Xara and Sabaar #1: The Hills Between
Solo Shadowdark TTRPG play in Giathos
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Session Tagline:
Xara, Sabaar, and Eazim disembark on a journey to deliver Sir Eazim to a dig site at the base of the Northern mountains, but there is trouble on the way...
Primor 3, 1671
Xara Qawai - Acolyte of Mother Sala
Spring is here in earnest. The smell of budding flowers and the sounds of rutting animals fills the cool breeze. Truly we are in the presence of the goddess of life in such a time and place. We've crossed the limits of the Kaxian border into the wild rolling hills east of the Great Lake Buharat. The ferrymen of the eastern shore outpost informed us our Holy King's scouts have taken losses and there's rumor of some large beast flying away with livestock. We should expect heightened danger versus our previous field excursions. To this point, My brother Sabaar and I have not had trouble with our charge, The honorable Eazim Minalar, he has mostly kept to himself and has only joined us for meals and morning prayer to Mother Sala.
Charisma Check: Deception
Eazim D20 +0 => 2
Xara (Advantage: Religion) 2D20 K1 +1 => 7
There is something... off about those prayers. Sir Minalar says all the right words at the right time, but I have this feeling his heart is not in it. I will keep an eye on this. I know it would be highly irregular to question my superior and thus will not be discussing it with him directly unless I feel it will jeopardize our mission. We've been assigned to deliver him from the holy land to a dig site in Sil-Dimas across these hills, and we will do just that.
We plan to stick to the road until we are some miles from the regular patrol area. There's no benefit to us staying on the road as we are on foot and could become targets for bandits as Eazim looks like someone who has money. I was told Eazim can handle "roughing it" for some time, but Sabaar and I are used to going on journeys into the field relying only on ourselves so we must be mindful not to push him too hard.
Oracle - Chaos Level 0
Overland travel - 2 hexes per day on foot
Danger check: Is there an unexpected encounter this day?
(Unlikely: 75): D100 -> No (8)
The day is spent trudging amongst the green hills, following the road winding between them north and east. Some small goods-carrying merchants have passed us, but both stopped off to the side of the road and let us pass, keeping their distance. The drivers seemed on edge, and were displaying weapons. I wonder what is driving travelers to seek broadcast of their means of defense, hopefully we won't find out. We managed to travel some 12 miles, taking small breaks for sustenance as we went. Sabaar seems to be itching to get off the road, but Eazim is in no hurry to do anything, keeping his nose in a book most of the time. I asked him what he was reading, and he almost tripped over himself, but never answered. It is strange trying to pretend he is not with us, but that seems to be his preference.
Ration consumption: 1 for each character
Weather Roll: Fresh Wind out of the Northwest
Primor 4, 1671
Xara Qawai - Acolyte of Mother Sala Eleftheri
The morning breakfast was quick, Sabaar and Eazim must have been anxious thinking about what to expect from our first day off the road in proper wilderness. To me, this is a reason to be more diligent in our morning prayers to Mother Sala, but they merely indulged me and let me complete the ritual. Eazim's words were even shorter than usual, and Sabaar thinks I haven't noticed how he strays from the Mother's embrace.
We have a very basic map to follow. Our destination is a dig site tucked in the rocky hills at the base of the Protiki Mountains to the North. We foresee 5 to 6 days of travel to get there assuming the weather holds and we do not get lost.
This morning there is a fresh breeze coming off the lake out of the northwest. The sun shone on my face and brought warmth to my heart as I took a deep breath.
"Let's get moving" Eazim grumbled as he fashioned his bedroll into his backpack.
"Sir, we should expect the unexpected as we go forward from here. The hills can hide danger just around a bend, and there is always the threat of undead in remote places where dangerous magics are practiced away from prying eyes..." said Sabaar.
"Sabaar, I like that you speak your mind but please don't take that to mean I wish to be reminded of where we are, like some toddler. I value your experience, let's keep our arrangement in the context of the glory of the laws of our homeland."
"Yes, sir" Sabaar said confidently as he made eye contact with me. I could tell he wanted to roll his eyes, but I could also tell he was telling me to stay quiet.
We walked unimpeded for most of the day. Eazim reading his books, Sabaar whistling here and there when he felt it was safe, and me fidgeting with a set of beads as I mentally recited prayers of protection.
The hills dipped and swerved creating a rhythm in the land. Later in the day, as the sky turned an orange hue, we heard humming up ahead. Sabaar and I recognized the tune, it was an old Kaxian lullaby sung to children in their crib. We stayed cautious but did not hid our approach.
It turned out to be a farmer, his two teenage children, a cow, and some belongings. Seeing they were Kaxian, Sabaar suggested we break and trade some food and story about the area. Eazim rolled his eyes and I though for sure he would remind Sabaar again of his Wasat caste standing, as if we needed reminding, but instead Eazim found a place to sit off the path with his book and waited.
In his most polite Kaxese, Sabaar entreated the other group to join us. "Well met travelers, please join our respite and trade food and story. I am Sabaar, this is Xara, and our most esteemed Sir Eazim Minalar"
The elder of the three responded with proud eye contact and in a rural Kaxese lilt. "My name is Keer, these are my children Kaba and Saleese. We humble farmers hope not to bother you, but we are fleeing danger and heading back to Kaxos."
Keer eyed towards Eazim to see if he would have any reaction to his words. When there was none, he continued. "You are clearly warriors and we would be grateful to have company to make camp with. We have milk and dried beef to offer."
Sabaar politely probed. "What do you mean you are fleeing danger?"
At the question Keer's eyes went hard. "Our village of Ongesa has been attacked. We lost Kaba and Saleese's mother in the attack. Lawless bandits stole my farm and killed my wife. We managed to escape with our lives and Buela here..." Keer said nodding to the cow, which stared blankly in Sabaar's direction.
Sabaar frowned. "I'm sorry for your loss and troubles. What of the rule of law in these hills? Was justice delivered?"
Keer shook his head slowly, his face a mask of frustration. "No. There was Lord Oren Caltor we had arrangement with. We worked and owned our land and exchanged food for protection, but he was murdered by his son Balath. When the bandits came, he made a show of abandoning us and ignored the cries of those that worked the fields."
Sabaar was clearly uneasy with this news. “Thank you for sharing your story, we will keep the reputation of this new Lord Caltor should we come upon him. And we would help you petition for justice if we end up in a position to do so.”
“I appreciate the thought. Though I likely will not be able to hold you to it. We just want to get out of here. No more wilderness farming for us. It is lucrative, but it was not worth the cost…” Keer shook his head as he spoke.
“I will pray for your lost wife to Mother Sala, you may join us for morning prayers tomorrow if you wish to say anything in particular. I am a practicing acolyte.” I said in attempt to be friendly, pulling my holy symbol from beneath my leather breastplate. Keer seemed heartened by it, and I gave him a smile.
“We really have been pushing for our lives, I would lay my head to rest and will certainly join you in the morning for prayers.” Keer bowed his head in deference and helped his children finish setting up their camp for the night, a small fire started amongst them.
I thought to tell them the fire was a bad idea, but since they seemed to know the area and what they were dealing with, I didn’t press it. Everyone settled in for the night in proximity.
CRUNCH. SLURP. CRUNCH.CRUNCH.
I awoke with a start. I made no noise, but my eyes shot open. The stars above were dim and Seltor and Fengari were floating in the sky as slivers of waxing crescents giving little light. The disturbing sound of bone crunching and flesh being consumed was coming from near the now dwindled fire of the farmers.
I looked over to were Sabaar was sleeping and he wasn’t there. As my eyes adjusted, looking back to the dwindling embers, A low growl hummed in the air. I felt it in my bones. A long serpentine maw, dripping with blood, hung over where the dying light. A gust a wind swept over me as large bat-like wings buffeted the camp with one beat. Slowly the wings were raised and created a wide halo around the young wyvern’s head, as it reared back and looked right at me. Now I could see the part of a cow hanging from its mouth, which is let fall to the ground.
A flash of sparks went off to my right as Sabaar lit a torch and handed to me - his longsword gleaming in the other hand.
This thing took up so much space, and it was so close… It reared its head back and roared in our direction…
Combat initiative
Sabaar - 18, Young Wyvern - 16 , Xara - 9, Villagers - 8, Eazim - 1
Sabaar gripped his longsword with both hands and bravely charged the creature staying to the right of the fire. At the end of his movement he swung the blade parallel to the ground at his shoulders.
Sabaar Longsword: (5) Miss - Luck point spent - (20) Hit : 3 damage
Wyvern Bite x2: - (13) Hit : 5 damage - (6) Miss
Sabaar CON Check (13) Pass
Sabaar cut into the flesh of the Wyvern and blood spurt onto the fire embers. The Wyvern stepped back and lunged forward with its jaws open and bit down hard on Sabaar’s shoulder. He grunted as he stumbled and then reset his feet and bared his teeth.
Xara rushed forward holding the torch aloft in one hand and pulling her holy symbol of Sala - a small carved leaf set with bronze embroidery - and called to the mother to heal her brother’s wounds.
Xara Cure Wounds: (8) Fail - Luck point spent - (17) Pass : 3 HP gained
Sabaar HP: 5
Villagers Willpower Check: DC 9: Pass / Fail / Fail
Kaba and Saleese cowered at the sight of the creature, while Keer lunged forward with a spear and attempted to skewer the young wyvern through the gut.
Keer Speer: (19) Hit : 4 damage
Keer screamed as he put his entire body into the attack and managed to bury the spear tip into its beast, drawing attention.
Suddenly echoes of arcane speech filled the space as Xara looked over her shoulder and saw Eazim drawing forth magical energies from somewhere beyond.
Eazim Magic Missile: (17) Pass : 4 damage
A blue bolt of magical energy slammed into the Wyvern’s chest sending a spray of blood over Sabaar and Keer.
Sabaar sleeved the blood from his face and steadied his grip on his sword to cut downward looking for a vital strike.
Sabaar Longsword (8) Miss
As Sabaar’s sword was deflected by the rough scaled hide of the beast, it reached toward Keer with it’s maw wide…
Wyvern Bite x2: (20) Hit : 6 damage - (9) Miss
Keer’s scream was cut short as his head disappeared down the wyvern’s throat. His now headless body, fell in a heap as crying screams of horror erupted from the tent.
Xara steeled herself and drew her mace into a striking motion.
Xara Mace (13) Hit : 3 damage
Her mace crumpled in the wyvern’s shoulder and a wimpering growl ejected from the beast.
Willpower/Morale Check: (7) Fail
Villagers Willpower Check (Disadvantage): DC 9: Pass (Saleese) / Fail
Saleese rushed forth from the tent leaving her brother’s side with a dagger in her grip as tears streamed from her eyes.
Saleese (Dagger): (18) Hit: 4 damage - Killing Blow
As the Wyvern turned and began to slam its wings into the ground to get away from the pain it was experiencing, Saleese’s wild grief-ridden knife blow slammed into it’s back, severing soft tissue from bone under the wing, causing the wyvern to crash back to the ground thrashing itself apart. The creature howled and slammed the parts of its body still under its control. Blood, sinew, and bone were painting the ground as it tried to escape, but after a minute, it eventually bled out before them…
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Wow, Saleese now deserves her own story. Killing a wyvern that just killed her father, what a badass. Life in Giathos surely is tough and sad--losing both parents to violence just a few days apart. How did you decide on the wyvern encounter? The last roll you did on encountering trouble was a "No" but that was the day before.