Trouble in the Mines

The economy of Larm is based on resource extraction: crops are raised in the fertile river bottom lands; the legendary Iron Pines are harvested from the nearby forest; stocks of wild salmon are caught from the river; and copper ore is mined in the hills north of the village. There is a natural rhythm to the farming, woodcutting, fishing, and mining operations. Wealth is extracted from the rich frontier lands, profits are made, and a small tribute is sent back to noble houses in Dolmvay. This arrangement works for everyone, and until recently there have been few problems.

All that changed when the trouble in the mines began. Copper mining has slowed in recent months. As the deposits of ore in the hills closest to Larm have been exhausted, the miners have been forced to push farther north toward the mountains. Despite early successes, the mining operations soon met with notable setbacks.

Strange "accidents" began to happen. At first, this was simply equipment that went missing - pick axes and shovels disappearing - but then something started driving off the mules and work horses.

Finally, the cave ins began. Nine men were lost, buried under a pile of rubble despite all proper safety procedures being followed. As the rescue crews dug out the victims, they found strange carvings on the nearby tunnel walls. Written in Dwarven runes, the message read, "Stop digging now."

Comments

Larm: The Lay of the Land

From the previous post we know that the authors of Labyrinth Lord gave us very little to work with in the published description of our beloved Larm. We know that it is a farming and mining community. We know that it is a river community. And we know that it has a 100-man militia. This information is enough to get us started, for it implies certain things about our frontier community. First, being some 140 miles (14 hexes) from the grand city of Dolmvay, we know that Larm must be largely self-sufficient. To feed and support the 1,000 residents, Larm's farmers must be raising both crops and livestock. Looking at the general terrain, we see that Larm is located in hill country to the east, and river valley to the west. It is likely that Larm's farmers tend flocks of sheep and cattle, harvesting the wool and leather in addition to the meat of the animals. In addition, the access to the river suggests that Larm has no shortage of fishermen. Sec...

Solo RPG Report: Procedurally Generated Dungeon

Working on a new side project that will hopefully intersect with the solo rpg format. I'm using the random dungeon generator tables from the 5e Dungeon Master's Guide to create a fresh dungeon for the heroes to explore. Here are the results for the first room (rolling under the "Starting Area" table on page 290). Of note is the fact that the entry chamber to this underground ruin is somehow in "pristine" condition. The open passageway to the north and the wooden door to the east are interesting for sure. But what really catches my attention is the locked/barred stone door to the west.

Solo RPG Report: Episode 2 - The Road Back to Town

Transcript (Bold text is Gemini AI) : Are you ready to continue our adventure as the heroes try to reach town with the partially repaired wagon? Absolutely! I'm here to weave the tale further as your heroes navigate their precarious journey back to town. The partially repaired wagon rumbles along the dusty path, a testament to Clover's ingenuity and their narrow escape on Bone Hill. Weight of Discovery: The silence is punctuated only by the creaking of the wagon and the rhythmic clopping of the horses' hooves (if any remain). A heavy air hangs over the party. Morgot , ever vigilant, scans the horizon for any sign of pursuit. Strattford 's brow furrows in thought, the weight of their discovery pressing down on him. The symbol of the Shadow King burns in his mind, a chilling reminder of the dark magic that lurks in the world. Clover Breaks the Silence: Clover, ever the pragmatist, finally breaks the tense silence. "So, what now...

Shrine of St. Cuthbert

Search This Blog