2016 World of the Fifth Sun summary

2016
2015 World of the Fifth Sun summary
2016 World of the Fifth Sun summary

Maps

2016 began where I left off in 2015, with map work. I first produced an Aioskoru Highway map.

I had been working on Aioskoru languages as well, revealing that I had 175 elfin and orcish words in mid January. These words would expand along with Common, Goblin, Dwarf, and Halfling throughout this year in spurts.

In February of 2016 I returned to FAE, which I had paused studying due to RMU the summer before. I considered bidirectional approaches.

In March, my Quick free world maps using GIMP filters and Donjon fractal maps. I used a new technique to make more accurate 3D maps than the prior methods I had tried, using grayscale maps.

I also started my Dice, Cards, and Probability series of posts.

ABS12

In April, I began my A Basic System 12 (ABS12) system creation. I did this to give me a system that I could fool around with different mechanics. The entire series of posts shows my struggles, victories, and problems creating a system from scratch. Although the current system might not be entirely polished nor great, however I think the actual value is within the process posts. It's sort of a journal showing how they came to be.

In late April, I wrote a post that would serve as a basic model to me when comparing different game system attributes. I tried to fit together a Master chart of attribute words used to describe characters and monsters. Attributes, skills, and special gifts

In May, I wrote a post that would influence how I set monsters up for Aioskoru World Guide monster list. In my Looking at OGL stat data: Black Bear eight Open Gaming License (OGL) systems were examined comparing Black Bear stats.

Stories vs RPGs

Also in May, I started the series that would become the book Stories vs RPGs. In it, I compared character approaches, theory, and methods in story writing vs role playing games.

In May, I started my Search for a current fantasy main system. I would post a summary of process, comparisons, and criticism/praise beginning in June's Search for a current fantasy main system Part 1: suggested games and evaluating their samples

In late May, I created my ABS12 Solo Game Engine and Fact Generator.

I wrote a microfiction piece "Bargain for Eternity" at the end of May.

In June I began writing a RPG and Story Scenes. This is a short series that I hope to do more with at a future time.

In June, I started what would become In search of Centaurs using the ABS12 system.

In July, I wrote my Test Played series using the game information that I had gathered in the Search for a current fantasy main system process.

Quick free world maps using GIMP filters and Donjon fractal maps

I released the book Quick free world maps using GIMP filters and Donjon fractal maps on July 4th which included all of my blog post and a few new sections unique only to the book such as how to create the topographical maps and how to alter the biome maps to add new symbols. This was my first RPGNow book listed.

I also created some JAGS content such as some NPC templates, wild west creatures, and a d20 to JAGs conversion.

New Maps w river flow

July also saw my experiment with maps return, with me trying to find a way to figure out rivers quicker. This lead me to experiment with wilbur which resulted the map below which is the area for In Search of Centaurs story in Western Ekouinmanus Kapos.

Fantasy Constructed Languages: Fairy Celestial

In August, I began my Fantasy Constructed Languages series where I try to create a Fairy/Celestial language. Unlike the Common, Goblin, Elf, Orc, Dwarf, and Halfling this would be a constructed language entirely created from the sounds on up to the grammar. This series lets you look into my journey from a blank slate and see how I've created 194 words so far with some grammar rules and sentence structure.

RPGNow Aioskoru and solo game books

I also released the Aioskoru World Guide, ABS12 Flexible Solo Game Engine, Aioskoru OGL maps, ABS 12 Fact Generator, In search of Centaurs, and then Aioskoru World Atlas. Although it may appear that these were created simultaneous, really they had been in the works since late of October of 2015 - most of the work taking place at the end of 2015 in October to December, as mentioned in the last post. They had been on hold for several earlier months of 2016 while I looked into some theory and practiced game design. The Aioskoru World Atlas has some of the river techniques only recently discovered at that time.

I made two YouTube videos for the Aioskoru World Atlas and the Aioskoru World Guide

5e x 5

In September after an agreement with a partner Peter Rudin-Burgess who had created the first region of Aioskoru which he that he named Melos. We created a project named 5e x 5 to convert 5e SRD into a d100 attribute and skill based system.

For two months all other projects went on virtually on hold. Most of my posts at that time concerned either 3.5e or 5e, except one fantasy language post.

At the end of the project, we released the 5e x 5 OGL SRD using a kickstarter like tier system. We did the tier system to help generate contributions even though the actual SRD was PWYW. Keeping the system OGL and free if need be is the spirit of both Aioskoru and 5e x 5.

The motivational draw that I presented for contributors was an unavailable 5e x 5 Modern and Future conversion, which I began in November.

Since then, I've made strides into converting 5e x 5 Modern Characters, Modern Equipment, and recently began Modern Psionics.

For future I have converted 5e x 5 Future Characters, Future Equipment, Future Cybernetics, Future Robots, and recently Future Mecha.

Ezine #1

We released a collection of Peter and my blog posts named 5e x 5 Ezine #1. In addition, for contributors, we offered 5e x 5 Fantasy Weapons & Armor II as a motivational draw to contributors of the ezine.

5e x 5 two-column

We released a two-column version of the 5e x 5 books priced individually or by bundle with some savings.

That two-column version has received background images in the fantasy Character book and in the Spells book. 

In the next post I'll look at the next year and future current goals of World of the Fifth Sun blog. Ken Wickham

ABS12: Ranged Weapons

I'm going to try modifying this chart for use with ranged weapons for the time being.

Movement Speed - Difficulty - Target numbers - Range for spells
0 - Very Easy - 3 - 10 ft or 3 m
1 - Easy - 6 - 20 ft or 6 m
2 - Moderate - 9 - 30 ft or 9 m
3 - Hard - 12 - 40 ft or 12 m
4 - Very Hard - 15 - 50 ft or 15 m
5 - Impossible - 18 - 60 ft or 18 m

Ranged Target Number Multiplier
Use the chart above except multiply the ft or m distance by the modifier for the appropriate weapon.

net x 0.25 

dagger x 1 
handaxe
light hammer
shortspear
dart
trident
shuriken
bola

blowgun x 1.5

javelin x 2
sling
handcrossbow

light crossbow x 4
shortbow

longbow x 10

ABS12: Movement Speed

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

For movement speed, I think the best way to use the speed is to separate the original speed for the species at EL 0. I'll attach the movement speed

Humanoid Speed.
Humanoid speed I will set at 1.
Looking at the chart below, that means that humanoids can move 30 ft per turn.

The current formula for standard movement will be.
20ft/turn + (10ft/turn x original description speed modifier).

Running or Sprinting
Running faster is up to x2 movement speed unless something else slowing the character.

Combine Movement Speed with difficulty and range chart
Movement Speed - Difficulty - Target numbers - Range for spells & movement
-1 - Very Easy - 3 - 10 ft or 3 m
0 - Easy - 6 - 20 ft or 6 m
1 - Moderate - 9 - 30 ft or 9 m
2 - Hard - 12 - 40 ft or 12 m
3 - Very Hard - 15 - 50 ft or 15 m
4 - Impossible - 18 - 60 ft or 18 m


A Basic System 12 (ABS12)

ABS12: Money, Friends, & Gear

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

I don't want to introduce micromanaging gear.

This means that I am not planning on creating an economy for gear and items. Rather I will focus on what helps the character to accomplish the story.

Vague & Fuzzy Gear
The game is based on what is good or appropriate for the story. Descriptions should somewhat indicate what kind of wealth, status, friends, organizations, relationships, contacts, housing, vehicles/mounts, equipment, and tools that the character possesses.

By not focusing on gear and people, I'm hoping that players can focus more on the stories.

How to use vague gear to increase tension in the story
Bad situation rolls can mean something goes terribly wrong with the gear. Maybe the gear is faulty, inadequate, insufficient, or is accidentally dropped into a precarious location. Good situations rolls can sometimes mean that the equipment performs better than normal, more precise, and is more than adequate.

Special Items
Having said that many much of the standard gear and tools are contained in the description, I believe that special items are important in many stories.

For special items, record the details together with the other character special verb actions. In a sense, while they posses such item, that gear becomes a very important part of the character. Loosing such item can be traumatic for the character. A piece of equipment or item that acts like powers might be listed with the powers including a noun to indicate that that power is limited to that specific item.

How does one know the Properties of the Player's Character Description 'gear'?
What about normal vague gear and relationships that is included in the description of the character. And how do you determine when supplies are low or gone, broken, or insufficient? That is where the situation roll comes in. If you have arrows and are firing them, one interpretation of rolling up a 'No', 'No, however', or 'No, also' are that maybe the arrows are getting low or that several are broken. If rolling one of these 'No's rolls up about using a rope, maybe it's short or beginning to break. If you are looking for information and a 'No' is rolled, maybe the contact relationship is shaky or something is wrong.

The story and situation dictates what the roles might mean. A player can even use the fact generator to find clues into what a bad situation means.

Researched Games

Fate
Characters have stuff appropriate for their Aspect.
Fate uses a similar method.
Extras that influence the story are aspects.
Extras that create new context for actions are skills.
Extras that make skills more awesome are stunts.
Extras that can be harmed have stress and consequences.

Risus
Cliche's include powers, abilities, tools, and equipment for standard for that cliche.
Tools of the Trade can be lost or damaged. Roll with half dice if that happens.

Risus Companion treats special equipment as extra dice generally, once per scene, or once per session.

FU
All characters have appropriate gear for their concept, setting, and story. It includes clothing, weapons, armor, tools, mounts, and vehicles. Gear is made up of an adjective and a noun like 'long rope' Gear modifies 'beat the odds' type rolls. The character begins with two of them. They can be lost, broken, or stolen. Props are items that don't improve the chance of success.

A Basic System 12 (ABS12)

ABS12: Action Speed

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

Looking at a few different variable systems, I think I want to try something relatively simple. By using Speed/5 I am guessing that the normal range will end up.

With EL = 1 to 12 and bonuses equaling 1 to 3 so far ( with some plans to maybe go to 6 or 7

Speed 1 to 5 = 1 action
Speed 6 to 10 = 2 actions
Speed 11 to 15 = 3 actions
Speed 16 to 20 == 4 actions

Speed
Speed is the speed of a character used for initiative, action speed, and movement which if no bonus is shown then there is no bonus. Receiving a speed bonus from special verb actions depends on the situation. If a character has fly 3, then the 3 speed for flying only applies if they are flying.

Speed = 1 + EL + speed bonus for description + speed bonus for special verb actions if the situation fits the bonus.

Action Speed

Action Speed is based on the characters speed for that EL. It represents how fast that they act and how many times. It is the number of actions the character can do

Action Speed = Speed/5 rounded up

Movement
I'll work on distance another day.

None of the creatures in the system have had their speeds changed to reflect these changes. I'll have to spend time to change them in the future.

A Basic System 12 (ABS12)

Index of my blog

Aioskoru part 5 : "For Sickness or Work"

Tools Used
Aioskoru website
Aioskoru Adventure seeds
ABS12 System

Here are the stats for my two main characters. I've changed Madi's powers to the new magic system.

Madi the amateur magic user is PL1.

Species

Life

Spd

Def

Def Type

BP

Damage

D Type

Mag

Sc/Tc

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

Magic User

2

2

3

Cloth

2

1d12/6

Staff

4

2

Destroy

1d12/6

2

Fire

2 range

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

Cost

2

Trap/Close

2 duration

2

Organic substance Web

2 range

15

Andelin the amateur fighter is PL1

Fighter

4

3

6

Plate

4

1d12/3

Sword

2

Rescue

2

2

Tracking/hunting

2

15

Madi = 4 EP

Andelin = 6 EP

Before I start, I want to test the new experience points for the two characters for the prior two scenes.

EP per Scene Goal reached - scene 1 - make a deal
Madi - scene 4 = yes
Andelin - scene 4 = yes

Character true to it's concept
Madi - scene 4 = yes
Andelin - scene 4 = unknown

Conflict with opposition

Madi - scene 4 = yes

Andelin - scene 4 = yes

New Awareness about something important

Madi - scene 4 = yes

Andelin - scene 4 = unknown

Total EP for "Emotional Plea"

Madi = 4 + 4 EP = 8  EP

Andelin = 6 + 2 EP = 8 EP

Powers
I have also redone the powers into 4 powers (2 verbs and 2 nouns): destroy, trap/close, fire, and organic substance - web. The damage 

Continued from this Aioskoru Story Series
Aioskoru part 1 : "Wild Horses"
Aioskoru part 2 : "Friendly Centaur"
Aioskoru part 3 : Experience Points award
Aioskoru part 4 : "Emotional Plea"
Aioskoru part 5 : "For Sickness or Work"


"For Sickness or Work"

By Ken Wickham

Copyright © 2016

The scent of the incense filled the centaur village.

Outside of their homes, centaurs had returned to their homes, each lit up an incense stick in some sort of funeral ritual.

He had heard from a few humans that Madi and he were lucky that the centaur would bring their request up to the elders. Although several before them had begged and pleaded, the centaur's hadn't considered those people's offers so kindly.

"You must have said something right," one of the older human's said. He looked strong despite his age. Maybe because of the constant work from his sentence.

"Yes. Maybe so," Andelin said, not wanting to mention the war with the scorpion centaurs.

[Do the elders come to speak today? This is another plot escalating roll, this time at -3. Roll = 3 - 3 =  0; No, also ...
2, Touch, 4, Smooth
10, character quality; 9 personality
Something about personality and smooth, I'll discard the smooth part and try something else]

[I'll also roll for a story idea for the first time. 9+10 = 19

1. Daring - a bold leader sets out to obtain an object from or to fight against a powerful adversary.

I'll say that whatever killed that centaur - maybe after coming in contact with a contagious illness or disease which causes personality change before death -  requires obtaining an object, a substance, to help heal. The centaur village is upset over this and it has recently spread to several more.]

 While working later that evening, Andelin overheard from several that the illness is spreading.

Andelin kept sweeping the cobblestone floor, pretending as if he wasn't hearing anything important.

"You missed a spot over here," point one of the muscular centaurs towards the doorway. Andelin turned towards them and quickly hurried over to the spot.

The other continued. " They say he behaved crazy before it overtook him. They think that a root which grows in the clefts may cure the disease."

Andelin finished sweeping, looked off in the distance to see Madi weaving with several other people. He quickly finished sweeping the area, dumped the waste into a pile outside, and made his way to her.

She did not have a happy face at the moment. Andelin began to sweep around near her. He felt like he was doing something wrong, although he had to mention what he had learned - to warn her.

"Madi," he whispered, though he continued to focus on picking up dirt, straw, and clumps of mud on the stone below him.

He could see out of the corner of his eye her head turn to look at him. She then returned to weaving. "Anything new, " she whispered back.

"Just to let you know, there is a sickness going around."

"That's bad."

"Keep quiet about it."

"Okay."

He coughed and then moved off to sweep in other spots along the cobblestone path.

[Another plot based roll at -2. Do they come the next day? 10-2 = 8; Yes, however they want the two to help out and substance to help cure the disease as a test]

The next day, one of the centaurs came down the path calling out his name. It was Nefron. Andelin moved towards the centaur. His face wasn't smiling as it had since their capture and journey here.

He spoke with a unusually serious expression. "The elders are ready to see you."

Maybe they had a chance.



The gray hair and maned elders - about a dozen - stood in front of them at some distance, four guards armed between them. Some were studhes (studs) and some were markoes (mares). A few of them seemed uncomfortable, some even not looking at him directly.

"Leader Theda has informed us that you have a request." spoke one of the elder stud, who held a long staff which seemed to lean on to help keep his upper torso erect.

Andelin quickly spoke before Madi, " Yes. We have offered instead of serving our sentence helping to maintain the feed to serve it in a common defense with the humans against the scorpion centaurs."

Immediately many of the elders began to speak with each other. Andelin couldn't hear what they were saying.

Andelin rubbed his face and temples trying to ease the slight pain that throbbed in his head.

"Why should we trust fighting with you? How do we know that we can trust you?"

Andelin knew that they had to give them a reason to trust them. He was slightly unsure of what to say. His muddled thoughts went back to last evening overhearing the guards.

He took a deep breath and hoped for a good response. "We can help you find the root to cure the disease that is spreading among you. That can be a test of our intention."

A few of the centaurs that wouldn't look at him before now turned and looked towards him.

They spoke among themselves slower this time and without as much argument occasionally glancing at either him or Madi.

"Maybe they will give me my use of powers," Madi whispered to him.

He just nodded back. He wasn't really concerned with powers, but having her powers back would help if they were to find the root.

The answer came quick enough. The quickness of response took his breath away.

"Very well," the main elder said

A few moments went by and they seemed to discuss more details. One of them walked off down the hall and disappeared.

Nefron and Kado, they motioned forward. Nefron and Madi's centaur walked forward. They joined into the discussion. Kado seemed to shake his head often. He would look towards Madi and seemed to argue more.

Madi seemed to shrink back at his stare.

Soon all of them were nodding in agreement.

"Nefron and Kado will continue to be your escort while under sentence." With that Andelin saw Nefron elbow the other, Kado in the side. Kado somewhat snared at Nefron, who halfway grinned.

"My powers?" Madi asked.

The leader of the elders said a name he couldn't hear and motioned over one of the elder mares over who had a long smooth thin blue torso robe.

After a briefly conversing with each other, she made her way towards Madi.

She said a few things to her. Madi noded once in agreement.

The centaur mare began to mutter words while circling her hands in the air - almost like she was holding something. Silver speckles seemed to materialize in the air. Andelin slightly dropped his jaw and watched wide-eyed. She seemed to scope the sparkles from the air and pulled it to her lips.

Then she motioned her to come to her. She grabbed her by the shoulders, said a few words to Madi and then pulled her towards her and kissed her upon the forehead. The sparkles seemed to move and transfer to Madi's forehead and briefly should a glowing lip mark.

Soon they both smiled and the lady centaur went back to the group of elders.

"She did not give a full blessing. Her blessing is temporary this time. You will have three days to get the roots or the power use will cease once again in our lands."

Another elder who had disappeared earlier stepped forward bringing forth a parchment.

"This is what the root that we are looking for looks like. It grows in a cliff area from the derman bush. We haven't been able to get any since several scorpion centaurs took over that region of our border."

Andelin studied the drawings intently. He noticed the leaf patter, the shape of the bush and the various features, and even the coloring which had been painted on the image.

"Where are the cliffs located?" Madi said.

"Nefron and Kado know the region and will take you there. How well you four get along and successfully achieve getting the root will determine how much we will trust you. Ten bags of roots will be needed for now and in the future."

"Our weapons?" Andelin asked.

"They will be given to you as soon as you are outside the village."

[To be continued]

ABS12: updated intro with overall game summary and purpose, verb actions, and preview of future graphics version

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

Purpose of the game
Overview
No other players are needed for this game. It is built with a solo game system where you ask a question, roll, add or subtract modifiers if needed, and check a chart for the answer. You can also use the game without the solo components.

This is a single die linear system, with one stat. Skill proficiency are defined by Descriptions.

Purpose of the game
The purpose of the game is to break away from the normal boredom, pains, and worries of life by having a character go through a story, explore stuff, do neat things, and to have an adventure. It does so by allowing you to play a character that receives answers obtained at least partially by a random number.

Also I will be adding this to the Verb Action section as a brief summary before listing the details.

Summary of the Verb Actions
Initiative - used to figure out who goes first
Unskilled verb - used for actions that are done unskilled
Skilled verb - used for actions done skillfully
Special verb - used for special actions indicated within one's description
Combat verb - used to attack or defend against another
Combat damage - used to figure out the reduction of life

Power action - used for actions that use powers

Working with a graphics version
I've started making a basic graphics version of the game for myself. It's something that I want to do for layout practice. I may post it up to RPGNow in the future if I can get everything looking good enough for an amateur RPG release. Maybe I'll do a 'pay what you want' release so that followers can contribute if they wish.

But I want that version to be at least be in beta quality. Tested to the point where I'm comfortable with the overall system.

A Basic System 12 (ABS12)
Index of my blog

ABS 12: Powers - Nouns and Power Sheet

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

Here are the first batch of nouns to go with the verbs.

Noun
life - organic properties of growth, continual change, functional activity, and reproduction prior to death
death - organism is no longer alive.
undead - technically dead but still animated; ghoul, lich, vampire, mummy, skeleton, zombie, wight, ghost, banshee, wraith
poison - substance is capable of causing illness and/or death.
disease - this is a disordered function or organ in an organism that produces specific symptoms.
fire/heat - increasing temperature creating combustion, burning, melting, and smoking and heat, light, and smoke are produced.
ice/cold - decreasing temperature creating cold, freezing, ice, or a solid from a liquid or gas.
air/gas - when a solid or liquid is turned into a gas; wind, oxygen, tornado, atmosphere.
earth/rock - soil, earth, dirt, rock, sand substances.
water/liquid - the state of being a liquid from either a gas or solid.
flesh/exoskeleton - covering of internal body of an organism providing some protection from the external stuff.
bone - essential framework of hard tissue in vertabrates.
wood - hard fibrous material in trees and shrubs that provides framework.
metal - a solid material that is typically shiny, hard, and malleable; gold, silver, copper, aluminum, bronze, iron, steel.
organic substance - a specific chosen organic substance such as web, plant fibers, milk, feces, urine, mucus, or blood.
animal - a none humanoid organism that eats and functions responding to stimuli.
plant - a living organism that derives nutritions from roots and photosynthesis.
monster - and inhuman or not a standard animal.
spirit - non physical part of an organism that has the essence of their emotions, thoughts, personality, and behavior.

And there are two new verbs I'm adding

Verb
trap/close - to stop, encase, shut, or imprison something.

open/release - to free, let loose, escape, or release something.

New Powers Sheet
For the new powers I've created a powers sheet to help construct powers

A Basic System 12 (ABS12)
Index of my blog

ABS12 : 5 new descriptions: Hunter, musician, disciple, elemental, and druid

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

[click to elnarge]

Herbalism - this is to both use and find herbs for healing, curing, and treatment of ailments for both humanoids and kindred creatures.


A Basic System 12 (ABS12)
Index of my blog

ABS 12: Powers - Verbs

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

Verb
heal/repair - causes damaged parts to become whole, functional, and damage free again.
injure/hinder - do physical harm or damage to something.
reveal - help bring to knowledge previously unknown, hidden, or secret information.
covert - to do things not in the open or dispalayed: hide, sneak, and spy on others.
move - to change position of an object: push, pull, or drag.
travel - movement through or across an element or surface.
summon - to call upon, order, or cause something to appear, gather, or come forth.
send - to cause, permit, force, direct, order, or enable something to move, go, propel, or deliver somewhere else - a destination.
destroy - to reduce, dissolve, eliminate, or extinguish to nothing, useless, or damage.
animate - to make as if alive, give motion, or stir to action.
charm/control - to dominate, command, act upon,  and direct over something.
frighten/repel - to drive away, force back, scare, terrify, or cause panic.
shield - to protect, safeguard, secure, defend, guard, or insulate against
expose - to uncover, reveal, unveil, unmask, or make vulnerable.
transform - to change significantly in form, appearance, or manner.
preserve - to maintain, retain, or keep in an original or current state.
alter - adapt, modify, amend, revise, or adjust comparitively small but significantly.
drain/absorb - to deprive, use up, or transfers resources from the target to the caster.


A Basic System 12 (ABS12)
Index of my blog

Aioskoru part 4 : "Emotional Plea"

Tools Used
Aioskoru website
Aioskoru Adventure seeds
ABS12 System

Here are the stats for my two main characters.

Madi the amateur magic user is PL1.

Species

Life

Spd

Def

Def Type

BP

Damage

D Type

Mag

Sc/Tc

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

Cost

Magic User

2

2

3

Cloth

2

1d12/6

Staff

4

5

Fireball S

1d12/2

3

Net S

3

15

Andelin the amateur fighter is PL1

Fighter

4

3

6

Plate

4

1d12/3

Sword

2

Rescue

2

2

Tracking/hunting

2

15

Madi = 4 EP

Andelin = 6 EP

Continued from this Aioskoru Story Series
Aioskoru part 1 : "Wild Horses"
Aioskoru part 2 : "Friendly Centaur"
Aioskoru part 3 : Experience Points award
Aioskoru part 4 : "Emotional Plea"


"Emotional Plea"

By Ken Wickham

Copyright © 2016

They rode on centaurs into the village.

[Are there any other centaurs around? Very Possible +4; 1+4=5; No, however ... shouts can be heard from across the village, somewhere beyond the huts. FG 8 Time; 8 Old = maybe someone old died]

Madi saw no centaurs as they trotted into the village. All of the woven straw windows and doors were shut on the earthen structures. She noticed the larger doorways twice the height of normal doors. Also the door handles were much higher - more towards the upper third of the  top of the door.

Ramp structures were beside several of the buildings. They seemed to have some sort of -

Off in the distance arose a mighty chorus sung. The sound jarred her from looking around. They were here. Just not in the central village.

[do they head towards the sound? 1; No, also ...
FG 3, Mouth; 2, Sweet.]

They were headed towards one of the larger structures but not towards the chorus sound.

Madi's centaur stopped  a little distance away from the structure. Andelin's soon came up and stopped beside her.

He was actually laughing towards the centaur that he was on. How could he- she had to get his attention. "Pss!"

Andelin swung his head towards her and his smile became a more stern.

She mouthed, What, and brought her hands up.

He shield his mouth away from the other centaurs in front of them, pointed towards the large centaur who was now looking forward with a strong erect posture, and whispered, "Nefron's rather humorous."

She heard the the rain drop on puddles below them. Looking towards the his captor, she saw said many things. Humor wouldn't be one of them.

[Does Nefron do anything? 1; No, also..
FG 6, Think; 9, Guess]

Andelin was messing with her during this critical dire situation they were in. How could he be so cruel? She felt her blood pressure rising. Chicken poop! She made a pushing motion towards him in the air, mimicking pushing him forcefully.

The motion shook the centaur she was on.  Her captor turned, weapon drawn towards her.

Madi stretched back away from the blade. "Shh!" the brown centaur said with a deep low voice, eyes narrowed and staring her down.

She heard an explosive muffled giggle from Andelin's direction. Looking towards him, she caught him elbowing the centaur. That centaur turned quickly towards her. He then let out a quick, disgusting snort joining in with Andelin's taunt.

A clearing of throat interrupted their taunt.

The leader was now motioning them forward.

[FG 12, Dimension; 11, Liniear]

Two centaurs moved towards the building where several were lined  up on each side, weapons drawn, facing the leader leaving a pathway between the two formations. They came to a stop right before the leader.

The centaur reached around and grabbed Madi by the waist. She was lifted into the air and brought forward ahead of the centaur. After a moment, she felt a slight pressure towards the middle of her back. The pressure made her dare not move too suddenly.

[I'll test the new drama escalation rules
Is Andelin able to pursuade her to let them speak to the leader?
This is related to the plot, but is the first test which means it will be at a -4. Each additional plot related roll will receive a +1.
9-4=5 No, however ...
FG 7, Transformation; 3, Reform]

The leader of this centaur group glances each of them for a moment,  looked off towards the distant rugged plateaus and then back to them. She somewhat tentatively reached into a pack at her waist and brought out a book. She seemed to find a section. After a moment of reading, she nodded, and gently closed the book. This time the leader spoke more slower and gently. "You two are guilty of trespassing on ekouinmanus territory. An offense punishable by two years of service. What say you?"

"You can't do this -" she began. Andelin's hand came up as if to block her words.

"We are guilty of tresspassing - yes. However, please reconsider allowing us to have that service in the common defense of both of our nations in a combined war against the plateau dwellers."

His words were simple, slow and gentle, spoken much in the same way that sounded similar to how she had spoken to them.

"I cannot make that decision. It's not within my authority."

"We understand. Please bring it up to those who have such authority."

Madi was beginning to feel the strain and exhaustion of their journey.  She had to restrain herself from snapping and loosing control. And that was something she rarely did. But Madi had to say something. "You must. Consider the danger. We must return safety to our borderlands."

The leader cleared her throat a few times and then rubbed her jaw. She seemed to squint, looking inward.

Maybe she will agree at least with those terms, Madi hoped.

They didn't have to wait long for her answer.

"I will bring it up to the elders."

Madi felt an unexpected relief of held back tension - tension that she had forced back with restraint. She let go a deliberately quiet exhale. She briefly closed her eyes.

At least they had hope.

Sometime during their interaction with the leader the chorus had ceased. Now the entire village was in silence.

They were escorted through the village towards another edge of the village. On this other end around a larger building, had other people working around a structure that had piles of straw and dried grasses piled under protective rooftop structures.

There were other people - that weren't centaurs here.

[FG 5, smell; 6woody
9, move; 9, roll] 

Several off to one side were working with logs. They seemed to be rolling logs up to a pile. Several would come together and then lift the long logs onto a stack. The pile gave off a woody pine odor.

[Are the villagers returning from the wherever they have been? 8; Yes, however ...]

Off in the distance Madi could now hear the sound of hooves walking. The sound increasingly grew louder. Many of those working stopped where they were and looked off into the village empty streets.

Soon lines of centaurs came into view. Ahead walked one centaur dressed in dark clothing. He held a dark lantern in one hand - even though it was daytime. The other hand seemed to hold a dark staff. Behind him three centaurs seemed to be pulling some sort of cart.

The cart turned before reaching where they were. As it turned, Madi could see that a motionless centaur, which seemed to be an elderly one with grey hair, lay on the cart. Madi instinctively lowered her head until the cart disappeared behind the buildings.

[To be continued]

Aioskoru part 3 : Experience Points award

Aioskoru website
Aioskoru Adventure seeds
ABS12 System

Continued from this Aioskoru Story Series
Aioskoru part 1 : "Wild Horses"
Aioskoru part 2 : "Friendly Centaur"

Here are the stats for my two main characters.

Madi the amateur magic user is PL1.

Species

Life

Spd

Def

Def Type

BP

Damage

D Type

Mag

Sc/Tc

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

Cost

Magic User

2

2

3

Cloth

2

1d12/6

Staff

4

5

Fireball S

1d12/2

3

Net S

3

15

Andelin the amateur fighter is PL1

Fighter

4

3

6

Plate

4

1d12/3

Sword

2

Rescue

2

2

Tracking/hunting

2

15

Before I start, I want to test the new experience points for the two characters for the prior two scenes.

EP per Scene Goal reached - scene 1 - meet centaurs, scene 2 - find out more info
Madi - scene 1: yes; scene 2: no = 1 EP
Andelin - scene 1: yes; scene 2: yes = 2 EP

Character true to it's concept
Madi - scene 1: yes; scene 2: unkown = 1 EP
Andelin - scene 1: yes; scene 2: yes = 2 EP

Conflict with opposition

Madi - scene 1: yes; scene 2: unknown = 1 EP

Andelin - scene 1: yes; scene 2: no = 1 EP

New Awareness about something important

Madi - scene 1: yes; scene 2: unkown = 1 EP

Andelin - scene 1 unknown; scene 2 yes = 1 EP

Total EP for "Wild Horses" and "Friendly Centaur."

Madi = 4 EP

Andelin = 6 EP

I will test out 10 EP = 1 Power Level increase for now. I tried to make it 3 scenes per level. If that is too little then I will switch it to 20 or 30.

I'll try doing a scene just for Madi in the future like I did for Andelin in "Friendly Centaur" to help balance the points out.