Those damn cults

Background:

Ias had six fingers

Sitting comfy

All at home. Tud is not looking guilty at all.

Greyrobes in the hunting lodge (because they smell, and noone else wants to be near them). Very poor social skills, the smell, the danger.

Goddess of magic/geeks, Tyryalandi priestess of her. Not staying at the huntinglodge with the smelly imp and the experimenting Nym etc, stays with Forgeillil instead.

Tud’s sister in law is organising organising. Ilin over there, horses over there.

Valernaro – Grey Elf Ranger – A cross between Ray Mears and Kate Blanchett. Sleeps out in the open.

Thranduil heads up the hill to his Griffins. He’s recruiting folks in a blue surcoat training folks and going ommmm…. Feeling very righteous. Doing Something Useful.

Lacomfe reafaalil (the one who delivered thranduil’s child Heleth) pops back to find out how the child is getting on. Erm, it was around here somewhere. Thbrbwbbwb to his dad. Has been to shambelaha, home of the Inscruitable Ones (who have become very popliar). Didn’t find much (cos they’re inscruitable) but place in the grip of se-han drug from shanhallenena. Even carnc tried a sample and turned him a bit dribbly and something else, and his own ilin ended up doing him in. So he’s quite happy to see Thranduil practicing outragous martial arts and austerity and no drugs at all in anyway no officer.

(It is now spring – there’s probably some snow and ice up in the peaks for the ice elf to rest in. Some berries and snow and a good birch thrashing in the morning will make him well. Up in the pass the snow is clear and the jale march up to show it’s still Hisran, and they march back to get to supper).

Extra XPs for Sarah for ginger creams.

Messenger from Fg to remind him that he’s welcome at the Lyrond. He looks at the ice elf “It’s a bit warm and fetid down there. In fact it’s fetid most of the time around the hunting lodge”.

Back down to the lyrond and regurgitate story about shambala. The place is full of drugs, and wahey. Nym says “does that mean…” and then one of his legs kicks the other. He frowns down at his britches.

Why does it always come back to us? Can’t they just sort themselves out… a message arrives from Fg’s real dad’s half brother saying “Geton with it.”

We discuss Gwathlo and the possiblility of “Fluffy Gwathlo” in some alternative universe.

Tud and Tyralandi do a deal with the studs that belong to the warrior maiden and some repairs (to be discussed later). Fg is keen for Tud to stay back, not punished enugh; he shrugs, disappointed

They line up an expedition, separating the stay at home slackers from the expeditionary force.

There’s then a pause while Fg sorts out equipment.We all fall out and set fire to leaves (this is before cigarettes).

We line up again. There’s more of a pause. We look at maps. The cart is full of edible stuff. It rains.

We’ve left. Or at least the vanguard leaves. Travel to and along Dwarf road along the north to the west.

Anar gets to grip with his shock rings, and zaps various small animals and bungs them in the cart.

We go through North Quag, where we stop off at relatives of Fg. High alert, it appears that travellers (eg merchants, priests, etc) are being body-melded (possessed). They are persuading those they contact to join in some sect/pilgramige to the south – shamblehar or sometihng. Practicing more steps to enlightenment than ever before.

Then we go through Riocca Lominlindi and have to stop off there to see relatives of Thranduil. There’s a Roc abroad. Also increased ogre activity. “Challenged Inscruitable Ones; because they were sending out auras of peace and tranquility they were driving the ogres out, so we told them to stop it” We don’t believe any of it. “Raiding parties, too fast for jalee”. Ogres have formed defences in the mountains, in the way between us and the shambalia.

“I don’t know what we’re trying to achieve” “We’re trying to get to the drugs man”.

We reach a small town in the foothills (of the headlands) and pause. Send a recce out. “If you keep heading up that trail you will find a hidden valley and temple, etc, etc” Or find some ogres and get deaded..

Half the party – mostly ilin – head up the road. Thranduil loses the track and Valarwen takes over. Place is covered in Ogre tracks.
Back at the viallage, we order another pint. It’s quite fetid; Nym is brewing up some stuff for some arrows +10 and some healing lite potions. Ryzame is eating beans. And there’s the dwarf who’s never been out of his armour.

Up in the pass, the scouts spot a typical ambush. We counter ambush. Val gets off her horse but fails to milk it, draws her longbow. Shelbai (not Erlini here, she’s back with the fetid arm of the party) charges up the slope, looses an arrow and hits one. Val drops her bow. Sita and Oruro ride out to outflank them. One of the Ogres makes a break for it, Thranduil goes after it. At the back, one of the Ogres spots what is going on and stands up to look around. Sita & Oruro outflank; Oruro gets off his horse as he’s suddenly rubbish at hitting things and knocks it in the chest at 30′ – he’s nervous as it’s not far enough away. They’re very big at 14′ in heels. The last crouched Ogre notices whats going on and gets up and chrages the two of them.

Thranduil closes with the running Ogre, and (408!) with a rapier knocks it forward to the ground, it bounces to the floor and back up, then he skewers it to death in one impressive move. It will take some time running on before it realises it’s dead. Shalbai right behind reins around and gives up. Val misses again.

Oruro gets back on his horse and gallops off, loosing an arrow that knocks the heavily armoured Ogre’s helm off. Sita misses.

Chainmail shirt one finally notices, gets up and sees Val out in front. He heads for her. Erlini sees this from some way away, Val gets on her horse to run (we’ll make an illin of you yet) and Shelbai shoots despite the long range and (271) knocks it out of direct action and into a heap (51 hits). Other ogres stagger over to where Oruro and Sita just were, we circle them. Oruro gets around the back of them (00+)

Shelbai heads past the chainmail shirt one she’s shot and shoots the unarmoured one further on. Thranduil follows behind and tries to finish off chainmail-shirt. Val comes up to it and sticks it with her sharp stick. It dies and falls over. Oruro turns his horse tightly and with style and pinache drops an arrow out of his block into his hand, and shoots the plate armoured one through the chest dropping him in the ground. He carries on past getting caught between the remaining live ogre and the hillside, though not close enough to get clobbered. Shelbai comes thundering after him, loosing an arrow over her shoulder and drops it.

We wonder about killing them off but it’s very scary, we look around and check positions etc. We notice another three, one towards us, and we head towards them. Sita hits the one heading towards us as the rest hurtle past it, getting it through the arm – it stops, stunned, drops his tree and holds his arm howling.

Back at the crew, Oruro is trying to get his horse going, which is still trying to remember where its legs were after the rather impressive manouever getting around the previous turn (the equivalant of a stall). Thranduil wheel-spins off at speed after the running away ogres.

More XPs for sweets. Not sure who though. Must be me.

Val looks around for arrows and information. Oruro pretends he was never going anywhere and shoots the one still holding its arm, hitting it in the hip, cutting its belt and dropping its trousers. The ogre shifts from holding its arm to holding its hip – start of the macaranea. Sita stabs it in the rear end and it falls to its knees to die shortly.

The others catch up with the fleeing ogres. Thranduil encourages one on with a sharp stick with an excellent initial attack. But it sidesteps into the path of the galloping horse which bunches and barges into it (66 – shoulder strike sends foe spinning, some concussion, stunning Ogre), taking no punishment itself. Thranduil holds desperately on.

Shailba shoots the other and while it’s not very well it’s still going. Thranduil tries to turn his horse but on top of everything else has to pull up, sort himself out. Oruru and Val settle down to looting, er, examining the Ogre corpses. Shailba shoots hers again, and it goes down frantic to avoid death. Thranduil gets himself together and closes. It is gradually beaten to a pulp.

It all goes quiet…

Six dead ogres, and one crippled. We interrogate the Ogre, but with difficulty as we don’t speak Ogre. But wait, Thr speaks German (Perrin), so it’s time to interrogate in german! It is time to make you talk. Ve ask ze kveschons.

“Im not telling you that we’re not working for Pan fried chicken” (what? Pan far Thessilick. Oh) . What sorts of secrets don’t you know? “I don’t know that we’ll get the whole of Perrin when the incautious ones win the world bwahahah”. How many of you are there? “One!” Where is your leader etc.

The GM gives up (“you will get XPs for role playing but we haven’t time”). Inscruitable one came by in a human body and then flew away on a Roc, leaving the body to eat. Val finds the human remains. Seven bags containing 3 gold coins for the ogres.

We get ourselves sorted out and shaken down.

The fetid party are being fetid. A band of pilgrims come down the road towards the Dread Pagoda of the Inscruitable. Tyra detects magic and identifies the possessed one: Karl Sen Sen Shirat. We can’t work out how to get the possession out, so we think about following them. We wear cloaks so we do, pretending to be pilgrims. One of the ilin (‘old’ ones) comes back to pick up the dwarf who couldn’t be so disguised.

We process with the possessed to follow the pilgrims in to the Pagoda of Doom. Oruro hands over his main armour and horse to the others, taking only his sword under his travelling cloak and joining the pilgrims.

We pass into a valley and the pilgrims thread their way through boulders. Two earth elements leap out of the boulders and head for Oruro – he backs away and one elemental trips and falls back into the boulder and disapperas – possibly scared by Oruro’s ugliness. The other chases Oruro around the field a bit. Suddenly Oruro stops and rejoins the pilgrims. He points at Nymraith and says “he also is an impost—” [I can't remember why, there was a Really Clever Reason for this that would have earned vast XPs, no, really] and his mouth seals over (Erlini) and he rushes over to grapple Nym but fails to get him. A yak is seen in the boulders. Some chasing by Oruro of Nym. Nym Hastes himself. The following riders, watching, etc, plan to attack the Yak hiding in the rocks. Anar sneaks in and gets a shot in with his shock bolt. Hits but only a bit.

Oruro gets himself back and hits Nym just because he can. He’s still got no mouth. Nym dances away, faster.

Oruro heads off up the slope to the yack.

Erlini attempts to turns the yak pink and reduce its skin hardiness but fails.

The ‘old’ party comes charging over the hill to face two earth elements. Oruro waves his sword through one of the three Yaks that he’s suddenly facing, it passes through. Ah. That’ll be an illusion then. Anar shocks another and gets it, the smell of buring yak hair, lots of dancing mini lightning and stunned shocked for a bit. Nym shockbolts a yak but also gets the wrong one.

Tyra manages to undo the possession on the lead pilgrim. Which saves us from a lynching.

Thranduil attacks: leaps off the horse and with an amazing forward flip he launches himself at the elementals with style and swashbuckling panache. He knocks back an earth element, stunning it.

In the space left the others charge through at Mach 4 (which is a measure of dirtiness) and Val heads for the yaks.

The yak expires and the other yaks disappears. Erlini lets her mouth removal spell on Oruro lapse. Anar turns an earth elemental into dust – but it resists quite easily. Tyra launches into one with a mace and manages a minor dent. Nym races over still charlie chaplin hasted and shocks it. It grounds, briefly stunned.

Shelbi attacks to try and knock it over, and manages to only inconvenience it.

Dinner arrives..

Tyra beats one with a mace and chips away. Nym fails to use his wand; he takes the batteries out and rubs them a bit and puts them back in. Shalbai kicks it but it fails to fall over again.

After an hour of careful analysis Chris realises the dwarf missed. Oruro rushes up. Thranduil kicks it. Very impressively.

The elementals begin to recover, Thranduil kicks one again, and it disappears into dust. Shalbi tries to trip one and fails to even get a good grip. Nym shocks one lightly. Tyra whacks it with a mace and (awsome strike +50 hits) it looks a bit uncertain. Anar’s shockbolt stings it. Erlini has been preparing a waterbolt for ages and finally lets it loose. Under the accumulated assault it dissolves into muddy dust.

— dog walks

…..and chocolate and tea…

Chat to pilgrims. Unrepossessed bloke is keen on taking the pilgrims out. He chats to Thranduil – obviously in charge because of his clothing (Thranduil? Wearing clothes?) – he’s picked up some stuff from being possessed. The yaks have been growing in the idyllic hideaways in remote places. Have become adept at manipulating politics. Kidnapping key players before they become key players.

Stone steps up out of standing stone valley. Hewn from the very living rock. 10′ wide steps 1′ high, quite shallow (fine for yaks hooves).

 

“Yak librarians go mad”. That’s the plot.

Every 1,111 steps is a layby. (?)

Oruruo collects suitable bits.

We collect the yak’s magic stick, his robe, and his pearl nekclace (ahem). Necklace appears to be mundane but expensive. Nym examines the stick. Charged somewhat <10. Nym attunes to it: Staff of charming.

We rest to let the greyrobes recover. The dwarf and Oruro head up first, the others can catch up. We do at around the second landings and catch our breath.

Tyra notices up that there are some small birds floating above. They circle down and down and get larger and laaaaarger. Rocs. We are between Rocs and a hard place. We wait. They circle. We wait. They circle. We give up and head up; waving sharp pointy bits. The Rocs eventually drift off.

We reach the top. Nicely made formal gardens. All very peaceful and contemplation like, warmer than expected. Pagoda in the gardens. Very nice pagoda, thick walls, big paper doors. Stream splits garden into two. On one side is small pagoda (bath house), and a supply house (supplies!), and the main pagoda. Pilgrims seem pretty normal.

We go into the main pagoda, servant bows and hits gong. We bow back. Bloke turns up. Heskain. He’s a jaan – minor jini. Oruro only just notices him. He says “hello, what can we do for you” hello we’re here to clean the pool. I would like a licence from my pet fish. Ahem. we cut the chatter and say we’d like to become enlightened. We get the sales pitch for the cult, viz bowing to all superiour Yaks (not by cutting off their heads, say, and keeping their staff). We all nod at each other thinking how wise these things are. As we are led into the hall of the enlightened ones. Statues of bovine headed Shows us around, bathrooms, meditation rooms, servants rooms. Shown to some rooms for us. Four stories up. Library. locked doors. Most others are just latticed. Lots of pilgrims; leopards (no, lepers), priests, scholars, dissaffected soldiers.

Anar tries to persuade them to let him into the contributors library, bit of flattery and he gets taken off t’library, Shalba in tow. Nym heads off to the bath house. The library annex has bunks and scrolls being transcribed, to the south is a brain in a jar and a yak-headed statue.

We get shown to a meditation chamber before lunch. The yak statues display the ignorance of humanoids vs the yaks. Chamber in the back – he’s not keen on us seeing it. Oruro hangs back on the way out and looks in; there’s some statuesi in there with a human on all fours with a ribbon on his neck, and another human disfiguried to look lke a yak. Spiritual Possession and slavery. Definitely.

Library takes up half the building, but doors are locked.

We eat sparingly, and night falls (bang). It appears not to be poisoned.

At night, we hear jaan and a yak warrior type wander around. We sneak quietly up to the library door.

Nym long-ears to the jaan and yak warrior, tying to the jaan: Hiscai lives with a female jaan called hibba hibba. Generally spend their time together when they’re not out enforcing their will on the slaves.

We sneak up to library door. Erlini opens door and it opens. We sneak Anar, Erlini, Tyra and Nymraith in.

In the library, the books are ceramic plates, heat etched, lots of writing. Big center-piece chamber, lots of shelves, windows to the outside..

Anar interprets a couple of slabs. Another family tree slab, marking magic users and scholars etc. Marking for kidnaps.

Something appears to be in the library. We all look at it wondering if it’s each other or Anar: “Who are you?” “I’m not afraid of nufink”. This isn’t nuffink. It’s a middle-aged woman with inky fingers rearranging ceramic tiles. Anar wonders if her brain has been removed and kept inna jar somewhere. She appears to be breathing quietly, so she’s not completely dead.

Tyra has a good think. She casts deaths tale and we hear that ye olde lady was held by the arms, taken before the statue with the brain, her soul and brain contents ripped out into the catalogue. Then maybe they make the tiles. What happened to the others? There’s not much agriculture…. mmmm soylent green… Nym thought the food tasted vaguely familiar….

All the greyrobes are thinking that the pagoda would make a good blackrobe tower…

There are other exits, by each is a big spacehopper of death. Beholders?

We leave, aiming for another day of questions. Nym successfully deploys the Dust of Ages, now it looks as though no one has been there for thousands of…. oh.

We sneak off back to bed. Next day there are meditations etc. Erlini visits the bath house.

Amongst the yaks there appear to be the Master, the Defender, the Archivist, the Scourge of the four mountains. There is a tea room for the superiour yak folk, in the upstairs of the pagoda is a bathroom..

Erlini shape changes herself and Anar into Yakfolks to get into the tea room. We sit around outside whistling innocently and looking meditative. Inside all is lovely. The Master’s Garden, with brightly coloured fish in a pool. Master Zingru, and an old yak, is in here meditating. He looks a bit haggard. We can’t speak yak though. What do they speak? Yakkity yak.

The silvery room. Grey and featureless, vague edges. Anar looks about and recognises a room that duplicates an astral projection effect. Walk in with a bar of silver and it is destroyed and you transfer to the astral plane.

NIce place. Seatings, and cafe and cushions. Two silver bars. There are some mephits keeping the water warm.

They take two silver bars and step in.

They appear in the astral plane: Big mile long body of goddess, curled up, loing chain to elsewhere, Anar thinks “there’s no place like home” and appears in the hunting lodge. Charges in – a rent in the astral plane appears back at the lyon, Forgeillil is in the bathroom and Anar writs a message in the mirror. We need reinforcements and someone who knows about planes. Not Tud as… well, just because. Not Kam as he’s not keen. Not Ryz because he’s got no firepower. See? “Well it will take me weeks” Well I got here in no time. “How long have you got”. About -

zap.

Fg goes to ask the wood elves – she meets some balties (small oniion elves), who say yes there’s a spot there, in exchange for a chicken. Fg exchanges a chicken token for chickens. She tries it – and finds herself in an island in the sea. Introduces herself to the local elves. Oooh look, Denis come and see this Give her some herring. We can take you to your relatives. On the boat. Round the island. Ryz is a bit ill. Introduced to family, Cazimanze is there. Hello cousin. Hmm, what are you doing here? bit of a story yeah but no but. Two days now. Shipped off to Mongolia next stop. Noradrith (uncle) bit of banter. He’s been already thinking about sending his ilin and dealing with the ogres, yaks are mostly insular. She tells him there are four. Hmmm.

Back at the pagoda, most of the folks leave in a panic to the bottom of the steps. Nym stays as our contact amongst the pilgrims, Oruro heads off into the surrounding hills.

Noradrith teleports Fg to Thranduil, at the bottom of the steps.

Nym: there are a few contributers in the library, using magical stylii, inscribing stuff given magically by the brane. Another master stylus somewhere – that does cut and paste from brain to page. They are tired and worn out, and one is ready to turn, but have to scurry to prevent being punished by the beholders. Chief Librarian, zodkil, a beholder, holds the master stylus. Five beholders. Normally in the head librarians office.

Pilgirms in the gardens, few left who came with others. Every now and then someone disappears. Nym eats lightly and sparingly. Scourge turns out to be a fire elemental. Top geezers live in the top floor amongst the tea rooms.Dozen jaan. and eightish yak warriors. Three mephits gossipping; were five yak bosses, but one went a bit mad and took too much, and is now locked in the basement or the attic. Ir ak shassar also stays in the guest chambers with two hellcats.

Nym examines the building; if the mad yak in the attic is there it’s in the same floor as the tea rooms. Probably in the basement. Jaan and yaks spread over pagoda. No apparent doors down.

Nym spends his days spying; long-earing up into the tea room, he hears someone struggle then walk out – human. Possessed, gets onto Roc and flies away. There’s also two wild Rocs.

Gets to locate mad yak who is now a big green tree, left to one side.

Fg and her crew arrive and take over the supplies hut. In prep for an assault.

Some discussion about Fg wearing a blackcloak or other blackgear. A black catsuit. But not a cat as it’s mythical. More a black weasel suit. hmmm.

Fg gives up and marches up and in “I’d like to join your group” Fuck off, er soldiers? After several milliseconds of perusal, Fg decides to fireball them. No, wall of fire. Not quite wide enough – Tyra and Val flank the firewall. The rest are behind in a trench looking over the top ready to duck.

Nym at the top of the steps feels the heat up the steps and recognises Fg characteristic signature. He drinks one of his own potions and feels a small jolt (+5OB/DB), and prepares a scroll of black tentacles for the steps on the way down. Oruro comes trotting down the hillside, keeping an eye open for flank attacks.

Val and Sita etc shoot and hit things, stunning a couple, putting three down.

The two Yaks just walk through the firewall. Both are slowed slightly, one only really very slightly.

Tyra whacks one with a mace but swishes through the hair.

Anar shockbolts it, a little.

Thr hits one,stunning it.

Hagar draws his axe and cuts one and stuns it doing so. What?.

 

Forgeillil tries a combo attack with double dagger flashy attack and hits one for 1 point. Fireballs are obviously the way forward. And any other direction

Tyra whacks again – but loses her grip, recovers, settles pose again.

Anar shockbolts again, foe stunned again. Topples back into the wall of fire and the terrible smell of burning yak fills the air. And a good bridge across the wall. Behind it a jaan is reloading the crossbow. Chita shoots the other yak and he goes down into the fire too.

Hagar strides through the fire and kills the Jaan to death with one strike. “Well I’ve knocked skinny out of the way – where’s the one ye wanted me to fight?”

Up the stairs Nym hears something floaty come past and casts Black Tentacles on the stairs. It grabs and holds a beholder – Nym pegs it for the window, they’re nasty they are. Hopefully this has now isolated the Big Nasty Folks from the henchmen.

Four jaan and two yaks charge down the steps to the front and Forgellil, at last, reverts to her favourite fireball – everyone ducks preparing for a mushroom cloud, but while she clobbers them all it’s not up to her usual standard..Most of the party still keep their eyebrows.

Various shot, shock and arrows, generally kept on the back foot, Erlini breaking one’s leg, generally making quite a mess of them, the imp killing one. Val’s bowstring breaks – 6 rounds to re-string.

Nym looks out the window to see Oruro looking about for flank attacks. “Er, you’ve got the potion of flying haven’t you?” well you’ve got the carpet slippers havent you? “Yes but I need the potion to make them work”

Downstairs they batter away at the remaining jaan and yakfolks and they drop. The dwarf again reaches a target and remves the top half of his head..

Pause. We head up the stairs to see the beholder trapped in the tentacles – Oruro has relayed the message. They snipe at it. Fools. The beholder blasts Shelbai (30 + 2/rnd) and Anar resists – they all back out fast. Shortly they hear the sound of an egg breaking as the tentacles finally rip the beholder apart.

Oruro shouts “don’t go near the beholder!” Yerm.

We gather and recover; Oruro as outfielder scout and Nym as lookout upstairs. Shalbai was healed a bit but not well. We set up camp, it’s alright they’re all trapped upstairs by Everards tentacles. But no, there’s one on a Roc heading out. And it might well come back….

 

Claiming Gifts

Alu Canath Nhi
Bridle, bit, reins, saddle, girth, stirrups, martingale & stirrup irons. In black dyed leather with eog fittings and chamfon. +20 to horses’ DB. +10 to ride rolls. Originally part of Hyzenthay Ithin’s dowry. 

 

Jadhrim Gwathlo
Kyf (frame for Yicduroh, bow and sword). White oak, carved with over four hundred horses. Undoubtedly Galadhrim work. It’s feet are carved like hooves and actually have genuine used iron horse shoes from one of the steeds of Bannoc Nhi (early PWOC) – keeps items placed upon it in the condition in which they were at the moment when they were placed.

Arutha Gwathlo
Saddle cloth. Red silk over grey wool with eighty silver studs (shaped like dancing wolves).

Surcoat (like a Wyl, but to be worn over the yicduroh). Red silk over grey wool with eighty silver studs (shaped like dancing wolves).

Belannia Gwathlo
Seal (wooden block 11cm cube) with griffinesque handle. The face is carved to read “The official seal of Forgileill Gwathlo, Princess of Alcant, ilin of Hisra” in cirith. The language is Gwaithor. Comes with a red ink pad and a blue ink pad.

Beren Isenwarian
Eider down quilt (queen sized), covered in royal blue silk, embroidered with cranes in silver. Four pillows/cushions, in royal blue silk, embroidered with cranes in silver.

Ascarnil Gwathlo
Bow, asymmetrical, 188cm. Yew, ash, mallorn, antelope horn, dog sinews, Celenic silk, horse bone. Made by the emperor’s bowyer. +15 weapon.

Rakon Gûl
Blue wear (pottery) service. Sixteen sets of bowl, drinking bowl, platter and side plate. Chestnut and Agadir pattern and maker’s mark (Porthcrog) on the reverse.

Pavilion (bell tent) in sail cloth. 14′ diameter. Front (‘door’) half is bleached, it’s white and admits quite a lot of light. The back half is dyed extremely dark green. Complete with poles, guy lines, wooden pegs and valise.

Gothon Yla
Writing desk, beech with a green leather blotter and green leather covered stool. Plain and undecorated, it has three drawers which are designed for books and loose pages.

Colmar Lominlindi
Afette, Rocca mare, six years old, 14.5 hands. Ilin Trained

Riojar Lominlindi
Ohkin, Rocca mare, four years old, 14.3 hands. Broken but unschooled

Asion Gwathlo
Altha, Rocca mare, five years old, 14.3 hands. Well schooled but not ilin trained.

 

The Summer of Peace and Quiet

Forgileill settled in as Hedge Lord of Nereth and Lauren’s Glade. The Kasbar at Lauren’s Glade has a thick exterior wall punctuated only by arrowslits and the doors. The main door is wide enough for a wagon and there is a postern at the rear. In the first part of the compound is a courtyard with a packed earth floor. There is a smithy to the left (north) and stables for twelve horses to the right. The first floor contains servants quarters above the smithy and hayloft above the stables. There is a bakery and kitchen in the central block, next to the smithy. The southern side of the central arch are two floors of domestic storage. There are guests quarters above the kitchens (for warmth).

There is a guard room above the main gate, which is secured by two sets of iron bound wooden doors. The lookout is accessed by a ladder. There are two stone stair cases to the upper floors from the stable courtyard, in the corners where the north and south wings meet the central block.

Through the large archway in the central block leads to the modest flower and water garden. There is a well in the centre and flagged paths between the planters. There are cloisters on all sides. The north side contains the quarters for the Hedge Lord. There are offices and lecture rooms on the ground floor and bedrooms on the upper. The south side contains an armoury and bathing complex on the ground floor and six rooms for ilin on the upper. Sanitation runs out to septic pit three miles away.

The entire eastern wing is the Lyrond. It has expensive stained glass windows on the inside walls, meaning that it is well lit in the morning.

There is a hypocaust under the inner courtyard’s wings. The roof is finished in varnished and fired ceramic tiles and there is a walkway with a low (knee high) parapet around the entire roof. The whole sits on a raised area, so that the floor level of the complex is about eight feet higher than the surrounding ground. This is made of a mixture of natural outcrop and built up ground. There is long gently angled ramp up to the front gates. This and the closest part of the Nereth Road are cobbled.

Invaswen eventually arrives. When she learns that she is to be the hadrona of Forgilill’s household her trepidation evaporates and she throws herself into the task. She recruits kitchen staff and sets about imposing order in her Lyio’s world. Beginning with her ilin, as there is very little else about at that time.

Invaswen persuades Forgileill to keep Seldrann, whose affected whimsicality was beginning to drive Forgileill up the wall. Seldrann, whose work ethic is not her greatest driver, spends more time with Thranduil, chatting about elf stuff.

Forgileill, being a Royal Princess, begins to receive claiming gifts from well wishers. Invaswen catalogues these and installs them in Forgileill’s apartments.

Thranduil, looking for a place of his own, begins touring the ruins of the monasteries that dot the high country nearby. He becomes fascinated by the Griffins and spends some weeks living in a cave very high up, so he can watch them and meditate on their nature as they rear their young before him.

Druikar petitions Forgileill for claiming, as his wife does not want to leave the area. As soon as Tûd is well enough to travel, he sets off for the White Order, in the company of Gwedhion. Gwedhion knows the way and is not going to let Tûd become distracted from his developmental commitment.

Forgileill’s inheritance arrives as summer begins, providing more of life’s small comforts and making the place feel like home, containing as it does, many objects from her childhood. It also contains a few treasures from Glordin’s estate.

There are many visitors. Ravon, Halthor and Havorn are fairly regular visitors, dropping by each month or so as they make their rounds. Halthor lingers, as he appears to enjoy Forgileill’s company. It becomes a standing joke that she should claim him and that would save him having to go back to Kaulria. Klogoh Adfel Nhi visits twice during journeys between Sharifika and Arini, despite the fact that Lauren’s Glade is a few days off the road. He and Invaswen ignore each other pointedly whilst he is there. Jadhrim Gwathlo visits and accompanies Forgileill on a patrol of the area. Jadhrim puts her in touch with the Ralstein Dwarves, the Lomin and Carach Angren as well as the Asrai. She provides other guidance about the future as well.

There is a round of reciprocal feasting, Jadhrim is there for a few, when she leaves Orodreth arrives on a family visit (unaccompanied). He then accompanies Forgileill as she attends and hosts respectively. When he leaves, Belannia arrives and stays for a month, making Forgileill very happy.

Deepikhi, the widow of Tûd’s elder brother arrives from the Howling Marches. As his brother’s widow, technically, her upkeep is Tûd’s responsibility. Invaswen takes her on as she is literate as well as having experience of keeping an ilin household. Amarkha, Tûd’s four year old nephew, soon learns to keep out of the way. He finds that the best way to do this is to play with Ruom and Ranor in the fields and woods nearby.

Kamilata continues to improve his ilin skills. A few more young ilin arrive over the early months of the year. Kam is formally made patrol leader, a sort of first amongst equals. This means that when Forgileill departs for Saironost (for an unspecified length of time), that he will step up to fill her shoes until she returns.

Before she actually departs, the Lord of Hisra, Alu Canath Nhi, visits. Shooting the hare on the second day of his visit, the two of them spend some alone as others keep a respectful distance. He is her father’s brother. He is her Lyio’s Lyio, but perhaps the first relationship is why he visits, rather than the second.

Seldrann

Seldrann is a young Gwaithor maiden from Taurost. She has lived a comparatively sheltered life in a large urban Gwaithor community.

She has chosen to follow the path of the Companion, a profession for both sexes of elf, dedicated to Hannali, the elven Goddess of Love. Companions occasionally become the lover of the persons to whom they are supposed to be companion. However, that is not their purpose. Their purpose is to be a relaxing and calming influence on their patron. If necessary to act as a sounding board for any ideas – to ensure that they live in a pleasant environment, to, when appropriate, wait upon them, entertain them and just keep them company. Gwaithor in positions of authority normally take companions to remind themselves that the ideals of Freedom, Beauty, Truth and Love should not take second place to any duty or professional concern.

(The practice of the houses of the PE ‘hiring out’ their Gwenn as escorts for social and business occasions has its roots with the Gwaithor Companion.)

This is the path upon Seldrann has trodden. As such she has almost no combative competence. Seldrann is however, an accomplished Companion. She sings (but with a limited repertoire), plays percussion and plucked strings, dances, performs massage (therapeutic and recreational) and dress making all to a very high standard. She has beauty, poise and grace. It would not take much for Seldrann to become Gwen.

She is an adequate cook, highly skilled hairdresser, accomplished herbalist and startlingly good gymnast.

Seldrann is just over a hundred years old, giving her an apparent age of seventeen. She has green eyes, hazel under bright light and shining like emeralds under dimmer conditions. She has very pale skin and waist length black hair. She is 5’6″ and very pretty (app 90).

She can’t ride very well but can swim, her Sindalië is appalling and her knowledge of Galadhrim dialects is non-existent. Her Flanne is patchy but her dwarven, orc and sibilant are very good. She is numerate and literate, with a passion for calligraphy and a talent for logic puzzles and number games. “I wasn’t very attentive of my tutors and tended to do only that which I found engaging.”

However, despite a lack of combat skills herself, she knows a well-crafted weapon and can evaluate/appraise very well the qualities of blades and armour. She has a light crossbow, given to her by her parents because “it doesn’t take any particular skill to use.” Harsh, but perhaps with a wide streak of truth, certainly a truism to elves.

She is whimsical, idealistic, not over concerned with practicality. However, she has very good recall and appears to be open and engaging to everybody she meets. She is generous with her attention and also with material wealth.

She is always immaculately dressed and favours pastels and pale shades in all things.

The rain pours down

Many of the leaders of the Elven (ilin) High Clans and other Nostir noble houses, those who have the wherewithal to travel by other means, arrived at the defiled glade to join the Asrai in their assault on the Hant. The lords and kings buried in the serpent mound meant that most nostir nobles have a few relatives in there. The grey robes sicken and choke as the flows rip asunder. The Hant, as provoked by Iuz the Old, pay a high price for their trespass. Jadhrim runs straight into the tomb after Forgileill, her white mare rearing and rolling her eyes before bolting off into the forest.

Tyralandi Scrimm sat on a smoking log near the centre of the trashed Hant camp. There were small groups of Asrai moving through the area, looking for live orcs. She waved Erlini over.

The greyrobe came over and joined her on the log. Tyralandi spoke to her in Aerdy “What do you make of all that then ?”

“Sandestines.” Said Erlini. “apparently there were slaadi and some kind of deamon toad in the elven barrow.”

“There was certainly a lot of power on display here.”

“Yes, it would certainly seem to be something that the Ruby Lady would be interested in.”

Tyralandi waited for Erlini to continue.

“There was probably loads of quite interesting stuff in the barrow.”

“The Goddess does not look kindly on those who disturb those who are already in her care.”

Erlini took the hint.

“Our Lyio is a phenomenon. Quite unusual.”

“Yes.”

“We’ve been warned that when she returns to Saironst to qualify, we are follow. There are things that we have asked to examine.”

Tyralandi raised an eyebrow.

“When we return to Nereth, you should show me.”

The rain pours down, hammering spring’s new leaves and creating new streams where once there were deer tracks. It is as if Ghia wants the residue of the maggot folk washed out of the Vesve. The Asrai provide a guide for Forgileill’s party to Imladínen . Forgileill takes her still distraught cousin away to recover in private. Thranduil seeks out Fienthin.

As they talk night falls and still the rain comes down. A fire is laid and lit in the heath behind them. “Heralar, you are looking for fault where none lies. Iuz the old, Iuz the foul, lays his own plans and nothing that Forgileill has done provoked him to send his agent to the Vesve. Iuz has always sought to ruin this land, your friend has done great service in countering his machinations.”

“Forgileill has shown tact and sympathy; her respect for the remains of the unicorns and their recovery has greatly eased the pain of her cousin. I do not think that she had realised that her cousin is a Silver Maiden. So the Asrai are flushing the last of Hant out of the forest where Hisra’s ilin have mustered to hunt them down. Hopefully precious few will survive to make it back to the Howling Marches. Inevitably some will. Which is just as well; they will carry news that the Empire holds no welcome for their kind.”

Thranduil nodded. Fienthin continued: “I have spoken with Kcasamenzay. She requires her weapon to return to Saironost and continue her professional qualification. The Princess could take her Greys with her. It never hurts to have a few more friends around. And they may stand between her and an assassin’s knife, which would serve some purpose.”

Fienthin pours out the last of last year’s quith into two cups and hands one to Thranduil. “But tell me more of King Bog One Eye. What happened when you cornered him in the shrine ?”

“Well, Forgileill had saved enough Gûl. I could have leapt behind or onto the creature but hesitated whilst she cast her enscorchelment. But she did not. Apparently, when we spoke afterwards, she did not cast for fear of hurting me with the spell as she had expected me to close with the creature.” He drained his cup. “Eventually we managed to syncopate our efforts but it vanished from the world we know before we could vanquish it fully.”

Fienthin considered for a moment. “Guidence will come, Heralar. But you both have to want it. You both have to accept it. The Seldarine is ready for you both, but you both have to be ready for the Seldarine. Patience, Heralar, all will become clear in time.”

“And then ?”

“And then you will not be invincible, but at least you’ll have a clear idea of what you are doing.”

Thranduil looked expectant. Fienthin watched him as his eyes implored her for more. “Do not forget that you are a Heralar. An Apostle of one of the Seldarine. As well as your duties, don’t forget that such a position has benefits as well.”

Thranduil looked her in the eye. “There’s more isn’t there ?”

Fienthin nodded. “The Seldarine are generally kind and generous. But I have consulted the Lore of Lebellas.” There was a long pause. “Do not look for theramin, Thranduil. You may be disappointed. There are other forms of love, alas, none of these is as great a gift.”

Fienthin finished her drink and turned to Thranduil. “Now, eternal student, it is time to meet your next teacher. It is time for you to go up in the world…”

He stood as she did. She made a little fuss over the fine detail of his attire and hair, straightening him up a little and lastly smoothing down the Griffin feather he wore with a slight smile. “There.” She said with an air of satisfaction. “Follow me.”

Anar and Ryzim walked along the trail after the rest of Forgeilill’s party with the gravitas and air of authority that a greyrobe had every right to display. Ryzim’s imp walked directly behind him, aping his mannerisms to the continuing delight of curious Asrai observing from the depths of the forest.

Ryzim had engaged Anar on the ancient carvings on the Elven barrow. Although that conversation was over, he was unwilling to allow the communication to die, as Anar was the hardest one of his colleagues to get to talk. “I have learned that our mistress is to return to Saironost. She is to take the tests.”

There was a long moment of quiet. “Do you think she will pass ?”

Ryzim considered his response. Behind him, the imp pantomimed his ponderings, exaggerating the gestures for comic effect. “If she does not, then we are no worse off than we were a year ago. Better off, in fact. We have the hunting lodge as accommodation, are sufficiently geographically removed from our late masters’ foes to be relatively safe and moreover have accumulated no small pool of resources with which to continue our works.”

He left a long pause for Anar to similarly expound:

“Quite.”

Ryzim continued, “If she succeeds, she may, in fact is almost certain, to sponsor us when we take the tests.”

Anar raised an eyebrow. But said nothing, so Ryzim continued.

“Having us as quartet of qualified magi would be a feather in her hat. And we would be better able to provide the level of service our mistress expects.”

“You presume that an Imperial Princess needs another feather in her hat ? And that she does not see ambitious greyrobes as rivals, rather than assets ?”

Ryzim suddenly looked up at Anar as these ideas churned around within him.

Anar smiled inside, careful not to show Ryzim any hint of the joke.

Ryzim walked on in unaccustomed silence for a while.

“There is no immediate threat to us from our patron. So until we learn anything to the contrary, we must assume that our wellbeing lies within her wellbeing. For her to fail the tests might not be a disaster, but would not be at all beneficial. We will have to good enough to prove ourselves invaluable, but not so good that she becomes jealous or suspicious.”

Anar walked along in silence.

“We should go to Saironost with her. We should not even try to assist her in her trials, (for it would lead to our immediate demise) but should be able to keep any trouble away whilst she prepares.”

Anar walked along in silence, but allowed Ryzim to follow his gaze to Erlini.

“Yes, yes, I must let the others know.” And of course he would be within casual strolling distance of Ianval’s tower.

Valarwen travelled back to Corwyl. The Asrai were certainly pleased to see her. All of them from the settlement came out to see her, smiling in silent benediction as they took her hand or some of the children just touched her clothing and shied away. She could hear the whispers. They thought her god-touched. She was holy to them. The ruling council of the village turned out to formally greet her. The Mind, Heart and Spirit of Corwyl. There the Spirit of the three directed her out towards the little hunt. In the lengthening shadows, she found the ancestral speaker in the shadow of one of the rock formations.

“I sang you to me” said the albino girl. Valarwen just waits, the ancestral speaker is only semi-conscious, obviously mostly in the otherworld. After a while, as dawn breaks, the pale girl sags. Valarwen feeds her waybread and wets her lips with quith. “Welcome to the Vesve, gods daughter. What do you know of the two wolves within little sister ?”

“The two wolves who fight ?” The ancestral speaker nodded.

“One is anger, fear, arrogance, conceit and the other is love, respect, tolerance and truth ?” Again the ancestral speaker nods.

“And the one who wins….” Began Valarwen. “Is the one you feed” ended the pale girl.

“That is your lesson Valarwen.”

“It is one that I have tried to learn. One I have striven to bring into my daily conduct.”

“Ah yes,” The ancestral speaker took a larger draught of quith. “But what your ancestors tell me is that you are no longer the pupil. You are now the teacher.”

Valarwen paused for a moment. It was not entirely obvious who her student was to be, but what the Ancestral Speaker said next confirmed it was to be Forgileill.

“She is a weapon, Valarwen. Her people, your people forged her from the best materials they had to be an engine of destruction. She is a sacrificial weapon; that she is potentially the best of our kind (at destruction) and yet is abandoned to fate makes her feel very alone and her kin very sad. You will see the sorrow within them when they see her.”

“But the keenest arrow from the mightiest bow is wasted if it is not aimed true. That is your purpose, Valarwen. It is why the gods caused you to be born.”

The ancestral speaker withdrew to a byre that formed spontaneously around her as she sought to lie in a juniper bush.

“I will sing you to me when you need to know more, Valarwen,”

Valarwen stood and turned to leave.

“Remember. The friends of prophesied heroes lead short but interesting lives.”

Tyralandi Scrimm continued her discourse with Erlini LeSoux. The two Imperial Aerdy women had a fair amount in common, being a priestess of the Aerdy Goddess of magic and a Greyrobe respectively. Mademoiselle Scrimm was very interested in Erlini’s time studying under master shapeshifter Scarlú. And then her flight following his murder. Mademoiselle LeSoux was equally enthralled by Tyralandi’s work as a Witchwarden. Expanding their discussion to include Erlini’s peers and their mistress, it became evident that there was a great deal of existing ability as well as future potential. It would not be unreasonable for a servant of the Goddess of Magic to become involved. Her assistance (and spiritual guidance) would surely help them and she would be furthering the work of the Goddess.

Priestesses of Weejas had been in Saironost fairly regularly over the years, but there was no formal embassy there. To be inside for a while would certainly be a feather in her hat within the church.

FG’s Blog

FG and the greyrobes set up camp in FG’s living quarters as mentor does not have enough room… lying tight git. Girls set up camp in the bedroom, the boys have the living room.

As FG unpacks her room, she sends the other greyrobes out to do research, via costa coffee in the library. Notes are compared on the shindrick society… now racoon is dead, maledecore is sponsoring Katamaya. Oh dear, the SS are united.

Anar and Ryzim find info on the Lost Caverns of Tosscamp & igfield. All important Tosscamp info is missing. Igfield set minions to conquer world and set up camp in Tosscamp. Experiments failed releasing demon who battered her black and blue and retreated. With the last of her power she hid loot… inc Dowds wonderous lamp.

Head librarian – ryzim fumbles (-8) in approach (stupid imp) but doesn’t get blown up. Erlini remembers a diary that Gwathion borrowed. Asks FG to send Raven mail asking for diary back.

2 days later Gwathion shows up… without diary. Kelkass’ journals thought maldkore had found creature called Rell. Rell is Eeli Turnass’ familiar. Off to the tower of Yarthak (maldkores tower). Si’gel has been seen entering with magical key, door stays open 40 heartbeats.

Ambush Si’gel, cast charm and truth.

Ryzim successfully charms Si’gel. Anar spell masters truth and can silently cast the spell. Erlini and FG take up position in case Si’gel makes a run for it. Anar casts spell and Si’gel resists. Ryzim doesn’t notice Anar’s spell hasn’t been cast but FG does (OE 98+ perception). As Ryzim engages Si’gel, FG calls out, interrupting the questioning. Anar casts the spell again successfully. FG notices and bows out of the conversation, leaving Anar & Ryzim to question Si’gel. The tower houses some sandestines and he has to adjust some weights on a mechanical device daily. Quwerty’yakka is in residence. Na’waz owns a local small tower.

FG lends Ryzim +10 essence wand and Anar +10 base spells & rituals. Ryzim casts invisibility on FG. Ryzim casts circle of invisibility on the remaining 3 greyrobes. They all enter the sphincter. FG feels a haze of magic. It’s the other party. They all go up the stairs to the top. Imp enters door 1. FG follows going to the peanut room. FG attunes to the chair of scrying. Searches another door and comes head to head with a harpie. As FG almost leaves the room the harpie takes off. Door on right teleport spiral – skull & flame. Anar & team joins FG. Anar commits to memory the teleport spiral. 4^th Floor. Through door – private study. FG finds a diary. Detects essence. Anar disables magic trap. FG picks locks. Maldecores random scibblings and jottings. FG pockets the diary. Maldecore worries that shindrick is too small. Pocket the cash. Left door – large bedroom. Right – sitting room. Right – servants quarters. 3^rd Floor. Library. Dark essence & dark channelling are magiked. Find oratory. Reading room – open book – eeli turnass wants to take over assembly and be king of aerdy. Door 2 Guest quarters. Door 3 – sacrificial/lab room. Door 4 – storage room. Book – twopac bent on perfecting summoning ritual… fell out with racoon. Eeli turnass has been resurrected. Into mary poppins bag. Lvl 2. Door 1 – ‘waiting’ room. Left door – temple – … n’other door – dressing room. Take a shindrick robe. Devil appears – fierce but bored “No one shall pass”. Armoury – nothing of interest – aredy weapons. Door – same Devil “no one shall pass”. FG piggybacks the visible Anar – treasury. Ryzim gives Erlini piggyback into treasury room too. FG Dispel essence (97+49+12+25+5+10). All chests open: cash & gems & sundry other items. 1^st lvl. Huge ‘throne’ room. Bit bling. Right door – corridor bending to right. Into throne room and left door – grooming room. Office – like racoons office. Big thump as something comes through teleport spiral. As we leave devil appears. “anyone bearing weapons may not leave” Anar & Ryzim throw their daggers. FG puts all her weapons in the bag and gives the bag to imp to drag behind him. As they clear the devil, FG takes the bag off the imp. FG throws up Katamaya disguise as she leaves.

Back at base, tip out mary poppins bag:

8x large 30 litre chests.

200,000 gold pieces.

30,000 silver pieces.

Small chest – 2,000G diamond, 1300G ruby, 3000G for set of 3 matched emeralds, 5000G yellow diamond. Gems = 4000G

Amulet (gold chain w/ blue gem) of breathe under water/swim @ 25mph without getting wet.

Soft leather boots – tight rope walking/leave no tracks/run on powder

2x rings – index and third finger of one hand – free use of shock bolts III lvl8 triple range.

Bracelets (gold ivory inlay) both worn on each wrist, martial artist – +20 all strikes & double hits.

Tiara x2 pp channelling/essence hybrid.

Shindrick thought to resurrect Eeli Turnass – amoral & powerful – induct into SS or recover black blade & threaten him.

Gwathion called up to help shift the loot. Informs us that Maldekore’s leg has shown up. Wherever he’s been… he was dead.

Oh, and FG is called forward for her exams…

Taurost, Gwaithor city of the north

Introduction

Kelkess’ magic staff brought the companions back to the mausoleum like house in Kam-Veluna. Eujain and Darsil had arranged with another local Blackrobe, Lohirin the astrologer, for all of them to be transported to the Flaness. Kcasamenzay and Jadhrim were waiting for them in what had once been Jadhrim’s fortress at Crockport in Sharifika.

It seemed like most of the Gwathlo had assembled there, to process to Veluna in grand style for the royal wedding.

Kcasamenzay would take Alexia and the Witchfire to the Assembly. It was obvious that Alexia possessed the gift even here, although she would have to begin learning all over again.

Forgileill would accompany her sister, Belannia, as a handmaiden. Jadhrim hinted in private that it was likely to be her last official engagement as Gwenn. Thranduil would be appended to Jadhrim’s entourage of ilin until after the wedding, when he would become Forgileill’s chaperone.

Storage chests were made available for all their acquired possessions from the Iron Kingdoms. These were placed in the fortress’ vaults. Eujain and Darsil were sent back to Kelkess’ house to ensure that the rest of the Iron Kingdoms artefacts were returned to their proper place. The ilin are given old yicduroh from the armouries to wear, re-laced in soft mid grey of the Gwathlo. Forgileill presents them new Ilya to replace the lost, worn out and discoloured items.

Tūd was despatched to Taurost, the home of the mage-smiths who had equipped the Celebrinoth during the PWOC. He carried all of the treasures recovered from the Teddin Plateau. With him went the last mortal remains that were also recovered. This were accompanied by an honour guard of ilin from Sharifika, commanded by Klogoh, the son of Manhke Adfel Nhi, who had succeeded Jadhrim as Carnc of Sharifika a year previously.

Kamilata also went on this journey. He was to learn horsemanship and archery during the journey. A large rocca was found for his substantial frame. Of course the only mount to be found this big was a stallion. Kamilata spent a lot of time remounting. The transition from leather armour to yicduroh was easy for him. Riding and shoot would take a little work. Tūd was kept away during the instructional sessions. Klogoh was not overly impressed with his bad habits and found teaching Kamilata difficult as Tūd’s ‘encouragement’ sent the student from irate to livid. It was noted that Tūd actually rode and shot like a man who spent a few years doing something other than practicing…

The agents of the Gwathlo had been busy. From the original records, copies of the armour and weapons of the heroes of the empire had been prepared, to restore the deceased to a condition of relative splendour for presentation to their surviving relatives. The actual artefacts, with their strange powers, would be restored at Taurost.

The strange procession then made it’s way down river, arriving in Veluna in the full panoply of imperial Jukpūdhar with a huge cortège of clerics and mourners. Asion Gwathlo, representing his clan, who had recovered the deceased, staged a huge event on the imperial road at the foot of the Golden Hill. The fallen were restored with a great deal of ceremony to their relatives. The recipients’ of these honours were left in no doubt that some form of recognition was due. Tūd and Kamilata were central to these events, representing the finders. It transpired that a few pieces of the original treasures, currently being restored in Taurost were being bequeathed to the finders. They encountered Arutha, but being unwilling to make a scene in public both he and they found it quite easy to ignore each other.

As reminders of the proceeding funeral occasions, Tūd and Kamilata were then released from their official engagements. Following Klogoh’s lead, they accompanied the now redundant Honour Guard back to Sharifika.

This sombre occasion was followed by the arrival of the bridal procession and then the Lord of Alcant’s procession. The four days of the wedding were designed to lift the mood of the city and the Emperor’s courtiers after the more dour ceremony that had proceeded it.

Kuvan was certainly pleased. His Clan’s loyalty to the Gwathlo had resulted in their ascension from the supporting role of feudal retainer to a position of rulership. Marriage into the house of Glordin, the last Gwathlo Lord of Alcant was the icing on the cake. Belannia was the cherry.

Following the wedding, Forgileill, still in her role as gwen, accompanied Jadhrim back to Sharifika. She and her ilin were then allowed to go to Taurost to claim their reward for all their hard work.

Obeying the dictates of her Clan, Forgileill waits until she is in Taurost before securing her gowns in their valise and donning yicduroh. This is full war harness, as a prince of the empire might wear, not the leather armour of a scout or clan spy. Both the daughter of Glordin and her ilin are now very much in the public eye and under scrutiny from both other clans and also their own.

The story…

AnOrcInTheHant

1 nov 2008

(Some inbetween history).

Forgeillil & Thranduil drop in at the lyrond on their way past. The ilin attempt to bomb burst to safety but don’t make it out in time.

Kamilata & Forgeillil meet to discuss matters of state. So what happened? Not much. Ok.

Red haired Valarwen turns up at the door “I’m not quite sure why I’m here” Welcome to the club. “I’m on a mission from God”. uh oh. “I’m supposed to be looking after someone”. Kam: well we’ve got a lot of elves around here that would be regarded as ‘special’.

Some Gnomes turn up, we remove the dwarf but everyone else lurks

Lina Ostroff (Bond villain name) and three others. Had a caravan led by her father carrying lots of ‘documents’ (ie other people’s money). Now a charity case – what happened to all your ‘documents’? The caravan’s gone missing far to the south and she’s heading back to raise more cash. Can she and her henchmen stay the night?

 

Forg is feeling a bit mercenary: OK you can stay here but I’ll be asking a favour. Alright. The Big Book of Favours is brought out and the first entry made.

Summary of introductions:

Nymraith: greyrobe, missing one eyebrow and multicoloured stains, the organic alchemist

Tud: crippled Ilin, master bowman and one of the special, simple straightforward types.

Oruro: spectacularly ugly ilin canon fodder

Tyr: red dress wweeeejas priest. Mission accomplished. Still around to sort out Tealpec’s stuff [and might have to have a chat with Tud about the stuff he's got shhh]

Val: Grey elf with red hair (green dress). Looking for speaker.

Thranduil: some kind of monk elf, with a newly discovered daughter called Helleth

Hagar the dwarf: agrophobic tin can.

Fat mexican Ryzome and his imp Burito. (“What? My name’s Burito?! you bastard!”). Self important.

Kamilata: long suffering professional soldier turned prime minister and civil service and water board.

Chita: Ilin canon fodder junior

Alar: Wordsmith greyrobe.

Forg: mad bad princess chaos. Recently drowed but getting better – popped in on the way to school. Expecting drow for interview without biscuits.

Shelby: ilin canon fodder, square and squat

Erlini: shapeshifting greyrobe

Forg is rather hacked off about Tud’s demon-taint. “It’s these amulets” well take them off and Ryz get rid of them – “OK” says Tud, she’s the boss. Shame, they were quite shiny “What? I’m not going near them!” says Ryz. Just do it. Can we destroy them? Not sure. Put them in this lead lined box away from all the buildings just now we’ll bury it in the morning.

An excellent party / reception, so good in fact (00+52) that Gwaithian bursts in – one of Forg’s many Gwathlo cousins. Looking a little haggard (no he’s over here in the armour). Comes in with a big iron black scimitar and drops it in the middle of the floor (“Hey that looks like a black sword” stop it I’m monologing “Cup of tea?”) There are some orcs in the southern Hant, been exiled in the early Perrin Empire but they’re back. With some stone giants.

Inscription on the sword: Alar will pronounce it and Val understand it. Except that Alar can’t work it out (“Try using magic!” oh yes). They translate it as “Forged by the brath of Gromish, shaped by the smiths of Hant, powered by the chieftans blood (Dur a’cell)”

You’re an expert on swords, Thranduil, tell us more about this big black sword? He picks it up and drops it – Ow! that hurts. Do you think it hurts humans? Oruro picks it up, no problems. tap tap. Forg tries to perceive power and fails, staggered and stunned.

Hmm. Gwaithian is off to talk to t’kings, time to muster the army, this is an invasion. “Invasion? Why?” Ah well, that’s a good question. Why don’t you go find out? “Ah yes good idea”.

Gwaithian takes a horse and rides off. “Oi, that’s my horse”, Forgeillil the absentee landlord is making the most of her short stay. Don’t worry I’ll bring it back – tell you what, we’ll meet at Glordin’s tomb.

Private interview betwen Thranduil, his icy lover in law Laconfir, daughter and Forgeillil. “How have you been?” Hot. The rest obviously is private. Laconfir returns to the mountain to look over his neice. Thranduil sends a raven to his father (embaressing) to ask for someone safer than anything within 100 meters of Tud to bring up the child.

Some talk about Thranduil’s wife who he taught, and turned to single minded killing. Always happens to you – take on an apprentice, they go mental, return in twenty years to kill you and tell the youngster she’s the parent.

Dawn breaks and Val and Nym head into the woods to find the wood elf speaker. It takes a day to find the spot and it’s very quiet. Ranger marks are left that Val can read – “Gone South to War”. They head off to catch up with the others who…

…have loaded up the horses with stuff such as rope 40′, grappling hooks, biscuits, food (flour, tea, etc), blankets, wire, tarred torches, 3 lanterns, 6 vials lamp oil, Nym’s lightest travelling chemistry set, a selection of Ryz’s books, water, filters, clothes, soap, soap making kit, kitf for making soap-making-kit, weapons oil, bowyers kits, arrowheads, fletches, bowstrings, potions, etc from last adventure (handed out), hair tonic, pitons, hammers, tinder, tarred cloth, sewing kits, 6′ chain link, a small anchor, bedding, a strong silk blanket, half a rabbit skin, wine, women and song.

Meet Fireflower, an Asrai wood elf coming the other way; apparently the orcs or something have taken out a ‘grace’ of unicorns, a powerful nymph, and a young golden dragon. He’s come to guide us. Hmm we say. We might not be coming after all. We think we left the gas on.

(Back at base, Tud eyes the lead-lined box left in the center of the ilyo courtyard. He’s in charge now…)

A few days later we come across a track and follow it briefly to find wagons burned scattered, gnome sized, no trade goods etc left. Bits of dead horse. Looks like the raiding party headed off towards those mountains over there- just so happens to be also the direction ot the Gwathlo family crypt at Serpent Hill. We move on a bit and camp. Nym and Val catch up with the main group around midnight.

Marching order: Trackers at front, ilin, greyrobes, ilin and armour at rear

We head off, plenty of orc tracks, backwards/forwards left/right, all over the shop.

Thranduil hears a small scouting orc group; obviously getting cocky as we’re quite loud and easy enough to follow. Clank clank. “Did you hear that?” What? “Listen!” That sounds like 5 orcs,

He and Shelbai sneak quietly off the path and hide by a tree. Five snagar (small) orcs are bimbling casually up the path, intent on the clanking dwarf as the party carries on blithely up the path.

Shelbai and Thr step out and loose. Shelbai hits and it stings, Thr shoots the next through the leg and it drops bleeding.

The remaining orcs turn as the two hit ones scream; one heads off and the other two nock and pull. Shelbai aims at the one running off but only nicks him; Thr also tries the same and a solid hit to his side and he goes down.

The two orcs loose; one shaky misses Shelby, the other more steadily hits her calf (15 + 2/round).

Up front Valerie picks up the sound of the orcs cries past the dwarfs clanks, cries ‘contact rear’ or the equivelent and heads back with the ilin. Kamilata moves to the side off the path. Anar dives off. Nym looks after him “where are you going?” looks up and sees the front ilin closing and dives off too. There’s some confusion and points are lost for style and panache.

Back at the combat Shelby properly pings one just below the collarbone and it drops like a sack of orc. Thr’s hits with the blunt end of the arrow but well enough to take down.

Everything’s quiet.

Search for secret drawers! Yeuch no not Orcish underwear!

Shelby tries to stuanch her own bleeding and it stops – mostly because Tyr has stopped flow. Tyr tries first aid herself to tie everything off, but it’s Oruro who properly patches these things up (where’s the femoral artery? Noo leave it alone!).

Val is still a few tens of yards away in the woods, and sees more Orcs coming in; she screeches once like a barn owl. Several people in the party look up puzzled, the fight must have disturbed a barn owl. Forg moves up to the left of Val, Thr looks up and moves up to support her on the right (clowns to the left, jokers to the right…), Under Forg’s parting instruction Kamliata gets the rest of the party organised into some kind of line. Val stalks forward, at one with the forest, suddenly cloaked in a leafy armour, followed at some distance by Forg an Thr (“Where did she go?”)

Stalking skirmish lines, Val shoots one sneaking orc. Unknown to her, a skillful Orcish stalker lines up on her from the brush, but his bowstring catches and the arrow goes flying overhead. Forg preps a fireball but several little voices in the back of her mind tell her it’s a waste and not very subtle. She fires an arrow instead just skimming the orc, who flinches and bangs his head against the tree. Whew, that was close. You have no idea.

Thran from another angle sees him and hits him, close call for his groin, and he lies down quietly.

Up ahead Val takes a shot but misses. Forg moves up alongside and misses too. Thran closes with the half dead goblin with the arrow up it’s arse and then (-130 on MM) spectacularly falls over himself trying to draw his weapon on the move, hurls it into the top of the tree, and smacks his head on a bit of forest which gets the initiative next round. The orc laughs and leaves. Thr lies on the ground, stunned.

Ahead one of the orcs sees this attack failure and misinterpretes it, launching a running attack at Valerie. She sets to receive the charge, drawing her sword. She might use one hand. Or two. If she can work out which she knows.

Forg (99+) shock bolts (23 + numbs, slowing down) the laughing leaving orc and drops it.

The charging goblin completely fails to come anywhere near Val. She’s not so careless and smacks it a few times while it tries to hit her. Another is charging in, sword overhead, and its head bursts into flame and it ploughs into the ground (shock bolt from Forg and rolling 00…)

It’s quiet again. They come back to the skirmish line where everyone is settled out brewing up and chatting. Nym looks at Val in her leafy dress, and remembers he’s in a forest and all his foresty skills come flooding back.

We collect Thr together from across the forst My head hurts. And my thumb hurts.

Tomorrow we need to reach the tomb. We forge ahead (but I don’t want a head) this time in two teams with Nym and Val as outdrider scouts, but first we plan some standard responses.

We make camp. etc. Forg tries to arrange stuff but we ignore it all – in her best interests – digging in defensive latrines.

Forg hunts around at night but fails to find anyone.

Back at the lyrond, Tud is eyeing up the box in the courtyard. It’s sometimes tricky to tell what his lyo is actually after; she is about as consistent as wind, and even when she’s trying to fill her lyo responsibilities her Gwathlo schemes are well beyond his rather more simple approach to life. Did she leave the box out deliberately, so that she was seen to get rid of them, but actually wanted him to use them? Had they just forgotten? Had they been left for some other more favoured agent to take and use? Was it a test?

Sighing, he gets a spade and heads off into the woods with it. Buried things can always be unburied if, or rather when, she changes her mind.

In the morning Fireflower visits the Asrai army, and he catches up with us as we continue on to meet Gwaithian at the Serpent mound mausolium. The elvish army has formed, ready to fight. We intend to split; Forg and one other to meet her cousin, and the rest of us to support the main army. All the same we support Forg to the foot of the serpent mound, in a sizable clearing.

Coiled ridged hill to top where there’s a hole, the tunnel coils down, burial points along it, big cavern at the bottom of tunnel. At the top however is a rather large orc camp – profanity!

We prepare Kamilata for flying (Anar) invisibly (Ryz) to spy on the camp. It takes some time. He floats up stylishly but nobody can tell. 5 minutes later he returns, but nobody can tell.

He tells us it’s a major camp on top; two chimera barracks, more mount stables, hundreds of troops, perhaps a thousand. Scary. Let’s not go there.

Val considers the orcs we’ve seen – and realises the snagar have been a bit more heavy infantry in tactics etc than normal. Which makes nodifference for killing snaga, but will be more interesting when we meet heavier duty orcs. Of course, Tud knows things about Orcs too, but he’s not here… He’s sulking at the lyrond, and has managed to ruin two good pans trying to set fire to the kitchen, as he’d left some new experimental warbiscuits cooking while he headed off into the woods.

Gwaithian turns up. Keen to sneak in and secure the tomb. Forg and Thranduil and he and Kamilata attempt to have a ‘private’ meeting to discuss tactics. With the others who know some Gwaithor listening in.

Forg resists the idea completely – let’s wait for the elvish army. Oruro shares a glance with the other ilin; if only Gwaithian had turned up and calling for delay she’d be all for an immediate night raid…

Nym and Val head back to the elf army to tell them what we’ve seen. They speak with the boss and exchange pleasantries and plans. This evening/tomorrow morning the 600 or so elves will dance, and attack the Hant position day after tomorrow. Four days east is the 600 ilin that could be got together at short notice who may wait for the jalee due in a week or so.

They head back to the serpent hill where Gwaithian is reminding Thranduil that he’s bound by religion etc to clear the tomb. Halfway back Val remembers she hasn’t spoken to the speaker. Well, she had, but not the right topic.

Much discussion of options; go irregular and hassle the camp and its patrol, or try and take the tomb or sneak into the place and cause trouble. Gwaithlan when he was hiding next to the entrance (“what? how were you doing that?” Well I’m a sneaky gwaithor fucker) said the boss was dressed in pretty impressive armour with batwings. Lots of magic oozing from the forge.

The orc patrols are six snagar with a Hant captian, or 4 Hant orcs on a chimera. Around 10 chimera. One out and one ready at all times, larger force generally ready 5ish minutes. 2 hour patrols. No checkpoints on return.

Prepare plan for diversions, while one or two groups strike at the head chap, another at the forge, need an exit strategy.

Split into sneaky types and non sneaky types. Not many sneaky types.

First we need a disguise. We leave a trail and a secluded dwarf as bait. The orc patrol dutifully find it, form up into two groups of three and move in a classic pincer movement. The dwarf swings his small visor from group to goup; the captain still in front of him, so the dwarf charges the captain (94) in full armour at speed. The captain is left somewhat backfooted; despite a poor attack (07) that misses the captains body, the battleaxe takes off the captain’s hand, the one holding his hand axe.

The Hant though are well disciplined and charge. As they step out the ilin ambush; Oruruo (23 +1/rnd), Val drops one to soon die, Shelby (25ish) hits another, Thranduil (20ish + 5/rnd) drops another, Forgeillil shock bolts, Nymraith uses his wand to do the same, both hurt (14, 11) but nothing serious. The three remaining orcs reach the dwarf and attempt to put the boot in; very little damage makes it through the armour and past the axe, and while the damage done would hurt the wizards he doesn’t notice.

The dwarf drops his axe to quick draw his favourite experimental weapon – the war bola – and squishes one of the orcs in several different ways at once. Val takes out another, Chita smacks another in the face leaves eyes crossed. Oruro takes down another through the heart. Making four. The lie in front of Hagar who kicks them all in the face.

Forgeillil realises she’s not wearing anything. But we’ve got all this orc armour. It’s a bit icky. Of course, if Tud was here he would point out the right moss to use for clearning it, with the rough and smooth sides, and some natural soap. But ho hum, he’s sulking and poking around at Nym’s chemistry set.

The sneaky types spend some time disguising and illusioning themselves as orcs.

They head up into the camp in a scattered group. As there’s some prevarication Oruro goes for the Fur-covered hut. There are two on guard. He reaches for his bullshit potion (“We’re here to clean the pools”) but realises its bull strength. Mental note to tell Nymraith.

He heads for a watchtower and climbs up – as he sticks his head up he sees three orcs. One spits, collects some stuff and stands waiting. He climbs in and it climbs out. Oruro leans over and waves discreetly twice. Valerie and Forgeillil come up and the remaining two gaurds grunt and leave. It’s quiet. We have a view of the back of the Fur-covered tent – plus points to Oruro for an amazing plan and lots of careful planning etc. To its side is a caged wagon – that might contain something friendly. But we look like orcs. If a little short.

Thranduil approaches the cart innocently, walking past. It’s heavily secured, barred, tiny hands grip the bars. Who let the gnomes out… We think about sending the fox (Gwaithian) as he doesn’t look like an orc. The fox says “Open the door, walk in, lurking here makes you look like someone lurking” he looks around and for a moment he starts as he sees several orcs watching them then realises its Kamilata and the others. He steps in.

Forgeillil has a good look around and leaves the tower.

Inside the cart is eight gnomes. Quite upset with not only being locked in their own safe but that other people have got in. Seems they managed to persuade the orcs they’re worth more alive than dead.

They tell us what they know: The one with the fancy armour is General Grouse. In cahoots wth orc druid Caybic. Doesn’t know much about gold but they defer to King Bog, he’s a giant toad. No he’s a giant. And a toad. No, the toad. Is he here? Not just now…

Kamilata makes his way past the pavillion. There are a few orcs hanging around including some druidic looking thing with a skull and cape and everything.

Forgeillil cuts her way into the bank of the tent through the eight skins of unicorns (eight in a grace). Framed are the golden teeth of a dragon but not the dragon jaws. Silver urn, Silver mirror. No one else there. Under the bed is a necklace of ears. What appears to be a dirty bundle of clothes but is the unicron horns. She takes those. A small chest with some docs but needs someone who knows more about orcs – she tips out the heavy coins…

Thr tells the gnomes he’ll leave the door unloced but shut – but don’t leave until anything kicks off. He leaves quietly. The gnomes pulls their braces in appreciation.

Forg drags the chest over to the watch tower and we manhandle it up. Val & Oruro work their way through it to pick out the useful things. Apparently they’re expanding the defiled Glades and they intend to grab a load of the forest to include. There should be a tipping point where the area starts to get easier and faster to expand. A device below in the Serpent Mound should aid this expansion, supposedly hidden in King Bog’s throne room. The Bog Room.

Oruro: Let’s set fire to this watchtower as a diversion. No cos the gnomes will get clobbered. What about the chimera barracks. NO.

 

Dammit. Oruro produces a pipe he’s pulled from one of the dead orcs and some evil hunk of tobacco and proceeds to be very very careless with his matches on the way to the serpent. Unsuccessfully.

Up the steps to the serpent mouth. Water feature on tongue. Three Hant heavy infantry at the mouth, one Hant with skull on, and two winged vulture things. Small vroc?

We attempt to talk our way past, but our patrol leader can’t speak orcish and the one who has can’t persuade him; no bullshit potion. Oruro stabs the cleric 13 + stunned for two rounds . Kamilata bundles into the orcs and batters a scimitar over his head (33 + stunned for 12 rounds). Forgeillil ries the same but bounces off. Val clips one (5), Thr drops the same one (16 + stunned 3 rounds).

The unstunned orc strikes back but Forg is quite hard to hit. Oruro strikes again and the cleric vibrates, still on the back foot (+25). Val slices hers again (7). Kamilata smacks his to the floor, he’s even more badly off. Thranduil turns to the winged thing and with a massive strike smashes it’s chest through it’s heart. Vicious. Forg attemps to tackle her orc again and bruises his finger (8 hits) but sets him back to parry.

The other vroc-like thing attacks randomly, reaching Kamilata. If Ryz were here he’d be taking notes and running (“I’ve never seen one do that before – look at how it rips the arms off”) Now if only Tud where here with his demon taint he’d make friends with them and we’d all be fine.

Kamilata tries to get out of the way but (08) doesn’t quite make it. The vroc tears into him, both claws and jaws (27 hits left and stunned, at -50 to all activities).

Oruro slices the clerics guts open (+17) but the cleric is still up and will fight ot the end.

Thr does a kung fu flip across the combat space and this time it works. He strikes and with a 66 on critical hit beats the vrocs head in. It collapses, very dead. Excellent strikes there. Forg sweeps her orc down pinned and stunned in a leg breaking hold. Val gets a better strike in on her target, slicing its nose and its bleeding.

Kamilata drinks some poe shun and somewhat recovers. Thranduil turns and batters the remaining orc infantry, breaking his head and it goes down. Oruro continues to batter the cleric (12 + 1/rnd). He goes down.

A brilliant smooth run for the Lominlindi.

Gwathion turns back into an elf. Val heals up Kamilata to his normal cheery self. We get into the serpents mouth and shut the blast doors and take a long sigh of premature relief.

We head down the spiral, archers supporting the tunnel, torch flames, murals. Burial niches; empty for the first few hundred yards, more commonly filled later. Named. Probably Grouse and Cayban.

Some of us throw our armour off. Not Oruro. Or Kamilata. Forg & Gwaithan at front, Oruro gets to the back, bow out, the rest swords ready.

A screech owl sounds. We’re puzzled about why a screech sounds in front and we realise the Gwathlo have disappeared ahead. The sounds of confident steps approach. Most of us fade into the shadows – except Kamilata and Oruro who have no idea how. Kamilata stands to attention as an orc statue, Oruro lights his evil pipe and looks non shallont. Thr checks his fade and it’s not too good; he’s sharing an alcove with a skeleton. He looks at what he can cast (dispersions?). Oruro and Kamilata take their lead from the others and hide.

The marching feet arrive in the person of the Commander in full fancy armour. He passes us and we follow him up the corridor. Lots of whispering – why didn’t you kill him? Well you didn’t kill him! That’s cos I was too close to the other orcs, I thought you would! Well a bldy owl hoot down here doesn’t help

Forg closes to try and silently kill him, and we hang aroud in confusion. She rolls low and he does too so good oh, but it’s a silent attack rather than a silent kill. Only 4 damage and knocks his helmet off; he leaps off unstunned and whirls faster than a normal orc ready to strike. We continute to argue about what happened.

Where’s Forgeillil? Oh she must be something to do with that clang from up the corridor. We duck and cover our ears.

“Is that all you’ve got?” he says, ready to kill her.

She lets loose a Lightening bolt – the fancy armour fuses to his skin, 18 + burning 3/round, savage impact breaks bones +50 HP and he dies, lower leg breaks into flame +10.

Forg steps back and goes “That’s how you do magic”. And throws up.

Thr heads up – the others are facing down tunnel, preparing for The Help to arrive.

General orc is lying on the floor, on fire and sparking. Forg looks to finish him off, but can’t get close enough to do so. Thr arrives. Forgeillil asks “Do you think he’s dead? Should I kill him some more?” Well he looks pretty dead to me. Spark. Burn. “Hmmm” He looks closer. There’s an odd snaky amulet around his wrist; Thr pulls it off and the hand twitches – they leap back ready – and it collapses.

Up the corridor march more orcs come to investigate. They pass Vals alcove and she slips out behind them; Val does the sneaky stuff and a muffled blow to the armpit, curshing internal organs, dies in 3 rounds, 39 hits. 40′ up the corridor Kamilata finishes the last drops of his Red Bull strength.

Four orcs notice that one of their number has its guts around its feet, a single figure standing facing it, and run off, past the one who didn’t notice. As they come past, Kamilita strikes one, Oruro steps out and shoots – heavily armoured – 19 + stunned for 2 rounds + 3/round.

The one still facing Val – who is parrying – clobbers Val, cutting her leg tendons 19 HP, He’s making the most of his last few seconds.

She continues to parry. Kamilati strikes again – the one he stunned has shrugged it off! Kam gets 30 in and makes it angrier. Oruro is now facing his who has also shaken off its stun, turned and is now one big shield and charging. He changes for a sword. These look a lot nastier than he and his peers. If Tud were here obviously,,,

Erlini sneaks up to Val’s attacker and takes his sword off him. He looks vageuly puzzled and dies. At last.

Up ahead the remaining 3 orcs run into Forgeillil and Thranduil. He’s going to ‘lead them on’ the tease to the door, then loop back. He leads them on very well though they’re uncomfortably close.

Back down the corridor, Kamilata takes off his foes ear – through the helm – stunned and unable to parry and bleeding. The orc’s simultaneous strike breaks Kamilta’s leg – minor fracture. But not stunned.

Oruro and his orc charge each other. His head is smashed by the charging shield and he is thrown against the wall, dropping in a crumpled heap to the floor, taiken skittering across the floor.

Erlini patches up Val. The two crouch looking up the corridor at the fight. What’s happened to that Gwaithian bloke? Don’t know, is he good at anything? Hiding. Where is he? Well…

Up the corridor Forgilleil looks down at the scene. She sends a lightneing bolt down at Kamliata’s openent, engulfing the orc’s weapon and leaving it stunned and the arm smoking for a few rounds.

Up at the top Thranduil runs into and up the door and back over the ceiling. Two nearly run into the door in proper comedy moment.

Kamilata backs away from his smoking opponent and in a heroic attempt to save Oruro sets over. He has no chance in a stand up fight anyway he chucks his scimitar at the other orc in a GM-inspired attempt at a dramatic moment. And in an amazing Roll Master moment he gets 99 and smashes him down, scimitar shaped dent in the back of his helm.

Val limps over to Oruro to take out the orc now lying on the floor.

Forg takes a scroll out and wall of fires across the corridor between Thr and the chasing orcs. One goes aaaargh and runs through. The other two pause looking at it.

This should give us some time to regroup.

No sorry there’s no grouping around here, we’re all past grouping.

Kamilata grabs a taiken from the floor and batters away at the smoking orc.

Erlini heads over to help Oruro, Val tries to first aid herself and her bandage go rolling down the corridor. Dammit.

Thranduil turns on the orc that made it through the firewall and he backflips over it to backstab it – breaks its hip and it drops. Another smooth Lominlindi moment.

Summary: Val is at the bottom patching herself up. Oruro is under an orc with a dent in its helmet, Erlini looking to under it to find a way of patching Oruro up – doesn’t look good. Kamilata with a half broken limp is beating slowly up a smoking orc. Thranduil is fine and standing over a badly injured orc. Kam keeps stabbing away.

Val calls in the current situation on her vambrace- the guys outside talk incoherently about moving for a rescue including distraction involving fireballs etc. Given who is out there it’s not reasurring. (dramatic uncertainty for what’s really happening…)

Erlini pours and Extra Healing potion into the various holes in Oruro’s head, who will now only be in a coma for 3 weeks. They pile him into an alcove. Opposite is Val finding a comfy spot in hers.

Some discussion over any air down here. Presumably magical fire doesn’t consume oxygen as it’s not burning anything or you could put it out wiht a bucket of water. But if you set fire to orcs by toasting them in it, they will burn air and set off the fire alarms and everything.

Eventually Kamilata gives up and pushes the smouldering orc over. It stabs itself in despair and boredom. He limps over to Val they heal each other up a bit.

Take stock. Thranduil and Forgeillil are alright, Kamilata is okish but limping. The rest are out or about to be. They cut off the heads of the orcs and chuck them over the fire wall to encourage the remaining two to stay on the other side.

The wall has another 9-10 minutes. Quick hack of bodies to tear apart as if scary monster might have caught them to discourage the two on the way down. We hope.

Attempt to attune to snake amulet that might be the big artifact. Erlini succces but there’s nothing there. Kamilata: well it spangles dunnit.

They head down.

Forg in front recognises the ambush by the dust and bits of flying gravel. Ahead is an apparently dead man-high frog with pointy teeth – wearing an animal and the smell of chaos. (A grey salad? green salad?)

There is a big fight and they kill it.

Kamilata takes off the froggy bangle and wears it – all the bad guys are wearing these, it mst be good.

Look, the guy is a frog. Must be something to do with King Bog. Apparently though it’s the Knights who say Ni and Paint. aha! Red Herring. Nothing to do with the big bad toad.

Graithian was attacking them too and has been subdued. Forg dispels the possession; he thinks he’s mostly taken out. We stand around a bit faffing. Kamilata, fed up, prepares for heading down and stabbing the frog. Forg casts the scroll prot from chaos on Kamilata and everyone feels the need to tidy up. But it protects her not him. Bldy scrolls. Thr casts another on himself. They head down the corridor – Val is most certainly not going and stays with Erlinei.

Forg hears a woosh thud behind her and turns to see Graithian collapse under a morning star. Behind, Thranduil sees a froggy thing materialise and strike – and he strikes in turn (97+81 roll) and a very good ciritical, cutting the strings that were controlling it from the other planes. Lominlidi rules.

Back up the slope, Val shakes off an attempt at possession. She looks about for the power blast source but gets clobbered again – and just about fails… brains….!

Everyone stands around looking at the mostly dead frog which Thr beats up again.

Val comes walking past in a zombie mode heading to the crypt. Kamilata tackles her – but

doesn’t take her down – she carries on with Kam attached. Erlini has a go but can’t get a grip. Forg pours a CSW down Graithian’s throat. Thranduil continues to hack badly at the Slaad, it bleeds some more.

Kamilata and Erlini continue trying to drag Val down. Now if Tud were here… oh no, he’d accidently kill her, so it’s probably best he’s not here.

They all turn to pile into Val or cutting up the still concious and somewhat dismembered salad frog. Kam breaks away and finally breaks it into unmoving bits.

But Val is still going. So everyone properly piles onto her just as she throws off the possession “What are you doing? Get off!”.

Restock. Communicate with outside. Check hitpoints. Of course, Tud has 90 odd HPs, if he were here…

Still got the prot chaos up. Val casts one on herself. Up the slope are two heavy duty orcs ready to head down the corridor as soon as the wall fails in minutes three… two…

Time to rush ‘em.

Gwaithlan points out there’s still the block trap ahead. He’s not very well.

We approach it. Thr points out the the apparent escape alcoves on either side are illusionary.

Val disables the trap (184) of course if Tud were here he’d disarm it alright… no, she’s descended from the right priests, etc and knows the right terms.

Down into the cathedral cavern. Lots of mushrooms and columns and flickering torches and spluttering and stuff. Throne other side under big skull. Worktable. All very well carved. Images of batwinged demons etc. All slightly out of place – brought in. At the other end, squished into the end of the cavern is King Bog – a large toad with one eye. It’s very grunty. Also down there is Caybic, carrying a quarterstaff and a gold serpentine medallion on his chest.

What you need now is a warning shot… oh no Tud’s not here…

“You are under arrest. Step forward and place yourself on the floor. We are the lew”

“Size of the sun dew!” cries the priest and turns into a giant melon. Or a big snappy carnivorous plant. We resolve to adding a net to the standard packing list.

Forg lightening bolts him and magnetises him (Kamilata holds hard to a twitchy taiken – oh, it might have stabbed him if he’d dropped it), bruised, battered but it is a large planty thing and doesn’t seem bothered.

Val heads back up to collect Oruros bow and some arrows. As she leaves the big bright light further up the corridor goes out. She runs before the orcs arrive, staying just ahead, saying the prayer quietly (and generally) as she passes the block and hopes it will deal with the remains.

Nothing seems to have changed. We’re all looking at this big plant going “what?!”

Kamiliata approaches the frog – tentacles come up from the plant and block him. He attacks them and stabs it a bit. The return strikes from the plant miss.

We look at range attacks. Now of course if Tud were here…. Shut up!

Val fires at the toad a few times. The arrows go in but there’s a lot of blubber and nothing effective happens.

Forg has been preparing a lot. And manages (03) just about to miss a fumble. 193 and causes some ordinary sort of damage (24 ish) . Bit pants but good given the roll!

Thranduil leaps passed the tentacles and is immediately attacked by a rabid boar out of nowhere. Which gets him in the arm, stunned but he’s on the ball.

Val shoots the boar and slows it down.

Forg lightning bolts the plant- 66 on electrical but the plant form keeps the priest from the full effects. The burning crit has it wilting and steaming but it’s stilll moving. Kamlitata attacks with a big pointy thing feeling a bit silly but you have to. Clobbers plant some more and it eventually lurches to one side and collapses. The boar disappears.

They all look at the toad. It looks back, apparently disinterested. But what do we know about Toads? Behind them the orcs pause on the other side of the trap. They know about that big pulvery thing, all except how to get past.

To the right is a workbench, further down is a Big Bad throne, and at the very end, wedged into the end of the hall, is King Bog, the toad. No sorry, King Bog the giant toad.

We attempt to communicate with the toad. It monologues about taking over the world, ancient sacred forest, etc.

We continue to stand off.

Val shoots and hits but again nothing effective. .Kamilata charges limpingly so not at all chargily. Forgeillil runs up to him trying to paint him with poisons but doesn’t quite make it. The toad licks out spinning him around and to the ground, some bruising. Val reads slow at it. She notices that it has some stones flying around its head and some confusing comms with Nym tells us they’re Ion stones. But this doesn’t really help as Nym can’t remmemer what they do. So much for that. There’s more Toad Bling.

Forg empties out her handbag of magic stuff. There’s a staff of stone shaping… We could brick it in…

Thranduil talks about leaping onto the toad and taking off the Bling. We all look at him. Go on then. Val gives him a haste potion and off he indeed goes.The toad reacts really quite slowly. Well it’s been slowed. Apparently it worked. Thr wanders casualy up at double speed, easily dodging its tongue, and leaps up it. Val runs in to hit, fails to strike effectively and runs off again. Forgeillil approaches with a handful of poison vials to splosh them over its lolling tongue.

Thranduil grabs at the ion stones and gets one – some clear spindle thing…

Forg splashes poison.

The Toad strikes. Slowly. Bruising Forgeillil who sensibly leaves immediately.

Val runs in hits it ineffectively and runs off again. Thranduil grabs the other stone – a pale lavender pebble.

The toads tongue flips back and after a pause, the toad flomps (technical term) to one side. And then disappears. Thranduil finds himself one toad high off the ground and drops like a surprised gymnast, landing with grace and elegance. Lominlindi wins.

Thranduil looks at the throne.It vaguely reminds him of something imperial and probably evil. Something to do with the skulls and teeth. He attunes to the ion stones but he’s not sure what they do.

Who’se going to attune to the throne? There’s a huge power sucking vortex around it. Now if Tud were here… whew, good thing he’s not.

Forgeillil stabs it with a dagger but accomplishes next to nuffink.

We all push it (to see if the vortex is it, or it is placed at the vortex). We’re not in the best of condition and nothing happens. We push harder. It doesn’t even creak.

We grab some poles and lever it over – just about. The vortex has moved and is still with the chair. Probably sucking the life out of the enchanted glades to make the slough of despondy swamp. Or just Slough.

We look at it. How can we destroy it….

—–

During the meanwhilst, while the sneakers are sneaking their way into the serpent, FireFlower turns up with the reserve party and tells us the elves are about to attack. Look out for the fire arrows. We are to the east, the main force is to the north, the other pincer is to our left. We shall go in straight up the middle with bags of smoke. Or spells of mist. Nymraith pauses and writes down Bags of Mist on his todo list.

We head up the middle amongst the bags of confusion and make it to the serpents mouth mostly by avoiding fights. As we get there it starts to open. Hagar is first through as he’s the shortest. What does he see? Well a small letter box view and a red mist. On the other side two orcs leap on him and batter at him, cracking his ribs. The dwarf’s response is to take an orc’s head off (00 on crit). Shelbai stabs one lightly. Nym attempts to bleed them but nothing happens. Chita attacks and misses. Ryz enfeebles the other.

Down below the rest are dancing with toad.

The Orc wins the next round and with a very impressive depsite enfeebled (245) blow on the dwarf but the dwarf shrugs off most of it, and his return instructive swing breaks the orc’s hip and it goes down, and stays down.

We pause at this impressive scene and head on down to find the remainder tipping the throne over. Nym picks up bits of vroc and slaad on the way down to turn into potions and salaad and things. He searches the workbench; it’s a fully stocked chemical lab. There are staffs and an old sword tucked underneath. He rubs his hands over the chemicals and starts loading the good ones into his satchel. Thranduil looks at the corel/ridged sword, probably belongs to the old kings bodyguards.

Ryz walks around the throne head thrown back, hands behind, pontificating “this is obviously as anyone can tell the throne of … end of the world … defile the glades… ” the imp is stridiing around after him imitating. “…and if we fail to destroy it, it will continue to expand the defilement area, etc. and the world is doomed….”

We have a potter about it, wondering how to destroy it.

The elves turn up, speaker and entourage, and discuss more about destroying it safely. But first they drag it away on a wooden platform and when it’s far enough away from the nexus it stops being effective.

Tidying up. Burying unicorns etc at Forgeillil’s early initiative (The ilin are surprised – pleasantly so – is she getting all responsible or something?). Something in the back of Nym’s head wonders at the alchemical waste but he shrugs it off. Probably some after effect of Tud. Now if he were here… Thank goodness.

Jathrain turns up and is also pleasantly surprised that not only did Forg bury the unicorns with all due care, but didn’t join with the orcs.

Some tidying up of the tomb, reconsecration, etc.

We head home to celebrate another succesful regime change with tea and medals. If Tud has left any tea to drink…

 

Killing Blackrobes

(I think I should try and edit these down – or better, not write so much in the first place!)

Recap

 

Everybody hurts. Poor Voycheck has been buried and Tud lies in the infirmary

We’ve settled into a routine; Kamilata court in the morning. The ilin patrolling. Most of the population is crowded into one or two towns, drunk and stir-crazy. Some of the seniors are there giving Kamilata advice. (Forgeilil is recuperating in the Carribean; Thranduil has resigned and is fluttering around there). Tud is recovering, training the younger ilins and anyhoo doesn’t tend to get involved in all this administration. Nymraith mixes potions. Most of the greyrobes are kept out of the way in Lauren’s Glade – a tea shop / hunting lodge (“cakes! The finest wines!”)

A dwarf arrives, falling out of the sky, and explains his arrival in perfect Polish with a strong Welsh accent. We don’t understand.

He’s 5’2 (tall) and 250 lbs so fairly, er, dense. It’s a short suit of armour with a dwarf inside. He’s also agrophobic even though he’s encased in a very small steel room. He’s walked in, under the snow in a disney cartoon way with a mound of snow above, until a big thud at the gate indicated his arrival.

“I’m here to see the really tall elf.” He’s not here, he’s on a Sabbatical. “A Sabb- is that a kind of horse?” No – he’s away. “Oh. Not back soon?” No, can I take a message? “I’m here on behalf of the rhinestone dwarves, as part of a debt”. That’s ok you can pay us – we provided the man power to the tall dwarf. Erm. He frowns – he’s only just got here and it’s stopped making sense. “Alright I’ll serve the court here”. Kamilata finds him a place in the hypocaust – spot on. 

It appears the grudgekeepers have sent him to the kings that Thranduil have sorted out things on behalf of the dwarves that they should really have sorted out themselves. In summary, Hagar has been bonded to provide service for an exact but unknown to us number of days, somewhere around 6 years.

 

Spring arrives.The population bomb-bursts out into the ooloo leaving a nearly empty town of mud and broken furniture.

Erlini is the only other PC back with Kamilata in the court; the rest are out patrolling, or in the cellars muttering incantations, or trying to make a new Potion of Banana Slaying out of the Goodberriy bushes. It’s been a long winter.

A Cleric of weegas turns up along the spring road.  The gatekeeper opens the gate

“Well you’re taller than the last one that arrived”

She tells us (I’m 5’2!) the church of weegies has been given an ulitmatum by the Lord of Perrinland: Fix the weather or be disbanded. But they don’t know how either. The church is now reviled and shunned as blackrobe Tealpec has claimed his success (on Griffinback, Ogvillhala) is due to them. He disappeared. Crime wave; some blame Tealpec but no investigation. Big black cloud over the tower. Some have investigated and never returned. The Lord of the area has required The Church of Weegies to fix out this problem of theirs. Rearrange.

(Haven’t we heard of this guy before? I’ve had a baby and even I remember that)

(Cleric Tyra Landy’s history includes lots of dungeoneering and killing monsters and learned book binding (presumably to bind the skins of the monsters))

So all blackrobes are bad? No just powerful. But then power corrupts. So yes.

She persuades us – it isn’t that hard and Forgeillil left instructions to continue to track down the shindrick society. The party has been stuck in a male-only barracks and the low cut red dress is quite persuasive.

So who is to stay and go? Tud is very keen, but although he’s healed up cuts and bruises, his crushed thigh has permanently crippled him – again. He’s on crutches, and forced to use wagons rather than horses.

Nymraith turns up for his stint the next day, he’s met a patrol of elves on the way back from up the road, who tell him someone’s been seen skulking around dressed in black.

Kamilata and Nymraith go off to find the skulker; we meet and there is some language problems but finally settle on Cygnirian (elvish from Iron Kingdoms). Kamilata speaks it, good oh. Strange accent – ice elf – “I am here to speak to Thranduil”. Ah, well he’s on a sabattical. “Its important I speak to him; this is his daughter” ah.  Well.  Why don’t you wait at the lodge “Is it heated?” yes “We will wait here”. You can sleep on the roof, etc.

(Some of the history of Thranduil in the Iron Kingdoms – he was up there teaching ice elves (Nyssian) how to kill of undead dragons and stuff. )

Tud asks what happened to Thranduil’s woman and the girl (Helleth’s) mother – the blackclad elf’s sister – “I will not speak of such things”. Tud looks puzzled. “Can you mime it?” the elf looks puzzled in turn. They both put it down to language problems. Does the child look like Thranduil? Well it waves it’s hands around and looks vague.

Something for raven mail

We prepare for an expedition, and split the loot from our last one:

 

Rod of power storing, channelling.-> Tyra

Amulet armour type 5 -> Anar

‘Braces’ (sic) of health +10 (+10 to conc hits?) -> Chita

Fur cloak of +10 DB -> Ryzome

Gauntlets Ogre Power (Strngth of an ogre!) -> Oruro

Potion cure serious wounds. -> Erlini

3 spears human slaying -> Kamilata

Nymraith packs his travelling chemistry kit and some biscuits. We saddle up; Nymraith and the dwarf on carts. Over the pass past the bleedin’ stone and we reach Ogvill Valahala. The clouds hang: heavy, black and pendulous.

We stop at the local ilin, the ilin say hello, on behalf of our lyo, etc (well apart from Oruro who lurks uglily). We are invited in, chat, etc. Recently Throgs Slandarsbardvarst or someone claimed to be TailGate’s last heir; shortly after he moved in twenty years ago the cloud settled in. The river turned black. Walls weeping red. Giants. Screams. etc. All our weather forcasters are jobless. The Church of Weegas is still blamed. Darren TailGate has never been seen again.

(Meldecort and Kelkis arakaba had been fighting each other – Shindick society – evil geniuses for a better tomorrow -since the death of Tealpic 100ish years ago until around 20 years ago when they sulked apart)

We think about plotting an attack: Let’s storm the castle and knock on the door.

Can we fly? Well Nymraith has got a couple of magic carpet slippers but they only work one slipper at a time – the other has to be attached to the ground.

Is there no back passage? etc etc

In the morning a raven arrives. It says “Be quiet and pay attention – I shall say this only once – Gwaitho (cousin of Forgeilil). (background info) Shindrick society is pre empire from aerdy times. etc. Tealpic has a copy of Mordenkain’s journal, Gwaitho would like one” The raven turns into a lifesize inert statue of a raven. Hmm, We can sell that. What was all that about anyway? Can’t tell. Sounds like a report that says “we don’t know much”.

Next day we storm the castle and reach the front gates – which are bulged out as if something inside was trying to get out (unless the weather has got to it). The castle is built into the wall; the front gates are set into the cliff and a tower is on the top of the cliff.

Tyra casts impression (open ended up) on what would happen if they opened the door. The vision is of a lot of water suddenly released. It’s been raining for a long time.

Nym wants to make a hole in the door and let it out a bit at time. Everyone backs up “er wait, it might all collapse” hey this is my job. “Yes, but only for very small drops” hey it can’t be that different “look, let’s just take this trail around the back that’s here after all and perhaps we should use that instead” So we all traipse up, but Nym is last to leave and he does so warps two inches of the end of a plank of wood on the door.

Water spurts out – spurt spurt spurt. The door creaks.

Up the trail reaches 50′ short of the top. We prepare for climbing up, Anar remembers he can lofty bridge and flies (just – 04) to the top and ties the rope off onto some big sticky up bits. Nym watches him go and makes a note to talk to Anar about the carpet slippers.

We climb up.

Big balcony / ‘patio’ (a patio on a castle?). Symbol of Weegas. Stalls – big enough for horses, containing odd feathers, eggshelves, which Nym is reminded to collect samples of but there is no guano. Or dung. Or whatever it is these things secrete. One of the doors is slightly ajar. This isn’t Griffinback apparently, that’s just how he travelled. We look through the jar.

Through the door is a lit circular room with corridors off and a large Weegas symbol on the floor. We can also hear (apart from the dwarf clank clank) hissing and a voice shouting. Erlini adjusts her hearing and it’s some argument between hissing voice/noise and human voice. Nym adjusts his differently and gets the same result.

Ryz instructs his Imp to go and find out what’s going on – the Imp strides down the corridor “THERE’S A FIGHT GOING ON!” Ryz: ‘quietly’ “OH WELL YOU DIDN’T SAY THAT” etc. Ryz grabs him “mmmph can’t breath” You don’t need to! “oh yes!” and proceeds to fill his orifices with jam.

The dwarf can check for traps, but to do this he needs to open his visor and he’s not doing that while he’s near a trap… Everyone examines the door but find nothing. Oruro drags it open and steps through.

Hot steam fills the room, smells of rot, a smashed table. Three mephits, steam beings, hover over the table, on the other side a robed man keeping them back. Oruro shoots but as he releases Shelwin shouts ‘wait!’ and knocks his aim – don’t know what’ll happen if you hit them.

Ryz considers these demonic things “No, they are beyond my earthly power! They are made of steam and can only be struck by weapons imbued with sorcery. They are from one of the an area of hell known as … “

Erlini strides in, grabs one of the mephit and gas shapes it into the balloon model of a boat. One of the others winks out.

Nym hesitating between spell and big stick, opts for animate gas, gestures at the mephit and slams it into the ground.

We look cool for about half a second, then jump around “It worked!”.

Still, two are alive, held as they are. Ryz potters about them. We could summon a tundra demon (cold earth). Or spell mastery. Hmm, or could…

Nymraith passes his woodland staff to Chita – “Hit it with this” Chita hits the boat shaped one – it disappears. The other takes more time – two blows and it’s still not doing it, Chita starts to lose his temper and wild blows narrowly miss everyone else. Eventually he gets it and the last disappears.

The cleric says “Life is a marathon, not a sprint” We take this philosophically, as it was probably meant, rather than a literal interpretation.

Darren is “interviewed” (we are, after all, the lew). Background by Stew summary: Years ago he was dragged by mephits to the cellar, past his murdered staff, to a steamy demon, where he was presented with the shopping list required by the devil for powers granted to uncle Teapot. Two items hadn’t been supplied, the penalty being that the devil – Ibix – got to roam the earth in his uncle’s body, sowing discord and stuff.

The debt has fallen to Darren.

“What were the last two things on the list then?” The Principa Hextory and The Battleaxe of the Twelfth Patriarach of Kibnet. The dwarf points out that the Kibnet are on the third Patriarch. Ryzome: the former is a “book of vile darkness” for the followers of hex.

So this was twenty years ago? You’ve been here twenty years? Have you not needed to go for a poo etc? Shut up.

Darren has looked up the hextory – there’s a copy in the castle – but if Ibix gets a copy of it he’ll be able to roam between hell and earth.

Things came to head this morning; Ibbix got impatient; Darren escaped but finds he cannot function outside the castle. Darren’s uncle apparently had a plan but don’t know what it is – had some more notes upstairs in the bedroom but these are guarded by mephits.

Hmmm. We’re short of power. Anar can Command (eg Calm), and/or inscribe runes to make weapons magical; Erlini can get one more shape and use the spell adder for another. The Imp is possibly also an attacker, but he’s not keen.

We take some potions and buff up (as much as we do) and make our way up the stairwell of DOOM.

The room at the top are steam-filled and there are scorch marks of explosions. Mephits bicker amongst themselves; we have the elephant in the room of surprise.

Erlini strides in first and we spread out behind. She fumbles, Anar calms his and Nym narrowly fails to strike. Erlini is blasted by steam and her legs parboiled and she collapses. Then Nym, but somewhat protected by Tyra and a lot of luck is left only just standing.  Anar calms another – just.

Oruro steps up to the remaining one and faces off, not quite striking it but drawing its attention as Ryz’s imp sneaks up behind it. It’s sting takes it in the ‘head’ and the megadeath poison squirts in. The imp laughs and shake it’s about – not satisfied with torture it’s playing with its emotions. Ryz finally notices and tells the imp to stop playing about.

We search the furniture – the locks have warped and firetraps have gone off, thus scorch marks. Some nice things: vellum, pens, octopus ink ( –> Anar), box of correspondence. While we search, Erlini drinks the CSW and then we all get tae feck.

We rest up near the door to the ‘patio’ and read the correspondence.

One from a pirate captain who has taken a chest containing the holy path of ekythump (ethuckin pa) (from a ship of the church of h’eronius) for Tealpec, to be delivered for more funds. Cpn Jihad Aranzo. [Tyra: ]

Other is a receipt for four doppleganger hides (9,000gp!), from some other bloke. [Tyra: used for illusion spells. Anar: So wants to hide somethign or disguise something - like the holy path text - as something else - like the book of vile darkness. Oruro: so the evil book downstairs may or may not be the actual evil one]

Further down the main corridor. Sacrificial chamber (description). Big open book on table. Boat on river – take two passengers and one oarsman. Temple to Weegas.

As we step in the lights disappears and the weegas icons disappear and those to ibix appears; the pool glows. Ryz strides around explaining the background of the various symboles and the personalities involved. The rest of us back up to the doorway.

We recover some courage and make our way over. Tyra glances at the book, and glowing runes rise up from disks on the floor; including some in the passageway behind us. Those of us backing up again back in. The librarians look at the runes – Anar recognises the style and Ryz reads them as an “I” “B” “X” “I” rearrange to form a popular devil.

We edge past the glowing runes and talk to Darren about finding a way downstairs “Not been there, but I assume there’s probably a key somewhere to a hidden door”. Well you’re no good.

Tyra and Erlini are keen on putting the disks onto the runes – so they do, while the rest stand well back hoping that this isn’t a quick way to summon Ibix.

The floor in the corridor behind us opens up and reveals a stream. We can just about all fit in the boat and paddle back up again, where we can see a large pool of water.

As we nervously clamber into the unfamiliar boats, Chita falls in. He starts to sink – slowly – under the weight of his armour. Nym jumps in after him and shouts for a rope and the others fiddling about with the unstable punts look up in surprise. There are some fraught moments while people work out what’s going on and Nym and Chita struggle to stay up, Erlini finds a rope and throws it at Nym, but sensibly keeps hold of one end. She can’t do much with if from the boat though, and throws it to the dwarf still on the shore – who is waiting to see which boat will take a heavily armoured short person.

Nym screams and disappears gurgling (under the water piranhas have attacked – somewhere somebody is stroking a white cat). The dwarf hauls on the rope but has a moment getting a proper grip. More thrashing under water and the dwarf heaves the pair onto the quay. Nym lies motionless leaking watery blood.

Erlini finds one of his potions and pours it down; Anar casts his last Healing and Nym coughs, chokes and wakes up gagging. “Ouch”.

We row row row our boats gently down the corridor. But not very well because nobody really knows how to row. At the far end we find a lever revealed. Uh oh.

Much splishing later Oruro paddles over to the lever and pulls it, cringing at what might happen next. A grinding sound and the water starts to drop. A long drop and we find ourselves in a huge hexagonal chamber, arriving through a gap in the ceiling.

Pillar in center, levers on a platform, tracks on a ceiling with chains down to large boxes 6′ cubed on pontoons. There’s an open passageway. Tyra etc paddle over to one and gets up onto the pontoon; the door is open, a lock on the outside, shackles lying open.

They paddle over to a closed box and she checks it – it’s empty – she stumbles getting back into the boat and we all look at the water reflectively, about what lies beneath. We decide not to look at the others as that involves getting in and out, and paddle cautiously out of the chamber. The corridor winds then into another domed chamber, with a large pillar in the middle supporting a platform, snarls and grunts, water streaming down the pillar. (Nym: what holds the ceiling up? S’physics – s’branch of magic)

The dwarf looks about: there’s something not quite right about the pillar. We get a closer look; there’s a starshaped dent in it which looks like it takes a key. Erlini unlocks it – here we are about to head to the final wossname and most of our power is gone. The water flow dramatically increases – very quickly – the water rises, blocking our way out. It slows as we get closer to the platform “Rather than quicken as you might expect form the shape of the room” says the dwarf. The wizards look about “How remarkable, that’s quite impressive” while the Ilin tool up.

Four merot come into view on the platform; large aquatic ogres. We start paddling away, Oruro handes his paddle over and shoots. Chita shoots and hits but poor critical. Oruro recovers his bow and shoots and drops (crit 96) one to crawl off, the arrow carrying on through. He shouts “stop or I – ” as he’s been taught. Shelby hits another.

The three remaining ones leap into the water – Jaws music. The water makes it harder to hit ‘em, but Chita hits another, it’s bleeding and stunned. Oruro drops his arrow and as it drops for the water, fumbles about for footing, landing on his arse. Shelby hits another in the arm and it’s bleeding too and stunned. One is still pushing on.

Chita fires again and (crit 95) it stops and sinks. Shelby strikes another through the shoulder into the chest. The water roils. Oruro is still getting to his feet as the remaining merot arrives. It disappears. The greyrobes panic and start paddling with an oar each – in different directions. The strain on the boat is not enough to break it (well, they’re greyrobes) and it starts to spin. “Paddle the other way!” so they both switch around. the boat gradually slows and starts to reverse its spin, slewing across the pool. Oruro makes it to his knees and draws his sword – he has it ready to spear the big manfish – through the boat if necessary.

The girls make their way calmly and efficiently to the platform. The wizards are still panicking, backing and forwarding and sidewaysing their boat across the pool, bumping off the walls as Oruro screams at them instructions they don’t understand. The other boat is relaxed and fishing. Until Ryz shouts that “at least the merot might head for the other boat”, and they paddle in to the platform.

The boat with the surfeit of wizards will reach the platform eventually according to the laws of random motion. In the meantime Shelby finds a hatch on the platform and in it some goodies: a wand, two potions and a bag of money, and a star shaped block.

“What are you doing? Help!” Well what are you doing? The wizards calm down enough to hand their paddles over to the ilin and he rows them over, while they all look wild-eyed and nervously over the side.

According to Anar, the potions are oil of magic weaponing and jump and wand of hold person (23 charges)

The final boat finally reaches the platform just as they water starts to drop again. The others get back in theirs. The water drops, revealing it thick with piranhas

We try the starshaped lock, and two doors open, one in north and one in south. We head south down a standard 10′ x10′ corridor – with water. Look out for the gelatinos cube. But they’re transparent.

“Of course” says Nym “from what I hear if Tailgate had been to the iron kingdom he might have some hullgrinder fish” – what? shut up!

Up a junction there’s a pier with a hole behind, and further down the corridor are doors. In the room behind the pier are statues of a medusa and two wyverns and three of Tealpec; three of him, two with staff and one not holding one that should be. Crates of furniture appropriate to the, erm, erm, idiom; chaise-long with skulls.

Down the corridor further is a bedroom. Search for secret drawers and a pair of knickers fall from the ceiling. Empty for a long long time.

Next is the gardening shed. Tools etc. In the styly of evil genius. Includes three gold sycles. One pair silver pruning shears. Obsidian garden spade. Two pairs platinum scissors. Cold iron knife with diamond studded handle. Nym drools.

Next is a room, scattered tables and chairs, lit torches, boxes. On the far wall some shelves have been pulled over, broken bottles, stench of sulphur. Lots of rare herbs, soils, Nym dribbles, packs as much of it up as possible. Also 3 potions CLW, 3x CMW, 1 x neutralise poison.

Nym looks at the wreckage and concludes that, if anyone was actually attempting to make some potions here, either they were making something more complex than he can grasp, or were just mixing stuff at random.

Next room – tiled – crates barrels and weapons. Table near entrance with roughly human skeleton arranged, dressed in gold, staff laid across his chest. Can anyone talk to dead people – oh yes, getting them to answer is tricky. Tyra tries to speak with the dead – gets last sights of the death (bit scary surely?!). Bones marked with nibbled teeth (is that before or after death?). Have a look at the staff – mostly unremarkable laquered hickory stick, but the end has a brass fitting with three pegs. Like a key. What about the crown? Where’s Tud when you need him.

We spend an hour battering through the armoury. We amass a total of 50 platinum peices, 25 gold pieces, 6 diamonds (250gp each according to dwarf), 6 owlbear hides (owlbair?), 4 sections blue dragon hide (100gp each) barrels containing lickers and wines. We can’t get them out we’ll have to drink them here. 6 matching silver plated daggers (take all) Two longswords with small rubies (100gp) 3 bronze shields engraved with mythical lions and tigers. Air tight lead box – inside is a large black book. As we open the box we can feel the evil miasma seeping out. We close the box. Tud casts about for candle wax or mud or anything to seal it up again.

A note seems to have fallen out: “ha ha ha i tricked you you stupid human now the great one likes me more than you! …. you should never mix with peple that are smarter than you, you should never steal books you can get from a library, yours, Spitwing”. Ryz’s imp seems to think that’s an imp’s name – ring tailed imp, lemur – possibly Tealpic’s. Had he done a double cross for the pitfiend and got it wrong? Leaving the note for Teaplic to find?

Final room (dwarf rolls 66 – smashes one fo the floor tiles and oh it’s hollow – nearly all the floor tiles are hollow – don’t smash them). We find 15 potions. 3x CMW, 5x CLW, 2x Bulls strength, 1x water breathing, 1x water walking, 1x flying, 1x haste, 1x resist fire.

We return to the room with the weapons to rest up. The one with the skeleton in it. The dead skeleton. Hopefully.

In the morning…

We go exploring the other rooms. Get our boats hung up on traps, but it’s OK the water all drains away.

In a triangular room is a sign “Reading in the dark… ” “… hurts your eyes …” “… without a good lantern” in various colours. Stone statues with swords guard – or destroy – books. We potter about poking at things. Tyra finds that the hilts come away and takes all three off. Nothing happens. Hagar The Dwarf finds a secret door.

He opens the door with his foot (he has fireproof socks, left from his days vault warden). [It appears he also has a grudge-aunt girdle...]

Splosh splosh through the knee (or waist) deep water down a corridor to a hectagonal room. The floor is all set with silver peices and chests. In the ceiling is a small hole. No water is coming through. The dwarf is looking at the floor kicking the pieces and is surprised by the upcoming surprise. As are we all. A huge great bit gribbly humanoid thing crashes up through the water, does a very brief shouty thing and launches itself at the dwarf. The Skrag lands an impressive blow – one that would have dropped any of the wizards – but the dwarf, though briefly stunned, remains only slightly pummeled.

In the follow-up attack the Skrag manages a slight bruise on the upper arm. The dwarf’s counter attack is maxed; he cuts off the Skrag’s hand and it is most put out and stunned and all. It runs off chased by Erlini round and round the room.

The dwarf is still bleeding though; Anar suggest just welding up the joints. Erlini – still mini-size – comes back to treat the dwarf, and Oruro takes over running around after the troll. Then stops and shoots (much easier) and wings it. Shelby shoots it and manages a much better hit.

The Skrag is working out what to say to his mates: “Well they turned up and their dustbin killed me”

Anar roots through the boxes and finds various potions; Anar and Nym have a look at them but can’t work out what they are. They put them in the bag marked “miscellaneous” but not “various” or “sundry” We leave, with the ilin taking parting shots.

In another room a statue of a woman gesturing down the corridor with the pointer missing from her hand. We try the shaft nothing happens. We try one of the sword hilts , and a beam of light shines out down the corridor bouncing off mirrors in the mist. We try all of them and they shine the different colours of the notes. We leave red in and stupid (Oruro) and Shelby splish splosh down the corridor.

The light is lighting up a tile; we change the light and get a different tile with different symbols. Must be a puzzle. We take up the tiles which are just resting on the wall.

Similar statue in next room down the corridor. Again, shining on more tiles with triangle designs.

And again, a hexaganol room with the same.

We now have a set of nine tiles (or three sets of three tiles) of various colours and symbols. We gather around them. Shake heads. There were four sets somehow though…

“Tesselate! Tesselate!”

Moving swiflty on.

Room with canal intersection in center. Each platform (quadrant) covered in cases and books and pillars. Back of one is where the tiles could go. We all stand around letting the autistic dwarf have a look, matching up edges. Oruro just wants to put any tiles up and re-arrange randomly, but by this time everyone else is fiddling about finding matching edges and unique symbols and stuff. We all need paper copiers.

After the usual “It must surely be impossible”, with some help from the GM we derived a DS solution.

Grinding noise. Each platform spins around, taking away the old destroyed books and replace with the proper library. The tiles disappear and a lever takes their place. An obscuring mist rises and obscured. We stick fairly close together and don’t see very far. Shelby sees with the aid of clear vision potion a snaky thing with human torso casting gooy webby stuff over the entrance. She shoots (99! + 05 dammit. 175). 26ish. The naga is diverted.

The dwarf sets off following Shelby’s directions, supported by Oruro and after some hesitation the others.

The naga turns and attacks the nearest looking threat: the approaching dustbin. Electric flash and the dwarf’s arm siezes, sparks continue to flash. Oruro shakes the vision of flashing dwarves out of his eyes and shoots as the naga disappears into the water and manages to stun it.

Back at the main party the imp tries to tell Ryz “look that toad isn’t really a toad!” what toad? “THAT TOAD!” the toad leaps off but Shelby gets a very good shot in and the toad falls over, turning into an imp. “Spitwing I presume?”

Oruro stabs the water looking for the naga. Hagar concentrates hard and controls his bleeding. The naga sensibly leaves.

Ryz is now in his element; time to control a demon! Or devil. Or imp. And he does! The imp is now under his control….”Now is the hour that Ryzantane proves his worth! Join with me fellows and together we shall r-” hey Ryz you’re monlogoing. Oh sorry. Interrogate the imp; servant of Ibix, he pushed Tealpic into the canal and he was eaten by piranhas.

There is some confusion of which book was which, and which book was going to be given as they kept changing their minds. The imp guides us to the other book. But the imp can’t remember which book is which. The note is with the good book disguised as the bad book, because that’s not the book that the imp was expecting to go to Ibix.

The book is in one of these armed cubby holes – oh, er, did I say ‘armed’?

Everyone carefully examines the cubby holes. Not carefully enough; there is a large flash of fire but no real damage. Hagar hardly bothers to disarm and just kicks off the trap. The blast catches him square but only a little damage makes it through his armour and he pauses a moment. He goes off to kick the other ones in (two open ended rolls) and “Look, when you open the door fire flashes out of here, but there aren’t any traps as such”.

4 scrolls prot chaos. 5 sets spell books, for 5 young ambitious and not very sensible wizards. (but not us). Potion CLW, 3x CMW, Potion water breathing. Potion Armour Type 8 (barksking). Diamonds lots of gps. Crusty sack of 270gp.

Another cubby hole contains Mordenkain’s journal. Wand shcok bolts (5th L, 12 charges). 7 scrolls in bone sealed cases, dim anchor, dispel magic, displacement, everards black tentatacles, fireball, slow, water walk, 15 volumes tealpacs notes on herbs for cosmetic,

2 potions Bulls strength, 2 weasels grace, 2 potions eagles splendour.

6 tomes bad poetry and short novellas involving a lusty dwarf. Tealpac’s handwriting.

A treatis on painting. 15 large scroll cases with rather iffy paintings.Oil paints (including tartan and empty bottle of striped), brushes

Ledgers detailing dealings with state officials.

Large box, sealed, waxed oil. Paint “Evil book!” on the outside.

We load the wagon up.

Looks like we’re going to have to give Ibix the good book, as there’s still side effects of his presence here. So we go back to Darren and give him the good book, disguised as the bad book. There is some trouble persuading Darren to give him this apparently bad book, as we want to him to think we’re giving him the bad book so Ibix is also convinced, but he doesn’t want to give Ibix the bad book as it will mean DOOM.

Off he goes…

Big tremour and ritual thingamy. Darren comes back thanks us a lot, great relief. It appears to have stopped raining. We go hire some more carts.

What do we do with the Bad Book?

Colour Map