Massacre in May

Increasingly reports of Orc and Centaur violence against humans are filtering into the borderlands. Many stories are now heard from the South about a massacre of humans in the west that occurred in May. The more hysterical accounts say that the Orcs and Centaurs are intent on exterminating humanity, and that a huge army is massing in the west.

The governments of Trowe, Hunteleye, Kye, Esthon, and Eastring are said to be calling for war against the Orc and Centaur tribes of the west. It is also said that Trowe is maneuvering in the senate for the appointment of an imperator. Courte and other eastern states are vacillating. Many in the east are mistrustful of Trowe, but they also fear incursions by the Eastern Empire.

Many of the western states have outlawed Orcs and Centaurs within their borders, and reports of pogroms against non-humans are increasing. Courte and the other eastern states have called for tolerance and understanding between the races.

Chariot Day

Chariot Day (or Plow Day as the peasants call it and that is closer to the truth) is a religious holiday, much like Christmas. It occurs on the last day of the ninth month. Since it is a holiday that lauds Andro over Eldro, it has very different connotations in the east. There it is considered a somber day of reflection. Elsewhere it is a festive and lively holiday for both men, dwarves and elves. It represents the day that Andro’s Plow was destroyed and his sacred cows were allowed to wander free. This is also the day that Andro threw off the influence of Eldro and became a separately recognized God.

The most widespread Chariot Day tradition is the imbibing the Drink of Sleep and Dreams, a sweet, mildly hallucinogenic drink. It is distilled by Clerics of Andro. The drink usually imparts a fantastic feeling of well being, but the Clerics say that Andro may ‘rip the veils of reality from a drinker’s face’ if he deems the person needs it. Therefore, there is a wide variation of effect. It is considered very safe and even young children drink watered down versions, which only tends to temporarily increase the imaginative element of their play and games.

In the rural areas of Saros, this is considered a very important holiday. No one works the fields or tends livestock. It is a day of rest, rejuvenation and giving thanks. In the East, Chariot Day is a somber day. People dress in black and stay at home. Sometimes hate crimes are perpetrated against temples of Andro. Of course, these are not officially condoned by Finley.

A Humorous Moment from Group 2, Session 2

Recap, Group 2, Session 1, Part 2

The Skeletons
The party descended the stone steps into a large antechamber. At the end of the antechamber was a large iron door. Etched on the door was the following:

I saw those men who many had of life and property bereft: through the breasts of those men passed strong venomous serpents.

Nim 'ohtar opened the door to this chamber with a great grinding and screeching of the hinges. Luken created light on his staff which illuminated an enormous, rubble-filled room. The ceiling was twenty feet above the floor. Ahead of them they could see four large columns and here and there, boulders and piles of rubble. Along the East wall they could barely make out the outline of a door. The far end of the room was lost in darkness.

They cautiously entered the room. As they began to walk through they started to hear crumbiling, rock grating sounds. Slowly, skeletons emerged from behind columns, boulders and rubble. They were dressed in tatters and rotten cloth, and each carried short swords. On their helms they bore the image of a serpent.

Nim 'ohtar was first to strike. He raised his giant, two handed sword and sent it crashing down on the nearest skeleton. The skeleton lost an arm and some ribs but continued to menace the paladin. Zagros, itching for a fight, charged a skeleton and brought his scimitar down across its neck, taking head and helm off with one clean stroke. Korrigidor let loose an arrow into another skeleton, taking the whole left rib cage out. The skeleton waved his sword at him in defiance. Gorthag, terrified by the supernatural, took a wild swing at a skeleton that was approaching him and missed, his mace sailing over the skeleton's head. The skeleton plunged his short sword into Gorthag's side, causing the large half-orc to swoon with pain. Luken, seeing Gorthag's plight, rushed to his aid, and laying his tiny hands over the wound he incanted, "Erring the half-orc is healed." The wound partially closed and the pain receded somewhat.

Meanwhile, more skeletons were approaching from the far end of the room. The paladin dealt an ending blow to the disabled skeleton attacking him and quickly ran to help the others. Zagros knocked off the head of another skeleton, while the ranger shot an arrow through the eye socket of his ribless skeleton foe, taking the skull clean off and pinning it to the far wall. Luken laid hands on Gorthag again, this time closing the wound. Gorthag raised his mace, but only grazed the helm of the skeleton, who then sliced into Gorthag's arm. The big half-orc started to cry for his father. With anger and embarassment, Gorthag swung again, this time smashing through the midsection of the skeleton, completely severing the torso from the legs.

Just at that moment, a figure emanating a faint light, ran into the room from the antechamber. It was Artanis. "I have been sent by the guiding light of Maida to protect you." She ran to the middle of the room and created more light.

Zagros crushed a skeleton under his hooves while sending his sword through the clavicle of another. Nim 'ohtar sent an arrow rocketing into another skeleton, exploding it in a righteous burst of fury. The centaur finish off the damaged skeleton and the group paused to listen. There was only quiet. No skeletons remained. Luken healed the half-orc's bleeding arm.

"There is great evil coming from that door to the east," whispered Luken.
"Spiders..." muttered Korrigidor.
"No. Worse than spiders," said Luken. He was shaking. "Let us not go that way."
"But we must! We need to purge this evil place," said Nim 'ohtar.
"There is a door on the far end of the room as well," called out Zagros. Nim 'ohtar approached.
"This is nearly as foul a way as the other," he said.

It was decided that the party would enter the east door. Bolstered by the calming influence and faith of Artanis, they carefully opened it and entered.

Taixali
As they entered they saw a large pool that took up most of the underground cavern. The walls were natural in appearance, except for the walls near the door. There was a sound of water flowing into the pool from a crevice on the eastern wall. On the far side of the pool, they could barely make out another door. A bridge once spanned the pool, but only crumbling stones now remained. On the far side of the pool, the party saw a cloaked woman standing. She gave off a sickly puce colored aura. About her left ankle was a shackle that was chained to the wall. The shackle sparked and crackled with lightning-like energy. Her sickly light barely illuminated a door in the wall behind her. She looked at them and began to laugh quietly, her amber eyes widening with delight.

The party felt anxious. She was like nothing they had ever seen. One by one she began to address them.

To Nim 'ohtar, “Oh, it's the little champion. Uven and the other doddering fools sent you on this fool's quest, but the gods know that the vanity and corruption in your heart will be your doom. Laying in the blood and muck on the plain of Volas, you'll breath your last.”

To Zagros, “I see you've lost your harness, centaur. You're one of the few who have ever been made to wear one. Finley will crush you and all of your kind, and shod you all with cold iron."

To Gorthag, "Aren't you a pretty, pretty picture? Your mother should have exposed you, orc, and slashed her wrists open for her folly. Of course, you couldn't know that it has crossed your companions minds to cut your throat.”

To Artanis, “Lost your daddy, little girl? And your mummy didn't want you. I know all about your mummy.”

To Korrigidor, “What? Are you nothing? You're nothing to anyone.”

To Luken, “And you, I'm sure this is too much for your little halfling brain to handle. Are you going to run back to your little hill? That's all your kind is good for.”

Suddenly, she threw back her cloak, revealing her eight arms and hands. In each hand, she twirled a ball the size of a marble. The party felt the full might of her evil and shrunk from her in fear. But Nim 'ohtar recovered and straightened himself bravely.

"That's it. I've had enough of her," Nim 'ohtar said. He shot an arrow straight for her heart.
It bounced right off.

"Who are you, evil witch?" Nim demanded.
“I am Taixali, daughter of Jatyx," She replied.
Zagros observed. "She's wearing a shackle. She must not be that tough. I say we take her on."
"Why are you shackled to the wall?" asked Artanis.
“Others thought it best that I stay here for awhile” said Taixali.
"I think the balls are some sort of weapon. Maybe I can shoot them out of her hands," said Zagros eagerly.
"Maybe you can get us all killed!" said Luken. "I knew we should not have come here."
"Let us try to reason with her. Maybe she can help us," Artanis said.
"Oh yes!" exclaimed Taixali eagerly. "Please come talk to me child of elves. I would love for you to come see me. I am the child-eater, Artanis."

"Let's leave," said Artanis, suddenly. The party turned and left the way they came, the evil laughter of Taixali ringing in their ears.

The Zombies
Shaken by their encounter with Taixali, they paused back in the Great Hall.
"What now?" asked Korrigidor.

"We must seek the key. Perhaps we will find it beyond the other door. I fear for us if we must cross Taixali again," Nim 'ohtar replied.

After pausing for a while they made their way to the other door. It opened with a grinding screech. Another pool filled room was before them. This one was much larger and the bridge across was intact. The bridge was six inches above the murky water.

"Me don't have good feeling," said Gorthag.
"Let's test the waters so to speak," Zagros said. "Let's tie a rope around one of us and let him go out onto the bridge. We can yank him back if there is trouble." Gorthag looked confused.

"That sounds good. The half-orc is useless anyways," agreed Korrigidor.
"Wait. The half-orc is a dimwit," said Luken. "We should protect him, not use him."
"Gorthag go out on bridge," Gorthag sighed, looking downtrodden and totally demoralized.

Zagros, who appeared to be enjoying the ordeal immensely, tied a rope around the big half-orc's waist. Gorthag slowly began to shuffle across the bridge. When he was about a third of the way across, human forms began to rise from the water. They were clearly undead with flesh rotting from their skins. Some of them wore metal circlets on their heads each bearing the image of a serpent. A zombie reached out to Gorthag and moaned, "Mortals! Enemies of the Serpent!" and the rest of the zombies moved toward the the half-orc.

With a powerful yank of the rope, Zagros sent Gorgath sailing back through the air and landing with a thud on the ground in front of the party. Gorthag bruised his elbow badly but was otherwise intact. Luken quickly healed his friend.

Korrigidor let loose an arrow and felled a nearby zombie. The undead were all crawling toward them in the shallow water now. Luken cast a spell of golden light and 4 zombies turned and headed for the opposite end of the reservoir. Artanis slammed her staff into the back of a retreating zombie's head smashing the skull but barely slowing it down. Gorthag, angry, confused and disgusted shot an arrow into the skull of a zombie. The zombie staggered and limped but kept coming. Zagros loosed an arrow into an approaching undead, felling him instantly. Nim 'ohtar fell the undead next to that one with another deadly shot.

Korrigidor began picking off the turned undead. He attempted to finish off the zombie Artanis bravely attacked by sinking an arrow deep into the back of the zombie's shoulder. The zombie slowed but continued to plod on. Artanis cast a spell on five more zombies. They began to turn away towards the back of the room. Zagros, with a yell of martial glee, charged into the shallow water toward three zombies, slicing the head off of the zombie he had wounded earlier in the process. Gorthag sent another arrow towards his foe and felled him with that second shot. Nim ran forward to help Zagros slicing off the arm of a zombie foe. Luken shrank against the wall, paralyzed with fear.

Zagros smashed the head of the one armed zombie with his hooves while attempting to slice another zombie nearby. He missed the other and that zombie cut deeply into his flank. Artanis cast a spell of protection around the brave centaur. Nim felt the one-armed zombie's wrath as its nails sliced into his cheek. Gorthag sent an arrow with surprising precision right into One-Arm's throat, silencing him for good. Korrigidor, annoyed with his prey's tenacity sent a final deadly arrow through the zombie, pinning it to the far wall before it splashed with a sickening squelch into the shallow water below.

A zombie was closing in on the rear of the centaur. It brushed the centaur's balls with its gooey rotting hand.

"Hands off my nut-sack, fish-rotted harpy!" Zagros yelled delivering a powerful kick with his rear legs that sent the zombie flying through the air.

Korrigidor felled another zombie with his bow and arrow, while Artanis finished off Zagros' molester with her staff. At this moment, some of the turned undead were shaking off the clerics' spell and turning back toward the heroes. Gorthag shot one with an arrow through the shoulder. Luken summoned courage to go heal the centaur a bit. The wound only partially closed. Zagros, ignoring the pain charged another zombie trampling it beneath his hooves and causing it to fall to it's knees. Nim 'ohtar caught another zombie with his bow and arrow, exploding the head on impact. He rushed to finish off another with his sword, but Korrigidor was quick and sunk another arrow home. Gorthag approached his wounded foe and smote him across the chest with his mace while Zagros severed the head from his zombie opponent. Gorthag crushed his opponents skull between mace and cavern wall. This was the final blow. The zombies were defeated. The party was left with the sounds of dripping water and their own heavy breathing.

Luken and Artanis patched up the party. There was an iron door on the far end of the room. It was locked.

Nim 'ohtar looked at Zagros. "Kick it down," he said. "I've had enough of these bitches. Whoever is behind that door is going to pay."

The Temple of the Serpent
Zagros gave the door a mighty kick and it banged open. Heat and the scent of blood radiated from the room. Torches were blazing along the walls, illuminating stone pillars, an altar, and a stone statue of a serpent. The party's eyes were drawn to the center of the room where a figure stood before the statue, swaying back and forth. He had the shape of a man, but the skin was flayed from his body. Tendons and muscles rippled as he swayed back and forth. Luken shrieked in horror. The wraith turned to the party in surprise.

"Khered!' he cried. "I smell more blood for the sacrifice! Step up, mortals, and pay respect to the servant of the serpent." He stared at Nim 'ohtar and then laughed with glee. "The Elven Champion!" He swept his gaze across the rest of the party. "The priests, the woodsman, and the beasts! The day has come! You will find the Skin of Huron in the west, and the serpent will rise and crush the dragon. Ha ha ha! It is as it was foretold in the prophecy." Turning to the statue he cried. "Thank you my Gods, for this opportunity to serve your will."

The party, confused, began to fumble and prepare to fight. The wraith said, "You don't understand. According to the Prophecy of Aniel, you will triumph today and for a time, but I am the least of six brothers. My brothers will prepare the way of the serpent. I am honored to fulfill the prophecy by your hands. Staring at Nim, he said, "May the Serpent consume me." And the wraith attacked.

The War of 516-520

Excerpted from "The Annals of the South" (522) by Christer Daye, scholar of the College of Trowe

For the past hundred years, Trowe and other southern states have been peacefully settling the wastelands in the west and turning the land into productive farmland. This progression of peace and prosperity was interrupted by the violent barbarian hordes, both Centaur and Orcish, of the western interior. Many human settlements were destroyed, their women raped, and their men put to the sword. The southern states tried all forms of diplomacy, but the hordes sometimes refused and, at other times, betrayed promises.

In the spring of 516 in the Gulf of Tompsonn, Orcish pirates attacked a ship of Trowe. The government of Trowe issued a declaration of war against western piracy, brigandry, and terror in all forms. The army liberated huge swaths of Centaur-infested land and drove out the Orcish beasts, beasts who practice all manner of blood sacrifice and evil ritual. Calm returned to the coast, and human families were able to tend to their land.

Recap, Group 2, Session 1, Part 1

The Purple Moon

It was a hot early summer afternoon at the Purple Moon. The inn was full of interesting characters. A beautiful and mysterious woman sat at the bar with a huge barbarian. A half-elf and a half-orc sat in strange congress on the other side. And at a table in the corner a party was huddled over cold mugs of ale.

This party was both fair and gruesome. A handsome elven paladin sat at the table. He was obviously unabashed about his race. Next to him sat a demure half-elf cleric with large brown eyes and light brown hair. On the other side of the paladin was a half orc, hulking and fierce, with surprisingly gentle and simple eyes. Between the half-orc and half elf a very slight of build halfling cleric sat with a puzzled expression on his face.

The Half-elf cleric, Artanis, was describing the beauty of her goddess's temple just north of town.

"You should travel to see it. It is an easy 5 mile journey. The priest is very welcoming to all,” she smiled at the half-orc.

“You pretty cleric of Maida, temple must be pretty, too,” said Gorthag.

“The temple of Maida is also near this country inn that makes really good haggus!” said Luken, the halfling.

“It has been long since I have made supplications to Maida. She is a powerful ally of Andro and it would be well to visit her temple,” said Nim 'ohtar, the paladin.

“I must stay here. I am hoping to meet a friend of my fathers,” said Artanis.

“Well, let us go and honor the goddess, Maida!” said Luken.

The Temple and the Dryad

Late in the afternoon, Nim 'ohtar, Luken, and Gorthag arrived at the temple. It was an old and venerable structure full of eroding sculpture and a sulphurous scent, so common in places such as these. They entered the temple. There were a few women and men there who had brought offerings to the goddess.

Nim 'ohtar suddenly heard a strange sound in the shadowy corners: a clopping, like horses hooves hitting the marble. He moved toward the shadows and with great indignation beheld a centaur trying to sell the priests of Maida some Western ceramic figurines. Furious, he starting moving quickly toward the scene and raised his voice, “You there, Centaur. That is sacrilege! Selling wares in the temple of a goddess!”

But just at that moment the doors of the temple burst open and a Ranger strode in carrying a beautiful dryad.

“What is this?” demanded the High Priest of Maida.

“I found her a few miles northwest of the temple. She could hardly walk. I thought you Elf-lovers could help,” he said derisively.

The priest gave the Ranger a cold look. Then he turned a gentle face on the dryad. “What has happened to you, oak daughter?”

The dryad replied weakly, “Dead things attacked my tree! Please help me; they are killing her!”

The priest shook his head and called for water. “I have feared this. There are some ruins to the northwest of here that are the stuff of ghost stories and legend. But lately there has been some reports of strange activity around them. Evil, perhaps. It is a bad time for the protective veil of Maida to be lost to us. Fair paladin from the north, will you and your companions help us?”

Nim 'ohtar answered at once. “Yes. I will go. These others are not beholden to follow.”

“I enjoy fighting,” said the Centaur. “My name is Zagros. I will join you, but I'd like first choice on treasure we might find.” Nim looked at Zagros with a scowl. He was about to say no, but then he considered the barbarian might of the Centaur. Maybe he would be useful. He nodded his head in agreement.

“Gorthag crush tree-killers!” said Gorthag.

“Let us scour this countryside of evil!” piped Luken.

“I will go as well. There may be some giant spiders to kill. Spiders make horrible parents,” said the Ranger earnestly. They all looked quizzically at him.

“What is your name, stranger?” asked the priest.

“Korrigidor, Dread Bane,” he said fiercely. Zagros snickered.

The party set off. It was a short but disconcerting journey. Korrigidor was clearly insane. He rambled on about being raised by Giant Spiders and the abuse he endured as a child. He claimed to be the son of Finley, and Nim 'ohtar had to pray to Andro to stay his hand from running him through with his sword. I should have pity on him. He is a madman.

They found the dryad's tree. There were tracks leading from the tree up to the ruins at the top of the hill. The oak was dead and so the dryad must be as well. Gorthag wiped the tears from his eyes. “Fear not, sensitive creature of Saros,” said Nim 'ohtar, reaching up and placing his hand firmly on Gorthag's shoulder. “We will avenge her death.”

The Ruins

As the daylight dwindled, the party climbed the hill to which their trail had taken them. At the top, they saw a massive stone slab in the center of stone ruins. The stones were surrounded by weeds and covered with a hardy, if spindly, species of vine. Around the stone slab, the ground around appeared disturbed, as if a massive weight had been dragged across it.

Suddenly, the figure of a naked woman on her hands and knees appeared on the slab. She was chained at the neck, wrists, and ankles. Her back was scored with deep wounds. Her eyes were blackened, swollen, and barely open. She drew breath with a deep rattling sound.

She looked up and fixed her gaze on Nim 'ohtar. She said, “Fair one, help me to return to eternal sleep. They are awakening. This place was once theirs, and they are enslaving us again. You must use the key to close the prison door.” She then looked behind herself at the empty air. “There is no time ... below you will find the way.”

Then someone violently jerked the chain around her neck, and a man appeared. On his bare chest was the tattoo of a serpent. For a moment he surveyed the party. Then he grins sadistically as he raises a flail above the woman's back.

Nim 'ohtar let fly with an arrow from his bow. His aim was true, but the arrow passed through the man without leaving a mark. The man laughed, and, as his flail descended, the figures vanished.

"There is great evil here -- below," said Luken.

"Yes. I feel it, too," said Nim 'ohtar.

The party investigated the stone slab. It was plain limestone and about 8 ft log by 4 feet wide.

"The earth around the slab is disturbed. Perhaps from sliding the slab across the grass," observed Luken.

"Let us move it. Zagros, can you help us?" asked Nim 'ohtar.

They tied rope around the corners of each slab and then the Centaur grasped and pulled while the rest of the party pushed. Their efforts revealed a stone staircase going down into the ground.

A Little Blurb about the Game

I'm writing up the recap for Group 2, Session 1. We have decided that Group 2, Session 1 is going to be open to all, so we will post the recap in it's entirety on the blog. Group 2, Session 2 will be more closed in it's content.

I also want to remark about getting from point A to point B. Keep in mind that I would like you all to use as much improvisation as you would like, so when it comes to travel, be creative. Have some time on the road? Tell a story. Get to know each other. Sing a song. Get in a fist fight. This goes for camping for the night and sitting at meals, etc. This will make things much more rich and enjoyable, allow for a breather between battles, and further character development.

Hope you all are having fun!

Is it just me...

or do I look seriously goddess-like in this picture....

The Tron shirt sort of ruins it, maybe. Next time I impersonate a goddess, I need a beaded halter.

Another Excerpt from Group 1, Session 1

Lauson's Militia

Ramsey bellowed at the Easterners, “We are free men and not answerable to you. You, on the other hand, are intruders. What is your business here?”

The leader of the group stepped forward, saying, “I am Lauson, Leftenant of the 14th company at Broadhed. You are bandits and murderers. You will drop your weapons immediately and submit to Finley's justice!”

Millicent muttered a spell and felt Lauson's mind on the edge of her consciousness. She was chilled by experiencing the thoughts of a ruthless killer. She thought, “He will slay us without a second thought.”

Drawing his sword, Ramsey roared, “The hell I will!” Arantxe let fly with an arrow and missed, while Nephon took a stone from his pocket and hurled it at Lauson. To the amazement of all, the rock struck Lauson squarely in the middle of his forehead, opening a sizeable gash.

Khiyra didn't like the prospect of a frontal assault, so he turned and fled, breaking a window at the back of the castle and leaping through it.

Acting quickly, Millicent channeled her arcane power into an incantation that felled three of Lauson's men; the men were asleep before they hit the ground.

Taken by surprise, Lauson's men were slow to the ready. Ramsey and Girt capitalized on their opponents' slow reactions and attacked. Ramsey had difficulty with his man, but Girt slew her opponent with a shattering blow.

Lauson regained his focus and dealt an injury to Ramsey. Millicent was then struck by a tremendous strike that nearly ended her. She hobbled away from themelee. Nephon withrew to attend his injured companion.

Arantxe found her mark with an arrow, while Girt struck down another opponent.

Lauson felt the battle turning against him and withrew through the front door of the castle. Lauson's remaining man, injured and seeing his captain retreat, also turned tail.

At that moment, Khiyra rounded the northeast corner of the castle, making his way to the front door. He stopped in his tracks and hid in the bushes when he saw the approach of six more Easterners.

Ramsey and Girt burst through the doorway in pursuit of Lauson and his man, slaying Lauson's henchman from behind. Lauson's reinforcements arrived and delt injuries to Ramsey and Girt, but Ramsey and Girt were not to be vanquished, slaying another two men.

Khiyra, sensing the party's impending victory, emerged from the bushes and rushed one of Lauson's men from the rear. His feeling of exhilaration was cut short when his blade glanced off the other man's chainmail.

After healing the injured Millicent, Nephon returned to the fray, accompanied by the reinvigorated Millicent. They struck blows, while Ramsey and Girt again charged Lauson's line.

Lauson felt he had seen enough of this party and departed on horseback. One of his men escaped also, while the others were cut down.

Filled with fury at the death of Thet, Arantxe, in a fit of paroxysm, slew the sleeping Easterners.

Photos from Group 2, Session 1

The players meet: Brandy the Half-Elf Cleric, Mike the Elven Paladin, Drew the Barbarian Centaur, Ian the Half-Orc Ranger, Bryan the Human Ranger. Also playing in the group as an NPC is Luken, the scrawny Halfling Cleric.
In their search for the evil that slew the dryad, the group tackles the problem of the massive stone slab.
In the dark, underground cavern, skeletons emerge from the rubble and debris and attack the heroes.Brandy, acting from divine intervention, finds the party and joins the effort to slay the skeletons. Ian the Half-Orc nearly perishes from the undead assault, saved only by Luken's channeling of divine energy.After reducing the skeletons to piles of dust and bone shards, the party meets Taixali.Frustrated by Taixali's insults and taunts (and the party's apparent inability to affect Taixali), our party turns down a different passage, only to meet zombies emerging from the watery depths. Fortunately, the centaur's phenomenal assault and the Half-Orc's excellent bowmanship carry the day (or night, as it were).Below, we see Drew's pictographic representation of the battle:And the Half-Orc re-enacts the encounter: