Ep. 4 - Search for the Isle of Black Palms: Kal-Arath Solo Actual Play

The fourth episode of the actual play write-up of my game set in an upcoming Arabian-nights themed setting book called Al-Rathak: Tales of the Crescent Kingdoms

The Kal-Arath system by Castle Grief can be found here.

You can find Al-Rathak in both Print and PDF here.

Format Notes:

The fiction of the adventure will be written in regular text, but any game mechanics will be in grey code blocks or italicized. O> Refers to the game oracle being used.
Kal-Arath uses a 2d6+Attribute vs 8+ resolution system.
Example: 2d6 + 2 Agility = (7+2) = 9, Success!

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"I am Khalid Al-Fayez, a proud sailor of Al-Rathak! My humble yet reliable ship, The Grey Starling, and its loyal crew have sailed the coasts near Anipsed for years. But now, we yearn for adventure—to seek out distant shores, unearth lost treasures, and claim eternal glory as explorers. Rumors whisper of a lost island hidden in the Sea of Whispering Winds, a place where a great treasure lies beneath the canopy of black-leafed palm trees."

Daily Procedure:
1.EXPLORATION
2.WEATHER
3.GETTING LOST (1-2 on d6 = lost)
4.FORAGE (Forest or River +1)
5.ROLL FOR POINT OF INTEREST (POI)
6.ROLL FOR ENCOUNTER
7.CAMP, SPEND RESOURCES, RECOVER
8.END OF DAY/SESSION

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Silver Nightingale's Table of Contents

In his last adventure, Khalid finally discovered The Isle of Black Palms after a long sea journey through the treacherous Sea of Whispering Winds. The treasure of the lost isle is yet to be discovered…

Day 40: Warm Weather

• Khalid looks out over the island with excitement, they’re finally here!

• He thinks back to the rumors he has heard of the Isle of Black Palms and the treasure within. (Roll Dungeon Type> Fortification) The legends say a great island fortess once protected this isle, now long abandoned and forgotten.

• Night Encounter> 3 Sea Ghouls (1d6)> Neutral

  • He spots a trio of sea ghouls flying around near the beach ahead. Their eerie green glow makes the sand look poisoned…

  • Risk landing tonight? Reckless vs Cautious (12) 19> Cautious

  • Khalid decides to give the ghouls a wide berth and stay on the ship tonight

• Rations: 2 Left

Day 41: Light Rain

• Khalid looks out over the isle, (Are the ghouls still there? No, but) he has a bad feeling about landing here. They decide to sail south for a little while and land there instead. Island Terrain > Mountain/Jungle

• POI discovered! > Settlement > Lone Dwelling (definitely not the dungeon of this isle)

  • Oracle> Merchant, Prove Worth

  • He spots a small, roughly made hut and a small campfire at the beach's edge. A strangely well-dressed man seems to be living there. (Does he notice Khalid? > no) He seems busy keeping the small fire fed.

  • Khalid thinks (Indifference vs Curiosity, (7) 19, Curious!) that he should see introduce himself. He walks out towards the camp and the man turns around with a (Reaction> Hostile) look on his face!

    • “I have rights to this Island and its discoveries already,” says the man in a prideful tone as he draws his blade. “I am Amir Al-Siddiq, representative of the Silver Merchants Guild out of Anipsed!”

    • Thinking quickly, Khalid wonders if a little white lie wouldn’t help here. “Then we are well met Lord Al-Siddiq! I am Khalid Al-Fayez, a proud citizen of Anipsed as well. I am on a mission from the Sultan to rid the seas of pirates, and I was blown off course to this strange island.” (PRE check, Success!)

    • Amir’s expression softens, but he doesn’t put away his blade. He says he “and his men” have the situation handled. (Any evidence he isn’t alone here? No…). Khalid says he knows Amir is alone here, he doesn’t have to be. Why not work together to discover the mysteries of the Island and split the treasure? (PRE Check > Success!)

    • Amir thinks about it for a little, but then (Reaction > Friendly) agrees!

    • (Does Amir look capable of defending himself?> Yes, and…) (I rule that he knows some magic as well, Pact of Flame: Tier 1-2)

• They camp together at Amir’s little shelter.

• Rations: 1 Left

Day 42: Light Rain

• They decide to gather some supplies before heading into the jungle

• They discover a wealth of fruit, and Amir even finds a small patch of Mor Blossoms! (+5 rations and 1d6 (2 )Mor Blossoms, (+1 to INT for 1hr when consumed)

• Rest>Night Encounter> 1d6 (1) Pirate> Hostile

• As they camp, a disheveled pirate wielding a scimitar bursts out of the foliage of the jungle. Spotting us, he lets out a yell and attacks!

• Combat:

  • Khalid and Amir spring into action. Khalid’s scimitar just barely misses the slippery knave, but Amir misjudged his strike badly and his sword is wrenched out of hand! (crit fail).

  • The pirate slashes at Amir who dives out of the way. Amir quickly recovers and tries to cast Blazing Plam but the spell fails, it’s arcane reverbations echoing inside his mind. (1 dmg and loss access to spellcasting for the day)

  • The pirate strikes Khalid but his leather armor protects him, and Khalid’s counterattack kills the intruder in one blow! (5 dmg)

• Breathing heavy after the sudden exterertion, they both take some time to sit down and examine the pirate’s corpse, finding nothing of interest.

• “Looks like we’re not alone on this island...” says Khalid.

• Rations: 0 left

Day 43: Clear Weather

• They decide to recover and forage before heading into the island’s interior.

• While foraging, they find (+5 Rations) in the form of date trees, which they harvest. The dates are heavy and sweet, and as jet black as the trees they grow from.

• Rations: 4 Left

Day 44: Clear Weather

• They head west, discovering more mountainous jungle.

• POI Encountered! Did they find the dungeon? Yes…

• They spot a forlorn, vine-choked fortress high along the mountainside. It’s ruined towers cast jagged shadows along the valley bellow like a row of broken teeth. They climb their way to the fortress and find themselves standing in front of the gates, rusted and fallen apart with neglect.

Dungeoncrawl:

Room 1> Foes > Giant Spiders

• Amir lights a torch and holds it aloft as they go in to explore. (Oracle: Glimmering, Decaying) They discover a large stone chamber, it’s walls adorned with decayed tapestries whos golden threads have long lost their lustre. Just as their torchlight reveals thick cobwebs on the walls, they hear a screeching sound behind them as two giant spiders drop down from the ceiling!

• Combat:

  • Initiative: Khalid and Amir

  • They turn and draw their weapons! Amir throws a Mor bloosom from his belt pouch into his mouth and bites down hard. He winces as it’s sour juices flood his throat (+1 INT for 1 hr). He then successfully casts Blazing Palm, and sends a small arc of flame across the room at the closest spider, dealing (4 dmg).

  • Khalid leaps forward and stabs the weakened spider with his spear, dealing (2 dmg) and finishing it off.

  • Morale Check: Fail> The other spider lets out a screech and skitters away, escaping into the darkness beyond this chamber through an open door to the north. They see two other doors from this chamber, 1 closed and 1 open as well.

Room 2: Empty

• Khalid notices a tripwire along the floor in front of the door, and warns Amir about the possible trap. They gingerly step over it and enter the second chamber, noting the heavy stones on the other side set to fall down and crush anyone who triggers the trap. It might be useful, so they leave it as is.

• The large semicircular chamber has a beautiful mosaic floor and 3 doors that go further into the castle. They take the rightmost door and reveal…

Room 3: NPC > Scavenger > Hostile

• They see a disheveled and feral-looking man scavenging around in the ruins of this large chamber. Oracle> Hide. The man runs at the sight of them and disappears into the rubble to hide. They decide it’s best to leave him be and return to the last chamber. Encounter! > (5) Spiders

• More spiders come out of the woodwork just as they return to the mosaic-floored chamber, FIVE of them jump down from the ceiling!

• Combat:

  • Initiative: Spiders

  • They swarm them instantly, three coming in close while the other two lobbed webs at them. Two of them manage to bite down on Amir, (3dmg + paralyzed for (2) turns). Khalid dodges them and strikes with his spear, killing one of them in a single blow!

  • The spiders target the weakened Amir, dealing (5 dmg) leaving him downed and unconscious.

  • A desperate Khalid grabs the smoke bomb from his pouch and throws it on the floor, filling the room with a thick, foul-smelling smoke.

  • Khalid abandons trying to fight them, picks up Amir (STR check, Success!), and runs for the door. Do the spiders follow? Yes!

  • Khalid makes sure to trigger the wire as he leaps over the trapped doorway, causing the large stones to tumble down from the ceiling behind them, cutting the spiders off!

• He drags Amir to their campsite outside the spider-infested castle, and they both take a well-deserved rest to recover.

• Night Encounter! > (1) Shipwrecked Sailor > Friendly >

  • During the night, a sudden commotion in the jungle draws Khalid’s attention. A woman suddenly appears from the treeline, appearing agitated!

  • “Calm! We will not harm you, who are you?” - Khalid

  • The woman appears glad to see a friendly face. “Forgive me, I thought you were pirates… or even worse, whatever monsters are on this godsforsaken island!”

  • She explains that her name is Raina, and she was a healer on a ship that had been driven off course by pirates during a storm and wrecked on this island. She has not been able to find any of her other crewmates here yet. (Does she wish to join us in exploring the castle? No, but…) She offers her aid as a healer if we will let her join our camp, which both Khalid and Amir are more than glad for. She thanks us and immediately starts tending to Amir’s wounds from the spiders. (Amir restores HP with advantage, gaining +5 HP)

Day 45: Heatwave

• They decide to rest and prepare for the spiders better. Perhaps smoke and fire could drive them away? They spend the day gathering dry wood and foraging, finding little to show for it. (+1 Rations and a small pile of wood)

• Night Encounter! > Eukarya > Hostile! (oh no…) > Combat!

  • Initiative: Eukarya (13 HP), Armor (2), d6 Claw + d6 Bite

  • Amir narrowly dodges the scythelike arms of the giant praying mantis as it dives towards him! It’s pincer jaws scrape him for (1dmg)

  • Khalid’s spear can’t penetrate it’s thick carapace (2 dmg - 2 armor), but Amir casts a Blazing Palm for (4-2=2) damage on the insect.

  • Raina tries to hide and stay out of it’s way

  • They narrowly dodge and trade blows with the giant creature, but they can barely do more than scratch it’s armor (2 dmg total)

  • The Eukarya roars and leaps towards (random target: Raina). She tries to dive away (crit fail…12 dmg) but she gets pinned down and ripped in half by the Eukarya! Blood and guts rain down across the campsite as Amir keeps lobbing fireballs and Khalid spears at it out of desperation (3 dmg total)

  • MRL check, since enemy HP reduced below half: Fail

  • The injured Eukarya leaps back into the dark jungle, leaking foul orange fluids from its wounds. They listen with hammering hearts as the sounds of it retreating grow fainter and fainter..

• (Cruelty Vs Empathy (7): Empathy) Khalid sheds a tear for Raina and wordlessly starts cleaning up the camp. Amir looks distraught as well, and together they put what remains of her they can find to rest…

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End Of Session Notes: The jungle campsite is just as deadly as the dungeon! A tragically short and brutal end to a character I was hoping would be an interesting addition to the narrative…but such is life in Al-Rathak…

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I’ll post more of these as Khalid explores and (playtests) the Al-Rathak setting book created by Charles F Bryant, II & me, SilverNightingale! You can find Al-Rathak in both Print and PDF here.

You can find more of my work here: https://silvernightingale.itch.io/

Character Sheet LV 3
Name: Khalid Al-Fayez
XP: 2/4
Stats-----
STR(ength) +1
AGI(lity) +1
TOU(ghness) +0
INT(elligence +1
PRE(scence) +1

HP: (8/10)

Skills:
Sailor - Advantage to survival related rolls when at Sea
Stealth - Adv to stealh checks

Weapons: Spear (d6)

Equipment:
Torch
Waterskin
Flint&Steel
Hammer and Stakes

Silver: 2

Notes:
Has a small dhow ship called the Grey Starling, crewed by two hired crew (Samir & Rafi) 

Personality Matrix*
Reckless/Cautious 12
Cruel/Empathetic 7
Paranoid/Rational 10
Deceptice/Honest 8
Indulgent/Frugal 9
Curious/Indifferent 14
Greedy/Generous 14

*The personality matrix works by rolling a d20 vs the personality score to see how this character will react to different situations. From Just One Torch solo toolkit.