Obojima Solo – Episode 3

All aboard!

Materials Used: Obojima Campaign Book, D&D 5e SRD, Mythic GME 2e, Starsmith Expanded Oracles, Ironsmith Expanded Oracles, various Mythic Magazines

In the last episode, Naveel was traveling toward the outskirts of Yatamon to reach the Wandering Line, when he accidentally bumped into a gang of thugs “tagging” a shop with their mark. He tried to extricate himself from the group with some jokes, but in the end, the began to chase him. He fell down a manhole during the chase, receiving a small bit of hurt to his leg, but in the end was able to escape the pursuing thugs. He made it to the Wandering Line station just in time, and boarded the Spirit Train headed for Matango Village. Hopefully.

Chaos Factor 6

Expected Scene: Get to Matango Village

Test the scene d10=1 Altered Scene

Scene alteration table d10=8 Make 2 Adjustments
3 Reduce/Remove an Activity (Action Table: Transform, Chaos)
6 Add an Object (Object table: Inactive, Mysterious)

Naveel had no idea what time it was, or how long he had been on the train. When he had left the station outside of Yatamon, it had been the onset of evening. Here in the Spirit Realm, there was an ambient light from some unknown source that gave the impression of dusk or dawn. Oustside the train, rushing past, was a thick fog that seemed prevalent throughout the journey. Naveel’s neighbor, the dog spirit, shushed him occasionally though he had been silent. Naveel had the feeling that his mere presence in the Spirit Realm was “noisy” to the spirits.

He was a bit relieved and surprised to see a male elf emerge from the second train car, pushing a small cart before him. He stopped near each row, offering snacks and refreshments to the patrons on the train, of which, all of the spirits had refused thus far.

The petite elf pushed his cart adjacent to Naveel. On his arm, his Oaka mark signifying an elf’s unique symbol of their relationship with the Spirit Realm, was a dark flame symbol.

DC 2d6+6=12
Naveel Passive perception 13. Pass

The elf had a…mannerism…about him that Naveel found somewhat off-putting. His smile was not friendly…more slimy.

“Well, hello there, fellow mortal!” the elf cooed in his melodic voice. The dog spirit glared up from his newspaper and popped out of sight, reappearing several seats down the aisle. The elf paid him no attention. “I’m Salazar Sales, care for a treat?” he winked as he said his spiel.

His last name was Sales? Likely not. Naveel began shaking his head no.

“Before you are too hasty with your answer, tell me this. Are you interested in something perhaps more worthwhile than a mere snack?” He looked around surreptitiously, as if someone might be listening.

“I...uh…don’t think,” Naveel began, but Salazar interrupted with his slimy smile growing even larger.

“Before you say no,” he looked around again and slid into the seat opposite of Naveel. He leaned forward to whisper, “I have something I picked up as a trade from a previous passenger. I’ve got no use for it myself, but I think someone like you just might.” He grinned even larger.

“Someone like me, what do you mean?”

“Well, let’s be honest, you are young, you have a staff, and a spellbook. You must be a Witch in training. And every witch needs protection outside of their magic, amIright?” he slung the last three words together into a colloquial phrase that was not common in Yatamon.

“Uh, I suppose. I have my staff, and my dagger.” He touched the knife at his belt, but did not mention the one in his boot.

“Yes, but what about this?” Salazar looked around again, then pulled a boomerang from under his cart. It looked like something magical, beyond a normal boomerang, but Naveel couldn’t be sure without more study. It had a pinkish/purple hue, and one of the ends of the boomerang was carved into the shape of swirling clouds. To be frank, Naveel was surprised this Salazar had such a wondrous item. He was immediately suspicious the elf had not come about its possession legally.

“May I take a closer look?” Naveel said, reaching out a hand. The elf grinned wider, thinking he had placed his mark well. Naveel ran his hands over the weapon and closed his eyes. He allowed himself to become attuned to the magical vibrations that might emanate from such an item. He found it was a bit more difficult than usual, likely due to being in the magically suffused Spirit Realm.

DC 2d6+7 (1 from Spirit Realm)=16
Arcana check d20+6=11 Fail

After a few moments of concentration, Naveel could not say for sure if the item was magical or not. There was simply too much magical noise from the train and the realm at large.

“Very nice,” Naveel handed the item back to the elf.

Salazar’s smile slipped slightly, then he forced it back. “So, interested? I can make you a great deal.”

“Sorry, I don’t have much wealth, and nothing really worth a trade. I’ll pass.” Naveel looked out the window, to give the elf an indication he was through with the conversation. But Salazar was not so easily deterred.

“Well, don’t jump to conclusions. How much do you have, I’ll cut you a deal.” He moved his head to try to come into Naveel’s line of sight.

“You want me to tell you how much coin I have? I don’t think so,” Naveel responded dismissively.

Again the smile slipped, and this time it did not creep back to his face. “Look, I’m just trying to help you out. This is a limited time offer. There are dozens of other passengers who would likely love to have this fine weapon. I just offered it to you first, as a fellow mortal.”

“Not interested,” Naveel repeated. He was beginning to tire of this elf’s persistence.

“Not interested? What are you, an idiot? Here I am, trying to help you, and you are not interested? You think you are so smart, well, you will find out soon enough that you know very little.” Despite his tirade, he had not moved from the seat.

Aggravated, Naveel looked directly in the man’s eyes. “I. Am. Not. Interested. Even if I wanted such a thing, I would not buy it from you. Your attitude is terrible. You need to find someone to teach you how to be polite.”

A storm cloud of anger flashed over the elf’s face. He stood suddenly, his fists clenched at his side, the boomerang quivering in his grip. Finally, after Naveel refused to meet his glower, he put the weapon back in the cart and trundled back down the aisle, not offering any further sales.

Naveel’s ire was up. What a jerk! He looked at the scenery whizzing by, but it offered no solace to his thoughts. He thought about the things he should have said to the guy. Finally, realizing he was just feeding an inner fire that was pointless, he closed his eyes. Regaining some inner composure, he pulled out his spellbook and read over his spells to distract his spinning mind.

Cantrips:

Resilient Friendship
Root Grab
Jolt
Retrieve
Task

Level 1 Spells
Bubble Lift
Pacify Person
Water Bullet
Swallow Magic
Sand Structure
Whelm Weapon

He considered how he might have used some of the spells if the gang confrontation had come to blows, but he had wanted to distance himself from them instead. Resorting to violence was the last thing he wanted. He was interested in learning another new spell in particular, Summon Familiar, as having a companion would be very helpful. Perhaps somewhere along the way, he could add that to his studies. Potion Brewing was really where his interest lay. He hoped in addition to the Truffle Hunt, he would have an opportunity to gather some new ingredients he was unfamiliar with.

The thoughts about his studies and future path calmed his torrent of anger, and he soon closed his eyes to rest the remainder of the train ride.

The conductor spirit appeared at the front of the train car and bellowed out, “Next stop, Matango Village.”

The train did not roll to a stop, it was moving along at a hurried clip, then was just still. The mist parted and Naveel could see a village nearby in the dim light. He got up and stretched from his uneasy rest, then proceeded to the now open doors. The foggy mist rolled away to reveal the real world, still under the darkness of night. Even in the dark, Naveel could see many of the buildings of the village were carved from giant mushrooms. Fantastic! Hopefully, he could find a room in an inn to stay for the night.

He stepped away from the train, and watched as it disappeared into the night, the rails fading behind it, leaving only a small rusted sign with cryptic symbols on it. Hitching up the straps on his pack, he limped toward the village in the dark. He was sure it was going to be an uneventful night.

D12 Encounter table=4. Wild Boar

Instead of using the 5e passive perception checks, I’m going to just do a simple OSE surprise check. Each side rolls a d6 and a 1 or 2 is surprised.
Naveel=2
Boar=1
Both surprised!

The boar had been rooting for truffles in the clearing where the train appeared, which it had been oblivious of, but when this human appeared out of nowhere, it raised its tusked head and snorted in alarm. The coarse hair covering its back bristled as it tensed. Naveel startled at the sound and turned slowly to see the beady eyes of the boar staring directly at him.

Distance 2d6x10=90 feet
Boars can move 40 ft, while Naveel’s speed is 30. So there is no way he could outrun this thing.
Reaction 2d6=7 Uncertain

Initiative: Naveel 8, Boar 15.

The boar snorted again and scrubbed its foot across the ground in an effort to intimidate the human. It worked! Naveel held his hands up in a gesture of placation, but holding the staff, it likely only irritated the animal.

Mythic, does the motion from Naveel startle the animal, likely? 93 vs 75 No.

The boar took a few steps forward and snorted, tossing its head to show its prominent tusks. Naveel tried his best to calm the animal while he slowly backed away, unfortunately, the boar stood between him and the village in the distance. He was tired from his chase, and his leg still hurt. The confrontation with the shopkeeper had whittled away his patience.

“Get out of here, shoo!” he shouted, trying to ward off this wild animal.

DC 2d6+6=14
Naveel Cha intimidation d20+3=12 Fail.

The angry words did not affect the boar in the way Naveel had hoped, instead it burst forward in a pseudo charge, demonstrating its prowess to this small human.

Boar Dash 80 ft.

Naveel move 5 ft. backward.

Initiative Naveel 17, Boar 17. Simultaneous actions

It was apparent to Naveel that this boar would not be scared away, if anything, his attempts had made it worse. The thing snorted again and charged toward him. With limited options, Naveel shouted out the command for his spell, Bubble Lift.

Bubble Lift – You blow a bubble around any solid, granular, or liquid object that weighs 500 pounds or less, causing it to float 4 feet off the ground. Can be pushed using an action or by wind. Duration 1 hour.

Since we have simultaneous actions, I’ll just roll for both the spell attack and the boar’s attack against Naveel.

Boar attack d20+3=11 vs AC 11. Hit! Damage 1d6+1=2. Naveel 3/8 HP

Naveel spell attack d20+6=Nat 20! Critical hit!

Before Naveel could finish his spell, the boar was upon him, tusks thrashing. He dodged aside as the tusks painfully scraped by his robed legs. The musky scent of the large animal filled Naveel’s nostrils as he finished the spell and a bubble flew from his lips, expanded through the air and encapsulated the thrashing animal. The sounds of its snorts were muted as the bubble grew around it and it levitated into the air. The animal stomped and gored at the sides of the bubble, but the interior could not be pierced by its mundane attacks.

Naveel sighed with relief and walked over the to now floating bubble. He gently pushed it aside and away from the nearby village. Now with his limp even more pronounced, he walked the dirt path toward the village, hoping more than ever to get some good rest.

End of Scene

XP +50. 50/300 for next level.

I never awarded myself anything for that chase we succeeded, so I’ll do a 10% of the XP we need for the next level, that would be 30 XP.

80/300 XP.

Chaos Factor check d10=6 vs 6. No change

Close thread: Get to Matango Village

Open Thread (next expected scene): Explore the village and surrounding area before the event

Better late than never, I drew this crude rendition of a Yatamon side street. I also discovered isometric drawings are very hard for me! Inspired by some of the art in the Obojima book.