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Three players have arrived for a game of \gls{bind}.
Each \gls{pc} is a member of the \gls{guard} in the \gls{templeOfBeasts} -- the organization which takes in the scum, layabouts, robbers, and political-agitators, and pushes them to the \gls{edge}, where they push back the beasts of the forest, so that farmers can produce food for the towns.
This snippet contains a couple of the usual cycles -- `decisions, resolve, march', and repeat.
The players make decisions for their characters and roll dice.
The \gls{gm} or player then interprets the results, depending on the type of roll.
The session always begins with a recap, where any \gls{guard} recaps their last exploits to \pgls{jotter} (who work as administrators for the \gls{guard}).
The \gls{jotter} then gives low-rank \glspl{guard} a mission, which should keep them away from civilization (such as towns), and stop them wandering off on any \glspl{sq}.
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Fenestra is currently experiencing the freezing season of \gls{cTwo}, when the trees shed their leaves, letting sunlight shine on roads which are slowly turning white, with little specks of snow.
Wasn't it raining last time? Are we jumping time again?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
And as usual -- we'll start in \pgls{broch} -- one of the \gls{guard} towers which sit between \glspl{village}.
Mark off any rations or \glspl{ingredient} from last session -- if your character hasn't eaten them then they've gone rotten.
}{
Scheduling becomes much easier when you just run a game with anyone who's there.
So \gls{bind} has a little `restart' between sessions where characters live their lives.
Every sixty days, \gls{fenestra} endures \pgls{storm}, then the weather changes as a new \gls{cycle} begins.
And it marches on regardless of who's at the table -- even if nobody's there, \gls{fenestra} keeps moving.
This helps keep the table open, so Player 3 -- a new player -- can jump right in.
You'll start in \pgls{broch}, as usual.
The \Gls{jotter} wants a report from last week.
Well, Grogfen helped a trader getting to town\ldots
(but I don't want to tell her about entering a town, or the \glsentrylongpl{sp} she paid us).
\item[\gls{gm}:]
So how will you explain how long the mission took?
Remember, she has a record of when Grogfen left the \gls{jotter} who gave her the mission.
I'll still tell her about the strange markings on all the trees.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Sure.
You just need to keep it consistent with what she knows.
Roll \roll{Intelligence}{Deceit} at \glsentrytext{tn} 8.
\dicef{7}
Okay, that's an `8', so\ldots
\item[\gls{gm}:]
That's a tie, I'm afraid.
You got what you wanted (the money), but \gls{jotter} Cartpike thinks you're lying.
The two of you end up in an argument, but she doesn't have any evidence for her accusations.
Whenever the characters try to accomplish something with a little danger, the player rolls:
$$2D6 + \underbrace{Attribute + Skill} ~vs~ \glsentrytext{tn}$$
When players roll above the \gls{tn}, their character succeeds.
When they roll below, the character fails, and the danger occurs.
When they roll a tie, then both occur -- or neither.
Sometimes this depends on what makes sense.
If both make sense then the player can choose to accept the danger and their goal, or neither.
In this case, Grogfen has a -1 Penalty to Intelligence, and +2 Deceit.
So in total, the roll is:
$$2D6 + 1 ~vs~ 8$$
Sometimes a piece of equipment or a social contact can add to the roll, so the total Bonus can become very high.
A \gls{tn} of 14 is not unreasonable in some situations.
$$2D6 + \underbrace{Attribute + Skill + Equipment} ~vs~ \glsentrytext{tn}$$
}
\sideBySide{
Do I get a character?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
You sure do.
Take the Book of Stories and roll $2D6$ on these charts.
Okay, I'm a human\ldots called\ldots `Sootfilch'.
What's with the name?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
People in \gls{fenestra} believe that the gods takes the best in life, so it's bad luck to name their children after good things.
Character creation's fast, so don't worry about \glspl{pc} dying.
Most will begin as members of the \gls{guard} -- the place they put society's unwanted; the useless miscreants, bastards, and political agitators.
The character creation rules are in the \textit{Book of Stories}%
\iftoggle{stories}{, \autopageref{character_rolls}.}{.}
This book focusses on resolution mechanics, details of Traits, and spells.
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Low Dexterity and high Intelligence, so we'll look up what that says.
It says I'm a `Loner'.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
That makes sense.
Family and social ties are vital in \gls{fenestra}, so people can end up in the \gls{guard} just because they don't have anyone arranging a safe position for them.
This equipment looks a bit rubbish.
Can't I get something better?
At least some proper armour?
\end{description}
}{
Starting equipment and beliefs all come wrapped together with the core concept in character creation.
Most players end up making more interesting characters with some random input, but if players really want to decide every facet of their character, they can use the `point-buy' character creation system.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Sure -- you're in a \gls{broch}, so you can ask \gls{jotter} Cartpike.
Roll $2D6$, then add your \roll{Charisma}{Empathy}.
\ldots that's an `11' in total?
Do I pass?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Sure, but how would a loner ask for equipment?
What would they do?
Knock politely, and just explain he's doesn't have the tools he needs to survive.
}{
Some people like to `roll for Charisma', because they want their characters to succeed, rather than make a performance.
Instead of asking for acting talent, I've found it's best to have people roll, then interpret that roll.
This lets players plan for their characters abilities (as usual), and opens the field for failures with justification -- often some of the most interesting results.
Instead of \gls{pc} blunders happening because `it's what my character would do', they happen because of the dice.
This stops other players feeling like someone is ruining the game; they're not, they're just interpreting the result they rolled.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
\Gls{jotter} Cartpike agrees to give you the armour, as long as you head out on the new mission, immediately.
Sootfilch, Grogfen and Mossboke will journey out to two neighbouring \glspl{village} -- that means a `walled village' -- and cut around the perimeter.
We're bush-whacking?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Yes.
If the forest grows too dense, and approaches \pgls{village}, it means predators can get close, and attack the farmers there.
Sinkwall lies ten miles North, and they say that the swamp hag lives nearby.
Soumarch takes fourteen miles march South, but has \pgls{bothy} half way along.
\Gls{jotter} Cartpike gives everyone two days' rations (hardened cheese and mutton pies), and lets you pick your destination.
}{
The \gls{gm} forgot to prepare anything for the session, but that's okay.
He's already determined the season, so he flips to the encounter charts and rolls $3D6$.
The result is: `4 trader caravans, and biting winds, after \pgls{interval}'.
The \gls{gm} notes that down on his sheet, then looks up the mission.
For the mission, he rolls $3D6$ again, and finds the troupe must go to two nearby \glspl{village} and cut away at the perimeter.
Finally, he rolls up both \glspl{village} while two players explain how armour works to Player 3.
\Gls{village} 1 has bear-traps along the perimeter, and rumours about the local swamp-hag occasionally eating people.
It's near a swamp, so he names it `Sinkwall'.
\Gls{village} 2 has poisoned meat-on-sticks around its perimeter, to kill any wandering predators.
It's a march South, so he thinks `South March', then names it `Soumarch'.
%The \gls{gm} should not consider the \gls{village}-event charts and random tables `hard rules' -- they exist to support the \gls{gm} when they need to throw some chaos into the game.
%You can find the random rolls in the \textit{Book of Judgement}%
%\iftoggle{judgement}{, \autoref{encounters}, \autopageref{encounters}}{}.
Can we walk ten miles in an afternoon?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
10 miles in an afternoon is pushing it, especially in the cold.
You can push it, or just travel 5~miles, then go for another 5 in the evening.
Oh yea\ldots the \gls{jotter} will have warm clothes for everyone else, but you humans two will have to take 1~\glsentrylong{ep} from the freezing weather.
Each day has four \glspl{interval} -- morning, afternoon, evening, and night.
Characters can walk 5 miles in \pgls{interval} without exertion, so they usually go 10 miles a day, or 15 with good supplies and no distractions.
If they find a time-sensitive mission, they can always endure the weight of a few \glsentrylongpl{ep} in order to get there faster.
\noindent
\begin{tabularx}{\linewidth}{YYYY}
\hiderowcolors
\showInterval{0} & \showInterval{1} & \showInterval{2} & \showInterval{3} \\
Preparation. & March 5 miles & Marching 5 more. & Sleep at the \gls{village}. \\
\end{tabularx}
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
So everyone heads North to Sinkwall.
By the time you've gone two miles, a caravan of traders approach, hail you, and try to sell you torch pitch and rope for 100~\glspl{cp} each.
Nah we're\ldots actually, that'd be really handy.
I'll take both.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Roll \roll{Wits}{Crafts} to determine the quality of the goods (\tn[9]).
Is an `8' good?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Laiquon \emph{thinks} the rope and pitch are serviceable.
We'll see later\ldots
\end{description}
}{
Purchases can get tricky, as tricksters are everywhere.
A bad roll can leave the buyer holding useless goods, or buying services from a chancer.
Most of the `secondary skills' (like Crafts and Survival) can come in useful for trades.
The \gls{gm} could have broken the `encounter' with traders into a back-and-forth series of `hail, good traveller', but skipping to the decision-points gives the game a faster pace.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Snow's started to fall, thicker than before.
By evening, the road is white, but you can see Sinkwall's high wooden walls ahead, and an archer waves at you from his perch.
Time to rest.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Wait a minute\ldots
just checking for encounters.
Crap\ldots
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Who's in the lead?
Grogfen has the highest Speed, so I think she would be.
Crap\ldots
\end{description}
}{
When two people (or creatures) act against each other, the player rolls at \tn[7], plus their opponent's score.
\vspace{.5em}
\noindent
\begin{tabularx}{\linewidth}{YcY}
\hiderowcolors
Wits~-1 + Vigilance~0 & vs & Dexterity~2 + Stealth~3 \\
\end{tabularx}
$$2D6 + \underbrace{-1 + 0} ~vs~ 7 + \underbrace{2 + 3}$$
$$2D6 + \underbrace{-1} ~vs~ 7 + \underbrace{5}$$
$$2D6 -1 ~vs~ 13$$
The creature's total Bonus is +5, so at \tn[12] Grogfen fails before Player 2 rolls.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
I can't make the roll, so what happens to me?
A bleach-white tentacle grabs you by the neck, another around your left leg, then the great \gls{woodspy} rises.
``\Gls{woodspy}'' -- a great land-octopus, with a load of tentacles, able to camouflage.
It grabs her and starts to slither away, yanking its way through the trees while holding Grogfen tight above its head.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
If you want to, spend \pgls{ap}.
You can roll \roll{Speed}{Athletics} at \tn[11].
Okay, \dicef{7} \ldots sorry, Grogfen\ldots
Everyone starts combat with 3~\glsentryfullpl{ap} plus their Speed Bonus.
Having more \glspl{ap} lets you act before others, and do more.
When someone attacks you, it forces you to spend \glspl{ap} to resist.
This can push your \glspl{ap} below 0, and every step down inflicts a penalty to all actions.
For example, a character on -2~\glspl{ap} would take a -2 penalty to all actions (and could only act in response to something acting against them).
Using \glspl{ap} means you don't need to be too precious about which order people act in -- every character receives the actions they're due by the end of the round.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
Can I make the snow solid around the \gls{woodspy}'s tentacles to stop it getting away?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Yes -- it's still \tn[11], but you can roll your \roll{Charisma}{Earth} to cast.
\dicef{9} Got it!
\item[\gls{gm}:]
What does he say?
Well the snow responds, freezing solid, and holding a couple of tentacles tight.
Player 3 -- one \roll{Wits}{Vigilance} roll, please (\tn[11]).
Characters cast spells with Charisma plus an elemental Skill, as they literally speak to the elements.
Spells work like any other roll, including when making a Resisted roll -- the spellcaster uses their Bonus to resist the opponent, or players roll their \gls{pc}'s Bonus against the \gls{npc}'s.
\vspace{.5em}
\noindent
\begin{tabularx}{\linewidth}{YcY}
\hiderowcolors
Charisma~2 + Earth~1 & vs & Speed~2 + Athletics~2 \\
\end{tabularx}
$$2D6 + \underbrace{2 + 1} ~vs~ 7 + \underbrace{2 + 2}$$
$$2D6 + \underbrace{3} ~vs~ 7 + \underbrace{4}$$
$$2D6+3 ~vs~ 11$$
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
\dicef{9}
\Glsentrylong{tn} what?
This is hopeless\ldots
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Yes, but then again, you and the \gls{woodspy} both spend \pgls{ap} when you struggle.
Okay, I spend every \glspl{ap} I have.
\dicef{3}\dicef{2}
All of them.
\dicef{8}.
}{
Everyone starts combat with 3~\glspl{ap} plus their Speed Bonus.
Having more \glspl{ap} lets you act before others, and do more.
Most combat actions resist an opponent, so most involve both combatants spending \pgls{ap} as the same time.
Characters can even go into the negative, but having -2~\glspl{ap} means a -2 Penalty to all rolls.
\dicef{5}\dicef{1}
Does a `5' pass?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
A bear trap, hidden in the snow, leaps up dealing\ldots\dicef{6} 6 Damage.
You can remove your 5~\glspl{fp}.
And the last Damage?
Does my armour get it?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Not with a bear-trap I'm afraid.
Remove \pgls{hp}.
However, since the \gls{woodspy} couldn't move, you're standing in front of it, with one leg bleeding from the frozen, iron jaws.
\Glsentryfullpl{fp} measure a character's distance from death and (in some sense) their courage.
Once they run out, all further damage makes a real wound -- Sootfilch might carry this damage for the remainder of the session.
However, after \pgls{interval} the troupe will regenerate \glspl{fp}, so the wounds won't leave them near-death for the entire session -- they can persevere while wounded, and rely on their luck.
\Gls{bind} doesn't have much in the way of healing magic, but it has plenty of Fate spells.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Okay -- spend \pgls{ap} to take out your sword.
I'll go for another binding spell, can I make it trapped so Sootfilch can stab it easier?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Sure, and it's at \tn[10] this time.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Snow freezes around its every grounded tentacle, while Grogfen pulls away.
\dicef{6} that's an 8 in total, with the shortsword.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
The shortsword enters, and its snow-white skin splits, blue blood runs down the wound and the skin writhes, turning red, black, then mottled-brown.
The \gls{woodspy} would usually flee at this point, but ice has trapped its lower tentacles, so the troupe will destroy it in a moment.
Once it dies, Laiquon will pull its beak out, to create \pgls{talisman} for a Water spell, then the troupe can sell the rest of the body to the farmers in the \gls{village} for some silver and a couple of favours, such as a nice place to rest.
The \gls{gm} hasn't introduced the real hooks yet -- the \gls{sq} \glspl{segment}.
Last session involved small plot-\glspl{segment} which provided foreshadowing for the swamp-hag's plans.
The next \gls{segment} in the forests will be the reckoning, but if the players decide to stick to their mission, on the roads, the \gls{gm} will have to start a new \gls{sq} to throw at them.
Running multiple \glspl{sq} isn't a problem.
The old plot can wait, and new \glspl{guard} will hear about the important background from the \glspl{jotter}' records.