind?

Grom: I brought in a bottle of whisky, I’m going to liberally share it with him.

GM: Smashing idea, make a resource check.

Grom: Ugh, it Dwindles, that was my last Prep.

GM: That’s ok, you’ll still have advantage from the whiskey. But also disadvantage for not quite fitting  in. How about your Skill and Domains?

Grom: I have 3/3 in Coax, mostly for being intimidating. But here I want to act like the guy impresses me, make him feel manly. As for domains, I don’t think anything fits.

GM: Hmm… How about dice games? You can get him to a table on the side, and play a game, letting him win a bit.

Grom: Can I use my weighted dice item for that?

GM: Oh, yes, please do! You can increase the size of either your skill or domain die.

Grom: So that is 3d20s, a d8 for skill, and a d8 for domain. *Grom Rolls his 5 dice* My middle d20 is an 8, and one of my d8s is a 7, so that is 15, my current target number.

GM: That is a pass, do you have any bonuses or setbacks?

Grom: One of the d20s is a 20, but no 1s.

GM: *Affecting a strange voice for the Peacock man* “What! I got 6s again! You owe me another shot of that fine whiskey!”

Grom: Whoa, be careful! I cannot drink as much as you have. You truly have the liver of a godling.

GM: The man’s red face somehow becomes redder at your compliment.  “I must show this game to Mance. He would love such a sport. Maybe it would keep him from the forest. “

Grom: Who’s this, Mance? He enjoys games and sports?

GM: “He is my..partner. He has taken to night hunting as of late. Ever since he met that bookstore owner, Percy. I know! Why don’t you come around to my place tomorrow afternoon. Maybe we can interest him in this intriguing game, and keep him in for the evening. It is getting too late in the year to be out in the woods at all hours.” He scribbles down his name and address for you. I’m giving the invitation as your bonus.

Hawn, you successfully snuck upstairs last turn. What do you wish to do up there?

Hawn: I’m looking for information on Agil, the host. I don’t trust her. I was in the upper class of this city for years, I should have heard of her. 

GM: So are you looking for papers, secrets, rooms?

Hawn: I want to find something like a private study, where I might find out how she clawed her way up through society.

GM: This sounds like Detect. Do you have anything to give you Domain or advantage?

Hawn: I want to use Ingz to serve as a look out, and would Elvish perception help?

GM: I don’t see why not. So that is a Domain of 2, a d6, plus your Detect and a d20.

Hawn: I still have that lacerated leg from our run in with the bog hag. My TN is 16. *rolls dice* ugh, Three 5s, I failed.

GM: Well, you set Ingz behind a plant, and checked a few doors. You found a locked one, but easily jiggled it open. It is obviously a study, but it is super clean. Everything is in its place. Before you can really get started looking around, Ingz sends you a warning that someone is coming. And you hear a woman’s voice. “Can I help you?” You turn, and it is just a female elf. She is wearing the typical maid outfit. Short frilly black dress, apron, little kerchief head covering.

Hawn: Uh, I was just looking for the loo.

GM: Please come this way, she leads you out of the study, being sure to lock the door as you step out, then she leads you back towards the stairwell.

Hawn: I’m going to scoop up Ingz when she isn’t looking. Can I press her for information?

GM: If you wish, but I’m going to give Jard a turn first. Jard, you were exploring the estate grounds. Is there anything particular that you are looking for?

Jard: Yes, I want to find like a shed, cellar, or workroom, where there might be some clues or tools hidden away.

GM: Ok, you can see a small greenhouse, a nearby tool shed, and the raised door for a cellar, near a backdoor to the mansion. Which one do you want to check out?

Jard: I want to try the greenhouse.

GM: What are you hoping to find in there?

Jard: Maybe there is a hidden room under it. The greenhouse could just be a cover.

GM: Ohh, that’s smart thinking. Are you using detect to find something?

Jard: No, I’m using my ability, “Hidden Things.”

GM: Ok, that’ll be a class resource check.

Jard: 3, I keep it.

GM: You make your way into the greenhouse. It is double doored, like an airlock. You think maybe there are animals inside. Maybe special pollinators or birds. In the bright moon, you are able to follow the most worn path, counter clockwise around the space. When you are a little more than halfway around the room, two things happen. First, you see a short length of knotted rope on the ground. Looking closer, you see the outline of a trapdoor. The second thing that happens is you hear a growl.

My turn! 

Grom, you have been drinking with Mister Blackwell for some time. You are suddenly feeling a bit woozy. You are wondering if you might have been drugged, or if you simply drank too much. I’m going to give you a temporary Trauma, incompacitated.

Grom: Can I resist it?

GM: Sure, armor won’t help, so what do you do?

Grom: I want to try Treat to heal myself. I don’t have any skill. Can I use my wolf totem somehow?

GM: Maybe, the ancients will tell you what to do to counteract the effect. Make a roll.

Grom: *Rolls a d20 and a d4* 11 and 4! Another bonus.

GM: Ok, a form of a wolf appears before you. It is bluish grey and wavers like smoke. It leaps onto the table and begins to just tear into a giant leg of meat.

Grom: I take the leg of meat and just start swallowing chunks of it.

GM: You keep feeling worse, and it is a struggle to stay conscious. Then a fizzing begins in your stomach, like a bad reaction. You’re going to be sick. What do you find?

Grom: A hat.

GM: Yes, a hat, and you just empty your stomach into it. The chunks of meat are mixed in the bile, and everything is bubbling and fizzing unnaturally. You look up, and the faces around you are petrified. Then the wolf catches your eyes, and then it darts out of the door.

Grom: I’m going to follow it out!

GM: Of course you do. And back in the mainroom, you look for the wolf, but instead you see Hawn at the top of the stairs walking behind a tall tiefling in a long elegant evening gown. Hawn, you are following the elven maid. She stops at the top of the stairs and motions for you to go down first.

Hawn: Something is fishy here. I want to Coax her, “The downstairs facilities were overtaken by a large minotaur. I was told I could use the upstairs room.”

GM: Well, it’s my turn now. “Oh of course, I must go downstairs, why don’t you take this key. It’s the second door on the left.” Roll Detect.

Hawn: Any disadvantage?

GM: No, just a straight roll.

Hawn: Does Elven help?

GM: Sure, and Ingz may notice something too. 

Hawn: I got an 18 this time, but also two 1s.

GM: You see the maid through Ingz’s eyes. It is a tall tiefling with ashen purple skin. She is wearing an elegant, long, black evening gown, and she is handing you a bloody, obsidian blade. Your hand is already on the handle. Grom, what is the setback?

Grom: I think she’s going to push him down the stairs. So everyone sees him.

GM: Ok, Hawn, you are pushed down the stairs, I’m not going to give you a trauma, but everyone turns to see you take a tumble, and the blade clatters out of your hand, and down the stairs. The tiefling folds into a heap at the top of the stairs. Hawn and Grom you each get an XP.

Jard, you were just going to pick up the rope, when you heard the growl, what do you do to avoid the attack?

Jard: What is attacking me?

GM: You don’t know, but your instincts are kicking in.

Jard: I’m going to use move to tumble out of the way, and draw my pistol at the same time, and find the target.

GM: It’s dark, and you’re not sure what you’re up against, you’ll have disadvantage.

Jard: Fair enough. My move is 5, and can I use Halfling to be small and quick?

GM: That sounds about right. 

Jard: I got a 23, and my d4 came up with a 1.

GM: You tumble to the side, and draw your weapon. Hawn,  what’s the setback?

Hawn: The pistol slips out of his hands, and under some plants. He’ll have to find it.

GM: Ouch, ok, Hawn and Jard, 1 xp each. The pistol scatters across the flagstones and under some plants. The strange shadows make it hard to tell exactly where it went. In the meantime, there is something here with you.

Grom, it’s your turn.