Kal-Arath Solo Actual Play Ep 6

Last episode, Dumai encounters a trader while hunting the white bison and obtains a horse and shield for himself.   He comes across another giant snake in the grasslands and now has its meat in his pack for rations.  We didn’t assign an XP for his encounters last time, so we will do it first thing in this episode!

XP +1 = 3.  That takes us to level 3!  I’m going to take the option to add 1 point to any stat, and that will be AGI.  It’s now at 3.

 

Also at the end of the last episode, the White Bison of Corruption had spotted Dumai cresting the rise, it let out a mighty bellow, and the herd began to stampede! 

Oracle is the stampede coming toward Dumai? 6  Yes, and.  I think that means the White Bison is leading the charge.   How many buffalo are in this herd?  I’ll roll a 1d4 X d100= 42.  Ok, well that is less than I expected, but still sizable. 

Let’s grab some stats for the White Bison, that’s what we are here for.  There’s nothing in the bestiary to really cover this beast, so we’ll look elsewhere for some stats to modify into Kal-Arathesque stats.

6d6 HP= 16 

Attack 3d6 Charge

Morale= 11 with herd/8 alone

Special: Herd tactics – when attacking while in a herd, player rolls dodge with disadvantage.

Dumai is awed by the sight of the mighty White Bison of Corruption.  It runs with surprising grace considering it’s massive size.  The herd of bison around it creates a thunderous roar as they all charge toward Dumai.  Dumai is no fool, and turns his horse immediately away from the herd.  He turns in his saddle and sends a first arrow toward his life’s goal, the white bison.

Duami attacks WB 2d6+4 (3 AGI and 1 for Bow proficiency)= 11 vs 8 Hit. Damage d6+1=5.  HP=11

Oracle does the herd catch up with Dumai? 4 Yes, but.  Sounds like the White Bison pulls ahead of the herd and is going to be attacking without the assistance of the herd.

Dumai Dodge 2d6+3(3 AGI)=6 vs 8 Fail.  Use Fate Point. Reroll- 2d6+3=9 vs 8 Pass

Dumai watches as his arrow flies into the shoulder of the mighty beast.  It bellows in pain and redoubles its efforts to catch the pesky hunter.  It runs along side the heaving sides of Dumai’s horse and attempts to shoulder charge the hunter.   Dumai expertly handles the reins of the horse and deftly moves his mount away from the bison’s attack. 

Oracle does the rest of the herd catch up? 4 Yes,but.  The herd catches up with the White Bison, but their bulk blocks it from being able to charge this turn.  

Dumai attacks WB 2d6+4=7 vs 8 miss.

Dumai draws the fletching of the next arrow to his cheek and fires another arrow at the great beast.  One of the bison of the herd moves up and the arrow thuds into its side instead of the leader of the herd.   Dumai quickly pushes the Thun spore into his nose, inhaling the vital ingredients to restore his good luck (restore fate point). 

Oracle can the WB make an attack? 3 No, but.  Dumai can attack but it will be at disadvantage because of the herd surrounding the WB. 

Dumai attacks WB 2d6+4/d=9,10  Hit! Damage d6+1=6 (exploding dice)+1+6=13!  HP -2.  While we normally wouldn’t roll a wound for an enemy, this is the boss fight and it has so far gone a little too easily.  2d6=6 Broken, Slashed , or Pierced.  -1 HP Permanently.  Takes d6=3 days to heal unless magically healed. Wow, it goes down (under a 7 on the table indicates it cannot continue the fight)!

The White Bison is weaving in and out among the rest of the herd and  it is a difficult shot for Dumai, but he trusts his instincts and sends another arrow at the beast.   With a sheer amount of luck and skill the arrow pierces the eye of the bison and it rears its mighty head in pain, a massive bellow resounding as it stumbles to the ground. 

The rest of the herd must make a morale save to continue the fight.  Target 8

Morale 2d6=7 vs 8 Success.  The herd rallies around the white bison and several bison charge Dumai.

Bison herd dodge 2d6+3=4 vs 8 Fail.  Use Fate Point again. Reroll = 9 Pass

Several of the bison in the herd crowd around their wounded leader, and another contingent peels away after Dumai.  They attempt to corral and trample him, but Dumai successfully evades all of their attempts.   

Dumai attacks the wounded WB with disadvantage due to the surrounding bison.

2d6+4/d=13,13  Hit! Damage d6+1=3.  Wound Roll at -2.  2d6-2=8  Unconscious

Dumai circles the herd, attempting to avoid their charges while still trying to finish his foe.  He sees an opening in the bison herd and shoots at the white bison once again.  The arrow pierces the braying beast in the neck and it falls silent.  Dumai can still see it’s massive sides heaving with breath, so it still lives.  Left alone, it could still recover.  He must finish this!

Bison herd attack 2d6+3=9 vs 8 Pass.

Dumai attack 2d6+4/d=7,6 (critical fail)

Dumai moves his horse back and forth weaving between the clumsy charges of the bison herd as it tries to hem him into their trap.  He pulls another arrow back to cheek, and his bowstring snaps under the pressure!  He curses and slips the bow under the girth strap of his saddle.   He decides to make a last ditch effort to kill his prey, else he’ll have to retreat to restring his bow.   His horse neighs in fear as he moves it closer to the gathered herd around the White Bison, the rest of the herd following close behind him.  When he gets near enough, he hurls his hatchet with all of his might at the beast’s skull!

This is a long shot, but I had to give it a chance!

Dumai attack with thrown hatchet 2d6+3/d=6,9 Miss

The hatchet tumbles through the air directly for the unconscious bison, but at the last moment, one of his herd steps in front of the projectile and it sinks into it’s flesh.  Dumai curse and attempts to gallop away from the herd to repair his bow.

Bison Herd attack 2d6+3=6 Fail.  The white bison attacked with 3d6, so we’ll make the regular herd attack at 2d6.  2d6=11+exploding 4=15  Dang!  Roll on wound table 2d6=2!  NOOOOOOO Instant Death.

Dumai is distracted by his failed attack and did not see one of the bison move into an intercept path with his retreat.   The beast lowers it’s head and hits Dumai and his mount head on.  Dumai flies from the saddle of the horse, and it crumples under the weight of the trampling beast.  Dumai hits the ground with a sickening cracking of bone as several of his ribs are broken.  Before he can regain his senses, the remainder of the heard thunder over his broken body, trampling him to death.  

And thus Dumai suffered the same fate as his parents in the grand hunt for the White Bison of Corruption.   Several days later, hunters claim to have seen the White Bison limping along with the herd, one of it’s eyes now missing…

Wow, I thought we had that fight won for sure with how quickly we brought it down initially, but ultimately we could not finish such a mighty beast with such ease.  I really enjoyed my journey with Dumai, and perhaps in the future we’ll attempt another journey through the grasslands of Kal-Arath!  Thanks for reading!