Legends of Araby

I had some fun playing Legends of Araby, a fantasy RPG by Two Hour Wargames.  LOA sets you loose in an Arabian Nights setting, though the rules are flexible enough to fit in most fantasy games. Although LOA is technically a supplement that can be played using rules from World Hero Legends, 2 Hour Dungeon Crawl, and even pulp games like Larger than Life and Mission St. Mary, it also includes 2d Sword and Sorcery, a set of quick combat rules so you can run games with just the book itself.

For my game, I'm using S&S rules, though I tweaked them a bit because I eventually plan to use a version of S&S and LOA for my own fantasy RPG's as well.  However, I'm playing the LOA encounters and rules as they appear in the book.  The only thing I altered is combat.

So let's get started . . .

This is my character; Akil, a Melee/Missile mix.  In LOA and S&S, you have 4 classes:  Melee, Missile, Magic, and Healer.  You can mix classes, with the second class being 1 Rep lower.  However, you must raise each class separately.

(I'm using Mage Knight miniatures, and I don't have a lot of humans in the set, so you'll see a rather colorful assortment of beings in the city.)

Akil entered the city of Briganna and I start with an Involuntary Encounter.

Two slavers followed Akil and after corning him in an alley, discuss Akil joining their business venture.  And by business venture, I mean Akil doing all the work and the slavers keeping all the $.  For some reason, our hero decided against this plan and a fight breaks out.

The first slaver fired and arrow, but it narrowly sliced across Akil's ear.  The second slaver charged but got an arrow between the eye.  Now it's our hero's turn.  with careful aim, he fired his bow at the remaining thug.

Suffice to say, it did not end well for the slavers, and with irony on his side, our hero is the one who walked away with coins in his pocket.

Now with the Involuntary Encounter out of the way, Akil is free to explore the city.  First, he ran into a guard, who no doubt heard the commotion and rushed to see what had occurred.

Apparently, manslaughter is legal if you're defending yourself from slavers because after Akil explained his side of the story, the guard nodded his head and continued walking.

Later, he saw a shop and entered.

The tiny shop was run by an average citizen (We'll call him, 'Joe.') who agreed to accompany Akil on his adventures through the city and show him the sights.

Travelling through the streets, Joe pointed to the various buildings.  "There's the Jewel Cutter, that's Bonnie's Boutiques, there's the Game Tent if you're interested in a little gambling, and right before us is the Cabaret, if you're interested in a little entertainment and," wink, wink, nudge, nudge, "companionship."

Akil's eyes lit up.  "Sounds perfect!"

Joe grinned.  "I suspected that'd be your first choice!"

"Apparently I was mistaken," a disappointed Joe observed as Akil raced into the game tent.

Throwing his recently-earned coins on the table, Akil yelled, "I'm in!"  Facing off against the other four opponents (and with Joe looking on), our hero tossed the dice and threw caution into the wind.

Minutes later, he left the tent . . . with his pockets overflowing with coins.  "And that, my dear friend, Joe, is how it's done!"

Leaving the bazaar, the two chose to explore the wealthier part of the city.

"What are we doing here?"  Asked Joe.

"I have an itch for questing," Akil answered, "but first I'd like to seek out a healer."

"That is strange, you don't seem ill to me,"

Akil nodded.  "Of course I'm not, I just want some potions for my journey."

As the two set off through the streets, they encountered a noble woman.

"Greetings lowly traveler," she said.  "You are so humbled to be in the presence of such greatness."

"Thanks," Akil said proudly, nodding to Joe.  "He sure is."

Apparently, she wasn't pleased with the response because the duo ran into her several more times, but each time ended with the annoyed woman storming off as Akil smiled at the obvious compliments.

Finally, after a few hours of wandering the city, the duo finally located the healer.

The stocky, squat figure behind the counter offered a variety of potions for the right price.  Akil bought a couple without looking at what they were ('because they're green; nothing can go wrong from green potions, right?'), though luckily Joe noticed they were Strength and Valor potions, exactly what our hero would need in his future journeys.

Following his adventures, the duo found an inn and crashed for the night, and as Akil fell asleep, visions of quests in his future crossed his thoughts.


I ended the adventure there and rolled to Improve Akil.  While he had earned quite a few Increasing d6, he spent a number of them on the potions and ended up with 2 Increasing d6.  Unfortunately, he didn't pass with either of them so he stays at his current Reps, though at least he doesn't lower them either.  

Next time, our fearless, and not-so-humble hero sets off on his first quest!