tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60668270424960214662024-03-28T09:13:36.250-04:00Iconic EnergyPosts mostly about superhero RPGs, mostly about <i>ICONS: The Assembled Edition</i>John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.comBlogger573125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-46792924059987667662024-03-27T19:45:00.102-04:002024-03-28T09:02:45.225-04:00Ironwood Gorge - Characters in Iron & Gold<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron & Gold</span></p>
<p>A brief interlude to show the characters.</p>
<style>
p.type {font-style: italic; margin-bottom 1rem;text-indent: 0;}
td.c {text-align: center;}
table.ig {width: 100%; font-size: smallest;}
th {font-size: smallest;}
td {font-size: smallest;}
</style>
<p>Felewin, Ninefingers, and Kagandis are not by the book because they are conversions of <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> characters with experience.</p>
<h3>Felewin</h3>
<p class="type">Human Huntsman (Plainsfolk)</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">5</td><th>A</th><td class="c">3</td><th>C</th><td class="c">3</td><th>R</th><td class="c">3</td><th>I</th><td class="c">3</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">6</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Slow-stepped, Heavy-Stepped</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Literacy 5- (2); Athletics 9- (4); Dueling 10- (5), Tracking 8- (4), Riding 9- (4), Survival 8- (5); Archery 10- (5), Etiquette 5- (2, but counts as 4 in home court), Composure 5</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpn</th><td colspan="10">Broad Sword (3 Inj), Bow (1 Inj, 70)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Armour</th><td colspan="10">Gambeson (1 Fat), Chain (3 Inj)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Equip</th><td colspan="10">Fuelless lantern, knife, tinder box, blanket, rations</td></tr>
</table>
<h3>Hrelgi of Căled</h3>
<p class="type">Elf Wizard</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">3</td><th>A</th><td class="c">3</td><th>C</th><td class="c">4</td><th>R</th><td class="c">3</td><th>I</th><td class="c">2</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">1</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Striking Appearance, Sure-footed, Descrying nature, Poor Reputation, Hesitant</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Athletics 7- (4), Composure (4), Dueling 7- (4), Literacy 8- (4), Fabrica Motus, Fabrica Materia, Fabrica Sphaera 9- (5), Fabrica Ge 5- (1)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpns</th><td colspan="10">dagger. Tends to use Motus (throw objects or stop projectiles), Materia (cause damage directly), Sphaera (to dampen spells)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Equipment</th><td colspan="10">Spellbook, scroll case, wineskin</td></tr>
</table>
<p>
Hrelgi is an elven exile from a distant land that persecutes practitioners of magic. Memorized spells: Armor to magma, salubrity to self, protection to dwarf.</p>
<h3>Kagandis</h3>
<p class="type">Goblin Constable (Cavernfolk)</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">3</td><th>A</th><td class="c">4</td><th>C</th><td class="c">3</td><th>R</th><td class="c">3</td><th>I</th><td class="c">3</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">3</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpns</th><td colspan="10">Bow (1 Inj), Dagger (1 Inj) Armour: Leather Cuirass (1 Fat)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Pack Fighter, Night Sight, Ugly, Undersized, Light Sensitivity, Inflexible (+2 Diff)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Brawling 5- (2); Composure 4; Athletics, Melee, Stealth, Survival 7- (4); Investigation 8- (4); Archery 11- (8)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Equip</th><td colspan="10">Bedroll, amulet of safe passage (honoured by goblins), 1 doz. arrows</td></tr>
</table class="ig">
<h3>Ninefingers</h3>
<p class="type">Goblin Bandit (Cavernfolk)</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">4</td><th>A</th><td class="c">4</td><th>C</th><td class="c">3</td><th>R</th><td class="c">3</td><th>I</th><td class="c">2</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">5</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Pack Fighter, Night Sight, Ugly, Undersized, Light Sensitivity, Meek Appearance</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Athletics 8- (4), Subterfuge (5-) 3; Commerce (6- (4), Dueling 10- (5) Streetwise 6- (4); Finesse 9- (5), Investigation 9- (5), Stealth 9- (5)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpn</th><td colspan="10">Shortsword (1 Inj), Seftish Dagger (1 Inj); Armor: Scale (2)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Equip</th><td colspan="10">Lockpicks, tinder box, blanket, owl feather earrings</td></tr>
</table>
<h3>Uthrilir</h3>
<p class="type">Dwarven Holy Knight</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">4</td><th>A</th><td class="c">3</td><th>C</th><td class="c">3</td><th>R</th><td class="c">2</td><th>I</th><td class="c">4</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">4</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Blood Feud, Cursed Relic, Dark Sight, Constitution, Poor Reputation, Resistant[Crafting Magic]</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Athletics 9- (5), Blessing, Gospel 10- (6); Composure (5), Consecration 6- (2), Melee 10- (6); Prophecy 8- (4); Masonry 6- (3), Sacraments 6- (2), Survival 5- (3)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpn</th><td colspan="10">Mace (2 Inj), Knife (1 Inj)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Armour</th><td colspan="10">Scale Byrnie (2)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Equip</th><td colspan="10">Holy implements, bedroll</td></tr>
</table>
<h3>Emond</h3>
<p class="type">Elven Explorer</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">3</td><th>A</th><td class="c">3</td><th>C</th><td class="c">2</td><th>R</th><td class="c">3</td><th>I</th><td class="c">2</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">2</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Striking Appearance, Meek Appearance, Sure-Footed</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Athletics 9- (6), Stealth 8- (5), Animal Handling 6- (3), Dueling 9- (6), Riding 7- (4), Survival 7- (5), Legends 7- (4), Etiquette 5 (3)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Weapons</th><td colspan="10">Throwing Axe, Short Sword Armour: Scale hauberk, boots, gauntlets, target shield</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Equipment</th><td colspan="10">Climbing gear, 5 torches, 10 candles, tinder kit, waterskin, dried foods, bedroll, pack, riding horse, guard dog XP: 3</td></tr>
</table>
<hr>
<h3>Golem</h3>
<p class="type">Monster (construct)</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">5</td><th>A</th><td class="c">1</td><th>C</th><td class="c">0</td><th>R</th><td class="c">0</td><th>I</th><td class="c">0</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">–</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Clumsy, Oversized, Musclebound, Resistant [Crafting]</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Brawling 3</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpns</th><td colspan="10">Fist (3 Fat)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Armour</th><td colspan="10">Made of marble (4)</td></tr>
</table>
<p>The original monster writeup (in <cite>OSRIC</cite>) requires magical weapons to hurt; I’m making that difficulty +1 to hit; it can reverse gravity once an hour, and the effect lasts 10 seconds or so. The Resistant to Crafting applies to all spells but three: the first is dispel magic effects; the second is stone to flesh, and the third is mud to stone. The first stops it (difficulty 5); the second renders it vulnerable to normal attacks and removes its armour; the third heals it.</p>
<h3>Nematoad</h3>
<p class="type">Monster</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">4</td><th>Awareness</th><td class="c">2</td><th>C</th><td class="c">0</td><th>R</th><td class="c">0</td><th>I</th><td class="c">0</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">–</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Oversized, Night Sight, Tail, Swimming, Natural Protection 3</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Weapons</th><td colspan="10">Tongue (ranged: 7 m)+teeth (+1 Inj), Tail (3 Fat)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Brawling 5, Stealth 6 (for hiding motionless in place), Swimming 4</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Armour</th><td colspan="10">Natural protection of 3</td></tr>
</table>
<h3>Orc [I&G]</h3>
<p class="type">Monster. An <em>orc</em>, fer gosh sake</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">4</td><th>A</th><td class="c">3</td><th>C</th><td class="c">1</td><th>R</th><td class="c">3</td><th>I</th><td class="c">3</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">–</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Night Sight, Light Sensitivity, Toughness</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Archery (for scout) 8- (4), Brawling 10- (6), Dueling 9- (5), Melee 10- (6,) Leadership 8- (4), Subterfuge 8- (4), Composure 9- (5)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Armour</th><td colspan="10">Scale (3)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpns</th><td colspan="10">Pike (3 Inj, Short Sword (2 Inj), Bow (1 Inj)</td></tr>
</table>
<h3>Orc Shaman</h3>
<p class="type">Like, an orc. Who is a shaman.</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">4</td><th>A</th><td class="c">3</td><th>C</th><td class="c">1</td><th>R</th><td class="c">3</td><th>I</th><td class="c">4</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">–</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Night Sight, Light Sensitivity, Toughness</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Brawling 10- (6), Leadership 8- (4), Blessing 7- (3), Curse 7- (3), Gospel 7- (3), Subterfuge 7- (3), Performance 7- (3), Composure (5)
<tr><th colspan="2">Armour</th><td colspan="10">Studded Leather+Toughness (2), Shield (Heater) 2</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2"> Weapons</th><td colspan="10">Spear (2 Inj)</td></tr>
</table>
<h3>War Dog</h3>
<p class="type">Animal</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">3</td><th>A</th><td class="c">4</td><th>C</th><td class="c">0</td><th>R</th><td class="c">0</td><th>I</th><td class="c">0</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">–</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Undersized, Musclebound</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Athletics, Brawling 5</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpns</th><td colspan="10">Teeth (1INJ), Claws (+1 INJ)</td></tr>
</table>
<p>Think large mastiffs or pit bulls. These fearsome dogs are trained to fight. They are typically armoured in leather. They are loyal unto death.</p>
<h3>Wild Boar</h3>
<p class="type">Animal</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">4</td><th>A</th><td class="c">3</td><th>C</th><td class="c">0</td><th>R</th><td class="c">0</td><th>I</th><td class="c">0</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">–</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Musclebound, Toughness(1)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Brawling 5</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Wpns</th><td colspan="10">Teeth (1 Inj), Tusks (3 Inj)</td></tr>
</table>
<h3>Zombies</h3>
<p class="type">Undead</p>
<table class="ig">
<tr><th width="10%">F</th><td class="c">2</td><th>A</th><td class="c">2</td><th>C</th><th>R</th><td class="c">0</td><th>I</th><td class="c">0</td><th>Luck</th><td class="c">–</td></tr>
<tr><td class="c">2</td><td class="c">2</td><td class="c">0</td><td class="c">0</td><td class="c">0</td><td class="c">–</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Skills</th><td colspan="10">Brawling (6-) 4, Dueling 5- (3), Melee 5- (3)</td></tr>
<tr><th colspan="2">Gimmicks</th><td colspan="10">Hardened, Slow-stepped, Toughness, Undead</td></tr>
</table>
<p>Notes: use the armor and dueling/melee weapons with which they were buried or left to rot.</p>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-6190643512269691032024-03-27T16:26:00.001-04:002024-03-27T16:26:23.406-04:00A possible premise for a superhero series<p class="for"><span class="book">Any</span></p>
<p>I'm not suggesting anything new or even different: this has been used before. But I've done a number of campaigns with a superhero history, and my brain turned to something else.</p>
<p>Heroes have just appeared: there was a calamity — the equivalent of the gene bomb, the white hole, or any of a number of other occurrences. Hundreds of thousands died.</p>
<p>Including our heroes.</p>
<p>I'm aware that <cite>The Elementals</cite> used the characters' deaths as a portal. In this case, however, I'm imagining that <em>most</em> of the victims are in fact victims and are dead. Some fraction (five per cent, maybe?) come back with super powers.</p>
<p>I'm not interested in a game that's “you with powers” because that turns into murderhoboes too fast. So I'd want some mechanism whereby you have to pick hero or villain. You can switch — i'm not that rigid — but there's something keeping you in the superhero/villain game.</p>
<p>I don't know what that is, yet, but something will occur to me.</p>
<p>Possible rules systems:</p>
<ul>
<li><cite>ICONS</cite></li>
<li><cite>Prowlers & Paragons UE</cite> (I don't think I own it)</li>
<li><cite>Wild Talents</cite> though I have bounced off it intellectually every time I've tried</li>
<li><cite>BASH</cite></li>
<li><cite>Supers! RED</cite></li>
</ul>
<p>Games like <cite>Champions</cite>, <cite>Mutants & Masterminds</cite>, <cite>Cypher - Unmasked</cite>, could do it (one could set up a Paragons M&M campaign, for instance) but that's not where my interest lies right now.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-3740319169512971252024-03-26T21:43:00.011-04:002024-03-28T09:11:12.930-04:00Ironwood Gorge - 11 - Solo Journey<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron & Gold</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom:1.5rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc11"></a>11 - Solo Journey</h3>
<p class="slug">Kill Technology - NPC Negative</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis handed Felewin a dead bird, already gutted. “Catched that in afternoon,” she said in common tongue.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin gave her a sign of approval, and added some wood to the fire. Then he started whittling a stick so he could roast it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “How’d you do?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I know where his cottage is, but it’s more than an afternoon to get to.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Why?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“On the other side of the river. Close but you have to walk up to where you can cross.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers passed that along to the others.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi took the bird and started plucking the primary wing feathers. Felewin saw that she was examining each feather she plucked for its suitability.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I don’t want to rush you,” he said, “But maybe you check the feathers you need and then give it to me for a faster job.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She stuck out her tongue. “Here,” she said. “These will do.” She took out her pouch and unfolded her wallet of components. She put three feathers in an empy pouch.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Do they get used up?” Felewin asked.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Some do,” she said. “I put those expendable components in the outside, so I can get them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin squatted at the edge of the clearing and started deftly pulling out feathers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’re fast,” said Uthrilir.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Practice,” said Felewin, grinning. “My father hunted three brace of — we call them quails — each week in the season, and the youngest son had to clean them before we moved on.” He paused and opened the bird. “Some birds, there’s a gland you have to cut out or the meat is tough and bitter.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis accepted Ninefingers’ flask and drank. “I saw orcs, but they didn’t see me. I also saw another group of humans and a halfling that looked like they had managed to escape something bad. Two humans were archers; the halfling wore light armour and carried a sling. They had empty backpacks, though, and some wounds. One of the archers had taken damage to his arm; the other had a nice shield, but only three or four wouldn’t last long in a fight.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We managed to fight six.</span><a id="fnlink78"></a><a href="#fn78"><sup>[78]</sup></a> We wouldn’t have been able to win but for the wizard. You know that armour-to-lava trick she did back at the tower? Turns out it’s one of her favourites.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She looked at the clearing. “I smell the dead but I don’t see them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Up on the rock.” Ninefingers gestured.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No no no no,” Kagandis said. “Off the rock and dispose of them. No, dammit, two of them can’t see in proper light. We need to post a watch.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We will. Why?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Scavengers, big ones, will come for the bodies. They live down in the gorge but can come up. We had a nest destroyed by them. I hear the orcs tame them but orcs produce more garbage and carrion than goblins do.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“How big are these scavengers?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You know the mule that Odend uses?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s not so bad.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Imagine the size of ten mules bound together. Big armoured head with a kind of frill, poisonous bite. They present the head, and the head is tough. Fortunately, they’re slow, but I wouldn’t want to meet one in a tunnel.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers shared this with the others, who looked at Felewin for a judgement.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Huh,” he said finally. “I’ve never heard of them.” He shrugged.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’re taking this calmly,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Nothing to do besides post the watch, and we were going to do that anyway.” He lifted the bird to look at it closely, then put it back nearer the fire. “Here’s what we can’t do: we can’t move the bodies to somewhere safer for us, because the goblins just aren’t up to moving six orc bodies. Even if Uthrilir helps, it’s night. Orcs can see in the dark and Hrelgi and I can’t.” He rotated the bird a bit more. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“This doesn’t sound like the man who wants to be a knight,” Ninefingers said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Knights are good at pragmatism.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi said, “Oh, big words. Do you know what pragmatism means?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s not a joke,” said Ninefingers. “Not to him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sorry,” said Hrelgi.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There’s more at stake here than me. You’re not my property and I was wrong to think you were, even if you were my prisoner. Kagandis, and by extension all goblins, is a person. These people need to be protected, and that seems more knightly than a quest at this moment.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi said, “And what about orcs?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The orcs have not yet proven themselves worthy of personhood.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And they won’t,” Uthrilir said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi said nothing.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers briefly explained to Kagandis, who replied in the common tongue, “Orcs are people but very very bad people.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Everyone laughed, and Felewin pulled the stick back to check the bird. Felewin had found nuts and fruit and a few bitter herbs to offset the sweetness of the fruit. He added a bit of salt to the meat and then the meal was sufficient.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I wouldn’t want to live on it but it will suffice. My thanks for the meat, Kagandis.” He gestured to make his meaning clearer. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“You are welcome,” she said in common tongue.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Everyone gets some, unless they don’t want it. Hrelgi, I’ve heard that some elves don’t eat meat. Is that true?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi said, “Yes. They do not eat meat, because they are what we call—” and she said a word in Elvish.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What does that mean?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“‘Stupid,’” said Hrelgi, and took her portion of the bird.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“She is kinder than she speaks,” Uthrilir said to no one in particular.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was silence after that, broken only by quiet eating.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “Kagandis, you’ve traveled all day; do you need rest?” She yawned and nodded. Ninefingers and Uthrilir gamed to see who would go first; Uthrilir lost.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If you don’t mind, a brief prayer before most of you rest.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They held a brief prayer.<a id="fnlink79"></a><a href="#fn79"><sup>[79]</sup></a> and all but Uthrilir went to bed: Hrelgi up in a tree, and the rest near the fire, which they let die down. It was summer; they had little fear of the cold.</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn78"></a><a href="#fnlink78">[78]</a> Does she smell the corpses? Rolls a 3 on 8≤: margin 4</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn79"></a><a href="#fnlink79">[79]</a> He rolls a 4 and he needs 9≤. They all have +1 protection.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-74625513771315528712024-03-25T21:00:00.010-04:002024-03-28T09:09:48.390-04:00Ironwood Gorge - 10 - Healing Touch<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron & Gold</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom:1.5rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc10"></a>10 - Healing Touch</h3>
<p class="slug">Healing Touch</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers was hurt the worst</span><a id="fnlink77"></a><a href="#fn77"><sup>[77]</sup></a>, followed by Uthrillir. His deity allowed them to heal while Felewin found a way down from the boulder. Hrelgi was able to cushion his fall enough to keep him from hurting himself, while Ninefingers held his Seftish dagger to the throat of the orc scout.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once Felewin had descended, they interrogated the scout.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The scout was of the Split-Tongue clan, which had taken up home in the Ironwood gorge. The orcs planned, of course, to take over the area, and raise their status with the other orcs. (Ninefingers got the impression that they were a small splinter tribe; he had certainly never heard of them. The scout spoke of the madness that the orc high priest could create, but clammed up when asked about a medallion he was wearing. (The other medallions were all burned by armour-turned-lava.)</p>
<p class="bodytext">The scout was reasonable about numbers — made sense, for a scout — but he was close-mouthed about the numbers of the Split-Tongue clan. They recited a few numbers but if the scout responded to one of them, they didn’t detect it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The other thing that was interesting was that the scout was looking for Odend, as well, but he wouldn’t say why.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin held the scout under the edge of his sword while the other three talked, some distance away.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Do we kill him?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Can we afford to spare him?” asked Hrelgi, looking at Uthrilir.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Uthrilir said, “All deaths are repugnant to her, but some are necessary.” He walked over to the scout and prayed briefly.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then he killed the orc with his mace.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin made a noise of disgust. “I had hoped we would let him ‘escape’ and follow him back to their lair.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “Wouldn’t work. He could evade us because he knows the area better than we do.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin accepted that. “We should put all the bodies together and then perhaps Hrelgi could make the ground beneath them lava. Destroy the bodies.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Or leave them here as a marker,” said Hrelgi. “The armor has turned back to armour, and they will feed the carrion eaters.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin rolled his eyes. “We have to wait here for Kagandis. Do you want to be near six orc corpses?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Fine,” said Hrelgi. She levitated the six bodies to the top of the boulder, and then sat alone as the first guard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin set about retrieving and fixing arrows. Two were simply too damaged to fix, but the orc scout had almost a dozen left, and they were usable, if a bit short: like crossbow bolts but too thin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">By sunset, it was Uthrilir’s turn to watch. He came over to Felewin, who was creating dinner with some plants he had found and the small amount of cheese he had taken from the tower. “Kagandis returns.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’ll change it to five portions, then.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You seem unconcerned by what she might have been doing,” said Uthrilir.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I am unconcerned. Kagandis is good people, and we have put her in no conflict.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis whistled three times before entering the encampment.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hail,” said Ninefingers, in goblin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We have a long walk,” Kagandis said. “For those two, we will have to start in the daylight.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Come, have food, and tell us all.”</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn77"></a><a href="#fnlink77">[77]</a> Blessing: roll 4, amount 2; roll 6, amount 6; roll 7, amount 4.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-52888353881553434192024-03-24T17:29:00.083-04:002024-03-28T09:09:36.301-04:00Iron Gauntlets - 9 - An Encounter While Waiting<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron & Gold</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom:1.5rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc9"></a>9 - An Encounter While Waiting</h3>
<p class="slug">Spy Power (NPC Positive)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers</span><a id="fnlink65"></a><a href="#fn65"><sup>[65]</sup></a> spotted the orc first, and only barely. He whistled a bit of birdsong, which was a code with Felewin that meant “Trouble, be inobvious.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin, who barely could manage to be subtle faced with the unexpected, broke into Uthrilir’s discussion of missionary work among the centaurs, to go sit next to Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Problem?” Felewin murmured, trying to look enraptured. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Orc watching us. Now he’s slipped away. Expect trouble.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Uthrilir broke off. “Is there a problem?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Maybe,” said Felewin. “We’ll talk about it once you’ve finished your story.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’ve rather ruined the flow,” said Uthrilir.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Thank goodness,” teased Hrelgi.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I said you could ignore this because you’ve heard it.” For a few words, his voice was like the grinding of millstones, and that made Hrelgi smile.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But I love being offered the choice,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Pardon me,” said Felewin, “but what Ninefingers saw was an orc.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Too big to be a goblin or hobgoblin; too small to be an ogre or troll. Not a man, dwarf, elf, halfling or centaur,” confirmed Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Kobold?” asked Hrelgi.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “No, we’ve met kobolds. Definitely not kobolds.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin asked, “We can’t leave the area because this is where Kagandis will return. So what can we do against a party of a dozen orcs?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hide?” asked Hrelgi.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If we didn’t have him,” said Ninefingers, indicating Felewin, “maybe. He’s rubbish at hiding.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin chose to ignore Ninefingers. “I don’t know your skills really. Hrelgi, maybe you can put items in trees we can pull down on top of the orcs? Uthrilir, can you create, I don’t know, a circle of blessing for us, so long as we fight in it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You have very odd ideas,” said Uthrilir. “Gather together and I’ll ask blessing for us.</span><a id="fnlink66"></a><a href="#fn66"><sup>[66]</sup></a>” He gathered them together and said to Felewin, “You’re hurt!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s a scratch.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If we fight orcs, it could be the difference for us. Just a moment.” He prayed and then laid hands on Felewin’s leg. Felewin felt better, and the nagging pain went away.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s healed,” he told the dwarf. “My thanks.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s the past. Let’s see what the lady grants us for the immediate future.” He pulled everyone together and prayed for a moment. “Now we’ll see if that helps. I think it did, but you don’t know until the chisel hits the stone.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked about the small clearing. “I didn’t pick this with defense in mind, but it’s not awful. There’s at least one side that’s safe.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There wasn’t enough light to attract cockatrices; one side was against a rock about twice the height of a man, and that looked unclimbable. The area was dotted with petrified trees (as was the whole Ironwood) but living spruces were pushing up, some tall enough that their trunks were as thick as Felewin was; some weedy saplings of something like maples were trying to make way in the clearing. The edge of the clearing was dotted with bushes, but beyond that it was mostly ferns. The orc that Ninefingers saw had been by the boulder.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m the only one with a bow,” said Felewin. “Hrelgi, can you put me up on the boulder? I’ll have a clear shot there.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’ll be a clear shot, there,” pointed out Ninefingers. “There’s a reason castle walls have crenelations.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“True,” admitted Felewin. “But I can loose an arrow from the back of a horse; I’m sure this isn’t much worse. Or… Hrelgi, could you put me and one of the petrified logs up? That would give me cover?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“A log on a boulder isn’t going to look suspicious?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They already know we’re here,” said Felewin. “They are headed here this moment.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I would be the logical one to go to the top of the boulder,” pointed out Helgi.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Okay, fly on up.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I cannot make myself fly,” she admitted. “You could lift me?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">An arrow bounced off Felewin’s armour. “Or I could lift you.”</span><a id="fnlink67"></a><a href="#fn67"><sup>[67]</sup></a> She said three words and Felewin was up and on the top of the boulder. He quickly squatted so he might have some effective cover. The boulder had a slight dip, and he moved to that.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs hadn’t quite got there yet: the archer had loosed the arrow well but early.<a id="fnlink68"></a><a href="#fn68"><sup>[68]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “Backs against the boulder! Hrelgi, next, move a log here, give us cover!” He drew his sword.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs arrived, and grinned. They spent a moment arranging themselves to charge.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Uthrilir hefted his mace and prayed.</span><a id="fnlink69"></a><a href="#fn69"><sup>[69]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi said the secret name of the log and commanded it to lay before her. It skidded over between the party and the orcs, tearing up earth and stones as it moved.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin loosed a shot at the orc fitting a new arrow to his bow, and hit him in the thigh.<a id="fnlink70"></a><a href="#fn70"><sup>[70]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs charged, but the fact that Uthrilir had made them tougher for this first exchange saved them; the divine gift stopped all weapons from hurting them (though both Uthrilir and Hrelgi were hit by weapons).</span><a id="fnlink71"></a><a href="#fn71"><sup>[71]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">Neither Uthrilir or Ninefingers could get through an orc’s defenses, but Hrelgi spoke her words of power, and a stone unearthed by the movement of the log flew towards her, hitting an orc from behind.<a id="fnlink72"></a><a href="#fn72"><sup>[72]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs redoubled their efforts but did worse, this time. Felewin managed to lodge another arrow in the scout, and Ninefingers scored first blood against one of his foes. Uthrilir’s blows landed on scale armour, and Hrelgi’s next shot rock did not hurt her opponent but did knock him down.<a id="fnlink73"></a><a href="#fn73"><sup>[73]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi scowled and turned her opponent’s armour to lava. He fell to the ground screaming.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers missed, but through the grace of Uthrilir’s prayer, both of the orcs missed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Uthrilir’s prayer helped protect him as well.<a id="fnlink74"></a><a href="#fn74"><sup>[74]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">While Felewin was reloading, an orc against Uthrilir fell, its armor turned to lava. Ninefingers managed to fend off the first but the second orc hit; he cried out in pain.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’d better help him, girl; I’ll be fine,” said Uthrilir.</span><a id="fnlink75"></a><a href="#fn75"><sup>[75]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Fine,” she said, and one of Ninefinger’s opponent was wearing lava. The other had an arrow sticking from his leg, courtesy of Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The remaining orcs tried desperately: the one fighting Ninefingers missed, and Ninefingers finally managed to hit him; the one fighting Uthrillir hit—but Uthrillir hit him too.<a id="fnlink76"></a><a href="#fn76"><sup>[76]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Then the orc who had hit Uthrillir burst into lava, and the orc against Ninefingers suddenly realized he was almost alone—he broke off to rejoin the scout, who was painfully fitting an arrow to his bowstring.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Uthrillir hit the orc, and then Ninefingers made it over the log and said, “We need to leave one alive,” when he wearily bashed the orc who had been fighting him. “Just not this one.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin shot an arrow into the ground at the scout’s feet, which got his attention. The scout looked up at the three immediately in front of him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">In orc, Ninefingers said, “Tell us what we want to know, or die.”</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn65"></a><a href="#fnlink65">[65]</a> Rolls a 9 on Survival, just making it (AWR+Surv) and notices the orc scout.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn66"></a><a href="#fnlink66">[66]</a> Uthrilir rolls a 5, which is less than he needs for healing, which he does to Felewin, who has his 1 injury level removed.<br />
Uthrilir rolls 4 for blessing in general. Since the margin was high, I’m going to say that they all get 1d6 extra armor for the first turn: 2 extra.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn67"></a><a href="#fnlink67">[67]</a> The arrow hits: 5 on 7-; Armour gets 2,1 so nothing gets through.</p>
<p class="footnote">It’s 9≤ to move a person, and she rolls a 7. He’s up.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn68"></a><a href="#fnlink68">[68]</a> And now, <strong>Reaction times</strong><br />
Ninefingers: 8+2=10<br />
Felewin: 8+4=12<br />
Uthrilir: 7+1=8<br />
Hrelgi: 6+6=12<br />
Orcs: 7+3=10<br />
So: Felewin, Hrelgi, Ninefingers, Orcs, Uthrilir. <br />
There are 6 orcs, counting the scout; the scout is the only one with archery.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn69"></a><a href="#fnlink69">[69]</a> He’s setting up another prayer, like aiming, so the roll will be +1 next turn.<br />
<p class="footnote">Speaking of which, <strong>Reaction times</strong><br />
Felewin: 8+1=9<br />
Ninefingers: 8+2=10<br />
Orcs: 7+1=8<br />
Urthilir: 7+4=11<br />
Hrelgi: 6+5=11<br />
Hrelgi rolls 7 versus 3+5+1-1; she moves the tree.<br />
Uthrilir prays again vs 3+5+1+1 (10) and rolls 7. Felewin gets +1 on next shot.<br />
Ninefingers waits.<br />
Felewin looses an arrow at the scout. Say it’s 15 meters, 1/4 of the compound bow’s 60m range, so it’s short range (no change to difficulty). His archery is 10≤ and he rolls 10. He rolls 6, so the arrow is not affected by armour. The scout now has 1 Injury level.<br />
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn70"></a><a href="#fnlink70">[70]</a> Composure: Orc scout needs 4+5, or 9≤; rolls 10. He’s helpless for the moment.<br />
Other orcs charge, because they don’t have ranged weapons. House rules: You can do two actions, but the second one is at +2 Diff. They charge as an automatic action, and then attack. Let’s do the defense rolls first; they all do 2 better because of the log: Ninefingers gets a defense roll of 4 (margin of 7), Uthrilir gets a 12 (oof…margin of 0), and Hrelgi gets a 3 (margin of 5).<br />
4 8 6 6 5: attacks skills are all 10, so margin of 6 (misses Ninefingers), margin of 2 (misses Ninefingers), margins of 4 (hits Uthrilir), 4 (hits), and Hrelgi is hit. Damage is 3, 2, 1. So nothing gets through (Hrelgi has toughness 1 from the prayer that Uthrilir used).<br />
Ninefingers rolls: 7 (margin 2) Opponent has 8, margin 2. Nothing.<br />
Uthrilir rolls: 7 (margin 1) Opponent has 8, margin 2. Nothing.<br />
Hrelgi rolls: 7 (margin 1) Her magic roll is 8-, so she makes hers.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn71"></a><a href="#fnlink71">[71]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin is reloading.<br />
Felewin: 10+5=15<br />
Ninefingers: 8+5=13<br />
Uthrilir: 7+5=12<br />
Hrelgi: 6+3=9<br />
Orcs: 9+6=15<br />
Scout Composure: 4+5=9; rolls 8. Composed.<br />
Defenders: 5,5,6: Margins 3, 2, 0.<br />
Orcs attack, with the one vs Hrelgi at -1:<br />
Felewin shoots and hits (margin 2) and damage is a 4, so scout now has 2 injury levels.<br />
Hrelgi rolls a 5 (margin 3) so she hits her target again. His armor protects him but he fails composure to keep his balance.<br />
Orcs vs Ninefingers Margin 3, 1, defense Margin 4; one hits for 1 (nothing) and 4 (1 Injury). Ninefingers hits with 3 (margin 6) defense 7 (margin 2). Damage is 4, 5: Orc with 2 Injury levels (so at -1).<br />
Orcs vs Uthrilir: 10, 11 so both miss. Defense was 2 (margin of 7)<br />
Orc vs Hrelgi: 12, so he misses.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn72"></a><a href="#fnlink72">[72]</a> Rock does 2 Injury, and it gets 5 and 6 for damage, so that orc now has 2 levels of injury.<br />
<strong>Reaction times</strong><br />
Ninefingers 8+6=14 <br />
Uthrilir 7+5=12<br />
Hrelgi 6+5=11<br />
Felewin: 8+4=10<br />
Orcs 9+1=10<br />
Orc Scout 8+2=10<br />
Ninefingers 8+3=11 9+4=13, no hit<br />
Uthrilir rolls 7, under 8, for his prayer. He affects 4 tasks and adds 4,6,5,4 to those tasks. GM says it’s the defense tasks.<br />
Hrelgi rolls 4 on 8≤ (margin 4) and turns his armor into lava. He takes another 4 points of damage, and is out.<br />
Felewin fires at the scout again. 5 and needs 10- (margin 5), orc hasn’t started moving, so hits. Damage roll is 4, which misses armour. Orc fails composure, so he’s stunned for the turn.<br />
Orcs attack; one is down. They roll 9, 10, 8, 4, 9<br />
Vs Ninefingers Margin 0. He rolls 8 to defend (margin 1). <br />
Vs Ninefingers:8, margin is 1, Ninefingers gets 4, margin 4. No hit.<br />
Vs. Uthrilir 10 (misses); 9 (margin 0); He gets 6, margin of 2. No hit.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn73"></a><a href="#fnlink73">[73]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong><br />
Felewin: 8+6=14<br />
Orcs: 7+6=13<br />
Ninefingers: 8+2=10<br />
Hrelgi: 6+4=10<br />
Uthrilir: 7+1=8<br />
Hrelgi: rolls 8, margin of 0</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn74"></a><a href="#fnlink74">[74]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong><br/>
Ninefingers: 9+2=11<br />
Orcs: 8+3=11<br />
Uthrilir: 7+3=10<br />
Felewin: 8+1=9<br />
Hrelgi: 6+3=9<br />
<br /><br />
Felewin reloads; Hrelgi turns another one’s armour into lava (6 on 8≤, and opposition is 8≤ and margin of 1). (One against Uthrilir.)<br />
Ninefingers rolls a 4 (margin 4), Orc rolls 5 (margin 4), so no damage.<br />
Orcs attack (there are three of them now, I think: one vs Felewin is stunned, one vs Hrelgi is gone, one vs Uthrilir is gone):<br />
Vs. Ninefingers 4,3 8 Margin 5, 3 Margin 5 No effect; Margin 1, Margin 0: 1 hit for two injury, and the armor fails on both counts. Ninefingers is now at -1D.<br />
Vs. Uthrilir 7, 7: margin 2 vs Margin 2, nothing<br />
Uthrilir prays again to no effect this time (12).<br />
Scout fails composure (10) again.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn75"></a><a href="#fnlink75">[75]</a> (We'll try a table.)</p>
<table><tr><th colspan="2">Reaction Times</th></tr>
<tr><td>Felewin</td><td>8+1=9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Hrelgi</td><td>6+2=10</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ninefingers</td><td>8+4-1=11</td></tr>
<tr><td>Uthrilir</td><td>7+1=8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Orcs</td><td>7+5=12</td></tr></table>
<p class="footnote">Hrelgi and Felewin are using ranged abilities, so Hrelgi manages to turn one of Ninefingers’ opponents armour into Lava, and he falls down.<br />
Felewin fires at the other opponent for Ninefingers, rolling 5 when he needs 10, margin of 5. Orc rolls 8 to defend, margin of 1. Damage roll is 4, so it gets through. One of the orcs against Ninefingers is down, the other has 1 level of injury.<br />
Orcs attack: there are now two of them and the scout trying to make his composure. He rolls 7, and his composure is 4+5-1 or 8, so he makes it.<br />
Vs. Ninefingers, The surviving orc rolls 7 to hit, which is margin 2, and Ninefingers rolls a 3, so that’s margin 4 for all attacks. The orc misses.<br />
Vs. Uthrillir: Orc rolls 7, margin of 1 (he’s injured) but Uthrillir rolls 10, so orc hits. Damages is 5,3,5, so two get through: Uthrillir is now at -1 diff.<br />
Uthrillir rolls 5 to hit his orc (margin 2), who rolls 8 to defend (margin 1), Uthrillir rolls for damage: 4,1,4, so two get through; his orc is is at 2 Diff and has taken 3 injury levels.</p>
<a id="fn76"></a><a href="#fnlink76">[76]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong></>
<table><tr><th colspan="2">Reaction times</th></tr>
<tr><td>Felewin</td><td>8+3=11</td></tr>
<tr><td>Hrelgi</td><td>6+2=8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ninefingers</td><td>8+1-1=8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Uthrillir</td><td>7+4-2=9</td></tr>
<tr><td>Orcs</td><td>8+5=12,11,or 10, depending on how hurt they are.</td></tr>
</table>
<p class="footnote">Felewin reloads.<br />
Hrelgi rolls 6 and the orc who just hurt Uthrillir goes down.<br />
Orc tries to back up to scout. Scout trying to reload.<br />
Uthrillir rolls 7 (Margin 0) against Ninefinger’s orc (who rolls 8, margin -) armour is 1, 2, 4 so that’s 1 more injury level, so now he has 3 (-2)<br />
Ninefingers says, “We need one alive….” But hits his orc (6+2: margin 0), and the orc rolls 8+2, failure)</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-64417874039275404782024-03-23T17:27:00.008-04:002024-03-28T09:09:18.477-04:00Iron Gauntlets - 8 - Departure<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron & Gold</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom:1.5rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc8"></a>8 - Departure</h3>
<p class="slug">Struggle Advice (PC Negative)</p>
<p class="bodytext">It was not yet noon when they set out. Kagandis had requested permission to go, and Onomaclus had granted it; she said her farewells to Lady Anwen and promised to return.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Orcs had not reappeared, though they had a distaste for sunlight and were more likely to return at night.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The wood around them was pleasant enough: today was clear, unlike the previous days, which had been overcast or with rain, and birds sang. Felewin once heard an arborhawk keening in a dive, which told him that there was enough life returned to the area that hawks could hunt here again.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers</span><a id="fnlink63"></a><a href="#fn63"><sup>[63]</sup></a> spotted the first spiders, and they avoided them; Kagandis spotted the toads, which looked like petrified tree stumps. Felewin walked into a clearing where two cockatrices where making flights past each other in a mating ritual; he spotted them late, and one attacked him</span><a id="fnlink64"></a><a href="#fn64"><sup>[64]</sup></a> but instead turned his jacket to stone. There were some tense moments, but Felewin managed to leave the clearing.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“How are you?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“My arm tingles, but I seem to be all right.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s mating season,” said Kagandis (in goblin). “All clearings are dangerous.” Ninefingers passed ithis on.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Good to know, if a bit late,” said Felewin. His jacket was stone now, so with Uthrilir’s help, he broke the jacket into pieces, and they moved on.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Some time later, Uthrilir asked, “Where are we going?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I don’t know specifically,” said Felewin. “Hermits are hermits, of course, and Odend never gave anyone directions to his home. Credit where it’s due: Burl loves to pontificate on these things, and much of this information is from him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Odend has to be in the Ironwood proper, because of the timing of his visits….passage from the regular forest is clear long before he shows up, but there are things that delay spring in the Ironwood by almost a month. Kagandis can tell you. Odend makes three trips each time: To order supplies, to pick up the supplies with a borrowed mule, and then to return the mule. Primus, it’s a path the mule can take. Secundus, the trips between leaving with the mule and returning it are no more than four days apart, so he’s no more than two days away. (I’m betting less.) Tertius, we have a record of failure: One of the men hurt in the massacre tried to find him (to heal something the curate couldn’t) and failed, so I know a path that doesn’t work. Quartus: We know what he orders for provisions, so we know what he probably harvests and catches. Those let us rule some places out.” He looked around. “Good place to stop for a bit. No spiders, toads, or cockatrices.” He found an actual log and sat on it before he continued.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But most important, we have Kagandis.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“She knows where the cleric is? Why didn’t you say so?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, but she knows much more about the cleric than the folk of the Tower do, and she has seen him walking around. The sanctuary that her people live in is important to him, somehow.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “I asked and she agreed to help us find his home.” He spoke to Kagandis, who replied, and then disappeared. “We’re in the right territory now, so she has gone to find traces.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Great,” said the elf sarcastically.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Great,” said the dwarf, and he sounded like he meant it.</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn63"></a><a href="#fnlink63">[63]</a> 2d6 (6) under 4+5: success by a margin of 3; Spiders had 7 equal to 3+4 (margin of 0).</p>
<p class="footnote">Kagandis needs 4+4 (8) and rolls 4.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-6673440415501708602024-03-22T17:24:00.016-04:002024-03-28T09:09:05.115-04:00Ironwood Gorge - 7 - The Quest Of Uthrilir<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron Gauntlets, Iron & Gold</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom:1.5rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc7">7 - The Quest Of Uthrilir</a></h3>
<p class="slug">Oppose Wishes (PC Negative)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Some effort had been made at appearances: the ceiling was vaulted with wood and the curved outside wall bore a fresco of a stone sanctuary in a forest. A short distance before it was the altar, with candles and incense both burning. A locked cabinet was over to one side. On the wall by the door was a box strapped to the wall — Felewin had seen such priest-beds before; at night, they would be folded down and the curate slept there.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Uthrilir and Adeod</span><a id="fnlink61"></a><a href="#fn61"><sup>[61]</sup></a> were having an earnest discussion by the altar, and Hrelgi, the wizard , was sitting by the wall. She was playing dice against herself, without touching them. One die flew into the air and</span><a id="fnlink62"></a><a href="#fn62"><sup>[62]</sup></a> Ninefingers caught it. “I’ll return it,” he said. “You check the dwarf.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis followed him as he walked over to Hrelgi. “Here.” He set the die — a carved toe-knuckle — beside the other die, and stepped away. “They call me Ninefingers.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Not giving your true name,” she said. “Smart.” Her voice was musical, even if her words were not. Her accent was slight: a burr to the Rs, a slight softening of the vowels.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“This is Kagandis.” Kagandis managed a smile.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hrelgi of Al-Chilean. Are you a slave?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers stopped suddenly. “Slave?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I haven’t seen much of this land, which is different than Căled, but the only goblins I’ve seen were slaves.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“While the orcs have goblin slaves, I am not one. I’m partner with Felewin, there, and Kagandis represents her tribe to the Margrave.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Huh.” Hrelgi spoke a word and the two dice flew into her hand. She tucked them in her wallet. “Have you met him, the Margrave?” she asked Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“She doesn’t speak a lot of the common tongue.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Seems a problem if she’s representing her tribe,” Hrelgi said to Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If I can use an Elven phrase, sometimes you use the tree you’re standing on instead of finding the perfect tree.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi stared at him and then laughed. “I have never heard elves say that. Where did you hear that?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Elven fellow I knew back in Westport. Couldn’t tell you his name.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Try me.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, I honestly can’t tell you his name. He was very particular about not sharing it. My family used him to establish the authenticity and provenance of certain artifacts.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi nodded. “Magic user. You’ll never get my true name, but Hrelgi is my birth name.” Ninefingers took a moment to tell Kagandis what was happening.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi said, “My friend, Uthrilir, he needs to talk to Odend. I’m going to make sure that happens.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers thought, She’s more dwarven than the dwarves I’ve met.</p>
<p class="spacer">#</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin stood a respectful distance from Uthrilir and Adeod while they spoke. Finally, Adeod said, “I’ve told you all I know, but I wouldn’t go right now even if I could: it’s mating season for the cockatrices.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Still, I’ve got to find him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin stepped forward. “I’ll help, whatever it is.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You don’t even know,” said Uthrilir to Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You two saved my life, and Brede asked me to help you. I don’t have a role here, so I’m free. And I’m sure that Ninefingers, my companion, will help, too.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The dwarf looked over at Ninefingers, Kagandis, and Hrelgi, and said, “Hrelgi is with me, so she must agree…but I tentatively accept your help.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin knew a little about dwarves; his father had sometimes dealt with them. Tentative acceptance was akin to a backslap and a beer from Brede, so long as the wizard agreed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The wizard was the only thing that bothered Felewin: he didn’t like wizards and preferred not to deal with them. He was unsettled by someone twisting reality directly. Still, they had dealt with Hastwine, and the wizard was essential to this alliance. </p>
<p class="bodytext">And, selfishly, the thought that a quest like this would be good when talking to Baron Coodna.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin hoped Ninefingers had made a good impression— he had heard the elves and goblins got along, though he had also heard that elves and dwarves didn’t get along, and here were a dwarf and an elf as companions. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin and Uthrilir bade good-bye to the cleric, who had other chores because of the new guests, and went over to the goblins and the wizard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi pointed at each person in turn. “Felewin. Uthrilir. Kagandis. Ninefingers. and Hrelgi of Al-Chulen.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Have you told them what we seek?” asked Uthrilir.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“This is your quest,” said Hrelgi. “You speak of it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You are allowed to speak of things,” he said gently to her in a way that spoke of her scars. </p>
<p class="bodytext">She didn’t say anything but looked down at the ground. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Uthrilir looked at everyone. “I am an oddity among dwarves, because I am primarily a cleric of Dilir, whom you know as Daeleth. If you do not know dwarves, we tend to worship Vilthaer, or Viltae. Through activities I never knew, my mentor came into possession of the Ring of Hool.” He held up a ring on a chain. “When he died (as a result of the ring), I swore to destroy it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“How?” asked Ninefingers. “Relics are indestructible, it’s the host that dies.” He looked around. “I’ve heard. We never handled relics as a matter of principle; passed them along to the elf I told her about.” Hrelgi nodded.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Not indestructible,” said Uthrilir. “Odend knows how to destroy them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers looked on with interest. “He does?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I am told. A cleric of our faith had one, met Odend, and afterward the cleric had none.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And the cleric was still alive?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He was the one I met with, in the city.” He gestured to Hrelgi. “This was just before I met Hrelgi.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “Tell me about this cleric.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That is not important. What is important is that he said that Odend had assumed the burden.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Ah,” said Ninefingers. “That explains the transfer. How long ago did he do this?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“A dozen winters ago, or more.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">(At Kagandis’ request, Ninefingers explained it to her.)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin saw the look on Ninefingers’ face, and said, “Is it possible that Odend still has the cursed relic?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But we have heard that he helped rid this march of orcs. He could not do that if he were in possession of the relic.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, you’re right,” Felewin said. “The relic might stop him.” Ninefingers started to speak, but Felewin held up his hand. “We will help you find Odend and see what he knows of cursed relics. We might be in the Ironwood some days; gather what you can. We will leave after Brede has gone.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Oh. Bliss. More trekking,” said Hrelgi.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You knew that when you came with me,” said Uthrilir gently.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She glared at him — in a lovely elven way, but it was a glare.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Great,” said the elf, but she didn’t sound like she meant it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What now?” asked Uthrilir.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We wait,” said Felewin.</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn61"></a><a href="#fnlink61">[61]</a> Experiment: Because <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> isn’t supported any more, I’m going to try Iron & Gold for a bit. Gimmicks are different, it uses <cite>Genre Diversion i</cite> rules, but the game is supported. Characters might behave slightly differently because I’ve changed gimmicks. Change happens after the first roll, which I had already done.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn62"></a><a href="#fnlink62">[62]</a> Felewin gets 1 success on Athletics and Ninefingers gets 2. Ninefingers gets it.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-7389807659104077752024-03-21T17:19:00.003-04:002024-03-28T09:04:51.468-04:00Ironwood Gorge - 6 - A Change Of Direction<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron Gauntlets</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom:1.5rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc6"></a>6 - A Change Of Direction</h3>
<p class="slug">Antagonize Magic</p>
<p class="bodytext">Their names, it turned out, were Hrelgi of Căled and Uthrilir (“Some call me Uthrilir the Cursed; I can’t say they’re wrong”) They had not come looking for adventure or the bounty on goblins; they were seeking Odend.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Remind me who Odend is,” asked Felewin, while they waited for soldiers to open the door to the tower. “I imagine the cleric of the tower can do something about your axe wound.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Viltae might help,” replied the dwarf.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If you say so, but you’re bleeding.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I will ask Viltae for help.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin didn’t know what to say to that; his people had had no clerics touched by the gods, only lay preachers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">When they got in, Ninefingers and Kagandis were waiting at the door. Ninefingers gave Felewin a small hug. “You are so stupid,” he admonished the man.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin managed to smile. “Really?” He pulled off the helm and gloves and handed them to Burl.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Stupid as a knight,” Ninefingers said. “Thank Kagandis, by the way. She managed to hit orcs with her bow when the crossbow men couldn’t.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">In goblin, Felewin said, “You are good, and it is an earned thing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis smiled, showing dimples. She said something to Ninefingers, who told Felewin, “She says you are too big to die easily. Also thank you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But I was muchly outnumbered,” Felewin said, “and I thank these two as well. I present Hrelgi and Uthrilir.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hrelgi seemed nervous, and Uthrilir nodded. “Greetings.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The seneschal and the sergeant-at-arms walked in. Brede had a small smile, which Felewin was starting to recognize as effusive joy for Brede. “Decent,” Brede said. “Thought you might be trying for better ground when you ran into the inn.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You thought right.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’d have been in the nightsoil if they’d gone over the walls.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin shrugged. “I was already in the nightsoil out in the open. When you start at the bottom, nearly every direction is up.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Why don’t you use a shield? Are you an idiot?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Lost it months ago, haven’t had a chance to get a new one.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Brede tsked. “Take one from the armory. Not a battlement shield, something smaller. Tell them I said you could.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The newcomers were swept into the courtyard. Felewin saw the curate come to greet the dwarf.</p>
<p class="bodytext">No one dared disturb Brede, and soon they were alone except for the guard posted at the door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I want to take advantage of the window you’ve given us. Send someone for supplies.” Felewin sighed. “No, not you. You’re hurt. I’ve got healthy men who can go.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s just a bruise,” said Felewin, but really, he was not looking forward to seeing Baron Coodna.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And it will take a couple of days to heal. I want someone to leave now, while it’s still clear. You can help guard them on the return.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Too bad there are no birds so we can come meet you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes.” Brede thought for a moment. “Dogs. We will take a dog; there are four or five in the tower. Mother Pudding is best at getting home; she’s guided me when I’ve been lost in the forest. We’ll set her free when we’re a day away, tell her to come home. If you see her in less than four days, something bad has happened.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Brede nodded. “Yes. I’m going. Losdur can have temporary command while I’m away; he didn’t lose his head during the Goblin Folly.” He grinned. “Yes, that’s what I’m calling it. We have simple signals of things to tie around Pudding’s neck, if there’s time. Losdur knows the signals. Maybe you won’t be going in blind.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And us?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Get better. Don’t do something foolish. Help where you can. Orcs can’t breach the tower, and the men know what to do.” In a low voice he added, “Maybe help these new people so the men aren’t distracted.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Something about the way he said it made Felewin think that the “distractions” involved unwelcome attentions to the wizard woman. “The wizard seems like she can take care of herself.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Even worse; I don’t need my men on sick list because they approached her wrong, especially if I’m not around to keep them in check.” He scowled. “There’s almost certainly going to be a group of orcs to stop us on the way back.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’ll go, Baron or not.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’re hurt, and, no offense, but I don’t know you. You acquitted yourself well out there — I think you killed four of them — but someone with more experience wouldn’t have got in the chamberpot. If those two hadn’t shown up, you’d be dead.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Probably,” Felewin admitted.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“On the plus side, you seem to be lucky, which trumps everything. But I’ll take four men I know over eight I don’t. There will be six of us, counting Burl. We’re leaving before the sun climbs two more hands-widths. Talk to Losdur about anything you need. Help keep the new folk out of the way. We’ll be back in four days to a week.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin nodded, accepted Brede’s backslap of approval, and walked into the courtyard. Kagandis and Ninefingers were in shadow there, to protect their eyes. Felewin walked over.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Saw you talking with Brede. What’s the bad news?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s taking the mule and some soldiers to town for supplies. Losdur’s in charge of the remaining soldiers, we’re not to get in the way, and to keep anyone from forcing themselves on the wizard, because apparently women are rare here.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers translated for Kagandis. She replied. Ninefingers translated back. “She saw what the wizard can do, and pities anyone who tries something with her.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Me too,” said Felewin. “Brede’s concern is less that they’ll hurt her, and more that she’ll kill or injure her assailants.” He shrugged. “In better times I’d say good for her, but we do need the people.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well, yon dwarf is asking about Odend.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Remind me who Odend is, again. I can’t remember.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ve met so many people that we’ve filled your memory to overflowing?” Ninefingers grinned. “Hermit, lives in the woods. We’ve never actually met him, just heard about him. Kagandis and I were talking about him. What you probably didn’t know is that he was one of three heroes who came here about a half generation ago — Odend, Mord, and Umathes. They got rid of the orcs, and Umathes was made Margrave. No idea if they diced for that or if Umathes took the credit or maybe it was deserved. Umathes called Lady Anwen here after her mother died, she married Onomaclus. Title is legit through her mother’s line. Mord and Odend kept adventuring in the Ironwood, but about five years ago, Odend met something that left him weakened and less right in the head. He felt he was holding the others back, so he became a hermit to try and get his mojo back.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis interrupted to say something.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes, Uncle Odend according to Lady Anwen. Then Mord disappeared. The jester — they have a jester, did you know that? — has most unpleasant names for them. And then a year ago, the Margrave got ‘sick’. He stays in his room at the top of the tower.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis spoke again, at length.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Lady Anwen is sure that Onomaclus knows what happened to her father, but he, Onomaclus, has forbidden her to go see him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“She did anyway, didn’t she?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Of course, but the Margrave wouldn’t see her. And about three months ago, the Margrave stopped seeing anyone. Before, he’d at least go along the battlements at night or see the prisoner, but now…. Pffft. Nothing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis made the same sound, and said “Nothing” in goblin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So if Odend is broken and a hermit, why does the dwarf, Uthrilir, want him?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Good question. Let’s ask him. He’s in the chapel.”</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p>No game mechanics this chapter.</p>
</body>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-71565361893786881742024-03-20T22:52:00.076-04:002024-03-28T09:07:43.066-04:00Ironwood Gorge - Chapter 5 - A Villain's Lair, A Lost Cause<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron Gauntlets</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;font-size: 1.1rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc5"></a>5 - A Villain’s Lair, A Lost Cause</h3>
<p class="slug">Inquire Evil (PC Positive)</p>
<p class="bodytext">It was still overcast but without threatening to rain. Besides his armour, Felewin was wearing a borrowed leather helm and borrowed gauntlets. The helm was hot and it itched; he was reminded why he kept not wearing his until he had lost it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers was not with him. They didn’t have anything for Ninefingers to wear, so he had reluctantly held back. The reasoning was simple:</p>
<p class="bodytext">War dogs would get there first. They would probably attack the weakest one, and because Ninefingers was smaller, he looked weaker.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Up at the loopholes, Kagandis had her bow out, and two of Brede’s archers were at the other loopholes. They had four loaded crossbows there, and Burl and Losdur to re-load the spent crossbows.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Before he got far from the door, Felewin banged a metal gong, something Daerdun had thrown together from two scraps of metal. It was not musical, but it was loud, and that’s what they wanted: noise to attract the orcs.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He listened, after the ringing had died in his ears. Birdsong. The wind in the trees.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Nothing else.</p>
<p class="bodytext">It was possible the orcs were there, but waiting for him to go farther. After all, if they came out, they would be exposed to the archers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He took a deep breath and sighed, then walked slowly to a spot between the inn and the tower.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The inn didn’t look too bad, actually. The thatching had burned but the rafters looked okay; it didn’t look like the fire had spread to the actual wood. The reeds of the thatch might not have caught well.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin banged the gong again. A flock of birds that were feeding inside the inn took off, smudging the sky.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Two possibilities: the orcs are watching or they’re not. If they are, maybe they’ll wait until I try to get back in. If they are not, then I’m fine.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Even if they aren’t watching now, they might come back.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">He walked to the inn and entered. At least the inside of the inn was brighter without the roof. </p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs had clearly been in here: stools were broken and pottery was smashed. The barrels for beer had been stove in.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Some things remained. Vegetables still hung from the rafters, though the rough twine holding hunches of onion and garlic had burned through and the roots were trampled on the floor — he could find them by smell, if he wanted to.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He quickly checked the rooms. Apparently the orcs had not been there. Everything was gone from Vengis’ room, but he didn’t know if that was the orcs or if Ubert had taken it as payment.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert and Egren’s room was tidy, with a bed, a table with a bowl for water, and a chest. Egren didn’t seem to like him much; maybe if he brought the chest back with him..?</p>
<p class="bodytext">He tried lifting it. It was heavy but not impossible, so long as he didn’t need his arms free.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Why not,</span> he thought, and lumbered out of the room to the door of the inn.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then there was a pause: the door opened inward and his arms were full. He set the chest down and as it settled on the ground, he heard a hollering from the tower.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Get back! Get back!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Chest forgotten, Felewin tapped the helm to make sure it was there, and then slipped outside.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The yelling was clearer here. He looked left and right to figure out what he had to avoid.</span><a id="fnlink15"></a><a href="#fn15"><sup>[15]</sup></a> He couldn’t see anything, but he decided to trust the people in the tower. He ran as fast as he could without dropping sword or armour, but that wasn’t fast enough.</span><a id="fnlink16"></a><a href="#fn16"><sup>[16]</sup></a> The first war dog</span><a id="fnlink17"></a><a href="#fn17"><sup>[17]</sup></a> leapt right before him and he started, felt the other pass behind him, and he sprinted.</span><a id="fnlink18"></a><a href="#fn18"><sup>[18]</sup></a> He wasn’t fast enough to outpace them, but maybe…<a id="fnlink19"></a><a href="#fn19"><sup>[19]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">He tried running faster, but the first War Dog was already on him, leaping for his neck</span><a id="fnlink20"></a><a href="#fn20"><sup>[20]</sup></a> but its teeth did not quite grab, though he’d have bruising there tomorrow. The weight tossed him forward, though, so the other dog missed. He slashed at the dog that had attacked him</span><a id="fnlink21"></a><a href="#fn21"><sup>[21]</sup></a>. A crossbow bolt whistled past him and stuck into the hard ground.<a id="fnlink22"></a><a href="#fn22"><sup>[22]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The injured dog snapped at him, and Felewin struck it again but he did not wait to see if he had killed it; he swung blindly to try and get the other dog and connected with nothing. This dog nipped at him even as the smell from the injured dog’s bowels rose up.<a id="fnlink23"></a><a href="#fn23"><sup>[23]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The healthy dog bounced around and managed to bite him, but again the hauberk stopped its teeth. Now that he saw it, Felewin could hit it and then he pierced the heart of the first dog.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Got to run,</span> he thought.<a id="fnlink24"></a><a href="#fn24"><sup>[24]</sup></a> But the dog was too fast, even though it missed: it managed to stymie Felewin’s move, so Felewin took the opportunity to stab it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Where the dogs go, the orcs are close. He could not see them, the world having closed down to him and the dogs, but he knew they were out there. He spared a moment to finish off this dog, and then looked around.</p>
<p class="bodytext">More arrows fell at his feet, but these didn’t come from the tower.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Now even a man focused on combat could see the dozen orcs running for him.<a id="fnlink25"></a><a href="#fn25"><sup>[25]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin would have run to the tower, but then the orcs would be catch him before he got there; they were fast.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He sprinted back to the inn.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs changed course to follow him. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Behind him, one orc tumbled because of an arrow<a id="fnlink26"></a><a href="#fn26"><sup>[26]</sup></a> hit his neck; he landed wrong and broke his neck. Other arrows rained down.<a id="fnlink27"></a><a href="#fn27"><sup>[27]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin did not notice as he barred the inn door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The inn provided almost no protection: the roof was burned off here and over the stable-smithy at the other side of the courtyard. But it gave Felewin terrain to work with. Everywhere but the common area was too cramped for him to be surrounded by too many orcs.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The inn was a pair of low buildings connected by walls, creating a courtyard with the inn proper at one end and a stable and smithy at the other. This end had a door that could be barred; the other end probably did, but Felewin had not looked for it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He sprinted to it and looked now.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There were barn doors; he shut them but couldn’t see a bar. He grabbed a pair of iron rods sitting there — maybe raw material for horseshoes — and put them in the brackets meant for a wooden bar. If the orcs shook the door, they could shake the rods free, but it was what he had.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He ran back to the inn proper. Orcs were already banging at the door, but it seemed solid.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">If I were them, I’d split up: one group stays at the front, the rest search for another way in.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">Behind him, he heard the stable door shake.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">That won’t hold them long.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">One of the rooms was best. Single entrance, and he could control their entrance. Best a room on a corner, so two edges had the stone foundation, about waist-high.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He pulled the inn door shut behind him and skipped the first hall, where Vengis’ room had been. The second hall was the one he wanted. The room at the end had most recently been home to Erdwain, the hero who had delivered Culwich the Black to the Margrave and whose body Felewin had found by the wererat lair.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The room might have been dim under normal circumstances, but without a roof it was fine. The straw tick in the center of the room was now filled with ashes, but nothing in the rest of the room had been burned.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Not that there was much in the rest of the room. A pendant of an eye, holy to followers of Jesil, was tossed in the corner. There was a chest — Ubert provided one in every room — and Felewin flipped it open.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert hadn’t gone through it yet. A pair of gloves, clearly inscribed with magical symbols, though whether of luck or something else Felewin didn’t know. A bedroll. A pack, bulging with something.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin listened: the orcs were still pounding at the door.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">There are probably a dozen. Four at the front, four at the back, and I’ll bet four climbing over the wall.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">He couldn’t have much time. He tucked the gloves in his belt; later he would figure out what they were. If he lived, he’d take the bedroll; Hastwine still had his. The pack was heavy, and tied shut.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He slashed the cord holding it and dumped its contents into the chest.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Gold and gems, and a collection of throwing daggers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin revised his opinion. Apparently Erdwain had been a successful adventurer. He recognized the shape of a pouch: lockpicks. Interesting.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a splintering sound: orcs had made it through the front door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Huh. He had expected the back entrance.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The hero of an epic poem would jam daggers into the wall to make a ladder for escape, but Felewin didn’t have time, and the daggers wouldn’t hold his weight. All he could do is stand behind the door, ready to stab whomever came through. (Behind the door because several of the orcs had spears, and spears could be thrust through the opening, eviscerating our poor hero.)</p>
<p class="bodytext">He stood, sword drawn.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He heard the orcs coming down the hall. The first door banged; the second banged. The third</span><a id="fnlink28"></a><a href="#fn28"><sup>[28]</sup></a> slammed open and the lead orc stabbed into the room; Felewin knocked the spear from his hands and then tried and failed to dodge. Fortunately, the second orc missed. The rear two orcs tried to get their weapons up, and one of them shouted for the rest.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin</span><a id="fnlink29"></a><a href="#fn29"><sup>[29]</sup></a> nearly finished off the orc before him, but the orc behind one managed to stab him; his stab glanced off Felewin’s hauberk.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin</span><a id="fnlink30"></a><a href="#fn30"><sup>[30]</sup></a> noticed the orc at the back disappear. A last strike killed the one in the front, and he sagged back against his companion, who had to shunt him to the side. Felewin took the opportunity to grab his spear and yank it away. The orc in the back snarled something at the second orc.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin</span><a id="fnlink31"></a><a href="#fn31"><sup>[31]</sup></a> stabbed the now-front orc twice; the first was true but the second hit the orc’s scale. That orc pulled out a dagger and swung wildly, missing.</span><a id="fnlink32"></a><a href="#fn32"><sup>[32]</sup></a> The second orc swung his axe but missed because of the one before him. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Noises behind Felewin hinted that the orc might be heading to the adjacent room to climb the wall. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin</span><a id="fnlink33"></a><a href="#fn33"><sup>[33]</sup></a> managed to avoid the dagger and slew that orc; the orc sagged as he died and spoiled the aim of the third orc. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “You’re next,” to the orc with the ax. Please let the other one be busy.</span><a id="fnlink34"></a><a href="#fn34"><sup>[34]</sup></a> He stabbed once and drew blood; he stabbed again and killed the orc. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin stepped over the corpses and looked down the hallway. Other orcs hadn’t shown up yet but they couldn’t be far away. </p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">You’ve been lucky so far. Don’t push it.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">He ran for the splintered halves of the front door. As he reached it, he heard the scream of the orc who had vanished. </p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Nine of them, one of me. Run!</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">Then he heard many orcs yelling, as though the other groups of orcs had gathered in the inn and seen him leaving.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Like a lot of big men, Felewin wasn’t very fast, but he tried to be.<a id="fnlink35"></a><a href="#fn35"><sup>[35]</sup></a> As he crossed the space he spotted one orc dead from an arrow to the head. </p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Eight to one. Still bad.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">The door at the base of the tower was not opening, which was a bad thing, and then he saw why: one more dog was threatening the door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">In the time it would take him to deal with the dog, the orcs would be on him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The only thing he could think of was to run around the tower and try to draw the dog and the orcs away from the door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">As he angled away from the door, he barked to get the dog’s attention.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The dog charged at him. The dog was much faster than the orcs, and was more of a threat.</span><a id="fnlink36"></a><a href="#fn36"><sup>[36]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">The dead orc flew from the ground and hit the dog. The dog yelped and worked its way from under the dead orc.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin kept running; he could hear the other orcs behind him.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">The orc was dead,</span> he thought, <span class="thought">so what… Oh. Magic.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin hated magic, but he had to admit this spell had been useful.<a id="fnlink37"></a><a href="#fn37"><sup>[37]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Now he could spot who was doing it: a woman and a dwarf down the road, heading this way. The dwarf had on some kind of armour, so the woman was the wizard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He hoped they would be able to help deal with the orcs.<a id="fnlink38"></a><a href="#fn38"><sup>[38]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">He might even be able to out-run the orcs.</p>
<p class="bodytext">But</span><a id="fnlink39"></a><a href="#fn39"><sup>[39]</sup></a> he had not counted on the dog, which had wriggled free and caught up with him easily.</span><a id="fnlink40"></a><a href="#fn40"><sup>[40]</sup></a> It leapt past him, trying to get at his throat, but missed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin slashed at it as he ran past.</span><a id="fnlink41"></a><a href="#fn41"><sup>[41]</sup></a> He hit, but continued to try and get around the palisade. </p>
<p class="bodytext">The wizard, Hrelgi, was closer now, so she tried magic again as she ran</span><a id="fnlink42"></a><a href="#fn42"><sup>[42]</sup></a> … and all of the orcs fell down, as their feet moved from under them</span><a id="fnlink43"></a><a href="#fn43"><sup>[43]</sup></a>.</p>
<p class="bodytext">And the dwarf, Uthrilir, sprang amongst them. He hit an orc twice with his mace</span><a id="fnlink44"></a><a href="#fn44"><sup>[44]</sup></a>, and did a small amount of damage.</p>
<p class="bodytext">A pair of arrows hit orcs who were lying down.</span><a id="fnlink45"></a><a href="#fn45"><sup>[45]</sup></a> No orcs were felled or seriously hurt by them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs began to get up. “Whatever you did, do it again!” Uthrilir cried out to Hrelgi.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin saw none of this; he was sprinting around the back of the building, and he heard the dwarf’s cry, though indistinctly.<a id="fnlink46"></a><a href="#fn46"><sup>[46]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The dwarf, Uthrilir, hit the orc twice more, doing another small amount of damage.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc’s armour had held, and he got to his feet. He swung his axe at Uthrilir and hit him solidly, bruising him but not penetrating the scales. One orc growled something, and stayed with Uthrilir; a pair of orcs ran for the wizard, and the other four headed after Felewin.<a id="fnlink47"></a><a href="#fn47"><sup>[47]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The wizard gestured and one orc stumbled; the wizard then headed for the dwarf, avoiding the orcs.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The dwarf, on the other hand, muttered a prayer.</span><a id="fnlink48"></a><a href="#fn48"><sup>[48]</sup></a> It seemed to be effective: one orc missed and the other hit but did no damage. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin managed to make it around the corner but instead of seeing no one and a chance to make the door, he saw four orcs, two people, and a potential for trouble</span><a id="fnlink49"></a><a href="#fn49"><sup>[49]</sup></a>.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The dwarf’s chant changed slightly. Having asked his god for the favour, he</span><a id="fnlink50"></a><a href="#fn50"><sup>[50]</sup></a> then hit an orc, thumping him on one thigh.</span><a id="fnlink51"></a><a href="#fn51"><sup>[51]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">Screaming, Felewin ran straight for one of the orcs.</span><a id="fnlink52"></a><a href="#fn52"><sup>[52]</sup></a> He hit the other orc in the leg, running his sword right through the thing’s calf, and pulled out his sword. The orc didn’t respond: slow to feel pain.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The wizard gestured again</span><a id="fnlink53"></a><a href="#fn53"><sup>[53]</sup></a> and the orcs who had been following Felewin all fell down on their backs. Felewin heard, “Finally!” from the wizard and she joined them. “Back to back?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You in the middle,” Felewin said, and turned to face the orcs following her.</span><a id="fnlink54"></a><a href="#fn54"><sup>[54]</sup></a> Ignoring the orcs facing the dwarf was a mistake: one hid solidly, and the dwarf grunted as the axe bit his arm.</span><a id="fnlink55"></a><a href="#fn55"><sup>[55]</sup></a> “Names when there’s time.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Arrows fell down on the orcs: one hit one of the orcs who had been against the wizard and two hit one of the orcs against the dwarf.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The group</span><a id="fnlink56"></a><a href="#fn56"><sup>[56]</sup></a> were tense. The wizard said a magic word and all the orcs she was facing — six of the eight — fell down. She said a second word and their armour became hot lava.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The smell and the screams were horrific, but there were still two orcs largely untouched.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The dwarf said, “May Hool have mercy on them. And on you, for you are about to die.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Of the remaining orcs, one said uncertainly, “We will kill you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You will die, like your compatriots,” said the wizard, turning to face them. She repeated</span><a id="fnlink57"></a><a href="#fn57"><sup>[57]</sup></a> the word she had just used, and their armour became lava.</span><a id="fnlink58"></a><a href="#fn58"><sup>[58]</sup></a> One orc simply died. The other managed to throw off his cuirass, but he had been badly burned.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The dog limped up and sniffed one of the corpses, and then began howling.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin killed the dog. “You were well-trained, dog, and this is a mercy, for your master is dead.”<a id="fnlink59"></a><a href="#fn59"><sup>[59]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m still here,” snarled the orc in bad common tongue. “We have you surrounded and there will be reinforcements.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’re badly burned and you will die,” said the dwarf. “Greet Hool for us; tell him his amulet is still causing problems.” He swung at the orc, who managed to limp away; arrows fell beside the orc and then one penetrated his chest.<a id="fnlink60"></a><a href="#fn60"><sup>[60]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">“Names?” asked Felewin again.</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn15"></a><a href="#fnlink15">[15]</a> Observation: 3,4,10. Makes a typical roll, but he needs 3 for this.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn16"></a><a href="#fnlink16">[16]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Wow. 9,9,9. Felewin is slowest at running, so we’ll do the two War Dogs first, then Felewin.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn17"></a><a href="#fnlink17">[17]</a> Brawling attack, rolls 1,7,10: misses Second rolls 6,9,10 and also misses. 8</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn18"></a><a href="#fnlink18">[18]</a> Felewin tries an Athletics roll to run faster: 1,3,4,4,8</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn19"></a><a href="#fnlink19">[19]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> War Dog 4, War Dog 7, Felewin 3, 9 Felewin first, tries Athletics to dodge, gets 4,7,7,8. Nope.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn20"></a><a href="#fnlink20">[20]</a> Dog rolls 4,5,0 and gets 8 for damage, so armor doesn’t protect Felewin. Felewin spends a point of Luck to reduce that to Fatigue damage rather than Injury. Second dog misses, with 3,7,7</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn21"></a><a href="#fnlink21">[21]</a> He rolls 2,4,5,8, which is 3 successes…which he needs. He does 2 levels of Injury and 2 levels of Fat damage to the dog.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn22"></a><a href="#fnlink22">[22]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Dog 1, Felewin 3,6 Dog 10<br />Attack by injured dog: 4,9: only 1 <br />Felewin: 4,5,7,10; second attack, second dog: 4,6,10,10</p>
<p class="footnote">War dog 2: 3,4,5…that’s a hit. His armor stops it (5)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn23"></a><a href="#fnlink23">[23]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Dog 2, Felewin 3,9 Dog 3</p>
<p class="footnote">Dog 1: 2,4,8 (damage 6); Felewin 4,4,6,8 hits for 2 Fat and 2 Inj; Dog 2 can no longer attack. Felewin puts it</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn24"></a><a href="#fnlink24">[24]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 4,9 Dog 4. Felewin can’t manage to run (3,5,10,10) and the dog misses (2,8); Felewin hits it (1,3,3,10).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn25"></a><a href="#fnlink25">[25]</a> Note that running increases the difficulty to hit by 2; presumably the archers are waiting until the difficulty is only 4 or 5. Looking up crossbows and compound bows, short range ends at 60’</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn26"></a><a href="#fnlink26">[26]</a> Kagandis fires; she has a 5 in archery, but these guys are running, and so she’s been aiming (+1D) and waiting for them to come in short range. She rolls 2,2,2,4,5, so that’s 5 successes for a difficulty 4 shot. The orcs have splint mail and their toughness; she rolls 8,10 for the arrow’s damage, so that orc takes 2 Injury.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn27"></a><a href="#fnlink27">[27]</a> That archer rolls terribly: 3,5,9,10,10 (he aimed, too), but that’s a miss (difficulty 4, remember). The third archer does worse: 4,6,6,8,9..</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn28"></a><a href="#fnlink28">[28]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin: 3,8 Orc: 4, 6,6,9</p>
<p class="footnote">The spear comes in the room, Felewin steps out and disarms the orc (3 Diff): 1,2,3,5 so that’s 1 point of overkill; his second roll is an athletics dodge, and it’s less successful: 5,7,7,10…all failures. </p>
<p class="footnote">The first orc tries to get his spear (2,6,6,9) and fails; the orc behind him tries to stab him around the first, so that 3 Difficulty and he rolls 5,7,8,9.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn29"></a><a href="#fnlink29">[29]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 1,10; Orcs 2,7,10,10</p>
<p class="footnote">Felewin has to eliminate the first orc, so he strikes twice, once with 2,3,8,10 (two successes, so it hits, and sword does a 10 and a 10, so both hit. Second strike is 3,5,8,9, but only one Inj gets through (armour is 8,6). Never mind: this one has taken 3 Inj, and 3 Fat. and he misses because he’s now at -2D. Second orc rolls 1,2,4,9 so he hits but Felewin’s hauberk saves him (1,4).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn30"></a><a href="#fnlink30">[30]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 6,9; Orcs 10, 4, 6 </p>
<p class="footnote">One orc goes off to other room.</p>
<p class="footnote">Felewin rolls 4,5,6,10 to kill the front orc, and that occupies the next one. Felewin grabs spear (1,5,5,9) and yanks it away. Other orc has (Mythic: does he have an axe (yes) or spear (no)? 48: axe)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn31"></a><a href="#fnlink31">[31]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 6, 1 Orcs 5,2,10</p>
<p class="footnote">Felewin attacks one in front 1,3,8,10 both get through 10,10</p>
<p class="footnote">Second shot is 3,5,7,8 but stopped by armor (5,6)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn32"></a><a href="#fnlink32">[32]</a> Next orc: 2,2,5,10 is a miss with an axe and skill of 4</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn33"></a><a href="#fnlink33">[33]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> One orc 1 Felewin 3, 5 other orcs 6, 9</p>
<p class="footnote">Fast orc is second one, rolls 3,5,10,10 and misses with axe</p>
<p class="footnote">Felewin gets 1,3,5,10 so hits outside armour and does 2 inj and 2 Fat</p>
<p class="footnote">Third orc has to deal with compatriot, loses turn</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn34"></a><a href="#fnlink34">[34]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 2,8 Orc 3</p>
<p class="footnote">Felewin hits 4,5,7,10; one gets through )6,10)</p>
<p class="footnote">Orc misses 4,5,6,7</p>
<p class="footnote">Felewin hits 1,4,4,6: two overkill and both get through, convert overkill to lethal injury</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn35"></a><a href="#fnlink35">[35]</a> Moving 60 ft is a difficulty 3 Athletics task and 1,3,5,6,10 is what he gets on his Athletics roll. So he</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn36"></a><a href="#fnlink36">[36]</a> Uthrilir rolls 1,2,2,9 and succeeds at granting improved luck to He, who then uses extra luck to improve dice roll (the divinity task is difficulty 4-1, or 3). He gets 1 extra die of luck, which she spends immediately and rolls 1,5,5,8 with the athletics roll and manages 1,1,4 for the Motus spell, That succeeds in hitting the dog with the dead orc. Let’s say the damage is 2 Fatigue levels.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn37"></a><a href="#fnlink37">[37]</a> Felewin 4, 6, Hrelgi 7 ,7 Uthrilir 8,9 Orcs 10<br/>
Felewin gets 2,3,7,10 on athletics (about 60 feet)<br/>
Hrelgi gets 2,7 for Athletics, so about 45 feet, and manages 3,5,8 for motus; because there’s no overkill, let’s say her attempt is to knock over the orcs fails.<br/>
Uthrilir just runs. 1,3,7,10, so he manages about 60 feet.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn38"></a><a href="#fnlink38">[38]</a> Orcs get 1, 4,7,10 at running, so they manages about 45 feet.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn39"></a><a href="#fnlink39">[39]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Dog 1 Felewin. 3,3 Hrelgi.5,8 Uthrilir. 4,5 Orcs 8</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn40"></a><a href="#fnlink40">[40]</a> Fortunately it misses, with a 2,9,9</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn41"></a><a href="#fnlink41">[41]</a> His attack is brilliant: 2,2,5,5, where all are successes, so a success and 1 overkill, so that’s 3 Inj and 1 Fat; the dog is now at -2D to hit. For athletics (run like hell!) he gets 1,3,7,10 so 2 successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn42"></a><a href="#fnlink42">[42]</a> 2,2,5,8 for magic (3 successes); Running is 1,4,7 so that’s 60 feet.<br/>
Basically, both Hrelgi and Uthrilir are within 30 feet of the orcs. She casts Motus again to knock their legs out; the distance is only 2, so she succeeds with 1 overkill. It works.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn43"></a><a href="#fnlink43">[43]</a> Innovative, but probably not allowed on a re-reading of the rules. Que sera.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn44"></a><a href="#fnlink44">[44]</a> The orcs are -1D to hit because they’re prone, so he hits with a 1,7,9. For damage he does nothing. The second hit also succeeds (2,9,9) but does 1 damage (1,4,8,8)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn45"></a><a href="#fnlink45">[45]</a> One arrow: 2,3,6; the other 1,4,5. Each does one point of damage (rolling 8,1 and 3,8).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn46"></a><a href="#fnlink46">[46]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Uthrilir 1,4 Hrelgi 3,6 Felewin 4,5 Dog 5 Orcs 9</p>
<p class="footnote">Uthrilir first: 2,7,10… hits because they’re still prone and 2,3,9 second hit. No overkill, but two hits. First has 7,9,7: 1 injury; second has 4,2,7 (no effect)<br/>
Hrelgi fails miserably: 7,8,10<br/>
Orcs stand, as they’ve been trying to do. Uthrilir is now surrounded by orcs.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn47"></a><a href="#fnlink47">[47]</a> We’ll do this in groups. Hrelgi: 6 Orc1: 1, Orc2: 6<br />Uthrilir 5 Orc3: 8, Orc4 9<br />Felewin: 3, Orcs: 5,8,10,10<br /><br />Athletics rolls, (Hrelgi 2,3,10); Orcs: (4,7,10; 4,4,4) No successes<br />Uthrilir (1,5,6) 2 successes; Orcs (3,5,6,8; 3,7,8,9) No successes<br />Felewin3,5,7,10 1 success; Orcs (2,2,5,10; 2,2,3,5; 3,4,6,9; 4,7,8,9; 5,9,10,10) — no successes</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn48"></a><a href="#fnlink48">[48]</a> Rolls 4,5,5: is Difficulty 4, minus 1 for holy symbol, and he rolls 4,5,5, so his armor goes from 5 to 6.<br />First orc hits (4579) and bounces off armor (5,3,6,5); second orc misses with 8,9,9,10.<br/>
Felewin gets two successes at running (2,3,,4,5,9) so he is in sight of the dwarf and the wizard.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn49"></a><a href="#fnlink49">[49]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin gets 3,4; his orcs and dog get 9; the wizard gets 5 and 7; Uthrilir gets 1,7. Uthrilir goes first<br />
He casts the bonus to Hrelgi instead: 2,2,3,5,8 - no overkill but Hrelgi has +1 to her armour</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn50"></a><a href="#fnlink50">[50]</a> 1,4,6 to smack an orc; 1 injury gets through (3,5,7,10) (musclebound, remember, so 2 FAT)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn51"></a><a href="#fnlink51">[51]</a> Say Orc3 now has 1 level of Injury</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn52"></a><a href="#fnlink52">[52]</a> To hit: 2,2,4,6, which is 4 successes with a commanding sword, so he has two overkill so it’s four lethal; damages is 4,5,8,0, or two levels of injury. Odd it’s the same as Uthrilir just hit, even it’s the other: 6, so it’s the other. Two levels for Orc4.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn53"></a><a href="#fnlink53">[53]</a> Roll was 1,4,5,9. Yay! It hits the four orcs who were chasing Felewin.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn54"></a><a href="#fnlink54">[54]</a> Neither of them makes the Athletics roll so they travel slowly, but get there. They had not prepared any other action. (That’s Orc1 and Orc2)<br />
Four get up after being knocked over by magic. (Orc5-8).<br />
The other two decide to attack Uthrilir. The first misses (5,5,7,9); the second is at -1D but hits (1,2,3). 1 Fat gets through (10); 1 Injury gets through (4,5,8). Uthrilir has taken 1 Injury.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn55"></a><a href="#fnlink55">[55]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 1,5 Dog 2 Orcs 4 Uthrilir 5,8 Hrelgi 6,10 <br />
Felewin strikes twice: Once at Orc4, who is already at -1D: (1,2,4,8 Fat: 4,5 Inj 9,10) so Orc4 is at -3D and 4 levels of Injury. Felewin hits Orc3 (1,3,4,6; fat 3 Inj 4,8,10) so Orc3 is now at -2D.<br />
Orc1 misses (4,6,7,9) as does Orc2 (5,7,9,10). Orc3 misses (7,7) and Orc4 misses (4).<br />
Orc7 gets a 1, so he gets to the heroes first.<br />
Arrows fall, and it’s Diff 2 for them (3 for distance but -1 for shooting down) The first hits with aiming (2,2,4,9); the second is Kagandis, who hits (1,5,6,10), and the third hits (2,5,10). All three do one level of damage. Two hit Orc1 and one hits Orc4.<br />
Status: Orc 1 (1 level); Orc 2, Orc3 (-2D), Orc4 (-3D), Orc5-Orc8 unhurt. Dog: -3D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn56"></a><a href="#fnlink56">[56]</a> Reaction times: Hrelgi 1 Uthrilir 3,3; Felewin 4,9; Orcs 9, Dog 9<br />
Hrelgi rolls 2,3,5 and knocks down all the orcs facing her. Her second spell (1,4,4) transmutes their armour into lava, 4 Inj and they only have their native toughness 2,4,4,6; 1,2,4,8; 4,7,7,8; 2,3,5,5; 5,8,10,10; 5,6,8,10. So all 6 take from 2-4 levels of injury. For ease of bookkeeping, the 2 and 3 affect the ones who were injured at -3D and -2D; they’re dead.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn57"></a><a href="#fnlink57">[57]</a> Her spell: 4,5,5,9, which is enough.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn58"></a><a href="#fnlink58">[58]</a> One takes 9,9,9,0 so all four Inj get through. Orc1 dies, because he also had the arrow wound. The other only takes 2,2,3,7, so he might live.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn59"></a><a href="#fnlink59">[59]</a> He rolled 3,3,6,9,10 to hit, which is three successes and hits the dog; the dog has no armour, so takes 2 Fat and 2 Inj and dies.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn60"></a><a href="#fnlink60">[60]</a> That was Kagandis, with a 4,3,5,9 and a 5,6 for damage. Two more levels of injury, and he’s down.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-29033629620098202312024-03-19T18:42:00.012-04:002024-03-28T09:07:27.492-04:00Ironwood Gorge - Chapter 4 - Plan For Reconnaisance<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron Gauntlets</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;font-size: 1.1rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc4"></a>4 - Plan For Reconnaissance</h3>
<p class="slug">Delay Danger</p>
<p class="bodytext">They ate breakfast in the chapel. The cook, Guermill, brought bowls of glop for everyone. It was a surprisingly tasty glop, but it was glop. Guermill apologized profusely. “So many more people and since Vengis was ousted, I have almost no supplies.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Egren, over by the altar, bristled. “Of course, Goody Egren brought some grains, but it takes time to grind them and prepare them. I will have bread by tonight, but for now? There is almost nothing for lunch.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We need to get food,” said Felewin. “Are the orcs still watching?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You want to go out and see if dogs attack you?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If that’s what it takes,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You are such a midnight sundial,” Ninefingers said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If you’re going out,” Ubert said, “please look at the Villain. See how she survived.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Egren said, “That’s the woman you love, not me.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert sat there, miserable and scared, while she stood over him. Finally she made a disgusted noise and turned away.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If the Sergeant-at-Arms will let me out, I will look,” said Felewin gently. “Ninefingers, you don’t have to go.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You need someone to watch your back.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Before they were finished, Kagandis found them. They followed her into the courtyard, where she spoke to Ninefingers in low tones, in goblin. “I hope you slept well.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The floor was lovely,” said Ninefingers. “I hope things were well for you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The beds are entirely too soft.” She glanced around. “The Lady Anwen is lonely and no longer trusts her husband. She is certain that her father, the Margrave, is missing or ensorcelled. They have a thief imprisoned, alongside Vengis. Beware him. He was working with Erdwain; while Erdwain gained trust by pretending to be a great hero, the thief — Culwich the Black — would find valuables.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers quickly translated this.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis continued, “The Lady is also an amateur historian, and I learned much about the history of the area before the Margrave came here.” She said to Ninefingers, “Incidentally, what is provillilioh?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s an Aprak dessert,” said Ninefingers. “I haven’t had it since I moved from the nest.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Lady Anwen has had it, and she has fond memories of it. I had to admit I never heard of it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s very good. I loved it as a child.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Can you get some? I think she would like to taste it again.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers shrugged. “Associated with Felewin, I don’t exactly burrow with other Apraks.” She looked at him. “I know roughly how to make it. I will check with the cook and we’ll try to come up with something.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What are we talking about?” asked Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Dessert,” said Ninefingers. “She has a suggestion for a dessert for Lady Anwen.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sure,” said Felewin. “She’ll appreciate it, and you <em>are</em> trying to establish diplomatic relationships. Good idea.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You humans do things very differently than we do,” Kagandis said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin smiled. “Some things. Not everything. Let’s see Brede, the sergeant-at-arms.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Brede was on the third floor, which was almost all barracks. There were two small rooms off it: one had the door open, and it was obviously someone’s quarters — presumably Brede’s. The sergeant-at-arms was helping Losdur gather spears</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Since we’ve got Daerdun, I was thinking we’d get these spears sharpened,” he explained. “Didn’t know if I could ask you for help or not; some of the adventurers that come through get offended.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin took a bundle of six spears. Ninefingers was too short to take more than one spear, and Brede waved him off. “Height difference means it’s more trouble having you help than not having you. Also, you’re a goblin. Onomaclus told me that that you’re okay, but not everyone believes that.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin followed Brede down the stairs. “We’re willing to go out and see if the orcs are out there. Make a target of ourselves.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Brede made no comment while carrying the spears. Once they were in the courtyard, where Daerdun had set up a flame and bellows, Brede said, “I’ll have Losdur cover you from the loopholes.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin nodded, then asked, “Where’d you get a second anvil?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Tower’s had it for years; belonged to the previous blacksmith. Wouldn’t sell it to Daerdun because sooner or later we were all going to be trapped in here.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Daerdun already had one spear off the pile and was examining the point. “The poxy Margrave rented it to me until I could bring my own poxy anvil,” he said. “And it’s still not a dwarven anvil, but couldn’t get that here.” He threw the spear in one corner. “That haft’s cracked; we’ll make this pile the spears that I have to take apart; you can’t heat a wooden haft. Any that just need filing go in second pile.” To demonstrate, he threw the next one on his opposite side.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Brede nodded at him and started to walk away. Felewin and Ninefingers followed. “If you want to help, you can escort the wagon to town. We need supplies. Take Dopkin; he’ll be our agent there. Vengis has given me some names of suppliers. Dopkin has the list. I’ve got a letter of proof, because I want you to get four message doves from Baron Coodna, too.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’ve been trying to avoid seeing Baron Coodna until I could make a case for knighthood,” Felewin blurted out.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What are you worried about? You’ll probably never see the Baron; they have a man who keeps the doves, you will see him instead of the Baron. And if you do? Better for you if he sees you multiple times. But come back: If I were the orcs, I’d ambush the cart on the return. Then they get the supplies, too.“ He thought for a moment. “’Course, if they kill you now, there’s no chance of reinforcements.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Give us a bird and we’ll loose it if we run into trouble.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Good idea and I’d do it if someone hadn’t strangled every one of our doves.” He tapped his head. “Someone has been planning this for a while.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">He stopped at the base of the stairs before he headed back up. “Warden will have a list of supplies. Can either of you read?” Felewin held up his hand. “Make a copy. I don’t trust you, I don’t trust Dopkin. You’ll go with Burl. If Burl wants to stay in town, he’s released from his service. I’ll tell him that, but you should know.” Brede laughed. “Burl will ride. Dopkin needs the exercise, I think.” He laughed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “I’d really rather not see Baron Coodna’s place until I’m ready. Do you have anything, anything else that you’d like done?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Brede looked at him. “Anything? You would rather face death than Baron Coodna?” Then he waved the question away. “I’ve got one of my men who would gladly face a hundred orcs rather than be asked to escort the Lady Anwen to a social function.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin assured him, “I will eventually face him. When I have something worthy.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Of course, and Garbin will go to court eventually. If the orcs don’t kill him first.” He slapped the wall. “Let’s see what those orcs are doing out there, and then we’ll discuss the rest.”</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p>No game mechanics in this chapter.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-46382987251742484122024-03-18T22:38:00.008-04:002024-03-28T09:07:07.883-04:00Ironwood Gorge - Chapter 3 - Lady Anwen<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron Gauntlets</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;font-size: 1.1rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc3"></a>3 - Lady Anwen</h3>
<p class="slug">Starting Dreams (Move Toward A Thread)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Lady Anwen’s room was on the third floor. The seneschal excused himself to speak with Lady Anwen privately.</span><a id="fnlink13"></a><a href="#fn13"><sup>[13]</sup></a> Ninefingers couldn’t make out any of the conversation through the heavy door. He could tell that he was imploring and she was icy; that was all.</p>
<p class="bodytext">After a few moments he came out and said, “The Lady accepts your presence.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis stepped in and Ninefingers followed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The room was quite comfortable: there was a small hearth against an interior wall, a four-poster bed hidden by curtains, and a wide bookshelf. In another corner was a wardrobe, and to one side was a half-completed dress on a dressmaker’s dummy. The dress looked like silk. The exterior wall was covered by a tapestry; Ninefingers recognized the subject: The Siege of the Capitol, a classical event from long before any other human country had broken away from the empire. The wall to the center had a peaked window of stained glass that looked down on the tower’s courtyard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“My lady,” said Onomaclus, “this is the Officer Kagandis, and Ninefingers, who will provide such translation as is needed.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She nodded to him while looking at Kagandis. The seneschal regarded them until finally Lady Anwen said, “You may be excused, husband.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">This was apparently an old rebuke, because Onomaclus said, “As you wish,” and withdrew.<a id="fnlink14"></a><a href="#fn14"><sup>[14]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Once the door was shut, Lady Anwen said, in accented goblin, “Forgive the rudeness, but are you Aprak?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis looked at her, then at Ninefingers, then back to her. “I am not, but he is. You speak our tongue quite passably. I am Kagandis; he goes by Ninefingers.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “It is a name less burdened by my family.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Lady Anwen smiled. “I understand the burdens of family. When I was a girl, my handmaid was Aprak, and we spoke goblin to avoid being understood by my parents. Forgive me if I have forgotten some of the words.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I doubt I will be needed for translation,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Perhaps,” said Lady Anwen. “Tongues differ by location, and you have a southern voice while Kagandis is something else….northern, maybe? We will not be disturbed; I have no handmaiden now. Sometimes Caranta assists me, if the woodwright does not need her.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I am not noble and don’t know about human nobility,” said Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And you are not my handmaiden. You are your own person, and an emissary from your people. I will not talk to you about clothes-stylings and the politics of headmen.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If you mean ‘fashion’ and ‘court,’ Ninefingers said in common tongue, “we use these terms.” He said them in goblin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Thank goodness,” said Kagandis. “I thought you were having a stroke.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Lady Anwen laughed. “As I say, I have not practiced for years.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If you ladies do not need me, I will see how Felewin is doing,” said Ninefingers. “And perhaps we will check out Vengis’ imprisonment to make sure he is not spreading more lies.” He managed a small bow toward Lady Anwen. “By your leave, Lady Anwen?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Go. A woman in my bedchamber and speaking goblin. It is a pleasant reminder of childhood, and I have not had many of those.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis caught Ninefingers’ sleeve before he left. “Let me know if anything happens. The orcs will not let up. They might not be active in the day, but they will not stop.”</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn13"></a><a href="#fnlink13">[13]</a> Ninefingers attempts to listen, discreetly: rolls 3,3,6,9 and his observation is 5, so that’s two successes. It’s a heavy door and he doesn’t want to be obvious, so he doesn’t make the 3 Diff.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn14"></a><a href="#fnlink14">[14]</a><cite> Mythic:</cite> Does she speak goblin? 02: Exceptional Yes. Oookay, let’s do something with that.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-32757493444815310122024-03-17T22:12:00.005-04:002024-03-28T09:06:50.761-04:00Ironwood Gorge - Chapter 2 - It's a Siege<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron & Gold</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;font-size: 1.1rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3><a id="doc2"></a>2 — It’s a Siege</h3>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers asked Felewin, “You okay?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Couple of times I thought they had me,” Felewin replied. “Leg took one bite.” As the adrenaline faded, he started to topple.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Lean on me,” said Ninefingers. He helped Felewin away from the door, almost to the back. They could hear the whooping and hollering of the orcs outside, and the constant crackle of the burning inn. “Is anyone a chirurgeon?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis came running down from the battlements. “Orcs! I loosed a few arrows but don’t think I got any of them.” Then, in the common tongue, she said simply, “Orcs! I shoot and miss.” The time communicating with Felewin had already improved her command of the common tongue.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The seneschal followed her. “The men on the battlements have powerful crossbows, but they only got one dog.” To another guard, he said, “Everyone will sleep in the tower tonight. Ask the warden to find space. Not the dungeon, and the Margrave is not to be disturbed.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">A man in a prelate’s robes spoke up. “We can fit a half-dozen in the chapel.” The man looked like he was still barely a youth; Felewin suspected this was his first charge.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Onomaclus nodded. “Yes. Yes, Adeod, that might be best. Burl and Losdur have spaces; the other newcomers can go in the chapel.” He smiled as best he could. “I shall ask Lady Anwen to let Officer Kagandis stay with her. Please take the people from the inn.” Felewin said he would be along later, and Adeod took the three others with him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Lady Anwen is your wife?” asked Kagandis. The seneschal insisted that she have some kind of honorific, and had settled on “Officer,” which amused her.</p>
<p class="bodytext">His smile faltered. “We have separate chambers, so you are not discommoding us at all.” Turning to the others, “Burl, Losdur, you have spaces in the barracks.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">They snapped to attention. “Yes, sir, seneschal.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">An older man came forward. “Burl, I know that leg is bad but you can manage a shift at the loopholes. Your archery needs work but we can use every returning man. Losdur, you have your duties. Tell Meliam to put you on rotations around the palisade.” The tower had been extended by a palisade, but the only way in and out of the area was a set of collapsible stairs to the barracks on the third floor. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes, sir.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis said haltingly, “I watch too.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The seneschal said, “That is not necessary, Officer.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I see where you see dark,” she pointed out.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So can this beast,” the man said, indicating Ninefingers, “and I’m not putting him at the loopholes.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’re guests, and I’m not an archer,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They are guests, Brede,” said the seneschal. “This is our sergeant-at-arms, Brede of Gons. He’s in charge of the military men, but he works closely with Stadano, the tower warden. Officer Kagandis, we appreciate your help but I do not want an emissary being hurt.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis was visibly put out. Ninefingers said to the seneschal, “If I may?” and he spoke to her in goblin. “He thinks the men will kill you, but he doesn’t want to say that in front of them.” He went on, “The man only heard that goblins aren’t evil today. The other men might not have heard, yet.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He would just tell them not to!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He will, but he’s afraid you’ll have an ‘accident.’” Ninefingers looked at the men, who were regarding the goblins with distaste. “I don’t think his command is as secure as he’d like.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She digested that for a moment. “They are bloodthirsty.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They don’t know us. It might not seem like it, but the seneschal is looking out for you. He said we’re guests, but ‘accidents’ happen.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I had gotten comfortable with you and the big one, so I forgot that humans want to kill us.” In the common tongue, she said, “Yes. I do not watch.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Excellent,” said the seneschal. “I shall escort you to the Lady’s room. Ninefingers, if you would accompany us in case of translation issues?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Go ahead,” said Felewin. “I’ll be straightening out a place to stay and then standing watch.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No need,” said Brede. “We have men; let’s make sure you didn’t take an injury out there.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If you want,” said Ninefingers. Ninefingers figured Brede was suspicious of Felewin too; he was, after all, a man who stayed with a goblin by choice. They left.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked at Brede. “It’s a bruise, that’s all.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The cleric might be able to help you,” said Brede. “Chapel’s over there.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I saw.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Then you should go.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin shrugged and passed to the other side of the iron gate protecting the foyer. Then he said to Brede, “Ninefingers has saved my life more than once. I have saved his. He helped bring the people in tonight. If that’s a lot of orcs out there, you need all the help you can get.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Brede was not listening. One of the guards made a face at Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin kept his face composed, as he did for some of his father’s less savoury guests, and headed for the chapel.</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p>No game mechanics in this chapter.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-35407131372447080432024-03-17T18:01:00.005-04:002024-03-19T17:32:43.951-04:00Ironwood Gorge -- not abandoned<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron Gauntlets or Iron & Gold</span></p>
<p>Gosh, it's only been three months since I said I'd put up more. </p>
<p>Not that anyone was clamoring for it.</p>
<p>It's just a pain to convert from Scrivener to HTML and then check it. Ew.</p>
<p>Anway, it's coming at a chunk a day for the next three weeks. At some point I'll write a brief intro paragraph reminding everyone who wrote and published the module and the game (two different things) and insert that into the chapters.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-79545256185429154472024-01-26T22:54:00.008-05:002024-03-28T09:00:05.440-04:00Ironwood Gorge ... An Experiment - 1 - A Debriefing Dinner<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron Gauntlets</span></p>
<style>
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;font-size: 1.1rem;}
p.footnote {text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 0.5rem;}
</style>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<p>This is a solo play-through of the adventure “Ironwood Gorge” by Eric Jones, published by Ludibrium Games.</p>
<p>Because I am not really an old-school guy, things have been converted to (originaly) <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite> by Precis Intermedia Games and after about chapter 6, <cite>Iron & Gold</cite>, also by Precis Intermedia Games.</p>
<p>This is the second Ludibrium Games module I’ve used for these characters, and I enjoy them. (The first was “The Sanctuary Ruin.”)</p>
<p>As usual, rules misunderstandings are mine and I try to present it as (bad) fiction, with game mechanics in footnotes.</p>
<p>“Ironwood Gorge” is meant to be the basis for a campaign, where the Bleak Tower is a home base for adventures. I have not yet decided whether I will do that; there could be additional Bleak Tower adventures, or they'll wander away until the third adventure in the trilogy is published.</p>
<hr>
<h3>1 - A Debriefing Dinner</h3>
<p class="slug">(Mythic: Greet Weapons)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin, Ninefingers, and Kagandis were eating with the man named Onomaclus, the Seneschal of the Bleak Tower. Onomaclus was debriefing Felewin, and was trying to ignore Ninefingers and Kagandis. Felewin had insisted on their presence at the table but Onomaclus had not allowed them to join.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Until Vengis confessed to raising anti-goblin sentiment. Then suddenly Kagandis became a dignitary from a nearby polity and goblins were allowed at the table.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Onomaclus said to Felewin, “Tell me again about the orcs.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis was currently locked in a tower. The seneschal had made not other arrangements, and in a week, Vengis would be fully healthy again. Ninefingers expected him to escape before a fortnight had passed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The orcs? Not the petrified one?” asked Felewin. He set down his goblet and contemplated another piece of coney. “Kagandis says the face tattoos indicate tribe, and they had a variety of different face tattoos. However, they were working together. The petrified one—”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m not interested in the petrified one. Just the live ones.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“With due respect, there are no live ones. We killed them all. A dozen, I think. More than two hands.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You say.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin shrugged. “If you take Kagandis with you and bargain in good faith, the goblins will probably let you look at what’s left of the orcs. If the dogs haven’t eaten them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You have no proof.” Said Onomaclus. “You expect me to believe that the three of you defeated a dozen orcs…if there were a dozen.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You have Vengis’ word that the goblins exist.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But he didn’t see the orcs.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin patiently said, “Because we had killed them. However, goblins did not kill your man Erdwain; that was were-rats. I returned his dagger, and I’ll gladly go with your men to retrieve his body.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The seneschal made a small movement of his shoulders that might have been a shrug. “Erdwain wasn’t my man, or even local; he had just decided to stay here.” The seneschal mulled this over while he plucked and ate sweetmeats. “Now tell me about the petrified orc.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin snagged a bun from the platter on the table. “I can’t tell you about the face tattoo because I didn’t know about the face tattoos at the time. Woodsman clothes. Petrified bow that wasn’t strung. I can’t be sure when it was petrified. It wasn’t dressed for winter. Hastwine told me, and I have no reason to doubt this, that the orc was probably petrified by a cockatrice, but—”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Could have been a medusa,” said the seneschal.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin sai, “I don’t think medusae petrify the clothes, just the body. This orc had petrified clothes.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m sure they petrify the clothes.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin shrugged. “Maybe. The one I faced didn’t. It was pregnant so maybe that changes things.” He smiled. “My mother told me that my birth ruined her vision.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Down the table, Ninefingers covered his eyes as if in pain.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So you’ve faced a medusa?” Onomaclus shook his head. “I’d ask you where but I couldn’t check, so never mind. How long had the petrified orc been there?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I can’t be sure. Did your men see it when they got to the wayshrine?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They did not. And they were there in the fall, less than a year ago.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Huh. Armour was light. A scouting orc, perhaps, or one with lower status. Maybe in the fall, maybe the middle of this spring. No footprints leading up to it, so the ground was hard. Been a wet spring where I’ve been, so I will guess last fall, after your men were there. Could be wrong, though.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Onomaclus grunted and waved for Felewin to go on.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers spoke to Kagandis, who answered back. Ninefingers said, “Kagandis says he appeared during the thaw in the winter—fool’s spring, the goblins call it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Dressed like that, he wasn’t going far,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Or he was lost,” said Onomaclus.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Always possible,” said Felewin without agreeing. “Back to the orcs we faced. There were a dozen orcs. I hear that’s a typical slaving party. They had four barrels of pitch and tar. I didn’t check for tradesman marks. Don’t know if they filled them or got full ones.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Pity.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I was…busy, sir.” Felewin picked up the goblet again. “One chief. Weapons were mostly bows, axes, and swords, some of fine quality. Probably looted.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Carts? Horses?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin shook his head. “Did find three sets of leather and rope manacles. Presumably they were going to march the captives. Not carry; even goblins get heavy fast, so they were travelling for less than a day, maybe to carts and draft animals, maybe to their lair. Carts need a road, and they didn’t take a road to get there. So lair.</span><a id="fnlink1"></a><a href="#fn1"><sup>[1]</sup></a>”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But the sanctuary is a day’s walk from here,” Onomaclus said. Felewin nodded. “We’re likely several days’ away from this…lair?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Mayh. Unless their lair is on this side of the sanctuary.”</p>
<p class="spacer"># # #</p>
<p class="bodytext">They stayed so late after dark that Felewin wasn’t even tipsy by the time they left. Kagandis was still inside the Bleak Tower — the seneschal swore that no harm would come to her, and invited Felewin and Ninefingers to stay too. However, Felewin and Ninefingers had their belongings in the nearby inn, A Villain’s Luck. The guards let them out to make the short trek to the inn, illuminated by lights flanking the inn’s door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’d feel better if Kagandis were out here, actually,” said Ninefingers, “but she’s now an emissary.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You can stay with her. When we’re done this.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What? I don’t even know if—”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a low growl and Ninefingers said, “Dogs! Attacking!” for Felewin, who couldn’t see in the dark. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“I see them,” said Felewin, and drew his sword while moving sideways to the inn.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We could just run,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There’s only two,” said Felewin. “We can take two.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I see eight,” said Ninefingers<a id="fnlink2"></a><a href="#fn2"><sup>[2]</sup></a>.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Right, run,” replied Felewin, and he started to sprint.<a id="fnlink3"></a><a href="#fn3"><sup>[3]</sup></a> Two dogs focused on Ninefingers: both missed, and Ninefingers managed to stab one but it wasn’t enough to disable the dog. Felewin stabbed the dog nearest him, but another appeared and bit him</span><a id="fnlink4"></a><a href="#fn4"><sup>[4]</sup></a>.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin<a id="fnlink5"></a><a href="#fn5"><sup>[5]</sup></a> said, “Come on!” and sprinted for the door of the inn, where he hacked at a dog that was jumping at Ubert, the innkeep. He hit and wounded the dog; others circled around, watching and waiting.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Ubert! Inside!” cried Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert said, “Get in!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But Ninefingers!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The four dogs circled the doorway, looking for an attack.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Get in!” cried Ubert and swung the fireplace poker.<a id="fnlink6"></a><a href="#fn6"><sup>[6]</sup></a> He hit one dog in the ribs and knocked it to one side; it got up, bruised and angry.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Not without Ninefingers! Fetch our armour!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert slipped into the building<a id="fnlink7"></a><a href="#fn7"><sup>[7]</sup></a>, closing the door behind him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers saw the door close and ran full-out. Please don’t have barred the door, thought Ninefingers. One dog leapt at Felewin but missed, and the man yanked the door to get them both in.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Thanks,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’d do the same,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert came up with their armour. Burl and Losdur, regulars, were staring at them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Wild dogs,” said Ubert as he handed them their armour.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Worse,” said Felewin as he shimmied into his gambeson. “War dogs. Trained to attack. They don’t travel on their own; we’ve got to get you to the tower before the militia arrives. Ninefingers? Can you grab our bags?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“On it.” He ran to their rooms.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Get everyone.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert turned and yelled. “Egren!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Daerdun walked up. “Why are you people shouting?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Armed attack,” said Felewin. “Anyone out in the stables?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“A mule, but—”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I hate to leave it but we haven’t time. Where’s the halfling, Dopkin?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hiding,” came a voice from the eaves.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They’ll burn the inn,” said Ninefingers as he came up. “I’d get down, Dopkin.” Ninefingers tossed a bag to Felewin, then finished fastening the shoulders of his hauberk. “My guess is orcs, but could be the Empire.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Let’s go!” called Felewin. “If they aren’t already here—”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They heard a horn outside, and shouting.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “No time! We have to run. Stay in a group, we’ll try to protect you. Burl, Losdur, grab those tables; any shield is better than no shield. Ninefingers, you’re our eyes. You lead.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Uh, guys?” said Dopkin, dropping from the rafters. “The roof is on fire.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Told you,” said Ninefingers, and squeezed his way to the door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">They could hear a distant sizzling, but that didn’t make the inn’s residents faster: if anything, it seemed to confuse them. Egren was now holding a bag of something from the kitchen area; Dopkin held a pan. Burl and Losdur looked tense and nervous, holding the tables. Daerdun had disappeared and then reappeared with his blacksmithing apron on and the mule in tow.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert threw open the door and dogs immediately attacked,<a id="fnlink8"></a><a href="#fn8"><sup>[8]</sup></a> but Felewin was ready;<a id="fnlink9"></a><a href="#fn9"><sup>[9]</sup></a> he didn’t hit the dog, but he scared it away. “I only see five,” Ninefingers reported as Felewin moved outside. Out here Felewin could hear the roof burning.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The dogs immediately tried to circle him but Ninefingers was right behind him. Felewin swung wide with his shortsword, trying to dismiss the dogs.<a id="fnlink10"></a><a href="#fn10"><sup>[10]</sup></a> The animals swarmed in and one caught Felewin on the hip, but now he was wearing chain, and it protected him down to his knees. None of the dogs got Ninefingers. Burl and Losdur kept the tables low and the others—Ubert, Egren, Dopkin, and Daerdun—stayed in the middle. Ninefingers led, and Felewin took the rear.<a id="fnlink11"></a><a href="#fn11"><sup>[11]</sup></a> Felewin actually managed to hurt two of the dogs (two more? The same two? No dogs died) when the procession of people suddenly stopped.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert was looking backward. He moaned, “My inn! My beautiful inn!” </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said harshly, “Keep moving or I’ll let the dogs get you!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert whimpered, transfixed by the sight of the burning building.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Just then the horn blew again, closer this time. Two arrows sprouted from one of the tables, and they came from the direction of the woods, not the tower.</p>
<p class="bodytext">That got Ubert moving, except no one indicated it to Felewin, who was looking at the woods, trying to see any attackers. The group without Felewin began to move, and suddenly Felewin found himself surrounded by dogs.<a id="fnlink12"></a><a href="#fn12"><sup>[12]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">An arrow on fire went by his head. Above his head, he could hear, “There’s someone still down there!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin sprinted to the tower, trying to dodge as he did so, but he was big and slow; one dog still managed to bite him on the mail; he shook it off and banged on the tower door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">They opened the door and yanked him inside, shutting the door on one dog’s leg; the dog yelped and the man (Burl, it turned out) opened the door slightly and kicked the dog out.</p>
<hr>
<h3>Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn1"></a><a href="#fnlink1">[1]</a> Does he convince the seneschal? +1D for Vengis’ corroboration and +1D for Kanagis, but -1D because he doesn’t want to think of goblins as equals.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn2"></a><a href="#fnlink2">[2]</a> As written, the orcs appear two turns after the dogs. I have altered the situation by having the characters <em>not</em> in armour, and the party size is a third of what they expect. So it’s dogs only for longer.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn3"></a><a href="#fnlink3">[3]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 3, Ninefingers 1, Dogs 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9 We care about four of them; the other four heading for the inn. Mythic: Does the first dog go after Ninefingers? 05: Exceptional yes. Dog attacks with 4,8,8: 1 success, but it needs 3 to hit. Ninefingers gets 4,4,6,6 and he hits. The dog gets 2 Fat, 1 Inj.<br />
Does the second dog attack Ninefingers? Yes (09): 4,5,9 but that misses.<br />Felewin attacks: 3,3,5,8,9: hits the dog nearest him; dog takes 2 Fat, 2 Inj.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn4"></a><a href="#fnlink4">[4]</a> First dog gets 8,9: none succeed. Second misses with 5,6,7 — only 1 success and the change of gimmicks means that Felewin is 2 Diff to hit in combat.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn5"></a><a href="#fnlink5">[5]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 2,3; Ninefingers 5,6 Dogs: 1,1,3,4,7,7,7,7 Oooh, Felewin’s in trouble. Mythic: Do Felewin’s dogs go before him?? 99 — No. Felewin runs: He gets 1,3,7 (-1D because of the Slow-stepped gimmick). That’s good for a sprint, and rolls 2,3,4,6 to hit.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn6"></a><a href="#fnlink6">[6]</a> Ubert is Fitness 3 and has a small amount of Brawling to break up fights; he gets 2,3,3 so he hits the dog with the iron poker; that does Inj instead of Fat, so it causes one level of injury damage…and makes the dogs more cautious.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn7"></a><a href="#fnlink7">[7]</a> War Dogs try to attack: Rolls: 1,7,9 (miss); 1,5,5: bites Felewin but armour stops it; 6,2,10 misses; 10,6,9 misses. On Ninefingers: 8,4,5 misses; 4,3 (hurt one) misses; 6,8,9 misses</p>
<p class="footnote"><strong><a id="fn8"></a><a href="#fnlink8">[8]</span></a> Reaction times</strong> with groups to avoid this being unwieldy: Felwin 1,4, Ninefingers 4,5 Dogs 4, Orcs 6, Burl & Losdur 9, Mule 10. <br />Because Felewin is also proficient at Animal Handling, I’m going to give him +1 Diff to be hit by the dogs.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn9"></a><a href="#fnlink9">[9]</a> Ready doesn’t translate to success, though: 1,1,7,7 misses the dog.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn10"></a><a href="#fnlink10">[10]</a> Or he rolled 4, 5, 6, which is only two successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn11"></a><a href="#fnlink11">[11]</a><cite>Mythic</cite>: I don’t want to do the whole thing. They have a plan; do they get part of the way (50/50: 65% for yes: 58, so yes)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn12"></a><a href="#fnlink12">[12]</a> <strong>Reaction times</strong> Felewin 2, 6; Dogs 3. Felewin rolls 2,3,6,7 to run all out, and gets to the doorway of the tower. He then rolls for a dodge: 1,1,3,3, which is a heck of a success for a guy with Athletics 3. One dog bites him, but the armour stops it as well.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-14003430856834830242023-12-19T22:21:00.001-05:002023-12-19T22:21:48.743-05:00Hey...happy holidays<p>I hope this is a good time of year for you. If it is, enjoy it.</p>
<p>I know that this is an intensely lonely or painful time of the year for many people. If that's you, I hope better for you. I have no idea what brought you to this point, what terrible thing happened to make this a time of pain or sorrow, and I don't want to belittle that.</p>
<p>But I want to say this: It gets better. Sometimes not by much at any time, and sometimes &ldquot;better&rdquot; looks worse, but it does indeed get better. You can find someone to help you. Maybe not an official cousellor; maybe it's just someone to listen.</p>
<p>If you're choosing to be cranky and angry, I suggest you not. This is the time of year when a lot of people at least pay lip-service to peace on earth and good-will to all. Take comfort in that.</p>
<p>Whether it's Christmas, Hannukah, Festivus, the Solstice or whatever, I wish you health and wealth and happiness and safety.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-66505728662319712212023-12-03T16:55:00.004-05:002024-01-26T22:55:20.298-05:00On The Heist<p class="for"><span class="book">Icons</span></p>
<p>Been away for a while. Did two solo plays, but one will probably not get posted because it’s over 50,000 words. But the other one, well, that’s today.</p>
<p>I converted the Twin Flames Publishing adventure <em>The Heist</em> for <span class="book">Icons</span>, and I did a solo play of it, and I found it...underwhelming. And I want to talk about that, because I figured <em>The Heist</em> was a great introductory adventure.</p>
<p>It <em>is</em> a good introductory adventure, and Ivd still recommend it again as an introductory adventure. But I’m not an introductory player, and you do have to be aware of what I thought was the problem.</p>
<p>The structure of the adventure is pretty simple:</p>
<ol>
<li>Deal with a supposed hostage situation: This would be a great opportunity to bring in minion rules, to try combat, and to maybe invent some Qualities and work for them.</li>
<li>Deal with supervillains who are getting the McGuffin. Now, in my solo playtest, the heroes were totally winning, but then there were a couple of bad rolls and suddenly all the villains were escaping.</li>
<li>Fight the big bad villain who has orchestrated all of this. The adventure is set up so that the supervillains you have already fought don't fight in this. (In my solo, I let them fight. The heroes did win because the heroes didn't have bad rolls, and frankly the villains aren't <em>that</em> tough.)</li>
</ol>
<p>Notice this: <em>conceptually</em> the adventures are all linked, but there isn’t really a connection between them, and I think that’s the issue.</p>
<ul>
<li>The guys in the bank hostage situation never mention the big bad.</li>
<li>The supervillains in the middle section don't mention the big bad. They <em>can</em>, of course, but there's no direction for them to do so.</li>
<li>The big bad comes out of nowhere in the third act.</li>
</ul>
<p>There are a couple of tricks we learned in improve that provide a sense of finality or ending to a story, and maybe they could be useful in running an adventure like this:</p>
<ul>
<li>Make it circular: present some aspect of the beginning in the ending.</li>
<li>Present an obvious change.</li>
<li>Ending the journey.</li>
<li>If a question is presented (who killed Joe Blow, for instance), at the beginning of the story, then the answer creates the end of the story.</li>
<li>A change in status or character belief, usually done by presenting some similar situation to the beginning and having the characters respond differently, or representing the status of the character: Just joined the superhero team ancontrasted with being the leader, for instance.</li>
<li>The event that caused the story is resolved. This is in many ways the natural for a superhero story, but you have to make it obvious that it’s the same event. For instance, what I could have done in <em>The Heist</em> was have the big bad rant about his brilliance in setting up the dominoes that fell into place. In <em>my</em> solo play, they dogpiled the big bad and while that accomplishes the end — they won — it doesn’t result in a satisfactory ending.</li>
</ul>
<p>What can you do? Well, you don’t want to predetermine the ending; the often call that railroading, and it interferes with the players having fun. If you’re constantly putting restrictions in place, they eventually have no choice but to do whatever you want or quit, and many people will choose to quit.</p>
<p>The only solution that I’ve come up with is that you have a set of things in the opening scene that could apply to multiple endings up there. Maybe not ending the journey — that one is kind of specific — but for instance, you can present something that might be called back; you can ask a question so that it can be answered at the very end; you can make the disrupting thing or event something that’s obvious, that you can see when it stops, when things are put back.</p>
<p>So I’m still in favour of the adventure, but I think you have to make some changes, and maybe those changes are second nature to you, but I have to think about it. </p>
<ol>
<li>The guys in the bank know the name of the big bad (which is “The Frightener” by the way), and they say it. Then beating the Frightener has some heft to it.</li>
<li>The supervillains say that they’re working for “The Fightener.” Heck, they might be skeptical of him, too, and state that they're really in it for the cash or for the exposure.</li>
</ol>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-67822969993063966732023-07-09T22:15:00.007-04:002024-01-26T22:55:41.608-05:00Sanctuary Ruin...A very very long AP<p class="for"><span class="book">Iron Gauntlets</span></p>
<style type="text/css">
div.toc {padding:0 1em 1em 1em; border: 1pt solid gray;margin:1em 0;}
table {border: 0.5pt solid gray;}
p {margin: 1em 0;}
p.toc0{margin: 1em 0; font-weight: bold:}
p.toc1{margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom:0;}
p.toc2{margin-left: 2em; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom:0;}
p.toc3{margin-left: 3em; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom:0;}
p.spacer {text-indent:0;text-align:center;}
p.slug {font-style: italic; text-indent:0;text-align:left;margin-bottom:1em;}
p.slug::before {font-weight: bold; content: "Mythic: "}
p.footnote {margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-indent: -1em;}
p.footnote2 {margin-top: 0em; `margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-indent: 2em;}
h4 {text-align:center;}
span.thought {font-style: italic;}
td {vertical-align: top;}
td.c {text-align:center;}
</style>
<h3 id="title">Sanctuary Ruin</h3>
<h4 id="intro">Introduction </h4>
<p class="bodytext">I ran across the two-and-a-half Felewin and Ninefingers adventures that I had played/written long long ago. I have no idea what I was intending with the third, so I’m going to toss it out, and I’ve re-read the Iron Gauntlets rules, and it turns out I did lots of stuff wrong. So we begin with rewritten characters and use the adventure “Sanctuary Ruin” (written for <cite>OSRIC</cite>). I happen to have a copy of <cite>OSRIC</cite> sitting around, so I can refer to it if I need to (and I did, for rot grubs and cockatrices and a few other things). I might be modifying the adventure as we go, because we’re trying to bash it into something similar to the Amherst setting of the first two adventures.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The adventure “The Sanctuary Ruin” is published by Ludibrium Games and is by Eric Jones. It is apparently the first of a set.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><em>Edit to add:</em> It is, and I have run the second of the three for myself. The second adventure, “Ironwood,” comes to about 50,000 words of actual play, and I’m not quite sure what I want to do with it. Partway through it, I changed to the newer Precis Intermedia game <cite>Iron & Gold</cite> and it isn’t polished enough to put it on some fan-fiction site. Probably I will break it into chunks and post them here. (Don’t worry: I will cleary label it as solo AP so you can avoid it or find it if desired.)</p>
<h4 id="houserules">House rules and changes:</h4>
<ul>
<li>House rule: Humanoids with the Undersized gimmick are also slow-stepped if I’m rolling dice for distances, or 2/3 the distances on the chart -1D for running distances, or if I’m using Automatic movement, 2/3 the distances on the chart 37. In the same way, characters who are Oversized are also +1D for distances, or 5/4 the distances on the chart. I doubt it will com up because I tend to use Autmatic Movement.</li>
<li>Languages: I handle languages differently. Everyone learns a few words of the common tongue (though they might forget it, like many of the goblins here), but by default they speak their own tongue, and those tongues have dialects. With the "Multilingual" gimmick, a character can be fluent in multiple tongues to start, but it affects only how well and fast you learn languages. Someone without Multilingual will still learn some orc while being held as prisoner; someone with multilingual will learn it fast and well. And, in fact, language differences are a thread through this adventure.</li>
<li>Because I kept getting confused, the character “Fengis” in the adventure is re-named “Vengis.”</li>
<li>Where Dire Wolves are mentined, we're using Fury Dogs instead. They're written up in <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite></li>
<li>Last time I started at CF 7. I’m going to go for the middle, and CF 6. A scene will be guided by my high school English classes: Change of characters or place or time. Unity of action might not be preserved; we’ve got two main PCs.</li>
<li>We’ll keep both Character and Thread Lists. How useful will they be? I dunno.</li>
<li>I’m going to roll scene setups from <cite>Mythic</cite> but they’ll deal with the non-monster part of the scenario. For instance, a scene in an inn at the beginning has one monster thing that must happen, a bit of information that has to be there, but the rest is blank. The scene setups will deal with that which is unspecified. If I can’t figure out a way to make the scene setup apply, I’ll roll a new one.</li>
<li>The module has some problems with distance, or distances that are unworkable for me. (I know, fantasy and I’m kvetching about distances.) The assumption of the module is that the PCs will use the inn as home base and make several ventures into the sanctuary ruin. However, the wayshrine is said to be “a day’s march.” Historically that would be between 10 and 20 miles; the sanctuary ruin is 15 miles beyond that. That’s two days of marching, even for characters on foot who aren’t worried about the logistics of an army. Because the road is not a fine Roman road, I have changed things so the wayshrine is about 10 miles and the ruin another 5. In other words, people walking quickly might make it to the ruins in a day, but an armed force couldn’t.</li>
<li>I've invented the following gimmicks: <em>Ferrovore</em> (ability to sense iron and need for it) and <em>Burrowing</em> (digging ability).</li>
<li>As usual for me, the PCs start with a goal in mind but that might or might not have anything to do with the actual adventure. They’ll start with full luck, because I never noted when I was using luck or not.</li>
</ul>
<div class="toc">
<p class="toc0"><a href="#title">Sanctuary Ruin</a></p>
<p class="toc1"><a href="#intro">Introduction</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#houserules">House Rules and Changes</a></p>
<p class="toc1"><a href="play">Sanctuary Ruin (Actual Play)</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc2">The Trail</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc3">A Villain’s Luck</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc4">Toad In The Hole</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc5">Fireside Tales</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc6">Judge The Mundane</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc7">A Gift Of No Consequence</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc8">Possibly A Prisoner, Certainly Not A Guest</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc9">A Secure Nest</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc10">A Disturbing Realization</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc11">A Bar Fight Without The Bar</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc12">An Uncovering</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc13">Escape</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc14">Scaring Monsters</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc15">The Hallway of Death, The Cave of Death</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc16">A Stupid Plan</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc17">A Fraught Preparation</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc18">A Library Fine</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc19">A Stupider Plan</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc20">A Lucky Break</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc21">“I Challenge You”</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc22">Duel To The Death</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc23">Not Really Done</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc24">On The Trail</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc25">About Orcs and Slaves</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc26">The Anticlimactic Ambush</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc27"> Assist Peace</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc29">Epilogue</a></p>
<p class="toc1"><a href="#doc30">Cast</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc31">Felewin</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc32">Ninefingers</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc33">Kagandis</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc34">Centiped, Giant</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc35">Eisenesser, Three-Toed</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc36">Goblin Fighter</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc37">Goblin Captain/a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc38">Goblin Chieftain</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc39">Gray Ooze</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc40">Hastwine the Feckless</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc41">Orc</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc42">Rat, Giant</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc43">Rot Grup</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc44">Spider, Giant</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc45">Toad, Giant</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc46">Vengis</a></p>
<p class="toc2"><a href="#doc47">Wererat</a></p>
<p class="toc1"><a href="#doc48">Footnotes/Game Mechanics</p>
</div>
<h3><a id="play"></a>Sanctuary Ruin (Actual Play)</h3>
<h4><a id="doc2"></a>The Trail</h4>
<p class="slug">Oppress Hope (NPC Action CF 6)</p>
<p class="bodytext">The world was poised between spring and summer on this wet day, where the temperature was just low enough that the humidity wasn’t terrible. Felewin was trudging but Ninefingers had to take two steps for every one of Felewin’s.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“At this rate, we’ll never get to the Bleak Tower,” Ninefingers interrupted. “Which is okay by me. They kill goblins there.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Goblins, sure, but,” and Felewin held up a finger, “primus, beyond the Black Marches are orcs.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And? I was told they kill orcs here.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Secundus, your brother was taken by slavers. Tertius, who enslaves goblins? Orcs.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So you think he is with orcs? Felewin, you know who else enslaves goblins? Hobgoblins. And other goblins. All those interbred animals are awful.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked at him curiously. “But you’re a goblin.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, I’m an Aprak,” replied Ninefingers. “We don’t breed with non-Apraks.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But orcs do?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They do. With goblins and hobgoblins and with humans if the stories about orclins are true. It makes me sick. They all do it to each other. By now, the only difference between them is size.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I hadn’t realized they were so...” He didn’t have the right word for it. “Catholic in their tastes.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They’re animals,” said Ninefingers. “As far as I’m concerned, you could kill’em all. Except. Except that here in the north you don’t check to see if it’s an Aprak you’re killing.” He stopped. “Thought you said it was still hours to the Bleak Tower.”<a id="fnlink1"></a><a href="#fn1"><sup>[1]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked at the position of the sun. “Less now. Why?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers pointed. “Smoke.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a plume of smoke curling into the sky, much less than an hour away. “Can’t be human settlers. This area is too dangerous,” said Felewin. “Here’s a dagger. Put on your cuirass and we’ll see what it is.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We have to go back if it’s a forest fire. Don’t we?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin didn’t answer. Ninefingers sighed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">They moved cautiously ahead until they came to a bend in the road. Ninefingers said, “Wait here,” and disappeared into the forest on one side of the road<a id="fnlink2"></a><a href="#fn2"><sup>[2]</sup></a>. He came back in minutes. “Inbred animals,” he said. “Non-Aprak goblins, maybe as many as I have fingers. They ambushed somebody in a cart. Some of them are trying to roast the mule.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And the traveler?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Dead dwarf on the side of the road. Didn’t see anyone else.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Or not.” Felewin looked at his quiver. He had twenty arrows but there was no way he could fell all of the goblins; this was a hunting bow. You shot something and then ran it to death. Maybe with a war bow like his father’s... “I can’t shoot all of them and you’re no archer.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You don’t have to kill them,” said Ninefingers. “At least not yet. Let me talk to them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a chance that Ninefingers was going to betray him, but he owed Felewin his life, and he hadn’t sounded approving of regular goblins. “But you said they’re like animals,” Felewin said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Figure of speech.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Then try.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers took off his owl-feather earrings. “They’re an Aprak thing,” he explained. “Listen for the usual signals.” After Felewin nodded, Ninefingers disappeared around the bend.<a id="fnlink3"></a><a href="#fn3"><sup>[3]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin waited, arrow in hand, for a long time: time enough to be tired from the waiting and the tension. No signals. Finally, a mourning nuthatch — a southern bird — called twice. Felewin relaxed somewhat and waited some more. Finally, Ninefingers appeared at the side of the road.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Took a while to lose them. Showed up all running and out of breath, and I convinced them that there was a squad of human militia coming up the road. Enough that you’d use all your fingers and toes counting them and there’d still be people uncounted.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And that worked?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They took the booty they could carry easily and took off. Invited me to go with them, and it took me a bit to lose them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Let’s go put out that fire.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">In fact, the rain had already done that. The cart was useless for carrying things. One wheel had been burned first, so the cart leaned to one side.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin checked the body of the dwarf driver; the poor dwarf had so many arrows in him that he looked like a bush. Dead. In the middle of the road was an abandoned chest..</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Do we bury the driver or carry his corpse to the Bleak Tower? What are dwarven burial rites?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Depends on the clan,” said Ninefingers. “Usually crypts deep in a mountain. Decoration depends on status. City dwarves I dunno.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ll try taking him to the tower. Maybe they have a dwarf who’ll know what to do.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said thoughtfully, “Dwarf will be heavy. You’re strong but I don’t know if you’re that strong.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ll use a travois,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’ve never even heard of a travois.” Felewin briefly explained one. Ninefingers asked, “What about the chest?”</p>
<p class="bodytext"> Felewin looked at the chest dubiously. “Depends on what’s in there. If it’s heavy, we leave it. If it’s light, we take it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The goblins got it off the cart.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There were nine of them, you said. I’m one person.” Felewin touched the chest with his foot, tried to push it. It didn’t budge. “Heavy.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Give me a moment,” Ninefingers said. “Let’s see what’s in it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s not ours,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’re trying to figure out if we can move it,” Ninefingers said. He tested the lid.</p>
<p class="bodytext">It opened easily.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Inside was a halfling. “Don’t hurt me!” The halfling pushed himself to one side of the chest in a futile attempt to get away from Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s with me,” said Felewin. “You’re safe, now.” Felewin offered him a hand in getting out of the chest.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers could smell the distaste, so he stayed silent and moved behind Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What’s your name?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The halfling got several lead shots from inside the chest. He was as lean as halflings got, but his clothes were of good quality, though mended.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Dopkin. I’m heading up to the Bleak Tower to the inn. They want an agent for purchasing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That...sounds exciting.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It is!” the halfling insisted. “You get to see lots of stuff you could never afford! And you can afford breakfast and second breakfast and lunch and tea and supper!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well, as it happens, we’re headed for the Bleak Tower as well. We’ll walk with you. Sorry you lost your stuff.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Me too,” said Dopkin. “They’ll want that grain. That’s what was in the chest. The goblins pulled it out.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a sudden squawking, and Dopkin started. Ravens had discovered the dead mule. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Bolt of cloth, too. Looked like fine quality,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Silk. For the Margrave.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There was nothing else?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We were coming two weeks before Theadun’s regular trip, he was the driver, on account of me. There wasn’t much. Barley for the inn, and the cloth.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Huh,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Barley’s good,” said Dopkin. “You can make bread and beer with barley.” He made a face. “This wasn’t the best sifted barley, though. People are short-changing Vengis. I can see why he wants an agent.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There’s an inn?” asked Felewin. He nearly had the bindings on the travois, using leather straps from the cart’s mule harness.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes,” said Dopkin. “Only one inn. The Margrave doesn’t let people in the tower unless they work there, so the inn is outside.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That doesn’t sound self-sufficient to me,” said Ninefingers. “But if Theadun made the trip only once a month... No, can’t make it work. This place would be tough to get to in winter.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They got Theadun on the travois, and then Felewin pushed the remains of the cart to the edge of the road. Dopkin and Ninefingers moved the empty chest.</p>
<p class="bodytext">In checking to see if they had got everything, they found another half-dozen silver pieces with Empire markings. “Not mine,” said Dopkin sadly. “I had Tyrrean coppers.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Probably left behind when the goblins hastily scarpered,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin carefully packed away his hauberk and gambeson. Then he took a deep breath and lifted the travois handles. “Let’s go.”</p>
<h4><a id="doc3"></a>A Villain’s Luck</h4>
<p class="slug">Haggle Ambush (NPC action CF 7)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin was sweating after an hour of this. He had never dragged a travois before except as a child, and that had been a child’s travois. It was more difficult than he remembered. Ninefingers occasionally shooed away a bird from the corpse, but there wasn’t much to be done about the flies: though there hadn’t been many before, now it seemed to be fly season.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Dopkin seemed squeamish about them. Of course, he seemed squeamish about everything. “Not much of a traveler,” Dopkin admitted. “Glad to be in Westport and stay there. You wouldn’t happen to have food, would you?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “Nothing, I’m afraid. We were hoping to get some simple work at the Tower to pay our keep, before we move on.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">This disappointed Dopkin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">They saw the tower first and then the cluster of buildings at the base. “I hope one of them is an inn,” Felewin grunted. “I could use a drink.” Dopkin started running ahead.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin heard a click and saw that Ninefingers had fastened the tether between them. They hadn’t used the tether since Ninefingers had declared the life-debt, and Felewin looked curiously at the Aprak.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“For security,” said Ninefingers. “This is a goblin-hostile environment, and I’d rather that they know I’m with you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What if you need to be free?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Pfft,” said Ninefingers. “That’s a three-ward lock. Doesn’t even use pins.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You can pick it?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Don’t need to; I have a skeleton key. But it’s very pickable. A bit of wire and some time.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin nodded and straightened up. Dopkin had not heard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The innkeeper came out, a stout red-faced man as round as a melon. He was wiping his hands on his apron. “Need help with that?” he called.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Wouldn’t say no,” grunted Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The innkeeper called, and a dwarf in blacksmith gear trotted out to Felewin. “Poor Theadun,” he said in a lightly accented common. “I’ll get the other end.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin paused for a moment to let the dwarf grab the other end. “Tricky balancing. You might want to separate the point.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I do at that,” said the dwarf. “Daerdun’s the name.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Felewin.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The two of them got Theadun’s body to the front door. “I’ll take him out back,” said Daerdun. “Ubert! I have to take him through the common room.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Really?” said a sullen sharp-faced woman. If Ubert was a melon, she was a stalk of celery.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“’S not like there’s many customers,” said Daerdun. He lifted Theadun tenderly and carried him through the building.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s Egren, my wife. You’d be adventurers,” said the man, Ubert. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Close enough,” said Felewin. Ninefingers chose not to speak. Felewin noticed that no one addressed Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You get a seat at the great table. Shame about Theadun. You an adventurer too?” he asked Dopkin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hello, my good sir, and my lady. No, I have come to see one Vengis, your provisioner.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The tower’s provisioner,” said Egren. “He’s inside.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Dopkin bowed ridiculously low and went inside. Felewin went to follow but she said, “You can’t bring that animal in here.” She gestured to Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He goes where I go. He’s my companion.” Felewin lifted the rope of the tether.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s an animal,” she repeated.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You can go in,” Ubert said. “Just be careful of him. Or her. They all look alike to me.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers refrained from rolling his eyes.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’ll need an ale cup and so will he.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The woman shook her head. “We won’t serve him. You’re welcome to go in, but nothing for him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“How is he supposed to eat and drink, then?” asked Felewin reasonably.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Don’t care,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Daerdun suddenly appeared. “He helped bring Theadun’s body. He can eat with me out back.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Will that be all right?” Felewin asked Ninefingers, who nodded because he clearly wanted to be anywhere else. Then Felewin said, “Well, if we’re going to be separated, I guess I’ll have to let you free.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No!” said the woman.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You let him be freed or you let him be fed. It’s that simple.” Ninefingers was staring at him with a mixture of embarrassment and horror.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Fine. We’ll let him eat inside but he has to be leashed.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Ninefingers is not a dog,” Felewin said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No. Dogs can be trained.” She whistled and their dog, a big hound, showed up. The dog growled at Ninefingers. “No attack. Yet. Watch him.” She gave the dog a treat from her apron.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The dog sat down and watched Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Felewin, you’ve got as much as you’re going to get,” Ninefingers muttered.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The woman looked at Ninefingers, sniffed, and then went inside.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Come on in,” Felewin said, and he entered.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers followed, with the air of someone being dragged into a monster-infested crypt. The dog followed him in.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There were seven people sitting in the common room, counting Dopkin and Daerdun. Ubert was standing there; his wife was nowhere to be seen. “Most of these fine folk are regulars. There’s no drink in the tower, just water,” he explained. “Eargrave, he’s a cart maker and wheelwright. Young Caranta, she’s his apprentice.” They nodded, while pointedly not looking at Ninefingers. “Losdur and Burl, they are guards. They were survivors of the last Ironwood expedition to root out the goblins.” The two of them nodded at Felewin, who was a head taller than either of them, and they were taller than everyone else in the room. Then they stared at Ninefingers and said nothing. “Dopkin and Daerdun you know.” Dopkin smiled nervously. Daerdun ignored all of them. “Last is Vengis, who is the provisioner for the Bleak Tower.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis was a weedy little man, with a rat-like face and a hairline that started at the top of his skull. “So you saved young Dopkin.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We did,” said Felewin. “I hope you won’t judge him by the loss of your silk and barley.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis grunted. “Last month we lost three barrels of beer. Now this.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hard to make beer in the winter,” explained Ubert. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’ve already apologized about the barley,” said Dopkin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“’Twasn’t your fault,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Nor yours. Twenty of them, one of you, says Dopkin,” said Vengis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Twenty?” started Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You can’t be as good as the hero Erdwain,” said Ubert. “Hero came to the area, and he stays. We need Erdwain, y’see. He’d have dealt with them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Burl said, “The goblins are probably holed up at the ruins of the sanctuary, up in the Ironwood.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Losdur said, “Oh, you know so much. But there’s cockatrices in that forest, and orcs.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There’s no orcs, not since the Margrave drove them out. Before my time.” Losdur shrugged. “But we haven’t the men go make a sortie.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That so?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Did you happen to find any money there?” Vengis asked Felewin. “At the scene, I mean.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“A couple of silver. Is it yours?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, no,” said Vengis hastily. “Keep it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers cleared his throat. Felewin ignored him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I insist,” said Felewin. “If it was yours or the Margravate’s, you should have the money.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He won’t miss it,” said Vengis. “A couple of silver... It’s too small.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, it’s the right thing to do,” said Felewin. “The knightly thing.” He grabbed Vengis’ hand and slapped the silver onto the man’s palm<a id="fnlink4"></a><a href="#fn4"><sup>[4]</sup></a>.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis screamed. A wisp of smoke rose from Vengis’ hand and he yanked his hand free, spilling silver pieces onto the floor of the common room.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Your hand...” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers spoke up. “He’s a shifter.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis sprang to his feet. Ninefingers stood but when he tried to block Vengis’ way, the dog blocked him: the animal got in front of Ninefingers and stood there, growling. Vengis ran out the front of the inn.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin picked the dog up by its scruff and set it aside. “Come on!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers ran after Felewin rather than be dragged.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Even Erdwain didn’t spot it,” said Ubert as they ran out.</p>
<h4><a id="doc4"></a>Toad In The Hole</h4>
<p class="slug">Increase Travel (PC negative CF 8)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked at the ground, damp from the rain<a id="fnlink5"></a><a href="#fn5"><sup>[5]</sup></a>. “That’s the way he went.” He led them deeper into the trees.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And if we catch him? Shifters are only hurt by silver or magic,” said Ninefingers. “Our silver is inside the inn, on the floor. Not to mention that we could use the money.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes, but...” said Felewin. “If we go back, Ubert will just tell me that Erdwain would have caught them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers laughed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Why don’t we follow long enough to see if his den is local, huh?” asked Felewin. “If it is, then we know where it is. If not then we go back and I listen to how Erdwain would have managed it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The inn is no better for me,” said Ninefingers. “I hear that shifters can call their animal form, so rats and giant rats. Do you want to face them alone?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You make a compelling case. You’re willing to track him for a bit longer?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers lifted the tether. “Do I have a choice?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You have a choice. And I have decided—”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So it’s not my choice?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin continued. “—that I will not react violently if you make a choice I don’t agree with.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s actually decent of you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I try.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And that annoys me, by the way. We could use that silver.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s still there for us.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers snorted. Some time passed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“These dead trees look odd,” Ninefingers said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Petrified. We must have traveled into the Ironwood.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They had to pick their way carefully here. There were plants and flowers among the petrified trees, but there were also large rocks, as tall as Felewin’s waist, and bare patches.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He switches here to full rat,” said Felewin. “Before the tracks were rat-man but now just a rat.” Felewin looked up at the gray sky. “I can track farther, but we have to leave now if we’re going to get back to the inn by night fall.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well, that was a wasted day.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ve seen this lovely place and you didn’t have to deal with people’s attitudes for several hours,” Felewin said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers leaned against a brown rock, mottled with lichen, as he watched Felewin blaze two trees. He felt the rock move and only the fact that he was falling made the rock — no, toad — miss swallowing him.<a id="fnlink6"></a><a href="#fn6"><sup>[6]</sup></a> The Aprak scrambled to his feet and ran behind Felewin, then got out his dagger.<a id="fnlink7"></a><a href="#fn7"><sup>[7]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The toad tried to swallow Ninefingers, leaping to the other side of Felewin and trying to bite.<a id="fnlink8"></a><a href="#fn8"><sup>[8]</sup></a> It missed, but narrowly. Felewin spun to face the beast and stabbed with his knife.<a id="fnlink9"></a><a href="#fn9"><sup>[9]</sup></a> He drew blood but couldn’t tell how serious a wound it was.<a id="fnlink10"></a><a href="#fn10"><sup>[10]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin had practiced switching to his sword, so he did, and then slashed with his sword, then slashed, letting the longer blade be a sharp level. The sword bit deeper into the toad.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers grabbed a branch and prepared to block the toad’s mouth<a id="fnlink11"></a><a href="#fn11"><sup>[11]</sup></a>. The toad surged forward to hit Felewin this time again and missed.<a id="fnlink12"></a><a href="#fn12"><sup>[12]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The toad tried again to catch Felewin in its mouth and instead impaled itself on Felewin’s sword, killing itself.<a id="fnlink13"></a><a href="#fn13"><sup>[13]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin grunted and then used his foot to help pry the beast off his sword. He found leaves and cleaned the blade. “Icky beasts,” he said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I wonder if you get warts from a giant toad,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I wonder if you can eat those legs,” said Felewin.</p>
<h4><a id="doc5"></a>Fireside Tales</h4>
<p class="slug">Ambush Travel (NPC Negative)</p>
<p class="bodytext">You could, in fact, eat those legs, and Erden grumbled as she took them, but the grumbling seemed to be a habit: she seemed happy to have something else to cook.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Burl and Losdur were also happy with the meal. Losdur allowed as how things weren’t great inside the tower, and Burl pointed to a scar on his leg. “Still pains me. I can’t walk a long distance any more.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“From the goblins?” asked Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Burl nodded. “We were headed to the sanctuary ruins, which are about a day’s and a half’s journey from the tower. There’s a shrine by a brook about a day away so we decided to camp there, but once everyone but the watch was asleep, we were attacked by goblins. There’s an old hermit in the woods — Odend — he comes in every fall to buy provisions, and he showed up. He created light for us so we could see. It was a pitched battle for hours, it seemed, and at dawn the goblins melted into the forest. We were a strong garrison before that, but we lost dozens of good men. Fourteen of us managed to get back. Now there’s barely enough to man the tower. They took in much of the village that was around here, but not the inn.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">It was quiet after Burl spoke. Then finally, Ubert said, “Erdwain’s sworn to exterminate the goblins. And we’ve got Felewin, here. I’m sure he’s interested in the reward.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers sat up straighter, and poked Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Reward?” Felewin said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I thought that’s why you came,” Ubert said. “There’s a bounty on goblins up here, and a reward if you can truly rid the area of goblins.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ll ask tomorrow,” Felewin said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Your room is down here,” said Erden. “We’ve got one room with a window to the courtyard. I figured you’d want to be able to see your pet.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s not—” and then he stopped as if Ninefingers had poked him again. “Thank you,” he said. “We’ll also try to look at Vengis’ room in the tower, in case there are clues.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Vengis didn’t live in the tower. He had a room here,” said Ubert. “Do you want to see it?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If we could.”</p>
<h4><a id="doc6"></a>Judge The Mundane</h4>
<p class="slug">Judge the Mundane (NPC Negative CF 7)</p>
<p class="bodytext">The room was not particularly large. The bed was a straw tick with a low table beside it; the table held a shallow bowl and stood over a small crate. On the floor were five chests, one large and four of smaller sizes. “Out of deference to your wife, would you please shut the door?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert did. Felewin brought out the key and untethered Ninefingers. “What do you <em>see?</em><a id="fnlink14"></a><a href="#fn14"><sup>[14]</sup></a>” he asked the goblin — no, he preferred to be called an Aprak, Felewin reminded himself.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers sniffed. “Vengis kept some kind of food product in one of these chests. But not just there.” The goblin hit the tick several times and scowled at the sour smell that was released. “He did not always visit the jakes, or—” Ninefingers scampered over to the table and moved the crate. “Ah. Rathole.” He pointed at the hole at the base of the exterior wall.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “I don’t think he could become a small rat — those footprints we followed were too big — but if he could summon smaller rats they might have run errands. And once the smaller rats had free access to the room, they were willing to use the straw as a toilet.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert made a face of disgust. “I’ll have to fix that.<”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “Felewin? Could you see if any of those chests are unlocked?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin knew that Ninefingers could unlock the chests, but he also knew that Ubert would be uncomfortable with the knowledge.<a id="fnlink15"></a><a href="#fn15"><sup>[15]</sup></a> All were locked.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers looked at Felewin. “It would be good to know what is in those chests.<a id="fnlink16"></a><a href="#fn16"><sup>[16]</sup></a>”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert spoke up. “He was a wererat; his gains were ill-got. I will get Daerdun in to open them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once he was out of the door, Ninefingers flipped the crate over and blocked the rathole. “I don’t know if they can pass messages, but I’d rather they didn’t.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Now what?” asked Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We wait. There isn’t enough time to pick the locks, and chests are valuable of themselves. I wouldn’t break them unless we had need.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert and Daerdun arrived. Daerdun looked at the chests and said, “None of these are by dwarven hands.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Does that mean you can’t open them?” Ubert asked.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, it means that I don’t care about preserving the metalwork of the hasp,” Daerdun said, and stuck a pry bar between the lid and chest of the nearest one. Daerdun twisted and it popped open. It took him only a moment to do the other chests.</p>
<p class="bodytext"> The smallest chest held a variety of gold coins. Ninefingers picked one up and looked at it. “Tyrrean. And I see clipped Empire coins too.” He tossed it back in and saw Ubert relax microscopically.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The rest held small sacks of spices, a moderate sack of mixed rye and oat (already starting to sprout), a pair of leather helms (bloodstained and patched), a jug of lantern oil, three knives (one of very fine Setftish make), a pair of manacles, a key, and two coils of rope. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Daerdun grunted. “I’ve got the warden’s mule for shoes outside.” He left.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Nothing here worth killing for,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“When did killing come up?” asked Ninefingers. “Vengis ran away, he wasn’t killed.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Just a thought. It was an unusual time for Theadun to make the trip. Does that make it more likely that he’d be ambushed or less likely?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said nothing. He moved away from the chests. “Can we go?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There’s nothing more to be learned here,” agreed Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ubert fastened the door after they left. “Those four will take word to the tower. I don’t know what they’ll do about the halfling. In the meantime, you get any room for the same cost as a piece of the hearth.”</p>
<p class="spacer">#</p>
<p class="bodytext">The courtyard held an iron hoop; Daerdun hitched horses to while he shod them. Felewin ostentatiously fastened Ninefingers to it. The well was within reach of the tether, so Felewin brought out a jug. “In case you need water.” In a low voice, he asked, “You going to be okay?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I hope so. I don’t want anyone claiming the bounty with my body parts.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Me neither. Why do you think the goblins are so lethal here?” asked Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers snorted. “Because some bigoted humans started killing them, and the goblins are just responding in kind. It would be nice to think there was an evil in the Ironwood that’s provoking them, but...” He spread his hands. “Prejudice and vengeance are common to all talking species.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“True enough,” said Felewin. </p>
<h4><a id="doc7"></a>A Gift Of No Consequence</h4>
<p class="slug">Bestow Opulence (PC Positive CF 7)</p>
<p class="bodytext">In the morning, they stopped at the tower but the seneschal (not even the Margrave) didn’t even grant an entrance.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Instead, they started walking north on the road.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What are we looking for? Vengis?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Not particularly,” said Felewin. “I still think we ought to find the orcs.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Because they enslave goblins, and you want to find my brother who was taken by slavers.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin laughed. “You were listening!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“This is mad as a March hare.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I am looking for deeds that will make Baron Coodna knight me. I would like to free you of suspicion at the same time. I have goals, Ninefingers. And I need your help. I need someone to talk to the goblins and find out what they know of the orcs.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They speak the common tongue,” reminded Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But the goblins don’t trust humans around here. We’re headed to where Burl and Losdur were ambushed. There have to be goblins near there.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Still an hour away from the wayshrine, they came to a spot on the road blocked by a fallen petrified tree. Felewin stopped as soon as they saw it. He asked, “Is that a trap or was the tree knocked over by a storm after Burl and Losdur came this way?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That is a sensible question,” said Ninefingers. “There is hope for you.<a id="fnlink17"></a><a href="#fn17"><sup>[17]</sup></a> Look at the plants around the base. They grew that way. But the ground’s not dented, so it fell before spring because the ground was hard then. It’s been like that since at least the start of spring.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Not a trap, then.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Probably not. But I can sneak around through the woods and check the other side.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If it probably isn’t a trap, we’ll approach it together. Which end looks easier to walk around?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers pointed with his short fingers. “That one.<a id="fnlink18"></a><a href="#fn18"><sup>[18]</sup></a>”</p>
<p class="bodytext"> It was while wading through the undergrowth that Ninefingers heard the sound. He turned and saw the spider, as big as a collie dog, squeezing out from under the tree. “Spiders,” he said, and tried to jerk away but his foot was stuck to webbing. “Big ones.” He pulled hard and thought maybe it was starting to give. Felewin drew his sword as he stepped closer. His intent was to bottle the spider or spiders up until Ninefingers got free. He<a id="fnlink19"></a><a href="#fn19"><sup>[19]</sup></a> stabbed his sword deep into the spider and it stopped, dead.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Lucky shot or are they fragile?</span> thought Felewin. Either way, he was was not going to question their good fortune.
<p class="bodytext">It took both of them a moment to pull free, and smaller spiders started to make their way around the larger spider as they did so. Felewin and Ninefingers quickly moved beyond them, along the road.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Here,” said Felewin. “I meant to give this to you before.” He handed over the Seftish dagger that had been Vengis’.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Thank you,” Ninefingers said. “How did you get it?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Asked for it. Didn’t tell him it was for you, though. Wouldn’t quite be a short sword for you but almost. It’s a long dagger. Had Daerdun sharpen it, along the one edge.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers lifted it experimentally, tried a few passes. “Thank you. You couldn’t have given this to me before?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Had to wait until they couldn’t see.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Which reminds me,” Ninefingers said while he unfastened his owl-feather earrings. He put them in his purse, along with the small cheese and his pouch of lockpicks. “Remind me how far along this shrine is?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Burl said it was a day’s march. We make slightly better time than foot soldiers. We should be there by late afternoon.”</p>
<h4><a id="doc8"></a>Possibly A Prisoner, Certainly Not A Guest</h4>
<p class="slug">Fight Portals (NPC Action CF 8)</p>
<p class="bodytext">By late afternoon<a id="fnlink20"></a><a href="#fn20"><sup>[20]</sup></a> they could hear water, and mixed in with the water were the sounds of creaking leather and footsteps. They had agreed on a story — Felewin was to be Ninefingers’ captive — and the man handed his sword to Ninefingers, and bound his hands. Ninefingers in turn fastened the tether. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hoy!” shouted Ninefingers. “Is anyone there?” in goblin, then repeated it in the common tongue.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers heard, “Is it a trap?” and then muttering, which he figured was the patrol leader sending someone to see if there were forces lurking further back.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He stood there. “We’re going to wait,” he muttered to Felewin. “They have to know we’re not bait for an ambush.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sometimes waiting is all you can do,” murmured Felewin back.</p>
<p class="bodytext">After a while, six goblins came out. All were lean, even scrawny. They spoke in goblin; Felewin couldn’t follow.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m Ninefingers,” Ninefingers said, and he held up his left hand to show why he had that name: his pinkie finger was a knuckle short. He kept the short sword pointed at Felewin’s back. “This is my prisoner.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Now he’s our prisoner.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Don’t kill him. I can get money for him alive,” said Ninefingers. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“We don’t need money,” said the goblin in the lead.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers looked him with pity. “Everyone needs money.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’re going to set up our own nation!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers nodded. “And we’ll need money to trade with the other nations.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">One of the other goblins whispered to the speaker. He whispered back, clearly unhappy. Ninefingers could imagine the exchange just by watching his face.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We will take you to our headquarters. It will be the basis of our land, Droll Nation!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers kept a straight face. They might not even know that “droll” had another meaning in the common tongue.</p>
<p class="bodytext">A third one, a female, came up to him. “You must be tired. We’ll take turns guarding him. Rest a bit. We’ve got hours of walking yet. We’ll start walking once it gets tolerable out; we have a lantern because we also have a human with us.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You do?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The goblin nodded. “You’ll see once we get past the orc.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You have an orc?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The goblin laughed. “You’ll see. I’m Kagandis.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Ninefingers.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I heard. You got some meat on you. I like that.” She took out her own spear and held it up so that Felewin could see it. “I look after you now,” she said in heavily-accented Common. “He rests.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They marched for a short time until they went over a small wooden bridge to the wayshrine. “You can sit on the stairs there,” Kagandis told Ninefingers. She added, “You are tough.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Thank you,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She replied in the goblin manner: “It is an earned thing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin followed because of the leash and went to sit down, too. Kagandis poked him with the sword and said in the common tongue, “No sit!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m bigger than he is,” Felewin said reasonably. “We can both sit together.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No sit,” she repeated. Then she pointed at the tether. “Key.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin pulled the key from a thong around his neck, and unlocked himself from Ninefingers. She held her hand out for the key. She seemed eager to have an excuse to stab him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once she had the key, she poked him to move him up the steps.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You won’t get anywhere with her,” came a reedy voice with a strong Eastern accent.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked up. At the top of the steps was a man in rat-skin clothing, common on the frontiers. His hat had once been fine, and the book in a sling was typical of personal grimoires, suggesting that he was a wizard or had looted a wizard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis forced Felewin up and locked Felewin to the wizard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The wizard complained in goblin speak. She replied, then put the key around her own neck and headed down the stairs to Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin was not fond of wizards. Still, he was pretending to be a prisoner (and actually might be one). </p>
<p class="bodytext">“She’s tough?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The wizard nodded. “Tough enough. And she’s a deadly shot with that bow, probably best in this squad.” He paused to drink from his flask. “You don’t want any of this; it’s mushroom wine. It’s terrible stuff but it’s all the goblins make.” He took another swig.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Felewin. You are?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hastwine. Why would someone want to ransom you?” He smiled and waved a finger. “I speak goblin, and I heard your goblin say he could get a ransom for you. Now, you’re a big guy but all I see is a fighter, and fighters are cheap and common. So why?” He hiccupped. “Well, that spoils the mood. Dammit, am I going to have hiccups through this whole interrogation? Anyway, don’t lie to me; I’m a wizard.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said helpfully, “My mother made us hold our breaths when we had hiccups. Said it was demons trying to yank out our souls.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“’S not, but did—” hic “—it work?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I don’t have them now,” said Felewin. He watched Kagandis give a drink to Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I get—” hic “—an hour of hiccups at a time. Very—” hic “—frustrating.” He inhaled and held it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m a third son,” said Felewin, and named his father. “My oldest brother Anader inherits, but if he dies, my next oldest brother Ealin inherits. I wasn’t really in the line.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And not worth a ransom.” Hic. “Good goddamn,” Hastwine said, annoyed at the hiccups.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I left to make my fortune. Anader gets engaged so since there are likely to be heirs, Ealin starts studying in the church. He’s going to renounce his position in line. Maybe Skjolds can be priests and nobles, but not in my family.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Huh.” Hic. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Then Toivil fell ill. My brother’s fiancée. Bubble fever. You know anything about bubble fever?” Hastwine shook his head. “Half the survivors, both men and women, they can’t have children any more. They won’t know until she tries, but it’s a noble house so she can’t have children without getting married, and no noble will marry her without being assured of an heir.” Felewin shrugged. “Anader can get engaged anew. That’s true.” Hastwine nodded. The light was fading. “But Ealin’s now out of the picture — he did his second vows, so one more and he’s dedicated. Suddenly I’m second in line.” Felewin shrugged. “I’m sure mother has hopes of finding a new fiancée and it’s not like Anader’s hobbies include griffin-fighting, but yes, our family will pay a ransom.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">A goblin said something to Hastwine, who nodded and held up a hand. After about a minute he let out his breath, waited a moment to see, and no hiccup came. He smiled and said, “Listen to your mother, boy,” and made a sound (an owl hooting twice) to each of the four corners of the compass. The sound did not come from Hastwine but from beyond him, out in the wilderness.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Goblins started gathering on the trail. Hastwine waved Felewin up. “You’ll walk with me, since we can’t see in the dark. I have a lamp.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Fine.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The goblin behind Felewin poked him in the back, and Felewin started up the stairs. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Mind the orc at the top,” said Hastwine. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin tensed for trouble but then got over the top into the wayshrine proper. Ahead was a statue of four figures holding a wide, shallow bowl — Felewin recognized one figure, so he could guess who the other three were. There was a hulking figure beyond, and Felewin recognized the outline of an orc. He was ready to throw off his wrist bonds and grab his sword, but no one else (even Hastwine) seemed concerned.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc was petrified. Something had turned it into stone while it was approaching the bowl. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine saw him start and laughed. “There’s cockatrices in these woods, boy. Our people will keep them away, but it’s not a safe place to be escaping to. If you had a mind to do it, I’m telling you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hic.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine swore.</p>
<h4><a id="doc9"></a>A Secure Nest</h4>
<p class="slug">Disturb Status Quo (PC Negative CF 8)</p>
<p class="bodytext">It was the middle of the night when they arrived, and Felewin had no idea where the path had taken them. Presumably this was the ruin where Burl and Losdur had said the goblins were, and it started with two flights of steps cut down into the ground.</p>
<p class="bodytext">At the bottom, Hastwine said, “Over to one side. Disguised pitfall.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin grunted and staggered over. (He was exaggerating his fatigue, but not by as much as he would hope.) In Hastwine’s lamp, he had a brief impression of a dirty entrance, recessed alcoves, and two big wooden doors with knockers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Two goblins worked one of the knockers, and they shouted something in goblin. Someone inside shouted something back, and they responded.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Passcode,” said Hastwine. “Get that wrong and you get torn apart by fury dogs. I added that bit.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The fury dogs?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The passcode.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You are indeed a most clever wizard,” said Felewin, who had figured out that Hastwine loved flattery.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The big double doors opened and the goblins flooded into a long great hall with a high vaulted ceiling shrouded in darkness. The walls were spattered with moss and the tattered corners of tapestries. There was an arched passage to the south and the remnants of one to the north, and straight ahead, down more stairs, was an altar. The goblins stayed in ranks until they got to the room with the altar, and then they started chattering as they turned left, in happy chaos.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers appeared; Kagandis was nearby. Ninefingers glanced at Hastwine and said to Felewin, “They’re going to take you to his room. I’m going to untie you and take everything but your bedroll. I’ve told them you’re not to be hurt because we’re going to ransom you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin felt he had to do something to sell the idea that it was a betrayal. “And I trusted you.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers got between him and Hastwine so Hastwine couldn’t see him just unwrapping the rope. “To you, goblins are just animals. To me, you’re the money you can bring.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine was looking at both of them. He smirked and said, in goblin, “You have fun with Kagandis. She is very much fun.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin didn’t know what they were saying to each other, but the suspicion coming off Hastwine was almost palpable. Felewin shrugged off his backpack and knelt to unfasten the bedroll. After the incident with the ghost, they had had to buy new, and he hadn’t had the pack and bedroll for long. He straightened the canvas, sighed, and handed it to Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hauberk, bow and arrows, too. You can keep the gambeson. It will make sleeping a little easier.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine commented in goblin, “That’s very kind of you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers replied, “To show him kindness when he shows none to you is to approach godhood. A saying of the Vult-son.<a id="fnlink21"></a><a href="#fn21"><sup>[21]</sup></a>” Then in the common tongue, he said,“I’m off, human scum.” He kept his gaze on Hastwine as he left the room.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The other goblins kept them moving. They passed through several other rooms that were part of the original temple; Felewin could hear water nearby. Corridors ran to the left and right, and Felewin could hear water nearby—a waterfall; it sounded like a man singing. Both corridors looked disused.<a id="fnlink22"></a><a href="#fn22"><sup>[22]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">“Kagandis seems to like him a lot,” mentioned Hastwine. “I must remember to introduce Akullul to them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Who?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“One of the goblin captains. He also had patrols today but should be back soon.” Hastwine smiled. “He meant to make her his bride.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Good,” lied Felewin. “The more they fight, the better for me.<a id="fnlink23"></a><a href="#fn23"><sup>[23]</sup></a>”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They passed through a room that functioned as a guard room; there were bundles of arrows and swords racked on the wall. Felewin considered whether he could grab them, but didn’t try: two goblin guards watched them go by. On one wall was a closed door; the other had boards set to the side so people could pass through into the passage beyond. The boards had probably come from wooden crates; there was one face of a crate sitting in the corner.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Maybe a dozen of Felewin’s steps took them along the passage into a wide opening with a bridge over an underground stream. There was a waterfall in one direction and he could see the where the stream dove back under rock in the other.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Don’t even think it,” said Hastwine. “It’s deeper than you are tall, and it goes through a few caves and then goes underground for longer than you can hold your breath. It’s cold and at this time of year it’s fast.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was another call and response from one side of the bridge to the other. “Guards,” said Hastwine. “That side of the bridge has a dozen guards and the sleeping quarters.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Where we’ll sleep?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yup. Tomorrow we’ll work out how someone will get word to your family to ransom you. Unless, of course, they decide you’re not worth it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin figured he could get across the stream to the far side of the bridge, but without weapons or armor, getting the rest of the way would be difficult.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once they got across the bridge, Hastwine led him left while the goblins went right. “If you need the privy, we’re going to wait. Always crowded right after a patrol. Akullul forbids them to relieve themselves in the forest, because he’s paranoid about orc slavers.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Orc slavers? Do you get a lot of them?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Nah. But that orc at the wayshrine has him spooked.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What happened to him?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Him? Probably a cockatrice. You don’t get better if one of those gets you. And they nest in these woods.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I mean, why was he here?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Scout, maybe. Maybe Akullul is right. My guess is they don’t go looking for slaves but will grab them if they can.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">This did not match with Felewin’s experience with slavers, but he said nothing.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine reached a wooden door clumsily pegged to the stone wall. “Home sweet home,” he said as he opened the door.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The room was not stuffy, though like everywhere else in the caverns it was cool. Hastwine had scavenged a broken crate that acted as his table. A bag of straw was his bed, and several skins sat on it. He fussed with the lamp on the crate. The fuel reservoir was “closed” in that it was covered by a square of wood; he lifted that up to check the fuel level, deemed it sufficient, then trimmed the wick and adjusted it. He lit it and it stayed lit. Smoke wandred up and disappeared; a crevice in the ceiling acted like a natural chimney.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’ll dry out and warm up soon,” he said. “I generally run it for an hour while I study my spells. Then I go to the privy and grab something from whatever is roasting. Then if no goblin girl wants me, I go to sleep.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What?” Felewin wasn’t sure he had heard right.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They don’t want to get with child, and I don’t mind at all.” He leered. “We’re not near civilization, so we’re not near civilized rules.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sorry to tether you,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m tired of them all right now. It’s okay.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin wondered if he was tired of them, or they were tired of him. He suspected it was the latter.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin put out his bedroll. Hastwine started hiccuping again.</p>
<h4><a id="doc10"></a>A Disturbing Realization</h4>
<p class="slug">Increase Disruption (PC Negative CF 9)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis led Ninefingers into the common room, a large musky-smelling chamber. There was an enormous column in the center. The top was closer to the surface, with dead tree roots visible in the ceiling, wrapped in spiderwebs. There were tables and benches scattered throughout, and more than a dozen goblins were taken passing the time. Over there, three were having an intense discussion; beside them was a dice game with a half dozen goblins. Four were practicing with spears in another corner, and another four were playing Rangeth’s Distraction.</p>
<p class="bodytext">To the west was another chamber, dimly lit by fires. “Food’s over in the living chambers,” she said. “The food can attract giant rats and other things that live down here. We’ve closed off some of the entrances, but not all.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I thought the wizard would help.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Him? Mostly a nuisance. He keeps saying he’ll do great magics but all we ever see is that damned ventriloquism spell. I’m starting to think he’s a con man who got run out of town. That the ventriloquism was a talisman he had.” She frowned. “I couldn’t find a talisman in his room.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He might carry it with him,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He was in his room, asleep. He drinks most nights and once he’s asleep not much wakes him.” Kagandis greeted another goblin maid. “Hastwine — heavy sleeper, right Gotthid?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The other woman laughed. “If he’s been drinking, which is only seven days of the week.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis introduced them. “Ninefingers, Gotthid; Gotthid, Ninefingers. What’s roasting tonight?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Some of the patrols caught rabbits, so we’ve got five on the spit. Spring greens. Beer — there’s still a bit left of the human beer from last month. Some of the fellows don’t need rabbit because they had mule day before yesterday.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers thought, The goblins who attacked the cart are part of this group? That made sense, but the cart had been on the other side of the Bleak Tower, two days’ march away.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The bigger problem was that those goblins had seen him in a very different role. Could he possibly reconcile the two?</p>
<p class="bodytext">Maybe. </p>
<p class="bodytext">And maybe no goblin would notice the resemblance.</p>
<p class="bodytext">And maybe pigs would fly.</p>
<hr>
<h4><a id="doc11"></a>A Bar Fight Without The Bar</h4>
<p class="slug">Fight Death (Introduce A New NPC CF 9)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine fell asleep after he had finished his mushroom wine but before he made his trip to the privy. The lamp went out because it had a very shallow reservoir.</p>
<p class="bodytext">While Hastwine snored, Felewin groped through the contents of his pouch to see what Ninefingers had left him. First, the compass. That was good, he hoped: a compass was worth its weight in gold.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Second, the oilcloth he had wrapped around a bit of food.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He unwrapped the oilcloth to get the food: some hard cheese, some dried meat, some dried fruit. A few bites would help; he saw how thin the goblins were, and chose not to take any of their food this time. Ninefingers was well-muscled for a goblin, but he looked massive next to some of them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The oilcloth also held a key.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Not the key to the tether; the female goblin still had that. But Ninefingers had said he had a skeleton key.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Where to store it, though? The pouch might be taken at any time, but he didn’t have a lot. Eventually he took his boot and wedged it deep inside by where one little toe would be. He slipped his foot in to check and rearranged it several times, striving to be quiet while Hastwine snored beside him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once it was in place, it was time to wake up Hastwine for a trip to the privy. The man did not wake easily, and then it was as though he were waking from a nightmare. “Don’t hurt me!” Hastwine cried as he sat up.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I don’t want to hurt you,” said Felewin. “I need the privy.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Go, then.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I can’t. We’re shackled together.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Right. Right.” Felewin could sense him in the dark. “And I should go, too.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin helped him get up. Hastwine had fallen asleep fully dressed, so he didn’t need to dress. Felewin slipped on his boots.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was still noise from the common room. The goblins didn’t seem to be nocturnal or diurnal. Some goblins were awake and active at all times.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He stood outside the privy while Hastwine was using it; he held the lantern. A spear landed near his feet. He was careful not to move toward it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was hooting from the common room. Another spear clattered to the ground farther away from him, and the hooting got louder. He suspected that there would be more, and two more showed up.<a id="fnlink24"></a><a href="#fn24"><sup>[24]</sup></a> Both missed. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Someone had to come get the spears, so Felewin waited there. Finally two goblins came out, laughing and talking. They scooped up the spears, and one stabbed at Felewin, laughing as he did so.<a id="fnlink25"></a><a href="#fn25"><sup>[25]</sup></a> Felewin sidestepped the spear thrust, which seemed to make the goblin mad.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin snatched one of the spears from the goblin’s hands<a id="fnlink26"></a><a href="#fn26"><sup>[26]</sup></a> and reversed the spear so that the blunt end pointed to the goblin. As a prisoner, he had no intention of fighting his way free until he had the information he wanted. (Without his armour, he stood little chance of fighting his way free, even if he had acquired a spear.) The goblin seemed stupefied by it, and the other goblin stabbed at him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin parried easily.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Gods, Hastwine is taking his time,</span> thought Felewin.<a id="fnlink27"></a><a href="#fn27"><sup>[27]</sup></a> They passed two shots at him, and Felewin parried with the haft of the spear.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Other goblins were starting to come out of the common room and watch.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked at the other two. “I just want to use the privy,” he said. “I am to be ransomed.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You are big and stupid and your kind kills us,” said one of the goblins facing him.<a id="fnlink28"></a><a href="#fn28"><sup>[28]</sup></a> He stabbed and Felewin managed to push the spear point aside.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The other one, clearly worse for drink, totally missed. Felewin said again, “I mean no harm.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">What if he knocked them unconscious? Maybe he could rap one sharply on the head? He might as well try.<a id="fnlink29"></a><a href="#fn29"><sup>[29]</sup></a> He reached out and missed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">That made the surrounding goblins cheer. Money changed hands.<a id="fnlink30"></a><a href="#fn30"><sup>[30]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The first goblin came close, but Felewin managed to parry at the last moment; that put him in a great place to parry the second strike, which would have hit if he hadn’t parried it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Groans came from the crowd. <span class="thought">Sure, it’s entertainment for you,</span> thought Felewin.<a id="fnlink31"></a><a href="#fn31"><sup>[31]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The first goblin came close but Felewin managed to direct the spear to his gambeson. The second goblin was easily deflected.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin had managed so far, but this was a losing battle for him. They were too small and quick, and he couldn’t do anything to end this. Sooner or later he was going to miss.<a id="fnlink32"></a><a href="#fn32"><sup>[32]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Enraged, the first goblin charged him and totally missed. Felewin knocked him smartly on the head and he sat down, dropping the spear. “Please let your friend rest,” he said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The other goblin also jabbed but missed. Felewin tried to hit him but failed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a sudden quiet from the crowd as a goblin, obviously of higher status, elbowed his way through the crowd. As soon as the attacking goblins dropped their spears, Felewin did, too.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The...captain, maybe?..was big for a goblin. He looked at the two goblins and Felewin and said something in goblin. A pair of goblins hauled away the one that Felewin had hit; three other goblins frog-marched the other goblin away.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He looked at Felewin. “No fighting.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I was defending myself. I did not try to hurt them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The goblin captain touched his head. “This is ‘not hurting’?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It is not stabbing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“True.” The goblin captain nodded, thinking to himself. “Go to bed.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin jerked a thumb to the privy door. “Hastwine.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The goblin captain rolled his eyes. “When done.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">He barked something in goblin to the crowd, who made their way back to the common room. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin had thought he might see Ninefingers, but he didn’t.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The privy door opened, and Hastwine stood there. “Did I miss something?”</p>
<h4><a id="doc12"></a>An Uncovering</h4>
<p class="slug">Recruit Suffering (NPC Positive CF 9)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis introduced Ninefingers to a bunch of goblins, mostly women, mostly archers. The women looked him up and down before saying hello. The men wanted to talk about Felewin’s fight by the privy. They got to the cook, who had a number of giant centipede shells holding roasted rabbit, roasted root vegetables, and roasted mushrooms. While the cook was lecturing Ninefingers about the order for getting food, one friend pulled Kagandis aside. Ninefingers<a id="fnlink33"></a><a href="#fn33"><sup>[33]</sup></a> heard her friend say to her in a low voice, “What about Akallul?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What about him?” said Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He thinks you’re his.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s wrong and this will prove it to him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Akallul is a great catch; he’s good nest material.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis nodded. “For someone else. Not for me.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s not what he wants to hear.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s exactly why he’s not right for me.” Kagandis left her friend and came back over to Ninefingers. “He’s a guest,” she told the goblin who had been lecturing Ninefingers. “That puts him higher on the list.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Guests? Look, we got 11 different ranks of outpost members woven in with seven different levels of guests, three kinds of prisoners and then we get to the non-drollil. I gotta go through the seven guests too?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s a favour. He can have some of my food.” Kagandis handed Ninefingers a greasy strip of rabbit.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers knew the significance of this and he murmured, “You sure you want to do this?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Shut up and eat,” she muttered back, and laughed brightly for the others.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers smiled for those watching and took a bit. It was not bad: the cook had a better sense of spices than Felewin did, and the taste reminded Ninefingers of childhood. He savoured it, to show appreciation to the cook, like he would have done in an Aprak nest, and he complimented the cook.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The cook seemed mollified.“At least he knows good cooking. Unlike some of you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He doesn’t know you like we do, Kamikkik!” shouted someone in the back and there was general laughter.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We gotta talk,” she said loudly, putting emphasis on <em>talk</em> to make it sound sexual, and she led Ninefingers away; she grabbed a tanned sleeping skin and her spear. “Got a knife?” she asked Ninefingers. “In case.” He nodded.</p>
<p class="bodytext">From the common room, they went down another corridor to a damp cavern festooned with mushrooms. The walls were slick with algae and water, and the room was noticeable cooler than rest of the cave. From the ceiling hung three baskets. “We won’t be bothered here unless Kamikkik needs some roots. Don’t touch the mushrooms; they’re poisonous.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers looked around.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s as private as we’re going to get without getting rid of metal or courting death.” Kagandis put the skin down and sat with her back against a stalagmite. She waved Ninefingers to the ground. “So,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers sat on the skin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So,” he replied.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’re a spy.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">He laughed. He hadn’t expected the conversation to go in this direction. “I am not a spy. But if you’re looking for ulterior motives, I am using you, all of you”—he waved to indicate everything around them—“for information.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So you don’t intend to stay?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Didn’t say that.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I thought your story had holes. That you got the drop on that big guy? Even in the moment. I didn’t think you could take him. Earlier, he held off two warriors. Granted, they were drunk, but two to one is impressive.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You can’t keep that kind of thing up,” Ninefingers pointed out. “A prisoner just has to escape once.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yeah, yeah. You didn’t escape. This is some kind of plan.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m looking for my brother.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Go on.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Slavers. He got captured by slavers. Felewin—”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The big guy.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes. He had this crazy idea that you would know more about slavers than we do.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well, he’s not wrong.” They sat silently for a while.<a id="fnlink34"></a><a href="#fn34"><sup>[34]</sup></a> Something was dripping in the cave, masking other noises.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Just before she spoke up, Ninefingers said, “Who’s the other guy? Akullul?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“One of the leaders. Son of one of the chieftains.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Nice guy?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I suppose. Wants women to be strong and capable and accomplished but doesn’t want to let them <em>do</em> anything to become that. The women become...trophies, I guess. <em>And</em> he has a temper. I don’t envy the <em>drollilik</em> who nests with him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I wouldn’t say that.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She laughed sadly. “You don’t even know him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I wouldn’t say it because I think he’s the one listening in on us.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She stood up and saw the lower leg and back of the person leaving. “No.<a id="fnlink35"></a><a href="#fn35"><sup>[35]</sup></a> He’d barge in.” She tugged on the blanked. “I’ll bet that was Dedaris listening. And I’ll bet she’s off to tell him.” Ninefingers stood. “Escape. Tonight. Now. With your friend.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But the information we wanted...”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’ll tell you. Take me with you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers looked at her. “Really?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There will only be trouble if I stay. Dedaris has wanted Akallul for years, and this gives her an excuse to cause trouble. With you two I have some protection.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Sometimes in a trapped tomb, it all went to the privy and only thing you could do was ride it out and try to escape. This looked like one of those times.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I don’t have his sword and armor any more. Someone took them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They’ll be in the hall of death.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Excuse me? ‘Hall of death’?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“One hallway, something kills people who stay there. So we store things there. A group of five goes in to deposit or retrieve stuff. We don’t put a lot there, just things that seem dangerous.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It kills people and steals stuff, so you put dangerous things there?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s there or the cave of death.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That fills me with confidence,” said Ninefingers. “Let’s get Felewin.”</p>
<h4><a id="doc13"></a>Escape</h4>
<p class="slug">Neglect Expectations (NPC Action CF 9)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers stole into the room<a id="fnlink36"></a><a href="#fn36"><sup>[36]</sup></a> and covered Felewin’s mouth before waking him. Ninefingers whispered into his ear, “We have to go.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin nodded and started to get the skeleton key; Ninefingers shook his head and used the wire to pick the lock on Felewin’s side.<a id="fnlink37"></a><a href="#fn37"><sup>[37]</sup></a> He then passed the waistband through a hole in the crate, so that Hastwine was locked to the crate. (He wouldn’t stay that way, but it would delay him). Felewin grabbed his lantern.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once out of the room, Ninefingers started for the bridge, but Kagandis said, “This way,” and led them in a new direction.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Mushroom cave?” Ninefingers asked.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis shook her head. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Death cave?” Ninefingers asked.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis nodded. “They’re all the death cave if you don’t know what you’re doing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And we don’t.” In common he said to Felewin, “Don’t light the lantern yet.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Haven’t had time.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Good.” He grabbed Felewin’s arm to keep moving him along.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Do humans and goblins actually get along in the south?” whispered Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sort of,” replied Ninefingers. “We don’t kill each other on sight.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Huh,” she said. They came to a T-junction. She asked, “Does he have any metal on him?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Probably not. Yes, a key.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Does he need it?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He can go in there and light the lantern. The animals eat iron or steel if they find it. Give the key to the animals; they’ll want it. Don’t let him get their slobber on him; it’s corrosive. There’s metal in his tinderbox; he shouldn’t have to give that up, because the key should buy him time.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Eisenessers?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes. Didn’t know if you’d know. Once he’s done, he comes out. I’ll lure the eisenessers out with my knife. Then we’ll run fast. That’s why he needs the light.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The eisenessers will trample anyone following us.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I hope.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers explained it to Felewin, who listened and took off one boot to remove the key.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin went in with the key in his hand. He threw it as far as he could in the dark; he hoped that was good enough.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He got the lantern lit but he could tell it didn’t have much fuel.<a id="fnlink38"></a><a href="#fn38"><sup>[38]</sup></a> In the new light he spotted a wood-and-bronze buckler; he grabbed it just as a wolf-sized eisenesser ambled up to him, or rather his tinder box with its flint and steel.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The eisenesser made a coughing sound as it gobbled up the steel in the tinder box, and Felewin took the opportunity to run back to Ninefingers and Kagandis, without his tinder box.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Off to one side, there was more noise: goblins looking for them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“<em>Run!</em>” said Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Behind them was the snuffling of the eisenesser; to their left side, the goblins, who were running in a gaggle rather than as a military force. The eisenessers moaned and ran towards the goblins and their spears.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis led, and Felewin would have outpaced them but the lantern didn’t provide enough light for him to move faster. Kagandis led them through a maze of tunnels. They came to a section of tunnel that was flooded.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Time of year,” she said to Ninefingers, “don’t worry, there’s no current.” Ninefingers repeated that to Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The two goblins began wading. The water was swiftly up to their necks, with Kagandis holding her quiver up out of the water. Felewin, close behind, bunched up the gambeson up to his chest. He could handle if his trousers got wet; if the gambeson got wet, it would weigh him down. If he could avoid it, he would.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin hissed as the water soaked through his boots. It was frigid. He pressed on. There was a narrow part of the passage where he had to turn sideways, although the goblins didn’t have to.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Finally they climbed up out of the water. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis said something to Ninefingers, who responded curtly.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What?” asked Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’re in the cave of death,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Oh.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And we’re heading for the hall of death.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well, at least it’s a little more civilized,” Felewin replied.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You would say that.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Give me your tunic. I’ll wring it out. Hers too; I won’t look.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They paused for a moment. They didn’t want to be dripping and noisy when they encountered goblins again.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis tutted over the state of her cuirass. Fortunately her bowstrings were protected. There was the sound of wrung water streaming down. “What do we have to watch out for here?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She thought for a moment. “Spiders, crawlers, big centipedes. They have lived through the winter or just hatched.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No rats?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She shook her head. “They can’t get in here while the water is high, and our dogs kill them if they leave the hall of death from the other side.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers passed this on to Felewin. “She doesn’t realize that rats can swim. We’ll watch for them. Because you’re so tall, spiders might be a concern.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin stood up. “Got it. Here are your tunics. Not dry, but better.” He spent a moment wringing out his own clothes. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis watched. “Huh. There’s more difference between humans than I thought.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The only human you’ve ever seen is Hastwine?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Close up. I’ve shot others.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “I only knew Hastwine on the march, but he is not a shining example of what humans can be.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Is this human here your friend?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I owe him a life debt. He is better than most others, but still flawed.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I guess we all have flaws.” She put her cuirass back on. “He’s too big and bulgy for my taste.” In common, she said, “Go now?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin finished putting on on his boots. He took an experimental step. </p>
<p class="bodytext">His boots made squishy noises.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I hope we don’t have to hide.” He shrugged, picked up the buckler and lantern, and gestured.<a id="fnlink39"></a><a href="#fn39"><sup>[39]</sup></a> He held the buckler like a hat so that at least something dropping on his head was unlikely to get him immediately. Kagandis led; Ninefingers was last; and Felewin was in the middle.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Of course, Felewin couldn’t keep holding the buckler: the terrain was rough and sharp, and in places he had to use both hands to ease through tight spaces that the goblins traversed easily. He tried, though finally Ninefingers said, “It’s distracting watching you put that up and down.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “Sorry,” and lowered the buckler.<a id="fnlink40"></a><a href="#fn40"><sup>[40]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Of course, that was when the centipede attacked. Its long flat head darted at Felewin from a nearby stalagmite.<a id="fnlink41"></a><a href="#fn41"><sup>[41]</sup></a> Several legs touched his arm and he saw the shiny brown head in the light of the lantern.<a id="fnlink42"></a><a href="#fn42"><sup>[42]</sup></a> It made a chittering sound as it moved, like unoiled links on a chain and sprocket.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis spun around and stabbed with her knife. She stabbed between two plates on the lithe long figure. Felewin grabbed with one hand but missed; Ninefingers also missed, but in trying to return the attack, they stayed where they were.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The centipede hovered there, its head high and mandibles clicking.<a id="fnlink43"></a><a href="#fn43"><sup>[43]</sup></a> Kagandis struck again, but her dagger hit a plate squarely an did nothing. The centipede darted in again, only to hit the buckler, which Felewin had brought to bear. Ninefingers hit, but his Seftish dagger did as little as her dagger had. “I think we should move,” Felewin said. “We need space.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis caught only the words for move and need, but she agreed, and moved as quickly as she could.<a id="fnlink44"></a><a href="#fn44"><sup>[44]</sup></a> The others followed, and the centipede’s next attack hit only empty air.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="thought">Will it follow us?</span> thought Ninefingers, and then, <span class="thought">And if it doesn’t, is it because we have moved into the territory of something worse?</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">He shut down that part of his brain. The centipede was right behind them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Keep it busy,” said Felewin. “All I can think of it to drop a big rock on it.” There were loose rocks here, the size of a man’s chest. Felewin set the lantern down so he could see the rock and the centipede.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “Keep it busy? Easy to say.”<a id="fnlink45"></a><a href="#fn45"><sup>[45]</sup></a> He repeated the command to Kagandis, who said, “Of course. We can’t run away like sensible people with your big oaf of a friend here.” She used her spear to attract the beast’s attention. With a grunt, Felewin lifted the rock.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The centipede wavered between Kagandis’ spearhead and Ninefingers. It finally attacked Kagandis’ spearhead but missed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin dropped the rock on its back half. Then he staggered back to the lantern. The sudden exertion left him hot and sweaty; the cavern didn’t feel cold for the moment.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once it was trapped, it was much easier to hit. Kagandis<a id="fnlink46"></a><a href="#fn46"><sup>[46]</sup></a> hit it and possibly killed it. To make sure, Felewin found another, smaller rock and dropped it on the centipede, and finally the centipede it was dead.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We could have just run away,” pointed out Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Lots of good eating on a centipede,” said Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’re leaving,” said Ninefingers gently. “We don’t care.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Oh. Right,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s a useful distraction; other things will eat it instead of us.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Where next?” asked Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She nodded. “I’m turned around. We came from...that way? I recognize that pillar. So we go this way to the hall. I think.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You think?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Instead of reassuring him, she said, “From here, the sounds might carry, so be quiet.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Death cave, no, but exhaustion and fear cave, sure,” whispered Ninefingers. She snorted laughter but quietly.</p>
<h4><a id="doc14"></a>Scaring Monsters</h4>
<p class="slug">Befriend Adversities (NPC action CF 8)</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Would you stop flashing that light around?” Ninefingers said to Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Just checking for something that would get it named the hall of death,” whispered Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It connects to the death cave; isn’t that good enough?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So does the main area, and they don’t call that the, the sanctuary of death.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Long name,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Quiet,” said Kagandis in common.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis put her hand on the wall and felt along the cracks. “One connects,” she said. “I’ve never come this way, though.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She began searching. At one point, she disappeared into one crack but stepped back. Felewin put his back to the nearest wall so that he scanned the cave, concentrating on the ceiling. Ninefingers kept his eyes open, too; he thought he spotted movement ahead.<a id="fnlink47"></a><a href="#fn47"><sup>[47]</sup></a> He touched Felewin’s arm and whispered, “Don’t look but I see a giant rat. Can you shoot her bow if she lets you?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin kept his gaze on the ceiling. “Her bow is small, but yeah. We just need to scare it, right?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sure.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I can do that. You ask her.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said to her, “Need your bow.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s my bow. No.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’re the only one who can find the exit; we have a rat to deal with.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You shoot?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’ll break it, big oaf.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Please.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Fine. I know that opening is here somewhere,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin took the bow and quiver of arrows. He pulled out a bowstring and swiftly strung the bow. “It still there?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yeah. It’s not exploring like a regular rat,” said Ninefingers. “More like it’s....watching or something.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Huh. Maybe it’s Vengis?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Maybe.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin drew and loosed the arrow.<a id="fnlink48"></a><a href="#fn48"><sup>[48]</sup></a> “Nice draw weight,” commented Felewin as the arrow sank into the rat’s shoulder.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If he’s a rat, he’ll leave,” said Ninefingers. The rat scurried away.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“If he’s a wererat, he’s faking,” said Felewin. “He’ll circle around and keep an eye on us.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Shame we don’t have silver arrows,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Beside them, Kagandis said, “Got it!” in goblin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Good,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The rat is<a id="fnlink49"></a><a href="#fn49"><sup>[49]</sup></a> still around. Over there,”said Ninefingers. “Do you see? By the tallest stalagmite.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked<a id="fnlink50"></a><a href="#fn50"><sup>[50]</sup></a> and spotted the brown fur. He shot once more<a id="fnlink51"></a><a href="#fn51"><sup>[51]</sup></a>. It looked like the arrow went true.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I found it. Did you hear me?” asked Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Rat,” murmured Ninefingers. “We think it’s a shifter.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ll be better to handle it when Felewin has his equipment,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“True, that.” Ninefingers mentioned this to Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He nodded. “I’ll feel better with my stuff, too. Nice bow she has.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers translated but Kagandis said, “I caught that.” In common, she said, “Thank you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">In bad goblin, he said, “It is an earned thing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You speak goblin?” she asked.</p>
<p class="bodytext">In the same bad goblin, Felewin said, “I don’t speak goblin.” He looked at the crevice she had found. It would require him to climb up to get to a wide enough place, while the goblins could thread it easily..</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “I taught him to say, ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘it is an earned thing,’ and ‘I don’t speak goblin.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“His accent is awful.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes,” Ninefingers acknowledged. “You go through first, then Felewin, last me.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She paused. “The hall of death makes me the most nervous,” she admitted. “The cave is formidable but understandable. The hall...”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers patted her shoulder. “My uncle used to say, ‘Sooner we get in, sooner we get out.’”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Warrior?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Grave robber. Go.”</p>
<h4><a id="doc15"></a>The Hallway of Death, the Cave of Death</h4>
<p class="slug">Transform Fears (Move Toward A Thread CF 8)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kanagis paced in the hallway, waiting for Felewin to squeeze through the space; he was taking what seemed like an impossible amount of time to get through. Far off in the ruin, she could hear the fury dogs barking and the sounds of battle. In one quiet moment, she could hear the signal for “invasion” sound, but she wasn’t sure that it was us.</p>
<p class="bodytext">And she was in the hall of death, alone.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers couldn’t come to her aid, because he couldn’t get past the big human.</p>
<p class="bodytext">This section of the walls looked wet, which struck her has unusual but not terribly so; usually the human-constructed parts were dry, but this connected to the caves. She stood looking back at the hole in the wall. Felewin filled the upper part of the space; he seemed to have gotten himself wedged.<a id="fnlink52"></a><a href="#fn52"><sup>[52]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">“Need help?” she said in common.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sorry, slow,” said the human.<a id="fnlink53"></a><a href="#fn53"><sup>[53]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">To her left were the stairs up. Normally the soldiers put things on the landing where the stairs turned to the upper level; she could see a glint of metal there, so something of Felewin’s was probably still there. It was dry on the landing.</p>
<p class="bodytext">To her right was a long hallway. She had no idea what was down there; presumably someone had explored there, before they found out that people died in this hall. Dry there, too. So it was just this section that connected to the caves.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin was still trying<a id="fnlink54"></a><a href="#fn54"><sup>[54]</sup></a> to get through. Kagandis sighed and looked up and down the corridor, trying to spot a threat.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She could see litter. There were small round somethings on the floor and she wasn’t inclined to go check. If rabbits pooped steel, that’s what they looked like.</p>
<p class="bodytext">What they should do, she thought, is they should lead the eisennessers down this corridor. Either the mysterious goblin-killer dies or the eisenessers, and either way the goblins get extra space.</p>
<p class="bodytext">From upstairs came the sounds of actual battle. Humans come looking for their fellow? No, the whole “someone wants Felewin” story was made up. So what?</p>
<p class="bodytext">She barely heard Felewin’s sigh<a id="fnlink55"></a><a href="#fn55"><sup>[55]</sup></a> of relief as he finally got himself un-wedged. </p>
<p class="bodytext">She leaned against the far wall. And then jumped back.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The wall was <em>squishy.</em> She looked at her hand, which was smoking. She stripped the glove off and threw it down. The wall and ceiling were covered by some kind of film, and only through luck had her gloves been burned instead of her skin.<a id="fnlink56"></a><a href="#fn56"><sup>[56]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Now that she had provoked it, the film started to flow and gather where she had touched it, leaving dry wall behind it. The film thickened there until it extended a pseudopod to her. She dodged this one, but more were already forming.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The temptation was to run. Something made of slime couldn’t be <em>that</em> fast, right?</p>
<p class="bodytext">But Felewin wasn’t even through yet, and Ninefingers was still stuck in the cave.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She jabbed the pseudopod with the point of her spear,<a id="fnlink57"></a><a href="#fn57"><sup>[57]</sup></a> and dragged the point to get its attention.</p>
<p class="bodytext">It swung around, trying to get her.<a id="fnlink58"></a><a href="#fn58"><sup>[58]</sup></a><span class="s3"> It managed to hit her spear and the blade sizzled. She smelled acid.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She ran away from the landing to let Felewin could get to his equipment.<a id="fnlink59"></a><a href="#fn59"><sup>[59]</sup></a><span class="s3"> “Go not me!” she shouted in common.</p>
<p class="bodytext">#</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin finally unfolded himself in the hallway, and heard Kagandis yell. What does that mean? he thought. She was the one who had told them to be quiet, and here she was, yelling. In the other direction, he could hear fighting.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Factions of the goblins fighting? Maybe? </p>
<p class="bodytext">There was his gear! “I’m in the hall,” he told Ninefingers in a low voice, and headed up to the landing. He had to get his gear on as quickly as possible.</p>
<p class="bodytext">#</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers was trying to spot the wererat. Maybe it went away, he thought. Sure: Pigs, wings, like before.<a id="fnlink60"></a><a href="#fn60"><sup>[60]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">At least it was injured. That makes it less effective but more dangerous.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The wererat m<a id="fnlink61"></a><a href="#fn61"><sup>[61]</sup></a>issed Ninefingers. It staggered and its claws did not penetrate Ninefinger’s cuirass. Ninefingers, surprised, missed as well. The wererat tried again, weakly, and Ninefingers managed to drive his blade along the thing’s armpit and open it up. Blood spurted; Ninefingers had hit an artery.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The wererat turned into a dirty man,naked but for a belt and a pouch, who lay there on the cavern floor. Ninefingers carefully cut his throat, mindful of scratches that could spread the shifter plague.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The man was not Vengis. Ninefingers had never seen him before.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis had to get it from somewhere, </span>he thought. <span class="thought">Here?</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">He grabbed the contents of the pouch: a piece of paper and two gold pieces.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He left the body quickly. A centipede was already approaching, and Ninefingers ran for the wall.</p>
<h4><a id="doc16"></a>A Stupid Plan</h4>
<p class="slug">Bestow Liberty (Ambiguous Event CF 8)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once he had his gear on, Felewin felt safer. Maybe it was a false confidence, but it was confidence nonetheless. He blew out Hastwine’s lamp and opened his; it provided brighter light and was magicked so it wouldn’t run out of fuel. (All right, it was a glowing rock in a box. But it wouldn’t run out of fuel.) He ran down the hall toward Kagandis, hoping that she was still okay. </p>
<p class="bodytext">There were sounds of a fight coming from the cave, but he couldn’t shoot through the crevice, and Kagandis was in danger. He chose to help Kagandis but he knew he might be choosing wrong.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She was using a stick to fend off some kind of goo. <span class="thought">An ooze,</span> thought Felewin. He had heard of such things, and he knew that they were difficult to defeat. Until Ninefingers came through they could not run away. He wished he had not left Hastwine’s lamp at the landing; fire might help against this thing. She was using a stick to hold it off.<a id="fnlink62"></a><a href="#fn62"><sup>[62]</sup></a> When she poked it, it had no effect.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The decorations on the stick showed Felewin that the stick had been her spear.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The thing dissolved metal.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Great. He had nothing but metal, now.</span><a id="fnlink63"></a><a href="#fn63"><sup>[63]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">He had no tinderbox, no flame, so he grabbed a shiny rock from the ground and threw it at the pseudopod.<a id="fnlink64"></a><a href="#fn64"><sup>[64]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">It hit. The thing spread </span>away from the shiny pebble.<a id="fnlink65"></a><a href="#fn65"><sup>[65]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Doesn’t like the shiny stones,” he said, and hoped she understood more common than she spoke.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I think... slime droppings,” she grunted as she poked. She used a different word for “droppings.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin grimaced and rubbed his fingers. “It doesn’t like them,” he repeated, and threw another one.</span><a id="fnlink66"></a><a href="#fn66"><sup>[66]</sup></a> This one also hit and spoiled the aim of the pseudopod that was rising behind Kandagis. Presumably the thing stayed on the walls and ceiling to avoid slime droppings.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We busy it while Ninefingers come,” she said. She wished she knew common better.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Here, though! You stand here so you’re safer!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She poked another pseudopod with her stick. “Good.” She dashed to Felewin’s side. “Not face to me,” she said and made a twirling motion with her hand.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin understood her and they stood back to back. The slime made a pseudopod to hit Felewin</span><a id="fnlink67"></a><a href="#fn67"><sup>[67]</sup></a> but he got the buckler up in time.</p>
<p class="bodytext">As bad as a hydra</span>, thought Felewin.</span><a id="fnlink68"></a><a href="#fn68"><sup>[68]</sup></a> He knew how you were supposed to fight the hyrdra, but they didn’t have fire. He bashed at it with the buckler<a id="fnlink69"></a><a href="#fn69"><sup>[69]</sup></a>. Kagandis swung but no pseudopod came near her.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Ninefingers!” said Felewin. “Hurry up!</span><a id="fnlink70"></a><a href="#fn70"><sup>[70]</sup></a>” The ooze came at him from the side and he parried with his sword, but heard the sizzling sound.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Bad,” opined Kagandis. She stabbed it with her spear haft.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers finally came through and saw what they were fighting. “Son of Vult!” he exclaimed. “Run away!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Now that you’re here...</span><a id="fnlink71"></a><a href="#fn71"><sup>[71]</sup></a> Go, Kagandis!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">At the word “go” she broke and ran for the landing. Felewin grabbed his lamp (losing the buckler), and ran. Ninefingers joined them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">From the landing, they could hear the battle ahead of them, clear and loud.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What is going on?” asked Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin paused for a moment and strung his bow. “Someone invaded. Vengis couldn’t have that many people, could he?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers looked behind them. “We’ve got to keep moving, people. That thing is slow but we can’t ignore it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was nothing ahead, but the spill of light from the corridor indicated that something was coming. An orc walked out</span><a id="fnlink72"></a><a href="#fn72"><sup>[72]</sup></a> wearing the robes of a mage. He looked down both halls and saw them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis knew that her arrows couldn’t harm the orc unless she went for a soft spot. She aimed for the eyes, and her arrow sank true.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin knew his bow wasn’t as strong as Kagandis, so he went for the eyes as well...and hit.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc sank to its feet, arrows sticking out of its head. Ninefingers dashed forward and stuck his dagger in its mouth, slashing.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin slowly advanced. “Are there more?</span><a id="fnlink73"></a><a href="#fn73"><sup>[73]</sup></a>”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers looked up. “No.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Slavers?” asked Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I guess,” said Ninefingers in goblin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Then I have to help!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I thought you were escaping.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She said sadly, “I can’t leave them like this. You escape.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin assumed they were talking about the orc. “I’d interrogate him but with his tongue mangled he can’t talk,” said Felewin. “Opinions?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Kill him,” Ninefingers said to Felewin. To Kagaindis, he said, “We need you, Kagandis.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I have to help them. When the threat’s over, maybe I can find you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We know that’s not going to happen. Okay. I’ll help you. I can join up with him later.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sorry to interrupt,” said Felewin. “But what are we doing?” He handed Kagandis her arrow, already wiped clean.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Slavers,” said Ninefingers simply. “I’m going to help her and then escape. You can escape now.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin yawned. “Not without you.” Ninefingers stared at him. “What? Escaping sounds sensible, so you know I’m not going to do it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers blinked. “...that’s stupid enough for a knight.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin grinned. “Got to have goals.” He looked down at his sword. The edge was pitted from touching the slime thing. “I need a better weapon.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’ll bet the rest of the orcs have armour, unlike this one,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Ninefingers, sneak around and see if there’s anyone in the main hall or altar room,” said Kagandis. “We’ll head this way.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers repeated it for Felewin and disappeared</span><a id="fnlink74"></a><a href="#fn74"><sup>[74]</sup></a>.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The main hall held bodies: mostly goblins, a few fury dogs and some orcs. There were some barrels that hadn’t been there before, and a stack of unused torches; Ninefingers presumed the orc had brought them. Ninefingers grabbed a sword for himself and a longer one for Felewin. He came out of the altar room farther along the same hallway. “No one,” he said to them. “Try this sword. Looks like they took it from a commander.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">From the style, Felewin could see it was a Tannen captain’s sword, probably from cavalry. Felewin tried a few passes. “They stole nice stuff.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was more noise ahead, hooting and hollering. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Uh-oh,” said Kagandis. “Taunting chants. I’ll bet the bridge is down. Part of it can be dropped out to protect the far side.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Listen, how hungry do you think the slime is?” asked Ninefingers. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“You think that would work?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We hide Felewin, get their attention, lure them to it, and we go through the crack into the caves while they fight the slime.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Would it kill them?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I hope so. Either way, there’s one less enemy.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hey,” said Felewin in common. “What if we lure it to the slime? That’s the only thing I can think of. We’re on the wrong side of the bridge to lure the metal-eating critters.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’re just talking about that. I don’t think you can come. You’re too big to squeeze through that crack quickly.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Right, so put me in a room. I’ll come up behind them to trap them with the slime, sniper-like. I remember a guard room with a door.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers passed it on; Kanagis nodded and led them back. Felewin managed to keep his boots from making squishing</span><a id="fnlink75"></a><a href="#fn75"><sup>[75]</sup></a> noises.</p>
<p class="bodytext">They came to the guard room. Felewin grabbed a rack of arrows while Ninefingers was unlocking the door.</span><a id="fnlink76"></a><a href="#fn76"><sup>[76]</sup></a> They let Felewin enter and shut the door.</p>
<h4><a id="doc17"></a>A Fraught Preparation</h4>
<p class="slug">Assist Liberty (PC Negative CF 8)</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You ever done this before?” whispered Kagandis before they crept along the hall.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Lots of times,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Liar,” said Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“First, we bait the trap,” said Ninefingers and headed back the way they had come.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What?” She followed him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Help me move the corpse,” Ninefingers said. He took one arm of the dead orc and began dragging it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She saw what he was doing and took the other arm. The two of them quickly dragged the orc down to the landing. “It looks like wet stone,” she whispered. “That’s what you look for.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They dragged the orc farther until it was past the entrance to the cave. Then they were ready to leave it, when Ninefingers sat it up against a stalagmite. “Encourage them to come closer, to help him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kanagis found the dead orc’s water gourd and put it in his hand.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers picked up a slime dropping and threw it against one wall farther back, hoping to chivy the slime toward them. There was no time to do more; they headed back upstairs. They entered the main hall, and Ninefingers tried to lock the door</span><a id="fnlink77"></a><a href="#fn77"><sup>[77]</sup></a>. “Block them if they try to escape,” he said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then they avoided the guard room and crept around to the entrance to the bridge cavern. There were maybe ten orcs there. Kagandis pointed one out with better armour. Ninefingers readied a rock. They both aimed.<a id="fnlink78"></a><a href="#fn78"><sup>[78]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis’ arrow broke against the orc leader’s armor; Ninefingers’ stone hit him in the head.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said loudly, “Whoops. Noticed me.” He suggested that their mothers did improper things with farm animals, and ran with an obvious limp and clutching his leg as if there were something wrong with it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis was already running</span><a id="fnlink79"></a><a href="#fn79"><sup>[79]</sup></a> ahead of him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He went through the guard room so that Felewin could hear and she did not,</span><a id="fnlink80"></a><a href="#fn80"><sup>[80]</sup></a> so the following orcs split for a moment. Kagandis rounded the landing and headed straight for the crevice. Ninefingers rounded the landing and dropped the pretense of lameness.</span><a id="fnlink81"></a><a href="#fn81"><sup>[81]</sup></a> He scrambled in to the crack, hoping that the presence of the dead orc would distract them enough.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Both huddled down beside the crevice to wait.</p>
<p class="bodytext">(They were not going to go forward; better to use the crevice as a natural bottleneck in case any orcs came after them.)</p>
<p class="bodytext"><a id="doc18"></a>A Library Fine</p>
<p class="bodytext"><strong><span class="s2">Trick Magic (Ambiguous Event CF 8)</span></strong></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin hoped the signal to come out would be clear, like the sound of a dozen stampeding orcs. He would wait a while, and then a while longer, and then if there were no signal, he would look for Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He waited.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked around the small room. It had clearly been a library: The walls were lined with shelves and the shelves filled with books and scrolls. From the cobwebs, nothing had been touched for some time. The books looked old and fragile.</p>
<p class="bodytext">One might be a gift for his brother Ealin; what he said to Hastwine about being the third son was true: his brother was clergy and would appreciate a book, wouldn’t he? He could read, and this place had once been a sanctuary. Perhaps a book would be of interest.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin aimed the lamplight to find the one in the best shape, the one that might survive the rigors of life on the road. He peered carefully at them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">One was large but it also looked to be in the best shape. Mayhap he could put it where his bedroll would be, if he still had a bedroll?</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ugh. And that was a new bedroll.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He carefully pulled the book off the shelf, half-expecting things to crumble and collapse.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The book was surprisingly heavy. He weighed it in his hands</span><a id="fnlink82"></a><a href="#fn82"><sup>[82]</sup></a> and looked carefully at it. It was a wooden box crafted to look like a book, and it was holding something.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Mindful of the dangerous things that could live in boxes, he carefully opened it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">In the lamplight he saw gold pieces. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Huh. Well, that’ll buy another new bedroll.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin put the gold in his pouch, and carefully set the book back. </span>Get another <span class="thought">one?</span><a id="fnlink83"></a><a href="#fn83"><sup>[83]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">He decided not to risk it; at any time, the door might get opened or the signal might come. His brother would have to go without; Felewin had tried.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He heard the jangling sounds of people running.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Sounds like a signal to me.</p>
<p class="bodytext">If he were in charge of enslaving orcs in enemy territory, he’d only send a small force after the “escaped goblins.” But still, things should be relatively safe for now. He moved relatively slowly and took a spot by the hallway that led to the Main Hall. The glow on the landing reminded him that unlike goblins, orcs couldn’t see in the dark. He drew his bow and fitted an arrow.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Pity Ninefingers didn’t find me a combat bow, but I didn’t ask, either.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a cry from below. Presumably they had discovered it was a trap. When they saw the slime, they would probably run.</p>
<p class="bodytext">It took longer than he thought, but they did find the slime, and then they ran. He watched the lights of their torches as they rounded the landing and he fired.<a id="fnlink84"></a><a href="#fn84"><sup>[84]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The arrow sank into a lead orc’s throat. Suddenly the orcs stopped running.<a id="fnlink85"></a><a href="#fn85"><sup>[85]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The four or five orcs huddled together, afraid to stay down and afraid to come up.<a id="fnlink86"></a><a href="#fn86"><sup>[86]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin hit one in the armor, then missed entirely. The orcs scanned for him, but Felewin was too well hidden.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He fired twice and got lucky: two more orcs took arrow to their faces.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He had about a dozen more regular-size arrows and about two dozen of the smaller goblin-made arrows. Good thing he wasn’t firing a longbow; that would never use these smaller arrows.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Torches are good for about fifteen minutes. Let’s see how long your nerves hold out.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once their torches went out, he wouldn’t be able to fire at them. But this corridor went to the Main Hall, he remembered from Ninefingers’ scouting trip. From there he would be able to either escape outside or head through the altar room and harry them again from up ahead.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He fired</span><a id="fnlink87"></a><a href="#fn87"><sup>[87]</sup></a> and hit one but the arrow bounced off the orc’s armor.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a scream from below the stairs. Presumably someone did not manage to avoid the slime.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs broke ranks and sprinted up the stairs. There were ten, maybe more of them, and they seemed to be operating on the theory that the sniper couldn’t kill all of them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Which was true.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin withdrew down the hallway to the door.</span><a id="fnlink88"></a><a href="#fn88"><sup>[88]</sup></a> </span>Time to slip away, squishy boots and all... </p>
<p class="bodytext">The door was locked.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He was trapped there.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Very bad, he thought.</p>
<h4><a id="doc19"></a>A Stupider Plan</h4>
<p class="slug">Vengeance Animals (CF 8)</p>
<p class="bodytext">In the cave of death, two centipedes had found the dead wererat, which they were sharing, but then a </span>third centipede showed up and the other two weren’t inclined to share any more. There were a few abortive gestures, but finally the third, smallest centipede started circling around, looking for other things.</p>
<p class="bodytext">It was very close to Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Both of them heard the scream from the hallway, and it seemed like the centipede did, too, because it stopped.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was the noise of the orcs running.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then, satisfied that those events were not going to interfere with its centipede life, the centipede tried to taste Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">She rolled away.</span><a id="fnlink89"></a><a href="#fn89"><sup>[89]</sup></a> Ninefingers sprang to his feet, dagger at the ready.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The two eating centipedes didn’t pay attention to them; the third centipede did.</span><a id="fnlink90"></a><a href="#fn90"><sup>[90]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">It tried once more to attack Kagandis. and hit her, but in the thin part of her arm: the mandibles went right through and the poison squirted on the cave wall. Ninefingers slashed at the joining of two plates and his blade went into the centipede’s flesh; Kagandis pulled free and rolled to her feet.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then</span><a id="fnlink91"></a><a href="#fn91"><sup>[91]</sup></a> Ninefingers got another good slash in, and the centipede’s next attack went wide. Kagandis stabbed it, and the centipede fell dead.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers tried several times to lift it</span><a id="fnlink92"></a><a href="#fn92"><sup>[92]</sup></a> and finally he heaved it towards the other centipedes.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He went to look through the crevice, only to see it was full of someone. There was huffing and then Felewin said, badly, “I don’t speak goblin.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers laughed and helped the man out.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They know we’re here,” he said. “Someone locked the door to the main hall, so I couldn’t get away from them. Managed to hide in the hallway and came down. The slime got two of them, huh?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Um. I locked it. Thought they might try to escape that way.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin stared at him for a moment and then relaxed and said, “I’ve done worse. At least I lived through this without injury. I don’t mind telling you that I would rather go through that crack again than through these caves, especially now that those centipedes are right there, feeding.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ve got a moment,” said Ninefingers in common, then repeated himself in goblin. “There are less than two dozen orcs on this side, but we’re only three people. The surviving goblins are on the other side of the bridge. I presume they succeeded against the orcs who made it over, but the orcs aren’t going to leave...the sun is up soon and they hate sunlight. Sooner or later they find this access to the caves, and then defeat the goblins. Kagandis, what do the goblins have for resources?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Probably four fury dogs. Good archers, but a limited supply of arrows. Without getting out, we can’t make more. A wizard who’s no good. For animals, there are centipedes, rats, and spiders. The eisenessers. And that cave we were in, Ninefingers, those mushrooms are poisonous. The stream.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ve seen thesee dead: two across the bridge, two in the main hall, the wizard we killed; ignore the one that got eaten by the slime. Half of the survivors before slime went after you, and that was four. So there were eight or nine total, and one got eaten by slime. That leaves maybe eight. I think we have to deal with eight.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s making this up,” said Kagandis, after Ninefingers translated.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s not given to that kind of flight of fancy,” said Ninefingers. “He might be wrong, but he didn’t make it up.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The orcs know they’re in foreign territory, so they want to wrap this up as quickly as possible, before the goblins try something that uses the land better. But the sun will be up, so they’ll pick something defensible and stay there. The guard room is too small. Where does the cross corridor go? One arm goes to the hall of death; what’s the other arm?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well,” she said, once the question was put to her. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Good, small, defensible, but nowhere to go if it goes bad,” Felewin mused. “No; they’ll pick the main hall. It’s not as defensible, but there’s an exit. That makes it better than the well. The well is the kind of place that we should hide, but there’s nowhere to go.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Where does the well go?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There’s a pool that connects to the main stream.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Which means they can shoot at you. Not as good. The bridge is better, because then the other goblins can shoot at them. Kanagis, does the bridge area connect to the well?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You have to swim, but yes.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Never heard of orcs swimming, but I suppose they must. Still, best of a bad lot is the guard room. One of us will check the well on a regular basis.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Excuse me?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin explained for Ninefingers. “In terms of access, there are two possibilities: The main hall is best; it’s got controlled access and an exit point. We don’t want them to get there.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We don’t.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, then they’ll have control. We want them to stay near the bridge, where goblin archers can see them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But the goblins don’t have enough arrows.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The orcs don’t know that. If we bottle them up by the bridge, they can only exit two ways: the guard room or the well. We’re going to be blocking the guard room, and we might be able to do something about the well.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“There are only three of us.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ll have to get started, then.”</p>
<h4><a id="doc20"></a>A Lucky Break</h4>
<p class="slug">Heal Intrigues (PC Positive)</p>
<p class="bodytext">The slime was busy with the two orc bodies, so they were able to escape into the hall. Felewin found a bow on the landing and scooped it up as they passed.</span><a id="fnlink93"></a><a href="#fn93"><sup>[93]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">Upstairs, the orcs were still unsettled. There were eight of them, as Felewin had deduced. They had set three lookouts, one looking over the bridge, one by the entry to the pool, and the third by the guard room.<a id="fnlink94"></a><a href="#fn94"><sup>[94]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc fell down before he had a chance to speak. Ninefingers took the opportunity to finish him.<a id="fnlink95"></a><a href="#fn95"><sup>[95]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a shout from one of the orcs, and the two goblins melted away.<a id="fnlink96"></a><a href="#fn96"><sup>[96]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Down to seven, thought Felewin. He was ready to shoot once more; he wasn’t stealthy at all, so he stayed where he was. He trusted to the goblins to keep him safe.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Three orcs came to the doorway to look at their dead friend. They dragged him out to the center again.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin had realized that they couldn’t block off the area without being noticed, and they had nothing to block it off </span>with. But they might make it difficult for the orcs to leave.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Nice bow, thought Felewin. He hoped to keep this one.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Two orcs came up to the doorway and checked it out. They sniffed several times and saw that all the bundles of arrows were missing. They called two more orcs over.</p>
<p class="bodytext">One of them had a bandaged throat; Felewin had already shot him once. The bandage made a nice target, so Felewin aimed and took one more shot.</span><a id="fnlink97"></a><a href="#fn97"><sup>[97]</sup></a> The arrow went into the bandage and the orc was already in danger of bleeding out. He fell over. One orc spotted where he must be, and pointed. Felewin waved and moved back to a defensible position.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Goblins had been able to walk through this corridor in pairs, but they were not the size that Felewin was. With luck, Ninefingers and Kagandis had taken their positions.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin filled the space. The two orcs looked at Felewin, who waved and stepped back into the hallway.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs called over two more of their compatriots. That made four, half of the remaining orcs. That was smore than Felewin had wanted to face, but he was committed now.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Cramped quarters. Good. The axes and flails won’t work nearly as well. Position myself so some of them are in the hallway.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He stood prepared. The orc attacked once, and he parried, then swung.</span><a id="fnlink98"></a><a href="#fn98"><sup>[98]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">The next attack was faster.</span><a id="fnlink99"></a><a href="#fn99"><sup>[99]</sup></a> Felewin just managed to parry and slashed once, which caught this orc over the eye.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc countered</span><a id="fnlink100"></a><a href="#fn100"><sup>[100]</sup></a> but Felewin managed to block; his next thrust found a chink in the orc’s armour and cut him again. The orc tried to move back, but could not.</span><a id="fnlink101"></a><a href="#fn101"><sup>[101]</sup></a> He missed Felewin by a wide margin, and Felewin took the opportunity to thrust twice, hitting both times. The orc’s scale armour kept him from the final blow.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc’s swing went wild, and Felewin killed it. He stepped back to let the orc fall.</span><a id="fnlink102"></a><a href="#fn102"><sup>[102]</sup></a> Way in the back, he saw the fourth orc fall down, with two arrows in his head.<a id="fnlink103"></a><a href="#fn103"><sup>[103]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The next orc had an awkward time trying to get to him, but straddled the corpse.</span><a id="fnlink104"></a><a href="#fn104"><sup>[104]</sup></a> He swung his axe and Felewin managed to guide it away, but he couldn’t manage to hit hard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He shook his head slightly to stay fresh and alert.</span><a id="fnlink105"></a><a href="#fn105"><sup>[105]</sup></a> He managed to drive a good shot and got the orc along its matted hair, and then managed to move the axe aside.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc</span><a id="fnlink106"></a><a href="#fn106"><sup>[106]</sup></a> tossed its head, trying to get blood out of its eye. Felewin blocked it and struck, being careful because all it took was one mistake.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He</span><a id="fnlink107"></a><a href="#fn107"><sup>[107]</sup></a> managed to kill this one, too, with two more blows. The one behind him — what was now the last one — noticed that the one behind him had been killed, and he whirled around. That gave Felewin the chance to finish him off.<a id="fnlink108"></a><a href="#fn108"><sup>[108]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin stopped for a moment. “I have to rest, if we can. There are three more. They should be panicked and will run.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No,” said Kagandis sadly. “Must kill.” To Ninefingers she said, “If any of them get away, they’ll go back to their base and fetch more, a bigger force. We have to kill them all, if we can.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers translated for her. </p>
<p class="bodytext">“I don’t know if we can,” said Felewin. “The remaining few are the most desperate.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Felewin, go into the main hall. The orcs brought barrels of stuff; see what it is.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin shrugged and walked wearily to the main hall.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We have to kill them,” Kandagis said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I believe you,” said Ninefingers. “And you’re not going to go with us, are you?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’d like to,” said Kandagis. “But probably not.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Shame. I’m starting to like you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You? An Aprak?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “You knew?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Holes for earrings in your ears. Warriors don’t wear dangly earrings: too easy to grab and distract you. They were studs sometimes. But Aprak...Aprak wear earrings.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I like you anyway,” said Ninefingers. </p>
<p class="bodytext">She looked down at the corpses of the orcs. “Shame our great-grandmothers’ experiment didn’t work.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“What is that?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They thought maybe if they bred with the orcs, the orcs would get more peaceful.” She shook her head. “Didn’t happen.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, it did not.” He looked up.</span><a id="fnlink109"></a><a href="#fn109"><sup>[109]</sup></a> “Orc investigating the guard room.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">In a flash she had drawn and released an arrow.</span><a id="fnlink110"></a><a href="#fn110"><sup>[110]</sup></a> The arrow hit him in the thigh, where his leg was exposed, and sank in. He howled and hobbled back.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Get closer, and I’ll stay halfway so Felewin can find us.”<a id="fnlink111"></a><a href="#fn111"><sup>[111]</sup></a></p>
<h4><a id="doc21"></a>“I Challenge You”</h4>
<p class="slug">Attract Balance (PC Positive)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin was rolling the barrel. “I’m gonna have to move those dead orcs!” he said as he approached the steps. He stopped</span><a id="fnlink112"></a><a href="#fn112"><sup>[112]</sup></a> the barrel at the top of the two steps that led out of the altar room into the hallway. He set aside the unused torch he had tucked into his waist.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin looked at the orcs and grabbed the smallest one. He shrugged and started peeling the scale vest off the corpse. “What’s in the barrel?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Tar and oil. I presume they were going to scare the goblins and catch them as they fled, but the goblin guards caught them first. What are you doing?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Better armor than what I have. What are you going to do with the barrel?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Make the part of the cave they’re in uninhabitable. I want to spread the tar and set it on fire. Ask Kagandis if that can be done. I don’t want to do it if it kills most of the goblins, too.”<a id="fnlink113"></a><a href="#fn113"><sup>[113]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefeathers finished fastening the vest and then edged up to Kanagis’ hiding spot in the guard room, but apparently not well enough: an arrow flew by him. It went wide, though, so he made a note to collect it on his way back.<a id="fnlink114"></a><a href="#fn114"><sup>[114]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">She told him that they had places to retreat to in case of fire. “Mushroom cave, for instance.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Can we do set it on fire?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Seems kind of extreme for three orcs.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Otherwise it’s a standoff.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Tar gets into the water, the area is useless for days, but we still have an area...”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She thought for a moment.</span><a id="fnlink115"></a><a href="#fn115"><sup>[115]</sup></a> While thinking she spotted more orc movement and fired another shot. It hit the chief and splintered off his armour. While she was firing, an orc fired an arrow at her, and hit. The shot was sloppy and hit her in the hip, but it did hit.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He dragged her to the hallway and called Felewin up, ignoring the need for stealth. He punctuated it with a single bird call.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orcs stayed silent.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin arrived and looked at Kagandis’s wound. “All of their arrows have barbed heads. We’ll have to push it through the flesh. That’s going to hurt.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Shaman...can help,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “Then we have to risk it. I’ll challenge the orc chief to single combat.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No,” said Ninefingers. “</span>I challenge the orc chief.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Why you?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Primus,” said Ninefingers, pitching his voice deep to imitate Felewin. “You’re tired.” Felewin started to object, when Ninefingers said, “Secundus, the other orcs won’t abide if you win. They might if I win. Tertius, Kagandis is hurt. She can’t navigate the caves in this state. We have to finish it now. If I don’t win—”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’ll be dead. I don’t want you dead.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers shrugged. “If I don’t win, you can still crush them as they come through the doorway. You’re big.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis said, “I should do it. I’m a warrior. You’re not a fighter!” Kagandis said, and tried to stand. Felewin held her down.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I can fight,” said Ninefingers.“I just prefer not to fight.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">To Kagandis, Felewin said, “Can you shoot your bow seated? Because if I’m at the doorway supervising this duel, I want someone checking the hallway.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She nodded. “I’m injured, I’m not dead.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers yelled so the orcs could hear him, “I challenge you!”</p>
<h4><a id="doc22"></a>Duel To The Death</h4>
<p class="slug">Dispute Leadership (ambiguous event)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers shrugged again, trying to get used to the feel of the armour. He’d rather have it than not, but he was aware of it. He was also using Felewin’s commander’s sword, which he had to admit was a better balance than the one he had taken from a dead orc.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc chieftain strolled to him. Behind him, Ninefingers could see the injured orc with a bow, ready to intervene if needed. He couldn’t see the other orc.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers knew that behind him was Felewin, with his bow and the biggest sword he could find.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The area was saddle-shaped, with the sides dipping down to the water and the centre rising to the bridge. The orc had the higher ground for now.<a id="fnlink116"></a><a href="#fn116"><sup>[116]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc’s first shot was</span><a id="fnlink117"></a><a href="#fn117"><sup>[117]</sup></a> exploratory; so were Ninefingers’.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The next pair</span><a id="fnlink118"></a><a href="#fn118"><sup>[118]</sup></a> of swings connected but both were foiled by armour.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The</span><a id="fnlink119"></a><a href="#fn119"><sup>[119]</sup></a> third attempts were a bit more confident but missed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then</span><a id="fnlink120"></a><a href="#fn120"><sup>[120]</sup></a> Ninefingers managed a clear strike and drew blood. “Care to surrender?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc grinned. “When I win, the pretty little archer is mine, too.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers</span><a id="fnlink121"></a><a href="#fn121"><sup>[121]</sup></a> said, “If you win, I’ll be dead. I won’t care.”</span><a id="fnlink122"></a><a href="#fn122"><sup>[122]</sup></a> He moved again and got himself uphill from the orc.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The</span><a id="fnlink123"></a><a href="#fn123"><sup>[123]</sup></a>y exchanged harmless blows. The orc managed to move uphill.<a id="fnlink124"></a><a href="#fn124"><sup>[124]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers</span><a id="fnlink125"></a><a href="#fn125"><sup>[125]</sup></a> dodged the orc’s blow, stabbed him solidly in the leg, and avoided the wild second blow.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Tell me again what you’ll do to the pretty little archer,” Ninefingers said with a grin.<a id="fnlink126"></a><a href="#fn126"><sup>[126]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The orc was breathing heavier now.</span><a id="fnlink127"></a><a href="#fn127"><sup>[127]</sup></a> Ninefingers managed to cut him on his forehead and blood started seeping out. The orc missed, and then shouted, “Now!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">An arrow hit Ninefingers</span><a id="fnlink128"></a><a href="#fn128"><sup>[128]</sup></a> but glanced off the mail.</p>
<p class="bodytext">In the hall, Kagandis saw one healthy orc appear, dripping wet, from the stairs leading down to the pool. She fired and hit</span><a id="fnlink129"></a><a href="#fn129"><sup>[129]</sup></a> but that arrow didn’t penetrate.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers shouted, “Felewin—the archer, there!” Felewin fired<a id="fnlink130"></a><a href="#fn130"><sup>[130]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Now</span><a id="fnlink131"></a><a href="#fn131"><sup>[131]</sup></a> they were all in battle: Ninefingers’ next blow was thrown off by the arrow, and he missed, as did the orc chieftain, who started swearing. Finally Ninefingers</span><a id="fnlink132"></a><a href="#fn132"><sup>[132]</sup></a> struck down the orc chieftain.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin’s next shot hit the seated archer and sank into his chest The orc started to move, but an</span><a id="fnlink133"></a><a href="#fn133"><sup>[133]</sup></a> arrow from Felewin killed the orc archer while the orc was trying to shift to a better position for shooting.</p>
<p class="bodytext"> Kagandis</span><a id="fnlink134"></a><a href="#fn134"><sup>[134]</sup></a> fired two arrows and hit the dripping orc twice, but he was on her; she moved her arm out of the way just in time. Kagandis hit him but did no damage. The orc moved forward and closed the gap between them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin heard</span><a id="fnlink135"></a><a href="#fn135"><sup>[135]</sup></a> the sound and moved, grabbing the short sword. He swung at the orc and killed him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You okay?” he asked Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes,” she replied in goblin, and then remembered he didn’t speak goblin, so she repeated it in common.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That word I know,” Felewin said. He looked at the arrow in her hip and tutted fretfully. “I wish I knew how to help, but I’m worried I’d make things worse.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They heard Ninefingers shouting to the goblins on the other side of the bridge. Felewin picked her up (“I not child!” she managed in common but she stopped resisting). He carried her out by the bridge.</p>
<p class="bodytext">When she appeared, there was a roar of approval from the goblins. They might have been grateful to Felewin and Ninefingers, but she was one of them.</p>
<h4><a id="doc23"></a><strong><span class="s2">Not Really Done</span></strong></h4>
<p class="bodytext">Praise Benefits (NPC Positive)</p>
<p class="bodytext">With Felewin hauling, they got the trapdoor in the bridge back up, and the goblins rushed across. They took Kagandis from Felewin’s arms and marched her around the bridge saddle, then across the bridge and into the common room. Ninefingers was telling any goblin who would listen how well Kagandis and Felewin had done. Goblins pushed Felewin across the bridge, and he went, tired and happy. He was anxious but the crowd seemed in a good mood, and no goblin had tried to take away the sword he was carrying. He let himself be pushed along.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers tried to sit near him to translate, but other goblins moved him up to sit beside Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine appeared. He was swaying. He had been drinking all through the attack but had been too scared for it to affect him. Now, however, all that alcohol was taking effect. “I’m supposed to translate for you. Think you’re so special.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I’m just a fighter,” said Felewin, though he did feel a bit of pleasure that fighters had done this, not wizards.</p>
<p class="bodytext">One of them, the shaman, had finally extracted the arrow and was wiping away blood.</span><a id="fnlink136"></a><a href="#fn136"><sup>[136]</sup></a> Kagandis hadn’t made a sound. The shaman smeared some salve on from an open gourd and then fastened a bandage on it. Kagandis carefully stood and then grinned.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The crowd roared approval again.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“She’s not </span>that good,” Hastwine muttered.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “She was that good. And she’s one of theirs.” In goblin, he said, “It is an earned thing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I didn’t know you spoke goblin,” said Hastwine to him.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said what he always said when someone replied to him in goblin: “I don’t speak goblin.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine said, “Don’t make fun of me,” in goblin, and stalked off.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I don’t — I only know a couple of things in goblin,” said Felewin in common, but it was too late. Hastwine had lurched to his feet and left the chamber. Felewin didn’t want to shout after him and distract the goblins from their celebration. He sat quietly and watched.</p>
<p class="bodytext">One of the goblin chieftains made a short speech in which Kagandis’ name got used a lot. He used another term and indicated Ninefingers. Finally he waved to indicate Felewin at the back of the room.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis got a prize — one of the bows that the orcs had used.</span><a id="fnlink137"></a><a href="#fn137"><sup>[137]</sup></a> From gestures, the chieftain was speaking about Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The goblins started a chant.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The chieftain let them chant for a while, and then he said something that made them all cheer again. Everyone was handed out the rations looted from the orc’s bodies: Ninefingers and Kagandis got to choose, while Felewin got whatever was left by the time it got to him. He thought it would be rude not to take something, so he found something small and not particularly objectionable, and took that. (The goblins near him watched him carefully.)</p>
<p class="bodytext">It was dried fruit of some kind. He are it and smiled. The goblins nearest to him were excited and cheered. </p>
<p class="bodytext">The goblins were happy, and two or three of them got him to join in their dancing. (Even after some months with Ninefingers, he wasn’t sure whether it was male or female goblins who pulled him to his feet.) He tried to imitate their moves as best he could, which the goblins found hilarious.</p>
<p class="bodytext">After what seemed like hours of this, he was allowed to sit down, at which point he realized that he was </span>very tired. Ninefingers made his way over.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hey,” Ninefingers said in common. “How are you doing?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Gods, I’m tired. How long do we have to participate?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You can probably get away; I have to stay longer because I’ve been adopted.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s nice.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers kept smiling but it left his eyes. “It is a great honour that I didn’t particularly want. I’m glad they’re not going to kill us. Let’s get you to Hastwine’s room; you’re still staying there. I hope you can sleep; it’s like noon outside.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Oh, I’ll be able to sleep,” Felewin assured him. “And I get my bedroll back. If Hastwine isn’t lying on it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They slowly made their way out, with goblins stopping Ninefingers every few steps, but finally they were outside the common room, and from there it was quick to Hastwine’s chamber. They could hear him snoring from outside. Unfortunately the door was stuck, and Felewin had to use more strength to open it without breaking it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The room was almost empty. Now it held the tick, the partial crate, and the tether that Felewine had left.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hold on a moment,” asked Felewin. “He might be in the privy,” though he knew that wasn’t true.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, they expect me back. Stay here, I’ll check the privy.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Certainly.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers was back almost instantly. “He’s gone. Wait here; I’ll talk to the chieftain.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin thought, Hastwine took my new bedroll. Can’t trust wizards.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then he thought about Ninefingers’ presuppositions about goblins and thought, Okay, can’t trust Hastwine. Other wizards might be okay.</p>
<p class="bodytext">His father had not kept a wizard, but hired one as needed. The last one had been the source of their troubles.</p>
<h4><a id="doc24"></a>23 - On The Trail</h4>
<p class="slug">Work Hard Friendship (NPC Action CF 7)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin stared at the sky.</span><a id="fnlink138"></a><a href="#fn138"><sup>[138]</sup></a> “Storm coming, so we have to go now if we want to track him.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis spoke to Ninefingers, who nodded. “He stole something from the chieftains. He must be punished.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Money?” asked Felewin while he was casting about. There were just too many footprints near the entry to the ruin to determine. Even the footprints of kobolds were hard to make out because there were so many. He led them farther away, still looking.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Kagandis says gems but something else, too. A rare mixture called stillskin, in a sack.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Never heard of it.”<a id="fnlink139"></a><a href="#fn139"><sup>[139]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">“Keeps...what’s the word for shifting into any animal, not just a wolf?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I just call’em ‘weres’ because I can never remember the word.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Keeps weres from changing shape until it’s washed off.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis spoke again.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Oh, that’s good,” said Ninefingers told her. To Felewin he said,. “Because it contains powdered silver, the area it sticks to is not as tough against weapons.” </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Valuable stuff,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They were going to attack Vengis because he’s been blackmailing them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Huh. Was Vengis behind the attack on the cart?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers asked Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yes. He’s already got the cloth from that...well, they call it a raid.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We didn’t find it among his stuff.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Probably in the den of the were-rats,” translated Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Then was Hastwine allied with them?” asked Felewin. “I think Hastwine was trying to hide. I wonder if he knew any bushcraft?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The goblins didn’t think so but now they aren’t sure. I’ll ask about Hastwine.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin ignored their subsequent discussion as noise until he found the bootprints. They were too small for him, too big for any goblin, and nowhere near the orcs. “I think I’ve found his trail.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He knew a little bushcraft. Not a lot, but a bit.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He tried to cover his movements, which changes how I’ll look for him.”<a id="fnlink140"></a><a href="#fn140"><sup>[140]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">It was slow going. Once Kagandis and Ninefingers had been shown the signs, they were able to help look.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Those clouds look bad,” Kagandis said to Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Keep watch for cover we can use,” he told her. “I hate the rain.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’ve never been caught in the rain?” she teased.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Very often. That’s why I hate the rain.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hey, what you said before about grave-robbing? Is that true?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Family business. Everyone in the nest had some part in it. But I lost that joint”—he held up the hand with the short joint—“when I was just at an age to wonder if I wanted to do keep poking at trapped tombs, so my father encouraged me to try something else for a while. I went to the city where my brother was; he was involved in selling what we found. He happened to know a group of people who did grave-robbing without the grave. That led to me meeting this guy.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“So you’re not that pure after all. And he was a robber?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No, he was trying to get back a stolen item, which he thought I had taken. So I was his prisoner for a while, and then he saved my life when he didn’t have to, and now I owe him a life debt. Simple story.” He touched his stump finger to her shoulder. “And hey, grave-robbing is an honourable profession, according to my nest.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Of course it is,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Found it again. Can we get by those rocks before the rain? I want to have an idea of where he went after those stones,” said Felewin. He started walking quickly.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “Come on,” and started jogging to keep up with Felewin. Kagandis joined him.</p>
<h4><a id="doc25"></a>24 - About Orcs and Slaves</h4>
<p class="slug">Block Opulence (Close A Thread)</p>
<p class="bodytext">They sheltered under a rock overhang while the storm came. It was not quite a summer storm, so there was some lightning and not much wind. Felewin suggested shifts, and then used his gambeson as a pillow while he took a nap. Kagandis and Ninefingers played water-fire-mug and he won two times out of three,</span><a id="fnlink141"></a><a href="#fn141"><sup>[141]</sup></a> so he closed his eyes. Kagandis stayed awake but realized that all of them had been up for more than a day. She could manage on catnaps, but she had to actually have the catnaps.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Shame about Ninefingers. Even having been adopted, the life-debt meant that he would be following Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">And, Felewin having killed the bulk of the orcs, she couldn’t find it in her heart to kill him to free Ninefingers. (Being honest, she would probably </span>let him die, but she couldn’t kill him.)</p>
<p class="bodytext">After the storm had paused and resumed three times, she woke Ninefingers, because he was the one she could talk to.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He made a face. “Why is it your mouth tastes worse after a short nap than after a long sleep?” He rummaged around in his bag and found two elf-mint stalks and offered her one.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You chew those?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Freshens my mouth. Also, you never see elves with bad teeth.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She accepted dubiously. They chewed thoughtfully, watching the rain. “Not bad,” she said. “I’m going to nap now.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You can lean on me for warmth. When you wake up, we’ll talk about slavers.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She snorted. “Oooh, such pillow-talk,” and she snuggled against his back.</p>
<p class="bodytext">A short time later, she said, “What do you want to know?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers enjoyed the warmth of her there. “Who, what, where, when, how, probably not why.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well, we weren’t sure which group. We’ve been dealing with the Death’s Head orcs. Akullul thinks that they found some way across the river and are exploring.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s the Warmongers normally, isn’t it?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Yeah, they’re the closest if you can’t cross the river, but still days afar. They’re still mad at the Margravate for chasing them out of this area.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But Akallul’s not sure which of them it is?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No. But I was thinking about it. Goblins are probably enslaved by other orcs. They live in caves, they need slaves that can see in the dark. Except we keep hearing that the orc slavers take all kinds of people...humans, dwarves, gnomes, halflings. Why?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well, the biggest use for slaves is agriculture. You have a big number of people, you need ten times as many fishing and tilling and making things like paint to put their symbols on things.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“True. But why humans or halflings? I figure — and Akullul agrees — they’re selling them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Ah. And the slave state with the most money is the Emprire of Tanne.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Just guessing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But my brother is probably with orcs. Because he’s a goblin.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Not an Aprak?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers sighed. “Maybe I was wrong about your people.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Maybe.” She kissed the back of his neck. “Now I can sleep.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers sat there, watching the rain. Her body and his blush kept him warm.</p>
<h4><a id="doc26"></a>25 - The Anticlimactic Ambush</h4>
<p class="slug">Make Ambush (PC Positive)</p>
<p class="bodytext">It took them an hour after the rain to find Hastwine’s trail again. “You said he wasn’t experienced at bushcraft. When would he break for the night?” asked Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">After Ninefingers translated, she said, “I think I know where he is going. If I’m right, he won’t stop until he gets there.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Where do you think he was going?” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Understand that Vengis and his shifter companions, they were blackmailing us. They kept us in line, threatening to send the armies after us.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hold on a moment... He had more than one companion?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Two were with Vengis when we first encountered them. It was a gatherering party, and they were not armed to defeat three shifters.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I don’t suppose they stole the weresbane to defeat the weres and prove his worth?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She snorted.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers quickly filled in Felewin, who said, “But you managed to kill one in the caves. So whatever their number, they’re down by one.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Shifters can pass it along,” said Ninefingers. “Who knows how many there are now?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“True, that. Well, I’ll keep an eye out for giant rat spoor as well.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They came to an animal run, and followed to approach a brook. There was a copse of birches on a hillside, near the brook, which sprang from somewhere up the hill.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a dead human hanging from one of the petrified trees, fastened by his ankle. The body of a finch was stuffed in his mouth, and the damage on his splint mail showed that he had received a terrific battering.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The hero Erdwain, I presume,” murmured Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I judge him a week dead,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Do you know him?” asked Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We know of him,” Ninefingers told her.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Not a safe place to camp,” said Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We have little time until sunset,” said Kagandis, who had recognized the word for “camp.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin grimaced and then checked the corpse for anything useful. The corpse’s food was spoiled, but Felewin found a half-dozen coins in the man’s purse. Most were silver; one was a small copper piece. There was also a good-luck charm carved of rowan-wood. </p>
<p class="bodytext">In moving the body, Felewin stepped on a dagger on the ground, with a silver inlay in the handle. The inlay was presumably why they hadn’t touched it; it was unharmed by its week on the ground. He stopped the spinning of the corpse.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’ll cut you down when it doesn’t give away our presence, or we’ll join you,” he whispered to it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">They retreated to outside the copse.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“While you were checking the corpse, I saw a spot that a lot of rats seem to go in and out of,” said Ninefingers. “It’s a rat den even if it’s not a were-rat den.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Do we make camp or attack? We’ve marched all day and we’re not fresh.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“It’s their territory. I can’t think of a spot to go where we won’t be found. We could maybe go back to where we sheltered from the storm, but we won’t get there until after dark, and we’ll still need to sleep in shifts.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But if we attack now, we don’t have to worry about being attacked in our sleep.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“How do we attack?” asked Felewin.“They’re resistant to our weapons. I could fasten this dagger to a stick and use it as a club; at least the silver will hurt them.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis said, “Place burning wood at the entrance and smoke them out.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And if they attack while we’re placing the wood?” asked Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They’re outside where we have room to maneuver.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers relayed this to Felewin, who said, “Good idea, but there’s just been a storm. Finding wood dry enough to burn might be a problem, and I can’t see in the dark. Pity we don’t have one of the barrels the orcs brought; that stuff burned well enough.” He thought for a moment. “We know where their den is. I vote we go back and get a barrel, smoke them out.” He looked apologetically at Kagandis. “We’ll probably lose the weresbane.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But we won’t have a were-rat problem,” Kagandis said, “Let’s do it. I should be the one to go back; I know the way back to our nest, and I can bring back a barrel and a torch.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Coming back will be slow,” said Ninefingers. “Unless you bring others carrying the barrel.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Leave it to me,” said Kagandis. “Let’s get Felewin to a defensible position so he can sleep.”<a id="fnlink142"></a><a href="#fn142"><sup>[142]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin had a bit of hard cheese left: that was dinner. He shared it with Ninefingers and Kagandis; Ninefingers shared the scrap of rabbit that he had gotten the day before; Kagandis shared mushroom wine. Then Felewin went to sleep, with instructions to Ninefingers to switch off in two hours. The watches were uneventful, and as Ninefingers was about to wake Felewin for the second time, he heard a noise.</p>
<p class="bodytext">It was goblins, shepherding along the barrel. Kagandis was leading, and it took seven of them to move the barrel of oil and tar across the ground. Ninefingers woke Felewin, and the big man took over rolling the barrel.</p>
<p class="bodytext">By the time they got it to the were-rat den, it was dawn. They saw</span><a id="fnlink143"></a><a href="#fn143"><sup>[143]</sup></a> the log that rats were scurrying behind, and Ninefingers crept around: behind the log was a hole maybe two feet wide. Felewin could get in, but not easily. However, he could maneuver the barrel to the log, remove the bung, and lift the barrel into place to let the tarry oil drip into the were-rat den. And then hold the barrel in place so they couldn’t easily escape.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers would set the oil on fire.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis would keep an eye on the entire space; she would loose an arrow at anything that threatened them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">All three put on armour; Felewin was going to try to keep them in their hole, but they had no way of knowing if there was another exit. If there was, they would be fighting the were-rats in person.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The oil </span>gauged out slowly, thick from the night’s chill.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Don’t light it yet,” whispered Felewin. “When we get a sign or when the barrel’s empty.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">A minute later, a half-human hand reached out.</span><a id="fnlink144"></a><a href="#fn144"><sup>[144]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s a signal,” said Ninefingers as he lit the oil. He heard frantic huffing inside, as though the were-rat were trying to blow out the flames, but that was impossible. The were-rat tried to get out, but Ninefingers hit it with the stick holding the silver-inlaid dagger. Soon there were screams from inside, and then more screams from a second one. There was the stink of burning hair and of burning flesh. Rats on fire fled, and there was no way to stop them all, but the copse around was still wet from the day before.<a id="fnlink145"></a><a href="#fn145"><sup>[145]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Eventually it was silent, and the barrel was on fire. Felewin let go of it and staggered back.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Bad!” cried Kagandis</span><a id="fnlink146"></a><a href="#fn146"><sup>[146]</sup></a> in common. The arrow went true and sank into the belly of the rat-man. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin spun around and saw a were-rat with an arrow sticking out of him. </span>Vengis? Or another </span><span class="though">one?</span><a id="fnlink147"></a><a href="#fn147"><sup>[147]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis sank another shaft into the rat-man, into his neck this time. Felewin took a moment to draw his sword and then stabbed at the rat-man, only to miss. I should have had the sword out. I should have.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis</span><a id="fnlink148"></a><a href="#fn148"><sup>[148]</sup></a> crept through the woods, stealing up on Kagandis. He sensed the presence of the giant rats and sent half over to Kagandis; Felewin and Ninefingers would be his to finish off.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The were-rat facing Felewin snarled and slashed at him.</span><a id="fnlink149"></a><a href="#fn149"><sup>[149]</sup></a> The slash was feeble and poorly aimed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers bashed</span><a id="fnlink150"></a><a href="#fn150"><sup>[150]</sup></a> at the were-rat and hit him, driving the arrow right through his neck, with the silver sizzling as it hit his flesh.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis voice came from the woods opposite Kagandis</span><a id="fnlink151"></a><a href="#fn151"><sup>[151]</sup></a>. “You might have defeated him, but you will never defeat me!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin charged toward the source of the sound, but</span><a id="fnlink152"></a><a href="#fn152"><sup>[152]</sup></a> Ninefingers said, “Wait! That’s not Vengis’ words. That’s Hastwine.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then</span><a id="fnlink153"></a><a href="#fn153"><sup>[153]</sup></a> Kagandis looked around and spotted three of the giant rats. She stumbled back, trying to get all of them, and managed to say, “Giant rats!” in the goblin tongue. Ninefingers repeated it to Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine switched voices and sounded like Ninefingers as he said, “Or is it Vengis pretending to be Hastwine?” </p>
<p class="bodytext">“Rats I can hit!” cried Felewin, ignoring the voice. He sprinted over to Kagandis</span><a id="fnlink154"></a><a href="#fn154"><sup>[154]</sup></a> and stabbed the first rat he saw.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis saw this and mentally directed four of them to switch to Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers sighed and sprinted over</span><a id="fnlink155"></a><a href="#fn155"><sup>[155]</sup></a> and bashed with the stick</span><a id="fnlink156"></a><a href="#fn156"><sup>[156]</sup></a> at the rat Felewin had stabbed. He did not hear the sizzling sound, but it was a good hit.</span><a id="fnlink157"></a><a href="#fn157"><sup>[157]</sup></a> The rat fell over, which only left—</p>
<p class="bodytext">Gods, I have no idea how many there are.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Giant rats were swarming on Felewin and biting the chain byrnie. Felewin gave a tremendous convulsive shake, which knocked two of them off, but the third was by his hips and climbing up. Fortunately it was too big to nose up inside the byrnie.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Other rats were trying to take chunks out of Kagandis, but she was a much smaller target. One actually managed to bite</span><a id="fnlink158"></a><a href="#fn158"><sup>[158]</sup></a> through her sleeve.<a id="fnlink159"></a><a href="#fn159"><sup>[159]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis backed up into the small clearing, saying, “Backs in a circle! I have at least three!” but of course Felewin didn’t understand the language. The one rat bit Felewin and then dropped off. They were too close for Kagandis to use her bow; she swung with her spear</span><a id="fnlink160"></a><a href="#fn160"><sup>[160]</sup></a> and got one; Ninefingers was satisfied that these were normal (albeit giant) rats, so he used his new short sword.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis set down his pouch and dagger, and took a moment to shift to full rat form, so he was indistinguishable from the giant rats.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin picked a rat and stabbed successfully.</span><a id="fnlink161"></a><a href="#fn161"><sup>[161]</sup></a> He thrust at it again, and saw it fall.</span><a id="fnlink162"></a><a href="#fn162"><sup>[162]</sup></a> Now two of the rats were dead, but the others kept fighting.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Clearly under Vengis’ influence, he thought.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine cast</span><a id="fnlink163"></a><a href="#fn163"><sup>[163]</sup></a> his voice again, this time making a growling sound as of a tremendous beast.<a id="fnlink164"></a><a href="#fn164"><sup>[164]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers did mental math: he could kill a rat with two strikes or bludgeon them so they couldn’t fight in two; he switched back to the club, holding his short sword in his off hand. His first swing caught another rat. Kagandis was trying to give him space, but as a result hit nothing.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine moved to where he thought Vengis was, but didn’t manage to be quiet about it at all. Ninefingers noticed, but had no bow to spare an attack for the wizard.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin swung twice and reduced another rat to near-insensibility.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Prodded by Vengis’ commands, the rats did not leave, though to Vengis they were clearly resentful. Two attacked Felewin, and one injured one succeeded, but its bite did not penetrate the mail. One feebly snapped at Ninefingers, its guts trailing. The other two missed Kagandis entirely, though they were uninjured.<a id="fnlink165"></a><a href="#fn165"><sup>[165]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">One of the two rats attacking Felewin hit his chain mail again</span><a id="fnlink166"></a><a href="#fn166"><sup>[166]</sup></a>. The dying rat attacking Ninefingers missed; and none of the rats attacking Kagandis hit.</p>
<p class="bodytext">They heard nothing from Hastwine except some muttered swearing about being stuck, and then </span>hic.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers</span><a id="fnlink167"></a><a href="#fn167"><sup>[167]</sup></a> put his rat out of its misery.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin was cautious of Kagandis’ blade, but hit one rat</span><a id="fnlink168"></a><a href="#fn168"><sup>[168]</sup></a> and laid it flat.</p>
<p class="bodytext">As a giant rat, Vengis leapt out of the shrubbery and flew at Felewin. He hit but on the chain mail, dropping to the ground and then circling some more, favouring his paw that was still burned from the silver that Felewin had pressed into his hand days before.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis did not notice; she was dealing with the two rats before her. She swung the spear low and caught one.<a id="fnlink169"></a><a href="#fn169"><sup>[169]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">A dying giant rat caught hold of Felewin’s foot and bit him through the boot; but the other caught the chain mail. The two trying to hurt Kagandis failed to hit. Felewin got the dying one that had injured him, but it took two tries.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers picked a rat</span><a id="fnlink170"></a><a href="#fn170"><sup>[170]</sup></a> and swung at it with his club,</span><a id="fnlink171"></a><a href="#fn171"><sup>[171]</sup></a> knocking it away.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis, as a rat, leapt straight for Felewin’s bare neck but missed. The rat that had been attacking Felewin instead attacked Ninefingers...and missed. Both rats attacking Kagandis missed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis swung and killed the wounded rat facing her, leaving her with one uninjured rat. Ninefingers knocked out or killed one of the rats facing Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">They heard something, but couldn’t make it out for the hic.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Instead of attacking Kagandis, the last rat tried to attack Ninefingers, but missed.<a id="fnlink172"></a><a href="#fn172"><sup>[172]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Ignoring the pain in his foot, Felewin decided to block this new rat</span><a id="fnlink173"></a><a href="#fn173"><sup>[173]</sup></a> which seemed fixated on him, and he stabbed at it after the block, hitting it squarely. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine</span><a id="fnlink174"></a><a href="#fn174"><sup>[174]</sup></a> hiccuped.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The giant rat before Kagandis hesitated and then dove at Ninefingers, but missed.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis thought, </span>Die, you rodent. She swung the spear again, and hit her rat, finally. It wasn’t dead, but it wasn’t spry anymore, either.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers didn’t even notice the rat; he had decided to attack this new rat with the club. He</span><a id="fnlink175"></a><a href="#fn175"><sup>[175]</sup></a> hit solidly and heard the sizzle of silver hitting a shifter as the rat was knocked to the far side of the clearing. “This one’s a shifter!” he cried in common, then goblin.<a id="fnlink176"></a><a href="#fn176"><sup>[176]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">He had knocked the were-rat too far to hit it again, so instead he waited, ready to act. The were-rat ran straight at Ninefingers, who hit it solidly, knocking it out and burning lines into it from the silver in the makeshift club.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin said, “Huh,” and killed the last giant rat. “Press the silver inlay against the shifter. That’ll kill it.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a sound in the bushes: Hastwine running away. Ninefingers stood to go, but Felewin said, “You two can go if you want. I’ll wait here. Varmint got my foot.” He looked at the smoke billowing out of the hole. “Besides, someone’s got to stay and make sure the whole damn copse doesn’t catch on fire.”<a id="fnlink177"></a><a href="#fn177"><sup>[177]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’d better go after him,” Kagandis said in goblin, “because he can be fast when he wants to be.” She led Ninefingers in the direction Hastwine had gone.<a id="fnlink178"></a><a href="#fn178"><sup>[178]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin waited for some other attack for a while, but none came, so he took off his boot. The rat bite looked clean</span><a id="fnlink179"></a><a href="#fn179"><sup>[179]</sup></a> so he wiped off the blood, poured some mushroom wine on it, and bandaged it with a strip torn from his trousers.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><strong><span class="s2">Mythic:</span></strong> Lowering CF from 8 to 7.</p>
<h4><a id="doc27"></a>26 - Assist Peace</h4>
<p class="slug">Assist Peace (NPC Negative)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine’s path was obvious. Here, where the copse was thickest, he hadn’t made any attempt to be subtle. They plunged through the underbrush in his path.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The stain on Kagandis’ sleeve grew as they ran. “You’re hurt,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And?” said Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You can’t shoot,” said Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Of course I can. It just hurts. Not impossible.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s not a good thing.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“The chieftains tasked me with his fate. I have to go after him, bite or no bite.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">I always follow the unreasonable ones, thought Ninefingers. “We’ll try to get close so you don’t have to use the bow,” said out loud.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“But we have to move </span>faster.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Hastwine was easy to follow, but it seemed that he was outpacing them. His longer legs gave him the advantage on stride length, as well as letting him push through some obstacles that they had to go around. Ninefingers knew his own stomach was rumbling — how many days since the inn? The food he had taken last night at the feast was ceremonial rather than filling — and he couldn’t imagine that Kagandis was doing much better.</p>
<p class="bodytext">By late afternoon, they found Hastwine’s boot by a log</span><a id="fnlink180"></a><a href="#fn180"><sup>[180]</sup></a> on a patch of sandy soil mostly covered with leaves. Ninefingers spotted it and held Kagandis back He said quietly, “I can’t imagine it fell off. So someone or something </span>pulled it off.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Or he sat on that log because he had a pebble in his boot, and something scared him off.” She did not have much respect for Hastwine; she shook off Ninefingers’ hand and moved forward.</p>
<p class="bodytext">When Kagandis got close enough, a patch of leaves lifted from the ground and grabbed at her.</span><a id="fnlink181"></a><a href="#fn181"><sup>[181]</sup></a> She grabbed at the ground as the giant trapdoor spider pulled her underground, but the good arm found no purchase and the bad arm couldn’t hold on.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers dashed forward and grabbed the edge of the trapdoor, smooth silk and dirt against his hands.</span><a id="fnlink182"></a><a href="#fn182"><sup>[182]</sup></a> He flipped the trapdoor open but it didn’t go all the way, and there was a taut thread trying to pull it shut.<a id="fnlink183"></a><a href="#fn183"><sup>[183]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis had lost her bow and spear, and her arrows were spilling free. She had to get free. Being in the dark didn’t bother her — </span>that was pleasant — but the large arachnid grabbing her leg was not pleasant. First she pulled to try and get free<a id="fnlink184"></a><a href="#fn184"><sup>[184]</sup></a>; her foot slid away, and she tried to scramble up the side of the hole...but the silk was slippery.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then there was sudden light as Ninefingers entered the hole...</span><a id="fnlink185"></a><a href="#fn185"><sup>[185]</sup></a>by falling. He couldn’t keep his balance and slid in. The lid fell shut.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The spider attacked Kagandis, its mandibles clicking, but it missed.<a id="fnlink186"></a><a href="#fn186"><sup>[186]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers managed to draw his short sword as he was sliding, and he encouraged his slide until he was under the beast. He didn’t manage because Kagandis was in the way.<a id="fnlink187"></a><a href="#fn187"><sup>[187]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis drew her dagger and stabbed at the thing.</span><a id="fnlink188"></a><a href="#fn188"><sup>[188]</sup></a> It distracted the spider enough that the beast missed.<a id="fnlink189"></a><a href="#fn189"><sup>[189]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers knew his armor was better able to withstand the thing’s mandibles than her leather, so he needed its attention. This was probably a stupid thing to do...but he shouted and thrashed around as he slashed at it with his short sword.</span><a id="fnlink190"></a><a href="#fn190"><sup>[190]</sup></a> The spider shifted its attention.</span><a id="fnlink191"></a><a href="#fn191"><sup>[191]</sup></a> </p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis tried to move, but couldn’t on the silk.</span><a id="fnlink192"></a><a href="#fn192"><sup>[192]</sup></a> She grabbed one of her arrows and stabbed, but the arrow broke.</span><a id="fnlink193"></a><a href="#fn193"><sup>[193]</sup></a> Ninefingers was emboldened by the damage he had done, but his next thrust did nothing, and then he noticed the little, baby spiders dropping off the parent’s back.</p>
<p class="bodytext"><span class="s4">Are we supposed to be food for them? Ewww.</span></p>
<p class="bodytext">His attention had wandered, and it was nearly enough for the spider to bite him, but he managed to jerk his arm away in time.</span><a id="fnlink194"></a><a href="#fn194"><sup>[194]</sup></a> He didn’t hit this time either, either, but the spider didn’t get him.</span><a id="fnlink195"></a><a href="#fn195"><sup>[195]</sup></a> Kagandis finally noticed the other little spiders, and drew her dagger.<a id="fnlink196"></a><a href="#fn196"><sup>[196]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">The spider was moving slower now, and missed Ninefingers. Kagandis stabbed it in one of its eight eyes, and Ninefingers managed to stab it once more. The spider died and settled heavily, possibly crushing several baby spiders.<a id="fnlink197"></a><a href="#fn197"><sup>[197]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">“Don’t put your damned boot in my face. I’m stuck!” cried Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Let me get steady on something...</span><a id="fnlink198"></a><a href="#fn198"><sup>[198]</sup></a> There.” He had found a pocket to rest one foot in, and from there it was easy. “I’ll pull. Give me your arm.”</span><a id="fnlink199"></a><a href="#fn199"><sup>[199]</sup></a> He grabbed and pulled. She screamed in pain.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s...not the good one.”<a id="fnlink200"></a><a href="#fn200"><sup>[200]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">“Can you give me the other?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a pause. “Not really.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Sorry.”</span><a id="fnlink201"></a><a href="#fn201"><sup>[201]</sup></a> He pulled and she panted as he did so, but he pulled her free. Her extra weight had made that pocket of webbing deeper, so there was a place for her to stand as well. They got out of the nest, and shut the lid before the baby spiders could get out.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers started picking up arrows for her.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Hey...thanks,” she said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“We’re comrades. At least until you go back to your nest.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">She smiled ruefully. “Let’s enjoy it while it lasts.” She looked back.“Okay, the baby spiders are cute,” she said. “But I think they’d like to eat us.”</p>
<h4><a id="doc28"></a>Overindulge Advice</h4>
<p class="bodytext">Overindulge Advice (Close A Thread)</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin had first trimmed a dry branch to use as a cane, and then, bored, had gone on his hands and knees to drag all the corpses to one end of the small clearing, as far from his seat as possible. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Then he sat and cleaned his equipment.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then he ate a small ration of food.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He was probably going to be here for the night, so he made simple traps and set them on the animal run.</p>
<p class="bodytext">By late afternoon, the fire inside the den was out, so he got near the entrance.</p>
<p class="bodytext">It had probably smelled bad before, but with burnt flesh, hair, and tar on it, it smelled bad</span><a id="fnlink202"></a><a href="#fn202"><sup>[202]</sup></a> enough to make him vomit. He hadn’t eaten much, so it didn’t amount to much.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He poked inside the hole with his new cane.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Nothing.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He got his magical lantern and squeezed inside, trying very hard not to breathe. Two bodies and maybe a dozen dead normal rats. While he was running the cane through the ashes, he hit something. He pried it up with the stick and discovered it was a box. He backed out with the box, thinking about how he would get the bodies out to bury them.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Then he realized that they were already partly buried. He would put the other bodies in there and work out a way to collapse the den on them, so they would be buried. Maybe Ninefingers and Kagandis could help.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He limped back to the log; his foot had started to throb. Clearly he had done too much. </p>
<p class="bodytext">What was in the box? It was quite large: maybe a cubit square and a more than a hands-width deep. The wood was cedar, but its time buried had filled in the simple pattern that the maker had carved in.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The box wasn’t locked, but it had a complex latch system.</span><a id="fnlink203"></a><a href="#fn203"><sup>[203]</sup></a> That took a few minutes to work out.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Coins (gold, yes, but an astonishing number of silver ones), a bronze cup, and a gold necklace.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Well, it was nice to find money, but there wasn’t much actually useful there.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He looked at the sun through the trees and then decided he had to check the traps. His foot still hurt but he was alone, and had to do it.<a id="fnlink204"></a><a href="#fn204"><sup>[204]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Something skittered away as he approached, and he found a fawn caught by a deadfall he had set up. The mother was probably near, and might have been the sound he heard. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin’s father would have rescued the fawn to sell; his oldest brother would have killed it without a thought. Neither of them were Felewin.</p>
<p class="bodytext">He spoke soothingly to the fawn as he slowly knelt beside it and loosened its leg from the deadfall. The fawn was too big. He didn’t have a rack to dry the meat, he couldn’t carry it. With luck, one of the other traps had caught something. He let the fawn go and re-set the deadfall.<a id="fnlink205"></a><a href="#fn205"><sup>[205]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin limped to the next trap. Nothing. But the next one had killed a possum. He cleaned it there, and re-set the next deadfall, using a bit of the possum as bait. He baited the other traps, too, as he went back.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Once the barrel was broken, bits of the wood made a good fire, but he missed the tinderbox in starting the fire. It was well after nightfall by the time he got it going. One of the sticks he had rejected for a cane held the meat after he had whittled a point on it.</p>
<p class="bodytext">After eating, he sat in the light of the embers. He wanted the fire to die completely before he bedded down. </p>
<p class="bodytext">As he sat in the dimness, there was a noise from the pile of bodies.<a id="fnlink206"></a><a href="#fn206"><sup>[206]</sup></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">It might have just been rats returning to their nest and discovering the bodies. Or it might not. He listened some more.</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was something in the pile. Again, possibly rats. </p>
<p class="bodytext">He kept the lantern near him, but didn’t open it. </p>
<p class="bodytext">The noises from the pile of corpses increased, along with some very human grunts.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin was not wearing his armour; he had intended to go to sleep. He slipped on the gambeson and unsheathed his sword. He limped over and stood over the pile.</p>
<p class="bodytext">One of the charred bodies shifted and slid down the pile. Vengis lay underneath, sweating and panting. Felewin said, “If the rat hadn’t hurt me, I’d be gone and you’d be free. But it </span>did bite me, so I’m here.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You’re going to kill me. But...I can bargain. I hid my purse and dagger. I can get them for you.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin shook his head. “I have no skill with bargaining.” He smiled. “But come sit on this log and rest. We will talk of things that are not bargains.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis crawled from the corpses. He tried to stand, failed, and crawled to the log, and rolled over to look at the sky.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I have a few scraps of meat left,” said Felewin. “I was saving them for morning, but ...” He shrugged.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They’re not....were-rat, are they?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“No. Nor are they rat, human, or goblin.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Where is that goblin you’re so fond of? Off with the mate he found?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You are offensive for a person who relies on my goodwill.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Apologies. I frequently misunderstand those who treat goblins as people.” He looked at the scar on his hand. “We heal.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I know,” said Felewin. “I have already dealt with....with regenerators.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Then why feed me? Why let me live?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I need you to do something. I need you to come with me back to the inn and admit that you stirred up the hatred against goblins.” He paused. “And you might tell them what happened to Erdwain.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“They’ll kill me!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Or I’ll kill you now, when you’re weak and defenseless.” He poured some mushroom wine into the goblet and handed it to Vengis. “My way, you might get better before they threaten to kill you. You might manage to escape, though I admit I’m going to cut off your hand once you’re well enough to survive it; I think it will take you some time to heal from that.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“That’s monstrous.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“You set human against goblin for what? As far as I can see, some profit but nothing else. You caused the deaths of many humans and more goblins. I think my offering presents some choices for you that are better than death.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Vengis looked for escape, but the sword was at his throat in a blink. Finally Vengis said, “I choose life.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Excellent. I have little wine, but you are welcome to more of it.”</p>
<h4><a id="doc29"></a>Epilogue</h4>
<p class="bodytext">It was two days later at dawn that Ninefingers and Kagandis showed up. </p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin and Vengis had put up a lean-to, and created a rack for drying meat. Vengis was lying on the ground, his arm impaled by a pole. Felewin waved at them. “What happened?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers frowned. “We lost him. Turns out it’s important that one of the pursuers is as big as the target, if he can climb rocks.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Kagandis held out her bag. “But!”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “We did force him to abandon everything. We got the jewels, the money and the weresbane.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">There was a groan from the impaled prisoner.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Felewin accepted it gratefully. “Say hello to our guests, Vengis.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">They looked at Vengis. Vengis managed a weak wave with his other arm. “Hello.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He gets better,” Felewin explained. “I had to find some way to keep him restrained and keep from attacking me in my sleep. So I pinned him to the ground.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Ah,” said Kagandis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers said, “Nice shelter.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Well, I had his help. Then I pinned him. I think his arm is broken, though. Had to stab him through something that would be there even if he shifted form.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Ninefingers nodded. “Very practical.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Too much so,” said Vengis.</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s got a fascinating history. We talked about the problems of provisioning the Bleak Tower.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“He’s not healed?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“Oh, if he isn’t injured regularly, he’ll be fine.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“And you?”</p>
<p class="bodytext">“I was just waiting for you. Did you find my bedroll?”</p>
<h3><a id="doc30"></a>Cast</h3>
<p class="bodytext">These are the character writeups. I created more than these, but if the character did not come into combat, I didn't include them here.</p>
<p class="bodytext">If necessary, OSRIC HD are d8. By the end of this, that shouldn’t be necessary.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Beasts are assumed to have skill 4 unless otherwise listed.</p>
<h4 id="doc31">Felewin</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Human Huntsman (Plainsfolk)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c">5</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">–</td>
<td class="c">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Oversized, Vulnerability (Magic)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Archery 5, Athletics 2, Dueling 5, Animal Handling 4, Riding 4, Survival 4, Composure 5, Literacy 2, Geography 3
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7">
Shortsword (+1 Inj), Hunting Bow (2 Inj)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
<td colspan="7">Gambeson (+1 Fat), Chain hauberk (6)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Equipment</th>
<td colspan="7">
Fuelless lantern, knife, tinder box, blanket, rations
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc32">Ninefingers</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Goblin Bandit (Cavernfolk)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c">4</td>
<td class="c">4</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">2</td>
<td class="c">–</td>
<td class="c">5</td>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Dark sight, Surefooted, Undersized, Frail, On the Run
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Athletics 3, Commerce 4, Dueling 4, Legerdemain 5, Observation 5, Stealth 5, Streetwise 4, Subterfuge 3
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>
Arms
</th>
<td colspan="7">
Seftish Dagger (+1 Inj)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
<td colspan="7">
Leather cuirass (+3 Fat)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Equipment</th>
<td colspan="7">
Lockpicks, tinder box, blanket, owl feather earrings
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc33">Kagandis</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Goblin constable (Cavernfolk)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">4</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">–</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Dark sight, Undersized, Frail, Surefooted; Flair +1D Archery, -1D Flexibility
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Archery 5. Athletics 4, Composure 3, Brawling 2, Melee 4, Observation 4, Stealth 4, Survival 4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7">
Dagger (+1 Inj), Bow (1 Inj), Spear (+1 to hit, +1 Inj)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
<td colspan="7">Leather (3 Fat)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Equipment</th>
<td colspan="7">
2 dozen arrow (less 1)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc34">Centipede, Giant</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Monster</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">0</td>
<td class="c">0</td>
<td class="c">0</td>
<td class="c">–</td>
<td class="c">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Toughness (2), Oversized, Venomous
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Athletics 4, Brawling 4, Stealth 4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7">Teeth (2 Inj), Venomous (+2 Inj)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
<td colspan="7">
Toughness 2
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc35">Eisenesser, Three-Toed </h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Monster</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 4 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Dark sight, Ferrovore, Burrowing
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Atheltics 4, Brawling 4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Arms </th>
<td colspan="7">
Hooves (+2 Fat), Saliva (1 Inj corrosive), Toughness (2)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Protection </th>
<td colspan="7">
–
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="bodytext">An Eisenesser looks like a cross between a hairless dog and a naked mole. Each foot bears three hoof-like toes made of a dense organic metal. The Eisenesser is a capable digger and can break stone with its metal forepaws; it’s a cave-dweller, generally docile. Its primary source of sustenance is cold iron, which it can smell at a range of 50 feet. The Eisenesser may harm a creature inadvertently in pursuit of a meal. It can defend itself by battering opponents with its heavy forepaws for 2 Fat points of damage each. It will doggedly pursue iron (and iron alloys such as steel) but is uninterested in other metals and materials. Its saliva is highly corrosive; it can liquefy up to 6 cubic inches of metal per round. In contact with cloth or bare flesh the saliva deals 1 Inj points of damage per round until it can be scraped off.</p>
<p><em>Monster and descriptive text created by Eric Jones and adapted by John McMullen. Copyright is acknowledged and there is no infringement intended.</em></p>
<h4 id="doc36">Goblin Fighter</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Goblin fighter (Cavernfolk)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Dark sight, Surefooted, Undersized, Frail
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Archery/Dueling/Melee: one at 4, two at 3, Athletics 4, Stealth 4, Survival 2
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Arms </th>
<td colspan="7">
Dagger (+1 Inj), Spear (+2 Inj, +1 to hit)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Protection </th>
<td colspan="7">
Leather (3 Fat)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>
Equipment
</th>
<td colspan="7">
Varies. Knife, spear, leather cuirass, maybe bow, maybe short sword.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="bodytext">Treat as Warriors from <cite>Iron Gauntlets.</cite></p>
<h4 id="doc37">Goblin Captain</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Goblin Captain (Cavernfolk)/td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Dark sight, Undersized, Frail, Surefooted
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Athletics 4, Dueling 5, Leadership 3, Melee 5, Stealth 4, Survival 4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Arms </th>
<td colspan="7">
Dagger (2 Inj), War Axe (-2 to hit, +2 Inj)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>
Protection
</th>
<td colspan="7">
Leather (3)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>
Equipment
</th>
<td colspan="7">
Varies.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc38">Goblin Chieftain</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Goblin Tribal Elder (Cavernfolk)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Dark sight, Undersized, Frail, Surefooted
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Athletics 4, Dueling 4, Leadership 5, Melee 4, Stealth 5, Survival 5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7">
Dagger (+1 Inj), Spear (+2 Inj, +1 to hit)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
<td colspan="7">
Leather (3 Fat)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Equipment</th>
<td colspan="7">
Varies.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc39">Grey Ooze</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Monster</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 1 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Regeneration, Oversized (this one or is that temporary because it’s spread out?)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Athletics 4, Brawling 4, Stealth 4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7">
Digestive enzymes (2 Inj)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Equipment</th>
<td colspan="7">
–
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="bodytext">Based on Oozing Death from <cite>Iron Gauntlets</cite>, but the Grey Ooze in <cite>OSRIC</cite> has no toughness. Given the weapons, the regeneration should be enough to make it a formidable foe.</p>
<h4 id="doc40">Hastwine the Feckless</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Crafting</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Human wizard (ward)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 1 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Hesitant, Multilingual, Poor Reputation, Quick-Stepped
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Alchemy 3, Circumscription 4, Melee 3, Fabrica Sensus 5, Legends 4, Literacy 4, Stealth 2, Subterfuge 5, Survival 2
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7"> Dagger (+1 Inj), Staff </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
<td colspan="7"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Equipment</th>
<td colspan="7"> – </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="bodytext">Recognized as having some kind of ability, Hastwine was left an orphan and grew up to be a not-very-successful wizard. Subterfuge in this case covers being a con man.</p>
<h4 id="doc41">Orc</h4>
I’m using the orcs from the “Her Lady’s Honour” adventure because they’re specific to Amherth.
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Monster</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 4 </td>
<td class="c"> 4 </td>
<td class="c"> 1 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 2 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Toughness 2, Vulnerability (sunlight)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Brawling 4, Dueling 4, Composure 4, Leadership 3, Subterfuge 5
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7">
Fangs (1 Inj); Spear (+1/+2 Inj), Axe (+1 Inj), Knife (+0 Inj)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
<td colspan="7">
Toughness (2) or leather cuirass (3)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Equipment</th>
<td colspan="7">
Varies
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc42">Rat, Giant</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">FIT</th>
<th width="12%">AWR</th>
<th width="12%">CRE</th>
<th width="12%">REA</th>
<th width="12%">INF</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Monster</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 1 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Disease, Musclebound
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Brawling 4, Stealth 4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7">
Bite (2 Inj)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc43">Rot Grub</h4>
<p class="bodytext">Better represented as a plot complication. From <cite>OSRIC</cite>: “Rot grubs are found in animal waste and other foul refuse, and they prefer to consume tissue that is still alive. Upon contact with a living being, rot grubs vigorously burrow deep into the body. Fire must be applied to the site of contact at once in order to prevent the rot grubs from burrowing further. This application of flame kills 1/2D of rot grubs. If not stopped immediately, within 1 to 3 turns the rot grubs find the heart and kill their victim.”</p>
<h4 id="doc44">Spider, Giant</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">F</th>
<th width="12%">A</th>
<th width="12%">C</th>
<th width="12%">R</th>
<th width="12%">I</tn>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Monster</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 1 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>G</th>
<td colspan="7">
Oversized, Venomous
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>S</th>
<td colspan="7">
Athletics 4, Brawling 4, Stealth 4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Wpns</th>
<td colspan="7">
Mandibles (2 Inj)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc45">Toad, Giant</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">F</th>
<th width="12%">A</th>
<th width="12%">C</th>
<th width="12%">R</th>
<th width="12%">I</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 4 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> 0 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
<td rowspan="2">Monster</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Musclebound, Toughness (1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">Athletics 4, Brawling 4, Stealth 4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Arms</th>
<td colspan="7">Teeth (1 Inj), Claws (5 Inj)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Protection</th>
<td colspan="7">Toughness (1)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc46">Vengis</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">F</th>
<th width="12%">A</th>
<th width="12%">C</th>
<th width="12%">R</th>
<th width="12%">I</tn>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Monster (wererat)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 4 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> 3 </td>
<td class="c"> – </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">Vulnerability (Silver), Toughness: 1, Dark Sight, Dark Aura, Regeneration (not vs magic or silver)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">Brawling 4, Commerce 4, Duelling 3, Stealth 4, Legerdemain 4, Subterfuge 4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>
Arms
</th>
<td colspan="7">
Claws or Fangs (+1 Inj), Disease (Lycanthropy)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Protection </th>
<td colspan="7">
Toughness (1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Equipment</th>
<td colspan="7">
Jeweled dagger (worth 800 gold pieces), coin purse (14 gold pieces and 83 copper pieces)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4 id="doc47">Wererat</h4>
<table>
<tr>
<th width="12%">F</th>
<th width="12%">A</th>
<th width="12%">C</th>
<th width="12%">R</th>
<th width="12%">I</tn>
<th width="12%">Magic</th>
<th width="12%">Luck</th>
<td rowspan="2">Monster</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">1</td>
<td class="c">2</td>
<td class="c">2</p></td>
<td class="c">–</td>
<td class="c">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Gimmicks</th>
<td colspan="7">
Vulnerability[Silver], Toughness[1], Dark Sight, Dark Aura
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Skills</th>
<td colspan="7">
Brawling 4, Stealth 4, Legerdemain 4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Arms </th>
<td colspan="7">
Claws or Fangs (+1 Inj), Disease (Lycanthropy)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Protection </th>
<td colspan="7"> Toughness (1) </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th> Equipment </th>
<td colspan="7">–</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<hr>
<h3 id="doc48">Footnotes/Game Mechanics</h3>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn1"></a><a href="#fnlink1">[1]</a> He’s got observation; let’s say it’s average difficulty (2 successes), and he has Awareness 4 and Observation 5: 4 successes (4,1,5,5), and we’ll ignore the overkill.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn2"></a><a href="#fnlink2">[2]</a> Stealth: he gets 3 successes on his 4 dice (1, 1, 3, 10).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn3"></a><a href="#fnlink3">[3]</a> The proper way to do this would be roleplaying but I am brained out today. So let’s use Mythic. <strong><strong>Mythic:</strong></strong> Does he convince them to leave peacefully? Unlikely. (Needs 50, gets 27.)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn4"></a><a href="#fnlink4">[4]</a> This would be a composure roll if he had composure. He doesn’t, so unskilled: 10, 8, 5. Total failure and a calamity. Vengis’ vulnerability means he already has two grades of fatigue.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn5"></a><a href="#fnlink5">[5]</a> Survival to track, and Felewin rolls really well: 1, 1, 5. His Survival is 5, so that’s three successes, and he only needs 2.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn6"></a><a href="#fnlink6">[6]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Felewin 1 Ninefingers 7 Toad 3 Toad has gone, Felewin surprised, Ninefingers uses his movement to get to his feet.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn7"></a><a href="#fnlink7">[7]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin 9 Ninefingers 4 Toad 5</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn8"></a><a href="#fnlink8">[8]</a> The toad gets two successes on Brawling but needs 3 because Ninefingers is undersized.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn9"></a><a href="#fnlink9">[9]</a> He’s rolling all 5 of his dice: 2, 3, 10, 4, 9, which is 3 successes. He only needs 2, so 1 point of overkill. None of those are the toad’s toughness rating (1), so that’s 2 FAT and 1 INJ that get through; we apply the point of overkill to penetration, so 1 FAT and 2 INJ get through. The toad is now at -1D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn10"></a><a href="#fnlink10">[10]</a> Felewin is going to split his actions on this turn, so he spends 1 of his fitness for the reaction roll. F: 6, 4 N: 7 T: 7 Felewin switches weapons (first action) second is attack. Only 4 dice this time. 2, 4, 9, 10: he hits, barely, but it’s 2 FAT and 2 INJ; toad has now taken 3 INJ so it’s at -2D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn11"></a><a href="#fnlink11">[11]</a> The giant toad can’t win against Ninefingers, so it attempts to hit Felewin, who also has no armor. It rolls a 7 and misses.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn12"></a><a href="#fnlink12">[12]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin 4, 5, Ninefingers 9, Toad 2</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn13"></a><a href="#fnlink13">[13]</a> Toad rolls a 10. Calamity.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn14"></a><a href="#fnlink14">[14]</a> Ninefingers’ Observation roll: 7, 5, 5, 2 so that’s three successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn15"></a><a href="#fnlink15">[15] </a><strong>Mythic:</strong> Are any of the chests unlocked (Unlikely)? 71, no.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn16"></a><a href="#fnlink16">[16]</a> At this point, I realized that playing this while my spouse is watching Queen Charlotte in the same room means that everyone sounds like they’re British nobility from 1760. I shall try not to sound like that.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn17"></a><a href="#fnlink17">[17]</a> That’s observation, and Ninefingers has 4 dice: 1, 5, 5, 7. Three successes and he only needed 2.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn18"></a><a href="#fnlink18">[18]</a> How stealthy will the spiders be? They roll 5,7,10: no successes. Not stealthy.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn19"></a><a href="#fnlink19">[19]</a> 1,2,2,5: all hit. It’s oversized, so that’s three points of overkill, which we’ll convert the damage (2 FAT, 2 INJ) to all INJ, so 4 INJ. For cinematic drama’s sake, the last point of overkill will become a point of INJ.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn20"></a><a href="#fnlink20">[20]</a> Rolling according to the module, there should be another random encounter and I got 15 goblins. That sounds like it should be a patrol heading back to the wayshrine, so that becomes our next encounter.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn21"></a><a href="#fnlink21">[21]</a> Sounds like a subterfuge roll to me. Ninefingers spends a point of luck; his subterfuge is 3 and Influence is 2, so he needs it: 2, 3, 7: 2 successes. Enough to keep Hastwine quiet for now.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn22"></a><a href="#fnlink22">[22]</a> Does he hear Mad Mord? Observation 4, 3, 9 but he has no Observation skill, so he hears nothing.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn23"></a><a href="#fnlink23">[23]</a> Felewin attempts subterfuge but he does not have the skill: 1, 1, 10. He actually gets 2 successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn24"></a><a href="#fnlink24">[24]</a> The goblins are trying to get the spears between his legs, but Felewin doesn’t know that. The next one rolls 9, 9, 2: it’s difficulty 2 to get the right spot (he’s difficulty 1 but it’s a called shot). The fourth (I’ve decided there are four) rolls 4, 10, 7: only one success again.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn25"></a><a href="#fnlink25">[25]</a> He’s not really trying, so he doesn’t get anything extra for skill, and he doesn’t use his full Fitness. 1, 8 but Felewin is Oversized, so that hits, or would if Felewin didn’t dodge: he rolls 1, 2, 4, 9, 9. That’s 2 successes, more than the 1 success that hit.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn26"></a><a href="#fnlink26">[26]</a> Apparently it’s combat, Felewin against two drunk goblins. Say that inebriation has given them the effects of the “Hesitant” gimmick.</p>
<p class="footnote2"><strong>Reaction rolls:</strong> Felewin gets 5, they get 6 and 9 respectively. I wish he had Brawling or a better Athletics roll, but what he’s got is Dueling, so he’s going to use Dueling, which means splitting his pool. His reaction on the second one is 7. He’s going to try to grab one spear and defend with it. Fortunately, these are goblin-sized spears so not so huge for him. 1, 2, 1, 7. Enough successes to grab a spear and the difference in Fitness means he can just yank it away. The first goblin fails a fit composure roll (5,6,9) so he loses his action. The other one stabs at Felewin but he’s at -1D because he has two spears awkwardly held. He stabs…7,7,8…and misses. Felewin doesn’t have to parry, but he decides to dodge in case one of them moves first next time: 2,6,6,2. That’s actually quite decent, and means that he’s difficulty 2 to hit instead of difficulty 1.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn27"></a><a href="#fnlink27">[27]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> As before, Felewin uses one die for a second action. Felewin gets 7 and 8; the goblins get 1 and 3 respectively.</p><p class="footnote2">All Felewin wants to do is parry, and his dodge means he’s difficulty 2 to hit. The goblins are drunk so -1D. This starts off as “fun” but will get worse. First goblin rolls 5,1: that’s two successes, so Felewin’s parry is 1, 2, 4, 7: He succeeds. Second goblin rolls 2, 9: that hits because Felewin has lost his dodge, and he’s difficulty 1 to hit. Felewin parries with 4, 1, 7, 9.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn28"></a><a href="#fnlink28">[28]</a> Oof. Well, reaction again. Goblins are 9 and 4; Felewin is 1 and 8. That’s good for Felewin, I suppose. Felewin waits to parry. First one manages 1, 9: a hit, unless Felewin parries. Felewin manages 1, 4, 9, 10: A successful parry. Other goblin rolls 8 and 10, so a miss.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn29"></a><a href="#fnlink29">[29]</a> Felewin rolls 1, 2, 8, 10. Not good enough with small guys like this; they are difficulty 3 to hit.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn30"></a><a href="#fnlink30">[30]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Goblins are 7 and 6; Felewin is 1 and 10. Felewin waits to parry the first one, who rolls 1 and 6; that’s a hit unless Felewin parries (Difficulty 1). Felewin rolls 2, 7, 8, 9, which just makes it. The next goblin rolls well: 4, 5, but Felewin also rolls well: 1, 3, 5, 7, So Felewin parries. The dice have been kind so far.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn31"></a><a href="#fnlink31">[31]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Goblins roll 8 and 5, Felewin 6 and 7. Second drunk goblin gets 5,8 (one success); Felewin parries barely with 4, 8,8, 8. Second goblin gets one success with 2, 10. Felewin parries with 2 successes (4,8,10,2).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn32"></a><a href="#fnlink32">[32]</a> Goblins act on 3 and 8; Felewin on 1 and 6. As is now usual, Felewin delays. First goblin misses (8,8); Felewin raps him on the head with his delayed move (1, 2, 4) and does 3 Fatigue; the goblin is taken to the fourth level of damage (because drunkeness was the first). He can think about life choices.</p>
<p class="footnote2">The second goblin gets mad, but misses (6,9). So does Felewin (3, 6, 7, 10).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn33"></a><a href="#fnlink33">[33]</a> Awareness, observation: 6, 3, 1, 8: 2 successes. He hears.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn34"></a><a href="#fnlink34">[34]</a> <strong>Mythic:</strong> Is someone listening? (likely, CF 7) 01. Exceptional yes. Do they notice? He gets three successes (3, 3, 5, 10) she gets one (3,5,5,10)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn35"></a><a href="#fnlink35">[35]</a> <strong>Observation:</strong> 3,8,4,6 - two successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn36"></a><a href="#fnlink36">[36]</a> Terrible roll, but Hastwine is asleep: Assuming it’s a fitness roll: 3,7, 10,10. That’s one success, but with Hastwine asleep, that makes it.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn37"></a><a href="#fnlink37">[37]</a> Better roll: 2, 3, 3, 5: All successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn38"></a><a href="#fnlink38">[38]</a> Survival roll. He’s got Survival 4, and rolls 2,1,4 so that’s three successes. That makes it.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn39"></a><a href="#fnlink39">[39]</a> What attacks them? 1-5 Crawler 6-8 Spider 9-10 Centipede. 2: a crawler. Who does it attack: 1-5 Felewin, 6-8 Ninefingers, 9-10 Kagandis</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn40"></a><a href="#fnlink40">[40]</a><strong> Mythic:</strong> Is it in the right position when a centipede attacks? (Unlikely) 75% - no.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Centipede attack: He’s big, difficulty 1 to hit. 1,7,10</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn41"></a><a href="#fnlink41">[41]</a> It misses: it rolls 7, 7, 10.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn42"></a><a href="#fnlink42">[42]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Kagandis 7, Felewin 8, Ninefingers 10. What terrible reaction rolls. Fortunately the centipede has gone in this round.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn43"></a><a href="#fnlink43">[43]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin 4,7; Kagandis 7, Centipede 7, Ninefingers 10</p>
<p class="footnote2">Felewin is delaying, hoping to block with the shield. Centipede attacks (10, 7, 4), which hits because Felewin is diff 1, but Felewin makes his Athletics roll (3, 1, 8, 10) and blocks. Kagandis hits (2, 9, 10, 3) but discovers that her spear does little (1 Fat, 1 Inj)..</p>
<p class="footnote2">Ninefingers hits (3,8,3,6) but again, his dagger doesn’t do any Fat damage, but it dos do 1 Inj, so the centipede is at -1D.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Felewin dodges (3,4,2,10) with his second action, so he’s now difficulty 2 to hit.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn44"></a><a href="#fnlink44">[44]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Centipede 9, Felewin 2, Kagandis 1, Ninefingers 5. All of them succeed at running. Does the centipede follow? (Likely) 62% yes. It strikes at Ninefingers (in the rear) but misses (1,6,7)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn45"></a><a href="#fnlink45">[45]</a> <strong>Reactions</strong>: Centipede 7, Felewin 6, Kagandis 5, Ninefingers 6.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Because they’re just trying to get its attention, they can both be defensive. Kagandis is great (1,4,5,8 — 2 successes); Ninefingers the same (1, 3, 4,9). They are undersized, too. Felewin burns 2 luck to lift his rock and does it (2,2,3,4,9). He successfully drops it on the centipede (1,1,1,5,8: 3 successes) and it does 7,9,10 for Fatigue damage. Because the rock takes 4 success to lift and the centipede can only manage 3, it is trapped.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn46"></a><a href="#fnlink46">[46]</a> Rolls 1,2,3,9 to hit it, and it’s currently difficulty 2 hit: both points of overkill get converted. She does 3 Inj to it, which turn into 4, 5, 7 damage: it’s dead. the second shot hits easily (2,3,3,5), and the thing is difficult 9 to hit, so all four are overkill, or +2 Inj; Damage roll is 5,2,9,7 so 3 got through. It’s taken 4 Inj.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn47"></a><a href="#fnlink47">[47]</a> The wererat gets 2 successes. His observation has three successes: 1, 3, 4, 10. So he sees it.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn48"></a><a href="#fnlink48">[48]</a> Difficulty 3 for distance, +1 for the light. Rolls 3, 3,4,4,10: makes it, and gets an archery experience point. Wererat has 1 Toughness but bow does 2 points, so wererat takes 1 Injury. Note that wererats in Iron Gauntlets are easier to kill than OSRIC wererats: in OSRIC, only magic or silver can harm them, but IG, with its lower magic level, merely makes them armored. I might give Vengis regeneration just to make him a tougher opponent.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn49"></a><a href="#fnlink49">[49]</a> What a pair of rolls. The wererat just blows his stealth roll (5, 8). No successes. Ninefingers rolls 1, 3, 3, 3 on observation. Four successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn50"></a><a href="#fnlink50">[50]</a> One success, so he makes it (1,3,8)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn51"></a><a href="#fnlink51">[51]</a> He rolls 2, 2, 5, 5 and manages a second difficult shot. Wow. The wererat takes a second level of Injury.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn52"></a><a href="#fnlink52">[52]</a> Felewin’s athletics roll: 1, 1, 4, 4, 10. Two successes but he is oversized, so he needs three.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn53"></a><a href="#fnlink53">[53]</a> Next Fitness roll: 1, 4, 6, 9, 10</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn54"></a><a href="#fnlink54">[54]</a> Athletics Roll: 1, 5, 7, 8, 10</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn55"></a><a href="#fnlink55">[55]</a> Felewin tries again: roll is 8,1,2,2,5. Three successes!</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn56"></a><a href="#fnlink56">[56]</a> Well, GM being kind.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn57"></a><a href="#fnlink57">[57]</a> Good thing it’s easy to hit: 3,4,8,0. One success but it’s easy to hit.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn58"></a><a href="#fnlink58">[58]</a> It has only two dice to roll, and it needs to succeed on both to engulf her (yes,she has undersized but it’s pretty big). But it only gets 1 (4,6).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn59"></a><a href="#fnlink59">[59]</a> <strong> Mythic:</strong> Should the wererat attack as well? (Likely) 43% - that’s a yes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn60"></a><a href="#fnlink60">[60]</a> GM gives him one luck back because he’s giving the wererat an automatic success on stealth. Ninefingers’ observation doesn’t match it: 10, 8, 2, 6 (one success)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn61"></a><a href="#fnlink61">[61]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> 2 for rat, 4 for Ninefingers. Prostrating task: it’s trading 2 levels of fatigue for extra dice so maybe it will hit: 4,6,6…only one success, so it misses. But so does Ninefingers (3,10,8,8). <strong>Reactions:</strong> 5, 10</p>
<p class="footnote2">Rat has to take him down, so it’s do or die for the rat: another prostrating task. It will be useless after this. 6, 8, 10: it’s already useless. Ninefingers uses a D of luck hits with enough overkill get through Toughness (2, 3, 2, 8, 4), so that’s 2 pts of overkill, 1 damage gets through. Wererat can barely move (-3D) but 3 levels of Inj.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn62"></a><a href="#fnlink62">[62]</a> Does he figure it out? He’s only Reasoning 3…but he rolls 1, 3, 10: 2 successes. I’m declaring that the poopstones reduce the Toughness to 1 because it thins itself out to avoid them. Otherwise they can’t hurt it. It still regenerates from the damage; it just doesn’t like it.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn63"></a><a href="#fnlink63">[63]</a> Reaction, alphabetical order: Felewin 2, Kagandis 3, Ooze 6.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn64"></a><a href="#fnlink64">[64]</a> Throwing is Athletics, and Felewin gets 2,2,5,5,8, which makes up for his Athletics roll of 3: he’s less than 18 feet away, so that hits.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn65"></a><a href="#fnlink65">[65]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Kagandis 5, Felewin 6, Ooze 8. Kagandis tries to move next to Felewin (1,2,3,4, so she does). Felewin picks p and throws a second poopstone (1,2,3,7,6) so he hits. The</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn66"></a><a href="#fnlink66">[66]</a> His throw hits: 1,4,2,1,7: three successes because he has athletics 3. That’s one point of overkill. He does 2 Fat with each throw.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn67"></a><a href="#fnlink67">[67]</a> It hits (4,5) bt Felewin blocks (Fitness+Melee) with the shield (1,1,1,2,10).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn68"></a><a href="#fnlink68">[68]</a> He’s never heard of people fighting an ooze (Reasoning: 9,5,7). Nor has she (10,7,4). Reactions next round: Felewin 1, 7 Kagaindis 6, Oooze 8</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn69"></a><a href="#fnlink69">[69]</a> He hits (1,1,4,6) with 2 successes (untrained brawling). We’re going to declare the buckler as +1 Fat, so does 3D of Fat damage, :So it’s actually down 3 for the nonce. Kagandis misses (7,6,9,9). The ooze is at -2D for now, so it rests.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn70"></a><a href="#fnlink70">[70]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin 4, Kagandis 9, ooze 3, Ninefingers 2. Ninefingers steps through. The ooze attacks (2,8) and hits Felewin, who parries with his sword (5,5,6,8) but at risk to his sword. Kagandis hits (1,2,6,9) and does 2 Fatigue, so .</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn71"></a><a href="#fnlink71">[71]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin 4, Kagaindis 1, Ninefingers 10, Ooze 10 She makes her Athletics roll (2,3,3,7); Felewin makes a success on his Athletics (2,4,7,9), and Ninefingers makes no successes (4,7,8,8) but he’s more than an ooze’s distance away.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn72"></a><a href="#fnlink72">[72]</a> Orc is surprised so he doesn’t get to roll. Felewin 2, Kagaindis 1, Ninefingers sacrifices a point of AWR to roll twice 4, 8. <span class="Scrivener-converted-space"> </span>Difficulty at this range is 2. Kagandis goes for eyes (no toughness) hits (1, 4, 5, 10) 3 successes and 2 would pierce armour if it wasn’t aimed; Felewin goes for eyes (no toughness) and hits (3,3,5,7,1) 3 successes, and all hit. Ninefingers covers the distance (1,3,3,7) and uses dueling to cut out its tongue (1,3,4,0; damage is 5,8,10). Orc has taken 2 FAT (-1D) and 4 Inj (-3D).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn73"></a><a href="#fnlink73">[73]</a> Hey, Mythic, are there more? (very likely) 99% no.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn74"></a><a href="#fnlink74">[74]</a> He only gets one success. Mythic: Is everyone dead? (Likely) 28% yes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn75"></a><a href="#fnlink75">[75]</a> Stealth roll, but Felewin manages one success.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn76"></a><a href="#fnlink76">[76]</a> Legerdemain roll; Ninefingers rolls 4, 3, 1, 2: Four successes. Easy-peasy. (Also lucky.)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn77"></a><a href="#fnlink77">[77]</a> He rolled (4, 4, 5, 8) on legerdemain so he managed to lock the door.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn78"></a><a href="#fnlink78">[78]</a> Both get +1D, so both roll 5D to hit the guy. Difficulty 3 or distance. Kagandis gets (1, 1, 2, 6, 7, 9) so she hits. Her two dice of damage get absorbed by armor (3, 5). Ninefingers burns a little more luck (1, 1, 2, 3, 9, 9) and hits. Ninefingers 2D, 1 of them gets past the armor (4,9) to cause FAT.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn79"></a><a href="#fnlink79">[79]</a> Sounds like subterfuge, luring them along.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn80"></a><a href="#fnlink80">[80]</a> Athletics skill: She gets 3 successes (4,4,4,8) and he gets 2 successes (1, 2, 5, 10)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn81"></a><a href="#fnlink81">[81]</a> He rolled 1,1,2,8 on Athletics. Hot diggety!</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn82"></a><a href="#fnlink82">[82]</a> Observation roll: 1,2,5: two successes</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn83"></a><a href="#fnlink83">[83]</a><strong> Mythic:</strong> Does he look in other books? (Unlikely) 90%. No.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn84"></a><a href="#fnlink84">[84]</a> Hits first one; he’s been aiming at the general spot, and his 1,4,4, 5, 7,8 hits. A 10 for damage is lovely and skips all the armor.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn85"></a><a href="#fnlink85">[85]</a> Reaction times: Felewin 1, 4, orcs 8. Huh. Felewin hits again (3, 4, 4, 5) but this first arrow bounces off armor. The second arrow misses (2, 5, 5, 7).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn86"></a><a href="#fnlink86">[86]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Felwin 4, 6; orcs 5. Hit because these dice are hot (4, 4, 3, 8,) and damage is a 9, so it skips armor. Different orc, though. Orcs look for him, but fail to find him (8,9). He hits again (1, 1, 3, 5). This also skips armor (8), so another one takes a level of injury. (There are….he rolls 2D…12 orcs in total).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn87"></a><a href="#fnlink87">[87]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Felewin 2, Orcs 10. Arrow hits (1, 2, 4,5, 6) but bounces off someone’s armor. They cannot find him (4, 8) but the slime gets one of them.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn88"></a><a href="#fnlink88">[88]</a> He is actually stealthy: 1,1,1,4,7, which is pretty damned incredible</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn89"></a><a href="#fnlink89">[89]</a> Athletics: 1,6,7,9: she gets away but does not get up.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn90"></a><a href="#fnlink90">[90]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Centipede: 3, Ninefingers 5, Kagandis 9. Centipede attacks (2,4,10) which would miss if she were standing. It hits but hits her armor (1,8,10): the one that gets through is Inj, though. She makes her composure roll (1,2,4). Ninefingers hits (1,5,7,9) and his dagger does 2 Fat 1 Inj, All get through (7,9, 6) its chitin. Kagandis gets up.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Score: Kagandis has 1 level of injury, centipede has 2 levels of Fatigue damage and 2 levels of Injury. Centipede at -1D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn91"></a><a href="#fnlink91">[91]</a><strong> Reaction</strong>: Centipede 2, Ninefingers 2, Kagandis 8. Ninefingers has higher FIT, so he goes first. He hits (1,4,6,10) and the 2 Fat and 1 Inj get through. Centipede’s at -2D now, and can’t hit them (it rolls 10). Kagandis hits with her dagger (3, 4, 8, 0) <span class="Scrivener-converted-space"> </strong>and all 3 get through (3, 3, 4): 2 Fat and 1 Inj. Centipede falls unconscious.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn92"></a><a href="#fnlink92">[92]</a> His athletics rolls were abysmal, but the third try he made it.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn93"></a><a href="#fnlink93">[93]</a> Both goblins make their stealth rolls (1,4,5,10) and (1,2,5,7).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn94"></a><a href="#fnlink94">[94]</a> Kagandis aims and hits, with 1,3, 4, 4, 9, 9; she does 1 Inj damage (3, 8). Felewin aims and hits (1,3,3,4,9) and does 2 Inj damage (8,8). Ninefingers adds damage from his hidden spot, hitting with 3,5,7,9, and does 1 Fat and 1 Inj (7,8,9).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn95"></a><a href="#fnlink95">[95]</a> This one is easier, because he’s at -3D (2,3,4,9) (damage was 7,7,9, and something gets through).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn96"></a><a href="#fnlink96">[96]</a> Stealth rolls: 2,3,4,10 and 2,2,5,10; that’s three successes each.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn97"></a><a href="#fnlink97">[97]</a> Increased difficulty to avoid the armor, and amazing roll: 2,2,2,3,4,5. That’s two overkill, so they add one to make it 3 Inj. Still have to roll damage because of Toughness 2. All three get in. (8,3,4).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn98"></a><a href="#fnlink98">[98]</a> Felewin uses a die for a second action, and he moves at 4,9; the orc moves at 9. Felewin delays so that he can parry and then attack.</p>
<p class="footnote">Orc does well, rolling 3,5,9,9,0, so Felewin needs to parry: 1,2,4,8,0. Then Felewin attacks: 1,3,5,5,6, so that hits with 2 overkill. The sword is 2 inj and 2 Fat: 5,9,5,9. 2 gets through, so the orc takes 1 Inj, 1 Fat.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn99"></a><a href="#fnlink99">[99]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Felewin 6,9; Orc 6.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Orc attacks and barely hits with 1,6,6,8,9 (Felewin is oversized), but Felewin blocks (2,8,6,7,9) with 3 successes. Felewin strikes with 1,1,5,9. Fat (6,9) fails; Inj 2 (6,0). 1 inj gets through.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn100"></a><a href="#fnlink100">[100]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Orc 2, Felewin 4, 8.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Orc is at -1d; rolls 3,5,6,7, which is 2 successes. Felewin blocks with 2,2,4,4 (4 successes). Felewin then strikes (1,1,4,0,0) for three successes; no Fat (2, 7), 1 Inj (2, 9). Orc now has 3 levels of injury & is at -2D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn101"></a><a href="#fnlink101">[101]</a> Reaction times: Felewin 1, 6, and Orc at 4. Felewin delays. Orc misses with 9,9,9. Felewin strikes (3,3,6,0) which is 3 successes. Fat: (2, 5), Inj (9,3). Orc now has 4 levels of injury. Felewin’s second attack is 4,4,5,8: 2 Fat (6,9) and (2,3). One Fat.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn102"></a><a href="#fnlink102">[102]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin 2,6; orc 2.</p>
<p class="footnote">Felewin prepares a parry (1,1,2,4); orc misses (he’s at -3D now: 7,8). Felewin hits (1,5,9,9). 1 Fat gets through (7,9), both Inj get through (9,0).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn103"></a><a href="#fnlink103">[103]</a> Her first shot just misses. The second is 1,4,5,7 and she succeeds. That’s a 9,9. The last orc in the line takes 2 Inj on top of the 1 Inj that Felewin gave him earlier. So he’s -2.</p>
<p class="footnote2">He’s going to shout, but Ninefingers gets him (1,1,2,5) for 1 Inj. And now he’s at -3D and can’t shout.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn104"></a><a href="#fnlink104">[104]</a> He’s at -1 Diff to hit Felewin because of the body. <strong>Reaction:</strong> Orc: 4, Felewin 4,9</p>
<p class="footnote2">The orc strikes first: 1,9,9,0,0,and maybe hits because Felewin is oversized. Felewin matches with 2, 8,8, 9,9. Felewin strikes (6,6,6,7) and gets 3 successes, needing only 1. 2 Fat (6,9), 1 gets through; nothing gets through.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn105"></a><a href="#fnlink105">[105]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Felewin 3, 5; Orc 10</p>
<p class="footnote2">Felewin strikes.2,4,6,8 3 successes, so 2 overkill. Damage is total: 9,9,8,8.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Then he prepares a block (1,3,7,9). The orc rolls (1, 7, 7, 7, 8) to attack; the block succeeds.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn106"></a><a href="#fnlink106">[106]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Felewin 5,3; orc 5</p>
<p class="footnote2">Orc is at -1D. Felewin prepares a block (3,3,5,5). Orc attacks (3,3,7,9) but the block affects it. Felewin strikes 1,7,7,8 which barely hits. No Fat, 1 Inj gets through. Orc now at -2D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn107"></a><a href="#fnlink107">[107]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin 2,3; orc 10; kagandis 9, ninefingers 1, other orc 5</p>
<p class="footnote2">Felewin strikes (2,3,5,4) and gets no Fat but 2 Inj (6,6,8,10). That orc is down. Felewin prepares a parry. Ninefingers rolls to hit.(4,5,8,10) He manages 2 Fat but no inj. Other orc suddenly realizes he’s being attacked from two sides, fails composure (5,10,10,10), whirls around. Kagandis shoots him (1,4, 7,8) to no effect.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn108"></a><a href="#fnlink108">[108]</a> I didn’t actually roll that. It’s late.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn109"></a><a href="#fnlink109">[109]</a> Observation: 1,3,8,9</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn110"></a><a href="#fnlink110">[110]</a> Difficulty 2; she gets 1,3,8,9, so she hits. Two tens for damage, so it all goes through: That orc has three levels of injury (last of the orcs damaged on the landing)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn111"></a><a href="#fnlink111">[111]</a> He just blows his stealth roll (7,9,9,10). But it doesn’t matter for him. Should have rolled for her first, but she makes it (4,4,9,10).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn112"></a><a href="#fnlink112">[112]</a> Trivial Athletics roll, which is good, because he rolls 1,5,7,8,8 for the 1 success he needed.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn113"></a><a href="#fnlink113">[113]</a> Ninefingers must be tired; his stealth rolls are awful: 1,7,9,0</p>
<p class="footnote2">An orc fires at him; diff 3 for distance, +1 for stealth, +1 for undersized. (2,8,8,9,10). Miss.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn114"></a><a href="#fnlink114">[114]</a> <strong> Mythic:</strong> Will the goblins have a place to hide if there’s a fire? (likely) 16% yes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn115"></a><a href="#fnlink115">[115]</a> Observation: 2,3,3,5. She sees one moving. She fires: 3,4,4,10, so she hits. (4,7) it does no damage. One fires at her and hits: 1,1,2,9, and it does damage (7,8). Kagandis takes two levels of injury, so she’s at -1D. She does not make a composure roll.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn116"></a><a href="#fnlink116">[116]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Orc gets a 2, Ninefingers goes for two actions at 5, assuming that one will be a block or parry.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn117"></a><a href="#fnlink117">[117]</a> 4,5,6,7,9: he needs 3 successes to hit Ninefingers, he gets 1. Ninefingers’ first attack is a total miss (7,8,10) but the second hits (2,3,5). Nothing gets through the armour (4,5,6,7).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn118"></a><a href="#fnlink118">[118]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Ninefingers 3, Orc 10. Ninefingers hits (3,5,6,7): 3 successes. 1 Fat gets through (1,10), no Inj (2,3). Orc also gets three successes (2,3,3,5,5) but no Fat (1,5) or Inj (2,4).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn119"></a><a href="#fnlink119">[119]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> 3 Ninefingers, 6 Orc. Ninefingers hits (1,4,6,9) with three successes (1,3,1,7) no effect. Orc misses first one (2,3,6,7) and second (also 2,3,6,7).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn120"></a><a href="#fnlink120">[120]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Orc: 1, Ninefingers 10. Orc misses first (1,6,10,10) and second (2,5,7,7). Ninefingers hits (1,2,3,7) and achieves 0 Fat (2,7) and 1 Inj (7,10). Orc down by one Fat and one Inj.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn121"></a><a href="#fnlink121">[121]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Ninefingers 1, Orc 4. Ninefingers hits (1,3,4,7) for 1 Fat (2,10). This turn, Orc is at -1D. Orc misses first shot (2,6,8) and second (1,9,9).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn122"></a><a href="#fnlink122">[122]</a> Casual Subterfuge to enrage opponent: Actually works (2,2,9). We’ll say he’s at -1D for next round.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn123"></a><a href="#fnlink123">[123]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Orc 1 Ninefingers 5. Orc is at -1D because of the taunting and misses first shot (1,9,10) and second (3,6,9). Ninefingers hits barely with (3,6,9,9) and does no Fat (2,4) and no Inj (2,5).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn124"></a><a href="#fnlink124">[124]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> 1,1 Both go at one, orc has higher Fitness and gets (3,6,7,7) 1 success; Ninefingers gets 3 successes (3,3,5,7). That’s no Fatigue (5) and 2 levels of Injury (5,8,10).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn125"></a><a href="#fnlink125">[125]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> 1,1 Both go at one, orc has higher Fitness and gets (3,6,7,7) 1 success; Ninefingers gets 3 successes (3,3,5,7). That’s no Fatigue (5) and 2 levels of Injury (5,8,10).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn126"></a><a href="#fnlink126">[126]</a> Trying to get the high ground: 1 success each, no change.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn127"></a><a href="#fnlink127">[127]</a> He rolls 6,5,9 on composure: no successes. At -2D, he decides to switch to a single action a round: Ninefingers 4, orc 9. Ninefingers hits for 3 successes (1,3,3,7), 0 Fat (4) 1 Inj (2,3,8). Orc now at -3D and 4 levels of injury. Good shot (1,3) that misses because Ninefingers is undersized.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn128"></a><a href="#fnlink128">[128]</a> Injured archer hits (1,2,3,8) but armour stops it (3,5).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn129"></a><a href="#fnlink129">[129]</a> Kagandis’ shot hits (1,3,4) but does nothing (6,7).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn130"></a><a href="#fnlink130">[130]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Ninefingers 1, Kagandis 4, orc chief 5, Felewin 6, other orcs 10.</p><p class="footnote2">Ninefingers misses (1,6,7,10). Kagandis hits (4,4,5) for no damage; orc chief misses (4,8); Felewin hits (3,4,4,6,9) for 2 levels of injury (10,10). Orc archer now at -3D, and one more takes him out. He can’t effectively hit Ninefingers because that takes 3 successes. He tries (1,7) and misses.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn131"></a><a href="#fnlink131">[131]</a> <strong>Reaction:</strong> Ninefingers 1, Kagandis 4, orc chief 5, Felewin 6, other orcs 10. Ninefingers misses (1,6,7,10). Kagandis hits (4,4,5) for no damage; orc chief misses (4,8); Felewin hits (3,4,4,6,9) for 2 levels of injury (10,10). Orc archer now at -3D, and one more takes him out. He can’t effectively hit Ninefingers because that takes 3 successes. He tries (1,7) and misses.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn132"></a><a href="#fnlink132">[132]</a> Reaction for this pair: Ninefingers 8, Orc 9. Ninefingers rolls 1,2,3,3 to hit (four successes) and gets 1 Inj, so kills the orc.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn133"></a><a href="#fnlink133">[133]</a> Felewin and orc archer: Reactions Felewin 3 Archer 10. Felewin hits (3,4,4,9,0) for 2 Injury levels (8,10) and orc archer is dead.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn134"></a><a href="#fnlink134">[134]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Kagandis 2, 2 actions; Orc 7, 1 action. Kagandis hits (4,5,5,) for 2 Injury (9,10); Kagandis hits again (1,2,4) for 1 Injury (2,9); orc now at -2D. So he rolls 2D to hit, misses because she’s undersized (7,9).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn135"></a><a href="#fnlink135">[135]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Kagandis 1, Felewin 2, Orc 5; she hits (4,1,10) with 1 point overkill and does 1 injury (he’s at -3D now); he misses (3,8). Felewin uses the short sword and hits (1,2,4,9) for 1 Fat, 1 Inj: orc dies.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn136"></a><a href="#fnlink136">[136]</a> Does Kagandis make noise? 1 Diff Composure: (3,3,4,10) yes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn137"></a><a href="#fnlink137">[137]</a> The bow is +1.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn138"></a><a href="#fnlink138">[138]</a> <em> Iron Gauntlets</em>: Survival to check weather; 2,5,8 so one success</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn139"></a><a href="#fnlink139">[139]</a> I didn’t roll for this; someone needs to have it explained.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn140"></a><a href="#fnlink140">[140]</a> I’m treating this as a Difficulty 1 Survival roll, but after the rain it will be a Difficulty 2 Survival roll.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn141"></a><a href="#fnlink141">[141]</a> I did three opposed subterfuge tests. He won two, they tied on the third, which I took as her winning.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn142"></a><a href="#fnlink142">[142]</a> If this were a story, I’d put pressure on them to make sure they had to make the attack now. But it’s an adventure, so we give them the time.</p>
<p class="footnote">Heh. I rolled for random encounters, got one after 6 hours, and it was an encounter with goblins. Well, I know what that is: goblins coming back.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn143"></a><a href="#fnlink143">[143]</a> How many were-rats inside? (Four total: 3 + Vengis, calculated 1-50, all; 50-70, two; 70-80: one; 80-100, none. Roll of 60, so two. <strong><strong>Mythic:</strong></strong> Is Vengis one of the outside ones? (Even odds, but CF 8: 85% yes: 56, so yes). Are there additional giant rats? 12% yes, roll 37%, so no.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn144"></a><a href="#fnlink144">[144]</a> This one summons 8 giant rats. They won’t arrive until it’s dead, but that gives the two remaining were-rats something to work with.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn145"></a><a href="#fnlink145">[145]</a> I think Felewin and Ninefingers need to make FIT composure rolls, difficulty 1. Felewin rolls 1,3,6,7,7: two successes. Ninefingers rolls 1,5,7,8: one success.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn146"></a><a href="#fnlink146">[146]</a> Essentially point blank, so difficulty 1; Kagandis rolls 1,1,10,10 for two successes. Her arrow hits (1 Inj) and the toughness doesn’t activate (rolls a 6). But I’ve decided that Vengis has regeneration except against magic or metal weapons.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn147"></a><a href="#fnlink147">[147]</a> Reaction times: Felewin splits off one die for two actions: 3, 6 Ninefingers: 10 Kagandis: 1 Were-Rat: 5 Vengis: 4, So order is Kagandis, Felewin, Vengis, Were-Rat, Ninefingers. Kagandis rolls 4,4,2,10 for 3 successes and she only needs one; the other two go to improving damage, so 2 Inj and a check for toughness: 6, so toughness doesn’t activate.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn148"></a><a href="#fnlink148">[148]</a> Vengis decides to sneak up on Kagandis, and rolls 4,5,10 for stealth, getting 2 successes; Kagandis gets only 1,5,10 so just 1 success. He managed to get around in position to attack her. He’s at -1D for the silver injury, but the ambush will give him +1D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn149"></a><a href="#fnlink149">[149]</a> And failing to hit, because he’s -2D and he’s only got 2D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn150"></a><a href="#fnlink150">[150]</a> Hits, with 2,3,5,8, so 2 successes, and it’s a silver-inlaid club. So it does 3 Fat, and the were-rat takes 2 Inj from the silver: he dies.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn151"></a><a href="#fnlink151">[151]</a> He needs to make a crafting roll. He rolls 8,2,6, so one success. It’s not a particularly believable voice, but it is one.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn152"></a><a href="#fnlink152">[152]</a> Felewin is vulnerable to crafting magic, so it just works on him. For the others…let’s say this is an opposed roll with Hastwine’s Influence and Subterfuge. He gets 2, 3, 6, two successes. Kagandis gets 2, 8,9,10 on her observation; but Ninefingers gets 2,2,2,3 for 4 successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn153"></a><a href="#fnlink153">[153]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin (6,10); Ninefingers (7), Kagandis (2), Vengis (3), Hastwine (2) So order: Kagandis, Hastwine, Vengis, Felewin, Ninefingers.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Kagandis makes the Reasoning: If the sound is coming from <em>that</em> way I should look <em>this</em> way with 1 success. Vengis doesn’t get the +1D for attacking.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn154"></a><a href="#fnlink154">[154]</a> He rolls 2,2, 9, 10 so he sees one. He rolls 3,4,9,10 on attack but that’s good enough to hit one, and he does 2 Inj and 2 Fat with his attack.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn155"></a><a href="#fnlink155">[155]</a> He gets 2,3,7,8 on Observation so he too spots rats. Mythic: Does he spot a different rat (Likely, CF 8, 95% chance of yes) rolls 99. Nope.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn156"></a><a href="#fnlink156">[156]</a> He rolls 1,3,5,10 to hit, two successes, it works; he does not hear the sizzling sound. Damage is 3; club is just +1 Fat so he does 3 Fat damage; next round that rat is at -2D.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn157"></a><a href="#fnlink157">[157]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin (3,3), Kagandis 9, Ninefingers 10, Hastwine 10, Vengis 3, Giant Rats 3.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Felewin rolls 1,2,10,10, and lowers the rat to 4 health levels but 5 Fat levels, so it is unconscious and they’ve got things to do. Vengis mentally urges rats. Of the three on Felewin, all hit, all are stopped by his byrnie.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn158"></a><a href="#fnlink158">[158]</a> Now she has 1 injury.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn159"></a><a href="#fnlink159">[159]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin 6,5 Ninefingers 3 Kagandis 3 Hastwine 10 Vengis 4 Giant rats 1: Rats, Ninefingers, Kagandis, Vengis, Hastwine </p>
<p class="footnote2">2 of the 3 giant rats get teeth on Felewin but his armour stops both. Mythic: Does it drop off him? Unlikely. 12% Yes. None of the ones on Kagandis get 3 successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn160"></a><a href="#fnlink160">[160]</a> Gets 3,3,5,7, which is 3 successes</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn161"></a><a href="#fnlink161">[161]</a> Attack is 3,5,6,6 so 2 successes. No armour, so 2 Inj, 3 Fat to that rat.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn162"></a><a href="#fnlink162">[162]</a> Another successful hit (5,5,7,10) for 3 Fat and 2 Inj, which means this one is unconscious but probably not dead yet.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn163"></a><a href="#fnlink163">[163]</a> His crafting spell has 3,4,3 so it’s good.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn164"></a><a href="#fnlink164">[164]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Ninefingers 3, Kagandis 7, Vengis 7, Hastwine 8, Felewin (9,10), Giant Rats 9</p>
<p class="footnote2">Ninefingers stabs (1,2,6,9)</p>
<p class="footnote2">Kagandis misses (9,10,10,10)</p>
<p class="footnote2">Vengis moves sneakily (1,2,3,10)</p>
<p class="footnote2">Hastwine fails to move stealthily (5,9,9)</p>
<p class="footnote2">Felewin hits another rat (3,5,8,8) twice (1,5,5,8)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn165"></a><a href="#fnlink165">[165]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Giant Rats (2) Hastwine (2) Ninefingers (4) Felewin (6,9) Vengis (8) Kagandis (10)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn166"></a><a href="#fnlink166">[166]</a> One rolls 2 to hit, but Felewin is Oversized, so it succeeds…however, it doesn’t penetrate the chain (4). The other misses.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn167"></a><a href="#fnlink167">[167]</a> Rolls 1,2,6,8 to attack.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn168"></a><a href="#fnlink168">[168]</a> Attacks (3,4,6,9) but misses second (4,7,7,8)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn169"></a><a href="#fnlink169">[169]</a> Attack: 4,5,5</p>
<p class="footnote2">Next reactions: Giant Rats (1) Ninefingers (3) Hastwine (4) Felewin (5,10) Kagandis (7) Vengis (9)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn170"></a><a href="#fnlink170">[170]</a> Does he pick Vengis? (Very unlikely 65% yes) 66%, no.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn171"></a><a href="#fnlink171">[171]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Kagandis (2), Vengis (2), Ninefingers (3), Felewin (4,6), Giant Rats (4), Hastwine (8)</p>
<p class="footnote2">Vengis needs 2 successes, rolls 1, 7,7,8 and misses.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Kagandis gets 4 successes and converts the two overkill into Inj, doing much damage.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn172"></a><a href="#fnlink172">[172]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Felewin (1,2), Vengis (1), Hastwine (2), Giant Rat (3), Kagandis (6), Ninefingers (10)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn173"></a><a href="#fnlink173">[173]</a> He rolls (1,2,7,8) for the block: 2 successes, while Felewin rolls (1,6,7,9) for the attack, which should hit Felewin but doesn’t. Felewin follows with an attack (3,4,5,8) for three successes. Vengis’ armor fails because it’s only Toughness 1 and Felewin rolls 2,4 for the injury and 9,10 for the fatigue. Vengis is hurt.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn174"></a><a href="#fnlink174">[174]</a> Blows his Crafting roll: 5,7,9</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn175"></a><a href="#fnlink175">[175]</a> Attack roll (1,2,4,6): three successes</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn176"></a><a href="#fnlink176">[176]</a> Ninefingers (2), Hastwine (4), Felewin (5,8), Kagandis (5), Vengis (8), Giant Rat (9)</p>
<p class="footnote2">Hastwine fails crafting (5,10,10)</p>
<p class="footnote2">Felewin preps a parry (1,3,5,8).</p>
<p class="footnote2">Kagandis swings again but misses (6,6,9,9).</p>
<p class="footnote2">Vengis switches targets and runs at Ninefingers (1,1,3) which is a hit, but his 1 Inj 1 Fat is attacked by the scale mail (3,5).</p>
<p class="footnote2">The remaining rat can’t hit Ninefingers but tries (1,8). Felewin kills it (2,4,6,8).</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn177"></a><a href="#fnlink177">[177]</a><strong> Mythic:</strong> Does Kagandis want to go? (Likely 95%) 62% Yes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn178"></a><a href="#fnlink178">[178]</a><strong> Mythic:</strong> Do they catch Hastwine? (Likely 95%) 71% yes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn179"></a><a href="#fnlink179">[179]</a> Fit based composure role, needs 2 successes: 1,2,3,6,6. So he doesn’t get a disease.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn180"></a><a href="#fnlink180">[180]</a> Who spotted it? Both have observation at the same level, but a quick roll has Kagandis getting 2 successes (2,3,6,9) and Ninefingers getting 3 (2,3,4,10), so Ninefingers spots it.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn181"></a><a href="#fnlink181">[181]</a> It gets her: It needs 3 successes to hit, and it rolls 1,3,4. She’s grabbed.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn182"></a><a href="#fnlink182">[182]</a> He’s athletic enough: 2,3,3,7.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn183"></a><a href="#fnlink183">[183]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Kagandis 3, Ninefingers 5, Spider 5</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn184"></a><a href="#fnlink184">[184]</a> She rolls 1,4 on athletics (Frail, so -1D) — 2 successes and it rolls 2,5,6 on athletics — 1 success. She pulls free.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn185"></a><a href="#fnlink185">[185]</a> When you roll 1,5,7,7,9 (Sure-Footed) and your Athletics skill is 4, that’s one success, and they need three.</p>
<p class="footnote2">The spider attacks Kagandis, and rolls 1,8.9</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn186"></a><a href="#fnlink186">[186]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Ninefingers 6, Kagandis 7, spider 10</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn187"></a><a href="#fnlink187">[187]</a> Also he rolled 4,6,6,9,9 for Athletics, even though he’s Sure-Footed.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn188"></a><a href="#fnlink188">[188]</a> Misses with a 2,5,8</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn189"></a><a href="#fnlink189">[189]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Ninefingers 2, Spider 6, Kagandis 9</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn190"></a><a href="#fnlink190">[190]</a> That’s 1,2,8,9 to hit, so he does 1 Fat and 2 Inj.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn191"></a><a href="#fnlink191">[191]</a> But it rolls 4,5,6 and misses.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn192"></a><a href="#fnlink192">[192]</a> She’s Sure-Footed, but against rolls 1,6,7,10 so she slips.</p>
<p class="footnote2"`><strong>Reactions:</strong> Kagandis 1, Ninefingers 1, Spider 3</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn193"></a><a href="#fnlink193">[193]</a> Well, she rolled 2,7,8. There are other arrows down there.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn194"></a><a href="#fnlink194">[194]</a> As in, spider rolled 1,1,10, but he’s undersized.</p>
<p class="footnote2"><strong>Reactions:</strong> Ninefingers 4, spider 7, Kagandis 10</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn195"></a><a href="#fnlink195">[195]</a> He rolled 4,5,7; the spider rolled 4,5,0</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn196"></a><a href="#fnlink196">[196]</a> <strong>Reactions:</strong> Spider 1, Kagandis 6, Ninefingers 10</p>
<p class="footnote2">Spider is now at -1D, and rolls 2,8.</p>
<p class="footnote2">Kagandis hits with 4,4,7, and does 1 Fat, 1 Inj; spider now at -2D</p>
<p class="footnote2">Ninefingers manages to hit with 4,4,9,10, and does 2 Fat and 2 Inj.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn197"></a><a href="#fnlink197">[197]</a><strong> Mythic:</strong> Does it trap Kagandis? 13…that’s a yes, regardless of the CF.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn198"></a><a href="#fnlink198">[198]</a> Three successes on Athletics to move, and they get an extra +1D because they’re Sure-Footed, just to be clear. Ninefingers: Finally has his feet under him with a 2,2,4,6,10.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn199"></a><a href="#fnlink199">[199]</a> <strong>Mythic:</strong> Is the only arm available the bad one? 27 (yes)</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn200"></a><a href="#fnlink200">[200]</a> We’re going to give her 1 Fat injury for this whole exercise.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn201"></a><a href="#fnlink201">[201]</a> But this pull works: He rolls 1,1,3.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn202"></a><a href="#fnlink202">[202]</a> Still, he makes a FIT composure roll: 2,2,3,7,10 with three successes.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn203"></a><a href="#fnlink203">[203]</a> With a reasoning roll of 1,1,7, it doesn’t take him one, and the next roll is 1,1,2. If we call it Observation, then the second one has three successes, and it’s fine.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn204"></a><a href="#fnlink204">[204]</a> He rolls 3,3,5 on Survival, so let’s say that one trap catches something. The trap won’t catch anything huge, so what is it? 3D10 for first letter (6, or F) so it’s one of Fallow deer, Ferret, Flying Squirrel, or Fox. 1D4, it’s a Fallow deer.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn205"></a><a href="#fnlink205">[205]</a> Second survival roll: 1,3,10 Possum.</p>
<p class="footnote"><a id="fn206"></a><a href="#fnlink206">[206]</a> Observation: 1,3,5. Two successes.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-68944790625050029552023-07-04T16:54:00.001-04:002023-07-04T16:54:04.146-04:00Um....Sorry<p>I was <em>sure</em> I had posted something since April, but if so, Blogger has no record.</p>
<p>By the way, images will be going away as part of Google's rather short-sighted policies. I will try to find another place to host them, and some I will just eliminate the reference to.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-53236246269723509282023-04-05T17:30:00.020-04:002023-12-04T20:57:32.911-05:00Adventure Solo Play: League One: Night of the Squidroid<p class="for"><span class="book">Icons</span></p>
<style type="text/css">
.listlevel2{
margin-left:18pt;
padding-top:0pt;
padding-bottom:0pt;
line-height:1.0;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
text-align:left;
}
.listlevel1 {
margin-left:8pt;
padding-top:3pt;
padding-bottom:0pt;
line-height:1.0;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
text-align:left;
}
</style>
<p class="subtitle" id="h.vbjqxlf8nyy">
League One | 4
</p>
<p class="title" id="h.5haa7tti5qjg">
Night of the Squidroid
</p>
<p>Yet another of my play-throughs of classic superhero RPG scenarios so that I can pontificate. In fact, I did this one months ago and forgot to post it here and pontificate; I have since completed <cite>Death Duel with the Destroyers</cite> and am halfway through <cite>The Island of Dr. Apocalypse</cite>. Despite the huge gap, all three feature League One. (They just felt more like a team to deal with a world-shaker like Dr. Apocalypse than Next Flight or Uncanny Justice.)</p>
<p>
This adventure is actually “Day of the Octopus” by Bruce Nesmith, for the
<cite>Marvel Super Heroes</cite>
roleplaying game (you might know it as FASERIP). I have rewritten it for <cite class="sc">Icons</cite>.
The adventure was originally written for Spider-Man, Captain America, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), and The Thing; I’ve replaced those characters with League One. I’ve also changed character names to match my own world, but the character conversions should be mostly accurate. I think you can figure out the original identities of SciSquid, Fixit, Roach, Whiptail, and Gamma Ghost, though I made some trivial changes to make them suitable opponents for League One. (You'll see a lot of that in <cite>The Island of Dr. Apocalypse</cite> where I had to invent a whole new opponent for the ghost Palimpsest.)
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Characters are of course copyrighted and trademarked by their original owners, but I changed villain names because I might want to do something with Whiptail or Gamma Ghost or something.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
If we need Mythic GME to resolve anything, we start at Chaos Factor 7, a good level for adventure stories.
</p>
<p class="listlevel1">
<a href="#h.pd14lawhxfje">Scene 1: In the Park</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel1">
<a href="#h.fs361716qfw6">Chapter 2: Ambush on the Avenue</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel1">
<a href="#h.5cx6ch7b4fjq">Chapter 3: SciSquid Search</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel1">
<a href="#h.nbqbv0ppb2ge">Chapter 4: Garden of SciSquid In-Fights</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel1">
<a href="#h.1y1jna2v2x8o">Villains</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel2">
<a href="#h.kkcxqjjbm5dw">Gamma Ghost</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel2">
<a href="#h.xq6uy467d3ki">Whiptail</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel2">
<a href="#h.mpanqowh4b85">Roach</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel2">
<a href="#h.61aeqesol66u">Fixit</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel2">
<a href="#h.d6de0opbvalw">SciSquid</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel2">
<a href="#h.4o1iaqgts5fb">Converted presses</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel2">
<a href="#h.jjymsu3xbc72">Giant Squid</a>
</p>
<p class="listlevel2">
<a href="#h.nx45hwskz1m8">Squidroid</a>
</p>
<h3 id="h.pd14lawhxfje">Scene 1: In the Park</h3>
<p class="bodytext">
Rae Summers knew that recreation was an important part of maintaining a peak performance, and as Palimpsest, she needed peak performance. That was why she had agreed to a public date with this young man, Bernie Rosenstein, who was sweet but seemed unformed. He’d never attempted to save the world armed only with his wits and the underwire from the bra of a <em>zaftig</em> companion, he’d never failed, and he’d never offered himself as dimensional exile to the alien conquerors.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She thought,
<span class="thought">In fairness, that’s a unique set of circumstances.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Bernie was talking.
“—and when he suggested that the judge was drunk, I knew the case was lost—” He stopped. “Sorry. I thought this was going to be an amusing anecdote but you’re not amused.” He shrugged. “I have been talking about myself too much anyway. What about you? What are you when you’re not being the mysterious woman from 3-C?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Rae shook her head and laughed. “I’m the second-best in the world. That takes work to maintain.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“In the world?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Well, this one, but yeah.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Like, the Olympics?” He ducked his head sheepishly. “I saw you practicing martial arts moves in the central green one morning.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Competitive, yeah,” she agreed. It wasn’t a
secret that she was a superhero but she didn’t feel comfortable talking about it. This didn’t seem the place or time to admit that she scaled the brownstone for practice, or that her purse contained her wallet and a variety of tools to subvert computers, locks, and mutant giant ice people.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She also didn’t want to admit that she had the other members of her superhero group in the park in case she needed an excuse to get out of this date. People like Charlie Davenport and Dr. Jacob Meyrink, also known as Menagerie and Doc Golem.
</p>
<p class="c">
#
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Dr. Jacob Meyrink was enjoying the walk. He had put on shorts, a T-shirt, and walking shoes, so he hoped he looked like a cardiac patient out for rehab. He looked wistfully at the pretzel cart, but a cardiac patient wouldn’t be supposed to buy a pretzel. Others were by the cart, though. A knot of four young men were approaching. They weren’t interacting like they were a group of friends; they were a group of business partners. Well, they were too young for a business, but they had that look. Maybe they were all part of a boxing society? Several had the malformed ears, noses, and hand damage that spoke of regular fights.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He hoped that Rae’s date would end relatively soon. She had assured him it wouldn’t be long. He had agreed on that basis; he needed to prepare a bit more
on tonight’s
talk on emergency treatment of parahuman-caused injury. He already had a list of items to be assessed—
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He glanced up at the tree with Menagerie in it. Menagerie was currently a blue squirrel, on the edge of the tree, looking past the leaves. Was he daydreaming or chatting with his ghost friend? Young Charlie had a tendency to do both.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A distance away, by the pretzel cart, the old man spat words at the young men. “I told you, I don’t pay you for protection, and I won’t. Nothing. Nothing!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
One of them said, “Hey, you’re going to give yourself a stroke, old man. You should be concerned instead about what happens to your cart.” He stepped in between the old man and his cart and put his hand on the old man’s chest while the other young men swarmed around the cart.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Dr. Meyrink decided that he needed to step in. It was time to rock up, as Menagerie said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
His body grew stony and larger, becoming mottled gray and he was now a head taller than he had been. The walking shoes exploded, as did the T-shirt and shorts, leaving him in his “uniform” of expanding briefs.<sup><a href="#ftnt1" id="ftnt_ref1">[1]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What is that?” asked Bernie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What?” asked Rae.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Bernie pointed. “A rock guy.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
(Up above them, Menagerie noticed Doc Golem’s transformation. “That can’t be good,” he said to his ghost companion, Palimpsest, who agreed with him.)
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
That was the moment that someone else chose to snatch Rae’s purse. The one with the explosives inside.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The last member of the team, League One, was supposed to be watching but she had just spotted a supposedly reformed criminal and her brother in (common) law across the park with someone else.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Hey!” cried Rae (that being a safe exclamation) and sprinted after the guy.<sup><a href="#ftnt2" id="ftnt_ref2">[2]</a></sup>
Bernie started running too but he was not as fast. She was, after all, second-best in the world.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem picked up a nearby trash bin and threw it in front of the pretzel cart.<sup><a href="#ftnt3" id="ftnt_ref3">[3]</a></sup>
It landed in the right place and split open, spilling garbage in front of the cart. Half of the bin bounced on, but half stayed there, stopping the cart.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze was streaking across the sky, unaware of the commotion below her.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Uh, Skyblaze? We kinda got a
thing, here
,” said Menagerie
into
his communicator.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What, Pen doesn’t want to schtup him or she does?” Skyblaze said. “I spotted a guy, he—” She couldn’t admit it. “He owes me money,” she lied.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem jogged up to the young men, surprisingly fast for a large rock-man. “I think you guys need to leave him alone,” he said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
One of the young men pulled out a knife and then realized it wasn’t going to have an effect on a guy made of rock. He sprinted away. The remaining four didn’t move.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Rae had caught up to the purse snatcher.<sup><a href="#ftnt4" id="ftnt_ref4">[4]</a></sup>
She plucked her purse, careful not to accidentally set off the explosives. The purse snatcher tried to grab it back<sup><a href="#ftnt5" id="ftnt_ref5">[5]</a></sup>
but failed; he looked at her and at Bernie finally catching up, and he took off.
</p>
<p class="c">
#
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze landed and suddenly realized that as far as this guy knew, she was dead. She decided to follow him silently. She stepped inside the building he and his friend had entered.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A dozen steps in, the building’s burglar alarm went off. This was entirely in keeping with Vernon but disappointing nonetheless. Ahead, she could see the cause: Vernon had broken a glass display case that contained gauntlets from a Shock Trooper from Brothers of Thunder, and a model of the battery pack. (Other glass display cases held the rest of the suit.) His friend finished fastening the lid on a cardboard tube, like a map tube, and reached in and grabbed the gauntlets.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Which was when she realized that she didn’t look much different from the Before Times. If Vernon saw her, he’d know she was alive. Even though he was a lesser threat, he had to go first.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Secret identities suck,</span>
she thought.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Which meant that Vernon had to go first. His friend, who was holding the gauntlets, was a greater physical threat, but Vernon was a greater existential threat.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She blasted.<sup><a href="#ftnt6" id="ftnt_ref6">[6]</a></sup>
Vernon made a small sound and fell down. The friend looked startled and started frantically checking for the battery pack attachment.<sup><a href="#ftnt7" id="ftnt_ref7">[7]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Pity he doesn’t know it’s a fake. Oh well; this might hurt,</span> she thought and took to the air. Fortunately this foyer was high enough that flying made sense.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The man—subVernon, as she thought of him—slipped his hands into the gauntlets and he fired at her.<sup><a href="#ftnt8" id="ftnt_ref8">[8]</a></sup>
Waves of sound assaulted her and filled her ears.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Those are…powerful gauntlets,</span> she thought. She fired a return blast.<sup><a href="#ftnt9" id="ftnt_ref9">[9]</a></sup>
His arm moved and his gauntlet absorbed it. He didn’t fire back but instead backed toward the door, keeping an eye on her.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You’re gonna leave your friend?” she asked him.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He didn’t say anything, turned and ran outside…
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
…right into the blue dinosaur standing at the doorway.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I hate you, you hate me,” sang Menagerie, “We’re a dysfunctional family…” He swung his tail<sup><a href="#ftnt10" id="ftnt_ref10">[10]</a></sup>
and hit the man, who fell unconscious. He cocked his head as if listening to something, and said, “With these arms?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A crowd had gathered, and they applauded. Menagerie ducked his head in thanks, and then he shimmered and became a gorilla. He plucked the gauntlets off the man. “I guess these should go back inside.” He squeezed past Skyblaze and disappeared inside.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
There was the sound of two shots, but small, maybe underloaded .22 caliber. Skyblaze didn’t move from the doorway.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Get out of here, kid,” she said to a kid in a pied vest and cowboy hat. The kid fired his cap pistol one more time.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The crowd parted for Doc Golem and he trudged up to the others. “Where does a kid even get a cap pistol nowadays?” he asked in general. He held up something. “Pretzel? This guy gave them—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
That was when there was a tremendous blast and the ground disappeared under Doc Golem.
</p>
<h3 id="h.fs361716qfw6">
Chapter 2: Ambush on the Avenue
</h3>
<p class="bodytext">
Rae saw the blast and said, “I have to go!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s safe. Let me help you home.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No, I— I have to join them. “I’ll explain later, but that’s my
team.
” She was already running to the villains while the crowd was running away, and many of them were running into the park she was in.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Which ones?” yelled Bernie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The leggings were the same color as the legs of her outfit, and she had the top in her bag, so she pulled it on as she dodged people. She pulled her gadget pouch from inside the purse and resigned herself to losing another purse. The pouch snapped to her top. She vaulted over the car at the edge of the battle and suddenly had to catch herself because there was no
there on the far side of the car.<sup><a href="#ftnt11" id="ftnt_ref11">[11]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A bolt of lightning or something electric hit the car near her. She saw an armored guy fluttering across the hole. The armor looked distinctive—she knew that armor.<sup><a href="#ftnt12" id="ftnt_ref12">[12]</a></sup>
She had to think a moment.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Right. Roach. He’d had a short career as a thief but the last year or so he’d been hiring out.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Too bad she didn’t have a shield or something to throw at him. But she did have a pouch with explosives.<sup><a href="#ftnt13" id="ftnt_ref13">[13]</a></sup>
She tossed a grenade at him but he dodged it, and it exploded halfway down the hole.<sup><a href="#ftnt14" id="ftnt_ref14">[14]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Someone had ripped the doors off that building there but no one was visible. Presumably the real target was inside.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Inside the building, Menagerie saw he was dealing with Whiptail, a man transformed into a monstrous human scorpion.<sup><a href="#ftnt15" id="ftnt_ref15">[15]</a></sup>
“It’s the song, isn’t it?” said Menagerie. “The trademark lawyers sent you.” He turned into a hummingbird and darted up out of immediate range.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
In the foyer, Skyblaze curved around. “This guy doesn’t understand quips and witticisms,” she said to Menagerie. “Just hit him.”
<sup>
<a href="#ftnt16" id="ftnt_ref16">[16]</a>
</sup>
She fired and Whiptail was slammed by the blast into an opposite wall.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The scorpion-outfitted one rose from the dust. “I didn’t like that.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh, like I care,” said Skyblaze. Whiptail leapt for her<sup><a href="#ftnt17" id="ftnt_ref17">[17]</a></sup>
but missed and landed on the wall on the opposite side of the rotunda.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Outside, Doc Golem climbed out of the hole. “Do you have unresolved anger issues?” he said to the Gamma Ghost. “Because really, I don’t think I deserved that.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Roach fired repeatedly at Penultimate, who was leaping from car to car<sup><a href="#ftnt18" id="ftnt_ref18">[18]</a></sup>
to avoid the blasts.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Gamma Ghost fired a blast at Doc Golem<sup><a href="#ftnt19" id="ftnt_ref19">[19]</a></sup>
but the blue Cherenkov radiation splashed harmlessly against Doc’s rocky skin.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Palimpsest looked at Whiptail and decided that he was the kind of threat that should be used.<sup><a href="#ftnt20" id="ftnt_ref20">[20]</a></sup>
She slipped into his body and took control. “Wow,” she said in his voice. “In control for the moment.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A man in a black outfit said, “That sounds ominous. Gordon, I shall deal with you once after Skyblaze here.” He tossed a grenade at Skyblaze<sup><a href="#ftnt21" id="ftnt_ref21">[21]</a></sup>
but barely missed; the grenade burst into a swarm of metal tentacles that closed on nothing and fell to the ground.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Got it,” said the blue bird, which suddenly became an elephant that dropped onto the man in the black outfit.<sup><a href="#ftnt22" id="ftnt_ref22">[22]</a></sup>
“Blaze, any idea who this is? I recognize the scorpion guy from my misspent youth.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Outside, Penultimate gauged the distance between her and Roach; he was hovering over the hole: if she missed, she was in for a long and possibly lethal drop. Still, nothing ventured—
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She swung around a tree branch and launched herself at Roach.<sup><a href="#ftnt23" id="ftnt_ref23">[23]</a></sup>
She grabbed him and hoped those Mylar wings would hold them both up. She got a solid grip on him and squeezed, just to see how effective that armor was. Bad news: she couldn’t hurt him unless she found a weakness.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem got closer to the Gamma Ghost, who was standing by the building door, and punched…and suddenly found his fist blocked by a globe of impenetrable force.<sup><a href="#ftnt24" id="ftnt_ref24">[24]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Inside the building, Skyblaze said, “I can’t do anything with you lying on top of him.” She spared a glance at Vernon; still out. How will I tell my sister? I’m dead, after all. Think about this. She aimed at Whiptail. “If you lose control, I’m blasting him.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pal could feel Whiptail struggling against the domination.<sup><a href="#ftnt25" id="ftnt_ref25">[25]</a></sup>
She shut him down, and in Whiptail’s voice said, “Nah, I’m good.” She guided Whiptail outside through a second-floor window.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Over the pit outside, Roach put his hands together and grabbed Penultimate’s arm. “You’re not holding me, my dear, I’m holding you!” And he blasted her.<sup><a href="#ftnt26" id="ftnt_ref26">[26]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Only years of training let her hold on, and she knew that she couldn’t take another shot like that.<sup><a href="#ftnt27" id="ftnt_ref27">[27]</a></sup>
He seemed to have to bring his hands together to actually initiate the shock, so if she adjusted her grip…<sup><a href="#ftnt28" id="ftnt_ref28">[28]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whoops. She slipped off, and failed to grab his ankle. Freed of the additional weight, Roach shot up in the air, uncontrolled.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate fell, trying to figure what, if anything, she could do.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem grabbed the Gamma Ghost’s force bubble and threw it (and the Gamma Ghost) at her, hoping to knock her to solid ground.<sup><a href="#ftnt29" id="ftnt_ref29">[29]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
At that point, Gamma Ghost had to make a decision: turn off the force globe and maybe miss Penultimate, or leave it on and protect himself from the collision and the fall afterward.<sup><a href="#ftnt30" id="ftnt_ref30">[30]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Gamma Ghost chose to leave it on, and Penultimate remembered: Like her, he couldn’t fly.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Ghost’s force bubble hit Penultimate and knocked her away from the hole. She managed to land on the hood of a parked car: it hurt and was ungainly, but she was alive.<sup><a href="#ftnt31" id="ftnt_ref31">[31]</a></sup>
The force globe landed on the opposite side of the street, with Gamma Ghost upside down.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Inside, Skyblaze said, “Now I’m in a bad mood too,” and she circled around to fire at the man in black.<sup><a href="#ftnt32" id="ftnt_ref32">[32]</a></sup>
Pen would know who he was; that was the kind of thing she knew.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He was tough to hit under the elephant, but she managed. He screamed in a satisfying way, but her bolt didn’t produce the normal smoke.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail bounded out. “It’s me; olly-olly-oxen free!” He bounded up and lashed out at Roach with his tail, but missed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem knew what “It’s me, olly-olly-oxen free” meant, so he took the opportunity to take a running leap over the hole and get to the Gamma Ghost.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You okay?” he asked Penultimate.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Really embarrassed,” she said. “Time to start using my brain.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We’re superheroes,” said Doc Golem. “No thinking, just punching.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You’ve been hanging out with Menagerie.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
At that moment, Menagerie had changed into a bear. “The thing is, are they after something in here?” he said to Skyblaze. “Or out there? Because I only know the scorpion loser.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze said, “Jobbers, I think. They go where the money is good.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“So they’re a diversion?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Probably.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie said, “Sorry, guy, this is a bear necessity,” and swiped at the man in black with his heavy claws.<sup><a href="#ftnt33" id="ftnt_ref33">[33]</a></sup>
He hit and shredded the black costume, but there was armor underneath, so he didn’t hurt the man. Much.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You know what Pen would say,” said Skyblaze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No claws. Sorry, guy,” he said to the man.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate rummaged through her bag, grabbed one of the explosives, realized she was going to have to adjust it. She had made it with an adjustable setting but she hadn’t realized what a pain it was going to be to fix in the middle of a fight.<sup><a href="#ftnt34" id="ftnt_ref34">[34]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem picked up a car and used it to bat the force globe down the block and into the next. A car alarm started in the distance..
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He’ll get away!” said Pen.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“But not with his objective,” said Doc Golem.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Inside the building, Skyblaze said, “Go outside and see if you can help; I got him.”<sup><a href="#ftnt35" id="ftnt_ref35">[35]</a></sup>
Her blast hit him in a spot no longer covered by the black suit, and he fell unconscious.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie said, “But is the real target inside or outside?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze said, “Based on the fact that the battery pack and the tube are gone, I’d say the real target was inside.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
There was a mangled ventilation grating under the place where the tube had been.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Outside, Roach took off for the sky and flew behind a skyscraper, out of sight.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail looked at them and said, “I don’t think I can knock myself out.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I can help with that,” said Doc Golem.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“If you’re going to hit, I’m leaving.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Let me get a good grip on him, and I’ll just squeeze him so he can’t breathe,” said Doc Golem. “He’ll fall unconscious pretty fast; I’ve never heard of Whiptail being able to survive without air.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“All right,” said Palimpsest-as-Whiptail. “But the second you apply pressure, I’m gone.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Understood,” said Doc Golem.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail got into position and Doc Golem closed his arms, and squeezed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail suddenly looked at him, shocked. “How did I—uhhhh!—get here?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Fugue state. Common enough,” said Doc Golem.<sup><a href="#ftnt36" id="ftnt_ref36">[36]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail’s tail arched up and blasted Doc Golem, who squeezed him again but then fainted.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Crap,” said Penultimate and threw a grenade at Whiptail; it exploded and did nothing.<sup><a href="#ftnt37" id="ftnt_ref37">[37]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail bounded past them to the far side of the building.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A blue gorilla ambled out carrying an unconscious man in black, just to see Pen chasing past the edge of the building. There was a screeching sound and then the sound of horns.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Finally, Pen came back. “Truck of some kind. He jumped in the back and it took off. I tried to follow but I am not as fast as a car, even in this traffic.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She slowly walked over to the unconscious Doc Golem. Menagerie had put the three unconscious men next to Doc, and was sitting on him, in bird form. “I wish he changed back when he went unconscious,” Menagerie said. “I don’t think any of us can move him.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate said sourly, “Well, that was a good first date. Outed and lost to a bunch of jobbers. Great.”
</p>
<h3 id="h.5cx6ch7b4fjq">Chapter 3: SciSquid Search<sup>
<a href="#ftnt38" id="ftnt_ref38">[38]</a>
</sup>
</h3>
<p class="bodytext">
A uniformed policeman ran up to Penultimate and thrust a smartphone at her. “Look!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She recognized the person in the photo as King SciSquid. A tragic accident had welded four mechanical tentacles to his body and shredded his social skills.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The policeman increased the sound.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’ll make this simple. This city is the site of some of my greatest defeats, so I have no love for this place. If I don’t receive one billion dollars — half in cash, half in Bitcoin — I plan to release a device that will raze it to the ground. City officials should have received the details by now. I don’t intend to go near the physical cash for some time, and the Bitcoin is to be delivered electronically. You have no guarantee that I won’t release the device if you pay….but you can be certain that I will release it if you don’t. I know it takes time to collect the money, so you have until tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
One of his tentacles shut off the camera.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Well, team,” said Penultimate. “Odds that Roach, Gamma Ghost, and the rest were working for Squidward?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext"><sup><a href="#ftnt39" id="ftnt_ref39">[39]</a></sup>
“He calls himself ‘SciSquid,’” said Skyblaze. She rolled her eyes.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He’s Squidward to me,” said Penultimate. “Thoughts?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie flew over. “Smelled like him,” he said. “It was clearly something metallic that swarmed through the ventilation grate and took the parts.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Roach had something black smeared over his feet. You knocked somebody unconscious. Let’s talk to him.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pen spent a few moments disarming the unconscious Fixit. “Nice black suit; reminds me of Vantablack. It’s clearly bespoke for
<em>something,</em>
We’ll get that off him.
Laser pistol, that’s nice; a couple of grenades of unknown use; a remote to something; assorted batteries, but nothing as good as the stolen ADEPT.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Pardon?” said Menagerie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Advanced Decay Energy Production and Transmission, I believe. Uses semi-natural fission to create energy. Very high energy density. You use it or something like it for powered armor, like the Shock Trooper armor. They also get used for some extreme-environment stuff, and bad guys steal them for energy-intensive stuff, like robots, interdimensional portals, laser cannons. All the Shock Trooper stuff is from a shipment stolen about six years ago.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Fortunately it was a copy. Nobody would put something like that on display in a public…” Her voice trailed off. “It
was a copy, right?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate said, “That’s not clear.” She fiddled with a gadget, walked into the building and back out again. “Radiation detector,” she said. “Clearly picks up Gamma Ghost, but he never went into the building. There was something else there that was radioactive. It’s not the handman there, because he’s not radioactive. No, there’s a lot of secondary radiation consistent with something radioactive sitting here for days.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“But if these things are so valuable, why would that be in public?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Record keeping error?” Penultimate said, “The real answer is usually money, corruption, or it’s an election year.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze sighed. “
Can you disable these ADEPT things?” asked Skyblaze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Not without an environmental effect. There’s a reason they’re not widely used.” She toed the unconscious man. “Look at his boots.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Mud,” said Menagerie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Red mud. That’s rare. I mean, go look at the hole: brown or black dirt. That’s not from this area.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Can’t you check it?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I have no lab. Police will have to do it.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Vernon groaned and started to move, and Skyblaze knocked him out again.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Skyblaze!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He’s not as important as the other guy,” she said. “One issue at a time.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“But if he was working for SciSquid…”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Look at him and his friend! Clearly no-account losers who have big schemes and no follow-through. Why, I’ll bet his wife doesn’t even know what he’s doing.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pen looked at her for a moment. “That seems awfully specific”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Significant other. I know the type.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I see.” She turned to the police officer. “These two are yours; right away. Give us a moment with…Fixit, I think it is.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“If you don’t think they’re involved…”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No idea. I wasn’t inside the building. Skyblaze?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze looked at him for a long time and thought about how her sister would feel when her husband didn’t come home. “Nah, he and his friend aren’t connected with these other guys. Fight started, they got knocked out.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie cocked his head but didn’t say anything.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Behind them, Doc Golem sat up. He did a quick self assessment and then walked over to join them.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The uniformed officer said, “We’ll take them down to the precinct, get their statements.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate nudged Fixit awake. “Hey, bunkie. Wake up. We just need to know where SciSquid is hiding.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Who… Oh. You. I’ll never tell.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Any statement you take is inadmissible!” cried a man coming closer to them.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate looked up and saw Detective Gerrero approaching.
The detective threaded his way through the uniforms at the site. “Hey, Second-Best. I guess you didn’t stop anyone important, huh?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Hey, Armchair Quarterback,” said Penultimate. “You can check it all yourself but it looks like the ADEPT back inside was real, not a copy. Secondary radiation shows there was a radiation source in there for some days. At a guess, SciSquid hired these guys to steal it or distract people while he stole it. The flour we saw were Gamma Ghost, Whiptail, Roach, and Fixit. This guy, Fixit, has mud on this guy’s boots that’s not from this area. It rained yesterday, so its source might be a clue to where the hideout is. Fixit doesn’t want to talk, so I’m happy to hand him over to the police. I’m going slowly because you can’t think quickly.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze said, “I assume you guys have met before?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Both Gerrero and Penultimate said, “Yes.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Gerrero said, “You’re going to have to fill out a statement.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate looked at him.<sup><a href="#ftnt40" id="ftnt_ref40">[40]</a></sup>
“A recorded statement is already in your email. The rest of the team will give their statements after one p.m. tomorrow. We have a blackmailer to stop. We’d appreciate your help but we’d even more appreciate you getting out of our way. You can contact Major Copeland, on assignment with Homeland Security.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I can have you arrested.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He’ll get us out again, and in the meantime, who’ll stop the destruction of the city?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“As soon as this is done, you will come to the precinct for statements.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Of course, and so nice that you assume we will stop him..” She nodded to Skyblaze. “We need to investigate. Meet in an hour at Copeland’s annex.”
</p>
<p class="c">
#
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate knocked on the door to 4-D. Bernie answered.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh. Aren’t you…” He flapped a hand. “Busy?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I needed proper pants and shoes, and I have to apologize.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No, there’s—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Yes, there is. We were on a date, and I interrupted it. So I apologize. I like you. I was kind of worried I wouldn’t, that all of that part of me went away when my universe was destroyed.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Your what?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We can talk about my origin story on a second date, if you’re willing. In the meanwhile, I have to stop a guy from destroying the city.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Well, without a city there’s no place for us to go.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Exactly.” She kissed Bernie on the cheek and left.<sup><a href="#ftnt41" id="ftnt_ref41">[41]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="c">
#
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pen finished her glass of orange juice. “We were so lucky there was nothing under you when that blast hit. No sewer, no electricity, no water.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No subway,” said Jacob. He was in the robe he kept at the Annex.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I wonder if that’s significant?” Skyblaze asked. “You seem very…relaxed, Pen.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She ignored that. “Finding the hideout isn’t the tough part. The tough part is figuring out why you lied about the two guys trying to steal Storm Trooper parts.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Why do you think I was lying?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Because you were. Menagerie mentioned it to me.” Skyblaze looked at Menagerie, who switched to squirrel and hid behind Penultimate. “As he should have. The reason I wanted to meet here is privacy.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“This place? It’s monitored out the wazoo.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pen smiled. “Officially.” She pulled out a remote and hit a button. “Still, they already know all the background stuff we might want to hide, like real names. So…why?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He’s my brother-in-law.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Him?” asked Menagerie; Penultimate nodded in understanding.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Yeah. Before I…I got changed, he was seeing my sister. I mean, he’s scum but I was only a little better before I enlisted, so…. After I, uh, ‘died,’ he married my sister and supposedly reformed. But I saw him sneaking in with that guy who is still active according to my sources, and figured they had a scheme. For Marcy’s sake, I had to stop it.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pen said, “I get it. I’m not thrilled you went off on your own, but I understand, and it’s okay. It’s not like this was a mission. I was asking you for a favor because I wasn’t too sure about this dating thing. You get to have your own life, right?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze didn’t say anything, but her eyes started leaking tears.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“On a mission is different, though. You go off script there, and I have to tell Major Copeland. I’m tolerant but I can’t be blind.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We all have faults, Blaze,” said Menagerie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Really? Pen is someone who saved her universe, Doc has so much goodness in him he should be orange juice, you and your ghost friend are just Raggedy Ann and Andy, and I’m pond scum trying to be better and I don’t make it sometimes.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie said, “Do you know why I’m in this group?” He looked down at the floor. “I killed somebody. I didn’t even know it, and I have lots of reasons why it happened but still: I killed somebody and she’s not around to forgive me.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze said, “I didn’t know.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Of course not. Why do you think I act like such a doofus? I want to be someone who wouldn’t do that, won’t do that, and I still forget.” He shrugged. “But I remember her every day.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We’re all here because we did something,” said Jacob. “My twin brother was a supervillain. I didn’t want to be a superhero. I wanted to stay a doctor. Because I didn’t help, he did some bad stuff—worse than you, Charles, er, Menagerie—so I have to make it better.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate said, “And it’s nice of you to think I saved my universe, but I didn’t. I failed. My world is gone. Running this team is about all that keeps me going.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Come here, everyone.” Jacob wrapped everyone up in a hug. “Pal, this is for you, too,” he said. “I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m grateful.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
After a long time, Pen cleared her throat. “Um. Now we have to catch a crazy man.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
They broke apart. “Anybody got a tissue?” asked Skyblaze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate plucked tissues from her bag and passed them around. Then she said, “I read up on the four crooks we fought and there was something interesting about Gamma Ghost.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That he never once turned into a ghost?” asked Jacob.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That’s not why he’s called that. He leaks gamma radiation. That’s how he was spotted, by the gamma radiation signature—a gamma ghost, if you will.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Then we could find him any time.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Almost any time. It was stupid luck on our part, but letting the Gamma Ghost escape means we can always find him, and probably their…lair?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze said, “You can call it a lair.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pen continued, “SciSquid isn’t stupid. You don’t hire someone like that without a reason.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He needs blasts that strong to build whatever he’s building?” asked Jacob.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Maybe. Try again.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Expertise,” said Skyblaze. “Gamma Ghost is an expert in weird physics, isn’t he?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I mean, SciSquid is a robotics expert. He hired a brilliant mechanic, Fixit. Roach is not shabby about powered armor either. So I’m guessing powered armor or robots of some kind. But more importantly, this place is likely to be a trap. SciSquid knows that we can find Gamma Ghost any time we want.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Where does Whiptail fit in?” asked Jacob.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie shook his head. “He’s just a loose cannon. Something about the metamorphosis to a scorpion-man undid his brain. He’s powerful, stronger than I am in any form, but he’s got all the planning ability of a puppy who’s seen a squirrel. SciSquid knows that. Whiptail puts the ‘duh’ in diversion.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Now, I don’t have a set of satellites that can be tuned to the kind of radiation we need to find<sup><a href="#ftnt42" id="ftnt_ref42">[42]</a></sup>
but someone does, and they clumsily left their password at an easily-guessable value. In a couple of minutes, assuming I have not been detected, I should have the answer.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Her tablet beeped. She pulled up the maps application. “Globe building. Used to belong to a newspaper, the Globe, and when that shut down someone else bought it to print flyers and brochures. That wasn’t enough to keep them going so it closed about a year ago.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Lots of time to build a city-destroying whatever,” said Menagerie. “I’ve faced him before. Robots. Always robots.” He thought for a minute. “He doesn’t know about Pal but he might suspect. He’ll have it trapped for surface, air, and burrowing, because those are all ways I use.” He nodded. “I get most of the animal-themed ones, but I’ve never faced Roach before.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Okay, thinking literally outside the box…teleportation?” asked Skyblaze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We don’t have a way to do that,” pointed out Jacob.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I know somebody who can.” Penultimate jotted a quick message; the reply was almost instant. “Autoreply. He’s in another dimension right now. I’ll check to see who Copeland has on speed dial.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Nobody
dials
any more,” pointed out Menagerie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Not relevant at the moment,” said Penultimate. “Other ideas?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Sacrificial lamb?” said Jacob. “I go in and set off traps? When I’m good and entangled, you guys show up?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Who says you’ll be entangled?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I assume he has something set up just for me,” pointed out Jacob.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Point,” said Penultimate. “But we’ll still make your entrance as not-you as possible. We take you up, drop you over a skylight, you rock up before you hit the glass and then plummet through whatever he has set up. Then there’s a hole for everyone else to use coming in, and we don’t have to worry about, oh, lasers in the ventilation ducts or ghost-catchers in the walls.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Are there such a thing as ghost-catchers?” Skyblaze asked Menagerie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“There must be…yes, there are, says Pal.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Pal, since we expect Whiptail to be a distraction, do you mind using him as such? At least until we’ve handled the immediate problem.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“She will,” said Menagerie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The best time for this? It’s already five. Rush hour: hard to escape.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“One-thirty-seven in the morning,” said Skyblaze. Everyone looked at her. “They know we’re coming, right? They expect us to come on the hour or half-hour for coordination. Watch change is probably on the half-hour, probably half-past four, twelve, and eight. At one-thirty-seven they’ve been waiting for eight hours, they’re tired, midnight came and went and nothing happened. They figure we’ll show up at three or four or six: later in the night or first thing at dawn.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That suits me,” said Jacob. “I have an engagement tonight.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate acted shocked. “You? A social life?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Jacob grinned. “I have more of a social life than you do, Rae.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Point again,” she said. “Go. Get some rest. Fulfill your ‘engagements.’ No attacking the Globe building; Skyblaze, do a recon but don’t engage.” Her tablet dinged insistently a dozen times. “Maybe we can teleport any— Nope. They’ve found my hack. Gotta take this.”<sup><a href="#ftnt43" id="ftnt_ref43">[43]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I thought you were good enough you wouldn’t get caught,” Skyblaze said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I left them a note,” admitted Pen.
</p>
<h3 id="h.nbqbv0ppb2ge">Chapter 4: Garden of SciSquid Delights</h3>
<p class="bodytext"><sup><a href="#ftnt44" id="ftnt_ref44">[44]</a></sup>
“Can you drop me on a printing press? I want to spread out the damage so I don’t end up in a hole.” It was cold and Jacob was in his briefs and a hotel bathrobe. Penultimate was on Skyblaze’s back.
She wore gloves; it was cool out.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Sure,” said Skyblaze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Say when and I’ll rock up.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Mark!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze let go of Jacob but Doc Golem fell, deliberately in the skydiver pose to be as big as possible. The remnants of the bathrobe fluttered over the city as he plunged through the window and down to one of the presses.<sup><a href="#ftnt45" id="ftnt_ref45">[45]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Somewhere, an alarm started clanging.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail looked up from the YouView videos he was watching and spotted the blue bat flying in. From where he was, he couldn’t reach Menagerie so he leapt to the top of the three-storey statue of SciSquid, and then
at the bat.<sup><a href="#ftnt46" id="ftnt_ref46">[46]</a></sup>
He missed and stuck to a wall.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Hey! It’s Miracle Whiptail!” Men fluttered above the press that Doc was in. “Was that disrespectful? Because it was meant to be disrespectful.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The press grew…tentacles…that reached for Doc and for Menagerie.<sup><a href="#ftnt47" id="ftnt_ref47">[47]</a></sup>
They managed to grab Doc loosely but missed Menagerie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Palimpsest had already possessed SciSquid, and awkwardly moved one tentacle from his gantry by the robot. “Whiptail, protect the robot. That’s what’s important.” (Pal hoped that was what was important. Too bad she couldn’t read minds or she’d know what SciSquid was thinking.)
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze flew in through the hole, carrying Penultimate; Penultimate leaped off her and onto the head of the robot.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“So, we’re here,” said Penultimate. “Bring out your death traps.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He doesn’t banter,” said Skyblaze as she fired at Whiptail.<sup><a href="#ftnt48" id="ftnt_ref48">[48]</a></sup>
The scorpion-man absorbed the star blast.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie circled Whiptail’s head.<sup><a href="#ftnt49" id="ftnt_ref49">[49]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Meanwhile, Doc grabbed the tentacles holding him and yanked, hard, pulling them free.<sup><a href="#ftnt50" id="ftnt_ref50">[50]</a></sup>
The press gave off a series of sparks and the remaining tentacles fell limp.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail, driven to a blind rage by Menagerie’s actions, arched his tail and fired the plasma cannon.<sup><a href="#ftnt51" id="ftnt_ref51">[51]</a></sup>
It hit the robot, as Menagerie had hoped, but did nothing.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Okay,</span> thought Menagerie,
<span class="thought">the robot’s tough.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Roach, in armor, stumbled through the door and spotted heroes. “Squid, we’re awake! Shut off the damned alarm!” He took to the air.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The tentacles of the other two presses extended and aimed at Menagerie. One launched a grenade of some kind<sup><a href="#ftnt52" id="ftnt_ref52">[52]</a></sup>
that exploded near Whiptail into a tangle of metal strands. It fell harmlessly to the floor.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Whiptail! I insist!” Pal hoped that was right; SciSquid had a kind of fussy way of talking. And he was old to boot: over thirty.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A blast of energy hit Doc Golem, who was trying to get out of the wreckage of the press.<sup><a href="#ftnt53" id="ftnt_ref53">[53]</a></sup>
It didn’t even knock him down.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate took the grenade she’d been reserving since the afternoon and threw it.<sup><a href="#ftnt54" id="ftnt_ref54">[54]</a></sup>
All of Roach’s armor systems suddenly failed, and rebooted. Roach fell out of the air, and immediately tried to glide.<sup><a href="#ftnt55" id="ftnt_ref55">[55]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Blaze! Get him while his systems are rebooting!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze immediately angled over and blasted.<sup><a href="#ftnt56" id="ftnt_ref56">[56]</a></sup>
She couldn’t get a good shot and the blast splashed against the armor.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie saw this and used the opportunity to fly close to Roach’s head. “Shame you can’t hit me, Whipit-good. I’m right here…”<sup><a href="#ftnt57" id="ftnt_ref57">[57]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem picked up the broken printing press and tore it from the floor to throw it at Roach.<sup><a href="#ftnt58" id="ftnt_ref58">[58]</a></sup>
He hit, while Menagerie flitted up out of the way.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail jumped up to the robot, as he imagined that SciSquid wanted. “I’ll protect it!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Protect it?</span>
Penultimate thought.
<span class="thought">I don’t think any of us can mar it, let alone take it apart.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
One of the two remaining presses extended long metallic tentacles to Doc Golem<sup><a href="#ftnt59" id="ftnt_ref59">[59]</a></sup>
but he neatly sidestepped them.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
SciSquid<sup><a href="#ftnt60" id="ftnt_ref60">[60]</a></sup>
reached into his pocket and pulled out a remote, and from the other side a second one. They looked different but both had a handmade look; both had the button covered by a layer of transparent plastic. “I have the remote!” he shouted.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Gamma Ghost blasted at Doc Golem,<sup><a href="#ftnt61" id="ftnt_ref61">[61]</a></sup>
but hit one of the presses instead.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate realized that Gamma Ghost’s force bubble was, in fact, a bubble: that someone right next to Ghost would be enclosed in it…where they could hit him. She bounced off the robot, swung around the gantry and landed in a position running to tackle the Gamma Ghost.<sup><a href="#ftnt62" id="ftnt_ref62">[62]</a></sup>
Skyblaze blasted Roach, saying, “This doesn’t seem sporting…but I don’t care.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie landed and became a rhinoceros; he got his horn under Roach and tossed him across the big room.<sup><a href="#ftnt63" id="ftnt_ref63">[63]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem looked at Roach hurtling through the air and said, “Really?” to Menagerie. He grabbed the piece of press he had thrown before and tossed it onto Roach. “The armor will protect him.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail growled, “I can hit a rhino!” and leaped down to hit Menagerie<sup><a href="#ftnt64" id="ftnt_ref64">[64]</a></sup>
with his tail.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
SciSquid said, “What? That accursed mental control that Menagerie seems to have! But he can’t stop my robot from destroying the city!” He looked at the two remotes, and removed the cover from the button of one of them.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
SciSquid pressed the button. The robot began to hum.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Gamma Ghost threw up his force globe, encasing both him and Penultimate. Pen said, “I think you forgot that I’m here.” She swung around and kicked him in the head. He fell unconscious and the force globe disappeared.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze looked at the giant robot and cried, “Doc! Give me a hand! Let’s see if it can get up when it falls down!” She flew to one wall then charged at its center of mass at top speed.<sup><a href="#ftnt65" id="ftnt_ref65">[65]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie switched to gorilla form and grabbed at Whiptail<sup><a href="#ftnt66" id="ftnt_ref66">[66]</a></sup>
but missed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Palimpsest settled into Whiptail<sup><a href="#ftnt67" id="ftnt_ref67">[67]</a></sup>
but failed to take control: Whiptail’s fury defeated her this time.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc saw the robot reeling: He ran<sup><a href="#ftnt68" id="ftnt_ref68">[68]</a></sup>
to grab one leg and yanked it to topple the robot. The robot landed on its side in one of the remaining presses.<sup><a href="#ftnt69" id="ftnt_ref69">[69]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“It’s not a fugue state!” Whiptail snarled aloud and leapt for Menagerie.<sup><a href="#ftnt70" id="ftnt_ref70">[70]</a></sup>
“You’re doing it! Somehow!”<sup><a href="#ftnt71" id="ftnt_ref71">[71]</a></sup>
He tried to smash Menagerie, currently in gorilla form. Menagerie managed to twist and catch the blow on his heavily muscled forearm, but it hurt a lot.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The robot can get up, fools! Did you not realize I would think of that?” SciSquid said. The gantry began to lower.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate sprinted and parkoured up the gantry arms to grab<sup><a href="#ftnt72" id="ftnt_ref72">[72]</a></sup>
one of SciSquid’s tentacles, and used it to vault onto the platform.
<span class="thought">Keep him busy,</span>
she thought.
<span class="thought">Find out how to turn it off.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze fired another shot at the robot. It bounced off the thing. “I can’t damage it!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Of course, you can’t, fool! I made it to destroy this city; what good would it be if one of you could damage it?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie prepared to block Whiptail’s next attack.<sup><a href="#ftnt73" id="ftnt_ref73">[73]</a></sup>
Palimpsest desperately tried to get control of Whiptail<sup><a href="#ftnt74" id="ftnt_ref74">[74]</a></sup>
but the man-scorpion was too angry.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc Golem kept hold of the one foot and braced himself to keep the robot from getting up.<sup><a href="#ftnt75" id="ftnt_ref75">[75]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail lashed at Menagerie,<sup><a href="#ftnt76" id="ftnt_ref76">[76]</a></sup>
but Menagerie managed to block his tail.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
SciSquid laughed. “That robot can’t be turned off! It won’t stop until it has destroyed the city!” His tentacles<sup><a href="#ftnt77" id="ftnt_ref77">[77]</a></sup>
grabbed Penultimate and threw her off the platform into a printing press. She managed to land safely but it started extruding its own tentacles. SciSquid lifted himself on his remaining arms and moved swiftly to the door.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pen reached into her bag<sup><a href="#ftnt78" id="ftnt_ref78">[78]</a></sup>
and pulled out her last grenade, but it hadn’t been set. She fiddled with the settings. Next model has a damned dial I can twist.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze twisted and changed targets,<sup><a href="#ftnt79" id="ftnt_ref79">[79]</a></sup>
firing a blast at SciSquid and knocking him down.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie grabbed at Whiptail<sup><a href="#ftnt80" id="ftnt_ref80">[80]</a></sup>
and missed. Palimpsest knew that Menagerie couldn’t take another shot and tried again<sup><a href="#ftnt81" id="ftnt_ref81">[81]</a></sup>
and finally managed to get control.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc said, “I’ve got it, but can’t do anything else—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail suddenly bounded over to SciSquid and<sup><a href="#ftnt82" id="ftnt_ref82">[82]</a></sup>
knocked him unconscious.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Palimpsest managed to avoid the press’ tentacles as she got out. “Clear! I’m going to EMP the robot!” She tossed the grenade at the robot.<sup><a href="#ftnt83" id="ftnt_ref83">[83]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail said, “Whiptail’s tail weapon thing is still online.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Focused blast. Hope there’s no Faraday cage.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The robot<sup><a href="#ftnt84" id="ftnt_ref84">[84]</a></sup>
moved a leg to get up; Doc was dragged along.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Looks like there is. Any access hatch? Machine like that requires a lot of fiddling,” said Skyblaze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Good idea — Men, got any special senses that might help?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“A single cockroach is not going to help.”<sup><a href="#ftnt85" id="ftnt_ref85">[85]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“There’s a discolored area on the sole of this foot,” said Doc. “Maybe big enough for a door or hatch.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I think that’s it,” said Skyblaze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Doc, hold up the foot to let Pen get up there.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh, most of us are going in,” said Penultimate. “Doc? Terrible job, but can you keep knocking it down as it tries to get up? We don’t want it to get out of the building. Blaze, you blast the hatch so we can get in.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What about Whiptail?” asked Whiptail.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Come on in. Rather have Whiptail inside the robot under control than scarpering off to parts unknown.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate nodded at Doc, who had been yanked across the floor as the robot tried to get up. The tentacles flailed against the floor but the robot did not push with them.<sup><a href="#ftnt86" id="ftnt_ref86">[86]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc twisted and yanked on the foot.<sup><a href="#ftnt87" id="ftnt_ref87">[87]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze fired<sup><a href="#ftnt88" id="ftnt_ref88">[88]</a></sup>
and the hatch cracked; a human-width piece fell off. Menagerie was in first, as a bat, followed Whiptail, then Pen. “Sure, let me go last,” Skyblaze muttered as she flew in. The robot began the slow process of standing again; Doc got a better grip, but the machine was stronger than he was.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
From way ahead, they heard, “Obvious computer in the head!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Pen,” said Whiptail, “you go first.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Done.” She expected the computer to be shielded but hackable, but then she got up and saw the tiny display screen. She read what was on it. “Crap. SciSquid had somebody write a new OS. This isn’t anything I know.”<sup><a href="#ftnt89" id="ftnt_ref89">[89]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She dropped back to the body. “Palimpsest, take Whiptail up there and give him back control.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“But Charlie will get hurt!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He’ll get away,” Penultimate said, “and you’ll be there to take control if needed.” There was another jerk. “The robot is almost on its feet!”<sup><a href="#ftnt90" id="ftnt_ref90">[90]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail paused and then headed up, leaving handprints in the armored walls where he crawled up. Penultimate called the plan up to Menagerie in the head.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie was relieved that there was a plan; he had turned to a gorilla to penetrate the armor but with no success. He changed back to a bat to make room for Whiptail; the head was that crowded.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Pal-as-Whiptail looked at him and said, “I can’t.”<sup><a href="#ftnt91" id="ftnt_ref91">[91]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You have to.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I can just punch the wall,” Whiptail said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The robot jerked again. Muffled they heard, “Couldn’t stop it! Almost to the wall!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Do it!” Penultimate yelled.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Skyblaze said. She fired into the head<sup><a href="#ftnt92" id="ftnt_ref92">[92]</a></sup>
and hit Whiptail.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail roared and swung at Menagerie,<sup><a href="#ftnt93" id="ftnt_ref93">[93]</a></sup>
but missed. Whiptail’s tail hit the armored wall and cracked it.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh, boy,” said Menagerie.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Squidroid looked around. It had been damaged; the nearest hero was Doc Golem. The obvious solution was to punch Doc.<sup><a href="#ftnt94" id="ftnt_ref94">[94]</a></sup>
Its tentacle slammed into the floor near Doc, opening a hole to a blue-painted basement. Doc scrambled away from the edge and to the other foot. He punched the foot to no effect. If it breaks the floor, at least it’s stuck down there for a moment…
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail attacked again.<sup><a href="#ftnt95" id="ftnt_ref95">[95]</a></sup>
His tail slammed into the computer again, as he missed Menagerie.<sup><a href="#ftnt96" id="ftnt_ref96">[96]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate said, “Whiptail’s gone berserk. Pal can’t control him. Skyblaze, can you take him down?” She searched her gadget bag, saw that the cracks had broken the Faraday cage around the computer, but dammit, she was out of EMP grenades.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I can try. Watch out, Menagerie! Fire in the hole!” She fired<sup><a href="#ftnt97" id="ftnt_ref97">[97]</a></sup>
and missed. “I’m trying not to hit him!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc avoided the tentacle again so it slammed into the floor. There was a crumbling sound, and suddenly the robot dropped three storeys. Doc fell, too.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Inside the robot, Menagerie and Skyblaze got jerked up; Pen was steady because she was holding the ladder, and Whiptail because he had made handholds in the walls. Skyblaze cursed as she bumped against Whiptail. Menagerie tried to position himself, but the robot was teetering and even with echolocation he couldn’t tell where he was supposed to be; he dove what he hoped was down.<sup><a href="#ftnt98" id="ftnt_ref98">[98]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail just missed hammering at him with his tail.<sup><a href="#ftnt99" id="ftnt_ref99">[99]</a></sup> <sup><a href="#ftnt100" id="ftnt_ref100">[100]</a></sup>
The armor around the computer shattered and fell down in pieces.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate grabbed a hypodermic autoinjector from her gadget bag.<sup><a href="#ftnt101" id="ftnt_ref101">[101]</a></sup>
She maneuvered closer to Whiptail<sup><a href="#ftnt102" id="ftnt_ref102">[102]</a></sup>
and stabbed him with it in the neck, avoiding the rough thick suit that covered most of him. It appeared to have no effect.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze said, “Get out of the way! I can’t blast him with you in the way!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I can’t move— you might not have noticed the robot’s moving like a drunk!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie said, “Hey, Whipped Cream, you’re not even aiming in the right place,” and headed back into the body, squeezing past Penultimate and Skyblaze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Whiptail pushed the two women out of the way in his attempt to get to Menagerie.<sup><a href="#ftnt103" id="ftnt_ref103">[103]</a></sup>
This tail strike missed too.<sup><a href="#ftnt104" id="ftnt_ref104">[104]</a></sup>
He wobbled and then fell unconscious; he dropped to the floor of the body space.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc got up from falling. Water started pouring into the room. Broken water main? Or a deathtrap SciSquid never got to use? He was too far from one of the feet to punch it, and that was the moment a living tentacle wrapped around his leg.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Ah. Unused deathtrap.</span>
He looked at the tentacle.
<span class="thought">Well, to work.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate had time to exhale as she scrambled up the ladder to the head space and the computer.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She had very little left to work with—not even a brassiere underwire. She had nothing left but brute force, but fortunately this wasn’t the armored part of the robot.<sup><a href="#ftnt105" id="ftnt_ref105">[105]</a></sup>
One kick removed the connectors from the computer and the robot froze.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Off-balance, the robot fell over. Water started to flow in, through the hole in its foot.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doc looked at the squid tentacle and sighed. “Sorry,” he muttered, and physically tore the tentacle off his leg. The water suddenly darkened with squid ink, and then Doc wasn’t bothered by the squid any more. “I hope I didn’t hurt you too much.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Once the water had stopped rushing in, he plodded over to the leg of the robot and called up the hole. “Need help?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Menagerie shouted back, “Nah, being inside a falling robot is a day at the park, even more than the day in the park was.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Starblaze appeared, carrying an unconscious Whiptail. “Pen’s coming. She’s fine.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A blue bottle nose dolphin appeared and stood on its tail. “How come nobody asks if I’m okay?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Skyblaze said, “As long as you’re talking, we know you’re fine.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Penultimate appeared from inside the robot. “<em>Derideo, ergo sum.</em> That’s your style.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Gotta put that on a crest,” Menagerie said. “Give it to my mom.”
</p>
<h3 id="h.1y1jna2v2x8o">Villains</h3>
<h4 id="h.kkcxqjjbm5dw">Gamma Ghost</h4>
<p>
<strong>Origin:</strong> Transformed
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>S</th>
<th>I</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>W</th>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">6</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">9</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<strong>Specialties:</strong>
Powers Master (+3) Science Expert (+2)
</p>
<p>
<strong>Powers:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Amazing (8) Blast
</li>
<li>
Great (6) Blast<ul><li>Extra: Burst</li><li>Limit: 1/day</li></ul>
</li>
<li>
Fantastic (9) Force Construct<ul><li>Limit: Cannot attack<li></ul>
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Qualities:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Leaks radiation
</li>
<li>
Brilliant physicist
</li>
<li>
Desire for revenge outweighs his smarts
</li>
<li>
Can redirect (poorly) with Force Construct
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<h4 id="h.xq6uy467d3ki">Whiptail</h4>
<p>
<strong>Origin:</strong> Transformed
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>S</th>
<th>I</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>W</th>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th>
</p>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="n">6</td>
<td class="n">7</td>
<td class="n">7</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">11</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<strong>Specialties:</strong> —
</p>
<p>
<strong>Powers:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Average (3) Wall-crawling
</li>
<li>
Good (5) Damage Resistance
</li>
<li>
Amazing (8) Extra Limb (Tail)
</li>
<li>
Great (6) Blast (Plasma Projector)
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Qualities:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Hatred For (name of hero)
</li>
<li>Ot-nay Oo-tay Ight-Bray When Angry
<li>
Hooked On Suit Upgrades
</li>
<li>
Former Private Investigator (activate for Stealth and following)
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<h4 id="h.mpanqowh4b85">Roach</h4>
<p>
<strong>Origin:</strong> Gimmick
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>S</th>
<th>I</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>W</th>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">9</td>
</tr>
</table>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Specialties:</strong>
Technology Master (+3)
</p>
<p>
<strong>Powers:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Good (5) Damage Resistance
</li>
<li>
Great (6) Ability Increase Prowess<ul><li>Extra: Coordination</li>
<li>
Limit: Only vs named foe, change only between battles
</li>
</ul></li>
<li>
Amazing (8) Danger Sense<ul><li>Limit: only vs named foe</li></ul>
</li>
<li>
Poor (2) Wall-crawling
</li>
<li>
Good (5) Blast Limit: Performance (must bring hands together)
</li>
<li>
Good (5) Flight
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Qualities:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Average Strength without armor
</li>
<li>
Secret ID: Abner Jenkins
</li>
<li>
Tactically sound
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<h4 id="h.61aeqesol66u">Fixit (Fixer)</h4>
<p>
<strong>Origin:</strong> Gimmick
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>S</th>
<th>I</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>W</th>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">7</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">7</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<strong>Specialties:</strong>
Weapons: Gadgets Master (+3)
</p>
<p>
<strong>Powers:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Average (3) Damage Resistance
</li>
<li>
Incredible (7) Flight
</li>
<li>
Weak (1) Life Support (No breathing)
</li>
<li>
Incredible (7) Gadgets<ul><li>Extra: Instant</li>
<li>Extra: Armory<ul>
<li>
Web bombs: Incredible (7) Binding (x2)
</li>
<li>
Laser pistol: Great Blast
</li>
<li>
Good Binding <ul><li>Extra: Good Affliction</li><li>Limit: Temporary</li></ul>
</li>
<li>
Incredible Dazzle<ul><li>Limit: Temporary</li></ul>
</li></ul></li></ul></li>
<li>
Fantastic (9) damage resistance<ul><li>Limit: Energy only</li></ul>
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Qualities:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Brilliant inventor
</li>
<li>
Jobber
</li>
<li>
He might have altered anything mechanical to be a trap
</li>
</ul>
</p>
</p>
<h4 id="h.d6de0opbvalw">SciSquid (Dr. Octopus)</h4>
<p>
<strong>Origin:</strong> Transformed
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>S</th>
<th>I</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>W</th>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="n">6</td>
<td class="n">6</td>
<td class="n">7</td>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">12</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<strong>Specialties:</strong>
Technology (Robotics) Expert (+2)
</p>
<p>
<strong>Powers:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Incredible (7) Extra Body Parts (Tentacles) Strength<ul><li>Extra: Elongation</li></ul>
</li>
<li>
Average (3) Wall-crawling
</li>
<li>
Poor (2) Leaping
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Qualities:</strong>
<ul>
<li>Robotics Genius</li>
<li>Got a lifetime of misery to make up for</li>
<li>Often soft spot for normals but none for heroes</li>
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
Though he can leap, the actual special effect is usually a rapid scuttling along his tentacles.
</p>
<h4 id="h.4o1iaqgts5fb">Converted presses</h4>
<p>
The three presses are something of a plot device: they have “dozens” of tentacles and can attack any nearby hero once per page, and can attack multiple heroes on the same page. No off switch. Attack anyone without the protective disk.
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>S</th>
<th>I</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>W</th>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">2</td>
<td class="n">-</td>
<td class="n">10</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<strong>Specialty:</strong>
Wrestling (+1)
</p>
<p>
<strong>Powers:</strong>
<ul>
<li>Good (5) Extra Body Parts <ul><li>Extra: Fast Attack</li></ul></li>
</ul>
</p>
<h4 id="h.jjymsu3xbc72">Giant Squid</h4>
<p>
<strong>Origin:</strong> Animal
</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>S</th>
<th>I</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>W</th>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="n">4</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">5</td>
<td class="n">1</td>
<td class="n">3</td>
<td class="n">2</td>
<td class="n">7</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<strong>Specialties:</strong> —
</p>
<p>
<strong>Powers:</strong>
<ul>
<li>Poor (2) Aquatic</li>
<li>
Average (3) Fast Attack
</li>
<li>
Average (3) Ink Cloud (automatic “Dark” quality with free activation to Increase Difficulty for vision)</li>
<li>Tentacles 1 (Elongation)</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Qualities:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Large
</li>
<li>Squid
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
This animal doesn't exactly match a squid created from the rules in <cite><span class="sc">Icons</span> Menagerie</cite>. It’s a combination of that writeup and a straight conversion of the adventure’s writeup.
</p>
<h4 id="h.nx45hwskz1m8">Squidroid</h4>
<p>
<strong>Origin:</strong> Artificial</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>P</th>
<th>C</th>
<th>S</th>
<th>I</th>
<th>A</th>
<th>W</th>
<th class="sta">Stamina</a>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="n"> 6 </td>
<td class="n"> 4 </td>
<td class="n"> 10 </td>
<td class="n"> 3 </td>
<td class="n"> 1 </td>
<td class="n"> - </td>
<td class="n">20</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<strong>Specialties:</strong> —
</p>
<p>
<strong>Powers:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Fantastic (9) Damage Resistance
</li>
<li>
Size: +3
</li>
<li>
Supreme (10) Life Support
</li>
<li>
Disruptor Cannon: Amazing (8) Blast (2 shots per tentacle)
</li>
<li>
Tentacles: Supreme (10)<ul><li>Extra Body Parts (Tentacles) Fast Attack</li>
<li>Limit: No fine control or stunts with tentacles; they grab or destroy</li></ul>
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Qualities:</strong>
<ul>
<li>
Engine of destruction
</li>
<li>
Just a machine
</li>
<li>
Can’t be turned off
</li>
<li>
Access hatches in its feet of only Great (6) material
</li>
<li>
Double damage from attacks to the main computer
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
Each body part is an area (left leg, right leg, body, left arm, right arm, head) and the mechanisms are protected by Great (6) armor. The computer system and sensors are in the head; make up whatever else you need that makes sense (for instance, there might be electronic gyroscopes in the body that can be destroyed and keep it from getting up after being knocked down). For my purposes, I determined that it would take Strength 8 to lift, but it will of course be fighting back.
</p>
<hr class="partial">
<h4>Game Mechanics</h4>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref1" id="ftnt1">[1]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Who notices? Say it’s
difficulty
5 if you’re looking in that general direction. Penultimate does
<span class="c17 c42">not</span>
notice (5-1<5), Menagerie barely notices (4+1=5), and Doc Golem totally sees it (4+4>5). Skyblaze spots something else.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref2" id="ftnt2">[2]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Let’s say it’s an Average Athletics roll to catch up with this guy. She manages to just make an average roll (Coordination 6+1-3) but that’s her panel.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref3" id="ftnt3">[3]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: If he throws it at the youths, he’s going to hurt the old man or the cart, so he’s going to throw it in front of the cart so it can’t move, and hope the noise gets their attention; say difficulty 3. Coordination 5+2>3, so it works.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref4" id="ftnt4">[4]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: The thug is Prowess 3+2 because she’s grabbing, she’s Prowess 6: 6+1>3+2; she gets it.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref5" id="ftnt5">[5]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 3+0<6+2
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref6" id="ftnt6">[6]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Coordination 6-1>3; major success.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref7" id="ftnt7">[7]</a>
<cite>Mythic</cite>: Does he find it? <cite>Mythic</cite> (Likely) 94% No.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref8" id="ftnt8">[8]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: He manages 3+3<6+1. GM says, “Here’s a determination point; let him hit you with this one.” Skyblaze’s player says, “Okay, a moderate hit.” (That is, a +2 to his attack roll.) 12-6=6.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref9" id="ftnt9">[9]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 6-2>3; does he block? Yes: 6+1>6. (The gauntlets are Strength 6, sonic cannon 6…but don’t have much in the batteries.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref10" id="ftnt10">[10]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 5+0>3; strength 6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref11" id="ftnt11">[11]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: She’d be defense 6+1 (acrobatics) but I’m going to lower it by 2 because of the sudden change. However, Roach rolls as badly as he can: 6-5<5.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref12" id="ftnt12">[12]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Does she remember? Difficulty 3. 5-1>3.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref13" id="ftnt13">[13]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: She spends a Determination point to get the extra Instant (because we’ve already said she has explosives). Does she hit him? No: 6-4<6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref14" id="ftnt14">[14]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Let’s do Initiative: Men 12 Pen: 11 Doc Golem 11 Skyblaze 10 Whiptail 10 Roach 8 Gamma Ghost 5 Pal 5 Fixit 4
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref15" id="ftnt15">[15]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Did Whiptail hit? Yes, so he’s down to 3 Stamina, but he turned into a hummingbird to fly away (+2 do defense)
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref16" id="ftnt16">[16]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: She fires: 6+4>7, major hit. For slam, 8+3>7, so Whiptail suffers.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref17" id="ftnt17">[17]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 6-2<6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref18" id="ftnt18">[18]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 6-3<6+1
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref19" id="ftnt19">[19]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 4+3>5, moderate hit
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref20" id="ftnt20">[20]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 7+3>4, so she hits. 7-1>4, so he’s controlled for the next phase.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref21" id="ftnt21">[21]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 4+2<6+1, so he misses.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref22" id="ftnt22">[22]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Well, we’ll use his Prowess (6-1>3); hits; damage is 7, but damage resistance helps Fixer (7-3=4)
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref23" id="ftnt23">[23]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Going to activate Trained in Everything for +2, because she kinda needs to grab him. 6+2+1>6. Major success, so full hold.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref24" id="ftnt24">[24]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Like an interpose, Radioactive Man/Gamma Ghost aborts everything to put up his force field, which is Fantastic (9).
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref25" id="ftnt25">[25]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 4-4 versus her 7…she’s got him. I’ll be doing the actions on her initiative.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref26" id="ftnt26">[26]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Willpower test to see if she lets go; she’s still over a hole, so she activates Trained In Everything again 5+2-2=5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref27" id="ftnt27">[27]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Did she notice the Performance bit? Difficulty 4, Awareness 5: 5+2>4
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref28" id="ftnt28">[28]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Not so lucky: 6-3<5, but it only reduces her hold to partial, if I remember rightly
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref29" id="ftnt29">[29]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Not gonna roll for that; it’s in the fiction. But does he hit? Coordination 5+0>
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref30" id="ftnt30">[30]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Coordination, 5-1=4; I’m going to let her try an Athletics roll to make it easier, call it Difficulty 4 because that’s the damage…6+1-3=4, so Stamina 4. I’ll make 4 the damage of landing because it was marginal.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref31" id="ftnt31">[31]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Given that? She’s going to tag “Sensitive about being second best” and recover: +5 Stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref32" id="ftnt32">[32]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 6-2 does hit Coordination 3, but unknown to her, his suit soaks it up.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref33" id="ftnt33">[33]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Prowess 4+3>3; hits with slashing 4. No bleeding out (1-3<3) Say the energy armor is Unreliable now.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref34" id="ftnt34">[34]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Int roll + Technology to fix it: 5+1=6, so she gets it…barely. Next turn she’ll have a Nullify (EMP) grenade that will immobilize much of his armor.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref35" id="ftnt35">[35]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Skyblaze hits (6+2>3) but the armor fails (a 1). Fixit (Fixer) takes 5 Stamina and is out.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref36" id="ftnt36">[36]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Whiptail is going to stunt Affliction for the plasma cannon. That means Doc Golem gets an additional determination point. And 8+2>8 for the affliction roll, so Doc Golem loses 8 stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref37" id="ftnt37">[37]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Well, it disables the plasma cannon, but since Whiptail has used the two shots it has…effectively nothing.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref38" id="ftnt38">[38]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: In the original game system, at this point, they get health back (which I’ll do: a free recovery) and to simulate the ongoing Karma, everybody gets back a Determination Point (if missing any) and if they meet their other obligations, they get one more.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref39" id="ftnt39">[39]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Did she notice the ink? 5+1>3; yes, she did.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref40" id="ftnt40">[40]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Let’s spend a DP for a retcon. Activating “Trained in Everything”
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref41" id="ftnt41">[41]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: She gets a determination point back for being honest.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref42" id="ftnt42">[42]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: “But I do have a heck of a gadgeteering roll.” 5+1+1>6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref43" id="ftnt43">[43]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: This is Trouble, so she gets a Determination Point, and it will cost a Determination Point to use the satellites ever again. Doc goes to his appointment, so he gets a DP. Everyone who confessed gets a DP.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref44" id="ftnt44">[44]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: A story wouldn’t say it, but here we do: Palimpsest settles into Squid, and spends a Determination Point for +2 on the control, activating “Ghost”.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref45" id="ftnt45">[45]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Let’s say the breaking skylight makes the press a difficulty 1 target; Skyblaze is still Coordination 6. She can’t miss. (6-2>1). We’ll call it a rushing attack, so it does 9 Stamina to that press.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref46" id="ftnt46">[46]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: The bat is tiny (let’s say -3 to attack) and Whiptail rolled a -2: 7-2<4+3
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref47" id="ftnt47">[47]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: For Doc, it succeeds because he’s lying still: 4+1-5=0; misses Men 4+1-5<2+2
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref48" id="ftnt48">[48]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 6+5>7. Whiptail has 5 damage resistance, so only 3 gets through. 8-4<7 No slam, though.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref49" id="ftnt49">[49]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: He’s trying to create “Blind rage” by activating Whiptail’s Hatred, which he knows about from prior encounters. He’s using Intellect, and the difficulty is Whiptail’s Willpower; he’s going to activate his Quality “Showboat” for +2 on the roll: 4+0+2>4; he has one activation, which he uses.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref50" id="ftnt50">[50]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Strength test. 8+3>5, and I’ll say he breaks the press.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref51" id="ftnt51">[51]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Say Prowess 6-2-1<4+3
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref52" id="ftnt52">[52]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Which misses both Menagerie and Whiptail: 4-1<7-2, 4-1<4+3.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref53" id="ftnt53">[53]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 4-1+3=6, but I’m going to upgrade it to a moderate attack and give Doc a DP.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref54" id="ftnt54">[54]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: She really wants to hit, so “Trained in everything” is activated. 6+1+2-2>4. It works.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref55" id="ftnt55">[55]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 4+5>7, but he gives up his next panel to try and land. The Nullify lasts 6 pages.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref56" id="ftnt56">[56]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: 6-4=4-2 (the Trouble of no power) but the armor absorbs it.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref57" id="ftnt57">[57]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Whiptail makes a Willpower roll. He was just berserk, so he’s got -2 on the roll. 4+3-2>4 He manages to remember what he’s supposed to do.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref58" id="ftnt58">[58]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons</cite>: Coordination 6+3>4; and he does 8 damage, 5 of which are soaked by the armor.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref59" id="ftnt59">[59]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 4+1-1<5; miss.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref60" id="ftnt60">[60]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Tries to get free: 5+0<7, fails
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref61" id="ftnt61">[61]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> What a terrible roll: 4+3-5<6. Presumably the blast hits something else; 1-2: press; 3-4: robot; 5-6: gantry. 1: Press.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref62" id="ftnt62">[62]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6-1-1>3; she does 5 stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref63" id="ftnt63">[63]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Rhino prowess is 3, 3+2>0. Strength 7
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref64" id="ftnt64">[64]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6+1>3; no slam (7-4<7) 7-1 Stamina:
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref65" id="ftnt65">[65]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Rather than a strength test, this is a Prowess test to create the Quality “Off-Balance” She gets 6+1 versus its 6-3 (for growth), so a major success. There are two activations, and she leaves one to be used by Doc Golem. I read through the adventure while running these, so I didn’t know about the hatch when I decided this.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref66" id="ftnt66">[66]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 3-2<6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref67" id="ftnt67">[67]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Does she hit? 7-4<4…nope.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref68" id="ftnt68">[68]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Using one of the activations of “Off-Balance”
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref69" id="ftnt69">[69]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Doing 8 Stamina damage, because I’ve determined that’s how much strength it takes to lift when it’s inert. Once it’s fully activated, it will have its full balance and will be harder to knock over.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref70" id="ftnt70">[70]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Menagerie’s player suddenly says, “Did I say I had recovered? I recovered,” and pushes a DP at the GM while activating “Public ID.” Menagerie has 10 Stamina now.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref71" id="ftnt71">[71]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6-2>3: moderate success, so 7 Stamina damage
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref72" id="ftnt72">[72]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Well, does she? It’s Prowess: 6+2>6: yes
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref73" id="ftnt73">[73]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> And he recovers again, bringing him up to 9 stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref74" id="ftnt74">[74]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> I was prepared to offer a determination point, but she rolled badly: 7-5<4+2
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref75" id="ftnt75">[75]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> But although Doc is strength 8, the robot is strength 10, so he’s not going to succeed for long.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref76" id="ftnt76">[76]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6-2<6, so Menagerie manages to block.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref77" id="ftnt77">[77]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> And succeed: 6+3>6+1
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref78" id="ftnt78">[78]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Int test for gadgets: 5+3>6.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref79" id="ftnt79">[79]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6+3>5. Major means a slam check: 8+1>7
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref80" id="ftnt80">[80]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> As a gorilla, his Prowess is 3-2<6.
<em>sigh</em>
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref81" id="ftnt81">[81]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 7+3>4 Yay! She’s got control until the end of the chapter
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref82" id="ftnt82">[82]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6+2>6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref83" id="ftnt83">[83]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6+2>1
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref84" id="ftnt84">[84]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> We’re out of strict initiative now. Strength test, robot vs Doc: 10-1>8
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref85" id="ftnt85">[85]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Did Pen see it? 5-1<5 Nope. Doc? 4+2>5 Yup. Skyblaze? 3+3>5. Yup.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref86" id="ftnt86">[86]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> We’re going to use the same initiative order.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref87" id="ftnt87">[87]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> He’s using the second activation of “Off-balance” so he doesn’t have to roll.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref88" id="ftnt88">[88]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Let’s say Difficulty 4 to hit; she gets 6+1>4, a major success. I’ll rule that destroys the hatch enough that anyone can pull it off.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref89" id="ftnt89">[89]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> The GM slides a Determination Point over to Penultimate’s player.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref90" id="ftnt90">[90]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> She doesn’t want to do this, so Willpower test against herself: 7+2>7, so she goes up.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref91" id="ftnt91">[91]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Okay, as GM I pushed a DP to each of them and said, “Menagerie, find some way to make her release Whiptail.”
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref92" id="ftnt92">[92]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Whiptail is difficulty 0 to hit, which is good: 6-5>0. The 3 stamina means that Palimpsest has to make a Concentration roll to keep the possession, which she fails: 7-3<7
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref93" id="ftnt93">[93]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Aborted to dodge by becoming a bat again. His defense is thus 4+3+2, which is better than Whiptail’s 6+1…but it’s close.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref94" id="ftnt94">[94]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Prowess 6-3<Doc’s 6.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref95" id="ftnt95">[95]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Okay, tougher: 6+2<4+3+2+1. The robot takes 2 more.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref96" id="ftnt96">[96]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Menagerie decided to recover again. Just in case.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref97" id="ftnt97">[97]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6+0<7
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref98" id="ftnt98">[98]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Is it down? 74% It is not.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref99" id="ftnt99">[99]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6+1 to hit vs 4+3+1, because I figured the dodginess went away.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref100" id="ftnt100">[100]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Penultimate’s player pushes a DP at the GM and says, “The armor protecting the computer falls away. I’ll take Trouble for it.” The trouble is a -2 on her next roll.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref101" id="ftnt101">[101]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> She stunts Instant on Gadgets, activating the “Trained in everything” quality.She gets 5+1 (her Medicine)+3-2, for a success and has a level 6 Affliction.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref102" id="ftnt102">[102]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> In this case, I’m going to let Acrobatics add to her Prowess roll. 6+1+1>6. Affliction is 6+1=7, so 3 Stamina damage.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref103" id="ftnt103">[103]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> 6-1<4+3+2+1
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref104" id="ftnt104">[104]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> The Affliction roll is 6+3>7…and Whiptail takes enough in the way of Affliction and falls down.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref105" id="ftnt105">[105]</a>
<cite class="sc">Icons:</cite> Fortunately, the computer is only difficulty 3 to hit. 6-2>3; 5 stamina doubled.
</p>
</div>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-70100531324811140602023-01-24T19:22:00.003-05:002023-01-24T19:22:42.465-05:00Oh, the blockage!<p class="for"><span class="book">Any</span></p>
<p>I dunno if it's ever happened to you, but right now I would <em>like</em> to be creative, but nothing sparks my interest.</p>
<p>It's a very particular meaning of “creative” though because I don't have problems coming up with the next RPG session.</p>
<p>The campaign has had a hard birth from my point of view, but it feels like (and I hope I'm not jinxing it) it's almost self-sustaining. There's enough stuff scattered around that for any given session, I think I can pick something up and it will spin off a session.</p>
<p>(I say that, and watch, this week maybe I won't come up with anything in the next two days.)</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-49893364578581147232023-01-22T18:38:00.026-05:002024-01-26T22:56:01.388-05:00Sewer Kings...finished!<p class="for"><span class="book">Icons</span></p>
<p>Well, that finishes <cite>Sewer Kings</cite> and <cite>Flying Solo</cite>.</p>
<p>Took a little longer than I thought because I started and then discovered I hadn't actually played the last part of <cite>Sewer Kings</cite>.</p>
<p>Interleaving the published adventures is not a terrible idea, but it would be easier if they were played in order. Two adventures that require bits of information to be scattered in several earlier session would be ideal for this kind of treatment. When I look over my set of adventures and groups, some clearly match and some don't.</p>
<p>(I have more adventures than this, but this is the list I could come up with on a moment's notice while I'm waiting for dinner to cook, and I'm omitting adventures I've run, either solo or with players. For instance, I have the Improbable Tales compilations, but I'd have to extract the adventure names from the compilations.) A ? under Group means that I don't remember the adventure well enough to judge a suitable cast.</p>
<p>In general, Uncanny Justice handles adventures that are overtly occult. League One handles adventures that are national or international in scope. Next Flight handles city-level adventures. There can be exceptions, and sometimes it's just neat to mix things up. Certainly there are lots of things that <em>look</em> occult but, in a superhero universe, are high tech or other-dimensional.</p>
<table>
<tr><th>Adventure</th><th>System, if not <span class="book">Icons</span>, Publisher</th><th>Group?</th></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Casino of Corruption </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Coils of the Medusa</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Crisis On Christmas </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum...or is that Green Ronin?</td><td>Uncanny Justice</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Dawn of the Daikaiju </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>League One</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Day of Dr Null </cite></td><td>(M&M), Lame Mage</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Deadly Day Of The Dread Destructus </cite></td><td>(M&M) Green Ronin</td><td>Any</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Dr Warp and his Golden Robots</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Extraordinary Journey</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Dr Null Crime & Punishment </cite></td><td>(M&M) Lame Mage</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Gladiator Pits of Gorn </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>League One</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Helicarrier Heist </cite></td><td>Fainting Goat Games</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Into The Idiot Box </cite></td><td>(M&M) Green Ronin</td><td>Uncanny Justice or Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Murder Of Crowes </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>No Laughing Matter </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Nothing to Fear </cite></td><td>(M&M) Green Ronin</td><td>Don't know</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Playing with Fireballs </cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>Uncanny Justice</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Power Play </cite></td><td>(M&M) Green Ronin</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Rave of the Dead </cite></td><td>Fainting Goat Games</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>RetCon Quest </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Rise Of The Phalanx complete </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>League One</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Rise of the Tyrant </cite></td><td>(M&M) Green Ronin</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>SEPULCHRE Strikes </cite></td><td>(4C) Purple Duck</td><td> </td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Santa Claus vs. the Metaskulks </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>Uncanny Justice</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Sins of the Past </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Size Queens Humongous Holiday Heist </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>For villains, so new characters</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Small Town Hero</cite></td><td>(Generic) Point of Insanity</td><td>Quickstep or someone new</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Stone of Shaitan </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Terror Of Tiki Pterodactyl </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>League One</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Eaters of Steel</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Menace of the Man O’Lantern </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Other Side</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Possession of Dr Diamond </cite></td><td>(4C) Purple Duck</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Sugar Hill Invasion</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Skeletron Key </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Through The Looking Glass</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Time Bomb </cite></td><td>(M&M) Due Vigilance</td><td>Uncanny Justice</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Tokyo Kaiju Chaos</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Torc of the Blood Kings</cite></td><td>Fainting Goat</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Unkindness of Ravens</cite></td><td>Blackwyrm Games</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Urban Jungle </cite></td><td>Ad Infinitum</td><td>?</td></tr>
</table>
<p>The Heroic Moments from Purple Duck are meant to be scenes or bits you include, so it's tough to say which character group will get them. However, I could happily include SEPULCHRE in the world.</p>
<hr class="partial">
<p>Here's a better list of the rest, though I probably have the publisher wrong on a quarter of them. Looking at them, I'm going to delete most of the DC Heroes ones. There's also a certain amount of similarity between some so they either require a different group of characters or will get skipped.</p>
<table>
<tr><td><cite>Bloodfury</cite></td><td>Hero</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Christmas Comes But Once a Year</cite></td><td>CCVF</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Concrete Jungle</cite></td><td>Marvel Heroic</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Crisis on Absolute Earth</cite></td><td>Mayfair (DC Heroes)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Danger Zones</cite></td><td>Green Ronin (M&M)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Death Duel with the Destroyers</cite></td><td>FGU (V&V)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Don’t Ask!</cite></td><td>Mayfair (DC Heroes)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Escape from Stronghold</cite></td><td>Hero</td><td>League One, as a counterpoint to <cite>Jailbreak!</cite></td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Eternity, Inc</cite></td><td>Mayfair (DC Heroes)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>H.I.V.E</cite></td><td>Mayfair (DC Heroes)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Lone Wolves</cite></td><td>(MSH) TSR</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Moonshot</cite></td><td>Mayfair (DC Heroes)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Power Dreams</cite></td><td>Hero</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Project Prometheus</cite></td><td>Mayfair (DC Heroes)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>Ruins of Atlanta</cite></td><td>Bulletproof Blues</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>She Rampage</cite></td><td>(MSH)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Heist</cite></td><td>Supers!</td><td>Next Flight</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Island Of Dr Apocalypse</cite></td><td>FGU (V&V)</td><td>League One</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>The Pentacle Plot</cite></td><td>FGU (V&V)</td><td>?</td></tr>
<tr><td><cite>War of the Gods</cite></td><td>Mayfair (DC Heroes)</td><td>?</td></tr></tr>
</table>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-7401001937361969292023-01-22T17:38:00.001-05:002023-04-18T13:37:30.563-04:00Next Flight 3d: Sewer Kings Raw Treatment<p class="for"><span class="book">Icons</span></p>
<style type="text/css">
p{
margin:0;
padding: 0;
color:#000000;
linespacing: 1.2;
}
table td,table th{
padding:2pt;
font-size: 11pt;
vertical-align: top;
}
th {
background-color: #000000;
color: #ffffff;
font-weight: bold;
text-align: center;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
}
th.sta {
background-color: red;
color: #ffffff;
font-weight: bold;
text-align: center;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
}
th.dp {
background-color: blue;
}
td.n {
text-align: center;
}
ul {
margin-left: 0;
padding-left: 2em;
}
ul li {
margin-left: 0;
padding-left: 0;
}
ul ul {
margin-left: -1em;
}
.listlevel2{
margin-left:18pt;
padding-top:3pt;
padding-bottom:3pt;
line-height:1.0;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
text-align:left;
}
.tight{
padding-top:0pt;
padding-bottom:0pt;
line-height:1.0;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
text-align:left;
}
.thought { font-style: italic; }
.footnote{
padding-top:0pt;
padding-bottom:0pt;
line-height:1.0;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
font-size: 9pt;
text-align:left;
}
.block{
padding-top:0pt;
padding-bottom:10pt;
line-height:1.15;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
text-align:left;
}
.c{
padding-top:0pt;
padding-bottom:10pt;
line-height:1.15;
text-align:center;
}
body {
background-color:#ffffff;
max-width:451.4pt;
padding:72pt 72pt 72pt 72pt;
}
.half{
width:33%;
height:1px;
}
.title{
padding-top:0pt;
color:#000000;
font-size:26pt;
padding-bottom:3pt;
line-height:1.15;
page-break-after:avoid;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
text-align:center;
}
.bodytext {
text-indent: 1.5em;
margin-top: 3px;
margin-bottom: 3px;
}
</style>
<h1>Sewer Kings</h1>
<p class="block">
This is from Victory RPG’s
<cite>Sewer Kings</cite>. Images are drawn by me, but after the ones in the module.
</p>
<h2>
House Rules
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Prone people are +2 to hit hand-to-hand, absent cover.
</li>
<li>
Spend an advantage when using Regeneration and get your Regeneration level in Strength back.
</li>
</ul>
<hr class="partial" />
<h2>Raw Treatment</h2>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus showed up in costume for combat practice that early morning. Flip-Flop gave her a hug, but The Reach looked carefully at her.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I don’t think you’re better,” said The Reach. “It’s been just a week, and we only have your word.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus said, “I could say the same about you.” She made the “crazy” gesture near her temple. “We only have your word that you’re cured.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Mindbender says—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh, pshaw,” said Succubus. “We’ve never met Mindbender before. Who’s to say you didn’t ask one of your old chums to claim you are fixed, with some story about testing your students? Or even to pretend to be Mindbender?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I didn’t—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I didn’t think of that,” said Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“If I’m lying, then <em>I</em> suffer,” said Succubus.
“If you’re wrong, we <em>all</em> suffer.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Mindbender cleared me,” said The Reach plaintively. He did not feel in charge of the team at this second.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I choose to believe you. If you would return the favor, it would go a long way to re-establishing harmony in the team.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach thought about it for a minute and then grinned. “Understood, and accepted.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop let out a whoosh of breath. “So we’re all good now?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We’re good,” said The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Yay!” said Flip-Flop. “We can work out! Except…”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Except?” asked the Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I should confess something.” She looked ashamed and proud at the same time. “I kinda put a bug in the West Side Treatment Facility.”<sup><a href="#ftnt1" id="ftnt_ref1">[1]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“A bug?” said the Reach. “I thought of it, but it’s an invasion of privacy.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“City property, under threat, and no worse than her occasional ESP,” said Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I don’t like the practice,” said The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop explained. “Tara was injured, you’ve been busy because you’re the only full-timer among us, and I’ve had classes because midterms are coming up. We know that the West Side Treatment Facility is important to their plans—I mean, we found a set of plans and a work schedule.” As if it were no-big-deal, she said, “So I happened to save Dr. Kittner a couple of weeks ago.” They didn’t respond. “The tech genius? Founder of Link Inc? God, sometimes you people are so ignorant. He’s a <em>big deal</em>.” <sup><a href="#ftnt2" id="ftnt_ref2">[2]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Okay,” said The Reach. “I know about Link. They made some kind of announcement a couple of weeks ago.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I was there! Anyway, I saved his life, thank you very much, good job me.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Good job, you,” said Succubus, sounding amused.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Thank you. I went to him. He gave me a certain children’s Christmas toy that is used by parents to spy on children.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Gnome In The Home. Won’t that look out of place?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We took the character part off, added sound, improved the resolution, and put it into some dummy binders and hooked it up to the Internet. Then I put it in the treatment facility.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“How did you get into the treatment facility?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I asked,” said Flip-Flop. “They’re very happy to let a young woman tour the facility if she asks. And when they weren’t looking I added the binder to their shelf.”<sup><a href="#ftnt3" id="ftnt_ref3">[3]</a></sup> She shrugged. “It’s labeled ‘ISO 9000 Procedures’ so no-one will look.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Very good,” said Succubus. “Did you perhaps do that for pump station 4?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No. I’ve been kind of busy,” said Flip-Flop acerbically.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You did a good thing, Flip-Flop. I was asking a hopeful question, not impugning your actions.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“There was nothing in pump station 4,” said The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“<em>Then.</em>
But now?” Succubus asked him.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Okay, good point,” said Flip-Flop. “The station controls a lot of the west side, the guy said. I bet they’re connected.” She shrugged. “But I didn’t have time or equipment.”<sup><a href="#ftnt4" id="ftnt_ref4">[4]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’ll make a phone call,” The Reach said, “have them check the pump station. What’s in the treatment facility?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I haven’t actually looked,” Flip-Flop admitted. “But I’d like to look now. Can we do it before practice?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach looked at Succubus and felt a pang of guilt when he saw where her costume had been patched. “Yes.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus nodded too. Flip-Flop moved to the computer keyboard and typed. “Nothing fancy for graphics or interface. Sorry.” She opened a computer window to show a low-resolution image of an office, with a door ahead of the camera and to the right. “I have software that compensates for the fish-eye lens but it really degrades the visual quality.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The angle doesn’t matter,” said The Reach. “Why is there no one there? I’d better call Detective Girard too.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“She’s probably off,” said Succubus. “Her child was due. Also it’s six in the morning.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’m waking her up. Let her hate me.” He stepped away to talk.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’ll put the feed on our phones.” Succubus handed over her phone, unlocked.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach returned. “Girard is off-duty but she was awake — it’s a boy — and she gave me Manny’s number. He’s going to check it out. If the Treatment Facility is empty, we should check it out. Maybe we can be done by class time, Henny, but I’m not certain.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Enh. Stefan keeps good notes.” She pulled a face. “I’m going to have to get him a gift; this’ll be twice in two weeks.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A human-crocodile hybrid walked into view in the treatment facility office. He was followed by Demo and some furry man they had never seen.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Shhh, there should be sound,” said Flip-Flop. She twiddled with a mixer.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The sound was still awful. They could just make out the crocodile-man saying “—hide in case—” just before the furry fellow disappeared off-screen. Then he said, “—we start. Take your posit—” Demo shrugged, pointed to a camera on a tripod that had been brought in, and then she pointed down to the console.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“—starts it,” Demo said in her strong Boston accent. Then she left.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
That left the crocodile-man alone.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Crocodile? Maybe Sobek?” asked Succubus. “Egyptian crocodile god, believed to control the flooding of the Nile.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“It’s going down,” said The Reach. “We’ll take the sky-bikes. Flip-Flop, stick with us even though you’re faster than the bikes. These two new guys might make it six to three, so we’re going to have to be smart.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“They were pushovers,” said Flip-Flop. She saw that The Reach was looking at the patched area of Succubus’ costume again.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“They were outnumbered then, and they nearly killed us at the prisoner transport.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Me,” said Succubus. “They nearly killed <em>me.</em> But I’m better now.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach shook his head. “Now they outnumber us,” he said. “If we move fast, we might have the element of surprise. Thanks to you, Flip-Flop. Reconnaissance first; they’ve got a whole gang to back them up and we don’t know where the other three are.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach’s phone rang as they were getting on the bikes. “We’re on it, sir.” After more reassurances, he ended the call. “The Sewer Kings have acted,” he told the other two. “They’re blackmailing the city, and they backed up toilets in the studio of KYOT to prove it.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“If they’re trying to horrify us, that’s the wrong target. Plenty people going to be glad KYOT got sewaged,” said Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus watched the broadcast threat on her phone. The KYOT anchor was talking about traffic and then there was a cut to inside the treatment facility. From the background, probably the camera that Demo had pointed out. Sobek — Sewer King, she corrected herself — ranted about the despoiling ways of humankind and then flooded the KYOT station with raw sewage. He ended the broadcast with “I sent your city the number of a bank account. You will transfer $192 million dollars into it by noon or I’ll start flooding your homes with your own filth!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus summarized it for the others, and commented, “Odd number.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That’s the police budget,” The Reach pointed out.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The facility looked quite nice once you ignored the open sewage processing tanks: the control building had been faced with a rustic surface so it looked like an old stone house (on this side with a single door). Green grass spread over the rest of the facility, broken only by the parking lot, the guard shack, and snaking paths that gave trucks access to the storage shed and several of the tanks. Morning fog clung to the lake and the grounds.
</p>
<p class="bodytext"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9YCSzlAUdN1LU-MgRDQMLhdz-6vetCamOmg4gaP-74T4SWwKMj-PKjVHwyt_m4fRja3--JoUQwwjszlLbtT8Q1fdonvq82QXdy94Zt5RsXT_xLogziVoX5PWmSYCIfeKtF9PtM7608bEDX-uH4Hu1q4qTWyGtk68lId3pRwwGQm8zwBsL6wye0jRfw/s1222/Sewer-Kings-Waste-Station-Compound.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1222" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9YCSzlAUdN1LU-MgRDQMLhdz-6vetCamOmg4gaP-74T4SWwKMj-PKjVHwyt_m4fRja3--JoUQwwjszlLbtT8Q1fdonvq82QXdy94Zt5RsXT_xLogziVoX5PWmSYCIfeKtF9PtM7608bEDX-uH4Hu1q4qTWyGtk68lId3pRwwGQm8zwBsL6wye0jRfw/w640-h338/Sewer-Kings-Waste-Station-Compound.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<p></p>
<p class="bodytext">
There was a big tent set up on the far side of the road, across from the entrance to the treatment facility. Uniformed officers were carrying things from police vans into the tent. The Reach said, “The tent is a command post the police are setting up. We go there first; we’d rather they didn’t shoot at us.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A man carrying a big monitor looked at them and said, “You want Captain Jameson there.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach nodded and led them to a pair of people sketching things on a wheeled whiteboard easel, meant for a flat floor instead of the grass boulevard. The woman was in her fifties, in a police uniform, and looked crisp. The man had clearly been woken up, shoved his feet into sneakers, and drove here wearing pajamas and a leather jacket. He still had bed-head.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No, I’m telling you, he can do it. He can send sewage to any place in the west half of the city, including two hospitals.” They both looked up at the approaching heroes.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The Reach?” asked the woman. “And your students.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Teammates,” he replied. “Sitrep?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“About an hour ago, at least five costumed individuals broke through an interior wall to the control room.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Could have just asked for a tour,” Flip-Flop muttered.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Pardon?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Nothing. Go on.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Exterior looks fine, so they must have used one of the doors. There are two: front door and a fire exit by the locker room.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Cameras or security?” asked The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“There are cameras,” said the man. Jameson introduced him: Troy Bartkowski, the plant supervisor. “Front gate by the security hut. We got a shot of a costumed man looking outside the front door, but no one has gone in or out.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Are there hostages?” asked Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“There are supposed to be two people on duty. We assume they’re hostages,” said Bartkowski.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The policy is clear: we don’t negotiate,” said Jameson.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Can you show us the layout of the building?” asked Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The building plans have mysteriously gone missing, but I can draw them,” Bartkowski said. He picked up a pen and started at the whiteboard. “The door is on our side. Corridors run down the outside, but the lakeside wall has the break room and the locker room.” He sketched a box and indicated the rooms. “Beside the break room are the washrooms and then a conference room we sometimes use. The other side — to the north — starting from the lake are the locker room, a hot office, my office, and two more conference rooms. The control room is in the middle of all that.”
</p>
<p class="c19"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyXXsnmz83U5ztVoDodG78Dqf-G5noeSClyyWNaq_ygtObjsLIBlHmaj5ybfNZF4p1nnY-WYy2mIbtFOb_h9eMvNd7cSvxEruprUfACOgu0NiJoDemfoh54ru6N8QPhygZFOO8zid3KEHVMZe1YTP7ua3LOCrbAatpXkWRPYg7y4QHCDdqRCSwQ_r8w/s524/Sewer-Kings-Waste-Station-flip-player.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="524" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyXXsnmz83U5ztVoDodG78Dqf-G5noeSClyyWNaq_ygtObjsLIBlHmaj5ybfNZF4p1nnY-WYy2mIbtFOb_h9eMvNd7cSvxEruprUfACOgu0NiJoDemfoh54ru6N8QPhygZFOO8zid3KEHVMZe1YTP7ua3LOCrbAatpXkWRPYg7y4QHCDdqRCSwQ_r8w/w640-h558/Sewer-Kings-Waste-Station-flip-player.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<p></p>
<p class="bodytext">
“So they could have come through from any room?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“There’s equipment,” said Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Right. Not from the east wall, which meets the lockers and break room. The console is there.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We saw it in the broadcast,” said Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Right,” said Bartkowski. “The south wall has a big monitor on it, so probably not there. But the north wall has the bathrooms.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Why break through a wall, anyway?” asked Flip-Flop. “The door is right there, and the facility isn’t guarded.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“To avoid cameras?” asked The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Maybe. Are there cameras pointing at the lake side of the building?” asked Succubus. Bartkowski shook his head no. “They have a magnetist so they could have gone in the fire door.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What I would do is go in the fire door, walk around to the door, and overpower the staff,” said Flip-Flop. “Even if the door is locked it’s not going to stop them. Unless there’s security we don’t know about?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Guard station at the entrance; that’s it.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“And there’s nothing on the cameras?” asked Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Nothing.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The one guy can fly, but none of the others had transport abilities?” asked Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No. He could have carried the others on a metal cart,” said The Reach. He looked amused and proud by them thinking; he was trying to get them to think more tactically.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“There are at least five of them; we’d have seen a cart big enough to hold them. Teleport?” she asked Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Maybe.” Succubus smiled. “But the reason they went through the interior wall was to hide the effects of the digging.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I wondered if you’d get there,” said The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Sobek — sorry, ‘Sewer King’ — told someone to hide. Suppose that was their digger. They come up anywhere in the building, break the wall and the debris hides where the digger has disturbed the floor.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Okay, but what do we
<span class="c35">do?</span>
” asked Flip-Flop. “They’re expecting Succubus to go through the window in the break room because that’s how she got in the bank. There’s probably not someone in the break room — too visible — but someone in the hall outside it. Another one or two at each of the doors. No matter which way we go in, they’re prepared for us.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“So we don’t try to be sneaky,” said The Reach. “We take the shortest route from the front door. Speed is more important than anything; we want to take down Sewer King and disable the act. Priority order is the Sewer King, the hidden digger, and Lovebite, because she can make us do things we don’t want to.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You’re not going to…damage….the facility, are you?” asked Bartkowski.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We think they already have. You have reports that they’ve burst through an interior wall.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Troy looked unhappy with that.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Okay,” said Flip-Flop. “Then we bust open the door, I throw one of the guarding ones across the lawn. You two go for the control room in any way you can — ooze under a door, blind teleport, whatever. I’ll deal with anybody outside and join you as quickly as I can.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The control room has two entrances. Hard to control,” said The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We might be overwhelmed,” said Succubus. “Captain?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Depends who Flip-Flop throws out. Demo we can probably handle; the other two maybe not. But we can drive something up to block the door and slow him or her from getting back.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“It will have to do,” said The Reach. “Get someone in a truck to block the door; we’re going in. Now.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
They gave the officer enough time to get the truck moving and on the property. Succubus reached out and checked the door. It was unlocked, so she threw it open.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Lockers blocked the entrance.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Really?” said Flip-Flip. She flexed her hands and mentally grabbed the lockers. They didn’t move.<sup><a href="#ftnt5" id="ftnt_ref5">[5]</a></sup>
“That rat has welded them together so they’re too big to go through the door. Then I’ll push.” The fused lockers flew backward and through the wall to the room beyond.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Bartkowski whimpered. “My office.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach said, “Wait for it.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
There was the sound of the lockers sliding out.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“He’s moved them,” Flip-Flop reported. “I can’t see him so I’m going in.” She flew in like a bullet<sup><a href="#ftnt6" id="ftnt_ref6">[6]</a></sup>
and Scrap Iron flew out. He caught himself in mid-air and charged back in.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach gave a thumbs-up to Succubus and extended a long thread of himself into the building. He spotted Lovebite who spotted him back, but he managed to get into the control room before she could act.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Sewer King saw him as he re-formed. “Gopher!” he shouted. “For you!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The ground softened under The Reach and swallowed his feet and ankles.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus stood in the shadow of the door she had opened and disappeared. She appeared right behind Lovebite, who was striding for the door.<sup><a href="#ftnt7" id="ftnt_ref7">[7]</a></sup>
Succubus hit Lovebite hard and bounced her off the wall. Lovebite fell down, unconscious.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The door to the women’s bathroom opened, and a grenade flew in to land before The Reach.<sup><a href="#ftnt8" id="ftnt_ref8">[8]</a></sup>
The Reach engulfed it with one rubbery hand.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop zipped past Scrap Pile and took up a spot at the entrance to the hall that led to the control room. “Go!” she shouted to Succubus, as the lockers slid across the floor to block them in, pushing Scrap Pile on the way. “He can move that, but it will keep him busy.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The ground under The Reach softened again, and he fell farther down, to his chest. A normal man would have been trapped.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The lockers slid away again. Scrap Pile was standing there. “You’re not as good as I am,” he said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“But I’m much more annoying, and cuter, too,” said Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
In the control room, Sewer King was pecking at controls. The Reach stretched out from where he was<sup><a href="#ftnt9" id="ftnt_ref9">[9]</a></sup>
and grabbed Sewer King from where he was and threw him into the women’s bathroom, at Demo.<sup><a href="#ftnt10" id="ftnt_ref10">[10]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop heard, “Let me try, brother,” and a metallic Fusion was standing there and swung at her.<sup><a href="#ftnt11" id="ftnt_ref11">[11]</a></sup>
Fusion hit, but Flip-Flop smiled at him. “See? Annoying.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus opened the door to the control room and stepped in. There was only The Reach chest-deep in the floor. “Where’s Sobek? —Sewer King.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Bathroom.” The Reach inclined his head to the side.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’ll protect the panel. Can you get out?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Been busy.”<sup><a href="#ftnt12" id="ftnt_ref12">[12]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop backed up to guard the door. “Hey, Scrappy-Doo. Your brother can’t really hit hard at all.” She reached out to Scrap Pile’s brain but was rattled by the hit and couldn’t hit him.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Scrap Pile growled and the mass of fused lockers blocked all three of them in.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Fusion swung again at Flip-Flop and missed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Outside, Sewer King snarled and leaped back into the control room. He hit The Reach solidly and his tail lashed out at Succubus.<sup><a href="#ftnt13" id="ftnt_ref13">[13]</a></sup>
She stepped out of the way.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach oozed out of the ground and reached out to grab Demo, then slammed her against the ground. Her costume absorbed all of the damage, but she was at least lying down.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus tried to reach Sewer King, but he was too far away. Rather than ’port over to him, she stayed there. Every moment the panel was protected was a moment the city was protected.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Demo slowly got up and said, “You? I’ve got something special for you.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Don’t damage the controls,” cried Sewer King.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Damn,” said Demo
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop reached out mentally and twisted both brothers’ brains.<sup><a href="#ftnt14" id="ftnt_ref14">[14]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“She’s doing the brain thing again!” said Scrap Iron. A bit of his costume detached and tried to fasten itself over her eyes.<sup><a href="#ftnt15" id="ftnt_ref15">[15]</a></sup>
This was the first time that Fusion had experienced it, and he screamed in pain. His swing was wild and hit the wall, making a hole.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Inside the control room, the ground softened under Succubus’ feet; she stepped aside. Sewer King also leapt at her<sup><a href="#ftnt16" id="ftnt_ref16">[16]</a></sup>
but missed with both his fist and tail. She reached out and touched Sewer King’s side, taking some of his life force<sup><a href="#ftnt17" id="ftnt_ref17">[17]</a></sup>
but she sensed he was vital; she might not be able to do it again.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
In the outside chamber, Flip-Flop twisted their brains again. Fusion fell unconscious but Scrap Pile was holding on. Another metal piece flew off his costume<sup><a href="#ftnt18" id="ftnt_ref18">[18]</a></sup>
and wrapped around her head. “Gotcha!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop concentrated. The last time they met, he had done this, and she had defeated it in the same way. She looked just past the metal and hit his brain again.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He fell down. She sighed and turned to the control room.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
In the control room, the ground softened under Succubus and she sidestepped it again. Sewer King roared again and pushed himself to his feet.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach looked at all of them and oozed out of the hole, then said, “You’re just a nuisance,” to Demo. He<sup><a href="#ftnt19" id="ftnt_ref19">[19]</a></sup>
wrapped his hand around Demo and immobilized her.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus reached out and touched Demo.<sup><a href="#ftnt20" id="ftnt_ref20">[20]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What are you doing?” screamed Demo. She struggled but she couldn’t get free.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What I do,” replied Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop flew in. “I think you’re the only one who can knock out Sewer King,” The Reach told her.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“On it,” said Flip-Flop. She touched her temple and said,<sup><a href="#ftnt21" id="ftnt_ref21">[21]</a></sup>
“His mind is tough.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The ground softened again,<sup><a href="#ftnt22" id="ftnt_ref22">[22]</a></sup>
and Succubus stepped aside again. Sewer King charged<sup><a href="#ftnt23" id="ftnt_ref23">[23]</a></sup>
and hit her, knocking her aside, and his tail swished in the air over her head. The Reach slid his other stretched hand between Sewer King and Succubus.<sup><a href="#ftnt24" id="ftnt_ref24">[24]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop<sup><a href="#ftnt25" id="ftnt_ref25">[25]</a></sup>
hit Sewer King’s mind successfully but that wasn’t enough. Sewer King roared and batted The Reach’s hand away. He swished his tail at Succubus but missed her.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The ground softened under where she stepped to avoid the tail, and she stumbled, partly caught by the ground.<sup><a href="#ftnt26" id="ftnt_ref26">[26]</a></sup>
The Reach made a sound, then caught himself. He knew her limitations, so he gave her shadow to work with, while tightening his grip on Demo.<sup><a href="#ftnt27" id="ftnt_ref27">[27]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
With the shadow, Succubus could teleport into the shadow of The Reach’s other hand, and she grabbed an exposed part of Demo. “Sorry to use you as a first aid station.”<sup><a href="#ftnt28" id="ftnt_ref28">[28]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Demo squirmed<sup><a href="#ftnt29" id="ftnt_ref29">[29]</a></sup>
but couldn’t get free.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop called ut, “The expression is ‘Sorry not sorry.’”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh. Then that,” Succubus replied.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop tried again to hit Sewer King’s mind.<sup><a href="#ftnt30" id="ftnt_ref30">[30]</a></sup>
The crocodile-human fell unconscious.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach said quietly, “Demo next, please. I’d like to let go.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus<sup><a href="#ftnt31" id="ftnt_ref31">[31]</a></sup>
said, equally quietly, “There’s an open tunnel entrance in the women’s washroom. I’m on it.” She ran and dove into the hole.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop said, “You’re supposed to wait for us! Also, I think Sewer King has been broadcasting this.”<sup><a href="#ftnt32" id="ftnt_ref32">[32]</a></sup>
Demo sagged and The Reach gratefully set her down. “Digger guy, you should give up. Come here and things will be better for you.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A moment later, Succubus reappeared. “He’s gone. Tunneled out and filled in the hole after him. The hostages are there, tied up.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“And we have the rest of the gang’s supers,” said The Reach. “That’s a good morning’s work.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop checked her phone. “And I still have time to make my class! See you!” She flew off.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“And I have work,” Succubus said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“It was a mistake for me to become a full-time superhero, wasn’t it?” said The Reach. “Go do your days. And tell the police to get in here.”
</p>
<p><em>To be done</em></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jhmcmullen.blogspot.com/2022/12/next-flight-2d-bonus-raiders-of-lost.html">To previous chapter (<cite>Flying Solo</cite>)</a></li>
<li>To <a href="https://jhmcmullen.blogspot.com/2022/12/next-flight-3c-sewer-kings-ambush.html">previous chapter in <cite>Sewer Kings</cite></a></li>
</ul>
<h1 id="h.oboxga1su5n6">Next Flight Skybikes</h1>
<p class="block">
I don’t think these stats have been published yet.</p>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<th>
Handling
</th>
<th>
Speed
</th>
<th>
Structure
</th>
<th>
Armor
</th>
<th>
Other
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c">7</td>
<td class="c">4</td>
<td class="c">3</td>
<td class="c">—</td>
<td><ul><li><strong>Instruments, radio </strong> Poor (2) Super senses</li>
<li><strong>Useful equipment</strong> Average (3) Gadgets</li></ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 id="h.ppalq9jwido9">Sewer King (Birthright)</h2>
<p class="block"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMVsiNAGqlFgMzN4TSSPcFse1zFZQhSxl-Cu5JEMDWAPzcFXyKq-mbUfuXnS3Mhf7MDgeayawMhT37cT0TH3y9Cq8zsELQocLkICpivyTroIOWyTHcGqand-4c5cJlmg5pOC73LZSjcqwE-j8Td_EMegt8kSCKo1maftITbPdqJmnQoX6d3b6VfXiVQ/s716/Sewer%20Kings%20Sewer%20King.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="716" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMVsiNAGqlFgMzN4TSSPcFse1zFZQhSxl-Cu5JEMDWAPzcFXyKq-mbUfuXnS3Mhf7MDgeayawMhT37cT0TH3y9Cq8zsELQocLkICpivyTroIOWyTHcGqand-4c5cJlmg5pOC73LZSjcqwE-j8Td_EMegt8kSCKo1maftITbPdqJmnQoX6d3b6VfXiVQ/w640-h370/Sewer%20Kings%20Sewer%20King.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<p></p>
<hr class="partial" />
<h1>Game Mechanics</h1>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref1" id="ftnt1">[1]</a>
Flip-Flop pays a Determination Point for this retcon.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref2" id="ftnt2">[2]</a>
Succubus and The Reach make Intellect rolls, difficulty 4. The Reach makes his (4+1+2) but Succubus fails (5-2).
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref3" id="ftnt3">[3]</a>
I’d charge her, but I consider it part of the retcon she already made.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref4" id="ftnt4">[4]</a>
Or the additional Determination Point.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref5" id="ftnt5">[5]</a>
Not too heavy; the lockers are too big to go in the door.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref6" id="ftnt6">[6]</a>
Does she grab him? 6>4, so yes, a moderate success.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref7" id="ftnt7">[7]</a>
She hits: 7>4, so a roll for a slam too; 7>3, so a major success, and Lovebite is slammed against the wall (there’s nowhere else to go), so she takes an additional 5 Stamina and is out.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref8" id="ftnt8">[8]</a>
She gets 5>(4-2), so a major success…except that The Reach is going to stunt Sensory Resistance, using “Not his first rodeo” Costs him his determination point
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref9" id="ftnt9">[9]</a>
He gets an 8>6, so he’s got a strong enough grip to yank.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref10" id="ftnt10">[10]</a>
I’m not even going to roll for it, because I doubt he aimed.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref11" id="ftnt11">[11]</a>
His prowess is high, but he rolls -1, so it’s 5>3, no slam, but 7 Stamina. Still, the force field soaks up most of it.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref12" id="ftnt12">[12]</a>
He stunts Alternate Form Fluid, but he’s taking a Lost Panel to pay for it.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref13" id="ftnt13">[13]</a>
His tail uses Prowess 6, but misses: 4<5.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref14" id="ftnt14">[14]</a>
Flip-Flop spends her Determination Point to stunt Fast Attack, and hits both of them with Mental Blast: 10>5, 6>4, so both take 6 Stamina
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref15" id="ftnt15">[15]</a>
Scrap Pile stunts Dazzle, so she gets a Determination Point back. His roll, though is 4-2<4, and he misses.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref16" id="ftnt16">[16]</a>
He rolled badly: 6-3<5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref17" id="ftnt17">[17]</a>
Well, good roll, but he’s stronger than she has Energy Drain, so not likely to happen again: 10>7, but she takes 3 Stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref18" id="ftnt18">[18]</a>
His willpower is 5, her coordination is 4: he hits with 5+2>4
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref19" id="ftnt19">[19]</a>
Excellent roll. 8>3, so a massive success.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref20" id="ftnt20">[20]</a>
7>5, so 2 Stamina
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref21" id="ftnt21">[21]</a>
But she doesn’t hit with the mental blast: 4<6 and 2< 6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref22" id="ftnt22">[22]</a>
Gopher rolls poorly: 2<5+2 because Succubus is being defensive now.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref23" id="ftnt23">[23]</a>
She’s in defensive mode, but that’s not enough. 6+2>5+2
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref24" id="ftnt24">[24]</a>
Question: is Demo on the same side of the wall as Succubus? 47% yes.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref25" id="ftnt25">[25]</a>
Fast Mental attack on Sewer King: both hit. 7>6, 11>6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref26" id="ftnt26">[26]</a>
However, she spends her determination point on recovery.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref27" id="ftnt27">[27]</a>
He and Succubus both get a Determination Point for teamwork; for the “wrestling” hold, he maintains his hold but doesn’t improve it (1<3)
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref28" id="ftnt28">[28]</a>
Hitting isn’t a problem; she’s in a full hold. For Energy Drain, Succubus gets 8>5, so 3 more stamina and Demo is that much closer to unconscious.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref29" id="ftnt29">[29]</a>
Her Strength check is 4=4, marginal success, no effect.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref30" id="ftnt30">[30]</a>
This time is a major success: 10>6, so 6 stamina
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref31" id="ftnt31">[31]</a>
Succubus spends her Determination Point on GM Insight, and the GM tells her that she noticed an open hole in the ground in the women’s washroom.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref32" id="ftnt32">[32]</a>
To hit Demo, she gets 9>5, and Demo falls unconscious.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref33" id="ftnt33">[33]</a>
So many characters that I went with a simple table in initiative order, with attack and defense values. Damage I can remember or look up.
</p>
</div>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-61688809649355518942022-12-12T11:51:00.002-05:002022-12-12T11:51:21.587-05:00It's a shame... (Idea du jour)<p>...that the Lester Dent estate probably wouldn’t let it (he died in 1959, but there are mentions of the estate in 2015, so I presume it’s a going concern), but golly, “Lester Dent Pulp RPG” would be a fine name for what it says on the tin.</p>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-43312670815298653452022-12-09T21:00:00.009-05:002023-04-18T13:37:30.567-04:00Next Flight: Sewer Kings 3c The Ambush<p class="for"><span class="book">Icons</span></p>
<style type="text/css">
ul.none {
margin-left: 0;
padding-left: 0;
list-style-type: none;
}
.tight{
padding-top:0pt;
padding-bottom:0pt;
line-height:1.0;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
text-align:left;
}
.thought { font-style: italic; }
</style>
<p class="block">
This is from Victory RPG’s <cite>Sewer Kings</cite>.
</p>
<div class="callout">
<h2 class="tight">House Rules: </h2>
<ul>
<li>
Prone people are +2 to hit hand-to-hand, absent cover.
</li>
<li>
Spend an advantage when using Regeneration and get your Regeneration level in Strength back.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="#h.txrfjhkbrxbk">Chapter 3 The Ambush</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.vvelsck8qp8j">Next Flight</a><ul>
<li><a href="#h.dsnwsns1rdt9">Flip-Flop (Henny Barker)</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.fpbbze4n0gzs">The Incredible Reach (Jason Crawford)</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.5xr860wjeebu">Succubus (Tara Kleine - Birthright)</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="#h.htq3pmxn0hyk">The Sewer Kings</a><ul>
<li><a href="#h.mb52kngt6dpq">Sewer King gang member</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.xdqhl1uxj8es">Lovebite (Lucy Gantz - Transformed)</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="#h.mechanics">Game Mechanics (Footnotes)</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 id="h.txrfjhkbrxbk">The Ambush</h1>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop was above the buildings, using binoculars to look down at the roar. “Traffic’s heavy. Why don’t they transfer prisoners at three a.m.?”<sup><a href="#ftnt1" id="ftnt_ref1">[1]</a></sup>
</p>
<a name='more'></a>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach was striding from building to building. “Mind on the job.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus was in the police car behind the van with the prisoners. “Keep them from making a getaway and don’t have to pay overtime. Why are we slowing down?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Car accident up ahead blocking the intersection,” said Flip-Flop. “Gridlock imminent.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Keep alert,” said The Reach. “Could be a distraction—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He was interrupted by the sound of an explosion, followed a second later by a second explosion.<sup><a href="#ftnt2" id="ftnt_ref2">[2]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="block"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MLap0-FrPekueAIrSNu0aR57zQTh9mLRaAnVRU0Uqcr5Rn_y7BvE9PnAIZG3up16kOQbgwYxEaJ4Zj_SFPAMk7_Gz3XW7G-3hnIiwYTaKyuXkC5Y5d9sCHuLHHHA28m7_Qg8IQxO94MTkvR8sRaoSD7DudyzVUbbdKpRB7szupj_983kGF-c8Pmnjg/s936/ambush.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="693" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MLap0-FrPekueAIrSNu0aR57zQTh9mLRaAnVRU0Uqcr5Rn_y7BvE9PnAIZG3up16kOQbgwYxEaJ4Zj_SFPAMk7_Gz3XW7G-3hnIiwYTaKyuXkC5Y5d9sCHuLHHHA28m7_Qg8IQxO94MTkvR8sRaoSD7DudyzVUbbdKpRB7szupj_983kGF-c8Pmnjg/w474-h640/ambush.png" width="474" /></a></p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop said, “Reach, I saw where the rockets came from. Regent Hotel. Heading there now.” She dove down toward the hotel. The rockets had come from the bottom half of the building, and she knew the rough area. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the ribbon of The Reach heading down to the front police car.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No answer yet from Succubus. At least I can get to these guys; car is opened like a cat food tin at dinner.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Eww.” Down below, six men were rushing the prisoner van. “Hold on, moving the van.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“It’s too heavy for you—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Hush; this is <em>hard</em>.”<sup><a href="#ftnt3" id="ftnt_ref3">[3]</a></sup>
She stopped in mid-air and sweat popped out on her forehead as she lifted the prisoner van to the top of the lowest building nearby: three storeys tall. The van was armored; she hoped the roof could handle the weight.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach stretched his hands under the driver to create a lattice work and lifted the driver out of the car, setting him on a clear patch of pavement. “I can’t help all these people in time; I need you, Flip-Flop.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The six men looked at the space where the prisoner van had been, and then ran after it.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That van’s going to have hostiles in a moment,” Flip-Flop said as she dove to the second car. It had been opened too, but in this one the air bags had gone off, and were slowly deflating. They blocked her view of the injuries. She used her mind to yank away the passenger’s airbag, shouting, “Succubus! Succubus, wake up! I need your help!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus did not respond.<sup><a href="#ftnt4" id="ftnt_ref4">[4]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach called out, “I need someone with first aid, now!”<sup><a href="#ftnt5" id="ftnt_ref5">[5]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I can help,” said a woman in a car.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Do it,” said The Reach and immediately moved to get the other police officer.<sup><a href="#ftnt6" id="ftnt_ref6">[6]</a></sup>
He was hurt, too, but The Reach managed to get him out and on the ground without (he hoped) moving the man too much.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You’re not supposed to move them!” the woman said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Do you smell that gas? I don’t think there’s a choice. This guy next, I’ll go to the other car.” He stretched over to the other car, where Flip-Flop was opening the back seat, where Succubus was.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The officers first,” The Reach said. He extended his hand so it oozed under the driver and gently moved him out.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Succubus? Do you hear me?” Flip-Flop asked. “I will do dad jokes unless you wake up
<em>right now</em>.” She lifted the injured officer out and set him on the sidewalk.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
An RPG rocket crashed into the nearby building.<sup><a href="#ftnt7" id="ftnt_ref7">[7]</a></sup>
The Reach felt the heat, and the noise deafened him. He spared a moment to look closely: it had damaged the structure, and there were screams, but no one seemed hurt.<sup><a href="#ftnt8" id="ftnt_ref8">[8]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">If I can stabilize these guys, Flip-Flop can stop the RPG.</span>
He tried to signal Flip-Flop but she was deliberately looking away from him and mouthing words that he couldn’t lip-read.<sup><a href="#ftnt9" id="ftnt_ref9">[9]</a></sup>
He risked a glance to the front: the woman had stabilized both men.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop’s force field had kept her from losing her hearing as she ripped metal off the police car to get to the back seat. “Hear that, Succubus? We need you. You’ll get better, you’ve told me so yourself. Well, get better now.”
<sup>
<a href="#ftnt10" id="ftnt_ref10">[10]</a>
</sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’ll get her next,” The Reach lied, not knowing if his voice was loud enough.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop looked back at him and then at Succubus, whose eyes fluttered open. “Go,” murmured Succubus. “Stop them. Another shot like that…might kill me.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach said, “Go! Go! Somewhere in the hotel.” The officer seemed stable until medical help came. The other one that Flip-Flop had rescued looked bad. He moved over. “Succubus, you have a car headrest in your shoulder.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That’s…just not…proper,” said Succubus. She stood and pulled it free. This was not the right thing to do, because her shoulder started spurting bright red blood. Succubus clamped a hand over it.<sup><a href="#ftnt11" id="ftnt_ref11">[11]</a></sup>
Blood oozed between her fingers.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach shouted, “Hold on,” and moved to the next police officer, who was already near death.
<span class="thought">Where is that woman who was helping?</span>
He managed to stabilize the officer, but he had no idea how long that would last. “Medic!” he shouted. “I need a medic for this man!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop looked at the wall of windows.<sup><a href="#ftnt12" id="ftnt_ref12">[12]</a></sup>
She had no idea which one had been fired the shot; a third of them had windows open, because the Regent was an old hotel, with windows that opened. She had to wait until the next shot and then hope she could telekinetically catch it.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus looked up from the blood leaking from her hands and saw the glint of the rocket launcher. It was within range, and the room was shadowed. She ’ported to the room and<sup><a href="#ftnt13" id="ftnt_ref13">[13]</a></sup>
grabbed his leg so she could <em>feed</em>. It helped some. The man<sup><a href="#ftnt14" id="ftnt_ref14">[14]</a></sup> kicked her in the head.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop<sup><a href="#ftnt15" id="ftnt_ref15">[15]</a></sup>
saw a rocket launcher barrel poke out of a window, and she formed her force field over the barrel<sup><a href="#ftnt16" id="ftnt_ref16">[16]</a></sup>
— and the rocket exploded in the barrel, blowing out the window.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Dammit</span>, she thought.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach had the officers stabilized and he could finally take time for Succubus — but she was gone.
<span class="thought">Someone moved her? She teleported? Where?</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
His thoughts were broken by an explosion in the Regent hotel; he saw Flip-Flop heading for it.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">The injured people that I can see seem to be stable, time to check the van.</span>
He stretched up to the roof of Bell’s Kitchen. The van was there, and the six men with machine pistols had surrounded it.
<span class="thought">Don’t let them in, </span>
he silently implored the driver,
<span class="thought">I’m not there yet.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus could feel the blood ebbing away, so she grabbed the man again<sup><a href="#ftnt17" id="ftnt_ref17">[17]</a></sup>
and fed until he was unconscious. It wasn’t going to be enough, though; her regeneration couldn’t keep up with the hole in her artery or whatever it was. She hoped to stay conscious long enough—
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
As The Reach was still arriving, one of the Sewer Kings emptied his machine pistol into the driver’s door.
<span class="thought">It’s armored, he’ll be okay,</span>
hoped The Reach. The driver slumped and the other men swarmed the doors, popping them open with crowbars.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Save the life first,</span>
The Reach reminded himself. Silkworm had not, and the failure had eaten her up.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
(Of course, Blackout didn’t seem to mind leaving a trail.)
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He stretched<sup><a href="#ftnt18" id="ftnt_ref18">[18]</a></sup>
out and knocked out the Sewer King member in the way of the door, then eased the door open.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus tried to keep her wits about her. There must be a shadow she could teleport to, except her vision was fuzzy.<sup><a href="#ftnt19" id="ftnt_ref19">[19]</a></sup>
She couldn’t make one out. Her blood scent filled her nostrils.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
No one shot at The Reach, but they hustled the four prisoners out.<sup><a href="#ftnt20" id="ftnt_ref20">[20]</a></sup>
“Hey,” said the one woman as they moved her out, “remember that you love me!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
God help him, he
<em>did.</em>
He tried to keep helping the hurt man, even though he had the urge to escort her down the stairs and make sure nothing bad happened to her.<sup><a href="#ftnt21" id="ftnt_ref21">[21]</a></sup>
He fought against it while he fixed pressure on the wounds. Three bullet wounds—this man needed medical attention.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop got the mangled man out. That woman over there, she was doing medical work. “Here, rocket blast. How’s Succubus?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“One of your friends? Only one I’ve seen is The Reach,” said the woman.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Then where is she?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Went off to help, I presume.” She started tending to the man.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop considered. Succubus would speak up if she were okay, so she wasn’t okay. She could only teleport from shadow to shadow. Inside the car was shadowed, so she could have left from there, but where would she go? Out of the car, sure, but where? Flip-Flop looked around.<sup><a href="#ftnt22" id="ftnt_ref22">[22]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The alley that the Sewer King members came out of, there was something pale there. Maybe paper, maybe not—
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus was lying there, unconscious. Flip-Flop moved her telekinetically over to the woman giving medical aid. “Help her! Save <em>her!</em>”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach came down carrying a police officer. “<em>She</em>
got away. Can you save this man?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“She’s busy with Succubus,” said Flip-Flop. “Why’d you say it that way? She with emphasis.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’ve been borked,” explained The Reach. “Mostly okay, but totally in love with
<em>Her.</em>
Doesn’t matter that I know it’s because of her mental powers, I’m totally in love with her.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Very hinky,” said Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus’ eyes fluttered open. “I hurt a lot.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Hey,” said The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You can stretch, right?” The Reach nodded. “Reach in here and hold this until the ambulance comes here.” The woman guided The Reach’s hand, and then started to move to the police officer.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Okay. How is he?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I hope the ambulances get here soon,” she said. “These guys are on the edge. I don’t know what—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
There was another explosion: the rear car chose that moment to blow up. Everyone ducked, and then the woman scuttled crouching between all the injured. Flip-Flop shouted, “Over there! That man!” and headed over to a man on the sidewalk who had collapsed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Fourth floor. Rocket launcher.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Flip-Flop caught him,” The Reach assured her.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“There were two,” whispered Succubus. “Send police for him. His life energy kept me going.” She closed her eyes again.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach thought,
<span class="thought">Would She be happier if I took my finger off and let Succubus die?</span>
And then he felt ashamed for thinking it, and kept his finger in place.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The ambulances arrived; Flip-Flop’s telekinetic powers were as good as a backboard in helping get the injured into the ambulances. She insisted that Succubus be loaded last so that she could ride in the ambulance.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We, uh, we don’t let people ride in the ambulances,” one paramedic said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Now you do,” said Flip-Flop firmly.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
They wanted to keep Succubus for a month; they said it would take that long to heal. Succubus insisted on going home after emergency surgery.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That artery—” said the doctor.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You have fixed it. By next week it will be fine.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We can’t prevent you from going…but that’s just been stitched up. You were almost dead, miss. It’ll be at least a month before you’re healthy enough to go back to work, let alone again.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I promise not to exert myself.” She lowered her voice. “If you see reports of Succubus activity, it will be one of my Succubus robots.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The doctor, a young man, smiled. “Yeah, right. Rest. I can’t keep you here, but rest.” He looked up at Flip-Flop. “You’ll make sure she rests, right?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop nodded. “And I’ll tune up the Succubus robots.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He frowned. “There are really Succubus robots?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh, sure. Robots for each of us, in case of something like this,” Flip-Flop lied. “But you can’t tell anyone.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He looked from one to the other, not sure if they were kidding.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach met them at the headquarters. Flip-Flop said, “Let me summarize. Demo, Fusion, Scrap Iron, and … the other one are all free. You’re compromised, and Succubus is injured. That about right?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Yeah.” The Reach looked like he was about to say something and this was a poor second choice. “I have a friend coming in who should be able to clear the compulsion.”<sup><a href="#ftnt23" id="ftnt_ref23">[23]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus opened her eyes and said, “When?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Tomorrow,” said The Reach. He looked deeply ashamed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Good. Flip-Flop, check that he does.” She closed her eyes. “I am going to sleep for a week. After I call my manager.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Secret identities, am I right?” Flip-Flip said, and held up her hand for a high-five, but Succubus was already asleep. Flip-Flop called her manager for her.
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jhmcmullen.blogspot.com/2022/12/next-flight-2d-bonus-raiders-of-lost.html">To previous chapter (<cite>Flying Solo</cite>)</a></li>
<li>To <a href="https://jhmcmullen.blogspot.com/2022/12/next-flight-sewer-kings-3b-cleaning.html">previous chapter in <cite>Sewer Kings</cite></a></li>
<li>To <a href="https://jhmcmullen.blogspot.com/2023/01/next-flight-3d-sewer-kings-raw-treatment.html">next and last chapter in <cite>Sewer Kings</cite></a></li>
</ul>
<hr class="partial" />
<h1 id="h.vvelsck8qp8j">Cast</h1>
<p class="block">
Everyone has been seen before, but the rocket launchers haven't. So Sewer King gang members with rocket launchers are given here.</p>
<h2 id="h.mb52kngt6dpq">Sewer King gang member</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiYmFfG7la-aXLWQrT-xDiHTQcpIE_EZrUD4mbCFUL8vE8Hs6oBhNxsMHTeWrbgcrGdhIrkblqwRyoIB4ixmNURHWUK21G1AW8RpbR5QoKiVbAi4pM57BVh6SylXPwMikORVOywXsAvXWqxfIHgnzG_05hVez90IsSUWPpOOKNdpV6mso7Z9VW9gzqg/s716/image3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="716" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiYmFfG7la-aXLWQrT-xDiHTQcpIE_EZrUD4mbCFUL8vE8Hs6oBhNxsMHTeWrbgcrGdhIrkblqwRyoIB4ixmNURHWUK21G1AW8RpbR5QoKiVbAi4pM57BVh6SylXPwMikORVOywXsAvXWqxfIHgnzG_05hVez90IsSUWPpOOKNdpV6mso7Z9VW9gzqg/w640-h370/image3.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="block"><br /></p>
<p class="block">
Only one of the supers acts, and that’s Lovebite. Here she is.
</p>
<hr class="partial" />
<h1 id="h.mechanics">Game Mechanics (Footnotes)</h1>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref1" id="ftnt1">[1]</a>
Flip-Flop is an obvious choice to fly above, largely out of sight. What about the other two? 2d6, 2-4 front car, 5-7 back car, 8-10 outside some way, 11-12 prisoner wagon: 10 for Reach so he’s pacing the prisoners on rooftops, 7 for Succubus, so she’s in the car behind the prisoner wagon
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref2" id="ftnt2">[2]</a>
The RPG does 7 burst damage, so the policemen in both cars are dying. Succubus is knocked unconscious and might be dying…except she has Regeneration. She’s knocked down to 3 Stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref3" id="ftnt3">[3]</a>
She spends a determination point to increase her TK to 7, activates “Mind Over Matter.”
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref4" id="ftnt4">[4]</a>
One of the four police officers is being helped, so he’s just unconscious. But the other three lose one Strength each, and Succubus spends her determination point to avoid losing one Strength.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref5" id="ftnt5">[5]</a>
On a 1 or 2, there is someone with first aid nearby. A 1 — so there is.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref6" id="ftnt6">[6]</a>
Does he smell gas leaking out? Difficulty 3, 4+0>3, so he does.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref7" id="ftnt7">[7]</a>
<span class="c14">Man, what a terrible shot. 3-4<3. They missed </span>
<span class="c14 thought">everyone</span>
<span class="c14">.</span>
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref8" id="ftnt8">[8]</a>
That’s the third action for this page; we don’t count the six thugs because they’re off-panel.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref9" id="ftnt9">[9]</a>
However, he is going to use that one point of Determination he can assign because of Leadership, and he’s going to prevent Succubus from losing a level of Strength. In-story, the reason is Flip-Flop’s constant monologue.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref10" id="ftnt10">[10]</a>
But it has been long enough for Succubus’ Regeneration to kick in a bit. She’s conscious now, with 5 Stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref11" id="ftnt11">[11]</a>
That’s a maneuver to get an Advantage, which will be spent on not losing Strength. Strength versus difficulty 5. She does not make it. (5-4<5)
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref12" id="ftnt12">[12]</a>
Awareness check, difficulty 4: 4-3<4. Nope.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref13" id="ftnt13">[13]</a>
Lucky: Prowess is 5-1+2 (for surprise)>3. Energy drain is 5+1>2, or 4 Stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref14" id="ftnt14">[14]</a>
Prowess 3, she’s lying down so Prowess 3, but he gets 3+1, a moderate hit, worth 4 Stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref15" id="ftnt15">[15]</a>
Does she spot the other one, though? Difficulty 4: 4+1>4. Yes.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref16" id="ftnt16">[16]</a>
Stunting Constructs is I think the way to do it; has to be still for aiming but it’s small, so say it’s a called shot, difficulty 2. She uses Willpower to aim, so that’s 6+2>4; that’s a major success.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref17" id="ftnt17">[17]</a>
She manages: 5+2 is a major hit against someone Prowess 3. The energy drain is 5+1>2, but he only has 2 Stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref18" id="ftnt18">[18]</a>
Sounds like a Prowess Maneuver, difficulty 4: 4+1>4; he makes it, and spends the Advantage on Fast Attack, because he’s going to have to do multiple things.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref19" id="ftnt19">[19]</a>
We call that Trouble, and she gets a Determination Point for -2 to all vision rolls. She’s going to try and see anyway, with an effective Awareness of 2, difficulty 3 (average)...and gets a 4-1-2, or a 1. She can’t see it. She loses another Strength level, which puts her at 3.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref20" id="ftnt20">[20]</a>
<span class="c14"> Of </span>
<span class="thought c14">course</span>
Lovebite is going to try. She gets 5+1+3>5, so
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref21" id="ftnt21">[21]</a>
Sounds like a willpower maneuver, difficulty 8 (her power); he’s going to take extra time (lost page) to activate
“Not his first rodeo”
and I think that Leadership counts here…got to set the right example! He’s also going to activate Training The Next Generation (same reason) and he has to apply Disability to Transformation (Objects) for that Advantage. 5+1+2+2+0>8. Oy.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref22" id="ftnt22">[22]</a>
Awareness test, difficulty 4: 4+0=4 marginal success, because I’ve hidden that Succubus managed to teleport to the street last page. She’s unconscious now.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref23" id="ftnt23">[23]</a>
Activating the quality “Not his first rodeo” for free.
</p>
</div>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066827042496021466.post-65431455965067832872022-12-08T13:20:00.016-05:002023-04-18T13:37:30.569-04:00Next Flight: Flying Solo 2d (bonus) Raiders of The Lost Torc<p class="for"><span class="book">Icons</span></p>
<style type="text/css">
table {
border: 2pt solid #999999;
}
th {
background-color: #999999;
color: #ffffff;
font-weight: bold;
text-align: center;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
}
th.sta {
background-color: red;
color: #ffffff;
font-weight: bold;
text-align: center;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
}
.tight{
padding-top:0pt;
padding-bottom:0pt;
line-height:1.0;
orphans:2;
widows:2;
text-align:left;
}
ul.narrow {padding-left: 0;margin-left: 0.5em;}
ul.narrow li {padding-left: 0.5em;}
.thought { font-style: italic; }
</style>
<div class="callout">
<h2 style="margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">House Rules</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Prone people are +2 to hit hand-to-hand, absent cover.
</li>
<li>
Regeneration with an advantage gives back Strength levels.
</li>
<li>
You can use Fast Attack with all your powers, but it costs an Advantage to switch between attacks in a panel. (That is, you can punch twice, but it’s an Advantage to punch
<em>and</em>
blast.)
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<li><a href="#h.95svcjr4p4zv">Raiders of the Lost Torc</a></li>
<li style="margin-top: 1em;"><a href="#h.vvelsck8qp8j">Cast</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="#h.9x286bnrk9d9">The Next Flight</a><ul>
<li><a href="#h.w4thbsyimwaw">Flip-Flop (Henny Barker)</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.e4linikjryuh">The Incredible Reach (Jason Crawford)</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.nf7l6v80puxw">Succubus (Tara Kleine)</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="#h.p8jnd7mcd4n5">Brigand</a><ul>
<li><a href="#h.afxrdj7ggef1">Highwaymen Robots</a></li></ul>
</li>
<li><a href="#h.1u3hwdvxv6xt">Charmed</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.ck8oj5dg3gmp">Animator</a><ul>
<li><a href="#h.hjmc8wbrv41g">Apollo (Construct)</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.mb52kngt6dpq">Tyrannosaurus rex (Construct)</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.buwsvkuuz6jr">Giant wolf spider (Construct)</a></li>
<li><a href="#h.vuql9qb27taq">Stone lions from China (Construct)</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="#h.mechanics">Game Mechanics (Footnotes)</a></li>
</ul></li>
</ul>
<p class="block">
This builds off the scenes in Victory RPG’s
<cite>Flying Solo</cite>, which was written by Fran Vaughan as an M&M Superlink module for
<cite>Mutants & Masterminds</cite>
2nd edition. (When I converted characters, I used the same artwork as in the module, but I don’t see attribution on them. Anyway: no intent to infringe or take money; if it’s an issue, please contact me at
<a href="mailto:jhmcmullen@gmail.com">jhmcmullen@gmail.com</a>
and I’ll remove the artwork.)
</p>
<p class="block">
The adventure itself has been presented as parts a-c, but it’s more a toolkit for use in a campaign. So instead, I present a scene where I just bring almost everyone together. Because of what happens in the next part of
<em>Sewer Kings</em>, this bonus part has to happen here; besides, I originally set it for the same day.
</p>
<h1 id="h.95svcjr4p4zv">Raiders of the Lost Torc</h1>
<p class="bodytext">
Across the street, yellow police tape still marked the entrance to the museum. There were no obvious policemen, but they had seen the night watchman pass.
</p>
<a name='more'></a>
<p class="bodytext">
“Aubrey’s the night watchman,” said Succubus. “As may be, as a concerned employee, I spoke to Mort the Wart—” said Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Who?” asked The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Museum director. Emily, a co-worker, uses that nickname for him. Mort’s best guess at the target was a valuable necklace we store.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I hear a ‘but,’” said Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We also have on loan artifacts from an atypical Celtic grave, maybe fourth century. We have it on loan because Emily is brilliant at restoration of pottery from sherds—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Uh, Succubus?” prompted The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Sorry. Emily’s quite good, so in return for her heading the restoration, we get to show the artifacts. The artifacts include a staff with sigils and a torc with silver, gold, and three gemstones.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Have you got a girl-crush?” asked Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Hush,” said The Reach. “You think that’s the target?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The archeologists who retrieved it were told by a local that it was mystical. And I do not.” She paused. “Much.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Uh-huh,” said Flip-Flop. Over Succubus’ shoulder, she noticed a woman flying, silhouetted against the moon. Flip-Flop could just make out a wand in the woman’s hand. She warned the others, “Harry Potter
reject, visible against the moon.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach looked. “Oh, no. We have to move.
<em>Now.</em>”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
It was too late.
“Wait for me!” shouted the woman in the air. The Reach sighed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Way to secrecy, dude,” said Flip-Flop. “Who is she?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“She calls herself ‘Charmed.’ She wants to be a superhero,” said The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“And you did not consult us before letting her join?” asked Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“She did not join!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That voice… I know that voice,” said Flip-Flop.<sup><a href="#ftnt1" id="ftnt_ref1">[1]</a></sup>
“Can’t place it.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The woman — blonde, it turned out — arrived and hung in the air to talk to them. Flip-Flop noticed that her costume was a modified cheerleader outfit, with the letters removed and a cape and mask added. The boots were almost Edwardian, not cheerleader. “I’m here! Let’s go fight some crime! We can split up. Reach, I’ll stay with you.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You’re not coming,” said The Reach. “I’ve said this before. It takes more than powers to be a superhero. It takes grit, tenacity, and a bit of luck.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’m here, aren’t I? That shows tenacity and a willingness to hang out in a sketchy neighborhood until I see you.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That shows obsession,” said Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Like Half-Moon isn’t obsessed.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach said, “Enough! Half-Moon isn’t under discussion. You are not joining us.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Charmed frowned at Flip-Flop. “Do I know you?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop quickly shook her head.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Fine,” she said. To Flip-Flop, she said, “I’ve heard your voice, though.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop altered her cadence of words and said, “You’ve been asked to get out. Do so, or I’ll push you to the ground, and Succubus will suck out your soul.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I learned from the Dread Pirate Roberts,” said Succubus drily.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Ewww. Okay, I see you’ve turned The Reach’s mind against me, but I’ll be back. You’ll need me, you’ll see.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She took off, flew up to the moon and down until she was lost in the shadows. Succubus, who could see in the dark, said, “She’s over there, waiting.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Can you take us both to the back of the museum?” asked The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“It takes…some preparation.”<sup><a href="#ftnt2" id="ftnt_ref2">[2]</a></sup>
She put her hands on their shoulders and concentrated.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
A minute later, all three disappeared to reappear a block away, behind the museum, in a line of sight from their previous location. “Quickly, before she returns there.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I hate to ask, but can you teleport us in blind?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I have a passkey,” Succubus said. “I can come and go from this building at any time of day or night. The guard will come. Reach, I will need an overcoat. Flip-Flop, you’ll have to hide.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Uh…an overcoat?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Yes.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’m not sure I want to be that…intimate. Canoes. I’m better at canoes.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Canoes.” She regarded him for a moment. “Your parents will never know.” Succubus knew his parents were pastors. He blushed in the dark. “I have to cover the costume,” she said as she waved her passkey. “For the guard, Aubrey.” The Reach grumbled but flowed onto her in the form of a trenchcoat.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She pulled off the wig and swiped her passcard.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What the heck is <em>that</em> thing?” he muttered once they were inside. “Far side of the room.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Wolf spider model. We’re changing displays on Monday, and they’re making final adjustments to it.” She didn’t turn on the overhead lights, just the light on her work table.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Animator animates statues. That is a statue as big as a horse.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You exaggerate. Perhaps a Great Dane. And she didn’t see it this afternoon, so I’m sure we’ll be fine.” There were footsteps in the hall. She tucked the wig inside the “coat” and spent a moment fluffing her real hair. “It’s me, Aubrey,” she called out. “Couldn’t sleep and figured I’d make up for some of today’s lost time.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh, hello, Dr. Kleine. You just missed Dr. Morgan.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Yes. Emily said she’d be in tonight.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Well, I’ll see you in…” He looked at his watch. “Forty-five minutes, I have to do another round.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Well, I’ll let you know when I leave.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You can only stay an hour. Mr. Clarke stays nobody past midnight.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Oh, pooh. This is why Dr. Morgan calls him ‘Mort the Wart.’”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Aubrey tried not to grin. “I wouldn’t know anything about that. Anyway, I’ll remind you when I come through again.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“See you, Aubrey.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“See you, Dr. Kleine.” He headed back through the large doors.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
When he was safely gone, she shrugged off the coat and let it re-form into The Reach while she went to her locker.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Sorry if I…touched…anything.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Tara laughed. “You were an overcoat. A trifle heavy, but entirely appropriate.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Just saying that I have photos,” said Flip-Flop, coming down from the ceiling.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Do. Not,” warned The Reach.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I’m kidding,” she reassured him, and then smirked. “Maybe.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus pulled out her lab coat. “I will wear this and log in, in case Aubrey comes by again.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Thank you. What other security is there?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Alarms on the doors and windows. Fire systems everywhere. No cameras back here except the vault facing out. Motion sensors in the display area. Aubrey turns them off when he makes rounds.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Do people know that?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“It’s not general knowledge.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Flip-Flop, we wait near the vault. When Aubrey comes back, we slip into the display area and stay motionless.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“And me?” asked Succubus.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach shrugged. “Do some work. Then guard the vault.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She brightened and buttoned her lab coat. She put the wig in a box on her work table so it couldn’t be casually seen. The Reach then said, “Crap,” which was the strongest swear word that he ever used. “What is that?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She glanced at the rearing <em>T. rex</em> and then looked at the orders on the computer. “Ah. When everything stopped being animated, they were in different positions. The soldiers are just mannequins, we can adjust them, and the Apollo statue is marble, so it’s stuck that way. In that position, Doozy—the T. rex—is too tall for its room. If we can’t fix it, it will have to live in the foyer.” She gestured at Doozy. “See? Quentin’s tool cart is already over there.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Quentin?” asked Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Middle aged, sweaty, likes to explain simple physics to women with doctorates. Strangely single.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Strange, that,” agreed Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Again, Animator animates statues,” said The Reach. “There are two in this space, right by the vault. The vault that she is going for.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We can’t move them.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop said, “I think the T. rex is too heavy for me.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach and Flip-Flop discovered that Tara Kleine muttered to herself as she worked. (As Succubus, she did not.) She had just become happy about something when there was a loud shout from Aubrey. “Get out! Doctor Kleine! Hide!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Then there was a scream, and the stone-on-stone scraping sound that Succubus had heard earlier that day.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“She’s here,” said The Reach. “Flip-Flop, back me up. Succubus, guard the vault.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach and Flip-Flop moved through the large doors; Tara became Succubus. In the foyer, a large statue of Apollo had just run Aubrey through with a spear. The Animator was flying nearby. “Flip-Flop!” called The Reach. “Get him safe right now!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop grabbed Aubrey and took off toward the front of the museum. She found her way blocked because the hole was currently full of Charmed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Out of the way!” Flip-Flop snarled.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“What?” said Charmed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop<sup><a href="#ftnt3" id="ftnt_ref3">[3]</a></sup>
pushed her out of the way telekinetically and took off.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Rude,” said Charmed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach looked at the large statue and its bloody spear, and at the Animator, floating there.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Animator’s the source. Get her, solve the problem,</span>
he thought.
<span class="thought">Innocents are gone and—</span>
He spotted Charmed.
<span class="thought">Aw, crap, she’s back.</span>
“Get out!” he shouted at her. “Too dangerous!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I can help—” she started but Animator<sup><a href="#ftnt4" id="ftnt_ref4">[4]</a></sup>
blasted her with a bolt of eldritch something. It did not knock Charmed back, but she hung there, gasping for breath. Then she hid behind the statue of Apollo, the largest thing in the room.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The animated statue of Apollo.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Crap crap crappity crap,</span>
thought The Reach. He stretched out an arm and flattened it so it formed a shield between the Apollo statue and Charmed.<sup><a href="#ftnt5" id="ftnt_ref5">[5]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Suddenly Succubus was in the air by Animator; she grabbed the supervillain<sup><a href="#ftnt6" id="ftnt_ref6">[6]</a></sup>
but her grip wasn’t secure, and she slid off. Her movement attracted the attention of the Apollo statue, which tried to spear her in mid-air.<sup><a href="#ftnt7" id="ftnt_ref7">[7]</a></sup>
She didn’t quite manage avoid it by twisting in mid-air, and its spear grazed her, making a long gash along her side.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“You are a nuisance, woman, but Apollo will deal with you. I have a torc to take.”
She flew to the big doors and opened one.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Four police women walked in through the hole in the front wall and marched toward the back.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That won’t be necessary,” they said in eerie unison. Their voices had the slight pauses that meant they were synthesized, like Siri’s. Succubus could see that all of the women were identical except for hair color. “Robots,” she said.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The four robots fired at the Animator.<sup><a href="#ftnt8" id="ftnt_ref8">[8]</a></sup>
Their guns looked like flintlocks but fired decidedly modern electrical blasts. One hit blast bounced off her eldritch shield while the other shots scorched the doors.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Robots are just more to animate!” said Animator.<sup><a href="#ftnt9" id="ftnt_ref9">[9]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Deal with her first,</span>
The Reach thought. He spread his fingers wide like a net<sup><a href="#ftnt10" id="ftnt_ref10">[10]</a></sup>
and grabbed Animator. “I have this,” he said to Succubus. “You have an assigned job.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Without getting up, Succubus disappeared.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The statue of Apollo stabbed at The Reach<sup><a href="#ftnt11" id="ftnt_ref11">[11]</a></sup>
but the spear pushed into The Reach’s stretchy flesh without breaking it.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Animator said, “You call them robots; I call them tools.” The police women lowered their weapons and turned to face The Reach.<sup><a href="#ftnt12" id="ftnt_ref12">[12]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Is this where I shoot one?” asked Charmed. She leveled her wand at one of the robots and discharged a load of magical energy.<sup><a href="#ftnt13" id="ftnt_ref13">[13]</a></sup>
The robot flew against a large door, knocking it open, and then got up, apparently no worse for the blast.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“And I told you to leave,” said The Reach, as he tightened his grip on the Animator.<sup><a href="#ftnt14" id="ftnt_ref14">[14]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The four robots fired at The Reach.<sup><a href="#ftnt15" id="ftnt_ref15">[15]</a></sup>
His rubbery body was not a good conductor but the two shots together were enough to hurt him a little.
<span class="c59 c8">Glad that was me and not Charmed.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Brigand chuckled as he rode his phantom horse through the loading dock door and dismissed it at the vault door.<sup><a href="#ftnt16" id="ftnt_ref16">[16]</a></sup>
“Animator’s attack earlier alerted me to the presence of something mystic, and my robots will keep her busy. Now to open the vault. I’ll need some light.”<sup><a href="#ftnt17" id="ftnt_ref17">[17]</a></sup>
He pulled out his ethereal sword and it began to glow more brightly.<sup><a href="#ftnt18" id="ftnt_ref18">[18]</a></sup>
He paused for a moment when the robot knocked the door open, then continued.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus stayed hidden under the Tyrannosaurus rex.
<span class="thought">Is this the bloke that Flip-Flop fought? </span>
She mentally reviewed what he had shown in the encounter at the tech show: force field, spear-blast, ethereal sword.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She stole up to him<sup><a href="#ftnt19" id="ftnt_ref19">[19]</a></sup>
and touched him — but she couldn’t drain some of his life force; his will was too strong.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
In the hall, behind the Apollo statue, there was a
<em>second</em>
grating sound. Charmed went, “Oooh, a lion statue!”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The statue of Apollo stabbed at her because she had spoken<sup><a href="#ftnt20" id="ftnt_ref20">[20]</a></sup>
and grazed her, drawing a long cut in her shin. She moved up higher, trying to get out of his range.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach tried to pull Animator down,<sup><a href="#ftnt21" id="ftnt_ref21">[21]</a></sup>
but her flight was too strong. While he was trying, the four robots fired on The Reach again<sup><a href="#ftnt22" id="ftnt_ref22">[22]</a></sup>
; only one hit, because they were aiming at his supporting arm rather than The Reach himself.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The lion leapt at the hands wrapped around Animator<sup><a href="#ftnt23" id="ftnt_ref23">[23]</a></sup>
and its weight dragged everything down.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Brigand turned to face Succubus. “Your little soul-draining trick doesn’t work on me, does it? But I can do this.”<sup><a href="#ftnt24" id="ftnt_ref24">[24]</a></sup>
He slashed at her with his spectral sword, and his sword sank into her belly.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus vanished and appeared in the shadows behind him. “And I can do this.” She hit<sup><a href="#ftnt25" id="ftnt_ref25">[25]</a></sup>
him in the back, and in surprise he stumbled to the wall and fell down. He started to laugh.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“If I may say,” he told her, “you hit like a girl,” and he got up and threw his mystical spear at her.<sup><a href="#ftnt26" id="ftnt_ref26">[26]</a></sup>
It went through her, surrounding her with a nimbus of mystic energies and leaving a hole in her like a real spear, but not bleeding.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I need help here,” she called to the next room. “I’ve got Brigand, and he’s trying to steal the same thing.” She didn’t know exactly what the thing
was, or if they were both after the same thing, but it might start a fight between them.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Apollo statue stabbed at Charmed’s feet once more,<sup><a href="#ftnt27" id="ftnt_ref27">[27]</a></sup>
and gashed her leg again. Charmed gasped.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
From within The Reach’s grip, Animator said, “No! The torc is mine!” and pushed her way out of his grip<sup><a href="#ftnt28" id="ftnt_ref28">[28]</a></sup>
and into the back room.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Charmed said, “I’ll help in there,” and slipped through the doorway, away from the Apollo statue. She saw the Brigand guy there and immediately shot<sup><a href="#ftnt29" id="ftnt_ref29">[29]</a></sup>
— perhaps
<em>too</em>
immediately for she nearly missed; her magical energies were eaten by his mystic shield.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach thought,
<span class="thought">Oh, great. Now I’m alone with four robots and two killer statues.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
He grabbed<sup><a href="#ftnt30" id="ftnt_ref30">[30]</a></sup>
for one of the robots, but the lion was still on his arm, and he couldn’t judge his arm movement correctly: he missed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The robots continued firing at him. All missed; the walls of the hall were becoming quite scorched, and lights flickered on and off as the electricity found wires. That gave him an idea, and the idea became a possibility when the lion jumped off his arm and walked through one of the large doors, leaving splinters and metal shards behind.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">The statue of Apollo, however, turned to face him. It jabbed the spear at him<sup><a href="#ftnt31" id="ftnt_ref31">[31]</a></sup>
and hit him in the (flattened) arm, but didn’t manage to hurt him.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
In the back room, things had gotten complicated.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Animator had animated the Wolf Spider. She was hovering near the ceiling, taunting Brigand. “Go ahead, open the vault. Then the torc is mine.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Her various animated statues and robots were standing nearby, motionless. Clearly she wanted Brigand to open the vault; he was likely to be faster than she had been in the afternoon. Brigand, for his part, spread his hands apart and said, “As you wish.” He indicated Succubus. “I’d like to kill this one first.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“No. You kill one superhero and then they’re all after you like stockbrokers at the morning bell. Worse, they don’t care if we kill each other.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Agreed. I suspect that’s why Succubus called you in here…so we’d fight each other instead of her.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Grab that one,” said the Animator. The animated wolf spider crawled up the wall and grabbed Charmed. The Animator said casually, “She can’t teleport unlike the sucky one there. We web this one to the wall and threaten her life. If we need to, we hurt her badly and it becomes more important for them to get her to a hospital.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“I like your thinking,” said Brigand.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Keep talking,</span> Succubus thought,
<span class="thought">while I recover.</span><sup><a href="#ftnt32" id="ftnt_ref32">[32]</a></sup>
<span class="thought">“Sucky one?” I hope you’ll get to pay for that.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“We settle our differences elsewhere?”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Agreed.” Brigand slashed at Succubus<sup><a href="#ftnt33" id="ftnt_ref33">[33]</a></sup>
but she managed to get out of the way. “Oh, she still has energy left in her.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The robots took the opportunity to fire at Succubus.<sup><a href="#ftnt34" id="ftnt_ref34">[34]</a></sup>
Most missed but one hit, and she nearly fainted at the electricity coursing through her body.
<span class="thought">Need life-force.</span>
She ’ported to Charmed and said, “Sorry,” as she hit her for energy.<sup><a href="#ftnt35" id="ftnt_ref35">[35]</a></sup>
Charmed fell unconscious, and Succubus took a deep breath.<sup><a href="#ftnt36" id="ftnt_ref36">[36]</a></sup>
She wasn’t strong enough to get through either force field, but maybe, with a strength multiplier….
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Outside, the Apollo statue took another jab at The Reach;<sup><a href="#ftnt37" id="ftnt_ref37">[37]</a></sup>
it hit but didn’t hurt the hero. The Reach said, “Excuse me, I need something,” and bounded to the nineteenth century room.<sup><a href="#ftnt38" id="ftnt_ref38">[38]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Inside, Animator said, “I’ll deal with her; you get the vault.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“All due respect, but you failed against her this afternoon. I’ll deal with her, and you get the vault. And we fight after we get the item.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Animator bit out, “All. Right.” She was not going to admit that the vault had given her problems earlier; she had been hoping to take advantage of whatever Brigand’s abilities were. She said to the lion, “Protect me. Attack anyone who gets near.”<sup><a href="#ftnt39" id="ftnt_ref39">[39]</a></sup>
She flew to the vault door and started.<sup><a href="#ftnt40" id="ftnt_ref40">[40]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Brigand said, “You, Succubus, are much easier to deal with than that other girl.” He threw the spear<sup><a href="#ftnt41" id="ftnt_ref41">[41]</a></sup>
but his aim was ruined when the “other girl” flew into the room.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“The name is Flip-Flop. Like computer operations. Or flipping things upside down.” She telekinetically grabbed<sup><a href="#ftnt42" id="ftnt_ref42">[42]</a></sup>
one of the robots and turned it upside down. To Succubus, she said, “I presume these aren’t actual cops.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Robots,” said Succubus. “Probably Brigand’s.” She ’ported to mechanic’s cart by the Doozy model. She pulled drawers rapidly<sup><a href="#ftnt43" id="ftnt_ref43">[43]</a></sup>
and saw what she needed. A big wrench.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus grabbed it.
<span class="thought">If I can’t drain his energy and I’m not strong enough…well, I can fix the strength part. Thanks for the boring discussion of strength multipliers, Quentin!</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
However, the lion decided she was too close, and leapt for her.<sup><a href="#ftnt44" id="ftnt_ref44">[44]</a></sup>
She spun the tool cart into the statue.<sup><a href="#ftnt45" id="ftnt_ref45">[45]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Brigand said drily, “Oh, a wrench. I am so
<em>frightened </em>
of a wrench.” He threw another spear,<sup><a href="#ftnt46" id="ftnt_ref46">[46]</a></sup>
but missed and hit Doozy, whose feathers started to smoke.<sup><a href="#ftnt47" id="ftnt_ref47">[47]</a></sup> It was on fire.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Outside, The Reach got his equipment together just in time for the Apollo statue to arrive; he promptly left again, leading the statue to the robots.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Brigand threw his spear at Flip-Flop<sup><a href="#ftnt48" id="ftnt_ref48">[48]</a></sup>
— unlike Succubus, Flip-Flop had a force field and the spear did not hurt her.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach burst into the room, covered with wire. “Hey, robots! I’m a nice easy target!” He reached out and grabbed the Animator.<sup><a href="#ftnt49" id="ftnt_ref49">[49]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The robots fired; the wire around The Reach’s body attracted the electrical bolts so all four hit the wires; the bolts traveled down the wires to the Animator.<sup><a href="#ftnt50" id="ftnt_ref50">[50]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Animator screamed, in pain or fury. “Cut his wires!” she said, and the giant spider hopped off the wall and scuttled over to The Reach.<sup><a href="#ftnt51" id="ftnt_ref51">[51]</a></sup>
It bit through some of the wires.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach <em>tsk</em>ed. “I wired this in parallel,” said The Reach.<sup><a href="#ftnt52" id="ftnt_ref52">[52]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doozy dove its head at him<sup><a href="#ftnt53" id="ftnt_ref53">[53]</a></sup>
and bit him, his teeth chomping on The Reach’s stretchy body and wires.<sup><a href="#ftnt54" id="ftnt_ref54">[54]</a></sup>
The Reach let go of Animator to deal with the more immediate threat.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Uh…the tyrannosaur’s on fire,” pointed out Flip-Flop.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Poor Dr. Arain</span>, thought Succubus. “We should put it out, then.” She ’ported to Brigand and hit him with the wrench.<sup><a href="#ftnt55" id="ftnt_ref55">[55]</a></sup>
“Perhaps beat it out with one of these villains.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop flipped Brigand into the air to hit Doozy.<sup><a href="#ftnt56" id="ftnt_ref56">[56]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The lion statue leapt at where The Reach’s arm used to be but hit the spider instead. Unfortunately, they did not fight, but the statue’s sheer weight broke a leg on the spider model.<sup><a href="#ftnt57" id="ftnt_ref57">[57]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Apollo statue crashed through the door. It couldn’t find The Reach, because the Reach was currently in the mouth of a tyrannosaur, so it stopped and stood there, awaiting orders.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“That one!” shrieked the Animator, meaning Succubus. “She’s on the ground, she’s hittable. Hit her! Lion—guard my back!” She blasted Flip-Flop<sup><a href="#ftnt58" id="ftnt_ref58">[58]</a></sup>
against the opposite wall.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Brigand took the moment to swing<sup><a href="#ftnt59" id="ftnt_ref59">[59]</a></sup>
his sword at Succubus, who managed to avoid the blow.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach<sup><a href="#ftnt60" id="ftnt_ref60">[60]</a></sup>
oozed out of Doozy’s mouth and onto the ground, while noticing where everyone was. Too bad he had left the wires behind, but the wires drew the blasts away from Succubus when the robots fired again.<sup><a href="#ftnt61" id="ftnt_ref61">[61]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Doozy dove for The Reach again,<sup><a href="#ftnt62" id="ftnt_ref62">[62]</a></sup>
but The Reach oozed between its teeth.
Flip-Flop<sup><a href="#ftnt63" id="ftnt_ref63">[63]</a></sup> avoided the spider's leap; the spider waited on the wall for another chance to pounce.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus said, “I’d rather fight Animator,” and suddenly she was in the air beside the Animator, swinging the wrench.<sup><a href="#ftnt64" id="ftnt_ref64">[64]</a></sup>
Her hard, sudden attack stunned Animator, and both of them fell from the sky. Animator lost all of the spells she had been maintaining: force field, flight, and all of the animated statues and models. Doozy froze with its head low, grabbing at The Reach; the spider fell from the wall, because without magic it had nothing to hold it, and the lion statue became just a lion statue. The four robots continued, however, returning to their original programming. Succubus managed to land on her feet.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop grabbed the lion<sup><a href="#ftnt65" id="ftnt_ref65">[65]</a></sup>
and hit Brigand with it.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Brigand said, “<em>Ow!</em> I think departure is the sensible thing to do,” and his phantom steed appeared. Like that, Brigand was gone out the front of the building.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach said, “You’re fastest, Flip-Flop, follow him—we’ll stop the fire!” He stretched his arm over and hit Animator so she was truly unconscious.</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop took off after Brigand.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Sometime during the fight, the burning tyrannosaur had brushed against something flammable, and there were now three separate fires. Succubus knew that if the reagents would feed the fires, and if the fire got to the gas-boxes near the loading dock, the tanks would explode.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Why hadn’t the fire systems gone off? There was supposed to be a suppressive gas that dropped down to extinguish the flame without damaging artifacts— With the fighting and the people near the ceiling, maybe the sensors near the vault were damaged. Every workspace had small extinguishers.<sup><a href="#ftnt66" id="ftnt_ref66">[66]</a></sup>
She grabbed one and ’ported to the (thankfully motionless) tyrannosaur.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The robots were not under Animator’ s control.<sup><a href="#ftnt67" id="ftnt_ref67">[67]</a></sup>
Her movement attracted their attention; one managed to hit her, and she felt the burning tingle of electrocution. The Reach shouted, “You put out the fires, I’ll get the robots.” He was impervious to most of their blasts, and she was not.<sup><a href="#ftnt68" id="ftnt_ref68">[68]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She hoped he would do his part and sprayed the base of the first fire.<sup><a href="#ftnt69" id="ftnt_ref69">[69]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach stretched out and enveloped all of the robots, turning himself into a giant sack.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Succubus ’ported to the next fire.<sup><a href="#ftnt70" id="ftnt_ref70">[70]</a></sup>
This one was more spread out, and she had to work harder.
She was very aware of the third fire taking root near Emily’s sherds.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The Reach heard from the robots inside him, “Loss. Poison pill mode activated.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“Wait—poison pill—”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
They exploded.<sup><a href="#ftnt71" id="ftnt_ref71">[71]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">I hope he’s not dying,</span>
thought Succubus as she kept trying to put out this fire.<sup><a href="#ftnt72" id="ftnt_ref72">[72]</a></sup>
<span class="thought">But if the fires continues, all of us die.</span>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
She ’ported to the third fire, now larger than the others had been. She squeezed the handle…and the extinguisher was empty.<sup><a href="#ftnt73" id="ftnt_ref73">[73]</a></sup>
She grabbed the one beside the workstation and sprayed.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
<span class="thought">Please don’t spread to the reagents. Reach, please don’t be dying.</span><sup><a href="#ftnt74" id="ftnt_ref74">[74]</a></sup>
It became her mantra, as she remembered all the work and safety courses.<sup><a href="#ftnt75" id="ftnt_ref75">[75]</a></sup>
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Finally she could check The Reach. His pulse was still strong, and though he looked bruised, there didn’t seem to be any major cuts. Both their phones had been destroyed in the battle, so she couldn’t text Flip-Flop. Instead, she went to Aubrey’s security guard desk and called 911.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
The police and fire department had no idea that anything was happening; the alarms had been disabled. The ambulance arrived first, and while they were checking The Reach, the fire department came, and then the police.
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
Flip-Flop returned. “I lost him,” she murmured to Succubus. “How’s Charmed? I’m <em>sure</em> I’ve heard that voice.”
</p>
<p class="bodytext">
“They’re still cutting her down. They think she’s going to be okay.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">The Reach’s hand appeared on Flip-Flop’s shoulder. “Take the win.”
</p>
<ul>
<li>To <a href="https://jhmcmullen.blogspot.com/2022/12/next-flight-3c-sewer-kings-ambush.html">next chapter (<cite>Sewer Kings</cite>)</a></li>
<li>To <a href="https://jhmcmullen.blogspot.com/2022/12/next-flight-3-flying-solo-succubus.html">previous chapter (<cite>Flying Solo</cite>)</a></li>
</ul>
<hr class="partial" />
<h1 id="h.vvelsck8qp8j">Cast</h1>
<p class="block">
You've seen most of the cast, but these three are new or didn't show up before.</p>
<h2 id="h.afxrdj7ggef1">Highwaymen Robots</h2>
<table width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th width="20%">PRW</th><td class="c" width="10%">3</td>
<th width="22%">Specialties</th><td>Power (Blast)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>CRD</th><td class="c">3</td>
<th>Qualities</th><td rowspan="3"><ul class="narrow"><li>Robot with a deceptive exterior</li><li>Replaceable, upgradable</li></ul></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>STR</th><td class="c">3</td><td rowspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>INT</th><td class="c">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>AWR</th><td class="c">3</td> <th>Powers</th><td rowspan="4"><ul>
<li><strong>“Pistol”</strong> Good (5) Blast</li>
<li><strong>Mechanical</strong> Good (5) Damage Resistance</li>
<li><strong>Robot</strong></li><ul>
</ul></ul></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>WIL</th><td class="c">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th><td class="c">6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="c" colspan="3">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtCnxtOf84s-1hFxCUmZi2oK22QH8ikbnQswCQdYj60-fXrkioGOIV3S5VH-qRsvYfjGyUssTmAvbTKDNqq7gR_VP9IVkeLbYMF6TY-DesH7-QCP2ENX17_QToTSIVq4sYzoKJm5rLmo3RK83wB1Tq-m2aIt3RlVZ44WVn7ZyXOAPXqvDPvM1dYNv6A/s242/image3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="242" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtCnxtOf84s-1hFxCUmZi2oK22QH8ikbnQswCQdYj60-fXrkioGOIV3S5VH-qRsvYfjGyUssTmAvbTKDNqq7gR_VP9IVkeLbYMF6TY-DesH7-QCP2ENX17_QToTSIVq4sYzoKJm5rLmo3RK83wB1Tq-m2aIt3RlVZ44WVn7ZyXOAPXqvDPvM1dYNv6A/w200-h166/image3.png" width="200" /></a></div> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3 id="h.hjmc8wbrv41g">Apollo (Construct)</h3>
<table width="100%">
<tbody><tr>
<th width="20%">PRW</th>
<td class="c" width="10%">4</td>
<th width="20%">Specialties</th>
<td width="50%">Spear</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>CRD</th><td class="c">5</td>
<th width="20%">Qualities</th>
<td rowspan="2" width="20%"><ul>
<li>Animated Statue</li>
<li>Follows Orders</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>STR</th><td class="c">7</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>INT</th><td class="c">—</td>
<th>Powers</th>
<td rowspan="4">
<ul>
<li><strong>Spear</strong> Good (5) Slashing</li>
<li><strong>Made of Marble</strong> Great (6) Damage Resistance</li>
<li><strong>Animated Statue</strong> Supreme (10) Life Support</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>AWR</th><td class="c">3</td>
<td rowspan="3"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>WIL</th><td class="c">—</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th><td class="c">14</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 id="h.mb52kngt6dpq">Tyrannosaurus rex (Construct)</h3>
<table width="100%">
<tbody><tr>
<th width="20%">PRW</th><td class="c" width="10%">5</td>
<th width="20%">Specialties</th>
<td width="50%">Bite (+1), Running (+1)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>CRD</th><td class="c">3</td>
<th>Qualities</th>
<td rowspan="3">
<ul class="narrow">
<li>Construct</li>
<li>Follows Orders</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>STR</th><td class="c">8</td><td rowspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>INT</th><td class="c">—</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>AWR</th><td class="c">4</td><th>Powers</th>
<td rowspan="3"> <ul class="narrow">
<li><strong>Bite</strong> Great (6) Slashing</li>
<li><strong>Animated Statue</strong> Supreme (10) Life Support</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>WIL</th><td class="c">—</td><td rowspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th><td class="c">16</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3 id="h.buwsvkuuz6jr">Giant wolf spider (Construct)</h3>
<table width="100%">
<tbody><tr>
<th width="20%">PRW</th>
<td class="c" width="10%">3</td>
<th width="20%">Specialties</th>
<td width="50%">–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>CRD</th> <td class="c">3</td>
<th>Qualities</th>
<td rowspan="2"><ul class="narrow">
<li>Large</li>
<li>Animated Statue</li>
<li>Follows Orders</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>STR</th> <td class="c">6</td><td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>INT</th> <td class="c">—</td>
<th>Powers</th> <td rowspan="4">
<ul class="narrow">
<li><strong>Bite</strong> (Slashing 3)</li>
<li><strong>Venom</strong> (Affliction 5 vs Str)</li>
<li><strong>Web</strong> (Binding 6)</li>
<li><strong>Construct</strong> Supreme (10) Life Support</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>AWR</th> <td class="c">3</td><td rowspan="3"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>WIL</th> <td class="c">—</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th> <td class="c">12</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 id="h.vuql9qb27taq">Stone lions from China (Construct)</h3>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<th width="20%">PRW</th>
<td class="c" width="7%">3</td>
<th width="22%">Specialties</th>
<td>–</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>CRD</th> <td class="c">4</td>
<th>Qualities</th>
<td rowspan="3">
<ul class="narrow">
<li>Lion</li>
<li>Guardian</li>
<li>Animated Statue</li>
<li>Follows Orders</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>STR</th> <td class="c">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>INT</th> <td class="c">—</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>AWR</th> <td class="c">4</td>
<th>Powers</th> <td rowspan="3">
<ul>
<li><strong>Claws</strong> Fair (4) Slashing</li>
<li><strong>Night Vision</strong> Weak (1) Super Sense</li>
<li><strong>Construct</strong> Supreme (10) Life Support</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>WIL</th> <td class="c">–</td><td rowspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="sta">Stamina</th></tr></tbody></table> 10
<hr class="partial" />
<h1 id="h.mechanics">Game Mechanics (Footnotes)</h1>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref1" id="ftnt1">[1]</a>
Intellect test: 3-3<4, so nothin’ but I’ll throw her a bone. Marginal would be “connected with Delta Eta Pi.” Moderate or better would identify her.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref2" id="ftnt2">[2]</a>
She trades Lost Page for the extra Passengers.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref3" id="ftnt3">[3]</a>
Charmed has a CRD of 5, so 4+2>5 to hit.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref4" id="ftnt4">[4]</a>
6+1>6, so moderate hit for (oof) 8 Stamina.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref5" id="ftnt5">[5]</a>
He is blocking, using his 5 Damage Resistance
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref6" id="ftnt6">[6]</a>
Oh, she can hit 5+1>3 but can she do any damage? This time: 5+3>6, so 2 Stamina. Coordination roll difficulty 4 to land safely:5-2<4; she falls, but the failure isn’t so bad that I’m going to inflict damage. She’ll spend next page’s movement either teleporting from a prone position or getting up.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref7" id="ftnt7">[7]</a>
Prowess 4+1+0=5, so marginal hit That’s 2 stamina, but no stunning/killing roll.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref8" id="ftnt8">[8]</a>
Working together, but only one actually hits: 4+3>6 but 4+0<6 and 4+2=6.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref9" id="ftnt9">[9]</a>
Meanwhile, Charmed recovers, trading a lost page for the Advantage.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref10" id="ftnt10">[10]</a>
Prowess: 4+2>3, so partial hold.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref11" id="ftnt11">[11]</a>
4+1+2>4, but damage resistance takes all of it. No stun at 5+0=5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref12" id="ftnt12">[12]</a>
She stunts group servants and The Reach gets a Determination Point.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref13" id="ftnt13">[13]</a>
5+1>3, so major success. Slam: 6+3>3
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref14" id="ftnt14">[14]</a>
4+1>3 Another moderate success which moves him to a complete hold. Given the nature of her flight, she can still move around but she’s held immobile.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref15" id="ftnt15">[15]</a>
Trying to work together again. 4-3<4, 4+5>4, 4+0=4, 4+1>4, and two succeed, so blast effect 6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref16" id="ftnt16">[16]</a>
He stunts Phasing. Succubus gets a DP.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref17" id="ftnt17">[17]</a>
Well, I just got strong Felix Faust vibes. But I can work with that.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref18" id="ftnt18">[18]</a>
Also stunting Light Control to make light, because (duh) Succubus turned off the lights.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref19" id="ftnt19">[19]</a>
She gets 5+1-2=4, so I’ll say she gets there but she gets no surprise bonus. Attack succeeds (5+2>5) but effect sucks (5-2<6)
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref20" id="ftnt20">[20]</a>
4+1-1=4; marginal hit
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref21" id="ftnt21">[21]</a>
Strength vs flight 4-3<5-1. Nope. And she’s not trying to move yet.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref22" id="ftnt22">[22]</a>
Only one hits moderate or better: 4-1>4,4+0=4,4+1>4,4-4<4
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref23" id="ftnt23">[23]</a>
And hit nicely: 5+4>4; slam result, so that brings the hands to the ground and we’ll say the heavy weight is a 6 damage, so 1 gets through. Strength roll 5+1=6, so let’s reduce the hold to partial
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref24" id="ftnt24">[24]</a>
He slashes at her with the sword: 5+1>5. 4 Stamina damage, plus 4+0<5 no secondary effect.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref25" id="ftnt25">[25]</a>
Good hit: 5+5>7, slams him across the room (major success)
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref26" id="ftnt26">[26]</a>
Before I roll to see if he hits, she spends a DP and recovers, so she’s at full Stamina. Eww. He hits: 4+2>5, so 7 Stamina. No slam.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref27" id="ftnt27">[27]</a>
5-1=4
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref28" id="ftnt28">[28]</a>
Strength check: 3+4>4, so she’s free and he has a DP because she chose to push that by +2.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref29" id="ftnt29">[29]</a>
5-1=4, so graze: 3 Stamina damage, soaked by force field.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref30" id="ftnt30">[30]</a>
4-5<3 No, he’s not grabbing anything.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref31" id="ftnt31">[31]</a>
5-1=4, so marginal, and the Damage Resistance takes it.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref32" id="ftnt32">[32]</a>
You could call it a Recovery, which I will. It costs a DP. She’s down to 0.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref33" id="ftnt33">[33]</a>
5-2<5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref34" id="ftnt34">[34]</a>
4-1,4-1,4-2,4+4>5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref35" id="ftnt35">[35]</a>
Hitting is easy; Charmed is in a full hold and can’t move. Effect is 5+5>5, so she goes up 5 Stamina
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref36" id="ftnt36">[36]</a>
She wants to be on the defensive, but she just committed an attack action.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref37" id="ftnt37">[37]</a>
5+3>4 hits, but no slam effect (5-2<4)
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref38" id="ftnt38">[38]</a>
He’s going to need a slight retcon here, but he’ll spend a DP and activate “Not his first rodeo” for that.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref39" id="ftnt39">[39]</a>
Suddenly the lockbreaking happens on-stage, so let’s call it a Pyramid Test of difficulty 7. Her first roll fails: 6-1<9
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref40" id="ftnt40">[40]</a>
Running the vault as a Pyramid Test, difficulty 7. First attempt: 5+1+1: Marginal, no effect.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref41" id="ftnt41">[41]</a>
4-3<5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref42" id="ftnt42">[42]</a>
Fortunately, 6-1>3
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref43" id="ftnt43">[43]</a>
She’s trading difficulty with her next Energy Drain for a retcon: the wrench, which gives her Bashing 4 or damage Strength+1.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref44" id="ftnt44">[44]</a>
5-1<5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref45" id="ftnt45">[45]</a>
Attempt at vault: 6+3>7, one moderate success.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref46" id="ftnt46">[46]</a>
4-3<5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref47" id="ftnt47">[47]</a>
In order to generate some DP for the players, I am offering them Trouble: Doozy catches fire. They accept and get a DP each.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref48" id="ftnt48">[48]</a>
4+0=4
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref49" id="ftnt49">[49]</a>
4+5>3
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref50" id="ftnt50">[50]</a>
Blast 7 vs Force Field 5, so that’s 2 Stamina; that stings
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref51" id="ftnt51">[51]</a>
3+4>4+2, so it succeeds
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref52" id="ftnt52">[52]</a>
Slipping the GM a determination point.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref53" id="ftnt53">[53]</a>
He gets a DP for her animating it
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref54" id="ftnt54">[54]</a>
5+1>4, 6 stamina of which damage resistance eats 5.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref55" id="ftnt55">[55]</a>
5+5>5, but doesn’t stun him (6+0<7).
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref56" id="ftnt56">[56]</a>
6+2>5, slam? 6+3>7 — in the action. 1 stamina after damage resistance.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref57" id="ftnt57">[57]</a>
Six Stamina damage.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref58" id="ftnt58">[58]</a>
6-1>4, but force field absorbs 6 of it. Slam is 8+1>6
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref59" id="ftnt59">[59]</a>
5-2<5
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref60" id="ftnt60">[60]</a>
Stunts alternate form, Fluid, tagging “Not my first rodeo” and oozes free.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref61" id="ftnt61">[61]</a>
Rolls of 3-1,0,-2,-3.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref62" id="ftnt62">[62]</a>
Doozy gets 5-1, which would be a marginal hit, but The Reach is still fluid, so let’s say that does nothing.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref63" id="ftnt63">[63]</a>
The spider is leaping, call it a rushing attack vs her Coordination (because it's higher), so that's 3-1<4 .="" it="" misses.="" p="">
</4></p></div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref64" id="ftnt64">[64]</a>
And 5+4>3, stun possible, roll is 5+1-1>3, moderate: one page. But that’s enough, and both take 1 Stamina from the fall.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref65" id="ftnt65">[65]</a>
Easy to grab the lion; hitting Brigand is 6+0>5, so it succeeds, and does 6 stamina, 5 of which are eaten by force field.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref66" id="ftnt66">[66]</a>
The GM offers more trouble, and the player accepts it but spends a DP on a retcon.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref67" id="ftnt67">[67]</a>
Robots fire: 4-1, 4-2, 4+0, 4+2: one hits.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref68" id="ftnt68">[68]</a>
Stunts constructs on stretching, using “Not his first rodeo”
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref69" id="ftnt69">[69]</a>
This page, each fire is a difficulty 2 pyramid test. In two pages, difficulty 3. In 4 pages, difficulty 4. And so on, +1 difficulty for each two pages. Coordination 5+3, so 8>2, massive success. Next fire.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref70" id="ftnt70">[70]</a>
Still difficulty 2, but it goes up next page. 5-1>2, one major success.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref71" id="ftnt71">[71]</a>
No need to roll: they definitely hit him, and we’re going straight to Killing roll. Call it an Incredible (7) Slash, contained by him. At least 2 Stamina. The killing roll is 7-1>5 (his damage resistance), so he’s knocked out by the blast, but not dying.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref72" id="ftnt72">[72]</a>
Massive success: 5+5>3. Yay. One more to go.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref73" id="ftnt72">[72]</a>
Now difficulty 4. 5+1>4, moderate success.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref74" id="ftnt74">[74]</a>
5+2>4, major success. But now difficulty 5.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="footnote">
<a href="#ftnt_ref75" id="ftnt75">[75]</a>
She’s spending her last DP, activating “trying to be a hero,” for +2 effect on this roll. 5+0+2>5, moderate success…but it’s enough.
</p>
</div>
John McMullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16180969909198099547noreply@blogger.com0