A Forever Waltz

One Shot Open Table Play Report

Mythic Bastionland

The Fanged Knight

The Amber Knight

Myths

No omens occurred in this session, but the following myths were used for content:

The Sprite

The River

The Dead

Prologue

The previous session ended with the Company retrieving the Keystone, wherein a ruler was trapped (think Han Solo in carbonite). This session was going to see the knights freeing Lady Bellamonte, the unlucky victim inside.

For prep I worked out 2 options:

• Freeing her by water, this would require a climb up a mountain and navigating a site.
• The other required a visit to the Dwarf who had recently come to the realm after the Colossus was slain.

I accidentally left my iPad at home, I generally use it for showing players the map, so I made an executive decision and that the Dwarf would remain undisturbed, at least for today.

The players liked the idea of the Lady's love interest playing a role. And they really latched on to the idea of her having fallen for someone of lower bureaucratic status.

Isoa - 015.001

The Company took a vessel from Chillbane Motte [014.004] to Isoa. And the session kicked off with them arriving at the Sanctum. They had climbed halfway up the mountain and were welcomed by most accommodating acolytes.

The Company washed and ate and whatnot, but were really champing at the bit to speak to the seer. So it didn't take long for them to find themselves heading towards the rear of the Sanctum. They exited through a set of large doors and made out a crevice at the bottom of a seam where two rock masses met. One by one they entered. The crevice narrowed to a perfect silhouette of the visitor and when there was little room to shrink further, a vision flashed.

Visions:

• The Fanged Knight wished to see the moment Lady Bellamonte was freed from her stone, and so was taken to the peak of the mountain above the monastery. He looked down and saw a waterfall leading into a small silver lake. A red bird lifted it up and then dropped it unceremoniously. It fell towards the water and burst apart upon contact, water and stone shards spraying in all directions.
• The Amber Knight wished to see the moment where Lady Bellamonte experienced true love, and so was taken back to Chillbane Motte. Sitting on a bed, he witnessed Lady Bellamonte exiting the bathroom (a well earned clean after years in stone), when the ring of metal on metal rang out from the courtyard. Lady Bellemonte's gaze was immediately drawn to the window as her cheeks glowed rosy.

There was immediate speculation on which parts were abstract and which weren't. Luckily the Company asked an acolyte to join them for some tea and they got some more clarification from a local.

They were sure that the Blacksmith would be an important part of freeing Lady Bellamonte, but no one at the table was sure how. So we just ran with it and hoped something interesting would emerge.

014.004 Chillbane Motte

Back at the Holding the Company beelined straight to the blacksmith. After a brief conversation they worked out that 'twas not the young strapping apprentice, but the balding smith who had indeed once fallen for Lady Bellamonte. Later that evening in the tavern the Amber Knight plied the smith with drink and a full confession followed.

It was clear to the Company that the Blacksmith need join the expedition, but the Blacksmith saw no logic in his inclusion. He was convinced by the Amber Knight who pulled on his heartstrings and said it would be in Lady Bellamonte's best interest to see a familiar face when she returned.

015.002 Bittercold Summit

We had spent a bunch of time getting to this point so I opted to skip travelling to the mountain and my players had no issue with that.

01. Green Pond

The Company trekked up the mountain. Two knights, the Blacksmith and a horse drawn cart carrying the Keystone. Approximately halfway up the mountain they found a small lake (or a large pond) fed by a gushing waterfall. The Fanged Knight thought it similar to his vision, but the water was a natural clear and not silver. Plus the surface was covered in plants. The Fanged Knight noted how the Leaf Knight would have had a glorious feast were he here.

It was mentioned that the Blacksmith ought to remain by the cart, but I asked my players to take the Blacksmith along for the ride. Possibly throwing logic to the wind, but I wanted the possibility of him playing a dramatic role. All concurred.

The Company left the Keystone and horses behind and ascended further. Far above them a bird of prey screeched.

05. Sparkling Pond

The Company ascended via a calm cascade and came upon a smaller lake (so just a pond) where a couple of humanoids were splashing each other and giggling. The Amber Knight stepped forward and announced his presence. At a closer glance he noticed that the two individuals were naked and their skin had horrid white colour from prolonged submersion.

A brief conversation was had. The female swimmer retrieved her magnificent quartz from the depths of the pond. As she showed it off she boasted that is was the most magnificent pillow she had ever owned. The male swimmer, partially out of jealously of not having a fancy quartz, asked the knights for a weapon, and would show them a hidden mountain passage in return.

The Company had no desire to part with a valuable weapon and continued their ascend.

03. Teal Pond

The Company again ascended gentle cascades (an easy climb for anyone not lugging a huge keystone!) and came to a small lake (or large pond) of a magnificent whirling teal colour. Two eyes, about 20cm apart, poked out of the water, blinked and then submerged.

The Fanged Knight prodded the water and called out for the beast to come forward and identify itself. The silence that followed was broken by a call of a bird of prey above.

10. Ruin

The Company ascended more gentle cascades and came to a ruin of a gazebo-sized prison cell. One corner was entirely destroyed and the cell empty save for discarded deep maroon lizard skin.

The Blacksmith noted how amazing the view is of the sea. He was sure that the smudge on the horizon was a distant realm and he wondered whether their lives were akin to his. Were it applicable SPI would’ve been restored, but all present were maxed out.

03. Teal Pond

The Company passed the teal lake again, this time the eyes remained upon the surface and followed their movement throughout.

07. Snow and Grass

The Company ascended a gentle path of dirt and gravel. Cresting onto a plateau they saw two large red vultures flying around each other. Engaged in some sort of rough-and-tumble play before one flew off, circling the mountain.

In his vision, the Fanged Knight had seen the red birds lift the Keystone to the top lake. The Seer's Acolyte had mentioned the birds were of a foul sort for they were known to feast on human flesh. For a brief (very brief) moment the thought of sacrificing the Blacksmith was on the table.

But, luckily,  cooler minds prevailed and the Company thought to use the meat of the “eye creature” [03]. The two swimmers [05] would be a backup plan!!

03. Teal Pond

The Company returned to the pond, where the eyes poked out again. But whatever the creature was, it sensed something was awry when the Company got into position, so it submerged. Too little too late, for the Amber Knight threw an improvised hook in the spot where the creature had disappeared and managed to hook it right behind its skull.

The Great Newt was strong and fought back, but the Amber Knight handily dragged it out of the water. The Fanged Knight got it tangled in a web. And the Blacksmith did what he did best and brought a raised hammer down with an immense force. The Amber Knight then handily decapitated the creature with one foul swing of his Ancient Blade.

The Newt had screamed something manic during the battle and had drawn the attention of one of the large vultures. Once the newt had been slain it perched on a rocky outcropping. In a hissing voice it asked for a taste of the succulent red meat. The other vulture soon joined and did what is essentially the bird equivalent of licking their lips.

The grounds were clearly set for a fruitful negotiation as both sides had something the other wanted.

11. Silver Lake

The Company harnessed the lift from the two giant red vultures to get the Keystone to the top lake. They gazed out over the turbulent silver water and knew from the Fanged Knight’s vision that this was the place. Out of the water rose an ethereal being, a maiden young, engulfed in yellow robes and with golden hair that danced as if underwater. She danced upon the surface playfully, nought but the very tip of a toe touching the surface.

She welcomed them to her home. Of course her enchanted lake could be used to free Lady Bellamonte. But the maiden was lonely and desired company, of course.

For a brief (very brief) moment the Company considered the Blacksmith. But the Fanged Knight stepped forward. He was growing older and desired a valiant retirement. He had not achieved a glorious and worthy death in battle, but destiny had given him a great opportunity here!!

The maiden summoned faces in the mist to witness the ceremony. The Fanged Knight doffed his armour and wore robes of a deathly blue/green. What was essentially a marriage ceremony culminated in the maiden biting into his neck, something that was very befitting the Fanged Knight. They embraced each other and took to the water's surface for their first dance.

The maiden upheld her end of the bargain. The Keystone was brought into shallow water whence powerful upwards water jets lifted it above all. The world seemed to stand still the moment the gushing stopped and the stone hung in the air before plummeting to the surface. It hit the water, resulting in an immense spray of water and stone.

Once the ripples had died down a disoriented woman emerged from the water. The Blacksmith moved towards her, she didn't recognise him at first, but once he spoke a light switched on in her eyes. He was embarrassed of his weathered face and his beer gut, but Lady Bellemonte said the warmth in his voice was still there, as was the glint in his eyes.

Epilogue

The Seer's Acolyte had suggested the Amber Knight rid the peak of the pesky birds. But since he had struck a bargain with them instead, this now seemed unknightly. So his dreams of owning an ancient vase will (for now) remain unsatiated.

The Fanged Knight now dances eternally upon the lake. It made a lot of sense that Lady Bellemonte could replace the Fanged Knight in the Company, so be on the look out for the Mask Knight.

Final Thoughts

I was really surprised when the Fanged Knight suggested they would be the one to stay with the Sprite. Their description of how it all went down was fittingly mythic. I had a very strong image of the Fanged Knight and the Sprite locked in an eternal dance, beautifully serene, away from the hassles of the world.

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Mythic Bastionland