The Immortal Seal: Ilphas Part 3
After finding a second bonfire, Ilphas pushes further into the catacombs.
Area 6. Down to UD 8 now. Fortune: Opportunity with risk. Scenario: Chest. Encounter: Bandits. Quirk: Slumbering. Curse: Shadowvoid: Darkness.
Ilphas finds two sleeping bandits in the next chamber. They are slouched around a chest. It looks like these two Wanderers of the Abyss have been trying to open it to no avail. Ilphas has no time for bandits and attacks.
One extra die for advantage: Highest result 4: Minor effect. 1 damage. Remnant: Arcane. I chose Effigy from the short list. I also awarded 3 throwing knives from the bandits.
Ilphas charges in, dispatching the bandits and taking only a minor wound in return. He smashes open the chest to find an Arcane Effigy. A fine prize indeed. He finds 3 throwing knives on the bandits.
Effigy: A memory of self. Burn at a bonfire to heal 1 corruption.
Throwing Knife: Deftly thrown, a tide may turn. Consumable. May use one per combat.
Area 7. UD: 8. Fortune: Danger unleashed/Trap activated. I’ll go with a simple blade trap here. Dex roll: 3. Null effect. Damage: 2. Attempt 2: roll 6. Max effect. No damage.
Ilphas is surprised by a blade swinging out of the wall as he crosses a walkway. It knocks him back. He steadies himself and runs through on his second attempt.
Area 8. UD: 8. Fortune: Reward with price or opportunity with risk. Scenario: Work of art. Encounter: Disembodied voice. Quirk: Unique eyes. Curse: Misshapen.
Ilphas finds himself in a low lit with a wondrous mosaic covering one whole wall. The torchlight glints of the ceramic pieces. The mosaic depicts two combatants fighting, a demon stabbing a goatman with a spear. He is startled by a deep voice “Ay, pilgrim. What is it you seek?” It is then that Ilphas notices the mismatched eyes of the goatman blink, its head begins to turn and its body twists within the mosaic. Ilphas says “The Resurrection Cycle to be mended.”
I wanted the test to give a chance for Ilphas to try out his cunning stat. If he “fails”, the goat will attack depending on his roll. Cunning check: Null effect.
“I see into your heart! You want to end all things!” The goatman's image twists and turns more, combining with the demon. It pulls itself free of the wall and Ilphas finds himself standing before an amalgamation of demon and goatman made of glittering mosaic pieces.
Combat 2d6 for Str, 2d6 for the infused sword: Highest result: 3: Null effect. Damage 4 minus 2 for shield and helm.
Ilphas is quick with Bloodthirst, but the goatman is deft with his spear. He keeps Ilphas on the defense, getting through his guard.
Combat roll: 4d6: Highest result 6: Greater effect.
Ilphas gathers his resolve and retaliates with a flurry of strikes ending in a deadly flourish. The creature shatters into thousands of pieces on the floor.
I will gift 2 remnants here. If Ilphass “passed” the test he would have been gifted one. The felled opponent allows the second. Gifted remnant: Attire: Ring. Quirk: Engorged. Curse: Shadowvoid, darkness. Lore: Ambiguous origin. Purpose: Guidance. Very cool. It will guide through pitch black environs. Remains remnant: Weapon. Quirk: Sublime. Curse: Chaosflame, savage. Lore: Ambiguous origin. Purpose: Destruction. So much to work with here!
Ilphas sees a glint on the wall and digs out a ring. It's intricate and houses a light blue gem. Thinking it may come in useful, he puts it on.
After sifting through some of the mosaic on the floor, Ilphas pulls out the very spear used by the creature. It is jet black with glowing orange veins running through it. Ilphas straps it to his back and will contemplate more on it later.
Abyss Ring: Forged long ago, Wanderers of the Abyss use this ring for guidance. “Let the ring guide you home.”
Chaos Spear: Exquisitely forged spears used by Sentinels of the Chaos Flame. Said to be imbued with fires from the very Warped Bed of Life itself. Use or break to Imbue another weapon.
Area 9. UD 8. Fortune: Valuable reward. Scenario: Lock/Cage. Encounter: Beast. Quirk: Crossbreed. Curse: Tainted Rot, parasites. Cunning check to find the reward: 5: Minor effect. I will play this as finding the reward, but the beast escapes the cage.
Ilphas finds himself in a strange looking room. It is warm and damp. Cages line the walls with dead creatures. Odd looking tools lay about some tables and a corpse, clearly Rot infected lays across a table. Ilphas decides to search the area, minding where he steps. He notices something tucked behind a cage in the far corner and is surprised when the seemingly dead creature barks and shakes the cage. It looks like a cross between Wyvern and Dog. It bursts from the cage and its chest opens to show Rot infested parasites as it closes on Ilphas.
Combat: Str2, Imbued sword 2, throwing knife 1: highest result: 5. Minor effect: Damage 1. Death.
The creature roars in Ilphas’ face as he leads with a throwing knife down its maw. It thrashes, throwing larval parasites in all directions. Ilphas lops off one of its arms and then another but not before it bites Ilphas in his side. He sees the creature collapse as the vortex spins his body and consciousness apart.
Ilphas awakens at the Crooked Lord’s Bonfire. He can feel the corruption deepen inside of himself. He takes out the Effigy and concentrates on his memories. When it is tossed into the bonfire, Ilphas wafts the smoke over himself, feeling some of the corruption subsiding. Next, he examines Bloodthirst, noting its imbuement from the Crooked Lord’s soul essence has faded. No matter, he takes the Chaos Spear and with great force of will, cracks it over his knee. Carefully tracing the broken ends over Bloodthirst, he imbues his sword once again - this time with some of the very essence of the Warped Bed of Life.
Notes:
I decided to begin drawing out the map here. I do most of my playing on my laptop and sometimes draw out maps etc. The map was getting too big for only my mind’s eye. I also started rolling a d3 for doors. 3 would equal dead end or 1 door if no other way was available.
Creating items (Remnants) and their lore based on prompts is fantastic.
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This system seems like a lot of fun, I've been enjoying that Illphas is more about throwing himself into the chaos, rather than skirting around it haha. The prompts for the item creation looks ace, I love finding cool loot in video games, but the fantasy TTRPG's I've played always fall a little short. This seems like much more fun!
Another great entry! I felt more tension in this one, but it also has some good rewards. And you're right, the item creation is really cool.
Post the map next time if you can!