Level 1 Skeleton: Session 5- The Lost Assassin and The Great King!

Fear-monger the Lost Assassin

After a short rest at Midland, Rufus sets out with renewed vigor and purpose. The final leg of his journey is at hand and his goal of defeating the Great king and saving the world is nearer than its ever been! With his final challenge ahead, Rufus makes his way to The Forest of Endless night!

The Forest of Endless Night: Challenge 1

Challenge 1: As soon as he enters the forest, a large creature with a chest embedded in it guards the way!!
DC: 14 HP: 60

Upon reaching the outskirts of the forest, Rufus finds himself face to face with a tree-shaped creature! Only this creature also appears to have a treasure chest embedded in its chest. "Time to start in on it I suppose! And with a juicy bonus of loot to start!"

Rufus takes a careful approach. Hoping to get the goods and not face the creature, he sneaks up and attempts to pick open the chest without so much as the creature taking notice!
Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Thievery(D4)
Result -> 18; Success Challenge HP 42/60

The treasure chest is popped upon, but even with his careful sneaky attempt, the tree creature has noticed him! Rufus thinks quickly to strike at the creatures weak point since he's so close already!
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Fighting(D8x2)+Sword of Many Cuts(D8)
Result -> 29; Success Challenge HP 13/60

The creature reels back as Rufus strikes home with a massive blow! With the monster on the back foot, Rufus goes in for the kill!
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Fighting(D8x2)+Sword of Many Cuts(D8)
Result -> 18; Success The chest creature is defeated!

End of Challenge 1: Rufus gains +2 Marrow(5) and finds 3 Items!
Item roll 1 -> 12; A Sack of Coins
Item roll 2 -> 92; Crude Fireworks
Item roll 3 -> 79; A Bolt of Cloth

With the creature defeated and his backpack just a little more full of some useful (and some not useful) items, Rufus ventures deeper into the dark, overbearing forest of endless night!

The Forest of Endless Night: Challenge 2

Challenge 2: A clearing in the forest with four separate paths that all lead back to the same place!
DC: 8 HP: 80

Rufus continues on, finding himself facing a strange looking clearing with multiple paths leading out from the center. "Best keep to the left and find my way! Always remember, stick to the left cause its the best! Or at least that's what I always used to do. Must be true!" He jovially heads down the left path.

He finds himself at a clearing, very similar to the one he just left. He sticks to the left. Rinse and repeat. "Oh my... I do believe I've been here several times already. Must be some sort of magical clearing. I'll climb a tree and see if I can discern the way out of this maze!"
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Parkour(D8x2)+Belt of Might(D8)
Result -> 14; Success Challenge HP 66/80

Rufus scampers up a tree and thinks he can make out the way through this strange magical maze. Its obvious that he must go right instead of left! And so he does... Charging off with his gem of light in hand, daringly towards the right!
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Gem of Light(D6)
Result -> 16; Success Challenge HP 50/80

As he continues, Rufus realizes that this certainly is a magical maze. Not wanting to veer to far off the true path, which he found to be right instead of left for some reason, Rufus decides to study the area carefully for any kind of illusion that might lead him astray
Dice Pool -> D20+Clever(D6x2)+Research(D4)+Gem of Light(D6)
Result -> 8; Success Challenge HP 42/80

"Ah just as I suspected. There's magic afoot. Illusion magic. The most devious kind of magic! I best stick to my guts, cant trust my eyes in here!" He thinks, motioning to his rib cage very much lacking any sort of guts, and then his eye sockets also very much lacking any sort of eyes... But without thinking about it too much Rufus presses on! Knowing that the forest is an illusion, Rufus begins marking the path with a line of sand in the direction he's gone, so he knows when he's come back to the same clearing
Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Bag of Sand(D6)+Gem of Light(D6)
Result -> 15; Success Challenge HP 27/80

Rufus makes great headway, but again feels he should check his progress. He again scampers up a tree to see if he's actually heading anywhere at all!
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Parkour(D8x2)+Belt of Might(D8)
Result -> 16; Success Challenge HP 11/80

"Ah yes! I'm nearly there. Time to get a move on, I'm sure I've wasted far too much time in this damned maze. Best be on quickly now!" Without a second thought, Rufus begins leaping from tree to tree, ignoring the path and leaping towards the exit of the strange magical maze
Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Bag of Sand(D6)+Gem of Light(D6)
Result -> 31; Success Rufus defeats the Magical tree maze

End of Challenge 2: Rufus gains +2 Marrow(7) and finds an Item!
Item roll -> 7; A Dagger

The Forest of Endless Night: Challenge 3

Challenge 3: A massive 8 foot tall bone witch is waiting for Rufus at the exit and is looking to resupply her collection of bones! AND RUFUS IS ALL BONES!
DC: 12 HP: 60

As he exits the strange forest, he finds himself in another clearing, though this one is much larger than the repeating clearing he came to in the maze. "Must be clear of that maze now. This place is new!" But as he looks around he spots a very tall lady covered in strange bone ornamentation greedily looking upon him and all his bones. "And I certainly don't like the look of that lady over there!" Rufus tries to sneak off before the bone witch approaches him.
Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Thievery(D4)
Result -> 9; Failure Challenge HP 51/60 Bones 6/7

As he tries to slunk off into the forest, the witch rushes forward intent on claiming her bone prize! Rufus draws his sword and attempts to defend himself and his bones!
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Fighting(D8x2)+Sword of Many Cuts(D8)
Result -> 24; Success Challenge HP 27/60

Rufus slashes out bravely, not letting the witch strike fear into his heart. "Ah, ma'am, I'm sorry but I've got places to go and Great Kings to slay. I simply can't be handing out a bone to every giant witch who wants a piece of me!" With that Rufus bravely tries to dart into the forest again and flee!
Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Parkour(D8)+Belt of Might(D8)
Result -> 19; Success Challenge HP 8/60

Rufus is able to make some headway in escaping the witch. "Alright I think I've lost her. Now to really set her off on a different direction!" He pulls out one of his crude fireworks and sets it on the ground. Lighting the fuse, he rushes away hoping the explosion and lights will draw the witch away from his own route!
Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Alchemy(D4)+Fireworks(D6)
Result -> 19; Success Rufus has escaped the Bone Witch's clutches

End of Challenge 3: Rufus gains +2 Marrow(9) and finds an Item!
Item roll -> 91; A Quarterstaff

The Forest of Endless Night: Challenge 3

Challenge 4: A deadly assassin strikes from the shadows of the forest!
DC: 16 HP: 40

As Rufus presses forward he is aware just in the nick of time of a presence watching him as he moves through the trees. "Alright now, present yourself! I know I'm being watched, you can't hide from me!" As he speaks, a dark-cloaked assassin steps out from behind a tree. "You fool! You'll only see your death coming! I was going to surprise you..." Rufus laughs at the assassins threats. "Here, here listen to my proposition... Whatever they're paying you I'll double it!" He pulls out his sacks of coin and holds them out in front of him.
Dice Pool -> D20+Clever(D4)+Talking(D6)+Sack of Coins(D6)
Result -> 26; Success Challenge HP 14/40

As Rufus holds out the coins, the assassin falters! Rufus doesn't quite know what to do, as usually this tactic only delays the inevitable fight. "Listen here friend. You point me in the right direction to your boss and I'll part with some of these coins here. My quarrel is not with you. You may leave in peace if you do me this kindness." He pulls out his gem of light to better illuminate the conversation and the glow of the coins.
Dice Pool -> D20+Clever(D4x2)+Talking(d6)+Gem of Light(D6)
Result -> 18; Success The assassin accepts his offer, taking the money and running!

End of Challenge 4: Rufus gains +2 Marrow(11) and finds an Item!
Item roll -> 19; A Whip

Rufus thanks the assassin for his discretion and then goes off, finally in the right direction towards the final arena where he will find the Lost Assassin!

Fear-Monger the Lost Assassin

DC: 12 HP: 60
Overlord Power Punisher of Hope -> When rolling higher than the overlords DC on the Fate die (D20) Rufus will take an injury and lose a bone!

GM Note: I'll be including the result of the D20 roll in the results section so that you can see when Rufus will take a hit from the Overlord's Power!

Rufus arrives to find the overlord slouched over, looking around as if confused about where he is. "HAHA My dear enemy, seems like your little assassin wasn't quite made of the right stuff! I bought him off and here we are. You're the last one in my way. And you can't even afford good underlings!" Rufus laughs and derides the overlords ability to control his lessers.
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring
Result -> 15 (Fate Die: 9); Success Challenge HP 45/60

The lost assassin just waves off Rufus, stumbling around the clearing as if to look for a way out. "Look here buddy, I don't care what you do, I just am trying to leave the forest. I'm sure the Great King will kill you... I don't want any part of this..." The overlord says as he waves off Rufus. Rufus shrugs and in response makes an offer. "Oh, well if that's just it, I'll lead you out of here and throw in some coin for you to just disappear. I don't need to kill you if you aren't looking for a fight." Rufus is unsure of this tact actually playing out twice, though he always likes to offer the chance for these overlords to make themselves scarce.
Dice Pool -> D20+Clever(D4x2)+Talking(D6)+Coins(D6)+Gem of Light(D6)
Result -> 19 (Fate Die: 11); Success Challenge HP 26/60

The Overlord seems amenable to the offer. But Rufus is dealing with an assassin! He studies the strange man for a moment, looking for signs of deception.
Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Research(D4)
Result -> 25 (Fate Die: 20!); Success Challenge HP 1/60 Bones 5/7

Rufus realizes quickly, but a bit too late, that the assassin is ever slowly inching closer and closer to him. But he sees through the ploy just in time. The assassin lunges towards him with a Dagger thrusting at his ribs! Rufus is able to evade the full brunt of the blow, but still a chip is whacked out of his bone. "Alright then, I suppose we'll be fighting after all!" Rufus draws his sword and swings back at the assassin after evading the deadly blow!
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Fighting(D8x2)+Sword of Many Cuts(D8)
Result -> 15 (Fate Die: 8); Success The Lost assassin is defeated!

End of Overlord Rewards: Rufus gains +4 Marrow(15) and finds an Item and an Artifact!
Item roll -> 12; Sack of Coins
Artifact roll -> 10 ; Cloak of Obscurity (D6)! When this artifact is included in a dice pool, double the result of the Subtle roll!

Rufus strikes down the overlord. In a flash a strange letter appears above Rufus' head. It gently floats down, landing in his bony skeletal fingers. It reads:
My dear Bony friend, It appears that my underlings weren't enough to stop you. Please I insist I shall kill you myself after all. When you are ready to meet your end, simply utter my name while holding this letter. It will bring you to me. I'll be waiting...

Signed
The Great King Shard-Hammer the Weapon Lord!

"Uh, huh... Well looks like this is it. The great king is ready for his own beating! A quick trip to Midland, and finally I'll be able to defeat the Great King and save the world!!" Rufus quickly jaunts back to town.

While in town he does the following things:

1. Sells Loot: Rufus sells the following Items: Sack of Coins x2, Bolt of Cloth, Dagger; +1 Marrow(16)
2. Level up: Rufus will level up three times! He spends 4 marrow(12) to increase his Thievery from D4 to D6. He spends 4 marrow(8) to increase his Subtlety from D4 to D6. He spends 6 marrow(2) to increase his Careful from D6 to D8! Rufus is now Level 11!!
3. Rest: Reset his bones to 7/7

Finally the time has come! He pulls out the letter and utters the Great King's name. As he does so he is teleported to a massive arena. He comes face to face with the great evil of the world. The evil that he must defeat to save that same world!! The Great King Shard-Hammer the Weapon Lord! Its time for a fight!

Shard-Hammer the Weapon Lord

DC: 17 HP: 150
Overlord Power 1 Chaos Magician -> When rolling a check, randomly determine the Approach and Skill included in the Dice pool! (I'll be posting the dice pool first then explaining what Rufus does due to this random selection!)
Overlord Power 2 Weaver of Fate -> When rolling a check, the Fate die (D20) must always be included in determining the result!

Dice Pool -> D20+Subtle(D6x2)+Talking(D6)+Coins(D6)+Obscuring Cloak(D6)
As he is whooshed into the arena, Rufus makes sure his obscuring cloak is pulled about him. He quickly hides before the Great King can see where he's gone. "Look, I don't like it but I'll offer you the same chance you're lackeys had. Take this coin and be gone from this place. Leave behind the people of this world to flourish and thrive!" The great king bellows a great hearty laugh at the suggestion
Result -> 24; Success Challenge HP 126/150

The great king flippantly turns down his offer. Rufus steels himself, more determined than ever!
Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Alchemy(D4)+Fireworks(D6)+Gem of light(D6)
Rufus quickly responds to the Weapon Lord with a dazzling display, hoping to instill fear in his enemy before engaging in the fight!
Result -> 17; Success Challenge HP 109/150

The sudden flashes and excitement has the Weapon Lord off balance and unsure for just a moment!
Dice Pool -> D20+Subtle(D6x2)+Thievery(D6)+Pocket Sand(D6)+Cloak of Obscurity(D6)
With the Great King reeling back from the display, Rufus attempts to gain even further advantage. He darts forward, hoping to land a bit of his trusty pocket sand in the eyes of his sworn enemy!!
Result -> 16; Failure Challenge HP 93 Bones 6/7

The Weapon Lord spots Rufus and brings a hammer around, smacking into the bony skeletal warrior. Rufus is buffeted away by the blow!
Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Fighting(D8x2)+Breastplate(D6)+Sword of Many Cuts(D8)
With the fight in full swing, Rufus quickly draws his sword and prepares for a defensive advance. He tucks himself away into his protective breastplate and launches to the offensive!
Result -> 27; Success Challenge HP 67/150

Dice Pool -> D20+Careful(D6)+Talking(D6)+Mirror(D6)
Landing a massive blow, Rufus swells with pride! But suddenly it feels as if the conversation is not quite done. Rufus finds himself attempting again to negotiate. Holding out his hand mirror, shining it at the Great King. "Is this who you really want to be!? A Tyrant!? Look at yourself. Face yourself and tell me that this is the way you want it!"
Result -> 20; Success Challenge HP 46/150

Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Parkour(D8)+Belt of Might(D8)
The Great King reels back away from the reflection of himself in the mirror! Rufus attempts to leap around him and cut off his route of escape as he flees from his own reflection!
Result -> 13; Failure Challenge HP 33/150 Bones 5/7

Dice Pool -> D20+Clever(D6)+Fighting(D8x2)+Sword of Many Cuts(D8)
Rufus is unable to get around the Great King to cut him off. Thinking quickly, he drops his mirror and pulls out his sword again. He slashes at the heels of the fleeing figure, hoping to slow down his retreat!
Result -> 28; Success Challenge HP 5/150

Dice Pool -> D20+Daring(D8)+Fighting(D8x2)+Sword of Many Cuts(D8)
As the Great King stumbles in front of him, Rufus raises his sword high above his head. "You weren't even all that great after all! Just a sniveling bully who wanted those beneath you to fear you. Well no longer!!!!" Rufus swings down with a heavy attack, driving his sword towards the great kings neck!
Result -> 11; Failure Challenge HP 0/150 Bones 4/7

The Great King is Defeated!!!

As Rufus swings, his sword connects. But his hip bone pops apart at the furious nature of the strike! As the Great King falls, so too does Rufus! "Well... This is embarrassing. I'll have to make sure the bards leave this part out of my epic story!!!"

Rufus collects himself from the ground. Looking over the fallen great king, he laughs. "I'VE DONE IT! I'VE SAVED THE WORLD!!!!!"

And there is much rejoicing.

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Rufus the level 1 skeleton has saved the world!!!