Xara and Sabaar #2
Solo Shadowdark TTRPG play in Giathos
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Session Tagline:
The party approaches Ongesa and searches for a rhythm. Another orphan becomes a made adventurer…
Primor 7, 1671
Ration consumption of all characters for Primor 5-6. Rations low all characters.
Xara Qawai - Acolyte of Mother Sala
Saleese has been leading the way back to her village. I've done what I can in attempting to persuade her that this endeavor is folly, but revenge has its claws in her heart. I am not sure what her situation was before all of this but it is clear that she has a will of iron.
She studies Eazim at his meditations. She clearly covets of his staff and books and has desire of arcane power kindled within.
Kaba, of course, is made of meeker stuff. Sabaar has taken it upon himself to go easy on the child in his own way. He's been teaching him how to squire effectively and I heard him sneaking some of his reserve of gogujo he keeps hidden in the secret compartment of his pack. I think Sabaar always wanted a brother, not to replace me, but he's always found someone younger than him to mentor when he's about the business of being a good soldier.
According to Saleese we will reach the village of Ongesa soon. The hillside is already marked by a wake of destruction. An outpost we stopped at had been stripped and burnt to the ground. Green paint marked the territory as belonging to the Celadon Porcupine, the mercenary company outlaws that have taken over the town.
A plume of smoke reaches up into the sky, we assume there will be plenty of destruction to behold.
Crouching down amongst the rushes on the side of the road, about mid day by the sun, we plan our approach.
"We need to approach quietly and carefully, I would assume they have eyes on the road going into town. If they are hidden we will need to flush them out and keep them from giving away our approach"
There are two dilapidated small buildings straddling the road on the way into the village limits. A wooden sign that assumably once read "Ongesa" next to the road is covered in white and green paint. I find it strange a mercenary company would bring paint with them, but here we are... Mother Sala protect us.
"Those buildings were fruits stands and a guard shack once upon a time." Seleese said with a hard look in her eye. "These fiends have desolated everything that was Ongesa. When can we start killing?"
"Please calm yourself. This is serious business and some or all of us could die in this attempt to take back a backwater village...We must be intelligent about this" Sabaar interjected. "Xara, you and Kaba will approach in the open from the south along the road, I will sneak up to the window of the guard shack and if anyone is in there I will dispatch them and we will continue on our way."
I nodded my acceptance, looking over at Kaba, he was clearly trying to hold back fear from his face. I tried to tell them, it is not safe for them with us, Mother Sala protect him.
"Sir Eazim" Sabaar started but Eazim spoke up immediately. "I will not hang back, give us a useful position for myself. This one can guard me with her dagger" - as he nodded towards Saleese. "It was good enough against the wyvern it will be good enough against lowly brigands"
Sabaar's only response was a flat look towards me.
"That is fine, I don't hate this idea. We are doubled up except for Sabaar who has a knack for going quietly when it's important."
A memory came to me unbidden of Sabaar and I when we were younger and he would sneak food for us form vendor carts. The guilt of our actions in those younger years is partly why I ended up a follower of Sala, to pay back those debts.
I shook my head. "Kaba and I on the road in, Sabaar sneaks up, Sir Eazim and Saleese on an obscured approach angle...let's get it done. If there is anyone in there, they cannot be allowed to raise the alarm."
We got into our positions. Kaba and I used cover-ups to look more like poor merchants laden with goods that might be taken from us and less like able-bodied men-at-arms. I made sure my mace was easily accessible, and kept my shield on my back. Kaba borrowed a dagger and very much helped the facade I was putting forth.
Xara: CHA Check with advantage (19)
Sabaar: Use of 1/day ability "Stealthy" to turn invisible for three rounds plus a stealth check: DEX with advantage (6)
Eazim and Saleese chose an angle that would not be easily spottable if something where to go wrong.
Oracle - is there a patrol on the road leading into Ongesa? (50/50)
1D100+1D4 (77) Yes : 1D4 (2) bandits are posted
Oracle - are the scouts hidden in Ambush? (50/50)
1d100+1d4 (74) Yes
Initiative!
Guard 2: 20
Sabaar: 16
Guard 1: 13
Kaba: 11
Eazim: 10
Saleese : 8
Xara: 0
As Sabaar approached the guard shack he is invisible and could not see his own legs. Focused looking in the window lead him to misstep and he crashed forward into some discarded barrel parts outside the window. Two voices whisper-shouted to each other in common and Sabaar could tell they’d been alerted.
Guard 2: WIS check disadvantage to detect Sabaar (18)
One of the owners of the whispering voices peaked his head out of the window nearest Sabaar and looked right at him. Leather helm tight against his head he scanned the area back and forth and then looked directly at where Sabaar was standing. Sabaar slowly looked down and saw that his boots were leaving heavy footprints in the mud. He may have been invisible but he was also easily targetable.
The guard lowered below the window sill and came back into view with a shortbow drawn and arrow knocked. Sabaar had only a moment to think as the arrow was loosed directly at where he was standing.
Guard 2: Shortbow at disadvantage (6 - miss)
The arrow sung in the air just past Sabaar’s shoulder. He did not hesitate further and lunged forward blinking into view as he pushed his longsword forward through the window.
Sabaar: Longsword (17 - hit - 5 dmg)
Sabaar’s longsword cleaved into the open mouth of the guard driving up through the soft pallet and crunching into the base of the skull. A short grunt is all the guard managed to get out before he went limp at the end of Sabaar’s sword.
The other guard screamed-grunted: “Korag, NO! You bastard!”
Morale Check: DC 15 WIS (17 - success)
“I’m gunna fucking end you, then Ima tell the boss so your friends are obliterated!”
Guard 1: Club attack (5 - miss)
“Madam, what do I do?! What is he doing?!” Kaba exclaimed as he drew his dagger and ran up to the window on the west side of the guard shack.
“Don’t let your fool brother get himself and the rest of us killed. And watch this carefully.” Eazim smiled at Saleese and rushed forward, his dark robes flapped behind him, to get an angle on the window above Sabaar. Wheeling his hands out infont of him gathering magical energy…
Eazim: Magic Missile DC 11 INT with advantage (16 - success) 1D4 (1) dmg
A blue/purple bolt of magical essence formed hand and launched into the window as the guard was struck in the shoulder and spun down behind the window.
“Gods be good…” Xara exclaimed as she drew her mace and rushed towards the door on the north side of the guard shack.
“There’s one still in there, if he gets away all is lost!” Sabaar shouted in Kaxian and ran around to the north side of the guard shack taking the side of the door opposite Xara.
The remaining guard came crashing out of the door and as he ran by, loosed a knocked arrow towards Sabaar, his shoulder clearly damp with blood…
Guard 1: Shortbow attack (9 - miss)
Sabaar flinched as the arrow was loosed in his direction and stopped himself so quickly that the bolt flew through the air directly in front of him.
Kaba rushed forward and attempted to stab the fleeing guard in the back.
Kaba: Dagger attack (17 - hit ) 1D4 (3) dmg
Before Kaba could think, he ran past lady Xara and was surprised to feel the length of his dagger blade punch into the back of the guard as warm thick blood welled out and over both of his hands. The guard shouted loudly, and fell to the ground reaching for the puncture wound in his back.
Kaba looked down at his hands, covered in the crimson lifeblood of another human being. Shaking, he fell to his knees…tears streaming down his face…
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Good writing and enjoyable read.
Love this! Great writing!