The Bloody Daffodil
Assasinated- Vol.1:Iss#002
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This week
«First Session <Previous Session | Next Session> Last session»
Turkhan and I found ourselves at the Hillreef Graveyard with a mirror and a warning. If only we knew what we were going to step into I’m not sure I would have taken the job.
Story
As we trudged through the endless sea of mausoleums we took the mirror out. Morii said we would know what to do with it but I was drawing a blank. Turkhan pointed at the black Diamond, “I know of only one house who reveres the Black. House Daffosah.”
“Daffosah?!” I repeated as I looked through my HUD notes. The name was vaguely familiar.
“Yes, House Daffosah predecessors of the Bloody Daffodil. Originally known as the 1st Militia of Baaskqir, their Waldemen pushed back the first terrors of the Aamsk.” Turkhan stopped himself as he noticed me staring at him.
I was no scholar or history buff so none of what he was saying made much sense except two words. “You said the Bloody Daffodil.”
He nodded, that was a name I knew well. I started to make a beeline towards the deepest parts of the graveyard. We passed Reefkeepers and small crowds gathered here and there visiting loved ones, and attending to graves. Each step took us further and further away from the beautiful almost tower like mausoleums and crypts into the heart of the graveyard. Here fewer visitors roamed and only the Reefkeepers tended to the graves now.
We walked until the cobble path became dirt, kept walking until it was barely tread and yet further still, til the path was overgrown and barely visible.
Turkhan stopped as we broke through this twisted section of ruins,”Dise keep us.” He mumbled.
Before us the lonely Crypt of The Daffosah House. It laid amidst the ruins of forgotten families and graves of criminals. Everything about it screamed turn around. Go back the other way. I could hear him mumbling a prayer beneath his breathe as I nudged us forward.
The Daffosah Family Crypt was a grotesque marvel, a blight on the otherwise beautiful homages to the noble houses that came before. As we approached the entrance I noticed The Black Pearl carved was into the stone above. I couldn't help but feel a shiver down my spine.
The rough-hewn stone twisted and gnarled its way across the sarcophagi and tombs like vines, each one carved from multiple rare stones riveted together by iron in crude patchwork. The reefkeepers were hard at work, tending to the graves that no one else would. They were dressed in black cloaks, their faces obscured by hoods, but their duty was clear: to preserve the legacy of the Daffosah family, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
I watched as they scrubbed the moss and vines off the tombs, revealing the intricate carvings and designs beneath. Each stone was a testament to the family's conquests, but also to their shame. The reefkeepers took their duty seriously, as if by preserving the crypt, they could somehow make amends for the family's sins.
At the back of the crypt, amidst a broken statue, stood the Sarcophagus of Haustoria.
I turned to Turkhan and asked him again, "Who exactly are you?"
He shook his head and pulled out the mirror as if to remind me why we were here. He started, scanning the area. "You know, that's the second time you've asked me that. Do you always interrogate your customers?"
"I just find it odd that a healer would know so much about things outside of their field," I replied.
Turkhan shrugged. "If I told you, would it make a difference?"
I rolled my eyes, but before I could reply, a ding went off in my head as my HUD flashed, "Quest requirement achieved.”
Bleeding History
Quest Req. Achieved!
Reunite the Blood Pearl
Suddenly, a glowing orb materialized from the face of the sarcophagus and the mirror shattered in my hand as the black diamond ripped from it violently to orbit about the orb. We stood there dumbfounded as the orb spun faster and closer. Faster, faster, cutting through the air like a blade. The speed was blinding, the sound deafening as the diamond finally slammed into the orb. The sound of a million shards of glass echoed through the chamber, Turkhan and I ducking instinctively.
“You ok? I asked as I pulled myself from the ground and looked for Turkhan. I stopped in my tracks as a young Reefkeeper appeared out of nowhere, grinning widely.
There was a flash and I couldn't move. I watched as the Reefkeeper ripped off her cloak and held a sickly blue blade to my throat. I heard Turkhan shouting, but he was too far away to help me. Every thing seemed a thousand miles away her lips were moving but I couldn’t hear her. I couldn’t hear Turkhan’s scream anymore as time slowed. I was going to die. That was assured, but I couldn’t help but feel relieved. As the blade struck me, everything went dark.
Dark but not quiet. My HUD went insane with notifications.
*CLATTER OF DICE*
Level up!
Lvl.1 Gained
*CLATTER OF DICE*
Mana unlocked
*CLATTER OF DICE*
New Classes unlocked
*CLATTER OF DICE*
New Jobs Unlocked
*CLATTER OF DICE*
Bond Complete
*CLATTER OF DICE*
Resurrection in Progress
W|D|H
8|0|00
Story Pt.2
In those final moments, darkness enveloped me, its duration uncertain. Adrift in a void of nothingness, the dim glow of my HUD offered a sole source of illumination—a countdown?
An unsettling sensation crept over me at intervals, as though unseen eyes peered at me from the shadows. Time ebbed away, and a deluge of memories surged forth. Had I not tasted death before?
This wasn't my first encounter with loss, and it likely wouldn't be the last. My eyes remained fixed on the dwindling numbers, a mixture of dread and curiosity clawing at my insides.
7|1|0 Turk and Seldah
A force dragged me through the murky streets of Basskqir I was thrust into the Ethereal realm above Seldah's quarters, where I bore witness to a heated exchange.
"Are you deaf? A Reefkeeper ambushed us!" Turkhan's voice quivered, and he doubled over in a coughing fit.
Seldah flung a handkerchief in his direction. "Don't bleed on my floor. You've cost us the Blood Pearl. There will be consequences."
Turkhan's eyes blazed with rage and pain. "You dare threaten a dying man? How low can you stoop?"
"Duty before honor, applies to us all regardless of our station young Kqa," Seldah retorted. "Your ambition has jeopardized our entire operation. Do you have any idea what the loss of the Blood Pearl means? But rest assured, there will be restitution for your failure.”
Turkhan sneered, "Empty threats from a coward who hides behind her title."
Kqa? Was Turkhan highborn? And his ambition, what the hell was Seldah on about? I tried to scream out, but my voice was trapped in the void. Blast this cursed place! The darkness enveloped me once more, leaving me with nothing but the ticking countdown..
5|4|12 Daffodil Whispers
Time in the darkness seemed endless. My sanity clung to the slow ticking of my HUD. Memories of a simpler time haunted me—my son; was he older now? Did time even matter here? I pondered my origin, my return, and the frustration gnawed at me. I had to stay focused, push on.
A voice emerged from the depths.
"Ah, yes, I've finally awoken. And it seems I have you to thank." The voice was resonant, sultry, and curious. Unease crept over me.
"Are you wondering where you are?"
"At least knowing where might help," I said, feigning composure.
"Welcome to the Tsafar, the place between places," the voice whispered. It reminded me of Morii's words: The Enbis was buried between realms.
"The Enbis? Where is it?" I asked, desperation mounting.
"You want my Pearl, do you? Many have sought the Blood Pearl of the Daffodil. Fewer lived to tell their tale. And you…" The voice trailed off, leaving me to ponder its words—'My Pearl,' it said, almost proudly.
I felt eyes piercing me, as if studying me deeply, before the voice continued, "You are a rare one. The Tsafar is a border realm, a pass-through for life itself. One is not born or given breath without having touched this place. The Blood Pearl is the physical manifestation of Tsafar."
The voice let the words hang, sinking in. "Are you implying that I'm inside the Blood Pearl?"
"You catch on quickly, not exactly but you came here through the Pearl yes." the voice teased, playful yet dangerous.
"And you… you're…"
"The Bloody Daffodil at your service," it answered, amused. The voice carried power, wisdom, and a hint of compassion. But it was also terrifying, making me uneasy.
3|5|18 Clandestine Meeting
Haustoria, she preferred Daffodil which I found curious knowing her history; she made the darkness less lonely though. With each passing day, things became a bit easier to make out here and there—shapes of buildings or people. They were still only vague, shadowy silhouettes, but at least it wasn't just my HUD and a timer keeping me company. She said the Pearl was partly alive in its own way; it would show you what you needed if you asked.
I couldn't help but think of that young Reefkeeper who attacked us. As if on cue, I felt myself being flung through space—beyond the city and past the coral canyon, into the heart of the Aamsk. My vision cleared as I found myself hovering above a tower. In the window that Young Reefkeeper. Her hooded robes a far cry from the humble grey and black of the Reefkeepers. No she wore a fine snail-cotton hooded robe. Decadent rings of gold and silver about her wrist.
I struggled to make out the conversation between the her and the hooded figure. My heart raced with anticipation, eager to uncover the reason behind the attack.
The Reefkeeper spoke first, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "As always, it's a pleasure doing business with you. The young Kqa received the message, and his family... Well, let's just say we made sure the wound would fester. His skill won't be of any help now."
A pang of anger welled up inside me, fueled by the callousness of her words.
"Excellent work, Ayetha," the figure praised, their voice barely more than a sinister whisper. "You've proven yourself quite valuable. We'll be in touch."
As the conversation unfolded, a mixture of fear and rage swirled within me. I was desperate to understand their motives, to find a reason for the senseless violence we had endured. And yet, a part of me dreaded the revelation, knowing it could only bring more pain and heartache.
I tried to move closer, hoping to catch every last word, but my inexperience with the Tsafar betrayed me. The Void yanked me back, severing my connection to the scene. As I tumbled into the void, my mind raced with unanswered questions and a burning desire for justice. Death was a part of life, I knew that, but not knowing why I had died… That was a question I couldn't bear. At least I had her name. Ayetha!
1|2|06 Hyrlin Yjo
The Tsafar had morphed into a nightmarish, shadowy reflection of the world around me, like a twisted mirror distorting reality. I wandered aimlessly through the Pseudo Baaskqir, consumed by a storm of rage and confusion. So many unanswered questions haunted me. Daffodil had urged me to remember the sensation but not to be swallowed by it. That was easier said than done when all I had left were the fragments of my thoughts and my final, chilling moments.
Daffodil couldn't prepare me for the spine-tingling visions the Tsafar offered. Not all questions needed answers... and sometimes, I was given answers to questions that festered like open wounds.
The Tsafar yanked me across the Aamsk into the ghostly hills and plains of the Ivory Reach, where an eerie silence pervaded the atmosphere. I drifted past massive stone gates and heavy metal doors, etched with cryptic runes that seemed to whisper secrets of an unknown language.
I hovered in an oppressive chamber above a creature that sent shivers down my spine. It was humanoid, but something about it felt unnervingly wrong, like a grotesque marionette with a sinister purpose. Its arms and fingers stretched unnaturally long from beneath its cloak, resembling the twisted branches of a dead tree. Its movements were jerky, almost puppet-like, as it labored on something atop a large table.
Every instinct inside me screamed not to look, not to venture around its shoulder. But I couldn't resist the macabre allure.
Staring back at me... was me. My own lifeless body, cold and empty. What?! Why? My mind raced like a frightened animal, yet I couldn't tear my eyes away from the grisly scene.
The creature's sickly long fingers, like tendrils of creeping ivy, caressed my face as it washed dust and sand from my cheek. It worked with an eerie deftness and skill that I could only assume came from years of morbid practice. Once it finished cleaning me, it pulled a knife from its side table that gleamed with malevolent intent.
Desperate to scream or grab it, I couldn't bear to just sit there and watch. Time seemed to slow, as if trapped in a viscous fluid, as it brought the blade to the base of my throat. It paused, its head cocking to one side. I was nearly directly above it when its eyes snapped up to look at me—four glowing green orbs that pierced my very essence like ice-cold daggers. Then it shrieked, a sound that resonated in the depths of my soul, and as if to protect me, the Tsafar yanked me back to Daffodil's side.
If I had had a heart in this place between, it would have withered and died from fear. I could barely get the words out.
"Wh...wh...wha...what?!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling.
"It saw you... one of the few creatures that can pierce the veil between the Tsafar and the Materia," Daffodil replied, her tone as somber as a funeral dirge. "Hyrlin Yjo, scavengers. Some call them cannibals, others simply Mages of old consumed by their dark work"
I could only sit with this horrifying revelation, the cold grip of dread tightening around me. The longer I lingered here, the more the madness seemed to creep in like a malignant growth—or perhaps, the more madness I became aware of. It was unsettling how a place like this, where you could only observe, could so insidiously warp your perspective.
Next Week
The countdown comes to a close. What lies beyond Resurrection? So many questions that I have. Why were we attacked? Who is Turkhan Really? What exactly is the Hyrlin Yjo doing with my body?! Plenty of threads for us to pull and see what falls into place. Also I have been looking for more ways to get you all involved in the story and how it will be affected so be on the look out for the polls that will be incoming.
Bones and Mechanics
This week, the most thrilling aspect for me was the implementation of a keyed scene. Keyed scenes are an excellent method for advancing the story or emphasizing a captivating story beat.
When I initially devised this campaign, I came up with several ideas, one of which involved my character's death and subsequent rebirth as the catalyst for all their future adventures. This concept was inspired by Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC), I don't want to play characters that always have the upper hand. There is a certain charm to meat grinders I find.
Embracing this concept, we began at Lvl-0 and later progressed to Lvl-1. My original plan was for the keyed scene to occur during the third or fourth session. As we got closer to the Flint Garde Dungeon BUT, alas the dice can be a cruel and fickle mistress. Enter Ayetha. She was a New NPC generated based on the following roll
6,6
Doubles are house ruled to generate a Random event. And we rolled up NPC Action. The dice determined she was hostile.
7,8
I had to go and ask if she was attacking.
9,10
Of course that was an exceptional yes. Then we had to determine if it was me or Turkhan that would take the hit (oh did I mention this was all a sneak attack?)
Does she attack Turkhan 2,8 NO
Ultimately, she targeted me, and her first strike didn't kill but definitely stunned me. The second, however, was lethal, I rolled two tens!
10,10
This was a pretty wild Exceptional Yes. So I decided to double down on the hit considering it a coup d'etat. The original c ount was completely nullified by a set of dice rolls!
This unexpected turn of events initiated the rebirth sequence, adding an intriguing twist to the story. The rebirth Sequence was purely random events generated by the dice.
Current Context:deposit vulnerability
NPC Action: leadership leave portal
Move away from thread: attain comfort
New npc:use misfortune
The only Fate questions asked were around how long it takes for ressurection to happen in the case of Ptehu it was eight weeks. Sometimes, the narrative that unfolds through the dice is unpredictable and even arrives earlier than anticipated. I am eager to see what transpires next.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this, please like, subscribe, and share to support my content. Your help is greatly appreciated
Fellowship
Discover two sensational channels joining the Fellowship this week that will undoubtedly leave you captivated. Prepare to be astonished by Table Ready, where Noah takes you on a mesmerizing solo DnD adventure using AI to run the game. This innovative and unique experience will have you hooked, with the perfect balance of insightful commentary and gripping narrative in each bite-sized episode. Trust me, you don't want to miss it!
Next, immerse yourself in the enthralling world of Go Forth, Adventurer's!, where DC captivates you with not one, but two TTRPG AP campaigns - a solo and a co-op adventure. Imagine the enchantment of old-time radio plays, coupled with a riveting grim-grey Fantasy in the solo game, where the protagonist's magnetic charm instantly draws you in.
Looking for a refreshing change from the colossal tables and parties in CR, FATT, or Dimension20? The co-op game has you covered! Dive into a remarkable sci-fi story, expertly woven by DC and Cam, who effortlessly bounce ideas off each other like two sides of a coin. The outcome? A beautifully intricate tapestry of storytelling that you simply cannot resist.
Of course, we must pay homage to P&D-Peoplz and Dragonz, one of the Fellowship's most esteemed members. Delve into the Master Rogue Campaign, where the bizarre and eerie aspects of the game never fail to bring a grin to your face. Don't forget to tune in for the adventures of the Journeyman if you missed the last poll!
Finally, don't miss out on the exhilarating PTFO action – Vahid is on the move! I'm still catching up on the story, so if you're up-to-date, I'd love to discuss it with you. Feel free to share spoilers in the comments, and let's dive into the exciting world of these incredible channels together