The Immortal Seal: Ilphas Part 4

Ilphas confronts a Legendary Remnant Keeper.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Still determined, Ilphas continues on. The two sleeping bandits have returned as Ilphas’ reality has reset again, curse of the Immortal Seal. Not all has reset however, he will not find another Effigy in the now open chest. Ilphas decides to cut his losses and creep past the slumbering bandits into the narrow blade-trapped corridor.

Dex check 4: Minor result. Damage: 1

Not yet knowing exactly when the blade would swing out, Ilphas is clipped as he runs past.

With the goat monster, I will have Ilphas attempt the Cunning check to see if he may be allowed through. Cunning: 1: Null effect again. Combat: 6. Greater effect. The throwing knife may have given just the edge he needed - only one left now. I will roll for the type of Remnant: Arcane. Not sure what to choose, I will roll on Purpose: Summoning. Damn, that is so awesome! Yep, still having a blast. Lore: Endless search. 

Ilphas tries to walk past the mosaic, but a booming voice calls out “Ay, pilgrim. What is it you seek?” Ilphas wonders if any answer would suffice as he yells “An end to your questions!”

The creature twists out of the mosaic again. Ilphas does not hesitate, quickly leading with a throwing knife followed by heavy downward cuts from Bloodthirst. This time unscathed, Ilphas watches the creature fall once again to many pieces. Expecting to find another spear, Ilphas is surprised to find another Abyss Ring. This one, however, is melded to a mummified finger. Curious. He pockets the finger and thinks on when best to use it.

Now in the room with the deranged caged experiments lining the walls, Ilphas attempts to creep past the caged beast. Just when he thinks he may be able to walk past the caged horror, it bursts forth again.

Combat roll best result from 5 dice (last throwing knife): 6. Greater effect. Remnant: Tool. Purpose: Protection. Lore: Unavoidable sacrifice (A consumable for sure). (forgot quirk and curse - not necessary if the ideas flow - but can be very useful.) Quirk: Ancestral. Curse: Tainted Rot, flesh made. Note: The curse table is set up a bit differently than some of the others and I am kind of winging it there. Let’s make it a Bloodshot Eye. Why not?

Ilphas is not caught of guard and deftly avoids the preemptive strikes from the, not quite dragon or dog, beast. When its maw opens, he throws a knife into it and quickly follows with sharp strikes to finish it off. Ilphas steps back as the creature seems to dissolve, leaving only a humanoid bloodshot eye. An interestingly effective but strange tool. Searching behind the cage, he spots another Bloodshot Eye.

Almost forgot the remnant from behind the cage: Consumable. Purpose: protect. Another eye will work.

Bloodshot Eye: Grotesque defensive tools used by Tainted Rot assassins. Pop one during combat to mitigate damage. Not knowing how it works is best. Consumable.

Area 10. 2 doors. UD: 8. Fortune: Valuable reward. Scenario: Haven! The haven is a nice reward, but I will roll for an encounter and have it benign if it would typically be hostile. Encounter: Deity. Yes, we will have the option for a Pact: Catacomb Stalker, very fitting for this dungeon. Quirk: Misshapen. Curse: Sanctification, radiance. Having already stated that Ilphas wants to repair the Resurrection Cycle, this was a no brainer.

Ilphas was relieved to find another bonfire and thanked the old and new gods for his fortune. At first, he did not notice the embossed skeletal figures covering the walls. It was their slow movement that finally caught his eye, then it was all he could do to tear his gaze away. The skeletal figures seemed to be moving in a continual flow around the walls of the room. He saw that they became more twisted as they slowly made their way across, until meeting a non-moving larger skeleton. They passed through it and regained their natural shape again to continued the cycle anew. Ilphas recognized the central unmoving figure as Neetal the Undying. Keeper of The Resurrection Cycle, giver of life and death and life again. Ilphas could feel his own essence pulled towards the figure. He knelt before it and swore an oath to not rest until the Resurrection Cycle was healed once again. He could feel the Pact run true. He was now a Catacomb Stalker.

Catacomb Stalker is a Pact. I’ll reference it when it feels relevant. Some backgrounds start with one. 

Area 11. Usage Die d8 rolled a 2. Now down to a d6. Getting closer. Doors: Dead end. Fortune: Valuable reward. Scenario: Shortcut. Encounter: Sorcerer. Quirk: From faraway. Curse: Chaos flame, root-shrowded.

The next room over holds a Sorcerer trapped amongst roots in a slight alcove on the northern side of the room. “Ah! It's been so long since anyone has come by! Please free me! I’ll help you in return. Just get me out of these damned roots!”

Ilphas cuts the Sorcerer free and notices the alcove seems to go further than expected. The Sorcerer laughs “Thank you! I saw the same and tried to head that way myself. Those damned roots took hold of me as I tried to pry away some of the loose stone in the back. Maybe approaching from the other direction will work!” He then bowed. “Logan, Disciple of the Tower at your service. I came here long ago seeking knowledge about the Chaos Flame. If you happen to come across any Arcane finds, please bring them to me and we can learn together.” Sorcerer Logan sat down and, head bowed, seemed to nod off.

Ilphas passed through the Catacomb Stalker Haven to head out the other exit.

Area 12. Usage Die roll: 1. Now down to a d4. Very close now. 1 door in this room. Fortune: Valuable reward. Scenario: Lift/Ladder Encounter: Merchant. Quirk: Slumbering. Curse: Concealed. Cunning roll: Minor effect. I will have that mean that the merchant will disappear. (I neglected the lift/ladder and slumbering components as I forged ahead with the story. No matter - they add flavor and are optional.)

Ilphas senses something in the room with him. He searches around and hears a cough. Just as Ilphas goes to strike out at that area, a diminished voice calls out “Wait! Please stop!” an odd looking man with a horned helm affixed with glasses appears holding his hands up defensively. He indicates containers and bulging bags around him. “I am but a humble merchant. Can I interest you in anything?”

Ilphas, lacking anything to trade, shakes his head. “Ay, swami, no matter. I’m sure we’ll meet again!” and before Ilphas could protest, the merchant vanished.

Area 13. Usage die roll 1: We are at the Keeper of a Legendary Remnant. Lore: Ambiguous origin. Quirk: Crossbreed. Curse: Shadowvoid, darkness. 

Ilphas walked down a long hallway and came to a fog gate. He could sense an immense power coming from the other side. He decided now was the time to use the Abyss Ring on the Mummified Finger. Ilphas grasped either side of the finger and snapped it in two. The pieces disintegrated as they fell to the floor. Ilphas pocketed the ring as the dust began to swirl. Laurence of the Abyss Walkers faded into this reality and gave a warrior salute before turning to the fog gate. This was not his first Summoning.

Laurence 2 Str, 2 Dex, 1 weapon and 1 armor].

Ilphas put his hand up to the fog gate and pushed through, Laurence following. They found themselves in a large cavernous room, glowing cracks lining the floor and walls. Intense heat made Ilphas flinch as he took in the large creature sitting atop a rocky formation in the centre of the room. It was a demon crossed with a dragon. Black as night with red glowing veins pulsing all along its body. The demon reared up, unfurled tattered wings and roared. Laurence was first to run in with Ilphas quickly following.

Combat: Str 2d6, Infused Bloodthirst 2d6, Laurence 3d6. Highest result 6: Great effect. Enemy goes to stage 2.

Ilphas and Laurence are both focused and fierce in their attacks. Laurence seems to sense the movements of the beast before they happen. Red gouts of lava begin to stream from the wounds on the demon. It rears up again and roars, unfurling its broken wings, this time calling on dark swirling mist. Complete darkness envelopes the entire area, but Ilphas hears Laurence fighting on. He then begins make out shapes as the Abyss Ring takes effect, showing everything in monochrome. He joins the battle with Laurence once again.

Combat: Same numbers: Highest result: 4 Minor effect. 3 damage minus 2 for 1 damage. Boss stage 3.

The battle continues with the demon on the attack, gnashing teeth and whipping tail battering Ilphas while Laurence still seems able to dodge freely. They corner the monster, Ilphas comes in with a deadly strike to the elongated dragon scaled neck. The darkness fades as the monster falters.

Keeper last stage roll d6: 6 New Curse: Crippled. Combat: 5: Minor effect. Damage: 3 minus 2 for 1. 

The demon begins to thrash around in its death throws, ropes of lava spurting from its body. Laurence deftly dodges and strikes as Ilphas is hit by some of the burning lava blood. They press on and finish the creature off. The large body finally drops heavily to the ground unmoving. The demon, or was it more dragon, begins to fade away. Laurence gives another warrior salute as he also fades from this reality.

Legendary remnant: Purpose: Restoration. Consumable. Quirk: Crawling. Curse: Chaos flame, savage. A flask that heals d6 decay once per bonfire rest.

Silence fills the cavern as all evidence of the battle is gone. A small form is moving along the ground where the beast was defeated. It looks to be an orange glowing flask with spidery legs walking towards Ilphas. He watches it and recognizes the design. Followers of the Elder Witch were said to create strange living tools. The orange glowing flask crawls up Ilphas’ leg and settles at his hip.

He turned to see a small flame on the ground that soon grew to a bonfire, bones and all. Ilphas sat and rested at this new Haven to contemplate his next move.

Living Flask: Followers of the Elder Witch were said to create strange living tools. This one may have walked out of the Warped Bed of Life on its own. Drink to heal d6 decay. Refills after bonfire rest.

Notes:

The ambiguity in the ruleset allows for varied creativity with creatures and remnants etc. I feel like I can re-use remnants or just keep creating new ones as I see fit.

I feel like the NPCs have been missed opportunities. I wonder if I should not allow Ilphas to imbue weapons himself and only use NPCs. Then he could trade and interact with them more. I think Imbuing with consumables make sense and something more involved may need an NPC.

That merchant was Domhall of Vena from DS 1 in my mind.

Clearly Ilphas was overpowered for the boss fight. Laurence the Summon added 3 more dice. It may have been more balanced Without the Summon. I’ll think on that a bit more. I am still really enjoying The Immortal Seal since I can make as Soulslike as I want.

1 Legendary Remnant down. 4 more to go.

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Just a sketch to track progress.