The Short Life of Calraith, pt 2

An Actual Play of Kal-Arath

Jan 09, 2024

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I’m working on the next chapter of SOTWWS but it’s going to be a long one (and possibly the final chapter of the current case), so last week and this one, I’m sharing a play-through of the game, Kal-Arath that I played in Substack Notes.

If you haven’t, you should read part 1 first.

Copyright 2023 Castle Grief Permission granted to copy for personal use.

The Story of Calraith, pt 2

Name: Calraith
STR +1, AGI +1, TOU+0*, INT +0, PRE +1
*Shattered, 1 more day until I can heal past half.
Skill: Shapeshift (rage)
HP: 5/11
1 Fate point / Session (5 days or something exciting happens)
Equipment:
1 Good Horse
2 Mor Berries (+2 INT for 1 hour (50s))
3 Tarnak Berries (Use instead of Ration)
8 Rations
Tent

I ask the pit-fighter Gira if she will accompany me.

2d6 + PRE = 7 → No

“I have my own way to follow, Calraith. Perhaps we shall meet again some day.”

With my horse, I can travel 2 hexes in 1 day, depending on circumstances.

Weather: Unexpected Chill, -1 to foraging.

Lost? Following directions gives me advantage: Not Lost

Since I’m not lost and weather is good, I cross through 2 hexes.

POI: Yes → Watering Hole

I ride across the featureless plains, coming across a watering hole. I fill my canteens and continue on.

Encounter: No

I camp for the night, close to the village that Gira told me about. (1 hex away). -1 ration. 7 left.

Encounter: No.

I heal d6 + TOU = 4. Current HP = 9/11.

Day 13

Weather: Thunderstorm, -1 Forage, -1 Getting lost

Lost? Adv, -1 = No

POI/Encounter → No, I arrive at the village

Tribal Compound

Dominant group: Religious Sect

Notable NPCs:

-Thief → Goal: Attain Wisdom, Trait: Rough

-Warlord → Goal: Protect Family, Trait: Shrewd

Resources/Trade: Herbs, Specialty items

Rumors/Opportunities: Outlawed Rituals

Potential Conflict: Resource Scarcity

Special Feature/Event: Tournament or Contest

Reaction: Actively Helpful

Oracle: Hospitable

I find the village in the rain, a great crowd of people out, watching some kind of event, participants wrestling in the mud, watchers cheering, unbothered by the elements.

I am welcomed warmly and offered a tent to warm up in.

In the tent is a man with his hands tied together and a rough look about him, wild hair and eyes. A woman sits across from him, hair in a long braid, face painted with red, a warrior for sure. She sharpens a long blade on a stone.

“He is called Talrod, and he is a thief,” she says, motioning to the bound man. “I am Elva.”

“So you claim,” the man sneers. “I wasn’t doing anything.”

“You sit out of the rain in a warm tent. That’s better than most would treat a thief,” I say.

“The people here have strange beliefs. They believe we are all connected, that we all share one soul. They offer help to any they come across.” The woman continues sharpening.

“How long have you been with them?” I ask.

d6 = 3

“Three days,” she says. “I caught this one lurking about yesterday.”

“Do you know of an Ash Hassim who was seen here a few days ago?”

6→ yes and

“Yes, I saw him when I first came here and I know where he was headed.”

“Where?”

“The City, Talrak. 4 days by foot to the North-East. It seemed like he would be spending some time there. What do you want with him?”

“He killed my brother. I want to know why, before I kill him.”

She nodded. “Be wary. Ash Hassim are cunning and sneaky. They are assassins.”

I leave the tent and watch the wrestling. I am offered a chance to join. I do so.

2d6 + STR = 9 → Success

I beat my opponent, throwing him into the mud. For my win, they offer me a dose of Zhar-um, an herb used for healing. I thank them.

At night, I eat and sleep.

No night encounter. -1 ration. 7 left.

Heal d6 + TOU → 5. Current hp: 11/11

Day 14

Weather: Clear Skies, +1 Foraging/Getting Lost

Lost? No

I choose not to forage, trying to make up ground in order to catch the Ash Hassim still at the city of Talrak.

I ride my horse quickly across the desert.

POI: Yes → Dungeon/Ruin

Enc.: Yes → 2d6 Kuyu (5)

Reaction: Friendly

Dungeon/Type: Dungeon/Small

I come across a group of five Kuyu’s, cave-people, wielding clubs or spears and shields. They wave me over, friendly enough. It’s hard to understand them, but by their expressions, grunts and gestures, a unique but intelligent language they have, they warn me of danger in a nearby cave. They offer a torch, which I take and thank them by offering a couple rations.(5 left) Then, they move on. I find the cave, where it was likely they had settled, but within there is a door leading down into a dungeon.

I light the torch and head down. In the first room, I find a scavenger camped out with a bedroll and a firepit.

Reaction: angered/hostile

He scowls at me, pulling a dagger. “This is mine! The treasures within belong to me!”

COMBAT!

Scavenger(1 hp)

d6 + AGI = 6. I go first.

I rush him and attack with my torch.

2d6 + STR = 8. d6/d damage = 1.

I smack him over the head with the wooden torch, knocking him out. I take his dagger. He has little of value. +1 ration(6 left) I rip his clothes up into strips and tie his hands and feet to ensure if he does wake up, he can’t do anything.

I notice the way forward is blocked by many stones and would be impassable without effort, perhaps why the scavenger hadn’t gotten anywhere.

I attempt to move the stones.

2d6 + STR = 8 → Success

I’m able to create a gap large enough to crawl through. I find myself in an empty room and wonder who dug out these areas and for what purpose? Moving forward through a dark corridor, I stop myself from stepping into darkness. Crouching down and holding the torch low, I see a drop into a pit of spikes, which easily could’ve killed me. I hop over without issue. This corridor leads down at a sharp angle, into another empty cavern.

I walk around, seeing if there is anywhere to go, but it looks like I’ve come to the end. As I walk around, my foot disturbs something in the dirt. A wall gives way to a huge wave of water that hits me and knocks me over. The room begins filling the room. I must swim over to the passage to get out.

2d6 + TOU = 9 → Success.

I’m able to get up and out. I quickly make my way back to the scavenger, who is still unconscious.

What a waste, I think to myself. Was this just some trap-filled hole in the ground where some ex-warlord wanted to leave their treasure but never got the chance to?

I decide to camp here for the night.

Camp. -1 ration. 5 left.

Encounter: No

(At this point, I’m going to ‘end the session’. I’ve had a number of days, some (minor) combat and found important info about my quarry, so I give myself 2xp, and lvl up. I go for HP and gain +2. Current = 13/13. I take the Skill that gives me 1 point of damage reduction when unarmored. My wolf-ishness is making my skin tougher.)

Day 15

Weather: Unexpected Chill, -1 foraging

Lost? No

I arrive at the city of Talrak, large sandstone buildings spread out across the land, a 10-ft tall wall around it.

Dominant Faction: Mixed (Local militia or mercenaries, tribe/clan, warlord)

Important NPCS:

-Forager → Goal: Master Skill, Trait: Stern

-Scout → Goal: Establish Legacy, Trait: Fierce

-Nomad → Goal: Establish Legacy, Trait: Remote

Resource +Trade 1: Herbs, Specialty Items

Resource + Trade 2: Textiles and Clothing

Rumors/Opportunities: Lost ancient scripture, Haunted Canyon

Conflict: Internal (makes sense with the mixed dominant factions)

Special Event: Tournament or Contest

Reaction: 9 → Friendly

The main gate is open, a couple spear-wielding guards within, letting people pass. It’s busy, many visitors and city-folk moving through the streets, most heading towards the center it seemed, for some kind of event.

Unsure where to go, I am surprised to find the two nomad scouts I encountered in the south and shared a camp with one night, the ones who called me ‘wolf-friend’, Dema and Soma.

They bring me to a local drinking hole, purchase me a beverage and ask what has happened since last we met. I told them all, including the further experiences with wolves.

We drink and tell tales. They tell a story of capturing a great beast on the grasslands and bringing their materials here to sell.

I ask them if they know of an Ash Hassim who should be here.

Do they?

d6 = 2 → No.

No, they do not. But, they say, it is a big city and they do not know many here.

I stay at the inn with them for the night. Tomorrow, I continue my search.

Camp. No ration. No encounter.

Day 16

Weather: Unexpected Chill

I wake up in the city of Talrak and continue my search for the Ash Hassim. My nomad friends let me know they will ask around as well. Between the three of us, we should be able to find something.

2d6 + PRE = 7 → Failure

I ask around in bars and inns throughout the city, finding nothing. This Ash Hassim is a ghost, apparently.

I do find out about the different factions in the city. A local militia keeps the peace, the workers in the city were once members of a large tribe, and a warlord tries to hold onto his rule as the supposed ‘leader’. From what I hear, there is tension between them.

In one place, a food vendor selling grilled meat on sticks, I speak to a forager, his bag full of herbs, mushrooms and plants. He tells me he wants to be the best forager in all the land. He also informs me of an interesting rumor. A lost ancient scripture in a haunted canyon near the city, where few dare to explore.

I thank him for the information.

I meet with Dema and Soma towards the end of the day, to see if they fared any better than I.

d6 w/adv. = 6, Yes And

They are happy when they see me. They’ve found the Ash Hassim.

“He was here a few days, but has since left, heading towards a canyon near the city.”

The Haunted Canyon is (d6=1) to the North-East, (d6=1) hex away.

I tell them what I heard of the canyon.

“Perhaps he searches for the ancient scripture,” Sema says.

“I will leave tomorrow, to go after him.” I look at the two nomad scouts.

“We heard he is dangerous. The Ash Hassim are not to be taken lightly.”

Do they offer to come with me?

d6 = No, but…they offer something.

“Here, take our weapons, you have none and we can buy more.”

They offer me a shortbow, a few arrows(5) and a spear.

“Thank you my friends,” I say. “When I return, we shall celebrate.”

I sleep. Tomorrow, I go to the canyon and face the Ash Hassim. -1 ration. (4 left).

No night encounter

Day 17

How many more days of spring left? 2d6 = 4

Weather: Light rain

Lost? Yes

There’s a drizzle in the dusk before dawn as I wake and leave the city of Talrak behind me, the gray slowly lightening as I head north east on my horse, hooded cloak pulled tight, avoiding the muddy spots.

A few miles from Talrak, I come to the canyon, steep cliff faces dropping down. The canyon is huge, with many curves, tight passageways and zigzagging openings.

It would be easy to get lost in there.

I find a narrow switchback trail that gets me down but soon find myself turned around, lost in the depths of the canyon. I can find no trail or sign from my prey and decide to stay in one place, so as not to get more lost and wait for the rain to pass.

I decide to try to forage for food.

I find a bush of edible berries. +1 ration. 5 left.

POI: No

Encounter: No

I camp for the night, my initial anticipation turned to disappointment. I eat the berries I found. -1 ration. 4 left.

Encounter: Yes → Black Legion (6)

Reaction: 12 → Actively Helpful (phew!)

As I huddle down next to a sputtering fire, I realize all too late that I am surrounded. Six figures, hulking, with black armor on black steeds emerge from the darkness, one stepping forward.

“Why are you here in this place, wanderer?” he speaks, his voice deep, hand resting on his sword hilt.

I remain sitting, posing no threat. “I hunt an Ash Hassim who was last known to be in this canyon.”

The Black Legion leader weighs me with his eyes. He gives me a nod, accepting my answer. He tells me where the Ash Hassim is and how to navigate the canyon. “Once you face him, do not stick around here. Should we find you again, you will not leave this canyon alive.” The figures recede back into the darkness and I am alone again. Could they too, be searching for the ancient scripture rumored to be here? I will not be sticking around to find out. Tomorrow I would find the Ash Hassim and face him.

I sleep.

Day 18

Weather: 6

A heavy storm rolls in, making travel incredibly difficult. I wouldn’t be able to make many miles (a new hex) but then, I don’t need to. The Ash Hassim is close (same hex).

I push through the nasty weather, leading my horse, thankful to be in a canyon where the wind and rain isn’t so bad and being out in the open, though I do wonder about flash flooding, feeling the soft ground beneath my feet.

I keep moving.

Lost? No, following directions

Poi: No

Oracle: Do I find him? Yes but...

I come upon an empty camp, tent flaps fluttering in the wind, firepit out. Where is he?

2d6 + INT = 8 → Success

I turn, catching sight of him trying to sneak around me. "I see you!" I call out into the howling wind.

He stops and stands, tall, with long limbs. He doesn’t speak, only watching. He wields a dagger.

"Why did you kill my brother?" I yell.

Rain streaks down my face, blending with tears.

He doesn’t answer.

Who was my brother? 12 -> warlord

He was the leader of our family and tribe, which fell to enemies after his death, leaving me the sole survivor.

The Ash Hassim doesn't speak.

It is time to fight.

d6 + AGI = 5, I go first.

AH hp: 2d6= 11

I feel myself changing as I throw off my cloak, muscles bulging, fur growing out of my skin, my skull reforming, bones cracking as they reshape into a terrifying wolf-man hybrid.

I am a werewolf.

I drop my spear.

Rage ends in d6 = 6 rounds

I howl and charge through the wind and rain as lightning flashes and thunder rumbles across the sky.

2d6 + STR = 5 -> miss

The Ash Hassim slips away from my claws and tries to gut me with his dagger.

2d6 + AGI = 7 -> failure.

Does 4-1(skill)= 3 damage.

10/13 hp

He slices open my side before dancing back out of range. I whirl around throwing myself at him in a blind rage.

2d6 + STR = 6 -> Failure

He is too quick as I flail about. He moves in close.

2d6 + AGI = 3-> Critical Failure!

Spend fate point: reroll

2d6 + AGI = 11 -> Success

His dagger goes straight for my throat but he slips in the mud and I manage to pull out of reach just in time.

4 rounds of rage left.

I snarl, and leap at him.

2d6 + STR = 7 → fail

He slips away once more. He is like a ghost, sliding from my grasp just when I think I have him.

He retreats, putting distance between us before throwing his dagger at me.

2d6 + AGI = 10 - success

I duck out of the way and charge him as he draws another dagger.

3 rounds of rage left.

2d6 + STR = 4 → fail

He dances out of the way, spinning and thrusting with his dagger.

2d6 + AGI = 9 - success

2 rounds of rage left.

I block his arm to the side, before lunging for his throat with my teeth.

2d6 + STR = 9 - success

Damage: d6/d + d6 = 5. 11-5 = 6 hp left

Though he averts his head, I catch his shoulder, tearing out a chunk with my teeth.

He staggers back, clutching his wound.

He throws his second dagger at me.

2d6 + AGI = 7 → fail. d6/d = 6-1 -> 5 dmg. 5/13

It catches me in the gut, sinking deep.

I growl, yanking it out of me and dropping it to the ground.

1 round of rage left.

I leap at the Ash Hassim.

2d6 + STR = 6 → fail

He dodges to the side. He comes at me.

2d6 + AGI = 9 → success. He tries to kick me but I dodge away.

I can feel the rage leaving, I'm losing it, shifting back to human. I stagger away in the rain, towards my horse. d6 = 5. Luckily I do not have to roll at disadvantage until long rest.

Lightning flashes again and again, illuminating the area as I grab my shortbow and turn, nocking an arrow. I see him, picking up the spear I dropped. I fire as he charges at me.

2d6 + AGI = 6 → fail

The wind buffets the arrow off course as he gets in close.

2d6 + AGI = 5 → fail. d6 = 6-1 -> 5.

I'm too slow and the spear point catches me in the leg. I stagger.

0/13 hp.

Death/Wounds table = Unconcious 2d6 (6) rounds.

I collapse onto my back, bleeding from my side, my gut and my shoulder, coughing up blood, vision fading.

Lightning flashes above. Thunder rolls.

The Ash Hassim stands over me, holding the spear.

He raises it.

I try to speak and raise one hand…

He thrusts it down into my chest.

Everything goes black.

…

Thus ends the tale of Calraith the Wolf-Friend.

lake near snow covered mountains during daytime — Photo by Katya Shkiper on Unsplash

The dice were not forgiving in that last battle but I’m happy with how everything turned out. The combat in Kal-Arath can get a bit rote, I miss, he misses, I miss, he misses, I hit, he hits, etc. so you have to be inventive with the fiction and make sure you change things up. It’s a really fun and fast system though. I really enjoy it.

Since Calraith’s tale ended, I began a new one on a thread on Substack Notes, about a sorcerer named Sarnar who started with 1 hp and has made TWO demonic pacts so far, with plans for a third! Follow along if you’d like. Once his journey ends, I’ll probably compile his story and turn it into a Substack post as I did with Calraith. Let me know what you thought of his journey in the comments.

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