First session of Lone Wolf multiplayer game – part 3

Read part 1 and part 2.

Previously, we ended with our adventurers at the Kai Monastery, ransacking exploring the various rooms. To completely introduce the introductory adventure, I thought we should look at the missing option from before. The Giak battle had another branch, that of negotiation. *muahahahaha* Excuse me while I reflect on the ridiculous nature of this option with respect to my friends.

So if they had passed the surprise Test, they’d have noticed the Giaks before crashing into the clearing. At that point, they could still attack. Or they could try talking. *ahahahahaha* I’m sorry, but did you read what I said when a flitting shadow fled North West (to the attack site) from before? Archer nocked and loosed his arrow before confirming the identity of the shadow.

Anyway, there was a story branch where the leader of the group of Giaks, Grimtooth, could be persuaded to leave without having a battle. The Giaks might possibly leave with the Gold Crowns (the currency of Magnamund), but the wagon goods would be left intact.

After a restful night’s sleep at the Kai Monastery,

I choked at the word “restful”. I’m not sure if the stables offer that… Oh by the spirit of the Sun, I’m treading on dangerous grounds again.

Escorting the merchant

The sun rose bright and shiny the next morning. Kai Master Stormsong appears again, with another task, from the same merchant as before. Oh I didn’t mention it. The players couldn’t care less anyway, but the name of the merchant was Harbold. I decided to give Harbold a slight country styled accent. I found that if I kept my right side of the mouth in a slight grin when I role played Harbold, I could project a fun-loving easy-going man. At least that’s the idea.

So the merchant needed an escort. After the successful return of his goods, he thought the world of this bunch of Kai monks and desperately yearned for their company. While protecting him on the journey of course. Harbold didn’t hire other guards. My friends would be all he needed (they are, but they might be more than he bargained for…).

As before, my friends didn’t want to leave the Kai Monastery. Torturer went to the kitchens, to ask for salt and flour. “Whatever for?” I asked. Torturer gave me a grin. “What do you think they’re for?” I remember reading somewhere that, when you’re torturing someone, one of the best fear tactics is to allow your victim to imagine the kind of horror that can be inflicted. What can you do with salt and flour? I don’t know. Sometimes, the mere mention of the “ingredients” is enough. Torturer probably has a good idea. The more innocuous the ingredients, the more fiery the imagination. I seem to be as bad as Torturer. Where’s Stormsong to keep these people in line when you need him? Oh right, I’m the GM. I keep forgetting…

Beastmaster wondered if he could recreate the effects of D&D statuses. He could hurl salt at the enemies’ eyes and blind them. Then he and Torturer went to see if they could stockpile on potions of Laumspur. I pointedly ignored them.

Archer went to the Armoury. Possibly to say goodbye to the horses in the stables next door.

Then I finally kicked them out the gates of the Monastery. There was enough room in the merchant’s wagons for all of them. Archer went to sit shotgun with Harbold. He nocked an arrow, ready to fire. He was also ready to Mindblast anyone into smithereens. I’d say Harbold chose the right bodyguards.

Torturer amused himself with shining his shield. Blender retreated to the back of the wagon with Catatonia. “To, uh, make sure the goods are ok” assured Catatonia.

Beastmaster started singing a bawdy song about a gerbil, a lass, and the lass’ behind. This was going to be a long day…

Imposters

The day wound to a close, the sun setting quickly. And five figures stepped onto the road. The leader steps forth and raises his left hand.

No sooner had I said that when,

“I shoot an arrow at him” said Archer.

What? These people wore the royal coat of arms, they’re soldiers. Apparently. Well, they’re not. But that’s beside the point. I thought quickly.

“He sidesteps and avoids the arrow.” I said.
“Wah, he’s fast.”

And then Beastmaster leapt off the wagon and,

“I plunge my spear at him.” announced Beastmaster.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. How do you GM for people like these?

“He avoids that as well.” I said.
“Wow, he’s damn fast.”

There was a section in the script for players with Sixth Sense. Well, as you can guess by now, the soldiers weren’t really soldiers. The leader was preparing to attack.

I was still trying to keep the situation under control. Oh who was I kidding? I read the script that advanced the situation to attack mode. Well, the script didn’t take into account what happened with the arrow and the spear attack. Harbold was supposed to say that the soldiers didn’t look anything like the King’s Guard, and that they’re imposters.

“Duh.” said Torturer, brandishing his shield.

This time, they decided Beastmaster and Torturer would be in the front line of battle formation, with Archer, Blender and Catatonia (Ha! ABC! I did not plan for that.) bringing up the rear. So Archer could shoot. Oh yay.

An arrow plunged deep into the leader’s shoulder. Beastmaster speared him to near death. So much for the initial miss of the arrow and spear.

Then Torturer did something that completely messed up the script and my wits.

“I’m going to take my shield and bash him, but not enough to kill him.” He roared and *bished* and the leader went down. Technically, he’s dead. But because Torturer spared him, I had to let him live.

The rest of the fake soldiers were taken down quickly. Oh, and Catatonia stayed out of the battle and kept close to the wagon goods. “To keep them safe.” he said.

The Pavlovian Circle

I was going to continue with the script when Torturer interrupted me. “Now we’re going to interrogate this guy.” I forgot about the leader.

“I am going to form a Pavlovian Circle around this guy,” said Torturer.

The Pavlovian Circle would be formed by the others standing in a circle. Torturer laid down his shield and flipped his Kai robe’s hood over his head. He laughed in a low timbre. Then he held his hands against the temples of the leader.

“Who are you? Who sent you?” asked Torturer.

I told them I needed a few minutes.

A brief aside. There was a behavioural experiment conducted by Ivan Pavlov. Basically, his dogs responded to certain stimuli and started salivating without the presence of meat. What Torturer was doing, was conditioning the victim to respond truthfully. If he lied, some Kai in the circle would do something nasty to him.

Did I mention these were supposed to be Kai monks?

My few minutes were up. I had to flip forward in the script to get some information.

“My name’s Dunal. Dunal Torn.” I begged with my most pathetic voice.
“Who sent you?” Torturer continued.
“Jasper Kleth. I don’t know anything! I swear!”
“Why did he send you?”
“I’m just to kill the merchant. That’s all.”

Torturer glanced at the merchant, Harbold. “Who’s Jasper Kleth?” Harbold, taken aback by the ferocity of that gaze, muttered “Jasper’s my business partner.”

The bunch of them then came up with the plan of dressing up as the soldiers. They wanted to go with Dunal, and that he report to Jasper that Harbold was successfully killed. And then they would kill Jasper. Probably Dunal as well.

I said I needed another few minutes. Oh @*#! What was I going to do? Ok, stay calm. Go with the flow…

Dunal took a chance and scrambled out of the circle. Archer Mindblasted him and he fell face down. Torturer trudged towards the fallen killer, nudged his boots at Dunal’s ribs and flipped him over.

They were going to do more nasty things to Dunal. Dunal’s supposed to be dead by now. He had no further part in the rest of the adventure. He’s supposed to be dead now! I needed him dead.

“I’m going to ask you again. What else have you planned?” Torturer dragged his words.

I said Dunal bit his tongue and died.

Up next, a leprous beggar. The beggar was innocent, I swear.