Summary of Part 2: Pya and Zaluk travel North, and in the village of Stamullen they meet the dissident druid Macullen. They capture Meaghan, sent from the Stone Circle to assassinate Macullen. He decides to take Meaghan back to the Stone Circle and try to settle his dispute with the other druids. They avoid the town of Culemward, fiercely hostile to all druids, instead, they go through the ruins of Donenashoe. When they reach the Stone Circle, they learn that the Druids occupied Blulach. Pya and Zaluk delve into tunnels below the stone circle, finally finding the moonstone, a magical object that can disrupt the power of the Arch-Druid. Meanwhile, Macullen plans to seek help from the pirate Niamh to free Blulach from the Druids. When she reaches Blulach, Pya discovers the Arch-Druid’s twisted incantations turning Krussians into animal hybrids. She activates the moonstone and asks Zaluk to take it back to the Stone Circle: the irresistible beacon lures the Druids away from Blulach, but Pya manages to capture the Arch-Druid before he leaves the town. When Zaluk is back, the two heroes head North in search of Macullen. They learn that their friend and Niamh were captured by mutineer pirates: they free the captives and they sail towards Blulach on Niamh’s ship. In the meantime, the defenders of the town were joined by people from Dorbog lead by Donnagh. Macullen is unable to revert the Arch-Druid’s magic and take the Blulach notables back to their human form. But Mish, Donnagh’s druid counsellor, knows what to do: he sacrifices the Nameless One and gives his blood to drink to the animal hybrids. They recover their original form, but in the process they are all converted to the druid cult and acclaim Mish as the new Arch-Druid. Donnagh offers Pya to replace Mish as his personal counsellor, but she declines and, after saying farewell to Macullen, sails away from Ruislip.
Summary of Part 1: Pya the cleric and her wolf companion Zaluk set sail to Ruislip, an island torn between ancient druidic practices and the newer Krussian faith. They land in the small village of Kullucan, near the Southern end of the island, and they soon move to the town of Blulach, ruled by the Krussian zealot Glas. Driven by rumors, they explore the Stone Circle where they meet Meaghan and the other Druids led by the mysterious “nameless one”. The druids ask Pya to investigate inquisitor Haf, who recently arrived at the Krussian monastery of St Olham. At the monastery, she faces animosity from Abbot Sean due to her wolf companion. She joins the escort for Haf’s visit to the nearby town of Dorbog, ruled by Donnagh, who tries to mediate between Druids and Krussians. Pya and Zaluk defeat an undead king who was poisoning Dorbog’s water, but this causes a dispute between Haf and Donnagh’s counselor, the druid Mish. Haf holds Pya responsible for the trouble and sends her away.
Illustrated journal of a solo game of an old TSR adventure. Pya the cleric and her wolf Zaluk visit the village of Orlane: with the help of Ramne the hermit, they solve the mystery of the strange behaviour of some of the inhabitants. N1 “Against the Cult of the Reptile God” is a great module, with an initial investigation in the village (including a couple of mini-dungeons), a hex-crawl journey and finally a delve into a 2-level dungeon. I played this using World of Dungeons by John Harper. The whole project was inspired by RPG_Illustrated on reddit.
Illustrated journal for a an old AD&D module. Pya the cleric and her companion the wolf Zaluk visit the village of Hommlet and delve into the dungeon under an abandoned moathouse. I played this using World of Dungeons by John Harper. The whole project was inspired by RPG_Illustrated on reddit.
Pya and Zaluk reach Hommlet and find a room at the innPya recruits Kobort (fighter), Taruko (monk) and Furnok (thief)The party head towards and abandoned moat-house near the village. They are attacked by giant frogsPya leads the way inside the moat-houseKobort and Taruko leave the party. The other three are attacked by brigands They defeat the brigands and Pya heals FurnokThey descend into the dungeon under the moat-house; they are attacked by zombiesThey defeat a large ogreFight against bugbears, then fight against gnollsThe last gnoll surrenders and leads them to the quarters of the big bad boss. The boss has several human guardsFight against the guards. They reach the boss: the evil cleric LarethLareth is defeated and buys his life with a string of precious opals. Furnok uses his ring of invisibility to steal the opals from Pya
A hex-crawing campaign in a fantasy world that I am creating step-by-step, mostly rolling on random tables. Focus is on the South of the main continent.
I am taking notes on a paper notebook and I don’t plan to type extensive reports for this full-analog campaign. The game is based on Ironsworn. I am using In the Heart of the Unknown for hex-crawling; Journey, Maze Rats and Scarlet Heroes to detail encounters and places.
The general idea is inspired by the concept of a West-Marches campaign, but with two competing base-towns: Meridia (West) and Ara (East). When exploring dungeons, I am using Runes and Ruins.
Abbum proceeds Westward in his exploration. He meets apemen who take him to their King Kalut. The king is not interested in the business of humans and Abbum is soon dismissed.
Proceeding through the forest, he reaches the tomb of some ancient apeman notable. His delve into the tomb is a success; he opens a magical portal that takes him back to Ara. He takes with him 40 gold pieces and a magical artefact: a bronze mace.
A new adventurer from the Western city of Meridia replaces the deceased Liberto. Diotena journeys South. She meets a friendly minotaur along the way and later jackalmen.
She finally reaches a tower occupied by a goblin wizard. She explores the dungeon but she is killed by monsters before she can find a magical artefact or at least a way out.
After the Island of Eos and Otanu’s travels in the Western part of the main continent, this is a third campaign in a fantasy world that I am creating step-by-step, mostly by hex-crawling. Focus in on the South of the main continent.
I am taking notes on a paper notebook and I don’t plan to type extensive reports for this full-analog campaign. The game is based on Ironsworn. I am using In the Heart of the Unknown for hex-crawling; Journey, Maze Rats and Scarlet Heroes to detail encounters and places.
The general idea is inspired by the concept of a West-Marches campaign, but with two competing base-towns: Meridia (West) and Ara (East). When exploring dungeons, I am using Runes and Ruins.
Summer ends and we enter Autumn. Before proceeding his exploration of the West part of the Southmarches, Liberto spends some days in Meridia. He examines the Castle, which is now occupied by General Manlius, leader of a thriving army financed by the King of Zantya; for all practical effects, Manlius rules upon the city. Liberto travels East from Meridia. He is attacked by a wolf. He follows a road until he finds a broken bridge; following the river, he finds and crosses a ford. He reaches a circular shrine of the scorpion god Skorias. He delves into it, but in the very first room he is outnumbered and killed by scorpion people.
In the Eastern city of Ara, a new character, Abbum, is ready to start his exploration. He goes Westward. He manages to avoid an aggressive spiked rhino. He then reaches a forested region crossed by the river. Continuing his journey upriver, he discover traces of the Apefolk.
After the Island of Eos and Otanu’s travels in the Western part of the main continent, this is a third campaign in a fantasy world that I am creating step-by-step, mostly by hex-crawling. Focus in on the South of the main continent.
I am taking notes on a paper notebook and I don’t plan to type extensive reports for this full-analog campaign. The game is based on Ironsworn. I am using In the Heart of the Unknown for hex-crawling; Journey, Maze Rats and Scarlet Heroes to detail encounters and places.
The general idea is inspired by the concept of a West-Marches campaign, but with two competing base-towns: Meridia (West) and Ara (East). When exploring dungeons, I am using Runes and Ruins.
Liberto continues his exploration from the North-East (base town: Meridia). He moved South along the coast. Summer ends, but the weather is still fine. He reaches the Drybone Keep, occupied by the Skorpion People. He delves into the building and comes out alive with a third artifact (a silver comb).
After Yana’s death, a new adventurer begins her journey from the North-East: Balima.
As soon as she leaves the town, the weather worsens and she faces a couple of days of severe storms. She also has fights with the bizarre Slug Bison, whose eyes are on the tips of their horns, and later with some hostile nomads. Proceeding Westward, she reaches a settlement of the Skorpion People. They turn out to be allies of the Basilisk King who rules in the East: Balima can sojourn with them and recover from her wounds.
They direct her to an ancient fort built ages ago by Satis, the Tiger king; it is now occupied by goblins. Balima decides to explore the building, but she has to fight several goblins and face a number of traps. She is killed before she can find an exit.
After the Island of Eos and Otanu’s travels in the Western part of the main continent, this is a third campaign in a fantasy world that I am creating step-by-step, mostly by hex-crawling.
I am taking notes on a paper notebook and I don’t plan to type extensive reports for this full-analog campaign. As the previous two “seasons”, the game is based on Ironsworn. I am using In the Heart of the Unknown for hex-crawling; Journey, Maze Rats and Scarlet Heroes to detail encounters and places.
The general idea is inspired by the concept of a West-Marches campaign. When exploring dungeons, I am using Runes and Ruins; actually, I have slightly modified the game to add the creation of a simple dungeon map, to incorporate some Ironsworn stats and to make dungeons less deadly. According to RnR, a dungeon exploration ends when the adventure can collect enough magical power (runes) to open a portal to the Town. Here I have two town and two competing factions who are trying to collect as many artifacts as possible. I will alternate between characters based in Meridia (West) and characters based in Ara (East).
The first Meridia character is Liberto, who survived his first dungeon and collected two artifacts.
The Eastern character Yana was not so lucky and was killed by brigands while exploring Stormhill.
This is the current state of the map, after the two first explorations from the West and from the East.
A continuation of my previous mini-campaign about Heliana the Priestess. I am using Ironsworn and PocketLands 1.1. I also refer to Worlds Without Numbers and Scarlet Heroes for further inspiration. I created a D100 hex-based version of the PocketLands Discovery Table: D100Lands. I also use the ChatGPT language AI as an additional oracle. I often ask the AI to provide 2 or 3 different answers for a question; I only post here the option I chose.
_______
Previous events: Otanu is the son of Avella, queen of the island of Eos. The priestess Heliana has forced Avella to embrace the True Cult; Otanu, a devotee of the war goddess Torgana, refuses to do the same and sails East, vowing to bring the Old Gods back to Eos. Together with three companions, he reaches the city of Lavinia and wo of Otanu’s companions decide to stay there. Otanu and the wizard Arakna leave Lavinia towards the temple of Torgana in the North. They recover the sacred ring of a murdered priestess of the moon-goddess Darna. They find that the forces of Chaos are sacrificing dwarfs to evoke the powerful demon Rals (a threat). At the Great Temple, Torgana bids Otanu to stop Rals: in order to do so, he must return the ring of the moon-priestess to the dwarfs who forged it in the Silver Mountains. Otanu and Arakna head North towards the Silver Mountains, where they are joined by the dwarf warrior Karit. At the foundry, the dwarf Glain refuses to help and directs them instead to the temple of Darna in Moonset. Along the way,, they learn that Kraskon, the legendary basilisk king from the far East, is getting ready to attack the followers of the Old Gods. They reach the coastal city of Moonset and deliver the ring to the great priestess Nata at the temple of Darna. Nata informs them that Kraskon’s ships are approaching to raid Moonset; Otanu swears to help defend the city. They are sent in search of Disur, one of Nata’s incognito informers who has recently disappeared. They find him and come back with him to the temple. The raiders attack with four ships and the defenders win the following fight. In the ships, they find sky-iron that can be used to forge a powerful sword to fight demons; the sword will be given to Nikos, a young orphan blessed by Torgana. Otanu, Arakna and Nikos travel back East to the Great Temple. Along the way, they meet the druid Apuleios and help him clear the area from the orc-priests who had installed in a tower. At the temple, the priestess Lelia sends them in search of a shrine further East, in the Barren Dusts; they find the place and forge Nikos’s sword.
Other characters and deities:
Avella (Bond) :queen of the island of Eos, Otanu’s mother. Heliana: a priestess of the True Cult who forced Avella to return to the Cult; opponent of Otanu. Deshin the Dwarf and Willa the Warrior (Bonds): left Eos with Otanu and stopped in Lavinia. Duke Darvus of Lavinia (Bond): a pragmatic ruler who faces a conflict between his human subjects and dwarves he hired. Darvus Junior: Duke Darvus’ son, taken prisoner by rebels and rescued by Otanu. Tukun the wizard: a rebel vassal of Darvus captured by Otanu. Dotan: a dwarf who was captured by the orc minions of a giant and is rescued by Otanu. Luara: a Chaos sorceress involved in the attempt to evoke Rals. Karit (Bond): a dwarven warrior fighting orcs near Silberheim. Glain: a dwarven silversmith at Silberheim. Esto: a hermit loyal to the Old Gods. Kraskon: legendary basilisk king from the far East. Nata: priestess at the temple of Darna in Moonset. Disur: one of Nata’s incognito agents. Selina: warrior worshipper of Ikton from Moonset. Nikos: a young fighter loyal to Nata. Apuleios: a druid who worships Etaura. Tio: the corrupted high priest at the Great Temple of Torgana. Tullia: a young sorceress captured by Otanu. Lelia: priestess at the Great Temple of Torgana, rival of Tio. Etaura: earth goddess. Darna: moon goddess. Torgana: war goddess worshipped by Otanu. Thaurion: god of change. Ikton: sea god. Rals: a powerful demon that the minions of Chaos are trying to evoke by sacrificing dwarfs.
Main character: Otanu, prince of the island of Eos, son of queen Avella
Edge:1; Heart:2; Iron:3; Shadow:1; Wits:2.
Assets:
Companion : “Kindred” (Arakna the Wizard) – Your friend stands by you. Skilled: When you make a move outside of combat (not a progress move) aided by your companion’s expertise, add +1.
Path: “Herbalist” – When you attempt to Heal using herbal remedies, and you have at least +1 supply, you may choose one (decide before rolling). * Add +2. * On a hit, take or give an additional +1 health.
Combat Talent “Thunder-Bringer” – If you wield a mighty hammer… When you Face Danger, Secure an Advantage, or Compel by hitting or breaking an inanimate object, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit.
Background Vow (Extreme): raise an army to conquer the Island of Eos and bring back the Old Gods (Progress: 2).
Formidable Vow: stop the sacrifices of dwarfs and prevent the evocation of the demon Rals (Progress:8). Threat: Rals appears in this plane of existence (Menace: 7).
Dangerous Vow: Offer 1000 gold pieces to the Great Temple of Torgana to get guidance from the Goddess (Fulfilled).
Dangerous Vow: Protect Moonset from Kraskon’s raiders. (Fulfilled)
Dangerous Vow: forge Nikos’s sword. (Fulfilled)
_______
ME: There is something more they must do to stop the evocation of Rals. Suggest three brief options using the words “reveal” and “fear”.
ChatGPT: Otanu must reveal the true identity of the minion of Chaos who is leading the ritual to evoke Rals, causing fear and distrust among his followers and leading to the collapse of the ritual.
When they are back at the Great Temple, Lelia informs them that Tullia and Tio have disappeared. Lelia is afraid that Tio is playing a major role in the evocation of Rals. Below the temple there is a huge underground labyrinth that some believe to reach into the underworld. Lelia supects that Tio and Tullia might have descended into those depths and asks Otanu and Arakna to investigate. Arakna’s wounds are hastily cured (back to 4) and they are re-supplied (5). Nikos is more seriously wounded and Lelia does not allow him to go with Otanu and Arakna.
Formidable Delve into a Haunted Underkeep.
1. Delve. Challenge:5,9. Action:3+2Wits. MISS. A carved passage descends underground. It bifurcates several times and finding the right direction takes time. -1 Momentum=6.
2. Delve. Challenge:7,8. Action:2+2Wits. MISS. Theme Danger: the environment is used against you. More tortuous passages. Horrible faces are carved in the stone walls and they find them unnaturally disturbing. -1 momentum=5.
3. Delve. Challenge:1,3. Action:1+2Wits.WEAK HIT. Progress (1) + Danger. The passages are now filled by a thick fog that makes progress difficult, but now there seem to be a single downward tunnel that they can follow.
4. Delve. Challenge:1,8. Action:2+2Wits.WEAK HIT. Progress (2) + Opportunity. An aspect of the history or nature of this place is revealed. Is it about Torgana [50/50] NO. Feature: foundry or workshop.
ME: they reach a foundry or workshop related with the god Stelios, a divinity even more ancient than Torgana. What is this place, 3 creative options.
ChatGPT: The foundry is a massive chamber filled with molten metal and lava flowing from the depths of the earth. The walls are lined with intricate, runic designs that seem to pulse with a mysterious energy. The air is thick with smoke and heat, making it difficult to breathe. Here, they discover that Stelios was not a god, but a powerful elemental being that was once worshiped by the dwarves and humans alike.
5. Delve. Challenge:4,9. Action:6+2Wits.WEAK HIT. Progress (3). Feature: grand doorway or entrance. They go through an ornate portal that leads into a large room with many doors.
Delve. Challenge:3,5. Action:3+2Wits.WEAK HIT. Progress (4). Feature: foundry or workshop.
ME: Otanu and Arakna delve into the dungeons below the Great Temple of Torgana, in search of Tio and Tullia which are trying to evoke Rals. They are still far from their objective. They reach a deserted foundry or workshop. Describe it using the words “change” and “idea”; three creative options.
ChatGPT: The foundry was a mess of half-finished projects and discarded scraps of metal. But amidst the chaos, Otanu could see the faint glimmer of a new idea taking shape. Rusted cogs and gears lay scattered on the floor, but there were also sketches and diagrams pinned up on the walls, each one more intricate and complex than the last. It was clear that the workers in this foundry were constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries of what was possible, always seeking to create something new and different.
6. Delve. Challenge:3,10. Action:2+2Wits.WEAK HIT. Progress (5). Haunted Feature: blood was spilled here. In a cell near the workshop, the find the dismembered body of a recently killed dwarf.
7. Delve. Challenge:6,9. Action:1+2Wits. MISS. Feature: tomb or catacomb. They follow some steps down to a tomb with a stone sarcophagus. They are confronted by an undead skeleton.
Battle. Challenge: 5,9. Action: 3+3Iron. WEAK HIT. Otanu smashes the skeleton with his hammer, but he is wounded in the fight (health=4).
8. Delve. Challenge:6,3. Action:5+2Wits. STRONG HIT. Progress (6) and Opportunity: scavenge. In the next room, they find a chest that Arakna manages to open. It contains 150 GP (total 230). (+1 momentum=6).
9. Delve. Challenge:5,7. Action:4+2Wits. WEAK HIT. Progress (7) and Danger: the true nature of this place is revealed. Feature: tomb or catacomb. Nature of the place, oracle: “find strategy”. They reach a large burial chamber. The monumental sarcophagus bears the statue of a dead dwarf king and is inscribed with the name Stelios. It says that King Stelios built these tunnels as a way to reach into the underworld; he gained great power by doing so. He lived for centuries, but when he died hostile hellish creatures used the tunnels to reach the world above. The temple of Torgana was built as a way to counter this underworld invasion.
ME: Otanu the cleric and Arakna the sorceress are exploring a dungeon below the temple of the war goddess Torgana. They reach the burial chamber of the dwarf king Stelios. They proceed into the dungeon and they find something unusual or unexpected. Provide 4 creative options using the words “acquire” and “path”.
ChatGPT: The Path of Wisdom. The path led to a dark chamber filled with ancient tomes and mysterious artifacts. To acquire the treasure, they would need to solve a series of intricate puzzles and decipher cryptic riddles.
Gather information. Challenge: 1,4. Action: 6+2wits. STRONG HIT. They can understand how one of the artefacts works. Maze Rats: serpent crown. It gives the power to largely control other people, making it easier to compel them to do anything, but it comes at a great cost.
ME: They find an artifact that they can use: the serpent crown. What are its effects? 4 brief options using the words “reject” and “greed”.
ChatGPT: As they donned the crown, they felt their greed and desire for power grow uncontrollable. They began to see their companion as a rival and felt a strong urge to take the treasure for themselves. They realized that the crown had a corrupting influence, and they quickly rejected it before it could consume them.
Otanu takes the crown; he will later think about the best way to use it.
11. Delve. Challenge:1,4. Action:1+2Wits. WEAK HIT. Progress (9) and Danger: environmental or architectural hazard. A portcullis drops after they enter the next room and they are locked in a dead-end.
Gather information. Challenge: 5,4. Action: 5+2wits. STRONG HIT. They find and open a secret door.
12. Delve. Challenge:8,5. Action:4+2Wits. WEAK HIT. Progress (10). Feature: 100, New Domain. Barrow. An ancient room filled with the bodies of dwarves who died ages ago. Tio is getting ready to sacrifice Tullia or a Dwarf [50/50]. Tio and Tullia are ready to sacrifice a dwarf. Is the dwarf known [unlikely]? NO.
Locate your objective. Challenge: 6,9 vs Progress:10. STRONG HIT. They stop the sacrifice and capture Tio and Tullia.
Who is the Dwarf? Baku, a connected and adventurous pilgrim. He was sent to the great temple by Karit of Silberheim, to invoke help from the goddess in their fight against the orcs. Tio had him captured and was going to kill him in the final sacrifice to Rals.
I mark progress (+1=9) on the Formidable Vow to stop the evocation of Rals.
Fulfil your Vow: Challenge: 3,3 vs 9. STRONG HIT and MATCH! (+2 momentum=8)
It turns out that Tio really was the originator of the attempt to evoke Rals. His control of Stelios’ dungeon below the temple granted him access to arcane knowledge who had been buried there for centuries. Lelia succeeds to him as chief priestess; I add her to Otanu’s bonds. They can sojourn at the temple and their health is fully restored.
Background Vow (Extreme): raise an army to conquer the Island of Eos and bring back the Old Gods (Progress: 2).
Formidable Vow: stop the sacrifices of dwarfs and prevent the evocation of the demon Rals . Threat: Rals appears in this plane of existence. (Fulfilled)
Dangerous Vow: Offer 1000 gold pieces to the Great Temple of Torgana to get guidance from the Goddess (Fulfilled).
Dangerous Vow: Protect Moonset from Kraskon’s raiders. (Fulfilled)
Dangerous Vow: forge Nikos’s sword. (Fulfilled)
_______
Ideas for the next steps in the campaign. Most are based on exploring the blank area in the middle of the coast and reaching Zantya, the capital of the reign.
It turns out that Tullia is the youngest daughter of the King of Zantya. Otanu and Arakna must take her safely back to court.
The wizard guild in Zantya can help Otanu understand how to use the serpent crown.
Otanu uses the serpent crown to convince the king of Zantya to support his efforts to free Eos from the True Cult.
Kraskon, the basilisk king, invades from the East. Play a war campaign, where Otanu and Arakna can enroll in the defending army, or fight independently behind enemy lines.
_______
A more extensive summary of Otanu’s adventures. Number in parenthesis refer to episodes posted here.
(1) Otanu is the son of Avella, queen of the island of Eos. The priestess Heliana has forced Avella to return to the True Cult, which she had abandoned to follow the wizard Althus. Otanu refuses to join the True Cult and sails to the East with a few trusted companions, hoping that one day he will bring back to Eos the cult of the Old Gods. Otanu is a devotee of the war goddess Torgana; when he lands across the sea in the small village of Asona, he swears to offer 1000 gold pieces to the Great Temple to get guidance from Torgana. (2) Otanu and his companions travel East to the city of Lavinia, where they join the locals in the search for the son of Duke Darvus who was kidnapped by rebels. While exploring a nearby necropolis, the heroes defeat a group of rebels and capture one of them. (3) They free the son of the Duke. Two of Otanu’s companions decide to stay in Lavinia. Otanu and the sorceress Arakna leave Lavinia towards the Great Temple of Torgana in the North. (4) They encounter a dying priestess of the moon-goddess Darna who was attacked by trolls; they find the liar of the trolls and recover the sacred ring of the priestess. They reach the ancient fortress built by the dwarf king Bigral. Inside the fortress, they are unable to stop an orc-priest from sacrificing a dwarf prisoner.
(5) They travel North-West and they delve into a ruined palace inhabited by a giant; they free the dwarf Dotan, who tells them that the forces of Chaos are sacrificing dwarfs to evoke the powerful demon Rals; they collect enough valuables to reach the 1000 gp to be offered to Torgana. They arrive at the Great Temple and the goddess grants Otanu a vision where she urges him to stops Rals: in order to do so, he must return the ring of the moon-priestess to the dwarfs who forged it in the Silver Mountains. (6) Otanu and Arakna head North towards the Silver Mountains. They evade from a group of cultists led by the sorceress Luara. (7) In the mountains, they are joined by the dwarf warrior Karit who hopes to recover the magic sword Quartzblade from the underground dwarven city of Silberheim, where the ring was forged. They recover Quartzblade but, at the foundry, the dwarf Glain refuses to help and directs them instead to the temple of Darna in Moonset. (8) Otanu and Arakna travel West towards Moonset. They meet the hermit Esto, who has been spying some cultists that occupied an abandoned temple of the god of change Thaurion; the cultists created an amulet connected with Rals. Otanu and Arakna delve into the temple and recover the artefact. In the temple, Otanu finds out that Kraskon, the legendary basilisk king from the far East, is getting ready to attack the followers of the Old Gods. Esto destroys the amulet in a ritual that delays the evocation of Rals. (9) They reach the coastal city of Moonset and deliver the ring to the high priestess Nata at the temple of Darna. Nata informs them that Kraskon’s ships are approaching to raid Moonset; Otanu swears to help defend the city. (10) The raiders attack with four ships and the defenders win the following fight. In the ships, they find sky-iron that can be used to forge a powerful sword to fight demons; Nata decides that the sword will be given to Nikos, a young orphan blessed by Torgana. Otanu, Arakna and Nikos travel back East to the Great Temple to forge the sword. Along the way, they meet the druid Apuleios and help him clear the area from the orc-priests who had installed in a tower where they also capture the young acolyte Tullia. At the temple of Torgana, the priestess Lelia sends them in search of a shrine further East, in the Barren Dusts; they find the place and forge Nikos’s sword. (11) Back to the temple, Lelia informs them of her suspects about the high priest Tio: she believes he is trying to summon Rals with a ritual in the dungeons below the temple. Otanu and Arakna delve into the tunnels just in time to stop Tio and Tullia from performing the ritual. The menace of Rals is defeated and Lelia succeeds to Tio in leading the Great Temple.
A continuation of my previous mini-campaign about Heliana the Priestess. I am using Ironsworn and PocketLands 1.1. I also refer to Worlds Without Numbers and Scarlet Heroes for further inspiration. I created a D100 hex-based version of the PocketLands Discovery Table: D100Lands. I also use the ChatGPT language AI as an additional oracle. I often ask the AI to provide 2 or 3 different answers for a question; I only post here the option I chose.
_______
Previous events: Otanu is the son of Avella, queen of the island of Eos. The priestess Heliana has forced Avella to embrace the True Cult; Otanu, a devotee of the war goddess Torgana, refuses to do the same and sails to the East, vowing to bring back to Eos the cult of the Old Gods. Together with three companions, he reaches the city of Lavinia, where they free the son of Duke Darvus who had been kidnapped by rebels. Two of Otanu’s companions decide to stay in Lavinia. Otanu and the wizard Arakna leave Lavinia towards the temple of Torgana in the North. They encounter a dying priestess of the moon-goddess Darna who was attacked by trolls and recover her sacred ring. They free the dwarf Dotan, who tells them that the forces of Chaos are sacrificing dwarfs to evoke the powerful demon Rals (a threat). At the Great Temple, Torgana bids Otanu to stop Rals: in order to do so, he must return the ring of the moon-priestess to the dwarfs who forged it in the Silver Mountains. Otanu and Arakna head North towards the Silver Mountains. They evade from a group of cultists led by the sorceress Luara. In the mountains, they are joined by the dwarf warrior Karit who hopes to recover the magic sword Quartzblade from the underground dwarven city of Silberheim. They recover Quartzblade but, at the foundry, the dwarf Glain refuses to help and directs them instead to the temple of Darna in Moonset. Otanu and Arakna travel West towards Moonset. They meet the hermit Esto, who has been spying some cultists in an abandoned temple who created an amulet connected with Rals. Otanu and Arakna recover the artefact, but Arakna is affected by a curse that makes her dumb and passive, and Otanu finds out that Kraskon, the legendary basilisk king from the far East, is getting ready to attack the followers of the Old Gods. Esto destroys the amulet and delays the evocation of Rals. Otanu and Arakna reach the coastal city of Moonset. They deliver the ring to the great priestess Nata at the temple of Darna. Nata informs them that Kraskon’s ships are approaching to raid Moonset; Otanu swears to help defend the city. They are sent in search of Disur, one of Nata’s incognito informers who has recently disappeared. They find him and come back with him to the temple.
Other characters and deities:
Avella (Bond) :queen of the island of Eos, Otanu’s mother. Heliana: a priestess of the True Cult who forced Avella to return to the Cult; opponent of Otanu. Deshin the Dwarf and Willa the Warrior (Bonds): left Eos with Otanu and stopped in Lavinia. Duke Darvus of Lavinia (Bond): a pragmatic ruler who faces a conflict between his human subjects and dwarves he hired. Darvus Junior: Duke Darvus’ son, taken prisoner by rebels and rescued by Otanu. Tukun the wizard: a rebel vassal of Darvus captured by Otanu. Dotan: a dwarf who was captured by the orc minions of a giant and is rescued by Otanu. Luara: a Chaos sorceress involved in the attempt to evoke Rals. Karit (Bond): a dwarven warrior fighting orcs near Silberheim. Glain: a dwarven silversmith at Silberheim. Esto: a hermit loyal to the Old Gods. Kraskon: legendary basilisk king from the far East. Nata: priestess at the temple of Darna in Moonset. Disur: one of Nata’s incognito agents. Darna: moon goddess. Etaura: earth goddess. Torgana: war goddess worshipped by Otanu. Thaurion: god of change. Ikton: sea god. Rals: a powerful demon that the minions of Chaos are trying to evoke by sacrificing dwarfs.
Main character: Otanu, prince of the island of Eos, son of queen Avella
Edge:1; Heart:2; Iron:3; Shadow:1; Wits:2.
Assets:
Companion : “Kindred” (Arakna the Wizard) – Your friend stands by you. Skilled: When you make a move outside of combat (not a progress move) aided by your companion’s expertise, add +1.
Path: “Herbalist” – When you attempt to Heal using herbal remedies, and you have at least +1 supply, you may choose one (decide before rolling). * Add +2. * On a hit, take or give an additional +1 health.
Combat Talent “Thunder-Bringer” – If you wield a mighty hammer… When you Face Danger, Secure an Advantage, or Compel by hitting or breaking an inanimate object, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit.
Background Vow (Extreme): raise an army to conquer the Island of Eos and bring back the Old Gods (Progress: 1.5).
Formidable Vow: stop the sacrifices of dwarfs and prevent the evocation of the demon Rals (Progress:6). Threat: Rals appears in this plane of existence (Menace: 7).
Dangerous Vow: stop Kraskon’s raid against Moonset. (Progress: 2).
Dangerous Vow: Offer 1000 gold pieces to the Great Temple of Torgana to get guidance from the Goddess (Fulfilled).
_______
I add some detail to the current trouble in Moonset. Scarlet Heroes Urban Conflict Scene: out-manoeuvrer a local official bribed by the foe.
ME: Otanu and Arakna must out-manoeuvrer Lord Reiner, a local official bribed by the foe: describe his role and what he is trying to do to favour Kraskon’s raiders; 3 brief options. Use the words “learn” and “barrier”.
ChatGPT: Lord Reiner is secretly working for Kraskon and is trying to learn the city’s defense strategies in order to break through its barriers.
Disur reveals that the captain of the city guards, Lord Reiner, is part of the conspiracy against Moonset. This is precious information that can be used to mislead the raiders.
Reiner plans to have the raiders land outside the city walls: disloyal guards will than open the North gate for them. Nata decide that they will prepare strong defences North of the city, keeping Reiner in the dark about this operation.
Secure and Advantage. Challenge:2,8. Action:3+1Shadow. Weak Hit. (+1 Momentum=5) .
They manage to have a catapult built North of the city, but they face a complication.
ME: The defenders of Moonset face a complication. 3 brief options, use the words “investigate” and “religion”.
ChatGPT: A religious sect within the defenders is calling for a purification ritual that will take precious time away from the defense effort.
The sea-god Ikton has many devotee in Moonset, in particular among sailors and fishermen. The priests are now suggesting that everyone spends a whole day and night in prayer, just now that the raiders are thought to be very close.
Nata feels that the temple of Darna should not directly challenge Ikton at the moment. She suggests that Otanu promotes the reasons of Torgana and the need for an open fight against the raiders, there will be time to pray later.
The priests of Ikton invoke a formal duel between Otanu and their champion, to see which god should lead the way in this moment.
Their champion is Selina.
ME: Otanu will have a duel with Selina, the champion of the church of the sea god Ikton. Describe her.
ChatGPT: Selina is a skilled warrior, tall and muscular with short-cropped blonde hair. She wears a chainmail and carries a trident. She is fiercely devoted to her faith in Ikton and will stop at nothing to prove its superiority.
The first blow of Otanu’s hammer breaks Selina’s trident. She yields and declares that she is ready to fight side by side with Otanu against the raiders.
Progress on the Dangerous Vow to defend Moonset, now 4.
She will also gladly help him bring back the Old Gods to Eos. (Progress on Otanu’s background vow, now 2).
How many raider ships arrive? 1d3+1 = 4.
The leader of the raiders is named Timon.
Do all of the ship land North of the city? [Unlikely] NO
2 ships land North of Moonset and two land South.
The raider’s ships lead by Timon. Positions of Otanu, Selina, Reiner and Nata.
I will treat this as combat, marking 1 progress at the time on the track of the Vow to defend Moonset.
Timon (T) leads the two ships that land on the North, where Otanu (O) and some of the defenders are located.
Selina (S) leads the Ikton devotee near the port.
Lord Reiner’s (R) treacherous guards are also deployed inside the walls.
Nata (N) and a force of Darna worshippers are in reserve near the temple.
Two more raiding ships land South, in an area which is only lightly defended by the Ikton militia.
Enter the Fray. Challenge: 3,3. Action: 2+2Heart. STRONG HIT and MATCH. (+1 momentum=10).
The defenders have the initiative and they have a chance to kill Timon with the catapult.
Selina leads her men towards the South gate, but Reiner’s guards try to stop them.
Strike. Challenge: 6,8. Action:3+2. MISS. Selina’s force is outnumbered and butchered. The foe has initiative.
The raiders attack in the South.
Clash. Challenge: 10,8. Action:4+1. MISS. The defenders are easily dispersed and the raiders can freely reach the South gate. The foe has initiative.
Nata leads her reserve to the South gate.
Turn the tide. Challenge: 7,10. Action:3+2+1TurnTheTide. MISS.
Is Nata killed in the fight? [Unlikely] NO
The raiders fighting Otanu refuse to surrender.
Clash. Challenge: 4,7. Action:2+1. WEAK HIT. Before finally surrendering, the raiders inflict many losses. The foe has initiative.
Nata blows her silver horn, summoning help from Otanu. Arakna teleports herself and Otanu outside the South gate, while the surviving Darna worshippers cross the city from the North.
Otanu tries to ambush the leader of attackers.
Secure an advantage. Challenge: 3,6. Action:4+1Shadows. WEAK HIT. (+1 momentum=3).
Clash. Challenge: 2,7. Action:3+3Iron. WEAK HIT.
Otanu takes 2 harm, Health:2.
Vow/Combat +1 progress: 8.
The final fight at the South gate.
Fulfil the vow to defend Moonset. Challenge: 1,5 vs 8. STRONG HIT.
Darna’s worshippers kill Reiner and Selina leads them through the South gate. Most of the raiders are captured, but some manage to flee on one of their ships.
I mark +1 progress on the Vow to stop the evocation of Rals (Progress:7, Threat:7).
Forge a bond with the city of Moonset. Challenge: 9,2. Action:2+2Heart. WEAK HIT.
Someone asks something from Otanu. Nata [likely, 1-75] or Selina [unlikely, 76+]. Nata.
ME: They captured two of the raiders ships and they find something in them that starts a quest. Three option, use one of the words “initiate” , “fear”, “practical” for each, be creative.
ChatGPT: Option 3: Practical – Among the captured ships, they find a rare and valuable material that can be used to craft powerful weapons and armor. Otanu and his companions must decide whether to sell the material for a high price or use it to create practical equipment that can help them in their battles against the forces of Chaos.
On both the captured ships, they find amulets made of sky-iron. Nata believes that the metal can be used to forge a powerful sword to fight demons.
Will the weapon be given to Selina? [50/50] NO
The sword will be given to Nikos,
ME: They find sky-iron that can be used to forge a weapon against demons. Nata decides that the weapon will be given to Nikos. Say who he is. 3 brief and creative options.
ChatGPT: Nikos is a young orphan who was blessed by Torgana and has shown exceptional talent in handling weapons.
Nikos (by CharacterAI).
Otanu swears a dangerous vow to take Nikos and the sky-iron to the temple of Torgana, where Nikos’ sword will be forged.
Swear an Iron wow. Challenge: 7,2. Action:3+2Heart. WEAK HIT. (+1 momentum=4)
Moonset is now a bond.
Sojourn. Challenge: 6,1. Action:3+2Heart+1Bond. WEAK HIT. (Otanu’s health is back to 5). Before leaving, Otanu’s wounds are cured in the temple of Darna.
Journey. Challenge: 1,1. Action:2+2Wits. STRONG HIT and MATCH.
They reach a large lake and they and some fishermen who are devotees of Darna offer to take them to the opposite shore.
ME: Otanu explains the situation and the need to make a sword for Nikos and asks him to let them pass. The druid accepts, but he asks for something in return. 3 options for his reply, using the words “withdraw” and “creation”, be creative.
ChatGPT: “I will let you pass, but only if you help me withdraw the corrupted presence from this forest. It’s affecting the balance of nature and the creation of new life.”
Otanu accepts to help Apuleios.
ME: He leads them through the forest to an ancient tower where something evil lurks. Describe the exterior of the tower and name it. Be creative.
ChatGPT: As they approach the tower, they notice the gray stone exterior is covered in thick vines that crawl their way up to the battlements. The tower stands tall, its turrets looming ominously over the forest canopy. Etched into the stone above the towering doorway is a name: “Morgath’s Bane,” a warning of the peril that lies within.
Opportunity: An aspect of the history or nature of this place is revealed.
Feature: place of worship.
They find a small altar. Someone recognizes the symbols there.
1-3 Otanu. 4-5 Apuleios. 6 Nikos. Otanu.
Related with Rals [1-75] or Kraskon [76+]. Kraskon. Otanu recognizes the statuette of a basilisk, similar to image that were painted on the shields of Kraskon’s raiders in Moonset.
Delve. Challenge: 10,10. Action: 2+2Wits. MISS and MATCH.
Two dangers: You lose your way or are delayed. You face an architectural hazard.
A cage drops from the ceiling and traps two members of the party.
A library with hundreds of volumes and a richly illuminated manuscript open on a bookstand.
Locate your objective. Challenge: 6,10 vs 8. WEAK HIT.
The room is covered by a spherical dome that shows slowly moving stars and planets.
Two half-orcs, a sorcerer and a sorceress, are observing the dome, as in a trance.
Maze Rats spell: Attracting Gate.
As our heroes enter the room, a dark gate floating in the air appears in front of the two half-orcs.
Secure an Advantage. Challenge: 8,1. Action: 5+3Iron+1Hammer. STRONG HIT. Otanu hits the portal with his hammer, and the gate disappears.
Battle: Challenge: 4,3. Action: 6+3Iron. STRONG HIT. The two wizards attack, but they are outnumbered and swiftly killed.
Our heroes take with them the young acolyte, who is still asleep, and leave the tower.
Apuleios leads them along a road that reaches the great temple of Torgana.
When the acolyte regains consciousness, they learn something about her. Her name is Tullia.
Character Descriptors: Doomed and Critical.
Character Goal: Gain Knowledge.
Character Disposition: Curious.
She is a pessimist, critical of humanity in general. Her main interests are magical and mystical, without particular religious or ethical concerns.
Otanu, Arakna, Nikos, Apuleios and Tullia reach the great temple of Torgana.
I mark progress on the Vow to forge Nikos’ sword. +2=6.
Worlds Without Number: one-roll temple details:
What do the locals think of the temple?
5 It did something recently that gave it glory.
Who is in charge there?
1 A venal time-server of desultory piety
What particular help can it provide?
3 They own a lot of valuable goods or land.
What problem does it have?
12 Roll twice. One because of the other.
9 It suffers signs of real divine displeasure
because
10 A sorcerer-priest is meddling with dark forces
Particular quirks about the temple:
2 It’s remarkably well fortified.
The leader of the temple is Tio, a greedy sorcerer-priest who is secretly meddling with dark forces. But some of the priests are suspicious about him.
At the temple, Otanu is received by a priestess named Lelia.
Character descriptors: Skilled and Kind.
When she learns about the sky-iron, she tells Otanu to keep the thing private. They will speak again the next day, hoping to get advice from the goddess. Otanu is cured and they are resupplied (Health=5; Supply=5).
ME: Torgana is displeased. That night she sends the same vision to Otanu and Lelia, asking them to do something. Suprise me with something very creative. 3 options using the words follow and protection.
ChatGPT: Torgana’s vision shows Otanu and Lelia a map leading to a long-forgotten shrine of Torgana. They are to follow the map and protect it from falling into the wrong hands, as the shrine holds powerful relics that must not be misused.
They dream about an forgotten underground shrine in the Barren Dusts East of the Great Temple. There they will find a mould that they can use to forge Nikos’ sword without attracting the attention of Tio. Lelia will stay at the temple, to avoid raising suspicions. Otanu, Arakna and Nikos will search for the shrine.
Dangerous Delve into the Barren Dusts (Theme:Wild Domain:Wastes).
Delve. Challenge: 2,2. Action:5+2Wits. STRONG HIT and MATCH. (double Delve +2Progress: 4; +1 Momentum=7).
Opportunity: an aspect of the history or nature of the Barren Dusts is revealed.
Feature: something unusual or unexpected.
Oracle: Destroy Path. They go through hills, that gradually become more and more barren; they find an old road paved with stone that appear to have been melted into a single uniform block by an incredible heat.
Delve. Challenge: 0,0. Action:3+2Wits+1road. MISS and MATCH. They follow the road South-East. Now they are in the proper Barren Dusts.
ME: Otanu, Arakna and Nikos travel through the Barren Dusts following an ancient road. They face a complication. two brief creative options using the words “endure” and “ruin”.
ChatGPT: A sandstorm descends upon them, making it difficult to endure the harsh conditions and not be ruined by the suffocating dust.
Scene Challenge, rank:Dangerour. Tension Clock: 3.
Face Danger. The wind is rising and they see that the dust begins being carried in the air.
Challenge:2,8. Action:1+2Wits. MISS. (Progress:0; Tension:1). The storm arrive suddenly, before they can find any kind of shelter. Two of them take harm because of the dust. Arakna: Health: 3. Nikos: Health: 3.
Secure and advantage. Though visibility is now minimal, they try to reach some large rocks right of the road.
Challenge:4,5. Action:4+2Wits. STRONG HIT. (Progress:0; Tension:1; +2momentum=9). They successfully reach the rocks.
Face Danger. The strength of the storm increases.
Challenge: 2,7. Action:4+3Iron+1Advantage. STRONG HIT. (Progress:2; Tension:1). They find good shelter among the rocks.
Face Danger. The strength of the storm increases even more.
Challenge: 5,9. Action:6+3Iron. WEAK HIT. (Progress:4; Tension:2). They find they lost some of their water. (-1 supply=4).
Face Danger. The storm appears to calm down and they move back towards the rock, but then the dust rises again with the same violence.
Challenge: 7,6. Action:3+3Iron. Burn Momentum (2). STRONG HIT. (Progress:6; Tension:2). They manage to scramble back to the rocks.
Secure an Advantage. It’s getting dark; they dig a hole near the rocks, so that they can take some sleep.
Face Danger. They fall asleep, while the storm rages on.
Challenge: 6,3. Action:6+3Iron. STRONG HIT. (Progress:8; Tension:2). At dawn, the storm is still blowing at full strength, but they managed to get some rest.
Face Danger. Dust has accumulated during the night, and they are getting buried in it.
Challenge: 6,10. Action:3+2Wits. MISS. (Progress:8; Tension:3). Before they manage to dig out of the dust, Nikos gets harmed again: Health=2.
The tension clock is full.
Finish the scene. Challenge:2,3 Versus 8. STRONG HIT. The storm finally stops and they can resume their journey.
Find an opportunity: you encounter a denizen who might support you.
Basic Fantasy Barren encounter: NPC Party, merchant. How many people are there? 1+1d4=5.
Humans or Dwarves? Humans.
Where are they from: 1-2: Lavinia. 3-4: Moonset. 5-6: the capital of the kingdom. They are from the capital city of Zantya.
Which direction are they travelling? South-East. They are travelling South-East, as the heroes. They know the road well and they offer the trio to join them.
Background Vow (Extreme): raise an army to conquer the Island of Eos and bring back the Old Gods (Progress: 2).
Formidable Vow: stop the sacrifices of dwarfs and prevent the evocation of the demon Rals (Progress:8). Threat: Rals appears in this plane of existence (Menace: 7).
Dangerous Vow: Offer 1000 gold pieces to the Great Temple of Torgana to get guidance from the Goddess (Fulfilled).
Dangerous Vow: Protect Moonset from Kraskon’s raiders. (Fulfilled)
Solo un mondo di carta 