Troika! in the Hyenacene #2
This is part of a series of solo rpg sessions in which I play Troika! with backgrounds from my gnoll zine, Laughing with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Hyenacene. You can find the first session here.
Scenario
After completing their first hunt, my party of young gnolls have been tasked with the second trial: a patrol of their tribe's territory. The party is: Altan, the Gatherer; Enan, the Sorcerer Hunter; Inle, the Priestess; Kefran, the Hunter; and Leala, the Flesh-stripper.
Day One
Having recently ventured southeast of the village, the patrol group starts out northeast, planning to circulate counter-clockwise. Six miles to the northeast, the party reaches the outlying thorp of Tichaowa. From there the road continues out 12 miles, past a castle ruins. They follow the road as it turns to the southeast and set up camp.
Having spent the day traveling, I'll make foraging checks now to see if any of the party members were able to collect food on the go. I'll use Altan the Gatherer's awareness skill and Leala the Flesh-Stripper's scavenge skill.
Skill tests
Altan: 8 vs. 8 = success → 1d6 → 1 provision.
Leala: 10 vs. 7 = failure.
The party rests at camp. Altan's awareness skill does not advance.
Just before midnight, Kefran the hunter detects a rustling, scraping noise while on watch. It starts quiet, but seems to be sliding closer. He gets up and grips his spear, staring into the night.
Emerging from the darkness is a massive snake, twenty feet in length or more, its body raised up to tower over the young gnoll. The snake lunges at Kefran! He screams as the snake coils its body around him.
Giant Snake stats
Sk 9, St 12, In 1, Ar 1, Dmg Gigantic
Miens: 1 Sluggish 2 Agitated 3 Basking 4 Defensive 5 Hissing 6 Hungry
Special: Anyone successfully hit by a giant snake is wrapped in the snake's coiled body. On the snake's subsequent turns, the constricted prey is damaged automatically. The prey takes their own turn as normal, but they cannot move, access their pack, etc.
Appearing: 1
Nest: 1 adult and 3d6 eggs/tiny giant snakes
The shaft of Kefran's spear is broken against his body by the force of the giant snake. He takes the spear head and tries to stab the snake as with a dagger, but the snake merely squeezes tighter.
Leala and Inle jump to their feet and grab their spear and staff respectively. Kefran struggles again but, with a loud crunching sound, the giant snake crushes him to death.
The young gnolls scream into the night. The four survivors take off running as the giant snake consumes their comrade. I'll have them test their luck to stay together.
Luck tests
Altan: 6 vs. 9 = success!
Enan: 7 vs. 8 = success!
Inle: 7 vs. 9 = success!
Leala: 6 vs. 7 =success!
The young gnolls manage to keep a tight formation. After making a fair distance, Inle the priestess calls out for them to stop. They regroup, breathing heavily. The only gear between them are Leala's spear and Inle's staff.
The young gnolls feel conflicted about their next move. On one hand, they're upset about Kefran's death; the thought of revenge on the giant snake crosses their mind. But on the other hand, a core gnoll teaching is the importance of re-use; Kefran's body has been re-used by the giant snake, as food. It is as it is.
Then again, they also need to collect their gear from the campsite. Enan the sorcerer-hunter leads the party in sneaking back to the campsite. As the lead, Enan makes a Luck test to determine if the giant snake is still around. [5 vs. 7 = success!] It seems the snake has had its fill for the night...
After collecting their equipment, the gnolls decide to hurry back to the thorp, Tichaowa in the dark.
Day Two
The party arrives just after dawn, tired and sore from hustling after having only slept for two hours. The residents give the party shelter for rest.
That afternoon, they depart for their home village, six miles southwest. I'll pick up there next time (if these gnolls decide to set out again!).
Referee's Notes
I have to admit, I appreciate having the Luck test to fall back on in a lot of cases. For example, I'm not sure how I would have handled the "grouping check" after the party ran from the giant snake in other systems. Luck is just general enough to work!
RIP Kefran the Hunter.
