19)
Fire/Death/Fireday 1615
Party: Hallelujah Harnsdottir (Barbeester Gor warrior)(Doug St.),
Tamerlan (Waha noble)(Stephanie), Durnfal Slipspear (Yemalio farmer)(Gary), Greystone
(Waha herder)(Doug Sh.), Gerhardt Frei (Orlanthi warrior)(Arne), Svart Ulfsson (Humakti
warrior) (Henry) Targan Bash (Storm Bull warrior)(Darryl) and Peracles (sorcerer) (Jeff).
Party also includes Zeena a Chalana Arroy High Healer married to Svart Ulfsson.
The party is aghast at the death of Thosah and Zeena immediately
goes into mourning to atone for his death. The villagers gather around the bodies of the
slain lamia, Fethal and Thosah. The villagers stand quietly doing nothing until one of the
ogre children dips his finger in Fethal's blood and licks the blood off. This inflames the
villagers who begin to tear the ogre children to pieces hunting down those that escape
with the aid of the party. Near the end of the hunt Penliss the village shaman returns
from her exile. She tells the party about the succubus and tells them that she can see the
succubus in her spirit form. The group unsuccessfully searches the village for the
succubus. While the rest of the group searches Zeena and Peracles manage to resurrect
Durnfal. The group discovers that their mounts had been slain. They decide to spend the
night in the Yemalio shrine since it has only the one entrance. The villagers are placed
in the granaries, watches are set and everyone beds down for the night. During Svart,
Gerhardt and Greystone's watch the succubus sneaks up and begins to befuddle them. She
befuddles first Svart and then Gerhardt. Gerhardt manages to fire an arrow at her before
being befuddled so the Greystone is warned. The succubus is forced to entrance him and
forces him to attack her enemies. He turns and hits Targan a mighty blow to the chest
which almost slays him. The shaman awakes and begins to wake others. Hallelujah
Harnsdottir grabs her axe and runs out to attack the enemy. She does not spot the succubus
who attempts to sneak in and attack the group after Hallelujah runs out but is spotted by
Svart who has just come out of his befuddlement. He cuts her leg off. She attempts to stab
Svart with her dagger but misses and losses her next attack. Gerhardt comes out of his
befuddlement believing he is on the wrong side and decides to run away when he realises
that his side is out numbered. He sneaks out and runs off. The succubus rolls out of the
door and lands on the ground. Svart jumps after her and falls on top of her. Greystone
follows thinking to save the succubus. Hallelujah runs up to attack the succubus and
finishes her off. Greystone comes out of his charmed state and eventually Gerhardt
returns. Targan meanwhile has been saved by Zeena. The group rests for the remainder of
the night. The next day they decide to track down the ogre children. The sorcerer summons
an air elemental to take a message to the militia at Queenscliff (carrying a message
written by Durnfal). The group marches out to the drying barn and Hallelujah and Greystone
pick up the trail. The trail leads south into the Lunar Grantlands. As they head south in
the general direction of Ronegarth a strange wind picks up and the locals quickly realize
that something is wrong. The Eternal Battle was coming! They manage to cast their battle
and rune magic and prepare themselves for battle! Nine skeletons and the Avatar of Chaos
appear and the party prepares to die. The skeletons rush up and prove to be a pathetic
threat. Svart and Hallelujah disable a dragon skeleton. The Avatar then spits acid and
hits Svart in the leg knocking him to the ground as his leg dissolves. The skeletons and
the Avatar ignore Targan who rushes up to attack the Avatar. He swings ineffectively at
the Avatar who then punts him across the battlefield. Durnfal sneaks up behind the Avatar
and critically impales him in the chest! Hallelujah rushes up to help attack the Avatar to
keep him down. While the skeletons keep the rest of the party busy Hallelujah and Durnfal
keep causing minor wounds to the Avatar. The Avatar spits acid at Hallelujah and misses,
then spits acid at Durnfal and melts all the armour off of his left leg. Only his
protection four saves him from actual physical damage. The Avatar d.i.'s for healing and
attacks Hallelujah tearing her arm off. He then kicks Durnfal's head off. The Eternal
Battle is soon to depart Prax taking Durnfal with them so everyone tries to d.i. for him.
Hallelujah manages to do so. The Battle departs. The group beds down for the night. The
next day the group tracks the ogre children almost all the way to the Pola Stead. The
homesteader Nanni Pola leads the group to a nearby sinkhole where he had tracked the
children. The group debates following the children down the sinkhole but decides not to
and returns to Black Rock where they discover that the militia has impaled all the male
villagers and senile elders save the priestess. The group then returns to Sun Dome..
20)
Fire/Fertility/Waterday 1615
Party: Hallelujah Harnsdottir (Barbeester Gor warrior)(Doug St.),
Tamerlan (Waha noble)(Stephanie), Durnfal Slipspear (Yemalio farmer)(Gary), Greystone
(Waha herder)(Doug Sh.), Gerhardt Frei (Orlanthi warrior)(Arne), Svart Ulfsson (Humakti
warrior) (Henry) Targan Bash (Storm Bull warrior)(Darryl) and Peracles (sorcerer) (Jeff).
Party also includes Zeena a Chalana Arroy High Healer married to Svart Ulfsson.
Group receives reward for events at Black Rock. Hallelujah
Harnsdottir is offered a chance to atone for her killing of Thosah Strongspear. She has to
dedicate a year of service to Chalana Arroy. This involves her swearing to forego violence
(unless ordered otherwise by a healer) for a one year period during which she will have to
tend the sick and serve the healers. Because she is responsible for the well being of the
sorcerer Peracles the healers at Sun Dome send her to Horn Gate where hopefully the
sorcerer will receive a better reception (especially if no one discovers he's a sorcerer
while he's there). (The Sun Domers refuse to have a soul-less, soul sucking sorcerer at
Sun Dome for any length of time). The rest of the party hangs around waiting for their
next orders. Targan and Svart are angered by the fact that the Sun Domers refuse to
replace their lost mounts claiming that since they weren't lost in an actual battle their
mercenary contract doesn't require their replacement. On Fire/Movement/Clayday the group
is sent to Pavis with Thandren Clubfoot, Priest of Lokarnos to purchase some building
materials and hire some craftsmen. The trip to Pavis takes twice as long because of the ox
carts but they arrive there unscathed. The group is put up in the barracks at the Pavis
Sun Dome temple until the supplies are purchased. On the next day of the dying moon
(Fire/Illusion/Waterday) a red glow is seen in the mountains of Dragon's Pass. Fear sweeps
the city as even the Lunars fear the possible presence of the Crimson Bat. People flee the
city in droves by all exits until Sor-Eel has the gates sealed. A group of Storm Bulls
race out of the Rubble to do battle with Chaos. By noon a powerful City Harmony spell
calms the city and everyone learns that it is not the Bat that is coming but a magical
Moon Boat. The boat arrives amid much speculation as to who is on it. Many speculate that
it is either a Lunar tax collector (maybe even Ivex Devouring Dog) or a replacement for
Sor-Eel. It turns out the boat holds the Lunar Coders, special agents of the Red Emperor.
A day later Gerhardt Frei is asked by Krogar Wolfhelm to find a Tarshite Orlanthi named
Alcibades a job. They try him out for their unit by having him fist fight Svart who is
almost killed in the ensuing fight by two lucky shots to the head. Fortunately Gerhardt
and Greystone have heals ready and one of them manages to heal him in time. A few days
later the group begins the long trek to Chomorro. The caravan's journey is uneventful
until just outside of Chomorro where they are attacked by a dozen Tusk Riders. Several of
the oxen are slain in the battle but the group survives due to the timely intervention of
the Lunar Provincial Survey. The Survey drops a scroll tube as they race by which Targan
Bash discovers. Eventually the party arrives at Chomorro where the job of guarding the
caravan falls to the Boatmen militia under Coriander. They return to Sun Dome where they
discover two days later that Count Solanthos has decided not to renew their mercenary
contracts. They are given their pay and a pay off for the training that Hector the Sun
Dome librarian promised them in exchange for the scrolls in Auld Wyrmish they discovered
in the caves at Weis Gap. They also learn that Durnfal Slipspear is now known as
Strongspear and has been made Lord of the Golden Ears fief which includes Rabbit Hat Farm
and that all the building materials they had been guarding where for repairs at the farm.
After some unsubtle hints the group decides to travel to Pavis. While passing through
Garhound the babies of Carylon and Melisande are born. A enormous storm whips up keeping
everyone except Orlanthi's and Ernalda worshippers inside. That night three baby boys are
born. All the babies were born able to walk and one was born holding a silver ball, one a
silver comb and one a silver mirror. The party stays in Garhound for the celebration that
follows the birth. The day after they head on to Pavis where they take up various
residences. Tamerlan, Targan and Greystone stay in Badside where they throw some parties
in the Waha temple. Alcibades, Svart and Gerhardt stay at Geo's. The three arrange for the
scrolls they got from the Lunar Provincial Survey to be translated at the Lhankhor Mhy
temple. One night after Alcibades has gone to sleep Svart and Gerhardt notice a man
sitting in the corner wearing and displaying troll runes. As he leaves the inn four men
slink out after him. The pair pursue and come upon the four and two others assaulting the
man from the inn. They cast their spells and leap into combat managing to knock down three
of the assailants who are armed with fighting claws. The assailants are part of a group
known as White Hoods who are rapid xenophobes hating all nonhumans and any who willing
associate with nonhumans. They have been engaged in a series of escalating attacks on
nonhumans and nonhuman sympathizers. The stranger, (one Jurgen Trollbrother) was assaulted
because he is a worshipper of Argan Argar. The White Hoods only manage to mildly wound him
before most of them are knocked out of the fight by Svart and Gerhardt and the night
patrol of trollkin show up and chase off the only assailant who managed to escape. The
rest are taken into custody and the next day those without connections are crucified. The
group learns that the scrolls refer to a cave complex in which hundreds of crystals can be
found. They decide to investigate further...
21)
Earth/Disorder/Clayday 1615
Party: Alcibades (Orlanth warrior)(Doug St.), Tamerlan (Waha
noble)(Neil), Jurgen Trollbrother (Argan Argar trader)(Gary), Greystone (Waha herder)(Doug
Sh.), Gerhardt Frei (Orlanthi warrior)(Arne), Svart Ulfsson (Humakti warrior) (Henry) and
Targan Bash (Storm Bull warrior)(Darryl). Party also includes Zeena, a Chalana Arroy High
Healer married to Svart Ulfsson.
The party is in Pavis trying to get as much free information and
equipment (which would be nice if it was free too but...) as they can. Svart discovers
that he is wearing far too much armour and trades his plate limb armour for lamellar limb
armour, a suit of ringmail for Alcibades and a mule. This deal involves Svart and
Greystone going to Zebraside to check out the mule. The trip proves to be uneventful. That
night as Svart opens his trunk to put his clothes away a rubble runner leaps out at him.
He casts bladesharp on his dagger and manages to slay the rubble runner with the aid of
the clothes chest. He takes the corpse to the management to complain and is told by one of
the maids that Geo's doesn't allow pets. He eventually gets to stay the night free as well
as a free dinner. Svart finds a threatening note in his clothes chest that he gets the
manager to read for him. The note is from the Whitehoods and it threatens him with
unspecified injury if he continues interfering in their business. Meanwhile Gerhardt has
had a crossbow quarrel fired at him in the street outside. He ducks for cover and once he
decides the coast is clear he looks around trying to see the assassin(s). By this time
they've bolted and he sees nothing. Jurgen Trollbrother overhears the group discussing
spelunking and he tells them that he saw a sign in the troll temple advertising the
services of a troll caver named Bugstump Grubeater. He offers to arrange a meeting between
the group and the troll for a fee. Svart and Gerhardt are quick to remind him that he owes
them his life. His memory suddenly improved Jurgen rushes off to arrange the meeting after
he arranges to borrow some money to buy some rotten meat. The two nomads have meanwhile
decided to travel out into the Wastes on borrowed mounts to pay a Daka Fal shaman to teach
Tamerlan the light spell. This trip takes two and a half days round trip and results in
the pair meeting Krabble Impalafriend at his hut. After some negotiations as to price the
shaman enters the spirit plane and finds a spell spirit so Tamerlan can learn the spell.
The pair then return to Pavis. Meanwhile the rest of the group has met Bugstump Grubeater
an aspiring Karrg's Son who is looking for interesting adventures he can go on to get the
experience he need to make rune lord. The troll agrees to go along if offered an equal
share in loot obtained. Jurgen asks to go along as translator and is also promised a fair
share. The troll suggests that the group ask the Lhankor Mhy's for more information. They
agree to do so and get the scroll interpreted by a priest. The priest suggests that there
are references in the scroll to shrines of Thanatar, Vivamort and Primal Chaos being
present in the caves. This information causes the group to rush out and buy leather
collars as protection. After some considerations the group decides to travel through the
Long Dry south to Weis Gap in order to avoid Sun County and its troll haters. They make
preparations to depart...
22)
Earth/Harmony/Windsday 1615
Party: Alcibades (Orlanth warrior)(Doug St.), Tamerlan (Waha
noble)(Neil), Jurgen Trollbrother (Argan Argar trader)(Gary), Greystone (Waha herder)(Doug
Sh.), Gerhardt Frei (Orlanthi warrior)(Arne), Svart Ulfsson (Humakti warrior) (Henry) and
Targan Bash (Storm Bull warrior)(Darryl). Party also includes Bugstump Grubeater (Kyger
Litor initiate) and Fisher and Spider two value trollkin.
Party leaves Pavis. They travel half a day west of Pavis towards
Aldachur in order to fool any potential pursuers. After half a day they head south into
the Long Dry. They continue marching into the night and from then on march at night in
order to minimize the possibility of being seen by Praxians. On the second night they
march one of the trollkin stumbles across a sleeping Dinonychus. This wakes up the whole
pack of seven who attack the party. A brief battle ensues in which no one is seriously
injured. The two Praxians try and butcher the animals but only manage to successfully
butcher one of them. The next night the group spots a banked campfire. Greystone and
Bugstump sneak up and discover a group of sleeping Agrimori. They ignore the Agrimori and
proceed on. The next night they spot another campfire and the pair are less successful at
sneaking up. They discover a pair of Praxians who are camping out and who offer to share
their campfire. Their offer is turned down and the party proceeds on. The next evening
during the last watch the two Praxians and four morocanths sneak up on the party and try
to capture them for slaves. Tamerlan spots two of the group sneaking up on them and shouts
in order to wake up the party. Party members begin to wake up and Greystone begins to
dispel the befuddles. A fierce fight breaks out and the party manages to hold their own.
Bugstump casts a vigour and a strength and attacks one of the two humans biting off his
leg. He charges one of the morocanths and goes into close combat with him. The other
morocanth on that side of the battle fires his heavy crossbow at the troll but misses. He
then charges in and attacks Greystone in order to save the man the troll attacked. He and
Tamerlan exchange blows ineffectively. Alcibades joins in with his sling. Svart attacks
the other human with his greatsword and cripples his shield arm. The morocanth Waha shaman
moves in on Svart but is demoralized by Greystone. Svart has cast a Shield and a Truesword
and turns to attack the shaman after he cuts the human's head off. The other morocanth on
that side of the battle casts a conceal on the shaman and he disappears from view. Svart
moves up against the morocanth who cast the conceal. That morocanth calls for an end to
the fighting, they'll go their way and the humans would go their way. The party is divided
on this, some wanting to stop the fighting (Greystone, Alcibades, Gerhardt and Bugstump),
some wanting to continue it (Tamerlan and Targan) and others undecided (Svart). In fact
when Targan tries to attack one of the morocanths Alcibades tries to stop him with his
rapier. Targan parries the attack but does stop his advance. After some heated argument
with some of the group demanding recompense in the form of looting the dead human which
the morocanths refuse to allow the group decides to accept the morocanths offer in order
to prevent further bloodshed. The party heals their wounds and marches on. That night they
are followed by a pack of hyaenas but don't antagonize them. The next day as they sleep a
group of bison riders slowly approaches and speaks to Greystone. They are in this part of
Prax to see what's up. They have no hostile intentions towards the party and after
speaking together for a while and exchanging foodstuffs they go their separate ways. The
next morning the group finally arrives at the Pola homestead where they are put up for the
rest of that day and the following night after they clean themselves up a bit. The Polas
feed and (in Jurgen's case) futter them. The next morning they descend into the cave...
23)
Earth/Death/Fireday 1615
Party: Alcibades (Orlanth warrior)(Doug St.), Tamerlan (Waha
noble)(Neil), Jurgen Trollbrother (Argan Argar trader)(Gary), Greystone (Waha herder)(Doug
Sh.), Gerhardt Frei (Orlanthi warrior)(Arne), Svart Ulfsson (Humakti warrior) (Henry) and
Targan Bash (Storm Bull warrior)(Darryl). Party also includes Bugstump Grubeater (Kyger
Litor initiate) and Fisher and Spider two value trollkin.
The party accompanied by Nanni Pola treks over to the sinkhole where
they fasten a rope to a cottonwood and descend into the depths. This decent is greatly
aided by the strength of the troll Bugstump. The party manages to descend to the bottom
without incident. They proceed into the cave complex where a few chambers on they run into
a trio of dragonsnails and a walktapi left there by Nanni to harass them. The walktapi
poisons Targan and Bugstump but they manage to knock it down and other party members keep
it down. The dragonsnails pose little problem to the party (other than the one that spit
acid which destroyed the troll's leg armour). The party marches onward and discovers the
Garden. They proceed along the eastern edge of the Garden and had just decided to descend
down into the Dark City when the ambush set by Drueke strikes! Three medium crossbow bolts
fly out and strike Gerhardt Frei killing him! He successfully d.i.'s unfortunately using
up all but one of his POW points in doing so. The party heads back in the direction the
assassin's bolts had come from and a running battle begins. Ruventan, Rahmaso and Aven run
ahead of the party (taking advantage of their ability to see the Dark Light) firing
crossbow bolts when they are reloaded. This fire is ineffectual and the troll surprises
the party by casting Dark Sight spells on four of the group (Targan, Svart, Alcibades and
Tamerlan). Eventually the group catches up with the assassins and dispatches them with
ease. The priest Drueke attempts to help his henchmen but is forced to flee into the
morass of the Garden to escape his pursuers. Only a risky casting of mobility allows him
to escape. This is at the cost of five of his heads that Rahmaso was carrying. The party
decides to exit the caverns but when they return to the bottom of the sinkhole they
discover that the rope has gone! They decide to look for another exit. The party continues
to explore the maze. They discover the Thanatar temple complex and wreck havoc there. They
also come across Mogo the scorpionman and easily slay him. They also come across a hidden
niche of money and crystals. Although they have discovered the exit to the caverns that
leads from the temple they decide to stay underground since they haven't found any great
hoard of crystals (other than the few they recovered from the dead Thanatari). They wander
around the cavern complex running across the Vivamort shrine which they decide not to
investigate more closely. They find a relatively dry spot to camp "overnight"
and await the morning...
24)
Earth/Death/Wildday? 1615
Party: Alcibades (Orlanth warrior)(Doug St.), Tamerlan (Waha
noble)(Neil), Jurgen Trollbrother (Argan Argar trader)(Gary), Greystone (Waha herder)(Doug
Sh.), Gerhardt Frei (Orlanthi warrior)(Arne), Svart Ulfsson (Humakti warrior) (Henry) and
Targan Bash (Storm Bull warrior)(Darryl). Brief appearance by Silverstone (Waha herder)
(Cam E.). Party also includes Bugstump Grubeater (Kyger Litor initiate) and Fisher and
Spider two value trollkin.
After a good night's rest the party continues to explore the
caverns. They discover a sump in the Dark City and Fisher the trollkin is sent in to
investigate. He returns with a bag full of crystals (15 in total). After some more
marching around in the dark they see a light in the distance. Approaching the room (the
Stone Court) they cautiously enter. After a brief battle with a pair of dragonsnails the
group is ambushed by Nanni and Hadani Pola and Drueke the Thanatari priest. They are
assisted by the services of the 25 ogre children from Black Rock. A furious battle occurs
in which slowly but surely the three priests are defeated. The children are run off after
taking severe casualties. Their disrupts were quite effective for a while as were the
angry head spirits loosed after the priest dies. Tamerlan manages to release all the
spirits with the aid of his spirit strengthening crystal. The party pursues the children
and discovers the Temple Hall. After precursory examination of the hall which endangers
party members they manage to find the exit the ogres used. They discover a trap door which
leads into a cellar filled with butchered human bodies! This room has another exit a trap
door in the ceiling. Bugstump forces this open setting off the trap the ogres set! (The
room had been soaked in oil and other flammables and a lit brazier set on top of the trap
door). The party manages to escape the burning house and discovers the outbuildings
burning as well. Svart attempts to free the slaves chained in the outbuildings and manages
to free two before the buildings burn down. The group manages to contain the fire long
enough to allow all of the party to escape. After they've all escaped and are standing
around deciding what to do the Lunar Provincial Survey rides up and its leader Dalamides
has a brief discussion with Svart. He asks Svart what happened down below and after
hearing about the slain Thanatari priest feels that he owes Svart and the party a favour.
He tells Svart that his men want all the mundane loot or they will attack the party. They
can keep all the crystals and magical loot they recovered. Svart tells the party to do
this and (being outnumbered and outgunned) they do this. After the Survey leaves in
pursuit of the ogres the party is approached by Silverstone, a young Bison rider who
offers the services of his bison as a beast of burden to carry all their loot. They
recover all the odds and ends Mogo had gathered and prepare to head to Pavis. They are
"apprehended" by representatives of Duke Raus. The party is persuaded to travel
to Ronegarth to explain what had happened to the Pola Stead. They agreed to do so and
after spending a comfortable evening Duke Raus hears their story and rewards them each
with 100L for their services (including the impressed young Bison rider). (Dalamides
supports their account and informs them that the Survey lost track of the ogres in the
North Bog). The rescued slaves remain with Duke Raus as freedmen at his insistence. An
uneventful trip back to Pavis occurs except that the party comes across a strange set of
tracks which turn out to be those of a Chaos Gaggle. They spot the Gaggle and wisely
decide not to engage it. (Targan does save a Chaos Goat dropping as evidence). They enter
Pavis and proceed to the Lhankhor Mhy temple where they quickly get to see a priest due to
the dropping Targan bears. They make arrangements to get the crystals and items identified
by the priests. That evening the Lunar Coders approach the party and ask if they will
guide the Coders back to the site where they saw the Gaggle. They agree to do so. The next
day most of the party excepting Gerhardt and Tamerlan lead the Coders back to where they
last saw the Gaggle. The Coders track the Gaggle and wait until the next day (that of the
full moon) to attack. A brief battle ensues in which the Gaggle is fairly easily slain
with the aid of all the party members. The party members who helped each get 100L for
their trouble. A few weeks later the group meets to pick up their now identified crystals
and magic items. Everyone gets 5000L as their share. The troll takes one of the Martyr
rubies as his share and insists that Gerhardt receive the iron broadsword. Gerhardt
surprises the party by telling them that he is retiring and buying a farm in Garhound
county with his share...
(At this point the party goes their separate
ways. Alcibades returns to Lunar Tarsh and Jurgen Trollbrother returns to the Holy
Country. Svart Ulfsson after an unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation with Zeena
disappears into the stews of Pavis. Durnfal Slip, err Strongspear is busy with his
noblesse obligations, Targan the Bash is shovelling it at the Storm Bull in the Rubble
temple, Gerhardt Frei is zapping rats in Garhound and Greystone and Tamerlan return to the
bosoms of their tribes. Hallelujah Harnsdottir returns to Pavis from Horn Gate and takes
up residence at the aforementioned Storm Bull temple. Time goes by...)
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