Sons of the Watch (AAR)

Our group finally got around to playing another round of Burning Wheel last Sunday.  I didn't feel that the first time round I did a great job as DM keeping the pace.  I was determined to make this one count.  To that end I created some player aids and character sheets which you are free to use if you are interested in running this scenario.

So we sat around the table and I explained the situation.  If you are unfamiliar with this scenario I suggest you read the first page of the wiki to get an idea of the character's motivations and what's going on at the start.  Here's the main hook:

The peace has been kept in King’s Landing for thirty years by the Commander of the City Watch by Commander Varesse Velaryon. Friend and advisor to King Daeron Targaryen II, beloved of the people of King’s Landing, Commander Varesse has spent his life in service to the Kingdom and to the City. A stalwart supporter of peaceful tactics, Varesse had been instrumental in convincing the young King Daeron II to keep peace with Dorne. Now Varesse lies on his deathbed, suffering from a wasting sickness. The King’s Grand Maester has failed to heal him, the greatest Maesters from Oldtown have been sent for and have since returned unsuccessfully. The young King has said his goodbye’s to his old councilor and with the urge of new councilors, he has turned his attention again to threatening Dorne with war. Now Varesse lies in his bed and hasn’t woken in days. From your place in the antechamber, you can see his precious sword, Sunset, made from Valaryen steel lying by his side, clenched weakly by his once-strong hands, a testament to his heroic past.

We had planned for 5 players, but only 4 were able to make it, so I (the DM) took over Jermaine Valaryon (The Pretender) since he seemed the most like an bad guy NPC out of all of the characters.  The characters are all gathered outside Commander Varesse's bedchamber, meeting to discuss what to do next...

It Starts...
Foras (The Bastard) immediately pulls Helios aside, deciding that the truth can wait no longer.  He persuades Helios that Commander Varesse is not only being poisoned, but that it is actually Jermaine who is doing it!  This persuasion roll, we found out later, should not have been quite so easy.  It wasn't until later that I'd realized Persuasion tests against the Will of the character being persuaded.  Oh well, we rolled with it.  

Meanwhile The Pretender, Jermaine, worked to convince The Baron that they should take a different course. "Lorena couldn't possibly heal him if the greatest Maester's from Old Town were stumped.  Wouldn't it just be an affront to his honor to try using a woman?"  This failed spectacularly, and The Baron insisted that lorena be allowed to examine him.  By this point Foras and Helios (the Pious) were back, and Lorena inspected the commander.  She correctly deduced that he was poisoned, and got so many successes that I even told her what the poison was (I don't remember what I called it now).  It was a very rare poison made from plants that only grew in Ashaii.  

She decided to take advantage of her Incomprehensible Diagnosis trait to convince everyone that it was Lupis (we had some House fans playing :P).  She convinced everyone except for Helios, and Lord Blackmont (both had the ability to see through her deception due to their high will stat).  Foras was convinced that she was being honest but did not believe she was correct (he was still sure it was poison).

The Confrontation
Lorena announced that she needed to go do some research to figure out how to cure his "Lupis."  Jermaine wanted to come with her (to ensure she did not succeed, just in case).  She insisted she didn't want any distractions, and wanted only people who could help he research (those with some medical knowledge).  Jermaine again tried to ply his falsehood skill to convince her that he knew all about Lupis and such.  This failed, and people were now convinced there was something queer about his actions.

Lorena, her father, and Helios went to the grand library to start searching.  Jermaine made to follow...discretely, when Foras stopped him at the door.  Jermaine tried to push past but was rebuffed (power vs. power verses test).  An argument ensued which quickly escalated as Foras pulled a knife and put it to Jermaine's throat in an effort to extract information.  Jermaine finally relented and agreed to bring Foras to his poison supplier (with the intent of killing said supplier, so that Foras would still lack any proof).

Meanwhile Lorena's player and I discussed how researching would work.  I said that if she wanted to research the remedy, it would take quite a while.  In fact, if she failed the research roll, she would not have enough time to save the Commander any other way.  She decided to search for someone in King's Landing with the information she needed.  She passed a successful circles test with some help from Helios, and they were pointed to just the person they needed: Validos "The Provider."  What a coincidence that this just happened to be the same person that Jermaine was leading Foras to (at knife point).

The Tavern
So of course they both arrive at the same tavern at the same time!  Jermaine points to Validos and Foras moves over to confront the man.  Jermaine discreetly follows Foras, and using an amazing roll manages to stab Validos with a poisoned blade without anyone noticing him do it.  Foras is furious and jumps on him.  It is at this point that Lorena, Helios, and Lord Blackmont arrive in the tavern.  Helios makes good use of his "If traveling on the streets, bring Gold Cloaks with me," instinct.  He decided that they actually have guards right there, and sends them in to break up the fight.  

Lorena and Helios go down to attend to the dying poison supplier.  They are told that he is beyond saving, but you can attempt to stabilize him for a short time.  With Helios's help she is able to do so.  This becomes a linked test with Perception to hear his dying words.  Jermaine uses his Conspicuous to attempt to increase the OB for the perception test as he rants and raves about how his bastard brother just stabbed his friend right in front of him!

Lorena rolls a brilliant Perception test, as does Helios.  Not only do they hear Validos implicating Jermaine as his killer, but also some information that will help them with the cure for the Commander.

The Trial
At this point Helios stands up and tells the guards to bring everybody in the tavern back to the red keep for questioning.  Jermaine is included in this bunch.  When they get back, Jermaine tries again to persuade everyone that he had nothing to do with this, and that it is all his Bastard brother's doing.  Her FoRKs and Arthas everything he's got, but rolls extremely poorly.  This is interpreted (by me) that he not only didn't come off as convincing, but he implicated himself by giving away some piece of information that he shouldn't have known.

Knowing how bad things have just gotten, he demands Trial by Combat!  Foras immediately volunteers to fight him.  3 exchanges later, after many a strike, block, and counter-strike, an unblocked strike by Jermaine rolls 5 successes, which is an immediate mortal wound to Foras.  As Foras lay dying, his brother kneels next to him and whispers into his ear "You should have killed me when you had the chance, Bastard!"

We decided to stop here since we were all pretty hungry, but we all agreed it was a very typical ending for the Song of Ice and Fire setting.  Lorena had managed to cure the Commander, and Jermaine decided to cut his losses and avoid his father...for now...