The Chronicles of Kulgar Hakonson
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The Chronicles of Kulgar Hakonson |
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[Friday 16 April 1999] [p498-502] |
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02 Feb 08 (CY 584) cont: Greyhawk:
After eating a meal in the common room of the Silver
Unicorn, Thar returns to his room and rests in the chair as Circh continues
to sleep in his bed. The half-elf awakens in the middle of the night
when Circh bolts upright, gasping. She is bewildered and alarmed
and fumbles around a bit in the dark as she sits up in the bed.
"You should rest," Thar states.
Circh is surprised to hear the half-elf's voice
and freezes in place. It's pitch black and she cannot see at all.
Thar can, however, see her with his infravision. He again suggests
that she lie down and get some more rest.
"Where's the sword?" Circh asks.
"I have it." Thar states.
Circh sighs and relaxes. "What happened?
I remember Golrart doing a number
on me..." She lies back down and winces in pain after resting her
arm on her bruised forehead. Thar suggests that she eat some food
and rest. Circh only mumbles, "I'm not hungry...", and a few moments
later she is asleep again.
03 Feb 08: Morning:
Thar goes downstairs before Circh awakens (locking the room door from the
outside). He rides to the Perith office located on the wharves and
asks
if there is a boat headed across the Nyr
Dyv to Leukish. The
employees explain that they have only a small ship here which is to be
used for escape if the city is besieged. Thar returns to the inn
and asks the innkeep for enough dry rations for an overland journey to
Leukish. He spends a total of 51.4 gp for 2 weeks of food and grain
for their horses and then returns to his room to check on Circh.
He finds that she is now awake.
"Where are we?" she asks.
"Greyhawk,"
Thar replies, "and we have to leave." He suggests that she eat so
that they can leave as soon as possible. She finally consents and
eats some fruit and day old bread.
"Where are the others? What happened?" she
asks.
Thar explains very briefly, "We managed to defeat
the automation. That's all I know. Let's go."
They leave the inn on horseback, but Circh turns
westward while Thar is facing east. A discussion follows. Circh
explains that she promised Walc that she would carry the golden sword to
Ashell.
Thar explains that he needs to return to Rel
Mord to find the others. Circh insists that she must take the
sword to Ashell, but Thar explains that they need the sword to defeat the
Disciples
of Desolation.
When Circh continues to insist, Thar explains that
he needs to bring the sword back and that he will help her return the sword
(if necessary) after he finds out what's happened to the others.
He further explains that traveling west from here is suicide, for the enemy
army is out in that very direction. Ultimately, as Circh continues
to resist, Thar is forced to point out that he has the sword now.
He adds that she can go where she wants to, but he is intending to take
the sword back and find the rest of the party.
Circh finally gives in.... reluctantly though.
"What's your plan?" She asks.
Thar tells her that they must return to Rel
Mord, find the others, and then plan another safer route westward from
there. He adds that he wants to find out if Othello and Merrill were
able to keep Kul alive.
This seems to strike a cord and Circh looks up at
him. "all right... we'll go back." She continues to mutter
a bit as she mounts up.
Thar leads her east. They make a side stop
at the Blacktide Pub
so Circh can retrieve her few possessions and then proceed on. They
pass many beggars and poor folk as they continue on towards the east gate.
Thar is watching out for enemies and he spots a tunician outside a tavern
talking to someone, but the tunician doesn't notice the half-elf.
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Meanwhile, Thar and Circh pass through the gate, leaving Greyhawk behind. They manage to get through the tent-city and head east on the open road. Thar takes his time, now that the chase is over. Circh passes him, though, and takes the lead as Immelschtipp travels fast and she has to reign him in often just to slow down the heavy war-horse's pace.
04-06 Feb 08: Thar and Circh continue on.
07 Feb 08 cont: Kul and company travel all day long. Everyone is very quiet and somber.
Meanwhile: Thar and Circh also continue on.
08 Feb 08: Both groups continue traveling all day.
09 Feb 08: Late Afternoon: Thar spies people ahead in the distance
and points out to Circh that the rest of the party is ahead. She
peers at the horizon, but then admits that she cannot see anybody.
Soon, Kulgar spots two riders approaching on the
road ahead. It is Thar and Circh. Everyone halts.
A few moments of silence pass until Kul speaks, "What
in hell have you two been doing?" Thar responds that they have been
riding mostly, and then dismounts. The half-elf suggests that they
set up a campsite. Kul grunts and dismounts. The barbarian
then proceeds to tend to the horses while the rest of the group sets up
the campsite. As Kul brushes down one of the horses, Thar approaches
and asks about Berlundtul,
who is obviously missing.
"He's dead. A vampire killed him." Kul
answers tersely. The barbarian continues to brush the horse and Thar
leaves.
Meanwhile, Walc greets Circh. "Do you have the sword?" he asks her. Circh tells him that Thar has it and Walc looks much relieved. Walc approaches Thar and the half-elf returns the golden blade of St. Edric to the knight.
Once the campsite has been established and the horses
cared for, Kul finds that the entire party is gathered around the campfire.
He decides to take the opportunity to address the newly reformed group,
intending to ensure that everyone shares the same goal. That being
the finding and defeating of the Disciples
of Desolation and hopefully thereby preventing the construction of
the bone arch (which Kulgar saw through Olk's
mirror on 11 Mar 06[p368-369]).
He believes that everyone present (with the likely exception of Dalfholt)
is required for what is to come to be successful. He does expect
a few arguments (especially from Walc and Circh, the group's two most outspoken
members). He decides to begin by going around the group and asking
their opinions...
He begins with Thar, hoping to garner some initial
support/momentum. "Thar, you believe that we are all needed for the
battle with the Disciples, right?"
Thar, however, surprises the barbarian by answering,
"No."
Kul is thrown off guard and stumbles onward after
an awkward moment. "Well, what do you believe, then?"
Thar explains that it is his belief that the four
Slayers
are necessary. The poems and prophecies that they have come across
have all implied that the Slayers are instrumental in what is to come.
He states that he is, of course, going along for the ride, but he reiterates
that it likely won't matter if he is there or not.
After listening
to Thar's explanation, Kul half-heartedly attempts to continue around the
group with his questioning. He asks Othello his opinion and the monk
replies by saying, "If you cut off the dragon's tail, you will only make
him angry. You must strike the beast in the heart to slay it."
Kul has become somewhat confused and is now distracted from his original
purpose.
The conversation soon turns to the question of what
to do next. After some discussion (and consultation of Thar's map
of Eastern Oerik), Kul and Thar finally agree that they should circle
around to the east side of the Nyr
Dyv and come into Iuz from the
north-east (traveling through the Bandit Kingdoms and then either through
or around the Fellreev Forest). Thar even goes so far as to suggest
that the group enter Iuz through the Cold Marshes, but Kul is dead set
against this idea, as he has a superstitious fear of that dreadful place.
Finally, at the end of the conversation, it is agreed
by all that watches should be kept during the night. Kul volunteers
to take the first watch and Thar claims the last, early morning watch.
As the others prepare to sleep, Thar takes Strys
aside, asking "Are you all right?"
"I'm all right," she replies, without looking at
him. She begins to slowly look upset, though. "He's gone..."
she weeps.
Thar tries to comfort her and she eventually explains
what happened, showing him the bite marks on her neck. Her weeping
eventually ceases as she proceeds to explain the facts to the half-elf
with her cloak pulled tightly around her.
Meanwhile, as Kul begins his watch, Circh sits and
talks with him. She admits that she is confused, explaining that
Walc asked her to take the golden
sword of St. Edric back to Ashell.
Why did she need to bring it back now? Kul explains that Walc had
said that he entrusted her to take the sword back only in the event that
he should die in the battle with the centaur golem. The barbarian
then adds that he's mad at her for taking off without a word about what
the hell she was doing, thereby forcing the group to chase after her.
Circh apologizes to him and explains that Walc made her promise to take
the sword back for him, never specifying that she should wait.
Kul speculates that there was probably some miscommunication
between her and the knight and then explains that he and Thar believe (from
the Host's reading) that St.
Edric's sword will be needed during the upcoming events. He further
explains that he doesn't believe that Walc clearly grasps the whole situation...
that the old man is obsessed with completing his quest to return the sword
without seeming to consider the threat of having these Disciples
loose in the world. Kul thinks that they should use the sword to
kill a few Disciples first and then return it afterward. Circh is
clearly dejected. She explains that for once, someone trusted her
with something and now she discovers that it seems to have all been a misunderstanding.
Kul finally asks about her bruised face and she
explains that she was beaten by Golrart,
a man who works for a block boss named Abi-Aduse.
She then explains that she must return to Greyhawk
for revenge, but feels that she cannot ask for Kul's help because of the
way she treated him after the last time he and Thar helped her in Greyhawk
[during "King for a Day"]. Kul is somewhat
surprised to hear about this again here and now and remarks that it is
water under the bridge.
During their conversation, Kul notices Strys just
outside of the campsite. She seems to be talking to someone else
obscured from his view... or perhaps just herself.
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[Saturday 10 July 1999] [p502-506] |
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10 Feb 08 Early Morning: Clear skies and melting snow. Thar performs some light weapons dancing during his watch. This is actually the first time in a while that he has had the opportunity to meditate in this fashion. He takes great care not to aggravate his wounds from Rel Mord, as none of them have properly healed yet.
After the others awaken, the half-elf talks to Merrill about channeling. Thar describes a theory that he has been dwelling upon. He suggests that the four Slayers might share a connection to each other similar in manner to the channeling used by the Disciples of Desolation. Kul, listening nearby, shifts uncomfortably and groans at the direction that this idea is headed in. Thar reminds the barbarian that he has frequently stated that the Slayers felt something upon meeting. This implies that they share some form of bond. Thar believes that the Slayers likely augment each others own inner strengths when they are together. If this is true, then the three winds mentioned in the Host's poem, "The Four Winds", would refer to the bond that the four Slayers share. Kul still doesn't like the sound of this "channeling", but Thar explains that it would not necessarily be magic in nature. Merrill agrees and Kul relaxes a bit. Thar likens the bond to a three-sided pyramid, with each of the four points representing a Slayer. Any one Slayer enjoys a connection to the other three through only three "connections".
Kul and Thar talk privately. Kul explains that Circh wants to go back to Greyhawk for revenge. Her mind is apparently made up. Kul is not comfortable letting her go alone, though. Thar decides to talk to Circh and find out how committed she is to this plan. He doesn't think a side trip to Greyhawk is a particularly good idea.
First, though, Thar decides to talk with Merrill
alone. He tells her about his visit with Polk
and the discovery that there is apparently a spell hidden within the Prism
Staff poem, "I Am". He also mentions the
story about the mage (Lara) who supposedly
unraveled the spell within the poem and was driven insane by the knowledge
contained therein.
Thar believes that the Prism
Staff could be invaluable in their struggle against the Disciples,
but finds it frustrating that the Company might not be able to utilize
it. He likens this to carrying a siege weapon that no one knows how
to use. He expresses his disappointment that the staff itself is
apparently non-magical and briefly entertains the idea that if the staff
had been enchanted then they could have at least destroyed it at the base
of the bone archway. This would possibly have caused a massive blast
that would have hopefully destroyed the archway. Now it is evident
though that the staff is not even magical, so the option of destroying
it has been taken away from them. It seems that every time the Company
comes close to a possible tactic, they always seem to be missing one critical
piece of information or equipment. The bottom line is that the Company
can't ever get to where they want to go. It is very disheartening.
Moving on, Thar shows Merrill the two powders that he obtained from "Splint" in Greyhawk on 02 Feb 08. She examines the powders briefly and identifies them as a powerful explosive mixture called "smokepowder" (explosive only after they are mixed together) [this is the same mixture that caused the explosion in the bandit camp back on 24 Jan 03 [p195] when Nollin threw a chest containing the powders into a fire]. Thar and Merrill return to camp and the Company eats breakfast.
Thar, Kul and Circh sit around the fire eating their
breakfast. Thar talks to Circh about her intentions and Circh explains
in no uncertain terms that she plans to return to Greyhawk and exact revenge
upon Golrart for his mistreatment of her on 02
Feb 08 [p495]. There seems to be no way
to change her mind.
Thar informs Kul that the barbarian apparently has
a nickname down on Wharf Street in Greyhawk.
They call him "The Butcher". The half-elf is quite amused by this
discovery, but is disappointed at Kul's rather nonplused and actually confused
reaction.
Kul, not quite understanding (he's never heard of
"Wharf Street"), asks, "Who are 'they'?"
"The scum of Greyhawk,"
Thar replies.
"Oh, the nobles?" asks Kul, trying to make a joke.
In truth, Kul does remember the bloody battle on the wharves of Greyhawk
almost two years ago on 17
Mar 06 [during "King for a Day"] when he
must have earned the name by butchering many of Kyle's
rogues. At length, he concedes that the irony of being labeled "the
Butcher" (the nickname of one of their now vanquished tunician enemies)
is somewhat amusing, but Thar had hoped for a more emotional reaction.
As their conversation comes to a close, Thar decides
that he will walk away and leave the final decision of whether or not to
follow Circh up to Kul. The half-elf then rises and walks away to
check on the horses.
Kul and Circh look at one another. Kul explains
that he knows that Circh can take care of herself, but still, he wants
to help her out. He looks about a bit uneasily, knowing that some
people (namely Walc) won't be very pleased with his decision. But
finally he announces that he will go along.
"Oh! I knew you'd come!" Circh cries
as she throws her arms around him in excitement.
After finishing his breakfast Kul stands, "Let's
go people... time to get moving." Once everyone has gotten their
gear together and is ready to leave, he announces that they will be riding
to Greyhawk.
When Walc asks, "That is in the opposite direction?"
Kul only grunts affirmatively. Walc then asks if that is the direction
that the enemy army is approaching from. Kul responds that it is and begins
to ride westward towards the city. Walc is surprisingly accepting
of the sudden change of plan and no further questions are asked.
The newly reformed Company of the Slayers then rides onward towards Greyhawk.
Later: As Thar rides in the rear of the group with Merrill and
Strys, he notices that Merrill seems lost in thought. He asks what's
troubling her and Merrill states that she's been thinking about the incantation
within the poem, "I Am". "I'd like to take
another look," she tells him.
"Are you sure?" Thar asks with concern.
After hearing the story of Lara from
Polk,
he is worried about the danger that this poem presents.
"I'd like to take a look," she says again.
Evening: The company sets up camp and cooks up their dinner.
Kul shows Circh the gold headlace
that he's been carrying around since he and Thar cleaned out Ard's Vaults,
and asks if she knows of someone in Greyhawk
who will give him a fair price for it (she has already appraised it at
17,000 sp back in Dyvers on 18
Jun 08 [p414]). Circh tells him that she
does know someone by the name of Dolbaro.
Meanwhile, Merrill sits down next
to Thar and the half-elf hands her the Prism
Staff. Merrill removes the scroll
from the secret compartment. She closes her eyes and tilts her head
back. When her eyes flutter open again they are milky white with
no pupils showing. This is her "witch's vision", which she demonstrated
about a month ago upon first examining the scroll at the Wagon
Wheel Inn in Rel Mord on
10
Jan 08 [p456].
"Careful..." Thar warns her.
Strys, sitting nearby, also watches Merrill closely,
"Doesn't that hurt your eyes?" she asks. Merrill looks towards Strys
with white eyes and Strys recoils a bit, her face reflecting open uneasiness.
"Why do your eyes do that?" she asks.
"It is an effect of the charm," Merrill states matter-of-factly
as she looks down at the scroll again.
"Y'know, someday I'm gonna understand magic," Strys
announces.
"I'm sure you'll be a very fine pupil," Merrill
responds as she continues scanning the scroll.
"I'm sure I'll make a fine one! I have a good
memory!" Strys begins reciting "I Am" from
memory in the common tongue.
"Wait for later, please," Thar interrupts.
Strys stops. "I even remember the Grohmish
version..." she mutters and then begins reciting the poem in the ancient
Grohmish language.
Suddenly everyone in camp can feel the hairs on
their necks stand on end; something strange is happening!
Merrill leaps up growling, "NO!" She dives
at Strys and knocks her down, clamping a hand over the girl's mouth.
Merrill is right on top of Strys; nose to nose with her. Her still
charmed eyes staring right into Strys' wild, but confused eyes. Kul
jumps up and leaps over towards them, but stops as Merrill speaks in a
slow and deliberate manner. "Don't you ever -- EVER repeat those
words again!" She slowly releases her hand from Strys' mouth and
stands.
Strys glares at Merrill, "I don't like being handled
like that!"
"And I don't like little girls repeating Words of
Power that they do not understand!" Merrill retorts.
"I'm not a little girl! I'm sixteen summers
old!" Strys shoots back as Kul and Thar move in to break them up.
The barbarian and half-elf intervene, separating
the two women. Kul leads Merrill away. Rubbing the back of
his neck, he remarks that he felt something strange and asks Merrill what
she was doing, thinking that she may have been using some powerful magic.
Merrill explains that it was not her. She explains that Strys was
repeating the poem in Grohmish. Kul ponders this a moment.
He remembers hearing Merrill repeat the poem aloud in Grohmish before (again
- back on 10 Jan 08 [p456]),
but there seemed to be no effect on that occasion. Why now?
And why Strys? They turn to look across the campsite where Thar is
talking to Strys.
"Are you all right?", Thar asks Strys gently.
"Yes.", Strys replies. "What's her problem?"
she asks, glancing toward Merrill.
"Did you hear her?", Thar asks. "That was
fear. As you spoke the Grohmish words, even I felt something.
Merrill was protecting you. Please, don't wield power until you learn
control," he states.
"I didn't mean to do that," she answers.
Thar continues to warn her that she must learn control
before using power, despite her repeated insistence that what she did was
accidental. "Which is why it is important to learn control," he states.
This would be true with any power or skill, he explains. Even with
a sword, if you don't know how to control it, you could hurt yourself or
an ally.
"Yes, Sarnai," Strys responds dutifully.
Soon, Kul follows Merrill as she approaches Strys
and Thar. "Strys, I apologize," Merrill states. "You
surprised me. I didn't realize that you had the potential within
you."
"Tharrison explained it to me," Strys answers.
"I have to learn control."
Merrill smiles, "Yes, please be patient. With
the use of magic you will need guidance."
Thar chimes in, asking that Merrill stay close to
Strys. He observes that this was an accident that none of them could
have predicted.
"I'm sorry, I do apologize," Merrill says again
to Strys. She touches the girl's hand with her own and Strys responds
by placing her other hand over Merrill's.
Kul and
Thar relax now that the two women are apparently friends again. The
barbarian and half-elf talk about money. Kul complains that he is
almost broke and informs Thar of his plan to trade in some of his valuables
in the city. Thar mentions that he is also carrying some of their
valuables (such as the jackal
ring,
jackal pendant
and Kyle's ring) in his bag
of holding. Kul suggests that they should give these items a
thorough examination to determine their value and whether or not they are
enchanted. Thar holds the bag open for Kul, but the barbarian will
not reach inside the enchanted bag. He is still uneasy with magic
though he has learned to live with it more than in earlier days.
Once Thar retrieves the items, Kul examines them carefully [using his barbarian
ability of detect magic], but feels no magic emanating from any of them.
The barbarian then hands over the items to Circh for monetary appraisal.
Afterwards, the items go back into Thar's bag for safe keeping again.
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Merrill, Strys and Thar talk some more about magic. Merrill suggests to Strys that they talk more on the following day, after they have rested. "I'm wondering how apt you are," she states. "Maybe I could test you a bit."
As the group settles in to get some rest, Kul suggests that Othello work some healing on the still injured Thar. Othello willingly heals the half-elf [for 14]. Kul exercises with Uthael during his watch.
11 Feb 08: The Company rides onward towards Greyhawk. Thar observes people, watching their moods, while Merrill talks to Strys about the different forms of magic.
Night: The Company sets up camp. Kul notices that Thar is still hurting and this time gets both Othello and Walc to heal him. Thar is feeling much better now.
As Kul works out during his watch most of the others
retire for the night. Merrill sits by the fire mending a cloak.
Thar, sitting near by, asks her how she is.
"I'm fine," Merrill answers.
'You seem happier than since we last saw you," Thar
adds.
"Do I?" she asks.
Thar nods.
Merrill draws a breath, pondering, "I think a lot
of it is my coming to terms with who I am. I had a lot of time to
think about myself after Ashell
[during "Prophecy"]. I've accepted who I am... I am a witch."
"You have been blessed," Thar responds.
"You have achieved something that many people search for but never find."
He then lays down to sleep.
Merrill gazes at Tharrison and smiles.
12 Feb 08: Thar "dances" more aggressively during his early morning watch. The Company continues on towards Greyhawk.
13-14 Feb 08: The Company rides onward.
15 Feb 08: The Company of the Slayers continues onward and arrives on the outskirts of Greyhawk. They then turn northward, heading towards the Perith Estate. As they draw close to the estate they find private guards patrolling area. The guards hail Kul, who is riding up front. Kul announces that they are the escort of Wilton Perith and motions Thar to ride forward. The guards immediately recognize Thar and let the party pass. The Company stables their horses and then enters the house. The surprised house servants immediately prepare rooms and meals for the unexpected party.
Kul immediately goes in search of a white mink fur cloak that he remembers leaving here a couple of years ago on 13 April 06 [p384]. He easily finds the cloak in a closet (of his old room) upstairs.
Soon: Kul, Thar and Circh talk and plan before a nice warm fire
in the sitting room. They speak in the common tongue (meaning that
only Othello and Strys can understand them). Walc has already retired
to the privacy of his room to study his holy scriptures.
Circh explains that she only wants revenge on Golrart
himself, to make an example of him and demonstrate that she is not to be
messed around with. Kul tells Circh that as far as he's concerned
she's in charge of this endeavor. He will go only as far as she says
and will stop when she says to avoid the misunderstanding of last time
["King for a Day"]. If she wants to kill
Golrart, that's fine with him. Or if she prefers to just hurt him...
Well that's all right too. It's up to her. But Kul warns her
that hitting Golrart may trigger other events. Golrart's bosses may
not like it much.
Kul then asks about the organization of these thieves
and how Hozorotes, the Dragon,
fits into all of it. Circh describes the hierarchy of the thieves'
organization.
Golrart is the "wharf
boss" and answers to Abi-Aduse,
who is a "block boss" under Direwelch,
who is the "town boss" under Hozorotes, who is the big boss (controlling
many cities).
[DM's note: Kyle
was a "block boss" under Hozorotes.
"Block bosses" control large portions of the town; Kyle controlled the
wharf area in north-central Greyhawk
where Circh had her warehouse. After his death, Kyle was replaced
with Abi-Aduse (from Khash,
a land far to the southwest, south of Baklune)
who has since been struggling to regain control of the now goverment-backed
allied merchants (an organization that Kul, Thar and Circh helped to create
in "King for a Day"). Not only is Abi-Aduse
looking bad, but these failings are reflecting poorly on Direwelch
- especially with Hozorotes in town. Direwelch has a lover named
Alesa. She uses Direwelch's
power to further her own goals by intimidating the block bosses.
This is also making Direwelch look bad.]
Kul and Thar then consult Thar's map
of Eastern Oerik to plan a quick escape. They agree that the
quickest escape would be to board a ship and depart over the Nyr
Dyv to the Bandit Kingdoms. The problem that arises of course
is that they need to find a crew willing to risk the journey and drop them
off on the shores of a potentially hazardous region. They also will
need a ship large enough to transport the entire group with their horses.
They decide that they should enter Greyhawk
(perhaps borrowing the Perith writ that the servants use to avoid the high
tolls) to trade in some valuables and resupply. They then plan to
scout out the wharves in search of a ship (or, if possible, perhaps even
use the Perith ship). Thar also suggests that they search for a way
to lure Golrart away from the
wharves and the city, thereby making him an easier target.
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[Thursday 16 September 1999] [p507-508] |
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15 Feb 08 Evening cont: Kul, Thar and Circh continue to
talk and plan as Merrill braids Kul's hair at the barbarian's request.
Othello sits on the floor nearby meditating.
Thar suggests that they think about what kind of
supplies (weapons, etc...) that they will be needing for their journey
to Iuz. Kul would like to get
a helm and maybe a shield (though he has recently come into the habit of
wielding both Uthael and Gashintain
simultaneously in either hand). Javelins or spears would probably
be good too, since he may need to attack the Disciples from a distance.
Next, there is some discussion as to the size of
the group that will be entering the city for this endeavor. Thar
is concerned about separating the Slayers
again (as this seems to be when bad things tend to happen to the group).
While Kul considers this a valid concern, he and Circh argue that only
the three of them should go. Kul thinks that they will be less conspicuous
as a smaller group and especially wants to keep Walc out of it. The
knight has a nasty habit of misunderstanding directions and Kul would rather
not have to deal with him. Kul suggests that Thar use the Perith
writ to enter the city and that Circh could enter with him disguised as
a servant, whilst Kul could perhaps act as Thar's body-guard or soldier.
As for a quick escape from the city, Kul suggests
that instead of escaping across the Nyr
Dyv, a more practical plan might be to get a boat (Thar suggests a
nargison guard boat) to ferry them back from Greyhawk's
wharves to the Perith Estate's
private pier. They could then gather the whole group together here
and ride back the way they came towards Leukish.
This plan is more practical than trying to cross the Nyr Dyv with a boat-load
of people and horses.
Merrill finishes braiding Kul's hair and the conversation
finally begins to wind down. Circh leaves to go to bed, but Kul lingers
to listen in on Thar and Merrill's latest conversation of magic.
They talk about Strys and her role in the confrontation
with the Disciples
of Desolation. Strys herself sits slumped up against a couch
in front of the hearth, snoozing and completely oblivious to the quiet
conversation around her.
Thar believes that Strys is the keystone to the
Slayers' success. She apparently has the innate ability to understand
hidden meanings of words and phrases and languages. For example,
back in Rel Mord (on 10
Jan 08 [p455]) she was able to pick up the actual
meaning of Thar and Skaen's coded conversation. Even though they
spoke in the coded language of the nargison guards she was somehow naturally
able to decipher the actual meaning behind the code. Likewise, when
she repeated the Grohmish poem, "I Am" she must have
inadvertently deciphered its meaning (perhaps on an unconscious level,
thereby avoiding the madness that supposedly consumed the mage Lara
when he did so with the mirror poem).
Kul is still having trouble following Thar's logic
in this and is not entirely convinced of it at all. He explains that
he didn't necessarily think that it was only Strys that would get that
result from the scroll, but that any one of the Slayers would get the same
result if they were able to recite the strange poem aloud in the Grohmish
language. Unfortunately, he cannot think of a safe and effective
way to test his own theory (and is not planning to volunteer himself for
any task involving magic anyway!).
He asks Merrill what would have happened if Strys
hadn't been interrupted during her recital of the poem. Merrill answers
that the power Strys was drawing was uncontrolled and that the drawing
of those energies most likely would have ended in disaster. Kul thinks
a bit and then likens this to a wild, uncontrolled bowshot. Merrill
agrees that it is similar but potentially more devastating.
The conversation then turns towards the confrontation
with the Disciples
and the destruction of the bone
arch. Thar speculates endlessly, searching for a way that they
can at least partially destroy the arch from a distance. He believes
that the smokepowder that
he has acquired will be instrumental in this endeavor. Kul is confident
that the Company will be able to fight their way to the arch and apply
the smokepowder directly, but Thar is not satisfied by this vague plan.
He continues to speculate on throwing a ball of the smokepowder mixture
at the arch from a distance. He questions Merrill on her spellcasting.
Does she have any incantations that will be useful to them (such as "flying"
or "growth" type spells)? Unfortunately, she replies that she does
not. She does have a "mist" type spell that can cloak the Company
in a fog.
Thar continues his speculations, considering the
possibility of using some kind of modified crossbow to fire a ball of the
smokepowder
at it's target. The crossbow's size would probably need to be increased
to fire from the distance that he has in mind, though.
Kul grows weary of all these plans and speculations.
He is eager for the morning and the upcoming confrontation in Greyhawk
and feels that he doesn't know enough about the bone
arch and its defenses to concoct a workable strategy. Kul had
thought it would be enough just to get there and then fight their way through
to the arch. Thar explains that he is trying to base his strategies
on a "worse case scenario". Kul finally retires to bed when he realizes
that Thar (the half-elf that he is) is not going to rest and sleep, but
seems intent on staying up and endlessly analyzing and planning.
After Kul leaves, Thar wakes Strys (who is still slumped against the couch,
snoozing) and helps her to her bed.
16 Feb 08 Morning: Kul rises and mentally prepares himself for battle by exercising outside with Uthael. Afterwards, he wakes Circh by banging on her door. Thar, meanwhile, asks Othello if he is able to determine an individual's moral character [detect evil]. Alas, Othello replies that he cannot. Thar is disappointed. He had hoped that the monk could determine whether their potential nargison guard ferryman was a mole or not. Circh appears, hastily dressed, and the threesome prepare to leave.
|
[Friday 24 September 1999] [p509-511] |
|
16 Feb 08 Morning cont: Kul, Thar and Circh set out from
the Perith Estate towards
Greyhawk.
Soon, they are walking through the tent settlements sprawled outside of
the city gate. Thar pulls his cloak hood up to conceal his identity
as much as possible, while Kul wears his black cowl (that originally came
with his studded
leather armor) to hide the white streaks in his hair. They are
soon beset on all sides by beggars asking for anything and everything.
Kul, who is leading, pushes people aside as they continue weaving through
the tents.
Finally, Kul, approaches the gate. As he does
so, he glances back, but sees only Thar following behind him... No Circh!
The barbarian and half-elf look at one another and then glance around for
Circh. She is nowhere in sight. They immediately begin backtracking,
until Thar finally hears her familiar voice: "Give it to me!"
Kul follows Thar
towards the sound: "That's my bag! Give it to me!" They arrive
on the scene to find that a man is holding a sack just out her reach.
Kul and Thar both recognize the sack as Circh's bag; especially by the
familiar piece of clothing hanging out from the top. Thar stops,
letting Kul march past him towards Circh.
As Circh continues to argue with the man, Kul approaches
and grabs him forcefully by the throat with one hand, almost lifting the
very surprised man from the ground.
"Drop the bag," Kul states.
The man hesitates and then drops the bag to the
ground. He grabs onto Kul's arm with both hands to ease the strain
on his neck. Kul then motions with his left hand for Circh to pick
up the bag. As Circh grabs the bag, Kul throws the man to the ground,
but the man twists and rolls (effectively, but not very gracefully) and
quickly regains his footing. He then takes his sheathed sword in
hand and whips it around in the air. The weapon flies out of its
sheath, spinning in the air. The man discards the sheath and deftly
catches the sword. He follows this with a sword routine and finishes
with the weapon pointed at Kul in a challenge. Kul watches all of
this impassively with his arms folded.
Circh, meanwhile, rummages through her bag.
A relieved look comes across her face as she apparently finds a certain
something which she feared was missing.
Following the man's sword play, Thar notices two
heads pop up over the crowd. One is the ugly face of a half-orc and
the other has the features of a northlander. Thar watches as these
two men approach the scene. He then approaches Kul, whispering, "We
don't have time for this. We are drawing unneeded attention."
Kul agrees, but does not want to look like he's backing down from a fight,
so he tells the swordsman to move along. The stranger doesn't leave,
however.
Thar and Kul watch as a small crowd gathers and
they see two more strange folk approaching. One is a ![[Yilavi image]](kulpics/yilavi.gif){kind=small}
woman
(with a bowl shaped hair-cut and pony-tail) [Yilavi]
and the other is a tunician. Thar can hear the newcomers asking the
half-orc and northlander about what is going on. Thar speaks up,
telling the swordsman that all is forgiven and that he is free to go on
his way. The swordsman seems to be getting more angry, though, maybe
by Kul's seeming lack of interest in a fight.
"He's not worth it." Thar says to Kul, louder now,
so that the other can clearly hear him. "We should leave."
Suddenly, a voice
cuts through the crowd, yelling "What's going on here?" A short,
stocky man pushes his way to the front of the crowd near the half-orc and
northman. He looks at Thar, and then at Kul and his eyes widen with
recognition. The man seems familiar to Kul, but the barbarian is
unable to identify him.
The short man addresses the young swordsman, "Chernerna,
drop your weapon!".
Chernerna does not move, however and continues to
stare at Kul.
The short man repeats his demand, "I said drop your
weapon!"
Chernerna looks uncertain, and lowers his blade
slightly.
"Do you want to die? Drop your weapon NOW!"
Chernerna finally drops his blade to the ground
and stands at attention.
The short man approaches Chernerna, and yells directly
in the swordsman's face, "The next time you try to get yourself killed,
do it on your own time, not on mine! Do you understand me?"
Chernerna looks straight forward, standing at perfect
attention, "Yes, sir!"
"You will apologize right now!"
"Sorry, sir!" Chernerna replies.
"Not to me, idiot! To him!" The short man points
towards Kul.
Chernerna looks at Kul with uncertainty, "Sorry,
sir!"
The short man then leans close to Chernerna and
whispers (though Thar can still overhear), "That man is Kulgar Hakonson."
Chernerna's face drains of blood upon hearing the name; his eyes widen
as an understanding of what he has done comes to him.
The short man finally backs off a bit from Chernerna,
yelling at him again, "Now get out of my sight!"
Chernerna promptly departs, leaving his sword and
scabbard lying on the ground.
During this exchange, Kul has finally recognized
the short man; it is Tharb, his
old friend from Chendl! Tharb
approaches Kul and extends his hand, "It's been a long time." Kul
greets him warily without calling him by name and shakes his hand.
They talk. Tharb asks what Kul is doing here and Kul explains that
they need to get some supplies and take care of some personal business
in the city. Tharb is surprised that they are going into the city
and warns Kul that the Slaver's Guild has put a price on his head (for
freeing some slaves several years earlier).
Kul then asks about Tharb and the shorter man explains
that he is now the leader of a bounty hunter group. They are hunting
humanoids for bounty being offered in Rookroost
(in the northern region of the Bandit Kingdoms). Tharb explains that
Dyvers
has fallen and with the army approaching Greyhawk, they stand to make quite
a profit. He suggests that Kul should join them.
Kul replies that the offer is indeed enticing.
"In another time and place I would, but there are strange things afoot
and we have other business to attend to."
Tharb then extends an invitation for them to visit
his tent (which is nearby) after they have taken care of their business
in the city. Kul, finally warming up to his old friend, says that
he will try.
Tharb then introduces them to a few of his bounty hunters (there are
actually about thirty total in his group):
Kogojata: a half-orc:
(recognize name)
Daernuvale: a frost
barbarian
Yilavi: a woman (with
strange hair-cut)
Bojeyel: a ruthless
killer from the Kingdom of Aerdy (recognize name)
Chagov: a tunician
Blackmask: a man
that Kul met briefly before in Scant
on 11 Sep 03 [p134]
The party finally leaves Tharb's group. As they depart, they overhear Tharb telling the group Kulgar's name. The entire group turns in recognition of the name to gaze at the departing Kulgar. Kul is pleased by this show of respect.
Soon, Kul, Thar and Circh arrive at the gates of Greyhawk. They immediately get into the shorter of the two lines of people trying to enter the city. The guard notes that Kul and Thar are armed and then asks to see Circh's weapon (a prerequisite for gaining entry via the shorter line). The guard then asks them for 28 sp per person. Thar shows him the Perith writ and the guard studies the paper briefly. He then looks Thar over and asks where the regular girl is. Thar replies that she is back at the house and the guard then lets the party pass.
Finally within the city walls, Kul and Thar follow Circh through the crowded main streets to a small side street and up a set of stairs in an alleyway. Circh bangs on a door and an old man [Dolbaro] lets them into his small room. Dolbaro uses blankets over the door and window to keep in the heat. Circh gives the old man a hug and they sit down to talk business. Kul shows the headlace to Dolbaro and Circh explains that she's appraised it at 1,900 gp. Dolbaro assess it at 1,500 gp and Kul is satisfied with this (especially since Circh originally told him it was worth about 1,700 gp). They work out the details: Dolbaro agrees to get them some cash (40 gp), but the remainder will have to be in gold ingots (73 gold ingots worth 20 gp each). Kul and Thar decide to return on the following morning to complete the trade (since Dolbaro obviously doesn't have that much gold sitting around here in his little room).
The party then leaves Dolbaro and visits a nearby blacksmith where Thar fronts the money (29 gp) for Kul to buy a half-helm and roundshield.
|
[Friday 10 March 2000] [p511-512] |
|
16 Feb 08 Morning cont: Thar, Kul and Circh walk to Greyhawk's
waterfront. Their latest plan involves quickly escaping from the
city on a nargison ferry after getting revenge upon Golrart
for his mistreatment of Circh on 02
Feb 08. Kul and Circh keep some distance away while Thar searches
the wharves for a nargison ferryman. He speaks in guard's cant with
a man on a pier, but the man responds only in common until Thar is about
to give up on him and leave.
"Remove your hood," the ferryman says in guard's
cant.
Thar is reluctant to remove his hood, especially
here on the waterfront where Golrart's men are likely all around them.
Instead, he hands the ferryman a sack containing five extra nargison whips
which he has collected over the years.
"What's this?" asks the ferryman.
"A gift for Colonel Selewict,"
Thar replies.
"I'll see that it goes out on my next boat."
Thar rejoins Kul and Circh and Circh points out Golrart's favorite tavern. Thar wants to familiarize himself with the area surrounding the tavern. They explore the surrounding streets and discover a dead-end alleyway leading to the rear of the tavern. However, just as they turn the corner several men hanging out behind the tavern spot them. Thar immediately turns around, acting as though he's taken a wrong turn. Kul and Circh follow closely. Thar leads them out of the alleyway and back onto the main street. They enter a different nearby tavern and eat some lunch.
Thar wants to visit Polk again. He hopes that the sage, who also apparently dabbles in spellcasting, will have some incantations that Merrill may be able to use in their fight against the Disciples. The party makes their way to Polk's house and the old sage receives them. Thar asks him about magic, but Polk apparently knows only some minor incantations. The party leaves and finally returns to the Perith house.
Once back at the house, Kul, Thar and Circh sit together
discussing plans for the next day. They talk of causing some kind
of confusion (like setting fire to the tavern) in order to distract the
attention of Golrart's men so
that they can hit Golrart (or maybe even kidnap him) and get out again
quickly. It is briefly suggested that they should try to get Golrart
at his "offices" and Circh's eyes light up at this. She would very
much enjoy ruining his business! She doesn't know where his headquarters
is located, though, but explains that she can find out through contacts.
Kul thinks that Golrart will be too protected at his own place. All
three agree that he will probably be more vulnerable at the tavern.
Kul's plan is to just barge into the tavern and hit him quickly.
Thar wants a more detailed plan and is rightfully worried about having
to fight off a tavern full of Golrart's supporters. In the end they
fail to agree on a finalized plan.
Thar eventually leaves Kul and Circh alone together.
He stops in to check on Merrill and Strys. Thar asks Merrill if she
can change skin color. Merrill does know a charm that can change
colors for a few hours. Thar wants to change their skin color to
further disguise the party. Merrill thinks that Kul will be reluctant
to have a charm cast upon him. Thar suggests casting it on him while
he sleeps, but Merrill will not agree to this. She will not compromise
the trust that she and Kul share. Strys asks if she can accompany
them into the city on the next day and Thar agrees.
Meanwhile, Kul asks a servant to fetch a bottle
of wine for him and Circh. As they enjoy the wine, he tries to talk
to Circh, intending to let her know that everything between them is all
right.
Kul begins, "I was mad at you for leaving Rel Mord
without us, but..."
Circh immediately becomes defensive and interrupts
Kul, again blaming Walc for the misunderstanding. Kul continues to
try to make his point, but cannot get a word in edgewise as Circh continues
on and on. They eventually end up belly-aching together about Walc's
annoying qualities. Thar hears their loud voices and stops in to
check on them. He suddenly remembers his conversation with Circh
in the public baths of Rel Mord
on 11 Jan 08 [p465-466]
and asks her if she has had her talk with Kulgar. Circh tries to
skirt the issue and a somewhat perplexed Kul replies that they are indeed
talking. Eventually, everyone retires for the night.
17 Feb 08: Morning:
Thar empties out his bag of
holding in his room. His latest plan includes loading the gold
ingots into the sack and having Strys carry it out while Thar, Kul and
Circh take care of their business on the wharves. Kul, Thar, Circh,
Strys and a servant girl head into the city. Kul and Thar are "disguised"
with cowl and hood just as they were on the previous day. Once inside
the city walls, Thar sends the servant girl on her way (with the writ,
which she will carry home safely).
The party arrives at Dolbaro's
place. Two guards open the door, letting them enter. Dolbaro
has their 40 gp and a crate filled with 73 gold ingots
(worth 20 gp each). Circh counts the ingots and then tests a few
for authenticity; they seem fine to her. Kul then hands over the
headlace,
completing the trade. The party gathers around the crate closely
as Thar loads the ingots into his bag of holding. Kul takes the 40
gp and one ingot for safe keeping and they leave Dolbaro's place.
The party walks to the waterfront. Thar's newly revised plan is to give the bag of holding with the ingots to Strys and have her wait on the nargison ferry for them. However, as they approach the wharves they see a crowd gathered around one of the piers. A man with a hooked pole is in the process of retrieving a lifeless bound and gagged body from the water. Once the body is on the pier, the man removes the gag and discovers something inside the dead man's mouth. Since none of the locals will touch it, Thar pushes through the crowd to inspect the discovery. He carefully removes the item... It is a nargison whip! The body is that of the nargison ferryman! A local man announces that he'll retrieve the city guard. Thar and company move along (Thar keeping the whip). They walk two blocks eastward, noticing that the ferryman's boat is still at his small pier. They then turn a corner and stop to have a brief discussion. Was the ferryman killed for associating with Thar? If so, then Golrart's men probably have been watching their every move and know what they are planning to do. Thar votes to abort the project. Kul is unsure. He doesn't like to be intimidated in this manner and still wants to teach Golrart a lesson. They both look over at Circh...
|
[Saturday 08 April 2000] [p513-] |
|
17 Feb 08 cont: Kul, Thar,
Circh and Strys walk away from the wharves of Greyhawk
and quietly discuss their next plan. Thar wants to return to the
east village outside of Greyhawk and find Tharb.
He thinks that they should get Tharb and his mercenaries to make a deal
with
Golrart in an attempt to
draw Golrart out of the city. As they talk, Kul removes his black
cowl, revealing the recognizable white streaks in his hair, which is still
braided. The party turns down several side streets, but they soon
hear a horse approaching from behind. Someone then calls to them.
They stop and turn about to face the stranger. It is a mounted city
guard. Looking at Kul, the guard asks if they took anything from
the body on the wharves.
"I didn't take anything," Kul replies.
The guard then looks at Circh and asks again.
"She didn't take anything either," answers Kul.
"I wasn't talking to you!" The guard responds.
"I'm asking her!"
Kul glances at Circh, "You didn't take anything,
right?"
The frustrated guard looks over at Thar and then
glances back at Kul; his eyes widen with sudden recognition! He turns
his horse and spurs the beast back up the street. Kul whips out his
throwing axe and nails him in the back! The guard slumps over in
the saddle, but the horse keeps on going, carrying him back towards the
wharves. The party flees towards the nearest gate (which happens
to be the east gate).
Kul quickly puts his cowl back on as they approach
the east gate. The party walks very quickly towards the open door
within the gate, but suddenly a horn sounds! The guards quickly begin
closing the door and Thar and Kul realize that they likely won't all make
it through as there are just too many people in the way. They divert
up a side street and discuss their options. Thar asks if Circh has
contacts that can help them. She replies that she does and proceeds
to lead them deeper into the city... towards the center of Greyhawk.
Circh leads the party
to a clothier shop owned and operated by her old right-hand man Miyan
[last seen on 08
Mar 06, during "King for a Day"].
Miyan greets her coldly; he is obviously not happy to see her. Circh
grabs him by the arm and pulls him into the very small back room.
Thar, Kul and Strys follow.
Circh asks Miyan
for help, but Myan does not want to help her. Circh won't give up
easily, though and gets right up close to his face, imploring him until
Miyan reluctantly gives in. She explains that the party needs to
get out of the city, but that the gates are closed. Miyan starts
to panic, thinking that the gates have closed because Iuz' army is outside
of the city. Kul explains calmly that there was a murder down at
the wharves and that the gates have been closed while the guards investigate.
Circh explains further that Abi-Aduse
is after her. Miyan rolls his eyes; he does not want to be involved
in this, but he explains that the only way for him to get them out would
be on a cart with his merchandise. They will have to wait until the
gates open again, though. Kul and Thar discuss where they should
"hide" in the meantime. Kul is sure that Abi-Aduse's people have
been watching them and doesn't want to bring destruction on Miyan's place.
He suggests that they stay somewhere else. Their choices seem to
be either the sewer tunnels beneath the streets or the comforts of the
nearby Silver Unicorn
Inn. They finally agree on the Silver Unicorn [(we haven't wrecked
that place yet!)].
The party goes directly to the Silver
Unicorn Inn. Two private guards outside of the front entrance
greet ![[Silver Unicorn image]](kulpics/silver-unicorn.gif){kind=small}
them.
The guards explain that entry is for paying patrons only. Kul jingles
his money pouch and explains that they are paying patrons.
The guard then asks to see Kul's money and Kul shows him a gold coin.
The guard finally lets them pass. Thar gives Strys some coins and
tells her to rent them a room (total: 23 sp for a shared room). The
party then eats a meal and rests for the remainder of the day in their
room (with two windows and a fireplace). They plan to take watches
at night.
Night: During Thar's watch (the
first of the night) the half-elf spies someone moving past the windows
with a torch. A moment later a another passes... something is going
on. He wakes Kul. Thar can also hear sounds from outside; several
people seem to be moving around through the alleyway towards the rear of
the building. They wake Circh and Strys and quickly form a plan.
Thar has detected noises coming from the hallway outside of their door,
so he will open the door and Kul will surprise whoever is on the other
side. They will then fight their way out of the building if necessary.
Kul draws Gashintain
and readies his new shield. Thar opens the door and Kul charges out
into hallway cleaving his first opponent (who is holding a torch) with
Gashintain. There are several men with weapons on both sides of the
doorway. Kul turns left towards the rear of the inn. Thar emerges,
turns right, and strikes down his first opponent (who also carries a torch)
with Asterlain. Both of
these men drop their burning torches to the floor as they fall dead.
Kul and Thar kill two more of the would-be assassins
as Circh and Strys emerge into the hallway. Thar finds that the route
to the inn's lobby is now clear, so he leads the way towards the front
of the building. The party enters the lobby with Kul stopping to
guard the doorway while Thar looks around. Kul watches as one of
the approaching rogues in the hallway glances into their vacant room and
then gives two short whistles. There follows a loud crash from the
room as more men break in through the shuttered windows.
Thar suddenly runs across the lobby and smashes
out through a shuttered window. There are many rogues out here too
and a light snow has begun to fall. He swiftly strikes down one of
the men. Kul orders Circh and Strys to follow Thar. Circh approaches
the window, but then balks at the idea after seeing all of the men outside!
Kul argues that they all need to keep together and, after glancing up the
hallway, adds that there are twenty men coming down the hall.
Circh complains and refuses, noting that there are
a lot more men outside. "You go out there!" she yells.
"Fine!" Kul yells back. He then leaps through
the window and quickly kills another rogue upon landing.
However, as Kul and Thar fight outside (taking only
minor wounds) more rogues smash through the front door of the inn!
Circh and Strys are cut-off from the open window and are forced to retreat
towards the stairs to the second floor. They run halfway up and stop
on a platform between floors to make their stand. The rogues surround
the foot of the stairs and attempt to pursue the women, but they are hampered
by the narrow stairway.
Meanwhile outside, as Thar delivers a bone-crushing
strike to a rogue's leg with Asterlain,
Kul notices that Circh and Strys are trapped inside the inn and leaps back
in through the window. He immediately hacks down a short rogue wielding
a pair of swords. Strys, an intense look of concentration upon her
face, defends against multiple foes with her two swords while Circh advances
up a couple of steps and helps out by stabbing at a rogue through the railing
with her shortsword. She then decides to increase her reach and range
of motion by leaning over the railing and hacking at the rogues below her.
Thar kills another rogue and then backflips through
the window into the inn, twisting in mid-air in order to face another rogue
upon landing. Kul also kills two more men as Thar easily takes down
his new opponent. Circh, however, finds trouble as her sword arm
is grabbed and she is suddenly pulled over the railing and grabbed by a
couple of men. The rogues immediately try to descend with their prize,
but find the way blocked by their own comrades below who are pushing upwards
to confront Strys. They decide to try to ascend instead, but again
find themselves stuck behind those ahead fighting with Strys. Thar,
with his keen elven hearing, can hear one of the men facing Strys attempting
to talk her into giving up. The half-elf yells for her to kill him.
Circh suddenly cuts one of her captors in the leg with her sword and the
rogue falls down, dropping Circh in the process. Another rogue grabs
her sword-arm but falls on top of her as she falls onto the stairs.
Thar and Kul notice that a small fire has started to grow in the hallway,
caused by the dropped torches from their first opponents. They continue
fighting, killing two more rogues each, though one manages to smack Kul
in the helm before being cut down by the barbarian.
Suddenly, six rogues wielding daggers and shortswords
appear in the hallway and pause to watch the battle. As they watch
a guard enters through the front door, fixing his helm upon his head.
The six rogues see the guard and immediately begin
to yell to their comrades, "Militia is here! Clean it up! Clean
it up!"
Another guard enters and both guards look around
at the surrounding chaos as the six rogues continue to yell that the militia
have arrived. The guards surmise that the rogues must be Abi-Aduse's
men and that they must have been tipped-off to have gotten here first.
During all of this Thar and Kul continue to fight
on, killing several opponents. They are completely surrounded, but
manage to dodge and block all attacks against them. Kul decides that
he must help Circh and begins hacking his way towards the stairs.
Thar positions himself to protect the barbarian's back and they wordlessly
fall into their familiar back-to-back formation.
Strys deftly defends against two attacks and then
quickly stabs one man in the throat, killing him. The dying man falls
back into another causing Circh's hand to get stepped on. Meanwhile,
the two guards below watch for a bit and then one of them sounds a bugle.
Thar strikes a rogue, breaking his weapon arm, but
another man almost strikes the half-elf in the head, pulling off his hood
in the process. Thar attempts to strike back, but misses, while Kul
continues to push on towards the stairs, killing two men in his path.
The six rogues in the burning hallway continue yelling,
"Militia! Clean it up! Clean it up!" and then turn to flee
back down the hall towards the rear of the inn.
Strys, meanwhile, takes a hit and then strikes back,
while Circh, who has been unable to get back up to her feet, swears at
the rogues that are pinning her down. One the men tries to clamp
his hand over Circh's foul mouth, but Circh bites him on the finger!
Thar strikes again with Asterlain,
breaking another rogue's weapon arm. Kul kills another man and finally
reaches the foot of the stairs, blocking an attack with his shield as Thar
dodges several attacks. The six men (having discovered their escape
route blocked by guards and rogues fighting at the back of the inn) suddenly
reappear in the still burning hallway, urgently echoing the now familiar
chant, "Clean it up! Clean it up!" At that moment eight guards
with crossbows swiftly march in through the front door. The last
crossbow man is tripped up by a rogue just outside, causing his crossbow
to misfire as he falls to floor. The crossbow men take positions
on either side of the front door, kneel, and aim their weapons into the
crowd. The commander loudly states, "The entire city garrison is
at this location. You must surrender immediately. You will
be leaving this inn in chains or on a death cart."
The fighting continues despite the warning... Thar
kills a rogue flanking Kul, and the barbarian also kills another and finally
advances up the stairs. A rogue on the stairs above attacks him with
a sword, but Kul easily blocks the attempt with his shield. However,
the rogue suddenly kicks at Kul's shield, trying to knock the barbarian
back down the stairs. Kul gives a bit, waiting until the man's weight
is over his shield and then suddenly flips the rogue up and over the railing.
The rogue drops his sword and quickly grabs onto the railing, dangling
above the lobby floor. Eventually he drops down onto the floor as,
nearby, Thar strikes down another man.
The crossbow commander barks out orders to his men,
"Go for Hakonson first!" and Kul is then struck by several bolts as the
guards open fire. A guard wielding a sword backs in through the front
door fighting a rogue; apparently the guards and rogues are clashing outside.
Kul advances a bit further up the stairs.
There is now only one more man between himself and Circh, who still has
not managed to get back to her feet. Thar tries to attack the man
facing Kul over the railing with Asterlain,
but misses. Kul hacks down the man and finally reaches Circh who
is still struggling with her two opponents (one a bite victim and the other
with an injured leg).
Strys, meanwhile, continues to fight three opponents.
She parries one attack, but the second man tackles her, pushing her back
into the wall on the platform. The third rogue runs past them, fleeing
upstairs. Kul is struck by four more bolts as the crossbow men continue
to fire upon him. The eighth crossbow man finally gets to his feet
as a squad of city guards enter through the front door.
|
[Saturday 20 May 2000] |
|
17 Feb 08 (cont): As the fighting within the Silver
Unicorn Inn continues, Kul switches Gashintain
to his left hand, holding the sword with his shield. He then grabs
the rogue with the bite wound (who is pinning Circh down) and hoists him
up and over the railing, knocking down the rogue with the leg wound who
has only just gotten back to his feet again.
Meanwhile, down on the floor, the four remaining
rogues finally decide to seek an escape route. They run to the tavern
door on wall opposite of the stairs, but find it locked. The eighth
crossbow man joins his comrades while the fifteen footmen, who have just
entered, halt in the middle of the room to take in the situation. Thar
advances up the stairs, but his way is blocked by Kul, Circh and the wounded
rogue, so the half-elf instead climbs up over the railing to the next flight.
Strys' two opponents on the platform turn and flee
up the stairs. The first makes it past Thar as he is climbing over
the railing, but the second finds his way blocked by the half-elf.
Thar grabs the rogue and throws him over the railing. Unfortunately,
the man doesn't clear the lower flight of stairs and comes crashing onto
his back on the stairs just above Circh's position. One of the rogue's
booted feet whacks Circh on the forehead, cutting open a wound on her face.
Thar calls for Strys to run up the stairs.
Kul grabs Circh with his free right hand and lifts her to her feet, yelling
at her to get moving. But Circh is dazed and responds too slowly.
Suddenly, they are struck by a volley of crossbow bolts from below.
Kul and Circh are struck by three bolts each and even Strys is nicked by
a stray bolt as she runs up to join Thar. Meanwhile, below, two of
the footmen run out through the front door, while the others advance up
the stairs.
Thar and Strys run up the stairs and turn into a
hallway. The doors of the guest rooms line each side of the hall
with another positioned at the far end. Some smoke is drifting up
from the fire in the downstairs hallway. There are no signs of any
of the rogues that fled up the stairs, but they immediately encounter an
older man who appears to be a guest at the inn.
"There's so much smoke! Is there a fire?"
the old man asks.
"Yes!" Thar responds, "Leave the building!"
But instead of heading for the exit, the old man
appears to becomes befuddled and retreats into his room, closing the door.
Thar and Strys run to the other end of the hall.
Thar tries to smash in a door on the right, intending to make it appear
as though they have passed through in a hurry, but the door holds.
As he fails to break down the door, he tells Strys to try opening the opposite
door. She finds this door to be unlocked and opens it. It then
occurs to Thar that he should simply try opening his door, but he finds
it to be locked. He again attempts to kick it in, but to no avail.
Finally, he disregards the plan as too time consuming. They must
find a way out immediately! They both flee through Strys' open door
into a room. Thar opens the shutters. The window overlooks
the alleyway where Thar first detected the torches and sounds of the attacking
rogues.
Kul, meanwhile,
is forced to carry the still dazed Circh to the top of the stairs with
the guards in hot pursuit. They enter the hall just in time to see
Thar's foot disappearing into a room on the left. Kul pushes Circh
ahead of him down the hallway and into the room where she falls to the
floor. He then slams the door and yells at her to get up while finally
switching Gashintain back to his right hand. The door opens suddenly,
but Kul is ready! He immediately strikes down the first guard he
sees. However, another guard steps forward and sneaks in an attack
just under the barbarian's shield, wounding him.
As Kul continues to yell at Circh to get up and
get going, Thar leads the way by leaping across the alleyway towards a
one story building with a sloping roof. He easily covers the distance
sending a spray of fresh snow into the air upon landing. However,
upon hitting the roof he bounces up again and fails to hang on to the roof's
peak. He attempts to drive Ieia
down into the roof, but only succeeds in making a nasty gouge as he slides
down and falls to the ground within a sheet of fresh, white snow.
Circh, meanwhile, finally gets back to to her feet
as Kul continues to yell at her to get up and get out! Kul kills
another guard as Strys leaps out of the window. However, she is not
strong enough to clear the distance to the opposite roof and instead collides
into the upper side of the building, afterwards falling down to the street
below. Thar runs to her side and finds that she is unconscious.
As he cradles her in his arms he finds that his hand supporting her head
is coated with her blood.
Kul glances back at Circh who has finally regained
her senses and is approaching the window. He yells for her to follow
them out through the window, but she hesitates. She can see Strys'
motionless body in the street below.
"Don't yell at me!" she yells back at Kul.
"I'm not jumping out of the window!"
"You shoulda went out the window downstairs," Kul
retorts as he defends his position at the door. "This time you hafta
go!"
Circh finally climbs through and begins to carefully
lower herself down the outside of the building. Kul strikes another
guard who falls back injured. The barbarian then receives a minor
wound, but holds his position waiting for Circh to clear out of the window.
Meanwhile, outside, Thar lifts Strys in his arms,
but is then immediately challenged by a city guardsman. Thar attempts
to kick the guard in the crotch, but misses. Strys then slips from
his grip, slumping through his arms as the guard misses Thar. Kul
finally abandons the doorway and leaps out through the window, discarding
his shield in mid-flight in case he needs to roll upon landing. He
lands on his feet next to Thar.
![[Marlok image]](kulpics/marlok.jpg){kind=small} Marlok
awakens. He has a flat crooked, broken nose and short crew-cut hair.
He looks up at the cloaked man with a surprised and hopeful expression. |
|
[Wednesday 02 August 2000] |
|
17 Feb 08: Night (cont):
Kul and Thar are confronted by a city guardsman in the alleyway next to
the Silver Unicorn
Inn. Thar re-adjusts Strys' unconscious body in his arms and turns
to flee, while Kul challenges the guard before them.
Kul glares at the guard, "Leave now while you still
have the chance."
The guard responds by swinging his sword at Kul,
who easily parries the attack with Gashintain.
Meanwhile, Thar runs down the street towards the
rear of the inn, carrying Strys, while Circh continues to carefully climb
down the outer wall of the burning inn. The flames are now consuming
the first floor of the inn, impeding her progress.
Thar is forced to halt as the fighting between the
city guards and thieves around him intensifies. He soon realizes
that they are all fighting to be first to apprehend him! A wall of
bodies begins closing in around the half-elf. He looks for an opening,
but there is none except back towards Kul. Then, as he looks about
for a safe place to stash Strys he is jostled from behind by a thief who
has been shoved by a guard. He finally retreats back into the alleyway
where Kul still faces the lone guardsman.
Kul gives the guard another chance to retreat, but
the man holds his ground and yells for help. The barbarian finally
cuts him down before aid arrives. Kul then prepares to cut a path
through the surrounding mob as Circh finally jumps to the ground nearby.
Meanwhile, Marlok orders his bounty
hunters,
Taribark,
Distrol
and Muliff, to advance and engage
their pre-assigned targets. He orders Golch
to keep the approaching mob at bay. Golch has already positioned
himself outside of the alleyway in the intersection near the front of the
inn. He gestures with his arms and hands and the ground ripples outward
in a semi-circle away from him, violently throwing back all of the advancing
thieves and guards in the street.
Marlok points his sword directly at Kul. It is a beautiful silver
blade with black runes and a crossguard fashioned into two hummingbirds
facing one another with their wings spread out behind them. Suddenly,
the rune-sword leaves Marlok's hand and flies, humming, directly towards
Kul! The barbarian, taken aback by the strange attack, is slow to
react and is struck by the winged
rune-sword.
Marlok then arms himself with a guard's
bane, a tunician weapon designed to be used specifically against the
nargison
whip. Kul recognizes that these men seem to have a plan of attack.
Since Marlok has a guard's bane, Kul surmises that he must be looking for
Thar, so the barbarian decides to disrupt their plan as much as possible.
He charges and leaps at Marlok, knocking him down. Kul then quickly
rolls to his feet, but takes a blow from Taribark's maul.
Thar quickly deposits Strys' unconscious body next
to a building across the alley from the inn and tells Circh to look out
for the girl. Then, with Asterlain
in hand, he joins Kul, who is now surrounded by the four bounty hunters.
A thief suddenly grabs at Circh, but she quickly responds by grabbing the
thief by his cloak and gutting him with her dagger.
Taribark is facing Kul, so Thar strikes the large
bounty hunter from behind with Asterlain. Marlok yells for his men
to stick to their assigned targets.
The apparent assignments are as follows:
Distrol
- a man with a raspy voice and wielding a longsword: Kul
Marlok -
wielding the guard's bane:
Thar
Marlok's
winged rune-sword: Kul
Muliff -
another man wielding a longsword: Thar
Taribark
- a large barbarian wielding a heavy maul: Kul
Thar also recognizes the bounty hunter's attack plan
and begins planning his own counter measures. He moves swiftly around
Taribark in an attempt to keep the large man between himself and Marlok.
Marlok chases after Thar, while Kul moves around Taribark in the opposite
direction, attempting to cut off Marlok.
Thar dodges an attack by Muliff and then quickly
parries an attack by Distrol. Marlok finally succeeds in attacking
Thar with the guard's bane and the half-elf realizes that the bounty hunter
doesn't know how to properly wield the strange tunician weapon. No
longer worried about Marlok, Thar continues to concentrate on Taribark
instead as he avoids attacks by both Marlok and Muliff.
Kul strikes Marlok from behind, but is then struck
again by the flying rune-sword. Kul then decides to concentrate on
striking Marlok's legs in an attempt to cripple him, but the barbarian
misses.
There follows much jostling for position.
Thar and Kul manage to avoid attacks by Marlok and Taribark. Thar
misses Taribark, but is nicked by Muliff's sword. Kul parries an
attack by Distrol and then successfully dodges the flying rune-sword.
Circh closes in and stabs Distrol with her dagger, but a thief grabs her
by the hair and pulls her away from the bounty hunter.
Thar lands a blow [critical triple dam] to the back
of Taribark's head. The barbarian howls in pain and falls to his
knees. He then hauls himself back to his feet, holding one hand to
the back of his head. His hand comes away soaked with blood.
Taribark is furious and, after throwing down his maul in anger, he lunges
at Thar. The half-elf avoids the grappling attack by quickly giving
ground before the maddened barbarian. As Taribark closes in, Thar
lashes out with Asterlain and strikes the bounty hunter in the forehead
[critically] with the end of the whip. The barbarian drops dead with
a hole crushed into his forehead.
Marlok misses Thar again and finally discards the
guard's bane in disgust. Distrol misses Kul who, in turn, first misses
Marlok, but then follows up with a successful strike to the bounty hunter.
Kul then barely manages to dodge the flying rune-sword again. Kul
suddenly notices a ripple in the ground moving towards him from the direction
of Golch. He is able to leap aside just as the ground bursts open
under his feet [Kul saves vs. Spell]. The hole then quickly contracts
and seals up again.
Recovering quickly from the near miss, Kul finally
succeeds in slicing Marlok in the leg with Gashintain, but is himself struck
by both Distrol and the flying rune-sword.
Thar misses Distrol, but manages to avoid another
attack by Muliff.
Circh, meanwhile, has become entangled with several
thieves and guards. She slashes at a guard with her shortsword in
an attempt to break loose.
Kul, angered by the sorcerous attack on him, turns
and charges at Golch, but he suddenly notices that the sorcerer's footprints
actually lead in another direction! Kul's natural instincts tell
him that Golch is not really where he appears to be! The barbarian
adjusts his course and strikes the invisible Golch hard. Golch's
mirror image falls backwards as he is struck down and the snow in front
of Kul is disturbed as the real invisible Golch falls to the ground.
Marlok has finally armed himself with a dagger,
but Thar strikes him swiftly with Asterlain. The bounty hunter falls
to one knee and tries in vain to throw snow into the half-elf's face.
The snow strikes it's target, but has little effect. Marlok then
succeeds in nicking Thar with the dagger. Muliff feigns a thrust
at Thar and then shoves the half-elf with his free hand. Thar is
forced backwards and falls over a kneeling Distrol, who apparently positioned
himself behind the half-elf for just that purpose. However, Thar
easily rolls back onto his feet before any advantage is gained by his opponents.
He hears cursing and suddenly realizes that a guard and a thief are both
charging towards him. Thar manages to kick aside the thief and then
narrowly deflects the guard's sword attack.
Kul senses that the still invisible Golch is in
a prone position upon the ground beneath him. As a Slayer, the barbarian
has found that most sorcerers want nothing to do with him and that many
even fear him. With this in mind he asks Golch in a menacing tone,
"Are you afraid of me wizard?" Kul hears only panting, and when Golch
does not reply he adds, "You should be..."
The barbarian then hacks at Golch again and this
time the sorcerer's concentration is completely broken. The spell
holding the mob at bay fails and the crowd lurches forward as the invisible
barrier drops.
Thar decides to give Distrol and Muliff an opportunity
to change their minds. He asks the two bounty hunters if they would
consider helping him and Kul escape.
"Nothing personal," Distrol replies in his trademark
raspy voice, "we just want the bounty."
Thar responds by striking Distrol with Asterlain
again.
The flying rune-sword again strikes Kul. The
barbarian, in turn, hacks at Golch again as the mob surges forward towards
them. Kul realizes the danger and quickly abandons Golch, retreating
towards Thar's position.
Distrol nicks Thar with his longsword and Muliff
thrusts at Kul as the barbarian passes by, but Kul manages to avoid the
attack. Marlok then extends his hand towards Kul, summoning, or perhaps
even directing, the rune-sword. Kul leaps at Marlok as the flying
rune-sword slashes the barbarian in the leg from behind. Kul strikes
Marlok hard and the bounty hunter finally falls! The rune-sword also
clatters to the ground, lifeless, as it's master falls defeated.
Now that their leader has fallen, Thar once again
asks both Distrol and Muliff if they are still intent upon their course
of action.
"You're just worth too much," Muliff answers.
Thar responds by striking Distrol again.
Muliff misses Kul and Distrol barely misses Thar,
tearing the half-elf's cloak. Golch is finally able to get back up
to his feet, but is swiftly knocked down again by the charging crowd.
Kul then misses Muliff who is struck from behind
by Thar, but suddenly the mob closes in, shouldering each other... everyone
fighting to be the first to get to Kul and Thar.
Kul misses Muliff, who is again struck hard [critically]
from behind by Thar. Muliff, angered, turns and slashes at Thar.
The half-elf dodges Muliff's sword, allowing a thief behind him to take
the blow instead, and then quickly parries another attack by Distrol.
The mob around Thar and Kul are swinging wildly
and madly at anything. Kul is pushed and shoved from behind repeatedly
and receives several very minor wounds from stray club, dagger and sword
slashes. Distrol suddenly takes a wild club strike to the back of
his neck.
Kul moves through the mob around Thar, Muliff and
Distrol. He looks about for Circh and Strys, but cannot locate either
of the women. Thar strikes Muliff, but Muliff and Distrol are getting
caught up in the pushing mob and are increasingly unable to concentrate
their attacks on Thar.
Thar looks towards the intersection near the front
of the inn, trying to spot Marlok's rune-sword through the crowd.
Suddenly, the half-elf takes a guard's fist in his face. Another
guard wielding a sword tells Thar that he will pay for his crimes.
The half-elf then manages to duck out of the way of a thief's club, but
is suddenly grabbed by another man. Thar grabs onto the new attacker
and slams him into the wall of a building. Thar is being jostled
and grabbed at by all sides now and realizes that his whip is now useless
in the thick mob. He quickly wraps Asterlain about his waist and
begins shoving his way towards the spot where he last saw Marlok's rune-sword.
Kul escapes
from the thick of the crowd and begins searching for an escape route that
they can make use of. Hoping to perhaps escape through a building,
he runs down an adjoining alleyway to try a door, but finds that it is
locked. The far end of the alleyway is blocked by more fighting thieves
and guards, forcing him to turn back. Three guards have followed
him down the alleyway, though. Kul engages them and takes two of
them down very quickly. The third guard yells for help and then launches
an attack upon the barbarian.
Thar continues to look for the rune-sword in the
middle of the chaos. He somehow spots the sword lying in the snow
and shoves his way through the mob towards the weapon. As he closes
in on his target he accidentally oversteps the sword, but is then able
to quickly reach down through his legs and grab it.
Kul easily dodges the third guard's attack and then
swiftly strikes the man down [critical double dam] before moving back towards
the inn. Suddenly, he notices Circh just inside the window of the
inn. She peers out of the window for a moment without noticing Kul
and then lifts Strys up onto her shoulder and turns away. Kul can
only surmise that she is going to try to cross through the still burning
building and escape through the opposite side.
Thar, meanwhile, tries to orientate himself within
the mob. He decides that he needs a different cloak to disguise himself,
so he disposes of his own torn cloak and attempts to pull a cloak from
one of the thieves in the crowd. He fails to get the cloak, however,
and instead begins to cross the intersection northward, away from the inn
and the heat of the battle.
More guards spot and confront Kul. The barbarian
uses his own cloak to entangle a sword and deftly avoids their attacks.
Golch, meanwhile, is still trapped in the heat of
the maddened crowd. Kneeling now, he slams his open palmed hands
upon the ground before him, causing a huge ripple in the earth to radiate
away from him in all directions. The destruction that follows is
swift and awesome in it's power. Cobblestones, dirt, snow and people
are all tossed high into the air all about him and the inn wall along the
alleyway bursts outward from the force of the incredible earthwave.
[Kul and Thar both save vs. Spell and Dex. 15 points of dam to everyone
within blast radius (including Kul and Thar!)]
The air is heavy with unsettled dust following the
devastation. People, both alive and dead, lie scattered all about,
intermixed with the cobblestones and rubble of the destroyed streets.
The moaning and groaning of the injured cuts through the erie silence hanging
over the area.
Thar takes advantage of the situation and secures
a suitable cloak. He crawls through the still settling dust cloud
searching for Golch, hoping to put an end to the sorcerer's miserable life.
Instead, he spots guards approaching on either side of him and decides
that discretion is necessary. He sneaks across the intersection to
another alleyway across from the inn and makes good his escape hoping to
meet up with Kul and the others elsewhere.
Meanwhile, smoke and dust obscure Kul's vision,
but he hears a building adjacent to the inn gradually collapsing.
Knowing that he is still in the alleyway next to the Silver Unicorn, he
peers at his lodestone in the
dark and stumbles in the direction that he thinks leads towards the rear
of the inn. He manages to make it around the corner just as the adjacent
building collapses! He then manages to crawl from the wreckage, but
a line of guards and thieves watching the building collapse see him emerge
from the dust cloud. The guards quickly advance and apprehend Kul,
who is too weak to resist [2 hp].
![[Hulatious image]](kulpics/hulatious.gif){kind=small} bodies
scattered about. Distrol
is still here, arguing with captain Hulatious,
claiming that Kul should be his prisoner. "He's mine!" Distrol
insists in his raspy voice, "My group captured him! He wouldn't be
in your custody now if it wasn't for us! Turn him over to me!" |
|
|
|
Unpublished work © 1999-2001 fraz |
|
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![[Kulgar image]](kulpics/brooding.jpg){kind=small}
![[Tharrison image]](kulpics/thar05.jpg){kind=small}
![[Walc image]](kulpics/walc.jpg){kind=small}
![[Circh image]](kulpics/circh06.jpg){kind=small}
![[Othello image]](kulpics/othello.jpg){kind=small}
![[Strystynne image]](kulpics/strys03.gif){kind=small}
![[Merrill image]](kulpics/merr10.gif){kind=small}