Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Session 35: Into the Serth Hatama
When last we left our heroes... Crossing the Cheyth (with only a few minor hiccups as Tanurendal fell overboard after overconfidently trying to pole the barge down river), the Company stopped at Galal-i-Yalir long enough to ask a few questions about Sir Ralus' disappearance, but were unable to press the matter for fear of giving away the purpose of their mission. They continued on their way, pressing up the Serth Hatama for some miles until, on the third day since crossing the river, their path wound into a narrow gorge that dipped below the line of the trees. There, amid a honeycomb of abandoned caves, they encountered one of the Great Horned Beasts known to frequent those regions. With the aid of the freshly arrived Oratsos, Thoranrai's brother, and some keen shooting from Varsuja, the Company managed to lay the great beast low, after which they found a few valuable odds and ends in a cave nearby -- no doubt the remains of the beast's previous prey.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Sessions 32-34: The Sleepers Awake
When last we left our heroes...
The second time through the Siege of the Inyalia-i-Parujar ended in ruin, when both Kalaru and Anerash were betrayed by their would-be lover, the Lady Falanarai, and Tengelbur died fighting on the walls. The third time through seemed to be fated to end much the same, though this time it was Anerash who betrayed both Falanarai and Kalaru, opening the secret way and allowing Mawish to enter. This time, however, Tengelbur and Anaris were prepared, and as Mawish raised a spear to strike down the sapling growing in the courtyard of the Tower, Anaris stepped in front of it, taking the blow instead. Then Tengelbur struck the anvil, and as Mawish's forces petrified, transformed into the Withered Wood.
The world fell away from them, and they awoke again sitting around the temple in the Sorcerer's Tower, back--as far as they could tell--in their own time. But the tower was falling to ruin all around them, the now-motheaten tapestries in the room depicting, as far as they could tell, their own adventures. Making it down to the lower floor (with Tengelbur having taken the bell and cups as souvenirs of their strange journey), they found that the great, wounded tree was absent. In its absence, the whole tower seemed to be crumbling to the ground.
They quickly explored the ruins--finding an ancient treasure chamber and enough to make all of them comfortably wealthy--before heading out, leaving just in the nick of time. When they were barely out of site of the tower, it collapsed behind them. Heading south to to Kor-Gilin, they were met by evil omens. Apparently, however much time they had spent in the Tower, evil things had passed in the world outside, and War had crossed over to the western side of the River. In the nearly empty common room of the inn, they were accosted by a stranger who identified himself only as "a Wanderer," and informed the Company that they had been gone for seven seasons. In their absence, well...
---
It was at this point that we rewound, back to only a season after the Company's departure. A completely new company had been formed, called in by Lieutenant Samlon for a mission of great delicacy and urgency. They were:
The second time through the Siege of the Inyalia-i-Parujar ended in ruin, when both Kalaru and Anerash were betrayed by their would-be lover, the Lady Falanarai, and Tengelbur died fighting on the walls. The third time through seemed to be fated to end much the same, though this time it was Anerash who betrayed both Falanarai and Kalaru, opening the secret way and allowing Mawish to enter. This time, however, Tengelbur and Anaris were prepared, and as Mawish raised a spear to strike down the sapling growing in the courtyard of the Tower, Anaris stepped in front of it, taking the blow instead. Then Tengelbur struck the anvil, and as Mawish's forces petrified, transformed into the Withered Wood.
The world fell away from them, and they awoke again sitting around the temple in the Sorcerer's Tower, back--as far as they could tell--in their own time. But the tower was falling to ruin all around them, the now-motheaten tapestries in the room depicting, as far as they could tell, their own adventures. Making it down to the lower floor (with Tengelbur having taken the bell and cups as souvenirs of their strange journey), they found that the great, wounded tree was absent. In its absence, the whole tower seemed to be crumbling to the ground.
They quickly explored the ruins--finding an ancient treasure chamber and enough to make all of them comfortably wealthy--before heading out, leaving just in the nick of time. When they were barely out of site of the tower, it collapsed behind them. Heading south to to Kor-Gilin, they were met by evil omens. Apparently, however much time they had spent in the Tower, evil things had passed in the world outside, and War had crossed over to the western side of the River. In the nearly empty common room of the inn, they were accosted by a stranger who identified himself only as "a Wanderer," and informed the Company that they had been gone for seven seasons. In their absence, well...
---
It was at this point that we rewound, back to only a season after the Company's departure. A completely new company had been formed, called in by Lieutenant Samlon for a mission of great delicacy and urgency. They were:
- Varsuja, a Cheybori bird-tamer played by Hope.
- Thorinta, a Feirkanbori and Knight of the Order of the Leopard.
- Thoranrai, a Feirkanbori spy and ally of the previous party, whose most recent escapades seem to have included acting as a political provocateur for the Scarlet Sisterhood, and faking her own death.
- Feala, a Sothbori Well Priestess, who for her own reasons has come North seeking answers about her past.
Meeting Lieutenant Samlon at the Cracked Beaker, the company was met with dire news: Captain Ralus, commander of the Border Forts, had been taken in battle recently after his scouting party was ambushed by Nalshbori on the eastern banks of the Cheyth. Given the similarity of this incident to how Prince Galal was captured several decades ago, Samlon suspects that Ralus was betrayed by one of his own men. Unsure who to trust, he's brought in the Company from outside to bring back Ralus--who he believes is currently being held at the great Nalshbori encampment of Gashund-i-Yalir on the Eastern Bank of the river. He's offered to pay the Company the hefty sum of eight treasure each for the return of Sir Ralus.
After agreeing to take the job on, the company were provided with Nalshbori clothing and gear, along with pendants of blighted coral which will ensure that they look like Nalshbori once across the river. That done, they set about making their personal preparations to cross. Varsuja and Feala went to the Sacred Well in the village and met with Feiala, the priestess there, who blessed them for their journey, but also gave them some vague and ominous omens of what was to come. Thorinta headed down to the waterfront, where he met with Weiksura, the nasally dock-master, with whom he made arrangements for a ferry the following morning (one which would be polled by Thorinta himself in order to save the cost of boatmen).
For his part, Thoranrai went to inquire of the local amber-cutter Vitherai (meeting Talarja along the way, who was evidently visiting for the evening), asking about the best places to search for amber across the river. This, it was felt, would strengthen the Company's cover as amber-hunters, disguising their real agenda, which was as yet a secret. After some hesitation, Vitherai showed Thoranrai a small sliver of red amber which she had kept (in fact from the lump that Tengelbur gave her) and directed Thoranrai to the Bent Grove, promising to pay her well if she could return with more of the same.
With their preparations made, the Company prepared at last to cross the Cheyth before venturing into the Withered Wood...
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Vanera's Last Journal Entries
Entries in the journal of Vanera Kjavabo from the summer of TE 452
Here I am once again on the road, off to another adventure following Tengelbur. There is a reason they call him Tengelbur of the Road. The man cannot be content to settle down in a nice town somewhere with a pretty wife. I do not know why I let him talk me into going with him. Especially when we know so little of what we are getting into. But I seem unable to say no to him.
Two nights ago, Talarja and I were about to sit down to a quiet dinner, when Tengelbur and Anaris walk in uninvited. Tengulber says he has heard rumors of a tower called Subijar-i-Yalir, the Sorcerer's Tower. He naturally assumed I would be going along. Upon my raising the question of going, he insists that I will go.
“Yes! You’re coming with me and your sister! And we’re going there to find adventure. Also, treasure. Ancient hidden mysteries, which I am told are your jam.” He exclaimed all the while looking through the cupboards for something to eat.
“Yes,” I replied. “But I will have to talk to Talarja first.”
Talarja emerged from the back room. “What’s this now?”
“They want me to go out of town to explore a tower.” I said in reply to her inquire.
“Right!” Tengulbur piped in. “In a haunted wood.”
“But apparently there will be some form of romance.” It was Anaris who spoke. “I’m confused about that bit.”
“That’s tied to the haunting.” Tengulbur explained.
“Oh, well,” Talarja sighed. “I mean, you just got back, but…”
“I know!” I cut in. “I just got back!”
“I suppose this is important though, your work and all, and I--” Talarja had begun to say.
“One word. Treasure.” Tengulbur cut in.
“You know, you said that last time.” I said referring to the ivory expedition.
“There was treasure! There was. Reiana could tell you. She went down there. There was in fact a sunken ship full of ivory. Also infested by a massive, horrifying, cursed creature from the dawn of time.”
“I know, but—”
“How could we possibly have known.” He chuckled.
“I do have business. I need to send out letters so I can sell this book.” I held up the little book I had made while trapped on the island for two weeks. Tengulbur’s doing.
“Right. I suppose you could write those on the way and drop them back off on the way back.”
“I suppose if you left that with me, dear, I could be your secretary.” Talarja offered.
“There you have it! My sister once again saves us all.” Tengulbur triumphantly stated. Though I’m not sure what other time she has saved us.
“But, is that too much, darling?” I asked earnestly looking into her eyes. It’s not that I doubted Talarja’s business skills, but I do worry about her being taken advantage of by others and not getting a fair price for the book.
“No, it’s alright, actually. I don’t mind having a bit of work to do. You see, I spent rather a lot of time with Vitherai last time you left, and she can be a little tiresome after a while, honestly. I hate to say that. Oh,” Talarja turned to Tengulbur. “She’s expecting to see you again, Tengulbur.”
“I suppose she is. I suspect her husband is as well and has prepared his largest hammer.” Tengulbur chuckled.
“But,” Talarja continued. “I could have a bit of work, and we’ve got to make a living somehow. I do want to support what you do, and if you’re going to make your—our—fortune, then exploring old ruins—you need to explore old ruins, dear.”
“She has a point, Vanera. You’re running out of furniture to sell.” Tengulbur stated.
But what does he know of domestic life, furniture, and money? This is the man who took handfuls of gold and threw it into a river for no apparent reason. I paid him no heed.
“Are you sure, Talarja?” I asked.
“What happens when the little Vanera’s start coming?” Tengulbur interjected again.
“Well, they haven’t.” I stated.
“Ah yes. I am sure that is a long-term plan.” Then Tengulbur proceeded to make what I felt to be both an awkward and inappropriate comment. I blinked twice, and Talarja stared blankly at me.
“In any case,” Talarja continued. “I would be quite happy to see about selling the book. I can write to the Red Scriptorum. It will take a few weeks, but if it is worth as much as you seem to think, then it will be worth it. It should be enough to pad the nest for quite some time.”
“Yes! See, she said it! Nest.” Tengulbur cut in again. “Reiana is coming. She has weapons coming out of her very ears. We will be safe. Also, Tanurendal knows his way around the North, what could possibly go wrong? They can’t possibly have ancient, multi-faced creatures from before the dawn of time in this wood.”
“Why not?” Talarja asked.
“Because they only have those under the water.” He said confidently.
“Do they?” Talarja asked.
“I assume so. I feel that if creatures of that nature lived on land that they would have already eaten this town and moved on.”
“I mean, if not for such an adventurer as yourself to protect us, and also the city watch…”
“Trust me, sister dearest, the city watch of this lively little berg would have peed themselves before dying horribly.”
“Well, I mean Raoseina, he’s a veteran. Vanera, you said he was with the Dogs of Winter.” Talarja looked to me.
“Correct, he alone would not have peed himself before dying horribly. He would have died a dry man.” Tengulbur stated.
Talarja sighed. Then she leaned over to me. “Did Tengulbur pee himself?” She asked referring to the ivory expedition.
I was at a loss for words. Why were we talking about this? It did not seem in the least to be an appropriate topic, especially before dinner. I assume my mother-in-law did not teach them that such topics are not appropriate in polite company. But then, Tengulbur is not polite company.
“I think you should go, Vanera.” Talarja changed topics. “Just for a little while. It’s not that far as I understand it, and if—if you learn something—that would be helpful to your overall designs.”
“Darling, if you don’t want me to go, just say so and I won’t. Then I will throw all these people out of our house, and we can go on with dinner.” I made a sweeping gesture to the door.
“It’s not that I don’t—” Talarja began but was once again cut off by her brother.
“There’s dinner?” He asked loudly. It is extremely hard to have a conversation with anyone if Tengulbur is in the room.
“It’s not that I want you to go, it’s just that, well, this is your business. This is your career. I don’t want to stand in the way of that.”
“Also, your destiny. Tell him, Anaris, that this is where he’s meant to be.”
“This is where you’re meant to be.” Anaris spoke as told.
“I understand that marriage to a famous scholar is going to come with some sacrifices. But we’re young right now. We’ve got a lot of time. And later on, I may need you around more, so if you got to do this sort of thing, then this is not a bad time.” Talraja said reassuringly.
“Alright.” I said hesitantly. “I suppose I will go with you, Tengulbur.”
“I will take that as a yes. Your resounding commitment to my adventure warms the cockles of my heart.”
I fear some people may see me as overly cautious, or not as an enthusiastic historian and archeologist. But I am! I love learning and documenting things I as discover them. It brings me great pleasure to sit and write in my little leather-bound books and sketch Sacred Wells, or whatever else I might run into. It’s just that at the moment my heart is elsewhere.
I did not want to leave Talarja so soon after getting back. We have just been parted for a whole month, and now I am being asked to part with her for three more weeks. We have only had a few uninterrupted months together to enjoy married life. Before that I was parted from her for a year. That is why I was so surprised that Talarja did not put up a fuse over my leaving as I expected. There was no pleading, no tears, no cold shoulders.
The fact that she did not protest in the least about my going has bothered me. I understand her wanting to support me in my endeavors, but to not even once say something about how much she would miss me, and how she would prefer I stay but understood that I needed to go, was unusual. Last time I left she at least protested some. A man wants to know he will be missed by the love of his life.
Her comments about lining the nest, or how she would need me in coming months, has me thinking that she is with child. But surely Talarja would have told me that. She would not keep something like that from me. Unless she knew I would not go if I knew, and she thought it better I go and make a livelihood doing what I’m good at, discovering things and documenting them. Afterall, that is the reason I came out here in the first place. She would have been right in thinking I would not go. I would have stayed to take care of her, though I do not know how much help I can be in these matters.
Mother always had her mother and servants to help care for her, and I cannot clearly remember seeing Father do anything to help Mother, though I am sure he did. But these are things I never thought to ask him about, because being a father has always been something so far off in the future, it never occurred to me I would need to learn about them so soon.
I do find the thought of being a father overwhelming. I know very little of caring for infants, and the small things really frighten me. They are so delicate. I would never hold any of my sisters until they were well over a year.
I also know very little about birthing them. I have heard that it is very painful. I have also heard stories of women dying while giving birth. Perhaps if Talarja is with child I should write to my mother or hers to come. Though I do not relish the idea of her mother being pinned up with us in our small house for several months to help. It sends a chill down my spine just thinking about it.
Perhaps I am a poor husband for not having outright asked her about it. Perhaps I should have stayed, even if I only have a suspicion about it. Perhaps I did not ask because I wanted to go.
There is one other reason I can think of as to why she would have been so eager for my leaving again so soon. It has been a fear that has plagued me ever since I first left for Cheykor, leaving my bride behind for what turned into a year. But I dare not write it down and chide myself for even letting the thought enter my mind.
….
A little about the tower we are traveling to.
In the early days of the Third Nalshbori War, a servant of King Orril, skilled in ancient lore and the use of the runes, traveled to the Hiksuyara Peiruar [The Fir Wood] and built a strong fortress, intending to wield the power of the wood in the war against the Nalshbori which were at that time streaming across the Cheyth in great numbers. But he was overmatched by the power which dwelt in the wood, it is said, and in after days things of evil crept in and dwelt there. These were all driven out, or so it is believed, by the Wayateth during the final days of that war, and since then no man has passed beneath its gate of ancient stone and returned to tell of what he saw.
….
The strangest thing has just occurred. We saw a figure standing off the side of the road. It was Tengulbur, but old Tengulbur. Missing his left hand. Young Tengulbur, our Tengulbur did not seem to be bothered in the least by this and talked with his older self. We were warned to turn back now. Then he said to "drink the cup to the bottom, but do not ring the bell". He then took hold of young Tengulbur and they merged into each other and disappeared! We are rather worried now, and the tales of this forest we have heard hold more weight.
…
After eight days of travel, we have just arrived at the tower! I am overjoyed at what I have discover to the point that I cannot help but write it down.
Upon arriving we discovered a silent and empty courtyard. Too silent if you ask me. There is no chirping of birds, no rustle of leaves. The drawbridge to the tower being down, we crossed over the moat surrounding the tower safely.
I have just examined the foundation of the building. That stones are much too large to be of Amborian construction and are ancient. At first I thought them to be from the First Eon Noe-Trian revivalist work, but on closer examination I realized they are not imitation work of the ancient Starland, but the real thing! I cannot wait to make a sketch and examine the rest of the tower. Who needs Tengulbur’s treasure when there is such a wealth of knowledge about?
I cannot wait to tell Talarja all about this!
Here I am once again on the road, off to another adventure following Tengelbur. There is a reason they call him Tengelbur of the Road. The man cannot be content to settle down in a nice town somewhere with a pretty wife. I do not know why I let him talk me into going with him. Especially when we know so little of what we are getting into. But I seem unable to say no to him.
Two nights ago, Talarja and I were about to sit down to a quiet dinner, when Tengelbur and Anaris walk in uninvited. Tengulber says he has heard rumors of a tower called Subijar-i-Yalir, the Sorcerer's Tower. He naturally assumed I would be going along. Upon my raising the question of going, he insists that I will go.
“Yes! You’re coming with me and your sister! And we’re going there to find adventure. Also, treasure. Ancient hidden mysteries, which I am told are your jam.” He exclaimed all the while looking through the cupboards for something to eat.
“Yes,” I replied. “But I will have to talk to Talarja first.”
Talarja emerged from the back room. “What’s this now?”
“They want me to go out of town to explore a tower.” I said in reply to her inquire.
“Right!” Tengulbur piped in. “In a haunted wood.”
“But apparently there will be some form of romance.” It was Anaris who spoke. “I’m confused about that bit.”
“That’s tied to the haunting.” Tengulbur explained.
“Oh, well,” Talarja sighed. “I mean, you just got back, but…”
“I know!” I cut in. “I just got back!”
“I suppose this is important though, your work and all, and I--” Talarja had begun to say.
“One word. Treasure.” Tengulbur cut in.
“You know, you said that last time.” I said referring to the ivory expedition.
“There was treasure! There was. Reiana could tell you. She went down there. There was in fact a sunken ship full of ivory. Also infested by a massive, horrifying, cursed creature from the dawn of time.”
“I know, but—”
“How could we possibly have known.” He chuckled.
“I do have business. I need to send out letters so I can sell this book.” I held up the little book I had made while trapped on the island for two weeks. Tengulbur’s doing.
“Right. I suppose you could write those on the way and drop them back off on the way back.”
“I suppose if you left that with me, dear, I could be your secretary.” Talarja offered.
“There you have it! My sister once again saves us all.” Tengulbur triumphantly stated. Though I’m not sure what other time she has saved us.
“But, is that too much, darling?” I asked earnestly looking into her eyes. It’s not that I doubted Talarja’s business skills, but I do worry about her being taken advantage of by others and not getting a fair price for the book.
“No, it’s alright, actually. I don’t mind having a bit of work to do. You see, I spent rather a lot of time with Vitherai last time you left, and she can be a little tiresome after a while, honestly. I hate to say that. Oh,” Talarja turned to Tengulbur. “She’s expecting to see you again, Tengulbur.”
“I suppose she is. I suspect her husband is as well and has prepared his largest hammer.” Tengulbur chuckled.
“But,” Talarja continued. “I could have a bit of work, and we’ve got to make a living somehow. I do want to support what you do, and if you’re going to make your—our—fortune, then exploring old ruins—you need to explore old ruins, dear.”
“She has a point, Vanera. You’re running out of furniture to sell.” Tengulbur stated.
But what does he know of domestic life, furniture, and money? This is the man who took handfuls of gold and threw it into a river for no apparent reason. I paid him no heed.
“Are you sure, Talarja?” I asked.
“What happens when the little Vanera’s start coming?” Tengulbur interjected again.
“Well, they haven’t.” I stated.
“Ah yes. I am sure that is a long-term plan.” Then Tengulbur proceeded to make what I felt to be both an awkward and inappropriate comment. I blinked twice, and Talarja stared blankly at me.
“In any case,” Talarja continued. “I would be quite happy to see about selling the book. I can write to the Red Scriptorum. It will take a few weeks, but if it is worth as much as you seem to think, then it will be worth it. It should be enough to pad the nest for quite some time.”
“Yes! See, she said it! Nest.” Tengulbur cut in again. “Reiana is coming. She has weapons coming out of her very ears. We will be safe. Also, Tanurendal knows his way around the North, what could possibly go wrong? They can’t possibly have ancient, multi-faced creatures from before the dawn of time in this wood.”
“Why not?” Talarja asked.
“Because they only have those under the water.” He said confidently.
“Do they?” Talarja asked.
“I assume so. I feel that if creatures of that nature lived on land that they would have already eaten this town and moved on.”
“I mean, if not for such an adventurer as yourself to protect us, and also the city watch…”
“Trust me, sister dearest, the city watch of this lively little berg would have peed themselves before dying horribly.”
“Well, I mean Raoseina, he’s a veteran. Vanera, you said he was with the Dogs of Winter.” Talarja looked to me.
“Correct, he alone would not have peed himself before dying horribly. He would have died a dry man.” Tengulbur stated.
Talarja sighed. Then she leaned over to me. “Did Tengulbur pee himself?” She asked referring to the ivory expedition.
I was at a loss for words. Why were we talking about this? It did not seem in the least to be an appropriate topic, especially before dinner. I assume my mother-in-law did not teach them that such topics are not appropriate in polite company. But then, Tengulbur is not polite company.
“I think you should go, Vanera.” Talarja changed topics. “Just for a little while. It’s not that far as I understand it, and if—if you learn something—that would be helpful to your overall designs.”
“Darling, if you don’t want me to go, just say so and I won’t. Then I will throw all these people out of our house, and we can go on with dinner.” I made a sweeping gesture to the door.
“It’s not that I don’t—” Talarja began but was once again cut off by her brother.
“There’s dinner?” He asked loudly. It is extremely hard to have a conversation with anyone if Tengulbur is in the room.
“It’s not that I want you to go, it’s just that, well, this is your business. This is your career. I don’t want to stand in the way of that.”
“Also, your destiny. Tell him, Anaris, that this is where he’s meant to be.”
“This is where you’re meant to be.” Anaris spoke as told.
“I understand that marriage to a famous scholar is going to come with some sacrifices. But we’re young right now. We’ve got a lot of time. And later on, I may need you around more, so if you got to do this sort of thing, then this is not a bad time.” Talraja said reassuringly.
“Alright.” I said hesitantly. “I suppose I will go with you, Tengulbur.”
“I will take that as a yes. Your resounding commitment to my adventure warms the cockles of my heart.”
I fear some people may see me as overly cautious, or not as an enthusiastic historian and archeologist. But I am! I love learning and documenting things I as discover them. It brings me great pleasure to sit and write in my little leather-bound books and sketch Sacred Wells, or whatever else I might run into. It’s just that at the moment my heart is elsewhere.
I did not want to leave Talarja so soon after getting back. We have just been parted for a whole month, and now I am being asked to part with her for three more weeks. We have only had a few uninterrupted months together to enjoy married life. Before that I was parted from her for a year. That is why I was so surprised that Talarja did not put up a fuse over my leaving as I expected. There was no pleading, no tears, no cold shoulders.
The fact that she did not protest in the least about my going has bothered me. I understand her wanting to support me in my endeavors, but to not even once say something about how much she would miss me, and how she would prefer I stay but understood that I needed to go, was unusual. Last time I left she at least protested some. A man wants to know he will be missed by the love of his life.
Her comments about lining the nest, or how she would need me in coming months, has me thinking that she is with child. But surely Talarja would have told me that. She would not keep something like that from me. Unless she knew I would not go if I knew, and she thought it better I go and make a livelihood doing what I’m good at, discovering things and documenting them. Afterall, that is the reason I came out here in the first place. She would have been right in thinking I would not go. I would have stayed to take care of her, though I do not know how much help I can be in these matters.
Mother always had her mother and servants to help care for her, and I cannot clearly remember seeing Father do anything to help Mother, though I am sure he did. But these are things I never thought to ask him about, because being a father has always been something so far off in the future, it never occurred to me I would need to learn about them so soon.
I do find the thought of being a father overwhelming. I know very little of caring for infants, and the small things really frighten me. They are so delicate. I would never hold any of my sisters until they were well over a year.
I also know very little about birthing them. I have heard that it is very painful. I have also heard stories of women dying while giving birth. Perhaps if Talarja is with child I should write to my mother or hers to come. Though I do not relish the idea of her mother being pinned up with us in our small house for several months to help. It sends a chill down my spine just thinking about it.
Perhaps I am a poor husband for not having outright asked her about it. Perhaps I should have stayed, even if I only have a suspicion about it. Perhaps I did not ask because I wanted to go.
There is one other reason I can think of as to why she would have been so eager for my leaving again so soon. It has been a fear that has plagued me ever since I first left for Cheykor, leaving my bride behind for what turned into a year. But I dare not write it down and chide myself for even letting the thought enter my mind.
….
A little about the tower we are traveling to.
In the early days of the Third Nalshbori War, a servant of King Orril, skilled in ancient lore and the use of the runes, traveled to the Hiksuyara Peiruar [The Fir Wood] and built a strong fortress, intending to wield the power of the wood in the war against the Nalshbori which were at that time streaming across the Cheyth in great numbers. But he was overmatched by the power which dwelt in the wood, it is said, and in after days things of evil crept in and dwelt there. These were all driven out, or so it is believed, by the Wayateth during the final days of that war, and since then no man has passed beneath its gate of ancient stone and returned to tell of what he saw.
….
The strangest thing has just occurred. We saw a figure standing off the side of the road. It was Tengulbur, but old Tengulbur. Missing his left hand. Young Tengulbur, our Tengulbur did not seem to be bothered in the least by this and talked with his older self. We were warned to turn back now. Then he said to "drink the cup to the bottom, but do not ring the bell". He then took hold of young Tengulbur and they merged into each other and disappeared! We are rather worried now, and the tales of this forest we have heard hold more weight.
…
After eight days of travel, we have just arrived at the tower! I am overjoyed at what I have discover to the point that I cannot help but write it down.
Upon arriving we discovered a silent and empty courtyard. Too silent if you ask me. There is no chirping of birds, no rustle of leaves. The drawbridge to the tower being down, we crossed over the moat surrounding the tower safely.
I have just examined the foundation of the building. That stones are much too large to be of Amborian construction and are ancient. At first I thought them to be from the First Eon Noe-Trian revivalist work, but on closer examination I realized they are not imitation work of the ancient Starland, but the real thing! I cannot wait to make a sketch and examine the rest of the tower. Who needs Tengulbur’s treasure when there is such a wealth of knowledge about?
I cannot wait to tell Talarja all about this!
Session 31: The Anvil of Lanenomen, Pt 2
When last we left our heroes...
The players once again found themselves at the beginning of the loop, as Tengelbur stood on the battlements of his tower, his liege-men awaiting their orders. Although Tengelbur and Anaris remain in their previous positions, the other three roles of the company have changed:
The opening scenes unfolded much as before. By choosing to gain a bit of permanent shadow, Tengelbur was able to realize that his sense of deja vu was more than coincidence--he could vaguely remember the series of choices which led to his and his companions's transformation into fossilized trees. As they debated the course of action they should take this time around (they are able to confirm that the leader of the enemy army is in fact Mawish, and Tengelbur ponders attempting to forge a weapon with the Anvil of Lanenomen that will slay him), the Swan Maiden entered the Hall once again, and once again sang her song.
Seven silver maidens swam
under a gleaming moon
Upon a mere by golden sands
with lustrous pearls strewn.
They knew no bond nor love of man,
they wandered far and free
Until one day a traveler came
to the cottage by the lee.
A Deep Man came there, worn with cares,
and toil beyond his years,
And drank the silver waters sweet
and remembered not his tears.
Then as he slept the sisters stole
his heart into a shell
And kept it clasped in a beech-nut brown
at the bottom of a well.
The mortal did not tarry long
but went the way of men
And the youngest sister tarried there
and wept upon the sand.
But now the hour has come again
when the Anvil will be rung
A wounded Tree, a Burning Tow'r,
and the Deep Man's dirge is sung.
Then the blood of ancient Orusen
upon the Hill of Green
Will be avenged, and Darkness fall,
on the lands of the Stone-kings.
This time, however, the Company asked some clarifying questions (not to mention paying closer attention to the words of her song) and were able to realize that:
The players once again found themselves at the beginning of the loop, as Tengelbur stood on the battlements of his tower, his liege-men awaiting their orders. Although Tengelbur and Anaris remain in their previous positions, the other three roles of the company have changed:
- PJ is playing Anerash, the captain of Lord Tengelbur's Outlanders, and one of two men vying for the hand of the lovely Falanarai.
- Hope is playing Karalu, the senschal of the tower and another aspirant to the affections of the lady Falanarai.
- In Sophie's absence, the Loremaster (Richard) played Falanarai, sister of Tengelbur and weaver of great power.
The opening scenes unfolded much as before. By choosing to gain a bit of permanent shadow, Tengelbur was able to realize that his sense of deja vu was more than coincidence--he could vaguely remember the series of choices which led to his and his companions's transformation into fossilized trees. As they debated the course of action they should take this time around (they are able to confirm that the leader of the enemy army is in fact Mawish, and Tengelbur ponders attempting to forge a weapon with the Anvil of Lanenomen that will slay him), the Swan Maiden entered the Hall once again, and once again sang her song.
Seven silver maidens swam
under a gleaming moon
Upon a mere by golden sands
with lustrous pearls strewn.
They knew no bond nor love of man,
they wandered far and free
Until one day a traveler came
to the cottage by the lee.
A Deep Man came there, worn with cares,
and toil beyond his years,
And drank the silver waters sweet
and remembered not his tears.
Then as he slept the sisters stole
his heart into a shell
And kept it clasped in a beech-nut brown
at the bottom of a well.
The mortal did not tarry long
but went the way of men
And the youngest sister tarried there
and wept upon the sand.
But now the hour has come again
when the Anvil will be rung
A wounded Tree, a Burning Tow'r,
and the Deep Man's dirge is sung.
Then the blood of ancient Orusen
upon the Hill of Green
Will be avenged, and Darkness fall,
on the lands of the Stone-kings.
This time, however, the Company asked some clarifying questions (not to mention paying closer attention to the words of her song) and were able to realize that:
- The "sword that has never been forged" in some way refers to Tengelbur.
- The "song that has never been written" refers in some way to Anaris.
- Based on the words of the Swan Maiden, it seems the Anvil must be run at the moment of the Tree's wounding and of the Tower's burning.
- The words which came from Orusen seem to indicate that he is somehow outside of the loop, aware that the Company are repeating themselves.
The plan agreed upon, the Company began making their various preparations:
- Secretly and at the behest of her brother, Falanarai undertook to post guards at the entrances to the secret passage which led directly into Lord Tengelbur's bedchamber, making plans--should everything go wrong--to have the Anvil removed from the Tower before it fell.
- Tengelbur orders the Anvil to be brought down from the top of the Tower and set up in the great hall before the Tree--which is already growing swiftly. He has it set with the side depicting the Southern Sky full of stars facing up.
- Arguing over the Lady Falanarai, the lords Keralu and Anerash make a bet: whoever slays the most of the Horned Things in the coming battle will win the honor of being able to court her hand. The Lord Anerash (who will be played by Sophie next time, in PJ's absence) rides out proudly from the walls to meet the vanguard of Mawish.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Session 30: The Anvil of Lanenomen, Pt 1
It is a life-age of the world since Lanenomen came up out of the West with the Treiana Remnant, and built his cities beside the crystal waters of the Great Inland Sea. For a thousand years and more the glory and memory of ancient Feihoth has been preserved in memory--in the works of the hands and the deeds of valor of the folk of the Seven Cities. During that time, the remnant of Starland has slowly become one in culture and blood with the folk of Orusena, though at least in name the two peoples still keep their own chieftains and customs. But there are many places, such as the Pleasant Isle, and the wide plains and fir woods of the North, where a people have arisen who count as kin both the folk of Wood and Starland, and keep alive the memory of both Feihoth of Old and the mighty arm of Orusena, who brought his people up from the wide and desolate South, seeking freedom from the hosts of Vishnarr. The Inyalia-i-parujar, the Tower of the Wood, is one such place. Its lord is Tengelbur, tall and far-sighted and mighty among the children of Starland, eldest among the third generation of those who followed the banner of Wide-Fame Lanenomen.
But rumor of war and treachery has broken at last the long peace of the Great Inland Sea, which has not known war since Gasojean was slain, and the Kodihan driven from the slopes of the Holy Hill. Rumors have come to Inyalia-i-parujar of treachery and burning, and of a watch which slept in the Hills of Jade until it was too late. Orkon, the most ancient foe of Lanenomen, was stirring in the world again, and war was kindled. Then taking thought for the defense of the passage of the northern shore, Lord Tengelbur set all things in readiness, and set a watch upon the eastern rode, so that the servants of Orkon might not pass that way for fear of envenomed darts or sudden assault by the swift horsemen of the Treianraal. In that day certain treasures were sent out of the Jade Hills to Tengelbur for safe-keeping, and he was known in those lands as Lord Tengelbur i-Kanabara, that is, Of the Road.
In those days was Anaris the Fair of Lanenkarr sent to Inyalia-i-parujar bearing in her possession the greatest treasure of the Treian people, save one only. And the treasure was hid within the Tower, but Anaris remained there with Tengelbur, for she was a high lady of the Treianraal, and much learned in lore, but she cared not for the warfare of the Cities, and all deeds of violence cast a dark shadow over her heart. And it was hoped that the treasure which she brought there would protect Inyalia-i-parujar for a time and a season, and strengthen it against assault. And she became fast in friendship with Falānarai the sister of Lord Tengelbur, who was a spinner and weaver of great renown. She was exceeding fair, though whether her heart was given to any her brother could not guess. For there were two who loved her--Karalu, the seneschal of the Tower, and Anerash, the captain of Tengelbur's outriders, whose task it was to waylay the columns of Orkon whenever they were sent probing into the West. But at last there came a day when Anerash returned, bearing word that a far greater host than they could oppose was now swarming towards the passage of the Cheyth, and that within seven nights the Inyalia-i-parujar would be besieged. Then Tengelbur looked Eastward, and with the far sight of the men of Feihoth, he discerned the burning of the Hills of Jade, and he knew that the end was upon him...
Lord Tengelbur--the Horned Things will be at your gate ere the sun again rises. What are your orders?
---
When last we left our heroes...
Finding themselves in another time, another place, the players struggled to come to grips with who they were now:
- Ben is playing a past (or possibly future?) version of Tengelbur, now a Treian lord in the days before the Dark Times.
- Arthur is playing a past (or possibly future?) version of Anaris, now a high lady and loremaster of the Treians.
Those whose characters had drunk the wine in the previous session found themselves playing new characters:
- Hope is playing Anerash, the captain of Lord Tengelbur's Outlanders, and one of two men vying for the hand of the lovely Falanarai.
- PJ is playing Karalu, the senschal of the tower and another aspirant to the affections of the lady Falanarai.
- Sophie is playing Falanarai, sister of Tengelbur and weaver of great power.
After taking some time to assess the situation (they are several weeks from any help, the forces of the Arjagbori are closing in in great numbers upon the Tower, and they can by no means allow the treasure which the Lady Anaris brought to the tower to fall into the hands of the Enemy), Lord Tengelbur summoned a council.
At this council, various strategies were discussed for dealing with the invaders. Failure to stop them here would almost certainly mean they would descend upon the Amborian Wood, leaving the more primitive Sothbori open to their ravages. On the other hand, the Tower could not withstand a determined siege for more than a month, even should the forces of the enemy--led, it is rumored, by a fallen Star--find no way to breach the Tower's defenses. During this council, it was revealed that the treasure which the Lady Anaris brought to the Tower is the Anvil of Lanenomen itself, a dangerous artifact which--it is rumored--has turned some to stone for merely looking upon it for too long. It has not been used, so the legends say, since Lanenomen himself forged his great spear.
In the midst of this council, the doors of the great hall blew open with a sudden gust of wind, and a white swan flew in through the doorway bearing a bright beech-nut in her beak. Planting it in the flagstones in the middle of the Hall, she transformed before their eyes into a beautiful woman clad only in white feathers. Speaking a cryptic prophecy, alluding to a Deep Man who long ago had come to her and fallen into forgetfulness, and whose soul she had stolen and hidden within a beech-nut, and warning Tengelbur that the time would soon come to let the Anvil ring, she turned and flew away again.
At last, the council made its decision: Anerash (eager to show his valor in contrast to Karalu's) would ride out to scout out the movements of the enemy; Karalu would prepare the fortress in readiness; Falanarai would retire to her chambers to begin weaving a tapestry which would, hopefully, bend fate in their favor; and Anaris and Tengelbur would ascend to the top of the Tower with the Anvil where Tengelbur would, hopefully, forge a new blade which might be capable of slaying the commander of the enemy forces.
Cautiously examining the anvil on the roof of the tower, Tengelbur and Anaris found that each side portrayed a different starscape:
- The Southern Sky, full of stars.
- The Southern Sky, as men know it today (that is, largely void of stars).
- The Western Sky, with Reinfal, the Green Lady of the sky still gleaming in her place (and not having descended to found the folk of Starland).
- The Eastern Sky, with many stars and constellations missing in the Southeastern quadrant.
- The Northern Sky, with Raos, the Polestar absent, and many stars besides.
- The Northern Sky, with Raos the Polestar gleaming, as men know it today.
As in the wood near the Tower, Anerash and his men engaged the enemy, Tengelbur chose the side of the anvil portraying Reinfal still in the sky, and struck the anvil in his forging. High upon the tower, Tengelbur Anaris began to transform, first into trees and then into stone, as the same fate befell Falanarai at her loom, Anerash and his men in the wood, and Karalu where he stood at watch upon the wall. Then...
The world seems to drop away from each of you, as you wander through the waste places of the world, hemmed between darkness and strange stars. You walk alone and unclothed for time out of mind until slowly, gradually, and then all at once, you find yourself in your body, the memories of your past life a shadow--and for some of you, only the shadow of a shadow.
Tengelbur, you adjust the chinstrap of your plumed helm as you stand at the top of the tower, overlooking the vast forest. In the distance--hundreds of leagues away--you can see, with the long sight of the men of Starland, the smoke rising from the ruin of the Seven Cities of Lanenomen. One of your aids appears at the top of the tower beside you, kneeling as he salutes.
"Lord Tengelbur... The Horned Things are coming. What are your orders?"
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Session 29: The Bell of Time
When last we left our heroes... A few days into the first week of Summer, the Company was rested up from their previous trip, and their cash flow problems had not really been resolved. Accordingly, Tengelbur decided to ask around town hoping to find some information about the Subijar-i-Yalir, the Sorcerer's Tower. According to local lore and legend,
In the meantime, Tanurendal, Reiana, and Vanera all showed up (one by one) at the Norinlakor to speak with the scholar Palfeinan. Due to Palfienan's idiosyncratic filing system (which seems to be based on the stellar calendar, but moves at a different pace than time in the real world), they will all have to wait some time for their answers:
In the early days of the Third Nalshbori War, a servant of King Orril, skilled in ancient lore and the use of the runes, traveled to the Hiksuyara Peiruar [The Fir Wood] and built a strong fortress, intending to wield the power of the wood in the war against the Nalshbori which were at that time streaming across the Cheyth in great numbers. But he was overmatched by the power which dwelt in the wood, it is said, and in after days things of evil crept in and dwelt there. These were all driven out, or so it is believed, by the Wayateth during the final days of that war, and since then no man has passed beneath its gate of ancient stone and returned to tell of what he saw.Two roast ducks and a large quantity of tea purchased at the Cracked Beaker was enough to get the information he was looking for. A talk with a plump, chatty woman by the name of Vitherai (no relation to the Amber Cutter) got him at least one local legend: apparently it is not at all uncommon for locals who have lost someone--a parent, a spouse, a child, or some other loved one--to meet with them again on the borders of the Wood. Deciding that this was enough to go on and that where there was that kind of magic there was bound to be treasure, Tengelbur promptly set about recruiting the rest of his friends for another foray into the unknown. Anaris (who had finally caught up with the rest of the party as Arthur rejoins us) was already in the Cracked Beaker and was the easiest to convince, especially since she was forced to flee the Amborian Wood after being pursued by agents from Sencankarr--apparently not everyone there genuinely believes the party to be dead.
In the meantime, Tanurendal, Reiana, and Vanera all showed up (one by one) at the Norinlakor to speak with the scholar Palfeinan. Due to Palfienan's idiosyncratic filing system (which seems to be based on the stellar calendar, but moves at a different pace than time in the real world), they will all have to wait some time for their answers:
- Tanurendal was looking for information about the Nelkenganar and was instructed (using very small words; Palfeinan seems to be laboring under the notion that Tanurendal is illiterate) to return in 2 weeks time.
- Reiana was looking for more information about the history and function of the magical bow she'd found at the bottom of the sea during the previous adventure. She was instructed to return in three months' time--at the end of Summer--when Palfeinan would be able to access the books necessary to read the Kothorlas script on the bow.
- Vanera was interested in some advice about how best to sell the small book--the description and drawings of the shrine he'd made on Artana's island. After giving him some advice concerning it, Palfeinan offered to store it in the Norinlakor, and instructed him to return in eight days, when the arrangement of the library would be more aligned to receive the new tome.
Tengelbur and Anaris later met up with Vanera at his home, where Vanera reluctantly agreed (at the urging of his wife, who was trying to be supportive) to go on yet another treasure hunt to ancient and magical ruins--basically the most reluctant historian and archaeologist of all time. Tanurendal agreed as well but had some errands to run first, so the Company agreed to head out the next day.
Tanurendal went first to the shop of Telini the Fletcher, the beautiful redhead who seems to have stolen his heart. To his dismay, he found several other local hunters already there, each vying for her affections. Tanurendal gave her the shells he had brought back from the island and purchased an extremely large quantities of arrows, trying to inquire as to whether or not she knew of anyone who might have come from Sencankarr looking for the Company. Telini said--enigmatically, but truthfully--that she "couldn't say she did." Heading from there to the farm of Onerama the Bald, Tanurendal sought an audience with the local strongman--one which he was granted, being ushered into Onerama's bedchamber where he was greeted by the sight of the man's bulky, powerful frame in a huge marble bath. Explaining something of the Company's situation and the need to know if anyone had come from Sencankarr looking for them, Tanurendal asked for Onerama's help. Onerama (while making it very clear that he was entirely comfortable in the nude) agreed, on the condition that Tanurendal and his friend would arrange a meeting with Sir Ralus, commander of the border forts--it seems Onerama has been trying to make this meeting happen for some time, but Sir Ralus has been unwilling to give the strongman the time of day.
Agreeing to this, Tanurendal returned to town, and the Company made plans to set out on the eight-day journey for the ruined tower. Traveling West along the King's Road, they turned northward at the village of Kor-Gilin (where Tengelbur bought everyone a round of the village's famous grain spirit) and traveled, by an ancient and ruined roadway, towards the Fir Wood.
It was rounding a turn of the old road, where it bent around a huge mound raised within the midst of the wood, that they encountered Tengelbur--that is, a second, older Tengelbur, his face heavily lined with age, his hair streaked with grey--and first and foremost, missing his left hand. The company was immediately puzzled and alarmed; all it seems except for Tengelbur, who met his altered self with a joke and a laugh, offering to let him touch his still-intact left hand. The older Tengelbur warned the Company to "drink the cup to the bottom, but do not ring the bell" and then stepped forward into Tengelbur, and both of them vanished from sight.
Now missing a member of their Company, the heroes decided to press forward, not knowing exactly what else to do. On the eighth day they arrived at the tower, situated as it was upon an island in the middle of a moat around which ancient trees had crowded long ago. The drawbridge was down, the gate was open, and the courtyard completely empty. Before entering the tower itself, the heroes decided to explore the courtyard to make sure it wasn't a trap. They found it silent, and empty--too silent and too empty, for there was no sign of man or beast, or even so much as a bird's nest, either within or without the courtyard. Vanera did notice, however, that the foundation stones of the tower--which was too large to be of normal Amborian construction--were ancient. At first he mistook them for late First Eon Neo-Treian revivalist work, but a second, closer examination showed that they were not an imitation of the work of ancient Starland, but in fact the genuine thing.
Entering the tower, the company was confronted by a massive oak tree, some twelve feet or more in diameter, with branches pushing upward and outward, as though attempting to escape the tower's confinement. The tree was pierced, through and through, by a massive black spear, itself some eighteen inches in diameter and nearly thirty feet long. From the huge gaping wound in the bole, black sap was dripping hot onto the flagstones. Wondering if the sap would melt steel, Tanurendal dipped his dagger in it--and was stunned and horrified to see actual petrification spreading over the weapon and upward towards his hand. He dropped it just in time as the dagger turned completely to stone, melding with the flagstones on the floor.
Moving closer, Vanera could see that the outer branches of the tree were frozen in a state of half-petrification, though there was no doubt that the trunk was still a living tree. As he moved in a moaning, as of wind whipping through stones, filled the hall, and Vanera seemed to hear a voice in the wind:
Sing to me the song which has never been written.
Bring to me the sword which has never been forged.
Break three hearts but no more.
Break three hearts but no more.
Go, now. There is not much time.
Heading up the stairs into the upper room of the tower, the company found a small garret in which several tapestries were hung, and in which was sat a table with five ornately carved wooden chairs. On the table was a silver bell and hammer, and set before each chair was a silver goblet full of wine. And slumped over, sleeping in one of the chairs, was Tengelbur.
As Tengelbur awoke, Vanera and Reiana examined the tapestries. They depicted the rise and fall of seven cities set upon seven hilltops--and though the style of the art and iconography was foreign to the eyes of the companions, Vanera was able to identify the cities as the Seven Cities of Lanenomen which were built in the Hills of Jade in the days before Orkon's shadow fell upon them, and they became the Black Hills and the Mines of Torment. Meanwhile, Anaris found the following inscription written in ancient Treian around the edges of the table:
Ring the Bell, or drain the Silver cups:
But if you drink, drain it to the dregs.
The Wine is the heady taste of another's love,
But the Bell will show the hour of your death.
Choose, each--stolen love, or unveiled dread
When fickle Time removes its funeral shroud
Which covers mighty kings and cities dead
And turns to dust the Empires of the proud.
Drink the cup, or ring the bell of Time--
Else moulder here amid the ruin and grime.
This began a long debate between the members of the Company (including Tengelbur who was awake by now, but didn't feel like getting up out of the chair) about whether they should drink the cup (as the aged Tengelbur had instructed), or ring the bell, or do some third option. After a few good Riddle rolls for clues they established that, at the very least:
- Each person would have to choose individually for themselves whether to ring the bell or drain a cup
- The inscription seems to imply that they cannot leave here without doing one or the other
- The heroes suspected strongly that the instructions Vanera heard earlier, to "break three hearts and no more" correspond in some way to drinking the cup instead of ringing the bell
One by one, they made their choice. Reiana was the first to drink the cup, hoping that in so doing she would prevent Vanera (the only married man among them) from having to do so, and she fell asleep in one of the chairs.
Tengelbur attempted to drain a cup as well, but fate was stronger that day. In reaching for the cup, his left hand brushed the hammer and rang the bell, and he fell back in his chair, asleep.
Anaris decided to follow Tengelbur and rang the bell, falling asleep in her chair.
This left Vanera and Tanurendal. Against Vanera's inclinations, both of them drank from their cups since they had been instructed to "break three hearts and no more," and believed that this was in some way related to the cups being "the heady taste of another's love." So they drank, and fell into a deep and forgetful sleep...
---
The world seems to drop away from each of you, as you wander through the waste places of the world, hemmed between darkness and strange stars. You walk alone and unclothed for time out of mind until slowly, gradually, and then all at once, you find yourself in your body, the memories of your past life a shadow--and for some of you, only the shadow of a shadow.
Tengelbur, you adjust the chinstrap of your plumed helm as you stand at the top of the tower, overlooking the vast forest. In the distance--hundreds of leagues away--you can see, with the long sight of the men of Starland, the smoke rising from the ruin of the Seven Cities of Lanenomen. One of your aids appears at the top of the tower beside you, kneeling as he salutes.
"Lord Tengelbur... The Horned Things are coming. What are your orders?"
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Session 28: Hook, Line, and Sinker
When last we left our heroes... While the Company had been up on the rock the previous day, Setela the Deep Man had rigged up the ship for their treasure-diving expedition. The next morning the Company went out onto the water, near the edge of (but not actually into) the Poisoned Tide. While Vanera worked some more on his map, Tengelbur and Tanurendal agreed to man the ropes while Setela and Reiana dove for treasure. The ivory would be tied to weighted lines attached to pulleys on the deck of the ship, and Tengelbur and Tanurendal would then haul the treasure up.
Swimming down into the murky depths of the water, Setela and Reiana approached the shipwreck. Reiana looked around for danger, but--as it happened--was not aware of her real peril until it was almost too late. Prying open the hatch to the hold of the sunken vessel, the two of them brought out what treasure they could--Setela retrieving a great ivory tusk, while Reiana, grabbing in the dark, found a strange bow of Kothorian craftsmanship.
Swimming back out with their loot, Reiana was suddenly aware of the Many Eyed Thing (the Nelkenganar they had encountered before) rushing towards them through the water. There was a moment of confusion in the murky depths, followed by panic, as Reiana tried to swim toward the surface, only to find that Setela had tied the rope around her waist (which had been around his own waist as well) to the wreckage of the ship, leaving her as bait for the creature. She managed to cut herself free while fending the monster off, outswimming it as she raced for the surface.
In the meantime, Tanurendal had noticed the lights in the depths of the water and, rightly recognizing the tell-tale signs of the creature that had attacked them at the mouth of the Cheyth, began (with the help of Vanera) trying to get off his armor in order to dive in and help Reiana. Tengelbur, meanwhile, climbed to the top of the mast with two harpoons in hand, hoping to get a vantage on the creature should it surface. Just as Tanurendal got his armor off and dived into the water, Setela pulled himself up onto the deck of the ship, striking Vanera from behind and knocking him into the water as well. As a stunned Vanera thrashed in the water (successfully redirection the attention of the monster from Reiana), Tengelbur leaped from the mast, thudding unceremoniously into the deck and missing the Deep Man.
"Please understand, this isn't personal. Your lives are the price for my freedom," the Deep Man said, snatching up a harpoon and lunging at Tengelbur.
[The implication seems to have been that Setela intended to sacrifice the Company to the Many Eyed Thing as a way of placating it and possibly lifting the curse upon himself. How he attracted its attention originally and whether or not his curse could have been lifted in this way, the Company may never know...]
"Please understand this is intensely personal," Tengelbur said, parrying the blow and driving his own blade six inches into the Deep Man's gut. A couple of more blows were exchanged before Tengelbur disemboweled the Deep Man and sent his body pitching over the side. The Nelkenganar left off of trying to eat Vanera (who was barely conscious at this point) and the last the Company saw of it was its two mouths fighting over Setela's body, as it tore the Deep Man apart. The glowing form of the Many Eyed Thing receded into the depths, presumably taking up residence in the wreckage of the ivory ship once again.
The Company lost no time in returning to shore. Once there, there was a brief debate about whether or not they should attempt to recover the ivory again. Although they may return to do so in the future, for the moment they seem to have decided that this is probably beyond their current capability. The Company spent the next sixteen days on the island, waiting for the next holy day (the Feast of Malfaloth) when the holy water flowing down out of the shrine would swell and roll back the Poisoned Tide enough for them to return to Cheykor. During this time, the Company took their Spring fellowship phase:
Swimming down into the murky depths of the water, Setela and Reiana approached the shipwreck. Reiana looked around for danger, but--as it happened--was not aware of her real peril until it was almost too late. Prying open the hatch to the hold of the sunken vessel, the two of them brought out what treasure they could--Setela retrieving a great ivory tusk, while Reiana, grabbing in the dark, found a strange bow of Kothorian craftsmanship.
Swimming back out with their loot, Reiana was suddenly aware of the Many Eyed Thing (the Nelkenganar they had encountered before) rushing towards them through the water. There was a moment of confusion in the murky depths, followed by panic, as Reiana tried to swim toward the surface, only to find that Setela had tied the rope around her waist (which had been around his own waist as well) to the wreckage of the ship, leaving her as bait for the creature. She managed to cut herself free while fending the monster off, outswimming it as she raced for the surface.
In the meantime, Tanurendal had noticed the lights in the depths of the water and, rightly recognizing the tell-tale signs of the creature that had attacked them at the mouth of the Cheyth, began (with the help of Vanera) trying to get off his armor in order to dive in and help Reiana. Tengelbur, meanwhile, climbed to the top of the mast with two harpoons in hand, hoping to get a vantage on the creature should it surface. Just as Tanurendal got his armor off and dived into the water, Setela pulled himself up onto the deck of the ship, striking Vanera from behind and knocking him into the water as well. As a stunned Vanera thrashed in the water (successfully redirection the attention of the monster from Reiana), Tengelbur leaped from the mast, thudding unceremoniously into the deck and missing the Deep Man.
"Please understand, this isn't personal. Your lives are the price for my freedom," the Deep Man said, snatching up a harpoon and lunging at Tengelbur.
[The implication seems to have been that Setela intended to sacrifice the Company to the Many Eyed Thing as a way of placating it and possibly lifting the curse upon himself. How he attracted its attention originally and whether or not his curse could have been lifted in this way, the Company may never know...]
"Please understand this is intensely personal," Tengelbur said, parrying the blow and driving his own blade six inches into the Deep Man's gut. A couple of more blows were exchanged before Tengelbur disemboweled the Deep Man and sent his body pitching over the side. The Nelkenganar left off of trying to eat Vanera (who was barely conscious at this point) and the last the Company saw of it was its two mouths fighting over Setela's body, as it tore the Deep Man apart. The glowing form of the Many Eyed Thing receded into the depths, presumably taking up residence in the wreckage of the ivory ship once again.
The Company lost no time in returning to shore. Once there, there was a brief debate about whether or not they should attempt to recover the ivory again. Although they may return to do so in the future, for the moment they seem to have decided that this is probably beyond their current capability. The Company spent the next sixteen days on the island, waiting for the next holy day (the Feast of Malfaloth) when the holy water flowing down out of the shrine would swell and roll back the Poisoned Tide enough for them to return to Cheykor. During this time, the Company took their Spring fellowship phase:
- Tanurendal explored the island, finding more of the purple shellfish the hermitess had been weaving. Brought back to civilization, the shells he was able to collect should be worth 2 Treasure.
- Tengelbur tried (to no avail) to clear his shadow via whittling. He appears to have consoled himself by taking possession of Setela's ship, which he has renamed The Venture Capitalism.
- Vanera spent his time making detailed drawings and writing detailed descriptions of the ancient shrine at the top of the island. With the reliefs and inscriptions he was able to detail in this painstaking work, the resulting book--if properly compiled and bound when next Vanera has access to a library--could be sold to one of the great scriptoriums for the hefty sum of 6 Treasure.
- Reiana spent her time crafting a new sheath and grip for her dagger, the addition of which will grant it the keen trait.
On the morning of the Feast of Malfaloth, the waters swelled as Artana, the Hermitess, had promised, and the Company was able to leave the island (now called, for the sake of record, Artana's Isle, unless the Company has something else they would like to name it) and sailed back to Cheykor. Arriving on the eve of early Summer, the company found the village bustling with activity as that year's trade and amber season was now in full swing. Among those swelling the population of the village, they met up with Anaris, who has been off having adventures of her own...
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Session 27: The Hermit
When last we left our heroes...
As the battle ended, Reiana interrogated Setela regarding the wraiths. He admitted that they were the same sort of creature who had taken his companions and that, in fact, his ship had foundered in the Poisoned Tide and been destroyed as a result--though he had no idea as to whether or not the wraiths they had encountered were in fact his old shipmates. He assured the Company, however, that once they got to the Island they would be safe--that there was something holy on or about the island which would hold back both the Poisoned Tides and the Wraiths until the evil waters receded enough to sail out again.
It took two more days of slaving away at clearing the weeds and moving the ship forward, inch by inch, through the Poisoned Tide, before the Company at last reached a wide circle of clean waters around the island, and finally made it to shore. The "island" as it happened was little more than a barren rock of granite rising up out of the Sea like the tip of a great finger. From the shore they sighted some ruins at the top of the island, as well some of the tough red-and-green scrub weeds which grow among the rocks. Setela assured them all that they would be safe here on the beach, but warned them against going up into the island, warning them that there was something dwelling on the island which, although it would repel the Tide, was equally dangerous to the heroes.
Vanera began some efforts to map the Island (in case they ever wanted to know where it was in the future), while Setela began preparing to dive and retrieve the ivory. Reiana and the others decided (over Setela's objections) that they were not going to sit on a beach without knowing what else lay in the island, and began the trek up to the heights of the rock, to get a better idea of just where it was they would be spending the next few days, or even weeks. It took them more than an hour to make the climb. At the top of the Island they found the ruins of an ancient Shrine, covered in moss, but (according to Vanera) still bearing writings and iconography indicating construction at the beginning of the Second Eon, and a dedication to the monarchs Fanhal I and Thoranrai the Fair. Beside the ruined shrine there was a small hut, which seemed recently occupied, though its owner was for the moment absent.
Deducing that the shrine, and the water flowing from it, was probably the source of the holiness which kept back the Poisoned Tide, the Company decided that as an act of gratitude for being saved from the evil waters, they should do what they could to clean up the ruined shrine and sing a hymn of gratitude to Nankeinela. While in the process of doing this, they were interrupted by the hut-dweller: a weathered, aging hermitess dressed in sealskins, with seashells of dark purple strung over her shoulders.
As the others finished the work of trying to clean and unblock the entrance to the Shrine, Reiana interviewed the hermitess, who--although very reticent to share anything about herself--revealed the following over the course of their long conversation:
As the battle ended, Reiana interrogated Setela regarding the wraiths. He admitted that they were the same sort of creature who had taken his companions and that, in fact, his ship had foundered in the Poisoned Tide and been destroyed as a result--though he had no idea as to whether or not the wraiths they had encountered were in fact his old shipmates. He assured the Company, however, that once they got to the Island they would be safe--that there was something holy on or about the island which would hold back both the Poisoned Tides and the Wraiths until the evil waters receded enough to sail out again.
It took two more days of slaving away at clearing the weeds and moving the ship forward, inch by inch, through the Poisoned Tide, before the Company at last reached a wide circle of clean waters around the island, and finally made it to shore. The "island" as it happened was little more than a barren rock of granite rising up out of the Sea like the tip of a great finger. From the shore they sighted some ruins at the top of the island, as well some of the tough red-and-green scrub weeds which grow among the rocks. Setela assured them all that they would be safe here on the beach, but warned them against going up into the island, warning them that there was something dwelling on the island which, although it would repel the Tide, was equally dangerous to the heroes.
Vanera began some efforts to map the Island (in case they ever wanted to know where it was in the future), while Setela began preparing to dive and retrieve the ivory. Reiana and the others decided (over Setela's objections) that they were not going to sit on a beach without knowing what else lay in the island, and began the trek up to the heights of the rock, to get a better idea of just where it was they would be spending the next few days, or even weeks. It took them more than an hour to make the climb. At the top of the Island they found the ruins of an ancient Shrine, covered in moss, but (according to Vanera) still bearing writings and iconography indicating construction at the beginning of the Second Eon, and a dedication to the monarchs Fanhal I and Thoranrai the Fair. Beside the ruined shrine there was a small hut, which seemed recently occupied, though its owner was for the moment absent.
Deducing that the shrine, and the water flowing from it, was probably the source of the holiness which kept back the Poisoned Tide, the Company decided that as an act of gratitude for being saved from the evil waters, they should do what they could to clean up the ruined shrine and sing a hymn of gratitude to Nankeinela. While in the process of doing this, they were interrupted by the hut-dweller: a weathered, aging hermitess dressed in sealskins, with seashells of dark purple strung over her shoulders.
As the others finished the work of trying to clean and unblock the entrance to the Shrine, Reiana interviewed the hermitess, who--although very reticent to share anything about herself--revealed the following over the course of their long conversation:
- She had once been a Well Priestess, before fleeing to the island for reasons unspecified
- She was most resistant to the idea, put forward by Reiana, that a Well Priestess should be sent to the island from the mainland; the Shrine offers enough protection that she is able to dwell on the island in relative peace and safety--if people come to the island she will be forced to leave, and it may be difficult to find another such place.
- The Hermitess seems to have been gathering the dark purple shells from somewhere, which she has been slowly weaving into a garment of some sort over the course of many years.
- The man with whom the Company is traveling (Setela) has a curse on him--something which has marked him for its own, which is why the Wraiths refused to touch him, and yet everything on their journey has gone about as badly as it possibly could. She warns the Company against the dangers of traveling with him for much longer
- Though the Shrine has been inactive for centuries, the site is so holy that when Holy Days come (the next one is several weeks away), water flows from the Shrine as though the Ritual of Cleansing had been performed there, and cleanse the Sea for many miles round. If the Company waits for the next Holy Day, they may be able to leave the island in safety.
Returning to the beach, the Company asked Setela about his curse and argued with him about the hermitess and the shrine at the top of the island. Ultimately, though, it was agreed that they'd gone too far to turn back now, and the Company hoped to still get enough ivory to make the trip worthwhile. Coming up with a plan--or at least an order of operations--they prepared to make their first dive...
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Session 26: The Faceless Ones
When last we left our heroes... After their brief brush with terror and death, the Company resumed their voyage, sailing for ten more days with only one interruption (a brush with a Nalshbori pirate vessel which they managed to outrun) before they began to approach the little archipelago of dangerous rocks and low-tide islands north of the Red Isle. It was on the eleventh day that the Company began to notice something was wrong (despite the insistence of their guide, Setela, that all was well): they awoke to find the ship caught in a mass of noxious-smelling seaweed spreading hundreds of yards in each direction. They spent most of that day using oars and boarding pikes to clear a path for the ship as it slowly trudged through the weeds.
The next day was worse. The leafy fingers continued to grow around them, and it took constant work to keep the ship from becoming ensnared. The water was dark and evil-smelling, and now and then bloated fish could be seen, swimming unusually close to the surface in crazy patterns, as if trying to find their way in the murk. The Company actually tried the strategy of lowering Tanurendal on a rope in hopes that he could cut a better path through the weed with his sword, but this only served to expose him even faster to the hallucinogenic effects of the gas given off by the foul bladders as they popped.
Racking his memory for some memory of this phenomena, Vanera was able to identify the patch of weeds and evil water as a "Poisoned Tide," a long tendril of tainted water flowing out of the black Hills, which stretches sometimes as far West as even the Red Isle. He was able to recall the following verses about it from the Lay of the Red Isle, foreboding the evil which was to come:
The next day, the weeds worsened (actually creeping up onto the deck now). A fog rolled in, making navigation nearly impossible. In addition to the same work which was required to keep the deck clear, Setela was becoming more and more erratic. He sat in the prow, mostly talking to himself and looking over the side into the water. Once, when Tengelbur awoke to relieve him while he is on watch, they find him drenched and picking the weed out of his hair, as though he has just come up out of the water. However, whenever questioned about this, he would only say that they were "close" to their destination. Finally, the Company decided they had had enough, and were not even sure if they should trust him. Intimidating Setela, they forced him to tell a modified version of his story: his ship had not been lost in a storm, but rather it had been caught in one of these Poisoned Tides, the weeds of which are strong enough to pull a ship apart in the water. Setela managed to escape, explaining that there is an island nearby which the Poisoned tide will not go near. He promised that, if the Company could get the ship there, they would be safe.
By the end of that day, they were in sight of the island in question, though the thick weeds had ground their progress nearly to a halt. Despite his growing madness, Setela managed to continue to pilot the ship. That night, the ship was surrounded by a dense fog, and the mists around them consolidated into several wraith-like shapes which attacked the party. Using fire, the Company managed to drive these off--though not before Tengelbur had been knocked unconscious not once, but twice, a wraith drawing something out of his chest as Tengelbur's own face appeared to be stolen by the wraith. Each time, Tengelbur was rescued by his companions, and in the end the wraiths were all driven off. During the battle Setela had sat on the deck, hugging his knees and rocking himself, though the wraiths would not touch him, and the Company began to suspect the wraiths were the remnants of his previous sailing companions...
The next day was worse. The leafy fingers continued to grow around them, and it took constant work to keep the ship from becoming ensnared. The water was dark and evil-smelling, and now and then bloated fish could be seen, swimming unusually close to the surface in crazy patterns, as if trying to find their way in the murk. The Company actually tried the strategy of lowering Tanurendal on a rope in hopes that he could cut a better path through the weed with his sword, but this only served to expose him even faster to the hallucinogenic effects of the gas given off by the foul bladders as they popped.
Racking his memory for some memory of this phenomena, Vanera was able to identify the patch of weeds and evil water as a "Poisoned Tide," a long tendril of tainted water flowing out of the black Hills, which stretches sometimes as far West as even the Red Isle. He was able to recall the following verses about it from the Lay of the Red Isle, foreboding the evil which was to come:
The second supplicant was from the South,
Where golden sunlight bathes a ragged coast
Of many craggy islands. There the prows
Of merchant ships with spices in their holds
Go sailing on where rivers run with gold.
The sailor's face was marred by many lines
And madness lurking wild in his eyes.
"O King, may Heaven grant you length of days,
To you is given from on high to hear
The prayers of those who suffer fear or pain.
Of pain my cup is empty now, but tears
Fill it brimming daily o'er with fear.
But though I weep, my friends I may not mourn.
A curse upon the day that I was born!
"Our ship was caught in a sea of poisoned weeds
Which crept on leafy fingers up our keel.
While we lay, becalmed upon the Deep
A stream of blood-black water there congealed,
And bloated fish in crazy patterns reeled.
'Twas then a choking fog brought on the night
And cut us off from Heaven's starry light.
"Seven days we wandered on the Deep
And plied our oars; no sight of moon or star
To guide our way, till there remained no strength
Of arm to row, nor hope in any heart.
Then faces pale were leering in the dark,
And now and then a cry would rend the air
And some companion vanish unawares.
"Seven days, and only five remained
Of those of us who left the sunny South.
Seven days, or seventy, insane
We raved and gnawed our limbs with thirsty mouths.
Then the weeds were heavy on the prow;
They squeezed, and split, and pulled the vessel down
And in the poisoned tide the sailors drowned.
"I alone of all that crew survived--
Set adrift and clinging to a spar
Until from sun and salt I nearly died.
At last, with half-blind eyes and throat all parched
I washed upon a rocky island's shore.
From there, a passing merchant heard my plea,
And so I come to sing my woe to thee."
The next day, the weeds worsened (actually creeping up onto the deck now). A fog rolled in, making navigation nearly impossible. In addition to the same work which was required to keep the deck clear, Setela was becoming more and more erratic. He sat in the prow, mostly talking to himself and looking over the side into the water. Once, when Tengelbur awoke to relieve him while he is on watch, they find him drenched and picking the weed out of his hair, as though he has just come up out of the water. However, whenever questioned about this, he would only say that they were "close" to their destination. Finally, the Company decided they had had enough, and were not even sure if they should trust him. Intimidating Setela, they forced him to tell a modified version of his story: his ship had not been lost in a storm, but rather it had been caught in one of these Poisoned Tides, the weeds of which are strong enough to pull a ship apart in the water. Setela managed to escape, explaining that there is an island nearby which the Poisoned tide will not go near. He promised that, if the Company could get the ship there, they would be safe.
By the end of that day, they were in sight of the island in question, though the thick weeds had ground their progress nearly to a halt. Despite his growing madness, Setela managed to continue to pilot the ship. That night, the ship was surrounded by a dense fog, and the mists around them consolidated into several wraith-like shapes which attacked the party. Using fire, the Company managed to drive these off--though not before Tengelbur had been knocked unconscious not once, but twice, a wraith drawing something out of his chest as Tengelbur's own face appeared to be stolen by the wraith. Each time, Tengelbur was rescued by his companions, and in the end the wraiths were all driven off. During the battle Setela had sat on the deck, hugging his knees and rocking himself, though the wraiths would not touch him, and the Company began to suspect the wraiths were the remnants of his previous sailing companions...
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Session 25: That's No Moon
As you have already learned during the last year, the thaw of Spring means the folk of the North are stirring back into action after the inactivity--aside from what was necessary to survive--of the long grey winter. The heavy trade season, when ships will begin sailing up the Cheyth for furs, amber, and other products of the North's stark bounty, is just around the corner. The Cheyth itself is swollen and--as many of you well remember--more dangerous to cross now than at any other time. At this time of year, gulls, albatross, and other seabirds flock to the Isle of Pines, the cursed island in the midst of the river on which no human has set foot for two Eons of the world. Hunters, farmers, and amber-miners--all begin the return towards their respective occupations with the end of the three-day Amborian New Year celebration, at which hopes and fears for the new year were baked, brewed, eaten, toasted, and finally all washed away in a great ceremony at the Sacred Well in the midst of the village. This is about the time that your money has also begun to run out, and friends of Sir Ralus or no, you will need to find a way to support yourself in the coming months if you have not already done so...
It is late in the evening about a week after the celebration of the New Year, as you and your companions are enjoying a small but hearty meal at the Cracked Beaker, that you see a strange, almost stunted figure making its way toward your table...
The Company was approached by Setela, a deep man clad in sealskins and carrying a curious bone knife. He told them the following tale: He was a sailor, a captain's mate on a ship called the Feathered Serpent, which was carrying a great haul of ivory from the East across the Sea of Ambori to Sencankarr, where such a cargo would be worth many times its own weight in gold. The ship was blown off-course by a terrible storm, and shipwrecked in the small archipelago of islands northwest of the Red Isle. Under Amborian maritime law, as the sole survivor of the wreck he has first dibs on salvage rights. As icing on the cake (at least as far as Tengelbur and Vanera were concerned), the cargo shipment was a major financial venture by the Garini family; its loss is surely a sore blow for them, and they will be looking to recover it by any means necessary. Setela offered the Company an equal share in the treasure if they would help him recover it.
After a couple of Insight rolls to make sure they believed his story, the Company agreed to help him. While Setela went off to hire a ship, the Company made preparations to leave:
It is late in the evening about a week after the celebration of the New Year, as you and your companions are enjoying a small but hearty meal at the Cracked Beaker, that you see a strange, almost stunted figure making its way toward your table...
The Company was approached by Setela, a deep man clad in sealskins and carrying a curious bone knife. He told them the following tale: He was a sailor, a captain's mate on a ship called the Feathered Serpent, which was carrying a great haul of ivory from the East across the Sea of Ambori to Sencankarr, where such a cargo would be worth many times its own weight in gold. The ship was blown off-course by a terrible storm, and shipwrecked in the small archipelago of islands northwest of the Red Isle. Under Amborian maritime law, as the sole survivor of the wreck he has first dibs on salvage rights. As icing on the cake (at least as far as Tengelbur and Vanera were concerned), the cargo shipment was a major financial venture by the Garini family; its loss is surely a sore blow for them, and they will be looking to recover it by any means necessary. Setela offered the Company an equal share in the treasure if they would help him recover it.
After a couple of Insight rolls to make sure they believed his story, the Company agreed to help him. While Setela went off to hire a ship, the Company made preparations to leave:
- Vanera, whose new marriage was off to a somewhat rocky start due to Talarja's difficulty adjusting to life in Chekor, went home to convince his wife to let him go. After a bit of cajoling she agreed, planning to stay with Vitherai the Amber Cutter while he was away; the latter would be more than willing to put her up for a few days in exchange for some Sencankarr gossip.
- Reiana went down to the docks to see what she could find out about Setela, checking out the details of his story that they knew. As far as she could learn, he had only arrived within the last day or two, although the local sailors did seem to believe the man was unlucky in some way, which is probably why he had not been able to recruit any shipmates from among them.
- Tenurendal went to speak with Raoseina the Gate-warden, trying to see if he knew anything about Setela. Unfortunately he did not, but that did not keep Tanurendal from telling the Company's whole plan to Raoseina.
- Tengelbur went to check on Vitherai the Amber-Cutter, to see if she had seen any more Red Amber or--now that they knew its possible effects on people--if her keeping it had effected her in any way. Unfortunately, this visit--which was conducted late at night, while her husband was absent for most of the interview--gave Vitherai the impression that Tengelbur was paying certain attentions to her. Ultimately, Tengelbur was forced to leave in a somewhat embarrassed hurry when Vitherai's husband Yuralesh (whose name Tengelbur forgot in his panic) walked in on them.
The next morning, the Company got in the little fishing vessel Setela had hired and began making their way down the Cheyth River towards the Sea. [As they made their first Fatigue test, Tanurendal, the Company Lookout-man, triggered a hazard roll, initiating the following encounter...]
One night as they were nearing the open sea, Setela was taking soundings when he noticed a strange silver shimmering on the water, which did not correspond to the current shape or location of the moon. Unfortunately no one realized the danger until it was already too late; the ship was attacked by a huge, luminous, and many-eyed creature from the Deep, which Vanera later identified as a Nelkenganar, some kind of horrible combination of cicada, giant shrimp, anglerfish, and squid. The creature attacked the vessel viciously and, when Tanurendal breached its exoskeleton with a well-placed arrow, the wound cracked and opened, revealing a second and apparently autonomous maw which savagely attacked another member of the Company. Tengelbur fell, overwhelmed by the creature, but managed to stand again as Reiana let out a fierce battlecry and unfurled the standard of the Red Fang. As Setela attempted to tack into the wind and get the ship moving faster, Tanurendal sent a second arrow speeding towards the creature, but this time it ricocheted and hit Tengelbur, wounding him severely.
At the very last possible moment, Setela managed to get the ship away from the creature, leaving it behind him as the Cheyth carried the ship swiftly towards the Sea. Rushing over to her fallen comrade, Reiana managed to remove the arrow and stop the bleeding before Tengelbur died...
Monday, April 29, 2019
Session 24: Smooth Sailing
When last we left our heroes...
Now in the possession of a pants-less Tanurendal, the Company decided not to go into the harbor-town of Koruximei, which thanks to Tanurendal's antics was now on high alert. Heading some hours up the coast to a little fishing village which Tengelbur knew about, the Company made some attempts (not very elaborate, but very time-consuming) to hire a boat which would take them to rendezvous with the treasure ship they expected the Scarlet Sisterhood to be hijacking.
They were not particularly successful in this, as the only ship they could hire for the job turned out to be a leaky vessel owned by a sailor (or at least someone who claimed to be a sailor) called "Crazy Old Altyas." With a bit of convincing and for the price of their horses, the Company finally convinced him to take them as far as the harbor mouth. Arriving there some hours later, they found that it was already closed, and several of the King's Fleet were already sailing in pursuit of what they assumed to be the treasure vessel.
Realizing that they would not be able to catch up with the treasure ship, the Company convinced Crazy Old Altyas to sail them to Cheykor himself--which, somehow, he managed to do without anything more unpleasant than the normal difficulties of traveling in winter in boat that is both crowded and open, WITH a honeymooning couple who have brought too much luggage. Arriving at last in Cheykor, the Company took their Winter and Year-End fellowship phase undertakings, and are eager to see what the Spring of 452 brings...
Now in the possession of a pants-less Tanurendal, the Company decided not to go into the harbor-town of Koruximei, which thanks to Tanurendal's antics was now on high alert. Heading some hours up the coast to a little fishing village which Tengelbur knew about, the Company made some attempts (not very elaborate, but very time-consuming) to hire a boat which would take them to rendezvous with the treasure ship they expected the Scarlet Sisterhood to be hijacking.
They were not particularly successful in this, as the only ship they could hire for the job turned out to be a leaky vessel owned by a sailor (or at least someone who claimed to be a sailor) called "Crazy Old Altyas." With a bit of convincing and for the price of their horses, the Company finally convinced him to take them as far as the harbor mouth. Arriving there some hours later, they found that it was already closed, and several of the King's Fleet were already sailing in pursuit of what they assumed to be the treasure vessel.
Realizing that they would not be able to catch up with the treasure ship, the Company convinced Crazy Old Altyas to sail them to Cheykor himself--which, somehow, he managed to do without anything more unpleasant than the normal difficulties of traveling in winter in boat that is both crowded and open, WITH a honeymooning couple who have brought too much luggage. Arriving at last in Cheykor, the Company took their Winter and Year-End fellowship phase undertakings, and are eager to see what the Spring of 452 brings...
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Session 22-23: Pants & Patrimony
When last we left our heroes... Tanurendal rode down to Koruximei, hoping to find safe passage on board a ship headed back to Cheykor. Instead of looking for the Scarlet Sisterhood, who he had been told would be hijacking a large treasure ship the next day, Tanurendal hired the first fishing boat he could find, a small craft owned by three rather shifty sailors who were more than happy to take Tanurendal out on the water the moment he started showing off his money. Once they were out of the harbor, the fishermen began to ask more and more questions. They knew that there were a group of escaped murderers fleeing justice in Sencankarr. Incautiously sharing his whole story and destination with the fishermen, Tanurendal confirmed their suspicions, and they decided that his unconscious or dead body (lightened, of course, of the load of the treasure he was carrying) would probably earn them a handsome reward back at Sencankarr. They attempted to overpower him, and Tanurendal managed to escape at the last moment by diving overboard.
Tanurendal, it turns out, was not a very good swimmer by Amborian standards, and he was overwhelmed by the tides before washing up on the shore somewhere outside Koruximei. When he finally awoke, his treasure was gone--as was the scroll he had been given to carry by Norkur.
In the meantime, the rest of the Company were busy cleaning up the mess at Azure Courts. Tengelbur tried to convince his father of the recent fantastic events, only to come across as drunk and probably asking for a handout. Reiana managed to summon the last reserves of her will to smash the Red Amber Circlet, ensuring that it would not enslave another mind. Vanera had a tense exchange with his mother in law (who at least was no longer trying to kill him) before going to help his recovering wife pack for the road. Finally, he dispatched a letter to his parents and asked his new in-laws to deliver it.
Tengelbur, with his mother's help, at last managed to persuade his father of what had happened, as well as assuring himself (only after badly insulting his mother) of his patrimony. Tengelbur's parents promised to stall the authorities as long as possible, reminding the Company that they were still wanted for the murder of Governor Neratsoan. The Company tried to flee to Koruximei with as much stealth as possible, but soon found themselves pursued by town watch led by a member of the Orunev Yalteth (the Royal Guard). Flight having proved futile, the Company were forced to battle the guardsmen on the dike. They managed to subdue all but one of them without killing them--Anaris, meeting up with her friends on the road and joining the fight without knowing precisely why they were fighting, killed one of the town watch outright, leaving the Orunev Yalteth lieutenant to flee back to the city to report the news. The Company sped towards Koruximei, still hoping to be on the water before further pursuit could be mounted.
Meanwhile, Tanurendal awoke and wandered back into Koruximei, suspecting that the fishermen had taken his things and left him sleeping on the shore. He found their boat at dock again and was just about to attempt to search it when one of them noticed him and alerted the guards, who were by now patrolling the docks. Tanurendal fled, barely conscious, but was luckier this time, managing to swim to shore and come up in the woods on the far side of the harbor. There he met a mad hermit and beachcomber who turned out to have been the one who had taken both Tanurendal's treasure as well as the scroll. He traded the latter (but not the former) back to Tanurendal in exchange for Tanurendal's clothes, so that the Company found him wearing nothing but an old and very dirty loincloth when they finally met him on the road to Koruximei. The naked Cheybori was swung up into the saddle behind Reiana as the Company galloped towards the harbor town, now on high alert thanks to Tanurendal's blunders...
Tanurendal, it turns out, was not a very good swimmer by Amborian standards, and he was overwhelmed by the tides before washing up on the shore somewhere outside Koruximei. When he finally awoke, his treasure was gone--as was the scroll he had been given to carry by Norkur.
In the meantime, the rest of the Company were busy cleaning up the mess at Azure Courts. Tengelbur tried to convince his father of the recent fantastic events, only to come across as drunk and probably asking for a handout. Reiana managed to summon the last reserves of her will to smash the Red Amber Circlet, ensuring that it would not enslave another mind. Vanera had a tense exchange with his mother in law (who at least was no longer trying to kill him) before going to help his recovering wife pack for the road. Finally, he dispatched a letter to his parents and asked his new in-laws to deliver it.
Tengelbur, with his mother's help, at last managed to persuade his father of what had happened, as well as assuring himself (only after badly insulting his mother) of his patrimony. Tengelbur's parents promised to stall the authorities as long as possible, reminding the Company that they were still wanted for the murder of Governor Neratsoan. The Company tried to flee to Koruximei with as much stealth as possible, but soon found themselves pursued by town watch led by a member of the Orunev Yalteth (the Royal Guard). Flight having proved futile, the Company were forced to battle the guardsmen on the dike. They managed to subdue all but one of them without killing them--Anaris, meeting up with her friends on the road and joining the fight without knowing precisely why they were fighting, killed one of the town watch outright, leaving the Orunev Yalteth lieutenant to flee back to the city to report the news. The Company sped towards Koruximei, still hoping to be on the water before further pursuit could be mounted.
Meanwhile, Tanurendal awoke and wandered back into Koruximei, suspecting that the fishermen had taken his things and left him sleeping on the shore. He found their boat at dock again and was just about to attempt to search it when one of them noticed him and alerted the guards, who were by now patrolling the docks. Tanurendal fled, barely conscious, but was luckier this time, managing to swim to shore and come up in the woods on the far side of the harbor. There he met a mad hermit and beachcomber who turned out to have been the one who had taken both Tanurendal's treasure as well as the scroll. He traded the latter (but not the former) back to Tanurendal in exchange for Tanurendal's clothes, so that the Company found him wearing nothing but an old and very dirty loincloth when they finally met him on the road to Koruximei. The naked Cheybori was swung up into the saddle behind Reiana as the Company galloped towards the harbor town, now on high alert thanks to Tanurendal's blunders...
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Session 21: Patrimony
When last we left our heroes...
We began last session with Tanurendal and Reiana, who had arrived at the Royal Library of Sencankarr to deliver their messages to Norkur, and to speak to the famous scribe about the recent events in the North. After some waiting, they were ushered inside...
Norkur is a surprisingly small man, with a neatly trimmed beard and dark hair streaked heavily not with grey, but with white. The chief thing about him is his eyes, which are very dark, though flecked slightly--at least, so it seems when the light shines upon them at certain times of the day--with gold. He listens to what you have to say, and reads your letters, with the utmost sense of calm, without expressing anything in the way of interest or surprise. Then, when you finish, he quietly writes a reply which he then places in a scroll case and seals.
In the ensuing conversation, Tanurendal and Reiana learned the following:
We began last session with Tanurendal and Reiana, who had arrived at the Royal Library of Sencankarr to deliver their messages to Norkur, and to speak to the famous scribe about the recent events in the North. After some waiting, they were ushered inside...
Norkur is a surprisingly small man, with a neatly trimmed beard and dark hair streaked heavily not with grey, but with white. The chief thing about him is his eyes, which are very dark, though flecked slightly--at least, so it seems when the light shines upon them at certain times of the day--with gold. He listens to what you have to say, and reads your letters, with the utmost sense of calm, without expressing anything in the way of interest or surprise. Then, when you finish, he quietly writes a reply which he then places in a scroll case and seals.
In the ensuing conversation, Tanurendal and Reiana learned the following:
- The stirring of evil powers along the Northern front is no coincidence. A terrible bargain was made when Galal was taken, one which Norkur believes Onwae is unable to break. That is why support for Sir Ralus has been completely pulled back. Probably, suspecting the Company of carrying messages for Sir Ralus, someone has framed them for the murder of Governor Neratsoan.
- Mawish's return after having been thought dead for so many centuries bodes great ill for the North. Evil things will be attracted to him, and he will almost certainly make another attempt to destroy or pollute the Sacred Well at Cheykor, which is very ancient and holy. While it stands, Mawish and his forces cannot endure for long on the Western shores of the Cheyth. Mawish can only be slain for good by his own sword, which was briefly in Tanurendal's hands...
- Norkur warned the Company about spies and advised them not to take the overland route home. He advised them to definitely stay clear of Ralakarr for the time being.
As the interview came to its conclusion, Norkur (who all along has seemed to know more about the Company's business than they have actually told him) warned them that their friends were in grave danger--they had passed under a shadow of some sort, and he could not foresee what might become of them. Reiana decided to head back to Azure Courts in hope of helping Vanera and Tengelbur with whatever they might be facing, while Tanurendal was entrusted with Norkur's letters. Tanurendal began making his way toward the harbor town of Koruximei, some miles down the Sacred River from Sencankarr.
Back at Azure Courts, Tengelbur and Vanera's interview with Tengelbur's mother, Arkjamu, was going... strangely. Arkjamu sat, her face shrouded by the hood of a dark robe. She offered Vanera and Tengelbur a deal: Talarja, Vanera's secret wife and Tengelbur's sister, was lying upstairs, apparently ill but actually poisoned. Arkjamu would give them the antidote in return for their leaving Sencankarr instantly, never to return. Under this arrangement, Vanera could stay married to Talarja, but would never be able to see his parents again, and arrangements would be made so that everyone would think them dead. She said she no longer had any need for the alliance with Neras Garini--that other prospects had come the way of the Sathneinor family.
Vanera ran upstairs to check on his lady love. As he did so, Tengelbur and his mother verbally sparred until Arkjamu drew back her hood, revealing... something. Something which rendered Tengelbur unconscious.
After checking on Talarja, Vanera returned, sneaking up to the entrance of the kitchen in time to see Arkjamu crouched over her unconscious son with a knife, a circlet with a gleaming red amber gem on her head. Catching her by surprise, Vanera managed to resist the charms of the red stone long enough to knock the circlet from her head and conceal it beneath a napkin. In the denouement that followed, it was revealed that the family's last remaining servant--faithful old Inyanyer--had taken the chunk of red amber Tengelbur had given him and had it made into the circlet, which he then "gave" to Arkjamu, transforming her from an embittered old woman into... something much more. At Vanera' insistence (and despite Tengelbur's protestations), Tengelbur escorted the old man out to the stables, where the antidote for Talarja's poison was retrieved. As they did so, Inyanyer revealed two things--the first, that he was and had always been in love with Arkjamu, a "great woman married to a fop of a husband," and second, he called Tengelbur "son"--just before throwing himself from the hay loft, impaling himself to death on a pitchfork. Tengelbur returned back to the kitchen where a very confused and disoriented Arkjamu was waiting with Vanera, and where Reiana was just arriving, with more questions than he had answers...
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Session 20: Fear and Trembling
When last we left our heroes...
As the gang all headed in a fairly large, fairly loud group towards Azure Courts, Vanera tried to give the rest of them the slip so he could go on ahead and quietly arrange for himself and Talarja to slip away without confronting his in-laws. But Vanera moves surprisingly loudly for a librarian, and he found it difficult to shake off the rest of his friends, whose excitement was quickly escalating to a fever pitch.
Rounding a corner into a more derelict area of the city, the Company were confronted by a half-dozen tough-looking thugs led by Fish, the proprietor of the Rusty Anchor. It turns out that Tengelbur and the rest of the crew are wanted for the murder of the Governor of Ralakar (Governor Neratsoan, aka Governor Sausage Fingers), and that Tengelbur's mother had hired Mr. Fish to keep Tengelbur and his friends off the streets for a few days until the search for them died down, presumably preventing both the incarceration of her son and scandal for the family. After bandying a few words with Mr. Fish, the Company decided it would be disastrous to fight their way out of this, and were taken to the vault of the Rusty Anchor, where they were locked up in its strongroom. In this, Thoranrai accompanied them, although she had nothing to do with the Governor. She seemed wide-eyed and excited to be in the company of so many dangerous assassins, despite Tengelbur's best efforts to explain to her that they had not actually murdered the Governor.
Speaking further with Fish, it seems that whatever he had been promised by Tengelbur's mother was not in fact money, but rather influence--the influence which would come to her family once the marriage alliance with Neras Garini was secured. Locked up in the strongroom of the Rusty Anchor, the party gradually discovered that Thoranrai might not be as much a fool as they assumed her to be--that in fact her operations in the city over the course of the last few days have been to draw suspicion away from the real plot currently being executed by some "friends" of hers, which is apparently to hijack a revenue ship which will be docking at Koruximei the day of the festival.
Fortunately for the party, Reiana's pack had not been taken from her, and with some tools she was able to pry out a few of the bars of one of the outside windows to the strongroom while the rest of the party sang very loudly (insulting songs about Onwae, mostly, and later about Tengelbur, after he managed to imply that Thoranrai was a little on the skinny side compared to his own curvaceous sister--a comparison which was awkward for more than one reason). Thoranrai, the smallest person there, slipped out through the window, followed by Reiana several minutes later. Thoranrai had been given a letter to send to Talarja, after which she was supposed to go and get her "friends" who she promised would be able to get the Company out. Reiana, several minutes behind her, went to Azure Courts in an attempt to meet with Talarja, but was told that Talarja had fallen ill and was not receiving any visitors at that time. She then went on to the Royal Library in the hopes of meeting with Norkur the Scribe, which was the original errand which had brought them to Sencankarr in the first place.
Thoranrai, much to the rest of the party's surprise, came through, returning within an hour or so with one of her "friends" -- a Scarlet Sister -- who had arranged matters with Fish so that the Company could be released. Tanurendal then headed to the Royal Library to meet up with Reiana and bring her her gear while Tengelbur and Vanera (who was horrified to learn that Thoranrai had sent the letter on to Azure Courts, despite the fact that this was what he had instructed her to do) raced off to Azure Courts to get Talarja.
After a fairly botched attempt to sneak into the house (Vanera was extremely eager to avoid a confrontation with Talarja's mother), they slipped in the back way to find Arkjamu Sathneinor, the matriarch of the family, sitting and waiting for them, with Vanera's letter in her hands. "Well," she said, "it took you long enough to get here."
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Session 19: Venture Capitalism
When last we left our heroes...
Reiana, meanwhile, decided to go to the theater, where she saw a festal drama rehearsing the search of Malfaloth the Hunter (the Moon) for Eibram the Ram of Dawn (who pulls the cart of the Sun) in the dead of winter. While at the theater she met a young spear-maiden (at least, that is what she claims about herself) by the name of Thoranrai, from the Leopard Archipelago. According to Thoranrai, she is part of a popular movement--some might even call it a revolution--aiming to protest the high taxes Sencankarr currently charges in exchange for non-existent protection. Thoranrai managed to rope Reiana into a demonstration at the theater, which resulted ultimately in the two of them being carried off to cool their heels in the guardhouse for the night, despite the fact that Reiana weakly protested that she wasn't with the girl. Thoranrai, on the other hand, assured Reiana that this was "all part of the plan."
In the meantime, Tengelbur met up with his friend Feiral, and the two of them proceeded to head down to Thorinta's field for a night of "debauching," where amid their cups and their cards they managed to reunite with Anaris, who had returned to Sencankarr but was aiming to get a bit of her own "debauching" in before telling her parents she was home. Feiral let them to an establishment known as The Rusty Anchor, owned by a particularly tough local character going by the name of "Fish." What followed was several hours of drinking and mostly losing, first at cards, then at dice, and finally at racing lizards. Only right at the end did Tengelbur's luck turn, and he was able to acquire a small ankalar (a "racing lizard," a spined species of "bearded dragon" indigenous to the southern shores of the Amborian sea) named "Venture Capitalism" at a throw of the dice. Whatever intentions Tengelbur might have had to cure Feiral of his gambling addiction seem to have failed utterly, since Feiral's luck managed to turn at the end of the night and he alone of the party managed to return home with as much in his pockets as when he left.
During the night, Tengelbur noticed his old family servant and steward, Inyanyer, wandering through the Field on some errand. Unfortunately, he was too drunk to do anything about it at the time beyond flinging a pebble at the man (who did not notice it).
The next morning brought a great deal of sensation as Tengelbur and Anaris drunkenly returned to Rose House, where Vanera was in preparations to reveal to his parents the truth about his marriage to Talarja. Before breakfast, Tengelbur and Tanurendal managed to find Reiana (and her new friend Thoranrai) and bail them both out of the stocks, and Thoranrai revealed that the plan she and her compatriots had made involved crashing the banquet of the Blowing of the Horn--the same banquet at which Neras Garini was set to propose marriage to Vanera's secret wife.
Speaking of Vanera, after a series of escalating outrages at breakfast, he pulled his parents aside and revealed the truth about his marriage to them. His mother fainted dead away, while his father quickly began trying to work out how an annulment might be had before the whole thing erupted in one giant scandal for the Kjavabo family. While Tengelbur and Thoranrai began to plot how they might use this news to crash the banquet the next day, Vanera and Reiana set out for Azure Courts, where Vanera intends to confront Talarja's parents head-on.
Reiana, meanwhile, decided to go to the theater, where she saw a festal drama rehearsing the search of Malfaloth the Hunter (the Moon) for Eibram the Ram of Dawn (who pulls the cart of the Sun) in the dead of winter. While at the theater she met a young spear-maiden (at least, that is what she claims about herself) by the name of Thoranrai, from the Leopard Archipelago. According to Thoranrai, she is part of a popular movement--some might even call it a revolution--aiming to protest the high taxes Sencankarr currently charges in exchange for non-existent protection. Thoranrai managed to rope Reiana into a demonstration at the theater, which resulted ultimately in the two of them being carried off to cool their heels in the guardhouse for the night, despite the fact that Reiana weakly protested that she wasn't with the girl. Thoranrai, on the other hand, assured Reiana that this was "all part of the plan."
In the meantime, Tengelbur met up with his friend Feiral, and the two of them proceeded to head down to Thorinta's field for a night of "debauching," where amid their cups and their cards they managed to reunite with Anaris, who had returned to Sencankarr but was aiming to get a bit of her own "debauching" in before telling her parents she was home. Feiral let them to an establishment known as The Rusty Anchor, owned by a particularly tough local character going by the name of "Fish." What followed was several hours of drinking and mostly losing, first at cards, then at dice, and finally at racing lizards. Only right at the end did Tengelbur's luck turn, and he was able to acquire a small ankalar (a "racing lizard," a spined species of "bearded dragon" indigenous to the southern shores of the Amborian sea) named "Venture Capitalism" at a throw of the dice. Whatever intentions Tengelbur might have had to cure Feiral of his gambling addiction seem to have failed utterly, since Feiral's luck managed to turn at the end of the night and he alone of the party managed to return home with as much in his pockets as when he left.
During the night, Tengelbur noticed his old family servant and steward, Inyanyer, wandering through the Field on some errand. Unfortunately, he was too drunk to do anything about it at the time beyond flinging a pebble at the man (who did not notice it).
The next morning brought a great deal of sensation as Tengelbur and Anaris drunkenly returned to Rose House, where Vanera was in preparations to reveal to his parents the truth about his marriage to Talarja. Before breakfast, Tengelbur and Tanurendal managed to find Reiana (and her new friend Thoranrai) and bail them both out of the stocks, and Thoranrai revealed that the plan she and her compatriots had made involved crashing the banquet of the Blowing of the Horn--the same banquet at which Neras Garini was set to propose marriage to Vanera's secret wife.
Speaking of Vanera, after a series of escalating outrages at breakfast, he pulled his parents aside and revealed the truth about his marriage to them. His mother fainted dead away, while his father quickly began trying to work out how an annulment might be had before the whole thing erupted in one giant scandal for the Kjavabo family. While Tengelbur and Thoranrai began to plot how they might use this news to crash the banquet the next day, Vanera and Reiana set out for Azure Courts, where Vanera intends to confront Talarja's parents head-on.
Vanera's Journal: Winter 451
Fall/Winter 451 TE on the road to Sencankarr.
Delays! That is all we have had on our way back home! We were only four days into our journey when we ran into our first one. In the distance we saw smoke raising which turned out to be the remains of a merchant caravan. It appeared that some great force had overturned wagons and crushed them to pieces and piled all the bodies in a great mound to burn them. We found a young man under one of the wagons, Laran, who had set out for Cheykor with his sister Kjanle in the hopes of making a new life for themselves on the Marches of the Cheyth. Tanurendal did his best to search the pile of bodies for Laran’s sister, who happened to be wearing a gold bracelet that had two dolphins gracefully forming the band. He had no success, but we were able to count the bodies and came up one short which gave Laran hope that his sister might still be alive.
We spent two more days searching for Kjanle. I secretly was against spending so much time in the search. It was only delaying me from getting back to see my Talarja and saving her from her mother and Neras Garini. Turning up no clue as to her whereabouts, we headed to Ralakarr where Laran hoped the governor would help by sending the garrison in search of his sister. I thought we should have gone to him in the first place so we could be on our way, but after having met the governor for myself, I see that it would have been useless.
We had been on the road for nine days total when we reached Ralakarr. It could have been seven. We stayed at the Crossed Candles, where we heard of a tale of some minors who had broken into a “cyst” in the ground and unleashed some sort of pestilence that killed them all. Only one of the men survived to tell the tale before he too died. While listening to this story, some of the governor’s guard came and began asking questions before asking Laran to come with them to answer some more questions about the caravan at the governor’s palace. Reiana and Tengelbur, who had met the governor before, both decided to accompany Laran. I felt something was off and had Tanurendal join me in following the group.
I believe Reiana and Tengelbur had some trouble getting in-- I was too far away to hear any of the conversation-- but at last they went in. I approached the gate with Tanurendal following. I spoke to the gatekeeper, a man called Verekan, and told him I had come from the Royal Library at Sencankarr for the yearly inspection of the governor’s library. He then went to get the librarian himself to verify this information.
The librarian was an old man named Neryaleth. He seemed gravely insulted that I would be here to inspect his library. As he sung the praises of his work at the library and why it did not need to be inspected, I was overcome by the strong desire to see it myself. It took a little convincing to make him realize I genuinely wanted to see his work, but he let us in.
We left Tanurendal outside the library, which gave him the opportunity to sneak around. I found the state of the library to be everything Neryaleth had boasted. He did an excellent job given the resources available to him. It would seem the library is not high on the governor’s priority list. It is really a shame. I am going to put a good word in for Neryaleth at the Royal Library. Perhaps something could be done for him. Maybe we could send him some ink….
I had asked Neryaleth if he had a favorite story, though I thought I already had a good idea. There were several copies of “The Wooing of Kanle” on his shelves. My guess had been right. At some point he made some comment about the wooing of women, and this instantly made me feel uncomfortable. He mentioned how he himself had a few notches in his quill, and I had to admit I had mine also. I feel people as a rule do not think of us scholars as being particularly of the romantic type, but we can be rather charming. Neryaleth then offered to read “The Wooing of Kanle” to me. How could I refuse? The poor man seemed so lonely.
The evening dragged on, and though I was enjoying myself for the most part, I knew I needed to get back to my friends. I finally made my excuses, though it was hard to decline taking my dinner with the old man. I do think he took a liking to me.
On my way down the hall, I suddenly found myself grabbed from either side by a guard, and I was escorted into the banquet room where my eyes were assaulted by the repulsive thing I believe I have ever seem in my life! Governor Neratsoan. He was the largest man I had ever seen. Not in height, but from side to side. He was enormous. I wish I had had my paper and pencil on me so I could sketch him to show my friends at the library. I do think they would all find it most interesting.
At this point I was still clueless as to what was going on, but Tangelbur was standing with his sword to the governor’s throat and making demands. Apparently Laran had claimed we had been the ones to ambush the caravan. He had been told to do so and testify in court if he wanted his sister to live. Tangelbur was overtaken when the governor batted him with one of his arms. At least I believe it was an arm. We were then all taken and locked up.
In the cell there was a trapped door that Reiana managed to open. Unfortunately, it was a waste chute for the palace, and the cell was flooded with all manner of unpleasant things. We did our best to climb on the iron bars to get out of it. My cloak that mother made me still smells of it. I have washed it at every stop along the way. I fear I shall have to burn it.
Thauthenai, the governor’s lady, came to the cell and made a deal with us. If we told her why we were really going to Sencankarr, then she would help us escape and find Laran’s sister. I truthfully told her why I was going. I had to go for a wedding. I did leave out that I was going to stop it. Tangelbur also claimed to be going for his sister’s wedding. Finally, Reiana told her our mission and she seemed satisfied. We were to make our escape in on hour when the guard changed.
In that long hour, Reiana asked me if I had someone at home. I told her I naturally had family. But she meant a lady. I did my best to brush aside the topic since Tangelbur stood less than three feet from me. He seemed to think I had a hard time with ladies and that one day I would find one to love. I must admit I found this amusing.
We made our escape and went to the house where Thauthenai told us we could find Kanle. As we approached, the overwhelming stench of mice castings and decaying bodies filled our nostrils. Tangelbur was able to get her attention through a window, and she made an excuse to the guard that she needed to relieve herself. He let her go out on her own, and we took her with us to meet with her brother. Then we left the city right away and bought horses in a nearby village.
We still have a long way to go before we reach Sencankarr. The nights grow colder as well. We cannot get there fast enough. I am impatient to see my lovely Talarja and hold her in my arm. Hopefully we will not run into anymore delays on our journey.
Delays! That is all we have had on our way back home! We were only four days into our journey when we ran into our first one. In the distance we saw smoke raising which turned out to be the remains of a merchant caravan. It appeared that some great force had overturned wagons and crushed them to pieces and piled all the bodies in a great mound to burn them. We found a young man under one of the wagons, Laran, who had set out for Cheykor with his sister Kjanle in the hopes of making a new life for themselves on the Marches of the Cheyth. Tanurendal did his best to search the pile of bodies for Laran’s sister, who happened to be wearing a gold bracelet that had two dolphins gracefully forming the band. He had no success, but we were able to count the bodies and came up one short which gave Laran hope that his sister might still be alive.
We spent two more days searching for Kjanle. I secretly was against spending so much time in the search. It was only delaying me from getting back to see my Talarja and saving her from her mother and Neras Garini. Turning up no clue as to her whereabouts, we headed to Ralakarr where Laran hoped the governor would help by sending the garrison in search of his sister. I thought we should have gone to him in the first place so we could be on our way, but after having met the governor for myself, I see that it would have been useless.
We had been on the road for nine days total when we reached Ralakarr. It could have been seven. We stayed at the Crossed Candles, where we heard of a tale of some minors who had broken into a “cyst” in the ground and unleashed some sort of pestilence that killed them all. Only one of the men survived to tell the tale before he too died. While listening to this story, some of the governor’s guard came and began asking questions before asking Laran to come with them to answer some more questions about the caravan at the governor’s palace. Reiana and Tengelbur, who had met the governor before, both decided to accompany Laran. I felt something was off and had Tanurendal join me in following the group.
I believe Reiana and Tengelbur had some trouble getting in-- I was too far away to hear any of the conversation-- but at last they went in. I approached the gate with Tanurendal following. I spoke to the gatekeeper, a man called Verekan, and told him I had come from the Royal Library at Sencankarr for the yearly inspection of the governor’s library. He then went to get the librarian himself to verify this information.
The librarian was an old man named Neryaleth. He seemed gravely insulted that I would be here to inspect his library. As he sung the praises of his work at the library and why it did not need to be inspected, I was overcome by the strong desire to see it myself. It took a little convincing to make him realize I genuinely wanted to see his work, but he let us in.
We left Tanurendal outside the library, which gave him the opportunity to sneak around. I found the state of the library to be everything Neryaleth had boasted. He did an excellent job given the resources available to him. It would seem the library is not high on the governor’s priority list. It is really a shame. I am going to put a good word in for Neryaleth at the Royal Library. Perhaps something could be done for him. Maybe we could send him some ink….
I had asked Neryaleth if he had a favorite story, though I thought I already had a good idea. There were several copies of “The Wooing of Kanle” on his shelves. My guess had been right. At some point he made some comment about the wooing of women, and this instantly made me feel uncomfortable. He mentioned how he himself had a few notches in his quill, and I had to admit I had mine also. I feel people as a rule do not think of us scholars as being particularly of the romantic type, but we can be rather charming. Neryaleth then offered to read “The Wooing of Kanle” to me. How could I refuse? The poor man seemed so lonely.
The evening dragged on, and though I was enjoying myself for the most part, I knew I needed to get back to my friends. I finally made my excuses, though it was hard to decline taking my dinner with the old man. I do think he took a liking to me.
On my way down the hall, I suddenly found myself grabbed from either side by a guard, and I was escorted into the banquet room where my eyes were assaulted by the repulsive thing I believe I have ever seem in my life! Governor Neratsoan. He was the largest man I had ever seen. Not in height, but from side to side. He was enormous. I wish I had had my paper and pencil on me so I could sketch him to show my friends at the library. I do think they would all find it most interesting.
At this point I was still clueless as to what was going on, but Tangelbur was standing with his sword to the governor’s throat and making demands. Apparently Laran had claimed we had been the ones to ambush the caravan. He had been told to do so and testify in court if he wanted his sister to live. Tangelbur was overtaken when the governor batted him with one of his arms. At least I believe it was an arm. We were then all taken and locked up.
In the cell there was a trapped door that Reiana managed to open. Unfortunately, it was a waste chute for the palace, and the cell was flooded with all manner of unpleasant things. We did our best to climb on the iron bars to get out of it. My cloak that mother made me still smells of it. I have washed it at every stop along the way. I fear I shall have to burn it.
Thauthenai, the governor’s lady, came to the cell and made a deal with us. If we told her why we were really going to Sencankarr, then she would help us escape and find Laran’s sister. I truthfully told her why I was going. I had to go for a wedding. I did leave out that I was going to stop it. Tangelbur also claimed to be going for his sister’s wedding. Finally, Reiana told her our mission and she seemed satisfied. We were to make our escape in on hour when the guard changed.
In that long hour, Reiana asked me if I had someone at home. I told her I naturally had family. But she meant a lady. I did my best to brush aside the topic since Tangelbur stood less than three feet from me. He seemed to think I had a hard time with ladies and that one day I would find one to love. I must admit I found this amusing.
We made our escape and went to the house where Thauthenai told us we could find Kanle. As we approached, the overwhelming stench of mice castings and decaying bodies filled our nostrils. Tangelbur was able to get her attention through a window, and she made an excuse to the guard that she needed to relieve herself. He let her go out on her own, and we took her with us to meet with her brother. Then we left the city right away and bought horses in a nearby village.
We still have a long way to go before we reach Sencankarr. The nights grow colder as well. We cannot get there fast enough. I am impatient to see my lovely Talarja and hold her in my arm. Hopefully we will not run into anymore delays on our journey.
Vanera's Journal: Fall 451
Vanera’s journal entry just before leaving for Sencankarr. The writing is barely legible, as though it were written in a mad haste.
Fall 451 TE
I have just received the most distressing letters. I must leave with all haste to Sencankarr. Anaris must come with me and marry Neras Garini! I cannot believe my mother has failed to make the match. Everything depended on it!
I only needed a little more time! I am sure I could have found a tomb of the Stone Kings. Now I must go home empty handed and face a world of trouble. If we are discovered, we may be shunned from society. Thrown out with all ties severed from all we hold dear. I shall be the black stain on the purity of my family’s name! This is not how I planned things…
(The text ends abruptly here then picks up in Vanera’s normal handwriting again a few spaces down.)
I went on a walk to work things out and clear my head. In this time of distress, I could think of no one to go to for advice. I most certainly could not speak to my friends or Anaris about it. I happened to be passing near the shrine of the Sacred Well when it occurred to me that perhaps I could seek answers there.
As I stooped at the low door of the small stone house that made up the shrine, I paused for a moment to catch my breath after the walk up the steep hill. As I did so I studied the ancient wood door. I believe it was older than anything else in Cheykor. The carvings were framed by the old, fluid, high script with the overlapping stems and fruits. I am quite familiar with the ancient writing being a scholar. I have seen it in old books, scrolls, on monuments, and on reliefs in Sencankarr. But here it seemed out of place not adorning a monument, but this ancient house of stone. Inside I could hear the gentle, rhythmic splashing of water to the low, alto chanting of Feala the Well Woman. As the song ended, I pushed open the door to the shrine and saw Feala making her way around the lip of the well.
I have tried to write down our conversation as well as I can remember it, for her advice is not something I wish to forget. My conversation with her proved to be both insightful and very uncomfortable.
“Are you going to remain outside examining my stonework? Would you like to come in? Tell me what it is that brings your weary to feet to my doorstep so late in the day.”
“Oh yes,” I said a bit hesitantly. I entered and looked around, then nodded to her.
“Hmm, and what can I do for you?” she asked.
“Well, I came mostly out of… curiosity. But I do seek guidance in a certain matter.” I replied.
She stirred the water with a sliver net. “What is it you wish to know?
“Umm, well… my future? I am going back home, and I foresee some difficulties. And I need some guidance as to what to do.”
“I can never tell when people come in and ask questions like this if their speaking in vague terms because they want to see if I really can read their thoughts, or if they’re just too embarrassed to be specific.”
“I think it might be more of an embarrassment issue.” I stammered out.
“What is the young woman name?”
I coughed. “Well, there are two young women actually.”
“Ahh.”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds.” I quickly interjected.
“I think you might need the apothecary down the road.”
“No! One of the young ladies I need to know about is my sister. You see, I am trying to marry her off to someone.”
“Anaris, yes.”
”Yes. And really any advice you can give me would be extremely welcome.
“I do not think she needs the sort of help I could give her.”
“Yes well….”
“Perhaps you should stop trying to correct your own failures in your sister
“Right…” I began to regret having come to ask advice. It felt most uncomfortable. “I will think about that.”
“Since you came here for advice,” she paused. “Merely because you failed to honor your parents wishes in regards to the choice of a spouse,” The room suddenly seemed to become rather hot, and I could feel the color rising to my face. “Does not mean that you need to control your sister’s choices. It is writ incumbent on your sister as it is on you to bring honor to her family. But that is her choice.”
“That’s a good point. I will think about that. A lot.”
“Was there anything else?”
“I don’t think I have anything else today.”
“You still have not asked me about the second woman. You mentioned that there were two.”
“Well, you covered that when you talked about the other thing. Sort of. I really would rather not go into detail. It is a little uncomfortable.”
She hmmed again. “You’re not doing her or yourself any favors you know.”
“I know. But I don’t know how to… well… you know…It’s really hard. But I hope to make things right when I go home.”
“In that case I would hurry home.”
“I am trying.” I stood there not knowing where to look and scanned the floor as though it were of great interest. “That’s all I have to say now. So I should be going now so I can go hurry on my way to go home. Fix my problems.”
“This I will say to you, scholar. Take the straight road. All others lead to chains.” The tone in which she said this was rather ominous. I nodded my head not really knowing how to respond to this.
“Right. Thank you for that. I am going now.” With that I quickly left and came back here.
I feel rather ashamed, if not guilty, that I have tried to sell off my sister to fix my problems. Anaris should be free to marry whomever she wills, as should I. I will just have to face my problems and overcome them. How badly could it end anyway?
I wish I could shake this feeling of worry in the pit of my stomach. As the hour of departure grows nearer it grows stronger. The journey back promises to be a long one now that the winter months are setting in. Hopefully we will not have too many delays.
No matter what happens, I do not regret my choices. If I had it to do over again, I would still do the same.
Fall 451 TE
I have just received the most distressing letters. I must leave with all haste to Sencankarr. Anaris must come with me and marry Neras Garini! I cannot believe my mother has failed to make the match. Everything depended on it!
I only needed a little more time! I am sure I could have found a tomb of the Stone Kings. Now I must go home empty handed and face a world of trouble. If we are discovered, we may be shunned from society. Thrown out with all ties severed from all we hold dear. I shall be the black stain on the purity of my family’s name! This is not how I planned things…
(The text ends abruptly here then picks up in Vanera’s normal handwriting again a few spaces down.)
I went on a walk to work things out and clear my head. In this time of distress, I could think of no one to go to for advice. I most certainly could not speak to my friends or Anaris about it. I happened to be passing near the shrine of the Sacred Well when it occurred to me that perhaps I could seek answers there.
As I stooped at the low door of the small stone house that made up the shrine, I paused for a moment to catch my breath after the walk up the steep hill. As I did so I studied the ancient wood door. I believe it was older than anything else in Cheykor. The carvings were framed by the old, fluid, high script with the overlapping stems and fruits. I am quite familiar with the ancient writing being a scholar. I have seen it in old books, scrolls, on monuments, and on reliefs in Sencankarr. But here it seemed out of place not adorning a monument, but this ancient house of stone. Inside I could hear the gentle, rhythmic splashing of water to the low, alto chanting of Feala the Well Woman. As the song ended, I pushed open the door to the shrine and saw Feala making her way around the lip of the well.
I have tried to write down our conversation as well as I can remember it, for her advice is not something I wish to forget. My conversation with her proved to be both insightful and very uncomfortable.
“Are you going to remain outside examining my stonework? Would you like to come in? Tell me what it is that brings your weary to feet to my doorstep so late in the day.”
“Oh yes,” I said a bit hesitantly. I entered and looked around, then nodded to her.
“Hmm, and what can I do for you?” she asked.
“Well, I came mostly out of… curiosity. But I do seek guidance in a certain matter.” I replied.
She stirred the water with a sliver net. “What is it you wish to know?
“Umm, well… my future? I am going back home, and I foresee some difficulties. And I need some guidance as to what to do.”
“I can never tell when people come in and ask questions like this if their speaking in vague terms because they want to see if I really can read their thoughts, or if they’re just too embarrassed to be specific.”
“I think it might be more of an embarrassment issue.” I stammered out.
“What is the young woman name?”
I coughed. “Well, there are two young women actually.”
“Ahh.”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds.” I quickly interjected.
“I think you might need the apothecary down the road.”
“No! One of the young ladies I need to know about is my sister. You see, I am trying to marry her off to someone.”
“Anaris, yes.”
”Yes. And really any advice you can give me would be extremely welcome.
“I do not think she needs the sort of help I could give her.”
“Yes well….”
“Perhaps you should stop trying to correct your own failures in your sister
“Right…” I began to regret having come to ask advice. It felt most uncomfortable. “I will think about that.”
“Since you came here for advice,” she paused. “Merely because you failed to honor your parents wishes in regards to the choice of a spouse,” The room suddenly seemed to become rather hot, and I could feel the color rising to my face. “Does not mean that you need to control your sister’s choices. It is writ incumbent on your sister as it is on you to bring honor to her family. But that is her choice.”
“That’s a good point. I will think about that. A lot.”
“Was there anything else?”
“I don’t think I have anything else today.”
“You still have not asked me about the second woman. You mentioned that there were two.”
“Well, you covered that when you talked about the other thing. Sort of. I really would rather not go into detail. It is a little uncomfortable.”
She hmmed again. “You’re not doing her or yourself any favors you know.”
“I know. But I don’t know how to… well… you know…It’s really hard. But I hope to make things right when I go home.”
“In that case I would hurry home.”
“I am trying.” I stood there not knowing where to look and scanned the floor as though it were of great interest. “That’s all I have to say now. So I should be going now so I can go hurry on my way to go home. Fix my problems.”
“This I will say to you, scholar. Take the straight road. All others lead to chains.” The tone in which she said this was rather ominous. I nodded my head not really knowing how to respond to this.
“Right. Thank you for that. I am going now.” With that I quickly left and came back here.
I feel rather ashamed, if not guilty, that I have tried to sell off my sister to fix my problems. Anaris should be free to marry whomever she wills, as should I. I will just have to face my problems and overcome them. How badly could it end anyway?
I wish I could shake this feeling of worry in the pit of my stomach. As the hour of departure grows nearer it grows stronger. The journey back promises to be a long one now that the winter months are setting in. Hopefully we will not have too many delays.
No matter what happens, I do not regret my choices. If I had it to do over again, I would still do the same.
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