On Monday November 29, 2010, Leo, Nolan, and I got together on Skype for a 3-hour playtest of Final Hour of a Storied Age rev 0.67, continuing the story started in our previous session. An audio recording of this session is also available as episode 15 of the Designer vs. Reality podcast.

Chapter 5
Viewpoint: Dan 1. Leo 8,7. Nolan 9,9.
Adversity: Dan 4,1. Leo 5,4,3.

Tossed by the storm, Marian’s ship is wrecked on a beach. [Leo spends his 5 to introduce a d4 passive threat: Don't Know Where You Are] Looking around on the desolate shore, Marian realizes she has no idea where she is [d4]. [Nolan spends a 9 to activate Demigoddess at d8]. Marian centers herself, trying to use her divine nature [d8] to commune with the spirits of the world and figure out where she is. [Nolan 7 vs. Leo 3. Nolan wins but his d8 is already maxed out so he can't increase it, and Leo's passive threat is exhausted.] Hidden to most by the noise of the surf, Marian makes out the whispers of some sea spirits saying the name of the place she has landed. [Leo spends his 4 to introduce a d4 passive threat: Hundreds of Miles Off Course] Marian is on the continent she was headed for, but is hundreds of miles off course [d4]. Having supernatural capabilities far beyond mere mortals [d8], Marian sets off running toward the capital. [Nolan 7 vs. Leo 2. Nolan wins but still can't bump, Leo exhausts again.] The wind blows through her hair as her breathtaking, tireless pace carries her swiftly to the capital, her destined home. [Leo spends his 3 to introduce a d4 passive threat: Tattered and Dirty Clothing] Although Marian’s journey on foot was little effort for her body, it didn’t treat her dress kindly. As she enters the city, the residents see only a girl dressed in dirty, tattered clothes [d4]. She strides into the city, trusting her divine nature [d8] to shine past her earthly raiment [Nolan 1 vs. Leo 2. Leo wins and bumps Tattered and Dirty Clothing to d6, Nolan exhausts Demigoddess.], but the people scoff at her claims to divine heritage. They see her only as a filthy urchin [d6]. [Nolan spends a 9 to activate Adaptive at d8] Marian calls out to the people around her, daring them to name any challenge [Adaptive d8] and she will prove that she is who she says she is. [Nolan 3 vs. Leo 3. Leo wins and bumps his Tattered and Dirty Clothing to d8, but Nolan doesn't exhaust.] A priest emerges from the crowd, saying that she speaks nonsense, since they know what the hero Marian is supposed to look like, and she doesn’t match the description [Tattered and Dirty Clothing d8]. Unphased by this new challenge [Adaptive d8], Marian turns to the crowd and begins asking questions about the prophecy of Marian’s arrival, pointing out the many aspects of the story that do apply to her. [Nolan 7 vs. Leo 5. Nolan wins, Leo exhausts. Leo is out of traits and dice so Nolan wins the chapter] The people, forced to look past their initial rash judgments, are compelled to admit that Marian is who she claims to be. [Nolan won the chapter as viewpoint so he advances one phase along his plot thread.]

Chapter 6
Viewpoint: Dan 19. Leo 6,6. Nolan 3.
Adversity: Leo 12,5,2. Nolan 6,2.

Marcus, having had no luck figuring out what he should study in the scholar’s absence, realizes that this is the perfect opportunity to set out on an adventure, just like in the stories he’s read! [Leo spends his 2 to introduce a d4 passive threat: Don't know where to go] Despite his enthusiasm, Marcus realizes he doesn’t really know where to go [d4]. [I spend my 19 to activate Yearns for Adventure at d8, Quick-witted at d6, Scholar's Apprentice at d6, and Young at d4] He says to himself, “I may not know exactly where to go, but the first step is obviously to head down this road and I can see where it leads from there! [Yearns for Adventure d8]” As he walks, he remembers the years he’s spent with the scholar [Scholar's Apprentice d6], hoping to notice a clue that will point him in the right direction. [Dan 4,1 vs. Leo 4. I win and bump Scholar's Apprentice to d8, but Leo isn't exhausted.] He finds the scholar’s glasses lying on the side of the right, reassuring him that he’s headed in the right direction. [Leo spends his 12 on a d6 active threat: Goblin bandits] As Marcus ponders how to proceed [Don't know where to go d4], a band of goblin bandits [d6] bursts out from the undergrowth! Thinking quickly [Quick-witted d6], Marcus employs a tactic he recalls from his studies [Scholar's Apprentice d8]: he climbs a tree, knowing that goblins are poor climbers. [Dan 6,4 vs. Leo 4,4. I win and bump Quick-witted to d8, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] The plan works to the extent that he isn’t run through by their spears or stabbed by their knives, but as he clings to a tree branch Marcus realizes that he’s till in quite a predicament. The goblins [d6], crafty little schemers, light a fire at the base of the tree, leaving Marcus no place to go [Don't know where to go d4] as the smoke wafts up into his eyes. Having studied trees like this [Scholar's Apprentice d8], Marcus realizes that the fire will weaken the base of the tree and cause it to fall before it spreads up to him, and if he can time it right [Quick-witted d8] he ought to be able to leap from the falling tree and over the goblin’s heads. [Dan 3,2 vs. Leo 6,2. Leo wins and should bump up a die size on one of his traits but it seems like he may have forgotten, but I don't exhaust.] Unfortunately, his studies didn’t cover how trees respond to particularly dry weather, as they’d been having in this area lately, and the tree goes up much more quickly than Marcus was anticipating. He tumbles to the ground and is captured by the goblins [d6], making it less likely than ever that he’ll be able to get where he needs to go [Don't know where to go d4]. Marcus quickly realizes [Quick-witted d8], however, that goblins are unlikely to hurt someone they’ve taken prisoner, and if he goes along quietly he may be able to band together with other prisoners, as happens so often in the tales of adventure that he’s familiar with [Yearns for adventure d8]. [Dan 7,2 vs. Leo 6,1. I win but can't bump anything above a d8. Leo exhausts Don't know where to go] As he’s trundled into the camp, Marcus sees that there is indeed another prisoner: his master the scholar!

[Leo spends his 5 to introduce a d4 passive threat: The scholar is weak and close to death] The scholar seems to have been badly roughed up [Scholar is weak and close to death d4], but the goblins [d6] that swarm about the camp don’t seem to care. Marcus rushes to his master’s side [Scholar's Apprentice d8], quickly [Quick-witted d8] administering some of the first-aid techniques that the scholar taught him. [Dan 2,2 vs. Leo 3,1. Leo wins and bumps the goblins to d8, but I don't exhaust.] Marcus stabilizes the old man, but he’s still very weak [d4]. More goblin hunting parties [d8] return to the camp, making escape seem that much more difficult. Marcus immediately realizes [Quick-witted d8] that his situation won’t improve by waiting, and he doesn’t want his adventure to be cut short by lowly goblins [Yearns for Adventure d8], so he hefts his master [Scholar's Apprentice d8] over his shoulder, hoping that his youthful vigor [Young d4] will be enough to get the both of them out of there. [Dan 8,6,6,4 vs. Leo 5,4. I win and bump Young to d6, Leo doesn't exhaust.] He exits the camp, his legs pumping as fast as they can. The old scholar, weakened as he is [d4], weighs heavily on Marcus, and the goblins [d8] run screaming after him, their pursuit relentless. Unwilling to leave his master [Scholar's Apprentice d8] to these horrible goblins, Marcus keeps running, hoping he won’t tire before they do [Young d6]. [Dan 6,5 vs. Leo 2,1. I win and would bump Young, but Leo is exhausted and doesn't have anything else to throw at me, so the chapter is over] Eventually the goblins, lazy and indolent by nature, give up the chase and Marcus eventually stops in a place to relative safety to rest. [I won as viewpoint and advance one phase in my plot thread.]

Chapter 7
Viewpoint: Dan 4. Leo 7,3. Nolan 7.
Adversity: Dan 5,2. Nolan 5,5.

Despite Pyrotenax’s contact with the farmboy’s mind, [Nolan spends a 5 to activate Agricola's Pig Headed at d8] Agricola is so stubborn [d8] that he continues his normal routine instead of attempting to dig up the ring. [Leo spends his 7 and 3 to activate Pyrotenax's Beguiler of Mortals at d8 and Mystical Will at d6] Pyrotenax focus his will [Mystical Will d6] and speaks directly into the boy’s mind, saying, “Agricola, my child, come to me [Beguiler of Mortals d8].” [Leo 5,5 vs. Nolan 3. Leo wins and bumps Mystical Will to d8, Nolan's Pig Headed is exhausted.] “You must free me from my prison, child.” [Nolan spends a 5 to create a d4 passive threat: Buried deep] Even with the boy’s reluctance overcome, the ring is still buried deep in the earth [d4]. [Leo didn't actually narrate anything here, but rolled both of his traits.] [Leo 7,1 vs. Nolan 3. Leo wins but his traits are already maxed out. Nolan doesn't exhaust.] “You must come rescue me,” Pyrotenax says. “Whatever the cost, whatever the effort, I need you.” Even a strong boy like Agricola has trouble digging deep enough to reach the ring [d4]. Pyrotenax forces his will [Mystical Will d8] upon the boy, commanding him to work through the pain, and promising that his rewards will be great once he succeeds [Beguiler of Mortals d8]. [Leo 8,6 vs. Nolan 2. Leo wins, Nolan exhausts and is out of traits and dice so Leo wins the chapter.] Agricola digs feverishly, getting ever closer to the buried ring. [Leo won as viewpoint so he advances one phase along his plot thread.]

Chapter 8
Viewpoint: Dan 13. Leo 11. Nolan 10.
Adversity: Leo 12,10,10. Nolan 7,5.

In the forest clearing, Marcus [Leo creates a new NPC: Artax the Scholar with the traits Old and Frail, Learned, Enigmatic, and Stern. He isn't mentioned on any seeds but he has been discussed in the fiction, so Leo must pay the implied-by creation tax of 2. Since the previous fiction established the scholar here, the plausibility tax is 0. Leo spends his two 10's, each of which would normally activate 2 traits. After the tax, Leo gets to activate 4 – 2 = 2 traits. He activates Old and Frail at d8 and Enigmatic at d6.] realizes that his mentor Artax is breathing shallowly, and begins to cough [Old and Frail d8]. [I spend my 13 to activate Scholar's Apprentice at d8 and Quick-witted at d6] Remembering his old lessons in herbology [Scholar's Apprentice d8], Marcus dashes off to find an herb that grows in the area that is supposed to be good for ailments of the respiratory system [Quick-witted d6]. [Dan 8,6 vs. Leo 4. I win and bump Quick-witted to d8. Leo exhausts.] He gathers a few handfuls and rushes back to Artax’s side, crumbling it under his nose so that the vapors can calm the old man’s cough. [Leo spends his 12 to activate Stern at d6 and Old and Frail at d6] “Boy, what are you doing here?” says Artax. “You should be at home studying, as I instructed you to do. [Stern d6]” Thinking quickly [Quick-witted d8], Marcus answers, “But Master, you didn’t tell me what to study, so I came to find you! [Scholar's Apprentice d8]” [Dan 8,4 vs. Leo 6. I win but my traits are already maxed so I can't bump them up. Leo doesn't exhaust.] Artax’s expression softens slightly as he realizes his apprentice has a point. Looking at Marcus with the eyes of a father figure, Artax says, “Boy, must I spell everything out for you? I am old and frail [d6], and you must study the ways of life so that you may take over when I am gone. [Enigmatic d6]” “But Master,” Marcus protests, “you need me as much as I need you! You may be wise in the ways of learning, but if I leave you who will cook your breakfast? [Scholar's Apprentice d8]” [Dan 4 vs. Leo 6,3. Leo wins and bumps Enigmatic (I think), but I don't exhaust.] Artax replies, “Child, there are many things you must learn but I cannot teach you, you must find them out for yourself.” He continues, “You have not learned who you truly are [Enigmatic d6]. Until you learn that, you cannot fulfill your destiny.” Tempted by the thought of adventure, Marcus quickly recalls [Quick-witted d8] what a dangerous place they’re in. “But Master, there are still goblins about, I can’t leave you alone! [Scholar's Apprentice d8]” [Dan 5,3 vs. Leo 4. I win but can't bump anything, Leo doesn't exhaust.] Artax concedes the point. “Child,” Artax scolds [Stern d6], “when did I tell you that what you needed to learn about yourself was anywhere but at home? [Enigmatic d8] Now help me home so that I may rest [Old and Frail d6] and you may study!” Marcus comes to a sudden realization [Quick-witted d8], “Wait a minute! This is another one of your tests, isn’t it? [Scholar's Apprentice d8]. That’s why you’re saying so many contradictory things! You want me to figure out what you really mean.” [Dan 5,2 vs. Leo 5,5,4. Leo wins and bumps Stern to d8 (I think) and I exhaust Quick-witted.] Artax merely scowls at the boy as he is escorted home.

Marcus helps the scholar into bed and is left alone in the library to ponder just what his master meant [Enigmatic d8]. Not knowing what else to do, Marcus starts at the topmost shelf of the leftmost bookcase, and hopes that he’ll be able to stumble across whatever it is he’s supposed to find [Scholar's Apprentice d8]. [Dan 3 vs. Leo 1. I win but my d8 is already maxed out. Leo's Enigmatic is exhausted.] In the second book he opens a piece of paper falls out. He examines it and finds a list of names with every one crossed out except for “Marcus”. Artax shuffles past on his way to the kitchen, saying, “Ah, you’ve found some names have you? Find the meaning of those and you may begin to understand.” He takes a few sips of water and then shuffles back to bed [Old and Frail d6] without giving Marcus any better clues. Having worked with Artax for many years [Scholar's Apprentice d8], Marcus knows that the old man has a habit of talking in his sleep. After he dozes off, Marcus sneaks into the bedroom and begins whispering the names from the list into the scholar’s ear. [Dan 4 vs. Leo 4. Leo wins and bumps Old and Frail to d8, but I don't exhaust.] Unfortunately, none of Artax’s mumblings are decipherable. The old man stirs in his sleep [Old and Frail d8] and sees Marcus watching him. “What are you doing here? You have studying to do! Back to the library! [Stern d8]” Knowing that Artax doesn’t have the best handle on the passage of time [Scholar's Apprentice d8], Marcus prepares the morning tea, hoping he can trick the old man into thinking he’s had a full night’s sleep the next time he wakes. [Dan 4 vs. Leo 5,4. Leo wins but is maxed out. I don't exhaust.] Artax does awake, but quickly figures out Marcus’s ruse since it is still dark when he goes to the outhouse. “You’ll have to do better than that, boy. Now back to your studies! [Stern d8].” With none of his tricks paying off, Marcus realizes he has no alternative but to hit the books [Scholar's Apprentice d8]. [Dan 2 vs. Leo 2. Leo wins, his third in a row, so he wins the chapter.] He studies long into the night, still puzzled about what he is meant to learn. [Leo wins as adversity so he gets a new viewpoint die. He takes the d10 for his fourth phase.]

Chapter 9
Viewpoint: Dan 2. Leo 9. Nolan 8.
Adversity: Dan 8,3. Nolan 16,11.

Pyrotenax, still buried, feels he is on the cusp of freedom. [Nolan spends his 11 to introduce a d6 active thread: Other farm workers] Under the ring’s influence, Agricola has been surreptitiously digging, but the other farm workers [d6] are growing suspicious of his odd behavior. [Leo spends his 9 to activate Pyrotenax's Fire Magic at d8] Pyrotenax extends his consciousness out beyond his earthly prison and feeds energy into the hearth burning in the farmhouse, causing it to flare up and set the house ablaze [Fire Magic d8]. [Leo 7 vs. Nolan 3. Leo wins but his d8 is maxed out. Nolan's active threat is exhausted.] The farmhouse quickly catches fire and the farmers’ attention is focused completely on this emergency. [Nolan spends his 16 to introduce a new NPC: Marius, the owner of the farm. He has the traits Tyrannical, Savvy, Well-off, and Experienced. Since he's part of the family mentioned on Leo's seed, he has to pay the mentioned-on-seed creation tax of 1. It's reasonable and expected for the owner of the farm to be here at this time, so there's no plausibility tax. A 16 normally activates 4 traits, so after tax Nolan can activate 4 – 1 = 3 traits. He activates Savvy at d8, Tyrannical at d6, and Experienced at d6] As the rest of the family is fighting the fire, Marius the owner of the farmstead notices that Agricola isn’t helping but is instead digging near the cornerstone [Savvy d8]. He confronts the boy and demands and explanation [Tyrannical d6]. As the farmboy stammers excuses, Pyrotenax focuses his magic upon Marius brain, heating it and giving him a scorching headache [Fire Magic d8]. [Leo 5 vs. Nolan 6,2. Nolan wins and bumps Tyrannical to d8, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] Marius raises his hand to his forehead and notices the unnatural heat and recalls from his family history that a great evil supposedly lies under the farm [Experienced d6] making him realize [Savvy d8] that Agricola is up to more than simply boyish hijinks. He orders [Tyrannical d8] several of the farm workers to fill in the hole that Agricola has dug and to keep him from any more digging. Seeing that the time for subtlety has passed, Pyrotenax turns his power on the workers’ tools, turning the wood to ash [Fire Magic d8]. [Leo 2 vs. Nolan 3,3,1. Nolan wins and bumps Experienced to d8, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] Although the tools are burned to uselessness, Marius knows from family history that he can’t afford to let the work stop [Experienced d8], and is such a furious taskmaster [Tyrannical d8] that he demands the men use their hands to finish the work. Pyrotenax turns his power on the earth itself, heating it so that the men won’t be able to touch it, to the extent that it begins to melt into glass [Fire Magic d8]. [Leo 5 vs. Nolan 6,2. Nolan wins, his third in a row, so he wins the chapter] The men, fearing Marius’s wrath, work through the heat and pain, and the hole that Agricola had begun ends up filled with glassy slag. [Nolan won as adversity player so he gets another viewpoint die. He takes the d12 for his second phase]

Chapter 10
Viewpoint: Dan 14. Leo 5. Nolan 10,4.
Adversity: Leo 11,8,4. Nolan 9,4.

In the library of the scholar’s house, Marcus continues his studies. [Leo spends his 4 to introduce a d4 passive threat: tired] Marcus has studied so long that his exhaustion is causing him to not remember details [Tired d4]. [I spend my 14 to activate Marcus's Young at d8 and Scholar's Apprentice at d6] Marcus knows from previous all-nighters [Scholar's Apprentice d6] that if he keeps pushing, he ought to get a second wind of youthful [Young d8] energy. [Dan 6,1 vs. Leo 4. I win and bump my Scholar's Apprentice to d8, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] He does perk up a bit, but is still deeply fatigued. [Leo spend his 8 to introduce a d4 passive threat: faded scroll] Marcus finds an old genealogy which seems to be relevant, but many of the names are faded [Faded Scroll d4], and his tired [d4] eyes are having trouble making them out. Reminding himself that he’ll have time to sleep when he’s old [Young d8], Marcus holds the scroll up to a candle to try to decipher what it says [Scholar's Apprentice d8]. [Dan 5,1 vs. Leo 4,2. I win but my traits are maxed out. Leo doesn't exhaust.] Fighting back yawns, Marcus thinks he’s beginning to make progress. Even so, the scroll is difficult to make out [Faded Scroll d4], as are the other references that he consults, and it’s made even more difficult by the exhaustion [Tired d4] creeping into his fingers, his clumsiness making it difficult to treat the ancient texts with the care that they need. Marcus prepares some tea, Artax’s special blend. Although Artax has warned that you should never drink more than one cup a day, Marcus thinks that his constitution can take it [Young d8]. He gulps it down, nearly scalding his throat in the process, and returns to the scrolls with his eyes a little wider. [Dan 7 vs. Leo 1,1. I win, my third in a row, so I win the chapter.] Marcus is finally able to decipher a family tree in which all of the descendants match the list of crossed-out names he has, although the top of the tree, the person from whom they all descend, is still unclear. [I won as viewpoint so I advance a phase along my plot thread.]

Chapter 11
Viewpoint: Dan 5. Leo 3. Nolan 11,10.
Adversity: Dan 3,1. Leo 9,7,5.

Marian in in the church dedicated to her mother, where the priests are preparing her with information she needs to live her life among humans. [Leo spends his 5 to create a d4 passive threat: beggars and urchins] A matron comes to escort Marian to the palace, but on their way there they must travel through a virtual sea of beggars and urchins asking for alms and help. [Nolan spends his 10 to activate Marian's Virtuous at d8 and Demigoddess at d6] Marian uses her divine power [Demigoddess d6] to conjure things that they need [Virtuous d8]. [Nolan 4,3 vs. Leo 2. Nolan wins and bump Demigoddess to d8, Leo exhausts.] Marian blesses the hungry with full stomachs and the sick with healing, and the crowd is satisfied. [Leo spends his 7 to create a new d4 passive threat: more beggars] However, as word of Marian’s benevolence spreads, even more needy people converge on her [more beggars d4]. [Nolan spends his 11 to activate Marian's Adaptive at d6 and Sea Creature at d4] Instead of trying to address each one individually, Marian changes course [Adaptive d6]. She calls out to the people of the city, her divine voice carrying to everyone [Demigoddess d8], imploring them to have compassion on each other and to take care of their own [Virtuous d8]. [Nolan 6,3,2 vs. Leo 4. Nolan wins and bumps Adaptive to d6, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] Some people begin heeding her call, helping the crippled to stand and bringing bread from their homes to the hungry. [Leo spends his 9 to create another d4 passive threat: cold rain] A cold rain [d4] begins falling on the crowd [d4], making their misery that much worse. Sensing the hand of the storm god at work, Marian calls to the heavens [Demigoddess d8], praying to the storm god not to harm the people [Virtuous d8] with any anger he might be directing at her. [Nolan 4,2 vs. Leo 2,1. Nolan wins, his third in a row, so he wins the chapter.] The rain subsides and the clouds part, and as the sun shines down on the city Marian sees that even more people have come from their homes to heed her call to help each other. [Nolan won as viewpoint player so he advances one phase along his plot thread. This completes his supporting character's Learn to Live with Humanity subplot. For completing a segment, he gets two traits worth of narrative special effects. He chooses to change his Sea Creature trait to Champion of the People. Also, since he's finished with his subplot he will no longer roll for viewpoint, but he will now be able to use his support and complication segments when they apply.]

Chapter 12
Viewpoint: Dan 14. Leo 7.
Adversity: Leo 12,8,1. Nolan 5,1.

Still in the scholar’s library, Marcus has fallen asleep on top of the genealogical tome he found. [Leo spends his 12 to activate Artax's Learned at d8 and Enigmatic at d6] Artax wakes him up and congratulates him on identifying the correct book. “What have you learned about yourself in all this?” he asks enigmatically [d6]. [I spend my 14 to activate Marcus's Quick-witted at d8 and Scholar's Apprentice at d6] Rapidly collating [Quick-witted d8] the results from his studies the night before [Scholar's Apprentice], Marcus replies, “Clearly my name fits in this family tree here, so one could deduce that these other names are brothers and sisters.” [Dan 8,2 vs. Leo 3. I win and bump Scholar's Apprentice to d8 but Leo doesn't exhaust.] Artax smiles approvingly, glad that his apprentice is at least on the right track. “You deduce correctly, my boy, but you must go further. You have not uncovered all of the secret that is you [Enigmatic d6],” clearly referring to some fact that Artax knows [Learned d8] but wishes Marcus to discover for himself. “But master,” Marcus protests, “I know all of the books you have here [Scholar's Apprentice d8], and surely you wouldn’t have records from a humble orphanage…” The wheels of Marcus’s mind turn [Quick-witted d8]. “These people aren’t just random orphans! They must be important people!” [Dan 5,2 vs. Leo 3,1. I win but can't bump any traits because they’re maxed out, and Leo exhausts Enigmatic.] Artax nods and Marcus realizes he’s on the verge of figuring out what Artax is trying to teach him and heads over to the shelf with the rest of the genealogies. “You are looking in the right place,” Artax says. “Let me tell you a story.” He begins a tale of an ancient royal family, filling it with so many obscure details [Learned d8] that Marcus risks nodding off from boredom. Having worked with him for so long [Scholar’s Apprentice d8], Marcus knows that even though his master’s memory for detail is strong he is easily distracted. He “accidentally” knocks over a teacup, hoping Artax will lose his place in the story and can be convinced to cut to the end [Quick-witted d8]. [Dan 5,2 vs. Leo 7. Leo wins and I exhaust both traits. I don't have any traits or dice left so Leo wins the chapter.] Unfortunately, it does little more than annoy Artax who demands that Marcus clean up the mess while he continues his rambling tale. [Leo won the chapter as adversity so he gets another viewpoint die. He takes the d10 for his fifth phase.]

Chapter 13
Viewpoint: Dan 10. Leo 3.
Adversity: Leo 8,5,1. Nolan 9,5.

Marcus, listening to his master drone on and on, struggles to pay attention. [Nolan spends his 5 to introduce a d4 passive threat: The mystery of the story] At the conclusion, he’s puzzled as to what the point could have been [Mystery of the story d4]. [I spend my 10 to activate Quick-witted at d8 and Scholar's Apprentice at d6] After pondering for a bit, Marcus realizes [Quick-witted d8] that sometimes the genealogies are written in a more archaic form of the language that doesn’t exactly correspond to how it’s commonly spoken. He consults the translations [Scholar's Apprentice d6] to see if he can correlate them. [Dan 8,5 vs. Nolan 2. I win and bump Scholar's Apprentice to d8. Nolan exhausts.] He does, figuring out exactly how Artax’s tale fits into his earlier research. [Nolan spends his 9 to introduce a d4 passive threat: illegible name] The only missing piece is the one illegible name that would explain Marcus’s parentage [illegible name d4]. Marcus realizes [Quick-witted d8] that, with the story to work with, he can cross-reference [Scholar's Apprentice d8] the histories as well as the genealogies to find the information he’s seeking. [Dan 7,4 vs. Nolan 3. I win and Nolan exhausts. Nolan doesn't have any more traits or dice so I win the chapter.] He turns a page and runs his finger down, stopping on the key name: Aurelius, the current king. Marcus is stunned. If Aurelius is his father, that makes him a prince! [I won the chapter as viewpoint player so I advance one phase in my plot thread. This completes my "Learn true heritage" plot segment and I get two traits worth of narrative special effects. I change Artax's alignment to Ideologically aligned w/ Protagonist and change my Young trait to Secret Prince.]

Chapter 14
Viewpoint: Dan 11. Leo 6.
Adversity: Leo 8,4,4. Nolan 14,5.

Having learned all he can at the scholar’s house, Marcus says his goodbyes to Artax and sets off on the next stage of his adventure. [Nolan spends his 5 for a d4 passive threat: Journey to Whitehollow] Following a map given him to Artax, Marcus begins traveling to the nearby village of Whitehollow [d4] where he is supposed to find a man named Astrin. [I spend my 11 to activate Yearns for Adventure at d8 and Quick-witted at d6] Eager to get started [Yearns for Adventure d8], Marcus hurries down the road. [Dan 8 vs. Nolan 1. I win but can't increase the d8, but Nolan exhausts.] He arrives at the village without incident, his enthusiasm only slightly mellowed by the journey, and begins hunting for Astrin. He quickly discovers that the village is deserted and many of the buildings are in ruins. In the center of the village he sees a figure standing among the wreckage, Robur the knight who took Artax away from the house! [Nolan spends his 14 to bring Robur, Assistant to the King, into the chapter. For distance tax, we determine that this village is nearby to the last place he appeared in the story, since Marcus was in those places too and we didn't establish them as very far away, so he doesn't have to pay any distance tax. For plausibility, we decide that it's plausible but unexpected for him to be here. It's certainly not expected, but it's also not a surprise that he would show up again, so Nolan needs to pay a plausibility tax of 1. A 14 normally activates two traits but it seems like Nolan mistakenly believed it was activating 4. Starting from there and applying the tax Nolan gets 4 – 1 = 3 traits. He activates Strong at d8, Fiercely Loyal at d6, and Knight at d6.] “So, the scholar figured a way around his curse,” says the burly knight [d6]. “But I can’t permit you to go further than this. [Fiercely Loyal d6]” Not wanting this new adventure to be over before it begins [Yearns for Adventure d8], Marcus runs to one of the abandoned buildings where the cramped spaces will make it harder for Robur to fight with his sword [Quick-witted d6]. [Dan 8,2 vs. Nolan 5,4. I win and bump up Quick-witted to d8 but Nolan doesn't exhaust.] Marcus positions himself in a low-ceilinged corner of one of the burned-out buildings.

Undeterred [Fiercely Loyal d6], the mighty [Strong d8] knight [d6] runs in after him, swinging his sword in fury. Thinking quickly [Quick-witted d8], Marcus realizes that the half-collapsed building could readily become a fully-collapsed one. He hurls his weight against one of the partially burned beams, hoping to collapse the roof. [Dan 3 vs. Nolan 6,6,1. Nolan wins and bumps Fiercely Loyal to d8 but I don't exhaust.] It breaks, but Robur is so burly that he is barely staggered when the building comes down around him. He continues his furious [Fiercely Loyal d8] assault [Strong d8 Knight d6]. Seeing a man acting like an enraged beast, the idea dawns on Marcus [Quick-witted d8] to try to connect with whatever spark of nobility might still be in the man’s heart, saying, “Is this all you wanted from your life? To be an assassin? Don’t you want something better? [Yearns for Adventure d8]” [Dan 4,3 vs. Nolan 4,4,1. Nolan wins and bumps Knight to d8 but I don't exhaust.] Robur hesitates, but only for a moment. “I do what my king requires! [Fiercely Loyal d8]” he shouts. Marcus, trying to edge backwards, stumbles to the ground and Robur brings his sword to the boy’s throat [Strong d8 Knight d8]. Terrified, Marcus’s life begins flashing before his eyes, but so much of his life was spent listening to Artax tell him stories of adventure [Yearns for Adventure d8] that these are the details that stick out most, and he especially recalls one tale in which the hero triumphed over a foe by throwing ashes in his eyes. He realizes [Quick-witted d8] that his hand is in a pile of ashes right now, so he hurls them at Robur. [Dan 2,1 vs. Nolan 8,1,1. Nolan wins, his third in a row, so he wins the chapter.] Robur flinches reflexively, the blade of his sword slashing Marcus’s neck as the ashes fly into his eyes. Marcus collapses to the ground with his blood flowing freely, and Robur rubs the ashes from his eyes. With his vision impaired, he thinks the deed is done, and leaves Marcus for dead on the floor of the ruined building. [Nolan won as adversity so he gets a new viewpoint die. He takes the d12 on the first phase of the segment that complicates the antagonists third segment.]

Chapter 15
Viewpoint: Dan 10. Leo 7.
Adversity: Leo 12,12,5. Nolan 12,4.

In the burned-out ruins of Whitehollow, Marcus [Leo spends a 12 to create a d6 active threat: neck wound] feels himself growing weaker as the blood flows from his wounded neck [Neck wound d6]. [I spend my 10 to activate Quick-witted at d8 and Scholar's Apprentice at d6] Although Marcus’s education was eclectic it did include medicine [Scholar's Apprentice d6] so he knows it’s important to stop the bleeding instead of giving in to unconsciousness. He quickly tears a strip of cloth from his own shirt to serve as a bandage [Quick-witted d8]. [Dan 7,3 vs. Leo 1. I win and bump Scholar's Apprentice to d8, and Leo exhausts.] The bleeding slows and Marcus is thankful that the blade didn’t strike any major vessels. [Leo spends a 12 to create a d6 active threat: wind] Marucs emerges from the ruined building and a wind kicks up [Wind d6], blowing ash around the village, seemingly directly into Marcus’s lungs. He quickly [Quick-witted d8] tears another strip of cloth from his shirt, fashioning a crude mask. [Dan 3 vs. Leo 2. I win but my d8 is maxed out, Leo exhausts.] The mask does its job, keeping the worst of the ash out as Marcus explores the village looking for clues as to what happened here. [Leo spends his 5 on a d4 passive threat: night] Night begins to fall [Night d4], making visibility poor. Marcus, however, has often studied late into the night [Scholar's Apprentice d8], and his eyes are well versed in making out details in even poor lighting. He rushes around the village, hoping he can make sense of some clue he passes by [Quick-witted d8]. [Dan 7,4 vs. Leo 4. I win, my third in a row so I win the chapter.] He notices a soot-blackened doorframe with a name carved over it: Astrin. He approaches the house, knowing that this is the home of the man he was supposed to find here. [I won as viewpoint so I advance a phase along my plot thread.]

Chapter 16
Viewpoint: Dan 3. Leo 11.
Adversity: Dan 10,4. Nolan 15,8.

At the farmstead, [Nolan spends his 8 to create a d4 passive threat: still buried] Pyrotenax is buried under earth and glass. [Leo spends his 11 to activate Pyrotenax's Beguiler of Mortals at d8 and Mystical Will at d6] The imprisoned god stretches out his will [Mystical Will d6], sending a message to the minds of all the workers: “The master has deceived you. You should not have buried me. He fears having me uncovered. You should dig me up and free me from my prison. [Beguiler of Mortals d8]” [Leo 6,5 vs. Nolan 2. Leo wins and bumps Mystical Will to d8, and Nolan exhausts.] Many of the workers, not especially sharp-minded men, believe Pyrotenax’s words and begin digging for him. [Nolan spends his 15 to activate Marius's Tyrannical at d8, Savvy at d6, Well-off at d6, and Experienced at d4.] Marius, brandishing a whip [Tyrannical d8], rushes at the men, demanding that they stop if they value their livelihoods [Well-off d6]. Pyrotenax calls out to them [Mystical Will d8], “Do not let him deceive you again! Destroy him if you must, but you must free me from this prison! [Beguiler of Mortals d8]” [Leo 7,1 vs. Nolan 7,4. Nolan wins and bumps Well-off to d8. Leo exhausts Mystical Will] The men haven’t learned to fear Pyrotenax yet, but they do know to fear Marius when he is enraged, so they return to their normal duties. Marius realizes that it is dangerous to have so many weak-minded people near Pyrotenax [Savvy d8], so he orders them all away from the farm [Well-off d8]. Pyrotenax whispers into Marius’s mind, “Marius, you are mistaken. You were told my power is dangerous, but it could be useful to you [Beguiler of Mortals d8].” [Leo 6 vs. Nolan 4,2. Leo wins but his d8 is maxed out. Nolan's Tyrannical and Well-off are exhausted.] Marius becomes intrigued, realizing that he could wield considerable power if he allied himself with Pyrotenax. However, he’s a shrewd man [Experienced d6], so he demands [Tyrannical d8] assurances of his own safety before he commits. “Once you have freed me,” Pyrotenax whispers, “you will have enough power that you won’t need to worry about such things [Beguiler of Mortals d8].” [Leo 8 vs. Nolan 8,2. Nolan wins and bumps Experienced to d8, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] “I know the physical world [Experienced d8],” Marius replies, “but all I know of magic is that it’s dangerous. Why should I trust you? [Tyrannical d8]” “You don’t need to trust me,” Pyrotenax says. “Trust yourself. When you free me the power will be yours. [Beguiler of Mortals d8].” [Leo 3 vs. Nolan 3,1. Nolan wins but is maxed out. Leo doesn't exhaust.] “My gut tells me to leave you alone [Experienced d8],” Marius says as he turns to stomp away and tend to his own concerns [Tyrannical d8]. “Look inside yourself,” Pyrotenax calls after him, “can you honestly say that you do not desire more power? [Beguiler of Mortals d8]” [Leo 3 vs. Nolan 7,2. Nolan wins, his third in a row.] Marius is silent as he departs. [Nolan won as adversity so he gets another viewpoint die. He takes a d12 of the first phase of his segment that supports the protagonist’s third segment.

That’s where we broke for the night. The story will continue in the next playtest report.

(Final Hour of a Storied Age is currently in beta testing. I really need feedback from people trying to play my game without my direct involvement. I would deeply appreciate it if you would consider giving the game a shot. I want to produce the highest quality game I can, but I can only do that with the help of playtesters. If there’s anything I can do that would help you get a game going just let me know.)