Let's Play Wanderer: The Shadowed Realm! Part 4: Legend
Let’s start our third Quest!
5 of Spades: Discover the locations of a noble’s family heirloom so that they can put their loved one to rest.
D6: 6 = 8 Tracks
Lady Thornfoot, draped in mourning black, met the brothers at the northern gates, holding a signet ring.
“My brother fell beyond the Realm’s borders,” the halfling said, voice tight. “Without the family crest he carried, we cannot lay him to rest in the crypt. It’s our family’s pendant, a silver teardrop with a sapphire star.”
Bardin clenched his jaw, her plea bringing painful memories. “We’ll retrieve it, Lady Thornfoot. That’s a promise.”
“He will find peace,” Borgan said solemnly. “And so will you, my Lady.”
Event: 10 of Diamonds
Ambush (B-Evil)
Evil beings on Events don’t require a Wits check.
King of Spades: Wolf Rider
Stats: DS 10 | HP 4 | Atk d8 | Def d6 | Morale 8
Location: Jack of Clubs
Tomb of a hero
D6: 6, 1 Thing and 1 Track!
+2 Tracks (4/8)
10 of Hearts: Medicinal mix (recover d12+2 HP and 1 Wound)
D6 Initiative: 6, free attack!
Dice exploded, but I rolled a 1 next for a total of 10 (my attack is d8+1). However, the wolf rider also rolled 1 for defense. 9 damage for a surprise kill!
D6 combat find: 2
+2 Tracks (2/8)
Reading this again, I’m not sure if I should have rolled initiative for an Ambush Event. The book doesn’t say anything about it, but it feels weird, right?
The brothers hadn’t gone far when a howl broke the silence. A wolf rider burst from the brush, lance coming low and fast at Bardin. He met it head on, cleaving through fur and flesh. The rider fell still, and the wolf crashed into the dirt.
The trail led them to an ancient tomb, with a stone door half-buried in moss. Inside, the walls revealed faded carvings of battles long past. Offerings lay scattered, disturbed by looters. A chest had been pried open, with heirloom wrappings torn away.
“This is the place Lady Thornfoot mentioned,” Borgan said. “It has been looted.”
“Maybe another Wanderer unaware of its content?”
In the dust, Bardin found a pungent medicinal mix.
Event: Joker
Shadow test!
A check of 2d6 + Spirit against DS 10 (my Shadow level is currently 0). The thing is I have 12 Spirit lol. So just that is enough to succeed.
I rolled a 6+4 for a 10 in any case, so Bardin resists the pull of the darkness.
Let me roll a d6 for the Shadow Event: 2.
As they left the tomb, the Shadows were waiting for their prey.
A wave of fury seized Bardin’s chest. His grip tightened around the axe. Visions of goblins laughing, of Bilmis falling, of the orcish captains’ failures burned behind his eyes.
For a moment he wanted nothing but blood and retribution.
Bardin staggered, planting the axe into the earth for support. He shut his eyes, breathing slowly, thinking of his duty as a Wanderer and as a Guardian. Borgan counted on him, and so did other people.
A painful wail echoed in his mind as the Shadows slowly let go of him.
“Bardin?” Borgan asked, hand on his shoulder.
“I’m here,” Bardin whispered. “I’m still here. They won’t have me today.”
Location: 7 of Hearts
Forest clearing
D6: 2, gain 2 Tracks.
+3 Tracks (7/8)
Shafts of sunlight pierced through the canopy of a wide clearing. Borgan knelt, running a calloused hand over a bootprint half-sunken in the mud. “A small group passed this way,” he muttered.
He stood and surveyed the clearing. Squinting, he pointed to a torn scrap of cloth snagged on brambles, embroidered with the sapphire star. “The trail grows warmer, brother.”
Event: 3 of Diamonds
Blocked path
D6: 4 = Difficulty Score 12, 2 damage.
Wits check, 2d6+1: 11
I’ll use 1 Spirit to pass this check.
11 Spirit total now.
Location: 8 of Hearts
Hidden cave
D6: 1, gain 2 Tracks.
+3 Tracks (8/8)
Max tracks! Quest completed.
A trail blocked by fallen trees forced them to a halt, but Bardin grabbed his axe and carved a path forward. It took effort and resilience, but the woods finally led the Earthbashers onto a cave mouth.
They stepped cautiously into the cool and damp interior. Long scratches marked the stone walls, and the faint presence of the Shadows lingered in the air.
In a corner, on a fallen pack, gleamed the silver pendant with the sapphire star.
Borgan lifted it reverently, brushing away the dirt. “I’m glad something good endures even in this Shadow-haunted place. He can finally rest.”
The brothers turned back toward the Shrouded Realm.
Epilogue
King: Your reputation spreads to others. +3 Reputation. 7 total.
D6 reputation gain: 5 = +3 Reputation! 10 total.
Full HP, +3 Spirit (14), and Rations set to 3.
A lot of reputation for this Quest! I guess the Earthbashers’ deeds are getting recognition, and lovely Lady Thornfoot and her family spread a good word for them.
All that Reputation actually gives us 2 Titles!
Let’s draw them:
3: **Undying** - Roll d6 on a Wound check. On a 5+, ignore the Wound, recover 2 HP, and continue Combat.
Ace: **Silent Step** - When checking for Combat initiative you may re-roll once and use the result.
Fantastic! The Earthbashers grow stronger and more experienced.
Alas, I think it’s time to retire them. Most of the game’s mechanics have been displayed to anyone interested in trying it.
Here’s the Retirement table:
As I earned 10 Reputation points, I want to do something different. Both Bardin and Borgan will retire as characters, but live on as NPCs. They will stay on the path as Wanderers, helping others against the Shadows. I’ll have the Earthbashers as Good Beings in 2 different draws.
2 of Hearts
Jack of Spades
The Earthbasher brothers: gain 1d6 Spirit and 1d6 Tracks.
Bardin and Borgan Earthbasher continued on the path of righteousness as Wanderers. There was much work to be done in the Realm, and their youngest brother’s fate remained unknown.
Travelers whisper of the two dwarves seen in the evil-infested wilds. One carried a grave expression and a bright axe that illuminated even the darkest corners of the land. The other possessed sharp eyes, a bow that made flowers bloom and enemies wither, and the tracking instincts of a spirit wolf.
They never lingered long in one place, but where Shadows gathered, the brothers were near. Bardin met the terrors with fury and sharp steel, while Borgan guided their way with steady hands and cautious words.
Some said they fought to redeem their lost kin. Others claimed they simply refused to rest while the Realm suffered.
Their names remained spoken with awe and gratitude, and their legend swelled with each feat, inspiring children and making evil wary.
The Earthbashers treaded on, defying the Shadows.
And another Let’s Play is completed. I have to admit I did not expect to get attached to the Earthbashers, but I’m sad to see them go. I always get a little down when I conclude a playthrough hahah.
I hope you enjoyed this little series and that it made you want to try the game.
Wanderer: The Shadowed Realm is available on Itch.io and DrivethruRPG.
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