Claws, Thorns, and Binds

L.o.S-Se#0006

Well, hello, hello, hello.🙋🏾‍♂️👋🏾 My fellow Inkmasters and Inklings! I’ve been thinking about what to call all of you that have been supporting thus far. What do you all think?

Thank Grog… it's Game Day!

Welcome to another installment of Ink n Bones: Lament of Severance. Excited to have you back with us. I wanted to take some time to just thank you for being a reader. Please smash that Subscribe button if you aren't already an Inkling for your next Exceptional Yes!

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I am happy to say that audio is back up and running. However, the audio version will be released on Mondays! Thanks for being patient and understanding as I continually work to better my craft. In time things will be so polished these first few letters will make me cringe. Thank you again for sticking around.

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Previously…

The last we left off, our two-man party of Kalzussis of the Elav, and Jilna Cloudwater, were caught in a dream. Kal captured, and Jil rushing to his aid. We ended our session with one final question; Does this devolve into combat? We got an Exceptional YES! Which means this session should be a bit wild. That said we are going to go over a few things. Namely Combat.

Setup

We know that Kal and the Flayer are in a warehouse of some kind. Kal is currently bound and Jilna has kicked down the door. Some reminders we do not have attributes or stats like Strength, Dexterity, etc. This is because I wanted more room for creatively solving problems. As such we have the Eight broad skills.

• Acrobatics

• Arts

• Athletics

• Awareness

• Fast Talk

• Scholar

• Scrutiny

• Wilderness

I would like to think that as time progresses and our characters level, we will see specialization in these skills. But for now, we will be using the Base skills of Acrobatics and Athletics as our starting points for Jil and Kal. Jil will be roll a d6-2 (due to having a d4), and d6 for Kal. Now the Flayer we said is sitting pretty with a d12 for his skills. As he is surprised by Jil coming through the door we can say he’s rolling at a -2 as it were. Since Jil started this by busting in the door. We are not going to be rolling initiative. Even though there is no real initiative in Mythic, instead we phrase it as a question.

Does Jil go next? 2d10+3→[1,3]+3;6→ NO

Oh boy, this doesn’t look great at all. While not in our favor it doesn’t mean we can’t turn it around. From here we will determine what the Flayers Combat action will be.

NPC Action→ d100→ [40]→ Reinforce Defenses

Does the Flayer go next? → 2d10-2→[3,6]-2;7→ NO

Welp that is interesting. While he will look to reinforce his defenses, he won’t be going next. I’ll take this to mean that we are going to start with Kal. But Kal is bound currently, with that win on the next go around. I’ll say he gets a +2 to try and break free.

While we are in combat, I will keep most rolls in the footnotes, trying to keep it snappy. However, major rolls will be pulled out and discussed as normal. Let’s Dive into this week’s session!

The Skirmish

Kalzusiss’ gaze followed the weapon back to the owner. A lithe lizard folk woman with carmine speckled scales. But there was something familiar about her.¹

“Jilna?!” He cried out.

”It’s a dream young tusk!”

Kalzusiss looked at the Flayer and back at his bonds. A dream, then he should be able to get himself out of this. He strained against his bonds only to free one hand.² The iron ring rebounded off the warehouse wall as Kall took a swipe at the distracted Flayer. He ducked under it and yanked his arm free of Jilna’s grasp. He snarled in rage.³

Kal could see him for the first time.

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So, I have never confirmed what kind of creature/race the Flayer was. I think now is a suitable time to figure out what kind of monster or insane person we may be dealing with. I will be using one of my preferred race tables to roll on.

2d20→[20,13]→ Warforged

This makes for an interesting roll, Traditionally Warforged are a mechanical humanoid. While these do not exist in our world directly there is something similar. The Marionette, as they are called. I’ll roll up a description specifically for the Flayer and we’ll take a minor detour to touch on The Marionette.

2d100→[68,71]→ Majestically, Natural

This makes me think that he is made from Wood or stone. More accurately a Cimdel Oak.⁴ Which is quite beautiful. Diving back in.

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Marionette. People made, constructed and designed. Not born, but to call them simple automatons would be a slight against the saviors. Tireless, impervious to the elements, cunning and most of all merciless. Cold indifferent benefactors’ history names them. After the Hoviel War they founded the walking city Okov, their promised land. Few have been seen outside of Okov since they rendered Hoviel a non-threat. How? Rumors abound but no one knows for sure. The Marionette feared as much as they are revered.

He was neither man nor beast but a mimicry of life. His body was a vacant cavity of Cimdel oak, gnarled, cracked and scarred with Blattoa⁵ bites. His petrified limbs grew thorns like Rhinidillo⁶. He tried to take a defensive stance as Kal took another swipe at him.

Jilna spun into action. She swung the hook at breakneck speed she closed the distance to her distracted opponent. The deep stone hook was a blur and the Flayer barely had time to turn as it sunk deep into his hip.⁷ A roar of pain rocked the warehouse as he dropped to a knee.⁸

“You sick, slag!” Jilna yelled as she yanked the hook free with a sickening rip.⁹ The punch she threw barely grazed his disfigured face as the Flayer parried desperately.¹⁰

“Sick? Sick, is I?” said the Flayer his barbed arm shot towards Jilna’s stomach.¹¹ She doubled over. “I’s only sick as I’s made to be.” The Flayer went for another strike but couldn’t pull his arm free. Jil looked up at him, his arm tangled in goatsilk, her hook poised for a critical blow.¹² If he moved, she’d split him clean in two, but not before he skewered her clean through. They were at a stalemate.

“Nowhere to run girlie, brought me another canvas, yous sweet!” The Flayer barked at Jilna. The Warehouse walls started to pulse and ungulate with his taunt.

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Kalzusiss worked frantically to get his other wrist undone as the world about him warped and twisted unnaturally. He flopped to the ground with a thud that rattled his bones.¹³ The sound of clapping filled his ears. He picked up the rope that had bitten into his wrist and stared at the back of the Flayer locked in struggle. He gripped the roped tightly and pushed himself from the floor slowly. Every bone in his body ached as he dragged himself to his feet. He mustered what little strength he had left and wrapped the rope about the Flayers neck and yanked for all he was worth.¹⁴ Kal put a heel into the Flayer’s spine to keep him steady.

“FINISH IT!” He screamed at Jilna.

She wasted no time and pushed her hook up and through the mad mockery of a man bifurcating him.¹⁵ His body evaporating into a brackish mist.

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Jilna climbed off the floor where she’d fallen.

“Bit of warning next time, you ponce!” She said wearily as she pulled up a chair next to Rhova. She rubbed her temples and shook her head. Kal still hadn’t stirred from the dream. When he did they would have much to discuss. She looked at Rhova with worry.

WHOA! Just Wow! Like I said this session would be a bit wild. The blow by blow is something that I tend to like to do. However, it won’t be our norm. As we can abstract entire battles with one or two rolls here. But I do hope this was enjoyable. That battle was over faster than I thought but it wasn’t exactly easy either.

Next week

We are going to be picking up the next session with a level up actually. As our party was able to beat the Flayer this session. Which means there will be some choices to make about where we are investing skills specialties. We will also go back to discuss the system a bit more.

Normally I would end the session with a question, so we have somewhere to pick up next week. Instead, how about you leave a suggestion instead? How do you think this is going to affect the party relationship? How do you think it is going to affect Kal?

Don’t hesitate to drop a comment.

Presents…

As always, thank you for coming along for this journey. Can’t wait for next week? Don't hesitate to check out any of the links below!

This week I Recommend you try out KTR and their Ironsworn Actual Play.

1. Does Kal Recognize Jil? 2d10+4→[8,6]+4 → Yes, Random Event Adjourn Neglect Kal’s confidence is bolstered

2. Does Kal Break free? 2d10→[2,4]+2→ NO,Random Event→ 2d100→[70,67]→ Extravagance Ambush. Doesn't hit but Increases Jilna's Chances.

3. Does Jilna go next? 2d10→[7,1]→ No So this means goes to the Flayer.

4. Cimdel Oaks- A tree that grows large enough and becomes old enough that its trunk naturally petrifies.

5. Stone Termites

6. A vicious armored beetle that attacks with its carapace

7. Does Jil hit? 2d10+4→[6,9]+4→ yes

8. Does it hurt? 2d10+→[7,6]+2 yes

9. Does jil go next? 2d10+4→[7,4]+4 Yes

10. Does she Hit? 2d10+2→[3,1]+2 NO

11. Does he hit? 2d10-2→[4,9]-2 Yes

12. Does it hurt? 2d10-d6-2→ [7,7] No Exceptional Rando Event → 2d100→[20,58] Truce Stalemate

13. Does Kal Break Loose? 2d10+d6→[8,3]+1→ Yes Rando Event → 2d100→[45,83]→ Celebrate Riches

14. Does Kal hit? 2d10+d6→ [1,9]+6→ yes Exceptional

15. Does Jil hit? 2d10+d6 → [5,7]+6→ Yes Exceptioncal