One More Island Grogmeetish 2020 Play Report

  A one-shot play report for Agon designed by John Harper and Sean Nittner.  Agon is available from Evil Hat Productions

...Here Be Spoilers (and a slight amount of artistic licence)...

Heroes of Legend!

We are lost, looking for a way to return home, but our ship is amidst a dark and foreboding storm, the sailors are afraid, who is to inspire them and lead them onward.  A sign is seen in the sky, a great eagle does battle with a snake, the snake injures the eagle.  Step forward Lykos, a devotee of Hekate.  Lykos announces that all must supplicate themselves in the face of the god's fury, he throws himself on to the deck, calling to the spirits that surround Hekate to show them safe passage, to forgive their trespasses on these other-worldly seas.   The sailors look confused, they look at the man on the floor, sea and foam rushing over him.  Mythekia steps forward next and pats Lykos on the back, she stands tall and calls on the crew, "To me, be brave, do not worry, the gods are on our side and we will prevail."  At that moment the sun breaks through the cloud, the wind appears to drop and the sailors look on Mythekia in wonder as they break out in song.  Lykos sneezes stands up and begins to ring out his robes.

The Goddess Hekate

Eventually, an island is spotted, a lush place with jungle encircling an imposing mountain, a village sits on the edge of the mountain slopes and golden beaches welcome the landing crew

Once the group land, a loud commotion is heard from the village.  They don their armour, weapons and rush to the sounds.  Arriving, they see satyrs and sylvan creatures running left and right, whilst a glowing Centaur causes havoc, smashing into stalls, knocking over villagers and shouting loudly.  The centaur is clearly drunk but on spying the heroes, his eyes narrow, "Leave now or you will suffer, for no sword will cut me, no hammer bruise me!"

As the heroes challenge the centaur, they manage to beat him back, though their blows seem to cause no wounds, he is somewhat on the defensive due to his intoxication and wheels away, shouting threats and saying to all, come and best me if you dare!

A discussion with the villagers, makes things clearer the Centaur is indeed invincible, he has stolen an amphora of the gods, drinking sweet ambrosia from this has accounted for his glow and his invincibility in battle.  No one seems to know how to defeat him, but perhaps the old hermit will know? 

All of the party promise the villagers they will help and head to the hermit's cave, a powerful mystic.  Lykos with his affinity with the other world steps forward and calls on Hekate to grant him insight but the hermit sneers, "You, you are not fit to cast the stones."  Xanthos, kneels, "Wise are those who delve into the world of the spirits, give us guidance, that we may save the village?" The hermit nods, someone of character, she is so impressed with these words, that she tells us of various quests that may help defeat the centaur.  

The group consult and agree to find and defeat a giant crab (perhaps a titan) from whose shell they can furnish armour and weapons that will overcome the Centaur.   The hermit has given directions and we arrive at a deep crystal pool, a plan is formed, Mythekia will act as bait, Tychon and Lykos will dig a pit and as the crab passes over they will attack, Xanthos will hide in the undergrowth and rush in to finish off the beast.

The plan partly works, the creature is lured to the surface but then grabs Mythekia, requiring Tychon and Lykos to break cover, Lykos calls down lightning, striking the crab a glancing blow, but Tychon takes the glory, thrusting deep into maw of the crab and it collapses in front of the group.  A sparkling form appears, a goddess, the group avert their eyes and after a blinding flash, there lies on the ground, four sets of magnificent armour and weapons.

The group now resplendent in their new protection, gather on the other side of the island, looking down on the Centaur's camp. Each of the members consider, they need to defeat the centaur, but how to position themselves to assure their victory.

Lykos believes stealth and ingenuity may be the best approach, he sneaks into the camp, trying to place poison into their stores of food and drink, but Lykos is discovered and the camp alerted.  The others fare better, gaining good vantage points or getting the first blow in.

The battle begins, Lykos tries to defend his position, he sees some of the army marching out of the camp to attack the village, he tries to call up a great fog, from which they will be forever lost, but only thin veils of mist drift through the jungle, quickly dissipating.  Xanthos looks on disapprovingly.

Mythekia and Tychon beat down the centaur, their armour impervious to its blows and their swords sharp and cruel until the centaur falls to its knees and begs for mercy.

The group are welcomed back to the village as heroes, many of the villagers are injured fighting off the Centaur's soldiers, but they are happy to be free once more.  As they sail away, they see a sign suggesting that they have gained great favour with Hekate.  They talk and renew their bonds with each other, asking in turn, what are the best memories of home?  What they thought of the island?  What do they fear?  What drives them?  And lastly, what do they think of the gods?!

Finally, Lykos ruminates on what a faintly, disappointing hero he is but consoles himself with another bite of his crab sandwich.