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, they 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, as the Temples in New Pavis and elsewhere were open once more. Varanis entered the cave and meditated, with dance and song and 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, allies of the Straw Weavers, 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, the group reached the Zola Fel, noticing that it was infested with crocodiles. After a confusing discussion, they parted ways with the Impalas, who bounced onwards. The small gazelle riders were heading southward to raid the Morokanth and then move on to Sun County¹Information based on fumbled or failed communication rolls. 

The following day, they reached Ronegarth, where the 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 muttered at Varanis for speaking up before the Humakti was ready.

Kolyey, new to Ronegarth, observed that the guards were mostly hidden around the earthworks—likely for their own protection. They 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 they were given and the waiting beforehand,²Special 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.³The locals could tell that she was competent, but she did not learn much from them. 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 around for opinions on Eril. Xenofos was not very polite; Kolyey called him a typical officer, but admitted to not having met him. Varanis gave her standard response, that he was a great man and a Hero, although not necessarily a kind or gentle person. Daine decided that worship would be fine as long as there were certain stipulations, and Berra began the week-long ritual that would introduce him to the demigod.

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.⁴With 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 Airily decided that she and two of her companions could handle things. Berra was left with Daine⁵So the GM could GM, while Maalira stayed with the riverfolk⁶Because alas, busy RL.

Varanis, Xenofos, and Kolyey get carried down the river on a raft guided by newtlings. This allowed them to catch up to the boat with relative ease. Boarding the ship, they spoke to the captain up at the prow. The whole crew looked 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 the captain said was 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 Humakti struck out before the spell was cast but missed, giving him time to attempt his magic again. She fell under his spell and turned to charge Xenofos. They fought. Kolyey tried to kill the scribe, while Xenofos tried to knock the Humakti overboard.

Varanis, unaware of what was going on behind her, focused on the man in the cabin. She attacked, but her sword bounced off, while he worked on another spell. Finally, she killed him with a flaming sword right through the chest, just as hie magic grew to an apex.

The magic on Kolyey failed, and Kolyey stopped fighting Xenofos, though there was some grumbling and taking time to stand down. They went below deck and discovered the cargo was boxes and crates. Theyse were 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, the man’s 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. As Kolyey prepared his body for burial⁷Successful Prepare Corpse, she stripped him, 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. He had obviously been trained well 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
  Information based on fumbled or failed communication rolls
• 2
  Special on Air
• 3
  The locals could tell that she was competent, but she did not learn much from them.
• 4
  With Berra.
• 5
  So the GM could GM
• 6
  Because alas, busy RL
• 7
  Successful Prepare Corpse