Let’s Play Riftbreakers 2nd Edition! Part 6: Kar Helos Under Siege, Finale

The siege comes to a conclusion. Can Strangers and humans put their differences aside to save Kar Helos? Or will the Awakened convince them that the Rifts are the way home?

Table of Contents

Let’s head on to the final part of this siege!

Act 3

Oberon and other Strangers rush to the Squalor. Others sneak away from the group and vanish into the city, disappointed with how the events turned out. The Awakened would probably gain new members.

I join the Guild and move to the Squalor.

The Squalor is the underbelly of Kar Helos, a labyrinth of crumbling tenements, boarded-up windows, and streets slick with filth. This is where the desperate end up—those who arrive with nothing, or who have lost everything since coming to the city.

D6: 4, no strays.

I reach the cramped alleys and dark streets of the Squalor, greeted by the foul stench of rotten food and waste. The district is flooded, with water covering almost reaching to my knees. There’s total mayhem ahead. Humans and Strangers punch, push, and stab each other in disorganized groups, shouting accusations.

In the distance, the Thousand Islands Rift beats like a heart, birthing creatures every once in a while that seemed to only attack the dissident Strangers that scrambled to enter the anomaly. Even other Strangers attack those still loyal to the Guild.

Oberon and the newcomers proceeded to separate the scuffs and prevent more deaths, but took quite a few blows and cuts on the way.

It was Master Helen Liaveroni’s voice that ringed above the chaos, demanding attention. She had raised her spear high, and her good eye flared with conviction.

“Enough!” she bellowed. “This is what they want! The Awakened feeds on our mistrust and fear. We bleed to hold this city because this is our true home. Home isn’t a matter of geography. It’s where we settle, love, and make connections. They’re not trying to bring us home, they’re taking it away from us!”

The Rift flared, spitting a swarm of jellyfish toward Helen. Daena, far away from her, hurried toward the Master, but Oberon, Celeste, and other Strangers quickly intercepted the creatures, cutting them down. Helen nodded in thanks and continued.

“Humans, you opened your homes and your hearts for us, supporting us when we arrived here with nowhere else to go or return to. We’re not enemies. We’re surviving the same siege.

“The Awakened offer lies and empty promises. The Rifts are home only to their spawn. Let us stand as one, or die as many.”

Does that end the conflict?
Very unlikely: 78, no.
Action table: Progress, Setback

That turned many humans and Strangers to the Guild’s side, but not all. Many humans still fumed, blaming all Strangers for the Rifts and for all misfortune that ever befell Kar Helos. Strangers still held on to the promise of returning to an unknown home, and resented humans for being used as muscle.

“Burn that into your minds, Strangers!” A hooded figure yelled beside the Rift, dressed like the Awakened Leader from before. “Our fate is to bleed like pigs for a city that despises us! We are nothing but weapons to them. They will never accept us. And why should they? We are not the same. This is no home, and we are not their pawns!”

The crowd stirred, roaring in agreement, as others grimaced and put their weapons at the ready.

Action table: Gain, Delay
Does the Awakened need time to open more Rifts?
50-50: 23, yes.

“They would make slaves of us for eternity. Hold them! Hold them as we open the way home and away from this misery!”

The humans and Strangers siding with the Awakened threw themselves on the opposition, holding and hindering them.

Agility check (40): 51

A human immobilizes me. I don’t want to hurt him, so I try to reason.

“Don’t let them divide us! The city will fall not to monsters or Rifts, but to our own foolishness.”

Does it work?
50-50: 91, exceptional no!

Not only does he refuse to let go, but he escalates to violence. He whips his head back, ready to drive it into me.

Agility check (40): 91.
D4 damage: 2

He smashes his forehead into my nose. I grunt and my vision darkens for a second. Let me get a description for the scene:

Description table: Large, Small
I had to laugh at this, but I have an idea.

I don’t see any alternative other than resorting to violence, but the man’s hold on me softens, and he falls down. Behind him, bleeding from their temples and noses, stood the caravan brothers, Percy—tall and broad—and the shorter and leaner Kenny, holding wooden clubs.

Percy extended a hand. “Wish we could have reunited under better circumstances, Mrs. Blackpearl.”

“The timing was nothing short of perfect, actually.” Daena smiled, shaking his hand and slapping Kenny’s arm.

“Can you do something about this madness?” Kenny asked, bashing another man that screamed and reached for Daena.

She looked at the Awakened summoning the Rift, and the sea of people and creatures between them. “I can try.”

Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t use Portal today, because this is a perfect time to use it. I concentrate on the Awakened Leader, opening the exit portal behind him and the entrance by my side. I lift the maul in position and get in.

As I step out, the Awakened is an arm away from me, and I slam all my strength into a blow on his back.

Bludgeoning Weapons check (83): 63
Does he drop the crystal?
50-50: 73, no.

The summoning continues as I flung him sideways onto the ground, but still he clutches the crystal. I aim at his hand, not bothering with which I’ll break first.

Bludgeoning Weapons check (83): 13

Does the crystal break?
50-50: 60, No.

Can only a magic weapon break it?
Likely: 79, no.

Action table: Obstacle, NPC

I crack the man’s hand. He screams, but the crystal remains intact. It feeds on the Awakened’s energy, so he needs to be taken down.

I punch him in the chin, knocking him unconscious.

Does anyone come after me?
50-50: 20, yes.

His scream drew the attention of nearby people. A woman tackles me, but I throw her into the Portal.

Agility check (40): 03!

I use her weight to push her in, and she dives headfirst. Finally, I hit the crystal again.

Does it break?
Very likely: 05, exceptional yes!

The hammer fell and shattered the crystal in a shower of tiny pieces reflecting the Rift’s throbbing light. The fighting stopped and everyone stared at the Rift as rings of lightning spiraled around it.

It convulsed and buzzed, then it grew translucent, until it vanished from sight, along with the monsters.

The third Rift had been closed.

The grip on the people charmed by the Awakened had softened, but not entirely lifted. Humans still gripped knives and makeshift weapons in fear, and many Strangers longed for a home that wasn’t in Kaethor.

Master Helen planted her spear in the cobblestones and addressed everyone. “It’s done. The Rifts are closed, and the Awakened will scurry to the shadows. We saved the city. Together!”

She surveyed the Squalor with a serious expression. “I still see animosity. What does suspicion and intolerance serve us now? Do not let their lies become true. Do not let them take our victory away.

“We have plenty of work ahead of us, without even turning on ourselves. Districts are burned, buildings are destroyed, shops are razed. We cannot afford to waste our strength against each other. The way out of it is holding together, and together we will stand ready for whatever else comes.”

She lifted her spear, and some people cheered. Others hung their heads in shame. Weapons clanged on the ground. A low muttering started as people talked, growing louder.

Still, not all partook in the peace that followed. The Awakened’s words lingered in many, as did resentment and prejudice. Several Strangers and humans left without a word, showing that the alliance didn’t come without fracture.

Epilogue

In the days that followed, the rebuilding of streets and relationships occupied most of the people’s time. Life went on, tensions abated, but never dissipated. Fights broke once in a while, but the peace held.

Strangers were praised, but not fully trusted. Humans formed militias around the city, intent on defending themselves rather than depending on Strangers.

Rumors about the Awakened lingered, indicating that their ideals lived on. The sect never truly disappeared, waiting only for the right moment to act.

If the Adventurers Guild found more crystals, learned how they worked, or extracted crucial information from the prisoners, they didn’t divulge it to the public. The Guild gained political influence and goodwill from a major part of Kar Helos, but that admiration also brought resentment and suspicion. A symbol of unit, or a faction with too much power?

Cracks ran deep in the city, and no one could know what the future held.

However, Kar Helos stood.

All right, now that’s an adventure! This part was very narrative heavy, but creating a story is as much a part of solo roleplaying as rolling dice.

After the events, it’s only fair that Daena gets some rewards, right?

The Adventurers Guild awarded all Strangers that participated in the siege with:

• 50A.

• +3 Reputation with the Guild.

• A Heart Essence.

• x1 of each common resource.

• The title Defender of Kar Helos.

Titles give passive bonuses to characters, much like Achievements. This one has the following benefit:

Every 3 days you can eat a free meal in Kar Helos. Choose two ingredients from the Beast & Humanoid table.

I figure this wouldn’t be unbalanced at all, since meal effects only last for a day. It serves as a nice token to remember the adventure.

And that’s it! Maybe it doesn’t look like a lot, but I don’t want to break the balance by giving me too much.

I absolutely loved my time creating and playing this little adventure. I hope you enjoyed reading it and, more importantly, that it makes you want to try the game. Riftbreakers 2e is the most fun I’ve had playing solo.

I’m wrapping the Let’s Play here. I think I showcased the game’s incredible mechanics and a little of what you can do with it. Of course, much of it was limited by my skills and playstyle. With luck, it displayed what a labor of love and competence it is.

Any complaints you might have about the game are entirely my fault.

Like my other playthroughs, future content is always on the table.

Now if you will excuse me, I really miss doing Board Quests and looting around the map. Let me get back to it.

Thanks for reading!