Video episode originally posted Mar 1, 2023
As usual, in the last episode, I neglected to name an important thing. We need a name for the sphere that Magnaza is trying to get to, where there’s some sort of dance academy or something.
What is the name of the sphere where Magnaza is headed?
- Story Cubes: [queen][shadow]
Queen’s Shadow. That’s a cool and mysterious name.
In the previous episode, she learned that there was a golden-sailed barge leaving the next day, so that’s what we’re setting up. What happens to complicate or come to bear on that scene?
- Event Table: Local event
- Story Cube: [burglar]
I just keep getting burglars all day.
After her fight with the sympathy serpent, and spending a night at the nearby inn, Magnaza is feeling a little shaken, a little disturbed, but ready to be done with this part of her life. She’s ready to be done with Wizard Hunting.
She goes to the docks. She meets with the captain that she had contacted yesterday who was heading to Queen’s Shadow.
The captain says, “If you please, we’ll take your payment.”
Magnaza reaches into the big sack of money from Myconet, and she finds it empty! She’s been burgled!
She looks to the captain, and says, “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s happened. Please don’t leave. Let me see if I can track down this money, and I’ll be right back.”
The captain says, “I’m sorry, but we need to head out. You don’t have a lot of time. We need to go.”
On a scale of one to six, how much time does she have to track down this money?
- 1d6: 3
She’s got a little bit of time, but not a lot. We’ll say she’s got half a day, then they’re going to leave.
The captain says, “Certainly, take your time. But we’re leaving at midday, and if you’re not on this ship, we have to leave without you. I’m sorry, that’s just how it is.”
She’s got a couple of things that she needs to figure out. We need to know when she got burgled and where. We know she got the money at Myconet’s palace, which means it wasn’t a burglar from Madwell, unless someone followed them. Then she’s going to need to track down this burglar. She does have tracking.
What was the last time that she remembers seeing this money? Was it this morning, or was it yesterday? Yes for morning.
- Oracle: No But.
She did not remember seeing it this morning. So the last time she saw it was yesterday, but it was at the very end of the day.
So while she was getting ready for bed, she counted the money, and then went to sleep. Now, the next morning, she’s at the docks and she doesn’t have the money. So someone would have had to steal it in the night.
She goes back to the inn and gets back into her room. She’ll do a tracking roll to see if she can find any clues or track down where this burglar might have gone.
- Skill roll: failure (double sixes)
That is always a failure when rolling under.
She scours her room. She looks under everything. She looks under the bed. She looks in the drawers. Nothing. She can’t find any clue, any evidence, as to where her money might have gone.
She thinks: who would have known that she had that money? The only other person who she’s been in contact with is Pointage, and she knows that Pointage already tried to steal the Explosive Suit from her when they were working together. Pointage is her first suspect.
Before they parted ways, did Pointage say anything, or give any indication about where he was going?
- Oracle: Yes But.
He said a name, but Magnaza had never heard of the place.
What was the name of the place?
- Story Cubes: [roller skate][submarine]
We’ll call it Skamarine.
Magnaza doesn’t know what Skamarine is. She doesn’t know if it’s a different sphere or a different place in Troika. She doesn’t know anything about Skamarine.
She’s going to try to track down Pointage before he leaves Troika. She asks around and asks if anyone has seen Pointage.
- Oracle: Yes But.
Someone did see where Pointage was headed, but why should they tell her? Let’s roll on an NPC chart to see who it was.
- NPC: [quixotic champion]
Someone who believes themselves to be on a quest. Some sort of fighter, or champion. Funny.
She’s been scouring the streets, and asking, “Has anyone seen a dwarf of this description?
Everyone says, “No no no no no.”
Finally she comes to someone wearing big armor and standing around looking very proud and noble, with a distant gleam in the eye.
Magnaza asks, “Have you seen a dwarf of this description?”
The champion says, “Why yes, I have. Not too long ago. But, it is not my policy to give out information to betray the privacy and confidence of the rabble. Why should I tell you what I know?”
Magnaza says, “I think he might have stolen a lot of money from me.”
The champion says, “A thief! Huff! I will not stand thieves and brigands! We must track this person down! But, before we do that, I must test your character. You must come with me to do a part of my quest, my noble quest!”
Magnaza says, “Really, I don’t have time for this. I’ve only got a couple hours before my ship leaves.”
I mean, she’s not leaving today. She’s taking too much time. It’s just not happening.
She says, “Okay. Well, alright. What is this quest that you’re on that I can assist you with and so prove my character?”
- Story Cubes: [bee][snowflake]
The champion explains, “Where I am from, a horrible beast threatens the peasants and the people. It is the horrible Frost Bug, and I have come to the great and exciting city of Troika to recruit adventurers to go back and slay it!”
Magnaza rolls her eyes. This is really not the kind of thing that she’s interested in. She was so close to finally achieving her dream, and now everything’s slipping away, getting further and further. Now she’s on this other quest.
But she needs to know where Pointage has gone, and this Champion is the only one who knows, so she says, “Alright. I’ve been a Wizard Hunter for many years. I have a very specific set of skills. So I will help you, if you will tell me where this dwarf might have gone.” Then she also thinks, “Is there any possibility of treasure or gold involved?”
Is there a possibility of treasure or gold involved?
- Oracle: Yes.
Teegem: “Yes! The frost bug’s lair is full of treasure that it has accumulated and frozen into its terrible nest. If we were to slay it, the treasure could be yours. I, of course, am a noble champion, and I have no need of such treasure. But if that is of interest to you, then by all means, you can come along.”
It seems like this could go a couple different ways. Even if she’s not able to get the treasure, she’ll get a lead on Pointage. Seems like this might be the thing to do.
What is the name of this champion?
- Story Cubes: [teepee][gem]
Teegem the quixotic champion.
We’ve got a new thread: Slay the Frost Bug.
Based on how Teegem was talking, it seems like this Frost Bug is still on the sphere of Troika, but in a village on the outskirts of the city. Another place like Madwell. We’re assuming it’s not Madwell, because we would have seen the beast while we were there, so we know it’s a new place that we haven’t been.
How far away is this village? How far has Teegem traveled?
- Distance: nearby
So another similarly distant place like Madwell. We’ll say it’s on the other side.
We need a name for this village.
- Story Cubes: [godzilla][rain]
We’ll call it Godsrain.
We know that they took a shout pod to Madwell, so what is the method to get to Godsrain?
- Story Cubes: [tree]
Outside of Troika, as soon as you get outside of the city limits, in the distance, there’s a large tree. Godsrain is up in the tree. It’s a massive tree they’ll have to climb, and the village and the Frost Bug and the whole area is up in the tree. That’s cool.
We know it’s nearby. Probably a day’s journey or so. Magnaza and Teegem will head to Godsrain and that’s the scene setup. Let’s see what happens to impact that on our event table.
- Event table: Point of interest
- Point of interest table: Smithy or workshop
There’s something on the way.
What do they make at this workshop?
- Story Cubes: [no humans]
What does that mean? That would be like weapons, right? This is a blacksmith, someone who makes weapons.
They head out the next morning, which means Magnaza rests. She’s now back up to full health. We want to make sure we take care of our poor player characters. We don’t want to treat them too badly.
They leave the large gate outside the sprawling metropolis that is Troika. Outside the gate, there are still houses and shacks and shops that become increasingly more distant and spread apart as they head down the road. Then they come to fields where crops are growing and ranches where strange animals are housed. They go out and out and in the distance they see a massive tree looming over the horizon.
Teegem says, “That! That is my home. I’ve sworn to protect the great tree of Godsrain. Oh! How noble! How grand! I am filled with the tears of a hero! Now I have my companion and we will slay this beast!”
Magnaza thinks this might be this guy’s first quest. This is a little bit old hat for her. She’s done a lot of wizard hunting and quest-doing in her day. She doesn’t quite have the same enthusiasm.
(It’s not named here, but later this region is named Wandool.)
On their way, about the time that it’s time to make a stop, they see a little shack. They hear clanging coming from the shack, so they decide to stop in.
Teegem says, “Ah, yes. Let us visit this blacksmith and see if we can procure fine weapons for which to slay the beast!”
Magnaza thinks, “You don’t have weapons already?”
They stop in.
Tell us about this blacksmith.
- Mien: defensive
There are weapons of various makes and sizes hanging on the walls, and the blacksmith is hammering on something at the forge.
Teegem looks around and says, “I don’t know if this is exactly what we’re looking for.”
The blacksmith says, “Well! If you don’t like it then you can just leave! If you don’t like the stuff that I make, then you can just get out of here!” (Feeling very defensive.)
Teegem: “Oh fine blacksmith! Noble lay person! Can you craft me a fine weapon for my quest, for which to slay a mighty beast?”
The blacksmith says, “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be– why wouldn’t it be fine? It would be great. I could do a great weapon. You just– you just watch. I’m going to make something great! And you’ll pay me good gold because I deserve it!”
What weapon does the blacksmith forge?
- Weapon table: longsword
The blacksmith finishes hammering, presents the longsword to Teegem, and says, “Here! Is this good enough for you?”
Teegem inspects the sword and says, “Yes, indeed. Thank you! This will be the weapon that slays the horrible Frost Bug of Godsrain! Thank you, noble peasant! You have played a great part in this quest.”
She says, “Yeah, of course I made a great weapon. Of course it can slay a beast. So, you got money?”
I’m a little scared to ask the oracle, but is Teegem able to pay for this sword?
- Oracle: No.
This is the most unprepared adventurer.
Teegem: “No, I was hoping you could bestow it upon me as a great gift, and in doing so, once I slay the Frost Bug, I shall return with the great treasure that it hoards in its frozen pit of despair!”
Does the blacksmith agree to this? I don’t think so. She needs to get paid.
Blacksmith: “Nope!” She takes it back. “If you can’t pay, I’m not going to give you this sword! I made it!”
Teegem: “Hmm. Well, it looks like we’re going to need some money.”
Magnaza looks over and she thinks, “What have I gotten myself into?”
Oh man. She did not know she was signing up for this. Are they going to keep going, or are they going to make money somehow so they can buy this sword?
Magnaza is having second thoughts. She thinks, “This is too much. Just tell me where Pointage is?” But then, the Frost Bug does have treasure. She might have to do most of the work, but she’s not going to go into this fight with this beast with an unarmed companion. They’re going to have to figure out some way to make some money.
We’re going to add some threads. We need a name for this blacksmith.
- Story Cubes: [circus tent]
We’ll call her Circa the defensive blacksmith.
We have this new thread: Buy Circa’s longsword.
We just get further and further away. Magnaza doesn’t have a lot of options. She doesn’t have any money. Before we can even get to Godsrain, we need to make some money. The scene setup is: looking for some way to get some money so that Teegem can buy this sword.
What comes to bear on that scene?
- Event table: NPC
- NPC table: (blank)
That means I can either choose or we can get a new NPC. Let’s get a new NPC.
- NPC: nauseated orc
I’m not sure what orcs look like in Troika. Let’s check that real quick.
“The classical colleges of magic consider the orc to be an educational hazard. All young wizards will have seen posters in the common room warning of the dangers of unprotected sorcery, ‘Remember your wards!’ ‘1 in 8 sorcerers know someone who has been affected by orcs!’ and so on. As for the orcs themselves, well, who can blame them for their attitude? Being summoned across the cosmos by adolescent wizards is a distressing situation in which to find oneself.”
All we know about orcs from here is that they get summoned. Perhaps that happened in the distant past, and this orc has made a life out here in this farming community. At any rate, right now they’re feeling nauseated.
Magnaza and Teegem leave the blacksmith shop and look around.
Magnaza says, “Alright, do you have any bright ideas of how we’re going to get some money so you can arm yourself to slay this beast?”
Teegem says, “Never fear! Something will come. The hands of fate move to guide me to my destiny!”
They wander down country roads for a while, being open to whatever happens. They pass a little mud hut, and they hear groaning from inside. “Uuuuuuhhhhhh.”
Teegem: “What is this? Ah! An opportunity!”
Inside they see an orc, a humanoid beasty kind of creature. The orc goes, “Oooooh! Ohhhhh!”
Teegem strides into to the hut, and says, “Hello citizen! Is there anything that I can assist you with?”
The orc says, “Oh, go away. I just feel so sick. Uhhhhhhh. Please go away.”
Teegem: “Sick, you say? Ah, perhaps I could find a cure for your ailment and then you would pay me in gold! What do you say to that?”
Orc: “Please just go away.”
Teegem: “But what do you think? If I can cure you, will you compensate me fairly?”
Orc: “Sure, just leave.”
Teegem: “Aha! Now we’ve got our quest! We can fix the ailment of this orc peasant here, and he will compensate us!”
Magnaza: “Teegem, do you know anything about that? Do you know anything about medicine?”
- Oracle: No Plus.
Teegem: “No! I have never studied it. In fact I do not even believe in medicine or herbology. I avoid the whole thing. That’s for other people, who aren’t fit and strong like me. Perhaps you can come up with something. Yes, why don’t you go and figure that out?”
Let’s give the orc a name.
- Story Cube: [handshake]
Shake the nauseated orc. We’ve got a new thread: Cure Shake’s ailment.
Wow. We are step by step by step, getting further and further away.
Magnaza doesn’t have anything that would particularly help in this situation. We’re going to do a basic roll under skill. If she can roll under five, she can find something that helps.
- Skill roll: fail
She goes around, she doesn’t find anything. They’re looking at plants, but she can’t really tell one from another.
She has to figure something out. She does have Disguise.
Let’s try a placebo effect situation. Magnaza will disguise herself as a healer, some sort of cleric or magic user, or whatever the equivalent of a country doctor is in this scenario. She’ll to try to trick the orc into feeling better.
She transforms herself to look like a wandering healer who happens to have stumbled by, not that the orc even really saw her before.
She goes to Teegem and says, “Alright, you pretend that you found me and you’ve brought me to the orc, and we’ll try and see if this works.”
Teegem: “Ah! Deception! A grand strategy employed by all heroes in fighting ailments and evil! Very good!”
Teegem goes back up to the hut, and he says, “Hello peasant! I have found a wandering healer who is going to try to cure your ailment!”
Does Magnaza’s disguise work? Is the orc convinced that this is actually a wandering healer?
- Skill roll: success
The orc turns and says, “Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Alright healer, do your work. Cure me of my ailment.”
Magnaza has gotten some reeds and some shakers and is going, “Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch! I cast out the demons of sickness that have plagued thee! Loo-doo-doo-doo!”
She does a little dance to go with it, because we know she loves to dance. It’s a healing dance. She hops around, and she shakes, and really gets into it.
Teegem is genuinely impressed. “Wow! Oh my goodness!”
She’s convinced the orc, and she’s done a dance.
The question is: does this placebo effect work on the orc?
- Oracle: Yes
Oh good! After a little bit of this, the orc comes around and stands up and says, “Oh my. I’m feeling so much better. Thank you kind stranger, and thank you healer. Oh! I’m feeling vim and vigorous again! Oh my goodness! Yes, here is the gold that I promised you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
This is so funny. We’ve cured Shake’s ailment. That quest is done.
They take the money, and they go back to Circa’s blacksmith shop, and Teegem says, “Here you are, citizen! The money for the longsword. Very good.”
Circa counts the money and says, “Alright, well, good. You take that sword. It’s great! I promise! It’s a great sword. Longsword. It’ll do you great. I’m really proud of my work.”
We’ve solved that thread too.
Teegem takes the sword and says, “Yes! We are ready to go and slay the Frost Bug!”
Magnaza says to herself, “Well, we got this far.”
But she’s got a sinking feeling that the rest of the quest is going to be as complicated as this first part.
Continue: Troika Episode 4 Godsrain
Circa’s Next Appearance: Troika Episode 10 Godsrain Again