7 Sands Campaigns
Volume 4: Can’N the Jaw’s War
“The Stoneclaws dare to emulate the dwarfs of Throal. They have begun to grow soft like our Lowland brothers. It would be mercy to kill them now so that they will be remembered as Sky Raiders rather than the soft and weak oafs they are sure to become.” —Can’N the Jaw to the assembled Shriekers in his speech pushing for declaring war on the Stoneclaws
A Brief Foreword From the Author
This
journal deals with the ascendance of Can’N the Jaw to the chief of the
Shriekers trollmoot following his separation from the rest of the party at
Bartertown as he used subversion, treachery, and war to usurp the position of
Mad Off as head of the moot. Unlike Crag Hack and similar to Evok Nor,
Can’N the Jaw’s chronicles don’t care much for chronological dating, mostly
since he refused to use either the Throal or Theran calendar as he saw those
two nations as enemies of the Shriekers and all trollmoots. Instead, he decided
the months should be named after the twelve Passions! Fortunately, the order he
used is alphabetical proceeding with Astendar, Chorrolis, Erendis, Floranuus,
Garlen, Jaspree, Lochost, Mynbruje, Rashimon, Thystonius, Upandal, and finally
Vestrial with the year equal to his age. Unlike Evok Nor who was driven down a
dark path by a long list of personal tragedies, Can’N the Jaw was always a
power-hungry, greedy villain. With a brilliant analytical and tactical mind, he
was amazingly skilled at planning assaults both physical and social. And his
physical strength and endurance as well as intimidating personality usually
meant such plans succeeded. The two
sessions talked about here were called Assault on Dimazad and
Eliminating Mad Off.
CAST (PCs and NPC Allies)
In Order of Appearance
CAN’N THE JAW
Player: Joshua Murphy
Race/Discipline/Circle: Troll Sky Raider Fifth 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.
After destroying Dimazad and stealing their drakkar, he had gained much respect
in the Shrieker trollmoot, and the Shriekers were currently gaining power in
the Caucavik Mountains. Thus he began to scheme to take Mad Off’s place…
Long-term Goals: Becoming leader of the Shrieker
trollmoot, eliminating the hated Stoneclaw trollmoot, and resettling the
trollmoot in the Twilight Peaks.
EVOK NOR
Player: Eugene James Sherman
Race/Discipline/Circle: Elf Wizard Fourth Circle/
Nethermancer Third Circle
Homeland: Vors
Passion: Raggok Questor Rank 4
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 an adept 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. When he donned the bloodweave armor, he was
afflicted with a terrible curse, and he seemed to change for the worse. He
became a Nethermancer and Questor of Raggok at Dimazad. He was unable to find his little brother,
Mephit Nor because of Jaspree’s curse, and found his brother Mestoph Nor dead
at Kaer Jalendale. By the time he meets up with Can’N the Jaw briefly in this
story he is trying to learn the truth about the bloodweave armor from Hiermon
in Haven.
Long-term Goals: Find a cure for his cursed
bloodweave.
CAST (NPCs/Enemies)
In Order of Appearance
MAD OFF
Race/Discipline/Circle: Troll Sky Raider Seventh
Circle/Weaponsmith Fifth Circle
Homeland: Caucavik Mountains
Passion: Upandal
Character History: He was master blacksmith as a
youth making fine tools and weapons from the ore mined in the mountains. He
fell in love with the view of airships flying to and from Haven, which he
watched after work each day from a high perch in the Caucavik Mountains. After
defeating an Ice Flyer by chucking spears until one struck true, he was
accepted as a full troll. He was re-Named Mad Off, and he left the Caucavik
Mountains to become a Sky Raider. After
learning the Disciplines of the Sky Raider and Weaponsmith and obtaining a
drakkar, he returned to the Caucavik Mountains, and began to form a trollmoot
there, starting with his original mountain clan. His Passion is Upandal, to
whom he attributed the greatness of his master weapon, a modified polearm with
three blades Named The Mad Off Blade (The legend surrounding this weapon says
that it was capable of gutting a Name-giver in one attack), the building of his
drakkar, Upandal’s Anvil, and his ability to build such a strong
trollmoot in the Caucavik Mountains in such a short amount of time.
NORR’A SE’LIA SHRIEKER
Race/Discipline/Circle: Troll Troubadour Third Circle
Homeland: Caucavik Mountains
Passion: None
Character History: Norr’a was made a widow when her
husband was slain at the Battle of Dimazad. She was known as the Shrieker clan
historian, with a gift for both the written and spoken word. She showed an
interest in Can’N the Jaw after repeated study sessions with her on how to
improve his own writing technique for his journals. The journals and writings
he showed her were not the real journal, but instead war epics and poems about
his initial adventures with Crag Hack casting him in a much more positive
light, and the Battle of Dimazad.
CHORAK BONECRACKER BLOODLORE
Race/Discipline/Circle: Troll Sky Raider Ninth Circle
Homeland: Western Peaks of the Twilight Mountains
Passion: Thystonius
Character History: See pages 89-90 Crystal Raiders
of Barsaive and page 24 The Barsaive Gamemaster Pack.
PAGMOR GILT-THROAT
Race/Discipline/Circle: Troll Sky Raider Fourth
Circle
Homeland: Haven
Passion: Chorrolis
Passion: Chorrolis
Character History: See pages 267-28 Parlainth: The
Forgotten City. In this campaign, Pagmor Gilt-Throat used the money earned
from gambling on the Falseman Wars to fund the Shrieker Clan and establish a
trollmoot in the Caucavik Mountains. As a result of his successful business
relations with Mad Off, he was able to repair the hull of the Unyielding, with
the help of Mad Off’s shipbuilding facilities at Mad Off’s alheim.
Can’N the Jaw’s War
Assault on Dimazad
Bartertown, Approximately Veltom 30, 1509 TH, based on Crag Hack’s Journals:
Chorrolis 30, 15th year
I am
Can’N the Jaw! I write in this journal to plan my great assault on Dimazad.
First, I will need to return to the Caucavik Mountains, for only there can I
get a drakkar and crew necessary for my victory. Dimazad is ripe for the
taking! All I need to do is get that drakkar and crew, and then we will board
the Thera-in vessel, cut down its pathetic t’skrang Air Sailor captain
and crew and then turn the vessel’s firecannons on the town and burn the whole Thera-in
village to the ground! I will finish what I started in that shack in Astendar.
And we will add a new ship to the Shrieker trollmoot. My new ship.
Erendis 14, 15th year
After a
long journey on foot from the gates of Bartertown to Darranis, a journey by
riverboat from Darranis to Tansiarda, and another long journey on foot along
the Old Theran Road and climbing through the Caucavik Mountains, I finally
reached the mountain home of Mad Off, the center of the Shriekers. It occurred
to me that there were many benefits to having such a mountain home far off the
well-traveled paths. It was easily defended against exhausted explorers and
enemies, and having a large family due to line marriage allowed one to have
enough caregivers to support the backs of any navy or army. If I am to supplant
Mad Off as leader of the Shriekers I will need to either emulate this strategy,
or insinuate myself deep into his clan and take it over from within.
I asked
for an audience with Mad Off, which was granted. I explained to Mad Off the
truth about Dimazad, and that the Theran-in scum had already infiltrated
central Barsaive. I knew they were planning something big and that we had an
opportunity to stop or disrupt it, steal a drakkar, and gain great ka’tral for
our trollmoot, which would swell our ranks.
Mad Off asked many questions, especially details about their security
and defenses. I simply said that they had one drakkar, piloted by Air Sailors,
and all that it would take to win would be one drakkar filled with our best Sky
Raiders. Mad Off told me it would take one week to prepare Upandal’s Anvil
for flight to Dimazad. It would seem that he would lead the attack personally.
All the better, I need to see how Mad Off fights, to see if I can defeat him in
direct combat.
Erendis 21, 15th year
It
had taken a week of backbreaking labor, but the Upandal’s Anvil was
finally set for flight. We had loaded several duari of rations, water,
weapons, rope, and other gear and were prepared for war. Our best Sky Raiders
had spent the week training and working for this moment. A great feast had been
prepared, and we ate and drank well before leaving Mad Off’s alheim.
After the feast, we boarded the Upandal’s Anvil and used our collective
will to propel the drakkar forward with Mad Off steering us out of the moothome
into our second home, the sky. Name-givers of Dimazad enjoy your final days of
existence, for I am coming.
Approximately Charassa 25, 1509 TH, based in Crag Hack’s Journals:
Erendis 25, 15th year
We
skimmed the treetops of the Servos Jungle, like a mighty jungle griffin
stalking lowly earthbound prey. The
weather was perfect, enough cloud cover to make visibility a problem aiding us
to conceal our approach, and fortunately only a light wind, and no rain which
would hinder our maneuverability. We flew in for the kill on Dimazad.
Our
target was the airship dock. We dropped off a few experienced raiders, who rode
the wind down and landed as gently as a feather, getting the drop on the
guardsmen. Surprised, they were easily defeated and our veterans entered the
complex, hoping to stop the Air Sailors from reaching their vessel, Jaspree’s
Kiss, and even from getting it off the ground. The Air Sailors managed to
fend them off; however, and our troops retreated from the complex, using
fireblood to heal their battle wounds, and then most managed to return to our
drakkar by jumping onto the rigging after a daring downward rescue pass by Mad
Off.
Meanwhile, the Air Sailors had
managed to board their vessel and the Jaspree’s Kiss burst from the
airship dock to do combat with us. They shot their firecannons at us, and tried
to maneuver away from us, but we were already too close, and were soon using our
grappling hooks to pull the drakkar towards our own. Once close enough, the
veteran troops jumped to the other vessel, while raw recruits activated special
planks attached to our drakkar to make a small bridge to walk to the enemy
vessel. With the battle turned into a
grand melee, the Air Sailors were doomed. Mad Off used his Mad Off Blade to gut
the t’skrang Air Sailor captain, T’lash Stormrider, in one stab to the gut. I
need to steal or replicate this weapon. It could be of great use to me, and
allow me to even the scales with Mad Off. After defeating a human gunner by
crashing my crystal raider shield into him and knocking him off the ship, I
turned the firecannon on him as he fell and the town, incinerating the airship
dock and every wood and straw building present, while Sky Raiders loyal to me
watched my back.
I felt a sudden pain, as a wound ripped open
on my chest. I tried to use fireblood to seal the wound, but it wouldn’t heal.
So I drank a healing potion, which fortunately stopped the bleeding and sealed
the wound, leaving a nasty scar. I suppose that means Puck was still in
Dimazad, not that I care whether that filthy windling double agent and spy
lives or dies. Once you work for the Thera-in, you are Thera-in
as if born on the Isle of Thera itself.
The Group Pattern of Nirvana gave me power for a time, but I can
always create a new group to regain that power.
The glorious battle was over far
too soon for my taste. The Jaspree’s Kiss was devoid of human and
t’skrang life, and the roaring flames of Dimazad soon cooled to ash and ruin.
We stole the Jaspree’s Kiss and headed back to Mad Off’s alheim.
Erendis 29, 15th year
We
returned to Mad Off’s mountain home triumphant with us doubling our number of
drakkars. We had a great feast celebrating our victory. Afterwards, there was
the bequest ceremony, where the mighty Sky Raiders who had fallen in our great
battle were mourned in our hearts, and their most precious heirlooms given back
to their families. Many of these to my surprise were replicate Mad Off Blades
made for Mad Off’s closest allies. There is a great advantage to being involved
in these line marriages. I wonder if there are any ladies free in Mad Off’s own
line that are sudden widows? That would
put me in line for getting the Mad Off Blade or even a replica, and get me that
much closer to Mad Off. It would be inappropriate to act yet though. I’ll wait
for a period of time for the mourning and grieving to end.
Eliminating Mad Off
Garlen 1, 15th year
I
waited for the month of Garlen to act, hoping for her blessing in these
matters. The woman who I selected in Mad Off’s own line was Named Norr’a Se’lia
Shrieker. She was a Troubadour, reputed to be the Shrieker clan historian. She
also had a gift for gab and gossip, a useful skill to me. She was a plain
troll, with sparse trolthelia patches, which is probably why no other
troll showed any interest. I started seeing her about improving my own writing
technique, in a series of study sessions where I showed her many war epics and
poems about my adventures and asked her opinion of them. The interest I showed
in her professional opinion about my writing, were a show of respect and
greatly enhanced her katorr. One
day she composed a ballad of a hero who bravely battled the elements to reach
his moothome. I recognized the hero as myself, a reenactment of my own tale of
trying to reach Mad Off’s alheim from Bartertown. We continued to court each other through a
series of epic tales, finally culminating in her proposing to me. I accepted
and entered the line marriage of Mad Off with her as my co-wife of the line. As
a nice bonus I received her dead husband’s Mad Off Blade replica, “The
Eviscerator” as a gift from Norr’a. The first step is taken; I am an heir of the
Mad Off line.
Garlen 23, 15th year
As I
predicted, our moot had swelled as many trolls from the Caucavik Mountains had
decided to join us after seeing our show of power with two drakkars flying
through the area. We now had enough trolls to fully crew them both. The crew
wished for me to change the name of the Thera-in drakkar to something
else besides Jaspree’s Kiss. I would have none of it. To anger a Passion
like Jaspree who had sacrificed the trees to create such a drakkar would be
foolish and dishonorable. However, the Thera-in
had Named the vessel, so the crew had a point.
I told my crew that I would accept Jaspree’s challenge to the troll race
personally by myself, and live for one month in the harsh Caucavik Mountains.
If I returned to the alheim, it was Jaspree’s wish that the vessel keep
its current name. If I did not return, Jaspree disapproved of the name, and it
should be changed. The crew roared and cheered its approval of my act of jar’arak.
I would put my very life at risk to prove my philosophy and religious views to
be right on this matter. If I survived and returned, the act would bring me
great katorr.
After
my speech, I went to my line-mate, Norr’a, and explained that I would leave in
one week to battle the elements and creatures of the Caucavik Mountains. I
would leave during the month of Jaspree and commune with that Passion the only
way I know how, through abor’a’kaf, the struggle to live. Norr’a
approved of my actions, perhaps because fighting the elements and beasts for
thirty days would surely create a tale of epic proportions. Or perhaps she
could see what I was truly trying to do, gain the attention and admiration of
my crew, and solidify my status as captain. Like many husbands and co-wives do
before a dangerous journey, we spent the week with each other, creating new
tales and making love.
Jaspree 1, 15th year
I left
Mad Off’s mountain home for the harsh surrounding Caucavik Mountains. Covered
in frod year round, the area was filled with dangerous creatures
including bears, brithans, earth elementals, espagras, gargoyles, griffins, ice
flyers, mountain lions, snow badgers, snow eagles 1, stone
lions, troajins, vettas, water elementals, wind elementals, and wolves, as well
as dangerous humanoids like our barbaric cave-troll cousins, ogres, and savage
Name-giver raiders. Worse, rumors even
had placed dragons and wyverns in the mountains, and even giants supposedly
displaced from the Throal and Scythan Mountains by genocidal dwarves, eons ago.
Survival would require me to find food, water, and shelter and defeat these
threats that would seek to steal my gear, or even my life.
I made
a decision on how I would battle these creatures. I would fight those creatures
on the ground with my bare hands and horns. Of those creatures in the air I
would use my Troll Sling and the mountain’s stones until they landed and fought
me fairly face to face. I would fight Name-givers and humanoids with the same
weapons as they used. If they challenged me unarmed, I would fight them
unarmed. If a dragon, elemental, or Horror should cross my path, I would use
any weapon at my disposal, since they would certainly not bar themselves from
the unfair advantage of spell magic. I also decided to not take trail rations
or a tent, and only take unfilled waterskins and a minimum of gear with me. I
would receive my food, water, and shelter from the land or none at all. This
decision I then vowed to Jaspree, and that I would not break it the whole
month.
I
first needed to find a water source and close by shelter. The Caucavik River
was the best source for this, made up of melted snow that flowed into the
Serpent River, and that was also the source of Mad Off’s alheim’s
water. I made the dangerous journey down
the mountain to the river, and filled my waterskins with water. I still needed
food though. I watched a white-furred bear jump into the river, dive into its
waters, and leave with a fish in his mouth. I refused to be outdone by the
bear, so I took a deep breath and dove into the Caucavik River, and tried to
swim and catch a fish in my mouth as he had done. The ice-cold river quickly
had me resurfacing and returning to shore. I came to the realization that the
bear had the fur and fat for warmth as well as the patience to catch fish in
this manner. I certainly could not, and did not have the skill to fish as the
t’skrang do.
Cold, I searched for a suitable
flint and some brush or branches. Unable to find suitable dead wood, I used a
hand-axe to chop a live tree down, apologizing to Jaspree. I grabbed some rocks
and made a circle, placing some of the tree branches and leave-like needles
into the middle, and used my flint and steel to make a spark and ignite
it. It didn’t burn all that great and
amounted to a small fire, but it was enough to warm me up slightly after that
dip in the river. I went to sleep in my sturdy winter blanket next to the fire,
with the bitter winter winds that night freezing me to the bone.
Jaspree 2, 15th year
I awoke and finished chopping up
the tree into logs for more firewood for later, storing it in my backpack. I
returned to the river to refill a waterskin. I saw a
white-feathered bird swoop down into the river and come out with a fish in his
talons, which he ate. Fish seemed to be a great food source to the creatures
here. I wondered how I could get the fish if I could not swim in and grab it as
the bear or fish it out as the t’skrangs do. Perhaps the bird’s swooping in to
get the fish would be a better method.
So I leapt up and used windcatcher to direct my fall into the river and
tried to grab some fish. I suppose the result; me swimming back to shore and
then having to make another fire was predictable. If I had mastered the ability
of gliding through the air as Crag Hack could do, then I could have emulated
the bird’s technique. I returned to my spot from the previous night, hoping to
start another fire.
Of course, that’s when I saw them.
A whole group of dirty Name-givers in rags were circled around my campfire
site. They had probably been tracking me, and
used the smoke from my fire yesterday to pinpoint my location. A twig from the
tree I chopped down snapped underfoot, and they noticed me. I ran away from the
savages, my troll stride quickly outpacing them. But they would be back and I
still needed food, fire, and shelter. I couldn’t risk a fire out in the open
now, and had to find a cave. I finally found a suitable cave, filled with bats. After I made the fire, the bats fled the cave for the
night. It was an uncomfortable place to sleep, stinking of the bats, but I
imagined the smell of those filthy humanoids to be much worse.
Jaspree 3, 15th year
I was starving. I started to wonder
if those humanoids had any food to steal. I didn’t have time to wonder long as
they soon found my trail. Exhausted, I found that I couldn’t outrun them this
time. I decided that I’d outsmart them. I used winding mountain trails,
well-placed obstacles behind me to slow them down, and was about to get away
near dusk, when a yellowish, gray, and brown snake nearly three feet long
got in my way 2. It coiled itself, raised its tail, and rattled
a death warning to me. I had pledged to Jaspree that I would use no weapon
against a ground-based foe, but knew that my hands would not grab his neck fast
enough to snap it before it bit and poisoned me to death. I could only stare at
the multi-colored scale snake, stand still, and wait. The bandits soon caught
me, and attempted to rob me. Their quick movements caught the snake’s attention
and he bit them instead. As the snake attacked them, I turned away from it and
ran towards the other brigands, drawing my troll sword and screamed a battle
challenge to the disgusting dwarves, elves, orks, and humans. Any foe that
tried to outflank me, soon found himself or herself up against the snake, still
defending its lair, and in a straight up face-to-face fight, the rest were
defeated one by one. After defeating
them, I robbed them of their food; a few days worth of trail rations, not bad.
At least I won’t starve for a few days. I went to a cave I had uncovered when
moving a boulder to delay the bandits, and took shelter there.
Jaspree 4, 15th year
I left the cave to return to the
river to refill my waterskins. I noticed a black bird following me in the sky.
After I saw it, it cawed at me mockingly. I wonder what kind of bird that is
and why it’s following me. And why is a black bird up here in the icy mountains
anyway? All the rest of the birds I have seen are white or brown. After
refilling my waterskins, I returned to the cave and repeated the process for
the next three days as my stolen trail rations held out.
Jaspree 8, 15th year
I was
getting low on food. Fish just didn’t seem to be an option, so I could either
try to gather edible plants, which were few and far between, or hunt for wild
game. I looked for some suitable rocks to use for hunting with for aerial prey,
and was prepared to battle with ground-based prey with my bare hands and horns.
The
first creature I found was a horned, white bear that roared a challenge to me.
I roared a challenge back and rushed forward at it. We wrestled, but the
creature managed to gore and wound me. I used fireblood to heal the wound, and
I retreated back to my mountain cave to rest. I couldn’t believe that I had
lost. I would need to find weaker prey.
Jaspree 9, 15th year
The bear was too strong a foe for me to
overcome in my weakened physical and hungered state. Instead I searched for
some weaker foes. I found the animal plant-eaters to be too fast for me, at the
first sight of me, they soon outran me. The flyers were more maneuverable and
could fly high in the air beyond the effective range of my troll sling. I saw
some animals that lived in the water, but they retreated deeper into the water,
and in the case of one furry animal, it retreated to a wooden shelter. Hunting
didn’t seem to be a good option either.
Jaspree 10, 15th year
I
decided to try to gather food from plants. Plants were scarce. Most of them
were needle-trees, rugged grasses, and a few mountain plants sprouting flowers
and berries. I ate some of the berries. The bittersweet berries had me coughing
and trying to spit them out, but it was too late. I fell to my knees and then completely
over. Some kind of poison was overtaking me. That’s when I saw the black bird
again. It circled ahead, swooped down, and landed next to my face and paced
around me in a circle.
It
cawed at me and said, “Do you understand yet?”
I
replied in disbelief, “Birds can’t talk!”
It
threw back its head and ruffled its feathers in some sort of rude gesture and
cawed at me again, “Are you sure? Every screech, song, call, and caw is a word
as long as you understand the language. You just aren’t listening.”
I said,
“Ok, well I am listening now.”
It
tried to peck out my eye with its beak, and I barely found the strength to roll
my head to dodge it, it screeched and said, “You and I are the same.”
I
responded with, “But I am a Name-giver and you are a bird.”
It
jumped up on my chest, standing on me, and staring at me. It clawed at my chest
with its talons, and pecked with its beak at my face leaving three nasty scars
and called out, “The physical form is different yes, but the heart beats the
same. You have much in common with the hyena, the coyote, the wolf, the jackal,
and me, for you are a scavenger. You are
not an herbivore that lives on the plants, or a carnivore that preys on the
herbivores. You are a scavenger who preys on all creatures who are weak,
stealing their food and water, picking at the remains of the dead and the
dying. You are not an individual; you are a member of a pack; members who would
turn on each other at the slightest hint of weakness. And yet you pretend to be
a carnivore or an herbivore in a challenge to Jaspree? Jaspree knows your true
heart. If you wish to live through this trial, be the vulture that you are.”
And
with that the black bird flew off. I have no idea how long I lay there, my body
battling the poison coursing through my veins. When I got up, I decided to take
the bird’s words to heart.
Jaspree 11?-30 15th year
I would
be the scavenger, the vulture. I returned to the river and waited for a white
bear to get a fish from the river. After the bear got out of the river, I
roared a challenge and wrestled him until I got the fish, and ran away. I
cooked his fish and ate it.
I
returned to the river and waited for a white bird to swoop down and get a fish.
As it soared upward, I struck at it with a rock from my troll sling. It dropped
the fish and I ran off with the fish to cook and eat later.
I
followed the horned, white bear at a distance and watched it kill a mountain
lion. When the white-horned bear was done with its meal, I battled a pack of
wolves, pounding them with my fists, goring them with my horns, and screaming
to the moon itself, showing them who the master scavenger was, and stole the
rest of the kill for myself.
If I
couldn’t fish, hunt, or gather myself, then I would steal what others had
hunted, fished, and gathered. By the end of the month, I was the leader of a
pack of wolves, with the black vulture as my aerial ally. I was a Beastmaster
of scavengers and a Sky Raider in the wilderness itself. Jaspree himself had
kissed my cheek as the vulture. The scar on my face proved to all that I had
survived Jaspree’s challenge and accepted Jaspree’s Kiss, earning that
name for my drakkar.
Lochost 1, 16th year
I
returned to Mad Off’s alheim and regaled my crew with my tale of
survival. I had received the blessing from Jaspree to keep the ship’s name the
same. I solidified the crew’s loyalty to me as captain of the Jaspree’s Kiss.
The second step is taken; I am a captain of a drakkar and a loyal crew.
I began
to write speeches for use in my next month’s propaganda campaign against Thera
and Throal.
Mynbruje 1, 16th year
During
the month of Mynbruje, I made several speeches about Thera and Throal as being
enemies of all of the trollmoots. The Theran comments were readily accepted;
the Throal comments were harder to accept.
About
Thera, I told the clan about their activities in Central Barsaive. It was a
prelude to an invasion. The Therans were most likely going to ally again with
their t’skrang puppets, the K’tenshin, and start a war from the middle of
Barsaive itself, having learned something about supply lines in the last war.
With forces in Southwest and Central Barsaive, they would more than likely
attempt to crush Landis and Cara Fahd, siege Kratas, and secure Daiche and the
Tylon Rivers. This would allow a fluid land and sea supply line to Central
Barsaive, provided they were able to defeat House T’kambras. Of course, that
meant that opportunities to raid the Therans would be bountiful in the Twilight
Peaks, making the Caucavik Mountains a poor place to have the trollmoot for the
coming war.
Most damning to positive sentiments
about Throal in the moot was my speech about how they had knew about Dimazad
for three months as a result of Crag Hack’s Journals, and that they had done
nothing about it, showing they were still in league with the Thera-in. The
Council Compact is nothing but a hoax by the dwarves. Throal will not act
alone against any foe, she will always use the other city-states and nations of
Barsaive to act as her shield, so that she can weaken us and gain dominion of
Barsaive in time. Throal is no better than Thera; her once pawn merely seeks to
one day become the master.
Many trolls after the speeches
asked how we would obtain a trollmoot in the Twilight Peaks. I pointed to one
trollmoot, the Stoneclaws. They wore Throalic dress, and may as well be lowland
trolls, and subjects of Throal already. They would be useless in the coming war
with Thera, unable to act until their Throal masters allowed it. We could
defeat their trollmoot and take our rightful place in the Twilight Peaks.
The third step of my plan was
completed. I had sowed the seeds of hatred for Thera, Throal, and the
Stoneclaws. A hatred that would simmer and boil and give the motivation for war
when we are ready.
Thystonius 1, 16th year
I
suggested a daring raid to the crew of the Jaspree’s Kiss. Urupa has
long thought itself safe from raiding, boasting an impressive airship and
riverboat fleet, defensive watch towers and fortifications, and was far away
from most trollmoots that the place was considered safe from raiding. No
longer. We would plan a daring raid that would make Thystonius proud, and hope
to steal a drakkar, galley, or loot in the process.
Mad Off
had heard about my plan and begged me to reconsider. Urupa had eight or more
airships, enough to knock any one drakkar out of the picture. Even with the
addition of the Upandal’s Anvil, our drakkars would be hopelessly
outnumbered.
I
merely stated that no Air Sailor crew was as good as our Sky Raider crew.
Besides I had no intention of fighting all of Urupa directly. First I would
scout out the location, and see the patrol schedule first hand, as well as when
trading vessels would be leaving or entering. With this information, I could
plan a daring raid. I knew that my men and me could defeat any two trading and
military vessels. Drakkar or galley, it doesn’t matter. Mad Off approved of my
plan. Provided I got accurate information with the Jaspree’s Kiss, he
would assist in my raid with Upandal’s Anvil.
Thystonius 4-18, 16th year
I
observed the flight plans of the Urupans for two weeks. Each day of the week, a
different galley would go on patrol, meet up with any incoming trade vessel,
usually mercantile drakkars and an escort war drakkar, and escort them to
Urupa. The obvious attack time frame would be to surprise them during their
engagement point outside of the city’s protection.
Thystonius 22, 16th year
We
returned to Mad Off’s alheim, and again prepared for war. The Upandal’s
Anvil was already prepared for flight. The Jaspree’s Kiss had been
out for a while, and we hastily prepared the ship for flight, loading up cargo
for war and more supplies. We feasted and rested that night.
Thystonius 23, 16th year
As many
reserve Sky Raiders as possible were placed on the Jaspree’s Kiss,
relieving most of the crew who had been flying the ship of late. Our two great drakkars lifted off for war,
and a surprise attack on merchants who had long thought themselves safe from my
people. By the end of this month, they will know of their own vulnerabilities.
Thystonius 27, 16th year
We flew
to Urupa, and waited in the Caucavik Mountains for our time to strike. When we
finally saw our chance, a merchant drakkar and escort were set for a rendezvous
with a war galley. The war galley wouldn’t make it though, as the Upandal’s
Anvil and Jaspree’s Kiss rushed in and flanked the war galley
on both sides and boarded. The Urupan Air Sailors fought better than the
Thera-in at Dimazad, but the initial surprise and flanking boarding actions
doomed them to their fate. Reserve Sky Raiders from the Upandal’s Anvil
and Jaspree’s Kiss manned the war galley and we soon took our three
vessels and attacked the merchant and escort drakkars, raiding the merchant
ship of all valuables, and killing the crew of the escort vessel and taking the
war drakkar.
When a
group of four reinforcing war galleys came in, we retreated, leaving the
remaining merchant drakkar minus cargo to the Urupans. Were did they come from?
How did they know we were here ambushed their allies? The four war galleys had
us outgunned and out manned, and attempted to pursue us. They used their
superior firepower to launch many volleys from their firecannons, but the
nimble drakkars avoided. The war galley was less lucky, with several explosions
to the hull and sails doing significant damage, and was soon forced to turn
sideways and return fire. As the
firefight raged, it was clear that the experienced war galley crews were
winning versus our Sky Raiders who were not used to distance combat. Cowardly
Air Sailors! There was nothing we could do further here, so we used the heroic
last stand of the war galley to buy time, the smoke from the war galley’s
explosion as cover for our retreat, and our greater knowledge of the wind
currents of the Caucavik Mountains to get away from the Urupans. The war
galleys all had taken some damage from our war galley’s firecannons, and
couldn’t risk continuing their pursuit into the Caucavik Mountains.
We had managed to steal valuable
elements of True wood and True air from the merchant drakkar, an escort
drakkar, and briefly a war galley. It
was a fairly successful raid. Mad Off was angry about the loss of reserves and
recruits and the failure to capture the war galley, but I rebuked him by saying
that there would be more recruits than ever after word got around about our
daring Urupan raid.
Upandal 2, 16th year
We
returned to Mad Off’s alheim. We began a massive project to cut down
high-quality trees to create two new drakkars using the True elements obtained
from the Urupa raid. After gathering the necessary wood, Shrieker craftsmen
built the drakkar’s physical shells. Then Shrieker Elementalists weaved the
True elements into the drakkar shells, creating the magical pattern of the
drakkars. The end result was two fine new drakkars for the Shrieker moot. Upandal
be praised! The Shriekers now have five drakkars!
Vestrial 1, 16th year
The humans have a saying, “The
Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend.” Since I sought the destruction of the
Stoneclaws, it would only be right to ally with their longtime enemies, the
Bloodlores.
I prepared the Jaspree’s Kiss
for a journey. I told Mad Off that I would be looking for signs of Theran
intrigues in Central Barsaive, when in actuality I would be going to the
Twilight Peaks to scout out the Stoneclaws and negotiate with the Bloodlores as
my true purpose.
Vestrial 7, 16th year
We
entered the territory of the Bloodlores, and they immediately attacked us. We
defeated the drakkar who attacked us with a minimum of slaughter, and sent back
their captain with a message for their chieftain, Chorak Bonecracker Bloodlore.
The message stated that I wished an audience with him on neutral ground to
discuss plans for an all-out war and alliance against the traitorous Stoneclaw
moot. I also relayed to him that I had knowledge of Theran activity at the very
heart of Barsaive. I told the captain I would return for a response in two
weeks time.
Vestrial 14, 16th year
We went
to the Servos Jungle to investigate for any more clues of Theran activity in
the area. We were unable to find out anything more about Theran activity near
Dimazad, but the location seemed about ideal for a base in Central Barsaive. It
was located nearly an equal distance from Bartertown and Throal’s gates,
Darranis, and Ayodhya Liferock near the Floating Isle, and yet could easily be
used to enter the Servos Jungle to gather slaves from the native people there.
I just don’t believe Dimazad could have been just another cog in Thera’s slave
machine. It had to have been something more.
Vestrial 21, 16th year
We returned
to Bloodlore territory. The defeated captain returned with a message for me. It
set a location for a meeting with Chorak, a neutral location in Ustrect of all
places. I followed the instructions to the letter and arrived at the location,
with four Bloodlore drakkars stationed there. I landed the Jaspree’s Kiss
and left with a small Sky Raider escort.
I
walked to a small, lowland troll village, and entered a tavern there. There was
Chorak and a bunch of rowdy Sky Raiders in blood-red armor. I ordered us some
drinks, and sat down at a large table with Chorak and his bodyguards, at an
empty chair.
I told
Chorak about my hatred of Throal, Thera, and the Stoneclaws; about what had
happened at Dimazad and how I had burned the Thera-in town to the
ground; about my suspicions about the Thera-in reinvading Barsaive soon;
and about the Shrieker clan now having five drakkars, and beginning to be a
trollmoot to be reckoned with.
Chorak
told me that his trollmoot had nine drakkars, and that the Stoneclaws had at
least ten drakkars. I did the math and said that an alliance with the Shriekers
would bring the number to fourteen drakkars versus ten drakkars.
We
began to hammer out the terms of our agreement. I wanted to use the Bloodlore
trollmoot as a supply base and resting place in the Twilight Peaks, since
making war on the Stoneclaws from the far away Caucavik Mountains would be
difficult, as well as an alliance against the Stoneclaws in war once we were
prepared. I offered Chorak several agreements in exchange for these terms, a
mutual defense pact guaranteeing our aid in any war with another moot after the
destruction of the Stoneclaws, and a mutual attack pact guaranteeing our
assistance in any attack versus Thera or Throal by the Stoneclaws.
Chorak
was satisfied and agreed to the terms. When I return to see Chorak again, the
Shriekers and Bloodlores will ally against the Stoneclaws and wipe out the
dwarf-trolls. With this fourth step, the stage was nearly set for war.
Astendar 1, 16th year
I
returned to Mad Off’s alheim and told Mad Off about my failure to find
any further signs of Thera-in activity in Central Barsaive.
I spent the month of Astendar with
my wife, writing some new speeches to prepare the Shriekers for war, and romancing
Norr’a.
Chorrolis 1, 16th year
Chorrolis was a month of risk and
adventure for me. I planned a raid on House Syrtis, which they never expected.
A drakkar-boarding raid on a riverboat! We flew above one of their warships
escorting a merchant riverboat. We jumped off our ships, and used windcatcher
to direct our fall onto the decks of the t’skrang vessels. A few Sky Raiders
didn’t make it, falling into the depth of the Serpent River. The Shriekers
didn’t need failures like them anyway. Once on deck, we continued to gut
t’skrangs until they gave up their precious cargo.
We managed to steal some True fire
and True air, as well as precious t’skrang spices, fish, sculptures, and peach
wine. We sold some of the True elements, and all of the t’skrang commodities
for profit. I have a plan for the rest of it…
Mad Off’s alheim, Approximately Charassa 1510 TH according to Evok Nor’s journals.
Erendis 29, 16th year
I was
surprised to see Evok Nor in the month of Erendis. Some Shriekers had
apparently “captured” him and brought him to see me. Amusing. They may have
reacted differently if they had any indication of his true power.
Evok
Nor mocked me, “I see you have selected some men after you our heart. Perhaps
they need a lesson on whom to raid?”
I leapt
off the drakkar to greet him. I would never have accepted that tone of voice
from a lesser man, “Evok, it’s been a while. I can’t say that you look well.”
Evok
responded, “This cursed armor is truly a burden. I quest to discover the truth
of the armor at Haven.”
I
laughed heartily, “Well you are in luck my friend. We prepare to fly to Haven
on business. Care to accompany us?”
Evok
replied, “Has to be better than walking.”
I
continued to laugh; “ I’ll take that as a yes! If you’ve never flown before you
are in for a treat!”
Evok
rested from his journey for the night. I used the time to prepare the Jaspree’s
Kiss for flight, and figure out how I can get Pagmor Gilt-Throat to join us
in full.
Haven, Approximately Rua 1510 TH according to Evok Nor’s journals.
Floranuus 1, 16th year
We
arrived at Haven. Evok Nor left for Brenula’s Arms to see Hiermon. I
told him that I would be in town for a while, so if he wanted a ride back to
the Caucavik Mountains after he talked to Hiermon, it could be arranged. I knew
I wouldn’t see him return though. Whatever old Hiermon would have to say, would
probably lead Evok Nor to the Blood Wood. That’s where Hiermon’s interests lie
if you believe the rumors. Or he might be headed back to the Servos Jungle,
where it all began for him with that cursed armor. Either way, I am glad to see
that cursed Wizard go. Evok had that same aura around him since we left
Dimazad; of barely contained violence and power, like lightning in a bottle
waiting for someone to remove the cork. I don’t want to be around him when that
cork comes off.
I was
here for another matter entirely. I needed to see Pagmor Gilt-Throat. He had
long been the financially backer of the Shrieker trollmoot. But he had a
drakkar, the Unyielding, and if it came to war, I wanted his support. I
would do whatever it took to get that support.
I went
to see Pagmor Gilt-Throat. As always, he was taking gambles on the Falseman
Wars. I waited for the customers in line to take their bets, and then went to
talk to Pagmor directly in his place of business.
I
started by saying, “It is time for you to become a full Shrieker.”
Pagmor
said simply, “I am already a part of the Shriekers.”
I made
my case, “You are a Shrieker financially, but what of in raiding and in war?
Your ship the Unyielding has shown resilience throughout the years. It
can be a worthy vessel in war.”
Pagmor
laughed, “The Unyielding is ancient, not maneuverable, and slow. Even with its
hull repaired.”
I heard
a challenge of Floranuus and accepted, “If I can beat you in a race with me as
captain of the Unyielding versus you as captain of my own Jaspree’s
Kiss, will you then join our cause in full?”
Pagmor
growled knowing that katorr required that he accept such a challenge,
“Agreed, but you will lose.”
Preparations
for the race continued for two weeks. Of
course with Pagmor involved, gambling bets were being taken with the Jaspree’s
Kiss highly favored over the Unyielding. An elaborate course to test speed and
maneuverability of the airships was set up, with Elementalists using Sky
Lattice spells to hold up buoys to act as boundaries for the race. The local
Grim Legion, the Loyal Order of Delvers, and the Association of
Unaffiliated Explorers had been hired out to hunt Horrors in the days
leading up to the race, especially rumored flying Horrors. Torgak set up
several pavilions with benches for the crowds of onlookers; the greedy troll
certainly felt he could make money off this too, or else why allow the race in
the skies above Haven? Meanwhile, I had taken the best half of my crew to work
on repairing and modifying the Unyielding. The worse half of my crew
teamed up with Pagmor’s henchmen to work on the Jaspree’s Kiss.
Thus we were set for a grand race
in the air currents of Parlainth and Haven.
Floranuus 15, 16th year
I had
prayed for Floranuus’ aid in learning how to use my will to fly the
Unyielding to victory. I had learned how to use my tremendous skill as a
Sky Raider captain to imbue an airship with temporary speed and maneuverability
at a cost of my own health 3. It didn’t matter; I would fly the
Unyielding to victory or die in the process. I cannot live with the
shame and dishonor of defeat.
Our
assigned crews used our collective wills to propel our ships to the agreed upon
starting location and landed. The race would start with our effort to propel
the ships back into the air and go through the obstacle course that had been
created.
The Unyielding
and Jaspree’s Kiss rose into the air for the race. I would use speed
increasing on the straight ways, and maneuverability increasing on the curves.
Using my will, we managed to keep pace in the first Haven part of the course
with the Jaspree’s Kiss despite the Unyielding’s problems.
But in
the Parlainth part of the course, things got interesting. Flying over
Parlainth, a jet of flame came from below; nearly burning both our ships, and
it took everything we had to stay in the course. After that, gargoyles soared
up from below and assaulted our crew. They bore the insignia of Charcoalgrin’s
group, the Unforgiveables. I
suppose she was a bit miffed that no one had asked her permission to use
Parlainth’s air space. Or perhaps, she was a betting dragon…
My veterans had no problem with the
gargoyles although I suffered a wound while trying to hold the ship on course,
and although my crew on the Jaspree’s Kiss was not as formidable,
Pagmor’s henchmen rose to the challenge. We both got out of the Parlainth
course intact with a few casualties and injuries, and the final part of the
course in Haven loomed before us.
I gave
it everything I had, but noticed my wound starting to affect me. It hurt to
steer the wheel, and I couldn’t fireblood, since the loss of time would surely
give Pagmor the race. So I bled and I sailed, and in the final straight way
before the end of the race, and I fell unconscious. I barely survived; the
ship’s physician saved my life. My crew told me later that even in slumber I
still held the wheel steady, and we won the race by a few feet. Pagmor would
support us in war. It had all been worth it.
Garlen 1, 16th year
I
returned to Mad Off’s alheim, and trusted Garlen to heal my wounds
during this month, and gathered my strength for the next month.
Jaspree 1, 16th year
I began
my final propaganda and speech campaign. This time the true target was the
Stoneclaws.
I
started by restating last year’s case about Thera and Throal. I expanded upon
this theme saying that loyalty to Throal or Thera over the trollmoots was
treason to the troll race. And I further expounded upon the treachery of many
troll groups.
The
first group to receive my ire was another group Chorak hated, the Forgiven
of Jaspree. Like Chorak, I called these fools who thought of Jaspree’s gift
of struggle as a curse, traitors to troll kind. After all I went through in a
month of struggling with Jaspree to survive, I felt these people had dishonored
both Jaspree and me.
I
stated my case against the Stoneclaws next. They reminded me of lowland trolls
who were forgetting their very heritage, and were turning their loyalty over
the dwarves of Throal. I called for open war on the Stoneclaws. Mad Off tried
to calm the moot’s bloodlust knowing that war against one of the strongest
trollmoots was risky, but the seeds of hatred I had planted last year sprouted
and the moot would not be calmed.
Next I
called for an alliance with the Bloodlore moot, enemies of both the Forgiven
of Jaspree and the Stoneclaws. I
would go to negotiate the alliance myself if need be. With our powers combined
we would cleanse these stains upon our katera.
Mad Off
was very angry. He wanted no part of any alliance or war with trolls of the
Twilight Peaks; it was against the very ideal he had started the Shrieker
trollmoot on. I told him that if he did not participate in the war, he would be
seen as a coward and would lose control of the trollmoot altogether. He knew I was right. We knew from that point
on we would be enemies. I had usurped control of the trollmoot right out from
under him, and I would soon kill him and become chieftain in name as well.
Lochost 1, 17th year
I went
to the Bloodlore trollmoot and told Chorak that the Shrieker trollmoot was
ready.
Rashimon 1, 17th year
After
returning to our moothome, I gave them the details and terms of our alliance
and we readied our six drakkars for war. I had made sure some “special” cargo
had been discretely placed on the Upandal’s Anvil.
Rashimon 20, 17th year
In our
first engagement with the Stoneclaws, the Bloodlores and Shriekers flanked them
and fought them in their air space about their moothome. During a critical
moment, I tossed a Spike Bomb onto the deck of the Upandal’s Anvil near
Mad Off. The explosion triggered the “special” cargo, True fire and True air
that had been rigged to combine with enough pressure. The explosion tore
through the ship and immolated Mad Off.
The Upandal’s
Anvil was grappled by the Unyielding first and the Jaspree’s Kiss
second. We took the crippled drakkar home. We were forced to retreat from the
battle as well as our Bloodlore allies.
Mad Off had died a martyr for our cause 4.
Thystonius 10, 17th year
I
contested for chieftain with others of the trollmoot, and defeated all
challenges to be crowned the new chieftain. I claimed the Mad Off Blade, the
symbol of our trollmoot. I would lead our trollmoot in war and lead us to
victory over the Stoneclaws!
Pagmor
Gilt-Throat left us soon afterward, the grieving period over the death of his
longtime friend Mad Off would be much longer than most of ours.
Upandal 1, 17th year.
We
built a new drakkar and repaired the Upandal’s Anvil.
Vestrial 1, 17th year
With
six drakkars again, we flew to the Twilight Peaks to continue the war with the
Stoneclaws.
-Written by Can’N the Jaw
1 Snow eagles are a variant creature type of the
fire eagles IMB having a snow trail following them and an icy aura, otherwise
statistically similar to the fire eagle.
2 Ancistrodon halys, more commonly known
as Pallas’ Pit Viper. Distributed north of the Caspian Sea (Aras Sea in
Earthdawn) and living in areas near the Ural and Volga Rivers (Serpent River in
Earthdawn). The bite of the serpent is not usually fatal to human-sized
humanoids as Can’N the Jaw believes. It would certainly be unable to stop a troll
with its venom. More than likely most of the non-elf bandits bitten by the
snake survive.
3 A reference to what would become the Air
Sailing talent knacks Windship and Aerial Maneuvers on the 7 Sands.
4 Unknown to Can’N the Jaw; however, Mad Off had
not been killed. The body found had been a young troll recruit killed in the
blast, not Mad Off. Pagmor Gilt-Throat in the chaos of the explosion had
quickly moved Mad Off to the Unyielding after the blast. Mad Off had lost his left eye, and his face
and body had been badly scarred. He was taken by Pagmor Gilt-Throat to
Bartertown in the Unyielding, and became an advisor to Crag Hack’s navy
in exile. There he began to plot his revenge on Can’N the Jaw.
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