MedievalGame2001Feb14

Ref: MedievalGame - Session 009 - Sun 14th Feb 2001

• ... Another day passed quietly, with only a couple of lions prowling close by ... observing. However, on the following night a strange noise was heard in the darkness ... a noise that gnawed at the very sinew, the very tissue that makes the Hemnat whole, a calling from their past - a forgotten racial memory that makes every one sit bolt upright in the night in a cold sweat, terrified.

• Around the group swirled an opaque black cloud, cold and dry. Occasional gaps in the bubbling vapour showed the inky black landscape around that hinted that a moon shone above. Quick to action, Tracebe entered mediation to be confronted by the void. Slowly he sensed a presence, a point of being nearby and projected to investigate. Shy-Lone jumped to his feet and called the assailant to show itself, spinning round in case whatever it was sneaked up behind. Chl'Lak took arms also, and almost at the same time as Shy noticed a cowled figure through the small breaks in the vapour. J'ahnna and Valdamean cowered and Tyr was nowhere in sight.

• One, two ... no ... three figures stood around them in a triangle, distant and controlling the vapours. Their forms were almost obscured by the clouds, but Chl'Lak and Shy moved in for the kill. Shy leapt in the air towards one, and - to the others - was seen to stop suspended in mid-flight, great sword held in a pose over his right shoulder ready to strike. For Shy, it was a different story. He descended on the stationary foe and sliced off its hand. Black dust and gaseous trails were all that remained. It did not seem to flinch or attempt to move, instead flicking it's other hand across his face, revealing hideous, ancient talons that tore shreds of flesh from Shy's face.

• Chl'Lak moved at lightning speed towards another figure, while J'ahnna and Valdamean decided that they might be able to scare them off with a bluff of doing a Dragon Song. Since the ritual was so specialised, it is almost unique. So they began their preparations in hope.

• Meanwhile, emerging from the void at the point of being that Tracebe had encountered was a shadow of a creature like the Hemnat in form, but taller - about 10 feet - and missing skin. Taught ligaments, sinew and muscle held a framework of skeletal mass together with grim purpose. The weathered and ochre bones showing through gaps in the dark figure, it's orange-black talons reaching out for Tracebe.

• With a snicker-snack, Shy continued to swipe at the creature.

• The creature in front of Chl'Lak, about to strike him down, became distracted at the ritual starting in the fog. Seizing the moment, and with almost the precision of a surgeon, Chl'Lak pierced the heart of the creature standing at the point of the circle. It looked down - a second surprise - and stood stock-still. In an instant the blade of the sword erupted in flames and the robes of the creature inflamed like ancient parchment. It staggered back, its sinewy form revealed, burning, melting.

• As quickly as they had been awoken, the cloud vanished. The figures turned and vanished (literally) into the darkness. In the instant the group saw them in plain view, they knew they were Inquisitors.

• Shy fell to the ground, dropping with a thud from the mid-air pose. Dazed and confused, he shrieked in pain. A light red scarring could be seen on his face and Shy whimpered that the scars were agonising, like salt was being rubbed into them constantly. The marks were healed but the psychic pain was almost unbearable. Valdamean used much Sleep magic to comfort and sedate Shy so that he (and the rest of the group) could get some rest.

• The next day, they all struck camps and headed along the ravine towards the fork that lead to the "Goblin City".

• It wasn't long before that rounded a corner to see up ahead a surprisingly well guarded corner. Three (ramshackle) outposts had been built high up on the cliff faces - one opposite on the point of the corner, one left and one right. With hawk eyes, the group noticed a huge ballista mounted on the corer outpost pointing their way. A number of goblins bimbled around the outposts, and an orc, a larger creature and a larger creature still were seen at the ballista. The group retreated to make a plan ...

• Chl'Lak called an unseen servant to go and disrupt matters at the ballista, and Valdamean asked Tyr to do much the same. The group waited while the servant moved secretly among the rocks towards the outpost. The group watched from a well hidden vantage point and saw that the fun had started when the two goblins who were sat by the ballista unexpectedly fell to their deaths on the rocks below (taking out the threat of them blowing their horns to attract attention too). Notch two for the servant! Natch, the orcs and their bigger cousins were a little confused and started a random search, waving large clubs to find the invisible foe. While their backs were turned, the servant pointed the ballista at the second outpost. The larger of the creatures (and probably the more stupid) noticed the ballista moving, and - too late - tried to stop it. However, it was standing in front of the machine when it tried to point it back the other way, only to be fired on the end of the sharpened tree at the second outpost destroying both. Tyr manifested and combat ensued with the remainder of the troops at the first outpost while the Servant commenced trying to dislodge the roof.

• Confident that all was going well, the group ventured out and walked proudly (like all Hemnat should) down the canyon. The third outpost burst into activity as the goblins suddenly realised that the bows they were carrying had a purpose and tried to use them (with little success, though I think Chl'Lak got a scratched foot). Chl'Lak released another of the now famous Ball Lightning and commanded it (slowly) towards the outpost.

• Below, two orcs had descended from the first outpost and were running towards their home (presumably to get help). Valdamean notched one arrow and severed a leg from one. It collapsed but continued to drag itself along, leaving a messy trail behind. Notch two, and a broken leg for the other. The two crawled slowly across the floor. Shy took off like a bolt from the blue and within 30 seconds had returned and was starting to clean orc blood from his sword. So much for the rescue party.

• Back in the outpost, the goblins tried to shoot the ball from the air, narrowly missing - sparks jumped from ball and charred their arrows mid-flight. Looking at each other in shock and disbelief, they clambered over each other to escape the outpost. However, they had waited too long and the ball exploded in contact with their shoulders. Sparks flew in all directions (and so did their arms as they were quarterised and flung into the canyon). The electric shock travelled through the poor (and yet still alive) goblins causing the cliff edge to explode sending them tumbling over the cliff. Splat ... Splat ...

• And then the roof caved in.

• The group cheered as they had defeated the outposts without a scratch (well almost).

• Continuing along the ravine for a couple of days, the group finally saw across a dusty plain to a small town standing alone in the arid region. The next day, they left the foot-hills and started the long journey to the town - the town where the Power of Bakoon awaited ...

• After almost a day's travel in the pleasant day with only a few clouds in the sky, two renaissance-dressed gents approached on the road, accompanied by two effete swordsmen. The two gents dressed in black with wide-brimmed hats set up a small table in the path ahead of the group. They took out a black cloth and made a ring of salt. It was obviously a ritual. The unarmoured swordsmen waited patiently. The two men continued their ritual and drew magic circles with pentagrams and flames in their centres on parchment. They held these towards the group and started babbling some repetitive chant. Dry ice (well that was the effect) poured out of the circle and flooded the pathway. Undaunted, the party approached.

• The men dropped back, and the swordsmen readied themselves (without actually drawing a sword). Overcoming their will, Valdamean cast tongues and spoke for the group. It seemed that the men thought the party were demons come from the hills to take prey (it was the day before Hallowe'en after all). Despite reassurances from the party, the "welcoming committee" from the town were not convinced and demanded that the unforsaken ones come not a step further. (OK, so the dialogue was a lot more protracted and Catholic, but this will have to do for now). The ritualists backed off (quickly), protected by their men at arms.

The men drew their swords and made an arc in the air. Their swords shone with a brilliant white inner glow (like the gates underground near the bandit camp that guarded the portal to the Dreamweaver's world). As they backed off, the party encountered an invisible force wall blocking the path. After working out that it wasn't very wide, they walked round it and caused one of the men to sleep. The other fled. They picked up the slumbering man and carried him onwards towards the town.

• Nearing the gates, the group were confronted by about 9 men with nets, halberds and other interesting weapons. A tall (for a human) man dressed entirely in black with a flat, wide-brimmed hat strode powerfully out to meet them. In his hand he carried a small book, from which he began to read chapter and verse (it was a Bible - Old Testament). He went on about the dark forces, vengeance, fire and brimstone and vanquishing. It was all getting a bit dull, so Chl'Lak approached to assure him that the group meant no harm. As he outstretched his hand and touched the book, small wisps of smoke were seen to rise from his hand. Recoiling, a mild burning sensation running through his fingers, he cradled his injury. The group were surprised that a book could have such power and thought it might be a good idea to steal one.

• The militia circled slowly round the group and the preacher warned them that they were not welcome. The group repeated that they only wanted food and other victuals - and the preacher said they were getting none of what they needed from his flock (Tongues is so useful sometimes). The group gave the slumbering man back to the townsfolk in an act of good faith, but the preacher insisted it was all a trick. They would get in on false pretences and devour the town while they slept on Hells Night.

• After a few, long, tense minutes, the group backed slowly away and made camp about a mile from town - past where the table has been erected. The militia made camp nearby to keep a watchful eye on the party.

• Tracebe called on the spirit of the plains for aid. Its appearance was dramatic, dust and small stones rattling on the ground and a swirling column of sand rising into a semi-visible face (like the effect in the Mummy). After an interesting conversation, it seemed that the bandits had come down from the hills with the Power of Bakoon and razed the god-fearing town, taking it for their own. They had lived on for many years, raping the land and displeasing the spirit of the plains. One day, however, the goblin horde came out of the mountains unexpectedly and besieged the town. After a couple of days, the place had been picked dry (and littered with excrement) and the horde returned to the mountains with their trophies. Settlers came and rebuilt the town only a few years ago and the now fertile land was praised as a gift from the Lord (although they don't know the real truth). Tracebe also asked if there was an obelisk or similar structure nearby and the spirit said there was one far to the north of the town.

• In the night, both Chl'Lak and Tyr secured provisions from the town secretly and the group struck camp and returned to the hills the next day.

• On arriving, Tracebe called upon the Great Spirit of the Mountain Lions (Simba) to advise the news they had. Unfazed, the spirit offered a little support in that there were cave entrances nearby that could lead the group to the city beneath the mountain. The lions would show them where to look, but not accompany them as Simba had had a falling out with the Gnome King - the spirit of the mountain - and would not venture into that terrain. The group felt like they had been set up, but felt obliged to pursue this quest (or be eaten at the very least).

• After a couple of days travel, they were guided to a disused cave entrance in the main part of the ravine, close to where the outposts had been. Taking torches and lanterns, they cautiously entered the cave system ...

• The next instalment waits this Sunday ... See you there !!

Other things we learnt or puzzled over this session ...

• Mark (the herbalist head in the box) was actually a magician before (he lied when he said he wasn't). It also turns out that the owl bound in the feather headdress is the spirit of his familiar. Tracebe caught the two of them chattering in one corner of his meditation space. Natch, a new deal was struck for more knowledge transfer.

• The sorcerer who bound Mark into the box was the head sorcerer of the bandits who were allied with the original horde that had razed the town and raped the land. he was also believed to be the same sorcerer who had created the Power of Bakoon. Both were now dead and it's unknown if any stragglers remain.

• If the bandits were trafficking in the artefacts with the settlement on the other side of the mountains, why are they so different - and so unlikely to want to deal with each other given their history.

• Did somebody send three Inquisitors to interrogate/kill the party. If so, who and why? or did they just come on their own. Inquisitors are thought to date back to the earliest records and act as mentors to only the highest orders of the Speakers and Keepers of the (Holy) Word. It is not clear that they are aligned with either "our side" or the "Dark Conspirators", though it is rumoured that they have been seen on both sides. Myth has it that they are gods descended from on high for some outworldly purpose. Nobody knows their true motive, but "all the time they are on our side, it's fine by me." This seems to be the common interpretation among the masses anyhow.

The Barren Wastes got another mention, but I can't remember in what context exactly now - I'm sure it put the group off from wanting to go there however.