back to Storm Season 1625 Session 3

 

     Spoiler Alert: this session is based on the Rattling Wind scenario.

 

Fire Day, Movement Week Wild Day, Movement Week God Day, Movement Week Freeze Day, Illusion Week Andrinik's Report Our Plan Water Day, Illusion Week Clay Day, Illusion Week Night of the Dark Moon The Shame of Farfield Winds Day, Illusion Week Fire Day, Illusion Week

The Rattling Wind

 

Storm Season Holy Days
	Freezeday	Waterday	Clayday	Windsday	Fireday	Wildday	Godday
Disorder Week			Ernalda	Orlanth		Issaries
Harmony Week	Uleria	Uleria	Uleria Ernalda	Uleria   Orlanth	Uleria	Uleria Issaries	Uleria
Death Week			Ernalda	Humakt Orlanth		Issaries
Fertility Week			Ernalda Eiritha	Orlanth		C. Arroy Issaries
Stasis Week			Ernalda	Orlanth	Storm Bull	Storm Bull Issaries
Movement Week			Ernalda	Orlanth	Yinkin	Issaries
Illusion Week			Ernalda	Orlanth		7 Mothers Issaries
Truth Week			Ernalda	Orlanth	Yelmalio	Aldraya Issaries	Lhankor Mhy

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

 

Fire Day, Movement Week

 

      Our Heroes had just slain the dragon Yerezum Storn, at the tomb of Orgorvale Summer, and re-founded the cult of that Gods' Age queen.

 

• Thane Baugi Erikson

• Lagertha the Unexpected

• Robbi Two-Braid

• Sorala the Sage

• Bronwyn Sword-sister

• Freyar, high priestess of Orgorvale Summer
  

• Runty, the trusty alynx

• Chirra the tern, eighth of the dragon-slayers
  

 

     The Queen's Tomb was only about 10 kilometers west of Fair Jowl, in the Thunder Hills. The weather was fine, with clear skies and only "brisk" cold air. 

 

Wild Day, Movement Week

 

      Some of us (non-Orgorvalans) rode back to Fair Jowl to announce our victory, and the resurrection of Queen Orgorvale! Stormwarden Birdwatcher, the Orlanth priest at Fair Jowl, was interested in the new cult, and agreed to ride back with us to the "tomb".

     Andrinik was still off at Farfield.

     This was the weekly Issaries market day. We bought some cleaning supplies, lamp oil, food, wines, fragrant flowers or branches, bedding, etc. to bring back to the new goddess; some of us purchased spirit magic matrices. Sorala prowled the taverns, markets, and other places where legends, tales, and rumors might be found. and returned in the late afternoon. Buttercup looked for a Control Earth Elemental item without success, and drank like a fish that night.

     Using her considerable charisma and charm, Lagertha sought information, but found mostly libidinous locals. She did arrange for some training in Sea season.

     Baugi began a few days of schmoozing with the clan council.

     Stormwarden was suitably impressed at meeting one of Orlanth's daughters.

 

God Day, Movement Week

 

      This day, Robbi and some others of Our Heroes who weren't dedicated to Orgorvale rode back to Fair Jowl again, early in the morning. Andrinik still wasn't back, so a bit of

 

Freeze Day, Illusion Week

 

     Andrinik returned to Fair Jowl in the evening of this day. He had luckily found a Speedart matrix to buy on his trip, and told us about Farfield.

 

Andrinik's Report

 

     "All hail to my heroic companions!  May Issaries lead you on harmonious, peaceful, and rewarding paths home!"

     "My path has been to respond to the worries reported from Farfield, a somewhat remote hamlet of the Colymar lands that has reported recent troubles.

And indeed troubles appear – although much remains murky."

     "Upon my arrival, I noted the New Stone Tavern, an impressive structure for this area.  The innkeeper is Jogrin, a fellow initiate of Issaries, and it was he who called for assistance."

     "There have been three mysterious deaths in Farfield, on the last three nights of Clayday – the Black Moon."

     "I have made inquiries as to the circumstances of the killings, and not much is known.  The first victim was a shepherd named Berra.  She seems to simply have been caught in the open that first night."

     "The second victim, named Endwost, was a stable hand, attacked on his way home from the tavern."

     "Last Clayday, a farmer named Zanerth bravely, but unwisely, dared to stay outside to face the danger."

     "All victims were later found dead or dying and their bodies mangled.  There were no direct witnesses, although villagers reported hearing a shaking of windows and shutters at the time of the attacks as the attacker passes."

     "The third victim, Zanerth, lived long enough to say he was slain by the “rattling wind.”  But no one knows what that means."

     "None of the bodies were preserved so I could not give any direct description of wounds, markings, or other suspicious factors.  But some villagers told me that one of the bodies had weeds in its wounds and gave a description of the plant.  I have searched locally but have been unsuccessful in finding a plant to match the description, but perhaps one of you will show greater skill in this task."

     "I have the sense that there may be more to learn, and used the techniques of Goldentongue to the best of my ability.  But these villagers were unpersuaded, and I suspect that a more forceful and direct approach might squeeze more from their recollection."

     "In that regard, it seemed an obvious question, in light of the attacks all happening on the Black Moon, to inquire of any possible connection of the village or villagers to the Lunar Empire.  The previously jolly Jogrin became quite taciturn at that point, denying any association."

     "Jogrin and the villagers were quite willing to be suspicious of a band of ducks who recently moved into the area.  “Nothing like this happened before the ducks came,” many villagers said."

     "In wandering through the village, a few other matters of note came to light.  There is a redsmith named Viborna, with a smithy in the village.  She isn’t too talkative, but was hospitable.  Her work quality I assess as quite good.  What struck me as odd was her possession of an iron scimitar, hung in her shop – not something I expected to find in Farfield."

     "My attention was also caught by the sight of two Lunar branded horses at the stables of the local ostler, Orvald."

     "I believe that this summarizes all I’ve learned of possible value at this point.  It’s a small harvest, but perhaps you will find more than I to enlighten us."

     "In all events, I urge we make haste back to Farfield.  It seems certain that there will be yet another attack come next Clayday."

     "While I know our company has warriors of might, I have a foreboding that this menace will prove a worthy challenge.  I urge prudence.  Personally, I note that the tavern is an exceptionally sound stone structure, and I suggest that this is for many reasons the logical base for our continued activities."

     "While there seems to be something more than meets the eye, these villagers are  fearful with reason.  They, wish this menace neutralized, and our task is clear."

 

Our Plan

 

     Buttercup the Wind Child shaman was going to depart the next day or so, flying back towards her home. She left the large "magic point crystal" with us, and promised to be in touch again after Sacred Time. Chirra the tern was to stay with us, and follow Baugi about, in case a message needed to be sent. 

 

Water Day, Illusion Week

 

     At dawn, we saddled up and rode east towards the Antorling village of Farfield; the weather was cold and rainy. Along the way we passed a field where some Ernaldans were taking part in a fertility ritual. 

     By the end of the day we arrived at the remote village of Farfield. We were:

 

• Thane Baugi Erikson

• Lagertha the Unexpected

• Robbi Two-Braid

• Sorala the Sage

• Bronwyn Sword-sister

• Freyar, high priestess of Orgorvale Summer

• Andrinik the merchant

 

     ... along with Chirra the tern and Runty the shadowcat. Most of the buildings were thatched-roof adobe hovels; the only substantial building was the two-story New Stone Tavern; Andrinik told us that there were no ruins nearby, and that for the last decade or so the hamlet had been reasonably prosperous.

 

"During the Lunar occupation? Were they moon-sympathizers?"

"I don't think so," said Andrinik.

 

     The hamlet had a population of 36 persons (after the 3 recent deaths); 15 of the 18 adults were farmers, the other 3 adults were the tavern-keeper, the redsmith, and the ostler.  The road from Fair Jowl ended here -- the peaks of the Quivin Mountains stood to the east and south.

     As we stopped our horses amid the buildings, the inhabitants rushed up, cheering.

 

Very "Magnificent Seven" of us ...

 

      None of the people crowded about us were ducks (or dwarves, elves, etc.); none were armed or armored (more than any other Sartarite peasants, anyway). We noticed that many of the adults had scars or other marks of old injuries (limps, eye-patches, etc.). Andrinik called out to them (since he'd been here within the last week), "I am back, with these brave warriors and wise folk!"

     The tavern-keeper ushered most of us into his drinking-hall, which also had small shrines to Orlanth and Ernalda attached. Robbi and Bronwyn went with our horses to the stable.

      Our Heroes were introduced to the villagers -- dragon-slayers, awakeners of a goddess, and valiant foes of the Lunar Empire.

      Jorgrin the tavern-keeper served out free food and drink; he was an Issaries initiate, and was the one who sent messages seeking help a week or two ago. The locals told us of the threat:  on the night of Clayday in Fertility week, a shepherdess had been killed -- crushed or flattened just outside the village, while watching over her sheep. While terrible, the peasants thought this was just one of the random dangers which afflicts Dragon Pass. But when , in Stasis week, again on the night of Clayday, a drunken stable hand left the tavern for his home, and everyone heard the loud rattling sound again! Once the villagers dared to leave their homes, they found the man crushed in the street.

     A messenger was sent immediately by Jorgrin to Fairjowl asking for help, but last Clayday the bravest farmer put on the best armor available, and was determined to destroy whatever menace was coming with the Full Moon.

 

Note:  yes, Clayday is the dark of the Moon, the scenario is confused.

 

      Once again, the town shook. Creeping out once danger had passed, the villagers found their defender smashed into the muddy street; the only thing the maimed man said before dying was "rattling wind".

      So far, this was all information we had already gotten from Andrink, in Fair Jowl. Baugi and Sorala began questioning the villagers; Lagertha went to visit the smithy, after looking over the shrines with Freyar. Some results:

 

• none of our Orlanthi know of any spirit of reprisal that fits the description of the "rattling wind", by that name or any other.

• Jorgrin was a talkative, jolly man, leader of the village. He was deaf in one ear.

• neither the shrines, nor conversation with the villagers, revealed any un-orthodox or Lunar tendencies.

• the villagers don't have anything to say about the Lunar occupation.

• Sorala recognized the plants found on the bodies as a pond weed.

• Robbi didn't get any sense of chaos from his god.

• the ducks are living by a pond (Dankmere) about five kilometers further up the valley.

 

     In the stable, Robbi and Bronwyn met Orvald, the ostler, a limping man. He was an initiate of the cults of Ernalda and maybe Barntar. Beside a couple of simple oxen and riding ponies, the stable held two fine stallions -- tall, well-fed, spirited animals, of a Pelorian breed used by the Lunar military, with Lunar military brands. They were in fact trained as war horses, and still quite dangerous at 13 years of age.

 

For race horses, "old" starts at about 13 years of age.

The legal limit for racing in most American states is 14 years,

though a few horses up to 17 years old have raced in the past.

Horses mature up to about the age of 5; a fair number of horse races are for "colts" age 3 to 5 years.

 

     When asked about the horses, the ostler nervously claimed to have bought them from a pedlar in the last few months. Robbi and Bronwyn looked at each other with blank faces -- while the horses were a bit old, but were well-matched in color and size, and would fetch at least 200 Lunars each at any Sartarite market.

     At the smithy, Lagertha noticed an iron scimitar hung over the door -- a weapon characteristic of the Lunars, and (being iron) surely that of a Rune-level officer. The redsmith Viborna was strong and fair-haired, roughly 30 years old, and would be quite the beauty but for the deep burn scars on her cheek and forehead. She wore her hair long, to cover the burned side of her face. She followed Gustbran. Our Vingan asked, "How much for the scimitar?" but the smith was unwilling to sell. She claimed to have gotten the weapon from a passing trader, years ago.

     In the tavern, Freyar whispered to Baugi, "Don't tell what we already know."

     Our Heroes realized there were several options:

 

• fortify the village, or individual buildings:  easy for the tavern, hard for the homes. Surrounding the village with a wall was not going to happen before Clayday night.

• lay traps:  the smith was the only person present with any sort of skills that might apply to traps. And for all we knew the  menace ... monster ... effect might be flying, or leaping, or coming on the wind.

• patrols:  convincing the villagers to arm themselves, and then join us in confronting the "rattling wind" would be a difficult test of charisma -- and possibly useless.

• scouts:  having villagers, or some of us, far out from the village to sound horns or otherwise signal when the "rattling wind" approached. This had most of the same issues as patrols.

• hunker:  move most or all of the villagers into the tavern, bar the doors, and let Our Heroes face the "rattling wind".

 

     Baugi asked the smith to help us devise three traps, to be placed between buildings. The tavern had three doors; we would block two of them before sunset on Clayday.  Andrinik also appreciated that the tavern had the best food and drink.

     When Robbi mentioned riding out to look at the pond during Clayday, Jorgrin told him to his face, "Are you a scholar? I thought Storm Bulls were brave." Being a guest in the man's home, Robbi didn't punch him in the face, but he was clearly very displeased.

     A minute or so later, Andrinik whispered to a few of us that the villagers had also discouraged him from visiting the pond during his prior stay at Farfield. Now we were much more interested in seeing this pond!

     Lagertha glanced about (to see that there were no villagers close by) and said in a disapproving tone, "My theory on the iron scimitar is the smith loved a Lunar soldier and he died tragically. If we fail tomorrow, no fucking way I am staying to help these ingrates."

 

Clay Day, Illusion Week

 

     After breakfast, most of Our Heroes put on warm clothing, and rode out to see Dankmere, the pond the ducks had settled near. The villagers were starting work on traps, under the direction of Viborna the smith. Freyar stayed behind, to see how they conducted their Ernaldan holy-day rituals; Runty stayed to watch her back.

     The pond was about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the village. The heavy rains, and muddy ground, held no tracks of note; there were no hoof-prints or wagon tracks on the path towards the pond. However, caught up in some brush or low-lying tree limbs were scraps of pond weed. With all the rain, we couldn't tell if they were very recent; some of them were as high as 1.5 meters above the ground. 

     Before we came to the pond, Robbi spotted a trio of young duck warriors hiding in a tree platform. We halted, and called out to them -- they dropped down to the ground and advanced to meet us. These were teen ducks, with shortswords, shields and light armor; they did bear markings of Humakt on their gear.

     The ducklings screeched at us, demanding we turn back to the village, calling us "Farfielders", and said "These lands are ours now!"

     We dismounted, and Baugi told them we wished to visit the pond, because a monster might be in the pond, and that we weren't from Farfield. They said, "Darvin Blackfeather is our chief, and he hasn't given you permission. Come back tomorrow, perhaps he will let you look at the pond." While small, the ducks were fierce; none of us felt that destroying these lads would be a proud warrior's boast.

     The ducks seemed more willing to speak with Bronwyn, so our Humakti approached the ducks respectfully, and spoke words of greeting between members of the Death cult. She asked them if they'd hear anything like the "rattling wind" on Claydays recently; the ducks glanced at each other, and one said, "Well, I heard a rattling noise one night, but didn't think much of it." Bronwyn told them, "We will get to the bottom of this," and said that the ducks' help would be a good gesture -- plus, the monster or whatever couldn't be counted on to leave the ducks alone forever.

     After a lot of cajoling, the oldest duck-boy told Bronwyn, "Ducks will watch the lake, and handle whatever happens." They told Baugi that the lake was nearly 7 meters deep in the middle.

     A bit bemused by the ducks, we mounted our horses and rode back along the muddy path to Farfield. The villagers were piling rocks inside the tavern, blocking two of the doors; the smith had three traps built. A sturdy platform was built at one corner of the tavern roof, accessible from a second-story window

 

Night of the Dark Moon

 

     As night fell, we mounted our horses, with our heaviest armor; Baugi convinced the ostler to loan Bronwyn one of the Lunar horses. Andrinik, Sorala and Freyar climbed onto the platform, along with a couple of the villagers; Runty was left to scamper over roofs as he needed to. The villagers lighted torches and braziers around the green, and along the "street"; they then retreated into the tavern, and heavily barred the front door, which Viborna guarded (holding the iron scimitar).

     Hours went by, and the light of the Moon shone on the distant, snow-capped peaks around the valley. At some point, a few of us noticed the ground beginning to shake, and straw falling from the eaves -- the "rattling wind" was coming. They shouted, "It's coming!" and began spell-casting. The next round, Andrinik had his bow ready, with a Speedart spell cast on an arrow. Sorala squinted at ... something ... approaching along the north side of the village, and called down, "It's magic!" The merchant fired his arrow, which hit the "rattling wind" with a thunk (it didn't penetrate, we learned later).

 

Xs mark the traps; the red arrow marks the chariot's approach

 

     Swerving around a corner, and rushing towards the village green (between the tavern and the stable) was a nearly-invisible thing; all that we could tell was that it had two wheels, and was dripping with muck. It rattled with a mixture of wooden (or skeletal) noises, and the sound of metal chains. Baugi shouted to Robbi, "Hold!" and charged it -- his horse easily cleared the thigh-high picket fence around a vegetable plot by the tavern, and avoided the front of the "rattling wind" and the spiked wheel-hubs. With an expert thrust, the thane of Apple Lane drove his lance into the right-side wheel of the enchanted vehicle -- the spokes splintered, the wheel-rim came off, and the chariot (for such it was) tumbled onto its side and slid a few meters forward, before coming to a stop. A whip cracked from the falling, sliding chariot -- the driver trying with one last effort to snare and drag Baugi. The evil attack failed!

 

muck and chains not included here

 

     Robbi had to rein his horse aside to avoid the skidding chariot; Bronwyn and Lagertha rode forward to join Baugi in destroying the two skeletons in the chariot -- the work of only a few seconds. The crew were shackled to the chariot's body, and to each other, with bronze chains; there were no visible horses. Robbi watched in awe as the hellish vehicle decayed in a few seconds -- with the skeletons smashed and the chariot destroyed, whatever fell Lunar magic animated the thing was dispelled. Besides the chariot, the skeletons and their garb and weapons also rotted, tarnished and corroded and fell to pieces; the only substantial remains were the bronze chains.

     Bronwyn dismounted, and poked through the mud and debris a bit. "They're gone," she proclaimed. "Lunar, I think."

 

The Shame of Farfield

 

     Sorala, Andrinik, and Freyar cheered from the roof, and went inside the tavern (through the window) to spread the good news. Viborna, the smith, was stunned by our swift victory.

"Our eternal curse -- sudden and unexpected victory!"

 

     The villagers swarmed out from the tavern (once the door was unblocked) to dance in the mud, cheering Our Heroes. But, after a minute, Orvald, Viborna and Jorgrin came forward, and knelt before Baugi with somber expressions. The villagers fell silent, puzzled, as the chief spoke to us: 

 

     "Six years ago a cruel and powerful Lunar warrior, Beleros, riding a great bronze-clad chariot, came to the Dog-Rat Valley, and rode into Farfield. He and his charioteer tormented, maimed and killed for sport -- many of us still bear the scars. Thinking us cowed, they took their rest in my tavern. Myself, Viborna and Orvald decided to do away with him, before another day of destruction fell upon the village. I put a sleeping-draught into their wine; when they were sluggish, we spurred the rest of the village to join us in attacking them, until the bloody work was done."

     "Knowing that murder of a Lunar officer would bring reprisals -- he was a Rune lord of the Seven Mothers -- we bound the corpses into the chariot with bronze chains, pulled it to the Dankmere, and dumped it there, under the lily pads and weeds."

     "We all agreed to never speak of the killings again. I used Beleros' purse, of three hundred Lunars, to rebuild our inn; Viborna kept the iron scimitar, and has driven off several would-be robbers with it; and Orvald took the horses."

     "They were innocent," interjected Orvald.

     "Nobody ever came looking for Beleros. But the ducks settled beside Dankmere this summer, and we fear they must have unknowingly disturbed the spirit of Beleros, or somehow allowed eldritch Lunar magics to activate again."

     "Our crime was no violation of hospitality -- they were not guests -- but secret murder is still a shame. By confessing to you, we hope that the gods, and our neighbors, will forgive us for what we did in desperation and fear."

 

     With that, the three elders bowed their heads further down. Baugi stepped forward, and drew them to their feet. In the light of sputtering braziers and torches, villagers hugged each other, shook our hands, and returned chastened -- but relieved -- to their homes. We returned our horses to the stable, unsaddled them and wiped them down, and then went to the inn for some much-needed sleep.

 

Winds Day, Illusion Week

 

     This was the weekly holy day of Orlanth; the shrine at Farfield was especially busy this day, as the village had much to be thankful for.

     Baugi and Lagertha took part in the worship rituals at the shrine; the rest of us looked around the village, and perhaps spoke to some ducks. Our more literate adventurers -- Andrinik and Sorala -- wrote up an account of Beleros, and of the Rattling Wind, no longer a secret.

     Bronwyn, with the silent company of Robbi, Andrinik and Sorala, convinced the ostler to trade her riding horse for the "most fit" of the Lunar horses. Orvald was clearly very attached to the horses, of the Daron breed, but our claim was strong. 

     We planned on leaving the next morning; at the evening meal in the New Stone Inn, Jorgrin gave us the village's thanks.

     Baugi stood up and thanked them at length, including a moral.

 

Uh ... "Violence is always an option"?

 

Fire Day, Illusion Week

 

     As the sun rose over the mountains, we rode out from Farfield -- Robbi and Bronwyn on the road north-ish towards Jonstown, and the rest on the road to Fair Jowl. Some of the villagers and their children saw us off.

     After a long, cool ride, Baugi and company found themselves back in Fair Jowl, where baths and fine meals awaited them. Baugi met with Stormwarden the Orlanth priest, and revealed the truth and our solution. We are expecting a promised payment from Queen Leika (for this assistance to the Anmargan clan) of 50 silver coins each.

     At dinner, we discussed our plans for the rest of the season.

 

• Robbi was going to Jonstown, where the only temple of Storm Bull in this part of Sartar was going to have its first Sacred Time ceremonies.

• Bronwyn wanted to attend a proper Humakt temple, and was probably going to accompany Robbi to Jonstown (since her home temple was slow to get at from Fair Jowl).She was hoping to have a week in Jonstown to get some training or spell-learning accomplished, also.
  

• Andrinik had to attend the Aldraya high holy day on Wild day of Truth week -- just a week from now. He could easily reach Tarndisi's Grove in that time, and would then return to Apple Lane. He wants to reconsecrate the pawnshop as a proper Issaries "temple".
  

• Baugi would be at Apple Lane, for Sacred Time, to cement his connection to the land and its fertility.

• Lagertha is heading to Boldhome for Sacred Time.
  

• Sorala will be with her mentor, at the draconic library in Clearwine. Every day of Sacred Time is a holy day for Lhankor Mhy.
  

• Freyar will be ...

• Buttercup will be at her tribal home.
  

 

on to the end of Storm Season