23 Oct 2021 16:15
Setting
The plot was taken from a mix of getting the PCs together and the Chaosiumn 2018 Dragonmeet free scenario https://chaosium.itch.io/the-whispering-ruins .
IC Play
Fargast, a Humakti in the service of Lord Eril, was sent with a message to the Temple of Humakt at the Shaker Temple. Eril said that if he met up with anyone returning to Boldhome, it would be advisable to stay with them. Lord Heenith had some advice on the path to take, through Runegate, and up through Tarsh.
He went off that way, finding that the Temple of Humakt was painted very red, and decorated in unusual fashion. This was where Grandfather Mortal's blood was spilt and he was killed. Here he met the others, recognising Saronil and being introduced to the rest. Karentha in the mean time had been told by Amara to stay with the group and explore, now that the Shaker Temple plans for Androus had fallen through with his death.
The group headed to Wintertop together, taking Andros' remains, now ashy bone, tied to his golden horse. They stayed with Kerentha's family, and to the general dismay of the party she picked up another mount, this one a stag beetle. Her father was a very political person, asking all sorts of questions.
They left, heading down towards the Dragon Pass itself. A couple of days out, they were followed by bandits, or at least, people on foot and in the treetops. They ran away when waved at. Kerentha tried to speak to them as a noble, and this did not do anything.
In the night they tried to sneak up, twice, but were thwarted, and gave up. The group crossed the river by duck ferry, getting to Boldhome without resistance. There were no problems, and they arrived in the afternoon of water day, in stasis week. All was peaceful, even after they reported to their temples.1 Saronil informed the Sun Dome Temple of Andros' death. Aria talked to the trader lord Feshin abbuot what had happened, and he advised her not to go North again. Kosa was told to stick around Aria, and given travel money. Karentha talked to both the Argan Argar and Maran Gor temples - Maran Gor's priestesses told her to investigate the trollkin if she was around that area again. Fargast reported to Heenith about the journey, and then later, Saronil reported directly to Lord Eril.
Eril suggested that Saronil volunteer to take Androus' horse back to the Praxian Sun Dome Temple. The Temple invested a lot in Androus, but considered him tainted by failure and wished non-Yelmalians to take him as a result. After Saronil had suggested this to Fargast, Eril gave Fargast a letter to take to Lord Roneer at the Temple of Humakt in New Pavis. He was not allowed to tell even Saronil, but was not ordered to defend the letter unto Death. Everyone else had politely-worded notes suggesting that they talk to Saronil, so they arrived to do that, working out that Lord Eril also expected them to volunteer. Entertainment was provided when the Sun Dome Temple arrived to ask for an escort for a body and a horse. Lord Eril was absolutely charming, in public, with the Sundomer obviously feeling trolled.
The group set off through the North Gate, which now had a bridge over the crater. They headed to Swenstown, after an argument with Karentha, who wanted to paint the golden horse to look less horselike, and the others, who insisted it was wrong because that was Androus' horse and he would never have done it. Eventually Kosa's smile shut Karentha up.
Aria managed to find a group of Issarians and arrange getting paid as guards, while escorting the golden horse in the middle. She forgot to mention a suggestion that they could find the Pol Joni, horse-riding Praxians. The group set off, primarily used as scouts.
WHile they were ahead of the caravan, the animals started to get nervous, and some of them started towards a hill - effectively a giant dune. They could see that wind had blown earth clear, and exposed part of a hidden ziggurat, in no style they could comprehend. It was beautiful and ornate, but alien. The animals stayed to graze, amid lush grass with many piles of bones in it. They were all animal bones, and showed no signs of trauma. Kosa was sure she could hear human voices. Karentha was sure she could hear beetles. amd evem saw one inside. Aria, whose mount was unaffected, headed back to tell the caravan and halt it. Fargast and Saronil charged into the ziggurat, with Kosa not far behind. There was no movement within, but they could see what looked like coffin niches lining the wall.
Fargast felt out for the present of the undead, and found there was one thing, half buried under rubble, and a few others. As they made their way towards the undead thing, it rose up from the rubble. Fargast cast Turn Undead on in, and if fled in terror. The warriors gave chase, but Kosa fell behind while the dead drifted in to fight. The ghosts surrounded Fargast, and while he destroyed or banished two of them, a third got past his defenses and he collapsed for a moment, then ran off without his sword. Saronil managed to fight so hard that he hurt himself. However, he was redeemed by fighting the revanant, which he slew, releasing all of the ghosts.
Kosa was chasing after Fargast when Saronil killed the revenant, which released the Humakti. Aria returned at that point, having missed all of the action. They gathered up the monster's old armour and its chain, which was marked with darkness and undeath runes, like those on the chains worn by the cannibal virgins. They decided to take it to a Humakti Temple to be destroyed.
Other Things
I seem to have decided these ghosts were undead. I don't think ghosts are in general, but these were special.
Lord Eril continued to be terrifyingly good at politics, and was therefore able to work out where people would be and what temples would ask of his temple, and get the whole band on the road.