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Episode 19: Air Waves - 24 Jul 2020 19:19
Setting
Early in Sea Season.
The entire plot of Sea Season was the GM attempting to get the adventurers into the correct position to play The Duel at Dangerford while the adventurers blithely ignored IC hints and attempts at political guidance.
IC Play
The group returned to Sartar, and Androranous went towards Boldhome, which was preparing for war, judging by the reinforcements on the wall. Saronil and Kosa went to the Temple of Earth,1 as Daravala wanted to talk to them, and Varaema and Aria went with them, but paused to do trading on the way.2 Daravala wanted to know from Saronil about some people who had fought Zorak Zoran before.
The new Light Priest of Yelmalio had been confirmed as Hardeep. Androus went to see him, but was given Light Son Norang, a Rune Lord, instead. He braindumped, telling everything he knew of what had happened when he was away.
On his return to the training enclosure, Andros found a Humakti at the gate, trying to catch his attention. The Humakti had a message from Lord Eril for Androus with a request he deliver it to Saronil, in person. It was apparently, "To your mutual advantage." There was a slightly tetchy exchange, as Androus explained he is due to do a weeks' temple duty, and could act without the temple's consent. The Humakti expected Androus to go and get consent. Light Son Norang and Androus conspired to agree to the delivery, and arrange for the Humakti to see the Norang and demand a service for a service. Lord Eril was not going to get his man back for a while.
Saronil, in Clearwine, had told all he knew about the meeting with the Troll that had bent his sword, and was meeting his nephew for the first time. He was delighted by the small bundle of snot and big brown eyes that his sister presented him with. He gave her the gifts he had bought on getting the news of the birth, and introduced them to Varaema.
On his way, riding a decent horse, Androus overtook some warriors who looked to be of Kallyr's household, making their way on rather shorter horses to Clearwine. They said nothing to him. Androus reached Clearwine about a day after his friends, who had been travelling slowly.
He delivered the message to Saronil, and then read it out, as Saronil could not. "For your information: Order for detaining of Varaema-all-healer issued. Recommend being absent. Lord Eril Sambar."3 It did not use his Humakti title, so could be construed to be an informal tip-off, either advice to get out of the way and let it happen, or advice to get Varaema out of the way. Daravala ordered Kosa to leave - protecting Varaema - and thus stay away from the High Priestess of Maran Gor, who was still after her as a sacrifice.
They got Varaema out of the way, despite her protestations that she was sure all would be well, and were far enough from Clearwine to watch the warriors arrive to start looking for her. They hoofed it down to the Yelmalian Temple in Sun Dome County. They asked for protection of a patrol they met. Jaynrii, its leader, was not pleased either with Andros telling him how to behave or with the request. However, he agreed to lead the party into the city and Temple.
They told their various stories. The women were put into women's quarters and the men were put into men's quarters, and for that night at least, they were safe. ((There was an attempt by someone to get some information here about Daravala's request, but the GM forgets.))
On the way to Whitewall the following day, the party was eyeballed by centaurs along the Beast Valley road, but when they proved no threat, the demicavalry band moved on. They were observed by a very large alynx from the same direction,4 towards nightfall.
As Yelm ascended the next day, they spotted an Orlanthi flying, landing some distance away. The party moved off, and the Orlanthi, flying again, attempted to levitate Varaema - and would have succeeded, had Kosa not grabbed her and wrested her back down again.
Late in the day, the group arrived in Whitewall, where they rested a week and took political advice from Jaldis, who then carefully wrote to her allies to make sure she knew what was going on. Androus spent the week in prayer and sacrifice, after finding a Yelm Priest who was interested enough in him to sanctify a Temple and let him do that.
Other Things
I am particularly proud of the attempt to steal Varaema, which nearly succeeded, and resulted in people having to be tied to their saddles…
Tags: 1626 andros boldhome eril hardeep jaldis kallyr kaynrii kosa saronil sea varaema whitewall
Episode 15: Most things go quite badly wrong - 06 Apr 2020 20:05
Setting
Most of the adventurers were in Clearwine.
Plot was created from a known item, and working out how the adventurers interacted with it and other items.
Thanks to Saronil for the notes.
IC Play
Hero quest started off.
Orlanth said tearful goodbyes to Ernalda and went off to do the thing.
Sneaky god followed him.
Issaries? And some other god did a sidequest. And traded a trinket to Varaema
Humakt stabbed Orlanth to provide a shortcut to the underworld
Chalana Arroy was there too
Then the air tore, a red woman with six arms came through and stabbed orlanth quite a lot.
Humakt and that other god that the storm bull was representing fought the red demon
The air was red and a red moon was in the sky (Lunars!)
Varaema stepped into the circle and healed Yelmalio
Then Humakt was injured and she tried to heal death. At this point she passed out.
When she came round, everyone was dead or dying, but the red moon was gone.
Her high priestess did what she could for Kallyr Starbrow, but the wounds could not be healed with magic, the same was true for everyone else injured, or at least, those closely related to Kallyr - most people, given the worship.
Varaema helped to save people all night.
Saronil, Aria and Androuranos (and Helver):
Went off through the north gate and along the road. There were a number of annoying Lunar traps that exploded when prodded. They saw something in the distance, possibly some Lunars.
They went back to northgate and found an enemy disguised as a rock. Saronil poked it and it bit his hand, then he killed it and they eventually managed to pry it off his arm. It was an armadillo with a huge bitey mouth.5
Then they discovered a cannon6 and muskets pointed along the road, they dived off the road and got shot at a bit. I will note that Aria’s pathfinding Rune spell identified them as enemies.
Then some Lunars appeared and were obliterated by the cannon.
More lunars appeared and were attacked by the PCs, the gate sounded the retreat, PCs left and got back to the gate. As soon as they were not in contact with the Lunars, a magical attack started from the gate, on the Moon worshippers. They did not seem to be very popular at ALL at the gate.
They noticed a big red Moon Rune in the sky and ran towards it; then part way down the stairs, the gate behind them exploded.
They went down and found many, many people dead or dying. Every Orlanthi related to Kallyr or worshipping in support of her was wounded. Urox was recovering from his wounds, and Lord Eril was wounded but refusing magical healing.
They helped with first aid and/or running messages.
In the morning, one of Aria’s friends advised her and her companions to get out of town because people were angry about the north gate.
So they left. Helver had already been Banned, cast out from his Temple.
Saronil has a letter to deliver to the Dwarf of Dwarf mine
Varaema has some investigation to do into why no-one can be healed.
Other Things
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!! Aaaand breathe.
I had provided Helver as a one-time escape with potential Divine Intervention, but as it turned out he was not needed. However, he did genuinely mess up, by getting in other people's plans. It was possible to save the cannon - but difficult.
Tags: 1625 andros aria cannon eril feshin helver kallyr lightbringers sacred_time saronil varaema
Episode 13: Lucky for Some - 21 Mar 2020 00:22
Setting
Everyone was in Boldhome. It was early Storm Season.
Plot was largely made up to move things into the next plot arc.
IC Play
Everyone was in Boldhome.
Aria was happily trading and got threatened by an offended Malani, who first of all looked for her in the market, and then at the inn where she was staying, finally stepping out in front of her in an alley as she left her inn hurriedly. He explained, while being large and irritated7, that she had offended both by returning the alynxfish skin in a bad condition, and by having it sent by courier instead of coming in person, despite it being the remains of a holy animal. He called on her to come talk to him, with or without her champions. He would be staying at the Tribal Mansion for two weeks, and then would be back in his lands.
Quite naturally, Aria called on the others who had been involved8. Androuranos was particularly irritated. He and Saronil both offered to stand as her champion, and they explained what the word ‘champion’ meant in tradetalk. They all went up to the Malani mansion, where they were welcomed to Tribal Lands as guests - each of them accepted this hospitality. Those who had met him recognised Donalf ‘Elkshagger’ Malani, the man greatly insulted by Varaema’s fumbled trade talk.
Aria, as the person who had initiated the insult, talked to Graslian about the matter, after Varaema had failed to persuade him to be entirely peaceful, despite her lovely personality. Aria managed to persuade Graslian to accept a public apology in the Prince’s court (with Saronil speaking for Rastar and Laika, mostly to ensure that Rastar wouldn’t blurt out something rude) and a cash payment for the damage to the fish skin.
On their way out to arrange these things, Donalf Malani stepped in front of Saronil to challenge him for his sword. They walked out to deal with it right away. Donalf and Saronil both called on their Sword Trances, and Donalf used less magic, and his began first; he struck Saronil, who was still preparing, and won the sword, which he had wrapped carefully and taken away. He then went back to the Temple to admit what had happened, first to D’Val and then, at his suggestion, to Lord Eril. Eril was less than pleased, deploying the full finger-steepled stare.9
Varaema took the money for the fish skin to the Malani lands, as negotiated - in this case, the Malani Tribal Mansion. That being dealt with, she donated the rest of her money to her Temple, clearing her tithe, and giving rather more than 50% of her income.
Androus reported to his temple to say what had happened. Farenor himself spoke to the Initiate, asking him to return a week before Sacred Time for a secret mission. Those who had no reason to stay in Boldhome left for Apple Lane, agreeing to come back to Androus if possible. Laika was unsure whether her husband would want her to leave so soon before Sacred Time, and how her pigs would do in her absence.
On Humakt’s High Holy Day, Saronil got the taint of failure from Alda Chur removed from him, by dancing, prayer, worship, and meditation. He also had the power of the Challenge Sword returned to his second weapon10.
Varaema Divined to work out how to bring Granshi around, and took the advice from her High Healer, Beneva. Laika went back to Apple Lane as her pig (Stif) was homesick. And also to visit her husband. Varaema, Aria & Rastar went too, so that they could attempt to wake the Storm Bull, Granshi, clearing Aria and Pellia of the possibility of being Chaos Tainted. They woke up the storm bull and got him to proclaim the traders as chaos free.
They came back to Boldhome with pigs to sell, and Durggi to help sell them. Aria did her best, but was not a pig expert, and didn’t get the prices she could have for ten of the forty Durggi hoped to sell. Kalis, however, was delighted to meet Durggi and the pigs, and talked to him for a long time about porcine care. Knowing that Laika was going to be away, she suggested standing in as a proxy wife for him. Durggi sighed and looked at Laika and refused11, which Kalis told them was very sweet. She had her nails painted to match Stif’s trotters.
Andoranous was asked by Farenor to go to a lake by Jonstown, and take with him a group of people, and act casual. He was to bring back water from a pool there, in his gold amphora, without invoking the name of Orgovale Summer. Right outside, he was spotted by Helver, who advised him to take care, suggesting that people would already be aware that Kallyr was planning a Lightbringers’ Heroquest, and the Lunars or others might be attempting to stop them.
The water collection was a complete success, but on the way back, they spotted a stead with several animals lying down. It was the last before the run-in to Boldhome itself, and the North Gate.
Other Things
Log by Androus: episode-13-logged-notes
I am SO happy the elk-shagger trade-talk fumble finally saw the light of day again.
Tags: 1625 androus aria donalf eril farenor granshi graslian helver kallyr laika malani rastar saronil storm varaema
Episode 7: Death Becomes Him. And Him. - 01 Feb 2020 15:42
Setting
Saronil had had a letter from Lord Eril asking for a personal favour.
Plot was taken mostly from character and NPC personality and actions, with the troll opposition taken from Rocks Fall, a scenario written by Beer With Teeth, the GM's RP collective, for the Jonstown Compendium community content line. Click here to view it.
IC Play
The group set off for Boldhome, taking the path that avoided Clearwine and also avoided the most likely pockets of surviving Tusk Riders. They arrived safely in early Harmony week, in time for Saronil and Androus to go to the Temple to see Eril; After about half an hour Eril sent a message to say that he was at the palace, and with an apology for the inconvenience.12 After a brief bit of consideration, Saronil introduced Androus to the Thousand Stairs, by walking him up them. Androus, used to the plains of Prax, did not take well to these. They were shown to the Humakti Chapel, a cross-shaped room hewn into the mountain rock, where Eril was in prayer. He asked Saronil to take blood money to the family of someone he had killed in a Heroquest13, and to call on the Temple later. He gave Androus a look in which death was very, very clear, and they were both polite to each other. Afterwards, Saronil wiped sweat off.14
Varaema, meanwhile, had been to her own temple. After helping out for a little she was approached by an older, tired-looking Initiate who asked why Lord Eril might have donated her ransom to the Temple ahead of a journey.15 She went off to find Saronil and ask if he would ask Eril about that, and about how dangerous the journey would be.
Meanwhile Androuranos had been to his own temple, where he met a rather interesting man called Helver, who had an iron sword, but no spear, and a Death Rune as well as Fire and Truth, and a lot of scars. He was one of the more liberal members of the Sun Dome Temple, probably the leader of the outward-looking faction. His spear, also iron, he said he had lost in Crabtown. They talked for a bit and then Androranous went to introduce himself to the Light Son there, Faronor. The same sort of discussion happened as with Helver, but without so much humour. Androus left his Shield Matrix there to be recharged.16
Saronil dutifully trotted along to the Temple of Humakt alone, to meet Eril two hours after dusk.17 Eril told Saronil the name of the mother of the woman he had killed, and gave him a warrior's ransom, as well as cash for travel. The mother, Kollana Crabapple, lived in Alda Chur. Her daughter's name was Gastara Earthblood. He also added a personal message to be taken to the Dwarf of Dwarf Mine, with any reply to be brought back. That part was to be considered secret. Saronil asked about Varaema's ransom, but was very effectively stone-walled.18
Saronil explained this to his friends, and they asked the innkeeper where they were for advice on getting to Alda Chur. Androus went to his Temple, even though it was late at night, to talk to the Light Son, and said what Eril had asked. On asking what Faronor thought of Eril, he was told Eril was a man of great power and unimpeachable honour, and a politician. Absolutely nothing that could not have been guessed. Faronor mentioned that of course Eril could not send one of his own people, but left Androus to work out why.
and on the way out met Helver, who took him to the Temple of Uleria, as a suitable place for a quiet chat - they went in through the door reserved for those who wished for meals. Androus gave a bit of his own history, and told Helver where he was going. Helver explained to Androus that Eril was not sending one of his own people because he could not be seen sending one of his Regiment into Lunar Territory, and because if he did, that person might be called on to fight for him. It was a good meal.
Varaema found out at her own Temple about the woman she was going to help pay. Kollana had often travelled to battlefields. She had a husband, Filbar the Bald, who was troublesome in temper.
The next day they set out, reaching Jonstown after a long day, taking a short day up to Dangerford, and then resting there until morning so they could be sure of getting across the waist-deep ford and dry and on to Herongreen before dark. In Herongreen, Androus wanted to wait for the day so he could worship, so they paused for Fireday and Saronil worshipped on Wildday Eve and overnight.
Unfortunately, Saronil did not perform the rites correctly, or was insufficiently devoted, and he found that towards the end of the night, his sword had gone missing. He heard a cold-blooded laugh from the other side of the palisade, and clambered over it to see what he could find. His sword was there, lying on the snow, with troll tracks around it. It was completely blunted, and when he tried the Repair spell, it did not make any difference. His other sword was also blunted, and his dagger only had one edge left. In the morning, he showed the others. Androus managed to repair the spare sword19 but the edge soon bent back into its broken shape again20.
They pressed on to Alda Chur, where their business was, and where Saronil knew there was a shrine to Humakt. First they went to find Kollana Crabapple, who said she had to consider before replying to Lord Eril, and then Saronil went to the Shrine of Humakt. He was greeted there by an iron-bearing warrior of about thirty or thirtyfive, who shouted, "WHAT IN HELL DID YOU DO?"
It transpired that all Humakti swords within three days of Alda Chur, save those made of iron, had become blunted. The warrior, Gallem the God-talker, told Saronil that he had to deal with the matter, and recommended going West, to give him advantage as a Sartarite, while seeking out the Death that had been stolen from him. This meant going into the wild as it approached the Holy Day of Zorak Zoran.
Varaema was told by Kollana that her answer to Eril was yes, she would accept the ransom as her daughter's life-worth. Varaema went to tell Saronil, who took the money to her. Then he explained his problem to his friends, and the next morning they set off, going towards Dwarf Mine. Saronil said he had to go there anyhow, on an errand.
The High Llama was fine with the snow fall in the area, as it had a furry coat and long legs, but the horses made heavy weather of the track, and it was Freezeday Eve of Death Week as they approached the Dwarf Fortress. Saronil noticed the troll ambush suddenly, as if he was destined to know about it. There was a tripwire and several trollkin, and to his left a big, dark shape. He called out to his friends and ran at the big troll he knew was there. The trollkin attacked with slings, hurting Saronil's horse, and mostly pinging stones off armour. Relgor the Zorak Zorani laughed in the darkness and stepped out to greet Saronil.
The trollkin were behind a Darkwall, but Androus could work out approximately where they were. He shot towards them and the gaps in the rock he could infer, but could not hit anything save rocks, despite his skill. More rocks hit him, Saronil, and even Varmaema! He managed to get a killing shot in on a trollkin by luck.
Saronil arrived in combat with the Troll, as the slingshot bounced off his shield and his magic. He struck twice, crippling the Zorak Zorani's left arm, and thus stopping him from using half of his weapons - Relger refused to bear a shield. However, despite the advantage of a Sword Trance, Saronil was struck by a mace, which shattered his right arm. Humakt had been defeated by Zorak Zoran.
At the same time, Varaema was trying to heal herself, and Androus used the Sunbright spell, successfully terrifying the trollkin and allowing him to squint through the Darkwall. Varaema ran to try to help the trollkin, and Androus turned towards the Troll, releasing one more arrow before it reached him. Androus cast aside his bow and readied his spear.
Relger failed to cast Crush, and Androus managed to cast light into the Troll's eyes, after being missed by a couple of wild shots. He put his spear through one of the eyes, and Relger failed to call on Zorak Zoran. In fact, his failure was so severe21 that when Androus drew back the spear, hot fire came with it, and he felt a change happen at the Hill of Gold. His bronze spearhead was burning like the sun.
Varaema managed to stop the trollkin from eating her by surviving until they ran away, but one that had been wounded by a yellow-fletched arrow stopped to have her help him. She patched him up, and then went and set Saronil's arm and healed him. Saronil's sword was still blunt. Varaema tried to give the trollkin clothes. He ate them, and followed her around as if hoping for more. He was confused by the idea of being given things.
They went on to the Dwarf's Mine, down the road they were on - it was not much further. The trollkin stayed some distance away. They reached the end of a road, but a section of smooth rock face moved away. It was several times higher than the horses, higher by far even than the High Llama, and surrounded by deep Earth and Stasis Runes like portholes. From her vantage point, Varaema could see that inside the Runes was the gleam of some sort of metal.
Inside the mountain there were bays to put their animals in a huge trading area that even had wagons inside, neatly lined up. Lights came up, not fires, and not looking like any magic they knew, but strange purple and blue globes set on pillars. At the far end of the huge room a short, stout figure walked into view. It was shorter even than Varaema.
They exchanged greetings, and noticed that its beard, neatly trimmed, seemed to be metallic. Dwarf opined that they wanted to talk to 'the Dwarf' and lead them into its maze. They passed many niches containing statues of other dwarfs, which did not move or even blink, until Androus asked if it was possible to have a pitcher of water and two beakers. The dwarf stopped, tapped one of the statues, and in a heavy, strange accent, gave it instructions. It seemed to just come alive, going to do as it was bid without complaint and without jerkiness - it now seemed to be a person.
The Dwarf took them into a room with a large throne at one end, walked up there, and sat down on it, announcing that the Dwarf was now seeing them. Androus gave him water from his golden amphora, and offered the greetings of Orgovale Summer; the Dwarf said that it had been some time since she had last greeted him.22
Saronil gave over the letter he had for the Dwarf, who did not open it at that point. They were sent to eat - dwarf food was potted vegetables, potted meat, potted bread, and potted water. It was incredibly bland. Then they slept on soft mattresses that went 'clink' and 'gloing' when they moved.23 In the morning the Dwarf talked to them all privately. Saronil was just told that the answer was, 'Indeed', but the dwarf noted as an aside that he might be able to sharpen the swords now. It turned out he could - the power changing them back had been destroyed. Androus was told that he should 'enjoy it in the daytime'. His spear was, at least for the moment, capable of using the Fireblade spell, and had become a focus for it, or else Androus had learned it temporarily. The spear *seemed* unchanged to the outer eye. Varaema was advised not to bring trollkin too close to dwarf places, and when she wondered why, told to find out about the history of trolls and dwarfs.
They returned to Alda Chur, with the trollkin following them. After a bit of discussion, Varaema waited outside with it while the others went to find Kollana and check what trouble a trollkin would be. Kollana told Varaema to go in and take the trollkin, and they found it a place at the hospital.24 Androus researched troll and dwarf history, to find that the favourite food of trolls was dwarfs…
They returned to Boldhome. Eril accepted the message from Saronil with his usual cold courtesy, and that was that. Politics at the Yelmalian Temple became interesting for a while.
Other Things
Varaema's player thinks Eril just paid the ransom to mess with people's heads. She may be right.
Androus has a Fireblade at double cost, until Zorak Zoran's next seasonal holy day. It is personal to him and the spear with which he struck a blow in the light.
Tags: 1625 alda_chur androus boldhome dark eril faronor gallem helver humakt saronil varaema yelmalio zorak_zoran
Episode 6: There's a Moose Loose - 27 Jan 2020 00:18
Setting
Mostly on Fireday of Disorder Week.
Earlier in the day there had been an attack on a farm outside Apple Lane, by two Tusk Riders, who had kidnapped a farmer. He had been rescued, and the group repaired to the Tin Inn. Saronil, who had not been there, was escorting a group from Clearwine.
Plot taken from Chaosium GM Pack. This was the actual Defending Apple Lane plot as written, with last week's used as an expanded preamble.
IC Play
Saronil, Laika Pigwife (no close relation to the famous Leika) and Rastar the Entertainer were on their way from Clearwine to Apple Lane when the weather came down hard, and they had to force their way through the snow. About an hour away they saw shapes in the trees, and Saronil made the decision that they should not investigate, but press on despite the weather. They met a horseman coming the other way in the dark, and he had met Saronil before - he was Hendroste from Apple Lane. He took them via routes that were mostly clear of snow, and they got into the Tin Inn safely, if a little cold. Hendroste reported to those who were there that he could not get through - the shapes in the trees were probably Tusk Riders. Instead, he had brought back Saronil the warrior, and some famed members of the Ernaldori.
Introductions happened - Laika was chiefly famous for having negotiated with a Stone Goddess and brought her into an alliance with the Clan, while Rastar claimed to be an entertainer, but had a fine sword with him, and armour to wear as well as his bright clothes. Laika said she was there to try to arrange to buy cattle. Ethrava recognised the story, and knew that Laika was enmeshed in politics. The Colymari knew a little about each other already.25
The group prepared for the coming fight, with a warding in front of the Tin Inn and one at the back gate.26 They spent much of the night pouring water onto the ground where it could freeze under snow. A wagon was pulled into position to help bar the big front gate, and the Sun Elk, Gnasher, was tied just behind the wagon.27
Around dawn, six Tusk Riders came, along the road and then filtering through the trees. They stopped out of spirit magic range to put on their own magic, and then charged. The first one in line slid on the ice28 and came in sideways, and was hit by the fourth in line, also sliding29. The other pigs managed to charge the gate but did not do much damage. Meanwhile, Androus peppered them with arrows30. Saronil leaned down to Repair the gate, using his spirit magic. After one of the tusk riders was left dead the group split up with some going around to the back while others stayed at the front.
Saronil and Ethrava dashed for the back, and Androus stayed up top on the wall. The biggest Tusk Rider took down his shield and he aimed for that man as they charged. Things got a little complicated as the gate took hammering after hammering. At the back a tusker managed to break the gate, but came to a dead halt as it did, only to run itself into Ethrava's befuddle spell, blocking the doorway. Its rider leapt off to face Saronil, and Laika stepped up to be the Humakti's back-up.
Despite Hendroste and Androus' defence at the front, the main gate gave way, but there was only one Tusk Rider there as a second lay dead on the ground with an arrow in his eye. On the ground were Rastar and the Sun Elk, Gnasher. Rastar stepped up and put his sword through the last Tusk Rider's abdomen, but got his sword stuck.31 This made very little difference as no sword could have helped him - the tusker completely mashed his head, destroying his helmet on the way.
Saronil managed to bring the Tusk Rider down, eventually. Laika calmly stepped in and finished the job when the man just refused to die. Ethrava then befuddled one of those who was going back around to the main gate.
Varaema threw herself off the wall where she had been crouching in case the archers were injured, and cast Harmony, making everyone calm. Everyone except Gnasher, who calmly ignored the calm peace offered by Chalana Arroy and threw a tusker into the air, damaging it badly.
The end result was a very dead Rastar, a sleeping Gnasher, and the bodies of several32 of the riders and tuskers. Androus saw one of the Tusk Riders pulling away the body of the leader, dead with a Yelmalian arrow through his eye. His geas to challenge darkness creatures to a first blood duel kicked in. With Saronil alongside and Asprag the farmer as a tracker, they set off into the snow. Pretty soon they saw the body of the leader of the tuskers, but they had to keep following the trail - three of the beasts had left this way.
Laika and Hendroste escorted Varaema and the body of Rastar (with extra bits in a bucket) to Clearwine, as fast as they could, with the body tied onto Varaema's High Llama. As they cut through the forest they found they were being followed by something, or else something huge was going in the same direction as them. Once they were out of the trees they could hurry along, but Hendroste was very apologetic over the danger he had put them in.
In Clearwine, Varaema had the body brought into the Lightbringers' Temple, where she used Heal Body to give Rastar a head back. They asked for their friend to be brought back to life, and on the spirit plane, Rastar met a goddess dressed in white. He recognised her as Chalana Arroy, and took an apple from her and ate it, on her instruction. This reminded him of the world, and it was delicious but strangely heavy.33 He woke with the taste of apples in his mouth.
Meanwhile the group had successfully followed the trail of the Tusk Rider who got away, but only Androus could keep up, so he ended up pulling ahead of his comrades. He managed to draw blood on his enemy, but the tusker charged him, the rider kept using some sort of spell34, and Androus turned35 and found Saronil again. They did not pursue further.
Back at the inn, Ethrava had calmed people down, helped make sure all was going well, and settled in. Everyone gathered there, and shortly there was a party in their honour. Hastur Lawspeaker arrived the next day to thank them on behalf of the Queen, and ask them as great killers of pigs to deal with Red-eye the boar.
Right at the end of the session, on Godsday, a letter arrived for Saronil. It was from Lord Eril, asking him to call on the Boldhome Temple as a personal favour.36
Other Things
Laika has decided to pick up Command Swine. Rastar has decided that Eurmal stole his Divine Intervention Rune Point, and is sulking. He is also rather poor again, having spent his ransom. He and Laika did some serious talking about wills and property if they should die.
Tags: 1625 androus apple_lane asprag colymar dark eril ethrava gnasher hastur laika leika rastar red_eye saronil varaema
Episode 4: Hide and Seek - 16 Jan 2020 21:46
Setting
The adventurers were on their way to deal with the dragon, having obtained the loan of magical arms and armour from the ghost of a King.
Plot is from the Chaosium Game Master Adventure Book from the screen pack.
IC Play
The game opened with the adventurers on the road to the Thunder Hills, on their way to fight a dragon. Ahead of them on the path Saronil noticed fighting. Up ahead was a spearman backed up against a rock by a trio of rough-looking men, obviously bandits. They rode up to help, making enough noise that the spearman at least noticed them. Saronil dismounted at speed but could not get the bandits to take notice of him until he finally tapped one and got his attention, meaning that the fight was honourable. Shortly thereafter, with the spearman bloodied and the bandits outnumbered, they fled. Varaema bandaged the man, and he introduced himself as Androuranos, or Hawk-eye. Rather surprising Varaema, he was from the Praxian Sun County temple, but did not speak Praxian, nor did he look blond-haired. Nevetheless he made it known who he was and they introduced themselves.
As they had saved him, it was clear he owed them a life debt, and they found themselves with a spearman, while in possession of a magical dragon-killing spear.37 They repaired to the hills, interrupted on the way only by a strange meeting.
Coming along a path they encountered some dragonnewts. Several were dancing. One was sitting, crosslegged and in a meditational posture, on a bird at least six feet tall, with thick, strong legs and a sharp beak. The dancing dragonnewts froze save for one who made his way towards them with elegant and sacred but above all very strange steps, and introduced himself to the here-and-now-meat-things as the Mouthpiece of Yanah Yaqal. Every time he mentioned his master's name the other dragonnewts took up a different tableau pose and waited again. He told them a dragon was imprisoned and asked them to help free it, offering a sword made of what he haltingly translated as 'flint' and the adventurers failed to recognise as obsidian. However, they had heard stories of enchanted flint, and decided this was the black blade stuff. The dragonnewt told them to cut off the imprisoned thing's head and take it to the place of holy travel, or as they called it, 'plinth'.
They went on to the tomb, while making plans. Soon, they found the place, a carved cave in a hillside.38 They went in, and the Yelmalian spotted tracks in the floor like a huge long weight had been dragged, and claws a half cubit long had scratched the ground. Cautiously, they advanced, with Varaema and Ethrava going first and supporting the great shield, and Ethrava also holding the bag of winds given to them by Dunorl.
They advanced into a chamber which had a sacrifice pit, and discussed fishing out the klanth and the gold they could see there, but decided against it. Then, in the next room, Androus39 (and then others) spotted the dragon they were after, wrapped around a cuboid altar there. On noticing that it had been spotted, it raised itself and with the logic of dreams became a woman who commanded them to worship their once and future goddess. After a resounding round of 'no', she took on her draconic form once more and attacked, and they attacked her. Yerezum Storn breathed toxic fumes, but the air elemental that Ethrava let out of the bag was enough to keep the air clean. Androus was able to stab her in the tail, crippling it, as she concentrated on Saronil initially. He overcame his fear of Dragons to step up to her, only to be met with the Demoralise spell. He ran to hide behind the shield. Seeing him run towards her, Varaema got the wrong idea and cowered away, leaving Ethrava in an exposed position as she had just cast Earth Shield for Androus, and was in the middle of casting Befuddle. Amazingly, this made the dragon pull up, confused. Yerezum Storm failed to cast a spell at the Yelmalian, who stabbed her through a wing, breaking the spell. She ran for it, trampling over the shield and flattening the three under it. Varaema, unarmoured, was hurt - the others were protected by their armour.
Androus was falling behind the dragon but she stopped to breathe fire at him, killing the air elemental but failing to make contact with him fully - the gouts of flame splashed off his shield. He managed to bring his spear to bear and struck his third, killing blow. Yerezum Storn died blocking a doorway.
They soon found a treasure room, where Androus claimed the many golden goblets there in the name of Yelmalio, despite the calls of others. However, as they came out of the room the goddess statue on the cubic altar woke, and declared she was free, and this was her Temple. Her name was Orgovale Summer. For their help she gave Androus a golden amphora, but not the goblets - he relinquished his claim on them. Varaema was given some earrings that were a spell matrix, and Ethrava was given an arm ring and the offer of establishing a Temple. Saronil was given a flat look.
They went out, having cut off the dragon's head and squeezed past its corpse, and soon found a plinth where dragonnewts were waiting, dancing an entirely different dance. This time they were all painted half black and half white, save one who was painted half green and half a slightly different green, and the one on the demi-bird, who was not painted.
The same one as before approached them, and said that Sanah Yaqal was in their debt and would come if they placed purple nardus flowers on the plinth. This was not the same name as it had used before, but it seemed to be the same dragonnewt being indicated.
The news was taken to Queen Leika, who celebrated by giving them land, a hide each, and twenty cattle from her royal herd for Ethrava to divide. Ethrava asked Kalis to provide a new priestess for the Temple, and asked her mother to help oversee it, effectively sharing out her pat on the head from the Queen.
The weapons and armour were returned to King Berenvenos40 and all was well.
Other Things
There was some magical loot. which should probably be recorded. There was some Temple and Magical training, then it was the end of Fire Season. While Saronil was training at the Temple of Humakt in Boldhome, he was challenged for his sword, and won, and his opponent's sword was almost broken in trying. Later, Saronil learned that Eril had personally noted he would be displeased if anyone more tried to challenge that season. Saronil also found out that the Boldhome Humakti had a blacksmith.
Tags: 1625 androus boldhome clearwine colymar earth eril ethrava kalis leika orgovale_summer saronil thunder_hills varaema yerezum_storn
Episode 2: Fearing the Reaper - 22 Dec 2019 23:28
Setting
Late in Fire Season, as Ethrava returns to her Clan to live a dull life again, accompanied by Saronil, who ransomed her, and Varaema, her Praxian Guide.
Plot taken from Journey of the Heroes episode 2, episode 3 and episode 5 - significant NPCs are the same, although there is no overarching 'go Westfaring, young man'.
Brief Flashback
Saronil had a run-in with a Duck who declared he was running a Customs Post for the new Prince, Kallyr. Saronil happily paid 5 Clacks to help defend the Kingdom, despite being a bit puzzled by the fact there was only one person at the roadblock.
IC Play
As the group were riding down towards Wilmskirk, or in Ethrava's case attempting to control her Sun Elk on the way to Wilmskirk, they were caught up by a Duck on foot, who noticed Saronil and ordered him to follow, saying he should bring his friends, as they might be needed. All he would say was that there was a problem with the Undead in Whitewall. It was not until they had reached the city that the Duck even stopped to introduce himself; his name was D'Val the Sword, and he was travelling to Wilmskirk because there had been a call for a Humakti Hero. His Temple had sent him. As a Duck with absolutely nothing to prove, when he bought them all drinks it was pints all round, including for him.
Ethrava had heard of D'Val, and talked about his tales - he was eight feet tall with eyes of fire, she said. D'Val corrected her, first about his height and second about the number of eyes he had. D'Val did not know much about what he was going to be facing.
That evening being Wildday, D'Val took Saronil to a private room for worship. The Duck's Rune Magic failed him, but Saronil stepped in to Sanctify the place, and then D'Val led him through the night's worship. During that time, Saronil noticed the sword he was using was iron. D'Val was not just a Duck, but a Rune Lord.
In the morning, Varaema had to worship, but it was deemed a White Lady would be safe when travelling overnight, and D'Val told her to do that. The others travelled to Whitewall over the course of the next day, and found a shanty town around an empty, destroyed hill fort. D'Val bought them rooms at the only 'inn' in town, a tiny place that sold food, drink, and floor space. Saronil and Ethrava did some evening rounds to talk to guards, finding out that there were shambling undead beyond the gates up into the White City itself, and booking a conversation with the local Orlanthi, Gostin. Unbeknownst to them, D'Val was Divining on what they would face, and found out that there were servants of Delecti about. He spent part of the night searching for vampires, and slept the rest. In the morning, he sent the pair off to speak to Gostin, and had another nap. Varaema arrived in the 'city', having not asked at Wilmskirk about what was known about the situation in Whitewall.
Gostin and his bard had also heard of D'Val the Sword, although they were rather disappointed when Ethrava told them how he was 4'7" with a single metaphorical eye of fire. Saronil changed the subject. Gostin offered to raise the militia, but, as Ethrava noticed, he did not use the word 'fyrd', which indicated he did not have the right to call men up under him. Nevertheless he said he could get twenty men in to fight. The numbers in the hill fort were estimated around 50 undead.
Varaema arrived reported to the guards and then the inn to find out where people were, and then to the makeshift Temple of Chalana Arroy where she met and impressed the High Healer, Jaldis. Jaldis was able to tell her that the inner city probably held 30-50 undead.
Ethrava and Saronil checked with the guards again, and called for ladders once they were sure the zombies could not climb. Saronil spotted that, incredibly, some of the bodies were wearing Lismeldan wave-pattern cloth, a marker of the Tribe from West of Colymar lands. They seemed to have been dead for under a year, although Saronil was not sure if that was the magic of undeath keeping them. When they checked later, D'Val indicated that was possible. He also told Saronil to take command. On the way around the city, they noticed the near-drought conditions. There was a river nearby but there had been no rains for a while. Ethrava checked in with the local Ernaldan Initiate (no Priestess here) and was told it had been at least six weeks since rain.
The next day, the militia mustered around dawn. Saronil failed to impress them, but D'Val suddenly turned into a shouty sergeant-major sort, and terrified them into believing in their new leader.41 Saronil lead the group up through the gates, but found that he was losing control as the zombies hit his front line. D'Val asked him for permission to command, which he gave, as zombies were all up in the everything.
With Ethrava in the back row with Varaema, most of the group got up the hill unscathed.42 However, Saronil's arm was broken by a zombie and he was about to be killed by another when it flew to pieces as D'Val used Turn Undead.43 In the final charge, Ethrava was badly hit in the head and then trampled by D'Val running over her to get zombies, while the other two were also injured.44 Saronil healed himself enough to look around for his charges, and found that Ethrava was dying near to him, so he saved her. Varaema tried to fix Ethrava's head wound with first aid and made it worse45, and one of the militia had to use magic. They traipsed up to where D'Val was finding out, much to his displeasure, that he hated being hoisted shoulder-high by the victorious men he had just led.
At the top of the hill, all slightly worse for wear, they found that only four buildings still stood in the centre, although there were no undead things here. The buildings were temples to Humakt, Chalana Arroy, Ernalda, and Orlanth. Saronil detected the undead near them, and found that three - Orlanth's, Ernalda's, and Humakt's had undead in. Up close the temples had all been defaced. Those of Orlanth and Chalana Arroy were thatched, and the thatch was in bad condition on Chalana Arroy's Temple.
While he was planning how to deal with the Temple of Humakt, Saronil realised that the thatch on the Temple of Orlanth was on fire46, and ordered the men to form up outside it. A beautiful-looking woman emerged, and looked D'Val in his remaining eye. The Duck froze47,but Saronil ordered his men to charge, and led them, and the woman turned into smoke and fled. They were unable to work out where she had gone, but when D'Val started being able to move again48, he looked pointedly at the smoke of the burning thatch.
There were now, to Saronil's senses, two undead in the Temple of Humakt. However, once he had formed up his men to go in, with him and D'Val at the front, he could sense no more. D'Val, Saronil and Ethrava went into the Temple of Humakt to find there was a rip in the air there, and they could see some sort of swamp through it. Varaema went to her own temple, and found a White Lady had been killed there, nailed to the ground. Ethrava's Temple had had the lower half filled in, desecrating that, too.
D'Val sent Saronil to fine Ethrava and tell her to keep quiet about the rip for a bit, but to send for Gostin, and get ready to go for help49. Varaema sent down the hill for Jaldis, and then started to prepare the dead body for a proper pyre and burial.50
Jaldis came up the hill with Gostin, and met Varaema. The young White Lady had just found a medallion that the body had been wearing, which Jaldis took and put on. D'Val arranged with Gostin for supplies to be made ready and sent with the group, and then sent them to Boldhome to explain the situation and ask for help. Jaldis noted to Varaema there was no need to ask the White Ladies there.
The journey, which was uneventful, took two days, first up to Wilmskirk and then a short day's ride up to Boldhome. Ethrava was riding on a borrowed bison rather than risk her Sun Elk misbehaving, but it turned out she could not make those work properly either51
In Boldhome, Ethrava made straight for the Earth Temple to make nice with Kalis, the High Priestess there, while Varaema went to the Temple of Chalana Arroy to help out. There, she was quickly spotted as having troubles in her mind and put into the area of the hospital that had women in childbirth, and bad wounds. This was also, not by coincidence, where an Initiate was singing the Comfort Song.
Saronil thought a bit about Lord Eril Humakti, and whether he should go straight to the Prince, or whether he should go via Eril. He decided his duty was to avoid telling the High Sword of Humakt about what was going on, but to do as D'Val had indicated and talk to Kallyr directly. He climbed up the thousand steps to the palace, and asked for an audience. When it was granted, Kallyr Starbrow saw him in a small room with a couple of attendants. She named herself over his stammers52, and also introduced her Chief Priest Tennebris and Lord Eril. Saronil explained the problem including the rift in the Humakti Temple. Kallyr looked at Eril, who admitted grudgingly that he did indeed know how to dedicate a Temple. She told Tennebris and Eril to deal with it, and Saronil was dismissed.
Saronil walked down the stairs with Eril53 and met Kalis54 and Ethrava55 coming up. Eril sent them up to the palace56 to find out what was going on. At the bottom of the stairs he informed Saronil that they would travel to Whitewall together.
The next day they set off for Whitewall as a group.57 and spent two days getting there. As they came in towards the city there was a decision to be made on whether to push on into darkness58 Eril was not in favour of doing so, but Ethrava pointed out to Tennebris that there were Initiates of Ernalda who might be in danger, and this was enough to hurry them on. At the top of Whitewall, Tennebris looked glumly at the remains of his Temple and then he and Kalis had a cheat-off for whose Temple would be rededicated first, resulting in Tennebris looking smug, and being given first go.
Eril went to examine the Temple of Humakt, where D'Val was still meditating where he had been left. There was a rather tense handover from the Duck, who then went straight to sleep, snoring in the corner. Eril sat down to guard the hole rift. Saronil guarded the temple itself. In the small hours, he heard Eril speak a word that meant Death, and for a brief moment he understood Separation from the soul.59 This also gave him an understanding of the High Sword's power.
In the morning, Orlanth's temple was rededicated, and then in turn, each of the adventurers were called on to help with theirs.60 Ethrava picked up a healthy respect for Kalis, and Varaema learned that Jaldis had a mind like a scalpel, and was capable of great concentration. Saronil found out that Eril was not only powerful, but that his power was wide-ranging and deep, as he had the most difficult task of all, being backed only by a Rune Lord and an Initiate, and with a magical construct trying to keep the place from rededication. After that, Eril left immediately, handing over the Temple to D'Val, who put Saronil in charge and crawled back to sleep.
Pretty much immediately, the rain began to fall. Tennebris got absolutely soaked in his roofless Temple, but Kalis kindly invited him into Ernalda's house to take advantage of her hospitality. There, he got to sleep on the floor. It was better than the storm.
Afterwards the group stayed in Whitewall for a short time. Ethrava lamented to Kalis about her problems with ransom, and Kalis offered to have the money sent, if Ethrava would move to Boldhome. Ethrava agreed to this enthusiastically. Meanwhile Saronil heard that D'Val was denying having been in command and saying that had been Saronil. He asked D'Val to stop lying about this, which the Duck took with a frozen moment Saronil did not notice, followed by a quiet explanation that he was not in fact lying. Saronil agreed this was the case, but said D'Val was pushing a narrative that did him too much credit. D'Val pointed out that Saronil needed to tell the truth to others, then, which was a thing that happened.
D'Val offered to fight Saronil for the challenge sword (See Episode 1) if Saronil wanted it to be guarded by the Temple. Saronil decided against this.
Outcomes
D'Val's legend has spread. He is, at least in Wilmskirk, no longer known as an 8' tall hero, but by his true height, 4'7". He is also celebrated there as a great Humakti hero.
Saronil picked up a D6 on his Death Rune and Fear (Eril).
End of Season happened, with some reputational gains for their fine work.
Tags: 1625 d'val eril ethrava fire kalis kallyr saronil tennebris varaema
