Barston, Derron, and Faruin continue to look for the sword after a night of fighting undead creatures. The minimites return, and are perhaps a valuable ally in this search.
Now to see what the next encounter will be. We had two undead combat encounters next time, so I might find something a bit different if possible this time.
- 23 - Insect folk...
So I got this one before and ended up changing it notably to the minimites (Day 14). I think this might work. They are intelligent. As long as they are well fed, they can help search.
As the trio are eating a scant breakfast of nuts and grains, they hear a flutter of wings and six familiar figures land among them. And then start eating their food.
1d6 Provisions = 1. Not much, this time.
After a few minutes of snacking on some berries out of Faruin's hand, the one Barston thought of as "Thornpipe" flies over and asks in a tiny voice, "Hvordan var fortet?"
There's just enough bleed over that he figures the creature was asking about the fort. He gets Faruin to explain the fort was a trap and that the sword is elsewhere, possibly somewhere in the other ruins.
She gets a (Skill) 7 + (Yeulse) 4 + (2d6) 9 = total of 20. That's plenty to convey the info.
Thornpipe chirps to the others and the small group flies about, trying to help.
All told, we'll give everyone +4 (two minimites each) + 1 (a day searching). Derron keeps his +2 bonus.
B: 10+4+1+9 = Success. F: 10+4+1+8. D: 8+4+1+8. All three succeed, for dramatic purposes, we'll say...
At roughly the same time: Barston, Faruin, and Derron all turn to look at the most obvious structure in the area. The raised stone fist. And now, in the middle of the day, they can see a glint of light reflecting down.
Thornpipe and another of the minimites fly up and come down.
"Sværdet er i stenen!"
"Yes, I know what you mean," Barston says. Derron climbs up...
(Skill) 8 + (Climb) 2 + (2d6) 7 = 17. Enough to get up, I think, especially with minimites probably helping him to find footholds and maybe even helping to lift him.
...and can see it.
"The fist is gripping the stone tight. No wiggle room at all."
"How'd it get in there?," Faruin muses. Barston, knowing the history of the Bow that destroys magic users, has an idea. What if you took a sword with similar properties and then created a giant magical fist. Then you closed the fist around the stone. Once it was done, a great stone fist would be just plain rock with a sword inside.
This is cheap, but it's what I would ask as a player. Does the amulet the bone golem was wearing open the fist? (50/50) → 41. Yes. It's like a repeat of the before where a found amulet ends up being a key. Very old school gaming. I blame all the Eye of the Beholder I've been playing.
Barston takes a look at the necklace he found on the golem last night and walks up and taps it to the fist.
It would make sense that it would take Magic Points to feed the hand to negate the effect. Let's say 3d6 = ooo, 17. In AFF, Sorcerers use Stamina. But 17 stamina will KILL Barston. However...
Is the effect all at once? (Unlikely) → 39. No. It will do d6 a round.
As soon as he does, he feels his blood scream out in pain. Like his life force is being drained away. He falls to his knees as the agony gets worse and worse.
d6 = 3 damage.
Faruin sees this and runs over to him. She sees his skin drying, his color paling. Like he is losing blood. She starts casting healing magic on him.
d6 = +6 damage (9 total). She heals him for 5.
He joins in, praying also to Sennas...
d6 = +4 (13 total). He heals himself for another 5.
...and the twin powers of faith wrap around him as the world starts to swim in strange shades of gray.
d6 = +5 (18 total).
As Barston loses consciousness, he hears Derron shouting. The fist has opened, and from the ancient golden blade drops. The fist, having completed its final task, cracks and decays as it feels its centuries all at once.
Now an open palm, welcoming people from beyond the Mountains Midnight.
Leave a Reply