GM: Stras Acimovic
Players: April Walsh, Jeremiah Frye, Sean Nittner
System: Spell and Blade by Stras Acimovic
Better Days
In Skanya’s retelling of this story, she’d lament that as fascinating as the tower of ancients was, she’d had better days. Days where she didn’t see a star in pain or where psychic nightmares did try to blast her mind out of her body, or more specifically, days where she didn’t experience the entirety of another creatures existence from birth to the current moment and see that it knew nothing but pain and captivity.
But there we were, Skanya holding a glowing golden cube and Kormel using the Seven-Circuit claw to hold back a hurricane of Dream energy. Behind us, Loddi and Rulgara arming up to fight the Overseer as it was bathed in orange light which then formed armored plates around it…and if they completed the task would likely make the creature indestructible, even to Rulgara’s star metal sword!
But I’m skipping a head, let’s do the…
Play by Play
The Overseer, after detecting Kormel and Skanya (hard not to after the klaxon of dream energy washed over the room and the creature in the sarcophagus screamed out nightmares of pain) moved to a staging dock where orange light formed blueprint patterns over it which were then filled with the star liquid from above to form armor of the ancients.
Loddi focused his keen senses on the overseer and the surrounding area and noticed that the floor was made of black glass we had seen before. Beneath the glass he saw lights and realized the massive armor forming around the overseer was powered via induction through the glass plate. If disconnected, the machine would surely soon run out of energy. “Go for the left leg, that’s it’s source of power!” [Study]
Rulgara, ran, vaulted off a spear she stabbed into mechanisms above, and called upon both her oath to carve a path forward and by Maya’s might, and cleaved through the overseers skeletal leg a moment before the armor would form around it. Green sparks flew as it wobbled unsteady on it’s remaining support. [Skirmish]
Skanya looked at the creature inside the coffin, nay chamber, with pity and curiosity. It seemed in pain and she could not fathom why it would instruct these machines to harm them, or be part of any of this. Despite Kormel screaming a warning not to advance, she stepped forward past him and her mind was shattered! Or it would have been, if not for her oath to hide everyone from Dream! She fought off the pain and pressed into the hurricane. Though her understanding of ancient sigils was miniscule at best, she remembered the commands to activate and deactivate the elevator, so she used her stylus to draw the symbol of deactivation (importantly remember to do it backwards) on the glass and looked desperately at the creature in hopes that it would have pity on her companions.
The ancient creature leaned forward, revealing tubes running into it’s neck and fluids passing in and out of it, to take in both Skanya and the symbol she drew. The world became liquid and suddenly Skanya saw everything it had experienced. It knew only this place…and pain. Their minds were not compatible enough for her to learn more! [No Action, just resisting a lifetime of mental anguish]
The first beat
The Overseer took a swing at Rulgara but she danced away form it’s clumsy blow. She could tell it was slowing down already, but still had the energy for one big action…and it was analyzing the threads in the room to decide what action to take!
Meanwhile, two smaller constructs, that looked vaguely like flightless birds activated, and the much larger construct in the bay began its initiation sequence.
Rulgara the Bladeborn, leapt in front of the overseer, who clearly had malicious intent for Skanya or Kormel (or both) and swung her star metal blade towards the gem-like plate that appeared where its “face” might be. She cracked the gem, but then it swatted her aside with one giant armored fist, shattering her shield, and sending her flying back into the wall behind her. She was saved by her heavy armor and the fortitude of Maya. The blow would have broken a lesser mortal! [Skirmish]
The overseer ripped a “wing” off one of the smaller constructs and would have thrown it like a deadly blade of metal right into Kormel’s back if Loddi had not peppered it with arrows. Two in the elbow joints, two in the shoulder, two more in the hip. Though the arrows could not harm the machine, the arrowheads caught in its gears and slowed it just enough to ruin its aim. The metal “blade” flew past our heads and plunged into the wall ahead of us! [Shoot]
Skanya tried to recall, from everything she had just witnessed in their mind link, how the creature was connected to this larger apparatus, and how she might disconnect it. Her recollection was incomplete, however, because she learned the creature had been born (or perhaps “created”) inside this prison and it did not know a way out. She realized this was perhaps not an Ancient, but a creature they had created to serve as a conduit or transmitter to guide their machines. She did however spot a connection into the prison cell that appeared to be made of a less-impervious material than the prison itself. With her ancient stylus she marked the spot with an X and called out above the mental hurricane for Loddi to break it. [Recall]
The second beat
Sudenly the mental anguish stopped. The screams ended, and the creature’s eyes turned black, as though something else, something evil, had taken up residency inside the body. The face spasmed in an alien rictus. The creature inside was trying to approximate a “smile”.
The lights in the massive chamber flickered and Kormel was flung back from the prison like a rag doll. Something within the body exerted control once more.
Loddi pulled the spear Rulgara had used a springboard from the mechanism and hurled it across the room. An impossible shot, but the Silence Bringer guided his hand and he shattered the pipe. Thick grey fluid began to pour out as it drained from the tank. The creature inside convulsed for a moment as if suffocating, but the foul entity that possessed it did not care how it suffered and continued to use the body for it’s own will. [Shoot]
Skanya grabbed Kormel and tried to run away from the terrible prison and the dying ancient-touched creature within it, and the even more terrible creature that possessed that dying creature. Kormel’s unconscious body was difficult for her to move (she could only drag it) and the way was blocked by two ostrich like constructs, each equipped with deadly claws and sonic weapons. [Scramble]
But as they focused on Skanya, their attention wasn’t on Rulgara. The two sisters had played many games of “Steal the Shard” where each team tried to steal a “star shard”, usually just a shiny rock or piece of ore from the other. If you were tackled by a guardian you were out of the game, but the two had practiced feinting their foes into lunging at Skanya just before she dodged as way and Gar tackled them. In that moment, the sisters practices the same move, and as Skanya feinted, Rulgara plunged her star metal sword into the circuitry exposed when the Overseer ripped off it’s wing. The creature spasmed and shook, and then fell [Skirmish].
The third beat
The power went out, and only a a dim light from some of the constructs that were still powering down illuminated the room. The hatch above us closed and latched, and the vents that led to the lake outside opened, allowing cold water to start pouring into the room.
Skanya looked through the Eye of Akta to find a way out of the room and she realized two things. The first was that the vents could get them out of the tower and into the lake. The second was that the black eyes of the creature were watching her…waiting for them to try just this…and to trap them inside when the did. EVIL. “Slow is fast. The water is pouring in, but we can’t rush. Don’t let it see us!” She called to her companions [Study]
Rulgara ran past the remaining construct with plans for the horrific creature to never see us again. She hammered her star metal sword against the nigh-impervious glass and a hairline crack formed. She smashed it again…and again…and again. “Maya, give me strength!” She shouted as she smashed the glass a final time and it shattered. In the moment of triumph the goddess did see her indeed and her hair began to glow light moonlight [Force. Marked by a god]
Loddi tried to lure the remaining bird construct into one of the bays where it would hopefully sink in the water, but it moved to fast and blasted him with a sonic boom that threw him back, exposed for a killing blow [shoot]
The bird construct leapt over the construction bay but in mid air Skanya caught it with her grappling hook and quickly fastened the rope around an unknown apparatus at hand. The construct’s leap was cut short mid-flight, and it fell into the water below! [Scramble]
Escape
Now hidden from the black-eyed creature we fled through the vents, pushing against the cold waters as they poured into the room. Further inside the vents we found the flap allowing water to enter and Ruglara hammered them apart, making enough room for us all to pass.
Loddi once more donned the symbiote suite and, ignoring the cold, plunged into the water. His owl wigs which would normally be of no use in the water, were able to gain purchase because of the alien substance wrapped around them [Scramble, group action] We followed behind and once int the water, Kormel plunged both of his Aetheric Suspension into his chest and summoned forth a giant torrent of air that pushed us up. [Wild Sorcery Nonsense]. At the top when the hit the ice, Skanya planted a cannister of blaze [Recovered via flashback] in the ice and gave Ruglara the signal to smash it with her hammer [Craft, with a boost!]
The Blaze cannister exploded and melted through the ice above. Everyone climbed out except Skanya, who was unable to hold her breath any longer. Rulgara looked back and saw her sister drowning. She handed one end of a rope to Loddi and dove in to rescue her sister.
When Skanya was dragged to the surface and her chest thumped, she coughed water, gasped, grabbed hold of Rulgara with all her might, and the collapsed, completely bereft of energy. [I had literally spent all my mana, all my vigor, every resistance, and every push on every trait except Animal Companion…because Tippi had stayed on the surface with Nyx, otherwise I’m sure I would have used that too!]
Camp
Thankfully our tent was still set up (guarded by Nyx and Tippi) and we were able to get warm thanks to Gar’s heat cube and the fire started by Loddi. Gar had stocked up on rations and we had fresh water from the lake.
Kormel shared what he saw inside. That thing I fought was like a 50 limbed spider in astral space. It was using the living creature in the sarcophagus as some kind of passage into Dream. It was moving between minds. When the eyes of the Ancient-Touched turned black, that’s when it was inf full control. That thing was a Demon.
The word hung in the air.
Eventually we got to talking more about what had happened. The rings we had still cast orange lights that showed the titans, still moving (though one badly damaged by the Red Queen). Killing the ancient-touched, taking the golden cube, and even shutting down the tower did nothing to phase the the titans. We thought more about what we saw, and realized this tower likely didn’t control them, but monitored them so it would send the smaller constructs to repair them as needed. So perhaps we didn’t fell a titan, but maybe the next time one is destroyed, it will stay that way.
Even though the tent was warm, Skanya could not stop shivering. “I saw that creature’s entire life spent inside that cage. It was suffering, always suffering. The Ancients, whatever else they were, were cruel creatures. I felt all of its pain and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forget it.” She looked tiny, almost like a child, under her heavy furs.
Rulgara wrapped her arm around Skanya and comforted her, but it was a long time before the shivering stopped. “A mortal does not fight legends and come away unchanged.” It was only as Rulgara was saying this that she noticed her hair, faintly glowing like moonlight.
After a time Loddi pulled Skanya aside. “You saved my life.” Skanya looked over her shoulder, sure Loddi must be talking to Rulgara, but then realized he meant her. “I would have died if that creature fell on me but you ran to my aid. I would like to offer you to be an honorary member of my family, kin to the wyrm hunters.”
Skanya was unsure what to say. This seemed like such a grand gesture, but her own family troubles still haunted her. Her father Tippi, she seemed to always take from and never give back to. She loved him and knew he loved her, but felt that love brought him only pain. And yet, she did not know how to refuse such an offer, especially from Loddi, who had saved her many times before. “Thank you Loddi, that is a great honor. Please know the road goes both ways. You will always be welcome in the Blue Barrel as a brother to Rulgara and me.
One more pluder
After spending the night recovering, we made one more venture into the tower to pick up a few of the baubles we had left behind before. Inside was a ancient-metal box with four vial of presumably alchemical liquids. We’d have to do tests back at home to discover their properties. Inside we noticed that the tower had powered down. The terminals were no longer lit and the lifts no longer worked. This was probably for the best, but just the same, Skanya wrote a warning on the entrance that only evil would be found below.
Return to Rul
On the way home we got lost for a time in the wind, but Loddi got us back on track by finding a road. On it we met a minstrel from Lykaerd in the company of Iskani merchants. The man introduced himself as Liriko Imkariel III… the Greatest Bard in All of Lykeard! He was certainly well dressed and well appointed with a find . He told us he had heard of the upcoming competition for bards in Rul and that he planned to win the prize!
Rulgara and Skanya regaled him with stories of their last adventure. Tower of Ancients! Lost Languages! Indestructible Machines! Fighting a Demon of Dream! Skanya realized in that moment as she saw Rulgara’s glowing hair just what had happened in bottom of the tower. “Greater than all of those feats, my sister Rulgara was Marked by Maya, goddess of the full moon. Put that in your story!”
Thoughts on the game
This was a such a blast. I can’t remember a time I’ve been as drained, both as a character (literally all mana, vigor, pushes, and resists spent) and a player (I was just out of ideas!) but also so delighted with all of the intense action, incredible discoveries, and tender moments.
April ended the game noting that her sword had tasted the blood of the Ancients. Hell yeah!
“It is well that you are the greatest bard of your land, for our deeds deserve nothing less!”