Lichdom
Session 0
I learned about sorcery from an ancient leather-bound book I found wandering the ancient mountains of Zahrad-de. Returning home, I spent every day and night studying the rituals the sorcerer described. Feeling stronger and brighter every day until I discovered that my newfound energy came directly from the life force of my parents who perished not long after.
Afterwards, I crossed the red wastes towards an unknown destination. Never will I forget this hostile land, nor the ravishing thirst I encountered after 10 days under the scorching sun. In fact, I still feel it every day if I don’t keep my mind occupied with other things.
For a sweet long time I enjoyed building the illusions that make my old crumbling tower appear grand, but sinister. But soon I lost interest in these ephemeral pastimes and the thirst returned. Looking into the bronze mirror for the first time in weeks, I was greeted by a gaunt, harsh-looking figure. Unshaven, unwashed, and with a dark glint in its eyes, that even I found haunting.
I couldn’t remember looking much different since destroying the Circle of Sequestered Mythics. Did I really kill all of them? But they cannot be in league with this Aaron demon that keeps pestering me all the time. Can they?
I missed so much in life, always searching knowledge. I must keep on searching.
Session 1
tbl: Jack of Spades -> + Companion
I’m in the library of Sil’dar, researching arcane history, when this red-haired woman approaches me. We talk at length about old rituals that form the basis for many modern ceremonies. I stay a couple of days longer just to keep talking to her. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the opportunity to discuss ancient lore with someone. I knew I had her when I offered her the use of my private library and the chance of enacting some of the darker rituals that we both know—and how we enacted them. The people of the land will be talking for years to come about unnatural storms, the sudden death of their herds, and how the sun got dark. Although we had nothing to do with the last event, we aren’t going to deny it either.
tbl: Two of Diamonds -> Mundane event
Thieves came in the middle of the night. While I could believe they bypassed the mundane defences of my tower, I can’t believe they could overcome the more mystic traps I laid out. Had it not been for Ka’ar, my trusty red-haired companion, they might have stolen the Teller of Shahr—this beautiful artefact that helps us calculate the best times for the more sinister rituals we are attempting now.
Luckily, one of the thieves survived. Well, lucky for us, because we have questions he will answer. After a couple of weeks, everything was answered. And we dispose of his remains in a rather interesting ceremony, aided by the artefact he tried to steal.
Ah, justice.
And now I know that the Circle of Mystics somehow survived my attention, at least partially. But I can fix that, can’t I?
Session 2
tbl: Queen of Diamonds -> + Influence
tbl: Three of Clubs -> Arcane event
On my way to Aran’La, I made a detour to what must be an ancient battlefield. The locals tell me nothing will grow there, and they never go there. I spent a night in ritual listening to the voices of the past. It looks like a small tribe of Deathspeakers, whatever they were, made their last stand there. I could feel the essence of their ritual.
tbl: Seven of Hearts -> Adverse event
d: 2 vs. 7 -> -1 Resolve
The next night, a Dream Thief plunges through my memories. I am utterly helpless, and I fear the ritual from the night before weakened my defences or made me more vulnerable to the attack. However, someone now has knowledge of the Deathspeakers, and of my wish to learn their ritual. Who is it?
tbl: King of Diamonds -> Catastrophe: -1 Resolve +1 Doom
On my way back, I am ambushed by soldiers. I do not know why, but they were in fear of me and tried to come at me at night. One of them stabbed me before I could muster enough will to put them into the ground. Pain and fear made me lash out blindly, and nothing remained of them—so I could not question them afterwards. But since they wore the King’s colours, I fear my welcome here is at an end. This is a catastrophe.
tbl: Six of Diamonds -> + scheming card
tbl: Four of Spades Arcane event
I dream of a darkly glowing city full of Deathspeakers performing cruel rituals. The dream repeats every night now, but I do not know what it means. I spent weeks researching the city, but nothing I find fits together. My obsession makes me forget everything around me until Ka’ar shows me what happened while I obsessed over my dreams.
Session 3
tbl: Queen of Clubs
I can’t understand what happened around me. It looks like the powers that are will start a siege on my tower. I excuse myself to the cellar to meditate on my situation.
After three days, an entity that calls itself Skelos manifests and starts speaking to me in riddles. This isn’t helpful.
tbl: Four of Hearts
This is ridiculous. While the king’s army gathered in the west, the members of a cult gathered in the east. Maybe I can lean back and enjoy the show.
tbl: Two of Clubs
While researching the elusive city of death, I, by chance, find out about the elder gods of their lands. After a lengthy ritual—one that might have required the blood of one of the king’s soldiers—I manage to speak to one of them.
Well, potentially not that much blood, but who’s counting? And I’m sure the cultists will be blamed.
tbl: Nine of Diamonds
d: Seven vs. Nine -> Fail. Minus one resolve
While I wine and dine the lovely marshaless of the cult, an assassin of the king enters my study. Later, I learn that the shield he carried on his back protected him from the wards in my tower. I have to make them better somehow.
And who aided the assassin? Unfortunately, the marshaless dies in the fight, aiding me.
I finally manage to defeat the assassin, but I remain shaken and unsure about approaching the cult with this terrible news. I wonder what the future will bring to my door.
Session 4 / The End
Ka’ar, with whom I discuss our uncertain future, tells me of a ritual to discern the near future. I am intrigued, but a little sceptical. I always thought that the future is an uncertain thing. If I can see it in a ritual, then it is certain for sure. Or is it not?
@: Scry -> -1 Resolve
d: 3, 3 -> Three cards certain future, three cards uncertain
I begin the ritual in the darkness of my catacombs. Soon I feel certain that my ability to tell the future will increase with every use. I see certain minor events that will lead to my discovery of an important arcane truth, directly followed by an unspeakable magical catastrophe. I do not think that I can live to bear that responsibility.
The End.
Note
Here, I realized that paying my intended price for the scrying move will reduce my Resolve to zero, therefore ending my game. That seemed somehow fitting for my character, who was happy to become a magician, but only a reluctant dark one.
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Update: 2026-05-02.