Larsson the Maudlin, Quest 3: Tyren Needs some Armor [D100 Dungeon] [Recap]
Another dive into the same dungeon. I'll keep most of this post short. You can skip to the bottom to see the link to the playthrough notes. I am going to experiment with ways to display those effectively just straight into the blog next time around [and if it doesn't work, expect more of the same].
We'll introduce a bit of lore and then talk about the two most significant fights but overall these training quests are just warming up.
Tyren, Dale, and Roker Hatch a Plan
As the month swung later, Tyren Maud could not help but note that Larsson "The Maudlin" was starting to simply become Larsson Maud. Lars' sighing depression and swinging of sticks around as a poor substitute for a real sword has dwindled. In fact, he has been carrying around his axe and trying to get volunteers for the reforming a night watch. Not that Fairhope needs such a thing, but it does not do to discourage your young cousin too much.
And so, Tyren called upon Dale — still caught up in his courting rituals with Daisy Warnish — and the two brothers visited Roker Maud: Larsson's father and their uncle. For reasons unclear, it seems that Larsson needs the impetus of a quest to drive him forward. It cannot simply be for his own glory. This alone explains why Larsson has not simply disappeared north into the Forest Ick or sailed East to Allansia. Heck, word on the street is that some new priest has been kicking around Humb and sparring that town on to become quite the little burgeoning burg.
Roker has agreed to trade kick in some money to the triumvirate. They will encourage Larsson to head out on small adventures until he reaches the point, hopefully soon, he either tires of the questing life or embraces it fully and self-motivates. Thus the plan is to send Larsson back into the secret dungeon he has found and ask him for something simple. Tyren sold the weapons already and now needs a few pieces of armor.
As Tyren tells this to Larsson — that armor is needed, not there is a cabal of older Mauds guiding his fate — Larsson's eyes light up. "I will do it!"
Off Larsson went. And did not return. At least not right away. The three Maud men waited by the River Akat until sunset and then went home. They did not discuss that Larsson might lose. Simply that he was "caught up". The next morning, Tyren was just starting to feel a tinge of true guilt when he heard Nani James — the busty and dark daughter of the tavern keeper, Onald James — give a shout. Tyren glances out and here comes Larsson. A bit more bloodied. Carrying a shield and a claymore instead of his usual axe. Eyes glinting. Tyren asks Nani to grab a pitcher of ale and sends a couple of assistants off to get Dale and Roker. To hear the story.
Larsson Waxes Loud
Two pints in, Larsson is quite animated. "I fought a Valkyrie! Wait, that was after the elf zombie. Sorry, I'm stumbling over my words..."
He takes a big swallow of his third pint.
"At first, it was kind the same as the first two times. Wandering around, poking at things. I picked a chest's lock! Can you believe it? I kind of owe Nani for that one," he says as he raises his glass to Nani, who blushes. Tyren has known that Nani has carried a flame for Larsson since they were quite small and running around as youths. "Well, the Exemplary Tales of Fair Nizel Torel as a Youth Near Nallstay, to be precise. Nani was reading me passages about how young Nizel taught himself how to pick the lock to the Great Wizard Zzyckle's Tower Blank. Nizel was just eight years old. Surely I could figure out! And I did! There was only a potion inside but it was quite exciting."
Tyren does not say anything but he has doubts that Nizel has done any such thing. He met Nizel Torel once and the man seemed like a drunken fool. Better at telling a story than living it.
"Shortly after, I met the zombie. Once an elf. Probably a champion in his own life until cruelly struck down by fate. It was a fierce fight."
Now Larsson has turned and is telling this story directly to Nani, who looks like she might faint from excitement. Tyren almost wonders if she call the other two men and give the two young ones some time alone. Unfortunately, Roker is four pints in and is as rapt as Nani at his son's adventures.
"But that was nothing compared to what was coming later. I dispatches some more hobgoblins. Easy picking. I wandered for what felt like hours. Well, wait, I guess it was. I knew I had to camp out in the foul dungeon. I had to face the darkness before me. Another dead end. Then another. Was this it for my tale? Was Larsson to be struck down before he had even began? NO!" Larsson brings his fist down hard on the table. Nani — and Roker — gasp. Tyren fights hard to not roll his eyes. Dale looks at his older brother and stifles a laugh.
"Because fate had in store for me a fight to test my true mettle. A valkyrie. I heard the harps. The drums. The raven seeking blood. And then from a bright light overhead she came down, sword drawn. I pulled out my axe and ran towards her. I swung — no easy feat when she is floating eight...I meant eighteen feet off the ground. For my troubles, she slashed at me with her sword and struck in my hand!" Larsson holds up the hand, now bleeding again after being re-opened with the hitting the table.
"She turned from me. Like she was saying that I was not ready for glory. I knew, right then, I knew that I had prove to her that I was worthy. I lept up again. Did I say eighteen feet? More like twenty! All I could reach was her feet and so I struck a mighty blow against them. This got her attention all right. She turned around and stabbed me right here," pointing to a gash on his head — "and blood poured into my eyes. I swung madly. She swung madly...I think. It was hard to see. Finally, I caught her on her legs and this made her mad. She swept right before me and I thought...of you," this said to Nani who seems to be sweating from excitement, "and all of you," to the three men on the table, "and I closed my half-blind eyes and dodge out of the way and brought my axe down right on her back. She screamed out in rage but then turned and nodded, acknowledging my victory."
"She tossed me a shield. This shield, and then flew up into the light and was gone.
Larsson is panting after his story. Nani looks at him and asks if he is hungry, that she can share some roast she made, and Larsson nods. Tyren kicks the other two under the table and the three men start slipping out. As Tyren looks back, Larsson is all smiles and Nani is telling him about some new book she got from Goldenbrook.
"The Maudlin" might just make it, indeed.
To see my playthrough notes (via Google Drive): Quest 3: Dungeon Training 3. Played on April 7, 2025.
The map so far looks like this [made in GIMP]:
Doug's Commentary
I took some liberties with the Valkyries fight but I felt like that fits the story a bit better than its pure mechanical version — the hits being against her feet and legs until the last was true, though.
Nizel Torel is from the Barston Bakersfield campaign. Nizel and Yevony the Great are two semi-mythical figures that travel around Phillia and are treated as the great heroes. Though Barston met both and found that Yevony is a lot more manipulative and shady — most of his fights with evil wizard types was to still and sell their magical gear — while Nizel is essentially a bard great at telling stories and pretty terrible at fighting. In the current timeline, both are traveling together in north Phillia and conning people while technically doing good — in part due to Barston's influence. Yevony had a dog, Gulwin, who is actually off with a reformed warlock. There are a lot of moving pieces in Phillia.
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