Okay, thanks for the heads-up and for being patient with me as I still learning the rules for the Mythic GM Emulator. I agree with you that it goes to Chaos 7. One of the things that I loved in my solo adventures was the changing alliances of the NPCs, sometimes as good guys or as bad guys. This is certainly the case with Kemila and could be with the others as well. I figure the next scene has them arriving at the city gate of Zalut. 

I do have a question regarding the storytelling.  Since BoL is as much of storytelling as it is a rules-lite game, if I have an idea for the story, should I wait until the PCs encounter it, or develop it behind the scenes?  I am thinking about how the Red Wizard Riathu will get Delfina to help him in his plans involving a spell he will use on her, and the results I did roll for it. These events would happen while the heroes travel to Zalut.   I also have a plan as to how the heroes can break into his tower.

Here are some ideas on what Kemila, Erkill, and the Red Wizard Riathu would look like!

Kemila
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a2/b1/db/a2b1db157154cd3eb7eaa40b93a243dd.jpg

Erkill
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c1/14/81/c11481300f48dfc182a9902667e95c84.jpg

the Red Wizard Riathu
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/cf/f6/58/cff658959a606cec3fe826b74b48a23e.jpg

Attributes                            Combat Abilities
Strength         0                     Initiative           1
Agility             2                     Melee              0
Mind               4                     Ranged          -1
Appeal          -1                     Defense           2
 
Careers
Wizard               3                 Leach               0
Scholar              1                 Slaver               0
 
Lifeblood           8                  Villain Points     5
Arcane Points  13                           
Boons: Magic of the Sorcerer-Kings, Pact*, Savant
Flaws: Absent-Minded, Cravings, Delicate, Morgazzon’s Curse, Forfeit Soul*
 
Protection: None
Languages: Lemurian, Beshaari, Valgardish, Sorceric (written & spoken), Ygddari (written), Kashtian, Grooth

*These boons and flaws come from the Sword & Sorcery Codex 
 

That works for me. I will do the cutscene, and you will do the breaking into Zalut! The group will take about two hours to get there, with them resting up and burying Kal.  

In the meantime:

As the Demon commander leaps high through the air, Delfina stops resisting his grasp, holding on instead in sheer terror.  As the Demon commander lands on the ground, he heavies Delfina off of his back and she falls to the ground. As she scrambles to get up, she notices a weathered parchment that is very old and lying next to her, appearing to have fallen out of her clothing.  "What is this?" she remarks picking up the parchment.  "What? It looks like the spell we were looking for?" she excitedly says.  
"It's impressive that you can read that language since it's in the ancient language of the Sorcerer-Kings. Are you a sorceress yourself?" The Red Wizard asks walking into the room.
"No, I am an alchemist by trade. And you know, Luv, my new friends will be coming for me, especially One-Eyed Norf!"
The Red Wizard raises his eyebrow, "One-Eyed Norf? Is that a person or a creature? No matter, in either case, I do not worry about such silly threats!  Can you read the language of the Sorcerer-Kings?" He questions her eagerly.  
"I can read it, yes. And I can speak it as well, Luv." Delfina begins to boast.  
The Red Wizard begins excitedly, "Excellent! I require a partner of equal skill of my own, and you will do nicely."  
Delfina begins to shake her head, "Not interested, Luv. Why do you want to put the whole island into slumber?"  
The Red Wizard begins to smile, "Not interested? Well, you will find out in time what my plans are, but believe me when I tell you that you will help me as my partner, and I don't take no for an answer!" Turning towards the demon, he commands him, "Muz'goth, take our guest to the "Ready Room."  The Demon once again scoops Delfina off her feet, slinging her over his back as she screams and kicks to get loose of his powerful grip.  

The Red Wizard Riathu plans to cast the Beguile spell on Delfina. This spell is used by the magician to put the victim completely and utterly in the power of the caster. The victim will obey the caster’s every command without question and is helpless to do anything else.
• The target’s mind is always used to modify the difficulty.
• Rare Ingredients are generally needed to perform the spell, including some personal item belonging to the victim. (Pact Boon used)

Second Magnitude Spell Casting Requirements:
Permanent Focus: The caster must undertake ritual tattooing to permanently inscribe the details of the spell on his or her person. 
Pact* Boon: Lower difficulty when casting spells, acts as a casting requirement.
Ritual Sacrifice: An animal (at least the size of a lamb) must be sacrificed before casting.
Casting Time: The spell will take at least d6 (rolled 1) ×2 hours of meditation to correctly execute. 

the Red Wizard Riathu cast the beguiling spell on Delfina -2 (tough) -2 (Delfina's mind) + 4 (Riathu's mind) + 3 (wizard) = Mighty Success (12!) Believe it or not, I rolled three 6's since he has the Sorcery Boon
-6 Arcane Power
Spends a Villain Point to make it Legendary Success
Out of combat, how you narrate this success depends on the task being performed – but whatever it is, you do it brilliantly, and receive a bonus result, extra information, or some other added advantage that you weren’t expecting.

Emerging from his mediation chambers, the Red Wizard Riathu looks to Muz'goth, "Has the sacrifice been slain?"  Muz'goth silently nods in approval.  Looking at the new tattoo he bears on his arm, he begins to chant over Delfina's necklace which he holds in his hands as he walks into the "Ready Room." Delfina is strapped to into a chair, and at first, begins to resist and protest against the Red Wizard Riathu's spell, but with time she suddenly becomes very quiet and complacent.  As he walks over to her, she begins to smile at him.  "How do you feel now my dear?" He asks her.
"My Love, I am ready to help you carry your plan to its end," she reassures him with a smile.  "And nothing will get in our way!" She sneers with content. 
"And what about One-Eyed Norf and his friends? What if they try to stop us?" the Red Wizard Riathu inquires of her in a monotone voice. 
"Let them try and stop us," Delfina says again with a sinister laugh.  
The Red Wizard Riathu begins to break into a menacing smile as well, "That is what I thought you were going to say, partner!"  

Last edited by Gundarr_the_Great (11/02/2024 10:18 pm)

Sorry, I was tired last night when I posted and I did not realize that I omitted two rolls that I made to test the assumption of this expected scene.

Roll against the CF7 = 9
Fate Check: Is the Red Wizard Riathu impressed with Delfina? (Near Certain) + (CF 7) + 13 = Exceptional Yes! (w/modifiers)  

I tested the rest of the scene based upon the success of the spell, which as I shared I was surprised to roll a Mighty Success, and improved it to the Legendary Success result.
So, it was my idea based upon the continued context that the Red Wizard Riathu is an aspiring sorcerer who wants to have power and is looking for any way to improve his chances, but I did test the scene based on the fate check.  Again, my apologies if I did not understand the rules correctly.  

Last edited by Gundarr_the_Great (11/05/2024 2:16 pm)

Cool. Will do. And sorry for the hold up. I’ll work on a post now, but I’ll edit this post rather than do another one, so come back and check again later.

Valda. 11 Lifeblood. 4 Hero Points.

Chaos Factor. 8 (adjusted up from Delfina’s scene with Riathu)

NPCs.

• Zalut
• Delfina Khan
• Wounded Bijou
• Kemila
• Red Wizard Riathu
• Slumber Grimoire
• Servitor Demon
• Guards of Zalut

Threads.

• Escape the Island
• Convince Delfina's Contact to help them provide safe passage from Zalut
• Unravel the Mystery of the Curse of Slumber
• Rescue Delfina from the Red Wizard

Expected Scene. The heroes approach the walls of Zalut by night
Altered? Yes (1)
Interpretation. The heroes approach, but rather than sidle right up to an unoccupied wall in the dead of night, there is some tumult happening

Fate Check. Is the source of the disturbance inside the city? (50/50) Yes (8+4)
Interpretation. It sounds like some civil unrest has erupted…perhaps on account of the curse of sleep or even a wholly different reason. They don’t know yet. Perhaps it was also on account of a demon-led mob of corpses walking through the city. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

The rest of the day is tiring as the group forced their paces toward Thule’s one and only city. One-Eyed Norf had been there before, but for Valda’s part, its sinister reputation as a haven for magicians and the remnants of ancient evil from the First Age fills her with dread.

Dusk deepens to night when the minarets, lit domes, and upthrusting towers finally comes within view. The surrounding countryside is sleepy, scattered by fields and fenced compounds. Kemila, One-Eyed Norf, Erkill, and Valda traverse these with little difficulty. However, as the walls loom closer, the four overhear some clamor and the din of conflict within the city's stony embrace. The smell of smoke comes acrid to their noses, and the flicker of numerous fires illuminates some of the brickwork of the few facing structures jutting above the city wall.

Valda casts a dubious eye to her partner in crime. “Perhaps this is just the distraction we need to gain ingress. Or?”

She casts her eye up toward the shadowed ramparts. Seeing no movement between them, she takes it as a good omen. Slinging a coil of rope over her shoulder, she picks a suitable climb with plenty of broken masonry to make use of and begins to scurry up.

I'm assuming a Moderate difficulty climb. She'll use her Agility and Assassin career for the attempt. She gets a 9 on the dice and adds her 3 for a success.

Fate Check. Are there attentive guards about? (Very Unlikely) 8 + 4 (CF 8) - 2 (odds) = No (phew)

In moments after the northron barbarian disappears into the heights, the end of a line snakes its way down to within reach for the others to make their way up.

I'm assuming the rope makes this task trivial. Maybe not even worth a roll?

Your turn!

Last edited by roryb (11/05/2024 1:31 pm)

Once One-Eyed Norf reaches the top, he slowly strides over to Valda. "Let's not do that again, as I discovered that giants are not meant to be at great heights!" he shares with her, lighting up his pipe and taking a relieving inhale of its soothing comfort. "I wonder what is causing all this trouble that caused us easy access to the city?" He says, looking down at the source of the noise...

Action Meaning: Imprison, Portal, Interestingly, Rough, Frantic, Abuse

I am open to discussing what they mean...

Maybe an assault of the Red Wizard's skeleton horde against the city guards that have not fallen into deep slumber, or slaves that have revolted against their masters since some of the guards are now asleep?
Or what about those who have fallen into the deep slumber, awakened as zombie slaves?