Play test 1 - Session 1; The Guardian's Trial

General Summary

The session began our hero Cooler and his brother Ice, young prospective Guardians . They sat and talked about how they felt about the upcoming trial and their role in the world as a whole, a conversation that they've had dozens of times in the past. Cooler is shown to be a reader, spending a little too much time thinking about how the world used to be. They are then joined by Master Clay, the Terran (Tribe of Terra) Scavver who mentored these two boys to prepare them for their role as a guardian and the trial ahead. He advises them "Do not trust what you see in the Trial. The spirits are not good, nor evil. They will test you, but you must prove yourselves to them." They talk a bit longer before Master Clay ushers them back for the ceremonies to begin.
Cooler sat beside his brother as the aesthetic creams were spread across the back of his shoulder, followed by an un-felt incision. The Ettmetal was then administered, and aesthetic notwithstanding burned them in agony. In a daze each were lead to the trial site; One by one the trial goers entered the Slumped mountain to prove themselves to the spirits and become Guardians.
It was dark, lit only by the light of their torches. The brothers talked to comfort each other, complaining about the pain. when the pain had subsided some, they picked up the pace to find whatever it was they were to find. They heard a strange cry in the distance and followed it into the depths as sand slowly fell form the ceiling into their eyes. More and more the sand fell, and before they knew it it had caved in. Cooler dodged out of the way, but Ice was nowhere to be seen. He dug and he dug, but it was no use; his brother was gone. Cooler hoped that he would find him again, that his brother was alive, but it seemed like a slim hope. Cooler remembered the times his brother had saved his only life, but only missed him more. Cooler continued to follow the cries.
As he followed the cries, they grew louder and louder ahead of him, and then they stopped. he rushed ahead, but was met with a dead end. As he turned he saw a horrific view. A large skeletal figure composed of sand, fragments perpetually falling from it's form. It questioned Cooler, asking why it's people, the fellow spirits, should lend their power to him as a Guardian. He was afraid, hiding behind his war shield. He answered like this "I want the power to change things. My people cower in fear; I want to build a world where they can be safe and happy" "Grr, he want's to change things. I don't like that answer, but those frigid blowhards would love it. They love changing things how they want them to be. hmmm. Very well, you pass this test. Now prove that our power, our strength won't be wasted on you." and with that the spirit lunged at Cooler.
They fought hard, and it was over in seconds, Cooler badly bruised and out of breath, and the Spirit crumbling to pieces.
The spirits voice seemed to depart its crumbling form laughing, and told Cooler that he has now passed the second test. As it departed, Cooler had a strange sensation and saw movement in the pile of sand. He rushed over and felt inside, and his hand found something cold to the touch. His Brother, wounded there he had wounded the spirit. Working in a panic Cooler bound his wounds using his belt, and abandoning his weapons carried his brother through the tunnels toward safety; His brother muttering in some kind of nightmare.
But all was not well. for as he tried to escape, everything seemed different. There was no more cave in. instead he came across a wide chasm in a cavernous room. Hope fled from Cooler. How would he ever cross this? Then while he was in the midst of despair, he remembered the words of his master before the trial. "Do not trust what you see in the Trial. The spirits are not good, nor evil. They will test you, but you must prove yourselves to them." So Cooler shut his eyes and listened. He wondered what he would hear in a cavernous room like this and listened for it, and did not hear it. Idea in mind he took a handful of sand and tossed it into the gap. It disappeared as soon as it hit level with his feet. Tentatively he tested the gap and found it solid beneath his feet. Gathering up his unconscious brother, he ventured forward testing the ground before him with sand, finding and avoiding pitfalls as he went. Soon he was across. It wasn't long before he saw light. Morning had just dawned. He came out to see the day and was welcomed by many, and Cooler fainted from the exhaustion.
Cooler awoke slowly in the morning, hearing the voices on the other side of the curtain. "What do we do with him? Is he a guardian or--"Did the Ettmetal set in him?""Yes""Did the Spirits bless him and deem him worthy?""Yes""Then they have already decided. Spirits help him, it's been decided."
Cooler rose from his thin mat in a burrow home. He tested his muscles but they were fine aside from the bruising. Remembering the trial he rushed through the curtain to find his brother heavily covered in scraps to contain his injuries. Cooler saw two things about his brother. The small silver birthmark noting him as a new Guardian, and the small furry creature nestled into his brothers armpit. Cooler tried to got to his brother, but the pig nosed creature growled and tried to deter him. Cooler would not be stopped. he tried to wake his brother but it only led to troubled sleep speech. He cried out to Ice. Master Clay came in to stop in and lead him out. "Is Ice going to be okay!?" "I . . . I really don't know. The medicine man says that he should recover, eventually, but we don't know what will really happen. All we know is that he has been chosen by the spirits. We will just have to trust their judgement." "But what is that things sticking to him?" "Hmm? Have you forgotten, Cooler? That would be his spirit Owai. He is a Guardian now. Didn't you notice yours?"
Cooler turned to behold a small dark furry form curled beside his mat; sharp claws with a red feather pluming from its head.
"Congratulations, Cooler. You're a guardian"

Rewards Granted

The new powers of a Guardian
A Spirit Owai companion

Missions/Quests Completed

The Spirits Trials

Character(s) interacted with

Terran Spirit Dancer
Master Clay
Brother Ice T
Earth Spirit

Campaign

Test 1

Protagonists

Report Date

17 Apr 2018

Primary Location

Newman's Valley