Reunions and Spirits
Boundless Session 6
Links:
Session Zero, Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4, Session 5
Welcome to the finale of my Boundless Actual Play! This has been a blast to play through. I think Saturday I’ll type up my thoughts on the system.
Art by Galen Pejeau
Day 5
Dorn, with considerable effort, sits himself up in bed. He is covered with bandages from the night before. A road weary Thora gives him the best and yet most painful hug of his life, the two have not seen each other for almost a week. Swapping stories of the adventures the two have been on, they feel relief to finally be reunited. Thora decides to come clean about who she is: Lysh Kaith, of the Haeor’h. Dorn simply thanks her for telling him and promises to call her Lysh from now on.
Fortune Oracle Roll: Does Einar take over as mayor?-Very Likely Good Positon-1 Hit Twist-Theme 4-1:3 Chance; Action 4-3:1 Accept
After Dorn gets dressed, him and Lysh head to the town to see how everyone is. After everything the two have done, the townsfolk now think much higher of them! Wondering who is in charge since Mayor Brannic fled, the town guard gives Einar, the merchant, a push forward. He had taken action when Slengby needed him, and the chance was his now. The duo tells Einar they think he will do a wonderful job, as they head to the former mayor’s office to discuss what is next.
The Myster: What does Slengby have so few supplies?-Piece it Together Action-2 Hits, Success
Dorn relays to everyone about the monsters he saw in the forest of Greenstand. Lysh goes over everything that has happened to her: discovering the would-be assassins of Head Priest Skarne, the kidnapping of Skarne, and finally, how the Iron Harriers had taken Saltmill and then plotted against Slengby. With the Iron Harriers defeated, Einar offers a few town guards to help deal with the monstrous hounds, while Dorn and Lysh handle the Queen of Hounds, as they have started calling the creature in the woods. As part of his thanks for helping the town, Mayor Einar lets Dorn get outfitted from the armory. Wearing scale mail and grabbing a great sword, Dorn feels confident after his recent trials. Lysh takes a shield and some rations.
Art by Galen Pejeau
Day 5 Watch 2: Journey: Greenstand; Modest; Trael Action-Very Likely Good Position thanks to map-2 Hits
Setting out midafternoon, the party, including a few guards, make good progress thanks to Dorn using his ink and parchment to make a map.
Day 5 Watch 3: Make Camp Action-Very Likely, Good Position-1 Hit; Setback-2 Unease-Dorn 1 Hit, Lysh 1 Hit; Cost-Rations
The group makes camp for the night. However, the upcoming battle and tales of the Queen of Hounds have them on edge. Dorn’s body shudders, remembering his last time in the woods. Nerves flaring, the party eats a bit more than usual.
Day 6 Watch 1: Travel Action-Very Likely Good Position-2 Hits, Arrive
Waking up early, our band of adventurers easily arrives at Greenstand. At the edge of the forest, plans are drawn up. Using rations and Lysh’s incense, they make plans to draw the monster out: Dorn and Lysh ambush it, while the guards handle any large groups of hounds.
Art by Galen Pejeau
The Delve: Greenstand; Explore Action-Very Likely Good Position due to Dorn being here before-3 Hits; Lysh-Fortune Oracle Roll; Very Likely Good Position due to rations and incense-Does Lysh set the trap?-1 Hit yes but; Complication: Source-5:3 Custom; Pressure-3:3 Starvation; Cost-4:2 Gear; Fallout-1:5 Disarmed; Dorn-Strength check to climb tree-3 Hits success
Pushing into the woods, Dorn leads everyone to the spot he encountered the Queen of Hounds. Guards fallback to take up flanking positions, while Dorn climbs the tree above the spot Lysh is baiting the trap. She is successful, but while trying to setup the rations to use as bait, hungry animals keep attempting to snatch the food. She loses her shield, as the Queen descends upon her. However, hiding in the treetop, Dorn does a plunging strike into the monster. (Good Position=+3 Damage and Greatsword has +2 Damage=5)
Does the Thornmouth dissolve into roots to escape? 2 Hits Yes; Lysh Willpower check to track-1 Hit; Cost-1:4 Panic
Dorn’s sword drives the fiend into the ground, and to his and the guards’ horror it dissolves into roots and starts to disappear into the ground. Calling on the spirit bound to her, Lysh’s eyes turn white as a spectral figure steps out of her body and tracks the underground movement. The guards, upon seeing this, fully break and run out of the woods. Following the ghostly being, Dorn strikes where it points (1D(6)+2=8; 12 HP) forcing the abomination to reform. It cries out (1D(1)-1=0), causing our duo to cover their ears.
Oracle Fortune Roll-Do Pallid Hounds Appear? Likely-1 Hit
One of the hounds bounds into the area. Lysh’s spirit, in full communication, labels the monsters as pallid hounds and a thornmouth. She cries for Dorn to strike the hound, as her eyes turn white again; calling on the Bloodsong she carries with her (Willpower Test-2 Hits); cutting her hand with her Moonstruck blade, her blood flies in a crimson strand, tying the hearts of the two enemy beings together. Dorn charges the hound, running his blade through. As he does, the red thread tying the two monsters together pulls taught, ripping the heart out of the thornmouth, screeching as it turns to dust.
With the creature gone, Dorn and Lysh find the fearful guards and rally them, clearing out the seven remaining hounds.
Tend the Stronghold Action: Supplies, Very Likely Good Position-2 Hits
A cleared forest, defeated bandits, and a corrupt official gone allow Slengby to start recovering. Einar makes for a fair mayor: with his knowledge of finances and accounting he smooths out the town’s coins and enacts fair trade laws. As our duo settles into a thankful village, the town guards bring up the strange magics “Thora” used. Seems in the future, the pair of heroes may have to find a safe place for Lysh to be herself. That’ll be for another time.
I had a fantastic time playing these two characters through Boundless! I’m going to take a break for another game system (revisiting Robert, the Inner Warmth Paladin’s Story!) but I plan to revisit these two in the future.
René-Pier Deshaies-Gélinas has made an outstanding game! The spark tables really pulled some great story moments together, and the art by Galen Pejeau was inspiring at every turn! This was my first game without to hit rolls, which I will be honest had me a bit weary at first. However, after how smooth combat went, I can highly recommend!
Dorn and Lysh will be back!
WOW!
> cutting her hand with her Moonstruck blade, her blood flies in a crimson strand, tying the hearts of the two enemy beings together.
When I wrote this game, I made the bestiary extremely dangerous to force players to think on their feet and be clever in the way they approach the dangers of this world. And I must say, you totally nailed it. Bravo. Also, great great great final.
Great finale! Such a cool and evocative system and you pulled a great story out of it!