Chapter 1: Breathing is a Luxury

[yxanthymir]

 

 

Forth Turn

 

Summer passed behind her companions and walked straight to the undead mastermind, without any hint of fear for her life. She striked with her weapon aiming to behead the menace. He deflected her sword with his arm, saving his glorious unlife, but severely scorching his arm.

Taran moves close to Dun and puts a resting hand over his shoulder. Her hand shimmers with benevolent energy. Dun recovers a little from the previous.

Insolentuloj, vi pagos por tio! Venos morto! His raspy and ethereal voice echoes through their minds, almost exploding their skulls. A headache shortly following his angry words. He tries to punch Summer right at her face with her crackling hands, infused with profane energy. She evades the punch leaning her head to the side and scurries away from near his reach.

The other undead comes to the road, tumbling and rolling through the sand. Incredibly he is able to fall standing oh his feet, with his body at an impossible angle, like if invisible wires were holding his body.

 

Zones

West side of the road: Sand mound (difficult terrain)

 

Road: 2 undeads, Undead 3 at the front and Undead 4 behind it; and Taran, Dun and Leon, at the north part of the road. Summer is close to Undead 4.

Undead 6, at the middle of the zone.

East side of the road: Sand mound (difficult terrain).

 

South: Fiona; at the north of the zone

 

Enemies

Undead 1: 15 damage, dead

Undead 2: 13 damage, dead

Undead 3: 1 damage, engaged with Dun and Leon

Undead 4 (Summoner): 28 damage, impaired, engaged with Summer.

Undead 5: 10 damage, dead

Undead 6: 3 damage

 

Players & Allies

Leon: 22/16; impaired, engaged with undead 3. 

Dun: 23/7, engaged with undead 3.

Taran: 18/17, 1 bane against undead 4.

Fiona: 16/12;

Summer: 13/7; engeged with undead 4.

 

Conditions

Frightened: A frightened creature makes all attack rolls and challenge rolls with 1 bane. As well, frightened creatures cannot take fast turns.

 

Impaired: An impaired creature makes all attack rolls and challenge rolls with 1 bane.

 

Prone: A prone creature lies on the ground. Other creatures can move through its space. While prone, the creature can move only by crawling or use its move to stand up. The prone creature makes Strength and Agility rolls with 1 bane. Creatures that can reach the prone creature make all attack rolls against it with 1 boon, while creatures that cannot reach it make attack rolls against its Defense with 1 bane.

 

Grabbed: The effects of the affliction depend on the creature’s Size. If the grabbed creature’s Size is equal to or less than that of the creature grabbing it, the grabbed creature cannot move away from the creature that grabbed it until it removes the affliction. If the grabbed creature’s Size is larger than that of the creature grabbing it, whenever the grabbed creature moves, the creature grabbing it can choose to move with it (by clinging to the grabbed creature’s body) or end the grab.

 

Taran

Tarn uses Minor Healing at Dun.

 

End of turn.

Edited June 2, 2023 by yxanthymir (see edit history)

[yxanthymir]

 

 

Fifth Turn

 

 

Zones

West side of the road: Sand mound (difficult terrain)

 

Road: 2 undeads, Undead 3 at the front and Undead 4 behind it; and Taran, Dun and Leon, at the north part of the road. Summer is close to Undead 4.

Undead 6, at the middle of the zone.

East side of the road: Sand mound (difficult terrain).

 

South: Fiona; at the north of the zone

 

Enemies

Undead 1: 15 damage, dead

Undead 2: 13 damage, dead

Undead 3: 1 damage, engaged with Dun and Leon

Undead 4 (Summoner): 28 damage, impaired, engaged with Summer.

Undead 5: 10 damage, dead

Undead 6: 3 damage

 

Players & Allies

Leon: 22/16; impaired, engaged with undead 3. 

Dun: 23/7, engaged with undead 3.

Taran: 18/17, 1 bane against undead 4.

Fiona: 16/12;

Summer: 13/7; engeged with undead 4.

 

Conditions

Frightened: A frightened creature makes all attack rolls and challenge rolls with 1 bane. As well, frightened creatures cannot take fast turns.

 

Impaired: An impaired creature makes all attack rolls and challenge rolls with 1 bane.

 

Prone: A prone creature lies on the ground. Other creatures can move through its space. While prone, the creature can move only by crawling or use its move to stand up. The prone creature makes Strength and Agility rolls with 1 bane. Creatures that can reach the prone creature make all attack rolls against it with 1 boon, while creatures that cannot reach it make attack rolls against its Defense with 1 bane.

 

Grabbed: The effects of the affliction depend on the creature’s Size. If the grabbed creature’s Size is equal to or less than that of the creature grabbing it, the grabbed creature cannot move away from the creature that grabbed it until it removes the affliction. If the grabbed creature’s Size is larger than that of the creature grabbing it, whenever the grabbed creature moves, the creature grabbing it can choose to move with it (by clinging to the grabbed creature’s body) or end the grab.

 

It is now the fast turn.

[Neopopulas]

Strength: 9 (-1) | Agility: 10 (+0) | Intellect: 12 (+2) | Will: 12 (+2) | Perception: 13 (+3 | Defense: 10 | Health: 13/13 | Healing Rate: 4 | Speed: 12 | Power: 1
Professions: Artist (Music, Painter), Scholar (Magic, Medicine, War, Occult), Hunter, Courtier | Languages: Common Tongue, High Archaic, Elvish, Dark Speech, Dwarfish
ShadowsightYou can see into areas obscured by shadows as if those areas were well lit., Spell DefenseYou take half damage from spells and you make any challenge roll to resist a spell with 1 boon. A creature attacking you with a spell makes the attack roll with 1 bane, Bewitching PresenceYour magical nature alters how others see you and behave around you. You make attack rolls in social situations with 1 boon. If you touch or are touched by an object made from iron, you lose this trait for as long as you remain in contact with the object and for 1 minute afterward, Immune (Damage from Disease, Diseased, and Charmed condition). Sense Magic (2/2)
Fire Tradition: Control Flame (2/2), Flame Missile (1/2), Fire Blast (0/1), Sword of Fire (0/1),
Forbidden Tradition: Harm (2/2), Face Rip (2/2), Hateful Defecation (1/1)
Shadow Tradition: Darkling's Raiment (2/2), Steal Shadow (2/2)

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Summer's grace was supernatural - or, rather natural for her at least - and she leans sideways to avoid the blow and continues the motion, weaving to the side of the unread. She angles herself to keep her back to her companions and holds out her free hand, with a moments pause - and a great deal of annoyance for having to use this spell in the first place - she unleashes a wash of flames. From her hand gouts of flame explode to surround and cover the undead before her.

 

Mechanics

Moving:
Attacking: Summoner
Casting: Fire Blast (3 yard long cone.
Flames rush out from your hand, dealing 3d6 damage to everything in the area. Each creature in the area takes half the damage on a success with an Agility challenge roll

 

 

Edited June 2, 2023 by Neopopulas (see edit history)

[VolsungaSaga]

---

Dun (Warrior) | Str: 13 | Agi: 10 | Int 9 | Will 9 | Per 10 Def 15 | Health 12/23 | Talents

---

Dun momentarily sheathes his axe for a moment and indulges in a bit of self-care: he wipes all the blood off of his face, then wrenches his dislocated jaw (courtesy of the Undead that struck him so violently) back into place with a deeply disturbing cracking noise. There, good as new!

He then yells, "Ey, that Gog boss is almost dead again! If we get anothah good whack in, it's all over fer 'im!"

Dun would've helped in that regard, but it was almost a sure thing that his putrefied dance partner would've whacked him while he was blinded by all that blood and distracted by his hanging jaw.

 

Mechanics

Dun uses Catch Your Breath, heals for healing rate 5. Health 7 -> 12.

 

Edited June 3, 2023 by yxanthymir (see edit history)

[yxanthymir]

 

 

Fifth Turn

 

Summer unleashed a jet of flame incinerating the horrifying undead. He tried to resist the flames and moved close to Summer one more step with energy pouring from his body. Vi Bedauros ci tion! He managed to say with his hand an inch from Summer, when he finally collapsed to the ground in a kneeling position. The flames finally breaking his magical resistance and igniting his body in a burst of flame, apparently anxious to claim a victory. The arrow still lodged at his skull igniting as well in a more normal manner.

Suddenly all other undeads collapse to ground inert, oozing ichor and a putrefying smell.

Oblivious to the scene, Leon also collapses to ground tired of the fight. More tired than he should be, gasping for air. His arms and legs no longer able to support his weight. Unable to move and barely being able to breath.

 

 

End of combat.

Edited June 3, 2023 by yxanthymir (see edit history)

[TheShadyRaven]

Taran Vol (Priestess) | Str: 11 | Agi: 10 | Int 11 | Will 11 | Per 11 Def 13 | Health 16/18 | TalentsShadowsight


Catch Your Breath: You can use an action or a triggered action on your turn to heal damage equal to your healing rate. Once you use this talent, you cannot use it again until after you complete a rest.

Weapon Training: When attacking with a weapon, you make the attack roll with 1 boon.

Combat Prowess: Your attacks with weapons deal 1d6 extra damage.

Forceful Strike: When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the attack deals 1d6 extra damage.

---

Like many times before, the priestess walked through the aftermath of violence. It was her sacred duty to help those that Father Death had not claimed yet.

Taran couldn't help but look at Dun in disbelief. Had the orc just cracked his own face back into compliance? In the chaos of battle, all she noticed had been that awful sound, and the warrior's comment.

"I invoke the end to heal this creature named Dun. Father Death, in the safety of your shadow I place him" - the woman spoke, each word sharp and clear. For a moment, she did not move. Then, she reached out to touch Dun's wounded jaw. Magical healing wouldn't have come without pain; however, the burning sensation would have felt minor, if compared to the original wound.

Taran Vol moved on, but she was not done yet. She moved over and approached the elf. While the priestess did not like her companion's carefree attitude, her contribution to victory had been noted.

"Do you require assistance?" - she asked.

 

OOCTaran casts Light Healing on Dun, healing him for an amount equal to his healing rate (5).

[yxanthymir]

---

Leon Bosh (Warrior) | Str 12 Ag 11 Int 10 Wil 10 | Per 10 Def 15 | Health 22/21 | Healing Rate 5 | Insanity 0 | TalentsCatch Your Breath You can use an action or a triggered action on your turn to heal damage equal to your healing rate. Once you use this talent, you cannot use it again until after you complete a rest.

Weapon Training When attacking with a weapon, you make the attack roll with 1 boon.

Combat Prowess Your attacks with weapons deal 1d6 extra damage. 

Forceful Strike When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the attack deals 1d6 extra damage.

---

 

Leon mumbles unintelligible things while lying down on the ground. The pain and the weakness still persists, but he cannot avoid to feel a little better. And he is still alive and in one piece, that alone is a reason for celebration. He already lost some important and cherished pieces.

He believes that with a little more time he will be able to move.

 

Mechanics

He uses Catch Your Breath to recover 5 HP. HP 16 > 21.

 

[Neopopulas]

Strength: 9 (-1) | Agility: 10 (+0) | Intellect: 12 (+2) | Will: 12 (+2) | Perception: 13 (+3 | Defense: 10 | Health: 13/13 | Healing Rate: 4 | Speed: 12 | Power: 1

Professions: Artist (Music, Painter), Scholar (Magic, Medicine, War, Occult), Hunter, Courtier | Languages: Common Tongue, High Archaic, Elvish, Dark Speech, Dwarfish
ShadowsightYou can see into areas obscured by shadows as if those areas were well lit., Spell DefenseYou take half damage from spells and you make any challenge roll to resist a spell with 1 boon. A creature attacking you with a spell makes the attack roll with 1 bane, Bewitching PresenceYour magical nature alters how others see you and behave around you. You make attack rolls in social situations with 1 boon. If you touch or are touched by an object made from iron, you lose this trait for as long as you remain in contact with the object and for 1 minute afterward, Immune (Damage from Disease, Diseased, and Charmed condition). Sense Magic (2/2)
Fire Tradition: Control Flame (2/2), Flame Missile (1/2), Fire Blast (0/1), Sword of Fire (0/1),
Forbidden Tradition: Harm (2/2), Face Rip (2/2), Hateful Defecation (1/1)
Shadow Tradition: Darkling's Raiment (2/2), Steal Shadow (2/2)

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Needlessly brushing at her already somehow clean clothes she takes a look at the battlefield, such as it was. Her annoyance in having to battle the summoner was clear, but she was allowing it to pass without redirecting it - a blessing that the humans around her would not even realise they had.

 

Pausing in her circle of the area she looks down at Leon "Are you going to live, do you think..? Fiona, come look, tell me if you think he will live."

 

Mechanics

 

 

 

[fabulist]

 

---

Fiona Devany (Rogue) | Str 10 . Agi 11 . Int 11 . Wil 11 | Per 11 . Def 11 | Health 16/16 | Power 1/1 | TalentsNimble Recovery (Rest) | You can use an action to heal damage equal to your Healing Rate and then move up to half your Speed without triggering free attacks.

Trickery (Round) | You can make an attack roll or challenge roll with 1 boon. If you attack with a boon from this talent, your attack deals +1d6 damage.

Exploit opportunity (Round) | When the total of your attack roll is 20+ and exceeds the TN by 5+, you can take another turn at any point before the end of the round.

Roguery Talent: Magic | +1 Power, Transformation (Mask, Animal Shape)
* Mask (2/2): duration 1 hour; You alter your body's appearance so that you look like someone else. height +/- 12 inches, weight +/- 25%, any other cosmetic changes you like. No mechanical changes, including ancestry.
* Animal Shape (0/1): duration 1 minute; Assume the form of a medium / small / tiny animal. As small or tiny, you can gain one trait: climber, flier, swimmer. | Attacksdagger | 1d3, finesse, short range
bow | 1d6, long range |

---

Fiona watched with sudden relief as the undead abominations collapsed on the ground, though she definitely didn't like the smell. Still, surviving an attack of these creatures is reason for rejoicing in itself, so she looked at Summer with a smile just for hearing her voice. When she realized what she said, she immediately hurried up to Leonto check on him.

"He will, as far as I can tell. He is shaken, but that's understandable." She looked up at the sun. "Have a drink, warrior. We still have leagues to go."

Then she walked to Dun, who was in a much worse shape than Leon. "Anything I can do to help?"

[VolsungaSaga]

---

Dun (Warrior) | Str: 13 | Agi: 10 | Int 9 | Will 9 | Per 10 Def 15 | Health 18/23 | Talents

---

Wincing slightly as the priestess invokes her psychopomp deity to set his jawbone aright by a rather painful wave of burning magic, Dun nevertheless nods politely for the recovery. He exhales loudly in a great sigh of relief, shaking his head at Fiona's question. "Nay, I'm fine enough with tha' magic puttin' my jaw back togetha."

Looking at Leon, Dun remarks briefly, "Nobody's ever told us where we's actually goin', did they? To Esker, then wot? I ain't signin' up to get ate by no Gog-men, that's fer damn sure."

[yxanthymir]

---

Leon Bosh (Warrior) | Str 12 Ag 11 Int 10 Wil 10 | Per 10 Def 15 | Health 22/21 | Healing Rate 5 | Insanity 0 | TalentsCatch Your Breath You can use an action or a triggered action on your turn to heal damage equal to your healing rate. Once you use this talent, you cannot use it again until after you complete a rest.

Weapon Training When attacking with a weapon, you make the attack roll with 1 boon.

Combat Prowess Your attacks with weapons deal 1d6 extra damage. 

Forceful Strike When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the attack deals 1d6 extra damage.

---

 

Leon raises his head to listen to the conversation while he recuperates. It is a relief to even be able to do that. He is improving and in a few more moments he thinks he will be ready to go. And indeed they need to keep going, the day is starting to cool off and soon night will come. The prospect of finding more undead during the night frightens him deeply. They need to find somewhere to pass the night, and clearly an inn or a tavern is out of question.

He raises his callous hand with missing fingers, hoping someone will help him to stand.

 

Mechanics

 

 

[Neopopulas]

Strength: 9 (-1) | Agility: 10 (+0) | Intellect: 12 (+2) | Will: 12 (+2) | Perception: 13 (+3 | Defense: 10 | Health: 13/13 | Healing Rate: 4 | Speed: 12 | Power: 1

Professions: Artist (Music, Painter), Scholar (Magic, Medicine, War, Occult), Hunter, Courtier | Languages: Common Tongue, High Archaic, Elvish, Dark Speech, Dwarfish
ShadowsightYou can see into areas obscured by shadows as if those areas were well lit., Spell DefenseYou take half damage from spells and you make any challenge roll to resist a spell with 1 boon. A creature attacking you with a spell makes the attack roll with 1 bane, Bewitching PresenceYour magical nature alters how others see you and behave around you. You make attack rolls in social situations with 1 boon. If you touch or are touched by an object made from iron, you lose this trait for as long as you remain in contact with the object and for 1 minute afterward, Immune (Damage from Disease, Diseased, and Charmed condition). Sense Magic (2/2)
Fire Tradition: Control Flame (2/2), Flame Missile (1/2), Fire Blast (0/1), Sword of Fire (0/1),
Forbidden Tradition: Harm (2/2), Face Rip (2/2), Hateful Defecation (1/1)
Shadow Tradition: Darkling's Raiment (2/2), Steal Shadow (2/2)

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

With a smile, Summer reaches out towards Leon's hand and gives him a crisp high-five and then, without pause, turns and starts off along the road, checking the piles of dust and remains of the undead as she goes out of pure curiosity.

 

 

 

Mechanics

 

 

 

[fabulist]

 

---

Fiona Devany (Rogue) | Str 10 . Agi 11 . Int 11 . Wil 11 | Per 11 . Def 11 | Health 16/16 | Power 1/1 | TalentsNimble Recovery (Rest) | You can use an action to heal damage equal to your Healing Rate and then move up to half your Speed without triggering free attacks.

Trickery (Round) | You can make an attack roll or challenge roll with 1 boon. If you attack with a boon from this talent, your attack deals +1d6 damage.

Exploit opportunity (Round) | When the total of your attack roll is 20+ and exceeds the TN by 5+, you can take another turn at any point before the end of the round.

Roguery Talent: Magic | +1 Power, Transformation (Mask, Animal Shape)
* Mask (2/2): duration 1 hour; You alter your body's appearance so that you look like someone else. height +/- 12 inches, weight +/- 25%, any other cosmetic changes you like. No mechanical changes, including ancestry.
* Animal Shape (0/1): duration 1 minute; Assume the form of a medium / small / tiny animal. As small or tiny, you can gain one trait: climber, flier, swimmer. | Attacksdagger | 1d3, finesse, short range
bow | 1d6, long range |

---

Fiona looks astounded at Summer's reaction to Leon reaching out, and walks to the warrior to help him up. "Do you two have a problem?" she asks Leon when he is on his feet again.

[yxanthymir]

---

Leon Bosh (Warrior) | Str 12 Ag 11 Int 10 Wil 10 | Per 10 Def 15 | Health 22/21 | Healing Rate 5 | Insanity 0 | TalentsCatch Your Breath You can use an action or a triggered action on your turn to heal damage equal to your healing rate. Once you use this talent, you cannot use it again until after you complete a rest.

Weapon Training When attacking with a weapon, you make the attack roll with 1 boon.

Combat Prowess Your attacks with weapons deal 1d6 extra damage. 

Forceful Strike When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the attack deals 1d6 extra damage.

---

 

Leon is even more astounded than Fiona. What the **** was that! Some sort of weird elvish signal that means "Be brave. Do it yourself!" He doesn't know if he praises her for stimulating his manly panache or punch her for mocking him while he is weak.

Thankfully Fiona saves him from his thought process, and helps him, making he forget almost instantly what he was thinking. He makes an Ok sign with his hand and makes a walking motion towards the road. He looks at the others, waiting for confirmation.

 

Mechanics

 

 

[VolsungaSaga]

---

Dun (Warrior) | Str: 13 | Agi: 10 | Int 9 | Will 9 | Per 10 Def 15 | Health 18/23 | Talents

 

Dun similarly stares, dumb-founded, at that odd exchange. He'd never seen that sort of gesture before, but it surely was devoid of any awareness to Leon's condition. Picking on a mute man like that -- was that the behavior Dun should expect of elves? Ridiculous!

Lumbering to Fiona and Leon, he whispers:

Whisper

That was feckin' weird. Where'd ya get that elf?

He then slides his axe into his belt and straps his shield onto his back, nodding at the two. "Better get a move on. Day's wastin'."