Session Season 6, Prax 12

1629, Dark Season, Fertility Week, Godday

Dramatis Personae

Events

Varanis had wanted to worship Orlanth Rex. Maalira had agreed to follow, and Berra had offered to escort them. Berra had suggested that unit X11 divest himself of his armour. The end result seemed to be going cloaked, hooded, and without a helmet. The group headed out together toward the Temple Court. En route, five Sun Dome Templars popped out of an alley and ambushed them. They were after Xenofos.

X11 put his helmet on. Everyone else drew their swords—except Maalira, who hid behind the others, and Xenofos, who wanted to know what the fuss was about before untying the cords on his sword hilt.

Berra cast rune magic, and Varanis cast Thunderbolt, which pulverized two of the Templars, but the three remaining spearmen attacked. The one attacking Berra was stabbed. X11 struck another, who managed to parry, and Kolyey missed her target. Maalira tried to save the thunderstruck leader, Oria Indagos.

The templar, Oria, ranted about Xenofos’ Ulerian power fantasies, claiming they had forced the Count to prove himself. The Templars were taken as prisoners. The templar lady claimed Maalira’s protection.

The City Guard finally arrived, and Varanis explained what had happened. Despite her clear frustration, the Guard Captain confirmed that Varanis’ account was accurate. Varanis promised not to leave town. The prisoners were released, and the party continued to the temple area. After X11 asked about Xenofos’ need for a guard, Berra decided to take on that role, while X11 and Kolyey went exploring and Varanis worshipped. Maalira took the wounded to the hospital.

Kolyey and X11 did some grocery shopping. Their success was mixed. Kolyey noticed a dwarf following them when they changed markets. X11 wanted distance and direction. The other dwarf told Kolyey that the Pavis Temple wanted to speak with “the iron wearer.”

At the hospital, Maalira received some mild fan-girling. Her patients were taken off her hands, and the priestess asked if they should expect donations. Maalira was a bit vague.

Varanis had fans who wanted to take part in Orlanth Rex rituals, so she led them in worship. She did some politicking at the temple and spoke with the magnificently moustached, jolly fellow Goravan. Varanis managed to find Maalira in the crowd.

Goravan occupied someone else’s room and acquired their food—but alas, not their wine. For that, he had to step outside and relieve someone of it. He asked Varanis if she had been serious when she said she wasn’t performing Orlanth Rex ceremonies for Argrath, because it looked like usurpation. He also wanted to know if Maalira or her people had recently angered any Yelmalians.

At the library, Xenofos made a note about being attacked. He then went to worship. Afterward, he searched for sources in New Pelorian but couldn’t read what he had found. The librarian said they couldn’t open the codex but could read inside it anyway. It seemed to relate to the Middle Sea Empire—also known as the God Learners. The librarian had a scroll to show Xenofos, something about ogres. The man it had been taken from might have been a disguised ogre. The librarian asked if Xenofos knew anything about Ogre Island in the Big Rubble. He didn’t. Some God Learners might have taken refuge there and given themselves up to Chaos. The librarian asked if Xenofos wanted to take the codex back, noting that keeping it made the library a target. If Xenofos wished, forbidden books about the God Learners and Ogre Island would be open to him.

X11 and Kolyey spoke with a dwarf at the Temple of Pavis. The temple dwarf suggested that X11 divest himself of his armour and offered safekeeping for it.

At the Ulerian Temple, Xenofos and Berra had a quick chat about where she would wait, and then he went in to worship. He was confused about why some Yelmalians had attacked him. After various greetings, Priestess Arada came out and explained the situation: a civil war between two sets of Templars—Count Belvani and Count Vega Goldbreath. There had been skirmishes at the edges of Sun County.

The priestess offered herself as a Ulerian/marriage candidate. She believed it could help settle the conflict between the two counts. It was not the usual marriage contest. In the Darkness, she would propose and create a sun god. It would likely cause problems, as it would demonstrate that Yelm was not eternal.

Varanis was approached about X11’s armour and borrowed or bought armour from the Air Temple. She also learned that a Hero Quest or the Flintnails could probably help with her heroic armour. After some talk about how scary Berra was, Varanis suggested that Storm Voice Goravan could get some bards to perform some of the good Berra songs for him. Then Maalira and Varanis spent time people-watching until Berra and Xenofos arrived.

Xenofos didn’t have much success in worship at the Ulerian Temple. He and Berra headed to the Air Temple to collect Maalira and Varanis.

At Geo’s, X11 and Kolyey were relaxing when some Yelmalians entered. The inn fell silent.

Kolyey was asked if she was Berra. “No, but she’ll come here to kill you soon enough,” she replied. The Yelmalian took offense and demanded an immediate duel outside. X11 asked if it was necessary. The Yelmalian insisted it was. A ring was formed by the Yelmalians. X11 tried to ask for conditions and suggested ending the duel at the first hydraulic leak. The Yelmalian yelled for him to vanish from the square. The templar cast light magic at Kolyey’s eyes. Kolyey cast Sword Trance. The Yelmalian broke her sword and ran her through with his spear. Maalira healed her so Berra could chew her out. Captain Illaden handed out ransoms—for Berra, Maalira, X11, and Varanis.