Lechedik's Quest Begins: Juice Oracle Session 1

A Juice Oracle-only solo adventure.

Introduction

Welcome back to our solo adventure with the Juice Oracle! In Session 0, we established the core elements of our narrative: the curious and faithful priest Lechedik, his divine mission to destroy a rough mithral dagger, and the dagger's journey from Lostfall to Wolfbrook, where it's destined to unlock a hidden treasure. Lechedik's quest, assigned by High Priest Maturon, is driven by a deep, likely religious, conviction that this treasure must remain concealed.

This session, Session 1, delves into the initial steps of Lechedik's journey. We'll consult the Oracle to determine his current location and his departure, encounter an unexpected challenge before his journey begins, and chart his path into the freezing wilderness.

Journey planning

I lied at the end of the previous post. I realised I rolled for where the dagger was starting, and where it was going, but I didn’t consider where Lechedik currently is. Is he 5000km away? I doubt it, but who am I to say? So first let’s roll on the settlements table, High (2) and Stone (9), gives me Highstone. Quite an apt name for a religious settlement.

Let’s also figure out the geography of this region using the Juice d100 on the location table.

Assuming Lechedik is in Highstone, that should be the centre so 50 on a d100.

So I’ll roll for Lostfall and Wolfbrook, in relation to Highstone:

Lostfall (40), Wolfbrook (94)

Locations from Juice Oracle

This provides a rough topology, you can see my basic interpretation below.

Note: I drew this map before any of the next rolls were made.

Regional map

I did a fate check on whether Lechedik would be heading for Lostfall, or whether he would try to intercept his quarry and go directly to Wolfbrook, it resulted in heading to Lostfall. I did also decide that actually Lechedik and High Priest Maturon probably don’t know where the dagger is being taken, just reports that it had been taken, so it wouldn’t make sense to head straight to Wolfbrook.

With this in mind Lechedik needs to decide how to get to Lostfall, I decided there are 3 ways (1d6) with various dangers:

1-2. Circumnavigate the forest to the north. 3 days travel. Mostly safe from forest creatures and bandits. Camping in the wilderness.

3-4. Directly through the forest. 1.5 days travel. Much higher risk from forest creatures and bandits. Camping in the wilderness.

5-6. Circumnavigate the forest to the south. 8-10 days travel. Safe from forest creatures and bandits. Some dwellings along the way to stop at.

Looking at the map I also decided there was probably an old road to Lostfall that followed the northern bank of the river to the south of the forest, along to the marshland, across a bridge to Wolfbrook, and that a road heading south from Highstone would meet it just to the south of the forest. A much longer journey, but much safer.

And I rolled… 6. So along the road it is! I wasn’t sure about this result at first, it seems a long way to go when trying to track something, but after thinking I decided this could be smart. Following the road may allow Lechedik to ask anyone he meets along the way for information or rumours.

One final set up question before Lechedik sets off - what’s the weather like? Using the Juice weather table, the result is Freezing cold (3). I’m therefore going to assume it’s winter, perhaps another reason Lechedik decides to head south, following the road.

Trouble, already?

It’s a cold morning when Lechedik departs his home. It was only yesterday evening High Priest Maturon assigned his quest, but Lechedik quickly packed his provisions, said his farewells, and made all necessary preparations, and is eager to start his journey full of energy.

As Lechedik proudly strides through Highstone, his boots crunching on the frost touched ground, he can smell smoke from the fires being lit to warm away the winter cold mixed with the day’s bread being baked. He offers his blessings to anyone he meets on the streets. Reaching the main square, he turns to the temple, his temple, and offer his prayers to his Gods. With his eyes closed, Lechedik senses someone close by. As quick as a flash, Lechedik grabs an arm reaching for his shoulder bag from behind, and twists. The would-be thief tumbles to the ground to the sound of crunching frost, and a bone. The thief wails at the top of their lungs in pain. Lechedik, being a pious man, is shocked to have injured a fellow Highstoner and immediately calls for a healer. Being so close to the temple, one arrives quickly. While the healer tends to the thief, Lechedik finishes his prayers and walks on towards the southern gate.

Action already. I decided to start the journey I’d roll on the Random Event table, just to see if anything would happen. I rolled New Character (6). So I rolled on the Person table and got Criminal (1). Then I rolled on the NPC Behavior table and got Careless (3). This led me to think this careless thief was going to try and steal from Lechedik. To decide whether it works, instead of a Fate check, I decided to use the Detail table: Disfavors NPC (6). This clearly shows that the NPC is not going to succeed, and that the NPC will have some negative consequence. Being that Lechedik is religious, I don’t think he would intentionally harm a member of the public, so it makes sense to be instinctual and that he would immediately seek help.

Session 1 Wrap-Up

So after some final set up, Lechedik finally gets on his way. I’ve decided on a light format to track threads and characters in a hybrid between Mythic GME and Ironsworn way. For the threads I’ve included 10 boxes to mark progress, ⬕ show’s in progress, ◼ show’s part of the thread is complete. I’ve marked the first box of Travel to Lostfall as complete, as we’ve made the big decision to follow the roads.

Threads

1. Destroy the Mithral Dagger
   ⬕◻◻◻◻◻◻◻◻◻

2. Travel to Lostfall to track those that have taken the dagger.
   ◼◻◻◻◻◻◻◻◻◻

Characters

1. High Priest Maturon

2. Highstone’s Careless Criminal