BESM 5e Solo, Part 2 - Scarlet Hero, Urban Adventure, Part 1 - Introduction

Right, so… I’d like to start this series of post by posting a butchered quote by Allan Quatermain: “I must apologize for shortcomings both in style and contents which weighs very heavily upon me”. Writing reports about the games I played is not an easy task. Especially now, when I post a report about the solo run. Most of the solo games I saw were run using videocameras, I however don't actually hav a good one on me right now and during the playthrough. Furthermore, even if I have a habbit talking to myself, that doesn't mean I feel confident talking to myself using different voices. So this game I decided to "depict" as emersive as immersive as possible. Thus, the big chunk of this and the posts that follow will be written from the point view of the character.

Well then... in the previous post, we’ve established a character, and outline of the World. The only thing lacking is any connection between the two. How can we integrate the character and the setting. Honestly, I had no idea, that’s why I rolled on Adventure Tags that can be found in Scarlet Heroes, sixty adventure ideas are divided between three labels: Urban Adventure, Wilderness Adventure and Dungeon Adventure. I decided to rile one die (d6) to see from which table should I roll.

1-2 Urban

3-4 Wilderness

5-6 Dungeon.

And I rolled “2”. Which is actually good. Because, Urban adventures is the most strong part of the Scarlet Heroes ruleset. So I roll d20 on the Adventure chart
And I got “18” – "Feuding families"
Hmm…

Any story has a beginning. This one in particular started with a roar of engines and a yell. Though the yell came up first.

“HAROOOOOOOOLD!”

That was the only sound which I wished I hadn’t have to hear.

The worst thing however, was not someone, actually, was screaming my name at the top of his lungs…  Yes, I’m Harold, nice to meet you all, how are you all doing today?
But I actually knew the one who was doing all the yelling.

Ladies and gentlemen and, also readers, allow me to introduce you to my brother, - Ardet Kleid.
And the only face I didn’t wish to see that day.

“Yeh?” I could have just kept my trap shut, but instead, I indulged  him. He is my brother, after all. Well, somewhat…

“We’ve got problem.”

“We?”

“Fine, I’ve got problem!”

“You don’t say” In all honesty, I can’t actually remember a single day when Ardet was not neck-deep in troubles. And nine of ten times it was because of the women.

“Who was she this time?”

“That’s… not really important.”

The barkeep grunted and I chuckled. You see? With an attitude of such it’s no wonder that everyone wants his head, again women specifically.

Nevertheless, he continued.

“What really matters is her brother…”

I waited him to continue. Ardet, however, kept a dramatic pause. Damn his dramatics.       

“All right. I’ll bite. Who is her brother?”

While I was preparing for the adventure I've prepared a d66 table of random threats, whitch I called "BANG". I used it to find out who was Ardet running from.

I got "snake eyes" - a roll of 11   

The roar of engines was the answer to my question. Though, I didn’t think much of it at the time. In fact, I didn’t look in my brother’s eyes during the conversation. All my being, honestly, was interested in the stake that was oh so very close but out of reach in the hands of barkeep.

“Oh, not this again…” The voice of a barkeep sounded both annoyed and desperate with her looking outside the window.

“Someone you don’t want to see?”

“Something I wish I didn’t have to see anymore” She turned her head acknowledging my presence. It took her afew seconds to register that she was still holding my order.

“Oh, sorry…” Finally a plate with a steaming meat was right under my nose.

“Enjoy”

I was way ahead of her. I dig in as a hungry wolf.

“Mfankf!” I ate almost nothing yesterday for a whole day, so forgive me my lack of manners. That’s precisely what barkeep did. If anything, she looked amused watching me butchering the meat. Even if she was far away in her thoughts. The same went to other patrons. They all looked at the door expecting the worst to come.

And the worst announced its arrival kicking down the door. There were four of them walking into the bar, tough looking, sporting black leather. And louder that a pack of hunting dogs that got the scent of the fox. 

Speaking of the fox... I looked both sides, lazily. No trace of him, of course. He may be an idiot but not stupid enough to stand there and wait his certain death.

I gave Harold a chance to find where Ardet was Hiding.

[Roll Ardet - Stealth: d20 + 3 = 4 vs. Harold’s Passive Perception of 14]

I bet, he was hiding behind the barkeeps counter. Could have thought of something better, honestly…

The roll of 11 on the "BANG" chart ment that a group of astral bikers walks into the bar.

Then I roll for amount of people that entered the bar. I rolled 2d4 and got 4 (2+2)

The next thing I do is ask the Orcale if that's all of them.

[Is that all of them (Unknown)? Oracle answer: d20 = 3 – No!]

The next logical thing is to find out how many of them out there on the street, I roll 1d4 and get "4". Of course.

The next thing to determine is the attitude of the gang or rather their leader using the chart of Initial Attitude of Non-player character. Whom I detemined to be "Unfriendly".

Roll of 2d6 gives me the result of "3" - Anger/Scorn. But of course.

“Where is he?!” Roared the gang leader.

“Wferf fho?” Too late I understood that I’ve should have kept my mouth shut. Now I have their full and utmost attention.

Here I decided that Harold must roll his Sanity Save: d20 + 1. The result was "8". He couldn't keep his mouth shut. 

I also concluded that this was a good oportunity to give the biker gang leader some personality. 

[Roll on NPC Table d20: 9 = Human Tribes]

[Roll on Tribal Table d20: 17 = En'ma]

[Roll on Age Table d4: 2 = Young and Vigorous]

I also rolled if he was willing to answer Harold's question. And he may be angry towards Ardet but he sees Harold for the first time, so to the Gang Leader Harold is a "Stranger"

[Roll on Initial Attitude Table of Strangers: 2d6 = 10 = Full Agreement]

The leader nailed me to my stool with his gaze… A young man, somewhere around my age. I couldn’t help but notice the markings on the face. A pair of simple lines on cheekbones, customary to Enma. I’ll be honest it was strange to see one of his kind choosing metal and oil over the tree, bone and water.

“A red haired pul’he. The asshole sports a ponytail, wears green. Has a nasty scar on the neck”

I waited about ten seconds swallowing a very big bite before answering as honestly as I could.

[Roll Harold – Deception: d20 + 0: 17 vs Astral Biker’s Insight 10]

“Can’t say I did, sorry.” I turned to the barkeep.

“What about you? Have you seen him?”

The only one eye of hers that was not covered by her braids looked at me judgmentally.

“No. No, I haven’t.” She was good she was even able to control her tail the only thing that could give her away.

“Are you sure you saw him?” The gang leader turned to one of his crownies.

“He should have. I mean, there are not many places where he could hide”

Still something not convinced he scanned the tavern like a bloodhound. It was the time to distract him somewhat.

“So, what this guy did anyway?”

[Roll Harold Persuasion with Advantage: d20 = 8 and 10 vs Astral Biker’s Insight 10] Since the barkeep and the tavern patrons decided to play along with Harold and his bluff, I decided to give character an advantage on this roll. 

And the next roll is very important because it determines what kind of city adventure (investigation) Harold will have go through.

 [Roll Urban Adventure Hook: d8 = 7 = The Target faces a Calamity due to a crime committed by an Untouchable Antagonist]

Next thing I roll is a kind of crime which Ardet is accused of, using d6. And I got "3" - A theft.

And to determine what kind of theft we are talking about, I roll d8, which gives me the result of "8" - "A theft of secret"

Now, what kind of secret can the sister of gang leader have...

Hmmm...

“IT stole my sister’s name”

It took almost me the whole minute for this accusation to sink in. In a complete almost graveyard-like silence.

“Oh…”

“Exactly. The bastards like him should not breath”

“I. Agree.”

I decided to give biker a chance to find Ardet. Surprisingly, his roll was even worse than Ardets.

[Roll Astral Biker Perception d20+0 = 3 vs Ardet Stealth: 4]

The gang leader cast a final glance at the tavern before signaling his flunkies to move out. But not before addressing me again.

“You, Greyhaired! Should you stumble upon this filth…”

I nod knowingly.

“You’ll be the first one to know. Heck, I might even kill him myself. To save you the trouble.”

“No, he’s mine.” The way he said it made it clear that he was serious about being the first to deal with him. “But I appreciate the gesture. Didn’t catch your name, though”

“It’s Harold”

One quick roll on the table of En'mas names and I ended up with result of "8" 

“Shan.” And with that he left the tavern.

Soon we heard a roar of engines soon to fade. The barkeep and the patrons were only happy to breath out. I couldn’t allow myself such luxury.

In one swift moment I jumped from my chair, bend over the counter and grabbed Ardet’s collar of the jacket.

“We. Need. To talk…”

And this is where I end this lengthy introduction and also this post.