Solo Donnut DIY RPG Playtest #5
In previous episode
The goat-like massive creature came out of the barn. Takrog hit it with his axe, Phythis ran away and only Ionos kept cold blood. When Takrog was crushed by the monster Ionos shot their magic and ran away. Phythis saw them while hiding on olive tree and followed. They both met on the hill, took their stashed things and walked away hoping the undead won't follow. Due to this encounter they both became Deathtouched.
In between adventures
When Phythis and Ionos finally found more civilisation they were able to get some rest and buy basic necessities. In the first small town visited the agent of King of Targay found them. They were provided gifts, clothes, equipment and invited to travel up the river on a boat. For the money from coin box Ionos bought a case with scrolls and writing supplies and Phythis some armour. After a week in which they were unable to get any information about their goal or the king and anything related they can finally see the city.
Ionos was able to write 5 spells onto the scrolls - Tongues, Ward, Shield, Sleep and Charm. They can use scrolls as spellbook (it will guarantee preparing up to 4 of them). They may wipe spells from scrolls in order to cast them immediately without preparation. Basically Magic-User stuff.
Ionos at the moment of writing has prepared a new spell to write into scroll: Hold, as well as [2d6+Power+High Magic 11+1+1] Charm, [4+1+1] and nothing else. Due to this they are Tired and have Entangled Mind. Due to changes in counting backgrounds I decided on 1st, 4th, 7th and each 3rd additional Background or Ability you get (counting both character creation and adventuring) you get new Heart. And since Phythis got debility of Deathtouched due to chimera encounter she gets additional Heart.
Currently
Ionos: Heart, Tired (spell preparation), Entagled Mind (-1 for spell preparation), Anxious (Deathtouched), Spells: Hold, Charm
Phythis: two Hearts, Anxious (Deathtouched)
Longboat swims up the river. It carries some people and a bit of indefinite supplies in barrels and chests. On both sides of the river are small stone building and crop fields and from time to time a wooden platform with a bunch of small boats tied to it. Up the river is visible walled off city with the same flat-roofed buildings made from stone. The river swims through it.
Ionos and Phythis sit at the deck of the longboat and watch the realm before them. At some point they spot kings envoy - yellow sage Rantif. He stands among the sailors looking at their work and making remarks. "They're preparing to stop, I think. He is making sure of it" says Phythis. They both go and greet him. [Reaction: 3] His face or behaviour doesn't change a bit.
"We wanted to know if you're able, in your wisdom, prepare for meeting the king. We're not sure if he'll be gracious since so much of people have fallen in this journey" starts Ionos. After the initial pleasantries Rantif answers but it is so muddled and indirect [Phythis Wisdom: 8+0] [Ionos Wisdom: 10+1] they barely get any information - basically that King has some delicate troubles with trade which can have political repercussions and that Rantif sees them and this whole affair as unnecessary. Ionos considers casting Charm on him but yellow shirt on a sage suggests he probably has taken some precautions and is knowledgable of arcane arts at least a bit.
Lore dump
Yellow Guild is one of a few widely ranging organisations which emerged after gods left the world. Yellow sages - also called yellow scholars or golden mages - took over the role of priests thanks to knowledge of common magical rituals. By sharing their knowledge they were able to establish a standard and use it as a substitute of religious rituals regarding death, birth and marriage as well as fertility and protection.
Among large mystical organisations Yellow Guild is known for their good quality amulets and talismans, found in the whole known world, deep into lands covered by Black and Red Guilds. Sages deal mainly with giving weddings, "baptisms", funerals, anointing the sick, making rituals of protection against undead in individual homes and whole communities, directing natural energy of the world to make crops grow better and keep people in good health. They also search for new rituals, refine those commonly known and take care of spiritual needs of people. If it's viable they also deal with contact with powerful local spirits.
They don't have flashy instant spells like wizards do but they still can come prepared. Also alchemy can mimic some of wizards efforts. They hold significant political power in a lot of regions and kingdoms.
Back to now
After these answers Rantif starts talking some more in general about the kingdom. It is stretched from hills in the north to the hills in the south, visible if one is above river level. Near water are villages and a lot of farmers, in lands further where watering fields is more costly are left as grasslands for pastures, which go far until the hills. The northern grasslands are patrolled by Sworn Wardens, legendary unit, protecting the kingdom from northern rulers. To the south are stables where kingdom breeds horses, one of it's riches.
Hills behind the city are the actual source of wealth and prosperity in the area, full of high quality rocks and veins of copper. Also among the hills is placed sanctuary of Yellow Guild. In some regions to the south hide bandits and foreign agitators trying to destroy peace of this land.
Rantif then disappears between sailors. Phythis speaks with them [Reaction+Pirate: 7+2]. Sea slang is rather simple language but they are able to convey that longboat is going to stop in next village as the envoy has to pick messages and reports for the king, and usually comes back a few hours later. As they say that the boat really does stop next to nearest platform.
Not seeing any problem with it adventurers decide to take a look around, maybe get some knowledge Rantif so adamantly guards. Phythis changes clothes to something close to sailors attire and takes her sword. Ionos stays in their dark red robes, additionally draws signs on their face similar to those Takrog used to wear. to look even more intimidating. They pack two scrolls - Sleep and Tongues - just in case they need to use them.
Comments
I am really glad I added mental stat back - Wisdom - and I think this one should be the only one. I also like the tiered conditions - as Dusty -> Dirty, Tired -> Exhausted, Anxious -> Scared. I decided that Ionos should have something other than "Exhaused" after failing spell preparation roll and for now call it Entangled Mind - in the end it has to just give negative modifier to deter too much spell preparation.
I really like how the story develops but I think my process is too slow and it doesn't help. It would take significantly less time if I didn't write it all down but then I wouldn't have this reference material. I guess it is time to slowly start looking for a group to use to playtest it, and in order to do that I'd need to write the rules in one place in understandable language.
Next thing coming in this line will be my hexcrawl turned pointcrawl of the Kingdom of Targay.