The Sablewood Toll — session 1
An autonomous play-by-play. Each beat pairs the GM's narration with the exact engine result behind it.
timelineAt Mara's plea, the party sets out to break the Jagged Knife's toll.
director · slow_burn — Let the ambient warmth cool into sudden silence only when a player asks a probing question about the town's secrets.
At the Sated Sow
Morning sunlight spills warmly across the worn oak tables of Mara's inn, though it does little to chase away the heavy-eyed weariness etched into the faces of the locals nursing their chicory. Mara finishes wiping down the bar with practiced, tired motions, having just begged you to break the Jagged Knife gang's stranglehold on the valley's only crossing. The scent of spiced porridge hangs in the air, a final rustic comfort before you must decide how to pry the toll from the bandits' grip.
Bradwen Vale
Mara’s frantic observations translate perfectly into cold mathematics, allowing you to map the bridge's exact structural choke points and the gang's patrol intervals. However, your clinical interrogation forces her to realize the true peril of the situation, her sudden, terrified gasp drawing a very suspicious stare from a scarred patron across the taproom.
Bradwen Vale attempted: I open my journal and ask Mara to detail the structural choke points of the bridge and the gang's typical patrol intervals, treating her civilian observations as raw variables for my tactical equations.
Duality roll: Hope die 2, Fear die 9, modifier +4 -> total 15 (with_fear) vs Difficulty 15.
Result: SUCCESS.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
Lirelle Dawnshell
Your radiant smile meets only the terrified, averted eyes of the tavern regulars, who clamp their jaws tightly shut at the mere mention of the gang. Though they refuse to breathe a single word about the bridge's defenses, the earnestness of your attempt buoys your own spirit against the gloom.
Lirelle Dawnshell attempted: I pull up a stool beside the weary locals, offering a gentle smile and a sympathetic ear to coax out any details they might know about the gang's numbers and the bridge's defenses.
Duality roll: Hope die 3, Fear die 1, modifier +3 -> total 7 (with_hope) vs Difficulty 15.
Result: FAILURE.
Economy: +1 Hope to Lirelle Dawnshell.
Sable Quick
You slide from the shadows with a practiced smoothness, murmuring inquiries into the ear of a hunched patron. Instead of yielding secrets, the weary local recoils with wide, bloodshot eyes, knocking over their tankard and drawing the hostile glares of the tavern's seedier occupants. Your silver tongue finds no purchase here, only a rising paranoia that hangs heavy in the room.
Sable Quick attempted: Appearing seemingly out of nowhere beside one of the weary locals, I lean in close and softly coax them into revealing whatever they know about the gang's numbers and routines at the bridge.
Duality roll: Hope die 3, Fear die 7, modifier +2 -> total 12 (with_fear) vs Difficulty 15.
Result: FAILURE.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
director · slow_burn — Let the toll collector's demands grow increasingly unreasonable and personal until the party either pays a steep price or loses their patience.
The Approach
The Sablewood road winds upward through dead, grasping pines, slick with a cold drizzle that chills you to the bone. Ahead, the old toll bridge spans a roaring gorge, its frayed ropes creaking a steady lament over the wind—a sound that speaks of old gold and stubborn greed. Two lookouts huddle near a smoldering brazier on this side of the crossing, their eyes scanning the treeline for anyone foolish enough to evade the toll.
Sable Quick
The grasping pines gladly swallow Sable's silhouette as she moves, her stealthy efforts yielding a 21 with Hope against the lookouts' difficulty of 15. She glides past their flickering brazier like an unseen phantom to secure her vantage point, the roaring gorge perfectly covering her tracks and earning her 1 Hope.
Sable Quick attempted: I melt into the deeper shadows of the grasping pines, using the roar of the gorge to mask my footsteps as I slip silently past the lookouts' brazier to claim an unseen vantage point.
Duality roll: Hope die 9, Fear die 8, modifier +4 -> total 21 (with_hope) vs Difficulty 15.
Result: SUCCESS.
Economy: +1 Hope to Sable Quick.
Kael Ironwarden
You part the dead pines with the grim efficiency of a veteran, delivering your companions to the very edge of the toll bridge unseen. Yet, as your heavy boot snaps a brittle root, the echoing crack puts the darkened woods on a razor's edge. You have succeeded, but the shadows deepen with Fear.
Kael Ironwarden attempted: I take the vanguard, keeping my shield low and guiding the others through the dead pines, relying on my years of marching to find a quiet path right up to the bridge without alerting the lookouts.
Duality roll: Hope die 5, Fear die 11, modifier +3 -> total 19 (with_fear) vs Difficulty 15.
Result: SUCCESS.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
short restthe party patches up; GM gains 3 Fear.
director · explosive_open_then_ebb — Let the climax feel like a precarious struggle for survival, triggered when a hero is pushed dangerously close to the misty drop.
Jagged Knife LieutenantYou do not set foot on this bridge without bleeding silver for the Jagged Knife.
Kael IronwardenYou'll get no silver from us, but I'm more than happy to let you break your blades against my shield.
Bradwen ValeAnchor the center, Kael, and let me calculate the most efficient vector to dismantle their line.
Kael Ironwarden
Your heavy mace connects with the Lieutenant's ribs for a bone-rattling 3 damage, marking 1 HP off his grim ledger. The blow lands true, yet your brutal momentum leaves your flank exposed on the slippery stone, handing me 1 Fear to tuck away for a rainy moment.
Kael Ironwarden attempted: Heeding Bradwen's words, I plant my boots squarely in the center of the span and bring my heavy mace around in a brutal arc aimed right at the Lieutenant, ready to show him exactly how I pay my tolls.
Duality roll: Hope die 6, Fear die 9, modifier +4 -> total 19 (with_fear) vs Difficulty 13.
Result: SUCCESS.
Damage: 3 (Mace) -> marked 1 HP on Jagged Knife Lieutenant.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
GM
A trio of desperate lackeys scurries forward, a flurry of rusted steel and rat-like ambition meant to overwhelm Kael upon the narrow span. They manage to slip a blade past your guard, Kael, and their chaotic swarm lands a grazing blow that marks 1 HP.
GM move (spend_fear_feature): The lackeys swarm forward in a chaotic mass of flashing blades, attempting to overwhelm Kael as he tries to anchor the center of the narrow bridge. (spent 1 Fear)
Group Attack (3 minions) vs Kael Ironwarden: HIT. Combined damage marks 1 HP.
Kael Ironwarden
You plant your boots against the ancient stone of the bridge, your mace swinging in a brutal arc that crushes into the Lieutenant's breastplate with a triumphant 14. The heavy steel splinters armor to deal 8 damage, tearing 2 Hit Points from the staggering leader. A spark of grim satisfaction surges through you, granting 1 Hope as you hold the center line.
Kael Ironwarden attempted: I plant my boots firmly on the bridge's stone to hold the center, swinging my mace directly at the Lieutenant's chest to make good on my promise.
Duality roll: Hope die 6, Fear die 4, modifier +4 -> total 14 (with_hope) vs Difficulty 13.
Result: SUCCESS.
Damage: 8 (Mace) -> marked 2 HP on Jagged Knife Lieutenant.
Economy: +1 Hope to Kael Ironwarden.
Bradwen Vale
Bradwen, you weave a sliver of Hope into a glowing geometric sigil, hurling it toward the Lieutenant's chest. However, your magic sputters against the swirling mist of the gorge, missing its mark entirely as the bandit sneers. The creeping dread of the Sablewood thickens, granting me a Fear.
Bradwen Vale casts Bolt Beacon: I trace a precise geometric sigil in the air to anchor a Bolt Beacon onto the Lieutenant, exposing his defenses as the optimal focal point for our counter-offensive.
Spellcast roll: Hope die 2, Fear die 3, modifier +4 -> total 9 (with_fear).
Spent 1 Hope to cast.
Misses Jagged Knife Lieutenant.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
GM
Three ragged lackeys scramble over one another along the slick stone span, a tangle of flashing steel surging against the Guardian's defenses. Though Kael swats most aside, a rusted blade slips past his heavy guard, drawing a fresh line of blood that marks exactly one Hit Point. The bridge demands its toll, little by little.
GM move (spend_fear_feature): A swarm of Jagged Knife lackeys surge forward along the narrow bridge, their daggers flashing as they attempt to overwhelm Kael's defenses all at once. (spent 1 Fear)
Group Attack (3 minions) vs Kael Ironwarden: HIT. Combined damage marks 1 HP.
Sable Quick
Sable sacrifices a spark of Hope to hurl a phantom volley, rolling a fifteen with Fear to strike the entire crew for three magic damage each. The barrage instantly slaughters the three lackeys, while the Lieutenant, Bandit, and Shadow each mark one hit point and stumble into a Vulnerable stance. A masterstroke of sudden violence, though the mist eagerly drinks the spilled blood, granting me a Fear to use against you.
Sable Quick casts Rain of Blades: While Kael draws their eyes, I melt into the mist and fling a sudden volley of blades to catch the Lieutenant and his entire crew off guard.
Spellcast roll: Hope die 3, Fear die 10, modifier +2 -> total 15 (with_fear).
Spent 1 Hope to cast.
Hits Jagged Knife Lieutenant for 3 magic damage -> marks 1 HP. Jagged Knife Lieutenant is now Vulnerable.
Hits Jagged Knife Bandit for 3 magic damage -> marks 1 HP. Jagged Knife Bandit is now Vulnerable.
Hits Jagged Knife Shadow for 3 magic damage -> marks 1 HP. Jagged Knife Shadow is now Vulnerable.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 3 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 3 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 3 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
GM
The Lieutenant gives a sharp, shrill whistle that cuts cleanly through the rolling fog of the gorge. Right on cue, three more Jagged Knife lackeys haul themselves over the stone lip of the narrow span, rusted blades drawn and eager for blood. It seems the toll for crossing has just gone up.
GM move (spend_fear_feature): With a shrill whistle, the Lieutenant signals into the mist, calling up three more Jagged Knife Lackeys who scramble onto the narrow bridge from below.
More Where That Came From: summons 3 more jagged_knife_lackey into the fight.
Lirelle Dawnshell
Anchoring your heavy shell beside Kael, your Hallowed Axe crashes down upon the Lieutenant with a 22 against his 13 Difficulty, dealing 5 damage that carves away 1 of his HP. The dice, however, dictate a Success with Fear, as the Fear die's 12 vastly overshadows the Hope die's 2. He staggers from the blow, but his malicious grin widens, granting me 1 Fear as the gorge's mists thicken in anticipation.
Lirelle Dawnshell attempted: I step up solidly beside Kael, planting my heavy turtle-shell frame as an unyielding anchor for our line, and bring my Hallowed Axe down toward the Lieutenant to cut his extortion short.
Duality roll: Hope die 2, Fear die 12, modifier +2 -> total 22 (with_fear) vs Difficulty 13.
Result: SUCCESS.
Damage: 5 (Hallowed Axe) -> marked 1 HP on Jagged Knife Lieutenant.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
GM
Driven by sheer desperation, the remaining lackeys swarm Kael as one, their daggers flashing wildly in the claustrophobic mist. The frantic strikes glance harmlessly off his heavy plate, leaving the guardian immovable and completely unharmed against the tide.
GM move (spend_fear_feature): The lackeys surge forward as one, their daggers flashing in the claustrophobic mist as they swarm Kael in a frantic attempt to break his anchored line! (spent 1 Fear)
Group Attack (3 minions) vs Kael Ironwarden: MISS.
Kael Ironwarden
You plant your boots upon the damp stone, Kael, and deliver a grim lesson in ancient campaigning. Your mace crashes into the Lieutenant's sternum with a sickening crunch, dealing seven damage that marks his final two health points and drops him lifeless to the bridge. Seeing the arrogant toll-collector dispatched so efficiently fills you with a hard-won Hope.
Kael Ironwarden attempted: I plant my boots firmly on the bridge and swing my mace heavily at the Lieutenant's center, showing him exactly what an old campaigner thinks of his toll.
Duality roll: Hope die 4, Fear die 3, modifier +4 -> total 16 (with_hope) vs Difficulty 13.
Result: SUCCESS.
Damage: 7 (Mace) -> marked 2 HP on Jagged Knife Lieutenant — DEFEATED.
Economy: +1 Hope to Kael Ironwarden.
Kael IronwardenMy shield is planted firm, Bradwen, so find your vector and bring them down!
Bradwen Vale
Tracing the creature's erratic path, Bradwen consults the Book of Ava and unleashes a calculated blast, his roll of 15 with Fear striking true. Confronting his dread adds 3 damage to the surge, causing the spell to erupt for 13 magic damage total and erasing the Shadow's final 3 hit points. The phantom is utterly defeated, though the lingering dark magic grants me a Fear to use against you.
Bradwen Vale casts Book of Ava: Tracking the Shadow's erratic movements, I calculate their trajectory and flip open the Book of Ava, unleashing a concentrated blast of arcane energy to erase them from the battlefield.
Spellcast roll: Hope die 4, Fear die 5, modifier +4 (advantage vs Vulnerable) -> total 15 (with_fear).
Face Your Fear: +3 damage.
Hits Jagged Knife Shadow for 13 magic damage -> marks 3 HP — DEFEATED.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
reinforcementsAt 0, Garrick whistles up the camp: spawn three Jagged Knife Lackeys at Far range.
GM
Like starving rats, a swarm of lackeys surges onto the mist-slicked span, crowding Kael in a chaotic flurry of rusted iron. Clumsy blades scrape against his heavy shield, but enough find purchase to draw fresh blood, marking 1 HP from the stalwart Guardian.
GM move (spend_fear_feature): A swarm of lackeys surges onto the narrow span, crowding Kael and unleashing a flurry of desperate stabs against his planted shield. (spent 1 Fear)
Group Attack (6 minions) vs Kael Ironwarden: HIT. Combined damage marks 1 HP.
Sable Quick
Sable steps from the mist, channeling a surge of Hope to unleash a glittering fan of spectral daggers across the stone span. Six of the ragged lackeys are instantly shredded by the onslaught, each taking 9 magic damage and collapsing dead against the blood-stained masonry. As Sable feels a renewed spark of Hope, the lone Bandit emerges from the storm untouched, having desperately thrown himself beneath the lethal rain.
Sable Quick casts Rain of Blades: I step out from the shadows, flicking my wrists to unleash a flurry of spectral daggers that fan out across the bridge, aimed straight at the bandit and his remaining lackeys.
Spellcast roll: Hope die 6, Fear die 1, modifier +2 -> total 9 (with_hope).
Spent 1 Hope to cast.
Misses Jagged Knife Bandit.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 9 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 9 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 9 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 9 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 9 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Hits Jagged Knife Lackey for 9 magic damage -> marks 4 HP — DEFEATED.
Economy: +1 Hope.
Lirelle Dawnshell
With a weary sigh that cuts through the fog, Lirelle steps past Kael's shield and brings her Hallowed Axe down in a radiant, crushing arc. The strike connects with a sickening thud, dealing 9 damage and marking 2 of the final bandit's hit points as he staggers under the blow. The conviction of the strike rekindles your spirit, granting you a point of Hope in the gloom.
Lirelle Dawnshell attempted: With a heavy, rumbling sigh at the needless bloodshed, I step ponderously past Kael's planted shield and bring my Hallowed Axe down upon the last standing bandit so I can tend to my ally's wounds in peace.
Duality roll: Hope die 10, Fear die 5, modifier +4 -> total 23 (with_hope) vs Difficulty 12.
Result: SUCCESS.
Damage: 9 (Hallowed Axe) -> marked 2 HP on Jagged Knife Bandit.
Economy: +1 Hope to Lirelle Dawnshell.
Kael Ironwarden
Kael, you plant your boots and swing your mace in a brutal arc, connecting with a sickening crunch. The blow deals 7 damage, leaving a severe bruise that marks 1 HP off the staggering bandit. However, your sweeping strike leaves you momentarily off-balance as the mists churn beneath the bridge, granting me a Fear to use against you.
Kael Ironwarden attempted: I plant my boots firmly on the stone and swing my mace in a wide, crushing arc at the last standing bandit, drawing on my years of battle to make sure they can't slip past me to threaten the others.
Duality roll: Hope die 7, Fear die 10, modifier +4 -> total 23 (with_fear) vs Difficulty 12.
Result: SUCCESS.
Damage: 7 (Mace) -> marked 1 HP on Jagged Knife Bandit.
Economy: +1 Fear to the GM.
GM
Seeing your companions fallen, the lone surviving bandit seizes the moment and lunges at you, Kael. The rusted blades find a gap in your guard, slipping past your shield to deal 2 damage and strip away 1 Hit Point. You stand alone upon the mist-choked stone, bleeding but unbroken.
GM move (spotlight_adversary): With your allies down, the Jagged Knife Bandit lunges straight for you, Kael, twin daggers flashing in a desperate surge to overwhelm your shield!
Jagged Knife Bandit attacks Kael Ironwarden (Daggers): d20 12 +1 -> 13 vs Evasion 8.
Result: HIT.
Damage 2 -> marks 1 HP on Kael Ironwarden.
Bradwen Vale
Bradwen finds the perfect defensive vector, consulting the Book of Ava to unleash a brilliant arcane blast with a triumphant roll of 22. The magic slams into the final bandit for 7 damage, marking their last hit point and dropping them lifeless onto the fog-slicked stones. The toll bridge falls quiet at last as the skirmish ends, leaving the wizard with a well-earned spark of Hope.
Bradwen Vale casts Book of Ava: With Kael holding the center exactly as calculated, I isolate the final bandit's defensive vector and project a concentrated, arcane blast from the Book of Ava to cleanly close out this skirmish.
Spellcast roll: Hope die 12, Fear die 2, modifier +4 (advantage vs Vulnerable) -> total 22 (with_hope).
Hits Jagged Knife Bandit for 7 magic damage -> marks 1 HP — DEFEATED.
Economy: +1 Hope.
Kael IronwardenYour vectors rang true, Bradwen, and my shield stands unbowed!
Encounter resolved: VICTORY
timelineThe Jagged Knife are driven from the toll bridge; the Sablewood road to Hollowford reopens, and Mara counts the party among the village's friends.