Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The fellowship: Dryden of Conwall the Collector/Hunter, Averiela the Elf/Elven Elite, Lucia the Brave the Heir/Halfling Sheriff, Edna Crusher-Harcourt the Ogre/Knight
Last time, the Fellowship traveled through time to solve the final magical riddle.
Dryden opens Infinite Windows and Edna steps through. She has big news! The Hidden Library is going to be attacked by Vampires! Since Edna’s ancestor fought for the invaders last time, she feels honor-bound to defend the library this time.
Averiela appears beside the Fellowship as they walk back to the palace. Edna asks what remains to be done for the Conclave of the Elves. Averiela explains that the Fellowship can deliver the Dragon egg now, but it will take some time for the representatives from all the Elven lands to arrive. The Fellowship does have time in between to return to the library.
Edna asks if she may speak at the Conclave. Averiela thinks that’s not wise, since the Elves revere Dragons and Edna killed a Dragon. Edna gives her a summary of what she wants to tell the Elves, about being cautious with dangerous things and not making assumptions. Averiela is unimpressed.
Lucia declares that the Fellowship will go the Elven Lands (adjacent to the Forgotten Lands) in the morning. Dryden thinks he knows the way. He explored the forest many times in his youth, and never got lost except in a one place. He always ended up back in a certain clearing. Averiela confirms that he was close.
In the morning, Dryden leads the Fellowship to the clearing, Averiela tells everyone to hold hands. Edna offers a giant finger, as if she was holding a baby’s hand. Lucia holds White Sands’ mane as the unicorn leads the way. They walk through cool mist on soft grass until they reach a bubbling stream. White Sands leads them to some stepping stones. Averiela warns them not to get their feet wet, Edna’s too big to be guided through by White Sands, so Averiela tells her to take big steps. The river is wider than it looks. She should definitely not jump across.
Edna Overcome 6-
Edna tries to walk from stone to stone, but some Elven magic distorts the space, and she steps in the watera and is teleported away! She finds herself back in the clearing. Averiela tells White Sands to lead the others on and runs back to collect Edna. Edna was going to wait outside, but Averiela insists thats she try again. Averiela and Edna are going to run back through the forest, but Edna warns that she’l break branches as she passes. The Elves don’t seem to like their forest disturbed. Averiela leads her on a more circuitous route. Finally, they are back at the distorted stream.
Edna Overcome 7-9 pay a price
Edna spends 1 use of Armor
GM note: “Let it ride” is a
Edna removes her armor to be more nimble and walks through the protective barrier around the Elven lands. The river stretches and the stepping stones move, but she adjusts and steps onto the other side. The far sie of the river is sandy, with alder wood trees growing right out of the sand. The Fellowship left footprints in the sand for them to follow. Knows-Too-Much also stayed behind. He’s very happy to be back in the Elven Lands and runs around Enda and Averiela as they walk. After about half an hour, they reach a shore and the rest of the Fellowship. The water seems distorted, like looking through a prism. Ships with the flag of the Forgotten Lands are visible in the distance, but it’s impossible to tell how far they really are.
Averiela walks out onto the surface of the ocean. Edna protests. Her metal skeleton makes her sink in water. Drydenexperimentally slides his foot out on the water and it holds him. It’s magic. Everyone walks out on to the water, and walks and walks. They walk into mist that hides the sun. They walk.
A voice challenges them, and a tall Elf man with grey eyes, a long nose, and long silver hair emerges from the mist.
Averiela: Pandador, I bring great news. We have found a Dragon Egg. I brought companions to testify at the Conclave.
Edna: I thought I wasn’t to testify.
Averiela: You won’t testify.
The Fellowship is escorted into the Elven lands, but with strict rules. No visitors have entered Elven lands in centuries. Only drink what is offered. Only eat what is shared. Edna confirms that she can eat her own food that she brought without permission. Can Dryden pick a flower? No. A blade of grass? No.
Edna: This is like my first semester in finishing school! That was also awkward because I was seven years older and much taller than everyone else.
Lucia: Why were you so much older?
Edna: Ogre puberty takes a long time. I wasn’t done growing until I was 24.
The Elves invite the Fellowship to a feast.
Dryden: More cake please, Averiela.
Averiela bond “I serve Dryden as long as he is in my territory”
Averiela stomps off to give Dryden a treat. The next morning, the Fellowship presents the Dragon egg to the Elves. When the moon is high, the stars align, and the planets are hidden, we shal have the conclave.
GM note: That means January 2024.
Now the Fellowship must leave the Elven lands and set off to protect the library. Edna asks if breaking the rules just a little will teleport her out of the Elven lands, givng her a quick exit. She’s not even allowed to do that. Before they go, each member of the Fellowship receives a bag containing a food and a gift. Averiela gets one of a matched pair of bracelets that let her communicate over long distances. Any mark on one bracelet will appear on the other. Lucia receives the Symbol of Royalty once carried by her great-grandmother, the last Queen of the Forgetten Lands to visit the Elves. Dryden gets a vial of magic shape-changing water. Edna gets a bolt of embroidered cloth. Now that Dryden has an item from the Elven lands, he can use Infinite Windows to return. As they exit the Elven lands, he also finds a Unicorn’s tail hair.
Dryden: These are useful for mending bones when you don’t want your Mom to know.
GM note: This whole trip to the Elven lands gave most characters nothing to do, just the GM narrating other characters doing cool things. Instead of being mature and talking it out, Dryden’s and Edna’s players snarked in-character. Don’t do that! Always solve out-of-character problems out-of-character!
Long Journey: each player sets up a situation. Markus wants to go adventuring
Once back in the Forgotten Lands, the Fellowship makes final preparation to fly the Luna Penumbra back to the continent. Edna heads to the marketplace to buy a Forgotten Lands pendant, but Lucia just gives her one. Edna spends the money instead on a tapestry in the local style. Lucia checks with her brother Markus. Does he want to go on this adventure, or stay as regent? Markus wants to defend the Hidden Library and pleads with Lucia to let him have this one adventure. Lucia agrees. She will stay in the Forgotten Lands, and Markus will join the Fellowship.
GM note: I think players are very attached to their characters, but Lucia’s player let a random roll decide to switch characters! We rushed through the rest of the session without building Markus’ character. We’ll do that before the next session. Hopefully Markus doesn’t have to roll a lot! We have to shuffle roles on the ship around a bit.
With great fanfare, the Luna Penumbra lifts off from Liminal Bay and flies north towards the Hidden Library. When they approach the continent, the Fellowship plans to avoid Vieport, since they betrayed the Sea Viper and stole his ship.
Long Journey: each player sets up a situation. The Luna Penumbra encounters something in the clouds
As Luna Penumbra sails along, something huge emerges from the clouds! It’s a turtle, it’s shell hundreds of feet across. On its back, a castle made of ice. It would be a wonder to view if it wasn’t on a collision course!
Will (Pilot) Get Away 10+ avoid harm, avoid notice
Will swerves, tilts the Puna Penumbra, and dives under the turtle’s shell. Surely no one on the castle could see them down here.
Oloris (Navigator) Sensors ask 2 questions
- What is the turtle doing? What will it do next?
- The Turlte seems good natured. It’s transporting the castle. It’s heading indicates it’s heading for the Sapphire Islands
- What is hidden or out of place?
- As it flies through the clouds, the turtle collects condensation. But some of the water runninig along the underside of the shell isn’t mere water. It’s Shadow Rain!
- Shadow Rain: A sneaky and deadly slime that strikes from darkness.
- Ambush Tactics: When attacking someone who does not know where the shadow rain is attacking from, it is Piercing and Necrotic.
- Mostly Invisible: Shadow rain is Secret, and remains Secret until this stat is damaged. In addition, nobody can see the shadow rain’s attacks coming while it is Secret. This stat becomes damaged if anyone Looks Closely in an area with shadow rain hiding in it.
Shadow Rain damages Mostly Invisible
Dryden: Are we just going to leave? We have to protect the castle!
Markus: We can circle around!
Averiela (Captain): Bring the ship about! Let’s give Markus something to do.
NO END OF SESSION MOVE