Embedded Files
Campsite between the shore and the jungle, the Isle of Serpents, exterior, moments later...
Campsite between the shore and the jungle, the Isle of Serpents, exterior, moments later...
Where the cliff gives way and allows passage inland, a sturdy campsite has been erected, despite the armor and digging equipment lying scattered across the sand.
A scholarly elf and a rugged orc rush to help the water-logged survivors as they hobble themselves toward the site. Presto helps the stout pirate-y human woman keep pace, while Eric and Lorne trudge along with Ginga.
A stately mage exits from a tent with a giant spellbook to check on this interruption.
STATELY MAGE
(seeing the piratey-woman helped by Presto, acknowledging her)
STATELY MAGE
(seeing the piratey-woman helped by Presto, acknowledging her)
Laysa. I thought you were heading a supply run.
LAYSA
(sarcastially, as Presto leads her to a fire ring)
LAYSA
(sarcastially, as Presto leads her to a fire ring)
Sorry, Xavere. The *kraken* seemed to have other plans.
(waving the elf and the orc, but wincing)
Talo! Vogren! Get the others into a tent for triage. I'll get the fire started.
PRESTO
(doffing his hat)
PRESTO
(doffing his hat)
Oh! I can help with that!
"Hocus SPARK-us!"
The mouth of the hat animates into a cartoon-ish but actual mouth, puckering and spitting a spark of flame that lands on the wood, and BAMF! Tthere's a campfire. The hat-mouth sputters and returns to normal.
LAYSA
LAYSA
Ah, a mage with some flair! Come, Xavere. Perhaps this young pup can teach an old dog like *you* a thing a two!
XAVERE
(moving reluctantly to join the fire circle)
XAVERE
(moving reluctantly to join the fire circle)
Harumph.
GINGA
(sitting next to Presto at the circle)
GINGA
(sitting next to Presto at the circle)
**Bark!**
I'm a young pup!
Eric and Lorne remain stading near the edge. Awkwardly, they avoid looking directly at each other.
ERIC
ERIC
So.
LORNE
LORNE
So, what.
ERIC
ERIC
Rubber butt.
They laugh at the absurdity, breaking some tension.
LORNE
LORNE
So, apparently, your team needed more competence AND beauty. And, naturally, Martha said you needed me.
ERIC
ERIC
Wait, what? Who said what? Martha? What do you mean? She-- sheesh. What.
LORNE
LORNE
No, I get it. Travel the worlds, grab a bunch of magical thingees, stop the big bad multiversal deity-wizard doing a big spell... yadda yadda yah...
ERIC
ERIC
We are doing FINE. We got, like, nearly ALL the pieces of the magical rod-thing already. We don't need YOUR ugly face getting in the way.
LORNE
LORNE
And didn't you, like, DIE, trying to get one of 'em?
ERIC
ERIC
I *nearly* died. It's a big difference.
LORNE
LORNE
Like that time we all got shrunk by the Puppet Witch, and you fell into a pie?
(laughs)
ERIC
ERIC
Yeah. Thankfully your big mouth was able to eat through the crust!
(laughs)
LORNE
LORNE
We were stained blue for days!
The laughter grows stronger between them, until they realize it has, and they straighten up immediately.
PRESTO
(waving at the two from the fire circle)
PRESTO
(waving at the two from the fire circle)
Hey, you guys! Get over here! Laysa and Xavere have a map!
Eric and Lorne move to join Presto and the explorers. The boys take opposite sides, their attention splitting from each other.
LAYSA
LAYSA
Aye, look here. A map... of the Tomb of Wayward Souls!
ERIC
(matter-of-factly)
ERIC
(matter-of-factly)
Yeah. Creepy. Fine.
LAYSA
(continuing)
LAYSA
(continuing)
Or, at least as much as we've been able to recover. We are on an archaeological expedition, to plumb the depths of the Tomb and reclaim the treasures therein, stolen from my ancestors by an evil arch-lich.
XAVERE
(staring at the fire, whispering involuntarily)
XAVERE
(staring at the fire, whispering involuntarily)
Acererak...
LAYSA
LAYSA
Acererak demolished settlements across the islands, stealing treasures and killing indiscriminately in his search for powerful artefacts. He then hid them in labryinth-like tombs and warded them with deadly monsters and puzzles.
XAVERE
XAVERE
Such power...
Eric and Presto glance at one another.
GM says:
GM says:
Presto and Eric, make a INSTINCT roll to parse this conversation. I'll grant advantage as you have a Vecna-sense about secrets. This is a Normal (15) Difficulty.
Presto's INSTINCT (+2), rolls a ⬙(1) ⬙(11) + d6 (1) +2 = 15, Success with Fear
GM Fear total = 5
Eric's INSTINCT (-1)., rolls a ⬙(11) ⬙(8) + d6 (5) + -1 = 22, Success with Hope !
ERIC
(cluing in, to Xavere)
ERIC
(cluing in, to Xavere)
Hang on. What's this guy to you? This Asher-rasher?
XAVERE
XAVERE
Wha- what? Acereak? Why, he was once a great sorcerer! Any items of power left behind are worthy of study.
LORNE
(picking up on Eric's lead)
LORNE
(picking up on Eric's lead)
Ah-ah-ah! Tell the truth!
Lorne RECALLS Tell No Lies ability = 1 Stress and swap out Endless Charisma
SPELLCAST (+3), rolls a ⬙(2) ⬙(3) + 3 = 8, Failure with Fear
GM Fear total = 6
XAVERE
(standing up immediately)
XAVERE
(standing up immediately)
Beware, boy! Information is a kind of power. And does not come cheaply! If you want truth, then I want a few minutes to study that.
(pointing to Lorne's 12th Talisman amulet)
GM says:
GM says:
I spend one Fear to make Lorne mark a Stress.
GM Fear total = 5
LORNE
(instinctively clutching it)
LORNE
(instinctively clutching it)
Oh! Uh, I don't know...
(looks to Eric, who shrugs, similarly stymied)
LAYSA
(taken aback)
LAYSA
(taken aback)
Xavere...!
PRESTO
(standing to match Xavere)
PRESTO
(standing to match Xavere)
It's okay, Lorne. If this guy's got something to say, let him say it. And if he's got to examine the talisman, he's not doing it alone. I'll stand by every second.
LORNE
(reluctantly)
LORNE
(reluctantly)
I guess, if it will help...?
Lorne hands the mage the purple amulet, and it glints in the afternoon fire light. Xavere regards it reverently.
XAVERE
(while examining the amulet)
XAVERE
(while examining the amulet)
Yes! Acererak would have relished items such as these. He was truly a wizard with a great power over necromancy. I admits I once admired the archlich and even considered following in his footsteps. I soon realized, of course, the great evil involved, and I eschewed from his grim path.
LAYSA
(disappointed)
LAYSA
(disappointed)
Xavere, I never knew.
XAVERE
(while examining the amulet)
XAVERE
(while examining the amulet)
I am sure you will find the item that you seek. Just as I am sure you will find secret traps, hidden walls, and powerful illusions of many kinds. Perhaps even... death.
LORNE
LORNE
Yeah. Great. "Welcome to the party."
GM says:
GM says:
Make a DOWNTIME MOVE. We'll take care of the downtime by fast forwarding in-between the scenes due to the solo play format.
ERIC
TEND TO WOUNDS 🎲(D4) 4 + tier 3 = 7 HP recovered
ERIC
TEND TO WOUNDS 🎲(D4) 4 + tier 3 = 7 HP recovered
REPAIR ARMOR 🎲(D4) 4 + tier 3 = 7 armor slots recovered
REPAIR ARMOR 🎲(D4) 4 + tier 3 = 7 armor slots recovered
PRESTO
TEND TO WOUNDS 🎲(D4) 3 + tier 3 = 6 HP recovered
PRESTO
TEND TO WOUNDS 🎲(D4) 3 + tier 3 = 6 HP recovered
PREPARE (review map and experience from Laysa and Xavere) = +1 Hope
PREPARE (review map and experience from Laysa and Xavere) = +1 Hope
LORNE
TEND TO WOUNDS 🎲(D4) 4 + tier 3 = 7 HP recovered
LORNE
TEND TO WOUNDS 🎲(D4) 4 + tier 3 = 7 HP recovered
CLEAR STRESS 🎲(D4) 1 + tier 3 = 4 Stress recovered
CLEAR STRESS 🎲(D4) 1 + tier 3 = 4 Stress recovered
continued in 9.4 Tomb Entrance . . .
GM FOOTNOTES:
OK, that was an interesting twist. The rolls of success/failure and with hope/fear does indeed help to guide the narrative here. That's especially fun in a solo game, where even I don't know exactly how things might play out. Daggerheart in many ways doesn't lend itself to a solo play, except perhaps in this particular way.
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