12 March 2000 - Mike's House
Our heroes meet in the slave pits of Pimper’s Block on the edges of the plains of Prax. All had come the wrong side of the law in the Lunar Empire and thrown into Lunar prisons, from which few return. However, through various means – including luck, political influence from family or friends and bribery – they had been transferred to Pimper’s Block to be sold into slavery.
The slave action was organised by the Etyries Cult, followers of the Lunar Goddess of trade. In turn each was paraded on a large stone block, the auctioneer cried out their skills and experience to the small crowd of prospective buyers. In turn each was bought by the same man, who made his bid in a firm voice with a Lunar accent. The speed of the auction and the bright daylight disorientated each of our heroes, by the time they had managed to make sense of the scene they were been trown back into one of the slave pits.
Within an hour they were hauled out of the pit and led together into a dark room. After another wait two men entered the room, the windows were flung open, light streamed in. After a short examination one of the men said “they’ll do”. An Etyries Priest was called into the room, who performed a ceremony of bondment.
Next they were led outside into a courtyard where the shackles and chains were removed and they were told to wait. A few minutes later one of the two men who had previously entered the darkened room arrived. He was obviously a military man, a member of the Yanafal Tarnils – the Lunar war Cult. He introduces himself as Daine, Chief of Mercenaries and Captain of the Household of Raus of Rone – now Duke Raus of the Weiss Grantlands. He explained that they had been bought as bonded servants by the Duke. If they preformed well then they could expect to be placed on the regular payroll.
He then led them to meet the Duke, who is camped just outside the town walls. The Duke was the second man who had approved their purchase in the darkened room. After a short speech by the Duke, Daine introduces the characters to some Praxian nomads who are in the Duke’s employ. Daine explains that the Praxian nomads all ride, herd and eat a different animal. The nomads employed by the Duke come from three of the Praxian tribes: Llama, Zebra and Ostrich.
Daine then led the characters back into the town where he discussed the weapons and armour they required. He then gave them a small sum of money and told them they could do as they wished for a few hours – but they should be back at the tents by dark.
The characters spilt up, taking advantage of the closest they had come to freedom for a long time. Flax took the opportunity to shop - buying himself paper, a pen and some ink. Redorantous tried to find a spear, but discovered that they were priced far higher than the six Lunars he had from Daine – so instead she paid a man for sex.
Uta, whilst wondering through the market, came across some men gambling. One man, named Gerash, saw him and asked him in Tradetalk if he wanted a game, Uta agreed and each staked 1 Lunar. Uta won, and tried to leave the table, Gerash insisted on another hand – again Uta won! Again Uta tried to leave, Garesh insisted he stayed, and when Uta refused two heavies appeared – after a short tussle he was led back to the table with daggers pressed to his kidneys. He was allowed to leave only when he was down to 2 Lunars.
As dusk approached all the characters quickly returned to the tents – they were too close to the slave pits to risk the wrath of their new employer.
Early the next morning they are roused by Daine, given breakfast and ordered to break camp. Daine announces that they are to join a Lunar merchant caravan for the journey across Prax. The caravan master, Lollos (a Etyries Priest) commands a caravan of 7 wagons, 55 mules, 8 Lunar cavalrymen and 20 Sable Antelope Guards and Scouts.
After a short time forming up, the caravan began it’s long journey across Prax, a huge semi-arid plan.
During the first day Flax chatted to Lollos and discovered the route the caravan would take: Pimper’s Block to Day’s Rest (5 days); Day’s Rest to Tourney Alter (2 days); Tourney Alter to Biggle Stone (4 days); Biggle Stone to Agape (2 days and a 1 day stop); Agape to Corflu (5 days and a 1 week stop); Corflu to Cam’s Well (8 days and a 3 day stop); Cam’s Well to Barbarian Town (6 days and a 3 day stop) and finally Barbarian Town to Pimper’s Block (7 days).
During the first day the weapons that Daine bought for the characters are handed out.
The next day the caravan passes a man crucified to a desert tree.
On the second night the characters take the second watch, they split into three pairs patrolling each taking a different part of the parameter. Redorantous and Esmarelda are paid together. Well into the watch Redorantous found herself approached out of the darkness by an old man. He asked if he could sit with her for a while and talk and share some of her water. He talked with Redorantous for some time asking about where she came from and her family. He refers to himself as ‘Father’. When asked about himself he says that it was different when he first came there with the tribes scattered bands. He said he taught them how to herd the animals and protected them. He also claimed to have become a ferryman for the Gods during the Gods War when they travelled the underworld. Eventually he escaped from the underworld and returned to find that the Khan had taken his place. The Khan captured him and bound him to guard the place where the Bull fell, so he must aid those crossing until the end of time. He then got up and left after offering a gift, which Redorantous accepted (a reusable Rune spell at the cost of 1 power). Redorantous woke with a start, finding she had dozed off – she thought she must have dreamt it all, but she had the spell in her memory.
On the fifth day they arrived at Day’s Rest. Gorak, one of Raus’ nomads tells them that it is one of the most sacred places in Prax. A group of about 50 Bolo Lizard Riders currently inhabits the oasis – small men who ride giant lizards - who do not get on with the Sable Antelope Riders who are with the caravan. There are also a small number of Oasis people, who appear to be badly treated by the Lizard Riders.
The caravan stays overnight at the oasis. Uta, after much negotiating, bought a Lizard cloak from one of the Lizard Riders – who though distrustful are happy to trade with the caravan.
The caravan resumes its journey again first thing in the morning. During the day they can see a huge rectangular mountain to the SW, which they are told is The Block.
That night extra efforts are made to prepare defences for the camp. Lollos is anxious about the possibility of attacks by chaos creatures from the nearby Devil’s Marsh. The watches are doubled, so the characters have to take two watches. The first passes without incident – though they are on edge and are convinced that every shadow is a creature of chaos about to attack.
In their second watch the shadows they see turn out to be creatures attacking. Huge half-men half-scorpions wielding clubs and slings - attacking from the direct of the Marsh. Two of the chaos spawn attacked our heroes; one firing its sling while the other charged the party. The party was able to deal relatively easily with the charging chaos creature, but two more of the Scorpion Men appeared and also charged the party. Redorantous proved to be very effective with her bow (despite hitting Esmarelda with one of her arrows), while Flax made two unsuccessful attempts to cast Boost Damage on Uta. Beowulf took a sever wound in his right arm and had to continue the fight wielding his bastard sword one handed – greatly reducing his effectiveness. Having finally succeeded in casting his spell, Flax entered the combat wielding her Scimitar.
With the Scorpion Men defeated the party set about healing wounds and catch their breath. But within a couple of minutes shouts of warning heralded a larger chaos attack.
Most of the second attack was concentrated on the other side of the camp, but two Broo attacked the section of the parameter defended by the party. Uta charged one of the new attackers, while Redorantous concentrated her arrows on the other – soon felling him with an arrow in the leg, causing the Broo to fall.
Having defeated his foe quickly, Uta turned his attention on the Broo on the ground. His first blow was parried and the Broo was able to hack away one of Uta’s legs causing him to fall as well – so the two adversaries were soon hacking away at each other on the ground. The rest of the party soon arrived and helped to finish off the fell creature.
With no other attackers in their sector, the heroes were able to watch as the huge force of Broo and Scorpion Men attacked the other side of the camp. They watched as Gorak, the nomad follower of Storm Bull, in a berserker rage taking on an alligator headed Broo and chopping off its head in a single blow.
As the battle threatened to go against the caravan the battle turned against chaos with the arrival of a large number of human warriors who behind the attackers. The battle was soon over, the ground covered with the remains of Broo and Scorpion Men.
The timely arrivals were a group of Storm Bull warriors from The Block, who had been tailing the chaos for a couple of nights. While the majority of the warriors pursued the survivers of the chaos band, some remained to pile up the bodies into a huge pyre. A Storm Bull Priest provided some healing to the wounded.
The pyre was lit and the rest of the night was spent with the Storm Bull warriors dancing round the burning pile of chaos bodies. Redorantous, a lay member of the Storm Bull cult joined the ritual. Gorak told her that she had done well with her bow, but that to properly defeat chaos she had to fight it at close quarters and gave her a Battle Axe for future battles (which she later swapped with a Storm Bull warrior for a spear). During the ritual Redorantous was initiated into the Storm Bull cult, and was able to sacrifice for a Rune Magic spell.