Jack of Clubs 1

A one-shot played using A Death Shroud On The World Entire. This post is published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

This one is explicit, so is available on the other blog.

Inquisition into the Unknown 3

A series played using Dark Ages: Inquisitor. This post is published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

Back in town, Amelina and Nigelle update Anna on their first expedition. They take care to describe the mural, illusion, and strange shrine. Anna considers their findings [Intelligence + Occult, 6 dice, 1 success]. There are vague stirrings of recollection in her mind, but nothing concrete. With a sigh, Anna realises that she will need to go in person to examine them. Together, and with Favian's aid, they set out for the estate at dawn.

They guide Sister Anna to the shrine off the throneroom. While Anna gets to work on the shrine, Nigelle and Amelina investigate the remaining side rooms. They find a trophy room stuffed with a variety of taxidermied animals (some chimerical) and weapons and armour. [Perception + Alertness, Amelina 8 dice, 5 successes / Nigelle 6 dice, 2 successes]. Nigelle recognises the arms and armour as being from a wide range of cultures, and confirms his suspicions that they have all seen use in battle. Amelina notices that all of the appartenly chimerical creatures were assembled after death. She also spots an intricate crystal goblet, which she wraps in cloth and slips into her bag.

Meanwhile, in the shrine, Anna is scrutinsing the idol and surrounding runes [Intelligence + Occult, 6 dice, three successes / Intelligence + Theology, 8 dice, 3 successes]. She confirms that this is a chamber where ritual sacrifices have taken place, and that the idol is not an obviously satanic one. She's unsure of the cultural origin but is certain that it has an occult significance and power. She reaches under the bandages on her back to feel the constantly open wounds beneath them. With blood on her fingertips, she anoints the idol while muttering a prayer to subdue the idol's power [Willpower, 6 dice, 4 successes].

The next room Amelina and Nigelle find is another well-appointed bedroom, less lavish than the others but still very respectable [Perception + Alertness, avg 7 dice, 4 successes]. The wardrobe contains several sets of men's functional clothes, a heavy mace and shield hang on the wall, the bedside table holds some momentoes. Among the latter is a carved wood and silver plaque, the message is an endearing and quite personal message to the estate's guard captain and is signed only "R." Nigelle quietly wonders what this could mean about the relationship between the two men. Amelina pockets a small hand mirror on the way out [Amelina Dexterity + Legerdemain, 7 dice, 3 successes / Nigelle Perception + Alertness, 6 dice, 1 success]. Nigelle remains oblivious to her light fingers.

Anna, the idol bound by her blood and faith, turns her attention to the sacrificial pit and it's runes [Intelligence + Occult, 6 dice, 2 successes]. She determines enough to gain a fragment of the True Name of the shrine's patron. She takes the time to obscure the runes to ensure that nobody else will be able to discover it. Satisfied with her work, she steps back into the throneroom to await the return of her acolytes. This could be a rewarding trip.

Inquisition into the Unknown 2

A series played using Dark Ages: Inquisitor. This post is published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

Nigelle and Amelina set out before dawn and travel to Quasqueton Manor, arriving around noon. Rather than a conventional estate, they discover the facade of a manor house carved into a large outcropping of black rock. Nigelle steps up to the heavy wooded doors and knocks firmly, while Amelina hangs back to examine the facade more closely [Perception + Alertness, 8 dice, 3 successes]. She notices that while the facade is extremely detailed, including what appear to be shutters over the windows, the structure is also one piece of rock. The shutters don't cover actual openings, which suggests that the front doors are the only way in and out.

Nigelle tentatively pushes the doors and is surprised when they swing open with no resistance. Beyond, a long hallway stretches deep into the manor, alcoves evenly-spaced, and what appears to be steps at the far end. Amelina joins him and together they begin to edge along the corridor, noting the smooth stone surfaces of the walls, floors, and ceiling. They see a worrying sight ahead, five bodies lay at the foot of a small set of stairs. [Perception + Investigation, Amelina 6 dice, 0 successes / Nigelle 5 dice, 3 successes]. Amelina turns pale at the sight, leaving Nigelle (who has been walked through similar scenarios) determines two fought against the other three, and they all died of their wounds.

Amelina offers a prayer for the departed, and the pair press on, taking the right-hand passage at the junction past the bodies. Passing a side passage, they plunge deeper into the manor, eventually reaching an end and a pair of doors. The first appears to be a mundane storeroom or workshop, filled with old furniture and some woodworking tools. The second is a lavishly decorated bedroom; alongside a canopied bed, an ornate mirror and other luxurious items hangs a portrait of a beautiful woman against a backdrop of a ruined, burning village. [Intelligence + Politics, 5 dice, botch] Nigelle wracks his memory but fails to recall whether either of the brothers had a spouse or lover. Perhaps this stranger is connected to whatever fate has befallen the brothers? Amelina spots a silver comb left out on the dresser [Dexterity + Legerdemain, 7 dice, 4 successes] and pockets it before the pair leave.

They retrace their steps to the passage they passed earlier and take it, then turn left a few times before arriving back at the initial junction (near the bodies). They passed a few doors on the way, so backtrack and explore them. Behind the first, they find a minimalist bedroom dominated by a wall-carving showing a lone figure wielding elemental power to drive away an army. [Amelina Perception + Investigation, 6 dice, 3 successes / Nigelle Intelligence + Academics, 4 dice, 2 successes]. Nigelle recognises the sorcerer as Zelligar, but this isn't a scene from any history Nigelle is familar with. Meanwhile, Amelina appraises the bad as being the most valuable item in the room by far - she stores the information for later.

Before leaving, they decide to investigate the side door - perhaps it's a workshop or similar? Instead they find a room filled with overflowing chests of coins and jewels! [Thralldom! Amelina Self-Control + Wisdom, 4 dice, 2 successes / Nigelle fails but spend 1 Conviction]. The pair see through the illusion, however, and realise that it is merely a distraction masking an empty chamber. This confirms the rumours of Zelligor being a sorcerer of some kind. They make a note to pass this on to Sister Anna.

Beside the bedroom is a small study; it becomes apparent that Zelligor managed the estate's finances very closely. Among his ledgers are four tomes written in an unknown script and featuring mysterious illustrations. They take them for Anna to examine, if they are occult in nature she will best qualified to disposed of them safely.

The final room to backtrack to is an armoury, the pair are shocked by the scale of the armaments the brothers have amassed. Beyond is a barracks with room for at least forty people. This bunker-like aspect of the manor raises a degree of concern. The brothers created a heavily-defended position and populated it with dozens of soldiers, combined with the confirmation of at least one sorcerer, the inquisitors prepare for the worst as they explore further. There's also the nagging issue of where have all the guards gone?

They consider this as they retrace their steps further to another passage, this one leads to a pairs of doors, which they resolve to try in turn. The righthand door leads into a vast, slate throneroom with read granite pillars and dais, and a pair of white marble thrones. Directly opposite the dais is a doorway into a small chamber dominated by a large idol of a horned head which overlooks a shallow sacrificial pit. This confirms the inquisitors' worst fears, Zelligar's sorcery is also infernalism. They withdraw from the estate and make the return trip to update Sister Anna on their discoveries.