Posts From a Long Winded Gamer

The campaign starts the day after the Black Moon appeared over Dhezmaran,

18th Greenthaw, Waysday,-Clear sky, comfortable weather-

Scene #1:
Yesterday, the sun turned black and the earth shook. Skelva Ashrune told me the gods fell silent. Knowing that I was yearning to seek my fortune, she suggested this was the time where young men of courage were needed, and urged me to go to Drangholm, perhaps from there to the Empire, where something foul has happened. On her advice, I bid my family farewell, and this morning set off for Drangholm. Now I stand before the city gates wondering what the fates hold in store.

Q: Am I welcomed into the city? NO Reaction-Good, Immersion-See something edible conspicuously placed- Q: Is it a guard? NO

Before I can enter though, a man carrying pretzels on a stick halts me at the gate, “Hey there, friend!” He smiles, “You look like you could use some bread, yes?”

Q: still warm? YES
I shrug my shoulders and thank the man, purchasing a couple of twisted pieces of bread. Note that they are still warm, and buttery. “Thank you, friend. What news of the city?”

Q: Does he tell me the rumors? YES
“Strange signs in the sky yesterday, yes? I hear the gods grew silent. And the earthquake! Several buildings were damaged, but thankfully, nobody was killed, or so I am told.” He shrugs, and looks me over. “Part of the cliff face fell away, and it looks as though a cave has opened up at the waterline. And some black runes appeared on the cliff face above the city. The king’s sister, Kaedra, has offered a bounty do any who can discover their meaning. You look the sort who might seek such a prize.”

I laugh, “I can’t even read runes, but I wouldn’t mind getting a closer look at them. Thank you! My name is Ivard, by the way.” He tells me his name is Eric, and wishes me luck.

-Immersion-Wind Blowing-
Scene #2:
I push my way through the gates, eager to learn more about the cave and these strange runes and the commission being offered to help decipher their meaning.
E: Setback to ‘A drowned forge vault has been exposed by a rockfall’: the Release of Wounds (Veilcrossers serve the Wounded Gods, so…it’s not just undead and constructs, but demons within the vault as well)

-Encounter-Beggar,Thief,Urchin-2 beggars bump me in a crowd and try to lift my purse, assuming Skill 12, they pass 4, my perception fails by 1- Chat GPT generates Kaedra, and later, Njora.

I push my way through crowded streets, towards the Shrine of Winter Flame, where the king’s sister serves the gods. Excited to be in the thriving city, peruse several market stalls along the way, but see nothing I need. Eventually, I arrive at the shrine.

Q: Are other warriors there? NO Q: Am I expected? EXCEPTIONAL YES

To my surprise, I am the only one climbing the steps up to the flame. On arriving, two young acolytes stop me, only to be commanded, “Let him come. I have been waiting the Goblin Taker.” The high priestess’ words catch me off guard. I look at the regal woman, adorned in blue robes, and her hair silver. Her eyes see through me and beyond. “Strange tidings young warrior. Scores of men thirst for battle, for glory against goblins, or to match steel serving our neighbors to the south, yet when it comes to strange signs in the heavens, unnatural runes or mysterious sea caves, suddenly, their blood runs cold. Yet you have come.”

She looks me over, then smirks, “Careless youth. Someone has taken your purse.” I feel for it, and realize to my embarrassment that she is right, “You’ll need a new one am I to fill it.”

Q: Am I to escort and acolyte? YES -Reaction-Good-

Kaedra reaches towards a bright eyed young acolyte, “Njora, I am entrusting you to this man’s care. He will see you safely to the runes and back. Heed him.”

The young woman steps forward, looks me up and down, and smiles. “I hope you keep better watch on me than on your purse,” she winks.

I laugh, and reply, “You are a good deal larger than my purse, and more interesting to watch.”

Q: Is she amused? YES

She laughs, “Very well then, let us be off.” She picks up a satchel and walking stick that had been resting against one of the pillars in the shrine and follows me back down the steps. She falls in at my side as we make our way through the city towards the cliff walls that hang over it.

-Encounter-Protest Group-
As we wind our way through city streets, down to the shipyards, we see a ship captain arguing with what might have been his crew, but apparently, they are refusing to load his vessel. They are complaining of ill tidings in the sky and the choppy sea. As the wind whips at my cloak, I am inclined to agree that this is no time to be setting sail. The wind is too rough for small vessels.

At the water’s edge, Njora points out across the bay towards a dark spot on the cliff walls. “See that cave? It was not there two days ago but see the rocks in front of it, they fell away, and now..” she traces her hand upward, “Those markings appeared, as did the cave, when the Black Moon covered the Sun.”

“Why do you call it the Black Moon? Is it not just an eclipse?” I ask.

She shakes her head, “Look in the sky, friend. Do you see the moon? Did you see it in the sky before the sun turned black? No, this was no eclipse. A black moon appeared and then vanished…or the sun itself turned black. And the gods fell silent. We could no longer hear them, or they were no longer listening to us.” She shivers, but not from the cold.

Q: Is there any visible path there? NO Q: Does she already have the gear? YES
I look up the cliff face to where the runes had appeared, “We’ll need rope and climbing gear. Can the temple provide?”

She unshoulders her back and pulls out rope, hammer, pitons, and hand and boot spikes. “I am no climber, I hope you are.”

I nod, “Not much of one, but we’ll see what we can do. Hey, you! We need you to take us over the cliff base!” I call to a fisherman.

-Diplomacy fails, reaction is poor- Q: Is her father here? NO Public Speaking-Pass 0-
“What are you paying?” The fisher asks. I argue that this it temple business and we need his help. He shakes his head and refuses to move his boat through the choppy waters anymore today.

“Come on,” Njora says, “We’ll find someone who wishes the gods blessings”

“A blessing you say?” she fisherman’s ears perk up as he looks the woman over. “You are one of the acolytes aren’t you?” She smiles.

-Boating Fail by 1-Dexterity, both pass 3-
With a great deal of struggle, the fisherman brings us over to the cliff face and Njora and I climb out onto a rocky outcrop beneath the runes. The ocean spray hitting hard and making the footing slippery.

-Immersion-See something odd, out of place, on the ground-
Scene #3 (Positive Alteration):
We are sprayed by the surf as we climb from the boat onto the slick rocky outcrop beneath the mysterious runes. As I help Njora ashore, something strange catches my eyes.

Q: Dwarven relic? YES Q: coin? NO Q: weapon? NO
I reach down and pick up a piece of carved slate, turning it over in my hands. “Runes,” I nod, looking over the etched symbols in the stone.

Q: Does she understand them? (No way) NO Q: Recognize them? NO
Njora smiles and takes it from me, then frowns, “From another age. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

I take it back, and stick it in my pack, “Something anyway.” Then I look for a place to secure our gear while we climb up, and for a path forward.

-Observation fail 3 and fail 5-
“Do you see an easy way up?” I ask. Njora shakes her head as I tie a rope around me and we don our climbing claws. “Slow and easy, let’s get up there.”

Taking our time, I start guiding the way up.

-Climbing fail by 2, second attempt, critical failure-
I get a rough first start and make no progress. Then I find another path, and start climbing. I think I am making good progress, when suddenly, I slip and fall all the way back down, slamming hard on the rock!

-6 points of damage-2DR=4 points- First Aid-pass, 3 points-
“Are you okay?” Njora kneels over me and checks out my injury. My clothing is torn and my leg badly scraped up. She applies some herbs that soothes the pain and bandages up the scrapes. After a few minutes, I try again.

-Climbing Fail by 2, Climbing Pass by 1, Strength pass 3-
Another slip, and then I finally find a passage up. I climb thirty feet up, brace myself and drive in a spike, securing my rope for safety. Then I help Njora up.

She slips once, then gets her footing and climbs up after me, secured by the rope so she does not get hurt if she falls.

(Total distance is 60 feet, so I need to make another climb check for the next stretch)

-Climb, pass 1, Strength pass 0-, Njora fail climb 1, pass by 1-
I climb up to a narrow ledge just beneath the lowest runes and drive in another spike, pulling half the rope up and then letting Njora climb up to join me. She slips once, but then gets her footing and is soon by my side.

The wind whips us fearlessly, and she has to pull tie her hair back to keep it out of her eyes at this height. It is a cold wind.

“Can you understand these runes?”

Q: dwarven? YES Q: Does she recognize them? YES -Njora IQ Fail 1, My IQ pass 4-
“No, but I just saw some of them. In that slate you found.” I nod as she pulls out a small ledger, quill and ink, and starts scribing the symbols.

Q: She okay with correction? YES E: Positive for Goblins of Morgath: the Release of Tension
She is very meticulous, but as I look over her shoulder, I point out, “Missed a line on that one.” She smiles gratefully, and adjusts her notes. As she records each line, she asks me to look over it. Neither one of us knows what the symbols mean, but we are careful to record them exactly for Kaedra.

-Immersion-Sense of loss of balance- (me)
Scene #4:
Njora and I finish up, and as we prepare to climb back down, I suddenly slip.
E: Positive for Captain Elric Vegrim: a Proposition regarding Danger

-Dexterity pass 5-
Quickly, I reach for the anchor spike, Njora’s eyes are wide with fear. I catch my breath, sigh, and smile. “I’ll go down first, but maybe not that quickly.”

-Climb pass 0-
The descent goes smoothly, and once my footing is secure, I help Njora lower herself down, climbing as I brace the rope for safety. Then I switch up the ropes to the first spike and lead the way down the rest of the way.

-Climb fail by 2, but I’m roped, Njora Strenght pass 1-
I slip a bit and hit the ground harder than I meant to, but with Njora’s help, land soft enough. Then I let her down, and once untied, pull the rope down after us.

Q: Did the boat wait for us? NO Q: Do we get anyone? EXCEPTIONAL YES
We wave and call out to the docks, hoping to attract another boat. After a few minutes, we see a good sized fishing boat coming our way. Its heavy mass barely nudged by the choppy waters. The shallow keeled vessel comes close and lowers a ramp for us to climb aboard. Njora and I thank the captain as he takes us back to the docks.

-Encounter-Beggar Thief Urchin-Bumps me an tries to lift my purse, again!-Njora and I fail our perception checks-
We jostle our way through the crowds back towards the temple, where Njora reports on our success. “It wasn’t easy, but these are the symbols.” She presents her journal to Kaedra. “And Ivarn found something else.” I pull out the slate and hand it over.

Q: Is she pleased? YES Q: A months wage? YES
Kaedra smiles as she runs her hand over the slate, tracing the symbols within. “Thank you. You have done well.” She looks up at me, “You may stay here, at the shrine. I may have further need of you, Goblin Taker.” I nod, and thank her, as Njora starts to lead me towards the longhouse adjoining the shrine, Kaedra calls and then tosses me a pouch. “This is for you, but hold onto this purse, the city is thick with thieves.”

-Received a months wage, 2 Electrum Ravenns, 5 silver Tharns, 20 bronze Skells, and a new purse-
I tuck the purse into my backpack, and let Njora lead me away.

-Immersion-Smell Alcohol-
Scene #5:
Njora leads me into the longhouse where the air smells of beer, and smoked fish. Two other acolytes are already there, and Njora gestures to where I can lay out my bedroll for the night.
E: Progress on ‘The Black Moon appeared over Dhezmarran’: Intolerance of Weather

“What did you find? How much were you paid?” ask a youthful acolyte.

Njora smiles, “An ancient slate with strange symbols that matched those on the rune wall.” I ignore the second question, as I have not even looked, nor will I until I must.

-Discussion topic-Knowledge- consult the rune entry on https://jamesturneronline.net/game-masters-apprentice/-
There is smoked fish, fresh and warm, passed to me on a wooden plate, along with potatoes, carrots and onion. A tankard of beer is handed over as well, and I am soon lost as the acolytes begin discussing ancient prophecies, legends and speculating what the recent signs may foretell.

Njora suggests, “I believe this is a test given us by Eldros, the Flame-Bearer. I am eager to learn what it means, and prove that our people are worthy!” She smiles at me, her smile is an easy one to love.

I nod, “We will prevail. It is our way.”

Q: Does Keadra live in the keep? NO Q: Has she interpretted the runes? EXCEPTIONAL NO
After we eat, Kaedra and her senior assistants join us and the meal continues. She seems troubled.

“Ivarn, Njora, sit with me,” the elder commands after dinner, clearing the table in front of her. Njora and I sit opposite each other at her side as Kaedra lays out a set of rune stones.” She begins muttering, eyes closed, as she shuffles them across the table. “Njora” She says, and the girl flips over a tile, revealing the Crow’s Eye. “Ivarn” I flip over a tile depicting a path through thorns and brambles. “Both” we extend our hands, and flip over a third tile, showing a blade wrapped in cloth.

-The Prophecy- (Slate is #1 of d6=6)
“Njora, you will seek and discover hidden knowledge, finding the truth where it is unexpected. Ivarn, the path forward is marked by pain, but it must be endured in spite of the obstacles. The two of you will be tempted towards violence when that is not the answer, and you must discern when to restrain yourselves. The meaning of the runes on the cliff elude me, but the two of you will discover their meaning.” She passes the stone slate to me, “This section is the first part of the whole, there may be five more like it. Find them.”

Q: Does she give us a divine blessing? NO
I bow my head, “We will do this.” Kaedra smiles.

Q: Does Njora sleep near me? NO
There are quiet discussions, among the acolytes. Two play a game of Hnefatatl, while I recline on a bed matt with my blanket. A terrible storm rages outside, but I slowly drift to sleep.

Q: Does Njora have combat skills? YES E: Ambiguous Significance: the Trust of a Path