Monday, October 28, 2013

RotSM, part 1

Return of the Shattered Mail

Tomb of the Naive King


…beauty, weather, leading to gold? …happy, innocence?

As mentioned in my previous post, we will go with the motivation, “follow the map leading to the naive king’s tomb, where the golden death mask is said to lie” that will also be the adventure’s title.

Whenever I come up with a blank, it's time to roll a Cube. That could be a new scene, or just a new threat or element to appear within a scene. The “Die of Fate” (“DoF”) will give a context for the Story Cube. Subsequent sessions will build out the plot from cues given by past events. I rolled a few Cubes and came up with the campaign title, “Return of the Shattered Mail”, but I have no idea what that means.

Mitra cantered to a stop…


…as she entered the forested dell. Majestic mountains arose about her, capped by snow, jagged peaks lost on cloud. She removed the dogeared map from her bosom and confirmed. Here, of old, lay the crypt of the last of a dynasty of men that ruled a small empire long before the coming of the Dalesmen settlers from the Vast and the Vilhon Reach. It was here that the former mercenary hoped to find the death mask of the naive king that suffered an untimely death. It was said that the mask was gilt of pure gold and crusted with gems. Won in a wager in Daggerdale at cards, Mitra would discover if the map was real.

DoF: 4


…a light in the distance? …the way is illuminated?

Reading the map, the first clue in Dethek runes began to make sense. When molten gold falls between the hammer and the anvil, the way to the threshold of the king’s rest shall be paved by light.

Now, she saw that the setting sun sank between two peaks — one was calledDorithon, the Hammer of the Earth, and the other was called Relacthin, a flat peak opposite it, or the Blacksmith’s Platform. In the narrow wedge between the two, the sun sank, passing a shaft of light between as could only happen at the autumn equinox. Luck again struck the former Black Dragon, as it was now two days to Highharvestide. Still, it was close enough that the golden ray shone in the direction of a wood that covered the side of the valley wall opposite the mountains.

Mitra clicked and set her black charger on a forward course, marking well the direction.

By the time she reached the forest…


…the sun had sank. Before her was a thick primeval forest that exuded eerie silence, mystery, and even a sense of malice.

DoF: 5

She dismounted Umbril, her black steed, tethering his reins to a nearby sapling. She then drew forth her sword. Under the overgrowth of moss-covered trees, she saw two old statues flanking an overgrown flagstone pathway. The statues were in the form of mailed knights, though their features were all but worn away. She had found the king’s threshold! Slowly, she continued forward, with eyes alert and senses wary.

The way continued more or less straight forward, gently winding between great boles of trees. Ahead, Mitra made out a mound overgrown by foliage and shrubbery. Slowly, she inched forward, ever cautious of her surroundings.

Suddenly…


DoF: 1

What’s this? Glasses? Something smudgy? Hard to see? A displacer beast!

Displacer Beast


Descriptors: Tentacled, Savage Magical Predator, I’m Not Where You Think I Am! Fearsome, Claws
Conditions: ☐Angry, ☐Trapped, ☐Injured, ☐Dying, ☐Slowed

…from out of nowhere, a dark beast leapt out. Umbril nickered nervously and pulled against his reins. A flurry of movement bewildered the warrioress. She saw the massive frame of a great cat bearing its fangs. However, this strange creature had black tentacles sprouting from its shoulders. The thing struck out with these.

Does Mitra defend herself? No, and…
☑Scared

She cried in surprise as flailing appendages lashed out. Mitra was scarcely able to bring up her blade to ward these off. The terrible thing’s yowl was terrifying, and the swordswoman’s courage failed her and she gave up ground. She wanted to turn and run, but doing so would mean certain death.

Does she find a more defensible position? No…

She leapt aside and tried to put a great tree between her and her predator — however, the beast was too fast. She cried out again, and leveled her blade against the thing. She had no choice but to put on an offensive assault.

Does she strike the thing? No, but… (1 FU spent to change from “No, and…” with a re-roll)

She swung against air with a slice that should have skewered the thing from shoulder to breast. However, steel split naught but empty air. The powerful blow overbalanced her, and she tumbled head over heels down a ferny embankment and through overgrowth and bramble. Although she had fallen, she was unhurt and had put some distance between her and the monster. She quickly got to her feet and scanned for a defensible position. She spied a mound flanked on two sides by trees that would serve such a purpose.

Does she gain a tactical positioning?Yes, and…

With four large strides, she mounted the turf and spun into a defensive posture. Having an advantage, her fear fled, replaced by hardened experience. From above, evil yellow eyes regarded her hungrily. Another terrifying yowl heralded the monster’s approach. With a great leap, the thing bounded down, tentacles writhing.

Does she strike the thing? Yes…
☑Injured

Mitra ducked out of harm’s way as one tentacled arm thrashed. She saw the thing crouched before her, but the yowl it made came from the left. She remembered about such mythical creatures that could throw their own image beyond their actual presence through innately magical means. She let her ears guide her and she struck true. The beast roared furiously.

Does it run off? DoF: 3

Does she finish it off? Yes, and, AND…
☑Dying

The creature launched itself through the air with a mighty leap ready to take down its prey. Again, Mitra had to gauge the actual trajectory of the thing, knowing that some property of the beast’s shiny coat or other magical nature caused it to always appear in a different place than reality. She lowered herself to a crouch and braced her blade as the thing impaled itself. She twisted out of the way as the creature fell, clear of harm and also pulled her blade free. Heaving great gulps of air, she stared with horror and relief at the horrible monster that nearly caused her demise. She gave it one last look, cleaned her blade, and resumed her quest.

Returning to the path…


DoF: 6

…Mitra approached the mound. Evidence of stone works lay under thick foliage. Thanks to Tymora, it looked as though it was undisturbed for ages. Poking around carefully, Mitra found the telltale signs of an archway filled in by erosion, forest growth, and time.

She went back to Umbril and soothed her horse. Getting out her tools from her pack as well as a lantern, she got to work.

Does she open the tomb easily? Yes, and…

It was not long before her shovel hit more masonry, and much of the mortar had given way under her light touch, breaking the seal. Immediately, old still air rushed out, blowing ancient dust and decay into her face. Quickly, she opened the entrance further, revealing a dark antechamber with a stairway descending from its center.

She descended…


The obvious interpretation? Maybe. What else could it be? A burrowing monster? Something with a shell? Umber hulk? Too “on the nose”. Going to go with a scientific explanation of a ‘sheathed wing’ or blade trap.

…arriving at a landing some hundred feet below. Mitra held her light aloft. A passage led forward which opened to a larger room. Statues of knights in the service of the forgotten king flanked the passage. The warrioress stared at these in wonder as she stepped forward. The room opened to a square chamber with two rows of supports. At the end was an elevated slab upon which rested a sarcophagus.

With eagerness tempered by practiced caution, Mitra stepped slowly forward. The light cast shadows in the form of flitting phantoms that darted behind pillars. At last, she stepped up to the tomb of the king.

Old Trap
Descriptors: Concealed, Fast Bladed Weapon, Old Mechanism

Does she avoid the trap? Yes, but… (2 FU spent to re-roll)

As she drew closer, she could make out the relief carven upon the sarcophagus slab in the likeness of a young man with smiling face and closed eyes. Suddenly, a metallic shriek ripped through the stillness as a hidden blade lashed out from the stones around the tomb. Crying out, Mitra fell back, avoiding a grievous maiming wound. However, she dropped her lantern, which shattered and doused out, plunging her in darkness. She cursed, but got up and dusted herself off.

She tried again, this time crawling on hands and knees, searching for the trigger mechanism. She found the pressure plates and so avoided them. Getting to her feet, she pushed on the slab, which was immensely heavy.

Sarcophagus
Descriptors: Heavy Slab

Does she remove it? No, but…

With all her might, she pushed, bracing her feet against a stair. It was too heavy, but a grating scrape let her know that it was possible with a little ingenuity.

Returning to her steed, she fetched many lengths of rope and lit torches. She tied one end to Umbril’s harness, and the rest she fed into the stairway. Rigging the rope around the slab below as best she could, she whistled to her courser. The sound was loud enough to wake the dead many miles further than the tomb. Nonetheless, Umbril pulled.

With his help, does she succeed? Yes, but…

The grating sound of stone against stone rumbled in the chamber. The slab moved, but broke in half, some of it falling into the tomb. Dust and the old smell of leather filled the room, choking her lungs. Coughing, she awaited until it cleared. When it did, she saw that she would have to wriggle under the ruin directly atop the corpse to pry out any valuables.

And this is how I’ve become a lowly tomb robber, she thought. 

Nonetheless, it was her job, and she could get little dirtier than she already was.

Wriggling inside the sarcophagus…


DoF: 2

What does this mean? Sounds like the job of a Cube!

A tree? Growing things? Fungus? Something old and gnarled? I’m going with undead…



Revenant
Descriptors: Vastly Strong, Dead, Tough, Grasping
☐Slowed, ☐Maimed, ☐Out of Action


…Mitra continued to choke on dust and the tatters of decayed and desiccated things that disintegrated under her touch. She shrank in disgust from the feel of old bones. She crawled closer to the corpse’s face to find the bejeweled object she sought. It was close. It was black. It reeked of death.


Suddenly, something immensely strong grasped her arm! The thing was not fully dead. She screamed and kicked, yet its unholy grasp was relentless. Her torch dropped from her hand and guttered out. Dry bones held her thin wrist in a crushing grip.

Does she get out? No, and…
☑Trapped

She struggled, but failed to break free of the crushing grasp; and as she struggled, the thing’s other arm slowly reached up and opened, taking her neck in its cold and dry embrace. She fought furiously as pressure began to crush her windpipe. The cold realization that death was close washed over her; but still she fought with every fiber of her being.

With desperation, she hoped that the rope was still attached to some part of the sarcophagus or the broken slab still partially covering the morbid container. She whistled with her last bit of wind.

Does Umbril break more of the sarcophagus? Yes…

She heard the strain of hemp and the remaining shard of covering came off. All she had to do was break its grip. She now had more room to maneuver.

Does she break free now? No, and… (Spent 1 FU improving the roll and 1 to re-roll, but no dice!)
☑Dying

The thing was too strong and willful, even in death. Though she staggered to her knees, the grip was ever at her throat. Her breath came in painful wheezing gasps and her perception wheeled nauseatingly. She now saw the bony apparition, something glinting in the dim light that fell away to reveal hollow sockets. She was dying; but the embers within still glowed red with defiance. She had survived great battles and terrible betrayal, hunting a man across seven realms, and had survived a deadly winter. She could not give up!

Does she cut off the things arm? Yes…
☑Maimed, ☐Trapped

With one final effort, she swung her blade awkwardly while in the narrow embrace of the dead king. Bone shattered, and she was freed from the deadly grip. She spilled over the lip of the stone coffin and gasped choking gulps of air. The one-armed thing rose from its resting place fueled by unquenchable wrath.

Somehow, she pushed away, finding a column at her back. She managed to gain her feet as the shadowy shape of the fell king swept forward in its tattered shroud. Its eye sockets gleamed with an unholy hatred.

Does she vanquish the thing? Yes…

On shaky legs and nearly blind in the dark, Mitra kept herself propped up with the help of stone to her back. When the hissing thing came within reach and she could feel its undead presence, she sent her blade arcing through the air, crushing bone and severing the skeletal king in two parts. Bones clattered, and it’s force of existence suddenly fled in defeat, leaving naught but old bones.

Slumping down in terror and exhaustion, the warrioress gulped in more air. She sought about the stone floor next for the object. She first found the wet evidence of spilt oil and cut her hand on broken glass from the lantern. Then she came across a heavy mask, presumably of gold. It was studded with precisely cut jewels and stones.

The death mask of the naive king!

With her prize claimed, she fled the tomb and did not look back.

...Up Next: NPC Cut Scene


The next chapter will be about building some NPCs and plot. I will roll nine Cubes and pick to taste to accomplish this free story-telling segment. This will help build a reason for Mitra to raid the king’s tomb, building some intrigue.

4 comments:

  1. Hey roryb,
    great play report. I have also downloaded FU and while I think the idea is pretty need I couldn't really imagine how to actually use it running combats. Thanks to your examples I have a clearer idea now. And also thanks for the sout out :-)

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  2. Thanks, Carsten! I know FU is pretty vague. I have to say that's the way I like it! The dialing in and out can really represent difficult conflicts versus mooks. Mooks can also be represented as a single NPC block for simplicity, speed, and to make PCs look heroic. It is very hand-wavey.

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  3. Hi Rory, can you explain how "Die of Fate" works?

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    1. Hi Dennis! I've copied this directly from the rules of "World of Dungeons" from which I've taken it:

      "Sometimes the GM will roll the die of fate to see how the situation is established. Low numbers are ill-fortune, high numbers are good fortune (or at least not misery). The die of fate might be rolled to establish the weather, indicate a random NPC’s general attitude, or to determine if a wandering monster appears."

      World of Dungeons is a great little game based off of the popular Dungeon World.

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