Ur

For some backstory, see also Talathees#Original_Ur_Campaign_Notes

Characters

Saul, the barrel chested monk/bard, played by John.

Kojax, the humorless and disciplined swordmaster, by Jacob.

Academis, the wizened historian and dabbler in mysterious magics, played by Jess.

Andrew the enthusiastic engineer, played by Omega.

Fabian Maximillus the hanky-wielding aristocrat, played by Brant.

Treewalker the Pathfinder-Ranger elf, played by Brant.

Darnell Armand the oversized brawler from Zareph, played by John.

Angus the Highlander, played by Brant.

Story

To the Caskets

The party trekked east, acquired certain caskets, toured Osiris, and then came back to pursue their quarry, the legions of Branok who had previous sacked Talathees and then turned their attention north.

Pursuing Branok

With a group of dedicated sailors-turned-soldiers dubbed the Wolves, Kojax led the force on the trail of Branok's army after hearing that an ancient mountaintop alert system had been triggered for the first time in generations.

The Wolves passed through the Broken Lands en route to Druid Grove where they found hundreds of orc corpses stung by wasps, some also speared. There they met Faunus McClavie who told them of his master Rasha's successful attempt to repel Brokan's forces, and advised the party that the army now travels south, back towards Talathees to obtain passage by sea to Alathyth where Branok believes the Breastplate of Akhad resides.

Pursued by Branok

The Wolves traveled back through the Broken Lands (on a much smooth route advised by Faunus), had costly skirmishes with Branok's forces, and fled south towards Talathees.

After another costly skirmish and a week of travel across the cold brown hills, the party encountered the Cooper family, who had fled Talathees during the attack and were only now, some 7 weeks later, returning to the city.

Defense of Talathees

Upon arrival in Talathees, the party found General Veronus to have taken firm control of the city and was proceeding quickly with repairs, improvements, and fortifications.

As Branok's army approaches, Veronus is assassinated, Kojax skewers the half-orc known as Red with a crossbow bolt through the eye socket, and Colonel Flavius has a nervous breakdown, turning over his family treasure to Kojax.

Saul gives tells a powerful tale of heroism and vengeance from the city wall as a prelude to Brad's announcement of Veronus' death, Kojax's new role as commander of the city, and his own rank of executive officer (XO) to the Commander. The citizen soldiers accept the changes with renewed hope and pride, and preare for the onslaught.

A bloody battle follows, with the casketed warriors striking down orcs like so much cordwood, falling only to angry ogres. Andrew races from ballista to ballista offering guidance and repairs while Kojax and the Wolves hack through orcflesh and Academus causes disruptions, delays, and illusions to foil the enemies' operations.

In the end, Branok himself enters the blood-slick city, is injured badly by Brad's charging lance, unhelmeted by Academus' sorcery, and finally cut down by Commander Kojax. Branok's final words, though, are haunting:

	He that deceiveth The Master, 
	He that shall cause the blood of the Loyal to spill,
	This wretched soul shall perish in fire,

	The Master maketh great wonders,
	And maketh fire come down from the heavens in the sight of men,
	And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever,
	For the Master's power is complete,

	And they that deceiveth the Master shall perish in flames.

Academus... shall... suffer...

Abduction of Saul

For 17 days, the party engaged in the rebuilding of Talathees:

• Academus studied and pondered the recent events (and Branok's final words).
• Andrew advised the defense forces on additional defense preparations.
• Kojax brooded, planned, and signed paperwork occasionally, growing restless.
• Saul tended to the dead, and the bereaved.
• Brad took over all operational details of running and rebuilding the city.
• Fabian Maximillus negotiated government support for rebuilding his shipyard.

Then one brisk January morning, as Academus and Fabian made their way towards Kojax's simple apartment, a mad priest, foaming at the mouth, clawing his own chest raw, and dragging a diseased dog along, ran up to Academus and said, in a trance:

THE END DAYS HATH COME
WHEN THE MOON SHALL BE AS BLOOD 			
AND WATER AS THE VENOM OF THE ASP	 		
AND THE SEA DOTH BOIL, 					
AND DOGS BLEED INTO THE EARTH,			
WHILE  THE NEW MASTER STALKS,
OUT OF HIS MOUTH A SHARP SWORD GOETH,
THAT WITH HE SHOULD SMITE DOWN THE UNFAITHFUL,
AND HE SHOULD RULE THE NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON.....

The priest then spontaneously ignites from the inside out -- a sequence of events Academus recognizes as a sign of demons.

Simultaneously, an inn owner runs up to Academus from the other direction to announce that Saul was kidnapped in the night.

Pursuit of Saul's Captors

The party fans out to collect evidence, and is soon on the trail of Ace Braylee and his crew, whom they track to Camp Argent 30 miles outside the city. A violent altercation follows, but all combatants survive after Ace and others are gravely wounded throws in the towel.

Ace explains that his crew was hired by a woman named Katrina to kidnap Saul. Ace and his crew are carried back to Talathees to be imprisoned (but not before Fabian nearly burns the prisoners and the tavern down).

The party comes to learn that Katrina left (with a large wooden box) recently for the islands of the southwest aboard a trading vessel, and the party pursues aboard Fabian's pleasurecraft.

As they approach, the water seems to boil as they traverse a huge school of fish.

Academus summons himself a vision of Saul's whereabouts, and sees him crucified in a cave on an island.

At the first island encountered, the party learns that the merchant vessel belongs to one Ovid Battista, a shrewd and obese merchant with a penchant for pretty girls, who travels with a 4 huge lizardman bodyguards. His crew unloaded the planned shipment of tools and grains, and left with just one passenger, a beautiful scarlet-haired woman, and her cargo.

The next day, the party's pleasurecraft was boarded and inspected (and taxed) by Valenti Monrovia's men and informed that Battista travels west, towards the Isles of the Black Ether.

The next day, the party spots Battista's anchored ship and goes ashore to search for Saul. With no firm leads evident, the party is advised to consult the wise old hag Eminscu (accompanied by her troll servant Maleluca). After testing the party by telling her troll to slay them (and the troll being handily cut down), the hag informs Academus that he is both marked and warded ("some irony, yes?"), and provides directions to the Temple of the Cobra, where Saul is supposedly held.

The night, the party witnesses a group of 50-dark robed men standing in a 50-yard pentagram formation, black candles in hand, and chanting:

By those four animals that hold up the world itself,
And by the light and the earth and all its creeping things,
By the gates of Paradise,
By the six golden candlesticks, 
Audi ergo et time ergo,
Hear me now and be afraid,
Oh noxious spirit,
Oh destroyer of worlds,
Oh grand dragon of the underworld,
For it is I that summon and command thee....

In a short while, the chanting ends, and the acolytes progress in an orderly and silent fashion out of the clearing and the party moves in to investigate.

An Assassin Cometh

While scrounging, a fireball approaches, revealing itself to be a flaming demon of the Gortegag (assassin) variety. Both accompanying Wolves are seized with terror. Wielding a nine foot flaming scythe, it sets Kojax as its target, while four small gibbering 3-armed minor demons pursue Academus. Kojax defends with expert parries while Academus draws a magic circle to keep the beasts at bay.

In the end though, one Wolf is pierced through and subsequently beheaded, Kojax is felled by a mighty chop across the chest, and Academus' attempt to banish the assassin is too costly for his mortal frame to withstand, and he falls unconscious. The beasts make off with the Helm but do not harm the old man.

Assault on the Black Ether

The party rests the night and uses some of Terreth's powerful elven herbs to heal their wounds enough to push forward towards the Temple. The entry tunnel, 200 yards deep, slithers serpentine into the mountain, lit by slowly pulsating, humming blue stones every 10 yards, allowing mosaics and carvings of snake worship and human sacrifice to be seen.

An inner chamber, similarly lit, contains four priests, four lizard men, two podiums, an altar, a pit, a kettle suspended over crimson coals, a weapons rack, and a crucified monk.

The priests begin a lecture and issue their demands to Academis, to give up his knowledge concerning the summoning of a certain demon. The party opens fire with crossbows and the priests send in the lizardmen to slay the warriors. Bloody combat ensues; the party emerges victorious, though barely so, and sails back to Talathees, taking Ovid Battista's ship along with them.

Homecoming

Saul begins rebuilding the monastery and giving public performances of "The Rise of the Swordmaster and Defense of Talathees". Andrew works on a pistola-style crossbow with some success and romance with none. Kojax trains, broods, signs paperwork for Brad. Fabian attends to his business interests and shacks up with Penelope, the 16-yr-old daughter of a laborer. Academus heads to the Library of Leng to research next steps. All is quiet for several months, and Talathees is stable, growing, rejuvenated, optimistic.

Call for Help

Academus summons the party to Zogby via his Swift Tern Frederick. On the way, they stop in Osiris, get directions from Jamar the dockmaster, some intelligence from Damus concerning the proclivities of Abdul Mezetlan, who is a wealthy merchant with whom Talathees has some financing deals in the works. They dine at the royal palace of King Abdullah as diplomatic guests. Fabian dances the night away with various noblewomen, and finally gets along well with a servant girl Akila. Andrew disappears that night to the mansion of a noblewoman Febi Ebonique and her husband Zahur Ebonique.

The next morning, the heads to Zogby and arrives a week later, locates Academus and bodyguard Vulso, to learn that Academus has been advised that the only appropriate help for the Katrina-Helm situation must be had from a Demon Master, and that one resides in Sri. The party presses on to that great and mysterious city.

Exploration of Sri

A week later, on approach to Sri, they are surrounded by six war brigs and boarded by Captain Aishani and her men. Swami Kashyap is brought aboard, carried on a small platform as he chants and waves incense sticks during the ship inspection. The Swami pauses silently and gazes into Academus' eyes, but then moves along. The ship passes inspection and Aishani welcomes them warmly on behalf of Emperor Krishnashandra to the great city.

After a misstep into the rough part of town, the party makes their way to the palace and its 20' walls and is directed to the administration office to set up an appointment. Fabian schmoozes his way in, describes the situation, and an appointment is set with the Minister of State Yafeu Wamukoto in a marble outbuilding within the palace walls.

The Minister allows Academus (accompanied by 3 palace guards) to go visit the Demon Master Arch-Mage Batzharikahn, deep within a horrific labyrinthine dungeon, despite the mage having been declared an enemy of the state six months previous. Batzharikahn says he'd consider helping the party if they were to bring him the melon-sized ruby possessed by the dragon Methusela in the Hammu Range.

DragonQuest

Not so easily convinced, the party fans out to gather intelligence.

Academis devours knowledge at the Grand Library of Sri and sends a request for guidance back to the Mad Elders via Frederick. Kojax develops a concealed weapon and then visits the Black Lotus Inn to speak with Darpak, a footsoldier of the criminal underworld of Sri. There (after a few judiciously placed gold pieces), he learns that word on the street is that the Emperor had ambitions to raise an army and invade the Suijeng Basin and conquer the capital Vishnu. To that end, Arch-Mage Batzharikahn was developing potions that would allegedly create undying and perfectly loyal colonels for such an army and needed royal infant blood to do so.

Academis reports back the legend of Karunasindhu and an approximate location to begin searching for the dragon. Fabian spends some time at the Temple of the Eternal Flame and then meets with the Minister of State again, and then gathers corroborating information from Darmesh, a wealthy merchant.

Kojax and Fabian have a brief meeting with Captain Aishani. She reacts coldly to a question about operational plans of the army or any suggestion that Batzharikahn should be helped, and then with apparent bemusement to Fabian's whirlwind summary of the party's quest.

Meanwhile, Andrew studies at the Temple of Rati (goddess of pleasure).

Finally, Academis consults with Vanita in the deserted Temple of the Monkey and resolves that the trek north to go dragon-hunting is the best option. Kojax and company are skeptical but defer to Academis. Andrew is extracted from the Temple of Pleasure and the party rides north with haste.

Seven days on horseback into primeval rainforest on a well-traveled trade route along the banks of the great Nesratu River, the party is (incompetently) ambushed by Zemar Ajani and his crew of blowgun toting natives. A crossbow bolt from Kojax cripples the foolhardy bandit, and a perfect illusion of a giant cobra scatters the natives.

The party arrives in the village Jabalpur referenced both by Vanita and Darmesh and sure enough a statue to Karunasindhu is present. The local merchant/guide Debashish is quickly located, and hired to take the party across the river and into the Hammu Range to seek the dragon-worshiping tribes of the high country.

Five days ensue of close calls with forest creatures such as a bull elephant, a huge colony of 12" scorpions, an enraged tiger, and a 30' python, but the party eventually arrives at the primitive village in the cool mists of the cloud forest. From campaign notes:

Primitive village, dragon-headed totem pole, feathered headdresses, penis-gourds, 
eating grubs and leeches, topless native women, big nose-rings, toucans in twig cages, 
yummy dried iguanas hanging,  naked children playing, spears and blowpipes.

Academis meets with the village elder, and, through Debashish as interpreter, convinces the elder that the party has come to worship. Two native guides are assigned, and late that afternoon, the party arrives on the pebbly banks of a cool and misty mountain lake. Rounding the bank, they discover a cliff wall with a cave entrance in the lake. Academis, Kojax, and a Wolf wade in, neck deep, and enter the cave.

Within, they discover a huge internal cavern; Academis creates light, and they find three 3' broken eggshells, and the massive skeleton of an ancient dragon, apparently coveting a moss-covered melon-sized ruby. The 25' baby dragons now make their presence known, slithering and splashing in the water menacingly, and there is some debate about how to escape the cavern unscathed.

Meanwhile, out on the bank, Andrew and Debashish try to quell the concerns of the two native guides who now are objecting strenuously to the foray into the cavern, while Fabian heroically wades part way into the water, crossbow in hand.

Academis then casts magics which allow the group to incredibly walk on the ceiling. Intrigued, the three serpents emerge to observe, three great toothy heads gazing up at the upside-down party. Kojax approaches, lies prone, and aims carefully at the great unblinking eye of one of the beasts. His expert shot appears to strike true, and all three disappear into the deep with a startled thrashing splash. The party makes haste and exits the cave with ruby in hand, defying gravity.

The native guides have run off, with Debasish following, and the party rides like the wind down off the mountain and back towards Sri.

"Complicated Politics"

Upon return to Sri, the party is met by Captain Aishani at the gates, and escorted to the Security Ministry, past a civilian rabble-rouser calling for war upon Vishnu. Within the Ministry, Deputy Minister of Internal Security Bhanu Balachandra explains that the quest to seize the helm back from demonkind is shared by the government of Sri. He requests that the party turn over the ruby for transfer to the demon master.

The party refuses and dances on thin ice within the Ministry for over an hour, finally leaving with only a single spell and punch thrown -- combined with some tricky verbal convincing by Academis.

The party cogitates on the situation for a while, corroborates parts of the government story with Vanita, witnesses a woman being carried away by guards crying "My baby!", and finally resolves to continue the negotiations, this time with weapons bared. A tense standoff follows, with the government finally allowing Academis to personally deliver the ruby to the demon master.

After doing so, the government then proposes that the party go on a diplomatic mission to Vishnu on their behalf to quell rumors of war and ensure continued peaceful trade. The party agrees and leaves immediately.

The following dawn, the ship captain calls the passengers to the deck, where the 14-man crew now wield swords, and announces, "It gives me no great pleasure to do this, but I must insist that you disembark immediately." The ship is out of the sight of land, and the orange sky of dawn provides little warmth.

Coup d'état

The party engages Captain Taranga in a brief conversation in which the Taranga claims that his assassination orders are directly from Emperor Krishnashandra. Finally, Kojax can tolerate the disrespect no longer, fastdraws a throwing axe, and cripples the captain's right arm in a flash. Butchery ensues, Academus is gravely injured, and Andrew is beheaded in the mêlée.

In the aftermath, as next steps are being discussed, Captain Aishani's ship is spotted, and the deck is cleared of carnage in preparation for being boarded. A half-truth is concocted and Taranga stumbles through his role in the ruse while Kojax prepares for any additional blade-work needed. Aishani expresses her skepticism about the stated mission and the results of its execution while Habib professes his love for her in the background.

Aishani says she has two captives aboard and they turn out to be Craylock and Majesto, with whom Academis is allowed to meet. Craylock claims the Emperor already possesses the Helm of Akhad!

Academis meets with Aishani and they review the recent goings-on, including:

• Emperor's multi-year history of growing ambition for power and conquest
• Massive build-up of Sri's military resources, including R&D into a Sataghni (huge cannon)
• Demonmaster Batzharikahn's royal-infant-sacrifice activities
• Aishani's own infant's death 8 years ago
• Academis' observance of the arch-mage's comfortable quarters
• Aishani's observance of the emperor's new helm
• Aishani's skepticism that a just emperor would assassinate a foreign head of state unprovoked
• The emperor's sudden interest in the Emerald Emir, which is dedicated to locating Akhad's armor, and the emperor's recent acquisition thereof
• The fact that demons love war, chaos, and suffering (and hence would favor a Sri-Vishnu war)

They resolve to ally and consult with Minister of State Yafeu Wamukoto at his retreat 2 miles outside the city. Craylock and Majesto are released and the other ship sent on to Vishnu with a message composed by Aishani.

Wamukoto, Craylock, Majesto, and the party secretly plot a coup, in which Craylock and Majesto will assassinate the Minister of Security and his Deputy, while Aishani and the party infiltrate the palace in search of the Emperor. With Wamukoto's assistance in disguises, intelligence, and protocols, and Aishani's familiarity and recognizability within the palace, the party gets all the way to the threshold of the Emperor's quarters, guarded by two massive ogres.

Aishani attempts to persuade the brutes without success. Academis dazes one with a spell, and Kojax instantly slays the other with multiple blinding brain-scrambling stabs.

Aishani quietly enters, and after Academis casts a spell, the party is able to observe through the closed doors.

She says a few quiet words to the two human guards within, who then allow her to approach the Emperor's bed. Two concubines are curled up at the foot of the oversized bed, and Aishani convinces one to leave the room, but the other resists and Aishani pummels her into unconsciousness, awakening the emperor and amusing the two guards.

The party enters at this point -- the guards advise they wait a moment for the "cat fight" to conclude. The emperor blinks sleepily, unaware of his fate. Academis dazes both guards and approaches the helm. Kojax approaches the emperor and says (something like):

On behalf of people of Talathees, it is time for you to pay for Andrew's death!

Aishani plunges a knife into the shocked emperor's jugular, Fabian buries a crossbow bolt in his vitals, and then Aishani straddles him and plunges the blade into his face three more times. The emperor dies quietly, without any fuss or struggle. Academis grabs the helm and an expensive necklace and Kojax requisitions a magical broadsword from the weapons rack before the new Prime Minister enters the room and advises the party as to the best exit route.

Execution of the tactical part of the coup is complete; the Prime Minister next addresses the political part with great apparent success. The party (including Craylock and Majesto) are afforded proper foreign dignitary status once again, and Aishani herself (now Commander Aishani) offers to provide transport for the group back to Zogby.

The Helm's Promise/Hrothgar's already dead...he just doesn't know it yet.

The party went and attained council from the Mad Elders. They spoke of a way to rid the helm of evil, and that to guide them the party should find "One of brute, and one of grace," back in Talathees. Captain Aishani accompanied the crew back to Talathees on a Sri - Man 'o War ship.

Back in Talathees, the crew came upon an elf and a human on the docks. The elf, Treewalker, (and his brute henchman Darnell Armand), was looking for a man named Hrothgar. As he was asking for Hrothgar's whereabouts, he went into a daze and spoke of the Helm of Akhad, and vaguely about how its evil may be banished.

After settling administrative matters with Brad, the party forged north in pursuit of Hrothgar, who held both another piece of Akhad's armor and perhaps the key to removing the evil from the Helm of Akhad.

After more than a week at sea and a brief encounter with a sea monster (the party wisely fled), they docked in Argyle to re-supply.

Shortly after arriving, Treewalker spotted a vessel of Icelund, and while the rest of the party proceeded to acquiring supplies and finding a hot meal, he and Darnell approached... and attacked. Darnell was grievously wounded in the encounter, but Treewalker dropped the three Icelundic warriors and subsequently slit their throats and carved a "DEATH TO HROTHGAR" message on a table top within the lower deck.

The overt bloodshed summoned the flying gnome police of Argyle, who deftly took the survivors into custody.

Hours later, with the rest of the party pondering Academis' stomach-troubles in the Green Bean tavern, the accused were questioned by a mysterious cat-eyed legless mage. Treewalker claimed that his acts were not murder, but rather the opening volley of a war between elven Glimmorwood and the barbarians of Icelund. The mage was convinced, and offered the aid of Argyle once the military campaign begins in earnest. (Whether he speaks for the whole of Durkin is unknown.)

Seeking out Icelunders without their throats slit, the party ended up in front of a popular brothel, just in time to have a chat with a swaggering drunken Norseman. The party persuaded him (violently) to accompany them to the docks, whereupon they requisitioned the Icelundic vessel and sent their Talathesian vessel home and continued north.

After a brief stop in Saint Germaine to acquire Icelundic blond wigs and furs, the party pressed on to Saint Vincent, where the locals had no ill will for the Icelundic raiders, leading some to suspect collusion with the barbarians. A guide was hired, and the party continued north.

Upon docking in Icelund as their guide advised, and approaching a small village of primitive mud huts, the party was called upon to halt by the village leader and his burly guards. Niceties degenerated rapidly after one of the guards was inadvertently kicked unconscious by a party member's horse.

A brief argument ended when the village leader drew his 6' sword and threatened Treewalker's life. Darnell quickly attacked from behind with his closed fists, knocking the leader unconscious. This act provoked the guards into a berserker rage, and immediately committed them to slaughtering the party. Grievous bloodshed followed. Treewalker lost his left leg at the knee, and one of the Wolves was nearly killed. All the village guards were killed or incapacitated, and as Darnell looked up from the blood-spattered mud in which he sat, and a now-recovered Academis rode up to help, a village elder began applauding the slaughter. ...

An Elf Repaired, The Fall of the King

The village elder explains that Hrothgar, once a benevolent and wise leader, had become the 'Ice King', and the brutes with which the party tangled were a group of his enforcers who had claimed control of the village. With Darnell raging and moping in the background about Treewalker's severed leg, Kojax and Academis learn that druids in the forest may be able to help.

Across thawed and barren tundra, and then into the hills, the party journeys for half a day to the edge of a great conifer forest, peacefully blanketed by powdery white snow. Within, the 50 druids are met, including their powerful leader, Hundarwurt, and assistance to the injured is offered without obligation.

Hundarwurt and the druids completely regenerated Treewalker's severed leg, then begin the process of regrowing a left hand for Kojax.

The party also learns that this is where pregnant women are taken to give birth, and they are allowed to visit the womb-like cradle of soft fir boughs where 5 such women recline peacefully. One is recognized by Kojax from a prophetic dream he'd earlier experienced, and the party resolves to stay and await the child's birth.

During this respite, Treewalker attempts to teach Darnell the virtues of physical fitness, Darnell snarls impetuously at Kojax on several occasions, and Academis maintains magical wards to protect the child. When the babe is born (and its mother dies), Academis and Kojax place the Helm of Akhad upon its soft little head, causing both the helm and the child's eyes to become white. The child is blinded, and the evil is extinguished from the helm. The party offers to take this magical child into their care, and the druids agree.

As the party makes its way to the edge of the forest, Hrothgar and a force of 150 barbarians stand in a line outside the trees. The party (on horseback) debates their next move, and Treewalker insists that this is his chance to kill Hrothgar. He dons the ring of invisibility given to him by the mysterious mage of Argyle, approaches quietly, and begins a volley of arrows that causes the horde to rush forward roaring.

Academis summons an illusory great bear, which scatters half the horde, while Treewalker simply walks forward, out of sight. Several more arrows deal grievous injuries to Hrothgar and his bodyguards, until finally Treewalker is able to grab hold of his blond mane and hack his head from his body. Darnell races in pick up the triumphant elven warrior as the rest of the party moves back further into the forest on the druids' advice.

The druids' claim that the forest would prevent the barbarians from entering proves true, and as Darnell and Treewalker return to the rest of the party back in the forest, they witness barbarians torn limb from limb by the great trees themselves.

Trek Back to Talathees

The party leaves Icelund with the child (later dubbed Gideon by the Mad Elders) at once, drops off Silverbeard the guide in Saint Vincent, and sails on to Argyle.

While re-supplying the vessel in Argyle, Treewalker catches a buzz in a tavern and then visits the cat-eyed mage at the Argyle Port Authority Justice Department (?) to deliver the head of Hrothgar. The transfer of the bloody trophy becomes contentious after Treewalker calls the mage a "dog", but the encounter ends before tensions boil over.

Sailing onwards, Darnell is a pugnacious jerk, as usual.

The ship docks again some days later in Zareph, the great mining city and Darnell's home town. The party realizes they have neither the supplies to make the long journey to Talathees, nor the funds available to purchase them, and so their primary mission in Zareph is to sell unneeded equipment.

Being familiar with the city but also wanted wanted by law enforcement, Darnell dons a blond wig and directs the party to the pawn shop of Row Jimmy and his wife Beulah, and begins negotiations on behalf of Academis, who intends to part with a fine short sword. Treewalker is unamused by Jimmy's affect, tone, and words, and eventually buries a war arrow to the fletching in the shopkeeper's shoulder.

Beulah goes ballistic, Academis dazes the elf, Jimmy howls and falls to the ground, and Darnell steps between Beulah and Treewalker to prevent her fork-wielding assault. Gradually, the crisis is defused, and the transaction is completed, raising most of the funds needed to re-supply.

Darnell then leads the party to a different part of town, and his old Contact Luther Feingold, a government tax collector. There, an errand and associated payment are arranged, though Luther is perceived by all as being suspiciously slippery and nervous.

Supplies for the remaining leg of the journey are acquired, and during the loading process, a face familiar to Darnell appears on the docks -- Cliff, a henchman of the Bloody Knuckles organization, of which Darnell was once a part. Cliff explains the leadership of the Knuckles has been decimated since Darnell left 18+ months ago, and that Luther aided and abetted the slaughter. Cliff implores Darnell to re-settle in Zareph and lead the currently headless organization.

Darnell has a heart-to-heart with Treewalker and explains his torn loyalties. Treewalker, in spare yet moving terms, requests that Darnell carry on with the party rather than return to his sordid roots. While the party has a last hot and spicy meal at the Cherry Tomato, and Treewalker surveils Darnell, Darnell breaks the news to Cliff with a rough attempt at uplifting inspiration and then provides specific tactical advice on how to help the Knuckles regain their former infamy.

Days later at sea, the party is alerted to a mysterious fog approaching. They avoid it, but not long after, winged demons begin landing on the ship. One throws the Norse crows-nest lad to his death on the hard wooden deck; all are dispatched by arrows, Darnell's axe, and Academis' seemingly impenetrable magic barrier. The child, guarded by Academis' magic, is untouched below deck.

Arrival in Talathees is joyous. The town seems to be thriving, Kojax's military and public works improvements (and associated taxes) are being implemented smoothly, the crops are flourishing, and business booming. Brad and Aishani announce their engagement. Academis sends word of the babe to be known as Gideon, the newly pacified helm and the gauntlet to the Mad Elders via his familiar, Fredrick. All seems well....

From Branok's Ashes...

Shortly after arrival, Kojax meets with Brad and a newcomer named Angus. The remnants of Branok's army is active in the sparsely populated farms and ranches north of Talathees, burning homes and carrying inhabitants away to fates unknown.

Treewalker and Darnell Armand exchange terse good-byes with Kojax and begin the trek back to Glimmorwood, intending to check on the mountain-top alert system (Ur#Pursuing_Branok) along the way, leaving Talathees' leadership to formulate strategy.

Angus has specific knowledge of what appears to be the base of operations for this new malevolence, and a plan is developed to send two forces, a small tactical assault force led by Kojax and assigned to decapitate the enemy, and a larger force of infantry, cavalry, and archers to mop up the bulk of the enemy army.

While the army prepares to march, Kojax makes good on his commitment to Ace Braylee and his crew, and releases them from the jail. They are last seen boarding a merchant vessel headed to Osiris.

Brother Saul rides into town to receive a briefing on recent goings-on, and pledges to accompany the assault force.

Two long days' ride brings the assault force to the edge of the The Fangs and the boulder-strewn canyons near the enemy base. A vantage point allows the party to examine the army: some 200 orcs, a dozen or more ogres, and one mixed-breed humanoid who appears to command them.

A few stealthy assassinations of orc lookouts are required to get the party up to the entrance of the cave, which they approach after dark.

Kojax lights a torch and rushes in to spear an ogre sentry through the eye, instantly ending him, while Wolves dispatch the second sentry with crossbow bolts. Angus moves ahead, blade bared, past a boulder that nearly blocks the tunnel. Beyond, the half-breed leader stands beside a fur-blanket strewn slab of rock, grinning, naked, wielding a massive axe. Kojax and Saul nearby, Angus moves in to engage, and a few seconds later, incapacitates the brute.

Saul then notices there's an unconscious young women under the blankets who has been horribly mistreated. Wailing with misery as to her condition and the general state of savagery in the world, Saul tends to the girl's injuries. Kojax sends the attack signal to the larger force and Angus butchers the leader's fallen body in disgust.

From the ledge outside the cave, the party (minus Saul) watches the Talathesian force overrun and destroy the enemy with textbook precision and overwhelming force.

All captives are rescued, and the Talathesians sustain no serious casualties, aside from Brad, who was stabbed, thrown from his horse, and knocked unconscious. Despite his grave injuries, with a circle of Wolves and infantry looking on, Saul gives a short inspirational talk about Brad's former glorious deeds, and then miraculously awakens him, provoking hearty cheers and back-slapping throughout the force.

The proud and glorious victors march back to their home city, this particularly threat seemingly extinguished.

A Quiet Respite

The month of September is relatively quiet for the party.

Saul uses profits from the monastery brewery and volunteer labor to build a modest amphitheater in the streets of Talathese, and a thriving culture of debate and arts is burgeoning.

Kojax watches over the rebuilding of the armed forces and beginnings of political activities associated with the formation of a civilian leadership council.

Fabian Maximillus arranges shipments, calculates profits, and spends time with his new bride Penelope.

Meanwhile, Academis performs research in the Library of Leng and collaborates with the Mad Elders to reveal an alliance between the Black Ether, demon master Batzharikahn, and Katrina and her ilk. The child Gideon, capable of inoculating the evil from Akhad's armor is now their target, second only to the armor itself and those who seek it.

A Threat Renewed

Academis learns that Branok may have been right about the location of the Breastplate of Akhad, and on October 1st urges Kojax to personally visit Queen Wendella in Alatyth.

Two weeks in southern seas is uneventful, and after dropping Kojax, Saul, and two Wolves at the mouth of the Shining River, the ship moves on to pursue economic interests in Zareph.

A week's travel inland through primeval old-growth forest produces an encounter with elven scout Nienna and her crew of archers, who guide the party back to Alatyth. Greetings and formalities are exchanged with Lord Camthalion, High Councilor to the Queen. When the Queen floats in, Kojax tells of the last year's events, of sieges and demons and murder and artifacts, finally arriving at the specific reason for his visit: the Breastplate of Akhad

The Queen explains that just a few weeks ago, she had a dream that the artifact would bring harm to the Elves, and hence sent it away to be hurled into the Sea of Death by her three most experienced rangers, Orophir, Seregon, and Erendir. They were headed first to Llellywn, the distant Elven enclave in the high country near Heidelberg.

Also present in Alatyth is a hulking half-orc called Khazka. After some conviviality between Khazka and Saul, the pieces are put together. The wizard Marckall Coplonra, who Khazka is hunting for his own purposes, probably possesses both the Left Boot of Akhad and the Right Boot of Akhad and is currently tracking the Breastplate of Akhad. Hence, some common destinations and goals are discovered, and the group resolves to join forces as long as it is beneficial.

The next morning, as Lord Camthalion bids farewell and provides winter gear, miruvor, and lemas bread, Selakir Strongbow asks to join the group. Having learned of the dark forces aligned to reclaim the accursed armor, he has vowed to find his brother Orophir and ensure his safe return.

The group leaves immediately and a few days later is above the treeline and navigating a glacial ice-field in a blizzard when the ice worm attacks. One Wolf is knocked down, but the party otherwise makes short work of the beast.

Several days later, Academis sends Kojax a warning message: an attack is imminent.

Sure enough, the next night, two assassin demons plunge from the heavens and wreak havoc in the camp. Khazka is thrown to the ground and nearly stomped to death while Kojax engages the other demon with a flurry of flashing blades. In the end, injuries are minimal, and the huge flaming demons are dispatched.