The Soul snatcher

 The Soul Snatcher was the first solo module I downloaded to try solo. 

I created an Elven Druid for the game (trying to get over my dislike of Elves, I don't know what it is, but I can't normally like them). I've added it to D&D Beyond, but I've also copied it into a notebook so I have a visual reference to use. This is how I see Braak

Braak the Unlikely Hero of our Tale.

Now there are a few things different to standard group play that need to be remembered

1. As a bonus action on your turn, you may drink a potion from your inventory.
2. If your character falls to 0 hit points, you may immediately spend one hit die to regain hit points. If you do not have any available, your character proceeds to rolling death saves as normal. Remember, you are the only adversary to the monsters in this module. If you are knocked unconscious, they will continue to attack you until you are dead.

I'm also using the Solo Adventurers Toolbox to help with Npc's (so that it's not just the characters are there at the clutch moment to save the day) and as an Oracle.

The introduction is as follows

You are a traveller from a distant land, and your destination is the capital city of Kelon, in the Kingdom of Kilan. At the onset of this adventure, you have been travelling for days through the Gelden Expanse, a massive forest that serves as the western border between Kilan and the Kingdom of Gierrland. You are scheduled to stop at the village of Westmarch before continuing to the metropolis on the Cyther River. While you may not know much about the country, the others in your band of travellers regard the citizens as generally kind and welcoming of foreigners. Only you know why you set out for the capital city. Perhaps you are in search of a mysterious item or seeking a relative. You may even belong to one of the city’s powerful factions. Whatever the reason, you’ve taken leave from your homeland and set off toward an uncertain future. This adventure will give your character their first taste of danger, heroism, and hopefully a sense of purpose. They will face creatures they’ve never seen and help the villagers accomplish tasks that put their lives at risk. Will they prevail against the evil of Westmarch, or will they perish in their pursuits?

So the i have written it out as a journal-style story

30th Elasis

It's been 12 days now, I have been walking through the Gelden expanse, which started off as a solitary walk, has ended up as a bit of a route march/ Convoy with more people joining us as the days go by. There are 31 people at my last count, though I am here for my own reasons, I feel slightly responsible for them; they all seem simple people looking for work elsewhere in the realm.

Seven guards, all human, have joined the ranks, which has helped as we take watches coordinating the protection of the innocents, and by doing this, I have learnt their names

Jaden: seems to be the default leader of this group.

Melcan and Chun Naoy: jokers, though seem dedicated and good soldiers.

Vocho: quiet and reserved, I'm not too sure about him

Waw Hao: Eager to prove himself, as most of his race are.

Kinrak Zangedi:  he has to be the tallest human I have ever met

Odvier Strongstone: speaks with an accent different to the others. I have been told he is from further away than most.

There is also a travelling merchant in the group by the name of Rupert Avery, and we have become somewhat friends as the days have gone by. I traded some torches and a tinderbox with him for some rations (Humans struggle in the dark, so this will help with this)

1st Eleint

As we approached the village of Westmarch, spirits were high and merry, the thoughts of beds instead of bedrolls and a mug of unwatered-down ale with roasted meats on most minds that morning. When we were attacked by some undead-looking creatures, I recall hearing tales that there are creatures cursed to roam the world, their souls having left their bodies but not moved on to the Everlasting Plain.

Husks are the remains of the body stuck on the material plane.

Kinrak and  Odvier managed to get the people of the group away before we could muster a defence. The combat was a harsh engagement and has left a mark on most of us, but we overcame the challenge.

12 died. 12 too many. Rupert was among the fallen, his plans to make his fortune now but a memory. Vocho was struck down, as was Chun. The howls of grief that came from Melcan are something I will never be able to unhear, pure unbridled anguish. We carefully gather up the dead onto Rupert's wagon.

When I am approached by a Halfling who suggests that when we make it to town, I should look for Brümhilde, the Apothecary of the village (Brümhildes Tinctures and Tonics), as she may have knowledge of what is going on with these husks and could help.

Upon arriving in the village, I head for the temple that has been set up here to see about a prayer or a service for the recently departed from the ambush on the road. Melcan has not left his brother's side. I pity him and offer to speak with the priest to see if he can ease his suffering.

As I approach the temple from above, I hear a screech of a thumper hawk above me in a dive bomb heading straight towards me 

I cannot ascertain why it may be attacking me, except that it is being very territorial. I sensed it just in time and got out of the way. I tried to hit out at it, but it managed to dodge mid-flight. It veered round and came again and hit me hard on the shoulder as it tried to fly away. I swung at it again, the quarterstaff, connecting with it and felling it. holding my shoulder, rubbing the area of impact, I head into the temple inside, and I see a priest kneeling before a shrine in prayer.

As I walk up the aisle towards him, he turns and says,s "In this time of darkness, someone new arrives in the west march. I'm short of time. Tell me what it is you want, my child"

I relay the situation, explaining about the dead that we have brought into the villageand his expression seems to change slightly.

"This is ill tidings indeed, and this befell you on the road, you say?"

I nod in response.

"There is little I can do but can try to give them their last rites"

Under his breath, he adds  

"Though what good it'll do basedon everything that has happened to us" 

There is a weight on his shoulders that much is obvious to me.

A small ceremony is held, and those guards who came in with me dig a communal grave for the fallen and carefully lower them in with sombre faces. There are a few tears from the travelling companions, but after this is all done, a few people linger, but everyone else heads off to their own business.

I sit in the church, tending to the wounds I have sustained through the day, the priest comes up to me and sits next to me, 

"The name is Jethro" 

"Braak"

"Well met, Braak, I'll level with you. I need a favour, the priest that was here before me has passed on, and I'm to be promoted to take his place. I need to grab a few things from where I was living and bring them here to prepare for the ceremony. If you could stand here and watch over the temple while you are in the west march, I will heal all your ills if I can"

I agree whole heartedly i want to gain his trust to be able to find out what it is that is weighing him down so much, to aid his recovery, so he can better aid those under his guardianship. He thanks me and leaves the temple. About five minutes after Jethro leaves the temple, I hear a voice in my head. After a quick look around, I work out that the painting of Opus is talking to me. “Traveller,” it continues. “From afar, a stranger to our lands and customs", he's right, but I have heard the legend of the Black Brigade (three centuries ago. The Black Brigade led the charge against the Titan of Evanlast, the million-armed beast that rose from the sea during the War of the Brothers. Beyond that, their story is legend, with many differing accounts explaining how the Titan was defeated).

"Approach and hear my riddle", it continues, 

"And I will grant you a blessing in my name.” 

I approach, and feel a warm sensation. Opus speaks in a booming voice, though it is entirely in my head. Still, I'm not too sure.

“The more you take… the more you leave behind. What is it?”

"footsteps", I murmur 

He says an incantation in a language I cannot understand, but I am suffused with positive energy, feeling the warmth course through my veins.

The door flies open, and Jethro runs in calling for help. Behind him are four husks. I grab up my quarterstaff and cast Shillelagh, imbuing it with nature's wrath. I help him take them out 2 to 1, but he gives just as good an account of himself as I do, and we make short work of them. I take a raking blow again to the shoulder (it's stiff as I haven't been able to rest it yet). But Jethro is as good as his word and heals the injury with the aid of his deity. He holds out a coin purse and 

"Here, take this. You may have more use for it than I will. Rest the night here and in the morning, prepare yourself for what's ahead of you. There is a spare cot in the other room you can use".

I walk through and gingerly lie on the sleeping pallet to try and get some rest.