Vagabonds of Murghabkanda - Revision history

Susie: /* Chapter 3 */

2015-01-21T20:08:26Z

‎Chapter 3

Skalchemist: /* Nonplayer characters */

2015-01-18T21:31:55Z

‎Nonplayer characters

Skalchemist: /* Campaign Background */

2015-01-18T21:29:28Z

‎Campaign Background

Skalchemist: /* Nonplayer characters */

2015-01-18T21:27:02Z

‎Nonplayer characters

Skalchemist: /* Nonplayer characters */

2015-01-18T21:26:39Z

‎Nonplayer characters

Skalchemist: /* The story so far */

2015-01-18T21:22:07Z

‎The story so far

Skalchemist: /* Nonplayer characters */

2015-01-18T20:53:50Z

‎Nonplayer characters

Skalchemist: /* Characters */

2015-01-18T20:53:20Z

‎Characters

Skalchemist: /* Characters */

2015-01-18T20:51:42Z

‎Characters

Skalchemist: /* Nonplayer characters */

2015-01-18T20:51:20Z

‎Nonplayer characters

@@ Line 189: / Line 189: @@
 After the performance, Atumaspa went off on her own to a quiet spot, only to be joined by a dwarf.  Looking at this dwarf, she realized this was none other than Mierim, also known as the Renderer of Aneran.  This Grand Master Mechanomancer had been a key ally of Cambyses the Magnificent in his conquest of Aneran, personally supervising the capture, death, and "rendering" of many elves into magical energy with her grotesque machinery.  Atumaspa made a secret whistle to call Jac over, while a brief conversation full of cruel threats and deadly innuendo ensued.  It seems that Mierim remembers Atumaspa as "one that got away", and is eager to ensure she goes to her final fate.  On her part, Atumaspa would like nothing better to see Mierim receive a brutal and final comeuppance for her crimes.  Mierim indicated she was representing Cambyses' interests in the Murghab River basin.  In fact, his pleasure barge was at anchor near Murghabkhanda.
-Jac and Atumaspa had a conversation after Mierim walked off.  Jac wanted to make an attempt to assasinate the dwarf, but Atumaspa counciled against quick action; they needed to learn more.  Also, she did not want Mierim to die unknowing or unaware of who had brought about her end.  Atumaspa needed to look in the dwarf's face as she died.  Jac followed Mierim and identified the dwarven home she was staying in.
+Hidden in the shadows in case Atumaspa needed sudden and violent assistance, Jac had heard the entire conversation. Jac and Atumaspa had a conversation after Mierim walked off. Jac swore to assist Atumaspa in her attempts to end Mierim, in light of the debt he owed her for introducing him to the Umbral Cabal. Atumaspa refused, claiming his allegiance on Elven pride alone. A heated debate ensued and Jac's thirst to avenge the elves came into the open. For her part, Atumaspa argued for honour and the need to maintain the nobility of the Elven spirit, and hoped to challenge Mierim in an open contest. Atumaspa counciled against quick action; they needed to learn more.  Also, she did not want Mierim to die unknowing or unaware of who had brought about her end.  Atumaspa needed to look in the dwarf's face as she died. Jac proposed an assassin's death for Mierim, insisting it was only paying them back in their own coin. Jac then implored Atumaspa to use her magics to entrance Mierim. In the end, the issue lay unresolved with each saying that they would consider further and revisit. Jac left thinking Atimaspa lacked the stomach to do what had to be done while Atumaspa perhaps questioned whether Jac was too willing, had sacrificed too much to the darkness for vengeance.
 Meanwhile, Nasrim noted the strange dwarf that all the others seemed afraid of.  But, Nasrim being Nasrim, she went about the more important task of celebrating the life of Zhubanysh, the unwitting hero of the bath nook whose post-mortem behaviour as a drain plug had saved the day.  She led a crowd of the younger dwarves, drunk and rowdy, up to the bath nook, accompanied by Rashanak.  On the way, Rashanak learned that Shabnam Not-So-Wise had been enquiring in detail while in Susara about the lizard-folk that lived to the south, deeper in the basin.  He was interested in their practices, their organization, their armaments, but strangely also in their diseases.  Did they have rashes?  Coughs?  Boils?  The young dwarf recounting this was an assistant to Farkhunda, the Master Hunter, who had been questioned closely by Shabnam in this absurd fashion.

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 |-
 |'''Mierim'''
-|Grand Master Mechanomancer, the "Renderer of Aderan".  Close henchman of Cambyses the Magnificent, and hated almost as much, if not more, by the Elven diaspora.
+|colspan="2"|Grand Master Mechanomancer, the "Renderer of Aderan".  Close henchman of Cambyses the Magnificent, and hated almost as much, if not more, by the Elven diaspora.
 |-
 |'''Zhubanysh'''
-|dead senior bath nook attendant.  Better not to ask how he died, or what happened to the poor wretch shortly afterward.
+|colspan="2"|dead senior bath nook attendant.  Better not to ask how he died, or what happened to the poor wretch shortly afterward.
 |-
 |'''Guzal'''
-|Younger bath attendant, mostly grief-stricken but also pretty brave
+|colspan="2"|Younger bath attendant, mostly grief-stricken but also pretty brave
 |-
 |'''Farkhunda'''
-|Master Hunter of Susara, and seemingly local expert on the lizard-folk
+|colspan="2"|Master Hunter of Susara, and seemingly local expert on the lizard-folk
 |-
 |'''Sukhrab'''
-|Master Mechanomancer of Susara, combination of mining engineer, alchemist, sorcerer, and priest in the mines
+|colspan="2"|Master Mechanomancer of Susara, combination of mining engineer, alchemist, sorcerer, and priest in the mines
 |-
 |colspan="3"|'''Crew of the Mining Barge'''

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 The characters are vagabonds, called ayyair in the tongue of Khorafan.  They are persons who seek out a life of adventure and hardship, relying on their own cunning and strength to make their way on the edges of what wealthier, fancier people call civilization.  They are guards for river convoys, odd-job troubleshooters for the small settlements that are sprouting up in the Murghab Basin, occasional policemen and brigands, and always on the lookout for a lost treasure or a lootable ruin.  They are appreciated and sought out when danger threatens, and shunned and reviled in times of peace.
-'''The Elves of Khorafan''' -
+'''The Elves of Khorafan''' - the Elves are wanderers, driven from their sacred jungles in Aneran by the depredations of Cambyses the Magnificent.
 === Linguistic Touchpoints and Names ===

@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 |colspan="2"|"the Cruel" to his subjects, satrap of the Khorafan province of Parsassus
 |-
-|Mierim
+|'''Mierim'''
 |Grand Master Mechanomancer, the "Renderer of Aderan".  Close henchman of Cambyses the Magnificent, and hated almost as much, if not more, by the Elven diaspora.
 |-
-|Zhubanysh
+|'''Zhubanysh'''
 |dead senior bath nook attendant.  Better not to ask how he died, or what happened to the poor wretch shortly afterward.
 |-
-|Guzal
+|'''Guzal'''
 |Younger bath attendant, mostly grief-stricken but also pretty brave
 |-
-|Farkhunda
+|'''Farkhunda'''
 |Master Hunter of Susara, and seemingly local expert on the lizard-folk
 |-
-|Sukhrab
+|'''Sukhrab'''
 |Master Mechanomancer of Susara, combination of mining engineer, alchemist, sorcerer, and priest in the mines
 |-

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 |[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/397301998352577620/ '''Cambyses the Magnificent''']
 |colspan="2"|"the Cruel" to his subjects, satrap of the Khorafan province of Parsassus
 |-
 |colspan="3"|'''Crew of the Mining Barge'''

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:22, 18 January 2015
Line 154:		Line 154:

	Why had the Khangua attacked? What was angering Nardaran, the spirit of that part of the river? And who were the shadowy forms seen just before the turtle attacked?		Why had the Khangua attacked? What was angering Nardaran, the spirit of that part of the river? And who were the shadowy forms seen just before the turtle attacked?
		+
		+	===Chapter 3===
		+	Zari stayed to keep Bakunawa quiet and pacified.
		+
		+	After arriving in Susara, the very first item of business was getting clean, as, let's face it, our Vagabonds smelled bloody awful. Fortunately, on the rocky cliff above Susara a hot spring fed bath nook had been carved into the rock, a public facility for any to use. So the Vagabonds made the climb up the dangerously steep steps to the well appointed and cozy nook to perform their ablutions. The nook was the size of a small swimming pool, with the hot mineral water bubbling up out of tiled opening into the tiled pool, then pouring over a lip down the side of the cliff.
		+
		+	On arrival, Rashanak promptly lifted some coins out of the strongbox kept by the nook attendants, while Nasrim distracted everyone with a song, because that's just what they do; it's old habit for them. While Nasrim was playing, and Rashanak was thieving, Atumaspa realized her old acquaintance Jacquinder ("Jac") was in the baths. The last she had seen him, ten years ago, she had just opened a portal for him into the planes of Shadow, and had warned off contact with the Syndicate of Shadows a.k.a. the Umbral Cartel. It turns out that Jac is also searching for Shabnam Not-So-Wise for his own reasons. After some discussion it was decided that they should collaborate.
		+
		+	Meanwhile, as Nasrim played her song, no one noticed that the water had turned black, black as the Nardaran river itself, and two of the attendants were attacked by strange vines coming up out of the opening of the spring. Jac showed a new trick, created a blade of darkness out of his own hand and slashing the younger attendant free as that young dwarf tried to block the opening with towels., but Rashanak was unable to stop the vines from squeezing the life out of the older, more senior attendant. Atumaspa quickly realized what was happening; somehow a spirit or elemental of the river itself had snuck up through the rock and was pouring out into the space; perhaps drawn by Nasrim's song? She quickly told Rashanak to plug the spring opening up somehow, as if it could be blocked the elemental would retreat.
		+
		+	Rashanak quickly grabbed the nearest thing that looked like it would fit into the opening. Unfortunately, that thing was the corpse of the older attendant. Wrapping the poor wretches head in a towel, he shoved him head first into the opening, with some gruesome sound effects. Jac hacked away at the vines, defending Rashanak in the process. With the opening stoppered, the elemental retreated.
		+
		+	They soon learned that the dead senior attendant was named Zhubanysh. The younger attendant, Guzal, was bereft. Shortly, the Master Mechanomancer of the mines arrived, in his iridescent green robes and golden vestments. He established there was no longer any bad influence in the place, and asked Atumaspa to meet him the next morning in the mines, to discuss these events.
		+
		+	Finally cleaned, smelling of mineral water and dwarven soap, the Vagabonds arrived at Nigora's chamber for the planned wake for young Zhyrgal, the crewmember of the barge who had died. Aslanbek was excited at the idea that so many interesting and august personages would perform in Zhyrgal's honor. Nasrim organized the performance, with Atumaspa tasked (and begrudging it) to recite a poem of Zhyrgal while Rashanak hummed an accompaniment and Nasrim performed an interpretive dance. Unexpectedly, Jac pitched in creating shadow forms on the walls with his hands. The performance came off very well; the only twist being Rashanak's part was so ludicrously incompetent that the dwarfs of Susara will long think of him as a buffoon.
		+
		+	After the performance, Atumaspa went off on her own to a quiet spot, only to be joined by a dwarf. Looking at this dwarf, she realized this was none other than Mierim, also known as the Renderer of Aneran. This Grand Master Mechanomancer had been a key ally of Cambyses the Magnificent in his conquest of Aneran, personally supervising the capture, death, and "rendering" of many elves into magical energy with her grotesque machinery. Atumaspa made a secret whistle to call Jac over, while a brief conversation full of cruel threats and deadly innuendo ensued. It seems that Mierim remembers Atumaspa as "one that got away", and is eager to ensure she goes to her final fate. On her part, Atumaspa would like nothing better to see Mierim receive a brutal and final comeuppance for her crimes. Mierim indicated she was representing Cambyses' interests in the Murghab River basin. In fact, his pleasure barge was at anchor near Murghabkhanda.
		+
		+	Jac and Atumaspa had a conversation after Mierim walked off. Jac wanted to make an attempt to assasinate the dwarf, but Atumaspa counciled against quick action; they needed to learn more. Also, she did not want Mierim to die unknowing or unaware of who had brought about her end. Atumaspa needed to look in the dwarf's face as she died. Jac followed Mierim and identified the dwarven home she was staying in.
		+
		+	Meanwhile, Nasrim noted the strange dwarf that all the others seemed afraid of. But, Nasrim being Nasrim, she went about the more important task of celebrating the life of Zhubanysh, the unwitting hero of the bath nook whose post-mortem behaviour as a drain plug had saved the day. She led a crowd of the younger dwarves, drunk and rowdy, up to the bath nook, accompanied by Rashanak. On the way, Rashanak learned that Shabnam Not-So-Wise had been enquiring in detail while in Susara about the lizard-folk that lived to the south, deeper in the basin. He was interested in their practices, their organization, their armaments, but strangely also in their diseases. Did they have rashes? Coughs? Boils? The young dwarf recounting this was an assistant to Farkhunda, the Master Hunter, who had been questioned closely by Shabnam in this absurd fashion.
		+
		+	The night closed with Nasrim cementing her position among the dwarves as a wonderful person, and adopted "sister-cousin", and Rashanak being the butt of many jokes. The sounds of the dwarves humming the praises of Zhubanysh filled the air above Susara from the bath nook.

	== Links ==		== Links ==

@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 |colspan="2"|mayor of Susara
 |-
-|[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/397301998352577620/ Cambyses the Magnificent]
+|[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/397301998352577620/ '''Cambyses the Magnificent''']
 |colspan="2"|"the Cruel" to his subjects, satrap of the Khorafan province of Parsassus
 |-

@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 |colspan="2"|mayor of Susara
 |-
-|[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/397301998352577620/ Cambyses the Magnificent (the Cruel to his subjects)]
+|[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/397301998352577620/ Cambyses the Magnificent]
-|colspan="2"|satrap of the Khorafan province of Parsassus
+|colspan="2"|"the Cruel" to his subjects, satrap of the Khorafan province of Parsassus
 |-
 |colspan="3"|'''Crew of the Mining Barge'''
@@ Line 112: / Line 112: @@
 |'''Zhyrgal'''
 |killed by Bakunawa, much mourned but little known
-|-
+|}
 === Creatures and Others ===

@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 === Nonplayer characters ===
-{|
+{| class="wikitable"
 |'''Shadee Thrice-Wise'''
 |colspan="2"|a very wise sage, currently residing in Murghabkanda.  Gave Nasrim his lute.
@@ Line 116: / Line 116: @@
 === Creatures and Others ===
-{|
+{| class="wikitable"
 |'''Bakunawa'''
 |a really big freaking turtle.  There should be a ritual to befriend Bakunawa, but it would require the help and/or knowledge of a Khangua Shaman

@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 === Nonplayer characters ===
-'''Shadee Thrice-Wise''' - a very wise sage, currently residing in Murghabkanda.  Gave Nasrim his lute.
+{|
-'''Shabnam Not-So-Wise''' - a not-so wise sage, student of the Thrice-Wise, currently missing somewhere in the jungles and swamps surround the Dwarven mining village of Susara
+=== Creatures and Others ===
-'''Nigora''' - mayor of Susara
+{|
+|'''Bakunawa'''
-[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/397301998352577620/ Cambyses the Magnificent (the Cruel to his subjects)] satrap of the Khorafan province of Parsassus
+|a really big freaking turtle.  There should be a ritual to befriend Bakunawa, but it would require the help and/or knowledge of a Khangua Shaman
+|-
-==== Crew of the Mining Barge ====
+|'''Figures on the Hillock'''
-'''Aslanbek''' - a dwarf, skipper of a mining barge taking mining equipment to Susara
+|there were four of them, one big and three smaller.  Nasrim attracted the attention of the big one for good or ill.  They were too far away to see clearly.
+|}
 == The story so far ==