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
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