This gameplay transcript demonstrates how Ashes of Isar handles stealth, skill checks, and resistance operations in occupied Europe. Be sure to check out our Missions in the shop. You can purchase the game as a printable PDF in our Shop ($7.95) or download a preview version for free.
Situation:
We have two players and a game master. The characters are Arthur “Ash” Pembroke, and Ewan “Craig” MacLeod. They have parachuted into an area of eastern France and connected with the French Resistance in the area. Their mission is to work with the Resistance to identify German troop movements and send that information back to London via coded radio messages. Their secondary mission is to identify opportunities to sabotage German activities.
We pick up the action after they’ve been in-country for a week…
GM: “You’re in a small village in eastern France that’s occupied by German troops. The Resistance has been sheltering both of you while you monitor German movements. You’ve learned that a sizeable group of Panzer tanks is assembling in town. They’re likely preparing for a surprise attack on U.S. forces about twenty miles away. The tanks have to cross the only bridge in forty miles. You decide to sneak under the bridge tonight and plant explosives.”
Arthur: “So the idea is to take down the bridge before dawn, right? If the Panzers move out early, that’s our deadline.”
Ewan: “Sounds good. How far is the bridge from where we’re hiding?”
GM: “About half a mile. The Resistance says the area is heavily patrolled but there’s no moon tonight. Rain is supposed to start soon—just enough noise to help cover your movement. They’ve also noticed the Germans switch guards on the bridge at 10 PM.”
Arthur: “Guard shift is definitely our best timing. We’ll want to be underneath the bridge right when that happens. Do we have a way to approach without being seen from above?”
GM: “One of the Resistance fighters, Jeanne, says there’s a drainage culvert behind the old mill. It leads close to the riverbank. You’d have to wade through cold water, probably waist-deep.”
Ewan: “I can deal with cold water. Are there any patrols near the culvert entrance?”
GM: “There’s a sentry post on the road above it. Not directly next to it, but close enough that you’d have to be careful.”
“Jeanne says a distraction on the bridge or near it might really help. Something to keep the guards looking in the opposite direction from where you’ll be.”
Arthur: “Yeah, that makes sense. Noise is okay, but people are even better. What were you thinking?”
GM (as Jeanne): “I can approach the guards from the far side of the bridge. They’ll stop me and ask for papers. But I need a good excuse to be out after curfew.”
Ewan: “Okay, so what’s something believable to the Germans? And not something that gets her detained.”
Arthur: “Well, it should be urgent but not alarming. Something domestic. A drunk family member wandering around is honestly perfect.”
Ewan: “I like that. ‘My idiot brother is missing and if the Germans find him, he’s in huge trouble.’ That buys a minute or two.”
GM (as Jeanne): “Yes. That’s the story I’ll use, then.”
Arthur: “Cool. She does that right before the guard change, we move through the culvert at the same time.”
Ewan: “Right. While they’re busy with her we go under the bridge and start placing charges.”
GM: “The three of you set out from your safe-house and move through the shadows of the village streets. Arthur and Ewan, roll Stealth checks while I roll one for Jeanne.
Arthur: [rolls 2d6 and adds that to their Skill Score] “Eighteen. No problem.”
Ewan: [rolls 2d6 and adds that to their Skill Score] “Twenty. Nice.”
GM: “Both of you melt into the shadows just fine. Jeanne rolls… sixteen. She makes it, but barely. At one point she slips a little on wet cobblestone and has to steady herself against a wall, but no one seems to notice.”
“You continue toward the mill, staying tight against the shuttered buildings. One German patrol passes at the far end of the street—a pair of riflemen under an awning—but they don’t look your way.”
“You arrive at the old mill without incident. The culvert is just behind it: a low stone opening half blocked by weeds and debris, water flowing out in a steady, cold sheet.”
GM (as Jeanne): “I’ll break off here and circle to the far side of the bridge. I’ll wait for your signal—one quick tap of metal on metal—and then I’ll approach the guards.”
Arthur: “Sounds good. We’ll only signal once we’re in position, otherwise she’ll go in too early.”
Ewan: “Right. Let’s check the culvert first. How deep does it look?”
GM: “Waist-deep on Ewan, probably mid-chest on Arthur depending on where the footing is. It’s cold runoff, and loud enough that you’ll be talking in whispers at best.”
“Rain picks up a little more. The night’s getting darker by the minute.”
“You’re now at the edge of the culvert. Jeanne has melted back into the shadows to make her way toward the bridge from the opposite side.”
“Entering the culvert is tricky. It’s slippery, the current is fast, and any loud splash could echo up to the bridge. I need Stealth checks from both of you, meet or beat a DS 15.”
Arthur: [rolls] “Fifteen. Right on the line.”
Ewan: [rolls] “Also fifteen. Barely.”
GM: “All right. Matching the DS means you succeed, but just by the thinnest margin.”
Arthur: “Okay, that was close. We stay low and move slow. No sudden steps.”
Ewan: “Yeah. Let’s get to the underside of the bridge before the guard change.”
GM: “The culvert narrows and bends slightly, channeling the sound of water out toward the river. You can already hear the muffled voices of German soldiers somewhere above the riverbank—far enough not to be an immediate threat, but close enough to matter. You’re now committed to the water route.”
“This is going to sap strength fast if you’re not prepared for it. I need Endurance checks from both of you.”
Arthur: [rolls] “8 plus my Endurance score of 10 is 18.”
GM: “Arthur, you manage the cold well enough. It’s miserable, but you stay steady and keep your footing.”
Ewan: [rolls] “I got a 9, plus my Endurance score of 12 is 21.”
GM: “Ewan, you feel the cold hit your legs and core immediately, but you grit through it. No penalties, no slowing down.”
Arthur: “Okay, good. We’re still in good shape.”
Ewan: “Let’s get under this bridge before we freeze solid.”
GM: “You continue moving through the culvert. The sound of water echoes forward and the dim shape of the bridge’s support structure is just becoming visible ahead—dark blocks of stone and a low cavity where the arch meets the river.”
“You’re maybe ten yards from where the culvert opens out under the bridge. You can see the underside of the stone arch above you, and you can hear the two guards shifting their weight on the east side. It’s 9:58 PM. Jeanne should be on the far side somewhere, but from where you are, you can’t see anything. The rain is coming down harder now.”
The two players confer in quiet table-voices.
Arthur: “Okay, we’re really close to the shift change. We don’t want to blow this early. If Jeanne’s in position, she’s waiting for our metal-on-metal tap.”
Ewan: “Yeah, and we absolutely don’t want her doing her distraction before we’re ready. My vote is we move up to the very edge of the culvert but not step out yet.”
Arthur: “Agreed. We stop just before the opening. Then Arthur pulls out something metal—maybe the pry tool—and gives a single tap on the culvert wall. But only once we’re fully set.”
Ewan: “Let’s also double-check the guards’ position. If they’re closer to our side, we might need to wait a beat so Jeanne draws them further away.”
GM: “Okay, so you carefully move to the very edge of the culvert, just shy of where the water flows out into the open. You can see the guards’ boots through gaps in the bridge’s railing above, and the sound of their pacing is steady. They don’t seem alert, just bored. The rain intensifies, adding a steady hiss to the soundscape.”
Arthur: “Before giving the signal, I want to make a quick Tactics check to judge whether this is the best moment or if we should wait thirty more seconds.”
Ewan: “Yeah, good call. I’ll make one too.”
GM: “All right, both of you give me Tactics checks, DS 15. This is to judge timing, guard attention, and whether this is the safest moment to signal Jeanne.”
Arthur: [rolls] “My net score is 17.”
Ewan: [rolls] “And mine is 18.”
GM: “Both of you read the situation correctly.”
“With both of you succeeding, you judge this is as good a moment as you’re going to get. Maybe the best one you’ll get all night before the new shift arrives.”
Arthur: “All right. Arthur pulls out the metal pry tool, gets right up next to the stone, and gives one sharp tap, just enough to carry out of the culvert but not echo loudly.”
Ewan: “And then we both freeze and wait for Jeanne to start the distraction.”
GM: “Signal sent. You’re under the bridge, in the dark, waist-deep in freezing water. The guards above don’t react—they didn’t hear it. Now you wait for Jeanne…”
“Okay. A few seconds after the tap, you hear a woman’s voice—very faint through the rain—but definitely Jeanne. She’s speaking French, and it sounds like she’s trying to sound stressed or hurried. Then you hear a male voice respond in rough, broken French. That’s one of the guards.”
Both players lean in at the table.
Arthur: “Good. That means she’s in position and the guards heard her. Are both guards responding or just one?”
GM: “Hard to tell from underneath, but you do hear boots shifting on the bridge above. It sounds like at least one guard has walked toward Jeanne. Possibly both—you can’t distinguish exactly because of the rain.”
Ewan: “Okay, if even one of them moved away from the railing, that’s good for us. If both moved, that’s even better. We should take this moment to slide out from the culvert into the shadowed area under the bridge.”
Arthur: “Agreed. We move quietly, no quick steps. Let’s get under the main support beam so we’re completely out of sight if anyone looks over.”
GM: “All right. Moving from the culvert into the space underneath the bridge will require another Stealth check, DS 15. The rain is helping you, but slipping or making noise on the stones is still a risk.”
[The GM rolls…]
“Meanwhile, Jeanne rolled a 14 on Persuasion. That’s slightly below the DS she needed, so the guards aren’t fully buying her story. But instead of blowing her off, they’re actually more focused on her now. They’re suspicious, asking questions, maybe checking her papers twice, maybe arguing about whether to detain her.”
“You hear more raised voices above—still in French, but sharper now. One guard is definitely irritated. The other sounds unsure. Their attention is completely off the river. This is a risky moment—but also the best distraction you’re likely to get.”
Arthur: “They’re distracted. Might be a little too distracted, honestly. But that’s actually good for us. If they’re busy arguing with her, they definitely aren’t looking down here.”
Ewan: “Yeah, this is when we move. We’re not getting a cleaner window. Let’s get under the arch and start placing the charges.”
GM: “Okay. You wade forward into the deepest shadow beneath the bridge. The underside is rough stonework, wet from runoff. You’re right beneath the center of the arch now, and you can pick your target placement.”
“Ewan, go ahead and roll Explosives, DS 18, to identify the best structural point and set the charge correctly.”
Ewan: [rolls 2d6 and gets the max 12] “Nat 12 plus my Explosives score of 16 is 28!”
GM: “Wow. That’s more than enough. Here’s what you see: The keystone area of the arch has a slight weathered crack—perfect for focusing the blast. The northern support buttress has a recessed seam where a second charge could be hidden from casual inspection. Even in the dark and rain, you identify exactly where the charges need to go for maximum collapse.”
“You place the explosives with practiced, quiet efficiency, and position the timer pencil. You place the second charge into a buttress recess.”
“The water keeps hissing. Rain keeps falling. Voices above stay tense and focused entirely on Jeanne.”
Arthur: “Okay, Ewan’s got the charges placed. I’ll keep watch under the bridge. How much time do the pencil fuses take?”
Ewan: “Ninety minutes, which should give us enough to get back and clear the area, and still take the bridge down before the tanks can reach it.”
GM: “Ewan ensures the fuses are in place. Both charges are secure.”
“Ewan, you have the extra set of charges that Arthur is carrying. Do you risk taking more time to place them, or do you consider the charges you’ve already set to be adequate and exfiltrate while you can?”
Ewan (thinking it through at the table): “We already placed two charges, one on the keystone and one on the buttress. Both were really solid placements. And I rolled well, so they’re structurally sound. A second set would definitely make the collapse more certain, but it also doubles the time we’re under here.”
Arthur: “Yeah. And Jeanne’s Persuasion roll wasn’t great. The guards are suspicious. That means they’re distracted now, but if they decide to detain her or move her off the bridge, they might look around. We don’t know how long her window lasts.”
Ewan: “Exactly. And realistically, one keystone charge placed well is usually enough to drop an arch bridge or at least make it unusable. Two charges already gives us redundancy. A third or fourth would be… overkill, but risky.”
Arthur: “So the question is: do we want extra insurance at the cost of added danger, or do we trust your high Explosives score?”
Ewan: “I trust the 28. If we botched those rolls, I’d absolutely argue for planting more. But with a roll that high, he basically found the perfect weak spots.” (pauses) “And Jeanne’s situation above us is unstable. That’s the part that worries me.”
Arthur: “Same. Let’s get out now while the distraction is at its peak.”
Ewan: “Yeah. That’ll do. We’re not hanging around for a bonus round. Let’s move.”
GM: “Okay. Both of you begin preparing to exfiltrate the way you came, back through the culvert.”
“Voices above are still busy with Jeanne, but the tone is getting more heated. You have time, but not much.”
“All right, you’re pulling back through the culvert. The guards are still occupied with Jeanne, so the DS is 13 instead of 15. Roll Stealth.”
Arthur: [rolls 2d6 and gets 11] “11 plus my Stealth score of 15 is … 26.”
Ewan: [rolls] “My net score is 17.”
GM: “Both of you move back into the culvert cleanly. Even though the water is rushing faster than before and your legs are going numb from the cold, you keep your footing and make almost no noise. The rain overhead and the raised voices between Jeanne and the guards cover anything you might have made anyway.”
“You’re about halfway back through the culvert when you hear one of the guards bark something a little louder. It sounds like annoyance, not alarm, at least not yet.”
Arthur: “We keep moving. Slow, steady, staying low.”
Ewan: “Yeah, no sudden moves. Just get back to the mill.”
GM: “You’re nearly out. The culvert exit is coming into view behind the mill. No one is in sight. The rain is heavy enough now that visibility is basically twenty feet.”
“All right, you’ve reached the point where the culvert ends and you have to climb the muddy bank back up toward the street. The slope is slick from the rain, your bodies are freezing from the water, and your hands are barely doing what you tell them. This is an Endurance check, DS 18.”
“And while you’re rolling, I’m rolling for Jeanne’s Persuasion again… and she gets a 24. Her story is working incredibly well. The guards are still fully tied up with her.”
Arthur: [rolls] “Net 22, a great score.”
GM: “Arthur gets both hands on the slippery dirt bank and uses his knees to push himself upward. Even with numb fingers, he keeps a low profile and crawls up without slipping.”
Ewan: [rolls] “I rolled a six, so my net score is 18. Is that enough?”
GM: “Ewan, you barely make it. Your foot slips once on a patch of wet moss, and for a second it looks like you’re going to fall backward and splash right into the water. But you grab a clump of weeds and pull yourself up the rest of the way.”
“You both make it to the top of the embankment. You’re soaked, freezing, and completely hidden in the shadows behind the mill.”
Arthur: “Nice. I honestly thought Ewan was going in the drink again.”
Ewan: “Almost did. But we’re up. Let’s move.”
GM: “From above, Jeanne’s ruse is working so well that one of the guards actually steps away from the bridge railing to examine her papers more closely. They’re irritated, but don’t seem suspicious at all of your sabotage activities below.”
“You two are now positioned behind the mill. You can return through the alleys toward the safe-house, but there is still a small chance of a patrol.”
“Okay, last Stealth check of the operation. DS is 15. This determines whether you slip away from the mill area and make it back to the safe house without any patrol noticing you.”
Arthur and Ewan both get high Stealth check rolls.
GM: “Both of you disappear into the alleys like you were never there. The rain helps a lot—any soft footstep noise gets swallowed immediately. You stick close to the walls, avoid open streets, and make your way back through the narrow lanes toward the safe house.”
“You pass one German patrol at a fork in the road, but they’re huddled under the eaves of a shuttered shop complaining about the weather and don’t even glance your way.”
“Meanwhile, faintly in the distance, Jeanne is still ‘arguing’ with the guards. Her voice rises once, then settles. It sounds like she’s leading them away from the railing… and completely covering your retreat.”
“You reach the safe-house door without incident.”
Arthur: “Perfect. Once we’re inside, we dry off and warm up, because we’re going to be useless if we freeze.”
Ewan: “Yeah, we’ll stay put for the next ninety minutes until the charges go off.”
GM: “You’re back at the safe-house. You’ve successfully placed the charges, avoided being detected, and Jeanne is still in the middle of her distraction. In ninety minutes, the fuses will hit and the bridge should collapse under its own weight.”
