[Let's Play] Rider of the Black Sun

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 9:13 am

Moar doubt

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:04 pm

Having reviewed our character sheet history, the relevant info is currently this:


Strength:	7
Dexterity:	6
Vitality:	Normal

Weapon:	Menokian Short Sword (+3)
Weapon:	Knife (+1)
Special:	Signet Ring
Utensil:	Prayer Book
Cloak:	Fine Gown
Body:	Empire Uniform (+1)
Feet:	Soldier Boots (+1)

Our Figurine of the Ancients, gained through diligent desecration, has not been returned to us.

348 Calderal's words, but also his deeds, cause the faint suspicions in your mind to grow. Even though you may have stood by his side in the past years, this cannot be right! Calderal is a criminal waging war under the cover of the faith of Ugar.

This realization makes a shiver run down your back, for it means that the powerful high priest used you for his own goals by having you kill the holy leader of Kyphi.

> How could I have done that? What horror have I brought upon myself? <

What do you want to do now? And you know, there is only one right decision.

If you want to act as if you're still on Calderal's side, turn to 320.
If you want to confront him, turn to 305.
If you want to kill him when the opportunity arises, turn to 316.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:16 pm

"as leader of the Empire and Emissary of Ugar to lead the battle against oppression"

Half a vote to murder Calderal when the opportunity arises; no gods, no masters.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 4:41 pm

Agreed. Kill him when the opportunity arises.

Thaluikhain · Post by **Thaluikhain** » Fri Jan 08, 2021 10:18 am

I'd recommend acting as if we are on his side.

Also, do we even know for sure he's evil?

Zaranthan · Post by **Zaranthan** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 2:53 am

It's possible he's misguided. It's possible he's being manipulated. He definitely used us as a dagger to assassinate his rival.

I feel like we just don't have enough information to start handing out death sentences. I also don't think we have any leverage over him to win an argument.

Play along for now.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:51 am

I prefer confrontation, but if there's no one to break the tie, then go for the kill.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:41 am

316 For two days you plan your attack on the leader of the Shadows. You pay no regard to what may happen to you. Driven by remorse, you see it as your holy duty to remove this tyrant. Nervously, you've asked for an audience for the coming night.

Finally, the fateful moment is here. The servants have just withdrawn. Lost in thought, Master Calderal is contemplating a work of art and has turned his back to you. You draw a dagger and stab him, feeling relief as the blade strikes home. The furrowed face of the old priest becomes contorted in pain.

Suddenly, however, the frail old man is transformed into the giant shadow of a bull. His hollow bitter voice thunders, loud enough to make the treasures on the shelves totter. "Aonus was right. How foolish I was to believe I could rule you!"

Enraged, the powerful Ugarith hurls you against the wall. You strain to get up but, powerless, you collapse. Calderal mocks you as you lie there. "You fool! You and your kind cannot kill me in this way!" Intoxicated by your screams of plain, the Master of Shadows continues kicking you until your world sinks into eternal darkness.

Your life ends here. •

This is pretty good as dead ends go, because it teases just enough info to intrigue me into wanting to find out more.

Paging back, it's down to confront or play along.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 9:14 am

Playing along it is. Can't imagine a confrontation would end any better than the dead end.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:24 pm

Yeah, pretty sure he'll just pull the same trick if we confront him. So play along and hope that we can find out his weakness later on and then bushwhack him.

pragma · Post by **pragma** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 9:35 pm

Play along

Thaluikhain · Post by **Thaluikhain** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 2:46 am

Act like we are on their side.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:01 am

320 An inner voice tells you that your only chance lies in trying to deceive the Master of Shadows. If you want to comprehend this war, you must first understand Calderal's motives and discover his weaknesses. Alone, you have no chance to stop the Empire. So you decide to grin and bear whatever comes, at least for now.
Turn to 337.

(( 337 In the next night, shortly before your lesson with Tarus is supposed to start, Master Calderal bursts into your room, evidently in a fine mood. "Have you heard? They've already burned the Hierarch!"

The Master of Shadows pauses for a moment, apparently in expectation of an effusive reaction on your part. "Only two days had passed since his death..." he completes his explanation. Still, you do not understand, shrugging in embarrassment. Your 'father' sighs, continuing with unbated enthusiasm.

"Normally the priesthood should have waited exactly eight paths of the sun to prepare the Sefech ritual properly. I suspect that they are intentionally barring him from entering the underworld!" ))

Calderal strides towards you and proudly clasps your shoulders with his claw-like hands. "Oh, I would not have dared to dream of this! As a present on this day of joy i want to give you this, my child." The high priest takes a shining silver stone the size of a walnut from his cloak and hands it to you. "This is a gift from Ugar. A star stone. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

You remember the fantastic stories from your childhood. The holy stones of Ugar fall from the sky on clear starlit nights to bestow divine power on his prophets. Exceedingly rare, they are resolved solely for the priest caste.
If you want to accept the gift, turn to 334.
If you want to reject the star stone, turn to 328.

Those crescent moons again.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:30 am

Take it; I don't think he's going to screw us over if he thinks we're entirely loyal.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:42 am

Accept the gift.

Thaluikhain · Post by **Thaluikhain** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:36 am

Accepting it seems risky, but refusing it seems worse, so accept.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 2:38 pm

334 As soon as you have the star stone in your hands, you sense the divine aura living within it. Calderal watches you excitedly as you put the powerful artefact in your mouth. "Yes, Child of Shadows! Chosen of Ugar, the all-powerful God of Night and Death. It is your task to lead the people by my side and destroy everything and everybody who dares to oppose his divine will."

Instinctively, you swallow the stone. A warm feeling spreads throughout your body.

Write down the ability Power of the Full Moon in line 8 of your adventure sheet. In addition, mark the number 334 there, the number of this section, so that you can look up something if necessary. Whenever you have to roll a die, whether for a test or for combat and the page you randomly turned to is showing the Full Moon, you will automatically be successful with the test, or score a hit and defend yourself.
Turn to 345.

(( 345 Arriving somewhat late at the education chamber, you are greeted by the amused looks on the light-skinned faces of your companions. Your neighbor Mirek especially, a young ambitious Menokian with ginger hair, cannot suppress a broad grin.

Tarus, the respected teacher, comments on your being late with his typical way of turning up his hooked nose at you. This luminary in nearly all fields of knowledge is personally responsible for your education. It is an honor, as you learn from the other recruits during one of the few breaks between lessons. Spurred on by their envy, you are even more determined to prove your skill.

In continuing your education, Tarus first concentrates on refreshing your awareness of the natural strengths and weaknesses of the Ugarith. From his personal collection, he lends you a book entitled The Nature of the Ugarith while urging you to keep silent about it. And, in truth, during the next few nights the heavy tome reveals to you some of its secrets.

Even though the old human strives to keep the lessons varied and exciting, you are already acquainted with much of what he teaches you. You are not aware of when or where you have read the corresponding books, but often you grasp the meaning of sentences even before you finish reading them. You do not need the books to learn with, but rather in order to extract the knowledge already buried in the depths of your mind.Thus, you learn at a rate that leaves your envious companions far behind.

Even at the end of a tiring twelve-hour night of lessons, you take back to your room tomes and piles of parchment to sate your thirst for knowledge.

Which of the four remaining areas of knowledge are you most interested in?
Diplomacy? Turn to 309.
Warfare? Turn to 329.
Spellcraft? Turn to 318.
History? Turn to 332.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:04 pm

History, to see if it fills any gaps in our memory.

pragma · Post by **pragma** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 2:10 am

History is fine. I'm also interested in spellcraft. A vote for each?

Thaluikhain · Post by **Thaluikhain** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 2:20 am

Would be nice to find out what's going on, so history.

Also, always win when there's a full moon thingy? That seems nice, though wonder how often that will come up.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:10 am

There's already a majority winner, so my vote doesn't count for much, but I'd be most interested in warfare first followed by spellcraft. If we're allowed look at a second subject after that, take that as my vote in that order.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 4:28 pm

332 "To know where you come from means to know where you are going." With this profound statement, Tarus taps you proudly on the shoulder. Eagerly, he collects some history books from the shelves and stacks them on your outstretched arms. Among them are some works he has kept under lock and key until now because they do not follow the faith of Ugar. "I trust you not to show them to anybody..."

In only two nights you read through all of the books. Their content appears already familiar to you. Impressed, Tarus remarks, "The speed in which you learn is enormous," when upon the next evening you heave the books onto his table. "You'll probably have time for some more then?"

Write down the ability History Knowledge in line 6 of your adventure sheet. In addition, mark the number 332 there, the number of this section, so that you can look up something if necessary.

In which of the three remaining areas of knowledge are you interested?
Diplomacy? Turn to 309.
Warfare? Turn to 329.
Spellcraft? Turn to 318.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 4:42 pm

Spellcraft, it might teach us magic or something cool like that.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:51 pm

Spellcraft seems the most useful - we seem plenty good at combat anyway, and I don't see us having a chance to diplomacy at anyone.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Tue Jan 12, 2021 1:59 pm

318 It is sobering to learn that only those who have the spark of magic in them can master the art. Only certain races, such as the lizard folk of the Zarlik, as well as some rare individuals are blessed with it. Despite this disappointment, in your free time Tarus teaches you a great deal about magic in general, for example its manifestations, effects, pecularities, and limits. Should you ever meet a being with the magical spark, you'll perhaps be able to react more prudently.

Write down the ability Magical Lore in line 5 of your adventure sheet.[1] In addition, mark the number 318 there, the number of this section, so that you can look up something if necessary.
Turn to 324.

[1] Secret 1 of 4.

324 On the 17th day of your education you are roused from your torpor. Confused commands and screams resound through the hallways. The Tower is on alert – the Alliance fleet is attacking! It comes as no surprise to you. Calderal has been talking of nothing lately but retaliation for Kathum's death. Now it is finally here! Quickly you prepare for combat, pulling on your boots and uniform before you rush down the hallways.

In the hubbub you encounter Aonus commanding a troop of elite Gartaks. "Hey, Child of Shadows," he snaps, grabbing you by the arm. "Let it be. It is broad daylight outside. Not your time!"

Contritely, you consign yourself to supporting the Ugarith guards on the higher floors, but the enemy never manages to advance to the top of the tower. Apart from the severe tremors caused by their siege weapons striking the outer walls from below, you witness nothing.

The Empire wins the naval battle and sinks almost the complete allied fleet. The celebrations of the Gartaks and the mercenaries go on for almost a week, but there are rumors that the Empire's fleet was made to suffer unexpectedly high casualties as well.

If you want to continue your training, turn to 319.
If you want to visit the dungeon, turn to 311.
If you want to go to the morgue to honor the fallen soldiers of the Empire, turn to 303.