From the Vault: The Journal of Crag Hack Volume 2

7 Sands Campaigns

Volume 2: The Journal of Crag Hack Part 2

“War is not just fought with weapons, but also with words.” —Crag Hack

 

A Brief Foreword From the Author

                This time, the first session covered our separation as a group ran by Jason. Each subsequent session dealt with the continuing story of the individual characters. Thus, we had the unusual situation of three gamemasters and one player for these sessions. In total, the next three volumes cover about six sessions. It was one of the most fun and different campaigns I have ever played/ran. About the text, the Journal of Crag Hack was originally written about nine years ago by me as a player/gamemaster, so it can be a bit rough in parts. The two adventures talked about in this text are Separation and Aftermath.

               

CAST (PCS/ NPC Allies)

 

CRAG HACK

Player: Steven James Black

Race/Discipline/Circle: Obsidiman Warrior Third Circle

Liferock Location: in the Throal Mountains (Zenita)

Passions: Belief in the Trinity; Freedom (Lochost), Justice (Mynbruje), and Valor (Thystonius).

Character History: Awakens as the last obsidiman of his Liferock after the Long Night.

Long-term Goals: Find out the fate of his vanished rock brothers.

PUCK

Player: Jason Murphy

Race/Discipline/Circle: Windling Thief Third Circle

Homeland: Servos Jungle

Passion: Chorrolis

Character History: Puck was born in the Servos Jungle. He accidentally found the town of Dimazad one day and became fascinated by its hustle and bustle. He secretly created a windling hideout in the hole of a Great Oak near the town. He used it as a base of operations to explore the town. He began to steal items to quench his curiosity, but each item stolen just made him want more and more money. He became a thief and eventually returned to his windling village, luring out a few women of the village with promises of a better life. He provided them with food, water, and shelter and life was good. Unfortunately, he was caught one day, and was given the choice of becoming a spy for Dimazad or dying a gruesome death. He chose the former. He was sent to Bartertown to spy on anyone attempting to find the town of Dimazad or learn its secrets.

Long-term Goals: Returning to Dimazad and getting his treasure back, and then establishing a new secret base elsewhere.

JIM

Player: Jason Murphy

Race/Discipline/Circle: Human Horror Stalker Third Circle

Homeland: Dimazad

Passion: None

Character History: Jim was born in Dimazad from a long-line of horror stalkers. Their task was to guard the entrance of Kaer Dimazad and make sure the place was safe from all intruders. They were told that all who approached the town that were not from Dimazad were horror-marked. Unfortunately for Dimazad, Jim was not as focused on his duty as his previous generations. He frequently made forays into the Servos to battle the ghita, leaving the Kaer unguarded most of the time…

Long-term Goals: Taking out as many horrors as he can before they get him.

CAST (NPCS/ENEMIES)

In Order of Appearance

VALAAN

Race/Discipline/Circle: Human Weaponsmith Ninth Circle/Elementalist Third Circle

Homeland: Jerris

Passion: Upandal

Character History: Originally from Jerris, Valaan made weapons and armor for the Jerris Falcons. He came to Bartertown by way of drakkar in the hopes of finally creating his own business. He learned the ways of enchanting, and made a ton of money selling items to Jafeedehelaah and eventually earned enough money to buy his own shop.

JAFEEDEHELAAH (SHADOWSWIFT)

Race/Discipline/Circle: Human Troubadour Fifth Circle

Homeland: Thera

Passions: Chorrolis, Lochost

Character History: Barsaive Gamemaster Pack page 32. Throal: The Dwarf Kingdom page 144. Shadowswift and Clystone are deeply involved in a gang war for control of Bartertown by this time.  

CLYSTONE

Race/Discipline/Circle: Human Illusionist Fifth Circle

Homeland: Thera

Passion: Chorrolis

Character History: Barsaive Gamemaster Pack page 24. Throal: The Dwarf Kingdom page 142. Shadowswift and Clystone are deeply involved in a gang war for control of Bartertown by this time.  

CHARBOYYA

Race/Discipline/Circle: Non-adept Dwarf Merchant

Homeland: Hanto

Passions: Chorrolis, Lochost

Character History: Throal: The Dwarf Kingdom page 146. Infected page 59. A silk merchant who owns Charboyya’s Emporium. Also, he is a member of the Council of Merchants.

BARTH NORTHTON

Race/Discipline/Circle: Non-adept Dwarf Merchant

Homeland: Throal

Passion: Astendar

Character History: Originally a dwarf miner, he used his money from a fortuitous gold strike to start a line of hotels and taverns on the route from Bartertown to Darranis, as well as luxury spas in the Darranis area. A resort near Lake Ban and the pilgrimage route routinely makes fistfuls of money. As an ex-miner, Barth Northton is an obsessive-compulsive about cleaning, taking baths regularly as a t’skrang. He also is a notorious flirt with the dwarf ladies. He spends around six months a year in Bartertown and six months in the Darranis area.

ARRIS TANFEATHER

Race/Discipline/Circle: Non-adept Human Tanner

Homeland: Throal Mountains

Passion: Upandal

Character History: A Dinganni born in the Throal Mountains, who came to Bartertown to work as a tanner. She routinely sends caravans to her tribe’s location to send them new leather armors and other leather goods. No one knows why she settled down in Bartertown or why her clan permitted it.

HITHORN

Race/Discipline/Circle: Non-adept Windling Merchant

Homeland: Bartertown

Passion: Chorrolis (Questor)

Character History: Barsaive Gamemaster Pack page 27. Throal: The Dwarf Kingdom page 147-148. No one knows why Hithorn entered Bartertown politics after staying out of them for so long.

VARULUS III

Race/Discipline/Circle: Ninth Circle Dwarf Warrior

Homeland: Throal

Passion: Upandal (Questor)

Character History: Barsaive Gamemaster Pack page 34. Throal: The Dwarf Kingdom page 48. At this point in the story, he is still in good health.

OMASU

Race/Discipline/Circle: Sixth Circle Obsidiman Troubadour

Homeland: Ayodhya

Passion: None, later Lochost

Character History: Barsaive Gamemaster Pack page 30. Pre-Liferock Rebellion/Behemoth at this point.

JEFKAT

Race/Discipline/Circle: Non-adept Dwarf Merchant

Homeland: Throal

Passion: Chorrolis

Character History: Jefkat is a dwarf merchant who has made a living smuggling goods for years. He had wanted to hand his caravan business over to Jeffro “The Reckless,” his son, but he seems to have no business acumen at all.

SHADOW

Race/Discipline/Circle: Human Fifth Circle Ninja/ Second Circle Beastmaster

Homeland: J’Pang

Passion: None

Character History: Shadow was a Theran slave who escaped to Barsaive. He works as a mercenary and his reputation is well known as a warrior who fought in the last Syrtis-Ishkarat conflict. Not much is known about his past, except that he is originally from the island of J’Pang. His constant companion is his war dog, Interceptor.

THE JOURNAL OF CRAG HACK Part 2

 

Separation

Day 40-46 Training as a Warrior

Veltom 10-16, 1509 TH

                 I learned what roof-hopping is. It is jumping off roofs to learn Down Strike and later Gliding Stride! Loth Pay Thorn taught me for six days, allowing me to advance from Third to Fifth Circle Warrior.

Day 47-50 Contemplation

Veltom 17-20, 1509 TH

                I returned to my Liferock at Zenita, and I meditated on my current situation. My rockbrothers were gone and only I remained. As a Warrior, I could survive through any fight, but the battle to find my rockbrothers would not be fought with strength of arms. I had learned that money could be used to buy anything in Bartertown, even information. It would require vast amounts of money and negotiation. Adventuring would not be enough to get the money I needed. I needed to learn the ability to earn and make money continuously. The Weaponsmith and Troubadour Disciplines were ideal for this purpose. As a Weaponsmith, I could make money by creating and forging weapons of war, and at the same time hone my own blades for my future battles. As a Troubadour, I could spread the tales my own adventures and learn the ways of negotiation. After my long introspection, I returned to Bartertown to train in these other Disciplines.

Day 51-59 Path of the Weaponsmith

Veltom 21-29, 1509 TH

                I trained to become a First Circle Weaponsmith under an expert weaponsmith and elementalist enchanter called Valaan. I learned how to create arms and armor, forge blades, concentrate my force of will to resist spells, and how to unlock the history of weapons. After I completed my training, I started to look into the pattern of my two Named weapons, Bladesblood and Slicing Web.

Day 60 Separation

Veltom 30, 1509 TH

                All of the members of Nirvana had decided to meet today. Each of us had trained heavily in Bartertown and most had decided to move on. Evok Nor had decided to continue to search for his two brothers. Puck had “bought” a thread pouch that could store his vast treasure at Dimazad. Can N’ the Jaw had decided to leave for the Caucavik Mountains to vie for control of the Shriekers. Jim had decided to live permanently on Mount Horrorsbane, a place of unusually high horror activity in the Throal Mountains. I decided to stay in Bartertown, as my training was incomplete. The five of us chose a different direction and left Bartertown’s gate.

Day 61-71 Path of the Troubadour

Charassa 1-11, 1509 TH

                I trained to become a First Circle Troubadour. I learned how to converse properly without angering others, and use songs to affect the emotions of an audience easily. I had a lot of trouble learning how to disguise my voice and body. It seemed to be the mark of a coward to me to do such things. I had a dream from Lochost. The apparition said, “It is sometimes necessary to become the wolf in sheep’s clothing, for the sake of freedom.” I was then able to learn the talents, but vowed to only use them in the cause of Lochost, never for myself. I had studied Bladesblood for a long time, and had come to understand that the weaponsmith of Dimazad had used blood magic to change its pattern. I decided to journey to Dimazad.

Day 72-84 Return to Dimazad

Charassa 12-Charassa 24, 1509 TH

                I traveled south to Dimazad. As a Fifth Circle Warrior, First Circle Weaponsmith, and a First Circle Troubadour, the challenge of such a journey was much less than before. When opponents fought me with power, I crushed them as a Warrior. When opponents fought me spells, my determination as a Weaponsmith won out. And sometimes I was able to convince people as a Troubadour to not fight me at all. I could win a battle without a drop of blood being spilled. I had studied Spinning Web and found the weapon to be losing its power, as if my attached threads were unraveling. I later learned that the pattern of Nirvana was slowly fading due to our separation. On Day 84, I saw a group of drakkars fly in towards Dimazad.

Day 85 Dimazad

Charassa 25, 1509 TH

                On Day 85, I felt pain, as if a lightning bolt had shot through me. I hurried towards Dimazad, and found the town on fire, with a group of drakkars flying off in the distance. I found Puck on the outskirts of town, bleeding to death from his injuries. I gave him a Booster Potion, and asked him what had happened to Dimazad. Puck told me that Can N’ the Jaw and his Shriekers had assaulted the town, capturing its drakkar in a boarding action, and turned the Theran drakkar’s fire cannons on the town, torching it. Almost everyone had been killed, even Puck’s windling mistress. I asked Puck what had happened to the town’s Weaponsmith. Puck told me he had died shortly after we left Dimazad for the town’s kaer. He had died forging Bladesblood with his very blood and life. And I had become a Weaponsmith with ease, now finding out that I had replaced him. I will never forget this day, Can N’ the Jaw. The senseless deaths of all these women and children, you attempting to kill Puck, knowing he was here. I can only hope the Wound on your very heart never heals for betraying Nirvana in this way. 

Day 86-97 Journey to Bartertown

Charassa 26-Rua 7, 1509 TH

                We returned to Bartertown, with me slowly nursing Puck back to health. Puck told me of a man called Jafeedehelaah who he had been known to work for on occasion. Perhaps I could get some information from him about my rockbrothers.

Day 98 Conspiracy

Rua 8, 1509 TH

                We went to see Jafeedehelaah. I asked him if he knew how to find my rockbrothers. He said that he could try, but only if I helped him with his Clystone problems. I told Jafeedehelaah that I would not fight the local rulers for him. But Jafeedehelaah then told me about Thrasher’s long-time employer, Charek Crystalhand, who worked for Clystone. I told Jafeedehelaah I would go talk with Charek.

I followed Jafeedehelaah’s directions and found Charek’s mansion. His dwarf guards were hesitant to let me in at first, but I convinced them that I had once worked for Charek and was seeking a job as a mercenary. I left my weapons with the guards and went to see Charek. I asked him why he had sent Thrasher to compete with us to get the tome. The fat dwarf merchant just laughed and said, “I don’t have to tell you anything. I am on the Council of Merchants; I am one of the powers of this town.” I responded, “ Really, so Clystone is not the one in actual control then?” Charek howled out enraged, “ We elected him as magistrate, but he has betrayed us. The power of the twelve shall finally crush him and restore power to the merchants. The passions have given us sanction via this golden tattoo.” He curled up his shirtsleeve showing me an odd gold tattoo. Charek continued to rant, “Too bad you know too much. Too much about Dimazad, and too much about our plans. We have no choice but to destroy you.” Dwarf guards surrounded me. I had one chance. I looked for the dwarf guard who had confiscated Bladesblood. I used my superior speed and knocked out the dwarf guard with one fist to the face through the magic of Tiger Strike. I grabbed up Bladesblood and prepared to be surrounded by foes. One dwarf guard went down to a stab in the back, Puck. A human in full plate armor accosted Charek. How did he sneak in here? With my unexpected companions aiding me, I was able to beat back the circle of dwarf guards and make my way to Charek. The crazy human had lopped off his good arm and was climbing out a window. Charek was livid, striking out in anger against the human as he climbed away. He never saw the Down Strike coming with Bladesblood. Charek was dead, and his remaining guards fled in terror. I had learned that the Council of Merchants planned to kill Clystone.

I rushed out the window, using Gliding Stride to fly towards the human in full plate armor. He was running away with the arm of Charek, but I caught up with him. Up close now, I saw who it was, Jim of all people. I asked Jim what had brought him to Bartertown from his hunting grounds on Mount Horrorsbane. He told me that a horror had corrupted most of the Council of Merchants, and that they were planning to kill Clystone tomorrow. He examined the tattoo on the arm of Charek, and he told me that he had no doubt who was the culprit now, Nebis. We had only one chance; find the place of the ritual that would allow Nebis to enter the physical world and stop it, or else Clystone would be dead by morning. The real question was where would the ritual be in a place as large as Bartertown? We started our search by looking through various temples to the Passions, but this idea did not pan out. We went to the Council Hall as well, but the merchants were not there either. Of course! Where we would least suspect, Clystone’s mansion! We rushed to Clystone’s mansion, finding signs of forced entry into the building’s basement. We entered the basement window to a horrible scene; a squat creature of white and brown fur with five arms, and four legs had grabbed one of the surviving merchants and crushed the life out of him. The floor was riddled with bodies, a headless merchant, a merchant with no torso who looked like a pile of dismembered parts, and other merchants who were missing arms and legs and were either dead or dying of blood loss. The Horror spotted us, and turned and ran upstairs. We gave chase, but with four legs, we just could not catch up. The Horror dispatched many of Clystone’s guardians and made his way to Clystone’s bedchamber. The merchant and his remaining guardians faced the Horror as we came in and attacked its flank. The Horror dispatched Clystone’s guards and then grabbed Clystone by his throat and started choking the life out of him. We managed to kill the Horror, but not before Clystone was killed. We had failed. Jim and Puck fled, and I was left to face many of Clystone’s guardians who had rushed to the mansion after hearing the sounds of battle. I was chained and put into jail where I was interrogated about the whole tragedy.

Aftermath

Day 99-106 Imprisoned

Rua 9-16, 1509 TH

                I was left in jail for a week, as the guards tried to figure out what to make of my tale. Meanwhile, the city descended into chaos. The death of Clystone, and of most of the Bartertown Council of Merchants had left the guards leaderless, and law and order melted away. Throal sent in troops to restore order and called for new elections on the Bartertown Council and a new magistrate. 

Day 107 Freedom

Rua 17, 1509 TH

                The Throal guards had me released, as I had helped stop the Horror before it could cause further harm and attempted to foil the murder plot, even though I was unsuccessful. I went to Jafeedehelaah and asked him if he had found out anything about my Liferock or rockbrothers. He told me that the Zenita Liferock had only one other member known to Barsaive, a warrior called Dracuth Crevase who disappeared before the Scourge. All of my other rockbrothers had seemingly been absorbed by the Liferock in the dreaming and never made it out. Jafeedehelaah told me of his personal theory about Zenita; that this Liferock only released its obsidiman one at a time. This meant I was all alone in this world, except for my Liferock itself and Nirvana. I asked Jafeedehelaah to see if it was possible to research other Liferocks to see if his theory was a common one among other Liferocks. He told me he would look into it. As I wandered the streets of Bartertown, I heard my name on many of its citizen’s lips. “Did you hear about Crag Hack? He saved Bartertown from the Horror that got to the Council.” I saw the people bullied and oppressed by Throal guards, just like they were under Clystone’s guardians. A foreign country had occupied this town as far as I am concerned. I decided upon a course of action. I would rebuild the Council of Merchants and become Magistrate of Bartertown. I would throw these Throal occupiers out on their ears and allow Bartertown to stand on its own.

Day 108 Recruitment

Rua 18, 1509 TH

                I started by contacting merchants that I knew, including Jafeedehelaah and Valaan and convinced them to join the Bartertown Council of Merchants. I even managed to convince one of the old surviving council members, Charboyya to join my cause, as this Throal occupation rankled him. He apparently wants Throal occupation of Bartertown, but only if the people of Bartertown accept it of their own free will. I may not respect his position, but the moral philosophy behind it is sound and respects the principles of Lochost. I have a feeling me and Charboyya are going to get along. That’s three votes so far.  

Day 109 Recruitment Day 2.

Rua 19, 1509 TH

                I talked to a few more of the old guard of merchants, including Barth Northton, Arsis Tanfeather, and Hithorn. Barth Northton runs a bunch of inns and taverns on the route to Darranis as well as a few well-known spas in the Lake Ban region. Arsis Tanfeather is a tanner who works with leathers to create clothing and armor. I managed to convince Barth and Arsis to join me relatively easily. Hithorn said he respected my abilities as an adventurer willing to do whatever it takes to get a rare item, and was on my side. That’s six votes so far.

Day 110-119 Campaigning

Rua 19-29, 1509 TH

                Since Throal has set Rua 30th as the day of the vote for Council Members, I campaigned hard for the six candidates who had said they would vote for me as Magistrate. With only twelve positions now, with six of them in my corner, I had a good chance of becoming Magistrate.

Day 120 Vote

Rua 30, 1509 TH

                There were no real surprises in the campaign. The six candidates I had campaigned for had been elected, and the other six would fall in line.

Day 121-127 Magistrate

Mawag 1-7, 1509 TH   

                The Council of Merchants went back in forth after I was nominated for Magistrate. After much haggling, I was finally made Magistrate. The Council of Merchants gave me Clystone’s old mansion. Everybody was afraid of the place with rumors saying the place was haunted, but I accepted the deed to the mansion.

Day 128 Mansion

Mawag 8, 1509 TH      

At the mansion, I brought in Puck and Jim to help clean up the place. The place was haunted! Clystone and the merchant ghosts had gathered in the basement. They told me that Nebis was still alive, and had vowed to have revenge on us. With that said, the ghosts disappeared. We cleaned up the place from top to bottom and installed a forge on the first floor, and a library on the second floor. Puck had also found a large vault filled with silver hidden in the basement. I gave Puck and Jim 1000 silver pieces of the money for helping clean up the place. This was all the money that Clystone had extorted from the people of Bartertown. I pledged to Mynbruje that I would use the money to help the people of Bartertown. I re-Named the mansion as Crag Hack’s Mansion.

Day 129-150 Clan Crag Hack

Mawag 9-30, 1509 TH

                The first thing I did was created Clan Crag Hack, a Weaponsmith guild to help rebuild Bartertown. Some merchants, like Valaan joined the Clan. I also recruited mercenaries and ex-guardians to guard guild buildings and the streets of Bartertown.

Day 151 Meeting with Varulus III

Gahmil 1, 1509 TH

                With the Council of Merchants elected, a Magistrate chosen, and a town guard in place, Charboyya and I went to Throal and demanded that Varulus III withdraw his troops from Bartertown. Varulus III accepted and withdrew his troops and I pledged to defend Bartertown and thus the Gates of Throal to my last breath. Varulus III came to understand the need for Bartertown to either stand on its own or become a Throal protectorate, but the people of Bartertown would have to decide that for themselves. If Throal continued to occupy the town without a mandate from the people of Bartertown now that the crisis was over, they were no better than the Theran oppressors that they were supposedly better than. 

Day 152-180 Protecting Bartertown

Gahmil 2-30, 1509 TH

                I started two major projects in Gahmil. One project was a wooden wall around Bartertown with stone strong points with firecannons. These fortifications would help protect the town from ork scorchers and foreign armies of other city-states. The other project was building an airship dock near my mansion. I had come to realize that to continue to keep the Bartertown army funded, I would need to start to conduct trade. The fastest way to conduct trade was through the air, and drakkars would have the added benefit of being able to be converted to war purposes by adding a few firecannons. Jafeedehelaah had also learned a lot about many of the Liferocks nearest to Bartertown. Ayodhya was a Liferock with many obsidiman released. One of the most notable was a merchant called Omasu, who owned a vast trade network called Overland Trading Company. I asked Jafeedehelaah if he could arrange a meeting for me.

Day 181-185 Festival

Holiday 1-5, 1509 TH

                We had a subdued celebration of the Summer Festival. On the first day, we had a mourning ceremony for all those who had died in the coup attempt earlier this year. On the second day, we celebrated our Throalic friends who had aided us in our time of need. On the third day, we honored everybody who was working so hard to rebuild and reshape Bartertown. On the fourth day, we celebrated the earth itself. On the fifth day, we partied while looking to the future of Bartertown. 

Day 186-191 Journey to Darranis

Raquas 1-6, 1509 TH

                Jafeedehelaah had arranged a meeting with Omasu for me. He was coming up to Darranis from Travar. I left for Darranis with a few of my most trusted guardsmen. 

Day 192 Business Meeting

Raquas 7, 1509 TH

                We met in a tavern by the docks in Darranis called the Swan Dive. Omasu’s Overland Trading Company had an extensive network of caravans that criss-crossed Barsaive. What he lacked was airship trading. Since my shipyards were in the process of being built and I would soon have merchant drakkars available, he wanted me to act as a distributor of his products all across Barsaive. For now, he was willing to sell me building materials at a low cost out of a soon to be built outpost here in Darranis. Wood would be cut from the Servos Jungle and sent via caravan to Bartertown. This would help me tremendously with building the wall around Bartertown. We agreed to be business partners. 

Day 193-200 Journey to Bartertown

Raquas 8-15, 1509 TH

                I thought about the new trade route. I would need someone willing to go back and forth to Darranis in an almost constant running caravan. They would need to think of a way to make the trip there profitable. I would need to consult the Council of Merchants.

Day 201 Consultation

Raquas 16, 1509 TH

                I asked the merchants what could be sold in Darranis. Almost to a man, the reply was weapons and armor. Therefore, I asked who would be willing to run a caravan back and forth from Darranis selling arms. A dwarf merchant on the Council called Jefkat stood up and said he would run this caravan. I gave him a month to set up the caravan and supply before almost constant caravan runs back and forth. Jefkat said that this would be enough time, and set about collecting his team.

Day 202-232 Flight

Raquas 17-Sollus 17, 1509 TH

                I had come to realize that there was no way I’d be able to fly on a wooden drakkar, or probably even galley. And not even Throal had a galleon. The only way I’d be able to fly was in a stone ship.

I made a call out to the best mercenaries of the land, with an almost ridiculous amount of silver up for grabs. I wanted nothing less than the plans that Therans use to make their stone vedettes. One man, called Shadow seemed especially qualified for the mission. An ex-Theran slave as well as thief and scout, he had the knowledge of Thera and the stealth for the job. If he managed to steal the plans, 1,000,000 silver pieces would be his. His simple reply, “Better start collecting my money.” I expected he would not return for some time.

Day 233-250 Intersection

Raquas 18-Raquas 30, 1509 TH

                I had decided to start changing the layout of the city. The first thing that was necessary was a second main road running west to east and two gates on the walls at those locations.  I know that many people were not going to like that, but the city has grown so large that it needs two large laneways now. I’d also like to see more organization in the districting of the town. Perhaps a merchant type district running north and south all the way to the south gate of the Royal Road, and two residential districts in the west and east.  Some of the merchants were not at all happy with this arrangement. Of course, they only wanted Bartertown to be a merchant town, not a place where people lived. Without permanent residents, the town would always have to rely on taxing the merchant class; with residents I could shift some of that tax burden to them. This brought the merchants on board.

Day 250-381 Continuing Construction

Sollus 1, 1509 TH-Strassa 16, 1510 TH

                 The city of Bartertown’s wall and second road was completed as well as the airship dock was built.

Day 382 Shadow’s Return

Strassa 17, 1510 TH

                 Shadow actually made it back with the plans. I paid him and then I read them. I was very mad when I saw what the power source of the stone vedettes was, the life force of slaves. There had to be a way for me to use the stone vedette without using slaves as the power source. I decided that there was only one thing to do, go see the wisest Name-giver around, Icewing.

Day 383-390 Journey to Mount Vapor

Strassa 18-25, 1510 TH

                I was attacked several times on my way to Mount Vapor. Bears, brithans, ice flyers, and other creatures tried to stop my progress. Bad footing in the icy mountains and terrible traps were also everywhere. It wasn’t enough to stop me though.

Day 391 Sage Advice

Strassa 26, 1510 TH

                I knelt before Icewing and offered my 1000 silver pieces in tribute. I asked him about the Theran stone ships and how it might be possible to create one without using life energy as the power source. Icewing looked furious and said, “How do you know about the truth of the power source of the stone ships?” I replied that I had agents who had made a thorough investigation of the matter for me over the last six months. Icewing said, “So do you think you really can make a stone ship with your meager airdock and shipyards? And will you risk it if you cannot find an alternate power source?” I replied that I was not planning to make a stone airship in the middle of Bartertown. I had plans to make a much larger shipyard in the Throal Mountains.  I also would make the stone ship even if an alternate power source could not be found. However, I was not a Theran, I would tell the people who would operate such a stone ship the risks involved. And I would only use the stone ship if there were a great need. Icewing then said, “I will contact another great dragon who has an expertise on the subject. In the meantime, I give you permission to build your shipyard village in the Throal Mountains.” I would get my answer soon enough, and decided to begin building the village of Mist, which would act as a shipyard for larger ships like galleys and the stone ship as well as be a place to evacuate civilians in case Bartertown was ever attacked. 

Day 392-396 Journey to Bartertown

Strassa 27-Veltom 1, 1510 TH

                The journey back was much smoother. Griffins attacked me, but otherwise it was an easy trip. 

Day 397-420 Prelude to Expansion

Veltom 2-Veltom 25, 1510 TH

                At Bartertown, I gathered materials from Throal and Darranis and sent out survey teams headed by Valaan to look for a proper location for the town of Mist, as far away from Bartertown and Garahamite villages in the mountain, but close to Mount Vapor and its covering mist and my Liferock, Zenita. After Valaan found the proper location, we started our exodus of workers and material to the location. I arranged for Jafeedehelaah to make a caravan route between Bartertown and the burgeoning village to keep fresh workers and new supplies coming in and tired workers to return to Bartertown to relax.

Day 421-545 Condensing Mist

Veltom 26-Gahmil 30, 1510 TH

                The building of the town took hard work in often brutal conditions and temperatures. In the early month of Charassa, it was especially difficult to construct much because of the low temperatures, so we spent time merely getting supplies into position, as well as putting together a map of the town we were building. In Rua, the temperature started to rise and we started getting the headquarters done. In Mawag, we built the airship dock and shipyards. In Gahmil, we built the houses for the people who would staff the outpost. 

Day 546-550 Party!

Holiday 1-5, 1510 TH

                We had a huge party to celebrate the completion and naming of the town of Mist. We honored the earth for allowing us to work with her to build such a fine town. 

Day 551-558 Return to Mount Vapor

Raquas 1-Raquas 8, 1510 TH

                I gathered up the tribute money and set off to Mount Vapor. With the village of Mist completed, I wondered whether Icewing had found out if there was an alternate way to power the stone ships. The trip there was not difficult, except for a vicious fight with a pair of gargoyles.

Day 559 Return to the Sage

Raquas 9, 1510 TH

                I again knelt before Icewing and offered my 1000 silver pieces in tribute. Icewing immediately said, “We believe we have a solution to your problem. We have an experimental elemental engine that we believe may work as a power source for the stone ship you are trying to build. Of course, there is a price. Any and all airships that you build at the village of Mist must be available for Throal’s defense should it be attacked by Thera.” I replied that I would assist in helping to defend Throal, but I would not help in any Throal aggression. Icewing paused for a moment and then held out a claw to me, “ Deal.” 

Day 560-566 Journey to Mist

Raquas 10-Raquas 16, 1510 TH

                I traveled back to the village of Mist with a huge elemental engine strapped to my back. I can’t wait to show Valaan sees this!

Day 567-730 Shaping the Stoneship

Raquas 17-Doddul 30, 1510 TH

                I showed the elemental engine to Valaan, and we got to work on the blueprints for the stone vedette and how to attach it. Meanwhile, my workers started building the frame of the great stone ship, with my Elementalists and Weaponsmiths enchanting it with the True kernals that would enable it to float in the air. It will be my flagship, and my new way to travel. I have also managed to build four drakkars as well at Bartertown, giving me the ability to trade all over Barsaive. The airdock in Bartertown continues to produce good air sailors for the drakkars, but I’m going to need more experienced crew for the stone vedette. I decided to contact Omasu and the Jerris Falcons looking for quality air sailors willing to work for me. I was also pleasantly surprised by an influx of exiled sky raiders who asked to join up. Their experience in working with drakkars will be of huge help to me. Bartertown has grown strong, and may one day be a real power in Barsaive like many other city-states. When the stone vedette is finally completed, I can finally adventure occasionally like the old days, as well as make new allies and trading partners.

—Written by Crag Hack

Strassa 1,1511 TH is the beginning of the second campaign. The next two journals will be about what happened to Evok Nor and Can N' the Jaw after separating from Crag Hack though.

Next time: Volume 3: The Torment of Evok Nor

RPGaDay #31: Last

For #RPGaDay2019, the thirty-first word prompt is Last.

       
       I made it to the last day and even posted every day despite an entire 24 hour period of power outages (6 pm to 6 pm though).
       You can check out my last session on the blog #Returnto50Fathoms Recap 24 last month.
       The last product #DramaScape released was #AbandonedMine. 

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/284598/Abandoned-Mine?affiliate_id=12615

From the Vault: The Journal of Crag Hack Part 1

     After E-Dawn, I did a small number of in character articles about the original campaign that started it all. I had a fifty page adventure log to go off of to write these though.

7 Sands Campaigns

Volume 1: The Journal of Crag Hack Part 1

“Please don’t call me Mr. Hack.” —Crag Hack

 

A Brief Foreword From the Author

                This campaign was highly unusual, with Jason starting as gamemaster, and a different one of us was gamemaster the next time. In total, this first volume covers about four sessions each gamemastered by a different member of the group. It was one of the most fun and different campaigns I’ve ever played/ran. About the text, the Journal of Crag Hack was originally written about nine years ago by me as a player/gamemaster, so it can be a bit rough in parts. The four adventures talked about in this text are I Mercenary, Race to Dimazad, Secret of Dimazad, and Escape from Dimazad.

               

CAST (PC/NPC Allies)

In Order of Appearance

CRAG HACK

Player: Steven James Black

Race/Discipline/Circle: Obsidiman Warrior First Circle

Liferock Location: in the Throal Mountains (Zenita)

Passions: Belief in the Trinity; Freedom (Lochost), Justice (Mynbruje), and Valor (Thystonius).

Character History: Awakens as the last obsidiman of his Liferock after the Long Night.

Long-term Goals: Find out the fate of his vanished rock brothers

WOEBE TONUS

Player: Joshua Murphy

Race/Discipline/Circle: Troll Cavalryman First Circle

Homeland: Naditz, Throal Mountains

Passion: Thystonius

Character History: Born in the Gaharamite town of Naditz in the Throal Mountains. He worked as a sheepherder for the town, and was always with his two dogs, Cerberus and Hades. He became fascinated by the tough, rugged mountain horses called Granlains and desired to tame them. He observed them, for years, before finding his exact equal, the fierce and violent Clydop. He returned to Naditz and found an apprentice who would become the next sheepherder for the town. After teaching him his craft, he, Clydop, and his two dogs escaped the Throal Mountains for the plains of Barsaive and adventure.

Long-term Goals: Create a Troll Cavalryman Raider Band to plague all of Barsaive.

EVOK NOR

Player: Eugene James Sherman

Race/Discipline/Circle: Elf Wizard First Circle

Homeland: Vors

Passion: Raggok

Character History: At Vors was born three brothers, each fifty years apart. It is most unusual for an elf family to have more than one child, and the mother and father knew that these three would be most special. The first-born was Mestoph Nor, the brooding older brother. The middle-child was Evok Nor, who knew only cruelty from his older brother and tricks from his younger brother. The youngest was Mephit Nor who delighted in tricks and later illusions. Mestoph Nor would become a nethermancer, in part because of his gloomy outlook knowing of his responsibilities to take care of his younger brothers after the death of his parents, which drove him to seek treasure later in life to care for them, leading him to his sad fate. Mestoph Nor’s wandering out to get treasure greatly affected his younger brother Mephit Nor who would become adepts and leave to find treasure as well. Mephit Nor became an illusionist and heard of a fabulous treasure in the Servos Jungle, but he never returned. Evok Nor became a wizard to learn analytical skills that would help him investigate what had happened to his two brothers. Following a lead that Mephit Nor was seen in Bartertown before heading off to the Servos Jungle, he headed there from Vors.

Long-term Goals: Learn of the fate of his two brothers.

PUCK

Player: Jason Murphy

Race/Discipline/Circle: Windling Thief First Circle

Homeland: Servos Jungle

Passion: Chorrolis

Character History: Puck was born in the Servos Jungle. He accidentally found the town of Dimazad one day and became fascinated by its hustle and bustle. He secretly created a windling hideout in the hole of a Great Oak near the town. He used it as a base of operations to explore the town. He began to steal items to quench his curiosity, but each item stolen just made him want more and more money. He became a thief and eventually returned to his windling village, luring out a few women of the village with promises of a better life. He provided them with food, water, and shelter and life was good. Unfortunately, he was caught one day, and was given the choice of becoming a spy for Dimazad or dying a gruesome death. He chose the former. He was sent to Bartertown to spy on anyone attempting to find the town of Dimazad or learn its secrets.

Long-term Goals: Freeing himself from Dimazad and getting every Silver piece he can get out of the world.

CAN’N THE JAW

Player: Joshua Murphy

Race/Discipline/Circle: Troll Sky Raider First Circle

Homeland: Caucavik Mountain Range

Passion: Chorrolis, Thystonius

Trollmoot: Shrieker

Character History: Can’N the Jaw was born in the Caucavik Mountains. He was drawn to a trollmoot born of castoffs and exiles from other trollmoots called the Shriekers who dreamed of founding a new trollmoot in the Caucavik Mountains. The clan leader, Mad Off, initiated him into the sky raider Discipline. The clan’s financial backing came from Pagmor Gilthroat, whose gambling racket in Haven secretly kept the trolls alive as they sought a new moothome in the Caucavik Mountains. Can’N the Jaw grew tired of this lifestyle and sought out on his own to find a drakkar for himself with which to challenge Mad Off for control of the clan. At Bartertown, he learned of the Stoneclaws, whose adoption of Throalic customs greatly angered him. Can’N the Jaw sought to establish the Shriekers in the Twilight Peaks by eliminating the Stoneclaws and taking over their part of the Twilight peaks. A rumor of a drakkar sighting in the Servos Jungle brought him to that area.

Long-term Goals: Becoming leader of the Shrieker trollmoot, eliminating the hated Stoneclaw trollmoot, and resettling the trollmoot in the Twilight Peaks.

JIM

Player: Jason Murphy

Race/Discipline/Circle: Human Horror Stalker First Circle

Homeland: Dimazad

Passion: None

Character History: Jim was born in Dimazad from a long-line of horror stalkers. Their task was to guard the entrance of Kaer Dimazad and make sure the place was safe from all intruders. They were told that all who approached the town that were not from Dimazad were horror-marked. Unfortunately for Dimazad, Jim was not as focused on his duty as his previous generations. He frequently made forays into the Servos to battle the ghita, leaving the Kaer unguarded most of the time…

Long-term Goals: Taking out as many horrors as he can before they get him.

CAST (NPCS/ENEMIES)

In Order of Appearance

CHAREK CRYSTALHAND

Race/Discipline/Circle: Dwarf Warrior Fifth Circle

Homeland: Throal

Passion: Chorrolis

Character History: The son of a line of Throalic butchers, he lived in a wedshel neighborhood as a youth. When he accidentally chopped off his own left hand with a meat cleaver, his father had a living crystal hand installed which Charek would add blood knuckles to later. He left the butcher trade to his father and went out to Bartertown to make his fortune. He made the proper trade contracts with Clystone, allowing him to run a profitable caravan business with some occasional smuggling for Clystone on the side. 

THRASHER

Race/Discipline/Circle: Non-adept Ork Mercenary

Homeland: Cara Fahd

Passion: Thystonius

Character History: Thrasher was born in Cara Fahd, but soon left to join the Thunderers, where he served admirably. He left the Thunderers since they offended his mercenary honor by sometimes breaking contracts and selling themselves to the highest bidder and he became a freelance mercenary. Thrasher is a thoroughly professional ork mercenary whose loyalty is to his employer and the job. He always honors his contracts until the end, and will do whatever is necessary to achieve his objectives. He considers himself above those other mercenaries who change employers at the first opportunity for more money. He also believes in taking challenging jobs. An easy job without rivals and competition is below his skills and unworthy of him.     

RED IRONFIST

Race/Discipline/Circle: Dwarf Warrior Fifth Circle

Homeland: Throal

Passion: Chorrolis

Character History: Born in Throal, he served in the Arm of Throal during the First Theran War, where he lost his right hand when a Theran warrior chopped it off. Red barely survived the battle. His weaponsmith son fashioned a gauntlet of iron for him to hide the disfigurement, which is always balled up in a fist. He is now working for the Eye of Throal. His current assignment is to find out the truth of the rumors of a sighted drakkar in the Servos Jungle of an unknown configuration.

CARLA THE WITCH

Race/Discipline/Circle: Human Nethermancer Third Circle/Wizard Third Circle

Homeland: Dimazad

Passion: Raggok

Character History: She is primarily focused on trying to keep a lid on the town’s secret, falsely interpreting experience death spells for trials, and other nefarious endeavors. She also worships Raggok, trying to fulfill her bizarre carnal desires featuring a mix of pain and pleasure that closely mirror those of the Society of Radiant Effulgences. She is also the major source of blood charms for Dimazad.

CALIGUA HERLARR

Race/Discipline/Circle: Second Circle Shaman

Homeland: Dimazad

Passion: Vestrial

Character History: She lives in the vine-covered hut nearest to the tree line. She sells healing aids and herbs. The people of Dimazad also know her as the resident poison maker. She is motivated by a desire for more magical knowledge, and especially knowledge of new herbs and poisons.

JURVAS DAESS

Race/Discipline/Circle: Non-adept Dwarf Bureaucrat

Homeland: Dimazad

Passion: Dis

Character History: He lives in the south-central, white administrative building. He sees to it that the laws of the town are obeyed (Decidedly Theran based with gladiatorial matches and slavery the penalty for most crimes) and to running the day-to-day matters of the town. There is a secret slave pen underneath this large structure and houses a Temple of Dis as well. He is generally interested in keeping the town's skeleton closet closed and particularly interested in law and order, and ruling with an iron fist.

T’LASH STORMRIDER

Race/Discipline/Circle: K’stulaami T’skrang Fifth Circle Air Sailor

Homeland: K’tenshin

Passion: Astendar, Floranuus

Character History: T'lash Stormrider is the captain of the drakkar Jaspree's Kiss, named for its hugging of the Servos tree line. His main duty is to see to the quick deployment of the Theran slavers to get their latest prey. He also sees to the transport of Servos Jungle goods to House K'tenshin/ or Sky Point. Duty to K’tenshin is his primary motivation.

BORLOCK SHAPIRO

Race/Discipline/Circle: Human Warrior Third Circle

Homeland: Dimazad

Passion: Dis, Raggok

Character History: Borlock Sharpiro is the leader of the slavers. He serves as the main trainer of warriors in town, forcing them to prove their mettle versus Cave Trolls or Ogres in lieu of a fee for training. He also is the town's executioner should other means of punishment be deemed not enough. He is a brutal, sadist of a man.

WINDBREAKER

Race: Common Dragon, Spells: Seventh Circle Elementalist

Homeland: Throal Mountains

Character History: A greedy, arrogant common dragon that envies the riches of Icewing and sometimes steals from Name-givers to continue to grow his hoard. 

LOTH PAY THORN

Race/Discipline/Circle: Dwarf Warrior Seventh Circle

Homeland: Throal

Passion: Thystonius, Raggok

Character History: Loth Pay Thorn was a soldier in the Arm of Throal. He ascended to the rank of sergeant, where his brutal training regimens became the stuff of legends. Each successive year, “battle camp” as it became to be known became increasingly rigorous and sadistic. When a dwarf recruit was slain during training, Loth Pay Thorn was stripped of ranks and discharged from the service. Rumors say he lives in Throal or Bartertown and makes a living by training adepts on the cheap.     

THE JOURNAL OF CRAG HACK

 

Prologue

            I write this journal not to entertain, but to understand more fully the workings of this world; in essence to enlighten myself. Of that which makes me an adept and lets me, wield my powerful talent magic. And to attain and understand my true Discipline vision of how I see this world.

I Mercenary

Day 1 Awakening

Strassa 1, 1509 TH

     I awoke today. My rock brothers are not here; they have vanished without a trace. I am alone with my Liferock. What has happened to them? How long have I slumbered? Is the Scourge over? I spent the day traveling through the corridors of my rocky cavern home, Zenita. By nightfall, I stepped into the world once more, to see the Full Moon and stars shining in the sky. I looked down onto the Throalic plains, only to see a most curious sight.

      A group of circled wagons, a caravan, was camped there. What was a caravan doing traveling so close to the Throalic Mountains and my Liferock? I decided to continue climbing down the mountain cliffs to investigate the caravan. I strode up and was met by the caravan guards. There was an elven magician, and a troll cavalryman, as well as two sleeping guard dogs and a large snorting horse, and two other sleeping elves, one an archer and another magician based on their belongings. I called out to them that I was unarmed and not a threat to them; that I only wished for food, water, and shelter. After that, the troll went in to a wagon, and came out with a fat dwarf merchant called Charek CrystalHand. One of his hands was indeed made of living crystal, a form of blood magic apparently. His father was a butcher in Throal, and he lost his left hand in an unfortunate accident involving a meat cleaver and had his hand replaced with one made of living crystal. I decided to search for answers in the nearest town, Bartertown, and would guard the caravan for the dwarf merchant in exchange for the equipment of my trade. Looking for weapons and armor in his supply wagon, I found a stout Battle Axe and a sturdy Body Shield.

      It was most fortunate for Charek that he had hired me on, for on the next watch we were attacked by a group of ork bandits that appeared to be led by an ogre! We were outnumbered 2 to 1. The elven magician cast some sort of spell and died instantly, turning into a pile of goo…What a fool. Don’t you know that it is worthless to give up your life before the battle has even begun? I charged in, wading through the orks to try to get to the ogre. Unexpectedly, an ork came out of nowhere to help us. In one Z-like stroke, he managed to slice one of the orks into four pieces of flesh and bone. The troll cavalryman struggled to wake up, and then got on his mount, and yelled at his dogs to wake up and fight. The remaining elf magician, hurled his hand at the enemies as if throwing something, but I could not see what it was. Three of the orks rushed the elven archer and chopped him up. The troll cavalryman came just in time to save the last magician, charging into the three orks, killing one, and cutting them off from their path to the wizard with his dogs. Meanwhile, the ork and me had killed the other five orks and were engaging the ogre. The ork finished him with one well-placed attack to the throat. The ork warrior was called Thrasher, and did not wish to be revealed to the caravan owner and be glorified for his role in the battle, and by my warrior’s honor, I respected his wish, and said that we three were the only survivors of the battle to save the caravan. We then retired to our wagon to rest from the wounds of that battle, while the merchant brought out three human guards to take the final watch of the night. 

      I talked that night for a little while with the elf magician and the troll cavalryman. The troll’s name was Woebe Tonus, his granlain was called Clydop, and his two mongrel dogs were called Cerberus and Hades, and had been practically useless despite being called “guard dogs.” The surviving elf magician was a wizard called Evok Nor, a talker and bookie like all wizards. Thrasher visited us that night, and a windling called Puck as well. Thrasher told us about a possible adventure in Bartertown and that we should visit the local taverns the next day. Puck was only there a short time, talked with Woebe Tonus, and then left abruptly. When Woebe Tonus searched his belt pouch, he found all his money gone, and a note that said “IOU Your Friend–Puck.” If that is the benefit of your friendship Puck, then you can keep it! Woebe Tonus was really mad and stormed out after Puck. With the troll gone, I finally had enough room to lie down and get to some well-earned slumber.

Day 2 Questing for a Quest

Strassa 2, 1509 TH      

                I started the day off by going to an armor and general goods shop to buy myself some fernweave armor and other equipment from the money we got from the orks and the Charek. I tried asking people about obsidiman in the Throal Mountains, but no one had any answers. Some people suggested I get some money and find some information brokers. I sent Evok to several taverns looking for a quest to get money, The Brave Warrior and The Juggling Shadowmant among them. At The Brave Warrior, he met Thrasher again. He told Evok that at the Red Blot tavern there was a dwarf merchant called Red Ironfist who was looking for some adventurers to do a job. Evok found me as I returned from shopping, and we both went to the Red Blot to speak with Red Ironfist. He had a fist made of iron, but it lacked the mobility of Charek’s hand. He asked us to go to Kaer Ironfist in the Servos Jungle and acquire an ancient tome. There was a 300 Silver piece reward for each of us if we succeeded. When we accepted we saw Puck and Woebe Tonus return. They had apparently settled their differences and Puck had agreed to be our guide to Kaer Ironfist.

                As we left to begin our journey, six humans came out and warned us not to pursue this matter any further. I began to ask them what they meant by that, but they had already returned to the shadows. What was that about?

Day 3 Ambush

Strassa 3, 1509 TH

                Our daytime travel on Barsaive’s plains went without incident. At night on Evok’s watch, things went awry. He was assaulted by three orks, and barely got away from them long enough to scream at us to wake up. I stood up and guarded the wizard’s escape route, when three more orks came out and forced the wizard back to us. We killed off the first three orks, and then turned to face the next three, as the badly injured Evok escaped the other way. We killed two more, and then captured, and interrogated the last ork. Thrasher sent them to stop us…it seems his employer is in opposition to our own.

 

Day 4 Calm

Strassa 4 1509 TH

                We continued southward without any interference.

 Day 5 Black River

Strassa 5, 1509 TH

                We continued our journey across Barsaive’s plains for two days, making camp when the plains started to surrender to some trees and shrubbery. That night, Woebe Tonus told us he heard a bubbling noise. Whatever that is supposed to mean. Then he left and said he found a reptilian creature up ahead in some swampland. That could account for the bubbling noises he had heard earlier. I woke up the wizard and Puck, and we hunted the creature. The insane, charging cavalryman sliced the creature in half, and then promptly ran into a rivulet, and fell off his mount. Statues that looked just like the creature Woebe Tonus had slain surrounded the completely bubbling river. Evok and Puck laughed at Woebe Tonus, as I helped him out of the river. We later learned that the idiot cavalryman actually filled a waterskin with water from this rivulet. I know I did not trust it. We returned to our campsite.

Day 6 Storm

Strassa 6, 1509 TH

                We traveled beyond the small rivulet into a more forested and hilly region. Five humans on horseback attacked us. Three carried lances, the other two short bows. The three cavalrymen charged at us, while the archers whirled around firing arrows and attempting to use their superior range to beat us. I immediately dropped my battleaxe, withdrew my spear, and set for a charge. I stabbed the lead cavalryman’s riding horse, sending its rider flying away from me, his head splattering into a nearby tree. From behind us came a large human on a beast larger than the troll’s Granlain. The thief and wizard dealt with the archers while I took out the other two cavalrymen, and Woebe Tonus fought their leader. I kept attacking mounts, one cavalryman went flying, and so did an archer that got too close. Evok was unconscious and in critical shape after being charged and shot. The troll and their leader had fought each other to a standstill, but both of the troll’s dogs had been badly hurt and only a final effort by the two dogs had saved Woebe Tonus. It was costly. Cerberus had perished and Hades was badly injured. The dog howled in pain at the death of his brother. Thrasher had sent this group to stop us as well.

                That night, I found Thrasher’s camp and set Woebe Tonus to guard for five minutes so I could investigate further. Five minutes! Yet, he was asleep when I got back to camp. Thrasher was using our campfire to cook a rabbit. I kicked the troll in frustration. They could have all been killed due to his incompetence. Thrasher and I talked for a little while. I wanted to know why he had helped us earlier and why he had to be our enemy now. He talked about the life of a mercenary was about honoring the contract. The exact terms of his last contract were to kill the ogre bandit lord at all costs, which was why he helped us then. His terms this time were to get to Kaer Ironfist first and get the tome and bring it to his employer instead. We were obstacles in his way. I also wondered why he wanted us to take the offer of his employer’s competitor. He responded that he was driven by the challenge of tough jobs and worthy enemies. The ogre bandit lord had been a worthy foe, and so was I, as I had proved on that night five days ago. Thrasher then left our camp. Woebe Tonus tried to go after Thrasher but I stopped him. I wondered why he had come tonight to parlay with us and had not killed my companions in their sleep. Maybe that would have been just too easy for Thrasher. Honor requires that we give him the same courtesy of not stabbing him in the back as he leaves. Still next time we meet, we will be enemies in full.

Day 7 Duel

Strassa 7, 1509 TH

                The next day, Thrasher walked up to our camp with about five orks and looked ready for full battle. Unexpectedly, the barely conscious Evok Nor challenged Thrasher to a duel to first Wound. Thrasher surprisingly accepted, dropping his troll sword and drawing a dagger to match Evok’s own. Evok managed to wound him first, giving us free passage from Thrasher. Evok is definitely one crazy elf wizard, but he did win some respect from Thrasher, as well as the rest of the party today.

                We traveled slowly since Evok was in such bad health at this point. We camped ten miles away from the Servos Jungle. We are running out of food and water at this point, hopefully the Servos Jungle can help sustain us. 

Race to Dimazad

Day 8 Doom Plains

Strassa 8, 1509 TH

                There was no sign of Thrasher today. We decided to head south to a town in the Servos Jungle that Puck knew about. Later that day, two more gnashers assaulted us. I took out one, while Woebe Tonus killed the other one. Meanwhile the wizard had somehow wandered off, getting himself attacked by another Gnasher. He somehow survived and made it back to camp, and immediately fainted from exhaustion. 

Day 9 Doom Forest

Strassa 9, 1509 TH

                The next day we made it to the edge of the forest by nightfall. We could not see anything; it was so dark in the forest ahead. We considered going around this patch of forest or camping and waiting until daytime to traverse it. Of course, the damn fool cavalryman then suddenly said he saw something and then charged into the forest after it! We found ourselves battling evil giant spiders. They made vile tunnels of iron that hurt us as we moved, and after Woebe Tonus killed one, the other one rubbed its belly (Evok told us that was its thorax web and the center of its magic) and seemed to create a shiny, crystalline web around Woebe Tonus, which froze them in place. Then two more of the monsters came out, which Evok, Puck, and myself fought off, saving the troll cavalryman.

                It was a stupid thing for Woebe Tonus to do, but oh, the treasure that we found! I found a stone broadsword, a pouch, and a thorax web. Woebe Tonus took a whip, a pouch, a thorax web, and some boots. Puck got a pouch and a thorax web. Evok got a staff, a pouch, and a thorax web. My enthusiasm was short-lived however. The wizard found some armor that looked just like fernweave. The second he touched it, it moved! It attached itself to Evok and sank its roots into the wizard, drawing blood from him, the thing turned red in color as it drank the wizard’s blood and then the armor grew thorns, and budded roses in spots. Even as I sit here writing this, the thing is eating him, continuing to draw blood from him. He is complaining of terrible thirst, and is overcome by a need to feed on raw meat. Puck decides to head to Dimazad by himself to get some food and water.

                We left the dark forest and camped outside in the plains. I fought off an animal that tried to touch Evok as he slept. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, the troll was completely out of water and had decided to drink the water from the rivulet…

Day 10 Tainted

Strassa 10, 1509 TH

                The troll was acting kind of strange, but it could just be him freaking out about what has happened to Evok. We continue heading south until we hear something following us…an undead dog? Then I hear the screams of our troll cavalryman who is charging us! I immediately leap up at the betrayer, cleaving him in two. His dog, Hades, bites my leg. I deliver a wicked kick and the wounded animal retreats. Clydop attacks me with his hooves, but I pay him no attention. I turned to face the evil undead animal. I hit him once, and he grew more ferocious than before. I slice, and I hack…but he continues to bite and bite…but I am stronger, I am a warrior, I am Crag Hack. I defeat the dog, and hear the screams of a tortured soul. Behind me, the undead troll is trying to move around despite being split in two. The granlain runs away in terror of his former master. In terrible pain, Woebe Tonus attacks me from the ground. I set myself to defeating him once again. I raise my battle-axe and deliver two strikes to his upper and lower halves. Evok finally does something, and burns the dead corpses of Woebe Tonus and Cerberus.

                I ask the wizard what happened to Woebe Tonus. He points to a waterskin and opens it up partway, revealing the dirty water from the rivulet.

Day 11 Survival

Strassa 11, 1609 TH

                We spend the day searching for food and water. Evok spots a deer and I spear it, bringing it down. Meanwhile Puck returns with some berries and water. We eat, drink, and regain some of our lost strength for the remaining two-day journey to the town of Dimazad.

Day 12-13 Calm

Strassa 12-13 1609 TH

                We managed to travel southward towards Dimazad without being attacked further.

Secret of Dimazad

 

Day 14 Salvation

Strassa 14, 1609 TH

                We continued to head south through the Servos until we finally reached the town of Dimazad. I hurried to the local magic shop. I told the local magician, an old human female called Carla, about what had happened so far. She told me about the Dread Iotas that had taken over Woebe Tonus. She also told me about Bloodweave, the cursed fernweave of the Blood Wood. She told me to hurry to the local alchemist, Caligua, with Evok Nor. I found him at the general goods store, and we went to the vine-covered hut where Caligua lives. She told us that the curse of the Bloodweave was irreversible, only the Blood Elves of the Blood Wood could do anything about it. As for the Dread Iotas, she suggested that we go to the inn and bathe. She could cast some sort of purification spell to remove them from the water if they were attached to us. We did as we were told, hurrying to the local inn. After purification, Evok decided to go train with the magician Carla.

                I went to the local weaponsmith, giving him my stone broadsword in return for forging my battle-axe, as well as went to the general goods store to sell items and get supplies for the next stretch of out journey. When I returned to the inn, there was a large troll sky raider named Can’N the Jaw there who was looking for a quest. Therefore, I offered him Woebe Tonus’ place in our group. He accepted, bringing our group back up to four members.

Day 15 Exploring

Strassa 15 1609 TH

                I went out and explored the town, finding the local magistrate a dwarf named Jurvas Daess in charge of law and order in the town. I asked him if there were any kaers near here. He quickly said no, that the Cathan, and Servos Jungle t’skrang and windlings had not used kaers or citadels to survive during the scourge. I then asked him how this town came into being without a stronghold nearby. He pointed out an airship dock to me. I returned to the tavern and asked Can’N the Jaw if he knew about the airship dock. He said he had already seen it. I went out and talked to the local airship captain, a weird t’skrang with a flimsy membrane up and down his arms named T’lash Stormrider. When I asked him about the airship, the t’skrang quickly corrected me and said it was called a drakkar. Then he went on and on about the virtues of his ship, Jaspree’s Kiss for a long time. Then I asked him about the membrane and he told me a long tale about something called kaissa and talked about a t’skrang clan called the House of Spirit Winds, which he is from located in the Throal Mountains. I asked him if he knew of any obsidiman in the Throal Mountains. He quickly answered no. I had spent the day talking to him, and was still no farther to discovering what had happened to my rock brothers or where Kaer Ironfist was.

Day 16-17 Training

Strassa 16-17, 1609 TH    

                I found the local constable, a stout looking human called Borlock Shapiro. I asked him to train me so that I may advance in Circle. He quickly agreed. I wonder why?

Day 18 Trial

Strassa 18, 1609 TH    

                The final day of my training. I was unexpectedly thrown into a ring of stones with a barbaric looking troll holding a huge axe. Without my battle-axe that the weaponsmith was still forging, I was forced to rely on my spear. It was tough, but I managed to defeat him after suffering a nasty wound. I took his axe as a trophy.

Day 19 &Error

Strassa 19, 1609 TH    

                The troll sky raider had flown into a drunken, murderous rage when he found out that the town dealt with his ancient enemies, the Therans. He killed over ten adult human and t’skrang males. The magistrate put out a 1000 Silver piece reward for his capture. And the troll sky raider turned himself in to get the reward! How stupid or drunk can you be? The people of Dimazad placed him in a stockade and branded him…as a slave. Which meant these people did not just deal with Therans; they were Therans. I went to find Puck. He told me he had found out where the kaer was. I told him about the situation with the troll sky raider. He told me that we should leave him in the stockades and that he deserved his fate as a slave or a dead man. I then asked him what he thought our chances were with three Name-givers versus one kaer. He decided to help the troll sky raider after all. We planned to free the troll the next day at night. I went to the families of those who had lost loved ones to Can’N the Jaw, giving each of them 100 Silver pieces and condolences for their loss of their husbands and fathers. I could not stand by and watch women and children die of hunger and thirst; not even if they were Therans.

Day 20 Jailbreak

Strassa 20, 1609 TH    

We prepared to leave in haste that very night. We went to see Evok, who seemed to have changed for the worse. Whatever mental training he had been enduring and the physical strain on his body from the Bloodweave were taking its toll. We told him of the plan, and he told us that he would be ready by tonight to leave. I returned to the weaponsmith who gave me back my battle-axe. It was stained red, perhaps from forging? The weaponsmith had Named it Bladesblood. The weaponsmith seemed to be tired and in poor health, and bade me leave after I had received the weapon. I hope he recovers. As I was returning to the tavern, I saw a man jump off the airship dock and he was dead when he hit the ground. I asked around about him. His wife had committed suicide last year, after his two children had been kidnapped. A month long search was launched but the kids were not found. The man seemed to die a little more each day as he became increasingly depressed. Some say he had ceased to live already a long time ago.

In the dead of night, Evok used a spell to make the guards tired, and they slowly fell asleep while on watch. Puck then summoned a blue lock pick to unlock the troll’s shackles, while I removed the stockade and we fled into the night.

Day 21 Sky Shadow

Strassa 21, 1609 TH    

                A band of ten windling assassins armed with windling bows soon pursued us. Their arrows were almost certainly tipped with poison. Puck was struck and pinned to a tree and fell unconscious. Fortunately for me, I had a new plethora of throwing weapons to use including hawk hatchets, bolas, and finally my trusty spear. They could not defeat me with their tiny weapons and poison, and I filled the air with iron and stone and watched one drop after another. Evok Nor fell from the poison as well. I carried Evok and Can’N the Jaw carried Puck as we waded across a rivulet and set up camp on the other side.

                That night, as Evok and Puck slumbered and tried to fight off the poison, fourteen clay creatures armed with spears came out of the rivulet. I woke up Can’N the Jaw, and we prepared to fight them off. They seemed to attack by sticking to us and were somewhat water-based, so I just ran into our campfire and burned them off. I could take the pain; they did not. I killed three this way alone. They were trying to suffocate us using their slime. They closed in on the sleeping windling and one of them closed slime around Puck’s mouth. I could see him dying before my eyes, so I struck the creature down with Bladesblood. I could tell that windlings were vulnerable to the slime, so I dropped my Body Shield, and held the windling in my hand up and away from their sticky attack. After seven of them had been slain, the rest returned to the rivulet that they had come from.

 

Day 22 Thunderclap

Strassa 22, 1609 TH

                It was a hot, humid, and rainy day in the Servos Jungle. In short, it was miserable. As thunder clapped and lightning striking down around us, we decided to take shelter. Puck told us about his windling village that was nearby where we took shelter for the night.

Day 23 Jungle Cats

Strassa 23, 1609 TH

                We continued our journey towards the kaer when the local creatures started attacking us in droves. First, we were attacked by two giant, flying bird-cats. I drove them off with my throwing weapons. Next, we barely managed to cross another rivulet, as Can’N the Jaw and Evok were almost sucked up in the current and dragged into the water. After that, two groups of three black panthers attacked us. We were severely hurt by their sharp claws. We had no choice but to camp. We set up a ring of logs, and shattered flasks of oil on top of them. We then lit them on fire using torches, hoping the wall of flame would keep the creatures at bay. The heat and humidity were almost unbearable, but Evok Nor told me that the black panthers were probably tracking us by the smell of blood. The fire should frighten them or the smell of smoke should at least distract them from the scent.

Day 24 Kaer Ironfist?

Strassa 24, 1609 TH

When we awoke the next morning, the fires were out, and five windlings on black bird-bats were guarding our camp. We thanked them for guarding us and putting out the fires.

We all started our karma rituals almost simultaneously, uniting as one, and destroying what was left of the area; making a small clearing in the Servos Jungle. I thought of a name for our group, Nirvana, for the only time we were all cooperative seemed to be during our meditative karma rituals.

                We continued to the kaer, and saw a horrible sight, a caravan that had been raided and slaughtered to the last woman, man, and child. Only a horror could have done this. All of the bodies, 200 Name-givers had been burnt to a crisp. The smell of charred flesh was everywhere. We decided that it would be worthless to search the caravan and we moved on towards the kaer.

                We had finally made it after almost four weeks of time. At the entrance of the kaer were two undead. Out of nowhere, a human jumped out of the bush and tackled one of the undead. He then grabbed the zombie by the head, tried to twist it off, and then gave it a noogie. I had already dispatched the other zombie. He was definitely nuts. We then fought a wave of undead that rushed out from the kaer, about five of them. After beating them, the human introduced himself as Jim, and our enemies as cadaver men, and then showed us his carriage. It had two corpses at the top. Jim told us the reason was camouflage, whatever that is supposed to mean. And how useful is a carriage without horses?

                We decided to enter the kaer. The first room was empty of all but a few benches and three doors, one to the north, one to the west, and one to the east. We went west through a hallway. In the next room, horrible apparitions cloaked in darkness attacked us with a touch that chilled me to the bone. Despite their magic, they were still bonded to rotted bodies that fell easily to our weapons. Evok told us these were called demi-wraiths. How did he know that?

                Puck found a secret door, and in the secret room, there was a pile of treasure. Puck bypassed some traps in the room. We grabbed gold, silver, gems, rings, as well as an amulet from the pile. I suppose this secret vault was what the demi-wraiths were guarding. We doubled back to the entrance, and went to the east through another hallway. We easily defeated five more cadaver men in this room. Again, Puck found a secret door, and in the secret room, was a giant diamond. After bypassing some more traps, Puck managed to steal the gem, and we stored it my belt pouch. We returned to the entrance. We decided to go north through another hallway. We came to a stone door covered with runes that me and Can’N the Jaw forced open. Evok Nor told us that the runes of protection had been disturbed and that the entryway clearly marked the kaer as called Dimazad, not Ironfist. Were we at the wrong kaer? Was Puck’s information wrong?

The cave had opened up greatly to a large and vast underground complex. To the west was a large room filled with overgrown plants, and to the east, a room filled with rotted barrels and boxes. We moved north through the large complex, which again opened up to two large rooms to the west and east. The room to the west featured many tables, iron pots, and a kiln as well as storage cabinets for foodstuffs. The room to the east was even bigger, with rows and rows of chairs and tables. We moved further north into the kaer, and started to hear the sound of rushing water coming from the west. We went west into a large chamber that was adjacent to a large underground river. There were two children, but they were not playing. The small boy with blonde hair and blue eyes held a knife to the throat of the small girl with blonde hair. He was going to kill her! Evok and Puck saw something moving in the water. Enraged, Can’N the Jaw and I rushed forward and attacked the white larvae in the water. Jim tackled the boy and saved the girl. The wizard added his spells and the thief used his windling bow. We managed to kill the thing in the water quickly. It’s corpse rushed down the river before Jim could even identify it. The boy returned to normal. We found out they were brother and sister and the horror was manipulating the boy. I gave them some food and water and 200 Silver pieces, and we returned to the entrance. We rushed outside, trying to get the siblings out of the kaer to safety, when six bouncing orbs with teeth attacked us. Jim told us that they were Gnashers; we fought them off while the boy and girl escaped towards Dimazad. I think that they might have been the children of the man and woman who committed suicide. We were exhausted, so we tore apart Jim’s carriage, using its wooden parts to bar the kaer entrance and rested in the first room of the kaer. We would find the tome of Ironfist, Dimazad, or whatever, tomorrow.

Day 25 Tome

Strassa 25, 1609 TH

                We had rested without any interruption. We broke down our barrier and prepared it for use tonight if necessary. We returned to the lower levels of the kaer. Going past the water room, we found another couple of large chambers, to the west a room filled with beds and to the east, an armory. We searched the room for weapons and armor of interest, finding some odd spiked orbs. We continued into the largest chamber yet, which was filled with tents and partitions made of wood. We searched the area, and I lost sight of Can’N the Jaw. All of a sudden, the troll started attacking me from behind! I grappled him, and then Puck struck a furry rat that was on his shoulder. Can’N the Jaw came back to his senses after the rat died. I suppose it makes sense that a rat could control another vermin like Can.

                Next, we entered a library built in the large chamber. Evok searched the room for the Tome, but no luck. We continued through a long hallway to another large chamber, this one filled with tents and benches. Twelve black flying bugs suddenly attacked us. We easily fought them off, killing six of them, with the other six retreating to find easier prey elsewhere. The large chamber narrowed until we found a single door. It led into a large council chamber with many chairs and a throne. Can’N the Jaw went and sat on the throne, of course. He then called himself Lord of the Kaer and proceeded to say that he would accept all challenges to ruling his newfound domain. I guess I should not have been too surprised when a decrepit woman of mist came out to challenge him to a duel for that right. She choose dance as the form of the duel, to which the Can’N the Jaw responded that such a lowly challenge insulted his katorr. Then he attacked her with his troll sword. She became enraged and grabbed the troll. A wave of pain gripped his entire body. We realized that we would have to help. When we tried to help the troll, but she wheeled on us and tossed a fireball at us. We managed to defeat her by attacking her where she was most solid, but at great cost to our strength.

                Since there was nowhere else to go, Puck searched the room. Underneath the throne, there was a secret passage leading down, further into the kaer. At the end of a long tunnel were three doors. Behind the third door was a mirror. In it, we all saw an enemy instead of ourselves who turned into a pile of goo and then became ourselves. We retreated quickly. Perhaps not all the horrors and constructs of this place are dead yet? Or is this some kind of strange magic? Behind the second door, we did not find much. Just a dead wizard’s sleeping chamber and his private desk. Evok grabbed his robes, a staff, a wand, and a cloak, but no tome. We went to the first door. A book was enshrined in a glass case. It screamed trap. This did not occur to the troll sky raider who walked up and punched it. The glass shattered, but unexpectedly rose up and fell down on him. After being weakened so much by the witch spirit, the brutal trap killed him. Puck looked for traps on the book itself, and bypassed one. Evok grabbed the tome and immediately started reading it! I wondered how our employer would feel if he knew about this. The book was entitled the History of Dimazad, not the History of Ironfist like we had been told. The book went over the 600-year history of Dimazad, a town built by the Therans before the Scourge and used as a base to enslave Cathan, Servos Jungle t’skrang, and windlings, as well as any dwarves or other Name-givers who had stumbled upon the town. The town followed Theran laws and even worse; many people of the town worshipped the mad passions. The K’tenshin had found it and unsealed the kaer. Why were the Therans and K’tenshin working together? Evok told me that they had allied together in the Theran War, but that their current involvement seemed to suggest that the alliance was still in effect, even though the Theran War was years ago. Still it was inconceivable, a Theran/K’tenshin town within a few weeks of Throal itself?! Of course, the book suggested that the people of Dimazad would attempt to enslave us if they caught us. Evok got through skimming the book, and went about bandaging Can, who miraculously recovered, coming back to life. With the tome in hand, we went to the kaer entrance. Evok read with excitement in a book he had found in the library about Threads. He told us that if we Named the group via the ritual in the text, we could grow in power. We Named our group Nirvana, and took an oath to protect each other. I named my favorite Hawk Hatchet, Slicing Web (For its success versus the evil spiders earlier when their web pinned me) as the item that most connected me to the group and drew the symbol of our group, the three interlocked-triangles. We set up our makeshift barrier once again, and prepared to camp throughout the night.

Escape from Dimazad

Day 26 Pursuit

Strassa 26, 1509 TH

                After resting in the kaer again, we awoke to the sounds of maces attacking our makeshift barrier. The slavers of Dimazad had come to claim us! My former trainer, Borlock, and a gang of human warriors battered down our defenses rather easily. They rushed in brandishing nets and whips. They easily caught Puck, Jim, and Evok, but the troll and me were more than a much for their weapons. They quickly realized that they would have to use deadlier weapons versus us two. Especially as Bladesblood cleaved one of them in half, and Can N’ the Jaw beheaded another with his troll sword. They switched far too late, as Can’N and me the Jaw, ripped through them, drawing strange strength from last night’s oath with our friends in danger. We killed Borlock’s men and he retreated to Dimazad. We went north, out of the Servos Jungle towards Bartertown.

Day 27 An old enemy

Strassa 27, 1509 TH

                A group of ork scorchers attacked us. These orks were almost certainly sent by Thrasher to get the tome. I guess he decided to let us safely get to the kaer because of Evok’s victory, and just steal it from us when we left the kaer.

Day 28-30 Calm

Strassa 28-30 1509 TH

                We continued northwest towards Bartertown without incident.

Day 31-34 Borrum

Veltom 1-4 TH

                We found a small trading town and decided to stay and get supplies and training for a few days. On the fourth day, a bunch of orks snuck into the inn where we were staying, and tried to get the tome as we slept. We managed to wake up in time to stop them and killed some of them. We bought an iron-reinforced wagon and some horses to make our journey faster.

Day 35 Dark Cloud

Veltom 5 TH

                Evok cast a spell of eternal darkness around himself and a spell of levitation. Can was afraid he would float away, so he attached him via rope to the wagon. We now have a giant black ball attached by a rope. This might be an attention getter for just about everybody.

Day 36 Dragon

Veltom 6 TH

                A dragon called Windbreaker flew down and talked to us. He seemed to examine our wagon and wanted to know why Evok had Named two spells. Windbreaker warned us about the dangers of Named spells, and then demanded tribute. We were forced to fork over about half our treasure from the kaer to the dragon. He especially wanted things of use to wizards like staffs, and wands. The rest of the day, Evok kept muttering to himself about how he was going to get revenge on that dragon one day. What are you going to do? He is a Named dragon and we are novice adepts!

Day 37 Nomads

Veltom 7 TH

                A tribe of nomads near the outskirts of Bartertown had made a tent city. One of them just walked up to talk to us and then just dropped dead for no reason. I took the body back to the nomads and gave his family 100 Silver pieces. I feel terrible. A Name-giver just dropped dead for no reason, and I could do nothing. Are the Passions telling us not to talk with these nomads? Why did he have to die?

Day 38 Final Battle

Veltom 8 TH

                We entered Bartertown through the city gate. We were on our way to The Red Pot tavern when Thrasher, some ork thugs, and a t’skrang swordmaster, an elf wizard, and an obsidiman warrior assaulted us. Evok Nor took out Thrasher early on. I dealt with the obsidiman, grappling him until Puck could get off a vital surprise strike. Jim and Can’N the Jaw dealt with the other five with Puck’s help intermittently. Can N’ the Jaw specifically took on the swordmaster, while Jim kept the orks and the wizard busy. We managed to kill or knockout all of them, although Thrasher was gone. In his place, there was a blackened blood charm. Evok told me it was a Death Cheat blood charm, and that meant Thrasher was still alive, since his body was gone. He put us through all that hardship and still he got away. Evok is really pissed off about that. Thrasher failed at his contract, and could not beat us after all. He will never bother us again. Based on his mercenary code of honor, he is finished as a mercenary.

                We demanded a much higher payment from Red Ironfist. For one thing, we had been deceived by him, and for another, Puck’s information said that the other group trying to get the book was going to be paid 200 Silver pieces more. He finally caved and paid us 500 Silver pieces each.

Day 39 Throal Library

Veltom 9 TH

                I went to Throal and sold my Adventure Log for an amazing 2,500 Silver pieces. Why would it be so valuable to the librarians? After that, I sought out a retired dwarf warrior, named Loth Pay Thorn to train me. He agreed and we left for Bartertown for roof-hopping?   I guess I will find out soon enough.

--Written by Crag Hack

Next time: Volume 2: The Journal of Crag Hack Part 2; Separation and Aftermath