I got to run the 2nd session for our hump-day Cha'alt campaign via Roll20 (if you couldn't get that from the blog post's title), and it was just as much fun as the first!.
We had Ka'az, ST-K1 (The Saint), Vor'sarkh, and Dirk Diggler Fergusa'an a wounded war veteran from the third Federation occupation collecting cans in the desert to pay his medical bills.
The not-unattractive elf sorceress (we later discover her name is Candy) was continuing to arc an indigo-blue electricity from her wand to the pylon's matrix table. Still night time. After some chit-chat, the PCs convinced her that they might be able to help her siphon the pylon's energy so she can [checks notes]...
“Give to my people's equitable guillotine of social freedom and democratic secular union. So, the unwashed masses of New Ja'alette, city-state of the social justice warriors, can seize the means of production. It's how we deal with heretics and infidels. My people crave for the time when we can decapitate those who do not conform to our neo-liberal ways."
In exchange, she promised to help the malfunctioning droid Vor'sarkh - using her wand to turn him humanoid, as in flesh and bone, rather than metal and circuits. The droid sorcerer was stupefied by this result. The Saint used his crystal-rimmed jaccard on the energy crystals sitting atop the matrix table, and Ka'az initiated his smooth ladies man moves on Candy.
Turns out, she was down. But just to be certain, the blue-velvet elf's player stimulated the sleaze Cha'alt X-Card, which could also be used to make a likely event, given enough time and energy, into an entire subplot for the scenario... or at least extending what might be only a moment into, more or less, an entire scene. It basically signals to the GM that the player wants whatever it is to be more prominent... bigger, longer, and uncut.
Anyway, Ka'az gained Divine Favor for his use of the Cha'alt X-Card, as well as, his Ghostbusters 2 reference. "I've worked with better... but not many."
So, Ka'az got his sleaze factor-5 bonus; although, she got a little too attached. She saw him as long-term relationship material. I've used a d8 vibe-check roll once or twice in the past. It basically determines how the individual who's rolling feels about a situation.
If, for example, the sex was innately pleasurable or gratifying in an emotional way. Stuff that we don't, as humans, consciously choose. Obviously, a subconscious attraction or sympathetic vibrations can be acted-upon or not acted-upon, depending upon the player. My job as the GM, or Sofa King, is not to decide how one responds with actions or words - nevertheless, informing a character how he feels about something is well within my purview.
Anyway, Ka'az got less than mid (3) and I rolled better than mid for Candy (5+1 for both the player's vivid description of events and Ka'az complimenting his conquest). She was definitely into the blue-velvet elf.
Originally, The Saint opened a portal to a cave containing Marshal, Will, and Holly talking to Enik about the time doorways as they viewed a portal of their own where a yellow inflatable raft went from high-speed rapids and then over a waterfall - "Aa'ahhhhh!" A weird mist poured out of that portal into the PC's pylon interior and a purple-mauve energy crystal fell upon the black floor.
Poor rolling continued as Dirk fiddled with the matrix table, opening a portal to a Chinese restaurant from the set of Seinfeld, naturally. Enormous green suckered tentacles grabbed a couple party members, dragging them into the Golden Seschua'an Palace and nearly into the kitchen where perhaps Great K'tulu was cooking up some shrimp fried rice?
Eventually the PCs were able to collect the necessary food. Dirk complained about the smell and a green-eyed waitress got in his face. Apparently, she was looking for an excuse for him to make an example out of her. As Dirk went to Chinatown on her, the other PCs gathered up their take-out and headed towards the portal.
Lo and behold, it was mid-morning and everyone else was gone (including the talkative midnight-elf who I forgot was there until a player brought him up halfway through the session). Ka'az's new girlfriend left a note saying "You never came back, so I've moved on. Find me in New Ja'alette (a suburb of the all-female city-state, this one uses lots of male slaves or simps as they're commonly referred to) if you want to hook-up again."
It was clear that some time had passed since returning from the Chinese restaurant, but just how much was still unknown. Even though the demon with the sack full of gold at the Burnt-Umber Jackal Worm cantina was probably long gone, the PCs exited the pylon and headed for the ruins.
They eventually came upon a wall, about 14-feet tall and unscalable (to the average humanoid). It stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions, preventing them from accessing whatever was on the other side. As they pondered exactly how to proceed, the session ended.
"Tough climb. If a patrol comes by, we might be better off requesting asylum, but I am not sure if we are on the good side or the bad one. I have a job on this side, so I am worried.... Past this, it could be donkey shows and Car'tels."
Thanks for reading! If you'd like to experience the Cha'alt magic for yourself, jump into a game. The hump-day campaign happens every Wednesday night 9:30 - 11pm (central standard time).
VS
p.s. Yes, weekend badges are now available for July 2026's VENGER CON V: The Will To Power. Want a great new TTRPG community where you can hang out with other gamers, get ideas, advice, and training in order to improve? Look no further than the fastest-growing group on X - it's the Kult of Kort'thalis. Want the hardcover Cha'alt trilogy? Here's how (and they're currently on sale!)!!
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