Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The fellowship: Edna Crusher-Harcourt the Ogre/Knight, Vestri the Dwarf, Yuri the Outlander/Apex
Last time, the party realized they took Lady Evelynn’s help to recover Vestri’s stolen dagger, but didn’t do any of the things they promised to do: bring the forgers and the real weapon they claimed to sell back to Lady Evelynn. They returned to the Oolite Mine, where they last saw Tomay and Soday, the forgers.
Vestri and Yuri approach the Oolite Mines and attract the attention of Bogan Oolite, the leader of the Oolite Clan.
Bogan: You again! Why are you here?
Yuri: We made a promise to capture those unscrupulous forgers. We’ll get out of your beard if you just tell us where they went.
Yuri Talk Sense (+Wisdom, appeal to desire) 7-9 owe a favor
Bogan: I’ll tell you, but in return, you must tell anyone who asks that the Oolite Mine is abandoned. And empty! Not full of riches for the taking. I kicked those troublemakers out. They headed west towards Vieport, and good riddance!
Vestri and Yuri head west from the Oolite Mine. Infinite Windows opens a portal in space and Enda steps through.
Edna: You look about the right age. How long have I been gone?
Vestri: About the usual. What happened?
Edna: This Elf woman gave us potions, and we were going back and forth through time. There was a lost Elven civilization, and everything was burned by Dragons. I’m glad you aren’t dead or babies.
Yuri: Are Dragons a typical calamity here?
Vestri: Yes, are they not on your world?
Yuri: No. We don’t have dragons. We have dinosaurs. Like Dragons but with no wings or fire.
Vestri: Your world is strange.
GM note: Vestri doesn’t remember visting the Lazy-I Ranch, which breeds dinosaurs.
Edna: I bought this Elven helmet while I was in the past. It’s very valuable now because everyone who knows how to make such helmets is dead. Is that weird? Did I do a bad thing?
Yuri: Better you have it, or it would be lost.
Edna: The blacksmith I bought it from was alive, but I don’t know how much time he had left.
Vestri asks to examine the helmet.
Vestri Let Me See That: examine an artifact & ask 2 questions
- Who made this and why should i care about them?
- The helmet was made by a Dragon-riding civilization of Elves from a southern continent. the civilization disappeared along with most evidence of its existence, so this helmet is incredibly rare.
- What was this made to do? How can I use it or break it?
- A helmet is designed to protect a head from impacts. The feathers on top make the wearer visible from a distance, so it’s for a leader. The feathers are from a species of bird that went extinct in the catastrophe. The helmet is designed to withstand blows from weapons, but Dwarf-Made weapons or Dragonfire would destroy it.
GM note: The Fellowship entered a blank section of the map, so we designed a new Location, called The Last Village, based on my Horizon Location Generator.
The Fellowship continues west and enters a forest. Sunbeams filter through the branches overhead. Steven (the only housecat in the world) runs ahead to bask in the sunlight and immediately lies down.
- Sunbeam. (Sola’s Embrace, b2p187)
- A warm, sunny patch of ground. It beckons to you to lie down and take a well deserved nap.
- This threat is Secret.
- Honeypot: When a player steps into the sunlight, they feel an overpowering need to rest. Reveal this stat. Any attempt to leave the sunlight requires a roll to Get Away, made with Despair. Staying within the sunlight slowly drains your strength, dealing damage to you over time. This does not hurt, and in fact, feels very warm and relaxing.
- If you are Taken Out within the sunlight, you fall asleep, and will not awaken by yourself. Someone will need to rescue you.
- If the light is blocked somehow, damage this stat.
Vestri: Is he OK? His whiskers are drooping.
Yuri: I must get him out of there immediately.
Edna bends a branch to create a path of shade for Yuri, who reaches in and grabs Steven.
Yuri Overcome (+despair, Honeypot) (+hope, Edna’s assistance) 10+
GM note: The Honeypot stat requires a Get Away roll, but we rolled Overcome instead. Oops.
Yuri hold Steven and scratches him under the chin in just the right spot so that Steven will stay.
Edna: We must watch out for sunbeams!
Hundrin is safe inside Gurtin. The Drill Tank’s roof blocks the sunbeam, and a machine can’t fall asleep. Yuri considers putting Steven in the Drill Tank with Hundrin, but Hundrin doesn’t have a free hand to pet Steven because he must operate the controls. The Fellowship continues west, carefully avoiding Sunbeams. They meet another group heading the other way.
- Lucas he/him human patrol captain
- Sticks spreading out from his shoulders and above his big leaf hat mark him as a leader and give him a fearsome appearance
- Fear Commander (b4p224)
- Terror Command: All nearby Horde threats, including this one, give Despair to anyone trying to attack or hinder them.
- Patrol, various humans.
- Everyone in the village is conscripted because they’re always in survival mode. Each one wears a hat made of one huge leaf, hoping to shield themselves from the deadly sunbeams. Their “weapons” are poles and hooks, usually used to safely pull victims out from the sunbeams from a safe distance. Rarely encountered alone, you almost always find them in Groups or Gangs.
- Horde Trooper (b4p227)
- Following Orders: If the Trooper is in a Group, Gang, or Army, then this stat must be damaged twice.
Lucas: More survivors! Quick, to the village!
Vestri: Yes, you should be careful of these sunbeams.
Lucas: Poor travelers, babbling about obvious things. Come with us
The patrol leads the Fellowship through the forest. Lucas has a staff with a small birdcage on the end which he uses to test patches of sunlight. It’s like a canary in a coal mine, except the canary recovers when Lucas pulls the staff back. Lucas blazes a trail, and everyone follows in single file. Edna’s too big to follow in his footsteps, so she has to dodge Sunbeams on her own.
Edna Overcome 10+
The patrol and the Fellowship arrive at The Last Village. The village is a series of treehouses connected by rope bridges, like the Ewok village from Return Of The Jedi. The buildings and walkways have awnings to keep out the Sunbeams.
Lucas: We found more survivors!
Lucas, the patrol, and most of the Fellowship climb up ladders to the village.
Edna: I’ll stay down here.
Yuri: You can jump up.
Vestri: Don’t! Just stay in the shade.
The Fellowship is greeted by a human woman in her 60s who looks familar.
- Chloe she/her Human
- Judas (b4p262)
- Chloe is Edna’s eldest sister. As the first-born, she was the darling of the family, until Edna’s Ogre-ism manifested at puberty. Now Edna is the family’s favorite, and Chloe never forgave her. She’s 11 years older than Edna, in her 60s.
- Bonds do not make the Judas a companion.
- Personal History: The Judas is not as completely heartless as they seem. When you confront them about your past together, this stat becomes damaged. While this stat is damaged, the Judas cannot harm the person who damaged it.
- Twist The Knife: When the Judas causes harm to a hero, that hero must Forge a Bond with the Judas. When you make a roll against the Judas while you have any Bonds with them, the Judas can erase one of those bonds to fill you with Despair for that roll.
- Vendetta: The Judas wants to make you hurt. They will focus on physically and emotionally harming those who have Bonds with the Judas above all else, even above their mission or their goals.
Edna gains a bond: Chloe knows my secrets.
Chloe: Welcome to the last surviving village!
Yuri: Last of who? Since when? You’ve lost me.
Vestri: You called this the last village. Why?
Chloe: isn’t it obvious? the blight surrounding us has absorbed the other villages.
VestrI: Do you know an Ogre? You remind me of a dear friend of ours who is too large to come up here.
Chloe: Edna? Here?
Chloe runs to the railing and looks down.
Chloe: EDNA!
Enda: Chloe? Uh, great to see you.
Vestri: Are you sisters?
Yuri: Is she your bigger sister?
Chloe takes a swing at Yuri.
Yuri Overcome 6-
Yuri Fool Me Once: re-roll one die 6-
Yuri bobs out of the way, then weaves back into the path of Chloe’s fist. Lucas and the patrol don’t know what’s happening, but are on alert!
Edna: What’s going on up there?
Yuri: Just getting what I deserve.
Chloe: You have to leave!
Lucas: No! We can’t cast them out. That goes against everything the Last Village stands for. Shelter for all survivors!
His sub-ordinates echo the slogan.
Patrol: Shelter for all survivors!
Yuri: What is with this “last village”?
Chloe: Oh, they’re confused, like the previous survivors.
Vestri: Chloe, were these previous survivors Soday and Tomay?
Chloe: Yes. It seems you know everyone.
Yuri: It’s a small world, what with it all being destroyed.
Chloe: Edna, selfish and foolish as usual. Who’s taking care of the family while you’re out wandering the world?
Yuri: Doesn’t that disprove the last village thing?
Chloe Vendetta: She will focus on physically and emotionally harming those who have Bonds with her above all else, even above her mission or her goals.
GM note: This scene really got away from me. Edna showing up is the most important thing that could happen to Chloe. Hearing about other town is the most important thing that could happen to the residents of the Last Village. This calls for swift, extreme responses, but I was trying to play Chloe, Edna, Lucas, the patrol AND Otto all at the same time, as well as write down everything that happened. Since I didn’t reposnd quickly, my players filled the time by riffing, so I had to write that down and think of how everyone else would react to the new quips. A few solutions to use going forward:
- My players are co-GMs. Balance the load by letting them take over some NPCs.
- TTRPGs aren’t real time. Tell my players to wait, because the NPC would do this instantly, but I need a moment to think.
- Record the session so I don’t have to furiously write the whole time.
VestrI: To be fair, it was very difficult to get here.
Yuri: That doesn’t mean it’s the only city. People in Siberia don’t think they are the only people in the world. They’re surrounded by ice, not trees. They’re ice-olated.
A bystander has told Otto about the new arrivals. Now Otto arrives to meet them. He takes the Fellowship, Chloe, and Lucas down to the ground so he can talk without the villagers overhearing.
- Otto he/him Human
- Otto was young when the predator trees took over the forest, so he’s been fighting the ftrees as long as he can remember.
- He’s completely covered in wooden armor decorated with green leaves. He has a big helmet and shoulder pieces like an MMO character, all made of leaves and branches.
- Agenda: Priest – keep the faith
- Tough Guy (b4p268)
- Built Strong: When the Tough Guy is damaged, they deal damage back.
- Invincible: This stat needs to be damaged three times to Take Out the Tough Guy.
- Simple-Minded: The Tough Guy loves one thing and one thing only, and they are easily distracted or persuaded by that one thing.
- Threat to the World: Anyone taking direct action against a Threat to the World must Pay a Price first.
Otto: Hold fast while I deal with these strange, confused people.
Vestri: Their leader is a wood spirit!
Yuri: That’s a person in a suit.
Otto: Look here, I won’t have you demoralizing my people with strange tales. We’re in a tough situation and we need everyone at their best.
Yuri: What if we could fix your situation without anyone dying?
Otto isn’t running a scam He really does believe that the whole world has been overrun with predator trees, and here Yuri is making light of the situation.
When a Boss is angered, increase the Response Level
Last Village increases Response Level to 3
Last Village gains Sheriff: an Innocent, Organization, or Horde threat will try to arrest one of the players when they are out in public.
Otto: Seize him!
An eager but hapless member of the patrol steps forward to grab Yuri.
- The Fool: he/him human
- This minion can’t do anything right.
- Comic Relief: When a Commander would be damaged or defeated, instead destroy this minion in a hilariously over-the-top way.
Edna Overcome 7-9 temporary solution
Edna You Have My Shield: When you Overcome with 7+, redirect the harm
Edna reaches down and slap the Fool, who stumbles back and grabs Lucas to keep from falling.
Edna: I am shocked by your lack of hospitality. “Shelter for all survivors”? You’ve not welcoming at all.
Last Village Show Some Respect: when players cause collateral damage, increase Response Level
Last Village increases Response Level to 4
Last village gains Wild Animal: a Beast or Scourge threat will try to eat the next player who goes out into the open.
Otto Show of Force: damage Edna
Otto charges with surprising speed and knocks Edna leg out from under her. She falls backwards into a Sunbeam.
Edna damages Sense
Vestri: You always need to be right. You can’t live and let live.
Yuri: I need to say facts! Of course I’m concerned with what is true.
Vestri: Hold on. My friends have caused offense. We’ll leave, and take Tomay and Soday with us.
Vestri Talk Sense (+Wis, appeal to desire) 7-9 owe a favor
Otto: Acceptable, but you must recant your dangerous words to the people before you go.
Yuri: Vestri, get Edna out of that Sunbeam and I’ll recant everything.
Vestri: I didn’t promise that you’ll recant.
Edna’s big enough that she’s not entirely in the Sunbeam. Vestri grabs her arm and swings her out.
Vestri Uncontrollable Strength: You are strong enough to uproot trees, smash doors off their hinges, break through wooden walls or supports, and
lift just about anything. You have trouble acting with finesse, and destroy things
by accident all the time. You are Dangerous, and any uncontrolled action you take can cause collateral damage or destroy the world around you.
As Edna swings around, her foot hits The Fool and sends him flying into the canopy, never to be seen again.
Yuri: Do you require medical attention?
Edna: Oddly, yes. That felt good at the time, but now I feel bad.
Vestri addresses the villagers:
Vestri: Good people, we must journey out into the Blight. Best of luck to you and I’m sure you’ll survive despite the Blight that has surrounded you, and continue to aid any survivors you find in the forest.
Villagers: Shelter for all survivors!
Vestri: Shelter for all survivors!
The Fellowship leaves with Tomay and Soday. The forgers were headed west, so they go that way.
GM note: We forgot about the Maze stat, so the Fellowship didn’t get lost
Yuri: Edna, you should make a portal to that village so they can trade with the outside.
Edna: I didn’t get a chance to ask them about their needs. Also, Chloe won’t be happy about me returning.
Vestri: She was not very nice.
Yuri: She was very aggro and escalated the situation unnecessarily.
Edna: She ‘s been upset with me since we were young, but I have a thick skin.
Yuri: Do you want closure?
Edna: Nah. Sticks and stones won’t break my bones, as they say. But if you treated you like that, I’d throw her!
Yuri: If you want to take action, we’ll help.
Edna forms a Bond: Yuri fostered my instrospection and self-discovery
THE LAST VILLAGE MESSAGE BOARD:
Edna: A trade route would do this village a world of good. Show Chloe the respect due the Crusher-Harcourt name.
Vestri: Beware Sunbeams: do not allow anyone to sleep in them. Leader is Otto: stick man. They believe nothing survives outside the blight.
Yuri: A cloister that believes they are the last of civilization. I implore you to help them break through their rigid thinking with facts.