KALAT

Executioner 2

Welcome to Session 2 of Executioner! I've tried Lonelog, which used to be called Solo Notation (or something like that). This really helps me give not only a formatting but mental model for how to think of soloing. Although the PDF for it was clearly written with AI, and honestly I'm feeling a bit yucked out by the fluff of the writing because of it, it's still a good tool that I'll be incorporating in my solo gaming henceforth. At least, I'll be giving it a shot.

Not sure about the clocks, it's mechanizing something that could totally be purely in the roleplay. But, it helps me pace and tempo the scenes and session. Useful in that sense.

I've also noticed that I have a kind of writing style, and have been trying to experiment and see what works. Once again, there might be proofreading and spelling errors here and there, please call them out to me when you see them.

The Champion’s Howling Phalanx overtakes the Forbidden City, Sifi’s home. He tries to leave the alley he was in, in search for escape out of the gates.

S2 Streets of the Forbidden City

@ Look in the street for a friendly. 
? Is there a friendly in the street?
d: 2 -> No
=> Sifi comes out to the street, no friendly face in sight. Soldiers flooding the streets spot him, and begin to chase.

@ Escape from the soldiers. 
d: 19 < DEX 9 -> F [E:Escape Soldiers 0/4] [E:Capture Sifi 1/4]
=> Sifi is tripped by a Phalanx trap, falling flat on his face.

@ Get up, and run into the nearest building, hopefully to conceal himself. 
d: 15 < DEX 9 -> F [E:Capture Sifi 2/4]
=> Sifi makes his way into a building. 

? What kind of building does Sifi run in to?
d: 44 -> Rebellion Assassins
=> Sifi runs into a City Thief hideout, the Bandithaus, wherein all the remaining of his comrades are being locked up and captured.

“Don’t trust the Champion, Sifi.”

Banners fly high above the buildings. The sigil of the Howling Phalanx. Carved upon the burning towers and homes. Sinking and rotting the city.

A shame.

They’ve spotted him. Sparking flames torch the bristles of Sifi’s cloak, and he keeps sprinting through side streets and alleys. Clanging weapons and gear resound.

“Through the alley, near the Bandithaus. I’ll circle around!” One of the chasing soldiers signals, keeping up with Sifi.

Half a dozen troops surrounding. Sifi fumbles, a pipe catches him by the ankle. He flies flat-faced on to the ground. His face stings.

“There he is!” Several guards now jogging into the alley way. “Caught you, little mouse.” Standing over him, three, five, six, seven Howling Phalanxes.

Nowhere to turn. Sifi casts his gaze up above. Most of it is red, orange. Past the bright is the cool, blue sky. Stormclouds colored with the warm fore.

“Storm mother, if ye exist, show me now.” Sifi whispers to himself.

His prayers are answered — a mouse runs over his forehead, into the hatch next to him. Sifi makes quick action, wrenching it open in the nick of time, and sliding in. As he closes the hatch, a glaive strikes through, screaming voices, and a sudden shift in temperature.

“Blast it all! He made it into the Bandithaus. Command the Lieutenant to make thorough search within.”

Sifi makes it into the Bandithaus.

S3 Into the Bandithaus

@ Search for a hidden weapon somewhere in the base. 
d: 1,20 < WIS 11 -> C [E:Escape Soldiers 1/4]
gen: the Dagger of Flaying Oblivion, "Oblivion Flayer", inflicts DEX, made of Obsidian, devours their soul. 
=> Sifi takes the Oblivion Flayer, a dagger kept by the Bandits. 

? What room is Sifi in?
tbl: Treachery Crusaders
=> Running into the underground cellar.

Cool, stale air. Dripping sweat. Sifi ties his hair up, pulling his cloak down. He looks around.

The bedquarters. Sifi knows this place inside and out. He silently makes his way to the locker. Curdling screams, shouts of mercy, and commands. Search for the white-haired one! Bring him to me!

They don’t see Sifi on the ceiling, climbing above them on his way to the hidden locker room.

It’s untouched. The hatchdoor is dusty, unopened for several years. Inside, dustbugs almost cause Sifi to cough. Then, there it is. On a plush dais.

Sifi pauses, standing before the dagger. A single bead of sweat drops down on the blade.

He grabs it.

“Alright. Flayer, guide me.” Sifi exits the way he came in, searching for a safe way out.

? Does a guard notice him in the hallway?
d: 1 -> Hell no!
=> No one takes notice of Sifi, too busy killing his friends. 

@ Search for a way out. 
d: 10 < WIS 11 -> S
=> Sifi safely makes his way out of the Bandithaus. [E:Escape Soldiers 2/4]

Out the backway, where once he was shown to leave in case of emergencies.

? Does anyone survive the Phalanxes in the Bandithaus?
d: 1 -> Hell no!
=> Everyone in base is slaughtered. Only Sifi remains.

S4 Need a Mount

@ Search for a horse to ride swiftly out of here. 
d: 15,18 < WIS 11 -> F
=> Surely, there are multiple mounted Phalanxes. However, they are too many for Sifi to take on. 

? Do they take notice of Sifi?
d: 5 -> Yes
=> A Phalanx spins around, spotting Sifi in the side street. 

@ Pose as a friendly, telling the Phalanx he worships the Champion. 
d: 12 < CHA 9 -> F
=> The Phalanx is unconvinced, and doesn't care. He tries to grab Sifi. 

@ Shake off his hand. 
d: 1 < DEX 9 -> C
=> The Phalanx thinks better of it, seeing the blade in Sifi's other hand.

A horse, that’s what Sifi needs. He looks around with his trained eyes, and surely enough spots one. Two, three. Many. There’s too many, mounted Phalanxes are exactly what Sifi is not capable of taking on at the moment.

Unfortunately, the Phalanx he looks on feels his gaze. Swiftly, the head pivots, precisely locking on the white-haired Sifi. “Halt, civilian! Come over here!”

Sifi puts on a farce. “Yes, sir! Thank the Champion you’re here! I was about to —”

“Hands on your head. On your knees, as well. You’ll thank the Champion I’ve found you.” Dismounting, the Phalanx brushes his howling breastplate clean of ash. He rubs his fingers free of ash, reaching for his shackles.

As the soldier approaches Sifi, he doesn’t hesitate to pull out the obsidian dagger he has just procured. Other hand put forward to the soldier, he unsheathes the dagger. “I was gonna try the amicable route. Oh well — stop right there, cur!”

Hesitation comes over the howler. The knight shifts his weight backwards, halting his advance. Brandishing the glaive on his back, the howler turns around for his helmet. “A dagger! He has —”

@ Begin combat with the Phalanx. 
d: 4 < WIS 11 -> S 
=> Sifi goes first in initiative. 

@ Leap forward while the Phalanx is turned, and drive the dagger at his back. 
d: 10 < STR 13 -> S
d: 15 (d6 + DEX 9)
=> The Oblivion Flayer decimates the Phalanx. [E:Escape Soldiers 3/4]

Sifi, growling, pounces on the soldier. The Phalanx has his back turned at the wrong moment, and the obsidian dagger that Sifi wields plunges deep at the Phalanx’s neck.

Guttural and harrowing, a ringing baritone yell escapes the Phalanx. It dies in a single blow, and its soul leaves. Any color in the man’s visage pales, and a muted grey takes its place.

Surprised, Sifi reels back the dagger as soon as he can out of the bloody corpse. “My… Storm mother bless me.” Wiping his brow, he mounts the horse the man left behind.

Sifi rides to the gates.

Reflection

Shortening scenes and making a more natural effort at the prose is a little more fun for me. Also, mechanizing then writing out the prose exercises and feels more natural for me. In actual play, it would sort of look like this.

Tell me what you think! Enjoying this so far!

Eating the Book--a response to 'We Need to Talk About Goodman Games'

This article gave me the feeling that I can run a linear story for my friends. So, since reading this about a month ago, I've been slowly inching my way through Impossible Landscapes. Read it, and reflect on the proposition Orthopraxy makes. It makes me think how vibes are one of the main things everyone at the able should be bought in on. Otherwise, why even play?