At the Sign of the Salient Hurcheon

Our heroes cooked up a plan to trap the ship of custom’s duty evader, scofflaw and blackener of Farshad’s name, Uktannu, a Shevam merchant who people compare unfavourably to Ea-Nasir, cheating, stealing, betraying and all using Farshad’s name. They found out their plans were passed on by a traitor, but still managed to grapple the ship, and are boarding against superior odds. 

Our cast

• Farshad – Merchant of the Rule of Ishtir, musician and Agent of the Rule
• Fetnah – Shaman from a long time ago, and a forgotten and lost land, and agent of the Rule
• Smersh – Larcenous Priest from long time ago, and a nation long gone, Databdara (Magistrate) and agent of the Rule
• Utana – Noble of the Rule of Haraxa, Agent and Acting-Databdara (Magistrate) of the nation

Absent

• José Juan – Foreigner from the far west, warrior, healer and Agent of the Rule
• Arpaesis – From the far western land of Ta-Khemet, student of Arcane Lore, and agent of the Rule, currently studying books of Lore
• Dhran the White – of humble origin in Ishtir, warrior, agent of the Rule, currently studying in the capital and trying to unionise
• Jalabu – Noble of Dilmun, Merchant-Adventurer and agent of the Rule, currently coming to terms with his inner demon, literally

Although José Juan’s player was absent, as his usual tactic is to stand off and plink with arrows, so his character was given to Phil, who runs Utana, and Smersh and Fetnah came back from the side of the boat, where they were being a bit sea-sick, to join in.

Fetnah, as fresh as she gets, invoked her Shamanic powers, with her customary “Thou who would do me harm, begone!” , affecting all the enemies who could hear her to suffer a penalty to all their Success chances, as they would be unable to get away from her. This had a serious effect on the enemy, who often missed their attacks, parries and saves just because of this spell.

Combat was joined, given the area battlefield, armour was light, which meant that any wounds suffered would have the potential to be grievous. Initial contact was mad with Farshad, Utana and Smersh on the enemy ship, but it was inconclusive. However the traitor on the Council of Spah revealed themselves. Chief of the fisher folk, Fram, steered his boat close on the other side of the merchant ship, and six Kurrim warriors leapt onto the merchantman.

Six were dressed in the fashion of the Zhuezhi gang members they had met in the town of Khanedarya, the others were clad in simple cloth tunics, their faces and bodies tattooed in unusual designs, the cries of the newcomers were strange to Utana, who spoke the ancient tongue common to many Kurrim across the world, it seemed similar but words and idioms were odd, but their intent was clear, and it was not friendly.

Concerned about Uktannu’s magic, they kept him engaged, having seen already that José Juan’s arrows could not bite him, between light armour worn and either a spell laid upon them or of his own making.

Whilst arrows flew, Fetnah and unnamed smuggler number 6 (they were named, that was Imrim) chugged the same javelins back and forward, or so it seemed, Smersh found that the speed of his dagger against unarmoured foes, Utana laid about him with his sword, José Juan sniped away. Utana did resist the temptation to slay both Farshad’s, let the Godsknow their own.

Farshad, however, grappled with Uktannu, who was unable to break free, over time tightening his grip, and avoiding rescue attempts by the marines, until he could get a knife to Uktannu’s throat and call for the others to lay down their weapons.

The threat caused the others to hold, through they did not lay down their weapons, instead they retreated to Fram’s ship and made off, pursued by other boats.

Other boats contributed crew for the cargo ship, and, after binding Uktannu to the mast and gagging him, they made back for Spah.

The cargo proved to be the expected spices, but also unusual plant extracts and weapons and armour. Nothing much better than the group had, apart from the buckler Fetnah took, but enough to equip 40 Kurrim warriors well. They assumed Kurrim as the helmets were shaped to fit their heads.

The ship, cheekily named “Farshad’s Bounty” was impounded by Smersh, in his official capacity, awaiting disposal in some manner. The food from the vessel, the stuff still edible, was taken off, the rats were left alone and Uktannu imprisoned.

There was also logs of travel and cargo found, which backed up the supposition that the weaponry came from the Land of a Thousand Gods, and that the weapons were destined for a location in the marshes down the coast, Uninhabited as far as anyone knew, save an accompanying map showed some villages and a route through the swamp.

In the final discussion before the group settled for the night, Farshad gave an impassioned speech, about the unwarranted and unearned abused heaped upon him as a result of the deprecations of this false Farshad, that even his companions were prone to, without cause, and that a fitting disposal of Uktannu would be to hand him over to Jalabu’s cousin,  Hamid bin Khawla al-Malmuntaqim al-Maqqaniyy, His theory being with the true culprit of the debts owed to Jalabu’s family Jalabu would be free of the debt he had taken upon himself.

And there, for a couple of months, we left it

Smersh’s player was complaining of bad rolls, but Fetnah’s spell converted some critical successes into failures, as that happens when  the roll is exactly your chance, and the chance was lowered so the roll was too high. Boo Fetnah, boo!

Having discovered counterfeit customs seals on goods found secreted in the pack of a pedlar who came to a grisly end, murdered by animated corpses. Tracing the pedlar’s movements, they discovered a cave used by smugglers who mistook Farshad for their boss Uktannu, a cruel and evil master, with no respect for the dignity of his employees, so the mistake was perhaps forgivable.

Leaving with the information that Uktannu and the next ship is expected in few days, the group have gone back to plan their next move. 

Utana swaps out for Jalabu, to keep the number at three

Our cast

• José Juan – Foreigner from the far west, warrior, healer and Agent of the Rule
• Farshad – Merchant of the Rule of Ishtir, musician and Agent of the Rule
• Utana – Noble of the Rule of Haraxa, Agent and Acting-Databdara (Magistrate) of the nation

Absent

• Arpaesis – From the far western land of Ta-Khemet, student of Arcane Lore, and agent of the Rule, currently studying books of Lore
• Dhran the White – of humble origin in Ishtir, warrior, agent of the Rule, currently studying in the capital and trying to unionise
• Jalabu – Noble of Dilmun, Merchant-Adventurer and agent of the Rule, currently coming to terms with his inner demon, literally
• Fetnah – Shaman from a long time ago, and a forgotten and lost land, and agent of the Rule
• Smersh – Larcenous Priest from long time ago, and a nation long gone, Databdara (Magistrate) and agent of the Rule

Utana, beaten down and exhausted after a few days trying to clear up after the recent horror, and establishing anew order in the town of Spah and surrounds, staggers into the   the temporary accommodation and offices that Farshad has set up, almost unable to keep his weary eyes open to take in the sight of  Farshad and José Juan enjoying some leisure amongst some of the workers from the the estate offices.

Slumping into a stool, his muscles betraying him, he is restored with some food and drink brought over by the other two, as they regale the events of the previous day.

However Utana has little time to rest before his, and the others’, presence is requested by the Council of Spah, along with Mina, Lieutenant of Cavalry, and Imintakar, a customs officer. These groups are offering what help they can to tackle the smugglers, including a couple of large boats and some crew. There is some concern about security, and regrets from the group that they just can’t use magic to solve all their problems.

In the subsequent discussion, a plan is hatched out, Council member Aruch, and other hunters, will watch the landward exits from the caves. On the nights the ship is expected, Council leader Dehra and the militia together with Mina’s cavalry will be ready on the landward side. Council member Shirzan will command a boat with the group and some other crew, Imintakar and Customs officers on the other, smaller boat. Despite the skepticism of Council member Fram, some fishing boats will work with the customs men to try and hem in the ship.

Taking the next day to prepare, the group are disturbed by a messenger from the hunters, they had spotted someone hurrying from the direction of the town to the caves, staying a while then returning. The group searched the area, and found a secret and dangerous path down the cliff. Farshad looked out to see if there were any obvious vessels close, but these are busy sealanes

There were ships of shapes and sizes

Farshad led the way down the path, and promptly fell off it, catching himself only with a very temporary grip. José Juan and, against his better judgement, Utana, got Farshad up as his fingernails were giving up the ghost.

They found a small beach, against which a small boat could be beached, and an iron ring, somewhat rusty into which it could be tied up. There was no clue as to who the messenger could have been but it seemed there was at least one traitor in the town.

There was no time top interrogate the whole town, the first night that the smugglers were expected was here, and they set off.

They were lucky, the ship arrived on the first night. A merchantmen, it obviously intends to beach at the cave, however it sends a signal to the shore.

An answering signal comes back, obviously one it did not like, as the ship started to turn away, at which point the group closed in.

Despite Farshad attempting to disembowel his friends, and anyone else within reach with his grappling hook, eventually the ship was grappled and the crew pulled them in, as Utana and José Juan injured a couple of crew with archery (archery against the unarmoured can be deadly)

The crew of the smuggler ship got ready, as Farshad and Utana leapt aboard, seeing a Shevam looking much like Farshad readying a spell of some sort and there we left it, next time for battle proper!

Coming to terms with a long deserted house and grounds somewhat littered with corpses of former slaves of a demon, the group find themselves interrupted by news from the Capital. Smersh has been granted the status of Databdara, a combination investigator, magistrate, supervisor of local tax collectors and general public morals, with Utana there to instruct him. José Juan has been contacted by an agent of his new Ambassador controller, Hortensia, and Fetnah can see her companion spirit as clearly as I of she were flesh and blood.

Our cast

• José Juan – Foreigner from the far west, warrior, healer and agent of the Rule
• Farshad – Merchant of the Rule of Ishtir, musician and agent of the Rule
• Jalabu – Noble of Dilmun, Merchant-Adventurer and agent of the Rule, currently coming to terms with his inner demon, literally

Absent

• Arpaesis – From the far western land of Ta-Khemet, student of Arcane Lore, and agent of the Rule, currently studying books of Lore
• Dhran the White – of humble origin in Ishtir, warrior, agent of the Rule, currently studying in the capital and trying to unionise
• Utana – Noble of the Rule of Haraxa, Agent and Officer of the nation
• Fetnah – Shaman from a long time ago, and a forgotten and lost land, and agent of the Rule
• Smersh – Larcenous Priest from long time ago, and a nation long gone, Databdara (Magistrate) and agent of the Rule

The scene opens as it would to a normal day in any adventurer’s hero’s life. Smersh and Fetnah are clearing Smersh’s home, having a major clear out, just as the players are, though one hopes the players do not have to also deal with a few stray spirits. Smersh, aided by the local priests of the Cold Ones, led by the senior priest An-Dimikhan, are also intending to ritually cleanse and reconsecrate the family temple and door shrine.

Back in the town of Spah, in a temporary office set up by Smersh’s factor Afghaq, Farshad is going over the accounts, and noting the current outgoings to labourers hired to clear away the corpses and renew the road to the Estate, the start of which is encroached by the marshes.

In another corner, José Juan is going through a collection of cuttings from the estate’s feral herb garden, checking against a book of herbs of the region sent by Hortensia, perhaps not all are intended purely for the kitchen, occasionally checking with Jalabu, who has brought some of the Alchemist’s equipment from the house and is conducting experiments of his own with the plants.

The cavalry troopers have been left behind until Smersh can gather constables of his own, and their officer Mina comes in with news of a strange find. Taking the group with her, she points out some of the contents of the dead pedlar, Amuura’s, pack. These proved to be valuable spices in waxed linen, but the packs had Haraxan customs seals. Fake ones, reasonable fakes. The spices marked on the packets, pepper corns, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace, saffron, anise, cumin, tumeric, whilst not as valuable as they would be in José Juan’s homeland, is still of sufficient value that cheating customs is worthwhile.

The group had a think, and decided that returning to the house where they found the dead pedlar would not be productive, it had been searched and all traces would have been walked over many times. So they asked around. Amuura was a frequent visitor, but had not been seen since heading south a few days ago. She did not have any particular person she stayed with, but stuck to a few homes that she would trade goods with for accommodation. She was last seen heading down the south road to the gate there, which also functions as a jail, militia armoury and duty barracks. However a cavalry trooper rode there, and she found out that Amuura did not pass through the gate.

There was a question here about a rule in another RPG about automatic success in a task if a greatly extended time was devoted to it. This is what the current manuscript for BtBG says about that.

“In most cases, if a character wants to do something, and have the knowledge, time and means to do it, then they will succeed.

Example, the characters want to break through the mud brick wall of a building to get at the oil pots within. They have picks, the building is empty and no guards. They will be able to do it, but it will take an hour or so.

The group searched around the path that Amuura would have taken, and found a side path heading back through the marsh to the coast. There was no trace of Amuura’s tracks, but they touch a hunch and carefully followed it, pinging on a path atop the cliff edge. Heading south, they looked every so often until they saw signs of a sea cave

There was no path down from the seaward side, but they followed the path on, and spotted a cleft in the rock, with a possible entrance, they scrambled up the rocks and through the narrow passage, finding themselves in a small chamber, their way guided by Jalabu’s magic shield.

The passage from the left headed down, and forked, they took the upper fork, intro a damp chamber into which a spring leaked, the damp floor covered in algae.

The floor was treacherous, but Farshad was able to cross, his feet dry, using the fallen bodies of Jalabu and José Juan, who were not so lucky. Picking themselves up, they continued, through what appeared to be a room used for sleeping, with beds, bedding and personal belongings moved aside to keep the area clear for, something.

One way out led to the main way in from the outside world, the other back towards the sea cave, carved by the stream coming down from the hills. Having established a route out, they took the other route, but the sound of voices ahead caused them to mask the light, and continue cautiously on.

The found a store room and workshop, in which a Kurrim and three humans worked, unarmoured by armed with close combat weaponry. Although the group approached  stealthily, eventually they were noticed, but rather than outrage it violence, the Kurrim looked at Farshad and said

“Hello Boss, didn’t expect you until the ship arrived in three or for days time.”

With aplomb and conviction, Farshad leant into the mistaken identity, learning that he was presumed to be one Uktannu, and that this place received valuables from inland, and exported them to the Lands of a Thousand Gods, and received goods in return, in both ways avoiding taxes, but faking the stamps to make distribution easier, and profits higher as there would be less need to bribe officials to look the other way.

Farshad was convincing as Uktannu, and José Juan and Jalabu as prospective partners, explaining their exotic looks, played their part to the hilt. They got a look at the goods on the shelves, and the stamps and dies, but José Juan did get a look at the books used for naming the couriers used to carry packets off, including Amuura, and the goods assigned to her match *most* of what was found.

Checking the main cave, they saw other workers preparing loads for the ship when it came, the workers were also convinced the Farshad was this Uktannu. By this point, Farshad was promising too meet the demands of the workers, increased pay, any pay actually, releasing their families, giving them false expectations, and hope,  of Uktannu.

Leaving before they pushed it too far, the group headed back, cudgelling their brains. Farshad remembered that one Uktannu had some dealings with his family, years previously, and that memory logged Jalabu’s memory.about an approach for a business venture from one Uktannu that his family rejected. This was before they got involved with the venture they blame Farshad for going wrong.

And so back from the Smuggler’s Cave to the village of Spah, fore scones with cream and jam and lashings of ginger beer!

Having dislodged the demon, Marshiyu-shamawpti from their lair along one path to the afterlife of The Cold Ones, and allowed lost souls to continue their journey, the group have returned to the chapel and Smersh’s descendant, who plans to remain to guide the lost.

Our cast

• Utana – Noble of the Rule of Haraxa, Agent and Officer of the nation
• José Juan – Foreigher from the far west, warrior, healer and agent of the Rule
• Fetnah – Shaman from a long time ago, and a forgotten and lost land, and agent of the Rule
• Smersh – Larcenous Priest from long time ago, and a nation long gone, and agent of the Rule
• Jalabu – Noble of Dilmun, Merchant-Adventurer and agent of the Rule, currently coming to terms with his inner demon, literally

Absent

• Arpaesis – From the far western land of Ta-Khemet, student of Arcane Lore, and agent of the Rule, currently studying books of Lore
• Dhran the White – of humble origin in Ishtir, warrior, agent of the Rule, currently studying in the capital and trying to unionise
• Farshad – Merchant of the Rule of Ishtir, musician and agent of the Rule

This was a bit of a slow one, having chased the dead and gone the the Lands of the Dead, they had not explored the House of Spionem before, but now they had destroyed the demon, the threats that had lurked here were no more, so it was more of a tour of the ground level of  the house than an active adventure.

It was not just the door to the family temple that was encumbered by long dead corpses that stopped in their tracks when the demon as dismissed, the house has many strewn around it, as to the marshes and lands around the estate, these they saw, as Farshad went bah to the town of Spah to start coming to grips with the accounts of Smersh’s estate, and take a measure of Afhaq, Smersh’s factor.

The Compass Rose in the grounds, formed of painted and decorated stones, whist accurate, gave Jalabu the hereby-jeebies

First, the central courtyard, this shows the nature of the building, repairs and replacements over the centuries, everything replaced but still the same house, styles changed, techniques changed, but still the same house. Continue reading →

Having entered the start of the path the souls of adherents of the Cold Ones must follow, they have found many souls too scared to follow the path as a demon, Marshiyu-shamawpti, lurks ahead, devouring those that come clear. They have also been attacked by souls upon whom the demon feeds and discards, even as they are enthralled by it. They had just found one such soul, Lusa, dwindling, unable to proceed as long as the demon is there.

Our cast

• Utana – Noble of the Rule of Haraxa, Agent and Officer of the nation
• José Juan – Foreigher from the far west, warrior, healer and agent of the Rule
• Farshad – Merchant of the Rule of Ishtir, musician and agent of the Rule
• Fetnah – Shaman from a long time ago, and a forgotten and lost land, and agent of the Rule
• Smersh – Larcenous Priest from long time ago, and a nation long gone, and agent of the Rule

Absent

• Arpaesis – From the far western land of Ta-Khemet, student of Arcane Lore, and agent of the Rule, currently studying books of Lore
• Dhran the White – of humble origin in Ishtir, warrior, agent of the Rule, currently studying in the capital and trying to unionise
• Jalabu – Noble of Dilmun, Merchant-Adventurer and agent of the Rule, currently coming to terms with his inner demon, literally

Our start was delayed, our VTT wasn’t admitting two of our players, thanks to Norman (José Juan) for a bit of lateral thinking to get everyone on as level a footing as we could manage.

Persuading the starveling Lusa to accompany them, swearing that that they would deal with the demon Marshiyu-shamawpti, the group proceed, finding themselves in a cave dominated by a huge plant rising out of a pool fed by the river that the dead follow on their journey to judgement, the water, unlike the picture, a dirty, dark red brown. The huge tendrils of the plant sway as if in an unseen and unfelt breeze.

The cave of Marshiyu-shamawpti

The group were suspicious of this, a suspicion confirmed when the flaunt started dropping off soul husks held in thrall. The things were almost totally drained of their being, but they were still a threat, if ignored they would cause damage, but luckily for the group they no longer had much substance so could be felled easily.

Lusa did what he could to tackle the husks

As expected the tendrils started trying to smash or grab the members of the group. Farshad was the first victim, though he was soon let free in an unfortunate manner, dropped to the ground after Fetnah did something remarkable.

Impossible under normal circumstances without great preparation and sacrifice, unlikely in a cave on the outer fringes of the netherworld, Fetnah invoked the Fires of Heaven, wrath of spiritual fury, the wrath of the gods and great spirits manifested! The demon was set ablaze, as was Farshad, on fire and, in the demon’s pain wracked writhing,  dropped on his head.

Note, somewhere over play I communicated the rules on Shamanic Chants incorrectly, and it sort of stuck. Summoning the Fires of Heaven is the most extreme weather magic, impossibly difficult, no character could summon such a display without taking those steps mentioned previously to boost their chances, but I had made a ruling before and stuck with it, it will go back to RAW hereafter.

Their foe was severely wounded and in such pain that it was unable to direct its thralls, who hung about unmoving. Fetnah herself was felled, slumped to the ground with the effort of her summoning, her connection to spirits tenuous, her grasp on reality weak, she fell unconscious briefly.

Whilst all this was going on, Utana and José Juan had been clearing the husks, with spear and arrow, Smersh had been less successful, his attacks going wide, his defences bypassed. He found that he, and José Juan, were snatched up off their feet by their ankles. This shift in tendrils though allowed Utana to see the core, in which was a twisted, sneering, arrogant, ugly face. This became Utana and Farshad’s target as Utana fired arrows and Farshad daggers, after Farshad had sliced off a tendril. When she came to, Fetnah concentrated on patching up Farshad.

Utana and Farshad were not alone in this. Being swung around, having their heads bashed against walls. Jose Juan tried to strike at the tendril holding him with his sword, but Smersh tried to unlimber his bow and shoot. His stomach muscles must be tremendous.

Utana’s luck was with him that day, two of his three strikes were as on the mark as any he had made during practice, and cause as much damage as the Fetnah’s summoning, and between that and the strikes of José Juan and Farshad, and the embarassment Marshiyu-shamawpti felt on Smersh’s behalf did for the demon.

The plant shrivelled, shrinking in on itself, withering and withdrawing as it was banished from this place, not dead, but this form destroyed. The blood red water cleared and became silver and shining. Lusa straightened up, and held themselves more confidently, soon the path was full of spirits, thanking our heroes for freeing them.

The world starts to fade, causing consternation as everything blew away as in smoke, and they were drawn back to the light, passing through, they found themselves back in the crypt of the the Temple in the grounds of Spionem’s House, now Smersh’s.

The ghost of Smersh’s distant descendant, Smersh IV, closed the portal, it cost much to hold it open for mortals. He would not be passing on, he would retain his purpose in helping others to find the start of the road to the afterlife.  This continued haunting excited Farshad and Smersh with commercial possibilities.

It took Utana, José Juan and Smersh some effort to open the door to the temple, for it was blocked by a press of stinking corpses from on the marsh.

And there we left it

To recap, the Shaman Fetnah and her ally Smersh were frozen in time for 1,500 years, victims of a trap of spirits who refused to pass to the Underworld, a pocket realm of undead slaves serving their undead master and his court.

Rescued by a band of Agents of the Magistrate of Eshtaband, a city in the Rule of Haraxa, they join up as Agents as they adjusted to the modern world. Then, stranger than much that has happened, Smersh found himself presented with a deed of inheritance to an estate granted to a son he never knew he had, still in the family after a millenium and a half.

Obviously there was a catch, the estate is not as extensive as it once was, the power of the position is reduced, oh, and the estate is crawling with the  restless dead, and they were rescued by Smersh IV, the disembodied spirit of a descendant. He took them to the estate Temple, still proof against the undead, and explained the problem. Spirits denied rites and offering could not easily find their way to the Afterlife. The dead can still find their way and he, drowned in the marsh, denied rites, has found a way, and hoped to help others, but a malign entity is blocking the way, and he hopes that the group can defeat it, and reopen the way.

Our cast

• Utana – Noble of the Rule of Haraxa, Agent and Officer of the nation
• José Juan – Foreigher from the far west, warrior, healer and agent of the Rule
• Farshad – Merchant of the Rule of Ishtir, musician and agent of the Rule
• Fetnah – Shaman from a long time ago, and a forgotten and lost land, and agent of the Rule
• Smersh – Larcenous Priest from long time ago, and a nation long gone, and agent of the Rule
• Jalabu – Noble of Dilmun, Merchant-Adventurer and agent of the Rule, currently wrestling with his inner demon, literally

Absent

• Arpaesis – From the far western land of Ta-Khemet, student of Arcane Lore, and agent of the Rule, currently studying books of Lore
• Dhran the White – of humble origin in Ishtir, warrior, agent of the Rule, currently studying in the capital and trying to unionise

The group checked the Portal opened by Smersh. They could see through it to the other side, they tested going through and coming back. Apart from the other side being colder and that vision between both being blurred and sound muffled, they were able to go through and back, but Smersh IV would need to stay behind to hold the portal open.

Jalabu had been suffering from fever. Fetnah has grafted a Spirit of the Road, Oblat, to him, as protection. Unbeknownst to Fetnah, Oblat was a Spirit of Heat and Dust Devils,  and prolonged exposure was causing Jalabu to burn up. However a crisis point seem to be reached, and Jalabu cooled somewhat, but he does seem somewhat more impulsive.

And so they went through, Jalabu less cautious than was his wont, even discarding his magic buckler, which José Juan snaffled, in case Jalabu wanted it back. The way ahead was along a path of sharp stones under a grey sky of diffuse light, ahead was a forest of dead trees and undergrowth of fallen branches, dead leaves and bones. The group moved on, until Jalabu, seeing winged creatures flying  high up,  not bothering anyone, let fly with an arrow, lightly wounding one (I think the longest range shot in this campaign to date).

The thing dives, a horrific amalgam of bird, bat and mortal forms, it dove onto Jalabu, jinking away from his outthrust sword and bearing him to the ground, trying to rip him apart with its fanged, beak like muzzle. The others tried to wound it without hurting Jalabu, and wounded it enough that it tried to fly off with Jalabu. It did not manage that, but it did escape with its existence. Fetnah did find out something interesting. her connection to the spirit world was stronger here, she found the power came to her easier, but it was also more likely to slip out of her control. Smersh found that, though dropping his mace to draw his knife meant that he could strike more often, of course dropping the mace and drawing his knife was itself time consuming. A conundrum!

Similarly, Farshad found his connection to the crow spirit Aribu, housed in a wooden crow puppet, stronger, that they could communicate clearly.

The group moved on, coming to a fork in the road through the woods, one path going into uphill into denser woods, the other down as the wood thinned. Such tracks as the sharp stones showed indicated the lower path to be the one most travelled, and so they continued down that one, emerging into a canyon, both sides covered in caves in which the lethargic, desiccating forms of spirits. They were slow moving, some could barely raise their heads to  look at the group. An underground river the colour of dark-red dried blood rose from the rocks halfway down the canyon.

One did manage to get to them shaky but standing. Asking for details, the spirit, Eshanna begged for help, explaining that this was as far as many spirits get, those that go on ahead to scout never return, either using the path ahead or the path that goes up the hill to another way ahead. The first news of difficulties was when a party of spirits were following the path, and those behind saw those ahead overcome by horrors.

They do have a name for the entity blocking the way, Marshiyu-shamawpti, “The Final Death”, it consumes spirits and they are gone forever.

The group followed the path by the river as it headed towards a dark cave mouth, the path dipping to the level of the river, the mud slippy but made walkable thanksto embedded bones and shells. Carefully they entered the cave mouth, trying to avoid the lank, stringy, unpleasant moss that fringed it.

The path led into a chamber that stank of the sulphurous emissions from spouts in the walls, that caused some to cough and splutter. The path diverged from the river, which dove under the rock again, and they quickly left by the rising path, taking time to recover their stamina and clear their lungs.

The way ahead was across a rock bridge,  dark, bottomless chasm at either side, Smersh went ahead to scout, and failed to hear in advance of time the crack of a breaking stalagmite above, which bruised him severely and he too had to rest.

Once everyone was rested, they entered the next chamber , which was the bottom of the entrance at the top of the hill, the walls studded by slabs set into it as steps spiralling up. In the middle of the chamber was a desiccated spirit, motionless as any corpse, its body marked as if bound by rope. The group moved on, only for Utana to find that the spirit had got up to grab him from behind. It was unable to drag him back to the chasm, and the spirit found its feet grappled by Jalabu and stretched out like a blanket. When the unlife was beaten out of it, a fibrous, twisted, rope like thing escaped out of the mouth of the spirit, slithering quickly off.

José Juan looked at the body, and wondered if the unquiet dead in the House of Spionem were like this, however he had not examined those creatures closely, and a brief fight in a dimly lit house was not enough to have given him ant detailed view.

The path went through a passage into a chamber covered in more of that sticky, unpleasant moss. Ahead was a chipping sound, not quite bird, not bat, something animal like, but sonmething about the noises hinted at some sort of speech.

Farshad noticed a low sound coming from the wall. Parting the fronds of the moss, and not enjoying it, Farshad saw a lethargic spirit, Lusa, obviously near its last, begging for help. The group sacrificed food and wine feeding it, burning food and spilling a libation. Lusa exam panel on the information on Marshiyu-shamawpti. It captures and enslaves those it does not consume utterly, though even its servants it consumes.

And, on that bombshell, we left it.

Our cast

• Utana – Noble of the Rule of Haraxa, Agent and Officer of the nation
• José Juan – Foreigher from the far west, warrior, healer and agent of the Rule
• Farshad – Merchant of the Rule of Ishtir, musician and agent of the Rule
• Fetnah – Shaman from a long time ago, and a forgotten and lost land, and agent of the Rule
• Smersh – Larcenous Priest from long time ago, and a nation long gone, and agent of the Rule

Absent

• Jalabu – Noble of Dilmun, Merchant-Adventurer and agent of the Rule, currently wrestling with his inner demon, literally
• Arpaesis – From the far western land of Ta-Khemet, student of Arcane Lore, and agent of the Rule, currently studying books of Lore
• Dhran the White – of humble origin in Ishtir, warrior, agent of the Rule, currently studying in the capital and trying to unionise

A recap

Smersh, though he had been entombed in suspended animation along with Fetnah 1500 years ago, somehow found himself in possession to the deeds to a valley that had been granted to a son of his, by the name of Spionem. “Smersh Spionem”. Get it?S ketchy on whether or not he had ever had a son, or any other children, Smershdecided to follow this up. Discovering the current name for the place, they recently arrived, established that the total power granted his descendants was l;ong gojne, but there was still an estate, and rents, a decent inheritance

There was one sslight problem, however, the place was haunted after the death of the last heir.

Leaving a sweating and troubled Jalabu in the accommodation in the small town of Spah, the group have made their way to the house, and just entered an entrance hall….

Interlude

Between sessions, there was some chat around was the reported haunting, was it perhaps the soul of Smersh, detached from hos body with a millenia and a half of stasis. So, we open on a white, brightly lit room, Smersh is constrained on a white altar, Utana supervising his bonds, José Juan administering the anaesthetic, Farshad, scalpel at the ready and Fetnah ready to hunt deep within Smersh to see if he has a soul…..

Back to the session

Looking into a gloomy hall, there was a closed door ahead, but a family shrine to The Cold Ones was by it, and Smersh tried to puzzle out the words above it “Us Gods Watch”? Smersh is new to writing and his skills are not quite instinctive, but Farshad was able to complete the inscription. As Smersh showed his respect for his deities and cleaning the shrine, the others looked around a little, finding an empty store room, perhaps meant for cleaning materials? Smersh was finishing up when a slithering noise was heard, they checked each other to ensure no illicit inter group slithering was going on, but no.

A couple realised that the sound seem ed to be coming from above, but Utana zeroed in on what was there,

on the ceiling,

clinging to the ceiling,

a corpse,

a strangely flattened and almost pickled looking corpse, as if it had been buried in the marsh for centuries. It slithered off, and the group, heedless of where they were going, powered along a corridor, past door after door, until coming to a more open part of the hallway opposite where they had come in, in front of them was a set of open doors to the outside.

and some stairs

And a lage number of wet, stinking, decaying corpses, with a mix of broken weapons, shuffling forward to engage the group. The group fought, the corpses were, mostly, unarmoured, the weapons of the group had properties against spirits so the blows went home, and two or three hits were enough to down the dead, but some hits were coming in too, despite deft footwork from utana and stoic “come and have a go” attitude from Smersh. The words received were merely scratches so far, but more dead were coming. Fetnah helped even the odds somewhat, using a prayer that discomfited any enemies that chose to stay, but still the odd got worse and worse, with three downed there were still four to one odds against the group, and more were coming, all dripping with marsh water.

Then all heard, in their heads, the line

“Come with me if you want to live”

Looking back down along the hall, the way they had come was a ghost of a man of late midddle years, slightly green in aspect, and he beckoned to them.

The group took to their heels, the dead too slow to do much against the disengaging foe, but they shuffled off after the fleeing mortals and their ghostly guide.

The ghost led them out the door they had come in, and then back around the building, past stinking wet puddles and footprints, and to the rear, where the invading undead had come from, but this time into the family temple. The frescoes where were fading and cracked, but visible and showed scenes of life as it once was in the valley, aided by the Cold Ones. Smersh started examining the statues and the group looked enquiringly at the ghost.

“I am Smersh IV, and I need your help!”

His plight was this. In the religion of the Cold Ones spirits follow paths to great halls to wait for the time when all will be judged, but to send them on those paths they need the aid of loved ones. Those that die without the rites can get lost and wander and never find their way to await judgement.

He has sought a way to help guide other lost souls to the afterlife, to await their fate, but there are always those seek to prevent others from improving their lot, who wish to drag them down to feed off their misery and desperation, and in this case there is a prescence on the paths of the dead that is controlling these possessed corpses to try and prevent spirits moving on.

With a spectral “Follow me“. Smersh IV took the group down to the crypt, to see plaques with portaits of his line along the walls, grouped by generations. The floor a mosaic map of the area, and on one wall is a glowing green portal, a partal that Smersh IV, a student of the arcane and faithful servant of the Gods has opened with the aid of other lost souls. This is the path that he wishes the group to take, to aid him.

There was some discussion about the desirability of the property These are mere “snagging” details. Any house has a bit of settling, as the dead writhe under them, unless there is a more that just a few undead, that is how you get subsidence

Thje group, naturally concerned about coming back are reassured, or maybe they aren’t, by Smersh IV’s assertion that some come back. At least in stories and songs some do. The group rest, and though Smersh cleans the altar before he does so, Fetnah meditates and tries to recover her spiritual balance, the rest try to ignore the scratching sounds at the door to the temple.

And there we left it

The group had travelled many miles from their base in Eshtaband, as one of their number, a man frozen in time for 1500 years called Smersh, was given a tablet granting rulership of a small estate granted to a child he did not know he had had, and the line descending from there. Once they established the current names of the places named, and where they were, they set off.

Standing in the Council Chamber of Spah, as the Council deliberate over the news that Smersh has in his possession a bronze tablet that, on the face of it,  confers ownership of the area to Smersh. The Council took the word of Utana, as a noble of the realm, as to the genuine as of the claim of Smersh to be the heir of the last two of the line, Payam and Shaya. (at least until word could be received back from a messenger sent to the capital), though they were confused as to the relationship between Smersh and the last of the line of Spionem, first lord of the lands around what is now the town of Spah.

As the Council consider the issues, with legal advice to the priest, and talk to each other in hushed tones, the group recall a couple of incidents as the ship left to carry them south.,

Firstly the news that the shapechanging Pale Folk had escaped captivity. The group did not press the matter, no doubt stunned by this revelation.

Secondly, as their ship was making way, a group of burly individuals ran to the dog, shouting and gesticulating wildly. Fetnah sent no spirits, Farshad kept Aribu close, at her than sending the crow sinulacrum forth, so they were reliant on the words that Utana’s sharp ears could catch.

“Jalabu, you something,something renegade, come something,Hamid demands an accounting, and wants signs something you will repay him. Come back you get of a something goat, BEG for something mercy!”.

There is more to revisit, but the player was absent, so next time, next time.

The Council finish their deliberations, and the leader, Debra, address the group. Stripped of polite circumlocutions and excess verbiage, the substantial points amounted to this

• The realm of Bakhdin that granted these lands, Bakhdin, no longer exists.
  • First it fell to civil war, then invasion by the Mada (Utana’s folk) and then the Parsuma. Utana speculated audibly that perhaps this means that the estate should be his.
•  Over the centuries the family divested itself of land and responsibilities, trading and selling them
  • The last two members of the family, Payam and his daughter Shaya, last of the line, were noted alchemists, but reclusive and not much involved in the affairs of the town
  • There are still properties owned, and a factor who takes responsibility for the estate, and a new mine from which you will earn some royalties when it starts running.

There was, one other issue. There is an estate, but no one goes there any more as it is haunted, to which Smersh exclaimed “Of course it is”.

Some enquiries  about any knowledge of the place fell short. The group were stunned that the house of the estate was not the frequent haunt of mischievous children, despite it being a few miles outside town through a marsh, though there was a recollection that Parmuz the Hermit had gone there a few years ago, and come back frightened, and the oldest Council member, Aruch the Hunter recalled a messenger who had spoken of the house being a storehouse of tablets, scrolls, books and other, expensive signs of learning..

No one else goes there, but there was a memory that a hermit, by the name of Parmuz, had been there a few years ago, and had seemed frightened. The oldest member of the council, Aruch remembered that, in his childhood, a messenger had come, and reported that the house seemed full of tablets, scrolls and books of papyri, evidence either of money, or an ancient family.

The group decided to talk to Parmuz, to see if he could provide any information, but first to the factor, so that Smersh could get an accounting. The offices were well situated, in the centre of the town, and the group found the factor and two scribes hard at work with an exchequer board.

Smersh introduced himself top the factor, Afhaq, and produced the tablet. Shocked, she went into an inner office to produce a copy, the foundation document of the estate. Smersh appointed Farshad as his auditor, as the only one with the skills, and a set of books were promised by the end of the week. This prompted some questions by Afhaq, who had heard of a Shevam swindler by the name of Farshad, who has cornered the market in the output of a fishing fleet and sold its catch, only for it to turn out that the fleet, and therefore the fish, were purely imaginary.

Reassured that this Farshad was not the same one,  Smersh’s requests for some “walking around money” though, as the person responsible for accounting estate spending, she also took Smersh’s mark as authorisation.

From there to Parmuz, who lived the life of a solitary fisherman in the marshes of the north. Utana’s experience of deserts and mountains, and Fetnah’s of long vanished forests, was not helpful in avoiding some of the pitfalls of travelling in marshlands, but eventually they found his hut. The hermit’s  information was limited, even after his tongue was loosened by some drink, and some silver for more. Seeking any signs of wine or spirits to survive the years in the wine cellar, he made his way in through the rear garden entrance, he was only a little way in before  he was terrified by the screams and howling of the restless dead, and eerie lights, somehow sickly and unsettling.

Parmuz was able to at least start the group on a dry way back to town, and at the factor’s Smersh ask the factor if they could help supply water for washing and a change of clothes, food and accommodation.  More authorisation and bafflement from Smersh, and it has to be said Utana, who kind of thought the wealthy just got stuff. The notion that even if belonging to their own household, stuff had to be paid for had to be paid for somehow, mystified the pair.  The hour now being late, the group retired for the night.

The group bustled about in the morning, and a groggy Smersh awoke to find his thumbprint being pressed into more tablets as supplies were brought in, and their worth tallied by a diligent scribe, no doubt to be part of the audit soon to be undertaken by Farshad. (look forward to a no hold’s barred adventure based around double entry book keeping, account reconciliation and, of course, the Sederunt! – Perhaps Farshad will put it to song).

Refreshed, fed and dressed, the group set off to the estate, a few miles south of town, along a little used road through the marshes. Initially followed by the mischievous and inquisitive children that the group had expected earlier, when the wall of the estate could be seen over the reeds, the children looked scared, and backed off, and then ran home.

With comments about the group needing a Great Dane and something about “meddling kids”, the group proceeded on, up the hill and to inspect the dilapidated wall. The gates were locked and they never thought to  try picking it, or climbing it, at least not seriously, instead they wandered around the walls until they found a part where the wall had collapsed enough to make entry easy.

The house behind the wall seemed particularly dilapidated, plaster peeling, stone work. Utana, with his educated eye, spotted a variety of architectural styles in the house,noted the use of more expensive stone rather than brick, though perhaps the damper climate accounted for that, but this house had grown and been rebuilt over the centuries.

This brought them to a patch of garden, long run wild to the point that it might have been mistaken for weeds. but Fetnah and José Juan became excited when they not only identified medicinal herbs, but also some hybrids previously unknown to them. Quelling their excitement, they proceeded with the rest of group to investigate a covered well. That proved to be well made, the stones free of slime and the water still clear, and the light above seemed to show some sparkling items at the bottom. Smersh volunteered to go down but Utana, ever the traditionalist, insisted than any unknown, dark and forbidding depths should be investigated by dangling Farshad on the end of a rope.

Borrowing the absent Jalabu’s magic shield as a light source, Farshad went down and saw that the water was fresh and clear, the bottom of the well seemed to be fed by a stream passing through it. The shiny objects were ancient silver coins, the designs unfamiliar, and Farshad gathered as many as he could (37) before he had to be pulled up, as he had attracted the attention of a water-snake.

With a sopping Farshad in tow, him tucking the coins into one if his many pouches, they made their way to the door, which, although locked, made way under the combined force of Farshad and Smersh. That will be another debit on Smersh’s accounts.

The found themselves in a typical waiting room, though the frescoes were peeling and some of the benches and one of the low tables were broken. Fetnah and Utana spotted two sets of tracks, made it looked by a mortal, one set going straight ahead, the other heading left.

And there we left it (mostly because I had drawn the map on another computer and not uploaded it to the VTT).

From Nika, charmed by Farshad, he got the name of  a Zhuezhi silk trader, Haoran. As a Zhuezhi in the Haraxan Kingdom, Haoran’s reach is limited, but Nika suggested that Farshad could buy from him, or perhaps act as a front for Haoran’s ventures, splitting the increased profits.

Jalabu’s contacts from the party Jehia the caravan master, Irusya the dealer in the small and valuable and Zhaleh the horse trader. Jehia and Zhakeh were of not much immediate use to Jalabu, but he bought some perfume from Irusya, recognising in them a value and quality that she had missed.

Smersh, as a priest of the Cold Ones was invited to preach. After his first sermon, which had ancient doctrines not currently held, led to his other invitations being withdrawn due to dangerous heresy.  This might be why he asked the Magistrate’s armoury for better armour, just in case, torsion armour of lacquered plates, a light helm and leg armour,

José Juan, as well as showing off his biceps, obtained arrows and, from the Temple infirmary, replenishing his medical supplies.

Utana also restored his weapons, but also his perfumes and make up. He also took out a loan from the Temple bank, to be repaid with interest from his funds lodged with the Temple in Eshtaband, which he immediately spent on two new suits of the costliest silks and embroidered cloth and leather, not made specifically for him, but well worth the cost as these clothes would allow him to peacock in style.

Fetnah restored her supplies of shamanistic paraphernalia, then sold her failed wooden crow, as a primitive art duck and, with Farshad’s help, got more than a fair price, some woffcuts of Fiume woods to be crafted into amulets or trinkets, and a couple of dan, coins worth a couple of days of decent eating.

Then they took ship (and I forgot some stuff here, need to try and rewind next time) and sailed to the town of Spah, They were met by custom officials, who were disappointed that the ship, having set out from an Haraxan port, was not due any port taxes above docking fees. Utana impressed them, especially when giving the port-master an unnecessary bribe, and, when said they were here for an inheritance had them taken to the council chambers

It ook the arrival of a more literate priest to decipher Smersh’s documents, and, upon his stuttering words that these stated that Smersh was the appointed lord of the area, by an ancient gift.

And with that bombshell, there we left it

This adventure is an adaptation of Losing Face by Kevin Kulp, for Swords of the Serpentine. You can get it as Pay What you want from DrivethruRPG here.

Note, the term priest is used for celebrants of any gender. The English word “priestess” is of relatively new creation, and priest would have been used before then, so I use that. Priests mostly follow other trades, and only serve part of their time in temples and shrines. 

Ou heroes, realising that they have taken so long, consider what to do next. They know that there is a party the false priest Farnskundeh is going to be the honoured guest at, as she played the part of the female aspect of the goddess Mawet, the patron god of the city, at the culmination of the recent festival.

But who do they know that knows what Farnskundeh looks like? The Librarian had gone, who do they know in the city who could tell them? Who? Utana and Jalabu, those wise nobles were stumped. A chorus of a cough from Fetnah, José Juan and Smersh had those stern visages out of their deep thoughts as the chorus continued “Someone at the party is bound to know who she is!”.

With that as a thought, and as the light starts to dim, the group is carried over to the great ha;; where the party is being held. The group made their way in. Immediately Utana, Jalabu and Jo?e Juan took stock of the venue as a matter of attack or defence, Fetnah tried to take stock of the people and Smersh flitted about like a hummingbird, under the effects of the medicine José Juan had procured for him.

The groups did not mingle and ask anyone to point out the priest Farnskundeh, believed to be the person whose face was stolen by the assassin.

This lack of social drifting led the major doom of the hall to be suspicious. He challenged Utana and Jalabu, but was convinced of their bona fides, Jalabu also introducing his companion, his fool Farshad. Jalabu’s companion in his body, the spirit Oblat, attempted to exert control, to stop Jalabu being honest and revealing himself, but Jalabu resisted and was his own person.

Things are coming to a head

Fetnah was a bit more successful at blending in, but was all too aware of the drain on her spiritual resources meant that she was unlikely to be able to exercise her powers.

The hyperactive Smersh became so noticeable that two soldierly guests lifted him bodily, but gently, away from the party and to a corner where soothing tea was poured down his throat until he was seemingly calm.

Eventually, at least, the target Ushwamarra, targeted for the assassination by a Zhuezhi general in order to weaken the defences of the eastern Haraxan border, was identified. Fetnah spoke to him, but found his conversation dry and uninteresting (at this point the GM pretends that was the characterisation he was giving the character). The others in the group took positions ready to intercept any threat.

Jalabu did find time to make some contacts with local merchants, flashing the promise of access to the wealth of Dilmun, and possibly mindful of the threat of death (as delivered by Jalabu’s cousin Hamid bin Khawla al-Malmuntaqim al-Maqqaniyy) for the debts he assumed from Farshad’s debts (alleged debts – Farshad) to his family.

Farshad found himself cut off from these contacts as Jalabu interjected, again, that Farshad was his personal jester, so amusing, even pretended to make business deals,

In the end, the merchants exchanged contacts and Jalabu can follow these leads up before leaving the city.

Not long after, the major-domo banged his staff against the ground, announcing the priest Farnskundeh, the prime singer of tonight’s show. Other singers and dancers followed her, but they filtered around and mingled, letting the attention coalesce around the star.

Whilst the warriors and Smersh were concentrating on being ready for a physical intervention, though Smersh’s looming over Farnskundeh in an unsettling manner wasn’t subtle, and the priest moved away, a lot. Fetnah tried a different tack. Knowing that the priest was false, a renegade Pale Folk, thrown out of their lands because of the face stealing power, Fetnah introduced herself, showed her the fetish she carried, one made 1500 years ago with assistance from the Pale Folk. The false Farnskundeh could not keep recognition from her eyes.

Fetnah softly challenged the assassin. “I know what you are, and why you are here. You must stop.”

The false priest balked, tried to talk her way out of it, saw it was going nowhere and moved away, Smersh, seeing this, chased after her, crying “Assassin!“.

The priest seized her chance, pointed at Smersh and cried “There he is, the Assassin is so bold he declares himself!“, trying to take advantage of the confusion. The party guests, many of them soldiers and merchants used to handling themselves RS in dangerous situations. This of course, included General Ushwamarra, the target, not getting closer to the assassin.

Smersh and Jalabu tried to physically restrain Farnskundeh, but she slipped their grasp, though her own spells used in response failed to take hold,.

Eventually both the false Farnskundeh, and the group were separated and the accusations heard. Without proof, the accusation sounded a  bit hollow but the group were able to convince the assembled guests and guards that there was a faceless body in the Temple (I had decided that a couple of guests would have heard that so would be primed to accept if it was mentioned) . Unable to take a boat to the Great Temple, a strange and resplendent crocodile made their way to see the victim, who otherwise would soon perish.

At the end, in the more crowded Great Temple, the false priest again tried to slip away, but she was easily caught, and forced to face the victim. The group laid out what happen, and the plan by a Zhuezhi leader named Zi Huijan to have Ushwamarra killed by someone wearing the face of Farnskundeh.

Dejected, the false priest revealed themselves, sloughing off their appearance and returning Farnskundeh’s face to her. The real priest started gasping, getting air properly into their lungs, able to taste and smell for the first time in a couple of days.

Revealed was one of the Pale Folk, a light green mortal, with features unlike any of the other mortal kind, whose speech was unintelligible to those there. She was taken away by guards, to a secure place Ushwamarra and the others thanked the group. They could not make a great fuss about this situation, because it might cause panic, but they would help the characters resupply and help arrange transport when it came time to leave.

There was one last warning from the group, about how criminal elements among the Zhuezhi settlers in the city had aided this plot. (Not sure if they were trying to encourage a pogrom or not!). Those would be investigated, they were promised.

The next planned encounter will be when the group arrive at the place of Smersh’s inheritance, and the map as it exists now was shown to the players but, before then, there will be deals to be made, resupply and Smersh crashing after alchemical amphetemines.

That is for next time, for this, there we left it.