Epic Tale of Black Knight (Magic Realm)

Author note: I’ve tried Realmspeak so many times, but I think my last play was the correct one, although not perfect, and it created a great, epic story in my mind that I could never get off. So to satisfy my ego, here I tried to share my fantasy imagination. For those who are interested in technical details, I played very standard rules, and leave the map building to the computer. I’m still newbie here, so please forgive my carebear play. Oh, and for the bolded words, they are game mechanics or components that integrated to the story (to help visualize how the real game went). It’s a solo Black Knight play.

I. Preparing for Chaos

I am the Black Knight. I roam from one realm to another, to survive, to seek glory, or to create havoc. Today I arrived on a new realm. I quickly go to the Inn, a good starting place to know the information about this place. Unfortunately, the Rogues were plenty in this place. Their filthy morals were all over the place, and I decided, during one month visit in this realm, I am going to compose chaos here, starting from them.

But first, I need to analyze the geographic here. From the information I got, High Pass mountain was north of here, and if you walk through the tunnel there, you will meet an isolated Chapel. So I guess the Orders here don’t socialize much. But on south, after passing the Borderlands, you will find House of Soldiers and Guards my eternal foe. That was something to note. Also most of the caves and mountains on south, so the plan was clear. Wipe the Rogues and use their dirty treasure to buy my favorite weapon from the Orders, a Crossbow.

Now, to complete the plan, I won’t do it alone. It would be suicide. As strong as I am, it’s still 7 to 1 with the Rogues here. Fortunately, I heard news that my allies, the Companies will be arrived soon. Ah, here they are. Hmm... but I don’t like the look on their leader’s face. After talking, it proves my hunch was correct. They were grumpy for difficulties walking in this realm. Not to mention they came escorting a Scholar. So what? I experienced that too, softies! Usually, they let me hire them for free easily. But now, the negotiation went for several days, even though I used Fear intimidation on every negotiation. But a big masterplan need a good patience. In the end, they agreed to help me.

And now, let’s the killing begin!


II. Annihilation Time

So it’s 8 to 7 for the Rogues. But I am not a lame noble person like White Knight, so while the Rogues were unaware, I stroke with my Companies, killing 3 Rogues in an instant. By the time they realize it, it’s already too late. It’s 8 to 4 now, and just a matter of time to be wiped out. They put up quite a good fight too though, downing 2 of my men. After their filth traces were erased, time to loot all the valuables.

I split my forces, sending the leader of Company with two of their man to scout ahead the Borderlands, while I recuperated and looted the remaining treasure. During that time, a band of Patrols came and rest at Inn. What a wonderful timing for a prey! Using the same dirty tactics, their leader butchered by me and two of my men. The next was easy, one was lured by one of my man that he couldn’t kill, and we killed the other one. No need explanation for the next round.

The loots were plenty. But, during my digging, I found a strange letter from the Patrols. It seemed someone tipped them about the Pillage campaign from their enemies, the Bhaskars. And they asked help from the Soldiers too. Cowards! Oh well, since my goal was to create chaos here, and I already killed the Patrols, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to help the Bhaskars side, even though I haven’t seen them yet. No problem, the House was next to Borderlands, so it’s not quite a detour.

Be prepared, Soldiers!


III. Pillage Everything

After it’s too hard to loot anymore at the Inn, I decided to join my scout, who seemed to have trouble finding secret passages in Borderlands. But when we searched together, we found it at last. There were also some Giants in the process, but they are no match of our joined forces. And then we arrived at the House.

Since we were already enemies, I couldn’t catch them unaware. So we hid first, and stroke them from the darkness. I guess I don’t need to tell more about the result of uneven number combined with dirty tactics. Of course the looting was the next action. And with the gold I have right now, I could rehire my Companies until the end of month.

By this time, I was fully armored. And in my belongings were some treasure that I won’t bother to find its uses. But my weapon was still a lame Mace. So maybe it’s time to pay the Orders a visit. I split my forces again, and send the leader to scout ahead for another passages and treasure, while I went back to north, to trade with the Orders.

It was not pleasant.


IV.Annoying

Nobody told me that the tunnel in High Pass was full of Serpents, in any size. Normally, I won’t mind with that. But since walking in caves hinder my movement, and knowing I would need to pass that again, it really irked me. Not to mention the arrogant bastards of the Orders were selling the Crossbow for 40 gold. FORTY GOLD! I guess living isolated makes some people insane. But I didn’t have time to haggle, so I paid with bitter grunt. If I were with my full forces, I would annihilate them in no time. But sometimes wisdom is needed. During that I sold some of my loots too.

Crossbow is the best weapon for me, since I could aim well. But it has its disadvantage. Ranged weapon could produce some unpredictable result. It could be bull’s eye, but it could be so awful that make you hope you didn’t shoot and just hit with the tool instead. And it happened during my returning to the Serpent tunnel in High Pass. Added them with wrong strategic positioning, my Great Swordsman were killed, leaving me with just a Crossbowman barely alive.

Ranged people need meat shield.

So I rejoined with my Companies, and they found Cairns locations on the top if mountain at Cliff. We looted it for a while, killed some big Spider, and then I recounted. At this time, I’ve already reached my goals, so I had two choices. Go back to Inn and wait until the end of month there, or continue adventuring. Retire was option for elders, the fearful Black Knight always challenge the danger. So we went forward.

And in Ruins we found Lost Castle.


V. Lost Castle

We found a dragon hoard here, and its lair too. But they seemed deserted. So first we looted the Hoard all we could, then we were moving to the Lair. But I made a mistake for not reassigning my men, and after the leader and the rest of melee men went first...

A huge, TREMENDOUS figure moved, separating us...

It was the biggest Dragon I’ve ever seen. And we, the two Crossbowmen, wouldn’t stand a chance against it. I tried for a lucky shot, using my Crossbowman to lure it while I alerted my Crossbow and aim it. It didn’t work. It didn’t suppose to be, but who knows? And when my Crossbowman crushed in its jaws, it was my cue to runaway. I swore I would kill it after I rejoin with my men.

But they were nowhere to be seen at the Lair. Instead two big Flying Dragons were chomping some minced meats that I thought were my men. Great! From a very unstoppable forces, exterminated until my humble beginnings. It hurt my notoriety greatly. Luckily I still had some treasure that give notoriety. And since the end of month drawing near, I thought this was really the time for retire. I am strong, but not honorable idiot. I know when to back off.

I run from Lost Castle elusively, and hiding in a forest nearby. Then I saw a small campfire nearby, and there, the Bhaskars showed up. But since they didn’t know I was helping their campaign, their attitude toward me was neutral. Ungrateful bastards. Oh well, at least I could sell some loots. And the last day was closing in, but not before the annoying Lancers showed up!

These Lancers are idiotic and annoying bunch, and they look for trouble any chance they got. It’s my last day, and I didn’t want to gamble it for some heroic feat. So when they started some trouble, I bought them drinks to calm them, and it worked! At last I can leave this blasted realm!

Next time I won’t be so nice...


Enclosure notes: My final score was 8. I think I beat the game, since I could fulfill all my victory conditions. It was Fame 1, Notoriety 3, and Gold 1. A little bit side note, I didn’t actually beat it, since I was short for about just 3 gold. I didn’t know (or forgot) that for all my belongings to be counted as gold, I need to sell it. I ended the game with full armor, when I could just sell them at the last days. Since I was a newbie, it still count as win right? .

Final thought: For those who don’t know about Magic Realm, or still considering it, or appalled by the rulebooks, I tell you again. IT. WAS. AWESOME! It’s epic, and this grandeur “I had beaten the game!” feeling would stay for a while. And I like how the game keep you tense until the near of end game. I go from nothing, to unstoppable juggernaut, and reduced again to run like chicken. And I could say that many of the “misfortunes” were actually some mistakes that I made, not just bad die roll. This game made you alert for all time, and give you engaging experience that you would never get in any other fantasy adventure boardgame.

Wah jadi makin pengen maininnya. Bener2 komplit ya. Gue dulu waktu awal mula baca nggak nyangka bakal ada campaign segala.

mang dah jadi mot?
apa ini versi PCnya? ada emang? mau donk

Versi PC. Namanya Realmspeak. Tapi gini, Realmspeak ini sudah otomatisasi semua dari rulenya Magic Realm (yg buat bener2 canggih). Di Realmspeak, kamu bisa lihat dengan jelas result dari suatu kondisi, but not WHY that happened. Kalo itu, harus kamu baca sendiri dari rulebooknya.

Satu lagi, kalo bengong ga ngerti apa2, trus langsung terjun ke Realmspeak, belom tentu kamu bisa melewati hari ke-3 dengan selamat . Ya, kecuali kamu selama 3 hari itu rest terus, ga ke mana2.