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Game synopsis Monday 13th September 2004
We take up our tale with a sharp rapping upon the stout wooden door to the villa of the Chosen One Hero Band. It was Gustav the Dishthane who bade the Hero Band to attend a feast in their honour, where upon the King would gift them for their service. The Chosen Ones pondered what they might in turn gift the King with, for as Heortlings, they knew that the gifting may leave them owing their gracious host a boon. It was decided amongst them that they as humble Sartari had no gift amongst them fit for the High King. Those that cared about such matters made preparations for attending the feast.
When the summons came the heroes busked merrily to the High Kings hall. They discovered that Kurash Ingardsson had been seated at the left hand side of the King. He received much honour from this amongst those present. Arya and Olend were to be seated amongst the Thanes of Broyan’s hall. Aren was offered a Carls seat, and The Wenchbane was told that he had no business in the Hall, for this was the hall of the honourable. Kurash, seemingly flattered by the Kings favour (to him at least) seemed to not want a fuss and bade the Wenchbane take his seat within the kitchen. Rand was strangely mute at this scurrilous dishonour. Aren was stung by these words having passed through many dangers with his mercurial friend. He scolded the serving man thus, ‘Before you stands our brother Rand Wenchbane, hero of the Chosen Ones who braved many dangers to bring dire words of omen to the King. If he is to receive such dishonour from this hall then I shall not sully it with my presence also!’ It must be said that Aren has an unsettling gaze of a killer and chilled the serving man to his core, so much so he took a step back as if he had been smitten! His bumbling reply was that he would of course make room for the Wenchbane beside Aren the Fearsome.
When King Broyan entered the hall, Queen Bet Leika of the Colymar, Gyffur Ulfsson of the Hidden Gale Warband and Kallyr Starbrow accompanied him. They took their seating at the High Table. On Broyan’s left sat Kurash Ingardsson of the Culbrea. Next to him sat Gyffur Ulfsson, then Queen Beti Leika. On Broyan’s right sat Kallyr Starbrow, and they conversed long and quietly during the feast.
Broyan stood and bade everyone honour the guests, The Chosen One Hero Band. Broyan gifted Kurash the Gray Quill, which would write by itself when so commanded by a scholar of the Knowing God. Broyan and Kurash received great honour from this gift. To the weapon thanes Arya and Olend, large golden torques. Lesser golden torques were bestowed upon Aren and Rand the Wenchbane, but all received much honour at the receiving. Here it must be said that in the fine traditions a thane will boast of his deeds when gifting, and so it was with the Chosen Ones, although it might have served Aren Throatslicer better to choose a tale other than the sneaking and stealing tale of the Wyrms Scroll! It needs must be said that Aren, a hunter, is more familiar with thicket and fen, than hall and boast.
It so happened that Aren was seated by a fellow tribesman of the Culbrea, Alfrejd the Broken from the Stirlgon clan of Two Pine Ridge. Alfrejd was a young clansmen at the time of Starbrows rebellion in 1613, barely out of his initiation. After the defeat, Alfrejd was one of those caught and tortured for information on other rebels. Only a boy, his dour courage impressed the Strange Red Horsemen from the far north. They crippled him and let him go as a warning to others. Alfrejd told Aren that he is a Thane of the Hidden Gale and was unhappy at having to give his place to “a stinking Colymar”. Aren pointed out he was Olend, his boon companion. They talked of this and that and Aren expressed a desire to meet with Gyffur. Alfrejd said that he would learn his lords will and report to Aren upon the morrow.
Wenchbane had his companions at feast roaring with laughter at his bawdy tales, Rolla his lovely assistant receiving many admiring glances from the Carls. It must be said that Arya, like Vinga herself, was not out of place amongst the Thunder Brothers and Thanes and received much honour with her tellings and boasts. She also received much mead.
We turn now to Olend who happened to be seated next to Razkin of the Colymar. Of the Taraling clan and the household of the exiled Queen Beti Leika, he had been her companion in her crown test and adventures with the Temple of the Wooden Sword. They talked of many things and Razkin said that he would present Olend to the Queen, and that she would be happy to offer patronage to the Chosen Ones. Olend thanked him and agreed that he would meet his Queen upon the morrow.
Kurash spoke often with King, giving advice and knowledge when called upon. Gyffur gave Kurash a grilling. It must be said that the Hidden Gale is known far and wide for their viciousness in the raid, and their religious zeal. Gyffur himself is known as the Blunt Ax amongst the irreverent for his conversational style, although he has not heard this name hisself! Of more interest to Kurash were the words he shared with the Queen of the Colymar. She spoke of her journey into the chaos pit Snake Pipe hollow, travelling there not once but twice!
Alas, all things must end and after much merrymaking and feasting the Heroes retired unto their villa. The next morning first one visitor and then another came calling. The first was Alfrejd, who bade Aren and Kurash attend Gyffur in an hour. Karuna Hollybright, Chalana Arroy healer and renowned beauty invited Olend, Kurash and the Chosen ones to attend Queen Beti Leika in an hour. So it happed that Karuna and Alfrejd appeared to guide them to the lords at the same time. It must be said that Olend, Kurash and Rand attended the Queen, whilst Aren and Arya attended Gyffur. What secrets were told and views aired we dare not breathe but this; Gyffur is with Kallyr, and follows her will in many things. Beti Leika of the Colymar is bitter at Kallyr for the plight of the Colymar since Starbrows failed rebellion. Each requested the support of the Chosen Ones at moot. The Heroes confirmed naught but that they would consider these words.
So it happened that as they had arrived back at the Villa, Aren noticed a small red broach in the image of a bat. It had two tiny red rocks where the eyes would be. This greatly disturbed the heroes and Kurash called upon the Knowing God to reveal the event when this thing of chaos was placed upon his person. Kurash Kingfriend, favoured in many ways, not least by his lord Lhankhor Mhy revealed that the person had been wearing a red tunic, a black cape with a bright yellow lining. A most unseemly conglomeration of hues to offend the eyes hinting at chaos, and the heroes immediately set off in search of the miscreant.
Aren called upon the powers of Desemborth, and slipped unseen amongst the crowds. Olend and his wind and winter daemons took to the sky above Whitewall to see what he could spy. Kurash, Chernan the Seeker Devotee, now sought to track his prey through the cobbled streets. So it was that Aren and Kurash approached the fiend from either side. He was plainly slipping bat broaches onto people as he moved about.
Kurash called him out. With one beat of his cloak and arms, large bat wings appeared, and the Bat cultist rose into the air. Striding upon Orlanths breath, Aren leapt upon the back of the cultist, as Olend caught site of them. Kurash commanded wooshey, his Umbroli companion gifted by the High King to carry him to the foe, that he might strike at him with his spear. He failed to notice the gable above him and came back down to earth with a thud and a bashed head, hurt more in pride than physically so. Aren and the Batman traversed this way and that with blast of acid eye spit, magic, steel, wind and fang.
Summoning Heler’s blessing and calling upon a stinging hail, Olend launched himself at the foe, flying sword first at the Batman. He buffeted the Batman who butted Aren, nearly knocking him from his back before sending foul evil red eye blast at Olend to strip him of his magic. Shepelkirt's evil failed against Olend's shield of Huraya. Kurash tossed debris toward the whirling vortex of his wind daemon who sent it flying at the foe, missing this time. Kurash called Aren to slash the Batman’s wings, to bring him down. Olend summoned up a mighty wind and blasted the Batman from the sky. It needs must be told that Aren broke the fiends fall somewhat.
So it was the Batman was taken prisoner and presented to the King. King Broyan struck the Lunar Agent, knocking him senseless – the King being famed for his temper. Kallyr instructed the Chosen Ones to interrogate the Batman and learn what they could. They were to report back directly to the King when they had news. Here it must be said that the Chosen Ones Kurash and Aren are not warriors and chafe under such treatment of words. Muttering they lead the bat cultist away.
The Batman was tough to crack, but Aren, by dint of his fearsome killer nature and subtle words from Kurash and Olend was able to put the fear into the man. His name was Dichio, from Torang of far off Rinliddi. The Crimson Bat was indeed on its way, and the last city of the Orlanthi shall surely fall. The bat broaches were revealed to be conduits to the moon from which Vecors, Lunar Demons would issue under the influence of the Bats chaos glow.
Bruce Ferrie was the source of the Batman scenario. Cheers Bruce.