back to Dark Season 1625
Spoiler Alert: This session is based on The Dragon of Thunder Hills scenario
Dragon Warning
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Storm Season Holy Days
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Freezeday
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Waterday
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Clayday
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Windsday
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Fireday
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Wildday
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Godday
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Disorder Week
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Ernalda
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Orlanth
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Issaries
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Harmony Week
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Uleria
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Uleria
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Uleria
Ernalda
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Uleria
Orlanth
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Uleria
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Uleria
Issaries
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Uleria
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Death Week
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Ernalda
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Humakt
Orlanth
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Issaries
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Fertility Week
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Ernalda
Eiritha
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Orlanth
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C. Arroy
Issaries
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Stasis Week
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Ernalda
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Orlanth
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Storm Bull
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Storm Bull
Issaries
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Movement Week
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Ernalda
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Orlanth
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Yinkin
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Issaries
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Illusion Week
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Ernalda
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Orlanth
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7 Mothers
Issaries
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Truth Week
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Ernalda
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Orlanth
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Yelmalio
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Aldraya
Issaries
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Lhankor Mhy
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bold text are high holy days, plain text are regular, italic text are minor; blue tint is the days of this session;
the last three weeks of this season are the Great Hunt
early Storm Season
Our Heroes had been engaging in marital activities, managing the village, guarding against intruders, visiting the neighboring towns and steadings, learning spells, etc. for the first three weeks of Storm Season.
Robbi learns Distraction from Buttercup during one of those weeks.
Fire Day, Harmony Week
Sorala and many of her friends were in Runegate this day -- she was joining the cult of Elmal. Baugi and Lagertha stood up to vouch for her, and she took many tests to prove her worthiness. Before sunset, she was pronounced fit, and a meal was shared.
Sorala chose the Catseye rune spell; she sacrificed a point of permanent Power, and will choose a 2 point spirit magic later.
Water Day, Fertility Week
On this day most of us were accompanying Baugi as we rode to Clearwine for the Ernaldan holy day this season (Clayday of this week).
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Baugi Erikson, Orlanthi thane of Apple Lane
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Lagertha the Unexpected, Vingan sister of Baugi, normally a resident of Clearwine
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Robbi Two-Braid, Storm Bull huscarl for Baugi at Apple Lane
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Sorala, Lhankor Mhy scholar from Nochet, currently living in Sartar
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Andrinik, Issaries merchant at Apple Lane
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Freyar, Ernaldan mage
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Buttercup, a Wind Child shaman, sent by her tribe as an emissary
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Brightflower, bride-to-be of Baugi Erikson
While passing through the Colymar Wilds, we spotted in the distant sky a dream dragon flying along! Except for Sorala, none of us were pleased by this -- Baugi showed a strange expression for a moment, however.
The dream dragon was flying over nearby Anmargan clan lands farmland, and in the direction and approximate distance for Jenstal's stead. Jenstal is Anmargan, and married to Arnstala, a Taraling first cousin of Baugi and Lagertha. We rode over to the farm, a trip of a couple of hours.
The smell of death, and some other fell odor, met our noses near the stead -- Sorala declared it to be the poison of a dragon. The square, stone-walled steading had a small rock-fenced corral attached to one side; in the corral were the bodies of a half-dozen cattle and two people. One of the bodies was Jenstal, the other a tenant's -- both they and the cattle had been horribly mutilated by a dragon's claws, and burned by the dragon's venom. Within the barn was another dead person, and the remains of other cows.
Several people were hiding in the inner hearth: Arnstala and several children; the lady and some of the children were badly injured. As we moved in, and began tending to the wounded, one of the children clung to Baugi and Lagertha, exclaiming, "Can you help my mother and uncle? Where is my father and Hulik? Did they escape?" The poor child had to be told that her father was dead, as was the tenant-farmer Hulik.
The injuries of the wounded family were not so terrible -- they had survived for a couple of hours, and one of the girls was skilled at bandaging -- but they were suffering from the poison carried by the dragon's breath.
Some trees in a nearby grove were burned, but the dragon had not used flame on the steading itself.
We took up Arndala and the children on our horses, and rode with all speed to Clearwine Fort, a distance of 15 kilometers or so.
At a trot, with short stops, cavalry can make 11.2 kilometers per hour -- so the trip was probably not more than an hour.
At Clearwine Fort
We passed into the walled city, of ancient cyclopean construction, and brought the injured farmers to the healers. Baugi wished to warn Queen Leika Ballista of the draconic threat, but at the citadel the chief of the guards -- an Orlanthi Wind Lord -- turned us away with a mocking laugh, saying that "Be it a dream dragon, or a lunar invasion, the Queen will not see you until the day after tomorrow. She is preparing for her part in the seasonal holy ceremonies at the Earth temple." There was nothing to be done, except to see to the comfort of Arndala and the children.
Clay Day, Fertility Week
Almost the entire population of Clearwine Fort, and many of the residents of nearby towns, marched a kilometer or two from the fort to the ancient Earth Temple, carrying wreaths of grain, leading sacrifices, and dressed in their Earthy best. A couple of thousand people were gathered mid-morning in and around the copper-clad temple, with initiates and priestesses of Ernalda and her associated cults leading them in worship. A couple of grim Babeester Gor "axe sisters" watched over the crowd.
It's also the seasonal holy day for Babeester Gor (another "severed" cult), Asrelia, and Eiritha.
As Queen of the Colymar, Leika had several important parts to play in the ceremonies. Earth dances, drum circles, initiation of young women, ritual meals, the bleats and cries of sacrifices, and the murmur of prayers filled the day. Priestesses of Asrelia used their secret magics to seal grain storage pits in the city and near the Earth temple.
The manifested powers of Ernalda cured Arnstala and the children of any remaining dragon-venom or wounds.
Winds Day, Fertility Week
This was a minor holy day for Orlanth, and most Orlanthi spent the day in prayer and worship. However, Queen Leika had the high priest of Orlanth in her court -- so presumably there was no obligation for us to be at the Storm Temple, when summoned by the Queen. Our heroes thus gathered in the citadel, dressed in our best.
A wise, old Storm Voice called everyone to order in a wide courtyard, with pillared arcades on the sides, and a spiral path painted around the low, round central dais. The famous Ivory Throne stood in the center of the dais. All tribal business was done in the open air, within sight of the clouds. Shadowcats and wind elementals moved playfully about the palace's flat roofs.
On the throne sat Leika Ballista, in full dress as a Vingan warrior queen, with the famous Black Spear in her hand, and her harp Jeweled Notes by her side. At her sides were Asborn Four-Born Demonslayer (one of her most famous companions, and the Orlanthi hero of the Colymar tribe), Dunorl Brandgorsson (a 75-year-old Storm Voice greatly respected and well-connected, brother of the highest Earth priestess in Sartar), Hastur the Lawspeaker (a famous Lhankor Mhy sage, and Knowing Priest of Leika's court), Nameless (the champion of the Colymar tribe, First Sword of the Clearwine Humakt temple, amazingly tall and deadly, clad in 11 ENC of iron armor, and devoted to serving Leika Ballista), Holly Bright (the main Chalanna Arroy priestess of the Colymar), and several other famed and dangerous followers of various Sartarite gods.
Our group stood below the dais, among the less-notable thanes, priests, adventurers and heroes of the Colymar tribe. Near us within the audience was a Humakti, named Bronwyn, an emissary from the Orlevings sent to negotiate about cattle rights.
The Queen gazed calmly at her allies, followers and friends -- there were matters of great import for all to know. "Kallyr Starbrow," said Leika in a carefully-neutral tone, "is planning a major ritual for Sea season of next year. In this ritual she will try to walk the path of Harmast Lightfoot, and aid our efforts against the Lunars." Some of the listening folk were blank-faced, a few grumbled or cursed, someone spat -- but others seemed excited and pleased.
A young Ernalda priestess, Ereneva Chan, stood forth, and growled, "Starbrow's plans always bring suffering -- others bear the consequences. Her quest to relight the Flame of Sartar will spread destruction across the land, and is mad foolishness." Her sister Erannina Chan, an Axe Sister of Babeester Gor, stood beside her, glaring a challenge at the court (especially at the men).
Nameless drew her sword in a flash, and took a step -- a very long step -- towards the Chan sisters. "I will dispute your words, and your wisdom -- anyone who calls Kallyr Starbrow, Prince of Sartar, a fool will taste my blade!" A couple of other people on the dais were on the verge of starting a fight, but Holly Bright and some other heroes strong in Harmony brought calm to the assembly before anything terrible took place.
The whole court was in an unsettled mood, with sour looks and old grievances simmering. The Queen cast her gaze on Baugi and beckoned him to approach the dais; "I hear you have news, Baugi Erikson." She was perhaps glad to have something less divisive for the assembled people to consider.
Thane Baugi stepped forward, and spoke boldly and clearly of the Dream Dragon -- its flight over the Stream Vale, and the destruction of Jenstal's stead by the beast. Leika glanced at her advisors, and said, "I am very troubled by this news. Storm Voice, why does this creature come, and where from?"
Danorl replied, "Perhaps the Dragon Rise awakened it, or the dragons' dreams are disturbed. Of old, they had lairs in the Starfire Ridge."
The Queen nodded, and asked, "How do you fight it?" The Storm Voice spoke again. "If you try to fight it with brute force, you will be destroyed. It is the dream of a True Dragon, and has great spiritual power ... " His reply went on at some length, with stories of how heroes of old had destroyed -- or been destroyed by -- Dream Drakes such as Aroka. As he told it, those who succeeded used cleverness, rather than brute force; one specific tactic was, "Orlanth used his winds to blow away Aroka's poison breath."
"Those were the deeds of heroes, indeed," nodded the Queen; and turned to Hastur. "Gray Sage, what knowledge can Lhankor Mhy provide?" The sage stood forth, rapped his staff on the floor, and said, "Listen that you may learn, all. Myself and my acolyte, Sorala have been studying the ancient records of the dragons and their kin. Three heroes fought them long ago, gathering skill and power as they each faced the beasts." He told of their magics, arms and armor -- the Bag of Winds, spells such as Dark Walk, the Shield of Arran, a magical helm -- and of the heroes' fate -- death facing dragons, but fame as slayers of dragons. "Wise Sorala has found a scroll which speaks of a grave-mound, within the Malani lands, where some of their harness and weapons may still lie, among their bones."
There was some mumbling and side-glancing by the assembled warriors and wise folk; Hastur spoke on: "Those lands have changed their ownership -- the Chaos-born Lunars assigned them to a different clan, as most of you know."
Leika raised her hand, and those assembled fell quiet again. Looking at Asborn Four-born, Demonslayer and veteran of many bold adventures, she said, "What do you know of this?" With a mournful voice, he said, "There is nothing in these lands that Tarndisi the dryad does not know."
"That is so," replied the Queen, "but because of the Wooden Sword, she has no love for me, or for most of my comrades in that matter. She will not receive us, nor speak to us."
A few quiet words were spoken among the mighty folk on the dais, and then Queen Leika stood up, and stepped to the lip of the dais, facing her thanes, priests and wise folk. She gestured to young Baugi, who drew closer to the Queen. "Myself and my closest companions," she said, "will go forth, and search the Starfire Ridges for the lair of the worm. You, Baugi Erikson, with your sister and your own companions, will visit the grove of Tarndisi for knowledge, and travel along the Thunder Hills watching for the beast. When you reach the old grave known to Sorala, you will recover anything useful against the dragon. Look for the dragon, and discover how it may be killed. The blood of our people calls out for vengeance; the land must reject this draconic threat."
Danorl Brandgorsson, who had been gazing at Buttercup, called out to the shaman. "Child of the Wind, come to me -- I have a tool for you in this cause." He gave to her an oxhide sack, which had the power of binding air elementals within it ... there was one in their even now, bulging and wriggling within the bag. "This might start a set of tools such as the ancient heroes bore, small one."
Looking over the courtyard, Queen Leika gestured again, this time to Bronwyn of the Orlevings. "Come forward, fair daughter of Death; it is good that an emissary has come, and it will be better if the Colymar and the Malani build friendship and peace." Bronwyn bowed and replied, "My Queen, Georgia Earthlover, wants to treat with your thane Baugi, in friendship." There were mutterings in the hall, both at the youth and beauty of Bronwyn, and at the idea of sending a Humakti to arrange peace. A few young Orlanthi made remarks louder than mere mutterings, but the Queen smiled and ignored them. "That is good -- and there is no better way to forge friendship than to fight alongside another Sartarite. Bronwyn, will you go with thane Baugi, to seek the dragon's destruction?"
Somewhat interpolated and presumed dialog by Michael
Baugi, Lagertha, Robbi, Sorala, Freyar, Buttercup and Andrinik all get a check in one of (their choice)
either Loyalty (Colymar), Loyalty (Queen Leika), or Honor.
As we filed out of the Queen's court, she gestured to thane Baugi, and took him aside into a room along the arcade, for a long private conversation.
The rest of the day was spent by most of us in worship at the Orlanth temple -- little or no business could be conducted in the town, in any case. Freyar and Andrinik did manage to find 100 Lunars worth of copper, to trade with at Tarndisi's glade.
Fire Day, Fertility Week
With the dawn, Our Heroes set forth towards the Wilds; the Queen's group was leaving for the Starfire Ridges. For the first 30 kilometers we rode through Konthasos clan lands, with many steads, orchards and vinyards. After 5 hours travel, past Farvine, we drew up to the edge of the Wilds, where wise Freyar led us onto a foot-path -- we had to dismount and lead our horses through the dense oak, pine and fir trees.
8 kilometers of travel through the dense woods took a couple of hours. Baugi's cat sensed that we were being followed -- Buttercup flew up and saw a half-dozen elves trailing us.
Late in the day we came to a grove, where a dozen redwood trees stood in a circle, around an ancient, gigantic redwood 80 meters tall. Robbi took the precaution of wrapping his great-axe in his cloak (and leaving it on his horse). The elven guards came forth behind us, and spoke in Trade Talk -- our trader Andrinik knew that language well. They required us to leave all weapons on the ground, if we were to speak with Tarndisi -- we complied (and were amused by the number of weapons that Bronwyn placed carefully on a spread-out cloak). Fortunately (at this moment) none of use was carrying any iron weapons.
Passing into the circle of redwood trees, we stood before the central tree, from which emerged the dryad -- she had the form of a young maiden, unclad, with a beauty to distract any human. She smiled and said in a sweet voice, "You seem to be nice humans, who have not laid axe-blade to a tree lately." Baugi gestured to Freyar, who placed herself at our front and bowed. "We have been asked by our Queen Leika to seek wisdom from you."
Perhaps the mention of Leika wasn't entirely wise ... but everything worked out.
The ancient nymph took Freyar aside for a half-hour or so, as the sun set.
Good thing we had an Ernaldan to do the negotiating, or we would have been told to destroy a great tusker in return for the dryad's wisdom.
Our Ernaldan friend returned and spoke: "This Dream Dragon is named Yerezum Storn, she was a member of the Unity Council during the Empire of the Wyrm's Friends. She believes that her descendants are Sartarites. The elves do not have problems with the dragons. Tarndisi told me of two paths to, er, handle the dragon -- either worship it, or dispel it by killing it."
Privately, Robbi thought the dryad's advice so far not quite worth the trip.
"20 kilometers to the east, in the lands of the Antorling clan, is the Tomb of the Sleeping Queen, Orgorvale the daughter of Orlanth," continued Freyar. "Yerezum Storn is living there."
In the evening, the elves brought us pleasant vegetarian food. Lagertha admired the elves' bows, and asked them if she and Andrinik could have an archery contest against the elves -- some copper was wagered. Unsurprisingly, the humans lost -- although the elf who shot against Andrinik seemed upset somehow.
The trader spoke to Tarndisi: "Is there a way to become a part of the forest, even though I am not born an Aldrayami?" The dryad smiled and nodded, and asked him if he wished to join the cult of Aldraya. Thus his evening was spent being tested by the dryad and some elves -- some copper was placed before the great redwood as a gift for the forest.
Wild Day, Fertility Week
In the morning, Andrinik was a lay member of Aldraya's cult; he had also traded the rest of his copper supply for silver or other fungible goods.
"You smell minty fresh now."
We thanked the elves, who led us a few kilometers to the eastern edge of the woods, where the Sun was rising above the Thunder Hills. Even as we reached the top of the ridge, strange noises were heard by some of us -- the beating of the Dream Dragon's wings, and its mighty roar -- and the sinuous shape of the Dragon was seen to the east, descending to the Queen's Tomb.
Much of the middle of the day was spent riding northeast along the ridge-line of the Thunder Hills, gazing down at the lands on either side. Some of the rocks protruding from the hills were ancient ruins, from the Empire of the Wyrms Friends or other old cultures. As we passed a tall plinth, carved with draconic glyphs, some strange bleats were heard, and we came face-to-face with a band of eight dragonewts!
A Dragonewt Speaks
The reptilian folk were riding demi-birds; four of them were crested dragonewts, three were beaked, and one was a "tailed priest". We halted, controlling our horses (and our fear), and the dragonewts halted as well. After a few silent moments (with perhaps a few "Ernalda preserve us!" whispers), one of the crested dragonewts dismounted and walked forward, with empty hands. This particular dragonewt had strange scars and ridges on its head -- it had been modified to be able to speak human languages.
The speaking-dragonewt stopped before us, bowed down to the ground, and said in fluent Trade Talk, "I beg to speak with you for my master, Sarna Ya'qal. I am Slave To Lies."
People who know Trade Talk:
Andrinik (70%), Sorala (30%), Bronwyn (20%), and Lagertha the Unexpected (15%),
should make their skill roll to get a check in the language.
Our merchant nudged his pony forward and spoke for us. Slave To Lies explained that the Dream Drake needed to move on to the next phase of existence; it went back to the demi-birds, and received from Sarna Ya'qal a bundle which it brought to us -- a sword made of obsidian. Slave To Lies told us, "Take this, and with it you must cut off the head of Yerezum Storn, and then bring both the head and the sword back here, and lay them both at the foot of this plinth."
The Obsidian Sword is "+1" (whatever that means), and ignores draconic armor and spells.
It can be used as a broadsword. It is about as sturdy as a bronze sword;
it cannot be repaired by a human smith or armorer, though the Repair spell will work on it.
The wise sage Sorala told us, "I know of this, or one like it. Indeed, it should ignore the armor of a dragon."
With that, Slave To Lies bowed again, and returned to its demi-bird. The dragonewts rode off a bit, and took up a spot at a point on the ridgeline.
We admired the stone sword, which Baugi placed in the hands of fair Bronwyn, initiate of Humakt. "Use it well when we face the dragon." It was decided that we would ride to near the ruins of Red Bird and speak with the members of the Lysang clan there.
As we rode off, Lagertha and Baugi moved somewhat to the side, and the thane's sister "laid into him" -- something was clearly troubling her.
The actual town of Red Bird was burned to the ground by the Lunars, and is in ruins; the Lysang clan center is now on an island in the Arfritha river. It was about 50 kilometers away, by following the Arfritha north from Fair Jowl, or closer to 60 kilometers if we stayed in the Thunder Hills (and didn't pass so close to the Queen's Tomb).
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about the Lysang clan
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Lysang was a sub-deity of Orlanth more or less slain by chaos but revivable. It was a red bird with four wings, and a star in the sky that had gone over from Yelm to Orlanth. What was left of it, and its cult, was preserved by, of all unlikely deities, Argan Argar. A four-winged red bird given to the clan by the Only Old One led the clan out of the Holy Country, on a hunt for Arkat memorabilia to help him fight off Belintar, unsuccessfully of course.
The Lysang clan is religiously conflicted, as an attempt early on to bring back Lysang in a heroquest backfired, and red birds were banished from the land and it had to change wyters to a niece of Orgorvale, the sleeping goddess. So the clan varies religiously among darkness, fire and wind influences, and is traditionally (but not always) pro-troll. In politics, it's the weathervane clan, always changing tribes every few generations, and went back and forth during the Lunar occupation between rebellion and collaboration.
The previous clan chief was slain as a traitor at a rebel council by Kangharl Kagradusson (the "Blackmoor"), King of the Colymar tribe; Kangharl immediately afterwards went over to the Lunars himself! So despite being sometime Lunar collaborators themselves, they are downright happy that Leika is Colymar queen now, better than the alternative.
They are part of the Malani "Sword" tribe, and live in the Gejay hills and the Arfritha Dale. As might be deduced, Red Bird is the largest Lysang community.
Before 1613, they were part of the Colymar tribe.
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on to Storm Season 1625 Session 2
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