Beetle Witch, Sword Sisters, Vomes, Starving Ponies. Welcome to Ultraviolet Grasslands. Following on from Starting Scenes.
UVG solo - intro | start | partway | finish | all season 3 | all rolling solo
Disclosure - I'm a DriveThru RPG affiliate
Thoughts on Ultraviolet Grasslands
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Continuing on from last time's notes.
Ultraviolet Grasslands is something that slowly makes more sense as you read it. I could have probably done with reading more of the setting in general. But that's not always how solo works.
I've searched for online help on how to play UVG or adapt to playing it solo. In the end I signed up to the creator's Patreon and asked a couple questions there. And found a couple of Podcasts that talk about UVG.
It's a setting with many interesting ideas to play off and directions to go in. One of the strongest parts is leaning into the caravans and supply rules and exploration. My party are having some supply issues so that's going about right.
With this sort of setting or game it's nice to have some sort of starter scenario to start you off. Like the starting hotel scenario in Troika. But the starting caravan is the nearest to this in UVG.
Some people recommend using another system to plug into it, although the included one seems fine enough. Maybe I could try it with Troika or Fleaux another time...
I think it's got the potential to be an amazing setting and experience. But for many there's a barrier to entry, getting lost or confused by the core book.
Last bit should be dangerous for the Tomato Trading Trust.
Solo Tools - Chaos Solo Engine and Story Dice
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Building on previous Solo Tools Notes.
The Story Dice (Rory's Story Cubes) are working really well with UVG. I roll two of them each time, interpret the images and set them aside to reduce repeats.
A science-fantasy / fantasy-science setting like this can go many places, and story icons help shape and focus what things are happing. For me they're replacing the inspiration tables such as d100 Mythic Tables or Action and Focus I might normally use.
My solo emulator is working well. It provides lots of random events and for me it works like a smoother Mythic GM Emulator. For most people the oracle they are used to is the easiest for them to use.
Adventures of the Tomato Trading Trust
ultraviolet thoughts | solo tools | scenes | chars | threads & extras
Continuing from Starting Scenes.
The viewpoint character is Jai Ping-Noon.
Scene 3 - Visitor on the Ferry
Three Sticks Lake is an interesting place. Full of fish and other forms. Some warn of being dragged in by creatures living in the lake depths. Our ferry is an ancient metal golem. How many centuries has it toiled away? What was it built for? How will it end it's existence?
(Story Dice - Beetle, old woman)
Group making some plans for when they land at Skybridge, when a swarm of beetles comes from the lakeshore. It lands on the ferry and coalesces into an old woman, who introduces herself as Violet.
She asks for the Sun Candle, which is a mystery to the TTT. (Story Dice - torch, Icarus)
Event - A Thread is Closed (Pay Back Debt)
Violet tells them Banner is dead and she's assumed the debt. Will pay it off in return for the Sun Candle.
Jai stalls, asking to meet her at the Skybridge. Violet agrees but warns doesn't have unlimited patience.
Scene 4 - Sword Sisters
On boarding the ferry at Red Bear Village, we were joined by several warrior women. They call themselves the Sisterhood of the Sword and each one is known as a "Sword Maiden". Muria has been sparring a little with them as we cross the lake. She says they're a little intense.
Searching among the packs of their caravan, Muria finds a red candle. It must be the sun candle, but appears just like any other.
Muria suggests killing Violet and taking the contract that nullifies their debt. This shocks Jai and Ouestin!
As they discuss other options, a Sword Maiden interrupts, asking if that had been Violet the Beetle Witch, famous in this part of the Grasslands. Introducing herself as Lina, she asks questions about the witch.
Muria leans into it, telling them Violet is sponsoring their expedition and of course they'd be introduced to the witch. The Sisterhood get excited to meet this powerful figure and the TTT decide to hand over the candle.
Scene 5 - Exchanges
Muria has wrapped up the Sun Candle and given it some sparkle to add some lustre to it. I don't know what the candle is, just that it might remove the debt of our expedition. Maybe Banner is dead, maybe he isn't. We'll find out when we find out.
The ferry lands them at the Skybridge, a narrow bridge of force. Violet awaits, standing on the bridge, and a hulking golem of metal, 4 metres tall, awaits them.
(Event - Thread Made Harder (Why Violet wants Candle)
Violet shouts down to them to give over the candle or golem will get it for her. Muria tries to stir the Sword Sisters to attack the golem, but they're not having it.
Jai hands over the candle before there's any messiness. Violet leaves them a sack, inside which are documents with TTT debts cleared. And hundreds of beetles they are welcome to sell...
They leave the Sisterhood of the Sword conversing with the beetle witch. There was no sign of anyone waiting to take the box given to them at Red Bear Village.
Scene 6 - Lake Secrets
We spent an unpleasant week in the area near Skybridge. We foraged but found nothing, Muria was distracted by dismal thoughts of the future and Ouestin was paranoid about being followed. We found remains of nomads long gone, our supplies grow low and our beasts grow hungry. I've decided we should follow the trail back around Three Sticks Lake to villages there.
(Went through week of travel routine, then Event - Extra Takes Action, Sword Sisters)
Being shadowed by some Sword Sisters, the group travel around Three Sticks Lakes to where they can buy supplies. They run out on trip and all beasts in caravan on second week of starving.Oestin surprises everyone, telling jokes and raising spirits.
As watering the mounts, sleek humanoids rise from the water, recognised as"water people". Suspicious of group but not seemingly hostile. Through gestures warn TTT not to approach a nearby island.
When Jai shows them the box from Red Bear Village, the cold vomes get excited. Ouestin surprises everyone again by communicating that they expect something in return, also making then laugh, coughing up water.
Group given great honour, taken to see the island warned about earlier. In the lake by the island they can see a pyramid, submerged in the lake. They have the feeling of some great power within. Muria guesses the water people guard something within. Then water people give them as much fish as they can carry.
As they leave they are confronted by a pair of Sword Maidens.
(Event - An Unwelcome Truth is Revealed)
The Sisters ask if the box was delivered to the cold vomes. Group confused, but Jai realises they've been following it, ever since Red Bear Village. The Sword Sisters warn them they can't leave.
But the TT do, later that evening in the dark, under Jai's inept leadership. Interrupted by two Sisters, but push on past and escape without anyone getting hurt on either side.
Ouestin leads them on and manage to camp somewhere in the dark after short march.
I had more dreams of the great metal serpent I hunt. It was at a squarish keep of iron, with all kinds of metal objects stuck to it. The vech squirmed over the upper parts of the keep, but looked at me before I awoke. I think it senses me. Maybe it's time to tell the others more of the beast I hunt.
Next scene starts with them trying to stay ahead or avoid the Sisterhood of the Sword.
Character and Notes
Updated from previous Character Notes.
Jai Ping-Noon
A tall hunter from a powerful family, driven to find the creature that haunts her dreams.
Exiled bluelander noble big game hunter (f) - compulsion after meeting a seer. Nemesis - Ranalo Xerive, owed €20 by Muria.
STR 0, END 0, AGI 3, CHA 2, AUR 0, THO 2, Life 12, level 2 (750 xp), DEF 15/17
Skills - Dream-walking +3, leadership +3, shooting +6,
Gear - €11, ivory set of Zu Complex ignition tables, ballistic linen suit (AR 2, light), steplander composite bow (d8, medium+ range), spear (1d6/1d8), shield.
Muria per Cupa
A determined healer who bears the sign of the Shield. She and her cult seek allies for a revolution...
Secret azure cult bio-mechanic (f), seeking allies for a revolution, bears a sign of the Fast Stars - A Shield that glows when exposed to radiation.
STR 0, END 2, AGI 1, CHA 0, AUR 2, THO 1, Life 12, level 2 (925 xp), DEF 11
Skills - healing +6, melee +3, stir up a crowd +3
Gear - €20, yellow cape of pure steel silk, medikit, knife (1d4)
Ouestin Haus
An opportunist from old money who studied surgery at a famous college. Attracts people but cares little for them, instead seeking gratification and fortune.
Redland vintner aristocrat surgeon (m), sheer industrial greed, loyal friend (taciturn mechanic who fixes nearly anything)
STR 0, END 0, AGI 1, CHA 3, AUR 1, THO 2, Life 12, level 2 (900 xp), DEF 14
Skills - carousing +3, morale +3, surgeon +3, wines +3.
Gear - €0, four brassy cogs from a soul mill, pro-hiker kit, crossbow (1d8, reload 20), scale shirt
Caravan (Tomato Trading Trust)
- 3 two-wheeled carts
- 2 donkeys (Greeny - begs for food, Ruby - red-tailed donkey), 2 mules (Reddy - can bark like a dog, Bluey - has a rag doll), 1 goatelope (Jet - longbearded goatelope), 1 loper bird (Puce - loves apples)
- 6 sacks of supplies (fish...)
- Trade goods - marrow-beets (2 sacks), second-hand pulp literature from the Rainbowlands (3 sacks), sack of beetles
- A debt owed to Banner (their Patron)
- Symbol of three tomatoes.
Threads and Extras
ultraviolet thoughts | solo tools | scenes | chars | threads & extras
Updated from original thread and extras.
Threads
- Hunt the monster Jai saw in a vision - A metallic wormlike vech - ☑☑☑☐
- Avoid Ranalo Xerive
- What is the revolution Muria seeks allies for?
- What is the opportunity that brings Ouestin out here?
- Verify if Banner is dead
- Sell sack of beetles give by Violet
- What is in Pyramid of the water people
- Escape Sword Maidens who seek what is in pyramid of the cold vomes
Extras
- Azure Cult - Muria is a member
- Banner (dead?) - patron of TTT caravan. Academic high priest, wants to create a dynasty, part of a collective temple hive, opposed by occultist imperialists, turns into a felinoid in sunlight. Actually backed by Oranjist biomantic-pharmaceutical conglomerate hoping to benefit from useful and efficient food sources, who can send along help.
- Cold Vomes - water people of Three Sticks Lake, protect underwater pyramid by an island
- Occultist Imperialists - foes of Banner, Chromatic Cabal
- Ranalo Xerive - nemesis of Jai, very talented musician - absolute ass
- Sisterhood of the Sword Maidens - Eager to meet Violet,
- Torron Valpin (mechanic) friend of Ouestin, fixes nearly anything, taciturn
- The Clan of Public Relations of Red Bear Village - adopted Ouestin.
- Violet - Old beetle witch, part of Chromatic Cabal, wants to use Sun Candle for something
Finishing Up
Probably going to meet the metal serpent Jai is hunting soon. Probably won't go well for the TTT....
Happy Gaming!
