Resolution 2020: Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon play through

Beor knew that his only course now was to return to Kamelot and help bring stability to Avalon. He knew very little of the war in the west, and the lat time he had gone to Caumaght they had driven him away because of his infection. This thought made Beor pause – he had not inspected the infection under his bandages is some time. Carefully removing the bandage on his arm Beor saw that the infection had spread badly. Perhaps now as the time to search for a cure.

Beor travelled south to the Drained Lake. Surely the Lady of the Lake would know of a cure for the Read Death. The waters of the lake had drained away, revealing a tower beneath the old water line where the Lady lived. Sure enough the Lady did know of a cure. She had once met a man who had recovered and she now believed he lived in the Fernsea. Beor also learned of how The Lady had taught Arthur how to use the Wyrdness. He had used it first to make himself into a powerful warrior, then he had led his army into the heart of Tuathan to use its magic to make Kamelot. But the spell had goen wrong, and he had been forced to retreat and build Kamelot the old fashioned way on the East coast. The fact Beor had removed Excalibur and caused the Kamelot in Tuathan to dissolve away meant the Fore-Dwellers would be less hostile towards humans. Beor also learned the final piece of the puzzle regarding the first expedition. The Lady had sponsored many champions over the years, giving each a trinket to help them in their journeys. Beor had now collected them all.

Beor travelled north to the Fernsea once more, crossed it with ease, and found the plague survivor living in the tower across the sea. There was indeed a cure – one must bathe in a magical cauldron that can be found in a monastery hidden in the Dark Morass. The cauldron had been filled with holes when the survivor first found it, so he had plugged the holes with gold. The cauldron had to be filled with a special potion made from the magical crystals found in Whitening.

While Beor was in the north of the island once again he decided to explore the few parts of the island that he had so far not visited. Moonring contained a small band of druids, but little else of interest. There were two applicants vieing for a place in the round table, and Beor decided to investigate their past lives in the Brochs and Whiteneing, to determine who was most worthy. In Halfway Beor was disturbed to find that each night the Wyrdness soaked into the great monument and re-wrote the runes carved there. Was it just the rock that was changed, or was the history that the runes recorded also being changed? To the north Beor visited Crows Nest. It was an unwelcoming settlement. Mordred tasked Beor with stealing Morgaine’s spell book from Kamelot, but Beor thought that he was unlikely to do that. Morgaine may have tried to kill him, but her magic helped to keep Kamelot safe.

Beor now had two reasons to visit Whitening and the Brochs were on the way, so he travelled south east. In the Brochs he learned that there was some magical beast contained here that wanted to be released. Also, the applicant for the round table had not spent his time here freeing slaves, but rather he had been a blacksmith who crafted chains for the slave masters.

Beor travelled south west to Whitening and retrieved the crystals that he needed for the cure. He also investigated the second applicant for the round table. He had been so lazy that the settlement had banished him – so both applicants were liars and not fit to sit at the round table. Then Beor travelled east to the Dark Morass. The monastery took some time to find, but Beor did so and within sat the cauldron. The golden plugs had been taken so Beor had to craft more by melting down his own wealth. After his bath his wounds stopped bleeding and they began to heal. Beor was cured. By now his long journey had taken his toll so he stayed with the locals for several days, joining in their feasts as he regained his energy.

Revitalised and heading west once more to collect more crystals from Whitening (Beor needed them to free the magical creature from the Broch) Beor recalled the sleeping Wyrm he had discovered in First Farmhold. Perhaps now Beor was strong enough to defeat it? Returning to the tunnel, intent on sneaking up to the sleeping Wyrm once more, Beor instead found an awake Wyrm that burst from the tunnel and flew off into the sky. Perhaps this was for the best – the Wyrm looked much bigger and fierce when awake.

Beor collected yet more crystals from Whitening and then returned to the Broch and freed the magical creature. It proved to be some terrible beast from Tuathan, imprisoned here by the Fore-Dwellers before humans came to Avalon. In exchange for its release it taught Beor secrets of the Fore-Dwellers, although by now Beor knew most of them.

Finally it was time to travel to Kamelot. As he approached Beor saw many camps outside the city. Some were refugees, but other seemed to be armed groups. Was Kamelot under siege? Beor had to bribe his way into the castle. Inside Lancelot tasked him with bringing brigands based in Caumaght to justice. Beor did not want to cause for trouble for his old hometown, but if they had resorted to banditry then it was his duty to punish them. Beor also sought an audience with Morgaine, hoping to ask her why she had attacked him in Tuathan. Beor instantly regretted the decision though and Morgaine turned up with a retinue of cross bow armed guards who surrounded him. It took all of Beor’s diplomatic skills to talk everyone down, but he managed it. Morgaine offered him a secret in exchange for her life. Beor was in fact the reincarnated soul of one of Arthur’s first companions who had travelled with him into Tuathan. How this was so, no one knew. Beor realised he had been tricked. This secret only brought more questions, but he was honour bound to set Morgaine free now, so he did so.

Tomorrow, Beor would set off for Caumacht once more…

This was another massive four hour gamin session. Mainly because I chose to take an early detour to explore the north of the island, then I had to search for a cure which involved a lot of zig-zagging about the map. I also got distracted exploring the Brochs and wanting to free the magical creature. I was very lucky in that I had put all the experience from today’s session into diplomatic encounter cards. The encounter with Morgaine was a level 4 diplomatic encounter and I only just got through it with a couple of cards left in my deck.

Beor considered avoiding going to Caumaght straight away. He could seek out the few remaining members of the Round Table first. But Beor’s duty was clear so he decided to head to Caumaght and get it other with.

The journey to Caumaght was uneventful. On his arrival he was greeted warmly – the villagers thought he had come in response to their request for aid. Beor grimly replied that this was not the case. He was here to investigate banditry. The people refused to talk, but Beor knew them well enough to see they were hiding the truth. Many of them were carrying items that he knew they should not possess. It took a little torture, but soon the people confessed. Beor knew the penalty for such a crime and executed the ring leaders. Distraught, the remaining villagers abandoned the settlement.

Beor had done his duty and now needed to return to Kamelot. The land was becoming more and more dangerous, so Beor decided to use his magic scroll to teleport directly there.

Lancelot was glad to see that Beor had done his duty. Beor was welcome to remain in Kamelot, but Beor felt there was still more he should do for Avalon…

Avalon may be lost, but there were still people who might be saved. Beor had already established that Farpoint was immune to the Wyrdness. If he could establish at least one more refuge the remaining settlements could be evacuated.

Kamelot was an obvious second choice, but the guards informed him that would be impossible unless they had much greater food supplies, or the wealth to buy more food. Time for Beor to go hunting.

As Beor left Kamelot he came across a giant in the distance. Fearing it to be another fearsome Fore-Dweller, Beor approached but soon realised that the silhouette only had the usual two arms. As he drew closer he realised it was Arthur! His armour was twisted by Wyrdness and he looked battered and injured, but he still lived. Beor knelt and offered Excalibur up to his King. But Arthur just shook his head slowly. Without saying a word, he strode off to the North East. Beor felt he must follow him and learn the King’s ultimate fate.

Beor had a hunch Arthur had gone to the white castle that he had glimpsed in the Forest of Whispers so many weeks ago. It was also a good hunting ground so visiting it would serve a dual purpose. Beor travelled north, activated the Menhir, and journeyed into the forest. He soon found himself in a magical place. A brilliant white castle stood in the middle of a moat. Beor tried to return to the woods, but soon found himself lost and unable to return to the normal woods. Then he tried circling the castle and found a middle-aged man fishing in the moat. He was heavily scarred and had a strange scar on his forehead. Beor realised this man was none other than Arthur. Beor tried to speak, but in this magical place his voice came across as loud and harsh. Arthur frowned and turned away. So Beor tried to enter the castle but found that some magical force prevented him from entering. Lost for options, Beor returned to Arthur and simply sat next to him. After some time, Arthur spoke to Beor. Arthur was content here. It seemed Arthur had learned some ultimate secret, but whatever Beor asked Arthur seemed disappointed in the question. Beor simply could not relate to the being that Arthur had become.

Out of options to try and leave, Beor lied down to rest. When he awoke, he found himself back in the Forest of Whispers.

Beor stayed in the forest for several days hunting for food to stock Kamelot with enough food that they could take in more refugees. Once he had more than enough supplies, he travelled west. First he went to the Tombs of the Order. There he finally confronted Bedivere and Palamedes on what they had done. They confessed to trying to use the Grail to resurrect Arthur – a feat the circle had done many times in the past during times of need. But this time it had gone wrong and Arthur had come back wrong. Beor convince them to return to Kamelot and continue with their duties.

Beor travelled further west to Moonring where he informed the council that both applicants for the title of Gerraint were unfit for the role. Beor nominated Gerraint’s cousin. She may be a woman nut she had showed bravery and conviction in protesting against the other applicants. The council agreed. Beor had now found all members of the Round Table and put them back onto the path of duty.

Upon his return to Kamelot Lancelot greeted Beor and thanked him for reuniting the members of the Round Table. Delivering the food to the castle now meant that Beor had established two refuges for the people.

Now it was a race against time to get as many people to the refuges as possible.

So it turned out I had almost finished chapter 11 when I stopped playing the other day. Chapter 12 was also very short in this play through because I only had a short journey to return to my patron (Lancelot) and I used a teleport scroll to do it quickly.

Chapter 13 was a more normal length but still relatively quick because I had already spent a lot of time exploring Farpoint earlier in the campaign and because I was allied with Kamelot. Kamelot only required 15 food to become a possible refuge. I am sure other locations require more work.

Again, a great gaming session and with only two chapters left I can see the end is in sight.

Beor’s first destination was the quiet borough outside Kamelot. He gathered up as many people as could fit in Kamelot, and led them to the gates. One of the two safe haven’s he had established was now full.

Beor had put a lot of effort into helping the people of Bundorca, so now he wanted to lead them to safety in Farpoint. Beor was disappointed to find that on his arrival at Bundorca there was no-one willing to travel with him. He knew that when the people of Falfuar had abandoned their village they had gone north. Perhaps they had taken up residence in Farpoint? So Beor travelled there anyway but found the old settlement still empty.

It would be a terrible wast if no-one were to take up residence in Farpoint. Beor had got on well with the people of the Dark Morass, so he travelled south to visit them. Yet again though, Beor was disappointed to find none of them were willing to relocate.

Beor’s last hope was Whitening. Beor had visited them many times in his travels. Surely they would accept his offer of a safe haven? Beor travelled west to Whitening but once again there was no-one there willing to migrate to safety.

Demoralised, Beor decided to accept fate and give up. All the people he cared about had been offered sanctuary and those who wanted it had accepted.

Now the only choice left before Beor was to determine his own fate…

Chapter 15 was another one that I could have resolved very quickly. I started in Kamelot and getting the people of Quiet Borough to it was only an journey of one step. I know from the save sheet that it is possible to establish up to five safe havens in chapter 13, but I only established two as they were the only two Beor was aware from his travels. I also know from the save sheet that there are nine settlements that can be saved. I was surprised how difficult I found it to locate another settlement after the Quiet Borough though! I know I had wiped out Caumaght in chapter 12, but all the other settlements in the East did not appear to have the option of being saved.

When I got the people of Quiet Borough to Kamelot I was given the option of settling with them and ending the campaign. I wanted to find more people for Farpoint, so chose not to do so. I also know that I have the option of meeting Lancelot in Chapter 15 for what I assume is the “restoring the round table” ending to the game.

Beor only had one last duty to perform. He had promised Sir Lancelot that he would meet him at Lonbarrow. Beor had a feeling Lancelot was planning something foolish, but Beor also had a feeling that he would go along with it. Over the past weeks Beor had gone from supporting the Round Table purely out of fear of breaking the law, to having sought out and recovered every member and practically becoming a member himself. Duty was all…

A Fore-Dweller attempted to bar Beor’s path. He could have easily picked another route North, but Beor was no longer afraid of the Fore-Dwellers as he once had been. Beor charged in and dispatched his terrible foe swiftly. Beor did not come out of the battle unscathed though, so he spent a few days in the Hunter’s Grove recuperating.

The rest of the journey North was uneventful. Beor arrived at Lonbarrow to find that the Knights had just set off before him. It did not take long for Beor to catch up with them. The combined arms of every Knight of the Round Table, along with some men-at-arms, were preparing to charge into the Valley of the Guardians and assault Tuathan. None of them would survive, but it could buy the people a few more days to retreat from the Wyrdness and find safety. Beor drew Excalibur, mounted his horse, and led the charge alongside Sir Lancelot.

Beor’s legacy faded into legend…

This chapter played out in only 30 minutes but it was a very satisfying end to the campaign none the less. I really want to dive right in with a new character at chapter one, but I’ve going to give Arena the Contest a go first. Hopefully I will still have time to get another campaign of Tainted Grail in before the first expansion lands.

I think I missed about half the content of the game despite being thorough and exploring every where. There was a war in the West of the Island that I missed, there is an option to work against the Round Table rather than for them, and the ability to interact more with Morgaine and Mordred. And those are just the differences that I know of.

I’ll be writing a review of the game soon so keep an eye out for that in the Games section of OTT.