dustbubsy playthroughs
dustbubsy
Member Posts: 249
Hi all, welcome to my playthrough thread.
My first playthrough is a no-reload challenge on Core difficulty, no mods, 75-roll character, with strict adherence to role-playing. In other words a bundle deal, most aspects of which I've never tried before.
My character: Gorm, a half-orc Barbarian. He's Chaotic Neutral, and an easy-going fellow - not a barbarian by any conviction, but just because he's not disciplined enough to be a fighter. He loves drinking and hanging round Winthrop's Inn, and hates studying. He has two pips in Quarterstaves and two in Two-Handed Fighting Style.
Finally, his stats:
Strength 18/21 - he's strong as an ox.
Dexterity 14 - pretty nimble for a big guy, but no bonuses
Constitution 19 - he can take a lot of punishment
Intelligence 8 - Gorion taught him to read at least
Wisdom 8 - he's not the sharpest tool in the shed
Charisma 8 - being a drunken half-orc has it's downsides
DAY 1
-----
Gorm couldn't believe his luck - Gorion had saved him from his chores, given him 100 shiny gold pieces, and told him they would finally be leaving this stuffy dump. He was very happy, and proceeded directly to Winthrop's Inn to equip himself.
He bought himself some studded leather armour, a helmet, and lots of darts as he loves playing darts (who doesn't?) He already had a quarterstaff, which is his weapon of choice. With so much money left over, Gorm decided to have a drink...or twenty.
Events slowly became blurry: he recalled chatting with inn patrons, including Firebead Elvenhair, who had a little errand for him. After performing the menial task, he pestered the old mage so much that he was rewarded with 300 gold pieces just to leave him alone! Ecstatic, Gorm returned to Winthrop for more ale, but the innkeeper refused to serve him another drop. Angered and unwilling to give the cur money for a room, he decided to sleep off his intoxication in the Bunkhouse.
Stumbling through mid-morning Candlekeep completely plastered, Gorm finally made it to the Bunkhouse, where he was accosted by the would-be assassin Carbos. Carbos lunged at him with his dagger, while Gorm clumsily parried with his staff. They grappled in this fashion for a while before Gorm landed a mighty blow on Carbos for 14 damage, causing him to explode.
This bloody outcome stunned Gorm from his stupor, and he became worried about incurring certain penalties for redecorating the Bunkhouse in a hazy shade of Carbos. Deep down, the young half-orc was scared by the assault, churlish though it had seemed, and thoughts of sleep fled from his mind. Bumping into his tutor Karan outside, he was advised to seek out Gorion immediately. Now obedient, Gorm headed towards the library.
Brushing off the Gatewarden and Imoen brusquely, he met his foster father at the library steps and they set out together. During the night of course, they were ambushed and Gorion killed. Gorm was left with the only advice from Gorion he remembered, to head for the Friendly Arm Inn.
Next time: Day 2. Will Gorm survive in the wilderness?
My first playthrough is a no-reload challenge on Core difficulty, no mods, 75-roll character, with strict adherence to role-playing. In other words a bundle deal, most aspects of which I've never tried before.
My character: Gorm, a half-orc Barbarian. He's Chaotic Neutral, and an easy-going fellow - not a barbarian by any conviction, but just because he's not disciplined enough to be a fighter. He loves drinking and hanging round Winthrop's Inn, and hates studying. He has two pips in Quarterstaves and two in Two-Handed Fighting Style.
Finally, his stats:
Strength 18/21 - he's strong as an ox.
Dexterity 14 - pretty nimble for a big guy, but no bonuses
Constitution 19 - he can take a lot of punishment
Intelligence 8 - Gorion taught him to read at least
Wisdom 8 - he's not the sharpest tool in the shed
Charisma 8 - being a drunken half-orc has it's downsides
DAY 1
-----
Gorm couldn't believe his luck - Gorion had saved him from his chores, given him 100 shiny gold pieces, and told him they would finally be leaving this stuffy dump. He was very happy, and proceeded directly to Winthrop's Inn to equip himself.
He bought himself some studded leather armour, a helmet, and lots of darts as he loves playing darts (who doesn't?) He already had a quarterstaff, which is his weapon of choice. With so much money left over, Gorm decided to have a drink...or twenty.
Events slowly became blurry: he recalled chatting with inn patrons, including Firebead Elvenhair, who had a little errand for him. After performing the menial task, he pestered the old mage so much that he was rewarded with 300 gold pieces just to leave him alone! Ecstatic, Gorm returned to Winthrop for more ale, but the innkeeper refused to serve him another drop. Angered and unwilling to give the cur money for a room, he decided to sleep off his intoxication in the Bunkhouse.
Stumbling through mid-morning Candlekeep completely plastered, Gorm finally made it to the Bunkhouse, where he was accosted by the would-be assassin Carbos. Carbos lunged at him with his dagger, while Gorm clumsily parried with his staff. They grappled in this fashion for a while before Gorm landed a mighty blow on Carbos for 14 damage, causing him to explode.
This bloody outcome stunned Gorm from his stupor, and he became worried about incurring certain penalties for redecorating the Bunkhouse in a hazy shade of Carbos. Deep down, the young half-orc was scared by the assault, churlish though it had seemed, and thoughts of sleep fled from his mind. Bumping into his tutor Karan outside, he was advised to seek out Gorion immediately. Now obedient, Gorm headed towards the library.
Brushing off the Gatewarden and Imoen brusquely, he met his foster father at the library steps and they set out together. During the night of course, they were ambushed and Gorion killed. Gorm was left with the only advice from Gorion he remembered, to head for the Friendly Arm Inn.
Next time: Day 2. Will Gorm survive in the wilderness?
7
Comments
-----
Gorm was now alone. Gorion’s death had shaken him, but all was not lost: as morning broke, he saw trusty Imoen rush to meet him from the direction of Candlekeep. She mentioned something about a note…
They cautiously made their way north to the site of the ambush. Gorm found a belt on his father’s possession, and a note. Knowing he was a slow reader, Imoen took it from him and read it out loud. Its contents disturbed him, and he wondered what he had done to be hunted in this way. Lacking the tools to bury Gorion, they were forced to leave him in as sheltered a place as they could find on the plains. Gorm decided to wear Gorion’s belt rather than carry it in his pack.
Returning back to the path, they decided to make their way to the Friendly Arm Inn. Despite the tragedy, Gorm felt finally free of Candlekeep’s walls, and though he was sober, he was intoxicated by the sights and smells of the open country. He had never felt quite so alive.
On the way to the inn, they met a strange looking pair, this was Xzar and Montaron. The necromancer offered Gorm a healing potion and proposed they travel together. Won over by their generosity and exotic “charm,” Gorm was only too happy to oblige. They mentioned something about travelling south eventually, but were happy to follow Gorm to the Friendly Arm Inn. Gorm was flattered to be thought worthy to travel with these experienced adventurers.
So on they went, meeting a few fellow travellers on the way: messengers, hunters, and the like. They stuck to the path and met little trouble. One small bit of excitement came when a hairy little creature came rushing at them from the undergrowth. No sooner had Gorm noticed the fellow than he was dead – Imoen had slain him with just one arrow. Turning to her childhood companion, she stuck her tongue out at him, and they continued onward.
As the sun set on a long day, they came to the forboding Friendly Arm Inn. In contrast to its welcoming moniker, legends said it had been a place of evil in the past, and it certainly loomed in the dark. Gorm was dying for a drink however, and could hear sounds of merriment as they approached. They entered the keep, crossed the courtyard, and raced up the stairs eagerly.
Next time – Day 2 Part 2: a wild Tarnesh attacks!
------------
A man appeared at the top of the stairs, hailing Gorm. He asked many questions of him, and Gorm wondered if he was the friend of Gorion's he was meant to meet. However, when the man started an incantation, Gorm felt a flash of a memory of the incident with Carbos and realised just in time that he was in danger.
In his sober state, he was a far better fighter, and his staff's reach allowed him a powerful attack on the mage, breaking his concentration. Then fast as an adder, Xzar cast Larloch's Minor Drain, finishing the assassin's life. It had happened so fast that no guard had been able to intervene, nor had Imoen or Montaron been able to contribute. Xzar swiftly made his way to Tarnesh's drained corpse and pilfered two magic scrolls and a note. Reading the latter to himself, he chuckled knowingly before handing it to Gorm.
Gorm didn't so much as glance at it, but headed into the Arm to avoid any further drama. He needed a drink after his close call.
A mammoth drinking session followed. Keen to cheer everyone's spirits, Gorm bought his friends beverages. Xzar ordered Alurlyath Wine, while Montaron aptly chose Bitter Black Ale. Gorm sampled everything multiple times, but could not persuade Imoen to take a drink. She had to remind him several times that they were there to meet two friends of Gorion named Khalid and Jaheira.
"Ask someone about 'em if you must, but leave me to drink! This is the third time in two days someone's tried to kill me."
Imoen sighed and left to find help. She managed to find out which of the inn's guests were Khalid and Jaheria, and dragged Gorm off to meet them. Xzar and Montaron remained behind.
From the start, Gorm did not like these friends of Gorion's. The woman in particular was very bossy, and her comment about his appearance being "almost a slight" on Gorion ired him greatly. He interpreted it as a veiled insult on his half-orcish blood, since he didn't see any way he could be said to have a likeness to his foster father. Furthermore, the way these half-elves assumed he would just tag along with them annoyed him, as did Jaheira's insistence that the iron shortage was any of his responsibility.
Conveniently forgetting that he had agreed to go to Nashkel with Xzar and Montaron anyway, Gorm sullenly refused the Harpers' help. Being near those who knew Gorion would just put him in greater danger, and he had never fit in with that way of life anyway. And where had Khalid and Jaheira been when the mysterious stranger had attacked? Warming themselves by the fire! And afterwards, did they offer any help, any comfort? These thoughts accompanied him as he walked away.
Imoen followed, distraught. She argued for Gorm to reason, but in his drunken state he would not be swayed (though he was swaying quite a bit, just...not in that way.) Eventually he brushed her off as well:
"If you like them so much, you travel with them! I'm going with Mar and Zontaron...oops, that's not right..."
Imoen looked hurt and disappointed, but she left him to wallow in booze and self-pity. Gorm spent the rest of the evening trying to show her that he was having a good time, foisting more drinks on Xzar and Montaron, and chatting to everyone in the inn, from the imposing half-orc that brushed off his hero-worship, to the gnomes on the upper floors with problems of their own. Eventually, all the alcohol caught up with him and he fell asleep listening to Whelp prattle on about his cutlery.
Next time - Day 3! Gorm remembers one of last night's conversations, about a certain Ogre...
-----
Gorm awoke 8 hours later, deciding to cure his hangover by asking Bentley Mirrorshade to cast that well known bar-room spell “Hair of the Dog.” A few drinks later he was discovered by Xzar and Montaron. They wanted to know whether Gorm would accompany them south now. The half-orc had a more ambitious plan: he had heard Unshey’s tale of an belt-stealing ogre and wanted to hunt it down, returning for a reward.
The pair were hardly enthusiastic about another diversion, but agreed to it. Monty was no visionary in these matters, and Xzar had his own reasons for sticking close to Gorm since Tarnesh’s attack. As they left the Friendly Arm, Imoen appeared. If they were no longer traveling together, she reasoned, she may as well give Gorm her potions and wand. He would likely need them more than her anyway.
Now a trio, the party headed to the wilderness south of the inn. They explored the plains: to the west they encountered a diseased gibberling and a wolf, and Montaron spied a ring tucked into a rocky crevice. Heading east, they found a solitary xvart before encountering the ogre – their first real challenge of the day.
Their belt-fetishist foe shrugged off Gorm’s darts and Montaron’s sling bullets, and closed in. His mighty morning star dealt 8 points of damage to Montaron, but the halfling quickly downed his healing potion. He was then able to avoid further attacks by his size and dexterity, while Gorm rained blows with his staff and Xzar cast drain magic. Eventually they prevailed, and a proud Gorm gave his friends the spoils, as he was already wearing Gorion’s belt.
Montaron put his belt on with no noticible effects, while Xzar handled his gingerly and seemed unwilling to wear it. While he mumbled something about identifying it first, Montaron started jeering at his companion, calling him cowardly. Gorm got in on the cajolery too, mocking the mage until frustrated, Xzar equipped the girdle.
[insert deviantart style gender transformation fic here]
This sudden change provoked no end of merriment from Montaron, who was bent double on the ground in a fit of laughter. Gorm looked astonished at “Xzarina” before collapsing in laughter as well. Only the threat of their companion’s Minor Drains eventually moved them to travel back to the inn, where they could get the curse removed.
Causing Xzar such unusual, unexpected discomfort provoked something akin to warmth in Montaron’s heart toward Gorm, and he insisted on buying the half-orc endless drinks when they returned. Xzar pestered them to go to the Temple of Garl Glittergold, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. So pleased was Monty with events that he even gave up his belt to Unshey when Gorm suggested it. They received 70 gold from Unshey and bought more drinks.
Gorm felt like a hero. Montaron was being nice to him. He had fought an ogre and won. He didn’t need those half-elves, or Gorion, or even Imoen... Some time around midnight, Xzar finally managed to drag them to the Temple…only to find that removing a curse cost 500 gold. After the evening’s carousing they had 247. Xzar, desperate, tried to get Gorm to sell Imoen’s Wand of Magic Missiles for 250 gold to make up the difference. He wheedled, threatened, begged...everything short of using womanly wiles, in fact.
In a decision that would prove monumental, Gorm stubbornly refused. Maybe he was being greedy, or selfish. Maybe deep down he still cared for Imoen, and wanted to hold on to her selfless gift. The motive matters little, the consequence is all.
The trio left the Temple squabbling like never before. Realising he would get no rest till Xzar was returned to normal, Montaron proposed they leave the keep’s walls and look for a traveler to rob. Gorm readily agreed, and in high spirits they headed out into the night.
Two Hobgoblins came upon the party. With efficiency and discipline, they surrounded Gorm and Montaron, who, drunk as they were, were in no condition to fight effectively. Xzar had run out of spells, and was too embittered to use a scroll to help them. Gorm hardly noticed when he was hit for 6 damage (he had 17,) and continued to pound away feebly at the Hobgoblins. He was a hero! He heard Montaron curse beside him, and from the corner of his eye saw the halfling start to run back to the inn.
“W-where are you going..?”
The Hobgoblin’s bastard sword cut Gorm’s staff clean through and ended its downward arc embedded in his skull.
Though he had bought a helmet back in Candlekeep, he had never once thought to use it.
----
So here ends Gorm’s undignified and brief career as a Bhaalspawn. I must say, I made a rookie mistake, which is not totally unexpected given this is my first no-reload run. Still, rules are rules.
It’s actually very damaging to have a character enter combat drunk, so having both Gorm and Montaron soused was suicide. Still, I liked the RP aspect, and it made sense that after taking down Tarnesh and the ogre easily, he would be foolishly confident. He was an 8 Int 8 Wis character, and he was drunk. Let this be a lesson to young adventurers everywhere.
I had some grand plans for Gorm and even knew the team I wanted to assemble, but oh well. There are so many permutations of playthrough you can do, that I will probably return with something completely different next time. Thanks to everyone who read.