I.5: Blood Gathering

Thaliost
Eyre 22, 997 YK

Investigate(Vaalyun): 2D6(4 6) +2 = 12 Success!
Useful information

Vaalyun stood in the shadows at the edge of the street as Anaya turned to brief the soldiers. He looked around nervously, acutely aware how visible the soldiers were, and how little they were liked by the inhabitants of these streets. He was anxious about his agent Ievos, who had worked for him for several years, presumed captured by the Blood worshippers that the party was here to track down. He was troubled too by rebels that they had encountered on the way here: no mere rioters, the rebels had set up and executed an ambush against a well-armed patrol. It seemed that there was now an organised rebel movement in the city.

We never actually described Anaya. Anaya is the character I started with—imported her as an idea from another campaign—so I have some backstory for her that I don’t have occasion to bring in yet. But let’s get up to speed on the basics, and reiterate some things that we already know in the fiction.

The templar, Anaya, had easily acquired two companies of soldiers at the Garrison. Vaalyun was surprised to see Thrane’s army defer so readily to an outsider, and one with so little experience: as an elf he was no great judge of human age, but Anaya could only be in her late twenties—though he supposed that was not so young by human standards. It was rare to see the authorities in the city be accommodating or flexible to anyone. But the Templars were an organization with strong ties to Thrane.

There was no doubt that she stood out amongst the soldiers. She wore chainmail, but she was too slender to be a soldier, and while the soldiers carried maces, she carried only a shortsword and, as was traditional for clerics of the Flame, a bow. Unlike the soldiers she wore no helmet, her brown hair worn up, and her appearance would be unremarkable, he thought, without the Templar tabard. But she had a certain presence, an air of authority, as she gave instructions to the company; the commander of the patrol, Lieutenant Athanas, was surely a veteran of the Last War, but he too deferred to her. Vaalyun even found his own nerves soothed a little by her quiet sense of control.

For various reasons I had to heavily rework and reorder the fiction in this part, to give the story a more natural order. Actually the main reason was that I started writing from Esthana’s point of view, then decided it worked better from Vaalyun. I kept all the rolls and their results.

Spout Lore(Vaalyun): 2D6(5 6) +2 = 13 Success!
Useful information

Information about the location we are about to raid.

Followers, Do Their Thing(Vaalyun): 2D6(2 4) +1 = 7 Partial success.
Unforeseen consequence

GM move(soft): Give an opportunity that fits a class’ abilities: We already had the follower be captured, so let’s just add a consequence (or perhaps cause) of his being captured: a lookout.

Vaalyun moved away and peered around the corner, into the street with the building that they were heading for. Everbright lamps lit the other side of the street, and he could see the building that Ievos had mentioned in his report: a stone building with a an old and crumbling colonnade along the front. Ievos had said that it might be an old bank or warehouse. But the colonnade stirred a memory in Vaalyun, from a book that he read once about the Blood, and he realised that it was an old temple of the Blood of Vol.

There was also someone sitting on the wall outside. A lookout, Vaalyun thought; if the cultists spotted Ievos, they were probably wary of trouble.

He returned to the soldiers and Anaya; she had finished her briefing, and was about to lead them forwards.

“Lady Anaya. The building, I believe, is an old temple of the Blood of Vol—from before this city was conquered by Thrane, if I am not mistaken. There are likely crypts under the temple, and it is probably there that we will find the cultists.”

Anaya’s expression became concerned. “The Blood will have no hesitation in using necromancy, and the crypt provides them with the tools for it. If they choose to fight, we may get stern resistance. Why has the Archbishop never had these old temples cleared and secured?”

“The living population of the city gives the Archbishop plenty of trouble. I doubt he has time to worry about the dead. Besides, the Blood have you at a disadvantage; they do not scruple to interfere with the dead, whereas the Flame would rather leave them undisturbed.

“There is also a lookout,” he added. “Give me a minute and I will try to silence him; otherwise they will be alerted as you approach.”

“I would rather avoid killing,” Anaya said, “unless it cannot be avoided.”

“I understand, Templar.” He turned to Esthana, who was had fallen in beside Anaya. She had had a rough time in the fight with the rebels, and her tabard was still scorched and bloodstained. “If you would be ready at the corner to back me up if I am spotted, I would feel safer.”

Defy Danger(DEX)(Vaalyun): 2D6(3 3) +1 = 7 Partial success.
Worse outcome

GM move(soft): Give an opportunity that fits a class’ abilities: He can get close, but to cross the street, he would move into the light and be seen.

They walked ahead of the company. Esthana stopped at the corner, while Vaalyun turned into the street towards the temple. The lookout was looking at two townspeople walking away from him; he was hardly likely to notice Vaalyun, with his hood up, moving in the shadows on this side of the street. Vaalyun glanced back, and saw Esthana, with an arrow nocked, ready at the corner.

The other side was well lit though, and Vaalyun needed a way to get behind the watcher. When nearly opposite the watcher, Vaalyun reached out a hand towards the lantern opposite him. He drew on the power of his birthmark, calling on the power of shadow to extinguish the light from the lamp.

Dragonmark(Vaalyun): 2D6(1 1) +1 = 3 Failure!
GM move(hard): Monster move(Watcher)Raise the alarm

Fictional positioning works in DungeonWorld : Esthana said she was nocking an arrow, so she gets a shot as well.

Volley(Anaya): 2D6(2 2) +2 = 6 Failure!
GM move(soft): Location move(Use a threat from an existing faction or type of creature)

I’ll interpret this move broadly, because what I want to do is give consequences for failing these rolls. If the party keeps messing this up and the alarm is raised ahead of them, the important cultists can now escape before the party gets to them: through a back exit. Let your moves snowball

Vaalyun’s nerves betrayed him: the light flickered, as shadows played around it, attracting the lookout’s attention. He saw Vaalyun, and immediately dropped down from the wall and began running up and into the colonnade along the front of the building. Vaalyun broke into a run, pursuing. An arrow shot past, richocheting off of one of the stone columns, missing the fleeing cultist.

Defy Danger(DEX)(Vaalyun): 2D6(1 2) +1 = 4 Failure!
GM move(soft): Tell them the requirements or consequences and ask: Vaalyun can follow, but it will separate him from the party & soldiers.

Vaalyun is a lousy adventurer. At least he’s earning XP? Maybe not for long after this move.

The lookout was too quick for Vaalyun, darting into the alley down the side of the building. Vaalyun rounded the corner, only ten paces behind, and saw the lookout descend a few steps to a door that appeared to lead under the building. As he ran up, the door opened and the lookout pushed through, shouting “Close the door!” Caught up in the moment, Vaalyun jumped down the steps and rolled through the door into the stone room beyond, the iron-bound door slamming shut behind him.

Esthana is running up behind him. Can she make it in time before they bar the door and trap Vaalyun?

Defy Danger(DEX)(Esthana): 2D6(5 1) +2 = 8 Partial success.
Tough choice, Offer an opportunity, with or without cost: She can drop her bow and get there in time; or, Vaalyun has to buy her time.

She declines; the party pins its hope on Vaalyun making a roll. What could possibly go wrong?

Vaalyun stood up from his roll and spun around, taking in the small stone room in a moment. The lookout he could see clearly now by the lamplight, a roughly-dressed man; by the door were two women, clearly guards and fortunately surprised by his entrance.

“Close it!” said the lookout.

Volley(Vaalyun): 2D6(4 5) +1 = 10 Success!

Keith Baker refers to Indiana Jones sometimes when talking about the feel of an Eberron game, and I am trying for that style when I can. Dungeon World’s alternating ups and downs fit that well, I think.

The woman on the left reached over to the bar that would seal the door shut; the other, standing by the door and barring Vaalyun’s escape, drew a shortsword from under her cloak. In one smooth motion, Vaalyun drew his dagger and threw it, past the guard who had drawn her sword, into the woodern doorframe, where it stuck with a solid thunk—blocking the bar from lowering into place.

“Khyber’s breath!” cursed the first guard, letting go of the bar and grabbing the dagger to remove it. The lookout turned and ran down a passage that led out of the room. Vaalyun’s gaze shifted to the other guard: she had a sword pointed at him, he had no weapon.

We gave the party the option to have Vaalyun buy time and he did, by succeeding and stopping them from barring the door. So they get the benefit: Esthana arrives now.

Esthana is running at this door full tilt. Fictional positioning matters & Be a fan of the characters: we established that this is a heavy, iron-bound wooden door, with a guard standing right behind it...

Suddenly the heavy door was slammed open, hitting the guard in the back and sending her sprawling on the ground, as Esthana jumped down the steps and barged into the room.

Aid(Vaalyun): 2D6(1 3) +0 = 4 Failure!
Location move(Introduce a new faction or type of creature): Ghouls

Vaalyun was going to try to help against this guard. The monsters are off-screen—in one of the crypts here. I’ll figure out exactly where later. Maybe it’s a trap of some sort.

Hack and Slash(Esthana): 2D6(6 2) +2 = 10 Success!
7 damage

Enough for both guards. Once again on a success the character gets to choose how it goes down, so she’ll choose not to kill anyone.

The other guard, having taken Vaalyun’s dagger, threw it down and drew her sword, cursing again. Esthana drew faster though, flicking her sword to the guard’s neck. The guard froze, then reluctantly let her sword fall to the ground.

“Good timing,” said Vaalyun. He turned to the other guard, but she was unconcious. They could hear shouting now from the passage leading deeper into the temple, and the heavy footfalls of soldiers running towards them outside.

Anaya and Athanas were next through the door. “The lookout got away; they are alerted,” said Esthana.

Cast a Spell(Light)(Anaya): 2D6(3 3) +2 = 8 Partial success.
Lose the spell

“Then we should hurry,” said Anaya. “The Light of the Flame guide us.” As she said this, her sword flared into silver light, illuminating the passage as she moved ahead. One of Athanas’ soldiers took control of the prisoner, and Esthana joined Anaya in leading the way; Vaalyun retrieved his dagger from the floor and followed them, with the soldiers following behind.

The passage was dry and a little dusty, and there was a heavy smell of incense in the air struggling to mask an odour of dust and decay. It was wide enough for two abreast, though the ceiling was low, as if they were being funnelled towards danger. Esthana had sheathed her sword and drawn her bow again, peering at the edge of the light to see what lay ahead.

Location move(Use a threat from an existing faction or type of creature)

The Blood are very utilitarian: necromancy is just a tool to them.

GM move(soft): Show signs of an approaching threat

They emerged into a larger chamber, a crypt with alcoves along the walls. As they emerged into the room, there was a rattling sound from all around, and Vaalyun saw the skeletons lying at rest within the alcoves begin to move—stepping out and turning towards the group. Aside from their own light, the only other light came from a lantern on the far side of the room, illuminating two robed cultists.

Followers, Do Their Thing(Anaya): 2D6(3 5) +1 = 9 Partial success.
d8+1 = 4 damage, GM move(soft): Put someone in a spot

The skeletons began shambling forward. Athanas stepped out to Anaya’s right, and struck with his sword at the foremost skeleton, smashing away half of its rib cage—but the thing kept advancing, backing him up against a wall.

Discern Realities(Anaya): 2D6(3 3) +2 = 8 Partial success.
Who’s really in control here?

“On the right! That is the necromancer,” said Anaya, her sword pointing, still ablaze with light, at one of the cultists.

This could be a Golden Opportunity, since the player party just ignored the threat against Athanas. But Esthana established that her bow was ready, so I’ll let them have it.

Volley(Esthana): 2D6(4 6) +2 = 12 Success!
4 damage

Hum—none of the wizard characters in the DungeonWorld manual have any HP. They’re just regular humans that die if hit.

Two skeletons were closing in on Esthana—their fingers, flesh long since gone, reaching for her throat. Vaalyun was standing behind her and, expecting her to retreat, stepped back to give her space. Instead she calmly drew back her bow, and loosed an arrow at the necromancer. The shaft went straight through his neck, and he collapsed to the floor, gurgling.

GM move(soft): Put someone in a spot

Hack and Slash(Esthana): 2D6(1 2) +1 = 4 Failure!
GM move(hard): Deal damage: d6 = 4 damage

Esthana has 2 armour. She is down to 14/25 hitpoints.

The skeleton closest to Esthana wavered for a moment, like a puppet hanging from strings, then reached for her again, grabbing her shoulder. It was too close to draw her sword, so she tried to head-butt it—but she merely cracked its skull with her helmet, without halting it. Vaalyun saw her wince in pain as the skeleton’s grip compressed her paldron. But as the skeleton reached with its other hand to claw at her face, it—and all the skeletons in the room—wavered again, and then fell apart, with a crash of dry bones on the stone floor.

Vaalyun looked around the room. All the skeletons were down. The gurgling from the necromancer had ceased; the other cultist could not be seen, and the doors to the next chamber were thrown open. Esthana looked at her shoulder where several finger bones, from the skeleton that had attacked her, were still embedded in the dents that they had made in her pauldron.

Spout Lore(Anaya): 2D6(2 4) +1 = 7 Partial success.
Vague information

“Does that always work?” said Vaalyun, stepping forward nervously into the room.

“It probably depends on the spell used,” said Anaya, as she began to move forward.

Oddly, this is only the second time in the campaign where I reach a point where I’m unsure how to proceed (the first was after the failure of CSI: Eberron in ch3). Here, the uncertainty is firmly on the GM side. Dungeon World provides guidance for dungeons—as you would expect—but nothing concrete about layout, obstacles or enemies; the moves are all quite high-level.

Quick check on what we know: Vaalyun’s hireling, Ievos, is a prisoner in here somewhere; there is a vampire here; there is a side exit; two cultists have got away so far, so the whole place is alerted; this is the main Blood base in the city; most of the cultists are just worshippers, not part of whatever secret scheme is afoot; they have weapons and don’t like the Silver Flame or Thrane, but aren’t wanting to fight soldiers (even the inner cabal would rather give weapons to the rebels for that).

I do like the idea of private crypts though, and the cabal and vampire are probably in one of those. And a private crypt would be the logical place for a side entrance, so some noble family didn’t have to go past the common graves to see their private tomb. That gives me an idea of what to do.

The next room was a wide stone chamber, with a large carving of the skull symbolizing the Blood carved into the wall opposite where they entered. Another stone passage exited on the right, and from that direction they could hear shouting and could see light at the end of the passage. There was also an exit on the left, a dark stone stairway leading down further under the temple, with carved sigils at its entrance.

Spout Lore(Anaya): 2D6(2 5) +1 = 8 Partial success.
General information, up to players to make it useful

“The stairs likely lead to private crypts,” said Anaya. “The vampire might be there.”

“Lady Anaya,” said the Athanas, “I have only twelve soldiers with me; I will need all of them to subdue the cultists.”

A partial on Spout Lore is tricky for a solo game; the idea is that the players have to figure out what the GM is holding out on them about. I know that the vampire & perhaps some of the inner cabal are in the private crypts. I decided to roll for it, giving Anaya an advantage for the partial success. D6, 1-2 the party goes to the cultist gathering, 3-6 they go to the private crypts. They rolled a 5.

“Take your soldiers that way,” said Anaya, pointing to the main passage, “and contain the cultists. There should be reinforcements here within half an hour. We will investigate the private crypts—you do not want a vampire behind you.”

Athanas nodded, then turned and signalled the soldiers to follow him. Anaya and Esthana turned away to the stairs, heading down. Vaalyun looked to the soldiers for a moment, but then turned and followed the templar; there was no way to know which way Ievos would be, and he felt that the templar might have a better idea than most what to do in this crypt.

I decided after the fact to break up the raid on the Blood base into two parts, as it ran longer than expected. So no End of Session move here; I will do that at the end of the next chapter.

I.4: The Soldier

Thaliost
Eyre 22, 997 YK

The failure to track the cultist watching them at the house means that the party is waiting for a lead. That means time has passed since the last session. That opens things up for larger changes in the GM moves: the situation can get worse by more in a few days than it could have in a few hours.

We have a new adventure front: rebels in Thaliost. The Grim Portents for this front can be:

• Rebels loyal to Aundair make a deal with the Blood of Vol to get weapons. [Already happened.]
• The rebels attack Thrane’s patrols in the city.
• The garrison becomes overstretched and cannot police the entire city.
• Unrest spreads and the rebels incite much of citizenry to revolt.
• The Blood provides weapons and tactical direction to the revolt.
• The garrison loses control of the city.
• Silver Flame worshippers and those thought loyal to Thrane are executed or driven out of the city.

I’m setting this up so that the revolt is only sure to succeed if the Blood are helping; the rebels alone are unhappy but not very organized. If the Blood fail to provide support, it could still be a bloody revolt, but the army of Thrane (which, after all, was fighting a real war only two years ago, so they mostly veteran soldiers) has a decent chance against street rabble.

The Two Dragons was starting to get busy, as some market traders closed up for the evening and came in looking for food and an ale. Esthana had been in this tavern a few times before, though like most soldiers here she would normally frequent the taverns close to the Garrison itself.

Anaya sat with her. They were eating at a table by the tavern window, looking onto the street outside. Vaalyun’s assistant had brought a message to them earlier today, arranging a meeting at this tavern this evening. So here they had come, but there was no sign of Vaalyun yet.

The sign of the Two Dragons itself was just outside above the window where she sat, shining now in the twilight: the red dragon Khyber in the center snapping to escape, the golden dragon of Eberron endlessly circling it. Esthana wondered how many years it was since the magewright had crafted that sign. The red dragon on it carried a hint of malevolence that unsettled her.

Esthana had half expected to be dismissed back to her unit as soon as the inspection at the house was completed, but instead Anaya had retained her for three days now. It was a great honour, in Esthana’s mind, to be so selected. Esthana had known many field medics in her service in two armies, and had had broken ribs healed by the touch of a Jorasco healer once, but had never known a cleric personally. But more than that, Esthana was a worshipper of the Silver Flame; as a cleric of the Flame, Anaya’s abilities channelled the light of the Flame itself.

Maybe Anaya has had some luck through the garrison in getting a lead on what to do next?

Followers, Do Their Thing(Anaya): 2D6(2 3) +1 = 6 Failure!
Show signs of an approaching threat Front: Claim territory or resources

Three days have passed, Think offscreen: let’s advance the front that I just made.

Some of that time had been spent by Anaya questioning the leader of every patrol to come back in to the garrison, asking about anything out of the ordinary. Most of what they learned was not news to Esthana; the general population liked the soldiers little and rarely cooperated with them, so there were tales of suspect individuals running from patrols, but nothing that seemed to connect with the cultists that Anaya sought. More worryingly, there had been unrest in the north part of the city last night; patrols were attacked, and the rioters were armed with bows and swords. Such well armed resistance inside the city was a new and troublesome development.

At this point, we have fictionally established that some parts of the city are dangerous to travel around; which means the characters might start triggering the Undertake a Perilous Journey sequence of moves just going to some places. They are in trouble.

Suddenly, Vaalyun sat down with them. He had acquired another cloak, Esthana noted, dark blue with a deep hood. He seemed nervous and worried, in contrast to his state of calm when they had met him the other day.

“Next time, sit at the back of the tavern,” he said.

“We can see the street from here,” said Esthana.

“Which would be useful, if you had something to watch for. But as it was you that was being watched the other day, being seen from the street should be more of a threat than an opportunity.”

“I have seen no-one watching us.”

“Good. I watched you for half an hour, until I was confident that no-one else is.”

Esthana wondered if he was lying. They knew little about what this elf really was, but Anaya seemed happy to trust him.

“Did you manage to follow that watcher?” said Anaya. “Was he watching for us?”

“He was certainly observing that house, and he paid particular attention to your visit,” said Vaalyun. “He left when you did, which makes me think that he was watching for you, Templar, in particular. You stand out.”

“Perhaps his group is doing something that they know will draw the interest of the Templars.”

“Perhaps. I followed him to the Olladra’s Hat; he saw me, however, and managed to lose me there.”

“What else have you found?”

Okay, Vaalyun is going to try his hireling group. Come on, something has to work here.

Followers, Do Their Thing(Vaalyun): 2D6(3 4) +1 = 8 Partial success.

Okay, so they get it, but there needs to be an unforseen consequence or a limitation. A few thoughts occur to me:

• One of Vaalyun’s hirelings could be spotted and captured.
• They could find a cultist base but not the main base.
• They are on the move right now, so there’s no time to gather help from the Garrison.

I rolled for it between those options, and rolled a 1: one of the hirelings is a prisoner.

“I believe I have found another meeting place, or perhaps even their base of operations. Two individuals meeting the descriptions that you gave were seen entering an alley alongside a building in the area north of that house, earlier today. However, I am worried that my observer may have been spotted and captured—that was his last report, at midday today, and Ryfon was unable to find him this afternoon. Ievos is generally reliable, so I am very concerned about him. These cultists of yours are unusually efficient.” Vaalyun rubbed his hands together nervously; no wonder his mood is so changed, Esthana thought.

Anaya became more serious. “We must go at once and secure as many of the cultists as we can, and free your agent if he is held there.”

Spout Lore(Esthana): 2D6(4 5) +0 = 9 Partial success.
Vague indication

“The west district was calm last night,” said Esthana, “but it is not so far from where the trouble was last night on the north side of town. The Commander may even be reluctant to spare us the soldiers.”

Investigate(Anaya): 2D6(5 3) +1 = 9 Partial success.
Unclear idea

“Do you think it likely that they have the Garrison under observation?”

“There is no way to be sure,” said Vaalyun. “There are probably a dozen agents watching the Garrison; there will be agents of the Five Nations, and some from other groups. Whether our cultists have the means to keep a watch on it, we do not know, but they are certainly suspicious and alert.”

---

Recruit(Anaya): 2D6(6 6) +1 = 13 Success!

The GM has discretion to give a +1 bonus here and I did so, since we fictionally established that she is respected by the garrison commander and the army here generally.

They had no trouble getting support from the Garrison. Commander Stamos had the army on alert already. Anaya was eager to set out quickly, so two companies of soldiers were sent out with her immediately, with two more to follow within half an hour.

The companies were under the command of Lieutenant Athanas, a tall human man with a soldier’s upright bearing. He and Anaya led at front; behind them came the soldiers. Although the soldiers were all armed and wearing chainmail, sharply contrasting with the few civilians that they passed in the street, the soldiers were still nervous: they had not been told tonight’s objective, and all knew about the violence last night.

Esthana fell in with the second rank of soldiers as they departed the Garrison. It was dark now, though the streets here were well illuminated by everbright lanterns. The air was still, and the cloudless sky overhead gave a clear view of the glittering blue ring of Siberys encircling Eberron, as well as several of Eberron’s moons.

I’m rolling d100 against the racial composition of the city, from the Eberron wikia, for NPCs that do not have a clear affiliation (I did not for Vaalyun’s hirelings, as a counterexample, since it makes more sense for him to have elves). Give everyone personhood.

As they walked north, the soldier to her side—a halfling, only four feet tall, armed with a shortbow—was trying to get her attention, with a questioning look on his face that needed no explanation. Esthana felt she could not say much, but after a few more paces she just gripped her sword hilt and looked back at the halfling. He nodded after a moment, looking serious, and began to restring his bow.

I am trying the Perilous Wilds rules for journeys. Anaya spent the previous day talking to patrols, and she is leading up front, so she is navigating. Vaalyun I think is distancing himself a little from the soldiers, and can act as scout.

Navigate(Anaya): 2D6(3 4) +2 = 9 Partial success.
You encounter a Danger

Scout(Vaalyun): 2D6(3 1) +0 = 4 Failure!
Location move(Use a threat from an existing faction): Rioters

Unrest is spreading: that’s a hard GM move that I could only make because of the failure there. If they had a success on either roll, or two partial successes, they could have had no trouble or something minor and avoidable. But the party just isn’t having much go in their favour.

Turning into another street, they saw a building ablaze about a fifty yards away. The fire looked newly started, with flames at the ground floor windows but none from the upper storeys. And, by the light of the streetlamps, they could see a group of five or six people gathered outside the building; one glance at the soldiers, and the group began to retreat, some breaking into a run.

“Forward at the double!” shouted Athanas. He dispatched groups of soldiers into side streets to see if they could catch any of the arsonists.

GM move(soft): Tell them the requirements or consequences and ask

They can ignore this burning building, but whoever is inside might die.

Anaya, Esthana and several soldiers were the first to reach the blazing building itself. It was a tailor’s shop, and through the window they could see that much of the ground floor was ablaze. Someone inside was shouting for help. As Esthana was about to enter, Anaya delayed her a moment and touched her shoulder. Esthana felt a fresh, pure energy flow through her.

“The Flame guides you,” said Anaya.

Cast a Spell(Bless)(Anaya): 2D6(3 3) +2 = 8 Partial success.
Lose the spell

Due to Anaya’s advanced move Serenity, which she took on levelling up, she ignores the -1 penalty for having Bless ongoing. Losing the spell is a nuisance though; we’re not even at the destination yet.

Defy Danger(CON)(Esthana): 2D6(4 1) +1+1 = 7 Partial success.
Hesitation, worse outcome

I think she gets through the smoke, but it takes longer, and the fire will be barring the way when she wants to get back.

The front door was shut, but the lock was already smashed; Esthana went inside. The shopfront here was all ablaze; the heat and smoke would have deterred most people, but Esthana calmly and quickly strode to the stairs on the far side, holding a corner of her tabard over her mouth to try to avoid choking on the smoke. The fire was spreading quickly though, and the thought crossed her mind that she might not be able to get back out this way. Another shout came from above.

Upstairs, it was fiercely hot and thick with smoke, but the fire had not reached here yet. She found a man in the back room, attired in the fine clothes of a merchant, coughing and frantically searching through a bureau.

“I can’t find my key,” he said. “Can we get out downstairs?”

“Not without a lot of burns,” said Esthana. “The windows are warded?”

“Yes.”

I like it—Blur the lines between magic and technology.

“I keep a wand for fighting fires downstairs,” he added, “behind the counter, but I could not reach it.”

Esthana has probably already lost the chance to save the shop itself. But she might get this guy out.

Discern Realities(Esthana): 2D6(1 4) +0+1 = 6 Failure!
Reveal an unwelcome truth Put someone in a spot

Esthana looked around, but it was getting hard to see with the smoke: she could not see any key. A shop like this would have warded windows—breaking them, even from the inside, would trigger a magical explosion. Useful for deterring thieves, but now the security measure would make it hard for them to escape.

Esthana grabbed the shopkeeper’s arm. “Behind the counter, you said?”

“Yes, under the cash register.”

Defy Danger(CON)(Esthana): 2D6(1 2) +1+1 = 5 Failure!
Show a downside to their class, race, or equipment Tell them the requirements or consequences and ask: You can go get the wand, but you’ll be badly burned. Or smash windows to get out, and get hit by whatever trap is on them. Or stay here and die.

Ouch. Esthana needs to stop rolling 1s. Be a fan of the characters: in a game with a lot of character death, Esthana would probably just pass out from smoke inhalation and burn to death here. But that’s not Dungeon World’s style, or Eberron’s, so instead we’re just giving the character a chance to have a really bad time being heroic.

Esthana went back out of the room, coughing in the smoke, to the top of the stairs. The fire had spread onto the stairs themselves now. Esthana’s chainmail was already uncomfortably hot, even through the padding; down there, it would quickly become unbearable. Esthana turned back, grabbed the shopkeeper, and dragged him through into the front room on the upper floor.

“Follow after the window is broken,” she said, pushing him under a table. Sweating in the heat, coughing in the smoke, she unshouldered her shield; smoke rose in wisps between the planks in the floor as the fire roared below. She let out a cry and charged at the window, holding her shield in front of her.

As a fighter, Esthana has just the move for this moment. The description is “When you use pure strength to destroy an inanimate obstable...”

Bend Bars, Lift Gates(Esthana): 2D6(5 5) +1+1 = 12 Success!
It doesn’t take a very long time. You can fix the thing again without a lot of effort. Nothing of value is damaged.

Any character could have tried to do the same thing fictionally, of course, but for them it would be a Defy Danger(STR) which lets the GM control how long it takes and set penalties on a partial success. With Bend Bars, Lift Gates, Esthana has more control. As it happens, she succeeded, so it’s all good.

This is what DungeonWorld considers a Golden Opportunity though, so I still get to make a GM move: the player has ignored an established threat in the fiction.

Deal damage: 2d6 (equivalent to the fireball spell, for the magical seal) + d6 (for falling) = 12 damage.

As Esthana hit the casement, there was a flash of arcane runes, and then an explosion of lightning as the ward triggered. Esthana felt the shock pass through her as it discharged. Her strength and weight easily smashed the casement though, and she fell to the street below, hitting the ground hard. She lay there, dazed and in pain, amid the broken glass and charred wood.

And that’s how fighters deal with traps in D&D.

Followers, Do Their Thing(Anaya): 2D6(1 3) +1 = 5 Failure!
Location move(Use a threat from an existing faction or type of creature)

Good grief, the party is failing so many rolls. That was a roll for the soldiers to see if they caught any of the arsonists.

Esthana lay there stunned for several seconds, then shook herself. As she put out an arm to raise herself up, she felt someone else lying on the ground next to her; turning her head, she saw that it was the halfling soldier: on his back with an arrow in his side.

Okay, so what’s been going on while Esthana was in the building? A tactic in urban unrest, even today, is to start some incident like a fire in order to ambush the first responders. And, as GM, I know that the rebels in the city have weapons.

Let’s start by seeing how the soldiers reacted to the ambush.

Order Follower(Anaya): 2D6(5 1) +1 = 7 Partial success.
Decrease the follower’s Loyalty by 1

Okay, they stick around, but they are less likely to put themselves into any new danger. I’ll use the Rebel enemy from the monster list; let’s say there are eight of them.

Volley (assisted)(Anaya): 2D6(6 3) +1 = 10 Success!
Best of d6, d6+1 damage = 3

That kills one.

Esthana could hear the clashing of swords nearby now. As she looked up, she saw Anaya running towards her now; beyond, Esthana could see several soldiers fighting against cloaked figures. She heard someone hit the pavement behind her, and turned to see that the shopkeeper had jumped down, and was picking himself up from the pavement.

Cure Light Wounds(Anaya): 2D6(6 3) +2 = 11 Success!
3 points healed

Esthana is at 16/25 hitpoints.

Anaya laid a hand on her shoulder, and Esthana felt the purifying energy of the Flame flow through her again. She had sometimes thought that she could sense the Flame’s presence when praying, but nothing like this: the power that Anaya could channel was awe-inspiring. The fatigue and pain seemed to recede; she took Anaya’s hand and got to her feet, shakily.

Discern Realities(Anaya): 2D6(3 6) +2 = 11 Success!
What happened here recently? What here is useful or valuable to me? Hold 1.

“The fire was a setup,” said Anaya, “distracting us ready for an ambush. But there do not seem to be many of them; they expected to lure a regular patrol, not two companies of soldiers.”

Rebels, thought Esthana. What has emboldened them so?

Give an opportunity that fits a class’ abilities

Defy Danger(DEX)(Vaalyun): 2D6(3 5) +1 = 9 Partial success.
Put someone in a spot

As they moved towards the melee, Esthana saw Vaalyun step out of the shadows on the other side of the fight, grabbing one of the cloaked attackers from behind and putting a dagger to his throat. But while he was busy disarming that rebel, another began to circle behind him, readying his sword for a strike. As one, Anaya and Esthana drew their bows, and as the attacker raised his sword he was hit by their arrows. He staggered, and Esthana quickly drew her bow again and put another arrow into his chest; he collapsed behind Vaalyun without landing a blow.

Aid(Anaya): 2D6(1 4) +2 = 7 Partial success.
Expose yourself to danger

Volley(Esthana): 2D6(3 1) +2+1+1 = 8 Partial success.
Take several shots; 5 damage.

Good grief, so many 1s; it’s hard not to get a full success with a +4 bonus (that’s +2 for her Dex, +1 for the Bless, +1 for Aid), but we managed it here.

Defend(Esthana): 2D6(4 4) +1+1 = 10 Success!
3 hold

Esthana picked out another rebel at the edge of the melee, catching them in the side with an arrow and injuring them badly. Two more rebels broke away from the melee and charged towards her and Anaya; Esthana drew her sword and moved to meet them.

Spend hold(Esthana): Redirect an attack to self Spend hold(Esthana): Deal damage equal to your level (1)

Hack and Slash(Esthana): 2D6(5 1) +2+1 = 9 Partial success.
5 damage taken; 10 damage dealt

Spend hold(Esthana): Halve the attack’s damage (to 2, which is then absorbed by her armour)

10 damage to the enemies (that’s max damage for Esthana) takes the total damage to the enemies to 16, enough to kill 5 of them—well, they don’t have to be dead, of course—and Vaalyun disarmed one more. That’s most of them dealt with. The remaining two will surrender I think. Finally something goes the party’s way.

Esthana has the fighter/elf class move that makes her precise with short swords (which is why she takes +2, her dex bonus, on Hack and Slash), so she can do any fancy stuff she likes to disable these rebels.

The first assailant, a woman with long dark hair flowing out from under the hood of her cloak, tried to run at Anaya, but Esthana put herself and her shield in the way. The assailant swung energetically, but Esthana easily pushed the sword away with her shield, and stabbed the attacker in the shoulder; the attacker fell bleeding, dropping her sword. The second assailant had circled around, and slashed with her sword at Esthana’s exposed side, but the blow slid off of Esthana’s mail. Esthana turned, and with a flick of the wrist knocked the sword from the rebel’s hand, and quickly put her sword to the rebel’s neck. “Down,” said Esthana, and the attacker—a teenage girl whose anger quickly turned to fright—complied.

Esthana advanced into the melee. She had fought in many battles during the Last War, so fighting alongside others to take down an opponent came easily to her. The rebels had lost their initial enthusiasm now, and were neither trained in close combat nor armoured. This was not a war though, and the enemies were not soldiers, so she tried to disable rather than kill; she tripped one and kicked his sword away, and she dealt a cut to the sword hand of the next.

More of Lieutenant Athanas’ men had come in from the adjacent street now. Most of the rebels surrendered now, and those that tried to flee were seized.

Spend hold(Anaya): Who’s really in control here?

“This one, I think, is the ringleader,” Anaya said as Athanas approached, pointing to the first woman that Esthana had stabbed. Although holding her shoulder to staunch the bleeding, the woman was staring up at them defiantly.

Blur the lines between magic and technology: magewrights crafting wands with specific spell effects bound to them are an everyday thing in Eberron. So I guess the fire brigade here would just be some guy with a cone of cold wand.

The shopkeeper, limping a little and his clothes stained with smoke, had returned. With him was another civilian, a well dressed man with an array of tools hanging from his belt—a magewright of some sort, Esthana thought, maybe a tinker. The tinker drew a wand from his belt and, pointing it through the open door of the building, projected a cone of freezing mist into the ground floor, extinguishing the fire there.

Anaya was checking the wounded. She turned to the halfling soldier who had taken the arrow to the side, still lying on the ground. “Esthana, can you draw this arrow? I should be able to close the wound.”

GM move(soft): Give an opportunity that fits a class’ abilities

Cast a Spell(Cure Light Wounds)(Anaya): 2D6(4 5) +2 = 11 Success!
Heals 3

Spout Lore(Esthana): 2D6(5 3) +0+1 = 9 Partial success.
Information, up to players to make it useful

Esthana knelt on the other side of the soldier, ignoring the blood pooled on the pavement. The arrow had driven through the links of his chainmail—a narrow arrow-head, Esthana thought to herself. She had pulled a few of these on the field before; with one sharp pull, the arrow came out. Anaya laid her hand on the wound, and the silver light of the Flame glowed around her hand. When she took her hand away, Esthana saw that the wound was gone.

He was the most serious of the wounded; no soldiers had been killed, and while several other soldiers had injuries, none were serious. There were two dead rebels, and six prisoners with minor injuries. Anaya did not need to use her healing magic again; one of the soldiers joined her and applied bandages for those that needed them.

They finished with the wounded. The smell of smoke still lingered in the air, but the fire was out now, and the shop was still standing—albeit much damaged, blacked with smoke and with ice covering the window panes. The shopkeeper was outside again now, and angry.

“Aundarian sympathisers!” shouted the shopkeeper. “They always spit at us loyalists, but to attack my shop! I hope they all hang for this outrage!”

“The Archbishop will see that they are punished for this crime,” said Anaya. “You may petition him tomorrow if you wish.”

Vaalyun had joined them. “We must go, Templar,” he said anxiously. “This distraction has delayed us for too long already.”

Use up their resources GM move(soft): Tell them the requirements or consequences and ask: If they let at least one company of soldiers go back, the Lieutenant will go along with it. Otherwise, it’s a roll.

Given how bad this party rolls, and the Loyalty of this hireling group is now 0, they should probably take the deal.

“We have wounded,” said Athanas. “And these prisoners must be escorted back to the Garrison. To drag them around the city risks them escaping, or might trigger a riot to try to free them.”

Anaya said “Send one company, including all the wounded, back to the garrison, escorting the prisoners. We will proceed with the other company to deal with the cultists.”

“As you say, Templar.”

Well, that was messy. Net effect of all that mess is that we advanced the adventure front, and have seen clearly now that the situation in Thaliost is deteriorating. We also used up quite a bit of party resources prior to their reaching the cultist base.

End of Session(party): Esthana fulfilled her alignment goal, Defend those weaker than yourself. +1 XP

Anaya: 2 failures, now at 2 XP.
Vaalyun: 1 failure; now 5XP.
Esthana: 2 failures, alignment goal met; now 5XP.

I.3: The Inquisitive

Thaliost
Eyre 20, 997 YK

Vaalyun finished giving instructions to Ryfon, and dismissed him. The elf bowed respectfully, and closed the door to the office on his way out. He had been in Vaalyun’s service here for nearly ten years, dealing with both Vaalyun’s routine business and his covert activities in the city.

The House dealt primarily in entertainments, from plays to exhibitions, and this was enough to make it wealthier than most noble houses in Eberron. But to secure its place as one of the Twelve, the great dragonmarked houses of Eberron, House Phiarlan also dealt in both state and industrial espionage. While there were many agents of the House that operated entirely in the shadows, Vaalyun was one that operated under the cover of the entertainment business.

He had sent the templar and the soldier downstairs already, where they were talking to an artist who was drawing a likeness of the Blood followers that they had seen the previous night. Ryfon was to take the sketch to Ievos and Imra, Vaalyun’s eyes about the city, with instructions for them to report back any sightings.

Vaalyun changed from his formal House Phiarlan robes into his travelling gear, to be less conspicuous for the day’s work. The House could afford to equip its agents well, and he was soon attired in finely tailored leather armour, concealed under another fine green embroidered jacket. Sheathing his only weapon, a concealed dagger, under his jacket, Vaalyun donned a dark cloak and headed downstairs.

The artist—a narrow-faced male gnome called Linarv, who did work of this kind for Vaalyun from time to time—was just finishing the sketches as Vaalyun entered. Anaya was standing by, checking the likeness. The soldier, Esthana, was standing by the window, looking bored.

“It is time”, said Vaalyun, “to go and see this house, Templar. Perhaps we can learn something from what these people left behind them.”

“Yes,” said Anaya. Esthana had turned when he started speaking; she said nothing, but seemed glad that something was happening.

“Ryfon will pass these likenesses to my observers around the city. Hopefully the Blood followers will regroup in a public place at some point, now that their meeting house is not available to them. In the meantime, let us go to the west district.”

As they left the building, Vaalyun drew up his hood. His companions would draw some attention, and he did not wish to be associated too strongly with them in anyone’s memory. They were, after all, only one client.

---

The door of the house still swung loose on its hinges, the lock smashed. As they entered the building, passing between the two soldiers stationed at the door, Vaalyun saw the splintered and broken balustrade of the stairs: testimony to the night’s violence.

Discern Realities(Vaalyun): 2D6(1 5) +0 = 6 Failure!
GM move(hard): Reveal an unwelcome truth

Well, there goes CSI: Eberron. There’s nothing here.

Vaalyun looked around, going from room to room; the others followed him. The rooms had only minimal furnishings—just a few tables and chairs, and everbright lanterns. Several windows in the back rooms were smashed from last night. There were pitchers of water in one of the front rooms. But it did not look like anyone actually lived here.

“This does not seem lived in,” Vaalyun observed. “It is a convenient meeting place for worshippers, nothing more.”

“Cultists,” said Anaya.

Vaalyun shrugged; the Blood of Vol was widespread enough that the worshippers would not consider themselves a cult. “And which are you hunting—the cultists, or the vampires?”

“Both are dangerous. Last night I expected to round up a few cultists; the vampires make the matter more serious.”

They were in the back room, and the symbol of Vol was hanging on the wall still. Without the malignant aura that had been cast upon it last night, it was just a religious symbol—sinister due to what it stood for to those present now, but possessed of no other power. Vaalyun looked at it thoughtfully.

Spout Lore(Vaalyun): 2D6(2 6) +2 = 10 Success!
Useful information

Spout Lore is essentially a way for the player characters to interrogate the setting information that the GM or the group is creating, or in this case the established setting that I am using.

“It is not widely known amongst followers of the Blood, but sometimes intelligent undead hold positions as Seekers within the church of Vol.”

Anaya turned to him sharply. “How is that possible? The cult of Vol is heretical, and does not denounce necromancy—but even in such a cult, the followers could not be so foolish as to willingly follow the undead.”

“As I say, it is not widely known even within the cult. Most worshippers do not know of it. And vampires possess great charm; they can pass for mortal.”

Discern Realities(Esthana): 2D6(4 5) +0 = 9 Partial success.
What happened here recently?

“These cultists knew it,” said Esthana. “The vampires made no attempt to disguise their presence.”

“Perhaps these ‘cultists’are more than just ordinary worshippers, then. They may have been trusted in some way.”

“But if this was just an empty house that they made use of,” said Anaya, “then finding them again will be difficult.”

“Yes.” Vaalyun put his hands together, steepling his fingers. “I have people checking taverns in this part of town; if we are lucky they will spot a group fitting the description that you gave. We will see what comes of that in the next few days.”

“The vampire will surely be gone by then,” said Anaya.

I am adding a custom player move here: an Investigate move which is something like discern realities but based on Int. The problem I have is that normally the players would be trying to figure out ideas for what to do next, or how to piece together the things they learned so far. But I don’t have players and I know a bit of what the opposition is doing (just what I have included in my fronts so far). Espionage matters in the Eberron setting and I need a way to decide whether the characters do or do not figure things out.

I think Investigate is like Spout Lore except it accesses information about the current mystery or adventure in front of the party, instead of setting information. It’s about making inferences based on things that the party already knows and coming up with ways to proceed.

I was wondering how to recover from the failure of CSI: Eberron. I have a thought.

Investigate(Vaalyun): 2D6(4 2) +2 = 8 Partial success.
Offer an opportunity, with or without cost

“Perhaps; we cannot guess at its purpose here. I wonder though,” Vaalyun said, glancing at Anaya, “might they be observing the house right now?”

“Why would they risk coming back?” said Esthana.

“Perhaps, as we want to know about them, they want to know about us. They may want to know how our investigation is going.”

The group moved back to one of the front rooms, and Anaya and Vaalyun glanced carefully out of a front window. There were townsfolk going to and fro, as when they had entered, and a patrol of Thranish soldiers walking up the street, back towards the garrison quarter. As the patrol passed, a figure in a traveller’s cloak on the far side of the street turned to face the house again, as if they had turned away while the patrol went past.

Vaalyun and Anaya are working together here.

Aid(Vaalyun): 2D6(4 2) +0 = 6 Failure!
Reveal an unwelcome truth

Discern Realities(Anaya): 2D6(4 5) +2 = 11 Success!
What should I be on the lookout for? What here is not what it appears to be? Hold 1
Offer an opportunity, with or without cost Front: Observe a potential foe in great detail

Cults like to spy—Past conflict, present intrigue . The player party succeeded their check, so let’s say they are right and the cult is watching them.

“That one across the street,” said Anaya. “He was there when we entered. And he seems to be waiting and watching the house.” Vaalyun had not noticed him, but Anaya seemed certain.

Vaalyun frowned. “Then he saw me enter with you, unfortunately. They know that you have help from outside the garrison.”

“He did not leave to report our arrival; perhaps he will go to report on our departure.”

“What guards are left here? Any elves or half-elves amongst them?”

Spend hold(Anaya): What here is useful or valuable to me?

Sure, they made that Discern check, I’ll say what they want is here.

Both Anaya and Esthana looked questioningly at him. “Imbyran is stationed at the back,” Anaya said.

“I had my hood up when I entered. Hopefully our friend out there did not get too good a look at me. Your guard can shed their chainmail, wear my cloak, and leave with you—if the watcher did not get a glimpse of my face, they will think it is the same party leaving that arrived. I will slip out the back, circle around and follow this watcher to see where he goes. I suggest,” Vaalyun added, “that you make a show of it. Tell the guards out front loudly that you will leave in ten minutes; that there is nothing further to do here. Perhaps that will put them at ease.”

Anaya frowned, so Vaalyun added “It’s true enough, templar—we learned nothing and can learn nothing more here. It’s an empty house.”

“Very well,” said Anaya.

Does the watcher believe Anaya loudly telling guards “we’re all leaving”? She has +1 forward from acting on the result of her Discern.

Defy Danger(CHA)(Anaya): 2D6(2 3) +1+1 = 7 Partial success.
Worse outcome

Yes, but the watcher will not be entirely focused on the house, as Vaalyun had hoped.

The plan was put into motion. Vaalyun did not like going without his cloak; he was more recognisable without it. But the watcher had seen a cloaked figure of elven height enter, and if he did not see one leave then he would be alert for being followed by one. So he handed his cloak to the guardsman, and bowed his leave.

Show a downside to their class, race, or equipment

You can’t tail someone stealthily with a cleric or a squad of soldiers.

“I cannot send guards with you,” said Anaya, “so go carefully, and with the Flame’s blessing. I will expect to hear from you soon.”

Vaalyun just nodded and left via the back door, after checking that there did not seem to be a watch on this side of the house. Circling back around through the neighbouring streets, he was soon in a position to observe the watcher outside the house. He positioned himself in the shadows on the north side of the street, at a junction so he could easily slip around the corner if the watcher came this way.

Vaalyun was nervous and excited. Whatever group the Templar had crossed paths with, it was clearly more than a simple gathering of Vol worshippers. This investigation was now a matter of personal interest as well; House Phiarlan dealt in information, and it was possible that this group was unknown to the House. There would be some reward or favour within the House for him if he uncovered a new political or criminal force in the city.

Defy Danger(CHA)(Vaalyun): 2D6(2 5) +1 = 8 Partial success.
Tell them the requirements or consequences and ask: he will recognise you if he sees you again and will know that you’re following him if he sees you looking his way

The watcher was still there, watching the house, but he looked around occasionally as well. He glanced down the street in Vaalyun’s direction; Vaalyun looked away, but felt that he had been seen and so walked across the junction into the next street. Once past the corner, he shook himself, breathing heavily. He waited a few seconds before peering back around the corner, eyes on the watcher again.

GM move(soft): Put someone in a spot

Anaya and the soldiers exited the house, turning south; as agreed, one of the guards was wearing his cloak. The watcher glanced at them as they moved away, evidently trying not to draw attention. And then he began walking north, towards the junction where Vaalyun was standing.

Vaalyun has to walk away, and cannot look back without being spotted. As GM I said he couldn’t be seen looking towards the target, so as player, let’s work around that...

Vaalyun immediately began walking away down the side street, counting as he went—one, two. Thinking furiously; three, four. It was about twenty paces from where the watcher had been to the junction; seven, eight. Vaalyun could not turn to look to see which way he went at the junction; if the watcher saw him looking back, it would be too obvious. Ten, eleven. There was a woman walking the other way down the street; he must not excite suspicious in her either, as that could give him away. Thirteen, fourteen. He withdrew a small mirror from his jacket pocket, pretending to check his own appearance while really looking back at the junction behind him. Seventeen, eighteen—the watcher came into view, crossing the junction heading north.

Picking up the pace, Vaalyun jogged to the next street and turned north as well, moving parallel to the mark. Observing from shadows at the next junction, he saw the watcher cross, continuing north. Now Vaalyun jogged down to the junction behind him, relieved that he could now tail the watcher.

Dragonmark(Vaalyun): 2D6(1 4) +1 = 6 Failure!
Front: Negotiate a deal

Vaalyun wants to use his shadow powers to change the colour of his jacket, so he is less likely to be recognised, but he doesn’t have it in him right now. But he is not in sight of the watcher at this moment, so there isn’t an obvious direct response. Instead—Think offscreen—I’ll advance my adventure front by giving a move to the Blood in Thaliost: they have cut a deal with the local rebels. I’ll figure out the details later.

He was still regretting not having his cloak; his clothes were hardly gaudy, but darker would have been better for this work. House Phiarlan agents generally worked by hiding in plain sight, but Vaalyun had already been seen loitering once by this target, so there was a risk of being spotted. Vaalyun closed his eyes as he walked, and he felt a burning in the birthmark on his left side, his Dragonmark, as he tried to draw on the power of shadow. But he was too nervous in the middle of the chase to control the effect, so he gave up and focused on the pursuit itself.

Defy Danger(DEX)(Vaalyun): 2D6(1 6) +1 = 8 Partial success.
Tell them the requirements or consequences and ask: Turn into another street and lose the target, or be seen but remain on the target’s tail.

He turned into the street after the watcher, easily spotting him in the street ahead. Vaalyun stayed on the west side of the street, in the shadows of the buildings there, and began to walk quicker to close the distance. But the watcher was nervous and looked around again. Vaalyun decided not to turn off into a side street, for fear of losing his target. The watcher had seen him now, but hopefully would not assume that he was being followed.

Discern Realities(Vaalyun): 2D6(1 6) +1 = 8 Partial success.
What here is not what it appears to be?

After turning into another street, the watcher then entered a tavern—“Olladra’s Hat”, a quiet local tavern in this respectable part of town. Vaalyun thought that the watcher was probably trying to throw him off; he would wait for Vaalyun to pass or be gone.

Instead, Vaalyun stood in the entrance to an alley beside the tavern. From his pocket, he withdrew a small black pebble, and began to channel the energy of his dragonmark into it.

Dragonmark(Vaalyun): 2D6(4 5) +1 = 10 Success!
Give an opportunity that fits a class’ abilities

Vaalyun has a scrystone, I decided. DungeonWorld encourages undetermined equipment to be decided on the spot; it’s normal for a DungeonWorld character to have “an adventurer’s pack“ that lets them pull out 5 items of equipment of their choice; they are using up a valuable resource when they do so, of course. I had not determined Vaalyun’s magic items from his class, so he gets to choose one here.

Also, a scrystone is the only magic item in the Eberron supplement atuned to his dragonmark, so this completely makes sense. Blue the lines between magic and technology: it’s a good spy gadget. The scrystone lets him communicate with someone at a distance, and/or watch someone covertly.

“Ryfon, are you there?” he said quietly.

“Yes.” Ryfon’s image appeared, a few inches tall, as a shadow flickering over the stone.

“Come to me at Olladra’s Hat. I’m following a person of interest, but I was spotted. I need you to take over from me. Bring Ievos and Imra if they are nearby.”

“I believe they are. We will be there soon.”

Vaalyun would have sent his hirelings to the part of town near the cultist house, so we know they are not too far away. He just needed a break in the chase so that he could call them.

Vaalyun reattuned the stone to the inside of the tavern; he could see the watcher was at the bar. He had bought a drink, and was looking around from time to time.

Ryfon showed up within ten minutes. Vaalyun showed him the image of the watcher through the scrying stone, and then left him to watch the entrance of the tavern.

The other two elves were waiting in the next street. Ievos and Imra were both jugglers, dressed in colourful garb. Vaalyun gave them a description of the watcher as well, and they then moved off to the end of the street where the tavern was, ready to move on Ryfon’s signal. It was a setup that they had used many times before.

Followers, Do Their Thing(Vaalyun): 2D6(2 1) +1 = 4 Failure!
GM move(hard): Reveal an unwelcome truth

Maybe the tavern is a meeting place for a resistance group within Thaliost, and they have a secret exit. That could be the Blood, but more likely a secular resistance group that opposes Thrane’s rule, which we established (by GM move earlier) has a deal with the Blood here.

But the watcher never emerged from the tavern. After half an hour, Ryfon went inside to see what he was up to. The watcher was nowhere to be seen.

The elves regrouped in a nearby alley. “There must be a back exit,” said Vaalyun. “Or he had friends in the tavern that were able to disguise his exit.” It was frustrating that they had come so close, and then lost their target.

“Move to the area north of where we are now—where this human was walking towards before he saw me,” said Vaalyun. “Spread out, and report to Ryfon if you see him, or any individuals matching the descriptions given by the templar. We will cast our net over this area, and hopefully find where these individuals meet. ”

“As you command,” said Ryfon.

It is going badly for the party. Net result of the whole game so far is that I have got to make GM moves and fronts establishing:

• The population of this city hates the Thranish soldiers controlling it.
• The Blood of Vol has a covert presence in the city despite being prohibited.
• A secret group within that, perhaps led by a vampire, is working to overthrow the government.
• And has a deal with the rebels organizing within the local population.

And the party only has a tenuous lead in return: one of that secret group was heading to this part of town, and they have descriptions of a few other members of the group. A bloody revolution in Thaliost might be coming.

End of session stuff:

Anaya: 1 failure, taking her to 8 XP total. Enough to level up.
Vaalyun: 4 failures already; now 4 XP.
Esthana: still 2 XP.

The characters have time to rest as well here.

Make Camp(party): Heal

Level Up(Anaya): Increase Dexterity by 1; gains move Serenity: negates first -1 penalty from ongoing spells

Commune(Anaya): Takes spells: Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Alignment