Ismael and the Value of Greed, Part II

Ismael al-Tahir of the Awaliq, 1st level Lawful Alasiyani Ranger

Shoulder length black hair with dark eyes, the tanned ranger dreamt of living the life of a corsair. His sinewy physique wears a plain grey thawb and black sirwal covered by a mail shirt. Ismael frequently carries a spear and shield.

S 13 (+1 / 3:6 / +5%) I 08 W 10 D 09 C 12 C 11 (4 retainers / 7 loyalty)

AB +0 (+1 / +0) AC +5 / +4 without shield HP 6 / 6 MV 60' / 20'

Saves : D 12 W 13 P 14 B 15 S 16

Abilities : Awareness, Foraging and Hunting, Pursuit, Surprise Attack, Tracking (20%)

Languages : Common and Neutral

Gear (907 coins weight) : axes (2), backpack, chain armor, gems worth 50 dinar (15), gems worth 100 dinar (4), horizon walker token, jewelry worth 1950 dinar (2), lantern, oil flask (5), potion of healing (2), potion of invisibility, riding horse with saddlebags (carries jewelry (2, estimated 1950 dinar), 200 dinar, 220 coins weight), shield, short bow with quiver of arrows (20), small sack (2), spear, standard rations (8), tinderbox, torches (6), waterskin (1 carried, 2 on horse), 70 dinar, 3 dirham, 0 fal, 87 electrum, 73 platinum

1,341 experience

... And the Value of Greed, Part II

[E Muzeki, The Kiss]

Turn 1: empty room

"A life of adventure," Ismael mutters, watching the amethyst beads swirl. "What are you waiting for?" He considered many things. Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. "And to conquer fear, you face it." His fists clench. His eyes shut. Ismael steps into the darkness. But in the back of his mind, "Or die in the attempt..."

It was warm, welcoming. It feels like stepping through a skin of wool, heavy but easily pushed aside. The vortex gives way; the world behind him pulls back. Each step, Ismael can feel invisible fingers release their grasp on him, failing to coax him away from the portal. Ismael presses on.

When the pressure falls away, his eyes snap open. He is... in a garden. Ismael looks around. Ankle high brick barriers. Green grass. Ferns. Bushes. Flowers. Brilliant white walls to his left and right. A short red brick path leads forward. With a dark tear in the air behind him circled by amethyst motes. 

Turn 2: encounter with treasure and a wandering encounter. Ismael, not surprised; monsters, surprised

Ismael follows the brick path, an arched opening in the white wall permitting entrance into the building. The room is richly decorated. Lush carpet, tapestries on the wall ahead of him. Two corridors to either side. Pillows with intricate designs and tables laden with plates of food. Lamps rest on tables, and torches held in sconces, brightly lighting the area. Milling through the room, eight dark robed figures, hoods lowered, have quiet conversations with each other. At a desk across from Ismael, one figure in shining scaled armor sits, writing notes on a piece of parchment. Two more stand ready nearby.

"Good morning," Ismael says, walking into the room. Perhaps these people would be as open as the others.

No such luck.

Initiative check : Ismael, 6. Guards, 4.

The two standing guards pull iron clubs free from their belt loops; the guard sitting at the desk smiles menacingly. The eight figures seem prepared to follow the leads of the guards.

Ismael retreats back beyond the arch; he was confident in his ability to defend himself, but he also didn't like the idea of being surrounded. Ismael unslings his spear and eyes the guards cautiously.

"No!" the seated guard says to the robed acolytes. "One of you tell Master Valerius of our guest; you two, detain him." He rises, pulling his own iron club free as the two guards approach Ismael.

Ismael's attack roll : 14, 2 damage.

Ismael's defense roll : 17.

Morale check : acolytes, pass; guards, pass.

At the approach of the pair of guards, Ismael's spear jabs forward, the spear tip slipping under a jaw. The guard gives a brief gurgle as the blade punctures through his throat, stopped by the top of his skull. The second guard swings his club down toward Ismael's shoulder; the shield rises and pushes it aside.

"The rest of you! Bar the exits!" growls the commanding guard, rushing forward to join the fight.

Ismael's attack roll : 14, 1 damage.

Ismael's defense rolls : 19, 2, 1 damage.

Ismael jerks the spear free from the corpse and slashes a cut across the second guard's leg. A dark stain appears beneath the linen trousers. The wounded guard thrashes and beats his club against Ismael's shield. The onslaught provides an opening for the commander to strike the back of Ismael's leg.

Ismael's attack roll : 13.

Ismael's defense rolls : 4, 7, 1 damage.

He was knocked off balance by the strike to the knee. Ismael's spear skated across the scale armor of the wounded guard. The guard takes advantage of Ismael's harmless attack and clubs the attacking arm. The commander's club strikes ineffectively across his armored shoulder.

Ismael's attack roll : 4.

Ismael's defense rolls : 19, 17.

Ismael's attack roll : 13.

Ismael's defense rolls : 9, 8.

Ismael's attack roll : 18, 2 damage.

Ismael's defense rolls : 14.

The acolytes look uncertain as they watch the trio circle each other. Ismael defends himself against both opponents then finds an opportunity. The spear lances out and skewers the wounded guard through the chest. Lung punctured, he collapses to the floor.

"You won't survive against our numbers," the commander growls.

Ismael's attack roll : 17, 1 damage.

Ismael's defense roll : 19.

Ismael's attack roll : 20, 2 damage.

Ismael, unshaken by the threat, thrusts his spear forward, tearing the fabric of the remaining guard's shirt; a small wound opens beneath the blade's edge. The guard's response is carefully brushed aside by Ismael's shield. The spear slips between the gap beneath the scaled shoulder, entering between the ribs.

"What is this?" a voice calmly asks. A robed figure, unhooded to show dark hair and slightly lighter eyes. A middle aged man, he strides confidently into the room. "Why did we not offer refreshments?"

Ismael keeps a wary eye of the newcomer, his spear held ready. The double tap on his chest reminded him of his purpose.

"Have a seat," the man said, gesturing magnanimously at the cushions on the floor. "I am Vicar Valerius."

Ismael didn't move toward the offered seat. Instead, he glanced down at the corpses on the floor, blood staining the floor. "No, thank you."

"Suit yourself." Valerius moved toward the desk where the guard had been sitting. "I seem to be a few guards short. Perhaps you would be interested in some work?"

The Anchor's heartbeat pounded harder, persistent.

"No, thank you," Ismael repeated.

"Suit yourself," Valerius repeated. He sighs, "The Prince rewards his subjects well." Valerius gestures around the room, including the table laden with food. "Wealth. Fame. Power. One way or the other, you will serve."

Ismael's grip on the spear tightened. "And their reward?" he asked, nodding down to the dead guards.

"Clearly undeserving of such." Valerius looks at four of the acolytes, nodding toward Ismael. "One way or the other, he will serve." His tone turns from conversational to menacing. The acolytes spring quickly into action.

Initiative check : Ismael, 2. Acolytes, 6.

Ismael's defense rolls : 13, 17, 9, 10.

Ismael's attack roll and fray die : 20, 1 damage.

The four acolytes stride forward with clubs drawn and swing haphazardly at Ismael. The shield wards off most of the blows, the chain intercepting the rest. Beneath the weight of their attack, Ismael only manages to shove his spear into the chest of one of the acolytes.

Ismael's defense rolls : 20, 12, 6, 13.

Ismael's save vs. Spells : 11, failed.

Ismael's attack roll and fray die : 6, 1 damage.

Another acolyte joins the battle and manages to distract Ismael with a solid hit across his back. Valerius chants in gutteral tones, one hand pointing at him with a sharp finger. Dark smoke flows from beneath the priest's robes and cling to Ismael's feet, coiling upward and stretching to anchor his arms. The distraction causes Ismael's return strike to fail; the shield barely manages to catch an acolyte on the chin.

Ismael's defense rolls : 3, 2, 6, 14, 3 damage.

Ismael drinks potion of healing : 6 hit points healed.

GM Note : According to Old School Essentials, it takes a full round to drink a potion. As a round is equal to one minute, I can only guess that includes removing it from its container then drinking it.

Ismael's defense rolls : 5, 1, 17, 4, 2 damage.

Ismael's attack roll and fray die : 13, 1 damage.

Surrounded, more clubs rain down on Ismael, bypassing his defenses. A couple of strikes impact his shoulder and the back of his head. His ears ring and vision blurs. Ismael steps back and retreats several steps, frantically pulling a potion free of his pack. Ahmad mentioned it would heal his wounds; he hoped Ahmad was correct.

The throbbing in his head begins to diminish; Ismael's vision clears. Even then, the acolytes press their attack and more attacks land on his limbs. The vial scatters across the floor. Desperate, Ismael's shield rim smashes into an acolyte's sternum, leaving him gasping for breath and prone on the floor.

Ismael's defense rolls : 9, 12, 12, 13.

Ismael's attack rolls : 17, 3 damage.

Morale check : 5, passed.

Recovered, Ismael focuses intently on Valerius. In spite of the smoky tendrils dragging at his limbs, he slowly steps forward and pushes the clubs aside. One spear thrust, an acolyte falls, then a second and a third. Ismael scowls at the priest, stepping past the pile of corpses beneath him. Two acolytes and one priest. He would take these odds.

Ismael's defense rolls : 13, 9, 3, 2 damage.

Ismael's attack roll and fray die : 18, 3 damage.

The two remaining acolytes rush forward to attack Ismael; the shield comes up and parries, the spear thrusts forward and takes a life. The second acolyte falls in a similar manner. Valerius finishes his incantation, striding toward Ismael and placing a hand on Ismael's chest. A dark, spectral talon mimics the priest and drives sharp nails through the chain. Ismael gasps and steps back, the blade of the spear cutting across the priest's chest.

Ismael's defense roll : 2, 1 damage.

Ismael's attack roll : 3.

Ismael's defense roll : 3, 1 damage.

Valerius smiles grimly, the wound barely more than a scratch. He raises his mace and strikes Ismael in the chest. Ismael falls back, feebly attempting to keep Valerius at bay. The mace swings a second time, then... darkness.

[E Muzeki, Kashmir]

Ismael al-Tahir of the Awaliq, 1st level Lawful Alasiyani Ranger

Shoulder length black hair with dark eyes, the tanned ranger dreamt of living the life of a corsair. His sinewy physique wears a plain grey thawb and black sirwal covered by a mail shirt. Ismael frequently carries a spear and shield.

S 13 (+1 / 3:6 / +5%) I 08 W 10 D 09 C 12 C 11 (4 retainers / 7 loyalty)

AB +0 (+1 / +0) AC +5 / +4 without shield HP 0 / 6 MV 60' / 20'

Saves : D 12 W 13 P 14 B 15 S 16

Abilities : Awareness, Foraging and Hunting, Pursuit, Surprise Attack, Tracking (20%)

Languages : Common and Neutral

Gear (907 coins weight) : axes (2), backpack, chain armor, gems worth 50 dinar (15), gems worth 100 dinar (4), horizon walker token, jewelry worth 1950 dinar (2), lantern, oil flask (5), potion of healing, potion of invisibility, riding horse with saddlebags (carries jewelry (2, estimated 1950 dinar), 200 dinar, 220 coins weight), shield, short bow with quiver of arrows (20), small sack (2), spear, standard rations (8), tinderbox, torches (6), waterskin (1 carried, 2 on horse), 70 dinar, 3 dirham, 0 fal, 87 electrum, 73 platinum

1,341 experience