Hi. It's been a while, hasn't it? I finally got tired of not knowing what Glendal was going to do, and how he was going to stymie Dassadal's dirty plan to steal the wedding statuette. Believe it or not, it gnawed on me all these years. But I didn't feel up to the task to take it on. I felt absolutely blocked up, mentally.
Finally, something changed. Let's find out, together, what happens next!
As a reminder, I'm playing a solo Urban Adventure using the Scarlet Heroes rules from Sine Nomine Publishing.
Scene 3: Investigation: "Trick an Actor into revealing a Clue. Roll a die; on an odd result you face a Fight whether or not you succeed on the check."
It seemed to Glendal Lorg that the obvious next step would be for him to go to Fargle Nex's abode and find out directly from the Cleric of Cernunnos what was going on. Time appeared to be of the essence, since so much of his movements had already been either anticipated or reported on. As much as the Elf would have liked to spend an hour or two holed up with a lithe Elf dancing girl to assuage his hurts, he did not think he had the time to spare.
A quick visit to the local Cernunnos shrine, and a gold piece in the palm of the attendant, got him Nex's home location. Interestingly, it was in a part of town closer to the districts of "ill repute" than might be expected of a ranking priest. Then again, thought the Thief, considering Cernunnos was the god of virility, maybe it made perfect sense. Although if what Glendal knew of Fargle's love for his apparent-bride was true, the Priest might have a more difficult time remaining a polygamous Cleric of the cult. He might have a hard time, the Elf smirked to himself, then he scowled. Human humor was insinuating itself into his mind. Very distasteful.
The cautious Thief stood in the shadows across the street from the home. His keen danger sense warned him not to go bursting in, and his wariness was rewarded. Shortly after he arrived, a second group made its way through the street: three Human toughs and a finely-dressed one-legged older man who limped with a wooden leg, who was obviously a priest of some sort. The shadows made it so that Glendal did not recognize the heraldic device on the man's tabard.
The group knocked and the door was opened by Fargle himself. After a brief welcome, the men entered and the door closed. Immediately, Glendal slipped across the street to listen at the door. Unfortunately it was a stout wooden one and resisted his attempts to eavesdrop. So instead, he did what came naturally now that the situation had changed: he opened it and stepped inside.
To say his sudden appearance was unexpected was an understatement. He took in the scene: Fargle was demonstrably upset, in the act of gesticulating feverishly; the new priest was looking dour; and the three toughs were caught completely unawares and reacted by drawing protectively about the older man.
The tableau froze as everyone turned to look at the newcomer. Glendal instantly sized up the toughs as capable men (one more so than the others), and pigeon-holed the new priest: uncommonly old, even for one of his position; someone who obviously loved public acclaim, based on his finery; yet, a miserable old sourpuss. A closer look at his regalia showed him to be a Priest of the goddess of war, Morrigan. What in the world was he doing at Fargle Nex's home?
Glendal hazarded a guess but Fargle spoke first. "Why, Glendal, my friend, what do you here?"
The new priest scowled first at Glendal, then at Fargle. "What is the meaning of this intrusion? Nex, is this some sort of trick? An ambush?"
Fargle hastened to calm the man. "Nothing of the sort, Boon Kal. I am as much surprised as are you. Allow me to make introductions. This is Glendal Lorg, a friend who helped me much in a recent endeavor. Glendal, this is...."
"I know who Boon Kal is," Glendal bluffed, having only just now heard the name. He hurried on with his guess. "I was sent here by Dassadal. Dassadal Ul the Vainglorious Coachman from the Primordial Road, to be more specific. He told me I'd find you here."
The sudden light of recognition in Boon Kal's eyes told Glendal everything he needed to know: Boon Kal and Dassadal Ul were in on the intended theft together. Perhaps Boon Kal hired Dassadal, perhaps it was more mutual; the details were unimportant at the moment. But as suddenly as the light appeared in his eyes, it was smothered just as quickly as suspicion arose.
"Dassadal Ul?" the war priest said. "Never heard of him. Kunstanticus," he gestured to the taller of the thugs, "remove this insect."
With a ringing song, Glendal's sword flew from its scabbard. There was little room in the entryway area and almost at once he was surrounded. The dried blood from his earlier fights still crusted his clothing and he knew this might be more challenging than he wanted. But now was too late to stop. He tried his usually good move of feinting and stabbing at the leader, who surprised him by slapping it away and just as quickly stabbed back at him. With luck, it deflected off his leather armor. A quick jab with his off-hand knife took the first of the thugs down. In that moment of distraction, the tough named Kunstanticus, who was truly a brute of a fellow, zinged in for a well-placed blow. Glendal disemboweled the second thug, clenched his arm around the wound, and gave all of his attention to Kunstanticus. Glendal had hoped that seeing his two compatriots die at his blade would make the brute think better of things, but he was too eager to impress his priestly employer, and so Glendal struck him down with one last mighty move.
As the bodyguard fell to the floor, gurgling in his lifeblood, Glendal breathed a sigh of relief. For all of his bravado, he was very nearly on his last legs. With as steady a hand as possible, he pointed his sword at Boon Kal.
The aged priest completely ignored him. Instead, he addressed himself to Fargle. "Don't be a fool, Nex," he whined. "Call off this ridiculous wedding before word gets out, before it's too late."
Fargle seemed calmer now. "I won't do it, Boon. You don't know the truth of it all. I'm renouncing my clerical vows for her sake and that's all there is to it."
Boon Kal was unfazed. "You'll ruin us all, Nex," he said. "The Priestly class isn't normally allowed these sorts of things. I myself would have married long ago but it's just not proper! It can't be done!"
"That's your own fault, Boon," Fargle argued. "You had the same choice then as I do now. You could have been happy all your life with the woman you loved, instead of fighting useless wars and losing your leg."
Boon bristled at the criticism. "You go too far, Nex," he warned. "You don't know what I owe to the goddess Morrigan. Call it off, or I'll call it off for you, and you won't like the way I do it!"
Boon Kal suddenly seemed to become aware of the sword pointed at him. "Oh put that thing away, fool," he spat. "I'm no threat to you, that's what those imbeciles were for. It's obvious the temple needs to up its hiring standards." He peered more closely at Glendal. "I don't know how you connected Dassadal Ul to me, Elf, but you'll never be able to prove it. Now stand aside." He moved to the door, then stopped and said over his shoulder, "Nex, I'll have some acolytes attend to this mess. But heed my warning," then closed the door behind him.
Fargle Nex let out a deep sigh of relief, then looked at Glendal. "My friend, you have the most unusual talent of turning up exactly when I need you." He smiled, then grimaced when he saw the blood dripping from the Elf's armor. "Come, step inside my home and let's get you fixed up. I am still a Cleric with many talents."
* * * * *
Fargle Nex's first appearance in these missives is here.
* * * * *
The Investigation scene d10 roll = 7 "Trick an Actor into revealing a Clue. Roll a die; on an odd result you face a Fight whether or not you succeed on the check."
I rolled a d10 = 3; an odd result, meaning Fight.
I rolled for the "potential foe" and got "Priest of War." The fight difficulty ended up equaling 2 Thugs + 1 Brute. The Bute was a 3 HD foe, the Thugs were all 1 HD. I judged that the Brute was the Priest's bodyguard and that the Priest himself wouldn't fight.
The location was an elite location, "Exclusive Tea House." This seemed appropriate for a couple of high mucky-mucks. Naturally, I completely forgot this when I wrote the fiction above. Sorry.
The Priest was created with the Quick NPC Creation page. Age: "Uncommonly old for one of their current position." Family Situation: "Unmarriageable or estranged from their family." Source of Influence: "The love and admiration of those who know them." An Engaging Attitude or Temper: "Miserable, despairing at some personal blight." Most Powerful Motivation: "Payment of a debt so great that coin may not be enough." Most Notable Appearance Trait: "Missing a limb or eye to accident or battle-wound."
A couple of Oracle questions answered that he is missing a leg. He is human. And his name, from the wonderful as always Wampus Country name generator, is: Boon Kal, the Cannibal Myrmidon from the Living Beach!
The "Trick" from the challenge was, I decided, to get him to admit his part in the scheme to steal the idol. The "Trick an Actor into revealing a Clue" Challenge = Target Number = 9. I rolled 2d8 + 1 (CHA) + 2 (Streetwise Information Gatherer) = 13. I succeed on the Check.
The fight with the Brute and Thugs was a bit of a nail-biter. Glendal's Fray die took care of the Thugs, one each per round, but the Brute, being 3HD, was immune to it. Glendal, tired after his exertions 10 years ago, er, in the last scene, missed his attack, took a hit (that did no damage), did one point of damage, took 2 hits (bringing him down to 2 remaining!), and finally, and luckily, did 3 hits worth, killing the Brute. It could very easily have gone the other way. The Brute rolled a d10 for damage, and I was very lucky he rolled a 1 first and a 7 second. A 10 would have ended Glendal.
I asked the Oracle if Boon Kal would back down from his part in the plan, judging it Very Unlikely; d20 = 4 = No. I similarly surmised that he would not report the swordplay to the authorities, so as not to embarrass himself, or raise suspicions about his involvement. The Heat will not increase = 0. (Plus, they were socially acceptable victims.)
I then asked the Oracle if Fargle Nex would offer to heal Glendal's wounds, as a way of saying thank you for the help in exposing his nemesis. I judged it Likely d20 = 16 = Yes.
Glendal Lorg is now at 8 of 8 hit points.
Winning the Fight and the Challenge means I win the Scene.
Victory Points: Glendal 3, Them 0. Clues: 3. Heat = 0. I rolled 1d10 vs the total number of Investigations + Action Scene (3) = 7, so the enemy does not receive a VP.
Tune in next time as I finally continue the adventures of Glendal Lorg, Elf Thief. Really. I really do plan to continue.
Thanks for reading.
