Kal-Arath Actual Play Part 7

Cruel, cruel fate.

Journey day 8. Light rain. Lost = Time spent at POI. Outpost settlement with Corpses. Oracle tables: Ruined. Corruption. 

Kharn and Paimon come upon a small outpost settlement. It is silent as they approach. The walls are crumbled in many places and the buildings look like they have been uninhabited for ages. Desiccated and skeletal bodies lay around the settlement. Paimon notes that it is curious that animals did not deal with the bodies long ago. Cursed perhaps?

Oracle: Is the settlement cursed? Yes, and… the dead rise. 4 skeletal warriors and 2 more every 4 more rounds until 8. Skeleton warriors 2d6 HP (5 - 2, 10, round 1) (6, 8, round 4) (5, 10 round 8) (6, 6 round 12). Initiative Kharn and Paimon. Rage counter (6). Kharn has a slashing weapon vs skeletons not at advantage.

Rustling and scraping is heard as skeleton warriors begin to shift and rise. Kharn yells, letting a deep Rage overtake him as he swings Gorechild into the helm of a skeleton rising near him. The attack is mostly deflected and he sidesteps a reaching sword swipe as the skeleton staggers upright. Paimon casts Crimson Palm Scripture to steal 5 HP from a rising skeleton near him. Both fighters can see other skeletons rising near and far. They will need to deal with these undead quickly.

Kharn strikes again, but his attack is parried. He in turn parries an attack. Paimon fails to cast Eternal River of Blessed Strength, a slight lancing pain can be felt in his leg as he steps back from a swing from the skeleton.

Kharn swings and does minimal damage. He avoids next hit. Paimon also swings for minimal damage.

Both Paimon and Kharn use up their fate points. 

They see the other skeletons rising and hobbling. Paimon calls out for them to run. Kharn reluctantly agrees. Paimon receives a minor cut as they retreat from the settlement. The skeletons do not cross the boundary. They leave the settlement as they found it - cursed and dangerous.

Paimon’s scroll of Crimson Palm was damaged. Kharn failed his Rage recovery. Rolls at Dis. until long rest.

That night at camp, they are alerted by light footfalls and see the golden eyes of wolves from just outside the firelight. They can make out 4 pairs of eyes as the wolves growl from the shadows. Kharn signals Paimon to follow his lead as he takes meat from his pack and throws one near a wolf. Paimon follows suit with more meat.

Oracle: Does this satisfy the Wolves? No.
Wolves (6), (7), (8) and (4) HP, Bite d6 x 2, Pact tactics (roll -2 to dodge when outnumbered) Morale 8, Armour 0.

Kharn, still tired from his rage earlier throws more meat out to the wolves hoping this will satisfy them…

Oracle: Does this satisfy the wolves? No, and.. They attack. Initiative Kharn and Paimon.

As the wolves come in snapping and growling, Kharn is able to cleave into the first wolf that comes at him and is bitten in return. Paimon missed with his mace and is mauled badly by 2 wolves. Kharn slices with Gorechild into one wolf, killing it as Paimon strikes another. The 2 wolves attacking Paimon start to tear apart and fight over Paimon’s right leg. Paimon goes down.

Kharn disembowels another wolf that goes down with a yelp.

Remaining wolves pass the morale save and keep fighting. 

The other wolves turn to him and and begin to maul Kharn who also goes down. He falls unconscious and succumbs to his wounds, the wolves tearing both Kharn and Paimon apart.

Kal-Arath is a harsh place and death can come at any time no matter how ferociously one may fight.

Notes:

This session was difficult. I was becoming more and more invested in Kharn and Paimon. I really wanted the wolves to take the rations and move on, even trying twice, but the dice would not allow it. Kharn suffering from exhaustion after failing his rage recovery (rolling at disadvantage until a full rest) followed by the wolf pack skill (PC’s dodge at disadvantage while out numbered) and 2 attacks per wolf and Kharn having some low damage rolls - all combined for Kharn and Paimon to be taken out by the wolves.

It was gut wrenching watching, in my imagination, each roll push them closer to death, Paimon falling, Kharn still fighting until he too fell. I sat for a bit thinking of all the things I imagined Kharn would accomplish, fading away - and it was ok! This is why we play, right? All the feelings and emotions we have as a character experiences highs and lows during sessions.

After, accepting the death of Kharn I started thinking - what next? A spark of excitement and ideas came about as I started playing the new character I rolled up. Very different than Kharn and a blast. I will say that Kharn (wherever he is) is seething at what is happening next.

I hope you are enjoying it all so far.

Kal-Arath RPG is by Castle Grief.