Burkstad 4-5

Misery continues to flourish and grow in Burkstad.

Butcher arrived, and survivors were somehow, well, surviving for quite a while in this fight. It did not seem impossible at first, but then settlement's murderous champion (named Murderer) got Controlophobia disorder. Which often is a non-disorder that does not affect anything at all.

Murderer was even hiding behind Butcher's back when it was his turn being monster controller. The amount of bad luck here was absurd. I mean, Controlophobia is active only on one turn in four. Then, Murderer draws Lantern Frenzy, and one out of four random possibilities, target was him. So now he was receiving double damage and was priority target that cannot be removed for any reason.

But hey, he had our best armor and +2 evasion from gear. This battle might still be doable if next AI card would be some of the nicer ones. But it was Hack City on the turn when he received double damage.

At least Murderer did not have to suffer for long, because he rolled 1 on the first severe injury roll he had to make.

By this time we had whittled Butcher to about five or four AI cards remaining. We had our chances to remove Hack City and Lantern Frenzy from the deck, but that would have been too easy, now wouldn't it?

In fact, Hack City got drawn again on the very next turn. Our Catgut Bow wielding survivor endured through the attack, but coming next was Lantern Frenzy. And it targeted the bow wielder.

That's it. Abort mission. She makes the sacrifice and lures Butcher into darkness, dying in the process and making settlement lose Catgut Bow and associated arrows.

Settlement event is Stranger in the Dark.

Dhilhe, with the Twilight Sword, approaches this stranger. And dies instantly. Come on, Butcher. We can all see through your disguise. You can leave now. You had your harvest.

Population is down to three survivors remaining. But at least we had six endeavors to spend on auguries, and Bob had become a matchmaker so we had at least one guaranteed intimacy.

Bob is quickly becoming the hero of Burkstad. Not only through his advice and practical tips were twins Trevor and Gheb are born, but he also gains Red Fist secret fighting art from Hands of Heat.

One successful augury also blessed settlement with Gwen, who had +1 permanent strength. So at least Burkstad was back to population of six.

Since we had lost Catgut Bow, next quarry was White Lion.

There was also this fact that, when counting gear, we noticed that settlement had no weapons other than Rib Blade. Bone Blade had been smashed during Butcher fight, Catgut Bow disappeared into darkness along with the sacrifice and Twilight Sword disappeared when Dhilhe's lantern was extinguished.

Hunt Phase was surprisingly positive. Survivors gained a total of +2 understanding during it, and cancer pigeons did not reach anyone.

And after the utter devastation that had happened during Butcher fight was a fading memory, when survivors perform - with pretty much only fist and tooth - the most successful turn in this campaign until now. A total of four wounds were inflicted on second or third turn of the game.

Even AI deck had been warded from any of the scarier cards. Both Size Ups were there and Terrifying Roar, too, when White Lion could not reach any survivors after bellowing.

In fact the Hit Location reactions were more threatening. Threatening to the point where they killed survivors. Lion slapped three damage points to Gwen on naked location, and severe injury roll was a 2. And she had had Rib Blade.

Remaining three did not have any weapons.

However, Bob's fist was red enough to win the day. We even received resources to re-build the lost bow.

Settlement event is Glossolalia, and Trevor invents new language.

Armored Strangers offer some pity for Burkstad, which is again down to population of five.

A crone offers Warm Virus Flower for Bob, so we may soon see a fight against Flower Knight. Especially when we luck out many times in rapid succession - Finally we receive Paint from innovation deck. Love Juice makes one Gwennyth, and Bob's matchmaking abilities lead to Ghentavi being born.

Clarita spends quite a few endeavors at Augury to receive third Understanding to become a tinker. This eventually succeeds, but not before Burkstad gains another blue savior called Tarantinho.

Population had bloomed back to eight, which had not been the case since day 1.

Year six hunt is probably going to be the Flower Knight, because that's how much Burkstad needs Bob. Or at least his fist.

Burkstad

Population: 8

Principles:
Protect the Young
Graves

Innovations:
Language
Hovel
Ammonia
Bed
Nigredo
Symposium
Paint

Locations:
Lantern Hoard
Bone Smith
Skinnery
Organ Grinder
Catarium
Gormchymist
Gormery

Gear:
3x Cloth
3x Stone Noses
Full Rawhide Set
1x Rawhide Gloves
Skull Helm
Rib Blade
Cat Eye Circlet
2x Monster Grease
Bandages
Catgut Bow + Claw Head Arrow
White Lion Coat
Bone Dagger
Sleeping Virus Bob


Resources:
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