Last time, on Heroic Bloodlines:
Jaurice looted Draconis' spellbook and notes, married his companion, the witch Vivius, and decided to raise his family in Dogsvale, which seems to be protected by ancient ruins.
10 years elapsed.
Most rolls are 2d50.
Dogsvale military: 83+10, great success. With Jaurice's training and aid, they secure the surrounding areas and build some defensive outposts. Occasional demons appear behind the front lines, but patrols keep things almost as safe as they were before.
Dogsvale economy: 30+20, fair. With the flood of refugees, it's touch-and-go during the first year. But with the area firmly secured, most of the refugee population is saved, and spreads out to farm the immediately surrounding area.
The economy is stable, and morale is surprisingly good. Trade has been severed, as has most contact with the outside world. Dogsvale's economy is focused on survival and defensive military pursuits, leading to a shortage of finished goods.
Vivius morale: 38, poor. She blames herself for the apocalypse, and Jaurice can't convince her that it isn't her fault. Her mental scars have greatly reduced her effectiveness in a fight, but she can still help train the next generation and try to decipher the texts.
Offspring: 3 are born.
Potentials of {40}{55}{70}. 3d5 Might-magic preference skew of {3}{1}{1}, +1 from Vivius.
Research roll: {80} of [125?]. Significant progress is made on studying the notes. Many of the notes are about demonology, and Draconis' study of it. The encryption and complexity get more difficult as the notes advance, but Vivius has confirmed that at least part of the gateway spell is in the notes.
Demonology is dangerous, and neither of the two want to delve too far into such arts. {67} Vivius does manage to create a low level banishment bolt spell. It tends to outright 'kill' weaker demons and weaken stronger ones for a short time. It can be overcharged to explode or be used on stronger demons.
She has some ideas about making a ward copying the anti-demon effects from the ruins, but needs more time or a close-up study.
Health: Vivius and the firstborn, Jarn had brushes with death. Vivius thinks she has a lingering poisoning from the demonology study, and the firstborn from an explosive magical training accident. The other two were slightly hurt by it. All made a full recovery, but Jarn has learned from the experience to use smaller spells, and now wants to follow in his mother's footsteps by focusing on precision over power.
Vivius can find nothing of use on her sickness in the notes: It didn't affect Draconis, but may have killed a few of his underlings.
10 funds
Medium house in Dogsvale with training yard
5 family members
Treasures:
Draconis' notes
Jaurice, Hero of Legend!*****
Health: Great
Morale: Blessed
Age: Middle-aged
Vivius the Witch****
Health: Bad, demon sickness
Morale: Poor, --combat strength
Age: Middle-aged
Jarn
Class: Finesse fire mage***
Health: Poor
Morale: Blessed
Age: Juvenile
Vads
Class: Strength-focused warrior with protective and healing spells***
Morale: Blessed
Age: Juvenile
Euriel
Class: Shadowdancer rogue****
Morale: Blessed
Age: Juvenile
The heroes Jaurice and Vivius were gladly welcomed into Dogsvale. Jaurice quickly integrated into the military as an auxiliary, training with the troops and often leading the charge into battle. He is instrumental in ensuring that everything goes better than anyone could have expected.
Without a party, he's only lightly scouted the ruins. He can beat one of the golems, but at cost to his weapons, and those are still at a premium in Dogsvale.
Vivius helps with a few major battles, but not well. She spends most of her time studying and child-rearing.
The children, Jarn, Vads, and Euriel, take to training remarkably well. Combining the excited vigor of childhood, with heroic parents and a blessing that lets them focus their goals, Success was inevitable.
Demons seem to be slowly getting stronger over time.
At the end of 10 years, dogsvale's situation is stable, and Jaurice can take time off to go on another adventure, which the kids are clamoring for. They're ready enough. Jaurice knows that if he doesn't give in and give them a taste of adventure, they'll find one on their own sooner or later, and without his protection or guidance.
For his services, he has been granted a squad of 5 soldiers for one adventure.
A) Organize a deeper delve of the ruins (4 funds): It's close, and doesn't seem to like the demons. The family should be able to figure out why, and either use it to help save the world, or have Vivius study it to help with her anti-demon ward. It's expensive to hit golems with swords, however, and it some ways it would be better to wait for the kids to be able to use more magic against them.
B) Explore the world: Dogsvale is remote. Rumors of people needing help only arrive after it's too late for heroics to save them, and the rumors are almost always grim. The family could go out to fight for civilization and find out what's still intact. They might also find a way to strengthen Dogsvale, either by reestablishing trade ties, convincing more refugees to settle there, or finding some skilled craftsmen or mages.
C) Explore Ravenspire's ruins: Look for more clues about the apocalypse, or possibly even weaken the demons. Vivius might be able to learn something with more study here, and more experience with the area will help if heroics are needed here later to seal the demons away. And there will be treasure.
D) Stay home. Adventures are never fully safe, and the kids aren't even 10 yet. Jaurice thinks he can stave off most of their adventurous spirits with small training expeditions into the surroundings and the safer parts of the ruins.
Author
Topic: Heroic Lineage [SG] (Read 3871 times)