Solo Tabletop RPG Actual Play – Everspark Part Six

Read the previous part here.

(I realized I had forgotten about the overarching Spark of Qazid Icebreath’s journey across the sea. So, I went back and made Spark checks for each failure in the previous session. I closed the Spark, meaning Qazid emerges from the waters and decimates Cypress’s hometown of Slumbering Bay.)

The waters beyond Slumbering Bay churned, turning from sapphire to an ice-rimed gray. Then, with a sound like glaciers colliding, Qazid Icebreath rose from the depths. The beast’s massive form, a mountain of jagged frost and barnacle-crusted scales, shed seawater in torrents as it emerged. Its icy mist breath rolled over the docks, freezing fishing boats in place and coating the wooden piers in ice sheets.

Capybarians fled in panic, their soft voices rising in alarm as Qazid lumbered forward. A single sweep of his tail sent homes crumbling, their thatched roofs snapping like twigs. Merchants abandoned their stalls in the market square as the beast’s frost spread, turning baskets of fresh fruit into glittering crystal.

Then came the roar—deep, ancient, and terrible. A gust of ice-laden wind blasted through the city, toppling palm trees and shattering windows. Qazid’s glowing eyes fixed on the distant Whispering Mountains, his true destination. With thudding, quaking steps, he left the ruins of Slumbering Bay behind, each footfall leaving frozen craters in the once-warm earth.

Cypress and his two allies are holed up at the Ash Tree Inn. The Capybarian Strategist has been pouring over his books and scrolls for a day, trying to figure out how to access the Fae Lazuli and, more importantly, regain the Nightveil Stone that was taken. 

Sigil Check: Influence

Cypress has an idea to pose as someone of importance…maybe not him; he looks over at Hulde, who is going to town on a plate of goat ribs as they sit in the tavern connected to the inn. A Gnomish war hero comes to pay respects to the great Lazuli, whom the gnomes served under in the Old War. (Rolling with Leverage, increased effect)

Skill Check: 10, OK > 15, Good
Petition Lazuli’s Help – 2/5
Spark Check: 3, not closed

Cypress has spent a little coin to get a cheap brass band, a soldier’s uniform from a costume shop, and a cheap bit of red carpet. The band plays, and the carpet is rolled out before the Eastern Tower. Cypress spots the attendant poking their head out of the upper window to see the source of the commotion. 

“Ladies & Gentlefolk gathered here,” Cypress announces in an official voice. “I present the grand war hero Lieutenant Commander Hulde Stoneskin to the honorable Lady Lazuli so that this old soldier might pay her respects to the good lady!” Demis has grown one of his arm-branches a bit longer, flying the flag of Eryndralis off of it. A curious crowd has begun gathering to see exactly where this goes.

Moments later, the attendant comes downstairs and forces a smile. “We are so happy to receive you, Lt. Comm. Stoneface.”

”StoneSKIN,” Hulde corrects with a huff.

Fake laugh. “Yes, yes, Stoneskin. Right this way.”

The attendant leads Hulde, Cypress, Demis, and the brass band into the grand foyer of the Eastern Tower. Cypress tells the band to start playing that beloved tune from the days of the Old War….”Bread and Bone.”

The band starts up, and several workers in the Eastern Tower, veterans of the Old War, sing the words.

The fields lie fallow, the mills stand still,
The blacksmith’s hammer has grown too chill.
The roads are empty, the nights are long,
But we still raise our voices strong.

Bread and bone, blood and stone,
The war takes all, but it won’t take home.
Hold the line, stand and fight,
We’ll have bread again by winter’s light.

While the foyer is filled with the roaring sound of the song, Cypress taps Hulde on the shoulder and tugs at Demis’s branches. It’s time to make their move up the stairs and speak with Lazuli uninterrupted.

(I’d argue this is with Leverage; the environment has become very distracting, which helps aid Cypress with a diversion, which means I will have reduced risk even if I roll low)

Skill check: 9, OK
Consequence: Drain Emotion

Cypress reaches the hallway where they found Lazuli’s bedroom last time. Down below, he can hear the attendant whistling, getting the band to stop playing, and telling everyone they were happy for them to come, but it’s time to leave. Cypress knows their time is limited and makes a dash for the bedroom door. 

Lazuli lays on her bed, looking drained just as they left her. She clutches the Nightveil Stone to her chest. It pulses with its strange power. Cypress tells Hulde to watch the door. The gnome grins and readies her thunder gun. Demis backs up their ally. Cypress stands beside Lazuli’s bed and explains that they need to speak with Apogee, that the stone will help push back the colossal beasts and perhaps end this horror on the land.

Skill: 14, Good.
Petition Lazuli’s Help – 3/5
Spark Check: 5, not closed

Lazuli’s eyelids flicker. She looks at Cypress and hands him the stone, a weak smile on her face. Her lips move, and—BANG BANG BANG. The attendant pounds their first on the door, demanding to be let in. Hulde readies her gun and looks to Cypress. The Capybarian shakes his head. No. Instead, he asks Lazuli if she will tell her attendant that they are welcome here.

Skill Check: 16, Good.
Petition Lazuli’s Help – 4/5
Spark Check: 6, not closed 

Lazuli’s voice suddenly becomes strong, shouting in a manner that causes the air in the room to ripple in waves, “Silence! I am hearing out my visitors!” The banging ceases, and footsteps as the attendant walks away. 

Cypress breathes a sigh of relief. He signals for Hulde to stand down. She looks disappointed. Attention returns to Lazuli, who appears drained from that explosion of emotion. What light remains here has faded further. “Be careful with that stone…it is dangerous to exist in this world,” she sighs. 

Cypress can tell she does not have long for the world, but he doesn’t know what happens when a Fae dies. They have been seemingly immortal from all the literature he has read. “Apogee. I believe only you can convince him of how badly we need military assistance. Please, my lady. Implore him to help.”

Skill Check: 12, OK.
Consequence: Lose Truth 
Petition Lazuli’s Help: 5/5
Spark Check: 4, Closed – Lazuli sends her messenger and gets Apogee to come to the tower
Special: Hit will allow Cypress to roll with Advantage on this matter with Apogee

Cypress and his friends are given a warm meal in the kitchen of the Eastern Tower as they wait for Apogee to come to them. Our hero can’t help but feel a bit nervous; he’d never met Apogee face-to-face, and he didn’t care for him. The ruler’s decree of the Tournament – sending people to fight the colossal beasts & die – was not a program Cypress agreed with. But Apogee was the one who held the leash of the Imperial Army, keeping them holed up in Kingshold to protect himself.

N – Convince Apogee
A – On successful Skill checks or positive Fate Checks
C – After the second advance
H – Apogee agrees to send a sixth of the Army with Cypress
O – Apogee confiscates the stone and leads the Army himself
S – None
Convince Apogee – 0/5

A room is prepared, and Cypress is brought to it. Lazuli has been moved from her bed to a throne beside Apogee, who sits in his own ornate chair. Other people stand around waiting. Cypress imagines they must be advisors, generals, and influential people interested in Apogee’s decision.

”Speak Capybarian,” Apogee’s voice feels as if it threatens to crack the ground beneath them, which resonates with the speech of the Fae. 

Cypress clears his throat and explains how the Nightveil Stone would be used to push back the beasts from the Whispering Mountains. This is imperative because Qazid Icebreath will gain control of the arcane energies left behind in those mountains from the Battle of the Tenfold Eclipse. 

Skill Check: 8 > Advantage: Lazuli uses what little energy she has to reach over and hold the hand of her king. His look softens.
Convince Apogee – 0/5
Sigil Check: Warmth

“I think this matter does warrant action on my part. But, I believe this is best suited for our generals, not…simple adventurers.” Apogee doesn’t seem quite as cold, but he clearly doesn’t see Cypress and his friends as serious & capable.

Cypress responds by relating the story of how he, Hulde, and Demis snuck into Murkspire, avoided the Fangguard, and even overtook bandits to get the Nightveil Stone. He hopes this will convince Apogee of their ability.

Skill Check: 16, Good
Convince Apogee – 1/5

A slight smirk emerges on Apogee’s face. Cypress is capable of more than he expected. “Fine, Capybarian. You may travel with the generals.” He looks at one man in uniform with several medals on his chest. “You can act as an advisor should they run across any goblins.” He clearly likes Cypress but still doesn’t see him as someone up to this considerable task.

Cypress stands up a bit straighter. He explains how he got access to Lazuli after being kicked out of the Eastern Tower – his whole elaborate war hero parade, inspired by an action he took in the North years ago. He points out every moment he was able to breach security here without the attendant noticing. Generals use brute force, but Cypress’s finesse is needed in such a delicate matter as Icebreath’s movements.

Skill Check: 19, Very Good
Convince Apogee – 2/5
Spark Check: 2, Spark closed

To Cypress’s surprise, Apogee stands and steps forward. He extends his hand. “I have underestimated you, Cypress. You will have your troops. Prepare yourself to ride out with them first thing in the morning. I’m hoping this plan of yours works. Otherwise, I fear nothing will be left to stop these monsters.”

Read the next part here