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Dark Season 1625

Page history last edited by Morgan Conrad 3 years, 9 months ago Saved with comment

back to Earth Season 1625

 

Spoiler Alert: This session contains material from the Cattle Raid scenario.

 


Crouching Hidden Tigers

 

Dark Season Holy Days

 

Freezeday

Waterday

Clayday

Windsday

Fireday

Wildday

Godday

Disorder Week

Yinkin

 

Ernalda

 Orlanth

 

Thanatar 

Issaries

 7 Mothers

Harmony Week

Uleria

Uleria

Uleria

Ernalda

Uleria  

Orlanth

Uleria

Uleria

Issaries

Uleria

Death Week

 Humakt Vivamort

 

Maran Gor Ernalda

Asrelia Orlanth

Asrelia

Vivamort Issaries

 

Fertility Week

 

 

Ernalda

Eiritha

Orlanth 

 

C. Arroy, Mallia

Issaries

 

Stasis Week

   

Ernalda

Storm Bull Orlanth

 

Issaries

 

Movement Week

   

Ernalda

Orlanth

Yelm

Issaries

 

Illusion Week

Ernalda

 

Ernalda

Orlanth

 

7 Mothers

Issaries

 

Truth Week

   

Ernalda

Orlanth

Yelmalio

Issaries

Lhankor Mhy

bold text are high holy days, plain text are regular, italic text are minor

 

Disorder Week

 

     Our Heroes were in Clearwine, attending a feast of several days, thrown by Queen Leika in honor of thane Baugi. The clearwine flowed like water, many boasts and lies were proclaimed, and bedframes shook in the night! The Queen called up Baugi, and bade her most-skilled Speaker tell of the thane's famous ancestors, and of his honor, judgement and courage. She gave to Baugi a silver bracelet (value 50 L), as a sign of her favor.

     Lagertha, sister to Baugi, and Robbi, huscarl to him, both spent some days (and nights) at Clearwine seeking a bride for their friend. None were found to be willing, beautiful, wise, good company, unmarried, not members of the "wrong" cults, not members of the Taraling clan or his bloodline, etc.

     Good news for everyone in the town, and all good Sartarites:  Jonstown had been liberated a week or two previously by Prince Kallyr Starbrow's forces! Huzzah! The Imperial forces were retreating to the north, but more battles would be needed to see them off to Alda Chur or beyond; Queen Leika would lead the "western Sartarites" to meet with Kallyr's "eastern Sartarites" before the end of the season.

 

It seems that Queen Leika prefers to call Kallyr "leader of the eastern Sartarites", rather than use the title Prince of Sartar.

 

     Sorala was also called on, to tell of the expulsion of the Empire from Pavis, far out in Prax -- both she and Freyar had been present at the final battle, though the Ernaldan remembered little of it. A strange coalition of exiles, bandits, wolf-pirates, Praxian tribes, and others who hated the Red Moon had faced the Imperial forces and their bad magics. The rebels had been led to a great victory by an ancient hero, Jaldon Goldtooth. The most prominent Sartarite in the struggle was a man named Argrath, but neither Sorala nor Baugi knew from which clan or tribe he came. He was probably an Orlanthi.

 

John confirmed that this was the first time any of our characters had heard of Argrath (except for Sorala and Freyar, of course).

 

     The Queen took the Apple Lane folk aside on the last evening, and told us that the Varmandi clan tend a herd of cattle sacred to Orlanth. This sacred herd of 100 cows was the focus for trouble lately:

 

  • the Varmandi clan were grazing the cattle up into the Gejay Hills, near the border with the Orleving clan, their ancient foe -- and often over the border. We were to prevent any bloodshed regarding the cattle, or the loss of any significant number of cows.

  • a pair of sakkar (saber-tooth tigers) had been preying on cattle in the Gejay Hills for a few weeks; a few cattle had been killed, and a cow-herd wounded seriously. We were asked to deal with the beasts -- slay them, drive them far away (out of the Colymar lands), or some other final result.

     

      A Varmandi herder, the boy Heortarl, was to guide us in the hills. It was he that had brought the news of the sakkar attacks to the Queen's hall, sent by his clan-chief. He was 16 years of age.

 

Freeze Day, Harmony Week

 

     We were back home. Some snows and cold rains had cooled our heads during the travel back from Clearwine. Heortarl had told us that five herders guarded the sacred cattle; and that the sakkar had attacked by day, and by night. Catnip was discussed, but Runty declared the herb to be useless against saber-tooth tigers. Our best trackers and animal experts declared that the beasts did not attack humans, only larger animals. Nobody knew their favorite lairs, whether near the water, deep in caves, climbing in trees -- although Hjortal declared, "They don't live in the sky."

     Baugi called upon Squinch, the old scholar and trader, and discussed how to restore the worship of Lhankor Mhy and Issaries to the town. Sorala, Baugi and Squinch agreed to share in the cost of a renewed holy site (a cost of 25 L each). 

     A cow was obtained, to possibly serve as tiger-bait; and the supply of cattle-fodder in the barn was ascertained to be enough for 40 cattle for a day.

 

A dairy cow will voluntarily consume about 12 to 16 kilograms of hay per day; maybe only 10 for "unhappy but will survive a long time" cows.

Thus the barn held 400 or 500 kilograms of hay "for animals that don't normally live in Apple Lane".

 

     Buttercup sought out spells among the spirits, and in just a day drew down "Distraction" and "Dispel Magic 6".

 

Clay Day, Harmony Week

 

     After two days in Apple Lane, Our Heroes set out to the north, with Hjortarl leading our bait-cow. Fording the shallow Swan River, we climbed into the Gejay Hills. Cold winds swept through the rock-strewn hills, bearing rain at times. The ridge-tops bore groves of pine and oak, which bent their heads in respect to Orlanth's wishes; the oaks stood naked, while the pines were modestly clad in green. The deep, narrow vales between the hills carried small streams of water, and bore many signs of cattle-grazing in the weeks and seasons previously. Each valley had cow-paths leading over or between the ridges to further grazing-grounds.

     In the afternoon, we saw untended sheep, grazing among ancient masonry ruins. Sorala declared these to be remnants of the Empire of the Wyrms Friends, and eagerly investigated -- she deciphered some cryptic runes to give the name of the ruin as "XXXX", a place associated with the Brown Dragon. The rest of us stood off, uneasy and unnerved by the mention of that dreadful creature.

     Buttercup sensed a presence -- the ghost of a person from the days when the ruin had stood whole. The ghost had little concept of years or days, and could only say that it had seen large cats at some time. It wished for vengeance against the dragons, or at least a dragonewt, and fled when the shaman offered to lead it onwards.

     Baugi urged the scholar to come along, and we continued upwards to the northeast.

     In a deep vale, we heard the lowing of cattle, and found the sacred herd, with the five Varmandi herders. Virgast was the most experienced herder; it was the end of the day, so we established our camp and watches. A couple of unfired bonfires were set up, that Freyar might ignite them if the tigers attacked. The bait-cow was tethered to a stump, away from the herd but within bow- or spell-shot of Our Heroes; it mooed sadly for the other cattle.

     During the night, tigers were heard roaring in the distance, roughly in the direction the herd would be driven the next day.

 

Winds Day, Harmony Week

 

     Over breakfast, we asked Virgast and his crew where they intended to take the herd. They were insistent that the herd had to move, each day, to keep fed; and that few good pastures were available. It was also clear that the Varmandi were far more indignant and upset about the Orleving clan than the were about the tigers.

     Once we got underway, Our Heroes kept an eye out for the boundary-markers we expected to find. The herders claimed to know of no such markers -- "All of these lands belong to the Varmandi, much further than we will take the herd"; but wise Freyar, sensitive to their words, drew out their deceptive intent. The herders were either ignoring, or had moved or removed, the boundary-markers. Thane Baugi at length grew tired of their unwillingness to assist us -- their claims that the cattle would starve if not all led north were met with, "You may take 40 cattle back to Apple Lane, where for a day they will live in our corral and eat my good hay." Two of the herders led the 40 cattle to the south.

    The reduced herd moved just a bit past the markers, with Baugi and Andrinik on point. Robbi and Freyar stayed near the "middle" of the herd, Lagertha rode behind the herd, Sorala rode along the ridge-tops, and Buttercup flew lazily about overhead, trailed by her bird. Some of us used Farsee spells to examine suspicious clumps of brush, or deep shadows behind rocks.

     As Yelm neared the zenith, Buttercup's keen eyes spotted a tiger crouching, hidden among some bushes, less than 20 meters from the middle of the herd! She blew a blast on her horn, and swooped down to blast the beast with a fine blast of lightning! The sakkar she had seen, and blasted, was flung crippled onto its side, unable to move.

     Warned by the Wind-Child, we wheeled and brought our weapons to bear on the other beast, which leapt towards the herd. Buttercup cast a spell of Protection upon the cow likeliest to be mauled, just as the Unexpected lowered her lance and charged. Laghertha's shaft passed through the hind limb of the sakkar, which could not leap ahead with such a wound. Baugi and Robbi arrived a second later, charging with lances thrust at the foremost tiger.

     Neither of the marauding cats could move well now, and Our Heroes quickly finished them off by staying out of reach.

 

A note of interest for cavalry warriors:  our cavalry mounts will not ride at full speed past a monster.

 

     The dead sakkar were skinned, though the pelts were rather scorched and perforated. We warned the herders to stay out of the Orleving lands, and rode back to Oakton, the Varmandi clan center. The clan-chief and elders pronounced us to be clan-friends, and than Baugi urged them to keep their herds back from the boundaries.

 

We received some Reputation for killing the sakkar.

How long the Varmandi will keep their herds away from Orleving lands:  hard to say, but not forever.

 

     As a gift, the Varmandi clan give Apple Lane ten cattle (not sacred cows, "just" fine ordinary beasts). We spent the night at Oakton.

 

Fire Day, Harmony Week

 

    The trip back to Apple Lane, only about 8 kilometers, was jolly -- all felt that Queen Leika's wishes had been carried out about as quickly and efficiently as possible. The ten gift cattle were introduced to the local herd, our horses rubbed down and placed in the warm barn, the 40 sacred cows sent off back to Oakton, and most of us took advantage of the baths in the Uleria temple.

     Lagertha won the heart of the Varmandi herd-boy, Heortarl, by giving him a gift (a bit of 10 L jewelry); but she did not invite him into her bed.

     The sakkar pelts were examined, cleaned, and declared by the Issaries initiates to be worth perhaps five thousand Lunars total ... but they'd have to be sold in Clearwine, or some other town with people who had that kind of money.

 

Later in Harmony Week

 

     With ten more cattle in his corral, hundreds of silver coins heading his way from some market, and the certainty of Leika's approval, Baugi sought out Brightflower, proprietor of the Tin Inn, and sought her hand in marriage. He promised her a large family and the respect of both their clans. With a broad smile, Brightflower accepted his proposal, and the two were joined in marriage!

     A big party at the Uleria temple took place.

 

Death Week

 

     Word came to Apple Lane that Leika's "Western Sartar Army" would be passing through by the end of the week, with all able warriors called up to aid their country and clan in battle.

     Buttercup got in some spell-teaching this week.

 

Fertility Week

 

     The warriors and mages of Apple Lane joined up with the WSA and rode northeast to Jonstown -- a journey of two days, since not all of Queen Leika's forces were mounted. At Jonstown we met up with more Sartarite forces, under Prince Kallyr Starbrow. A council of war took place between the various clan leaders in Jonstown.

     To our satisfaction, Queen Leika presented Buttercup to Prince Kallyr. The Wind Child stood proudly before Starbrow and gave a charming speech about the ancient bonds between the Wind Children and Sartar, an ancient alliance now renewed, etc. ... it was admittedly a bit high-flown.

     Our Heroes were a bit displeased that Kallyr Starbrow laughed at Buttercup, and made a slightly-mocking remark.

 

Michael doesn't remember Kallyr's remark, alas -- but it was neither grateful or gracious.

 

     The next day, the army set out north, towards Dangerford (about 30 kilometers distant, along a good road). By the end of that day, the mounted troops (and other fast people -- this was a Sartarite army, after all) were gazing upon the town of Dangerford.

     Moon-balls and red banners flew from the wooden walls of the town; evil spirits swirled around it, and all through the night Lunar spies and assassins did battle with brave Rune Lords and Sartarite heroes in the hills.

     By Fireday, the entirety of the Sartarite forces had arrived, and the town was surrounded. Priests of every friendly cult (except Chalanna Arroy) promised us bloody victory and vengeance over the hated Imperials; with their blessings fresh in our minds, and the shouts of Wind-Lords echoing from the mountains, we surged forward.

     The lightning and winds of the Storm pantheon were too strong for the Red Moon and its devil-inspired sorcery to resist. The gates fell, moon-balls and red regimental standards were taken, and the Sartarites surged into the city. Kallyr and Leika had trouble, in fact, restraining the cavalry from pursuing some mounted Lunar forces to the north, beyond the range of the protection provided that day by the Lightbringers and their good friends.

 

We each got a Devotion check, due to this being a "holy" battle.

 

     The leaders of the Lightbringers, and many in the army, were amazed by the heroism and skill of Buttercup, the Wind-child emissary, who passed through a seething, insane mass of Lunes to snatch a powerful magical talisman away from the Moon temple at the peak of the battle. Her brilliant initiative, great personal valor, and self-sacrificing efforts in the face of almost-certain death reflected the highest credit upon herself and the Awr Cartef tribe.

 

She got a "Critical" .. in fact a 01 ... result for her Battle skill.

 

     Thane Baugi and his sister both fought with notable zeal, breaking through masses of Lunar troops to defeat enemy officers.

 

They both got "Special" Battle skill results. Did anyone else get a "Special"?

 

     Of Our Heroes, only Sorala was injured -- her head was heavily slashed by a sinister scimitar, and only the swift intervention of Freyar saved her life until a Healer could be sought. By the end of the day every Imperial within 20 kilometers was either dead or captured.

 

Stasis Week

 

     Our return in triumph to Apple Lane gave many of us the opportunity to boast at length, without (much) need to expand on our deeds.

 

Wasn't there some discussion of "someone should make a roll to compose a lay of our deeds that day, when many fell blows sent moon-men down to hell."

 

     Robbi rode down to Clearwine, to visit the Storm Bull temple for the season's holy day. He possibly escorted Andrinik and the tiger pelts ...

 

The Rest of Dark Season

 

     Baugi and Lagertha each spent a week in deep ritual and training with Buttercup, learning new spirit magics.

     Andrinik sold the tiger pelts for 5,000 Lunars:  one to Queen Leika, and one to Asborn Four-born. He took a commission of 10%, and the remaining funds were divided among Baugi, Lagertha, Robbi, Sorala, Freyar, Buttercup, and Andrinik. Robbi gave 150 Lunars to Hjortal (anonymously, through Andrinik), and for the rest of the season was buying drinks for up to 10 people in Apple Lane, Swanton, or where he happened to be (2 Lunars per day, for about 60 days = 120 Lunars).

     Upon Robbi's return from Clearwine, he was promised that in Disorder week of Storm Season he'd be learning the Distraction spell from Buttercup.

 

For a different view of the season's action, see Lagertha's Saga.

 

on to Storm Season 1625 Session 1

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