KALAT

Executioner 1

Welcome to my first post! This is the start of a campaign using Black Sword Hack by Kobayashi and published by The Merry Mushmen. Love the art style of Goran Gligović, and the tone of the Moorcock books. I'm not that well-versed, only halfway through the first book of Elric, but I'm trying to branch out.

Not sure how long this campaign will go, I think until Sifi dies and or the next character dies. I usually find myself getting bored of the endless mechanics of solo play, and it's much much slower than playing with others. That aspect of it, however, is a good exercise in mindfulness, taking it slow, and enjoyment. I'm always trying to be more present and slow down.

This first session was just one scene, but the preceding posts will be longer for certain, with multiple scenes. We'll see how it goes.

S1 Escaping the Forbidden City

Flames. Black-armored soldiers rush past. Grime drips down, marking black spots on Sifi’s white brows. He pulls his hood over, wiping his forehead.

Exhausted, he kneels next to a rotting, burning corpse.

“Mother! Where have you gone, we must run —”

A death howl. Sifi gives the dying one swift reprieve. Retracting his blade from the man's throat, Sifi towels his scimitar clean of the now dead corpse's blood. His amber eyes scan relentlessly, searching for an exit.

? Is it safe to leave?
d: 11 -> Very Negative
tbl: Destruction Ally
=> A Howling Phalanx finds Sifi. He throws an old friend over him. [N:Phalanx|HP 10|Damage 5]

Safe enough, enough of the guards have just run past. He sheathes his blade, gently closing the eyes of the rotting corpse. Then, Sifi begins to sneak toward the street.

Something flies past him. Like a massive boulder being tossed. A corpse.

Throwing himself to the side to dodge, the corpse is decimated against the floor behind in the alley. Blood pours out of its lifeless eyes. The suspect — gleaming in thick black armor, carved screaming face on the breastplate — is a Howling Phalanx.

“On your knees, civilian. By order of the Champion, receive your punishment. ” Its voice guttural, nonhuman. The mighty soldier gestures its gleaming glaive at Sifi.

? Does the Phalanx intend to kill Sifi?
d: 44 -> Positive but...
tbl: Exile Storm
=> Yes, but Sifi fights back.

Sifi unsheathes his bright red spear. Careless. Always careless.

Barely a whisper. “May the godmother have mercy.”

Exploding, Sifi rushes forth, aiming the pointy end at the soldier’s eye. Perhaps he can blind the beast.

@ Attack before the Phalanx. 
d: 12 > WIS 11 -> F
=> Phalanx first.

The trained soldier efficiently dodges, its armor smoothly reflecting Sifi’s blow. Pivoting, the Howler directs its glaive at Sifi's left kneecap.

@ Dodge the blow. 
d: 1 < DEX 9 -> S
=> Sifi avoids taking a hit.

Sifi barely dodges, kicking himself off the ground. Bouncing off the wall, he attempts to retaliate, aiming to disarm the soldier.

@ Attack and disarm. 
d: 6 (Ud6) -> No Doom
d: 6 < STR 13 -> S
=> Phalanx drops the glaive. [N:Phalanx|Damage-2=3]

The glaive drops as Sifi’s spear slices upon the soldier’s flesh. Blood shoots out of the metal gloves’ slits. The Phalanx growls, “You wretched man! Submit!”

Sifi pushes his luck. He lands on the floor behind the soldier. Unsheathing his scimitar, he attacks once more, unleashing a flurry of blows.

@ Flurry attack the Phalanx. 
d: 1 (Ud6) -> Doom Ud4 (note: Rushed attack)
d: 3 (Ud4) -> No Doom (note: Flurry effect, ie called shot)
d: 2 < STR 13 -> S
d: 3 (d6) 
d: 4 < STR 13 -> S
d: 2 (d6)
=> Phalanx is cut twice, Sifi is closer to being doomed. [N:Phalanx|HP-3-2=5]

(note: 6 die rolls for one action is pretty interesting. Didn't think such a thing could happen in this system.)

The blade cuts at the lower back. Sifi spins again and meets flesh, blood sputtering against the alley wall. Angered, the Phalanx grunts, supporting itself against the stony surface. “Insolent!” he screams, backhanding Sifi.

@ Dodge. 
d: 17 > DEX 9 -> F
=> Sifi coughs blood, slamming against the building. [PC:Sifi|HP-3=3]

In great pain, Sifi falls back flat against the wall. “Keep talking, mongrel. It might be your last.”

Sifi leaps forth with his free hand, aiming to grapple the guy’s neck.

@ Attack and grapple. 
d: 1 (Ud4) -> Doomed [PC:Sifi|+doomed]
d: 12 < STR 13 -> S
d: 2 (d6)
=> Phalanx falls on its back, dominated by Sifi. [N:Phalanx|HP-2=5|+grappled]

On its back now, the Phalanx falls to the ground, Sifi above. Wrenching the helmet away, Sifi gazes down. Bright blue eyes, a soft face.

The soldier yields.

? Does Sifi kill him?
d: 5 -> Yes 
=> Sifi executes the Phalanx slighty ceremoniously with his scimitar. [N:Phalanx|HP=0]

Sifi’s white locks are now stained red. He wipes blood out of his nose, and looks down on the man. He leans down to his ear.

“Be at peace. Death arrives.”

Blood spurting out against the floor. A puddle forms around the black armored soldier. Sifi disappears into the street, flame and chaos concealing him.

Reflection

This system is fun! Interesting that it has called shots which can be done with the Doom die, with the Usage die mechanic. It's a great enough mechanic that can be ported to other RPGs as well.

In terms of the actual posts, I do plan to try and practice my creative writing, but don't be shocked if it's novice sounding. I'm not super practiced as a writing. I encourage you (those who get this far in the post) to inform me if any proofreading errors I might have missed.

Have some ideas for some session planning posts, like reflecting on a multi-year Descent Into Avernus campaign, and reflecting in incorporating some new conventions at our gaming table. There's a bunch of great blog posts from other people out there, and here's one that's been really piquing my interest recently:

How to Set Up and use Faction Turns

Check that out! I plan to refer more blog posts in these articles in the future. Hopefully doesn't get too scattered and unfocused, but alas that's how I am. Thanks for reading!

2026-02-27 — Updated to Lonelog.
2026-02-27 — Revised some text.