GM: Sean Nittner
Players: Karen Twelves, Dale Horstman, Matthew Klein
System: The Shadow of Yesterday
I’m just loving this game! The system and the secrets and keys are all rocking, but the players and their incredible characters are so much fun to watch interact with each other and with the NPCs. So many conflicting goals all bouncing off each other.
I found a great map from Zovya RPG Maps that I used for the game. Printed on 11 x 17, it really helped!
Goals of Yesterday
I started the game asking everyone what they remember from last session (a lot it turns out!) and what their goals were now:
- Aonghüs wants to deal with the Shadow magic that is haunting them. Tamarin didn’t want to reveal that she knew about magic, but secretly, she was convinced there wasn’t much they could do about it.
- Tamarin is looking for a shapshifter to teach her the Secret of Living Morph.
- Aonghüs wants to make a good impression the crew of the Doomed Bloodbark, hoping they would one day invite him to join the crew…and the tribe.
- Haka, normally driven by the mission to end this illusion we call reality, was having second thoughts, and wondering if he had experienced other loves in last lives. He wants to end the cycles of losing Razadan, or other he loved as much.
Late at night on the Bloodbark
Three scenes unfolded at the same time:
Aonghüs was handled a spool of coiled rope to take the mizen mast and diligently following orders (from literally anyone giving them to him) when he was was passing by the captains quarters and heard an argument within. From their silhouettes in the window, he could tell it was Captain Blackmane and her first mate Evelina. He crept closer to listen in.
“What are fleeing from a golden opportunity? We know where the Ammeni ships are, and going westround the sea with get us to the treasure in half the time!”
“We the know the warships are to the west and that’s why we’re going east! We’re pirates…we plunder merchant ships, we don’t cross swords with the Ammeni navy, and we don’t go chasing after myths in Qek!”
“But the elf knows where it is. They’ve seen the Sky Fire with their eyes! I say we should go west!”
“And I’m the captain, and I say we go east.”
“Aye, captain. We go east.”
Evelina stormed out of the captains quarters. She was furious and new it was better to blow off steam than to fight her captain. She locked eyes with Aonghüs, realizing how loud they had been. “What are you doing here Aonghüs?”
Trying and failing to pretend he hadn’t heard Aonghüs gestured to the bundle of rope in his hands and shrugged to indicate he was working and need to know what to do with it. Evelina instructed him to toss the rope into a hold and asked him about loyalty “If you’re friend tells you that you’ve got to leave town so your enemies don’t find you, but your brother is sick and needs care, what do you do?”
“Wait…you’re brother is sick?” Aonghüs wasn’t catching on.
“When you have to choose between loyalty and doing what is right, what do you do?”
“I do what’s right.” Aonghüs said, but still confued.
“And how to you know what that is?”
“It’s what the captain says it is.”
Evelina rolled her eyes, “Just line everyone else on this ship. You can’t see that she knows know everything.”
Evelina was about to leave, but then Aonghüs stopped her, more serious now. “Wait, if the captain doesn’t know something you know, maybe there is a way I could help her understand—”
Tamarin had been looking for Bowdyn for some time unsuccessfully. He had been scarce ever since the captain ordered him off the small boat and onto the ship. Asking the crew, they didn’t seem to know, so she ended up scourding the whole ship to find him.
Finally in lowest level of the ship, the hold, she found him. He was in the far stern, among the many supplies including gunpowder. As she approached she could see he was facing away from her, looking over a brazier filled with burning coals. His shirt and brazier was off and she could see the whorls of grey skin on his arms and back.
She knocked ad the door frame and turned with a start. Terrified for a moment, but relieved when he realized it was her. It was clear he was planning to plunge his arms into the burning coals in the vain attempts to burn away the contagion. He took a leather thong from his mouth “Oh, Tamarin, it’s you.”
“Have you tried using a hot poker to burn it off”
“Too much sickness. Need to burn it all.” He said showing how much of his arms were covered by the scaly gray skin.
“Maybe use acid?” She was trying to stall for time. Trying to slow him down.
He put the thong back in his mouth and shrugged as though he’d either already thought of that or more likely that acid wasn’t in his reach and the fire was. He’d clearly spent a lot of time working himself up to do this.”
“Maybe just try a bit at a time?”
He hovered his left arm over the flames like you might hold your hand over a candle. The hairs on his arm burned and the smell of his flesh instantly filled the room. He flinched at the pain and removed the thong again “Slow too hard. Must do all at once, or not at all.”
Tamarin could see he was going to plunge both arms into the coals so she left onto his shoulder and then climb around to get in his face “You idiot. You’ll catch the whole ship on fire!”
Haka had bad dreams. Were they dreams or memories. Was this world the only illusion or were there layers and layers of reality, one illusion stacked upon another?
They needed to clear their minds and so they took a walk on the deck. After a time they found themselves behind the stern castle on the main deck, and noticed something strange in the distance. A light, then it was gone, then back, then gone again. Flashing in short and long patterns. When their eyes adjusted to the dark, they saw a shadowy figure on the deck holding a bullseye lantern that was opening and closing it as well. They were signaling to each other!
Haka pulled some parchment and charcoal from their pouch and started making marks to indicate what they saw. They were trying to record one side of a conversation (they couldn’t see the signals being sent from the shadowy figure as they faced the sea) that they walked into the middle of, and that wasn’t pacing itself at as speed slow enough for Haka to keep up, but they jotted down all they could.
Finally the figure closed the hood of of the lantern and snuffed the flames. They opened a hatch and climbed down to the gun deck below. Haka waited a moment and then followed after them…into the darkness.
Aonghüs made an earnest attempt to connect with Eveleina, pledging that she had helped him before and that he owed her a debt. And it worked! [successful counsel check]
The first mate confided in him, in part from her frustration and in some small part because his father was her predecessor and so somehow she felt he might understand her struggle, even though he had never been a first mate himself “The captain is operating out of fear. She’s afraid of the Ammeni, she’s afraid of seeking out the Sky Flame, and most of all, she’s afraid of your father’s curse.”
With advice far more sage than Aonghüs normally displayed he offered that if the captain was afraid it might help if she knew that others understood what she was going through. “Maybe we could help her work through the fear?”
Evelina shrugged. Anything they might do, they weren’t going to do tonight. “I’m too sober to have this conversation. Let’s go below deck and find something to make me forget how mad I am right now.”
Aonghüs offered a spliff but that wasn’t going to offer the blackout drunk she wanted. Of course it wouldn’t hurt.
Tamarin yelled at her friend but he wasn’t listening [failed sway check]. So she scrambled onto his back and grabbed his hears to try and turn him away from the fire. With one hand he flung her across the room, and the other he thrust into the coals and groaned in agony. [failed scrapping check, and he used Secret of Knockback]
Tamarin yelled more insults at Bowdyn and charged into him, flying through the air and drop kicking him just like Aonghüs had showed her [successful scrapping check, with a bonus die from Aonghüs]. She knocked him back, away from the brazier, which toppled onto the ground and started to catch the ship on fire!
Haka tried to move with stealth, but while they were going into complete darkness the moonlight shone through the portal above revealing them. When the got to the bottom the sounds of hobnail boots on wood floor abruptly stopped, whoever they were chasing went stock still [failed stealth check].
Haka froze as well, unsure of what to do. For a few tense moments they could hear nothing but their own heart beat. Then the ship heaved as a powerful wind struck the sails, and the person they were stocking charged at them, swinging the metal lantern overhead. Haka ducked, but the overhead swing still landed a brutal blow [failed scrapping roll, level two harm that rolled up to level for because Haka already had level 2 and 3 harm marked]. The lantern cracked heir skull and dropped them to the ground.
Their assailant ran out of the hold into the gun deck. As they opened the door and fled, Haka could see the the dim light illuminate their silhouette, revealing the pointy ears of an elf.
Aonghüs knew that this wasn’t the time to plot a mutiny. It was the time to console his friend. She went back and forth between confiding in him and showing him anger that was due for his father “He was damn good pirate, but that curse! I feel like I can never live up to his legend, but also I can never convince the captain the curse is lifted. Your father ruined me twice!”
Aonghüs had a moment where he realized that maybe he could take his father’s place on the Bloodbark, but quickly cast it away and started a sea shanty to liven Eveline’s mood (they were now on shortening each other’s name basis).
Tamarin stumbled to the ground and saw the fire spreading. She also saw that whatever death wish Bowdyn had was gone, now his face was just filled with shame…and pain…lots and lots of pain. They both scrambled to put out the fire, Tamarin cursing the whole time.
While there was a lot that could burn here, Tamarin realized the real danger was the BARRELS OF GUNPOWDER. This was the worst place Bowdyn could have done this, but it was the only place he could find. The threw sails on the fire to smother and kept it away from the barrels. Phew. [successful sense danger check].
Bowdyn’s burns were not immediately fatal, but they looked very bad and if they got infected he wouldn’t last the night. Tamarin tried to calm him “You wait here Bowdyn, I’m going to go get Haka, they can heal you.” She bolted on all four paws to find her friend.
Haka, badly concussed, picked up the lantern and climbed the ladder back up to the stern deck, afraid if they continued the chase, their assailant might finish the job. With a bloody fist they wrapped on the door to the captains quarters. When the door opened the captain yelled “What is it this time Evelina—” and cut themselves off abruptly as Haka staggered forward.
Haka looked wide eyed at the captain and said in a slurring voice “I isn’t me. There’s a spy on board. Another ship is following us…” and then collapsed unconscious into the captain’s quarters.
Everyone is hurt!
Tamarin raced up through the levels of the ship. She found Aonghüs singing and pulled him away to get his help. “Do you know where Haka is?”
He did not, so they went up to the main deck to search. They ran to the fore castle, where Haka had been sleeping, but they weren’t there. They ran frantically around the deck calling out “Haka! Haka!” searching for their friend (Aonghüs not knowing why and worried that Haka was in trouble, but Tamarin assured him it was just that she needed Haka).
Eventually Deslin called down from crows nest above. “I saw Haka go into the captains quarters.”
Aonghüs and Tamarin looked at each other. The one place they didn’t want to go because of the shadow curse. But Tamarin wasn’t going to let Bowdyn die. She raced on all fours to captains quarters with Yasabel the Quartermaster, who had heard all the shouting, trailing behind her.
Tamarin knocked on the captain’s door but then immediately opened it. The door opened a bit, but then stopped as it thumped into something soft. Tiny as she was, Tamarin slipped in easily and found the captain administering the most meager of first aid to Haka, who was lying bleeding on the ground, beside a metal lantern.
Captain Blackmane was going back and forth between drinking run and pouring it over Haka’s wounds, while trying to wrap their head in a gold lamé scarf she had plundered from some rich lady. She was tired and not at all skilled a first aid. Tamarin took this all in and then yelled “Don’t you a healer?”
Blackmane, annoyed at all these people barging into her quarters, and more annoyed at being called onto answer questions, barked an order “Go get Kuzu, the doctor, he can help.”
Tamarin tried to bolt through the narrow doorway but collided once again, this time into Ysabel who was following after her. Tamarin didn’t take time to explain, she just dove between Ysabel’s lefts and bound towards the fore yelling “Kuzu!”
Behind she heard the startled “Oh!” as Ysabel entered the captains quarters and sad the bloody Haka.
Burn Cream
Tamarin shook awake Kuzu, a old balding elf with stubbled on his chin and his head. “The captain needs you in her quarters to help someone who is hurt and told me to get your burn cream.”
Kuzu woke with surprising speed. “Who’s earned the Captain’s wrath this time?” This wasn’t the first time someone was screaming at him about someone else being hurt to wake him up. He flung himself out of the hammock, grabbed him medical satchel and started waking towards the stern. “If someone is burned…I’ll tend to them.”
Tamarin was racing back and forth annoyed at Kuzu’s speed. He walked with a limp, and didn’t seem to be rushing “Here, let me carry your bad so we can go faster.” Tamarin tried to snatch the satchel from his grasp but he held fast [failed scrapping check] and shook her off “In my experience, if someone is going to die, they’re going to die. A few moments won’t make the difference.”
When they got to the captain’s quarters it was staring to get full. Deslin had climbed down to see what was going on. Ysabel and Captain Blackmane had dragged Haka out of the doorway so people didn’t keep bashing the injured elf when the opened the door.
The doctor looked at the wound surprised “they aren’t burned!” As he kneeled down to tend to Haka and opened up his satchel, Tamarin filched what she hoped was burn cream. [failed stealth check]. Kuzu grumbled “thief!” but wasn’t going to stop try and stop her at this point. He had a patient to tend to.
Tamarin noticed two things as she waited for the doctor to set down the bag. First, he had a brand on the back of his neck. Kuzu had once been someone else’s property. Second, Haka’s shadow had stretched and distended and made it’s way to the stone tablet on the captains desk. A problem, but not one she had time for!
Tamarin bolted back down to the hold. On the way she interrupted Aonghüs and his revelry again. She pulled him aside once more with the excuse to Evelina that they were going to get the “good stuff”.
When they were alone Tamarin told Aonghüs he needed to get Haka out of the captain’s quarters. Their shadow was doing something bad.
Aonghüs understood the words she was saying, but not how any of it made sense “But wait…you said I couldn’t go into the captain’s quarters.”
Tamarin yelled “figure it out” as she bolted down into the hold.
When Aonghüs turned he saw Evelina who followed them and asked in a slurred voice “where’s the good stuff?”
Aonghüs went up as Tamarin went down.
Healing in the Moonlight
Above deck Aonghüs went to the captains quarters but as he arrived, Merna ran out of it and thrust a bucket into his hands “go get some clean water from the hold for the doc.”
Aonghüs went back into the hold and Ev once again asked “where the good stuff” but this time he filled up a bucket of water and drenched her in it! Sobered by the bracing water, Evelina stared at him like a drowned rat.
“Evelina, I need your help and I need you sober. Haka’s hurt and he can only heal in the moonlight. Help me convince the doctor to move him onto the deck.” It was a total lie, but Evelina wasn’t questioning him at the moment. Shaking herself with vigor and forcing herself to attention, she followed after him.
Below, Tamarin delicately plastered pasted on Bowdyn’s arm but it kept bleeding and he kept moaning in pain [failed first aid check]. She used all of the balm and it seemed to do nothing!
“Bowdyn, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve got to go get Kuzu.”
Bowdyn, pale as death and too weak to move shoot his head “No. No one can know.”
Tamarin cared more about saving her friend’s life than she did about his secret. “What happens if they find out?”
Bowdyn had to summon all his strenght to speak “Sickness cannot be on ship.”
“Then if they cast you off, you can come with us.” It wasn’t much of a consolation, but it was something. Bowdyn loved being a pirate more than anything else, but if that was going to be taken away from him, he was glad he’d have a friend.
Tamarin once again bolted from the hold to the the decks above. She was getting her steps in!
Meanwhile Aonghüs and Evelina made it to the captains quarters and Aonghüs made a plea to Kuzu that Haka was part of the Goji Elves, and they healed better in the moonlight.
Kuzu didn’t know much about Goji anatomy, but he did know the Goji were part of the Ammeni… the people that enslaved his people. He looked to Aonghüs and said “Zu?” A questions the warrior didn’t understand. When he responded “Aonghüs” the healer could not tell if he was a killer or not, only someone who didn’t understand Zaya culture. But he relented. The wound was bad and if moonlight would help, he wasn’t going to turn it down. [successful genealogy check]
Though Aonghüs was convincing, he wasn’t subtle. His eyes kept darting to the stone tablet as he saw that Haka’s shadow had dragged one of stone pieces off the board and heard it clatter to the floor. Captain Blackmane didn’t see the errant shadow, but she did see Aonghüs’ furtive looks!
He helped the doctor carry Haka out onto the main deck and felt the had to strain to move the body. Haka’s shadow did not want to let them go!
Tamarin made it to the main deck in time to see Kuzu working, slowly, so slowly on Haka’s wounds. He had a steady hand and wasn’t rushing. He had no idea there was a reason to rush. The stress and the waiting all got to her and Tamarin started to feel it overwhelming her [failed resist check and taking level 3 Reason harm from all the stress].
Quarantine
When the surgery was finally done the the doctor looked at her with distrust. He was going to find out what she was up to, but it was late and he didn’t plan to do it tonight. To his surprise Tamarin followed him and once they were in private told him “Bowdyn is in the hold. He’s burned badly and needs your help.”
That explained the burn cream, but not why she hadn’t told him about Bowdyn, a trusted member of is own crew while he was working on an elf that could have been his slaver in a past life.
He was tired and mad and didn’t trust Tamarin at all, but wasn’t going to let any of those things prevent him from helping Bowdyn.
They descended into the hold together and before they saw Bowdyn, the smelled his burns. “What happened here?”
Tamarin couldn’t really explain, but once he was inside the hold and saw Bowdyn’s burns…and his cursed flesh, it made sense.
“You used all my salve. Haka, they’re a poisoner, yes?”
“No! They are an herbalist.”
Kuzu shrugged as though that was just semantics to the Ammeni. “Go get their herbs, I’ll need to make a poultice.”
Bowdyn had passed out from the pain and the doctor was clearly not going to abandon him so she ran up to get Haka’s herbs. “I’m takin these for Bowdyn” she yelled as she passed the now barely conscious Haka.
Aonghüs told them both about the shadow stealing one of the pieces. Haka told them about the spy. Important things, but not things they could do anything about right now…
With Haka’s herbs and Tamarin holding the light, bringing in water, and helping out however she could, Kuzu gingerly tended to the giant’s burns. [successful medicine check]
Late, late, late into the night Kuzu collapsed as the work was done. Bowdyn had roused during the treatment and looked to Tamarin, wondering what they should do about the doctor. What would he say?
As Kuzu was packing up his instruments Tamarin made her desperate plea. “What are you do now?” Tamarin didn’t have to mention the contagion, they all knew.
“I’m going to tell the captain and let her decide what to do.”
“Don’t you think there’s enough going on right now that you shouldn’t cause more panic? I could take care of Bowdyn and you could quarantine him down here with the ‘flu’ and you could tell everyone to stay out. We still need to find out who attacked Haka and the captain has enough on her hands right now, doesn’t she?”
“It’s not my job to decide to keep the captain from panicking…but it is my job to keep the crew safe, and keeping them out of here is wise. This isn’t a solution, you’re only delaying the inevitable, but you keep Bowdyn down here and you make him drink water, and I can keep your secret for a few days.”
Finally, sleep
Aonghüs offered to stay up on watch so that Haka (wounded) and Tamarin (exhausted) could get some rest. He hummed a little song ostensibly to keep himself away, which was truly a lullaby to help Tamarin recover [from her Resolve harm, which Bowdyn had also tried to help her with, even in his enfeebled state]. Though she slept it was fitful. Too many thoughts. Was there an assassin on board? What would happen to Bowdyn? What did the shadow do to the stone tablet? [failed music check].
Aonghüs didn’t end up staying up all night either. Soon his own lullaby sent him off into sleep. Thankfully no assassin came in the night!
The Green World?
In the morning as the crew was rising to work, our heroes convened around the convalescing Haka. The wounded elf was in a philosophical mood and asked Aonghüs as very personal questions “How does one get into the Green World?” Aonghüs was taken aback by the question (as many Khale would have been) and wanted to know why Haka was asking. He offered half answers about giant trees and finding paths, but eventually admitted he had never been. Though Khale children have an easier time passing through the veil, it had never happened to him. Truthfully he was afraid to go. His ancestors were there, and if he found is father there, then his father would be there too.
Haka pressed, and by this time Tamarin was interested too. Was the shadow world that Haka could enter tied to the Green World, a liminal state between them? Aonghüs didn’t know and didn’t like being asked. Deslin who heard the three talking joined the conversation and offered that you don’t casually ask people about the Green World. It was a place of reverence and spoken about in solemn tones. Ask again at night when the moon is above and the water is quiet, not when we have to swab the deck, pull the sheets, and watch the waters. [Reason recovery scene for all the characters]
Crew duties
“Come on Aonghüs, you’ve got a good hand with a needle and thread and we need to mend some nets.” Deslin and Aonghüs headed out to work with the rest of the crew, sharing spliffs as they shared work.
South on the starboard side of the ship he saw the giant rocks that bordered the sea of teeth occasionally broken up allowing small Khale fishing villages to thrive. He saw kids on the water and waved at them and they waved back excited to see such a great ship pass by.
North on the portside he saw a the massive whirlpool that sit in the center of the Sea of Teeth. The Bloodbark was a safe distance from the whirlpool, but Aonghüs could still feel it’s pull on him. What could it possibly contain?
East, the direction they were heading was the Dragon Strait two weeks ahead, and beyond that the nameless island his father had been marooned on. Dad island. Unless he dead. Dead dad island?
Tending to Bowdyn
Tamarin brought food and water down to Bowdyn in the hull. He had retained some of his color and seemed less defeated than last night. He also seemed resigned to his fate, he’d be a pariah on the crew and would have to leave. He hated the thought, but it was less loathsome if he had a friend with him.
The traded stories of fights they had. Tamarin asked if fought a horse? Bowdyn asked if she had fought a giant crab. They boasted and shared stories, true and otherwise [Instinct recoery]
The Missing Piece
Haka found Captain Blackmane at the helm, taking them further east, further away from the Sky Fire. The captain was glad to see Haka and looked at them with expectation “I didn’t send someone to interrogate you this morning as I thought you might still be recovering, but I’m glad to see you. What can you tell me about this spy?”
Haka revealed the parchment with charcoal scratches and told the captain about the lantern light signals. Though she couldn’t decipher them on the spot, the code was familiar. Given time and her log book she’d probably be able to piece it together. But there was more on her mind “Haka, I’ve been watching the stone tablet you brought me and the Ammeni warship that was coming our direction, getting closer that I would have liked.” She paused to make sure thing last part was heard clearly. “Last night, after you collapsed in my quarters that piece disappeared.” She looked at Haka intently, trying to read the inscrutable elf.
“Maybe a piece was knocked off in the commotion?” the offered helplessly.
“The only person I know didn’t take the piece was you, because you were unconscious the whole time.” [We all had a laugh at the irony of this very false assumption]. You’re the one who understands how the tablet’s magic works, can you help me find the piece?”
Haka readily agreed, it was just what they hoped to do!
“First Mate Evelina, to the helm. Keep our course!” The captain called as she turned the wheel over to Evelina, who accepted it with a sour look, but did not defy her captains orders.
Not one spy, but two!
In the captain’s quarters Haka saw the stone tablet lying inert. Thankfully their shadow was also acting as shadows do. Either the sorcerer was not actively using his spell…or it had already done all he needed.
Haka looked on the floor nearby but could not find the piece. The room was just as cluttered as the rest of the ship, filled with half empty bottles, rags, rigging, maps, plunder, and detritus. They could have spent hours searching and only scratched the surface. Haka found nothing, just as the captain expected, for she had looked as well.
Haka placed their hand on the heavy tablet and felt a pull from their waist. Something in their pocket was moving of it’s own accord. Gingerly they reached in and felt the stone piece their shadow had claimed the night before! They were the unwitting thief!
Haka couldn’t just reveal they had the piece or Blackmane would think they took it, so they once again feigned a seance, shaking and murmuring until they crashed back into a pile of plundered platters and stolen scarves. Blackmane eyes them with concern and after the shaking stopped, she offered Haka a hand up….and beneath him found the missing piece. Did Haka plant it there or did the spirits guide them? She couldn’t know, but for the time being chose to believe the latter [successful opposed deception check].
Blackmane placed the stone figuring on the board and watched it slow inch forward. In the past it had been approaching he Doomed Bloodbark, but now it was right behind them.
Outside, from the crow’s nest Merna called down. “Captain! Captain! There’s a ship out stern. No, that’s wrong. There’s two ships at our sterm!”
Crew ran to the deck to see the ships in pursuit who moving in a V shape towards them, one from the northwest and one from the southwest. The southern ship as another giant galleon, a warship that seemed to appear out of the shadows. The northern ship, a smaller swift schooner had a blue hull and blue sails, it had been camouflaged by the sea. Aonghüs and Deslin clambered up to the crows nest and used Merna’s spyglass to get a better look. The blue schooner was a Khale ship, with a giant lantern mounted on the bow!
From the helm, Evelina shouted “Coming about port!” as she cranked hard on the wheel so their canons could face the oncoming ships. Though the crew on the deck felt everything shift, Aonghüs, Deslin, and Merna in the crows nest positively felt their world turn on it’s side!
My very fancy map!
What Rocked
As I said at the start, I just loved the characters banter between each other! The fact that they’ve all concealed things from each other is great. Haka is very allusive about what “ending he illusion or reality” means, Tamarin doesn’t want anyone to know she’s a practitioner of Three-Corner magic. Compared to that Aonghüs lying about being a pirate seems positively trivial..
The confined space of the Bloodbark is perfect. There’s a handful of named crew members that have their own beliefs and goals and fears, and it was fantastic to see how they all clashed into each other.
As mysteries go “who is the spy?” has been a fun one to play out. While the Khale ship is close behind, the heroes will still benefit from finding out it’s intentions. Can Haka convince the captain to decipher the text with two ships in pursuit? Will the spy turned assailant strike again?
I don’t always want to give the player a handful of problems to deal with at the start of the session, but I do love the tension that happens when it’s impossible to do everything and people have to pick their priorities. I also enjoyed cutting between characters just as the action was about to reach its zenith. It gave a lot of energy and urgency to the scenes.
Poor Bowdyn, he’s such a tragic figure. I’m so glad the heroes (especially Tamarin) care about him. He so badly wants to be strong for everyone, but his strength can’t fight the disease.
Kuzu was a new character, but I knew who he was quickly. I liked playing the ship doctor torn between his duty to tend the wounds and save someone who might have been his slaver in a past life. He would have been a lot more suspicious of Tamarin if she hadn’t just told him what her whole burn cream heist was all about.
What could have improved
I probably should have had the Khale ship coming from the east, and the two ships pincer the Bloodbark, but ah well, it’s fine if there were Khale hiding in Ammeni waters.
I wish I did more to trigger the character’s keys. We read them at the start of the session, but I didn’t give them a lot of opportunities to act on them. We only got a few XP this session. I think at the very least next session Tamarin’s Key of Bloodlust will come into play!
Secrets Found
Just because I know the players are looking for them, I’m keeping a log of the Secrets they’ve encountered and who can teach them.
- Secret of Knock-back – Bowdyn
- Secret of Rat Vision – Evelina
- Secret of Zu – Hinted at by Kuzu (he doesn’t know it, but he knows people that do)
- Secret of Magic Contagion – Zediwck
- Secret of Magic Persistence – Zedwick
- Secret of the Forest Transport – Aonghüs might know someone who knows this.
