Down The Dillhole -TTRPG Actual Play Homebrew

As Donal is extracting the drake egg from under its mother, "Daddy" approaches to defend the nest. Severely outgunned, the party is headed for battle against a hard-hitting opponent, Donal calls upon his ancestors, and Steve continues to send crossbow bolts into the surrounding countryside.

Signs of the hill giant hunting parties' activities points to a location of a struggle, with the smell of a recent kill in the air further ahead as Gnora continues to find a path through the foothills which keeps them away from the giants. A possible reason for why so many hill giants worked in concert is discovered, while Oberon contemplates the prospects of searching a prison purse.

Seeking a detour, the party attempts to avoid the hill giants lying in ambush. Off through the woods to the east, they test their hand at a new fate. Gnora's hard work to keep the travelers safe is paying off.

Our intrepid adventurers set out from Rockwell with their carriage, headed East. Loaded with supplies and utility magic, off they go to reach the Swamp Temple of Thoth in their quest to rescue Brian Quicksword: Defeater of Skarek, and founder of the Adventurer's Guild. 

It's a supermarket sweep this episode as the party gears up for their journey to the, now canon, Swamp Temple of Thoth. Given a blank check for mundane gear and a discount card for magic items, they pack up their wagon and are bound for Eastward travel at sunrise the next day. John Candy and Billy Crystal could not, unfortunately, commit to a guest appearance.

A festive time in the city as the lunar tide celebration has the citizenry dancing and singing in the streets. Upstairs in the mage tower at the Sedgewick Academy, Gremmel has his own seasonal tidings to share with the group. Great presents, and promise of great rewards are proffered to our heroes as they accept a quest to rescue the long lost hero, Brian Quicksword.

In the final minutes the home team is ahead, but Gob takes a hit as he sets a block for the kicker. The offensive line pushes downfield as the receiver gobbles up yardage. Busy with the center pushing them around, the defense doesn't see the QB come in from the side and put them on the ground.

Late in the game the team faces an unexpected player as they close in on their objective. Our heroes have the ball, but an unexpected blitz from the secondary puts the kicker down. A loose ball of a halfling QB is scooped up by the center as Oberon runs an end-around past a stammering defense.

In a bad parody titled "Bridges of Stirges County," our adventurers step out across brimstone to reach the scintillating corridor which leads to the magical battery-like orb they seek. A scandalous tryst, as one stirge meets one gnoll and risks his relationship with his partner and mate--oh, wait.. Never mind. Donal smashed her to bits.

Into the labyrinth they go to reach the guardian chamber. Magics which cause the labyrinth to constantly shift make map keeping impossible. Wandering monster tables will be utilized. Fluids will be collected. And Gnora has a close call...

The party finishes up with Gremmel and heads to spend some of their hard-earned coin. Next step is to travel below the city to retrieve the orb. Some special security measures must be taken in order to ensure the adventurers' survival as they head into the belly of the undercity.

The party returns to Rockwell with the wererat Chauncey Greeble (aka Nebuched) and 2 of his minions in tow. It is the moontide celebration in Rockwell as the group ties up their loose ends: Gnora gets her grill, and the boys fill out their TPS reports back at Guild HQ.

Trapped upstairs in the secret chamber, the party is holding deadly gas at bay with a moist tarp. Wracking their brains over the solution to the exit-gate puzzle, reason is favored over raw experimentation. An inspired Gnora trusts her gut and steers the conversation towards retracing their steps in Winterlawn manor.

A puzzle or problem often requires a bit of experimentation in order to gain understanding of possible solutions. Gob happens to be an eager experimentalist, slapping random signs and buttons with 'practiced' hand. Even in failure can knowledge be gained, provided you live to employ it...

With time to kill until the Royal escorts come to transport the captive criminals, the party gains entry into the secret room beyond the warded wall. Donal, seemingly at random, selects one of the dragon emblems and recites the last line of his childhood lullaby.

After managing to collect a number of valuable items from the manor, the party's looting is halted when the Sheriff arrives. They cooperate with him and recount the night's activities, while his traveling companion offers some assistance in deciphering the warded doorway in the manor's 2nd-floor office.

The party is doing their best 'Supermaket Sweep' before the long arm of the law arrives to secure the manor and investigate. Hackwreath is called upstairs to take a look at the magical wards and sigils on the wall found in the office. Finding passages written in the Draconic script but unable to read the language, the group may require the aid of experts.

Victory for the party as all foes are dead, down, or deserted! Oberon & Hackwreath stabilize the dying foes while the rest hold guard over them. With local justice swiftly approaching, the window for "less-than-legal" compensation is closing fast.

Finally, the end of combat is in sight. The party has connoitered at the manor, and the battle seems to be going their way. Well, they aren't dead yet...

Deep into combat and seeming to make little headway against some strong heals, the party reassembles after splitting up in town. Dust monster on his heels, Gob does his best Obi Wan Kenobi and takes the high ground.

Battle continues against Chauncey Greeble and his cohorts. Vastly outnumbered and possibly outgunned, there are no cowards among these fine officers! Gob continues to evade the choking dust while Gnora employs some pungent, primal tactics.

Positioned behind some trees outside the front of Greeble's manor, the party is wary to spring the trap set before them. So with the aid of magic, the cleric pokes the bee hive with his proverbial stick. Meanwhile, Gob Jamjar continues to extricate himself from his prison.

Always be mindful of the wisdom of "never split the party", as you can quickly find your primary investigator becoming the bait. An operation to tail suspects and canvas the locals becomes a rescue mission. Subsidized beasts of burden, GO!

What's a gnoll really good at? Tracking with her nose. What's a barbarian good at? Starting and ending fights. With one party member already sitting on Greeble, the others track down the shady character and check in with the guild regarding the latest developments.

The party has gathered many dots relating to this investigation, and in this episode they begin to draw in the lines. After finishing up with Tip-Top Tom Toppins and the sewer maintenance crew, our heroes track down the suspects and make plans to keep the Toppins family safe.

All out of prologues, and after much exposition we return to the story. Gob, Oberon, Gnora, and Donal are now equipped with their enchanted guild items. Sufficiently supplemented, our stalwart sleuths set sail for City Hall for a name search. Steve Ridgers is sent on his first assignment, and Tip-Top Tom Toppins is in hot water!

We learn about what happened to Lex as events are recounted following the group returning with the dark heart, after the first prologue. And in the final episode of Prologue 2 we return to combat. Who gives this kind of mission to a handful of level 2 PC's? Desperate times call for desperate measures. Facing certain death without proper execution of the plan they set forth, will they manage to be heroes or just in the way?

The encounter begins as the PCs have arrayed themselves and their comrades about the bridge and tower area, poised to fell the tower. Magical darkness provides the spearhead of the Drow attack as the group protects the refugees seeking to cross the bridge to safety.

With fresh meat for the pickle jar, the team is set on quite a critical mission to halt the Drow advance into June. Evernight casts its shadow across the lands and any in its path run or die.

In the final episode of Prologue 1, we see leadership emerge from conflict once an understanding was reached. Bearing both good and bad news, the party returns to the village with some XP under their belt, a witch's head, and 3 rescued younglings in tow.

Party dynamics begin to be tested as the motives of Lex and his desire to steward the Dark Heart move some party members to relieving him of his duty. Gob discovers a powerful scroll, and Donal takes on more passengers. Go figure he ends up picking the Pack Mule enchantment for his guild ring...

The party scrambles out of the cave, dragging the dying Gob Jamjar with them. Frying pan or fire, wherever they go it's deadly!

Waking at a new dawn and with a new level-up, the party learns more about the nature of the bog witch. Donal feels a threat looming, and Gnora should open up a quarry with all the boulders she's rolling!

Which witch, whose writhing and wits; warbles, wails, and wields woe's wisps. Wither, wilt, and weep the way that wild-willed weanlings are whisked away.

Closing in on their prey, is it they who are preyed upon? The party forges deeper into the bramble forest until they smell wood smoke. Surely they can't be far... But we best not call them Shirley!

Into the way-back machine we go as we join the team on their first mission. Before Oberon, the group was partnered with the Warlock Lex. An extra long episode as we present the original prologue sessions we recorded before Covid came along. New episodes will be recorded soon, but please enjoy our very first session!

I remember the 13th-month lunar tide, when we put those wererat heads in that satchel there. It was still in winter, when in Rockwell you did arrive, to end up on a quest to sort out a murder scare. They were lurking in some tunnels down there, when they... Heard about the whole affair, I said oh no! Corruption and murder won't do.

Freshly debriefed and on the next stage of their investigation, the party spends a little time and money on much-needed gear. Steve Ridgers' new outfit costs more than his family has seen in their entire lives. Gob may be hoarding valuables, but that's because he has expenses. Any good noble knows that it takes gold to make gold!

Lute breaker, soul savior. The gnoll, she shot up a few. Barbarian, midnight smasher. Oberon's mace swings true. Rat-bit mama, furry alpha. Time's come to pay temple dues.

The adventurers have bested the wererats and begin to scour the room for clues and loot. With a fair grasp on the players involved in the murder, and clues as to the bigger picture they prepare to leave the tunnel and seek Temple. Three were cast below by the master, but four figures emerge unharmed from the tunnel; the fourth like a son of God.

We resume the battle with the wererats. Gnora's arrows continue to strike true. Oberon holds stalwart defense. Donal smash, and Gob Jamjar offers a path of redemption for the lycans' nervous initiate.

Using the element of surprise, the party learns quite a bit about the wererats' involvement in the murder, their nature, and their motivation. Losing the element of surprise, they miss their chance to ambush. ;)

Deep under the city, our adventurers do not know what to make of these tunnels. Strange noises, rushing water, heat buildup, and grinding stones seem to be part of some larger mechanism. The monotony and repetitive nature of this tunnel network begins to wear on the tiring heroes. Will they find the end of this scent trail, or will they decide to engage in some risky spelunking?

Combat is over and the party stands poised to rummage through the filth and grime of an ancient room. An ancient room, with centuries-old furnishings, and futuristic metals. The party doesn't know what to make of these strange tunnels beneath Rockwell. Who came before them and the rats?

Our first combat session since around episode 6-8, and we're all itching for a good fight! It's a dangerous but doable fight, however there may be some crucial Constitution saving throws to be made... Pardon the poor audio quality as we transitioned in remote play. I slapped in some spacefunk Howard & I made to cover it up, however ;) We've solved the issues, and future episodes will be much better! Thank you for your patience and your ears.

Into the tunnel they go, on the hunt for murderous monsters! Pardon the poor audio quality as we have a remote player. Better mics and quality is being sorted out. Finally let loose on their first consignment in Rockwell, the party has picked up the scent...

Never send the Party Priest and the Glamour Bard into town for supplies. Especially if they're aristocrats! You know they'll end up returning with a retinue bearing their supplies. The party makes their final preparations for their first dungeon crawl.

Do you let the players charge ahead, unknowingly, into the darkness? Of course you do!! But a benevolent Dungeon Master knows that their characters are mindful of things the players aren't... Let the dice decide!!

In this episode we have our first Charisma roll to woo an NPC. She apparently had low standards, as Gnora suggested to Oberon, but not that low. If only he had opened with offering to take her out for some lobster. Ledgers, dispatches, and inseam measurements.. Oh my!

The Dungeon Master struggles to dump a huge exposition load upon the show. If it weren't for those meddling halflings looking to parlay with every living creature they encounter, Oberon might already be 3 flagons deep into his revelry by the end of the episode.

Aside from having to brave a terrible storm at sea, this one's basically a fanservice episode for Gen-X'ers. Get your googles out, as you may need to look up a few of these references. Bonus points for eyerolls!