Wake Up Dead Man
Boundless Session 4
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Welcome to Session 4 of my Boundless Actual Play! We’ll continue to focus on Thora for a few more sessions and then we’ll see how we can reunite the two.
Day 2 Watch 1: Oracle Fortune Roll: Is Head Priest Skarne awake? Even-0 Hits-Complication-Source-4:4 Distance; Pressure-6:1 Doubt; Cost-6:5 Food; Fallout-1:1 Drenched; City Name-5:5 3:6 Saltmill
Thora wakes the next morning, and after gathering all her evidence, heads to check on Head Priest Skarne. The lack of coins and food will become an issue, but she wants to talk to him before trying to piece everything together. After trudging through the rain, she discovers the clergy had taken Skarne to the nearby village of Saltmill. They still doubted her healing skills since he hadn’t woken up. Thora will have to trust in the evidence she gathered.
Town Mayor Name-4:1 4:5 Brannic Rurik; Look-2:5 Ink-stained Fingers; Strength-6:1 Honest; Weakness-4:1 Cowardly; Mystery: Who Attacked Head Priest Skarne? Piece It Together Action: 2 Hits Solved
Gathering her courage, Thora marches to the Mayor’s Office. Getting past the receptionist by mentioning her knowledge of the attack on Skarne, she presents herself to Mayor Brannic Rurik. Mayor Rurik is sitting at her desk; fingers stained with ink from all the documents she is working on. Thora presents the letter, showcasing how Brynja Liv, the miller, had been caught by Head Priest Skarne skimming foodstuffs and other material. The discovery of the sabotaged bell, the thumbprint, and finally, Judge Odrik Vaeld’s standard, found with the letter; he was aiding Brynja in her fraud.
Unwilling to go herself, Mayor Rurik calls for the captain of the guard. Thora goes with him to the church, showing the evidence she found. The guards move to arrest both the miller and the judge. Mayor Rurik offers some coin compensation to Thora. Thora wonders what the rest of the day will hold, but at least she can afford supplies.
Reward-30x1D Coins = 60; Mystery-Why is Slengby low on supplies? Add two clues from Who Attacked Skarne Mystery; Quests Spark Table-What?-4:1 Key, Where?-4:3 Manor; But-3:4 Heat; Patron-1:6 Messenger; Oracle Fortune Roll-Did Skarne wake on the journey? Very Likely-0 Hits Twist-Source-3:2 Terrain; Pressure-2:4 Gloom; Cost-2:6 Permission; Fallout-6:5 Indebted
As Thora is thinking she can take some leisurely time, a messenger arrives bearing the seal of the church looking for her. They are out of breath and panting. After arriving in Saltmill, there was a fire, throwing the town into chaos, and Skarne’s carriage was confiscated, and the group of Priests locked up in a manor. If Thora didn’t come aid them, they would revoke her right to work in the church. He presses a key into her hand, and warns the terrain is rough going. He mentions they will be indebted to her if she aids them.
Stunned, Thora heads to Einar’s shop, she pays off Dorn’s half of the debt, satisfying the merchant that she’ll pay her half once she returns if she can have some supplies for the trip. Assuming her trip will be short, since the clergy left this morning, she only buys rations and a waterskin.
Day 2 Watch 2: Journey-Destination Saltmill; Short [ ] [ ]'; Action-Travel Likely -1 D from previous Omen Good Position from Messenger’s directions-1 Hit 1 Box Setback-2 Terrain; Agility Check-0 Hits Gain Exhausted Condition
The journey is far harder than Thora expects. She is exhausted and has only made it a short distance out from Slengby. The messenger’s warning of harsh terrain was truth. They want her there before gloom falls; she will have to risk nighttime travel.
Day 2 Watch 3; Travel Action-Even-0 Hits Setback-2 Terrain Agility Check-0 Hits Gain Exhausted Condition
Traveling in the dark was far too hazardous. She makes little progress, stumbling and flailing in the dark.
Day 3 Watch 1: Travel Action-Likely-1 Hit 1 Box Setback-Lost -1D on next Progress Roll; Oracle Fortune Roll-Is the manor guarded? Very Likely-1 Hit Yes but-Theme 1-Need; Action 1-Find; Agility Test for Stealth-1 Hit; Cost-5:3 Medicine; Investigate a Lead Action-Likely -1D from lost-0 Hits-Setback-3 Attention
Tired and weary, Thora finds the manor. There is a guard at the entrance. She’ll have to find a side entrance. As she sneaks around the manor looking for a side door, the sound of a coughing child catches her ear. Hearing the severity of the cough, she immediately stops to offer the last of her Healing Draught. This draws the attention of the manor guard. She turns to confront.
Oracle Fortune Roll-Is the guard friendly? Even-1 Hit-Twist-Theme 2-1:2 Hospitality; Action 2-4:4 Judge; Outlaws/Brigands-Name-6:5 2:3 Iron Harriers; Feature-5:5 Swift; Symbol-3:4 Rope Knot
As the guard walks over to check on the coughing and to see who is there, he seems genuinely concerned. The little girl loudly thanks Thora as she runs off. When the guard gets close, his cloak opens, revealing the same standard as Judge Odrik: a rope knot. Thinking fast, Thora mentions she has traveled all night to bring news that Judge Odrik was arrested for corruption. Shocked that this happened, as Head Priest Skarne was locked up and unconscious here, the guard immediately moves to take Thora to their leader.
Day 3 Watch 2: Investigate a Lead Action-Very Likely Good Position-2 Hits; Leader Name-4:3 6:3 Dane Malow; Role-6:4 Patron; Look-6:2 Heavy-eyed; Strength-4:1 Cunning; Weakness-6:2 Ambitious
Brought before their leader, Dane Malow, the woman Patron of the Iron Harriers, Thora explains how evidence was found of Odrik’s and Brynja’s extortion. She does not mention how this evidence was found. Dane simply laughs, learning the town mistook the standard of the Iron Harriers as a common judge symbol. She makes the plan to raid Slengby tomorrow night; kill the prisoners and then plant herself as the new Judge once the dust settles. Thanking the exhausted Thora, she finds her a place to sleep for the night.
Thora takes her up on the offer, knowing a full rest will let her have the best chance of finding a way to break out Skarne, and warn Slengby.
A lot happened this session! The dice really do tell a story as long as you keep connecting the dots. I didn’t have Thora make checks on persuasion rolls, as she simply just told the truth. Honesty can take you far. I’m going to level both characters up, and hopefully the two can reunite the next session.
Things are heating up! Really great work with the sparks tables.
This is super fun to read, excited for the next one.