Runequest solo - part V, A spot or two of trouble

scene 16

chaos 6

Setup: case the joint during the day

Characters:
1. (the murderer or murderers)
2. Ay-Meddush, the merchant
3. Huollof, the caravan leader
4. chieftain Ulevaard and the barbarian delegation
5. prefect (PC's enemy)
6. Maruthus, the nosey neighbour
7. Izzeri-zatah, the high priestess of Ziburrun, the knowledge god
8. Alkinu, the suitor
9. Enzzal, Lachaidiga's eldest brother
10. the mason - a witness
11. Nillath, priestess of the Sun


The next day, Lachaidiga and Udzar-sippuk return to the jewellers' market. They arrive by mid-day to find the street bustling with activity.

[Q: Is shop open? 50/50: 17, Yes.
Q: Are the jewellers connected to bad guys? 50/50: 33 yes + Event: Remote event (see next scene for details)
Q: Are there other customers? 50/50: 25, Yes. 1d4= 1 other. random NPC:

She could have a reason for being here, so I decided to roll her motivation on Mythic's Event Meaning tables, with the proviso that any nonsensical result would mean just shopping.
result: Debase / Competition. Interpretation: she is here to lean on the new owners & collect protection money.

Q: Do the PCs overhear the exchange when they arrive? 50/50: 04, Exceptional yes.
Easy stealth (skill x 1.5, so L: 62%, U: 39%) rolls to listen before being discovered. 45, 26 both succeed.]

When Lachaidiga and Udzar-sippuk walk into the jeweller's shop, they hear angry voices within. They pause in the narrow vestibule to listen.

"You should reconsider," says a gruff-voiced woman, "My boss doesn't like it when new arrivals refuse his generous offer to look after them. You wouldn't believe the awful things that can happen to a nice place like this in our fair city."

"I resent your tone," says a man, coolly. "And I resent your clumsy attempts at subtlety even more. You tell your boss that we are not to be trifled with. Should any 'awful things' happen to this 'nice place', I will kill your boss within the week. Now get out."

[Q: Does the soldier turn threatening? 50/50: 95, Exceptional No.
Q: Does soldier stop on her way out when she sees the PCs? 50/50: 79, No.]

The woman storms out of the shop without another word. She barely seems to notice the two people lurking near the doorway.

Lachaidiga and Udzar-sippuk walk down the dim corridor into the main shop. A brief survey of the well-appointed room sees nothing out of place, but the absence of the traditional images of the earth god is certainly tells the priest and sorceress that something here is gravely amiss. The lack of any guards in the shop is even more circumspect.

The merchant is a suitably oleaginous looking character in expensive green robes of fine silk. His countenance brightens perceptively as he notices new customers.

"Noble lady! Your reverence! How may I be of assistance to you this fine day?"

"I'm bored of all my jewels! And I'm bored of this street of jewellers. I am hoping that you, as a new arrival, will have something new to tempt me."

"I'm bored of all my jewels! And I'm bored of this street of jewellers. I am hoping that you, as a new arrival, will have something new to tempt me."

"But of course, good lady! I humbly offer up my wares for -- it is my greatest hope --your eternal delectation."

Lachaidiga pretends to shop, and has him show her a variety of sparkling golden and silver ornaments encrusted with a veritable rainbow of precious stones. But whenever she thinks he isn't looking, she steals glances round the shop trying to find some sort of clue.

[Pretending to shop requires her to pit her Deceit vs. his Insight; L: 67, failure vs. Jeweller: 49, success.
Both PCs get to make formidable Perception rolls to see if he's wearing a death rune amulet: L 30, U 65 -- both failures
Q: Does the jeweller attempt direct action now? Very Unlikely: 44, yes +Event: NPC action - Alkinu, the suitor - (picking first picture of him doing something...)]

"Do none of my baubles catch your eye, my lady?"

"Oh, I just can't decide! How ever can I go to Lady Amaya's party if I cannot find a pectoral to match my new gown..."

"Let us stop this charade! The pair of you could not possibly be more obviously not here to buy jewellery if you were currently on fire. Now, what is it you want?"

"Fine," says Lachaidiga, "but let's also admit this shop is a pathetic front for your activities. I know what you've been up to. We're here to put a stop to your wicked machinations!"

"You won't live long enough to try."

The jeweller begins to speak the words of a malevolent enchantment, as Lachaidiga and Udzar-sippuk reach for their daggers. All three stop abruptly as they hear the front door open wide and footsteps coming into the shop. They turn to look down the dark corridor, and are surprised to see Alkinu walk into the main room.

"Lachaidiga!" he exclaims, "of all the people to find here. Not that I mind to see you, my dearest one, but I thought you were supposed to be at home. Your brother is going to be most put out to find you've slipped past him, not to mention the prefect."

"What... what are you doing here?" stutters Lachaidiga.

"Why, I came to buy you a present, of course! Now I suppose the surprise is ruined. But come, my divine one, you can pick it out for yourself."


scene 17

chaos 5

Setup: fallout

Characters:
1. (the murderer or murderers)
2. Ay-Meddush, the merchant
3. Huollof, the caravan leader
4. chieftain Ulevaard and the barbarian delegation
5. prefect (PC's enemy)
6. Maruthus, the nosey neighbour
7. Izzeri-zatah, the high priestess of Ziburrun, the knowledge god
8. Alkinu, the suitor
9. Enzzal, Lachaidiga's eldest brother
10. the mason - a witness
11. Nillath, priestess of the Sun
12. the evil jeweller


The jeweller helps Alkinu talk Lachaidiga into a sparkling (and expensive) necklace. Udzar-sippuk looks on helplessly. The purchase completed, Alkinu mentions to his dearest Lachaidiga that the prefect's men will most likely be out looking for her, and he should probably escort her back to her home whilst there's still a chance of avoiding a scene. The jeweller very helpfully assists Alkinu in ushering her out of the shop. Lachaidiga is more than unusually silent as they leave, but a pleading look at Udzar-sippuk convinces him to follow her back home.

When the three arrive at the grand villa, they are greeted by the sight of a unit of soldiers marching out the front door and away down the street. But some have lingered inside, including the hated prefect. He scowls when he sees Lachaidiga's entrance, a look mirrored by her brother, Enzzal.

[Q: Is L in trouble for sneaking out? 50/50: 72, No.]

"Oh, look who's come back," sneers the prefect, "though it seems to have taken one of our finest soldiers and a holy man to effect this miracle. As I was just explaining to your brother, the crisis is over. We've caught the murderer, so you will no longer need the protection of my men. And you, little girl, should be doubly grateful that we've caught this vicious barbarian. His trial is going to demand all of my attention, so as a favour to myself I'm going to overlook your little escapade with ensorcelling my guardsman. I haven't the time to bother pressing charges. She's your problem now, good Enzzal."

And with that the prefect takes his leave.

[the remote event from scene 16]

"He's wrong, you know," says Lachaidiga to her brother the moment the last soldier is out the door. "We've just seen the murderer, or the sorcerer controlling him --it!-- at any rate. The prefect's going to look a fool. But there's no time to delay. Udzar-sippuk and I must act quickly before he goes into hiding."

"Sister! When will you grow up and stop playing these ridiculous games? You're going to get killed if you cross the wrong people. Or sent to the mines if you assault any more of the constabulary. What is wrong with you?"

"Wrong? Wrong?! I know exactly what I'm doing. We'd have had the murderer earlier if it weren't for Alkinu's ill-timed arrival!"

[Udzar-sippuk tries his Influence (59% a Hard check so -1/3= 39%) to convince Enzzal there is still danger: 43, failure.
Q: Will he get thrown out for this? 50/50: 75, No.
A second Influence check (Normal) is necessary to convince Enzzal he'll be a calming influence. 56, just makes it.]

"Enzzal," interjects Udzar-sippuk hastily, "Your sister is right: we did track down a really nefarious character in the jewellers' street. He was on the point of using his black magic when Alkinu arrived."

"And if we all hadn't stopped short," says Lachaidiga, "Alkinu might have gotten killed in the fray. And I know, dear brother, that you'd never forgive me for that. So don't you go calling me unreasonable."

"How is it, sister mine, that even your sensible actions seem somehow reprehensible? I hardly know if I should be happy that you stopped short of violent confrontation chastise you for giving up the advantage. Alkinu's an elite soldier! Why else do you think I betrothed him to you? No one with less military discipline could stand a wife such as you!"

Lachaidiga opens her mouth to speak, but the words catch in her throat. Instead she turns and flees from the room up the stairs toward her bedchamber. Udzar-sippuk turns to follow, but Enzzal catches him by the shoulder.

"Oh, no," says he, "I'll not have her lapdog priest follow her up there and make out like this is somehow the fault of anyone else but her. Alkinu, go to her. See if you can bring her some sort of comfort, or at least calm her down. She's to be your problem soon enough."

Alkinu stands in dumb silence for a moment, then scurries after her. He finds her collapsed in a heap by her bed, weeping uncontrollably.

"Lachaidiga, my heavenly one," ventures Alkinu, "don't let your brother's words affect you so. He's just angry. He doesn't mean the half of it. Let me look after you now; I can make this all better."

"Oh, do fuck off!" she sobs.

scene 18

chaos 6

Setup: 2=Interrupt (was: next day go back to jeweller's to see if any clues left behind)

Interrupt: PC negative


Characters:
1. (the murderer or murderers)
2. Ay-Meddush, the merchant
3. Huollof, the caravan leader
4. chieftain Ulevaard and the barbarian delegation
5. prefect (PC's enemy)
6. Maruthus, the nosey neighbour
7. Izzeri-zatah, the high priestess of Ziburrun, the knowledge god
8. Alkinu, the suitor
9. Enzzal, Lachaidiga's eldest brother
10. the mason - a witness
11. Nillath, priestess of the Sun
12. the evil jeweller


Alkinu finally leaves Lachaidiga alone when her pleas for him to leave turn into threats. By the time he's gotten back downstairs he has already convinced himself she didn't mean any of it and that it's Enzzal's fault for being so cruel to the sweetest creature that has ever walked the earth. But he is too afraid to confront the older man, so resignedly goes home.

Udzar-sippuk has finally convinced Enzzal that he will not lead Lachaidiga astray but will in fact keep her from danger. Enzzal grudgingly agrees and allows him to stay the night in a guest room should he be needed.

Lachaidiga has meanwhile cried herself to sleep.

...

Some time well past midnight, Lachaidiga awakes with a terrible presentiment. She rubs the sleep from her eyes and looks around her bedchamber by the light of a still-burning table lamp. But wait -- that evening she had lit no lamp!

She sits bolt upright as she realises she is not alone. The wicked jeweller stands against the wall, glowering down at her.

"Stupid girl," he says, "coming into the shop like that. But no matter, I have need of your essence, sorceress. Now come along quietly and I won't have to hurt you." He punctuates his words by curling his fingers into a gesture of power, as if readying a wicked spell.

"We both know," says Lachaidiga as she stands defiantly, "that I never go quietly."

With that, she hisses out a mystical formula of her own, and gesticulates angrily as if literally throwing the spell in the face of her adversary. The jeweller stand stills, and begins to laugh as the magic is reflected back at Lachaidiga. She feels the air sucked forcibly from her lungs as her own spell begins to smother her. She panics. Her first thought is to go for the shortsword she keeps next to her nightstand. The jeweller laughs as she finds it is no longer there.

Her head is growing faint. She remembers a counter spell, and rasps out the words. In her confusion and panic, she confuses their order. Nothing happens. Her vision is going fuzzy. She shakes her head and tries the spell again, again is disappointed. The jeweller is ever laughing. The sound is far away. Everything is going dark...

[The game mechanics:

Lachaidiga cast Smother at the jeweller, who was protected by a previously-cast Castback.
Her Invocation (62%) roll of 27 is opposed by his Endurance (60%) roll of 53. Both rolls succeed at the same level (normal success), but as the jeweller's roll is higher, he wins the contest. Thus his Castback reflects the spell at Lachaidiga. She now needs to resist her original Invocation roll with her own Endurance (28%). She rolls an 05; the spell overpowers her Endurance and takes effect.

round 1: She looks for her shortsword.
Q: Is it readily available? 50/50: 95, Exceptional no. The jeweller has moved it out of sight.

Each round, she must make an Endurance roll or gain levels of Fatigue (per the asphyxiation rules).

Endurance roll 79, failure. She gains (1d2=) 2 levels of fatigue. She's now Tired; all skill rolls are increased by 1 level of difficulty.

She then tries to cast Abjure Breath. Her Invocation has been reduced to 41% due to fatigue. She rolls a 65, failure.

round 2: Another failed Endurance rolls brings 2 more fatigue levels. She's now Exhausted; all skills at +2 difficulty levels (in addition to movement penalties).

Her Invocation has now fallen to 31%. She tries and fails to cast Abjure Breath again.

round 3: Yet another failed Endurance roll drops her to Incapacitated. The spell ends when she passes out.]

to be continued...