The Rise of the Novice: Episode 01

Intro

Sivok the Hollow pointed its staff toward the forest and limped along the old trail, nothing more than a faded trace overgrown by wild vegetation. Jaketh the Wanderer and Elwoth the Watcher followed the Dark Prophet suspiciously scanning the surroundings. Like a puppet maneuvered by an insane puppeteer a Bone Stalker leaped back and forth scouting ahead and watching the rear of the ominous posse. 

Thessalia was running as fast as she could through the undergrowth of the forest. There was not much of "fey" in the thorns scratching her shins and forearms. She was worried and upset by the hurry with which the Granite Council had urged her to go check that remote corner of the Carathon Forest. Aerith and Duddwort had joined her as planned, she could hear the reassuring thuds of the giant battleborn's steps as well as the ghostly stride of the gnome's purple shadowfox ride.

-This is the place. Those are the waystones.- rasped Sivok. The sinister glow of its staff was growing brighter as a similar glare started to emanate from three monoliths covered in weeds and ivy.  -I don't like this place. Smells like elves.- replied Jeketh. -Quiet now! They are here.- hissed Elwoth nocking a twisted arrow in his bone bow...

Seekers and Followers

This is a campaign I am playing with my 6 years old son. After some introductory pick-up games he got a good grip of the mechanics of the game and grew quite fond of the Bone and Darkness faction so now it's time to get a campaign going!

Path of the Adversary     

Establishing the base in an arcane tower allows to gather 4 adventurer followers (and upgrades/traits)

• Sivok the Hollow (Dark Prophet)
• Jaketh the Wanderer (Dark Wanderer) 
• Apex Predator
• Elwoth the Watcher (Dark Watcher)
• Veteran's Edge
• Claw (Bone Stalker)

Path of the Advocate

Establishing the base in a Frontier Outpost allows to gather 3 adventurer followers (and upgrades/traits)

• Thessalia (Geomancer)
• Violent Faultline
• Aerith (Battleborn) 
• Veteran's Edge
• Helath Potion
• Duddwort (Gnome Alchemist)

The Adventure

We decided to generate the adventure completely random. Turned out to be Ancient Waystones in the Fay Forest environment. As environmental dangers we rolled a Golden Fawn and a Faerie Creature which turned out to be a raging bear able to summon crushing vines. Probably a maddened druid of some sort.

Both bands cautiously advance to the middle, sparing an action dice to get that sweet dodge token. The geomancer summons a rock spire for good measure.

The gnome gambles a one dice shadow stride and phases through the big rock opening interesting options with respect to both the waystone and the fawn...

In the monster phase the arcane bear rushes at the Battleborn.

Turn 2 opens with the Bone Stalker activating the waystone and the gnome capturing the Fawn.

The Battleborn charges into the bear but it's not able to bring it down.

The Dark Watcher makes a run for the the central waystone and activates it. The geomancer would like to contend it but has to support the Battleborn against the raging bear.

Seizing the initiative the gnome dashes forward and activates the central waystone before swiftly retreating.

The Dark Prophet had enough of the little trickster and snipes him with a powerful curse! Down he goes.

It's time for the Battleborn to shine. He finishes the bear off, collects the treasure and heals the gnome with a potion. Unfortunately not enough AD to also activate the waystone :(

     

The Bone Stalker gets the job done playing at the objectives while the Dark Watcher snipes the Geomancer who, weakend by the Dark Prophet's poisonous curses, does not manage to deal damages to her opponents.

The gnome brings the Geomancer back on her feet with one of his treats but she is shortly after disabled again by the claws of the Bone Stalker. In the rest of the turn the Stonekins are not able to even out the activation count as the Dark Prohet succesfully does it for the fifth and last time, sealing the victory for the Adversary.

The game ends with a Bone and Darkness victory but capturing the Fawn and the monster's treasure wins to the Advocate 5 extra gold and a Stone of Power!

Outro

The telepathic chorus of voices of the Council resonated into Thessalia's mind -The Granite Council is disappointed and concerned by the failure of your mission. You must chase the agents of evil and prevent their plans to succed. The whole world is in great danger. Waste no more time, go!-

She recovered from the status of trance in which she had fallen to communicate with the Council. She nodded to her companions who, although battered and miserable, without a word stood up to follow her. Out from the forest, into the badlands, as far from home as they have ever been...