Solo Play: Episode One

 I've begun a series of solo-play sessions, partially inspired by Daniel Norton's Let's Play, among other creators', but mostly due to being moved to a night shift at a hotel--which leaves me with lots of time to write and play. Here's my first session report:

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Set out at first light from Endon, northwest upon the King's Highway.

After two hours of walking, arrived at the edge of Lake Endon.

Met some friendly fishermen who kindly ferried me across, free of charge.

Shortly after, came upon the town of Goodmill. Attempted to recruit a travelling companion there, a gambler named Dunwick, but was met with hostility and left with haste. I should be wary there in the future.

Perhaps four or five miles beyond the town, I came upon quite the conundrum--a choker, discarded in the middle of the road, set with aquamarine. Quite clearly, this was no masterwork, but it surely held some significance to someone. Looking around and seeing no obvious owner, the road being lightly travelled today, I opted to take the choker with me on my way.

Coming to the river, I found the ferry abandoned; perhaps the ferryman was tending to some other duty. In any case, I opted to row myself across, mooring the ferry on the other side--time is precious, after all. Here, I stopped to allow myself to catch a respite on the river-side before pushing on. During the brief nap I took, I was struck with a vision of a lost city's ruin deep in a verdant forest--albeit one surrounded by a maelstrom of nearly-palpable negative energy.

Still mulling this over in my head as I headed towards the edge of the treeline, I came upon a pair of wood-nymphs; dryads, if I rightly recall their proper name. The two seemed to be embroiled in a lover's quarrel...or whatever the tree equivalent of that is? I hastily skirted around them, trying to make my presence as small as possible; they either didn't notice me, or didn't care. I wish I had been able to talk to them about that dream...

I still couldn't get the sight of that ruin to clear from my inner eye, though, and continued to dwell on it. What could that vortex have been? Some malevolent power rising from beyond? Who knows?

As the sun fell for the day, I found myself a small glade just off of the road to camp down in for the night. I was unable to let myself sleep for quite some time, however; off in the distance, I could hear the braying of an elk in pain. It continued for some time, gradually fading, before it suddenly stopped mid-groan. Unsettled, but steeled, I drifted off to sleep.