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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
Erkill
the Red Wizard Riathu
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
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Nice pictures! Those are great choices. I’ll have to look up those boons on the S&S Codex (I have that but didn’t do more than skim it). Nice write-up of his stats. I’m completely down with the changing alliances and whims of our NPCs.
For the next expected scene, Valda might suggest they attempt a nighttime wall hop over going through the gate, but that’s your call. I can set that up this time if you like?
For the story telling part, there’s nothing wrong with actually doing a cut scene for the purpose of developing those NPC motivations, actions, and testing our expectations. We can even do that before we get to the entering the city scene if you like? The new expected scene might be Delfina in the wizard’s clutches only to discover that she has a text stuffed in her pocket. I like that if you have ideas for plot development, you can actually workshop it with Mythic. I vote for seeing what happens in this cut scene before doing the PC’s scene. I’d be interested in seeing your assumptions and seeing how Mythic might twist those.
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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)
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Interesting! Did you consult Mythic for this (like scene setup or testing assumptions with Fate Q’s), or was it all from you?
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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 (Yesterday 2:16 pm)
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By the way, I forgot to also add, that before the heroes scale the wall, which actually would be a very cool endeavor, we might consult the Fate Check to see if the guards are even awake or in deep slumber. They may even be dead since the Red Wizard Riathu skeleton horde passed through the gates with permission granted or otherwise.
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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.
Last edited by roryb (Yesterday 1:31 pm)
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Awesome post, you can leave it as is if you like, I was hoping they would be climbing the wall!
One-Eyed Norf follows Valda up the rope, 1 (agility) + 1 (thief) + 10 = success!
As One-Eyed Norf watches Valda scale the wall masterfully, he takes a deep breath and follows after her with the aid of the dangling rope. Much to his content, he finds that the task is not as difficult as he initially feared, reaching the top with little problem. "Hurry up, you two, do not linger behind!" He hissed to his other two companions.
Fact Check: Does Kemia and Erkill successfully climb over the wall? (Very Likely) + (CF 8) + 11 = Yes!
After watching Valda and One-Eyed Norf scale the wall, Kemila begins her ascent. Since she is small and still very light, she easily climbs the wall with little effort and great skill. Erkill has a bit more of a difficult time, climbing a wall for the first time. Almost nearly falling several times, he finally reaches the top, where he begins to curse in Axian over his almost failed effort.
Last edited by Gundarr_the_Great (Yesterday 6:10 pm)
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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?
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Oh, I really like that line of thinking! What iff it's all of that? Slaves who did not succumb to sleep revolted. The wizards, whose loyal toughs may have also been weakened, used their bloodless minions to quell the uprising and all hell has broken loose.