Dante's Highway: A Turmoil of Trolls Short Story Adventure (Part 1)

This is a Turmoil of Trolls Short Story Adventure. Turmoil of Trolls is a build your own TTRPG and Video Game involving cards, dice and digital tools. We encourage players to build and design their own assets and add in their own rules. The cards of this adventure are a mix of official cards and hastily created pixel art for player made cards.

To view your hand from the official list, check here: https://www.misfitadventure.com/my-hand

Membership is free to view and use cards already approved for the campaign.

Want to design your own Cards and start playing? Our Game Pass is available to make as many cards as you want at: https://www.misfitadventure.com/card-maker

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The Countess and the Courier

The Countess Rockhide paced back and forth. "Ugh where are they?!" She said aloud. She had hired help with an alleged inside scoop on the new deposit. A rare ore that had yet to hit the market. Dwarves were always looking for the next big thing. Once the standard gemstones had been exhausted, the various cities were always looking to get the surface kingdoms hooked on the next great thing. Rockhide's family had gone through three successful currency schemes to gain their fortunes. Her father had famously introduced Moon Rocks, earning her the current title she was clinging on to. The life of a Dwarf Noble was more about showing off rather than gaining revenue and as often happens, the Rockhide coffers were thinning of actual Gold. She had even had to resort to ordering her clothes from Tartarus Transportation on thrift. It was her last delivery though that led to her current discovery.

The delivery was late and had to be delivered by a retriever vehicle. The driver was a Troll named Marco. At least that is what his uniform read. Rockhide did not usually take any notice of the help but a seven foot troll was hard to ignore. He wasn't particularly bright and had one of those weird little demon companions in his vehicle. He had packed the clothes with the remains of the original courier. and it looked like the little Demon had been nesting on top of them. She had begun admonishing the two for the idiots they were.

"How dare you treat my possessions in this manner!" The troll seemed surprised. "Sorry yer majesty," he said without any real remorse "we had to get out of there quick. Your package was hit up by some nasty mercs. We had to peel out quick." The demon chittered in agreement. "What mercenaries? What did they look like?" She knew the answer already but needed to hear it. "Well they had the same symbol as yer house," the Troll started. "Your house, you mean your house you simple fool." Of course they had her symbol. It was her ex guards and by extension more than one ex boyfriend. Rockhide hadn't paid them in months and they knew she had to pivot to using Tartarus Transportation. They probably were hoping to extort her or just resell everything. "Sorry, your house," Marco continued, "they ambushed us and tried to get the vehicle. Me friend here," "My friend" she corrected. "It's faster if you just let me finish," the Troll had the audacity to correct her. "My friend blasted them with the cannon and I threw one off a cliff before we got away. We hid for awhile behind some fire stone things before coming out." "Fire stone things?" Curious she had never heard of anything like that. "Yeah they were like red crystals," Marco blurted, "They was like nothing I ever see'd." "See-" Rockhide trailed off. Never seen? She racked her brain thinking of anything matching the description. Nothing like that had ever hit the market that she knew of. Maybe, just maybe her fortunes had turned around. "Did anyone else see you or come by these Fire Stones?" "Nope, it was just us. But there's always monsters about in Tartarus. We left before one came strolling along." She would need muscle and for all his faults the Troll seemed capable. And for something like this, she could even hire another on credit!

"Marco was it," she asked suddenly pleasant, "given the damage you have done to my clothes, I'd hate to file a complaint with your superiors." The troll and demon looked nervous. "How about we come to an agreement? One that I think will benefit us both and maybe afford you out of that contract?"

Now outfitted with the best gear and mount she could afford she awaited Marco and his vehicle and she hoped the others she had told. To get there Marco had to lead them all the way down Dante's Highway. It was high risk but hopefully high reward. Finally she saw his vehicle approaching. But, wait... who were those figures following behind him?

"Oh gods Marco what is going on?" Marco has pulled up in his vehicle with his eyes darting to the rearview. His demon companion chittered nervously manning the cannon mount on the back. Behind them a bigger demon riding a worm was waving a wand pointedly screaming "MARCO COME OVER HERE!!!" Tartarus Transportation is not known for its generous PTO policy and frowns on allowing employees to use company equipment for personal use. Rockhide could not fathom how she thought the Troll worked any proper channels to get this approved. "Okay weapons ready," she said with absolutely no confidence. "I think we can manage him especially with the others." "Err right you are Countess," Marco was less than inspired but needed to believe it. They had not even started their journey and were already past the point of no return. Could this get any worse?

As if on que, A human in power armor emerged and rushed by the Countess. "Sturgis!" This was all the Countess could utter as he dashed past. Rockhide had attempted to hire a human, not trusting other dwarves to not steal it for themselves. Sturgis impressed Rockhide as a former knight of Quiperia and his power armor looked very impressive and formidable. Perfect for the dangers of the highway. But Rockhide didn't have the funds to pay him and she made the decision to try and cut him in, hoping he would take the job for free. He had agreed and everything had gotten a lot brighter for Rockhide. She now was starring dumbfounded as the ex-knight rushed away with a wave and a smirk. Had he called Tartarus Transportation on Marco? He knew the general location but she had stopped Marco from telling him all the details. Well either way you cut it, looks like Sturgis was just another player on the board Rockhide would have to deal with.

The race was on...

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The Game

Track 1

This is the start of our race down Dante's Highway for new treasure. Either your character can be in the adventure or take the roll of Marco or Rockhide. Players have 6 turns before reaching Stone Break Tavern. Mounts require an Athletics Check for movement while vehicles require a Mechanics check.

The rolls for movement are:

1-5: You crash out and take no movement

6-10: Half Length

11-15: Full Length

16+: 1.5 Length

00: 2 Lengths

The player or NPC with the greatest distance at the end of turn 6 is the first in order for the next leg. The character that finishes first can also make decisions at rest stops such as ambushing opponents and setting traps.

Every turn players roll for movement and attacks. Players can mele attack opponents they are even with or have caught up to.

Initiative

Players with Mechanical Vehicles roll a Mechanical Check for initiative

Players with Beast Mounts roll Athletics rolls for initiative

Rolls Determine the order everyone takes off in

Turns

Turns work that the character can either move or attack first. The GM records their progress and which move they take. A vehicle or mount attack count the same as an attack turn. Characters can attack the driver or the mount.

There are 6 turns for round 1.

How the Cards Work

Turmoil of Trolls Card rules apply. The Base Card acts as the Mount and each Mount has 100 HP. Defense Bonuses are determined on the cards.

A standard Mount attack is 15 + 2d10 + Bonus*

*Bonus is for Critical Roles like 16+ to hit or 00

Spells and Equipment are still limited by the 5 card hand rule. All characters are limited to 2. Choose wisely!

Our Cast

The premade characters can be loaded into the My Hand page for members (sign up is free): https://www.misfitadventure.com/my-hand

If you want to take on any of the preloads, lets explore our cast:

Countess Rockhide

The once rich Rockhide family has cornered the market on new ore's. By historical record they have found Gold's replacement 3 times now, making them a very prominent family loaded with... gold. But with riches come complacency and the Countess is desperate to hold onto her title and legacy. This new ore should put her right back on top where she belongs!

Marco

A down on his luck troll (like everyone working for Tartarus Transportation), Marco is a talented salvager recovering parts and packages from otherwise tough situations. Marco is eager to get out of Tartarus Transportation and any new riches is a great deal for him. He feels lucky to have met the Countess, who told him how valuable his find really was.

Sturgis (Enemy)

Sturgis is a traveler the Countess attempted to hire for the expedition. He decided the reward was better alone. Armed with Quiperian power armor he aims to take out the competition and have the treasure all to himself.

Scraps (Enemy)

Marco's manager in Tartarus Transportation. He's been magically checking Marco's location and wondering why he hasn't reported in for his shift. Marco also has company property in the form of his vehicle and Scraps would prefer to have that back. Scraps doesn't know about the treasure but is hot on Marco's heels.

Start Your Engines, Hooves or Whatever!

Below are two different dice rollers for combat and skill checks. Take your six turns and record the results. The furthest distance at six turns wins!

Skill Check Dice Roller

Attacks and Damage Dice Roller

Record your results and craft your story! Here is what happened for our team and our telling. Also see our playthrough as an example. https://youtu.be/qDfZQl7LxaY

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Aftermath

"Well we made it," Rockhide said exhausted but happy. Marco and his vehicle had taken surprisingly little damage. The demon, Scraps, was no more. Sturgis had attempted to tussle with Rockhide, but Marco intervened and rescued her. "That Sturgis is going to be up ahead," Marco said nervously. "We can deal with him later. He doesn't know the way completely," Rockhide found herself saying with surprising confidence. She had taken down a demon and gone toe to toe with a knight. Maybe she really could do this. There is a rest stop ahead.