Falling Bell
Boundless Session 3
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Welcome to session 3! We have cut four days to the past to see what Thora is up to. I chose The Fallen Leaf for her background and took the Old Rites ability, giving her a better Position when healing. This is my first full session with RP’s excellent Spark Tables, and I think it really shows how good Spark Tables can elevate your experience.
Oracle Fortune Roll: Does the church handle medicine in Slengby? Likely-1 Hit Twist-Theme 4-5:5 Renewal; Action 4-6:1 Carve; NPC Generation-Name-1:5 Skarne 6:3 Ketil; Look-1:3 Silent; Virture-1:5 Hospitable; Flaw-5:2 Desperate
Thora heads to the local church. Despite her trepidation, due to the church persecuting her people, the Haoer’h, she would have to go there to offer her medical services; they controlled all medical care in the town. She looks at her last 10 coins. Just enough to pay the required tithe to get in and work. Skarne Ketil, the head priest, while always polite and nice to her, did not shy away from collecting his tithes to keep this tiny church running.
Day 1 Watch 1: Scout & Supply* Action-Likely with Good Position from Old Rites-0 Hits-Setback 1 Foul, Strength Check 0 Hits gain Sick Condition; Roll on NPC Spark NPC table to see where we got Sick Condition-6:6; Is this priest Skarne?-Likely-1 Hit Twist-Complication-Source 5:5 Broken Gear; Pressure-1:4 Panic; Cost-5:2 Safety; Fallout-3:1 Shame; Can you she heal? Very Likely with Healers Drought item and Good Position from Old Rites-1 Hit…
A quiet day. Few come, and those that do have minor injuries. They prefer the priest’s care for those. Despite Thora’s skills in healing, they only come to her for the serious wounds. Dorn and her local reputation are still so low. She attempts to ask Skarne if she can have her tithe back, so she may come tomorrow. He invites her to walk with him as he climbs the bell tower. As they climb, the steps, the bell breaks, cashing down the winding staircase. Thora is pushed back by Skarne, as the bell partially crushes him in the fall. A large portion of the church is now destroyed, and the parishioners are in a full panic.
Thora springs into action, getting to work on saving the old priest. His wounds are severe, and she gets Sick herself, his wounds being some of the worse she has seen. Using one of her people’s Healer’s Draughts, she manages to stabilize Skarne. However, another priest sees this and shames her for giving the head priest a strange potion. Without Skarne awake to defend her, she quickly heads outside. Her stomach reeling from the sickness, she takes a sip of her remaining Healing Draught to settle it.
Day 1 Watch 2: Scout & Supply Action-Even-0 Hits-Setback-6 Omen Suffer -1D on Next Make Camp or Make Progress Roll; Fortune Oracle Roll-Was Skarne the main bell ringer? Likely-2 Hits Yes; Did someone sabotage the bell? Even-2 Hits
Returning home, Thora stashes her belongings. Seeing little choice after what happened at the church, she changes into worse clothing and dirties her face and hair to spend part of the day begging for coin. The advantage to being among the poor and downtrodden is how loose lips are. Her begging brings no coins but does bring rumors. How the church stood for 100 years, how well maintained the bell was, and how Head Priest Skarne was the only one who rang the bell. Sensing a plot, Thora resolves to return tonight and investigate.
Day 1 Watch 3:
Mystery
Setup-Who sabotaged the bell to drop on Head Priest Skarne?
Agility Test for Stealth, Good Position due to knowing area-1 Hit Complication; Complications Roll, Source-3:5 Beasts; Pressure-6:6 Desperation; Cost-6:1 Map; Fallout-5:3 Revealed; P6 Beast Pool counting down as she searches for Clues
As night falls, Thora chances clothes again. Putting her hair up in a black stocking, she grabs her gear and sets out to investigate the church. The town is strangely quiet; everyone seems to be staying clear of the streets. She hears growling in the distance. Upon arriving at the church, Thora starts hunting for clues.
Investigate A Lead Action-Unlikely-0 Hits; Best Pool P6-2 Hits, shrink to P4
Not much found by the entrance. She’ll have to go further in. A rustling sound in the distance is drawing nearer.
Investigate A Lead Action-Even 1 Hit*; Theme 2-6:5 Corruption; Action 2-6:4 Banish; Beast Pool P4-2 Hits, shrink to P2; NPC Generation-Name-2:2 Brynja 4:4 Liv; Role-2:3 Miller; Look-4:6 Pale
Among the rubble, Thora finds a letter from Head Priest Skarne to Brynja Liv, the local miller. The letter mentions that she needs to turn herself for skimming off the top of grain and other materials from her mill. Hearing claws outside, Thora takes a deep breath and continues deeper into the partially destroyed church.
Investigate A Lead Action-Likely-0 Hits; Beast Pool P2-1 Hit P1
The sounds outside are getting louder. Feeling pressured, her search is getting more haphazard. Finding nothing relevant, Thora sets her eyes on climbing the ruined bell tower.
Investigate A Lead Action-Very Likely, Good Position due to using Rope-3 Hits-Confirm Sabotage; Miller’s Thumb Print*; Theme 2-5:6 Temptation; Action 2-2:4 Dig; Treasures Roll-Form-2:4 Standard; Feature 1-6:3 Hot; Feature 2-3:4 Rustproof; Worth to-1:5 Judges; Judge Name-3:1 Odrik 3:3 Vaeld; Look-4:3 Lean; Beast Pool P1-0 Hits; Pallid Hound
Using her rope to aid the climb, Thora makes her way up the bell tower. At the top, the signs of sabotage are very obvious. Someone set this up to collapse! She also finds the unmistakable thumbprint of the miller in white. It appears the Brynja had been up here herself tonight, digging for something. Looking carefully, as to not mess the found thumbprint, Thora finds a standard from Judge Odrik. Noting and pocketing this, she hears something enter the church. Glancing down, she sees an undead hound below.
Oracle Fortune Roll-Does it know where she is? Even-1 Hit yes but can’t reach her
It looks up and lets out a Screech (Thora gains a Fear Condition). Thora trembles as fear worms into her heart. She steels herself, and, seeing it below, uses her Good Position to kick a piece of rubble from her position, crushing it. She climbs down, takes her rope, and steps around the smashed creature. Quickly headed home, she knows that tomorrow she has an attempted murderer to unmask.
Hope you enjoyed this one! A lot happened! Next part of our game should be dropping on Thursday.
* I used Scout and Supply here as I figured it was close enough to what my goal was; attempting to earn coins
*Usually, you should roll for setbacks. I considered the looming Beast Pool a setback, and misses were eating into the pool.
*Miller’s thumbs were worn flat from rubbing the grain (or other material) between their index finger and thumb to check for quality and character. After years of doing this, their thumb becomes broad and flattened. I thought this was cool.
I really like the tension between Thora (Druid) and the Church with their insistance to control everything.
Nice showcase of the Mystery mechanics - that was well woven. The thumbprint was a nice touch!