The Islands of Myth - An Agon RPG Solo Actual Play, The Final Stanza - Clashing of Spears
Welcome reader, to the final part of this epic tale.
With no further delay, let's get to the story.
Do not be afraid, young child. Sometimes in my travels, I came across dangerous situations and impossible tasks. But each time I trusted in the gods and they believed in me. Through them, I survived and kept my crew alive.
We approached Poena and her Empusa, who was looking at us with hatred in their eyes. I said to them “Poena, take your beast and leave this island before you are destroyed. I will not tell you twice and I don’t care why you are doing what you are doing here.”
Poena’s voice sounded like nails being pulled from a ship's hull, “Do not speak to me like I’m one of your crew. All sailors are damned, for they are Posiden’s children. Yes, Posiden. I hate him forever. He cast me out like I was some simple plaything. So while I’m banished to this island, I will destroy every ship and crew which makes landfall here. You and your precious crew will be next. Prepare for battle, for I will give you no mercy!”
Battle
A battle is three contests in a row. The first contest is a clash where both opponents try to gain an advantage against each other. Let’s see how it goes!
With those words, a wicked mist appeared and the island was covered in a dense fog up to the red rock peak we were on. It did not last long and quickly cleared and there next to me stood not one Strong-Armed Eros but two! That evil Empusa had taken the shape of Eros and I tell you, I could not tell them apart at all. Everything counted on me telling which was the true Eros and which was an imposter!
Clash
I’ll say the Empusa is a 2D8 monster and the strife level of the island will increase to +5. Ok, let’s roll them. A 6 and a 6, I’ll take one of those and add +5 and the number to beat is 11! That is decently difficult.
I struggle to concentrate but I know I don’t have much time at all. I must make a decision and pick the right Eros or everything could be at risk!
Roll
I’ll use my name dice for a D6, my epithet of Swift-Footed doesn’t help much. This will have to be the domain of Craft and Reason, another D6. Finally, I’ll call upon the divine favour of Hephaistos, an additional D4. OK time to roll. A 5 + 2 + 2 = 9, not good enough! +1 glory. +1D10 advantage dice to the enemy.
I think hard and fast and look at both of these Eros in front of me. I see one with a scar on his chin that I recognise from a battle many years ago and say “You are the true Eros, cast the other over the cliff before it is too late!” And after a struggle, we do cast the other Eros off the cliff and as soon as I do, I realised our mistake. I heard the deep dark laughter of Eros slowly change into high-pitched shrieking as the Empusa turned back into its natural, disturbing form.
I will never forget that grave mistake I made. Eros trusted me and I failed him.
Poena laughs her cursed evil laugh. “You are outclassed Kassander. Give up now or watch your crew be possessed by my magics!” She begins to chant slowly, as the mist reappears to swallow the island. This is no hollow threat.
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| The mist covered the entire island. Photo by Endre Stedje on Unsplash |
Threat
In this part of the battle, there will be a threat to another part of the island. In this circumstance, Poena has threatened to possess the crew of Posiden’s Fury. Kassander will have to decide to try to seize control or defend the crew.
I am not afraid to say I let Poena work her magic on the crew. After having thrown the wrong Eros over the cliff due to her tricks, I felt no charity to this evil spirit. So I moved as fast as I could to strike her down!
Poena is a 2D10 enemy who is also Sacred, so if Kassander loses she will lose the divine favour of a god. A 1 and 7 + Stife level of 5, which is a difficult 12 to beat.
I tighten my grip on my spear and dart forward as fast as I can. Moving through the mist and the dust as fast as a bird, leaving nothing in my wake. I aimed a strike right at her heart, hoping to end this now.
Roll
Name dice of a D6, Epithet applies so a D6. Domane dice will be Blood and Valor, a D8. I’ll use divine favour from Posiden for an additional D4. I hope it is enough! A 4,6,6 and 2 for Divine Favour. Add the two together and the divine favour. 6+6+2=14. That’s enough! +12 Glory. Kassander now has 39 glory.
I strike true! Straight through her damned heart! Poena starts to slump on my spear, dead. And then she starts to shift and change, changing into the natural form of that damned Empusa! I was tricked, but I still struck the Empusa down, a great defeat for Poena. This will certainly give me an advantage in the final battle.
But what of the crew? I can only think the worst. Poena’s magic must have affected them, so they are sure to be possessed. Hopefully defeating her will release them from her magics.
Finale
This is the last part of the battle. Who wins here, wins everything. Poena has a 1D10 advantage dice, but Kassander gets to pick how the final fight is done.
Poena reappears in front of me, her cruel voice rings out “I have possessed your crew Swift-Footed Kassander. Throw down your spear and submit to me or I will tell them to all walk into the water until they drown.”
Such a choice I had to make! But I knew Poena wouldn’t stop unless she was sent back to the underworld to answer for her sins. Perspiration kissed my brow as I thought of my next move. Poena was no simple enemy, but I am no simple hero. I am a daughter of Atlantana and I will call upon my godly mother to have me prevail in this contest!
Strife Roll
Poena is a 2D10 enemy and will use the additional 1D10 she gained in the first clash. Let’s roll. A 2, 9, 10. Take the highest and add the strife level of +5. That is a score of 15 to beat, the highest we’ve had to face so far.
Poena readies herself for the final battle, claws out, teeth bared and poised for a fight. This will be no contest of words or ideas, but one of the clashing weapons and shattering bones. I stand ready and yell, "I am Swift-Footed Kassander! Know my name demon for it will be the last you hear on this mortal world.”
Roll
Well, this is for all the marbles. Kassander has to win this to stop the evil happening on the island. Let’s do it! Epiteth of Swift-Footed applies here as does the name dice, so 2D6. It will be a contest of Blood and Valor so a D8. And Kassander will call upon her bond with Atalantana, who is a god and has a D12 to help with! And I’ll also use my last divine favour from Demeter for an extra D4. Ok time to roll some dice.
A 2,2,6 and 6. Combine the top two for 12. Now roll a D4 and add that. I need a 3 or above to match the score. Oh no! A 1 for a total of 13, is not good enough to win. Kassander marks 1 pathos for being defeated. Poena wins this battle…
I charged ahead, with all my strength. On my left was Atalantana, my mythical mother, and on my right flew Demeter in all his splendid glory. What I did not know was the strength Poena could muster, for behind her grew the fierce visage of Hades, the dark lord of the underworld. My spear flashed forward but Poena dodged skillfully and effortlessly.
Then with the strength of Hades, a dark blade materialised from her hand and she struck at me. I parried and struck over and over again but I could not get a true strike to land. I was forced back to the cliff where Eros was cast. My feet stepped over the edge and before I knew it I was falling, down and down to the red soil below.
I landed with a thud, hurt but not dead. I saw the shape of Captain Torabi scrambling down the cliff. Poena stood upon the red pillar, victorious. “Leave this island Swift-Footed Kassander. For while you are a worthy opponent, you are no match for me. I release your crew. Sail away and let me continue my work on this island."
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| Evil was dominant on the island. Photo by Yaopey Yong on Unsplash |
And so I left the island in defeat. Yes, little one, not every adventure ended in victory and glory. Defeat is a hard lesson and one we must all learn, the earlier the better. I went on to great victories and greater glory.
And what happened to the island? That tale has yet to end, for it is still out there, snaring unaware sailors and possessing their hearts. Poena goes without judgement to this day. Maybe you will be the one to bring her to the judgement of the gods? But when you are older. Time for bed now. I can tell you another story tomorrow night.
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- Croaker
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