Session Season 6, Prax 7

1629, Earth, Season, Fertility Week, Freezeday to Stasis Week, Freezeday

Dramatis Personae

Events

The party decided to head east toward the Zola Fel. En route, we paused at the Paps, where some Babeester Gor warriors challenged them. Varanis introduced everyone—Xenofos clarified that he was X’fos of the Straw Weavers. The leader questioned whether Varanis was banned, and when she wasn’t certain, they sent back for clarification. It was determined that yes, Varanis was permitted to enter.

The Air Temple was gone. There had been a rockslide—or perhaps a forged one. No Orlanthi worship was allowed anymore. Varanis entered the cave and meditated, with dance and song and well, things got hot and heavy. She missed dinner.

Some Bison rider women from the Black Eye Bison clan took the party under their wings—or saddles. Either way, they decided the group needed proper feeding. And “proper” meant a lot: meat, milk, and more meat. Over dinner, X’fos figured out that the people feeding them were from the Black Eye Bison clan, who mined salt from the place where the party had previously cleared out the scorpion men/scorpionids.

The night passed quietly. 

It was a quiet night. The next day, we reached the Zola Fel, noticing that it was infested with crocodiles. After a confusing discussion, we parted ways with the Impalas. The small gazelle riders were heading southward to raid the Morokanth and then move on to Sun County. 

The following day, we reached Ronegarth, where we were greeted by guards, including Daine, the Humakti who served Duke Raus. Varanis said she would be happy to meet with Raus and that Berra would like to speak with Daine. Berra mildly chastised Varanis for speaking out of turn.

Kolyey observed that the guards were mostly hidden around the earthworks—likely for their own protection. We were brought in for a meal with Duke Raus, during which Kolyey also realized that Raus was a Lunar.

Varanis felt insulted by the slow introduction,¹Special on Air so she hammed up her song of herself and her people. She emphasized Praxian themes, though not exclusively since Berra’s wyter priesthood was a Sartarite thing and important. Daine wanted to hear more about the undead walktapus from Kolyey.

That evening, Varanis ended up hosting a party with a number of women—and even a few men. Most of the local men were unhappy about Varanis monopolizing the women.

Berra spent close to a week talking about Eril with Daine. In the first few days, Daryli and Xenofos discussed the history of Ronegarth, while Kolyey did a fair bit of weapon practice.²The locals could tell that she was competent. Xenofos learned about the settling of Raus’s domain and their heroic efforts to tame the wasteland. Varanis mostly enjoyed her popularity locally.

Daine asked for opinions on Eril. Xenofos was not very polite; Kolyey called him a typical officer. Varanis gave a neutral response.

On Freezeday of Stasis week, some newtlings appeared at Ronegarth with a group of cold, ill-looking fisherfolk.

Raus asked for help dealing with the situation, as his Sword was busy.³With Berra. Varanis volunteered but agreed to ask what it was before committing, at Xenofos’ request.

The river people claimed it was a vampire. Maalira noted that the fisherfolk might be suffering from blood loss, not illness. Given this was likely a Chaotic situation, Varanis was determined to help. She asked about any possible Yelmic support, but decided that she and two of her companions could handle things. Berra was left with Daine, while Maalira stayed with the riverfolk.

Varanis, Xenofos, and Kolyey get carried down the river on a raft guided by newtlings. This allows them to catch up to the boat with relative ease. Boarding the ship, they speak to the captain. The whole crew looks exhausted. Kolyey could feel the presence of the undead in the boat’s cargo space below their feet. This riled the Humakti warrior up immediately and she attempted to launch herself into an attack against the man hiding in the cabin. Varanis, unconvinced that the man was the problem, as opposed to the cargo, tried to hold her back. Unfortunately, Kolyey was ensorcelled by the man and turned to kill Varanis. Luckily for the Vingan, Kolyey was able to free herself from the magic. She told Varanis what was happening, and Varanis saw the man casting a spell.

Kolyey charged in while Varanis drew her sword. The warrior struck before the spell was cast but missed, giving him time to ensorcel her again. She fell under his spell and turned to charge Xenofos. They fought. Kolyey tried to kill him, while Xenofos tried to knock her overboard.

Varanis, unaware of what was going on behind her, focused on the man in the cabin. She attacked, but her sword bounced off. He kept trying to strike back. Finally, she killed the man with a flaming sword right through the chest.

Xenofos and Kolyey sorted things out between them, though there was some grumbling. They went below deck and discovered the cargo was full of undead, buried beneath oats and other goods. Using the fisherfolk’s pulley and crane secrets, they unloaded and burned it all.

Xenofos cast Detect Magic and found the cabin full of magical items—a codex, scrolls, clothing, and jewelry. Kolyey wanted to keep some of the items; Xenofos thought the texts should go to the Lhankor Mhy temple, while Varanis wanted them donated to a temple like Humakt’s for ritual destruction. They agreed to sort it out and packed everything up. Xenofos analyzed the codex and discovered it had a ward that would damage anyone who tried to read it.

Varanis chided him for examining the codex. As he packed, he made a list of the items: three magical rocks, an arm ring, some clothes, and a couple of small rings.

The man seemed larger than he appeared—something beyond his visible form made him heavier. After Kolyey succeeded in a ritual, the man was stripped of his clothing, revealing a larger form inside. They burned the body and clothing and took everything else back to Raus. Raus listened carefully to the report, taking meticulous notes—well-trained as a scribe.

Treasure:

Crystals – 3 of them.  Parchment work.  Two enchanted rings worth 400L each, which make hands look more elegant (+5% in any courtly setting for the jewellery), and which Varanis should probably not wear right now…  Parchment work, 12 wheels as a payment for copying rights.

EthElsora – old name for the Uleria figure (Also Mastakos’ Chariot)

Total is 346.6 L each. Varanis sends 312 L. to Boldhome Air Temple as her tithe, with a note for Tennebris. 

Xenofos has recurring dreams on Godsdays of climbing a mountain and trying to reach her love. He gets up and over the top of the mountain and is able to step up into the air, but the love he is following is always a bit further off.

• 1
  Special on Air
• 2
  The locals could tell that she was competent.
• 3
  With Berra.