The Islands of Myth - An Agon RPG Solo Actual Play, The First Stanza - Mutiny
The Islands of Myth
Agon Solo Actual Play
The First Stanza - Mutiny
Yes, my little Grandchild, an island approached. This is why we set sail, to explore new islands and win glory in our names. We began to prepare for landfall and to take on the adventures we knew would come, for all islands in the sea have their dangers and their rewards. As we approach closer and closer, the mists of the sea clear and we see a portent of the gods! Or at least that is what we believe we see.
Sign of the god, roll a D12 on the random God table (that sounds cool huh? You can find the table with my other Agon Solo Tools here) and I get a 10, Hermes God of Athletes and Thieves. Now rolling Topic, Detail and Focus. Topic - Current Needs (technological), Detail - Specialised (mystical), and Action - Reveal (physical).
This is difficult, but I interpret this as Hermes showing himself giving you what you desire - knowing that you should take what you deserve. If Kassander can show she knows what she deserves, she can gain the favour of Hermes.
We look and see the face of Hermes, the God of speed himself. He hands me, a vase painted with scenes of glory and my victories! How grand! Captain Arras says he sees Hermes with his family, wife and kids. And Eros, well I can’t tell you little one what Eros saw, but trust me when I say it is what he desires most. What a portent that we will all achieve what we want most on this island.
Alright, let’s see what this island looks like. D12 on Environs in the Agon core book. A 7, Burning sands and red stone canyons. A pleasant place it sounds like.
I jump to the brow of the ship as the island inches closer. I strain with all my will to get the first glimpse of this new land. What promises does it have? What risks will we face and what rewards will we make? Finally, I can see it! Red, red like Ares’s bronze spear. Gods the sun beats down hard on us here. As we get closer I start to see deep, deep canyons and bright sun-baked beaches. This does not have the look of a pleasant place of cool springs and wine, but it looks like a place of hardship and struggle.
We beach the Poseidon's Fury on the closest beach and feel the heat of the sands as we walk across it. Captain Arras is as efficient as ever, directing crew members to hunt for sources of water and other forage. I think we will find no relief on this island but the Captain always considers the crew and ship first, as he should. My mind is on other things.
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| This island promises little comfort for the crew. Photo by Romuald Ruelle on Unsplash |
I say “Strong-Armed Eros, come with me. Let’s travel inland and see if we can speak to the locals to see what challenges and glories we can win on this island.” Eros stomps off in pure contempt to join me by my side.
Eros says “Ah daughter of the gods. You need Strong-Arms help yes? OK, but only because the Captain would have my hide if I did not go with you. Lead the way, Kassander.”
We hike into the dark red canyons in the middle day heat. Quickly our water skins are empty and Eros is sweating like a broke sailor in Athens. But the gods always provide and we find what we are looking for.
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| The red canyons of the island are easy to get lost in. Photo by Sylwia Bartyzel on Unsplash |
What do Kassander and Eros find? With One Page Solo Engine, I roll Set the Scene - An NPC Acts Suddenly. What does this NPC do? I’ll roll the Action Table and get Assist (technical). OK, let’s play it out.
Suddenly and without warning a person darts out of the canyon bend ahead and runs straight at us. “Turn around! Turn around! The gods have left this place and to stay here is nothing but death for you and your crew. Leave now please, I beg of you!”
Eros shouts at the man as he pulls his mace from his belt “Stay back islander before you taste the bronze of my mace. Tell us who you are and what you are shouting about and most importantly, why you disparage the gods!”
The person stops and I finally see them properly. A young woman, about my age she is.
Let’s see who this woman is. I roll on the NPC generator. King of Diamonds, Adventure (technical) so maybe a ship's captain? OK next is Goal, Four of Spades, Harm (physical), interesting… and lastly Notable feature, just a D6, a 2 Notable Natures, detail is Queen of Hearts, Exotic (social). Alright so combined she is an adventurer with technical skills, her goal is to harm physically something or someone and she has a notable nature of being exotic socially.
I interpret this as she is a ship captain, marooned here by a mutinous ship. She wishes to hurt them, not just to take her ship back. And she is not from our fictional Greece but a foreigner. Her name will be Captain Leyli Torabi (Using fantasynamegenerators.com).
The woman stands up straight and says “I am Captain Leyli Torabi and I tell you the truth. The gods have left here, both Greek and my own. There is nothing here but evil spirits and corrupted men. You should go before your ship and your crew are taken by them also. The magic acts quickly so leave now.” I struggle to understand her through her unusual accent but I make it out the best I can.
I speak back to her, “You need not worry Captain Torabi. My crew is brave and loyal, just ask Eros who stands next to me as strong as the pillars of the Earth. Tell us about your crew and what brought you here.”
Now I have an idea for the next scene but it's always good to ask the oracle. I say it's very likely Captain Torabi’s crew is chasing her. I’ll roll a D6 and on a 3+ they are. A 5. Then I roll a D6 for a modifier. A 6, that is an ‘and’, as in the crew is chasing her AND something else. What else? Let's roll the Action - Topic. I get King of Hearts for Action, which is Transform (social). and Seven of Clubs for Enemies (physical). Yes! I know. The crew will be following but they are starting to transform into something…
But before Captain Torabi could tell us more, we see shapes moving quickly in the direction she came from. “My crew!” Captain Torabi shouts. “Don’t let them near you or they will pass the evil spirits to you.”
As the former crew comes closer, I see they are not quite human anymore. They shuffle and jerk with unnatural speed. Growths on their face conceal dead grey eyes, and they moan with pain when they see us.
Strife Roll
These sailors will be the Diseased Sailors of the Canyon. D6 for the Epitaph and a D6 for their name. They are pretty standard enemies. 2D6, 6 and a 1. So it's the highest dice +4, the Strife level. So Kassander needs to beat a 10.
I stand in front of Eros and Captain Torabi and shout as loud as I can, “I am Swift-Footed Kassander. My spear is my weapon, which is as fast as a viper and strikes just as true. I will move faster than the birds, the rabbits and the winds to strike you down!”
Roll
Character Roll
That is a D6 for her name, a D6 for her Epitaph, and a D8 for her domain (Blood and Valor as she is fighting). a 6, a 4 and a 6. I add the two highest dice, so 6+6=12! Enough to beat Target.
I darted forward, yes I did little one. Old grandmother could move as quick as a viper, just like I said. My spear darted out striking the crew members in the chest, the legs, the arms and the head until they were all dead. Or at least until they stopped moving, as I believe their souls had already left their bodies a long time ago.
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| Swift-Footed Kassander has trained with a spear her whole life. Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay |
Glory +10 (the target number)
I looked back at the two and see Eros looking impressed at my skills (Eros bond +1 to now 0). Captain Torabi is quiet for a while as she reviews the scene. I get ready for an emotional display but instead, she claps me on the should and says “Well done Swift-Footed Kassander, your name suits you. Now, with my crew now put to rest, I can see they were infected with evil spirits. We must stop whatever is infecting this island!”
+1 bond with Captain Torabi.
I agreed with Torabi, there is a foul evil here corrupting sailors and gods know who else. It is my duty as a hero of the Islands to fight this evil where I find it. I asked, “Captain Torabi, where did you first see your crew start to act oddly? Maybe that is where the evil spirits reside?”
The foreign captain considers this for a moment, “The shore on the opposite side of the island from here’’ she said in her hard-to-understand accent. “We landed looking for water and before long the crew became agitated and aggressive. They were always a loyal crew and we sailed many a sea and landed on numerous islands together. It was unexpected that they would act this way.’’
Eros looks at me nervously and says ‘’There is foul energy in this place Kassander. We should go back to Posidans Fury and leave before the same happens to us.”
“Do not fear Strong-Backed Eros, my spear and my speed will defeat anything that comes to us. We must continue through this dry and red island and defeat the evil that is corrupting these sailors, or other ships and crews will fall to the same evil.” As I speak these words to Eros, I see him and Captain Torabi stand straighter and be filled with courage.
I stand straighter also and shout “Demeter, god of Conviction, be with me as I destroy the evil torturing this land. Hephaistos keep my spear straight and Posidon, protect my crew while I do this quest. Captain Torabi, lead the way to your ship. Let us see if this evil can stand against us three.”
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Thank you for reading! What an adventure, I didn't see the whole possessed crew aspect, but that is the great part of solo RPGs! Be sure to come back next week for the second stanza and the huge climactic battle in the third stanza. I'd love to hear how you are enjoying Agon, so feel free to drop a comment below.
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- Croaker
I am enjoying it. Greek Myth isn't really my thing, but the calling on the gods and the use of the names and epitaphs is great at immersing you into the story.
ReplyDeleteThe combat looks very interesting, quick, and simple. I am interested to see how you narrate a miss and the consequences.