Rebooting my Arduin game

Moving to Texas took its toll on gaming and while I managed to keep some semblance of gaming going it was more of a here and there kind of play, mainly as a guest in others' groups.  Satisfying to a certain extent though by no means as fulfilling as running a game of my own.  A campaign game shall I say.  I've ran the new ABA ruleset over skype and in person a few times  but nothing more than one shots.  So it was with a happy feeling that I kicked off a campaign game last weekend.  It went well and I'll be sharing it and continuing games here.

I felt a bit sad at switching the name though.  The Cup, the Cupcake and the Wolf has graced the site for 3 years.  It was time though.  That group and those legends of heroes and heroines - their stories will live on, though I've need to finish publishing the tales.  It will take some time - we gamed for more than 3 years almost every week, sometimes twice so.

The new game began with Triangularus that fell upon the world in the Year of the Dragon, CY 487.  A fell time worsened from the previous 60 years past by the unexpected advent of a vast nexus storm that wreaked terrible destruction upon Arduin with its arrival.  Empowered by the Triangularus stellar event the storm lingers over Arduin with destructive consequences.

So that's my  teaser.  You'll get more in the first post.

Prelude to Game

Prelude

The following happened as part of the back story to begin the game:

All players are a member of the Northern Vord Mercenary Company. Every one of you has been with the company for at least 3 years, some probably for more (up to you). Rank, regardless of how long you dictate you spent with them is Mercenary (see below for what that means). If you start with a noble background, you are a Knight-in-Arms.

Mercenary monthly pay is 3 GS coin and 30 SP Wealth equipment upkeep.
Knight-in-Arms monthly pay is 21 GS coin and 100 SP wealth equipment upkeep.

Ignore normal starting equipment. You begin with profession normal items and 50 GS in equipment suited for a cold northern environment. All metals will be in Smoked Silveel vice steel, since it does not transmit cold like normal steel and can be worn. Metal armors up to full chain can be chosen as well as requisite gear.

*************

Players will be part of a group of gathered up mercenaries from all the Northern Vord units to support an expedition to the sunken Urthaán settlement of Lurfhaatha off the coast of the Ice Fire Isles. Standard contract is that the group gets paid when the expedition gets back. Right now its projected at a 3-year time frame. Your detail to the town is to be part of a team that will be working on setting up and keeping good relations with the locals.

You are among the members selected and went north from the mercenary headquarters in Vorgoe. The trip was overland to the borders of Vorgoe, by air (Vord, of course) in hopes to meet a small flotilla of ships (the Maiden Course, Armored Demise, Queen's Mate) that sailed on the cold waters to the Ice Fire Islands.

You put off the coast in the settlement of Arjak. Its decent sized, approximately 3000 people in wood and stone buildings. No walls but squat, pillbox-like warning towers and two retreat points: one underground and the other on the water. It has basic amenities and seems like it is more of a chaotic jumble of factions than a central leader.

The company moved south and east along the coast of the southern island of Sjaorn to a series of rugged outcroppings. The archeologists used magic to bore an eight foot diameter pipe through the snow and under the ice. What more they have done you don't know since you have been part of the crew to setup the upper base on the island coast.

It took a month to complete but you have a walled enclosure around the tube entrance and four watch towers. After completion, you were detailed to be in a unit that would be interacting with the locals in Arjak for the company. At game start you will be traveling the ugly landscape to the town (5- day journey). Its dangerous but not horribly so and doable safely in a group of three or more.

Players can be nearly anything but must be able to play with the rest of the group, from the start and have integrated for a couple of years previously in their back story with the mercenary group. Keep in mind you will have spent some time on a ship getting there and will be on a very cold, rocky, volcanic island. Not that settlements don't exist, or that some places are not warm, but they will not be the norm. It will be cold enough that large amounts of metal will be impossible to wear or have on your person. The Northern Vord will help to a certain extent and will have provided some equipment. I'll give you a list of that separately on the forum. Additionally, you will be wearing at least furs at all times unless you have some other way to stay warm. Keep that in mind for your character.

Northern Vord Game Session – 1, "A Snowy Road to Arjak"

GM Note:  the previous game was rebooted.  This starts a new area and new characters from the last.

Actual Game Start:

• Renna (Book of Kells)– Blue     Child of the North Runeweaver; Northern Vord Special Forces   
• Thelonius Monk (Deadly &     Delicious) – Padha-hha Martial Artist; Northern Vord Regular

    [look here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelonious_Monk]

• Xin (Ball Buster) –Padha-hha     Paladin of Megalon; Northern Vord Squire Trainee

Our errant party begins at the snowy entrance of the fortified enclosure that the mercenaries have put together to protect the expedition. Captain Algois, head of the five captains leading the expedition, has ordered that a small group go into Arjak. The objectives would be threefold:

1. A small number of mercenaries     would go to Arjak, in numbers as to not be intimidating or     threatening to the populace   
2. Once there, a quiet base of     operations shall be setup with the focus on integrating with the     populace and getting in their good graces. The captains see     potential advantage for the Northern Vord during the three-year     period they are here. A focus of the company is industry and Arjak     and the other settlements might be a trade outlet or good northern     base for the company to permanent expand into.   
3. Gauge the sentiment of the town     and send back word to the captains.

Orders flowed through Sgt. Breakwater to everyone. Once orders were in hand, Xin led his small team into the snow outside the walls. It was easy going, the glow and smoke from the volcano that dominates the island the only company. Fate, however, did not smile on the ill-fated expedition and barely two hours into the snow, they were assaulted by spiders. None saw them coming, their footfalls alerting the spiders to ambush as they lay in wait. Renna and Thelonius luckily caught side of them as they shrugged off the snow they had been hiding in and launched at Xin.

Poor Xin, caught up with the role of leadership after being cooped up for so long in training was treated quite poorly. Three of the rugged creatures, each towering a foot or more over the Padha-Hha attacked him, thrusting stingers into his hardened armor. It bent them away but they ejected poison on him nonetheless, coating his armor and skin with sticky toxins. Thelonius too one jumped though he was adept in avoiding its attack. In seconds Xin was coated in thick poison, head swimming from its effects, and Thelonius affected too, a lucky stinger slipping through his otherwise adept maneuvering.

Renna backpedaled and tried to contain them from afar. Her bracelet was alight and dancing with a ruddy shine, telling her spirits were near and active. It seemed but a barely a half a minute passed before luck shone its light on them and revealed what assaulted them was not spiders but other things in disguise. Thin, sickly spirits taken mortal form, wielding black thorns the size of swords, the light of maniacal, insane hunger burning out their eyes. Fate works in strange ways as does the hand of Megalon, since it guided Xin to smite one creature with a fell power, so strong that it smashed through Xin (right through the groin! Ouch!) and the ground, shattering the earth and sending Xin and three of the creature into a lava tube below. Thelonius struck the last, shattering it into a puzzle of fleshy pieces that quickly dissolved. As it died it whispered, the first sound made by them, saying, “Enas Thorn”.

It had no meaning to them and was quickly forgotten as they clamored down into the hole to see if Xin was still among the living. By luck or faith, in this case, he was though in sore shape, having all his bones broken but his spine. With a lot of rope a bit of luck, they got him out of the hole, fashioning a crude device to keep him still and stable from the remnants of a wagon they found below. While flickers of spirits tricked at Renna's bracelet and they found the withered bony remains of four beings and more of giant spiders (with manacles, no less) the focus was on Xin and getting him back.

Back at the mercenary encampment Xin was given proper care, though he was castigated by the other Megalon priest. Carth Taraton, as he was called, berated Xin for his lack of bravery and forced him to his feet to spar and train even though he was hurting. Luckily, Sharri, the company healer was a formidable force on her own and browbeat Carth until he left. Carth still snuck in and roused him up and when he was mostly healed everyone raced to leave, not liking KP duty and other mundane tasks that seemed to fall to them in droves.

Once again they stood looking into snow beyond the gates. This time a little less confident, especially Xin who felt a trill of shakiness in his hands. This first day, though, was smoother. No fell events waited though on the second day of travel we found the body of a member of our company slain. A brief investigation revealed nothing and focused on our objectives we pressed on. When we arrived we would send word back speaking of his finding and death. The next day was equally quiet though misty and clouded with snow, which was rising quickly in the face of an early winter snow. We came across another traveler, one Regalus, who was met with two wolves the size of a Padha-hha. Their eyes were a burning red. It was a good meeting though, and after sizing us up to make sure we were not spirits, he spoke for a bit about traveling on to his home. Not wishing to be rude, we gave way so he could pass and then continued on our way.

While snowy, the rest of the trek to the town was uneventful. The guards at the towers demanded a coin to let us pass but otherwise did so peacefully. They made sure to point out the gibbet and its Zirin inhabitant, noting that stealing was not tolerated (at least by those who don't pay the proper fees). It was bitter cold and few people were about except for soldiers and guards, stamping their feet to stay warm. Renna and Xin were hopelessly turned around but luckily Thelonius talked about a nearby group of soldiers tryign to stay warm and got directions to an inn called the Half Trap. It seemed to be the best place to go in town.

It worked out for the best because while they were accosted by dwarven female wenches once they went inside they were also plied with a thick, hearty stew. They also ran into Burster, a 7 year veteran of the company who had been sent here while Xin was laid up healing. Burster had been in town a while and get some info. While someone earlier had told them the Clamshell was a better place than here, he disputed that saying he had stayed there originally and it was more of a dive.

Thelonius managed to sweeten up on the dwarven wenches and get a lot of information from them. (summarized below). After crashing out, the next morning one of them introduced them to Kreger, her uncle's, brother's sister's cousin's half-sister's niece’s son's cousin, who had a hand in some of the real estate in town. He let on that he knew they were in the market for a place and that he had something for them if they would let me have a shot at supplying the company goods from his stores. Xin was wise and didn't promise but took advantage of the situation. Kreger led them through town to see the places he had. On the way, a thickly built, red-faced man elbowed through the crowd and laid down a heavy hand on Xin. Surprised, Xin went to pull his weapons but the man roared out something and threw down a heavy metal amulet with Megalon's sign on it. He jabbered on for a few minutes about bravery, fear and knocking the fear of Xin. He then invoked the right of skin to...fur battle. They both stripped and fought. The unnamed Megalon priest dotted Xin's face with a good fist and lo and behold the fear Xin had been feeling poured out of him (he rolled an astronomical fear save!). The man immediately began praising Megalon (we swear he was a pentecostal version...so much song and dance...anyway) and Xin felt more embolded (he regained 5 of the 8 Faith he had previously expended during his Crisis of Faith).

We went with one of the properties Kreger showed us. The company had supplied coin, by the way of gems so they were used to rent the property for some time. The place was a bit run down and a baby with a toothpick could break in but it was serviceable. Two good sized rooms, complete with the arid smell of old herbs (it used to be an herbalist shop) and attached storage.

We spent a couple of days settling in, contacting other mercenary members, gathering information, and sending word back (10 day elapses).

Rumors & Information

• Bad Economy – poor fishing and heavy disruption to the trade lanes overland have sent     the town into a slump.
• Snow Trolls – they are hunting heavily on routes between Arjak and the settlements of Gutter Rock and Shaneton. This has disrupted nearly all trade, stopped most hunting and driven away people who ordinarily would hunt or harvest in the lava tubes.
• Ghost/Pirate Ship (this has     actually passed timewise but I'm leaving it here for posterity) – Every couple of years the Roaring Revenge attempts to attack the     docks and destroy them, like it did nearly a cycle ago (137 years).  The water turns brackish and dark a few days before it comes so the settlement usually has advance notice and try to head it off. They have succeeded the last four times (five now). Tales say that if     you can board the ship and get into its hold you can loot it of her     treasure. They also say if you don't board before she sails you become a part of her crew too.    
• Gangi     – the local crime lord.     He died after choking to death on his favorite meal of chicken. His     top people immediately began squabbling and broke into seven     factions, each fighting the other for control. They are clashing almost daily with the authorities. Most of their activities range in the robbery/thieving scope but the level of violence has been escalating.
• Cobblestone Creep Infestation – A particularly nasty form of urban Fae, these things look like wizened little gnomes with huge heads, insatiable appetites and     nimble fingers that like to unravel/unweave things. They are a pest that seems to have infested half the town, causing mischief and harm where they go. When confronted or attacked they swell into ogre-like beasts that sweat steam and perform violence.
• Missing Boreas priest – Draynbur, the knobbit priest of Boreas hasn't been seen in     weeks. Many are starting to consider him dead.

---NPCs---

Northern Vord

• Captain Algois – head of the five captains leading the expedition. He's reputed a tough fighter but even better mage. They also say he has a knife that can shave fire off an elemental's backside. He's also  elven or fae blooded somewhere in his lineage.
• Sgt. Breakwater     – A pockmarked, leathery,     wiry human. Originally trained as a Viruelandian military man, he     gave up the soldier trade there to become a mercenary and has been     with the company for 17 years. His     favorite weapon is a sword though he's a master with a shield.
• Carth Taraton     – Megalon priest, also on     the expedition.    
• Sharri     – Norther Vord doctor;     she's whipcord thin, pale skinned with a tense, hatchet face and     indomitable disposition. Few     cross her willingly.
• Burster     – 7-year company veteran; uses twin maces, is pretty serious and     smokes sweet cigars. He was here on the first expedition that     lasted a year but otherwise spent his time fighting on the Vorgoe     border.

Arjak

• Gangi     – local crimelord that had been killed recently. The organization     had broken up into seven squabbling factions after his death and no     one or place was safe from robbery, theft or assault since they were     not honoring gilt (protection money) that had been paid.
•  Shrike     – another Padha-Hha who has the reputation for being the most     serious badass in the place. No one crosses him since he had     seemingly outfight anyone or anything, no matter the odds. He also     has an uncanny sniffer able to let him sniff out anyone that crosses     him or does him wrong. Pretty much feared/respected by everyone.     He wears a giant wolf fur pelt that he got from somewhere on the     island.
•  Tail     Song – Runs     a school on the northern side of Arjak, teaching children and     adults. For adults he teaches music and song. He is also the     unofficial “mayor” of the town, acting as a go-between for a lot     of factions and people in the town. That he is a Saurig doesn't     seem to bother anyone.
• Draynbur     – Priest of Boreas   
• Kamsa     – Priest of the Silver Lady   
• Ron Uttara     – Zirin of some reputation in the town. He's a respected     explorer, adventurer and businessman: he owns a shop that sells     pottery and herbs.   
• Giltava     – Human – Goblin –     Orc (HuGobOrc?) female that captain's the ship called, The Howler.     A heavy galleon, its the backbone of the port defenses. The other     three ships (Ilvan's Wind, Jonkallen, and Magic's Promise) are     captained by Dandak the Thin, Aldhar duinJhat, and Kaal     respectively.   
• Dandak the Thin     – captain of the Ilvan's Wind and a Zirin.   
• Aldhar duinJhat     – captain of the     Jonkallen and a Mogru.   
• Kaal     – captain of the Magic's Promise. A half-elven/human mage. His left hand is supposed to be crafted out of pure magic.   
• Malini     – A local mystic and healer. She's a Zirin and human mix and has     numerous scars/tattoos on her furred skin.

Cultural Notes:

• The volcano on the island is     called Fragjen. Its revered almost like a deity and people cast     salt in the air towards its general direction when its really     active. It goes back to an old story about Renjo Oyn, a local hero     from antiquity and how he harvested salt from the ocean for 29 days and nights to quell the volcano spirit.   
• The islands are frequently caught up in widespread mist, fog, smoke and snow flurries. Islanders     pause when they meet someone in any of the above, to see if they are     what the seem or spirits in disguise, a common encounter. The     Riethgaul, a gaunt, snow laden crone is especially feared, as she     will steal a body part from anyone she meets and run off with it.   If you don't catch her before the sun (if at night) or moon (if at     day) rises high in the sky, the body part is gone forever. Her     favored target is men...and what is treasured by them.

Sciarra's View

Damn miscreants.  Better not cause me any trouble. 

I like things just the way they are.

Party Fame changes:

None

Laurant's View

GM Note:  As far as Laurant is concerned, Dario's name is Kristoff.

*************
 
I was lucky.  I think.


Leastways Kristoff came through for me in a fashion I didn't expect.  A fresh face on the scene, I wasn't sure how much credence to give his talk.  Not that we didn't go back some distance.  In fact, we were old buddies -- at least from a distance.

Seeing his face in the Shadow gave me a pause, though not for long.  When I had idly mentioned that I was looking for some muscle to help me make sure and auction went smooth, I didn't expect for him to show up with some serious help to make it happen.  That the help turned out to a Deodanth - Minotaur led combination threw me.  Not for long, of course.  I wasn't going to let anything toss me awhirl for long.

They stayed afterward.  Another surprise though a likeable one.  Having them around made for a good deterrence for a few of the local irritants.  Not that the Minotaur didn't eat anything that wasn't locked down.

I gave them a week, maybe two before Sciarra would be on their case.  He didn't care for much of anything -- but also didn't rouse often to do anything about it.  Sciarra would be more irritable about having to leave his house than anything else.

It happened about like I expected.  Which was why I had already laid my hands on some sides of beef.  When Kristoff came knocking, I was ready.  That he came when I had unwelcome company was unfortunate but his help would be appreciated with a task I had at hand.  Deliveries and moving goods are my lifeblood -- and I had something hot that needed to be shifted into my hands.

Kristoff jumped on it eagerly.  After a bit of rambling they were gone and the Sand was quiet with their absence.  Murtag stopped by the second they split.  Annoying garbage he might be, his connections made him untouchable. 

At least for now.

Their return with the cases released a knot of tension that I didn't know I had.  It was good to have life back in the Sand. 

*************

Party Fame changes for Game Day 1:

• Known +4 (now 4)
• Esteemed +3 (now 3)

An Undercity Tale

The relevant part of a conversation held in Old Batterly's Pit and Stone eatery in Concourse Square in Falondé. The primary speaker was Batcholi; he was addressing three of his nephews who where curious about his work in the undercity. We enter the conversation after they had just dined and had leaned back to enjoy a smoke and some wine.

********

"Fine wine, very fine wine indeed" Batcholi said with a contented sigh. His nephews murmured their agreement though it was obvious to him that Salek wasn't a wine lover. He was taking small sips and doing a very good job of sloshing it as he animatedly interacted with his sightly young brother Roctin. Batcholi took a draft of his cigar and puffed out a mass of smoke, sadly noting a current of air took it away before it could form into the shape he had wanted.

“Uncle”, Kaomok said.

Batcholi pulled his gaze down from the smoke.

Kaomok had a serious look on his darkly cast face. Of course, he always had a serious look. Probably because he was the oldest of the three rascals that Batcholi was sharing the table with this fine evening.

“Uncle, tell us about what you do these days.”

Batcholi regarded him for a moment and laughed quietly. “That, my young nephew is a big question. I do many things these days. Not the least of which is watch over you.”

Kaomok was still young enough to redden, especially when Roctin jabbed him with an elbow while he tried, rather unsuccessfully to cover up a laugh.

“Uncle, what he means to ask is what you do in the undercity”, Salek said.

Batcholi winked at him and set down his cigar. He took a drink of his wine, taking his time as he eyed the three.

“I, of course, run a healthy business. One of imports and exports, like the rest of our family, as you rakes know quite well.”

The three of them looked at one another and it was Kaomok that piped up. “We know that, uncle. What we were curious about was the undercity.”

Batcholi eyed them and then laughed. “Its fine. I have found that most people have a poor sense of what the undercity is like. What do you want to know?”

They leaned eagerly forward, sharing a glance among each other.

“What it like down there?”, Kaomok asked, right as Salek said at nearly the same time, “Is it dark all the time and smell like a sewer?”

Batcholi grunted. “Let's see. Well, its like being in the city except its below it. Also, like the city above it has its areas that are both very good and very bad.”

That was obviously not what they wanted, which didn't surprise him.

Roctin sniffed. “Not quite what I hoped, uncle. I mean, we have heard all kinds of things about the undercity”, he said looking at the other two for support. “I mean, we've heard that they have black masses that eat people, temples to the dark gods; people that sell slaves, black marketeers with auctions of illegal goods, and impromptu parties.”

“Someone has been listening to all kinds of tales.” Batcholi remarked. “Well, let's put some truth to those tales. Its looks like its time to attend to your education. I told you that the undercity is like the city above and just like the city it has its characters.

“The family business lies in a part of the undercity under the control of the March Warden of the Deep Spike. Like his title suggests, that part of the undercity is called Deep Spike, much like our own sector of Falondé is called Djaksim after the exotic Djaksim Tower. It, however, is not as spectacular as the Djaksim tower, though it has a certain mystique of its own.

“The area, in fact takes after the name, since it was once a part of the sewers you mentioned earlier though its been long bereft of scent. It's full of vaults and once was the primary pumping station. The rework of the sewers and capture tanks to handle overflow from the river led to a dry area with numerous vaults connected by a ton of corridors. A very perfect place to do business, since it makes for a good area to put established stores.”

“Uncle”, Salek interrupted, “that doesn't sound very different than the city.”

“Indeed. In fact, if it were not for the gloom that fills the place and the somewhat stifling atmosphere, it could indeed be like the city. People come and go, dropping in from the city and going up from the undercity. Business occurs as does other things you would see in the city. Its just a bit wilder and a trifle more dangerous down below. At least in the Deep Spike.”

“Why isn't it dark?” Kaomok asked.

“Well”, Batcholi said taking a drag on his cigar before responding. “The Deep Spike area retained the large metal grates that once allowed water in. Now, they let in the light that filters down that is captured by the mirrored repeaters that spreads it around.”

“Is the rest of the undercity that way too?” Kaomok asked.

Batcholi shook his head. “No, its generally darker if not outright pitch black.”

“Tell us about the black marketeers!” Salek requested.

Batcholi coughed into his hand before starting. “Well, let's just say that the undercity is where people go to buy things they can't get in the light of day. Things they shouldn't or things that are illegal.”

“Have you ever been to one?” Roctin asked.

He coughed again into his hand. “Well, let's just say that from time to time some of our family business flows that way. Not all of it; its mainly aboveboard but a few things the family acquires can't be sold out of our stores.”

“Who cares” Salek said. “What about the craziness that we here about down there? Man eating bacteria, Wards of the Chained One, Limb Thieves, undead – its seems like everything ugly you can imagine exists done there!”

“I see something has your imagination fired up. Well, I won't lie to you and say such things don't exist down there. The March Wardens' areas, especially those of Deep Spike, Rainbow Falls and Long Spin are relatively safe areas. The undercity lords in those areas maintain a presence, one strong enough to deter the majority of really dangerous things that live down below. The other places are much less safe to utter dangerous.”

“Like the Red Coated Baron's area!” Roctin interjected.

“Like the Red Coated Baron's area” Batcholi agreed. “His lands, if you will, are adjacent to the Deep Spike and so are not horribly unsafe. At least, in those areas distant from the Azren Maze and near the March Warden's borders. Closer to the maze and its anything goes.”

“Anything goes – what does that mean?” Kaomok asked?

Botcholi drew on his cigar once last time and rubbed it out on a metal plate sat on the table just for that purpose. “Let's say that those man-eating bacteria you spoke about could easily make an appearance. Their nest is supposedly somewhere in the maze so they are predominate there and in the areas that touch on the maze. Outside of the areas defined by the March Wardens, the walkways and passages are very unsafe, unlike our streets and roads above. No one patrols or maintains those walkways in general, especially those beyond the reach of the wardens. Only the hubs that house people are considered safe and in those, safety is secured by the quickness of your sword.”

“People live down there?” Salek asked fascinated.

“Of course they do” Roctin said, elbowing Salek. “They don't all go up to the city, do they uncle?”

Botcholi nodded and signaled for more wine. “Indeed. Some people never go above. They are born, live and die in the undercity.”

“Really?” Kaomok asked.

Uncle nodded in answer. “Yes. Its a motley group, even more so than the mix you would find on our streets. We keep certain levels of decency in force above. Down below, outside of certain areas, those rules are gone. Most, however, are decent sorts trying to make their way through life. Others are outlaws, lawbreakers, wanted by the law or their orders for wrong doing. Joining them are creatures that otherwise could not walk easily in the light of day.”

“What do these people do?” Kaomok asked.

Botcholi quaffed a drink from his newly filled wine glass before answering. “I'll assume that you mean those of the darker nature than the otherwise mundane. Still the mundane are important. Let us say that most live like we do above, excepting that their lives are much more dangerous. Where we have the certainty of law and a basic sense of order that flows from it, they do not. Instead, they huddle in groups, like you would in the wild for protection or seek out hiding holes and places of refuge. Of course, they are not alone. The undercity, for all its danger and lack of law, sees a large influx of visitors. Those seeking out those illegal markets are underground auctions. Those looking for a service they could not get above or fear to partake above in order to avoid prying eyes. Or, just making their way to a party, a theater, a meeting, or some other assemblage. Some even come for the adventure or to find something lost in the dark.

“Now those with a darker desire prey on those that live there or who come there. In fact, a favorite pastime with lightsiders is to dunk them. Never heard of it, have you? No, don't bother answering, I know you haven't. Its when they prey on them, give them a good beating or kill them. Then they toss the body into the pools of water that seem to be everywhere or into the working sewer system. Its a horrible business but doesn't seem to deter adventure seekers and those that should know better from coming down.”

He paused and the nephews looked queasily at each other. Botcholi shook his head and waggled a finger at them. “Now, don't look weird, its not all that bad or we wouldn't do business down there. At least in some areas. Most of the undercity is well deserved for its reputation and is filled with dark, beastly people and equally decadent places. People live down there and act out their lives just like we do. They live in some place relatively safe and traverse the winding pipes, tunnels and vaults that connect the majority of the place together.”

Roctin poked at the table and asked, eyes downcast, “I've heard that it has levels, kind of like the city has the upper terrace and the lower grounds.”

Botcholi swirled his wine, studying it. “True. Though not so cleanly as the jewel of our city. It has deeps like an ocean, where the deeper you go the more dangerous and dark it becomes. What we know mostly as the undercity is but the upper skin of the below ground.”

They loosed uneasily at each other and Botcholi put his wine glass down with a thunk. “Let's call this to a close, young sirs. But I'll end it with a warning. You may have friends who will invite you below. I encourage you to take the loss of face and decline. Too often, those virgins who go below do not return the same. I encourage you to seek safer pastimes, like bearding a dragon in its lair or pissing on the king's statue in Crownmark Square in broad daylight.”

He got to his feet and the nephews did the same. “Now, shall we see what delights the Jewel of Khaas holds for us this evening?”

They nodded and he gestured for them to go first, following right behind.

Fun Adventures in Avemba--Part 2 of our journey on 4/27/2012

As we enter Avemba, we put our genius plan into effect. Mwahahaha! Thordis the dwarf and his comrades managed to make it through the Beryl Boughs. We come bearing food to hear their tale, as the ship we're looking for is supposedly crashed in that area. After munching on some of my goodies, Kain tells them about his pretty little mithril flake turning into his heart (since he died from that wyvern) and Thordis asks who is meant for the flake. After hearing that it is meant for the House of the Wrung Serpent, we discover we are looking for the Lost Prince.

He graciously decides to help us.

Dead guy who possessed me--Revanai. He's a psychic. They were transporting a metal cylinder carrying someone.  Take the captain's books back to The Pearl in Kurahane.

At the Pearl, we meet a renaissance man named Skylar.

Immaterial is the name of the gnome who runs the Amberjack's company. I hate him.


... Monty Note.  This is a partially done rendition of the game.  Sadly we had to go on hiatus due to events in my life so this was not continued.  Hopefully you'll see a rendition in the future.

Twinkie's happy fun time journal, 5/23/2012

DAY ONE:
It is such a nice day with my friends. We are on our way to a ship called the Aurora to get some materials for the college of magic. Apparently the poor little ship was wrecked.

As I step out onto the deck to catch snowflakes on my tongue, I see two skyships in the distance. One appears to be attacked with ice, the other with fire, and they are battling each other over The Great Rift. The ship on fire explodes, and as pieces of those poor folks rain over us, I as captain decide it's better if we go around. I enjoy my captain's hat very much.

I was cooking some delicious brownies when we crash into a floating forest. As we attempt to get our ship unstuck, we notice that the trees have been chained to grow a certain way. The trees accumulate cloud moisture to disguise themselves, so it's no wonder we didn't see them. Sultrani sees a person in Cloud Skin sneaking away from us slowly, and I try to give him brownies. He doesn't stop, which makes me sad, and then some of us notice some major channeling going on. Apparently the island is a node of power, and the guardian is having a hissy fit. It begins snowing heavily, and for some reason my friends start to panic and insist that we hurry up and leave. I am upset, since I wanted to stay and explore, but I give in to them since they seem so frantic. I leave a plate of warm brownies on the ground for the strange man. At least I got some soil and some Cloud Skin. Sometimes I feel my friends are no fun.

That evening, we see some sky cows racing across the sky. RAWWWHIIIIDDEEE! I wish I had a cowboy hat instead of my captain's hat. Sultrani and Skahl go "hunting" and pick up one of the giant bovines, and I get to cut it up and take components. Hurrah!

DAY TWO:
We have stuffed ourselves on sky cow from last night, so I sleep very soundly. That is, until I hear Kain belting out a song about freedom from the deck of the ship. He sounds... good... and he's not singing about humping or drinking, which is weird.

Skahl says he's being touched by some sort of time paradox. It seems like it's from when he was swallowed by that giant stomach and the spirit of that beautiful singer shared his body and then joined Ariadne's ship. Sultrani's little wind friend (that she didn't tell us about because we're not good enough or something) twists around Kain and opens the song. We ride the notes of the lovely song to the paradox and appear in the giant floating stomach-thing with Kain. (Past Kain.)

We begin looking for the song, who is trying to free the spirit and change time (which just can't happen, because then we'd just be screwed and so would Kain.) We find a sky shark, a skeleton, and a gnoll looking through the piles of carcasses. They are very rude and insist on killing my poor Kainy-poo because they don't care about anyone or anything apart from that spirit. We end up bartering for the song, so we don't get her spirit in the ship, just the song. I'm sure this won't bite us in the ass later because I'm optimistic! The animated skeleton referred to himself as Kaniyeel. I wonder what he looks like when he's not a skeleton in a giant floating stomach.

We finally make it to the wreckage of the ship, and we see that spikes have been magically moved from the mountain to penetrate the ship, and that's why it's wrecked. It has been ransacked, and little muddy hobbitt-sized footprints are all over the deck. It's pretty sparse, but I manage to find a secret panel in the ship. Inside, there's an egg-sized gem that is frosted over it's so cold (there are fans blowing on it.)

We go through the underground boroughs and fly over the trip wires. Some poor hobbitt guard named Frost sees us and pees himself before a runeweaver hobbitt climbs up to us out of breath. He munches some of my brownies and we strike a deal: seeds for the College of Magic crates we're supposed to retrieve. (Apparently they need crops badly.) So I leave a plate of brownies for them and go to grab some seeds. The hobbitt is very private and doesn't drink--very, very odd.

We pick up the crates, and on the way back to the College of Magic we run into a meteor shower. We pick up some pieces of the asteroids, and I notice a weird feeling in my tummy. The green light shining from the rock is making me feel strange; the others are definitely looking sick. Ok, so I need to purify the rocks and get them well. Good thing I seem to be immune. Hooray!

DAY... SOMETHING:
As we travel, we look overhead and catch a lot of flying debris. Something is attacking a ship above us... and as a huge yellow feather drops onto the deck, we see that it was a roc. But I get a pretty yellow feather! Huzzah!

As evening falls, however, we see a giant prismatic bird... the one whose baby Kain killed. Granted, it killed him too. But still. Mama be angry, and she's coming for us. HOLY FLAMING SKY COW DUNG!

After panicking for a little bit, Sultrani uses her hero's blessing to land the ship into the water all submarine-style. We miss death by bird-dragon, and return the supplies to the College of Magic. Another job well done by Twinkie's Twerrific Troupe!

Twink's Journal

Game Session, 4/20/2012

DAY ONE OF AWESOME FRIENDSHIP ADVENTURE TIME:

I love being on this skyship. I have a new patron, which means a new friend, and I'm cooking for my best friends in the world. I hum to myself happily as I cook, listening to my friends make plans to gather information on the Amberjack and its murdered navigator. We make plans (I'm sure they're good plans and will work, but I was only half listening). Then we all prepare for bed. I grab my teddy bear and doze off...

And am soon startled awake by the ship teetering and tottering. I run on deck, huffing and puffing (will my little cute chubbiness ever be in good shape again?!) and a huge, flaming bird fills my vision. I can feel the heat from the deck of the ship, although it is 300 feet away. Holy flaming turds of Hurkallah! It's a phoenix!

Sultrani, in glorious bravery and humility, bows low and begs favor from the magnificent being. Towards the end of her small speech, Kain rushes onto the deck, gasping and saying, “Ok, I'm here! I've got my armor on—HOLY CRAP! IT'S A PHOENIX!”

I stand on the deck, marveling on how pretty and overwhelming the creature is, and the being speaks in our heads in the language of fire—which sounds weird, and we don't understand it (I mean, who speaks fire?? What is that?)—and so it switches to Arduinian. He asks our names, gives us his common name (Octokao), then inquires as to why we're passing through his airspace. “Four god-touched pass through my space... and I am curious.” After some small talk while I didn't really listen and stared instead, Octokao gave us a warning: “Someone has opened up the veins of the world and is sailing through them, from the chaos this has caused something new will arise.” Octokao offers to give one of us the phoenix's spark—a piece of his hardened fire. Are you kidding me?? That's awesome!

“Oo! Oo! Pick me! I want to! I'll do it!” I say excitedly, jumping up and down and waving my hand frantically through the air. The phoenix seems surprised and appears to nod, then passes through the air what appears to be a raw chunk of crystal that laces into a necklace around my neck. AWESOME. I bounce around excitedly, dancing with my new toy. I HAVE MADE A NEW FRIEND!!! HUZZAH! He's pretty and fiery and huge and all-knowing and maybe we could play games sometimes.

DAY TWO:

As I cook breakfast and hum to myself, I hear commotion about some sort of castle in the clouds. Castle of Him? Hymn? Who's him? I don't know. Back to cooking. I'm sure it's fine.

Kain comes charging into my kitchen, yelling, “Harpies! I need something to block my hearing! Quickly!” I look frantically around the shelves and find some of the wax I use to top my bottles and vials. We pack it into his ears and he rushes up onto the deck with me trailing right behind him. Hmmm... nice view. I'll think more on that later. Why are butts attractive? It's so weird. Oh, right, harpies! Need to focus! I feel my face blush furiously. I can't help it—his behind is eye-level! Twink, FOCUS!

As my little feet plop onto the deck, it buckles and I feel energy and cold flash through the air. My jaw drops as I see Sultrani in the middle of the powerful attack, her eyes full of icy determination as she stands slowly and proudly on the deck. I hear her murmur to the air around her, “Let's have some fun,” as Kain leaps to action, running full pace off to the end of the deck and diving off in full Kain show-offery. Her little air friend catches him, and Sultrani and Kain shine in the morning light as it reflects off the clouds and they appear to run on the sky itself. Tears fill my eyes as I look at my friends, and I'm so proud I can barely stand it. Those harpies are going to be sorry! I giggle to myself and plan a victory breakfast. The stone around my neck starts straining, and I'm zapped to the present as Sultrani uses a gravity wave to suck the six harpies in towards her. They make a sickening sound as they all crunch together into a ball. A harpy ball. I giggle again. Clearly, the phoenix wants a ringside seat to see how they fight. I hurry to the side of the ship to give him the view he desires, moving my neck around to try to get the best perspective. “Aren't they awesome?” I whisper.

Kain then lunges forward, fist high, and hurtles toward the mass of harpies. His shouts echo across the sky as his fist lodges there, dissolving the mass into a shell-shocked flurry of feathers. The harpies begin to fall and I whoop out loud with my congratulations.

The four furies that I didn't notice before because I was busy doing something—probably thinking of cooking—start to fly away in fear. One of them, however, turns back to hurl a spell at Sultrani. One of her death breaker runes shatters—yikes, the spell must have been a doozy—and that fury plummets to its death. I guess Sultrani wants to make sure it dies, though, because she uses her gravity fist to plow the unfortunate fury straight down into the ground. Wow, Sultrani must be mad! Her gravity fist makes a crater in the ground. Mad Sultrani is scary, I think.

They return to the ship. Sultrani looks bad. Her eyes have a bunch of burst blood vessels due to the sound damage. I patch her up and she goes to take a nap. Kain finds a harpy feather snagged in his armor and decides to hold onto it (dang it I want one.)

DAY FIVE

As I anxiously peer over the end of the deck at our destination (we had to fly to Khurhane to get maps or something, I don't know) I can see that the city is on fire! Oh no! A member of the Arduinian special forces lands on our deck and draws his weapons, demanding, “Friend or foe?” I immediately respond, “I'm always a friend!” and he sheathes his weapons. He tells us to land, then explains that a religious cult has tried to start an uprising, and has set fire to the water itself using an unknown ritual. We land and are told to stay on the ship. I sneak the guards cookies as we wait, and it's hard not to notice that the other landed ships have like two guards and we have at least half a dozen.

After a little while, we're able to move but cannot stay for very long due to martial law being in effect. It turns out my old friend Ariadne has a dock here, and a bottle of her famous rum (that I helped her create) is waiting for me! AHH I'm so excited! I will share my rum with my friends tonight. We'll have fun!

Sultrani goes with Inereal to meet the cartographer. As soon as they're gone, Kain and I begin to drink the rum and I decide to cook something with him. This is such fun! Wow, I think I'm crunk... uh... drunk. Yep. Yep, I'm definitely drunk. Oo, that looks good! I'm going to start throwing stuff into the pan. Wait—I think the phoenix crystal around my neck just sparked into the food. Innnnteresting. Hehehe this is great. Except that Kain burned the scrambled eggs he was trying to cook. Now my kitchen smells like burnt eggs. It was nice of him to clean it up, though. Even if he did just spit on the pan to clean it. As the dish begins to take shape, I notice that it looks somewhat like a casserole... and I have no idea what I put in it or what it does.

And then... guess what??? KAIN AND I DID IT!!!!!!!!! Well I think we did, anyway. I think that's what “it” is. I lost my virginity! Oh my goodness! It finally happened! ...But now what? Do we get married? Should I ask him? I think I should wait for him to ask me. Oh gosh. Oh golly. I don't know what to do. This is so wonderful. I'll have to ask Sultrani the procedures. She knows everything. I can always ask her about what to do!

Sultrani comes back onto the ship, and we spend the night all together, eating the casserole, drinking, and looking up at the stars. Her only comment on my less-than-innocent new self is, “If he had your consent, he lives.” All in all, an excellent night. I am so happy.

DAY SIX

Kain goes into town to meet someone who wants to see him for some reason. I am concerned at first, but Kain says he's only going to talk, so I send him off with some muffins.

Life is good.

Kain, a tragedy and an epiphany

a day in the life of Kain, as seen through the eyes of Kain:

(note: the following story is an account of the day Kain lost Pitchest Black, his black long sword. The story is told through his eyes and, quite honestly, is pretty jaded and not likely the whole truth according to anyone but him. Take it with a grain of salt.)

Dear Diary:

Damn it all! What a horrible day(s?)! It started out so nice. We had a goal. Travel a bit. Find and salvage some parts of some crashed airships to build our own, and then go gallumping off into the horizon battling and drinking and whoring and looting! Oh, victory smelled sweet in the air, but it was not to be. Not quite.

The plan was simple. We would hitch a ride on a skyship out to each crash site, collect the goods, and use Twink's Tarot cards to transport us, the salvaged parts, and our...other acquired goods back to Talismonde. First however, Twink had to pay a visit to some Headmaster of the Taroteers to get her cards reactivaed. Sounded easy enough: Go to a forest in the north, find the headmaster, cook some food, and be on our way with his blessing.

So we acquired a ride on a ship with Simek's daughter, who is a pretty cool cat. We landed on a mountain next to the forest and bid the dwarfette ado.

to

Upon approaching the forest, Twink bid us farewell and made her way inside as we waited. After a bit, the snake decided to head inside to look for her, not adhering to our patented "let them figure it out themselves and only step in to save them from certain doom" approach. Sultrani decided it was time as well, and upon concentrating for a bit, disappeared. Yet another damn trick she didn't tell us about. Of course she can disappear, why not! (I would find out later this was not her doing. Oh well, she can keep the coolness points anyhow).

Fearing for my comrades, I called into the forest, shouting some encouraging words that they may be brave, stay the course, and remember honor dignity, and all of that crap (I'm working on that whole honor thing--not very Hyrkhallian, so it's kinda foreign to me.) I was greeted in return by said forest that sent several technicolor skeletons (did i mention the trees were multi-colored) to attack me. They were rather pathetic, and I dispatched them quickly. A few more groups came out, but I ignored them as they attacked and instead tried to decipher where they came from and the source of their power. Right as I figured this out (or so i thought) Sultrani came crashing out of the trees and landed most ungracefully on one of the skeletons (return the cool points).

However, before we could establish more than "you ok?" and "what happened" I was whisked away and found myself on a barren, many-paletted plane. Uh oh. (I'm guessing I probably disappeared much like Sultrani).

I figured I was either a.) in another dimension (not uncommon) or b.) in another damn illusion (also not uncommon). First, I tested the dimensional theory by once again attempting to ascertain the source of power nearest to me. I found nothing. THe only source of power was myself. I deduced (correctly, I might add) that I was not prisoner to an illusion. Indeed, when attacking me with shitty rainbow undead didn't work, the forest, clearly behind all of this, chose to imprison me instead.

I elected to deal with the situation much like I did all illusionary magic. However, this was a mistake. Typically, illusionary spells and powers of this nature are easily destroyed by absorbing some of all of it with Pitchest Black. Thus, I attempted this same feat once again.

It was a horrible mistake. The energy powering the illusion was extremely potent. Before I knew it, I had absorbed more than my sword could handle and it melted in my hand!

Distraught and outraged, I gathered the now pieces of my sword, hoping to somehow discover a way to reforge it.

Electing this time an alternate approach, I sat down and meditated, closing my eyes and concentrating on various things: first nothing at all, just to calm myself; then on Twink, sweet beautiful Twink and her smile; then on my sword, I wanted to will it back together! Finally I meditated on escape and finding an exit. Opening my eyes, I found myself still trapped in this Endless Illusion.

Pissed, I began walking. Judging from the count of my pace, I imagine I walked several miles before I noticed the reflection in my armor. Good old Simek, proving himself once again. Looking in the reflection, I saw the forest, and realized what had happened.

I removed my breastpiece and, looking into it, guided my way through the forest until I eventually found an exit.

Immediately after exiting, I was attacked by a giant flying snake that elected to keep it's distance and spit venom at me from afar. It was here I came upon a great epiphany. At first, I moved in to close the distance between us. But he continued to move back, and flew just out of my reach. I discovered...I wasn't interested in fighting him.

Not only did it feel wrong not having both blades in my hand, but really, it didn't seem worth it to really even engage. So i told the snake he was worthless and walked away. It followed for a spell, and amassed a gang of followers. Eventually, I met up with Sultrani and we headed back towards the others. The annoying snakes eventually left.

When I got back to camp I learned some interesting facts: that the Headmaster of the Taroteers was a hive-mind that essentially comprised of this forest; that the little bits of my sword I picked up now appeared to be bits of tree branches; that the hive-mind controlling the forest call themselves patrons; and that even worse, one demanded that Twink call it Master and serve it!

Twink, on my behalf, ventured back into the forest and requested that the patron return that which belonged me. The patron, claiming to be the soul of the world, told her that the sword was destroyed because I attacked them by calling into the forest. Ha! How interesting to hear my opponent's side of the story.

Anyway, i gave Twink the parts of the blade/branch, and we left the place. For now, the white sword will remain sheathed. I'm not sure how I intend to proceed from here. Perhaps I'll (gasp) meditate on it, after eating a hearty meal. I wonder if the snake will le me have one of it's goats...

P.S. I realized while writing this that I'm writing in Amazonion. That's because Hyrkhalla has no written language. I think this is a major deficiency. We could be much better warriors if we fought intelligenty instead of brutally. And being intelligent is much easier if you can read. I think I'm going to start trying to piece together a Hyrkhallan written language. I hear the simplest languages use pictures, so I'll start trying to piece something together using pictures (probably best to associate the pics with war and warlike stuff). And from there, I can translate some good strategy books into Hyrkhallan and teach them as well. Even if I have to start small, a small army of tacticians is better than a large army of morons.