Mausritter Solo Actual Play Mousey Wizard Ep 7

 Episode 7

In the last episode, Anise, Aloe, Cherry Totter, and Vermione Stranger went into the basement of the Tower of Magnolia and retrieved the missing teacher, Waddle.  There was quite a bit of conflict between Vermione (a stoat) and the mice, so that might come into play more later.   

Bold text: mechanics

Italics text: Roleplaying

Plain text: Out of character explanation

Materials: Mausritter Core Book, OPSE, Bernpyle #3 and #8,  Oak Mill Institute by MatthewSteakHam, Knave 2e, Ironsworn Oracles, Hanson Expansion, Burrows Chronicles, Deck of Dungeons, Adventuring Mice

The first thing we’ll do before we set the scene is level up Anise.  At the end of the last episode, she gained enough XP to take her to Level 2. I have another supplement called Adventuring Mice that gives some alternate leveling up into “classes.”  Really, it just amounts to allowing your higher level mice to have special talents that they can apply.   For Anise, we’ll give her a Talent called Arcane in addition to the 2d6 Hit Dice she earns for her HP.  The Arcane talent basically allows you to “memorize” one spell tablet to free up your paws for holding other items. 

 

In addition, we get to roll 2d6 for our HP.  If it is higher than our current HP, we take that value, otherwise we gain +1 HP. 

Current HP 6

2d6=9

Aloe’s new HP is 9

Now we will roll d20 for each attribute.  If it is higher than our current value, it will increase that stat by 1.

STR d20= 4 vs 6 no gain

DEX d20=13 vs 6; +1 DEX

WIL d20=19 vs 10; +1 WIL

For now, we’ll put Grease into Anise’s Arcane slot.  We’ll cover how that works in the narrative.  Here’s the new character sheet.   

Set the Scene

The students are going to put their treasures in their rooms, then go to see Gwendoline.  Let’s see if that is how it all plays out. 

Scene Complication d6=6  Things go as planned.

Altered scene on a 5+= 3 Unexpected NPCs are present.  Ooo, that’s interesting. 

Who is the unexpected NPC?  I’ll make a list of the characters we know (I’m excluding Reepicheep and Gwendoline since they would not be unexpected in this case): 

1. Daisy the Menhir Mot Courier knight

2. Emerald Witter the mayor of Stumpsville

3. Stilton Halva the Master Smith of Stumpsville

4. Iris Maker the Master Librarian

5. Waddle Blackfoot the Teacher in the Tower 

6. Termite Queen

D6=1  Daisy

And why is Daisy here? Topic Focus Card draw: 2 of Spades = Current Need (Mystical)

Plot Hook Generator 2d6=5,4 Objective 5=Restore Something Broken; 4=Local Inhabitants

Oh, I know exactly what this means.  We’ll introduce this altered scene after a bit of a time lapse in order for it to make sense in the story.

After resting up, cleaning themselves, and having a meal, the students are all gathered by Reepicheep to meet with Gwendoline to go over the events in the basement.   Before he arrives, however, Cherry stops by Anise’s room, the scroll of ritual knowledge on how to create spells in her paws.  “I was thinking,” she says as she plops herself down on Anise’s bed.  “Headmaster Gwendoline will likely want this returned to her.   You are a librarian, right?  Why don’t you use your material to copy down these instructions, then when we return them, we’ll still know how to do it…”

Anise considers for less than a second before agreeing excitedly!  She grabs her quill and ink and begins to write down the instructions on how to create a spell.  It is quite complicated!

I found this article by Randy Brown on how he considers spells should be made and I thought it was quite nicely done.  So, kudos to Randy.

Spellcrafting:

1. Harvest the Obsidian: Find an obsidian shard under the light of the new moon. This timing is significant because spirits are more active in the darkness, seeking form and structure.

2. Prepare the Runes: Under the guidance of an elder or from an ancient grimoire, carve the binding runes into the surface of the tablet. Each rune must be carefully etched while reciting words of power that call out to the spirit realm.

3. Summon the Spirit: Place the tablet in a circle of soft moss under a tree. Set your spirit offering in the center, light the beeswax candle, and call out the name of the spirit you wish to bind. The spirits hear and may come forward to accept the offering.

4. Binding: As the spirit approaches, it will interact with the offering. At the right moment, pour a drop of melted wax from the candle onto the tablet, symbolizing the pact. The spirit is drawn into the runes, bound to the tablet.

5. Completion: The tablet hums or glows softly as the spirit settles. It is now a magical artifact, a source of power and wisdom for the mouse who wields it. Charge the spell using the recharge process.

Resources Needed 

1. Obsidian Shard

2. Runes

3. carving tools

4. henbane root -- for candle and tea

5. bees wax -- for candle

6. fairy toadstool -- for tea

7. dew from a new moon for tea

8. dew from the full moon from a mushroom on a fae circle

9. A needle from a fae rose

10. mandrake root

11. white stones for a circle

Process 

1. Harvest the various materials

2. Brew the tea: henbane root, a mushroom from a fairy circle plucked under a full moon, dew collected under a new moon

3. prepare two candles: bees wax and a henbane wick, bees wax and mandrake root wick

4. burn the henbane candle and prepare the tablet--carve the desired rune into the obsidian tablet

5. drink the tea -- effects good for one day only: gives the soul sealer status, allowing one to seal a soul (chance of poisoning / hallucination)

6. With the second candle and the carved obsidian tablet, free a spirit (that is, kill something), or coerce a freed spirit (like a ghost), and then burn the mandrake candle, and using the wax, seal the soul in the tablet. (Mechanics of this are probably something like: have these items, take one turn post combat, consume all materials)

7. perform the recharge process to charge the spell

Outcomes/Harvesting materials 

1. henbane is poisonous: the mouse has a chance of being poisoned

2. fairy toadstool: fairy circles are known to make people lose time and dance a jig--when plucking a mushroom, one of the following might happen on failed will saving throw:

3. 1d4 watches pass, and the mouse comes away with the exhausted condition

4. 1d4 watches pass, and the mouse comes away with the drained condition

5. 1d4 watches pass

6. The fairies notice you disturbed their fairy mound

Similar to the above, it is possible to get completely lost in the fairy lands when entering to gather the necessary supplies, if one can't find their way back out. General feywild shenanigans apply.

I don’t know if we will pursue the creation of a spell, but maybe!  On with the story!

The students all proceed to meet with Gwendoline, and in the presence of the teacher Waddle, recount the events in the basement.  Under the stern gaze of Gwendoline, they admit to the acquisition of the various treasures.  “Normally, I would ask for my possessions back from the basement, but since you were able to retrieve our esteemed teacher, Waddle from the clutches of the termites without conflict, I will allow you to keep what you found.” She looks pointedly at Cherry and Anise.  “Yes, this includes the knowledge on how to create spells.  It is something you would have learned in your studies anyway.”  Anise and Cherry look at each other sheepishly, then nod to Gwendoline and they all mutter their thanks. “Now, you all still have much to learn if you are willing and we can turn you into capable mice.  Aloe, I have spoken with Master Smith, Millie, and she is willing to take you on as an apprentice while Anise studies magic.”  Aloe was looking at himself in his mirror as she spoke, and upon hearing his name, he lowered the mirror and agreed to work with Millie. 

And so, the time lapse.   Anise and Aloe will spend the rest of the winter in the Tower, learning from the masters here.  Anise will become accomplished at reading and casting spell tablets as well as learning how to memorize one spell and not needing the use of the tablet.  She will choose Grease to store in her Arcane slot.  

I won’t roll on a downtime table, as I think all of their time will be spent in their studies.  Come Spring, they are finished with their schooling and Anise and Aloe are meeting once again with Gwendoline. 

“You asked for us Headmaster?” Anise said in her small voice as she and Aloe entered the ancient wizard’s antechamber. Gwendoline the ancient wizard sat at her desk, a pleasant look upon her face. 

“Indeed, you have done well in your studies, and now that spring is upon us, I would assume you are ready to go out into the world and continue learning.  Anise, I have found that you have a special talent for wizardry and can utilize spells even without a tablet in your paws.  Use this power wisely.”  Anise and Aloe both nodded.  “Usually upon graduation, the Tower offers a choice of a special spell developed here in the school that you can choose from.  Aloe, Millie has told me of your efforts as well, and you will be rewarded with an item of your choice as well.” Just as she is telling the mice this, Reepicheep pokes his head into the room, his mouth full of seeds.

“Excuse my interruption, Headmaster, but there is a knight of Menhir Mot here requesting an immediate meeting with you.”  She waves to him to allow the new visitor inside.   Much to Anise’s surprise, it is Daisy Black that struts into the room, her flight goggles hanging from one of her ears. 

Daisy gives a bow of respect to Gwendoline and subtlety waves to the two familiar mice.  “I come with grim tidings, Headmaster.  It seems as though the Dedratz have spent the winter preparing, and they have struck Stumpsville with a massive attack, taking the majority of the village as prisoners.”  Anise and Aloe both gasp at the news and look to Gwendoline.

“We have to help them!  My family!” Aloe distraughtly exclaims.  Anise puts a comforting paw on his shoulder.

“Yes, I agree, the villagers must be helped.  Do you two wish to accompany a party to investigate?”  Gwendoline asks.

Aloe immediately answers, “Of course!” Anise nods her head vigorously in agreement.  

“Very well, you can both retrieve your graduation rewards, get some rations for the trip and leave immediately.”  Gwendoline picks up a scroll from her desk and begins reading, dismissing the students without saying anything further.   The mice shuffle from the room, followed by Daisy.  

Oracle, will Daisy offer to give the two mice a ride back to Stumpsville on her pigeon? 2d6=6,2  Yes!

“Gather your things quickly and meet me in front of the tower grounds.  We will leave as soon as possible!”  Daisy gives another quick bow, and heads outside to tend to prepare her mount.  Reepicheep shuffles out of Gwendoline’s room and takes Anise to a room full of spell tablets.  Shelves and shelves of the tablets line the room, and Anise is overwhelmed with the choices.  She closes her eyes and points.

D20 Tower of Magnolia Spells=7 

Conjure Shade Wasp: A shadow wasp is summoned out of the shadow of the player as an ally. 2 hp 4 str 0 wil 1 dex Attack:1d6 sting. Recharge: Leave in a wasps nest for 3 days

She places the tablet that will summon a wasp of shade into her pack and accompanies Aloe to the smithy to meet with Millie.  When they arrive in the superheated room, Millie is busy working on a hammer not unlike Aloe’s.  Anise notices a tablet on the anvil next to the hammer.   With a mighty blow and a shouted rune, Millie rings the hammer on the anvil. 

Millie WIL save d20=13 vs 10 Fail

She looks deflated as nothing appears to have happened.  She notices the two young mice had entered and moves over to speak with them.  “Aloe, you look troubled, is there something I can help you with?”  Aloe and Anise fill Millie in with the horrible news they received concerning Stumpsville. “Oh my, that’s horrible!  I’m sorry Aloe.”  And she moves over and embraces the young mouse in a hug.  “I was actually making this hammer for you, but it seems as though it will not be ready before you need to leave.  Perhaps once you save your friends and family, you can return and I’ll have it for you.”

“Thank you Millie, I have found your tutelage inspiring, and I will return as soon as I can.” Aloe stated this with his paw over his heart.  

“My goodness, so formal.” Millie said with a sad smile and embraced Aloe once again. “Return when you can and I’ll have your gift ready.”  Aloe nodded solemnly and they proceeded out of the tower.   Reepicheep was waiting near the entrance with two bundles of rations.  

“We had these prepared especially for you two.  For Aloe, Dried Dragonfly Tail for strength.  For Anise, a roasted garlic wedge for willpower.”  The Keeper hands over the two bundles of food, both wrapped in leaves.  

I took the food from the Hansen Expansion supplement.  After eating a ration of each type, the next save is rolled with advantage. 

They thank Reepicheep for everything, and Aloe gives him a shy hug, her arms unable to wrap around his girth.  The older mouse blushes and tries to cover it by stuffing a seed into his mouth. “Well…uh…very good.  Be well on your journey you two, and I hope to see you return soon.”  The mice wave as they exit and hurry out to where Daisy is waiting with her pigeon, Sid.

Weather: 7 Overcast

“A perfect spring day for a flight, we should be able to get to Stumpsville before second watch.” Daisy speaks in her fast manner.  She helps the other two mount upon Sid’s back and reminds them to hold on tight.  With a flutter of wings, Sid launches himself into the air and they begin the short flight to Stumpsville. 

Daisy Black stats: STR 9, DEX 7, WIL 10, HP 5 Inventory Compass, Rations, Torch, SD card Shield, Armor, Shortsword. Her light armor gives her 1 defense.

Aloe and Anise will need to make a WIL save while flying since they are unaccustomed to doing so. On a fail, they will gain the Nauseated condition.

Anise WIL d20=2 vs 11 Save

Aloe WIL d20=3 vs 6 Save

Since they are in flight, it will only take half of the morning watch to travel from the Tower to Stumpsville since it is an adjacent hex. 

OPSE Encounter d6= 6 Unique NPC or adversary

Oracle is it the Dedratz Likely? 5,5 Yes

Oracle Do they have some of the prisoners with them? 2,2 No

Oracle Does Daisy want to engage? 6,5 Yes

Oracle How many Dedratz? D6=4

Daisy points below them indicating a group of 4 Dedratz moving through the woods.  She makes some hand gestures to portray some information to the others, but they don’t understand the meaning.  It is evident what she meant though as she loops Sid around in a lazy circle and lands in a small bush in the line of where the rats are expected to travel.  She gives a whisper, “We’ll ambush those bastards here from the bush as they pass by, get yourselves ready!”  Anise and Aloe both dismount and get ready.   Aloe with his hammer and bark shield.  Anise with her Frenzy spell in one paw and her sling in the other.  She also has her Grease spell in her Arcane slot, meaning she can cast it without using a tablet.   Daisy perches on the branches of the bush, her shortsword and shield held ready.  Sid goes aloft and begins to circle the area.  

A gentle coo comes from Sid, and shortly the 4 rats come into view.   They are talking amongst themselves, bragging about their conquests.  Anise snarls out the runes for her Frenzy spell.

Reminder on Frenzy spell:  Cause [Sum] enemies to attack the first person they see. Effects last for [dice] rounds. 

Anise only has one usage slot left on this spell, so she can only use 1 d6.

d6=2  (no usage spent, only on a 4,5,6.  6 is a miscast)

As the words leave her mouth, two of the rats who were talking begin to escalate in their discussion, and soon, they are shoving each other in a sudden burst of conflict. 

Rats: 3hp, STR 12, DEX 8, WIL 8 Attacks: d6 broom (improvised weapon), d6 throwing hammer, d6 shortsword, d6 hand crossbow

Oracle which two rats are fighting? 1. Broom 2. Hammer 3. Shortie 4. Handy

2d4=4,1

Since there are so many attackers, I’m going to forgo the “to hit” mechanics I’ve used in previous sessions and stick with the core rules of attacks always hit and only roll damage. 

One of the rats carrying a broom suddenly smacks it across the back of his companion with a loud thunk!  The receiving rat is infuriated and lashes out with the butt of his hand crossbow.  The other two rats laugh at first at the sudden violence, then are shocked as Daisy and Aloe burst from the bushes and begin their attack!

Broom attacks Handy d6=4 (improvised weapon takes 1 usage)  Handy HP at 0.  STR -1, now at 11

Handy STR save d20=8 vs 11 Save

Handy attacks Broom d6=6 (improvised weapon takes 1 usage since he’s using the crossbow as a melee weapon) Broom HP at 0.  STR -3, now at 9

Broom STR save d20=12 vs 9 Fail.  Broom is knocked out

Daisy attacks Hammer d6=4 Hammer HP at 0. STR -1, now at 11

Hammer STR save d20=13 vs 11 Fail.  Hammer is knocked out

Aloe attacks Shortie d6=1 Shortie HP at 2. 

Shortie attacks Aloe d6=1-1 armor Aloe HP still at 6

Handy’s crossbow butt slams into Broom’s jaw, and the rat is knocked unconscious.  Daisy takes advantage of the melee and drives her shortsword into Hammer’s back and he collapses with a critical injury.  Aloe swings his hammer at Shortie, but the rat parries the blow with his shortsword, and it only brushes his arm.  He turns it into a riposte and likewise slashes at Aloe but is unable to connect. 

Anise attacks Handy d6=1  Handy -1 STR, now at 10

Handy STR save d20=7 vs 10 Save

Handy fires his crossbow at Daisy d4 (impaired due to melee)=3-1 armor  Daisy HP at 4

Daisy attacks Handy d6=6  Handy -6 STR, now at 4

Handy STR save d20=13 vs 4 Fail.  Handy is Knocked out

Aloe attacks Shortie d6=4 Shortie at 0 HP, -2 STR, now at 10

Shorty STR save d20=14 vs 10 Fail.  Shorty is knocked out

Anise sends a stone from her sling, and it hits Handy in the back.  The rat wastes no time and fires his hand crossbow at the advancing Daisy.  She deflects the bolt with her SD card shield, but it lodges within and scores her paw.  She growls in defiance and lunges forward with her shortsword in a vicious undercut.  The blade draws across the belly of the rat, and he falls clutching his guts.  Aloe swings his hammer in a mighty arc and the metal connects with a sickening smack against Shortie’s head.  The rat collapses in a heap.  The mice look around for any signs of other enemies, then search their downed opponents.  

Check weapon usage:

Daisy sword d6= 2, None

Daisy shield d6=2, None

Aloe hammer d6=6, One usage

Aloe shield d6=3 None

Anise d6 Sling=2 None

Anise d6 Stones=4 One usage

+20 XP for each

Search for Treasure on rats: (Hansen Expansion) d66=55 Poison

d1000 random items: 667 douglas fir pine cone

Daisy finds a vial of poison in one of the rats’ packs and put it into her pouch.  Another rat had a pinecone, but they simply discard it.  “Should we tend to these injured rats’ wounds..or tie them up..or…” Anise begins in her small voice.

“Look away, Anise” Daisy responds in a gruff voice.  And she moves among the wounded and delivers a coup de grace.  Anise gulps at the sounds but understands that they can’t let these rats recover and warn their fellows.  “We are only a short walk from Stumpsville from here, let’s move!”  Daisy wipes her soiled blade on the tunic of one of the rats and moves forward through the brush.  Overhead, Sid gives a coo and flies forward as a scout. 

That will bring this session to a conclusion!  Next session, we’ll begin the search of Stumpsville to see what we can discover.  Our heroes fared well in this combat encounter, with only Daisy down to 4 HP.  We’ll give her a chance for a short rest and see if we can recover some of that.