TSoY: The Thing in the Tower

I used to be all about the RPGs, but at some point I lost my knack for them.  I might (maybe) be an OK GM, but I am just awful as a player.  Still, I like RPGs and I own a bunch that I've never played (which I'm sure you guys can relate to), so I decided to try the whole "Solo RPG" thing which for some reason feels really new.  I don't know.

First, the game I'm playing is "The Shadow of Yesterday", or rather "Solar System" using the "World of Near" supplement.  I honestly don't know how best to describe the system, but it seems pretty fascinating to me, and the setting is kind of cool, too.

In a nutshell, it's a fantasy world 100 years after a near miss from an asteroid ripped off a chunk of the planet to create the moon.  The world (especially the formerly great kingdom of Maldor) has a bit of a fantasy post-apocalypse vibe.

The system is basically 3dF (Fudge or Fate dice) plus a skill bonus vs. a target of 0 or in an opposed roll.  Also, each character has "Keys" which are specific things they can do to earn XP, and they  form little character arcs if used correctly.

The main "solo" tool I'm using is the "Mythic Gamemaster Emulator" which has a system to guide and inspire and to mix things up so you don't always know what's going to happen.

My character is Pedro "The Butcher" Vina.  He's a former soldier, driven out of his unit (The Red Company) for crimes he didn't commit.  He now spends his time treasure-hunting in the ruins of old Maldor.  With him is his NPC companion, a Ratkin (a kind of short rat-man) he nicknamed "Chaser", and Chaser's two litter-mates, who are actual rat-rats.

Pedro is a skilled swordsman with Keys that give him XP when he adventures, and when he interacts with the group that cast him out.  He's also got a technique that gives him an edge when fighting with a shield.

Chaser is an accomplished thief (although he doesn't quite understand this whole "ownership" thing) who gets XP when he steals things or when he goes for comedic, cheese-related antics.  He can talk to rats and is almost supernaturally good at hiding from humans.

Enough setup.  Let's start!

I'll try to keep this short, because I can tell that you're bored already.

Scene 1:
(Mythic: Chaos 5 - "The Rats Heal Hope")

It's been a long day of scrounging through the fallen columns and shattered buildings that can be found all over Maldor, and unfortunately, Pedro and Chaser have nothing to show for it.  As a gentle rain begins to fall, Pedro has given up hope, and decides to call it a day.

"That's it, my friend.  It looks like stone soup again tonight.  Maybe we'll have better luck tomorrow."

He wipes the rain from his eyes and looks down to see one of the Rats with a rectangular gold coin in its teeth.

"Hey, you!  Rat!  Come back here!  Where did you find that?!"

(Mythic: Is the path blocked?  Likely.  Yes.)

Pedro runs after the Rat, passing Chaser who falls in behind him.  Eventually, the Rat ducks into the shadows beneath a fallen pillar.

(Mythic: Is there room to squeeze through?  50/50. Yes.)

Pedro thrusts a torch into the darkness that seems to swallow the light.  The opening isn't very wide, but he thinks he can get in.

"Here, hold my pack while I squeeze through," he says as he pulls off his pack.  Seeing Chaser's greedy little claws flexing in excitement, he reconsiders.  "Nevermind.  I'll just push it through first."

Pedro enters a collapsed hallway, following it to its end where the Rat waits near a loose pile of scattered gold coins.

(Mythic: Any other loot here?  Unlikely.  No.)

"Well, that's something, at least!  It looks like you've earned yourself some quality scraps tonight!" Pedro says with a laugh.  "Let's head back to town!"

Scene 2:
(Mythic: Chaos 4 - Standard Scene)

As Pedro and Chaser are gathering their gear to leave, they notice people moving in the ruins.  It's the Red Company.  It sounds like they're looking for somebody!  Pedro gestures for Chaser to follow as he tries to sneak closer and find out what's happening.

(Thievery: Fail!)

They sneak closer, avoiding detection, until they round a corner and stumble upon a guard taking a leak behind a tree, who scrabbles for his sword.

"You!  Betrayer!" the man curses.  "How dare you show yourself here!  You should have stayed dead!"  Without looking away, he shouts, "He's here!  The Butcher is here!"

(Key of the Outcast: 2XP)

Pedro and Chaser flee, with several of the Red Company in pursuit.

(Sports vs Sports: Success!)

Pedro dashes through the ruins, leaping pits and climbing walls until he gets enough of a lead that he can hide as the guards run past him.

(Mythic: Does Chaser keep up? Somewhat Unlikely. Yes.)

The pair hide in the shadows of a collapsed wall and wait out the search.  Eventually, they see Francisco, Pedro's betrayer and now the head of Red Company, leading a prisoner away in chains.

Scene 3
(Mythic: Chaos 5 - Interrupt Scene)

Pedro and Chaser hatch a plan to rescue the prisoner.  They don't know who it is, but whatever Francisco wants can't be good.  They split up, with Pedro planning to create a diversion, when suddenly, with a stroke of thunder, the gentle rain turns into a downpour!  Somewhere nearby, lightning strikes a tree, and there are cries and whinnies of alarm.  It's nearly impossible to see past the tip of Pedro's sword!  Cursing his luck, Pedro tries to find Chaser in the pouring rain.

(Woodcraft: Success!)

Having spent quite some time in the outdoors, Pedro is familiar with navigating in bad weather, and it's not long before he finds Chaser under a ruined overhang.

"Come on, then," Pedro sighs,  "I guess this isn't happening.  Let's go someplace dry and spend my money."

Chaser gives him a particularly squinty look.

"Fine!" he says with an eye roll, "OUR money."

Scene 4
(Mythic: Chaos 4 - Normal Scene)

Pedro and Chaser (and the Rats in Chaser's sack) go to the nearest town to purchase supplies and buy drinks to loosen tongues as they ask around about Francisco and the Red Company.

(Barter: Fail)
(Charm: Fail)

Unfortunately, he runs out of money too soon and has a lot of explaining to do, and nobody is willing to share anything about why the Red Company might be out here.  Also, they drew the wrong kind of attention, and as they're leaving a tavern, a pair of thugs corner them in an alley.

"Yer comin' wit' us!" one of them growls, smacking a club into his palm.  "The boss wants ta see ya.  Don't make no trouble fer yerselfs, ya hear?"

Pedro draws his sword, and Chaser pulls a dagger that certainly doesn't belong to him, as the thugs attack!

(Melee vs Brawl: Success!)
(Chaser Brawl vs Brawl: Fail!)

Pedro handily dispatches his attacker (without killing him), and turns around to find the other thug with the Ratkin's own dagger at the Ratkin's neck.

"Give up, or the vermin gets it!" he threatens.

Pedro glares, and then drops his sword.  He feels a sharp pain at the back of his head, and everything goes black!

Scene 5
(Mythic: Chaos 5 - Altered Scene)

Pedro awakens to water in the face.  He's in a chair, but surprisingly, not tied to it.  Before him sit the boss seven shadowy figures in hoods, with silver moon pendants.  Surely these are deranged moon cultists!

"We've heard of you, Butcher," says one cultist.  "The Red Company is tasked with retrieving a powerful artifact, a weapon, in fact," says another.  "They have captured a scholar who they think can lead them to it," says another still.  "We know of your reputation, Butcher.  You're resourceful and violent," they say, continuing to take turns speaking.  "Steal this artifact from them, or acquire it first, and you will be richly rewarded!"

(Key of the Outcast: 1XP)

"And if I don't, you'll kill my Ratkin friend, right?"

The seven cultists look to one another under their hoods for a moment, before the one in the center speaks.  "What?  No!  Carlos!"

A door opens behind Pedro, and Chaser waddles in happily tearing into a large wheel of cheese.

(Key of Cheese: 1XP for Chaser)

"We're not monsters!" he whispers indignantly, though Pedro still suspects that they might be.

Soon, he and Chaser are riding north toward Khale on a borrowed horse, following the Red Company's trail.

(Key of Adventure: 1XP)

Scene 6
(Mythic: Chaos 4 - Interrupt Scene - "PC Negative Kill Inside")

After riding for most of the day, the pair make camp in a mostly intact ruin.
...
Pedro suddenly awakens to a crazed hermit trying to murder him!  He barely rolls out of the way of the dagger aimed at his face!

(Brawl vs Brawl: Success!)

He elbows the maniac in the neck and pins him to the ground!

"Git outta mah house!" the filthy man yells, into Pedro's face, vile breath making him want to retch.

Pedro head-butts the old man into unconsciousness before packing up to leave.

(Mythic: Anything valuable here?  Unlikely.  Strong Yes.)

Before they leave, they root around the old man's possessions.  It's mostly insane scribbles on old parchment, but there's also what looks like maps of some of the ruins, as well as a dagger made of a flat black metal!

(Resist vs Charm: Fail!)

Chaser wants it, and after a bit of adorable nagging, Pedro gives in and hands it to him.

(Key of The Precious: 1XP for Chaser)

Scene 7
(Mythic: Chaos 3 - Altered Scene)

Pedro and Chaser catch up to Red Company at a ruined strangely pristine tower hidden in the woods.  Several guards stand watch as Francisco, the prisoner, and the rest of the Company head inside.

(Mythic: Is there a back window to climb to?  Somewhat Likely. Yes.)

Pedro and Chaser maneuver around back, and Pedro climbs to the open window.  The stones lack the cracks and other handholds one would expect from an old tower, but the edges of the stones aren't worn with age,either.

(Sport: Success!)
(Mythic: Is it a ruined alchemist's lab? 50/50. Yes.)

Pedro climbs in and looks around.  In the dim light he can see what looks like a wizard's laboratory, although most of the items there are smashed and broken.  Soon, he ties a rope to the leg of a desk and drops it down for Chaser, who scurries up as one does.

(Mythic: Was the lab wrecked by a monster? 50/50. Yes.)

As his eyes adjust, Pedro notices the deep claw marks in the stone and the furniture.  Some sort of beast had lain waste to this room.  Nothing to be done for it now but to be careful.  Pedro cautiously opens the door and steps out into the hall.

(Mythic: Is Francisco approaching? Likely. Yes.)

Pedro and Chaser can hear the sound of voices and armored boots from the stairs below.  They rush to the top, where anything valuable is likely to be stored.  At the top of the stairs is an ornate door.

(Mythic: Is it locked? Likely. Yes.)

"Well, of course!" Pedro says with a curse.  "Chaser, can you...?"

But the Ratkin is already picking away at the lock.

(Thievery: Success!)

Chaser deftly picks the lock with time to spare, and the duo duck into the room.  Inside...

(Mythic: Is it some kind of arcane machine? Unlikely. No.)
(Mythic: Is it a glowing sword?  50/50. No.)
(Mythic: Is it some kind of monster? 50/50. Yes.)
(Mythic: Is it still alive? Unlikely. Yes. Also, random event!)
(Mythic: Random Event - "Move Away from Thread" - "Overindulge Inside")

It's some kind of dragon!  The room looks like it once contained furniture, but bits and scraps are all that remain.  Did the dragon eat it all?  Pedro scans the room, and when he looks back at the beast, it's looking back at him as well!  With a hungry growl, it leaps upon him, eager to sate its ancient hunger!  Chaser and Pedro dive for the door!

(Key of Adventure: 2XP)
(React vs Brawl: Fail!)
(Pedro is eaten...)
(Pedro invokes the Extended Conflict rules [aka "Bring Down the Pain]!)

Chaser jumps through the doorway and onto the stairs, but the dragon barely misses Pedro, instead smashing into the door and slamming it shut!  Pedro staggers to his feet and looks around.  He reaches for his sword, but the dragon's steely hide is clearly more than a match for his simple weapon.

(Mythic: Is there a roof access? Likely. Strong Yes!)

At the back of the room is another set of stone stairs leading to a hatch at the top.  An open hatch!  Pedro makes a rolling dive under the dragon's snapping teeth!

(Opposed Sport for Harm vs Brawl for Harm: Fail! Suffer 4 Harm)

As he comes out of his roll, the dragon sinks its teeth into his leg and throws him across the room into the far wall like a puppy's chew toy!  Pulling himself to his feet, Pedro takes his shield from his back and readies his sword before lunging at the dragon.  He may not be able to kill this thing, but it doesn't know that, and maybe he can at least stun it.

(Opposed Melee for Dice vs Brawl for Harm: Success! 4 Bonus Dice)

With a furious series of sword blows and shield bashes, Pedro drives the beast back, leaving him an opening to run for the stairs to the roof!

(Opposed Sport for Harm vs Brawl for Harm: Fail! 1 Harm)

With a final shield bash, he sprints for the stairs, but his legs fly out from under him as the dragon's tail whips around!  Despite having the wind knocked out of him, Pedro rolls to his feet unsteadily and tries again to fight off the dragon.

(Opposed Melee for Dice vs Brawl for Harm: Fail! 3 Harm)

But he slips in his own blood, losing his balance.  His shield goes wide, and the monster claws at his midsection!

(Opposed Sport for Harm vs Brawl for Harm: Fail! 1 Harm)

He tries to get to his feet once more, but the dragon slams him to the ground with one mighty claw!  Pedro's ears ring, and he can taste coppers on his tongue.

(Opposed Melee for Dice vs. Brawl for Harm: Success! 2 Bonus Dice)

Pedro digs deep, pulling from the reserves of his vigor, and smashes the beast in the nose with his shield before struggling to his feet and stabbing at its eyes, putting it on the defensive.

(Opposed Sport for Harm vs Brawl for Harm: Success! 4 Harm!)
(Mythic: Does the dragon relent?  Unlikely. Yes. Also random event)
(Mythic: Random Event - "PC Negative" - "Attract Success")

Ignoring the fire in his leg and his chest, Pedro clumsily runs for the stairs, mounting them on all fours and diving through the hole, barely able to roll away in time as the snapping jaws of the dragon follow him.  But he's now safely out of reach.  On top of a tower.

Soon, Pedro can hear the sound of the Red Company kicking in the door, chaining and restraining the dragon who's head is currently trapped in the trapdoor.  He can't stay here.  If they catch him.  But what happened to Chaser?  He scans the rooftop...

(Mythic: Is there rope up here I can use to climb down? Very Unlikely. No)

As the dragon is being pulled back into the tower, Pedro makes a decision.  With a prayer to no one in particular, he climbs over the edge of the tower, and starts to descend.

(Sport: Success!)

Leaving bloody hand-prints down the side of the tower, Pedro escapes into the woods.

(Mythic: Does Chaser find him? Unlikely. No.)

(Housework: Success! Heals 1 Harm.)

(Spends 2 Vigor to heal another Harm.)

Injured and alone in the woods, Pedro does his best to bind his wounds, and then falls unconscious while trying to think of what to do next.

End of Session

Well, so much for short...

So, things started off slowly, but got pretty rough at the end.  Pedro is out of Instinct and Vigor, has Harm 3 and 4, has lost his buddy, and is generally in a bad way.  He did earn enough XP to buy an Advance, but I don't know what to use it on.  I could get a new Key, like "Revenge", but that doesn't feel quite right.  I guess I'll just hold onto it for now.

Did you actually read all of this?  I wouldn't have.  But that's me.

TL;DR

This was a solo RPG using Mythic and The Shadow of Yesterday.
An ex-soldier and his rat-man buddy get mugged by some cultists and hired to steal a super-weapon from an ancient tower before his former military unit, now his enemies, can get it.  Unfortunately, the weapon is alive and nearly kills him, and in trying to escape it, he actually made it easier for his enemies to capture it.  Also, he's misplaced his rat-man buddy.  He did "level", but I don't know what to spend it on.

Ĝis la revido!"

Jason "Ludanto" Smith C;E