Session 2 - Kohuru

My name is Kohuru. I am from the last tribe of the Hulathi where we have been keeping ourselves hidden for thousands of years….since the time of the Three Kingdoms. Rumor came to our enclave that a new generation was rising – a generation that knew little of the great Battle yet still strove against the forces of Chaos. That rumor drew me from our mountain fastness and to the Plains of Aeco.

I entered the village of Sentem and encountered several other Jackals – those offering their services to protect communities, slay beastmen, and do those harrowing tasks that other commoners won’t. This group of Jackals were comprised of two Luathi (one outspoken and the other reserved), a Trauj (with a pet wolf he kept calling Cousin), and a Hann of all things! After a brief dialog with the gatekeeper (who told us of the current bids available), we agreed to gather our forces and seek out a missing ingredient that the ruler of this village, Jepeth, needed for a final attempt to heal him.

On our way to Jepeth’s house, I took a closer look at my companions:

Dabar was the outspoken Luathi. Dressed in armor from helm to toe, he had a radiance of one touched by the Divine.

The other Luathi was Toara, a Loremaster. She was certainly more reserved than her clansman, but she seemed to be very astute, taking in the details of the people and buildings that we passed.

Melek was a beast of a man who constantly kept muttering and clucking his tongue at the wolf beside him.

And Arina was a Hann. She made an attempt to disguise herself with a hooded cloak, but with as tall as she was, it was all but apparent her origins.

Arriving at Jepeth’s, we met Arashad, his healer, and discussed the details of the two missing ingredients. She was quite kind and gave us as much information as she could on what she needed:

One ingredient was the heart of a rare green deer, the ayal. This animal has been hunted to nigh extinction by the beastmen who crave their flesh more than that of humans. Arashad supplied us with a ceremonial dagger and instructions on how to properly slay the creature while ensuring that it would reincarnate in the forest later in the year.

The other ingredient is a fragment of Asoa’s Stone – a piece of the Hannic Moon Road. This road only appears at certain times of the year, and there aren’t any known sections, so we’d have to seek them out at night.

We decided to go after the ayal’s heart first. Atash graciously gave us some Acacia Resin to aid us in our journey and requested that we also keep an eye out for lavona trees. Its resin has medicinal properties that she would appreciate having a supply of.

Leaving her place, we gathered our supplies and traveled along the road to the South East, headed toward Densem. We are hoping that we will find rumors of deer-sightings or evidence of their passing in the woods near there.

~~~~~~~~~

On our second day of travel, we crested a hill to find a caravan being attacked by a horde of beastmen! Torn between chasing down the single wagon being carried off or rescuing the men and women in the other three wagons, we threw ourselves into the fight near the three wagons.

This was our first time fighting together, and I think we have yet to find our rhythm, but the horde was driven off, and the wagons rescued. Despite our victory, we did not emerge unscathed. Two of those in the wagons were slain, and I must admit that I had over estimated my own prowess. Ashamedly, I was struck fiercely and lost consciousness.

Disoriented, I found myself standing before a wind blasted plateau. The light of the setting sun glowed like the red of a furnace behind me. The howling wind did nothing to mask the steady dripping noise of my blood slipping free of my mangled left hand to the black sand below.

Before me, slowly being freed from the rock face by the storm, is a block of blackest obsidian. The wind pulled at the earth, forcing it away to free what lay beneath. Slowly, more and more of the stone was revealed, the block was revealed to have raised sides on three of its sides. As length of the back was drawn forth by the wind, I finally saw it for what it was. A black throne. On the seat of the throne was a twisted crown of black iron, marked with runic inscriptions unfamiliar to me. In my mind, I heard a cold voice, cold with the chill of the grave, "You will take it, or you will kneel."

The searing pain of Acacia Resin, applied by Toara pulled me from that place. I looked around only to find that the skirmish was over.

Taking stock of my injuries, I was horrified to find that my left hand had been mangled beyond all use....just like in the vision. I don’t know if my injury was from the massive club the beastman was wielding or if it had stepped on my hand after striking me, but I am no longer whole. I will have to adjust to fighting with a single blade and hope to find a decent healer in Densem.

Session 2 writeup, Dubar

Tonight marks the beginning of a new ACKS campaign set in +John-Matthew DeFoggi's bronze-age fantasy world of Kalypsis. I've been raring to play a full campaign of ACKS for a long time now, so I'm pretty excited about this, and the first session was about as fantastic as it could have been. We miss you, +Byron Bose!

I expect this to be a long campaign, and as usual I'll be writing it up as we go (hopefully accompanying each writeup with something special from an in-game perspective, as here). We're playing using the playtest rules for the ACKS Heroic Handbook, as well as some classes from the core book and Player's Companion, if you want to follow along at home.

A brief note on the cultures referred to below: Luathi and Trauj are both human cultures. Hulathi are the "men of silver," a sort of high-men culture (and the analog of the Auran Empire Nobirans). Hann are elves - or at least, elf-ish.

The Plains of Aeco: Session 1 - A Helping Hand

1st of Aecorach, Year of Falling Stars. 9th year of Sar Nasim’s reign in Ameena Noani

The five of us met in Sentem, a largeish village/settlement in the middle of the Plains of Aeco. Though each of us had come for his/her own reasons, all of us were seeking work as "Jackals" - the local slang for itinerant mercenaries and adventurers. The rumor was that one of the sons of Sar Jepeth, the lord of Sentem, was paying good coin for Jackals willing to kill beastmen, hunt the walking dead, and run more... esoteric errands. We are:

Dabar, Luathi Paladin and Bulwark of Alwain - Once a lowly shepherd from Densem, Dabar was given armor, a spear, and other blessings too by a messenger of Alwain, and commanded to take up those arms in the service of Law. Played by yours truly.

Kohuru - a Hulathi Mystic and Aspirant - Having been trained in the ways of the last remaining 'men of silver,' Kohuru descended from the distant mountains to see for himself the evidence of rumors that the age of Chaos had passed. Played by +Nick Johnson.

Arina, a Hann Spellsinger - One of the first Hann to have entered Zaharets in ages, Arina has come to the Plains of Aeco seeking rumors of a fragment of the ancient Hannic moon-road. Played by +Sophia Grace.

Malek Bear's Son, Beastmaster - Strange even for the Trauj, Malek was raised by bears. Actually raised by bears. He is accompanied by his wolf, Cousin. Played by +Benjamin Feehan.

Toara the Learner, Luathi Loremaster - Toara is a good-natured, bright-eyed young Loremaster, come all the way from Ameena Noani to learn what secrets are hidden beneath the Plains of Aeco. Played by +Jessica Feehan.

We had heard that the Gerwa named Ba-en-Nafer would be the person to contact about work, and luckily we found the dark-skinned man sitting in the gate of the village, helping the village elders adjudicate matters of property disputes. After waiting our turn to speak to him, we learned of three possible tasks for which the son of the local Sar would be willing to pay us: - Bounty hunting of the Beastmen near Bar'tak Kentak (worth 40 GP for anyone who came back alive). - Investigating rumors of the walking dead near the ancient fortress of Orsem Val (worth 80 GP for the whole party). - Working to procure rare ingredients for the local Loremaster, a Luathi woman named Arshat. These ingredients were needed since Japeth, the local lord, had been afflicted with a dread illness. Arshat had been working for some time to concoct a cure based off an ancient Hann tablet, but she still needed two extremely rare ingredients: the heart of one of the green deer of the Aeco Wood (deer which, if they give their hearts willingly to their hunter, will reincarnate again the following year) and a piece of the ancient Hann moon road, said to have fallen somewhere in the A'hule Asa mountains to the north. There was no fixed price on this quest except to say that we would be "greatly rewarded."

After some discussion amongst ourselves, we met with Arshat, and learned of the ceremony (and acquired the knife) necessary to slay the green deer properly. Then, after a bit of preliminary shopping, we set out towards Densom, following a well-worn track through the plains of Aeco. It would take us a day and a half to reach Densom, but we had not traveled far before we came upon a caravan that had been ambushed by huge, hulking beastmen, led by an especially ferocious Beastman chief. 8 beastmen where attacking 3 wagons which had been circled, while another 6 beastmen were already some way off with another wagon. Dabar's righteous spirit rankled within him to see the creatures of chaos plaguing the good Hulathi merchants and farmers, and as he readied his spear for battle he made this prayer:

"O great Alwain, you who led me from my sheepfold into the sacred gove, who hung these arms upon the mighty cedar, who wreathed his messenger in cloud and by his hand blessed these limbs to ward them from blade and pestilence, speed now my spear to do your will. If you grant me victory this day I will offer upon your altar three yearling rams and three sheaves of barley, and I will pour out a votive of wine to you upon this field of battle. Lend strength to my arm, Giver of Law."

Charging forward, we attacked the nearest group of 8 beastmen, Dabar slaying one with his spear on the initial charge. There were a few rounds of tense combat, with the farmers defending themselves (felling two of the beastmen, but also suffering three casualties in the process), and Melek and his wolf Cousin charging into the very thick of the fray. Arina peppered the beastman leader with arrows while Melek and Dabar challenged him head-on, cousin wounding the champion badly. Even the loremaster Toara got a hit in, striking one of the beastmen between the eyes with her staff and slaying it with a single blow! Kohuru faired less well, fighting valiantly and even going into a battle-trance before a series of heavy blows (and a fumble) stretched him out on the sward.

Arina stepped in to heal him, spreading acacia sap over his wounds to close them. He was saved, but his left hand was irreparably crushed - a particularly heavy loss for a man who had wielded a pair of twin blades. But the beastmen had suffered heavy casualties from our party and from the farmers, and now began a fighting retreat toward the wood. Exulting in his victory, Melek charged their leader again, who met him this time head-on with his mighty horns, stretching Melek out on the ground. Dabar shouted as he charged forward, cleaving the leader's head from his shoulders in a single blow, and the remaining beastmen fled. The day was ours.

As Arina saw to Melek (who it turns out had only lost a couple of teeth), Dabar first used Alwain's gifts (his Lay on Hands ability) to restore Kohuru, then placed the beastman champion's head upon the tip of his spear and poured out a Votive offering to Alwain...

The Battle-song of Dabar, Bulwark of Alwain

Alwains' servant was a shepherd -
kept a flock of grazing she-goats,
tended ewes among the cedars -
When there chanced a kid to wander
far from safe and verdant pastures
to a grove of ancient cedars.


In a grove of ancient cedars
Alwain's servant came a-wandering
seeking there a bleating she-goat.
In a grove of ancient cedars
there was hung the ancient armor
blessed by Alwain, hung for ages.


"Take the armor, holy shepherd,"
so the unseen one commanded,
filled the grove with smoke and fire.
Then he blessed the hero's body,
warded from it blade and sickness,
hallowed by the hand of Alwain.


Now that Shepherd swears to slaughter
Three young rams upon your altars
Sheaves of barley, burning votives.
These my vows, and I will pay them,
Only give me help in battle,
Only guide my heavy spear-shaft.

Session 2, Arina

The five adventurers find Ba en Nafer, a man with white hair and dark skin, in the town square settling a dispute.
Arina stands nearly a foot above everyone else in the crowd but one. She is in a hooded leaf green cloak, and carries a bow and a gnarled oaken quarterstaff. Lavona carries a book and looks eagerly from face to face. Malak, dressed only in a skin loincloth, has his wolf by his side whom he calls Cousin. Dabar stands in his bright armor, a bastion of Truth Justice and Righteousness. Kohuru, stands a head above the crowd, and even a bit taller than Arina.

Kohuru

Dabar, Bulwark of Alwin

Malek

Ba-En-Nafer asks what the five are in town for, and tells them of some difficulties the town is having. He offers:
80 gold Orsem Val and prove that it is free from the dead,
scout out Bar'tak Kentak--40 gold apiece for those that make it back,
 ingredients for Nabal's Cure are worth hundreds apiece. Arashad is the woman to talk to about it. The company decides to help the leader of the town by finding the cure to his illness. .

Dabar knocks on the door with the hilt of his spear and Arashad answers. She is glad for help finding the ingredients. At the start of the year, during the sacred times, Japeth fell ill. He is not young--but neither elderly. She was unable to do anything to help. He is withering away, and the best she can do is keep him comfortable. Even Nabal's prayers had no effect. As part of the rennovation two months ago Nabal found scrolls for the driving away of the spirits of disease. We have been gathering the ingredients ever since. All that are left to recover are the most difficult ones. The heart of a green ayal. The Aco deer are very rare, and special to the woods. They are prized by the beastmen. I'm told that if the need of the hunter is great and the correct beast cut is delivered, the deer will return in the new year. There is a prayer to Alwayn--" She pulls a long narrow blade from a drawer, "You are to say the prayer, explain your need, and the ayal will bare it's breast to you and you have one chance to strike. If you do it will be reborn later in the year."

Arina and Kohuru reveal themselves to the others, to the surprise of the others. Arashad seems more hopeful of the outcome of their mission. She gives the tablet with the prayer and the dagger to Arina, along with four doses of acacia resin. It comes from a plant called  Lavona, it has resin that can be chewed like gum. It can be burned as an incense to ward against evil spirits, or chewed to neutralize poison.

Lavona

The party quickly purchases supplies, and Twara attempts to cast a ceremony into a trinket but fails and is unable to use magic until she purifies. and heads toward Desim. As they are crossing the plain they find three wagons circled and being attacked by 8 beastmen. 9 Luathi are desperately trying to fight them off, while another 6 beastmen are dragging a fourth wagon toward the south.

Dabar says a prayer as he readies his javelin. Malek sneaks up to a nearby beastman and attacks it, but fails to do any damage. Dabar takes advantage of the distraction and drives the spear through the beastman. Kohuru spins in with swords flashing and strikes two mighty blows to another beastman while one of the Luathai takes another one out with a spear. Arina sends an arrow speeding at the leader, and it buries in his chest. He pulls it out and gives a guttural shout as he bites off his own flesh from the barbed tip.
A beastman attacks Kohuru with a small tree and he looks like he is about to fall, but instead keeps his feet and remains. He moves in with his sword, and the beastman throws him off kilter with the tree.
Twara charges in with her staff and tries to beat the beastman. He turns and snarls at her as she lands another hit with her quarterstaff and there is a crack as his skull breaks. Malak distracts the beastman leader and Cousin, Malak's dog, rips at his throat. Dabar charges him.

Kohuru is attacked once more by the tree-beastman and crumples to the ground. Arina hurries to him and applies the Acacia resin. As he comes to she realizes that his hand has been crushed. He is dying.

The rest of the party hurries after the now retreating beastmen. Malak first, but not fastest. The beastman leader turns and grabs him by the arms and headbutts him. Dabar is just behind him, and shouts, "Malak, No!" There is a swift glimmer of deadly bronze like a sharp, dark, deadly sunset.

Dabar lays hands on Kohuru as Arina heals Malak with some acasia resin--he has lost a couple teeth. She is able to heal two of the wounded commoners also.

Note: Remind Dabar to buy goats back at town. Sacrifice time.