Been wanting to run some players through Simon Bull’s Secrets of the Old City (PDF here) for a while now, and my first Torchbearer session seemed like a great fit.
Spent about the first 90 minutes of the session making characters, which went smoothly considering it was everyone’s first time with the game. Half the players hadn’t experienced anything from Burning Wheel Headquarters previously.
Dramatis personae:
Cawshis, Human Warrior, played by P.
[ul][li]B: Nothing for me but blood and treasure, spent and earned.
[/li][li]I: Always leave out traps for small game.
[/li][li]G: I will rescue the kids and get the reward.[/ul]
[/li]Finnegan, Human Cleric, played by J.
[ul][li]B: With enough fame and fortune, I can protect and serve my parish.
[/li][li]I: Always look for the safer path.
[/li][li]G: I will come out stronger, richer, and retake my synagogue.[/ul]
[/li]Moony, Human Magician, played by M.
[ul][li]B: Knowledge is the key to survival.
[/li][li]I: Always study the enemy before engaging in conflict.
[/li][li]G: Find secret knowledge.[/ul]
[/li]Silver Ox, Halfling Burglar, played by C.
[ul][li]B: Anything I can steal is money in my pocket.
[/li][li]I: Always double-check for valuables.
[/li][li]G: Find treasure to pay off my debt.[/ul]
[/li]The players started out with a lit lantern, descending the staircase at 1. There was a lit torch and light spilling into the hall to their left. They went south.
As they approached the guard house (2), they could hear voices, but they were not able to make out what they were saying. Silver Ox volunteered to sneak ahead and check out the room. He wanted to use his halfling nature for this test, but could not as he had 2 ranks in scout. I used the solider profile for the guards, testing their nature against Silver Ox’s scout. With some help from one of his companions’ mirror, was able to see and hear what was going on around the doorway. (He passed the test; his fresh conditioning canceled out the penalty for operating in dim light.)
I decided it was a Dutch door, half open. Inside, the soldiers were playing cards and making smalltalk. The players decided they would march in confidently and tell the soldiers they were their relief. This seemed like a great opportunity for a conflict.
Finnegan’s player was the conflict leader, as the plan was his suggestion. The characters were trying to convince the soldiers to give up their post; if the soldiers won, they would arrest the party. Soldiers tested halved will against the players, and had a lousy disposition to boot; but helped each other, produced a work order as evidence against the players (which they stole in short order), and made use of their stubborn trait to knock off half the party’s disposition during the conflict. One of the soldiers was knocked out in the first round and was conscripted into helping Silver Ox cook dinner.
Compromise was that the soldiers abandoned their post, but planned to come back with their superior and get to the bottom of this, so the party better wait right there for them. The loot table came up with mundane equipment, so I told the players there were shields, spears, and torches aplenty if they wanted to take any.
Not wanting to hang around for the soldiers’ return, the players continued south. They came to the causeway (3), and I said it would be an obstacle 2 health test to traverse, the narrow, slippery, and and rubble-strewn ledge along the sewage channel. Moony recommended they tie themselves together, so he tested with help from the rest of the party. No problem, and they made their way across toward area 12.
At this point, their lantern went out and they lit a new flask of oil. (No test?! grumble grumble)
Examining the area, I described that it looked like things had been dragged through this passageway recently, and the party slowly made its way toward the spider liar. When the huge cobwebs and dry bones hinted that they were getting in over their heads, Moony tested hunter to see what he could discern about the spiders. This was versus their nature, and for his success he gleaned their hiding descriptor; after some deliberation, the party decided to turn back.
Four turns had passed by now, however the party eschewed to set up camp, as they had no checks, simply eating and drinking of their provisions to remove their hungry and thirsty condition. At least they were no longer fresh.
Returning to the causeway, it was an Ob 2 test again as they decided to try going southeast. They repeated the rope plan and succeeded, but having them head off away from the action seemed lame, so I told them that after a ways they reached an arched gateway in the stone tunnel, through which none of them could pass. Not wanting to negate the successful test, I offered that they stumbled upon the secret door in that area, and we called it a night.
Solid first session. Lingering observations:
[ul][li]Does the party either test or at least lose a turn every time they navigate from one area to another, if they have not tested cartographer to make a map? This seems to be the case, but I didn’t find it spelled out in the rules.
[/li][li]No test or turn passing to relight new light sources, only dependent on the players’ supplies, right?
[/li][li]Similarly, no test to eat and drink if the players have provisions, right? This might have cost them a turn, but I can’t remember.
[/li][li]Moony’s player earned two checks with his foolhardy trait in the versus test against the spiders as he wandered into their liar and thrashed about in their webs, so I’m hopeful they’ll have some incentive to camp properly next session.[/ul]
[/li]Any thoughts or feedback? Things it looked like I missed? Situations you would have handled differently? Can’t wait to play again!
